Completed Let's Multiplay Alpha Centauri - Binary Dawn - Game 1

[RK47]

 

[Grimgravy]

Spoiler

Reminds me of Cromartie High!

 

[Hellraiser]

Power graph as of turn 85 now that Sparta went hero mode.

Hive leading as most populous, Morgan and Uni close behind. Don't know for what TBS is saving up cash but he has it. Or maybe it is because everybody else is spending every last energy credit.

 

[RK47]

 

[Kalin]

Road to Victory!

This is Morgan Financial Network News - Your guide to Lasting Prosperity!

Economic boom has been the name of the game ever since our successful conclusion of the Planetary Defence Initiative and return to CORPCON 5 - and the tide of prosperity shows no signs of receding! Corpwide increases in productivity, sales and wages - as well as rising Planet-wide demand for top quality products - has at long last laid the groundwork for our ultimate goal: an intellectual golden age of peace, prosperity and pleasure in a global Free Market environment!™

Our chief trading partners, of course, remain the same: Sister Miriam's Believers and Provost Zakharov's Univeristy, whose recent laissez faire reforms can but only be applauded. To a lesser extent, trade with the Human Hive continues to grow strong, albeit marred by the rigid and bureaucratic nature of Hive society. Even the Gaian bases have agreed to open their markets to Morganic blessings of affluence. Ever the pragmatist, Provost Zakharov has made efforts to align his faction with the latter given their close proximity, likely intending to employ Deirdre Skye's followers as a future buffer state.

[Cut to University address during PDI conference]

"Our first proposal is to declare the archipelago off-limits to urbanization and military deployment as a nature preserve and memorial area, considering the unique biodiversity of the area and the tragedies that have unfolded there. Our second proposal is to grant the Gaians custody over that area, including the privilege of settlement on the continental part of the jungle but not on the islands."

Representatives of the Human Hive reportedly found the proposals acceptable. CEO Morgan, commenting to Morgan 3d-Vision, remarked: "The Hive should of course have the mainland - as for the archipelago, you could sink the islands into the ocean for all we care. In regards to Gaia we have no opinion."

As for local news, Morgan Industries, Morgan DynaZauber and Morgan Kelpitos have been blessed with spectacular recreation districts, not least Morgan 3D Pinball Palace and Morgan Pleasure Dome. In addition, child-raising cubicle complexes have been constructed even in the most remote of bases, at long last providing a remedy for the sub-par Morganic birth rate. Why waste your resources raising your offspring when you can invest in a future Morganic talent, gene-tailored, cared-for and properly schooled towards a suitable career from the very moment of inception, all for the small price of a life-contract?

Only Morgan Arena and its associated joy-rec partners have taken a serious hit following Hive demands of CorpSec evacuation of the former Spartan mainland. In the interest of peace and commerce, CEO Morgan ordered the execution of the remaining 50,000 or so Spartan terrorists in Hommel's Citadel, thoroughly obliterating the base to make way for Hive colonization. Ever the shrewd businessman, our good CEO made the final extermination of the Spartan plague a grand spectacle netting well over a hundred thousand giga-credits, while at the same time assuring Bloodsport fans that the Arena enterprise would soon be back in an updated, refined and even more exciting fashion. Way to go, CEO!

Spoiler

Not worth fighting over it. Besides, the uppity Spartan pops and remote location from Morgan Industries resulted in disgusting inefficiency. Disbanded close to the entire expedition force prior to the obliteration while the base was set to collecting energy, it resulted in a very nice bonus income! Normally wouldn't do something like that, but it would have been a pain to transport them back to Morgan territory, what with the extra drones and all.

Peace seems to endure for now. Hive is expanding and constructs a lot of probe teams, University is focusing on economy, expansion and drone control, having relied on excessive nerve-stapling during the years of conflict. Gaia is the richest faction right now, having hoarded well over 300 yehzah. Believers are pursuing infrastructure, colony pods and probes. Yours truly is rebuilding creches and commons. Actually had to sell 6 creches and my network node just to afford in-the-field upgrades for the invasion force. Feels good to grow again.

 

[Hellraiser]

Might have been able to nab Climactic Research. Small army of three Sardaukar Bronzes creeping up from the south there. If nabbed it intact, might've launched a transport across Picon Mare to rush a semi-amphibious assault against Uni Base or bypass it for Mir Lab. Bit of a longshot in any case.

Spoiler

To be honest I expected an attack through that direction, there was a countermeasure in place and the base was supposed to be evacuated and burned if it was at risk of falling, specifically to prevent rafting shenanigans in Picon Mare. I did not have countermeasures in place anywhere initially and it too a while to put all of them in place, but it took you a long time to appear again. I guess in the end Lal did his job as a buffer state as I planned for, although not as effectively as I expected, but he did buy me enough time to dig in.

I am still surprised you felt so threatened by those missiles that you had to take Monitoring Station and commit that amount of units to take it. I had that base written off ever since I lost that laser battery and former and I stopped committing more than token resources to it. If it wasn't for the fact it was supporting units and producing energy/tech I would have just razed it.

