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Star Control (Chenjesu, Syreen, Ur-Quan, Supox, Druuge...)

Fantasy in SPACE (Wood elves, dark elves, dwarves...)

Something something, human military goes conquer xenos?

[Haspen]

Episode 012: Gears of War

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Our Empress, Mrsshania Mrshani, in a televised speech, has proclaimed that state of war exists now between us and the despicable birds of Ess'Jaggon Foundation.

During the speech, the 2nd Imperial Fleet under command of Admiral Mrsshan Marsshani launched from Kajam Starbase, its course: Ess'Jagon border territories.

Ess'Jaggon stands alone; the Mrsshan Empire stands strong.

We will be victorious!



Just few days later, a report comes from the Zarr-Mirssha colony.

Its newfound settlers have finished unpacking. As you can see, the districts in it mean Zarr-Mirssha will be industrial colony at its core.



All and every of the systems we've claimed before the war are rich in resources, but poorly defended.

Not a single Starbase has been counted there, because Ess'Jaggon have this silly idea of protecting their belly rather than their extremities.



With conquest of Birona completed swiftly and effortlessly, the 2nd Imperial Fleet has charted its course.

It will go to Fuou, then over the northern hyperlane all the way to Astarte. From there, it will swing down and to Qifitar.

Once that last outpost is captured, 2nd Imperial Fleet will rendezvous with our troopships, and commence conquest of Matsonia colony.

With our war goals claimed and a Ess'Jaggon city in our hands, the bird zealots should cave in to our demands.



Reports from Regor archeology site indicate that something down there is generating immense amount of harmful radiation.

Physicists at the Physics Department of Sciences are purring from excitement. No matter what will be found, the stuff must be either highly advanced, or something natural that we yet have to encounter.



The notion to form Galactic Council have passed.

It has upset few of our politicians that we will share it with mercantile states of Vhemm and Lyrica, but what can you do?



The upgraded Reactor Boosters are now available for our spaceships' designs.

But more importantly - we can now pursue Curator Exploration Lab project. It will house state-of-art navigational and astronomy computers with software encyclopedias provided by the Curators.

Our survey ships will nyooom as they've never nyooom'd before!



Scientist Aja Trsshani of ISS Ritani has sent an emergency report - she found a free-floating 'tree'.

And then some Space Amoebas showed up on ISS Ritani's sensors!

She was ordered to investigate the tree if she feels she can do it before arrival of the Amoebas. Otherwise, she is to flee from the system.





Scientific community of the Mrsshan Empire has been tossed upside-down, when Barsshia Qardani, the paranoid engineer-slash-statesman-slash-xenobiologist has published his newest paper, "Lobes and Whiskers: Feasibility of Psionic Communications."

In the paper, the bold multi-field scientist lines out the basics of Psionics, the neural agitation theory and even theoretizes on which energy spectrum the 'mind waves' could be carried.

It wouldn't generate this much clamor if not for Barsshia Qardani's detailed and meticulous approach to the topic, some of its formulas and observations having been already noted or speculated by other scientists in previous decades.

Empress Mrsshania Mrsshani has issued an Imperial Edict, in which the Society Department is to pursue Scientist Barsshia Qardani's work and discover whether 'Psionics' are a possibility, or just something that can be put back into Mrsshani holo-vid science fiction series.



Raxycodium colony of Raxyssha has for the past few decades been supplanting its organic population with robotic servants.

The speed with which industry on Raxyssha has grew over the years gave the Imperial Senate a simple conclusion: robots are indeed useful.

Robot Assembly factories are to be built on several other planets; Mirr, Fen Habbanis, Meridssha and Cirssha. Others may follow if time, resources and construction priorities allow it.



The tree found by Aja Trsshani is a Tree of Life!

There was a heated debate in Imperial Senate about how to use its miraculous, life-extending sap.

Many aristocratic-rooted politicians argued to limit its use for the Royal Family and Very Important Fursonas. Unfortunately, that notion failed and instead the sap will be distributed to all of Imperial subjects and leaders.




The notion to establish Galactic Council has passed, and the Council itself was inaugrated shortly afterwards.

Immediately our diplomats have went through with the first Emergency Measure, putting Corporate Research Channels for debate.

We must ensure that fair reasoning and scientific pursuits dominate the galactic community, not superstition and backwardness.



Just a few days later, Empress Mrsshania surprised pretty much everyone by proclaiming the pursuit of galactic Supremacy.

"It is our birth right to impose our will on our neighbours, lest they plot to steal our peace and prospertity from us." She said in holographic speech. "A powerful fleet at our borders will be enough of a deterrent to make our enemies think twice before raising their laser cannons at us!"



An investigation into strange crater at Ejok IVa has finally been concluded.

A deposite of Liquid Metal was found, formed from debris of several huge battleships.

An interesting find that will probably never fall into our hands - Ejok system is just 3 jumps away from territory of Hierarchy of Bruvas.



The dig on Regor Ia has been concluded, and we found remains of an egg.

A spaceship sized egg. We hope we will never encounter whatever it was that hatched from the egg.

ISS Mari under command of Scientist Ursshia Rerrsshani was sent to Pozuno system to begin excavation on the surface of Pozuno III and its seemingly empty cities.



The Border Campaign of the 2nd Imperial Fleet is nearing its conclusion.

As soon as we gather our forces around Qifitar Station, we can launch the invasion of Matsonia.

When that suceeds, we will push our demands onto Ess'Jaggon leadership.



In other news, our expansion towards the Galactic Core finally yielded us the control of Witzen system.

The local Cynn primitives are rabidly Xenophobic, and Militarist to a degree.

Last thing we want some young FTL-capable race to spring up at our borders. Our agents and scientists will thus begin infiltrating the Cynn species in hopes of steering them towards a more amicable behavior.



Curator Exploration Labs specifications and software are being distributed to our survey ships.

Meanwhile, the Physics Department will pursue Gravitic Sensors. It has been noted by our military that our scanning and radar hardware is very weak compared to that of other species.

