Clash of Titans, Pirates vs Usurpers (SMAX)

[Jason_Firewalker]

Where can I get this game?

[frigidmagi]

Jason: This is a fairly old game, I would check Amazon and skip Best Buy. On the flip side Civ 4 as mods that may give you a close experience. Keep in mind Civ is not Alpha Centuri.

[Hadrianvs]

Finding Alpha Centauri is relatively easy and costs just $6 or $8. The Alien Crossfire expansion pack is a different matter, it tends to run at more than $100. The best prices I've seen are at Amazon.com.

It's a pity they never released the source code, else you could legally and freely download it from somewhere, possibly with fan made improved graphics and game balancing modifications.

[frigidmagi]

Before I forget, Hadrianvs are you gonna expand your airforce and try to grab air supremacy from the damn dirty aliens?

To be honest I am in the war camp so to speak I think the best way to win is to build up a good tough force and cut those bastards down to size. Besides unless they're genocidal then they're ruling humans, which is your job! If they're genocidal... Well then they're genocidal bastards and we won't be safe until you blast them all to hell!

[Hadrianvs]

Before I forget, Hadrianvs are you gonna expand your airforce and try to grab air supremacy from the damn dirty aliens?

I start a military build-up plan in the next update that beefs up my defense forces a bit. Part of it includes a substantial air superiority force. However, I tend to build only Needlejets with the Air Superiority upgrade, which gives them +100% vs. air units, but -50% in ground attacks, so only my two oldest wings aren't mediocre at hitting ground pounders. I save the bombing for the whirlybirds, they're good at it, unfortunately I'm still waiting for Mind-Machine Interface. (Why the fuck do I need cyborgs to build helicopters?)

To be honest I am in the war camp so to speak I think the best way to win is to build up a good tough force and cut those bastards down to size.

Actually, the easiest way to win is to wait until I get orbital defense pods, throw a few into orbit, thus removing the "mutually" from "mutually assured destruction", then start shoving Planet Busters down the Usurper's throats. The things turn continents into Swiss cheese. I have, however, something more fun in mind.

Besides unless they're genocidal then they're ruling humans, which is your job! If they're genocidal... Well then they're genocidal bastards and we won't be safe until you blast them all to hell!

When Aliens capture a Human base, or Humans an Alien base, the entire population is ejected. The Free Drones and Believers would have been eliminated even faster if not for that.

[General Havoc]

I've noticed in a lot of your screenshots that many of your bases seem to have drone riots going on. I'd really suggest taking the time before each turn's end to eliminate festering drone problems, as they REALLY put the brakes on your economy.

[Hadrianvs]

I've noticed in a lot of your screenshots that many of your bases seem to have drone riots going on. I'd really suggest taking the time before each turn's end to eliminate festering drone problems, as they REALLY put the brakes on your economy.

Those riots only last one turn. I have the AI governors in control, they cannot take preventive measures to keep riots from happening, but they do clamp down on them as soon as they do happen.

[Hadrianvs]

This is last week's long overdue update. I'll see if I can make another one later this weekend, or early this week. I changed the background of my Photobucket to something thematically appropiate. Do tell if you like it or not.

BTW - I just noticed that the last thumbnail in the previous update does not lead to the correct image. I find it odd that nobody commented on it.


In 2307 Nautilus began implementing a program for establishing a local defense force capable of withstanding attacks from both native life and possible Usurper incursions in the event of war. It was decided that a bare minimum of two garrison brigades with the most advanced defensive equipment, and an an air defense wing would be provided by each base. The more productive bases will in addition be expected to provide naval flotillas or amphibious assault brigades, so as to something of a counter-attack force available. Port Svensgaard is used here as a model. Since it only has one garrison brigade, it will build an air defense wing, and another garrison brigade. Being an industrial powerhouse, it will in addition provide a naval flotilla.




That same year Cutlass Cay was founded. It has a very nice name, and Nautilus planners have high hopes for this base. Its access to abundant mineral resources will likely make it a major industrial centre, and its proximity to Usurper territory makes it a potential focus of action in future conflict.




An assault wing cleans out the last of the Fungal units, easily destroying a Spore Launcher great boil.




