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The Black Swimmer


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As foretold, a dive into AI research to give us the final edge.

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Zuul remain my favourite race design-wise.

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Diplomacy has been very much alive lately. First our alliance offered Tarka-Hiver alliance a merge. It
happened, but obviously Hivers went for "quit if accepted" option. So they quit at the same time as their
alliance accepted. The only options on the table were accepting a degradation from alliance to NAP or war.
Needless to say, a NAP is enacted.

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Realizing that a lot more can be done to aid a peaceful solution, diplomacy is used in a more practical way.
Call it gifts or bribery, it is given out to all but Zuul.

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A turn later, Hivers manage to entangle themselves in an all-out war. I guess not everybody chose the NAP.

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Cries of death echo through the universe as at some worlds Hivers manage to defeat the defenders
and keep their gates - at the cost of the whole Human or Tarka colony.
At other colonies my allies manage to remove the gates. All Liir worlds with gates start building a CnC cruiser
and a heavy hitter, "Branilec pesmi" (Defender of Song) to remove the gates if it all goes down the drain
(into the sea). Luckily it is not even such a huge expense with our income.

Several invitations are made to include Morrigi into the alliance, some unanimous, some not. Morrigi have
turned them all down.

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As expected when a war starts, this corner of the galaxy explodes with traffic. Mostly these are scout ships
fleeing from Hiver worlds.

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Morrigi take deliberate actions against our colonies. The Song turns into a lament. Not only for what has
already happened, the future holds much more pain.

(big picture)
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This has befallen in a cluster of stars, formerly occupied by The Pure (white Zuul). Closest to Morrigi cluster,
it is the most species-diverse, though mostly settled by Humans who lead the charge. Attacking a colony does
not cancel a ceasefire as it is only valid in deep space or at non-occupied stars. Still, Morrigi at least
had the decency to end the farce. If they didn't, we surely could not allow its continuation.

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As Morrigi are using small cloaked fleets to strike at others, countermeasures are researched. Half of our CR
sized satellites will be scuttled and "Morena" (Moray) scanner sats will be constructed in their place. This
way the satellite defences can find the attackers that surprise our defending force. Deep scan DE can happen
to be on the other side of the colony and sats and planetary missiles have no way of seeing the attackers.
Now they do. Then, naturally, prevention of extinction. Whatever their empire did, we don't want the dragons
to disappear.

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A desperate try to talk things over. I had to chuckle when Morrigi called us worms...

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A display of Human firepower.

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Sadly, not a target practice.

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The Song overcomes.

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Cries on our doorstep are deafening. Having an armada like this at our colony is also disconcerting.

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Let's make it easier on Morrigi.

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Two of four armadas fighting the last remaining Zuul empire are sent to the disputed cluster. All Liir worlds
in the cluster are building satellites to aid in the defence until it is turned into offence. New fleets are
being built. This needs to be resolved fast, suffering of the innocents made as short as possible.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Research continued to Combat Algorithms (turn 219 - lets you operate more ships in a battle, in case you
have forgotten) and through whole ballistic tree to Impactors (222) and Neutronium rounds (223). Meaning
we could have heavy ballistic hitters if needed, too. Research tree is really open to us.

In turn 221 we have also salvaged something that can enable us to start a Pin'aa Ka project. We do.

But we need to rewind things just a bit.

Morrigi are letting all their glorious past related frustrations out upon our few colonies in their cluster.
For the moment, we can do little about it, although our biggest world there is building ships as fast as
possible. First, it needs to defend itself. Than can it help others. He who defends everything, defends
nothing.

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Contrary to what Morrigi are doing, we try to cause as little pain as possible. Their colonies are
designated as non-targets and we are waiting for the moment when their defence force is at its weakest to
force a surrender. We have all the necessary knowledge to keep them all alive. Making taken worlds
profitable will be very hard without terraforming, but currently we can afford to have them as a drain
on our budget indefinitely. Anything to bring harmony to the Song.

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The last of the Zuul.

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Tarka really want us to have leap mines. We will not insult them by turning their offer down, though mines
will not be used.

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"Graditelj" (Builder) class cruiser is designed and built at several colonies. These construction cruisers
will build our stations, mostly sensors "Rarog" (Spiny Lobster?) type.

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Finally we grind Morrigi empire to their original cluster.

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At Gallandro our forces were attacked by a large number of Morrigi...

(big picture)
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... construction ships!