Hopefully, gravimetric-based equipment will fix the issue.



Our Engineering Department finished the study on Civilian Fabricators!

Now we can pursue a technology that will benefit our military even more - a plastic alloy for our spaceships.



General Mrsshan Murrari has reported to the Imperial Senate that the Siege of Travuu Colony has begun!

His optimistic estimates place the conquest of the planetside areas in three weeks; a month, tops.



As much as our General's estimates were correct, it seems that our strategists were in the wrong. The Ess'Jaggon refuse our treaty!

Empress Mrsshania has ordered 2nd Imperial Fleet to visit few more systems in an attempt to 'persuade' the bird zealots to listen to the voice of reason.



TO BE CONTINUED...

[Haspen]

Episode 013: Reaching the Unreachable

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The final battle of the war, or so we hope, is the Battle of Egrore Station.

Despite it being reinforced with extra armor (Ess'Jaggon must've finished the research moments earlier), it still falls into our hands.

With that, the diplomats of Imperial Senate pressure the leadership of Ess'Jaggon to finally relent.




And relent they do! The claimed systems all fall into our hands. The expansion of the borders means that heavily fortified Jillis Starbase no longer has any purpose.

The border starbases will be thus constructed at Qifitar, Fuou, and Astarte.

Our constructor ship is already on the way to claim the mineral riches of newly conquered systems for the Empire.

The whole war costed us exactly *1* Mafuz-Da Corvette, which was destroyed during the Battle of Egrore Station.



Our diplomats manage to make another step toward Mrsshan hegemony.

The Vhemm Combine, with whom we've just established a border, agree to a non-aggression pact!

With our mutual borders open, orders were given to Kajam Starbase to produce a Muo-class Science Ship. We will soon reach the stars behind Vhemm and catalogue them for our Royal Astronomical Academy.



The Cynn species is getting indoctrinated by our agents.

This has made from less Xenophobic and more Militarist - basically exchanging one Fanaticism for another.

At the least, we could now Enlighten them, but Empress Mrsshania is reluctant to issue the Edict to do so.



The Imperial Senate have noticed that the Furud system is positioned exactly that local trade hubs are all within 1-or-2 jumps away.

It has been decided that Furud Starbase will host specialized trading segments to ensure the local trade brings us as much Credits as it can.



The migrating forests on Meridssha have gotten hit by lightning.

We hope such incidents aren't too frequent.



Xaplo Union and Ess'Jaggon Foundation have finished their war.

Unsurprisingly, the Xaplo Union won, and they tore out a chunk of Ess'Jaggon's central systems for themselves.

The theocracy is now split into two; the central 3 or 4 planetary systems and the distant, recently colonized outposts in the 'east'.



Gravitic Sensors have been researched!

While there are some other, very tempting research projects on the list, we will go for L-Gate Activation.

Who knows what wonders and riches await us in L-Cluster? And to reap them, we must get there first.



It seems that the star systems of Ess'Jaggon are the host for VLUUR, an enigmatic space-faring entity.

Whether it is automated probe or something more malign, we will keep an eye on it.



It seems that the 'disappeared' race is some small fungoids.

We will seek them, maybe they're still around?



Our lawmakers at the Galactic Community has successfully passed Corporate Research Channels!

The list of upcoming issues is long, and there's isn't much we would like to rush.




Both Plasteel Materials and Psionic Theory research has been concluded.

We will now pursue some topics that we've ignored for a very, VERY long time.



The newest breakthroughs in sciences have allowed the Imperial Spaceship Design Bureau to come up with Mafran Te-class of Corvettes.

Like all Mafran-family designs, they come with two Shield Generators and one Armor layer. Cold Fusion Reactor and Gravitic Sensors were also installed on board.

Imperial Starfleet has decided to prioritize refits of 2nd Imperial Fleet, as it is stationed at Kajam, close to our rivals, Ess'Jaggon.

The 1st Imperial Fleet, stationed at our home system, Sha'Mar, will undergo refits when we have enough spare time and resources for it.



Just like we did previously, the Vhemm Combine has leveraged its Council powers.

They've went with Pangalactic Recycling Intiatives, a resolution that the Empress and the Senate support as well.



The shift of Cynn Civilization towards Authoritarianism, and further erosion of their innate Xenophobia, has convinced Empress Mrsshania.

She has issued an Imperial Edict, in which our agents will hasten the technological advancement of the Cynn.

If all goes well, and no accidents happen, within 5 standard years, the Cynn should possess enough knowledge to use spacefaring technologies, and then, we will probabl need 5 more before they join the spacefaring nations as our Protectorate, keeping it away from greedy paws of our enemies.



While we hoped to make Fen Habbanis III a research hub, dedicating time and resources to study the ancient technologies...

...it turns out that it is a cache of strategic resources. We cannot simply ignore Motes, Crystals and Gases on the planet!



And speaking of sciences - the Association of Advanced Sciences has formed within Imperial Senate.

It promotes materialism and robotics, in direct conflict with the Council of Pious Traditionalists.

They have high basic approval of Imperial policies, which means they might gain a lot of support within the Empire.



The Artisan Troupe of Hocry System has contacted us!

It seems they've managed to translate our language from the periodic reports of ISS Furo, which is surveying Hasseleh system, right next to Hocry.

While pangalactic art exchange is something we Mrsshan would love to participate in, our budget unfortunately does not allow for it. Maybe some other day?



The Imperial Senate and Empress Mrsshania have decreed that a new branch of Imperial Starfleet will be created - Master Shipwrights.

It will allow us to construct ships faster and cheaper thanks to expertise of engineers and industrialists within the branch.

Shortly afterwards, Coilguns designs are finished by Engineering Department of Sciences, and is told to pursue improvement of Alloy-making practices.



It baffles Mrsshan xenobiologists how the fungoids of Pozuno III were able to develop their cities in such a weirdly regular manner.

The leading theory is that someone helped the fungoids - we just haven't found any proof of outsider meddling.