Worm attacks on Crossbone Way City are also defeated.




Thirty years of peace have apparently dulled the senses of the Pirate nation, and rampant unchecked and unregulated speculation in the financial, commodities, and real estate markets eventually spiralled out of control in a rapid and catastrophic crash. The government of Nautilus was forced to spend 74% of its energy reserves, totalling 754,000,000,000 energy credits, to save the economy.




Safe Heaven is attacked by an Isle of the Deep, an aquatic vector of the Mind Worm composed of thousands of individual tubules which secret a tough sticky substance that hardens to form a shell which keeps the boil together and afloat, while giving it the appearance of a wandering island. The garrison bravely defends the base, and despite taking severe losses, it is able to fend off and destroy the intruders.




Due to recent economic trouble, Usurper energy reserves surpass Nautilus'. However, thanks to the quick, if expensive, actions of the legislature the economy remains healthy and the coffers of the treasury should refill in a few years time.




Safe Heaven is attacked again, this time by flying worms. The gallant garrison unhesitatingly rushes to the defense of the base once more and rapidly burns them out of the sky.




An Isle of the Deep was spotted between Port Svensgaard and Deadman Tavern. The latter base's air defense wing was despatched to sink it before it neared any settlements. A cloud of locusts rose-up from it, and after a fierce and close run air-to-air engagement, the battered aircraft returned to base.




In 2315 a new family of materials known as Silksteel Alloys are developed and readied to enter production. Armour made from them is expected to be 33% more effective than the currently used Plasma Steel.




That same year, the Usurpers build The Planetary Datalinks at The Lord's Truth. It gives the faction that builds it any technology known by any other three factions. It is almost entirely worthless, and only useful for providing a bit of extra energy to the Usurper's energy grid, and a higher game score.




A Fungal Bloom, complete with Fungal Tower, appears near Provision Point. Locust swarm over and destroy a wing of Missile Tacticals sent to intercept it.




Invaders (amphibious unit) armed with Resonance Lasers stage an amphibious assault and catch a Locust swarm nesting. It is destroyed with light casualties.




The Provision Point garrison destroys takes revenge for the air wing taken out the previous year, destroying the still mauled swarm on the ground in a daring raid from their home base.




Further attacks take a heavy toll on the garrison, but it holds and the Locust swarms are butchered. (Note: "Marine" means the ability to take over warships in combat, not amphibious capability, only ships should have it, but the Pirate's racial ability mistakenly gives it to every unit.)




A Resonance Laser armed attack wing destroys the last swarm without much difficulty.




The Invaders return to finish the job, easily destroying the Fungal Tower and eliminated the Native threat to the area.




An Isle of the Deep boil and Locust of Chiron swarm appear north of Safe Heaven. The two R-Laser assault wings are sent to destroy the threat, despite being under-strength from the battles near Provision Point. They take heavy losses, but the Worms are stopped short of the base's Perimeter Defence.






That ends a decade of turmoil and near endless fighting against wave after wave of Fungal Blooms and Native attacks. No base defences are breached, but tens of thousands of people die as unsuspecting victims working the land, or as brave soldiers resolutely confronting the threat. The local defense plans implemented in 2307 are credited in a large part with the efficacy of the response, and lack of casualties into the hundreds of thousands. Analysis concludes that the largest industrial centres represented the main focus of the attacks, suggesting that Planet's natural defences are reacting negatively to terraforming efforts, resource exploitation, and the polluting effects of industry. Also it has become apparent that the Fungus extends below the surface of Planet, perhaps going as far down as the mantle. As such clearing surface fungus is no safe-guard against future Fungal Blooms. A home guard will need to be kept even in the innermost settlements.


In 2320 breakthroughs in Orbital Space Flight make it possible to construct missiles, strategic weapons, and orbital farms.




Conqueror Marr immediately demands that the technology be shared, citing "Tau Ceti" accords that Nautilus is not party to. Despite strong reluctance to hand over such vital research, Nautilus is still not prepared to go to war with the Usurpers. In an effort to off-set the loss in advantage in that field, Svensgaard asks that Marr share his people's knowledge of Superconductors. Marr, perhaps weary of gaining nothing and being forced into costly war, agrees.




