Part 95: Episode IX: 2350 - 2375

Episode IX: 2350-2375




The Humans are spread pretty thin -- they should have a bigger economy with as many systems as they control. Still, they get my vote for the power in the galaxy early on. We're doing quite well compared to the over-aggressive Mrrshan, but in the big picture we sure have challenges. The Humans haven't sent any attacks our way, but their diplomat hasn't returned yet either.




7 systems for the Humans, 3 for us, 2 for the Mrrshan. We're about to make our bid to get back in the game though. A Tundra-capable ship will depart the homeworld next year for one of the white star on the left edge. That should give us the range to send an already-waiting standard colonizer on to Thrax, the nice 100M terran(yellow in the middle of the 'reticle' here, upper-left quadrant). From there, the U in the nebula is Zengara, and the ultra-rich proteus in the very corner, figure to be our most likely targets next. We're making a play to at least be vaguely relevant, and it remains to be seen how many we can get.




Sssla is now in max-colonizer-build mode, Yarrow is doing what research we are getting in and is almost maxed on industry. I'll get a base or two up and running there soon in case the Mrrshan get any ideas. Selia is still fairly early in the development cycle and unfortunately easy pickings for the humans any time they feel like it.




Not much, but it works as a stepping-stone. 2354, and Thrax is indeed just within range; the standard Colonizer sets a course for that vital system. So far so good with the expansion plan.




The Bears are making their presence felt even further in this sector. There's just no room. They call this rock Dolz, about two dozen pop and a few factories.




Lots of rich systems around. And also hard ones to acquire. Meanwhile Improved Eco is here, and we move on with Dead to try and snag what we can -- there is little choice with how hemmed in we are. I do think it's time to spread out though, so we'll start working on all fields now.




Here's the linchpin. Nobody else seemed interested in it. 2359 as we arrive.




Yes, it is a lovely day isn't it? The sun is shining, flowers are blooming, birds chirping ... no? Ok then. They are Erratic Expansionists, one of the worst kinds to deal with.




Seems like whoever has red is a pain in the arse. Usually it's Psilons; right now, Humans. Maybe I should go red one of these times, just because. The Bulrathi aren't particularly strong at the moment, but with their ground combat abilities we don't want to be on the wrong side of them.




Good old MooPlomacy here. Ursa is way down there by the humans, but thanks to cheesy alliances they got their holdings up at the top. And blocked us off. Thanks a whole heap. We have a bit of a 'situation' now. That ultra-rich in the upper corner is still out of our reach -- 6 parsecs out and we can't get closer. We've got two colonizers out there and one of them is en route to the last thing we can current settle. And as for Thrax -- a Psilon colony ship is a year or two away. That would have been bad if they beat us to it.

No point in building more Colonizers that can't land anywhere: Sssla will throw it's weight into research for a while, get a few things moving there. It's looking pretty rough still.

The next year ...




This just in: GNN sez we suck. Oh, and the Psilons get to Xengara before we do. That's two Colonizers out there sucking up maintenance that we don't have a home for. Arglebarglezorz.




Honorable technologists, allied with Mrrshan and Alkari. So really, how honorable could they be?




Translation: we now have good seats to watching them strangle the life out of Humanity(and the rest of the galaxy). That whole start-fast thing is now officially dead. We are reduced to being a second-tier empire at best, hoping to be given an opening to become more sometime down the line.




If things go well, we might get as many planets, eventually, as the Humans and Psilons have right now.




LOL. This game ... this game. It's 62 years in and I already want it to be over.

After taking a break since I didn't really know what to do, I came up with a few options:

** Send a big Colonizer XL to Proteus. I don't think I can really afford that kind of investment right now.

** Scrap both of the current Colonizer Ts, which are eating up about 23 BC a year in maintenance, 4-5% of our economy.

** Rush Dead Environment Landings. By itself that would give us only one, crappy planet.

** Rush Irridium Fuel Cells.

I think it's also too late in the game to not be doing a broad-based research approach. The long-term health of the empire requires that we get going in that direction, but so does the diplomatic situation. We really need something with which to bribe the Humans and Bulrathi and get them back in the peaceful column. There's useful stuff in several fields that we need to acquire -- it's just time.