Farming on our planets was improved.

Now is time to improve our leaders a little bit. Nothing wrong with some genetic superiority, right?

The longer our leaders live, the less frequently we need to train new ones to replace them.



Not much happennd in recent months, so the discovery of the fungoid reproduction cycle - hundred years old - has sparked some thrill amongst our xenobiologists.

Scientist Usshria Rersshani believes we're very close to finding out just where the fungoids went.

Perhaps they lie dormant somewhere on the planet. Maybe we can establish communications with them, even??



Our continuous troubles with establishing a healthy, booming Energy economy has made the Imperial Senate a bit uneasy.

It has been thus decided to pursue the Living Metal technologies, even if it might take 8 or 9 years to finish.

We have recently claimed two sources of liquid particle, and selling it to private merchants might provide us with huge income of credits.



In the recent report to the Imperial Senate, the Head of Physics Department, Gurrshia Mersshani, has re-affirmed the preeliminary view that we're ready to abort the L-Gates maintenance cycle.

Obviously, this will cause a cascade effect across the entire Galaxy, but we're prepared.

ISS Ritani, led by Scientist Aja Trsshani, is already within P-94 Singularity system, and has been issued Imperial Edict to crack open the L-Gate. She believes she needs 3 months, and not a day more.



At the Galactic Senate's floor, the Pangalactic Recycling Initiatives have passed.

That leaves only Vhemm Combine who haven't leveraged their Emergency Measure powers yet.

And they recently proposed Leveraged Privateering... which we do not want. Hmmmmm.



Vhemm Combine surprises us, however, by leveraging their power to push Charter of Worker's Rights issue to the Senate's floor.

Giving more freedoms and political power to the Working class was always an issue in Mrsshan Empire.

But the times of oppression are beyond us. The masses will love us for pushing this law through!






As the Empress Mrsshania watched the Dessanu speech in the Imperial Senate alongside her politicians, something in the atmosphere changed.

The excitement of the opening of L-Cluster has been replaced by certain amount of... anxiety?

Empress Mrsshania has decided to ask the Dessanu representative one more question:





TO BE CONTINUED...

[Loud Whispers]

These space roaches are all right

[Haspen]

Yeah!

They cool and they give gifts. Never met them before so overall impression: uwu

[Loud Whispers]

I love the idea that they're a bunch of nerd programmers who fudged the code and locked themselves out

[Haspen]

Episode 014: Long Overdue

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

With the Living Metal processing technology graciously given to us by the Dessanu, we can switch Engineering tech right away.

Our robotic servants are long overdue for an upgrade - there are factories and places where they could do us greater good.



Imperial Senate and Empress Mrsshania publicly announced that Dessanu are NOT to be annoyed in any way.

The power of their fleets is enough of a deterrent.




What a tremendously joyful day it is!

Our scientists and advisors completed the long process of bringing the Cynn up to speed on FTL travel.

They're now a Protectorate of ours, and Empress Mrsshania has publicly sworn to protect this lesser race from the evils of the universe.



As you can see, the inclusion of Cynn Protectorate has boosted the support of Empress Mrsshania in several factions.

Most notably, the Hierarchical Union is fully supporting her foreign policy.



Imperial Senate has supporter Empress Mrsshania's bill to create the 3rd Imperial Fleet.

It will be stationed at Obiysciuq Station, relatively close to Ess'Jaggon and Cynn territory, as well as P-94L Singularity that allows travel to L-Cluster.

Its core will 5 Raguz-class Destroyers; 10 Mafran Te and Mafuz corvettes each will compliment the force.



The processes behind FTL Inhibition are now fully understood by our scientists. FTL Inhibitors will be installed on planets and starbases in coming days.

Meanwhile, its time we do something about the size and efficiency of our research labs!



For the first time in many decades, the space pirates have gathered to form a primitively cohesive fleet that began attacking the Iflore outpost!

Unfortunately for them, the 1st Imperial Fleet finished its refits a month ago at Sha'Mar, located just 2 hyperlanes away from Iflore.

Admiral Fadarr Rsshani was ordered to take his Fleet and jump to the besieged system, to deal with the pirate scum.




It seems the 1st Imperial Fleet was itching for some carnage! They've dealt with the Pirates with speed and efficiency that impressed even the most picky of veterans.

Not only that, the pirate ship debris seems to have pieces of autocannons and ion-based thrusters.

Rerrama Parrtani, the Chief Assistant of Mirr Academy, was ordered to take ISS Ruri and analyze the debris. It might provide useful technological schematics!



Our robotics and AI sciences must progress hand-in-hand if we want to get anywhere with them.

Self-Aware Colony ships, Droid workers. If only we could get our hands on some intelligent battle computers...



Now that is a bit sad, isn't it?

And it makes a cautionary tale to avoid wanton destruction and pointless nihilism.

Scientist Usshria Rersshani has managed to gather quite a lot of artifacts and resources that we can use for progressing our own goals.



"...and to conclude my speech to you, esteemed Senators," Empress Mrsshania continued. "It is obvious that we must invest even more into the logistical base of our Imperial Fleets. Waste and delays must be dealt with, construction must be streamlined and maintenance procedures improved."

With a thunderous applause, it was obvious that no one in the Senate dared opposed Empress Mrsshania's vision.



As suspected, the pirate ships' debris had some advanced weaponry in it!

Physics and Engineering Departments were ordered to pursue the two topics as soon as they're done with current research.



Albeit far from ready, the 3rd Imperial Fleet and Admiral Rshinarria Murtanni will have to prove their worth right now.

Pirate syndicate, Vagabonds, have attacked and captured the vital Witzen Outpost within Cynn Protectorate.

We must ensure safety of our subjects and get rid of these space-faring bandits!



A newly recruited roboticist, Arssha Euzari, has brought up an interesting find in her astrophysics thesis.

It seems that while we cannot chart a path to systems beyond our sensors range, we can lock on the navigational computers to the L-Gates' signatures and thus reach black hole systems far beyond our territory.