Seeing that Marr can be reasoned with, Captain Svensgaard hazards the suggestion of a trade agreement. He declines, citing the Pirate's ability to control sea trade to their advantage as detrimental to his efforts.




A nasty viral plague breaks out at U.N. Headquarters. It is contained thanks to the Research Hospital there, but thousands die before effective treatment becomes available. The origins of the virus are still being investigated.




Strategic Analysis of 2321:

Nautilus performs research at almost twice the rate of the Usurpers. There is currently but one technology that they have and we don't: Applied Relativity. The technology gap should disappear entirely within a decade or two.






Nautilus's economic position is clearly stronger than that the Usurpers.






Both factions are focusing their industrial efforts into domestic infrastructure.






Nautilus' armed forces have grown over the past years, but still remain small and self-defence oriented.




The most dangerous arm of the Usurper's war machine is without a doubt their large, well developed, and Air Force. They boast 52 attack wings, giving them a 3.5-1 advantage against Nautilus' air defences. That is not, however, the most worrisome aspect. They appear to have started to build strategic weapons. Pirate research into the technology of these weapons, which are so fearsome they have been dubbed "Planet Busters", suggests that with a Fission warhead they would be capable of destroying everything within a 500km radius. The Usurpers cannot be allowed to field such powerful devices without an equivalent or larger force on our side to serve as deterrence.

[frigidmagi]

YAY!

Now I'm gonna be honest, I've never played the game, so I'm kinda taking your word for it.

I do note the governors are off for your settlements, are they as pointless as they are in civ games?

That said, is this recent explosion of native violence likely to continue or even upswing further in reaction to your continued infrastructure creation and upgrading?

Can you build orbital weapons platform? The Holy Grail of MAD!

I remain still in the war camp of course, PURGE THE XENO! *coughs* But it seems as if soon any war will end in the destruction of the planet itself, which I reluctantly suggest we avoid.

[Hadrianvs]

I do note the governors are off for your settlements, are they as pointless as they are in civ games?

Umm, every settlement has its governor on. You can see in screenshot 101 that "Governor" is highlighted, along with "Build" which basically tells the governor to focus on growth and economy infrastructure. The governors are actually pretty decent, as you can specify what they can and cannot do.

That said, is this recent explosion of native violence likely to continue or even upswing further in reaction to your continued infrastructure creation and upgrading?

It will get steadily worse as the planet is terraformed more and industrial production goes higher. However, these attacks tend to happen in waves, so you get times of peace and times of WAR AGAINST PLANET ITSELF! Oh, and God help you if anyone builds the Voice of Planet Secret Project.

Can you build orbital weapons platform? The Holy Grail of MAD!

Not yet, it's a late-game tech. Basically you go through a MAD period where everyone has Dooming Doom Devices of Great Doom and there is nothing that can be done about it except to use your own devices to keep the enemy from using his, Cold War MAD style. However, given the turn-based nature of the game, first strikes can actually work, which in multi-player games can lead to much crazyness and paranoia. Such as airbases serving as silos in out of the way places, and later on submarine carriers stuffed to the gills with strategic weapons. You can't have flying carriers with ALCMs on airborne alert though, which is a pity. The game could be modded to allow it, but it would also allow for air-launched aircraft. Can you imagine a helicopter carrier launching fighter jets? Madness!

Once you do get Orbital Defense Pods, the whole strategic war things enters a whole new level. Since each ODPs can be used to intercept strategic attacks made by the enemy during his turn, or they can be used to destroy enemy ODPs, or other orbital facilities, during your own turn.

I remain still in the war camp of course, PURGE THE XENO! *coughs* But it seems as if soon any war will end in the destruction of the planet itself, which I reluctantly suggest we avoid.

It doesn't destroy planet, worst that could happen is the icepacks melt and every single continent winds-up under-water. I would lose out on all my precious ground-based industry, but the Usurpers would end-up with jack shit. In fact, once I get the ability to melt the polar ice caps intentionally, I could possibly win the game by drowning the Usurpers. It would take several decades for the effects to be felt, though, and my land-based infrastructure would go first.

[Hadrianvs]

Added a link to the video for the Planetary Datalinks Secret Project.