Morrigi have been shipping all kinds of ships to Gallandro and construction ships are always present in
the battle. Whatever the opposition, Gallandro will be an opening step to final jump over Morrigi empire.

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Just an apology, as I won't be able to post another update at least untill Monday... Lately RL has interfered quite a lot - first I had field work, than I got sick (still recovering) and things got stalled a bit. As a small consolation; most pics for the next update are already done, so on Monday it should be up. Thank you for all your support and input.
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Morrigi show that they are not finished with us yet. Our colony is silent.

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At Gallandro we are disappointed in the realization that in many cases, Morrigi worlds will not yield before
a whole lot of screams will echo in our ships. It took three turns and a turn of destruction to persuade the
population. It will take time to recover from such events.

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At least our alliance is firm.

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Morrigi attack our largest colony in their cluster. This venture will cost them dearly - and it may lessen their
appetite for our colonies.

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A tech I wanted to try out for a long time is grabbed. And continued with research to make other races feel
comfortable on our worlds.

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A grave strategic mistake will cost us two colonies. Thundara II, the only Morrigi colony in the Human cluster,
was gearing up for war all the time. They surprise us with an attack on our colonies in that cluster.

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The inbound green marker line is the promise of mistake removal. Our flagship, "Pesem" is coming. It is not alone.
It will arrive too late for Bob II.

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Income we wield is just our of proportions. There is nothing we can't do. This is not just something we can
rest upon, it is also an obligation to use it in the best interest of all of living creatures.

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Our current population setting. Morrigi will repopulate their worlds and climate will be kept to accommodate them
as best as possible. Naturally this means out populations will grow extremely slow, so the majority of the
remaining place is currently appointed to Hivers. Our own people are also brought by several biomes.

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Another kind station will be built. Not for any special purpose really. A research station "Globina" (The Deep).

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Update ends with sights from recent battles. Would that I had nothing to show!

A sparkly. Morrigi impactor dread.

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A not sparkly. Our projector dread, with DN sized satellites in the background.

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In action.

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I hope I'll remember to check... The number is pretty big obviously. :) After AI Economics was researched the colony income became bigger than trade again.

 

All planets in the starting cluster, the second one and at least from the first defeated Zuul are completely populated - with Xenopopulation, too - and all trade lines in use. I didn't bother to fill them completely as the income jumped over anything we'd need. Clusters that once belonged to the last two defeated Zuul are probably still growing civilian populations. I just can't keep up with new trade routes available so I stopped caring to enable them all. it would be a waste of time.

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Just when you thought a view can not get any brighter...

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At Gallandro Morrigi population wanted some trip out of reality. They manage for a turn, than an appropriate response
is researched. Sorry dragons, you just don't sing well enough under influence. Also, our pursuit to be able to create
nice worlds for all continues.

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A blobular view from the side. The local space is settled by all kinds of empires, so the view looks choppier and
choppier.

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There are four of our clusters in the lower green blob. In the middle part there are (from left to right) a Hiver cluster
in dark green, a Human cluster in purple, Liir-Human mixed cluster in the centre - Gallandro would be in the right-most
peak of the cluster, and a Morrigi cluster in blue, where only Gudea was able to withstand the wrath of the dragons.
Red Tarka clusters hang above us all.

Same view, top down. Our empire seems to be above the red Tarka, but it is only because of the vivid colour of our empire.
The size of red stars reveals that they are closer than our empire.

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A Morrigi habitat station. One hundred million dragons that can not be kept alive, as stations count as ships and need
to be destroyed or are destroyed at a surrender.

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"Materin objem" protectorate ship is still around. Here is an example of how many cruisers can get a free shield... Nice.

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We are able to add Human population to Gallandro. Their number will be high as their CH is close to that of Morrigi. Only
Tarka CH is closer and they will be added soon.

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A pretty ending effect of Meson projectors. Quite a bang.

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Only showing these for the art. Do notice that we have a common research project with Morrigi...

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More research related art and more effort to leave all species alive, no matter what happens. Drones were
researched only to see what they look like.

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First fleets have arrived to Morrigi sector. First Morrigi worlds join our empire.

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Gallandro become first omny-species world. All former Morrigi worlds will follow.

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I have never seen a battle of absorbers before... That is a sight to see... as a slideshow! My poor comp.

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have never seen a battle of absorbers before... That is a sight to see... as a slideshow! My poor comp.

 

What about my recent video huh ? :P And you let your CnC die!! also pulsed phaser is not that good for absorbers because it can bounce off like lasers. AM Cannons work much better or projector ;)

 

Hmm.. how can you have joint project with Morrigi when you are at war with them ?