Scientists Arssha Euzari, Ursshia Rerrshani (our chief archeologist) and Aja Trsshani (one of Dessanu-Cluster surveyors) were all ordered to perform the jumps.

If calculations are correct, they should arrive in unexplored systems somewhere behind or between Lyrite and Bruvas' species territories.



Our Robots are now Droids, capable of doing some specialist tasks as well as wider variety of worker tasks!

Engineering Department was ordered to pursue the mining sensor equipment upgrades.



Not long afterwards, the downward spiral toward Consumer Goods and Energy Credits shortages has forced the Imperial Senate's paw.

After nearly two hundred years of pursuing war-time economy, just in case a conflict erupts, it has been decided to switch to a moderate economy.

This is projected to greatly increase Consumer Goods production but slash the extra effort in constructing Alloys, like in Militarized Economy model.



Despite the Pirate fleet being comprised of much faster ships in greater numbers, our Raguz-class destroyers' firepower is in their UV Laser arrays.

The pirate ships explode in what Cynn reporters call 'the greatest fireworks display of this century'.



Scientist Arssha Euzari's theory has been proven correct.

The three Survey Ships delegated to this mission have begun unrestricted charter of the eastern half of the Galaxy.

Departments on Mirr eagerly await the arrivals of first reports.



The L-Gate emission targeting has brought up another idea to the minds of our researchers at Physics Department.

What if we can traverse the Hyperspace outside the established Lane network?

There's no knowing until we try!



The Lyrites and Xaploans have formed a Martial Alliance!

Formed to prevent incursions from inside and outside, the two species will now be tightly bound by mutual defense pact.



This has caused Empress Mrsshania to pursue a much closer relationship with one space-nation than have separate treaties with several.

The Commercial Pacts with Madrasura and Hulfassa were broken; and a new set of agreements was signed with the Vhemm Combine.

Our closest neighbour and staunch friends, the Seban, will continue to benefit from Mrsshan goods, though.



This does NOT stop the Vhemm Combine from getting too friendly with the newly created Xaplo-Lyrite pact!

What's worse, even the Bruvas have joined the Xaplo-Lyrite pact soon afterwards.

Suddenly, our government has found itself singled-out.



The Ess'Jaggon have closed borders with us the moment we finished claiming the Boro Baba system.

This blatant act of aggression will not go unpunished - Empress Mrsshania has called the Senate for extarordinary session.

War might be looming over the horizon.



Experimental Hyperlane Breaching - done.

Now is time for our mighty Science machine to help our economy.



We need MORE resources!

MORE energy!

MORE of everything - except alloys. We have plenty of alloys. We need the alloys for... reasons.



The research on Autocannons and Ion Thrusters has allowed us to seek improvements to Autocannons themselves.

Imperial Ship Design Bureau was ordered to postpone their Corvette design-making until we get these.



Our Destroyers, however, do not use Coilguns or Autocannons.

Raguz Da-class of Destroyers features much higher armor values, while Thrusters and Sensors were brought up to the current level.

All three of our Imperial Fleets were ordered to begin refits of the old designs to Raguz Da-class.



The Great Crash of 2280 will be forever remembered; we ran out of Energy Credits and Consumer Goods simultaneously.

After emergency selling of strategic resources and alloys, Empress Mrsshania has ordered that our trading policies be updated.

No longer dedicated to pure wealth creation, they will now also generate consumer goods for benefit of our workers and specialists.

This will also allow us to cut down the buying of CS's from galactic market.



We have finally found places that went un-scouted by other space-faring races!

This bodes well for the '2nd Age of Space Exploration' as it is informally called by younger scientists and xeno-enthusiasts.

All the Senate hopes is that this brings us riches so muchly needed nowadays.



Numerous administration and economy advisors and clerks were fired after the massively corrupt network was uncovered. The trade routes have been found to be absolutely plagued with smugglers, pirates and con artists.

Imperial Senate has issued an emergency decree to create 3 Patrol Fleets:

Core, to patrol Sha'Mar sector.
Pentarum, to patrol the hyperlanes from Wouu to Pentarum systems.
Fringe, to patrol the hyperlanes from Pentarum to Witzen system, home of the Cynn.



There's also the matter of us lacking Starbase coverage; the outposts simply aren't cut for trade protection.

Even two Starbases more, placed wisely, can curb the piracy problem.



The Galactic Senate gathers again, this time without anyone using the Emergency Measure.

This resolution is gladly accepted by Imperial Senate; after all, more resources, more wealth!



Despite some clamoring for concentration on Prosperity traditions, Empress Mrsshania has decided to go full into Supremacist ones.

It is strongly believed that the piracy problem is root issue of our economy.



We definitely need more Energy Credits, yes.



Decades old outpost full of Mrsshan corpses on the other side of the galaxy? Spooky.

However, our Piracy-suppressing project is bringing some results already! The increase in trade value allowed us to cut down on buying resources through Galactic Market.

That in turn allowed us to stop selling Minerals and divert them to district and building construction.

Our Energy Credits' gain is in the red, for now, but the situation is improving every month!



Ripper Autocannon design get!

We continue our massive science switch to industry and economy topics.



It seems we're not the only one with socio-economic problems nowadays.

The Xaplo Unions have had a separatist movement, well, separate from them.

Buvhodon Solidarity is neither friendly nor amicable, and holds just one system.



I believe this to be the first instance of 'Space Alcohol' that we ever made.

That monthly Influence bonus is all that's needed to convince me!



The new generation Corvette, Mamretar, is the pinnacle of our military equipment possibilities.

It houses double Ripper Autocannons, and coupled with UV Laser Array, it dishes out 15.53 units of 'damage' per second.

That is nearly a double from Mafran-class 8.27 DPS. Just as with Raguz Da Destroyers, Mamretars house Gravitic Sensors and Ion Thrusters within their design.

Refits will be postponed, however. Why, you might ask?



TO BE CONTINUED...