[General Havoc]

Damnit, now I'm digging out my Alpha Centauri disks...

Hadrian, a couple points: First off, governors can't pre-emptively stop Drone riots, but you can. If you go through your bases before ending the turn you can prevent drone riots from ever occurring by fixing the problems before they start. It's micromanagement, but it pays off big in the long run.

I'd recommend having a force of Planet Busters for deterrence purposes, but not using them to win. As the Pirates, melting the polar caps seems like the most sensible solution for equalizing things. Even if the Usurpers still maintain a nasty air force, your naval superiority will allow you to cut off parts of their empire and destroy them at need, assuming you build an air force to support your fleet.

I look forward to seeing how this proceeds.

[Cynical Cat]

As the Pirates, melting the polar caps seems like the most sensible solution for equalizing things.

You know you've hit evil overlord gold when you can say "melting the polar ice caps and drowning most of the planet is the best solution."

[General Havoc]

Given that the alternative is being devoured by hideous alien monstrocities from the far reaches of the galaxy, I think it's justified :)

Besides, they're pirates! It'd be like Waterworld without Kevin Costner and the sucking!

[Cynical Cat]

Given that the alternative is being devoured by hideous alien monstrocities from the far reaches of the galaxy, I think it's justified :)

Besides, they're pirates! It'd be like Waterworld without Kevin Costner and the sucking!

Please. He can win without drowning the planet. It's just plunging straight into Bond villain territory is both a possibility and an easy win and that gets two Evil Overlord thumbs up.

[General Havoc]

Given that the alternative is being devoured by hideous alien monstrocities from the far reaches of the galaxy, I think it's justified :)

Besides, they're pirates! It'd be like Waterworld without Kevin Costner and the sucking!

Please. He can win without drowning the planet. It's just plunging straight into Bond villain territory is both a possibility and an easy win and that gets two Evil Overlord thumbs up.

"What a pity Mr. Alien... now I shall strap you to a death machine and walk out of the room while loudly discussing my plans for world domination!"

[Hadrianvs]

Well FUCK, just as I was finishing my update, I lost all of it. Yes all of it. :thewall:

God mother-fucking dammit.

It was a big post too, 31 images, and quite a bit of fluff. I'm sorry, but there might not be an update in a while, I'm really bummed over this.

[General Havoc]

Hulk ANGRY!

Well we'll wait until you can reconstruct it...

[Hadrianvs]

Okay, finally finished this despite being intermittently on the edge of a nervous breakdown (don't ask). I even made it beefier than it was last time.


The council votes unanimously in favour of salvaging the UNS Unity's fusion core reactor, which will give 500 energy credits to every human faction (ie, just me). The salvage somehow occurs successfully, despite the wreck of the Unity being in an unknown location deep inside Usurper territory. Maybe the reactor fell into the sea or something.





You know, actually, maybe it did.

Leaning on a railing at the stern of a ship, Chief Foreman Yosemite looked wistfully at the horizon, entranced by the multicoloured splashes of colour made by the rising light of dawn on the clouds and sea. A couple of warships moved lazily across his field of vision, their armoured structures reflecting the kaleidoscope of colours in odd and interesting ways. It would have been perfectly peaceful, if not for the clanking, grinding, pumping, mechanical sounds filling the air, and the crisp shouted words of working men. He took a long breath, grateful for the morning air, the breathing apparatus he was wearing only provided oxygen, the rest of the air mixture came from the environment, and its freshness overwhelmed the staleness of the stored oxygen.

Behind him was the utterly gargantuan superstructure of the the NPS Vehrec, a massive research vessel built and deployed for the mission of retrieving the U.N.S Unity's lost fusion core. A full dozen support ships aided it in its endeavour and tended to it worker ants their queen, and a further two flotillas of warships stood guard around the perimeter to protect against any sort of incursion. Chief Foreman Yosemite was an important part of this gargantuan undertaking, being responsible for the smooth operation of the mother of all cranes mounted on the deck of the Vehrec, and his break was ending.

He moved back to the crane and lift control room, boots clanking against the metal grating of the walkways, pipes and girders closing around. Due to the sheer size of the ship and his measured pace, it took fifteen minutes to get back to the Crane and Lift Control Room.