First, we established trade with the Psilons(125 BC) and also upped our agreement with Jasana of the Mrrshans to that amount. Keeping the friends we have. Then, I inquired about tech trades to get range 6 or better. Both were interested in Improved Eco Restoration, but not enough to hand over something that good. The Humans are allied with the Mrrshans, so if we don't get peace with them our enemies could multiply. We offered them everything we could: Tundra Landings and Improved Eco. They said thanks, but we're still at war. Go screw yourselves, more or less.




Up from Feud to Troubled, but still not great. We need more. Then the question became whether it would be better to scrap the colonizers or wait until we get more range and then send one on to Proteus. Tough call, but I decide to get rid of them. Either way, it's a big economic hit at this stage of things. By making the tough call to cut our losses, we can re-invest the amount we get back into our newer colonies. We'll come out ahead unless we get Irridum Cells in less than 15 years. Which isn't likely.

We could use a break right now. Several of them, in fact. Two years later we get the cheapies, ECM I and Hand Lasers, in. Robotics III is next in Computing, Fusion Bomb the only Weapons choice. So we're still stuck with nuclear missiles. Awesome. The Humans don't want either one.




Um, sure. They come to the 'proper' conclusion on their own in 2366, and agree to a trade deal of 175 BC. According to Bladrov IV's representative, the only reason was our earlier tribute. So it did accomplish something.




I am shocked to see this the next year. Population growth or no, how do we have more people than the Psilons?

** Alkari(4 votes) -- Abstain
** Humans(6 votes)
** Bulrathi(2 votes) -- Bladrov IV. Enemy of my enemy ...
** Psilons(3) -- Bladrov IV.
** Mrrshan(2) -- Bladrov IV.

Heh. That's not close or anything. 13-0 out of 21 possible as our four votes come up. Almost lost this one real early; one vote from it. We abstain. We won't be nominated for long I don't think, but either way we have a real problem.




Here's real problem #2. These are headed for Thrax I think, and were unfortunately expected. It's all going to depend on what tech they have -- we're definitely going to have the numbers, but even in the best case it's another economic hit we can't afford. I also try another round of tech-trading to get more range, and it is suggested that we go piss up a rope(not literally, but that's the gist of it).

Selia becomes the third system to complete it's industry, and I decide we can afford to split off some effort to build massive colonizers -- esp. since we have enough in the reserve to add to the effort.




Absurdly expensive as always, but this thing can get to Proteus for us.




A year later, the bastard Psilons show up with a colony ship of their own. And it's armed. Grrr. So much for that plan. Back to research. That's at least 8-9 parsecs away from their nearest system. Didn't think they could reach it. Obviously I was wrong.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhV...eature=youtu.be



That went better than expected. All they had was the same Hand Lasers we've got. Still lost 15-20M citizens there, but I'll take it. The next year, we get Class II Shields in(Personal Deflectors are the only choice) and the Psilons take Mobas as well, the big rich one in human territory, Dead and out of our range.

Might as well get the Psilons fitted for the crown of High Master at this point, really. And it all freaking started with the Mrrshan. Without their attack, if we'd gotten Firma, we might have gotten to Xengara before those twits. If we did that, they don't get Proteus either, and we have a real chance.

IF. IF. IF. Woulda coulda mighta, we didn't. So here we are.




'72, the next year. Industrial Tech 8 is cheaper than Duralloy Armor. It's pretty much going to be all about the cheaper for us, because we're one of the runts. We also get Non-Aggression Pacts with the Mrrshan and Humans.




Controlled Dead Environ comes in. There's still one crappy system we can get with that. I think we can, anyway. And there are a couple radiateds around yet, so our main goal is to hope against hope we can get that in time. Any of these three will move us forward to that tier; Enhanced Eco is a little more expensive than Inferno Landings but a heck of a lot more useful, so we'll go that route.




Hmm. Too bad it wasn't Mentar. Not that I'm bitter or anything.




Somehow we get nominated again. I demand a recount. But anyway, the birds still don't care. Will it be enough to keep things stable? To be totally frank, there's a part of me that just wants to lose this thing right here and now.




They get one of the three new votes.




Of course




Another goes here. More importantly of course, this guarantees that the Humans don't wear the crown.

** Mrrshan(2) -- Bladrov IV. Allies.

Four votes for us again. So we're tied with the Psilons and Alkari. I think we can stay ahead of the Bulrathi and Mrrshan. Don't know about anything else. Voting for Bladrov would give him just enough to win, so tempting as that is we abstain once more.