[Haspen]

Episode 015: Layers Above Science

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

We begin this update with everyone's favorite - research update!

We will pursue greater diplomatic weight in Galactic Community.

Extra envoys is always nice. A while later, we also completed Starhold technology.



Qiliftar Starbase and the ion storms caused by VLUUR have greatly slowed down our initial assault.

The 2nd Imperial Fleet now races - to the best of its abilities - to prevent a takeover of Boro Baba system.



The delay is so large that even the 3rd Imperial Fleet had the time to reach Egrore system all the way from Obiysciuq system.

Ess'Jaggon Foundation is now facing us on two fronts, and considering their meager fleetpower, the outcome of this war is all but decided already.



Hunting for the discoveries near the Galactic Core, the ISS Merdi, led by Scientist Arssha Euzari, finds a peculiar signal coming from a wormhole.

As we've already delved into secrets of wormhole travel, they've been tasked to finish Itraben system's survey before trying to get a fix on the signal.



A chase of a army transport convoy led the 2nd Imperial Fleet into a big fight with Ess'Jaggon forces.

Not only their main fleet was invested into the fight, but the nearby Matsonia Station was engaged too.

Still, our Fleet, crewed by bravest of Mrsshan soldiers, won the fight splendidly!



I knew I was missing an important building on the list! Higher pop creation time, yes please!

News from frontlines are 100% positive; after Battle of Matsonia, the Ess'Jaggon resistance collapsed and we already hold all the systems we've claimed for this conflict.

Our troops will soon land on Travuu colony, which will also become ours after the war.



A surprise to us all, Scientist Barsshia Qardani of ISS Fari makes contact with a Fallen Empire!

These xenophiliac protectors of lesser races are tucked into far-eastern corner of the galaxy, out of the way of everyone's bussiness.

And that's how it should stay.



As it turns out, Ess'Jaggon foundation colonies are suffering from widespread riots and civil disobedience.

The local guard corps are easily defeated, and after just two weeks of fighting, General Mrsshan Murrari claims victory in Battle of Travuu!



Not long afterwards, our Chief of Engineering Department, Barr Darshari, dies.

He was an expert in Materials and Industry, and helped greatly during economic crisis of past years with discovering technologies that helped stabilize our markets.

His place is taken by a young Propulsion expert, Pardarr Zarshewani.



A major battle occurs at Avaconea Starbase.

2nd and 3rd Imperial Fleets attack the station, which proves to be quite heavily armored.

Nonetheless, even this stronghold falls into our hands through sheer firepower and number of our ships fighting.



The dark, unclaimed corners of the galaxy, still hold secrets.

ISS Ritani just found out that there exists a type of 'cloud' that, while being a cloud, is capable of movement.

The Physics Department was ordered to begin immediate study of these Void Clouds, and, barring delays, we should have results within half a year.



The conflict with Ess'Jaggon, or rather particular slowness at its beginning, has led our Admiralty to develop War Games Training Programme.

It became so popular that Empress Mrsshania herself issued an edict making War Games a mandatory training exercise at all ground and space academies.



It seems that Void Clouds are extremely old and yet, astonishingly powerful, at least compared to our Imperial Fleets.

Nonetheless, these primordial forms can be extreme travel hazards, and must be removed.



Itraben wormhole has led Scientist Arssha Euzari and ISS Merdi to a system not connected to any other.

The immensely powerful psionic entity located there broke all power charts in the ship's computer. That convinced Scientist Arssha Euzari not to linger longer and flee.

Imperial Senate has declared the Riak system off-limits for all intersterllar travel.



The war is won, and all claimed systems fall into our hands.

Martial Law has been declared on Travuu colony, and we will do our best to ensure that stability and peace returns to the troubled colony.

Unlike the Ess'Jaggon government, the bird population of Travuu is not our enemy. Imperial Senate has given the Ess'Jaggon species the same Residential rights as other non-Mrsshan have.



With our resources as they are, we can begin the process of turning Kajam, Obiysciuq and Sha'Mar Starbases into dedicated Fleet shipyards.

They will even host Naval Academies to improve the skills of new recruits crewing the freshly constructed warships at these three stations.

Also, these stations will begin constructing several Mamretar-class Corvettes to supplant lost ships in 2nd and 3rd Imperial Fleets.



Funnily enough, we just receive a tech that will lets us build and furnish Starbases with less Alloys required.

Elsewhere, Holo-Theatres are being replaced by Gene Clinics, to give Mrsshan species the growth boost it needs.

To compensate for loss of Naval Capacity that will appear with shortage of Duelists, you can see we've started catching up on Naval Capacity techs in Society department. We're prepared!



The Vrinn Progenitors seem to have an interest in the brain-scans of the aliens we once procured.

Empress Mrsshania denied them this opportunity. If someone asks you for something, that 'something' but have some value, right?



In a move that is considered controversional by both egalitarian and old-guard members of the Senate, Society Department was tasked with mapping the genomes of all 'ideal' leaders we have.

It will contribute to selection of the strongest, brightest, and most capable to rule the offices and departments of the Empire.



Although slow to breed and quarrelsome, the Ess'Jaggon turn out to be very good miners and heavy-lifters!

Empress Mrsshania dedicated the planet Gozam II as the future Ess'Jaggon colony of Hasshaura.

There's plenty of places to put up mining and generator districts there. Perfect environ for our newest subject species.



It is time for the new generation of Ship Reactors!

We will start dabbling in matter-antimatter reactions and attempt to harness the resultant energy.



First time ever we have a Mrsshani expert on the barely understood Psionics.

Be it mind-folds or the Warp dimensional theory, it seems Usshria Rerrshani understands the principles as if it was any other branch of sciences.



The Imperial Senate has been shook by the Empress' decision to implement Capacity Subsides.

It is obvious to all that we're turning from outward exploration to inward improvement this way.



Pirates attack Duracchus system!

But the Core Patrol Fleet is there to deal with them.