"How are the divers doing?" he asked upon entering with a heavy seaman's accent. Deep below them in the murky depths, workers, engineers, and robots laboured to prepare the fusion core for the ascent that would release it from its watery grave. Protected from the extreme pressures by armoured suits and bathyscaphes, they moved mud, fastened lines, attached floaters, and cut away pieces of unnecessary debris.

"They are almost done, Yosemite," the woman who had been watching the station in his stead replied, "every thing's fastened and secured, give it another ten, I think this time they're triple checking.

"'Bout time, took them long enough." Not needing a respiration mask indoors, Yosemite let a smirk show, and he went to get himself a cup of coffee. It was very strong and dark, the sort of stuff only salted veterans could stomach. He sipped at quietly for a few minutes, then refilled his cup and went to his command station. Some more minutes passed, and a voice came on the comms.

"Ah, Crane and Lift Control? Do you read me? This is Dive Leader."

"Dive Leader we read you, Chief Foreman Yosemite speaking, you finally all set down there?"

"Affirmative Foreman, all team leaders report clear and ready."

"You sure? After last time we can suddenly afford to run quadruple checks."

"Sure as I'm going to get, it's now or never."

"Aye, good, good. Be ready to start in two minutes."

Yosemite called the ship's Captain, "Divers are finally set, and the crane's been ready. We're all clear and waiting on you're approval ma'am."

About a minute later the awaited reply came, "All clears confirmed throughout fleet, Chief Foreman Yosemite, you are hereby authorized to begin Phase IIIb of salvage operations immediately."

"All right guys, you heard the lady. Time to lift that that mother."

At the bottom of a dark abyss, fastened chains became taut, and a groaning creaking noise pierced the stillness. At first nothing, just the stubborn complaint of metal, and old man wanting to stay in bed, then slowly, ever so slowly, movement. The massive chunk of twisted metal began to break free, kicking up plumes of mud as the suction's release disturbed the water.

This was the most crucial stage, after countless revisions and re-revisions, either the whole thing would hold, or it would collapse in a most spectacular and dangerous fashion. With baited breath, tense muscles, and hair trigger nerves, the divers hovered nearby. They anxiously watched, gauged, and measured, ensuring that they could spot anything going wrong and react to fix it in a moment's notice. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting and suspense, the groan faded into the shadows, and the core broke free of the mud's cold embrace. It had held, and the crews allowed themselves a brief moment of triumph.

Chief Foreman Yosemite grinned slightly, took a celebratory swig from his hip flask, and then told his subordinates to get back to work. "It's only free of the floor, it still needs to come up to the ceiling, and I don't need to tell ye louts just how many things could go wrong between now and then."

(Oh yeah, there's totally going to be audience cameos from now on. Yosemite and Vehrec are from SDN)


In 2321, Captain Svensgaard orders the construction of Nautilus' first Planet Buster. It is a powerful strategic weapon capable of annihilating an entire base and everything situated in its environs. A Skunkworks facility is being built before hand to off-set the immense costs of a Buster prototype, bringing the projected deployment of the weapon ahead by five years.




Advances in Fusion Power completed in 2325 make it possible to install Fusion Reactors on all units, and construct more advanced research facilities. Development of the Planet Buster's fission warhead switches to a more powerful fusion design without any cost overruns.




[NOTE: Fusion reactors double the base hit point value (10 HP) of units; they also make some units, especially advanced ones, cheaper. A *2 in a unit's stats indicates that it is equipped with a Fusion reactor and thus has 20 HP.]


A base controlling access through the narrows that form the only connection between the Great Northern Ocean and the Central Ocean is built in 2325 or 2326 (exact date unknown due to corrupted records). The grim name Point Blood reflects its vital strategic significance, and a flotilla will be permanently based there. (Old Point Blood now Sextant Cove.)