 

That picture of Morrigi vs Liir... their facial exp<b></b>ression does really say hatred for each of you ;) To add that both Morrigi and Liir are capable psionics.

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A quest to see the Liir drones goes on.

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Wondered what a dragon in space looks like? Well, like this:

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Most of our fleets have arrived to Morrigi space. Flagship with escorts is dispatched to deal directly with the
serpent's head.

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Meanwhile Gudea is doing magic on its own, too. Destroying enemy colonies that won't yield, letting the remaining
civilians declare independence and incorporating the independent colonies.

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Our forces are eating into dragon space.

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They are trying all sorts of ships, like the disruptor shield. Could work great really, if they were used on a fleet
level instead of an individual ship. This way their bird was easily flanked and its cloaca warmed up.

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Drones researched. We could stop research, but there are sensory techs that are better to have in our arsenal.

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And here they are. Pretty squid and mantas. With deadly weaponry.

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To see how others are faring a Tarka-Hiver battle was observed. Having no say in it I tried to recreate what every
battle should look like to a player in my game of dreams. Seeing sci-fi action movie, observing where most is
happening, enjoying the view. NOT moving ships inch by inch on a plane or even targeting weapon systems. If I succeeded
or not is another question that you need to answer. It can always be done better, naturally.

The vid holds a little (huge) spoiler at the end, so if you want to see the future... ;)



BTW, the vid already has some views! Are you guys watching the future before "it happens" in the AAR? He he he, I don't
mind, I just hope the story is not spoilt for you too much by that.
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The battle you saw was not just a pretty sight. A lot of Hivers died there.

 

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0034-10.jpg

 

We'll have to do something to prevent the bloodshed.

 

If you watched the vid, this is no news to you;

 

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Morrigi were not utterly destroyed though. They accepted a surrender before our flagship arrived to their HW.

Spoils of war would mean more were we hanging on the edge. But there is joy in keeping all Morrigi alive.

 

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This is a rare sight; an enemy HW with all infrastructure intact.

 

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Our alliance is not a rock-hard as it once was.

 

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The reason is most likely my passiveness against Hivers. That being true or not is irrelevant, the game must be ended before

our relations get any worse. The only way out that I can see is one I hoped to prevent. War against Hivers, a Blitzkrieg to make

them surrender as soon as possible. This way we can keep all of them alive and also prevent the alliance to take it out on

innocent... bugs.

 

All fleets operating in Morrigi cluster are immediately sent to a gathering at Pyyrus.

 

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0028-15.jpg

 

Worlds with Hiver gates are rechecked to see if there are any Hiver fleets circling them. Appropriate production

is set in motion. Research is directed into survival of our citizens where we can not take immediate action, which

is also the end of the research for this game.

 

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0036-10.jpg

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Fleets are sent into the heart of Hiver cluster, where our colony Rizketep has been building

new ships for some time now in preparation for a sad task that lies before us.

 

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0001-93.jpg

 

It is a sad task indeed. I've tried all kinds of diplomatic actions, but members of or alliance

weren't moved by any of them. Inviting Hivers into the alliance was the least to their liking.

Speed is of the essence now, we can not stand by and see Humans and Tarka slowly eradicate

sentient fellow beings.

 

Another revelation is given to us, but it is of no use.

 

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0002-83.jpg

 

This is how it all looks at the moment.

 

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0004-77.jpg

 

In terms of alliances, Hivers are completely dwarfed.

 

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0005-66.jpg

 

Fleets explode from Rizketep.

 

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0006-54.jpg

 

A Hiver fleet is a turn away from a Human world. If we don't want to listen to even more screams,

we have to act.

 

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0007-59.jpg

 

Please, friends, yield. You will be treated with respect.

 

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0008-55.jpg

 

Hivers listen, and know the direness of their situation. Almost as if they were waiting for this,

but nobody cared to offer it sooner.

 

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0009-51.jpg

 

How many lives could we have saved more have we moved faster?

 

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0011-46.jpg

 

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0012b.jpg

 

Finally we can put our battlesuits aside, to be grown over by coral and become a hiding place

for the fish. It will take a long time, but our wounds can begin the healing process and we

will be reborn among our people.

 

https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/SotS%20TAR/screen0012-43.jpg

 

 

.

.

.

Thank you all for listening to this story, and sorry if more bloodshed was expected.

Liir are not the people to show it if there is a way around.

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