Despite being outnumbered, our patrol ships possess much better technology on board.





TO BE CONTINUED...

[King Zultan]

So what can our psychic armies do, can they mind control people and make them kill themselves, or are they for something else?

[Loud Whispers]

So what can our psychic armies do, can they mind control people and make them kill themselves, or are they for something else?

I presume Psi Warriors do those kinds of shenanigens. Make squads attack their own allies, communicate with other psi-warriors real-time battlefield information, fry enemy brains and so on

[Haspen]

It's just a very beefy Army.

It deals very little collateral damage, and has huge amount of morale itself.

[Haspen]

Nemesis update breaks saves, so time to start anew.

Whom else to play than the glorious USSSR?

Episode 001: Poyekhali!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Comrades! The dreamed-of day of the Sovietkind reaching for the Stars have finally come!

Our glorious Union of Soviet Socialist Star Republics have became the leading force, and even the Allied Nations of Earth now have accepted our sovereinty over Earth.

Long live the Republic!

-Alexandr Ivanov, Chairman of Union of Soviet Socialist Star Republics



I am Alexandr Ivanov, Chairman of Union of Soviet Socialist Star Republics.

Our Science Ministry has been recently flipped upside down. Young, bright minds have replaced the old, rheumatic and lethargic bearded professors.

It is as it should be.



One of their peers, Guillermo Rojas, has been elected by the Ministry to test our FTL drive and visit the nearby Alpha Centauri system.

We need to find new worlds for our brave Soviet colonists, but first those exoplanets and distant stars need to be charted.

For that, we need much more Soviet explorers and science ships out there.



The Party is interested in having at least five Riedel-class explorers by the end of the year.

I have personally stamped the shipyard orders, even if they're postponed until we have more alloys.



Two months after his departure from Earth Spacedock, Guillermo Rojas reports that Soviet FTL drive has worked perfectly.

He has begun charting Alpha Centauri and already two continental worlds have been found.



Second Riedel-class ship, SSZ Glushko, is out in the starts.

Commanded by Ma Yahui, it is charting Toua system, connected to Alpha Centauri and Sol systems.



Conceptión de la Fuente, a very eager young Soviet scientist, is commanding SSZ Chandrasekhar on its voyage to Barnard's Star.

It is a small system but with many Hyperlane connections. Ms.Fuente here will be sent outwards to chart those distant, unknown locations afterwards.



We continue our unabated march for discoveries with the voyage of SSZ Kvant towards Neddum system.

Miguel Estrada, a brilliant physicist, is leading the ship's crew.

Its a bit rushed and unorthodox decision, but we're behind on both academical recruitment and the Five Ship Plan schedule, so this will have to do.



The sacking of Earth Spacedock Director due to failure of Five Ship Plan was sweetened by discovery of extraterrestial life in Alpha Centauri!

And it was done by no one else but Guillermo Rojas, our first explorer.

Soviet people back on Earth are thrilled by this discovery; a spirit of exploration and colonization has seized the populace!



This discovery by Ma Yahui has shaken up some of the older professors of the Earth Astrosciences Institute!

Not only the ancient intelligent life was up there millions of years before us, it was worm-shaped.

This 'Vultaum Star Assembly' as our scientists call it might have been quite big. We ought to search for its relics.



Suddenly upon my desk were deposited the First Contact Protocol plans.

We have nothing to fear, and considering our own bloody history, from the Great War of 1910s to Fifteen Day Crisis of 2132, I'm sure intelligent alien life forms will be eager to establish contact and learn from us just as we will learn from them.

If, and only if, my optimism proves wrong, we will become more guarded. Some within Security Bureau were grumbling about my decision, but I am the Chairman here.



Despite our ships being outside Sol system for more than one and half year, aliens elude our search efforts.

We need to speed up and master the processes and protocols of Discovery to quicken the long-awaited First Contact.

SSZ Tokamak, the fifth science ship, guided by Szymon Wojciechowski, has just left Earth Spacedock as well. Its destination - the Hyperlane cluster beyond Neddum system.



The crew of SSZ Kvant has just finished producing a report on what they've dubbed 'Zone A' on the planet.

It seems to be an area of marvels and dangers that our physicists would love to visit.

That will have to wait until the day our colonists establish a permament settlement on the planet's surface.



Soviet explorer Conceptión de la Fuente also isn't very behind in terms of archeological discoveries!

On the surface of Sirius Va, a small moon orbiting a gas giant, she found some old ruins.

She will begin work on these while Liu Nuan, a Chinese Military Theorist, leads SSZ Riedel, namesake of its class, to the stars beyond Sirius.



The day has finally come for the Soviet people to reach out toward the xenos!

In Talandra system, the newly commissioned SSZ Riedel made contact with some spacefaring aliens.

Hsu Guanting, a diplomat from Earth, has been assigned to lead a team of mathematicians and linguists to decipher the alien language and establish communications.



It seems that the spacefaring aliens managed to construct an outpost of sorts in Talandra system recently.

Its been a valuable source of transmissions for Soviet codebreakers. We might develop a mutual communication link very soon!



SSZ Kvant commanded by Miguel Estrada had to flee the Hauer system after their sensors reported the ship being targeted by some automated drone-like ships.

Our other envoy, Li Yun, has been ordered to establish a language of communication with these aliens - if they're aliens at all.



It turns out there were aliens living right in our neighbourhood!

The arid planet, Scholl III, is home of Queptilium civilization, which has recently begun sending unmanned space probes beyond the gravity well of their planet.

Its both thrilling and terrifying to learn of their existence so close to Earth.

I have ordered a special committee to gather and debate on the inevitable contact with Queptilium species.



The process of establishing contact with Beta Aliens have hit a terrible obstacle.

The xenos on the other side of the line are rather guarded against attempts at communication, and their appearance is not boding well.

Maybe they're just afraid, and not aggressive at all? First impressions might be deceiving, after all.

To be on the safe side, I've ordered both Conceptión de la Fuente and Liu Nuan to take their ships out of the space were Beta Aliens dwell.