Since the 2220s the prevailing socio-economic policy of Nautilus has been lead by moderate environmentalists and the giants of the finance industry, known to history as the Financial Green Colation. While infrastructure, resource extraction, and industrial capability were by no means neglected, the prevailing attitude was one of strength through co-existence with planet and superior monetary power. The massive wealth achieved, and the cunning laws established to encourage re-investment, paid for Nautilus' large infrastructural growth, and its rapid technological advancement. The 2280s saw a distinct technocratic bent acquired by the ruling Coalition, as the scientists and researchers who had played a distinct and undeniable role in the nation's progress gained more political power, convincing the establishment of the necessity of the pursuit of knowledge as a route to wealth and prosperity.

Bringing about massive expansion, and successfully defending Nautilus against the gargantuan foreign threat presented by the Usurpers, allowed the Financial Green Coalition to fly high. They were nigh unchallengeable and utterly dominant for the last two decades of the 23rd century, and into the first decade of the 24th. However, some quiet resentment had been slowly growing amongst the masses for decades, as the bankers and stock brokers grew rich by playing with numbers, and the hard work of individuals either received little praise or was constrained by harsh regulations to protect Planet from humans. The general feeling began to prevail that a good Pirate should get ahead by the strain of his back and the sweat of his brow, not speculating on and manipulating the transaction of commodities and abstract values.

This feeling became a concrete movement and was given voice by the turmoil of the early 24th century, starting with increasing attacks by native life forms. The people where are first assured that this was a natural part of the cycle of things, an unfortunate price to pay for living here. As the attacks continued the assurances began to sound hollow, in great part because people began to wonder about the point of ecological restraints and regulation if they did not seem to be any good at keeping Planet's defences happy and at bay. Then in 2310 the energy markets collapsed abruptly and spectacularly. Disaster was averted through rapid government intervention, burning through 754 billion energy credits through the year, but confidence in the entirety of the ruling Coalition took a heavy toll.

From the chaos that was the financial crisis and the seemingly endless war against unwavering native attacks, a new political force rose; they came to be called the Syndicalist Industrialists. Their core message of restoring the value of an honest day's work, expanding the military to protect against all threats, and reforming the obviously useless crushing environmental regulation, resonated with the populace. Aided by defections among the hawk wing of the Financial Green Coalition, the Syndicalist Industrialists slowly began to erode the power of the old establishment and force them to come to terms on many issues across the board. While the electoral fight was still technically not over, the death knell of the old guard was definitively sounded when Captain Svensgaard unambiguously expressed support for the new guard, even going so far as to say that the government had "lost its way and fallen out of touch".

Due to a large sea change in Nautilus' political establishment, a more aggressive policy toward the Usurpers is adopted. It has the combined goals of extending Nautilus's influence and resource base, as well as providing a strategic buffer to absorb attacks from the Usurpers in the event of war. Choke points that can be easily fortified, defended, and reinforced, will be found and bases constructed behind them. In 2327 the appropriately named Pirate's Siege, established on the Uranium Flats, becomes the first permanent Pirate presence on the main continent. The rocky highlands to the south are immediately garrisoned, and an engineer brigade gets to work on fortifying the area with a network of bunkers. (Old Pirate's Siege now Far Horizons.)




Sailor's Rest founded on 2328, cementing Mount Planet island's reputation as a vacation destination.




The discovery of Organic Superlubricant leads to the development of Fusion Lasers. The Nautilus Air Force is first in line to adopt this new weapon system. It represents a 67% firepower increase over existing technology.




A motion to repeal the UN Charter and lift atrocity prohibitions is brought before the Planetary Council and passes. The unanimity of the vote is clear proof of its rightness. It is also a message to the Aliens that Humanity will not be restrained by its own laws in the usage of any means necessary to protect its interests. Also, the it's now legal to nerve-staple drones.




In 2332 crop failures cause food shortages and affect projected growth in Safe Heaven, but redundancy in production prevents starvation.




The Blood Truce with the Usurpers expires on 2336, and is not extended, but peace reigns regardless. Neither power seems interested in waging war, as it would result in endless and costly campaigns for little or no gain. The strategic picture is effectively a stalemate, and "peace through strength" becomes the motto of the day. The silent cold war of the past 54 years continues.




