Part 75: Episode VII: 2350 - 2375
POOL IS CLOSED posted:
This run's starting off at least as dramatic as the last.
As for the other question asked, how a plague affects robots? Uh, no clue. I found that amusing also. As for this; I would say moreso, if plague=artificial difficulty spike. It's really, really bad losing your first colony ship to the Guardian; this however, is far worse. Brace yourself for one of the most depressing, boring updates in the annals of this LP.
Episode VII: 2350-2375
Nine million die the first year. Vega's the only colony that can even try to minimize the damage. At this point in the game, this kind of crisis is really a killer.
Five years later, the ravages continue. Note that RP value, then consider this:
This game is over, it's only a matter of time till it's official. That's 33 years worth at the current pace, which will not be sustained because they are being killed faster than I can send them in. Might as well stand up and applaud. Well done, Master of Orion. You did not take the idea of losing three straight to me lying down. I admit defeat. Now let's go see how long it will take to file the necessary paperwork ...
The Silicoids chase us off Tyr a couple of years later, and this:
Smurch vs. Sedimin. You don't say.
** Silicoids(4)
** Bulrathi(6)
** Darloks(2) -- abstain
** Humans(2) -- abstain
** Psilons(4) -- abstain
** Meklar(2) -- abstain
Hey, look at us bringing up the rear! Psilons starting to rise. All manner of terrible news. But not as terrible as the virus taking down our citizens. You gotta appreciate the irony of the only machine race in the galaxy getting crushed by a biological contamination.
2361, and the plague has now lasted over a decade with no end in sight, no further updates. It looks like this every year -- all available colonists streaming towards the homeworld from all three outlying colonies. We've now reached the point where slightly fewer are dying than are being born/transferred on an annual basis; Meklon is at 75M and rising slowly.
It's in the upper 80s a decade later, when we are informed of this:
They are Xenophobic Expansionists. Relations start at Relaxed despite their lack of courtesy, so I won't bother with trade yet; we need every last credit for researching the plague cure.
They haven't gotten anything else, still at 7 systems; must have gotten a range increase, probably to Irridium(6). That thing we were going after until this happened.
Getting trounced in population by the Silicoids. Yep, we're that awesome.
A few years later, the Psilons take the nearly-useless ball of rock called Ukko.
They are Pacifistic Diplomats. Might be the first time we've run into Pacifists. Already allied with Silicoids, Bulrathis, and Humans.
Aaaaaand already possessing nearly a quarter of the galaxy. Meet the new boss, ladies and gentlemen.
This is going to get ugly.
Two years later, the Psilons are nominated along with the Bulrathi in the High Council.
A little surprised to see the Humans go against Zygot here.
The Bulrathi still out-number them, but I'll be surprised if that lasts. We abstain with our two votes and neither candidate gets as much as half. Bulrathi, Silicoids, Psilons -- three galactic powers, and three impotent fools; Meklar, Darlok, Humans.