The Charter of the United Socialist Earth Government has been signed and ratified by all 162 nations of Earth!

Finally, the Earth is united - under the banner of Socialism! Hurra! Hurra! Hurra!!

Now comes extensive reforming of our paperwork - for that, our Society Department will be pursuing the topic of Adaptive Bureaucracy.



New spacefaring species have been found in the souther cluster of stars.

This time, instead of established station, we have found a science vessel of sorts.

We do not have enough xenolinguistic staff to tackle the communicational challenge, so these Epsilon Aliens will have to wait a bit.



I had to present the grim news of Sirius Incident to the Party, Security and Military and it was not a pleasant affair.

Insults and accusations have been hurled upon me, but I prevailed. An unanimous decision to blockade Sirius-Talandra Hyperlane with an armed outpost has been agreed upon.

Still, the situation has been resolved quite successfully as SSZ Riedel managed to escape the aggressive alien vessel.

Meanwhile, Li Yun have finished work on the Ancient Drones we've found in Hauer. These will be dispatched by Admiral Valerina Petrova of the 1st Starfleet.

The now-free envoy will now begin work on establishing communications with Epsilon Aliens. Hopefully these ones are more friendly.



Admiral Petrova has reported contact with the ancient drones and our Starfleet is out there to destroy the malevolent, automated machines.

We will then be able to chart the system - SSZ Riedel has been commanded to do so, now that they've returned safely from their escape from Sirius.

Few days later, Hsu Guanting reports great progress in deciphering the language of the reptilian Beta Aliens.




The Baanthurians, as they're called, are the aggressive reptilians from Talandra and beyond.

Fiercely egalitarian and not understanding that some are just bit better than others, they're highly militant, too.

Admiral Petrova has been ordered to escort SSZ Murmansk, our construction vessel, to Sirius star, where the border starbase will be established.



Mr.Hsu's work is not yet finished within Baanthurian space.

Under the guise of maintaining a diplomatic outpost, he has established a network of intelligence agents.

It might come in handy, it might be another way to establish ties with the reptilians - we will see.



The Drone debris analyzed by SSZ Riedel has proven to be a cache of magnificent size!

The components have allowed us to firmly begin work on several technologies that our scientists weren't able to crack before.

Fusion power is especially something we want to grab as soon as possible.



The massive survey of Procyon system is nearing its completion, and Guillermo Rojas have found something interesting - a giant skeleton.

He has been ordered to catalogue the bones and try to determine their origin, if one can be determined.



Not only Epsilon Aliens are eager to establish communications with us, they even managed to give us some data and images!

They appearances seem to be of molluscoid sort. More precisely, they're big, colorful slug people.



Our scientists have discovered something that was thought impossible - a black cluster, a group of smaller singularities orbiting the central one.

It defies several established scientific systems and throws into the scrapyard few dozen theories on workings of exotic particles.

The system will not be studied, however, for the presence of magnificent, highly charged clouds renders a trip towards core of the system a suicidal prospect.



I have to admit that sometimes, the mind of the proletariat evades my calculations.

Here we have friendly, outgoing aliens and the public decries them as evil monsters.

I have appealed for calm and rational thinking in dealings with these molluscoids.

If anything, they can't be worse than the Baanthurians right across the border.



Another rabidly egalitarian space-faring race, the Havariggans, are those Epsilon Aliens in the 'south'.

They're rather peaceful too, so even if we won't establish a friendship, they will be easier to deal with than the Baanthurians.



A sudden cominuque from Havarigga Mandate took us all by surprise.

Despite their disdain for our Soviet ways, they've offered to establish embassies on our homeworld and vice versa.

The Party has agreed to the proposal, and we even sent envoy Hsu Guanting to promote closer ties with our socialist union!



A half-year lul in discoveries and explorations was broken by report on the 'Void Clouds' found in The Great Wound.

Much like their point of origin, these balls of energy defy our physical models.

And they're not to be trifled with.



Having established a firm border with Baanthurians and a firm relationship with Havarigans, we can finally turn inwards.

Alpha Centauri, the promised land, with its ruins and continental planets, has been claimed by the people of USSSR!

Once studied, the planets will be colonized - our first extrasolar colonies!



Ambisia III is home to the newly discovered civilization, the Ubari.

It seems that these strange beings are currently living in Medieval times. Hopefully our science ships streaking along the upper atmosphere won't cause any religious incidents.

While our xenobiologists would love to establish an outpost above the planet, it is too close to Haavarigans and too far from Soviet territories.



And speaking of Soviet territories - we have just established dominion over Scholl system.

An observation post will be established above the Queptilium's homeworld. Our linguists and xenobiologists will attempt to make peace with the budding space explorers.



Previously unknown particles to us, dubbed 'Volatile Motes', have been found just outside Havarigan space, in the Aruz system.

A curiosity that we won't be able to exploit anytime soon.



Theta Aliens have been discovered in the same space system as the Volatile Motes.

Envoy Li Yun has been assigned to determine whether these are intelligent, or simply sapient, life forms.

Most of my comrades agree that they look like very big calamari.



And just few weeks later we receive reports of another alien species just beyond Procyon, in the Ajam system!

Hsu Guanting was recalled from Haavarigan homeworld to lead the team of specialists to pursue the Theta Alien signals.



Observation post above Queptillium homeworld has sent a preeliminary report and I'm concerned.

The plantoids are extreme xenophobes. Their entertainment broadcasts are full of violence towards aliens and victory of 'true Queptilium race'. That is a threat both to Soviet security and any future relationship with us.

I have decided to begin an operation intended in making them a bit less afraid and fearful of the great cosmos - and our species.



The big calamari have been called 'Tiyanki' by us and even by Haavarigans.

They're docile and not a threat. Some of the younger memebers of the proletariat are finding them cute, even.



TO BE CONTINUED...

[King Zultan]

From space cats to commies, I wonder what our cosmonauts will find next?