A decade after seizing power, the Syndicalist Industrial Coalition's reforms are finally felt across the board, replacing the Green economy with a Planned economy. Surplus energy production takes a significant hit as financial giants are restrained, but syndicalist policies in the industrial sector leads to considerable efficiency and production gains. Relaxed environmental regulation, and general jubilation from the populace, cause large and rapid shifts in population growth patterns. As an unfortunate side effect research efforts take a hit, as spare monies become scarce, but technological parity with the Usurpers has been attained and can be maintained.

To showcase Nautilus's improving industrial might under SIC's leadership, existent military procurement plans are updated with more ambitious versions.




Sea levels rise 66 metres world wide, sinking the polar land masses and various low-lying areas. Only significant loss in Nautilus is the Thermal Borehole south-east of Provision Point.




Fortification of the approaches to Pirate's Siege is completed on 2338. There are two fortress and bunker systems, one commanding the highlands in the west, and the other commanding the lowlands in the east. Any invading force would have to destroy the garrison of either fort to advance any further. Plans exist to add a sensor system in the future, providing advanced warning and enhanced battlefield intelligence.




The Nautilus Air Force's twelve wings are equipped with Fusion Interceptors (<10>,1,10 *2), and a dozen more of the same spec are in construction. They reign supreme over the Pirate skies, secure in the knowledge that they cannot be beaten.




The Usurpers struggle to keep up. Their Air Force consists of a dozen wings powered by new Fusion Reactors but armed with old weapons, hardly a match for the NAF. Analysis of their production orders reveals their next generation aircraft orders to consist of but three wings. Is Marr conceding air superiority?




[NOTE: The <> symbol indicates anti-aerial capability. The Air Superiority special ability gives it to the attack value, allowing the unit to attack air units in flight, and at doubled effectiveness, with the downside of halved effectiveness versus land and sea units. The AAA Tracking special ability gives it to the defence value, which doubles it against air attacks.]


In 2341 Pirate's Siege is renamed Buried Treasure, a reference to the wealth that abounds in the surrounding Uranium Flats. A new base established to the south-east, within air strike and artillery range of the main continent, takes up the old name.




In 2342 Nautilus' first strategic weapons battery, which had finished construction the previous year, is deployed to Meergard. With its 16 square range and 2 square destructive radius, it is a fearsome weapon, capable of killing millions in an instant.




A second strategic weapons battery is deployed in 2345, this time to Cutlass Cay. The two Fusion Planet Buster batteries are, taken toguether, powerful enough to give the Usurpers a hell of a bloody nose, but not enough to cripple them. Hopefully the threat is enough for the Aliens to pause and step carefully.




Examination of the Usurper's air defense and assault forces reveals a truly troubling development. Marr has, indeed, given-up on aerial superiority. He was behind the curve in adopting the next generation of needlejets and would thus find it difficult to field a force capable of countering my defences. Instead he is opting to bypass them entirely with hypersonic cruise missiles. They are designated "conventional missiles", but make no mistake, they are only "conventional" in comparison to the destruction that can be wrought by Planet Busters. These are operational scale nuclear weapons, and each battery can wipe out an entire brigade or flotilla on its own. The 26 missile batteries already deployed represent a clear and present danger to any Nautilus land or naval force within range of Usurper launch sites, and the 28 batteries in construction represent a greater potential danger in the near future, to say nothing of the alarming possibility that this is but a fraction of the size that their arsenal could grow to. This change in the strategic balance of power needs to be addressed as soon as possible.




In 2350 the Office of Planetology issues a warning suggesting the possibility of higher native life activity until 2370. The good news just keep coming.




The development of Advanced Spaceflight in 2351 makes it possible to counter-act global warming by means of solar shades, as well as the launching of Orbital Power Transmitters. Plans are immediately drawn up to emplace Planet's first permanent orbital facilities, consisting of two Transmitters and a Hydroponic Farm. Some advances in the field of space travel also have military applications, and a new weapons system, the Plasma Shard, becomes available. There are no plans to adopt it at this time.




Landlubber Inn was founded sometime in the 2342-2345 period, the exact date is unknown due to poor record keeping. In 2350 an engineering brigade and two AAA Galting Infantry (5,<4>,1 *2) brigades were deployed to a rocky outcropping to the south-east. The engineers immediately set about fortifying the area, while the intended garrison set-up a perimeter. The fort will not block passage to Landlubber Inn; rather it will serve as a strong point to base interdiction units from.