[Haspen]

Chronicles of the Galactic Empire:

Chapter 1: Establishment of Galactic Empire under Rudolf von Goldenbaum

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

01.01.2200

Retired admiral Rudolf von Goldenbaum reforms the United Earth into Galactic Empire, and he is proclaimed Kaiser; his eldest daughter Brünhild is made Kronprizessin and heiress to the throne.

About the same week, the Hyperlane Jump Theory is proven in practice by successful launch of an unmanned probe through Sol-Procyon Hyperlane.



10.04.2200

Science vessel 'Botanik' under command of Christine Bufholtz enters Procyon Starzone, further cementing the capabilities of newly created Hyperdrives.

Another science vessel 'Gelehrte' is dispatched towards Barnard's Star, captained by Hildegard Stekkel, Head of Physics Research Division. She is replaced on that post by Elizabeth Vandenberg.



08.04.2201

A report sent to the Imperial Capital of Odin puts many minds at unease; it seems that Humanity might encounter threats to its superiority of the galaxy.

Although only ruins at best, the existence of 'aliens' will probably soon be confirmed.



17.06.2201

By the edict of Kaiser Rudolf, a new strata of the Empire is created, that of 'nobility', consisting of many of Rudolf's supporters from the old government.

Elaborate palaces and mansions are slated for construction all around the capital planet.



11.01.2202

Reports from Sirius and Procyon survey teams are seen as proof of a strange new aerosol particle, 'Zro' to be present in certain quantities.

While the Sirius Zro is freeform dust, the samples of Procyon Zro were found in ancient ruins, only partially resembling those found earlier.



28.03.2202

The first extrasolar outpost is built at Barnard's Star.

It will be dedicated for gathering of solar energy for the use by citizens of Galactic Empire, and the first mark toward the Humanity's Rightful Place in the Stars.



11.09.2204

After Procyon station comes online, Emperor Rudolf announces the establishment of new Domination traditions of the Imperial Government.

This is done to expedite the development of planets and increase efficiency of Human population, of course.



16.05.2205

What was always a point of discussion has been finally resolved; Proxima Centauri b is not a habitable planet.

But maybe, one day, Human scientists and engineers could change that.



20.03.2207

A report sent by the crew of science vessel Gelehrte is categorized 'Top Secret' at this day.

Under Information Protection Law, it would take 25 years until general populace would be informed that advanced spacefaring vessels by long-dead aliens were found.



01.06.2209

To ensure that revolutionary and reactive elements are rooted out, Emperor Rudolf proclaims creation of Judgement Corps.

Next day, the Information Quarantine Edict is passed by the Imperial government, further boosting internal security of the Empire.



27.01.2210

A massive xeno structural ruin is found orbiting one of the planets within Raxum system.

Unlike the solar sailer, this is too big of a find to be contained, and the news quickly spread from governmental and science comms channels to civilian ones.



24.02.2211

An announcement about discovery of interstellar traveling 'whales' raises much interest amongst the scholarly circles.

First, an Imperial envoy, Horst Schmude, is assigned to the project of finding out if these space animals have any sort of language or form of communication.



24.05.2212

The discovery of the the 'whale' nesting grounds within Tiyana Vek system has thrown out several astrophysical theories out of the window.

Emperor Rudolf has been reportedly musing whether these whales would be useful for anything or should they be ignored as nothing more than as 'fish in the ocean'.



01.12.2212

The final report on the 'Tiyanki' as the Head of Society Research Department, Eugen Saucken, has called them, is delivered to the Kaiser.

They are truly space whales. It has been decided that they are to be left alone.



01.01.2213

The Proclamation of Humanity's Unification also introduces new intricacies of Imperial Government, namely the establishment of political factions.

Unlike the divisive and chaotic United Earth Parliament, these factions exist only to strengthen the power of the legitimate Imperial Government.



10.11.2213

Workplace Motivator System is yet another of bright edicts proclaimed by Rudolf von Goldenbaum.



01.01.2216

A little over two years later, the usual 8-hour shift system is replaced by one that extends it to 10.

This ensures that the workers of the Galactic Empire give it all!



02.07.2216

Another clandestine report about discovery of long-lost play being transmitted is send to Odin Starzone.

Imperial engineers and linguists were put onto double-shifts to find out what all this means.



24.12.2217

The discovery of the Tiyanki Matriarch in Bera system has been made confidential on the very same day of the report's arrival at Odin, during the celebrations of Jule.

Entrance to the Bera system has been promptly restricted to all but Imperial Observer vessels, the penalty punishable by execution.



06.08.2218

The inauguration of 'Neue Sanssouci', the Imperial Palace of Goldenbaum Dynastic Court, marks the introduction of Imperius Architecture style.

In this style, governmental and aristocratic buildings are made bigger and taller than those belonging to lower classes.



13.02.2219

The first Starport of Imperial Navy was to be made in Raxum Starzone.

It is strategically placed where quite a few merchant enterprises are operating, and their taxation requires proper Starbase installations.

The 1st Fleet, under command of Admiral Günther Drewentz has been reinforced and then split into smaller unit, which will navigate the Sol-Efoll-Rubiz-Raxum route to ensure that piracy is suppressed.

The newly created 1st Imperial Patrol was put into capable hands of Admiral Clementz von Silberberch, Drewent's colleague and polar opposite to his cautious approach to combat.



01.01.2220

On 1st January 2220, Kaiser Rudolf von Goldenbaum celebrates his 20th anniversary (and, incidentally, his 50th birthday) as the ruler of Galactic Empire, which now boasts ownership of 13 Starzones.

In a speech broadcast to Imperial populace, the Kaiser congratulated Humanity on their ability to follow him.

He also promised that by the end of the next decade, Human colonists would make their way onto habitable planets in Sirius and Alpha Centauri at the very least.

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Loud Whispers]

I'm sure this dynasty will last forever; no blond brats or cynical historians could ever threaten the eternal Goldenbaum Empire!

[Haspen]

Duh, obviously!