Strategic Analysis of 2351:

Nautilus and the Usurpers are essentially in a dead heat technology wise, with a slight advantage to the Pirate side. We are researching Conquer technologies, hopefully to make advances in Neural Grafting that are required to make progress in Bio-Engineering. The Aliens for their part have a Build focus, probably Silksteel Alloys, which would bring their defensive technology on par with ours.






Both sides are committing their greatest industrial centres to the task of building greater cruise missile arsenals, though a few of them are still engaged in infrastructural tasks.






The Usurpers have built several Secret Projects over the past few decades. The Planetary Transit System, makes new bases start at with three citizens instead of one; The Planetary Datalinks, gives any technology known by three other factions (utterly worthless now); The Supercollider, doubles lab output at the base that builds it; The Ascetic Virtues, gives +2 population limit on all bases and +1 Police rating; and the Hunter-Seeker Algorithm*, makes all units and bases immune to Probe Teams lacking the Algorithmic Enhancement special ability.

*The video cuts out early, credit for the quote goes to Sun Tzu, The Art of War.

Nautilus has not been able to keep up due to having other priorities, but The Living Refinery is an important point of contention, since it gives +2 Support. It's not much for the Pirates, given our social engineering choices we gain only one extra unsupported unit per base, and bonus (10 or 20) minerals for newly constructed bases, but it would be immensely powerful in the hands of the Aliens. It would give them the ability to have one free unit per point of population above four, with a baseline of four free units. Therefore, a size 12 base could support a dozen brigades, wings, battalions, squadrons, or batteries at no industrial cost to itself. A similar base in Nautilus could only deploy such a force only at an -11 mineral per year cost.

With The Living Refinery and their 300+ points of population, the Usurpers would be able to expand their armed forces to staggering size without compromising their industrial production. It could spell the end of Nautilus, of humanity, and that simply cannot be allowed to happen. Captain Svensgaard has already cued-up his own Living Refinery project, and while it has not started yet, it is projected to finish before Marr's does.




[Note: Support is the one mineral per year cost that the home base of a given unit pays to keep it in the field. It is also the social engineering setting that determines how many unsupported units can be fielded at any one time, and whether new bases start with bonus minerals.]


The Nautilus Air Force has deployed three missile batteries, with 17 more on the way, finally starting to play catch-up with the Usurpers. Unfortunately, the enemy has already deployed 45 batteries and is building 19 more, so there is a worryingly long way to go before strategic parity is achieved. As things stand now, the Aliens could probably wipe out 40% of the Pirate's standing armed forces in an instant if not for the fact that most of them are out of range.






Score comparisons: Nautilus has a slight edge in technology and 21 million citizens, the Usurpers more Secret Projects and 31 million citizens.

[frigidmagi]

We must close the missile gap! We cannot let this dangerous military weakness remain! For the Protection of Humanity and Freedom, we must develop more weapons capable of utterly wiping out large chunks of this rock at once!

Futhermore, break out the flame throwers and let's teach these native fungas to go down and stay down!

[Hadrianvs]

We must close the missile gap! We cannot let this dangerous military weakness remain! For the Protection of Humanity and Freedom, we must develop more weapons capable of utterly wiping out large chunks of this rock at once!

The only problem is that these weapons are very expensive to build. I might keep the arsenal small until I have submarines. Or rather until I have confirmed the AI can't see them...

Futhermore, break out the flame throwers and let's teach these native fungas to go down and stay down!

That's a bit of what I've been doing already, though once I get Advanced Ecological Engineering do I intent break out some Fungicidal Super Formers to go on a clean-up spree.

[frigidmagi]

WHOOOOOO! We're going to viciously oppress this native ecology! FOR HUMANITY! FOR FREEDOM!

...

Damn I gots to make some proganda posters or something for you man.

[Hadrianvs]

Damn I gots to make some proganda posters or something for you man.

Okay, let me give you some inspiration. This is what Captain Ulrik Svensgaard looks like:


(You should totally add an eyepatch over his bad eye)


This is what a propaganda poster looks like:





And this is what a guided missile cruiser looks like:





Have fun!