BTW you could have taken it during that first raid. My sole laser rover which was defending it popped a pod with dimensional rift (the same one that spawned the nutrient on which you built your base for the attack later) and got warped near the desert on the opposite side of the continent about 3 turns earlier.

Having mines blown up would be a nuisance but strategically I doubt it was as much of a threat as the one closer to home - the Hive. While it could have backfired I would have dumped all your land forces on Yang's core region as soon as the pop-boom was done/almost done and drown him in waves upon wave of elite infantry. The Hive had nothing that could stop it, not cost-effectively at least. Two mineral row elite infantry is ridiculously good. Even running power like I did a perimeter and 3 defence on a unit are not that good against elite gamma squads. And Yang's perimeters can be just hacked with probes.

To me it seems in an invasion of the Hive you would have had quicker/easier gains for less effort. There was the risk of the Believers or Morgan reinforcing him, but considering your strategic position I do not believe you had a better choice. Either blitz and castrate the Hive or end up with the Hive swarming your mainland eventually. If they take the mainland you lose between 1/3 to 1/2 of your economy and it is GG. The best I could have done for the next 20 turns since your boom would be to lob missiles at mines/formers/ships.

 

[RK47]

 

[Jason Liang]

But where's Miriam?

Still that is one hell of a Three-Man Alliance. Who needs that psycho cunt Lal anyway

Bleh. Would have been interesting had MercantileInterest been able to wrangle at least one stooge ally

 

[Kalin]

Might as well add to the post-mortem talk with a timeline from the Morganic perspective.

Perhaps it will help complete the picture somewhat.

Spoiler

M.Y. 2103 - Landed at the Freshwater Sea. A most dubious start - immediate pod yielded an artifact rather than a special resource. All my base squares produced 1 nutrient. Researched Centauri Agriculture first to get access to forests, but of course, formers turned out to need prototyping. Set me back.

M.Y. 2118 - Met AgentOrange. Secured an alliance making my early push for defensive probe teams unwarranted. From AO I learnt of the landing spots of every faction on Planet, courtesy of his salvaging of the Unity wreckage.

[Fast forward]

M.Y. 2153-54 - Contacted by Hellraiser. Traded Radioactivity Studies (gamma weapons) for Reduced Senility and a treaty. As soon as I got map data of Spartan territory I became very concerned with their potential for excessive growth. Offered a Pact of Brotherhood to Hellraiser to contain Spartan expansion. At this time, Hellraiser had next to nothing to fight with; University base was defended by a single scout patrol. Tech trading and coordinated research naturally followed.

M.Y. 2160 - Spartan foil with probe teams detected. Plan made with Hellraiser to sway Grimgravy to our side. Preposterous ultimatum offered to Merc with no real expectation of it being accepted.

M.Y. 2161 - Invasion fleet plan hatched. Merc, by now, was focusing on building creches, recycling tanks, formers and the like across his empire while at the same time parading those elite gamma infantry around the jungle. Amusingly his bases were defended by next to nothing - a very greedy build that would still pay off unless something was done. If left to boom and make use of those gains he would quite simply run away with the game. Either I could stay home and boom myself or dedicate everything to cut him down to size. I went with the latter, switched focus from economy and infrastructure to 3 gamma frigates and 2 transports to hit Spartan mainland. By counting the moves on the map, arrival was expected to coincide roughly with Hellraiser developing Ultraconductor. Credit wires to Hellraiser begin in full.

M.Y. 2164 - Received plasma armour from Hellraiser who stole it from Merc. Sparta-Hive pact discovered through commerce visible in a base window. General mood was quite grim, but the possibility of victory through a hard fight still seemed possible. Of course, we were not yet sure if Grimgravy would help us or not.

M.Y. 2165 - Two Gamma Frigates constructed. Puzzled by Merc's inactivity in the war. I simply assumed Merc had opted to forego conquest in order to probe, and/or snatch the Cyborg Factory in University Base when that project would be finished.

M.Y. 2166 - Vendetta declared on Merc. Comms automatically received for Brozil and Grimgravy. Peace with Lal for extra commerce and a loan. Peace with Grimgravy who was very open to a coordinated strike against Merc.

M.Y. 2167 - Received Neural Grafting from University which allowed for Marine Detachment. Plan was to upgrade a foil to marine variety, then capture the transport foil for maximum lulz. Sadly it was too expensive, and it probably wouldn't have worked anyway since the transport was very damaged from the gamma shelling. Charter repealed. Merc's foil sunk. AutoEconomics, Centauri Seafaring and something else I forgot was sent to Grimgravy, tech Merc had refused to trade him. Naturally I pointed that out to Grimgravy in a sleazy salesman pitch.

M.Y. 2168 - Voted Lal into office who amusingly bribed me with 50 credits. Was gonna vote for him anyway, denying governor infiltration to Sparta was the whole point. Two transports ready.

M.Y. 2170 - Zoloto-Gold falls to surprise invasion, University base STILL defended by 1 scout patrol, but more units are of course out and about in the countryside. U.N. Headquarters falls.

M.Y. 2172 - Transports leave Morgan Docking carrying units from almost every base. This was possible without switching to Police State due to the small base sizes coupled with free talents from Conservative social choice and bonus talents from Gene Tanks. Amusing revolt in Metatron happens and gives me access to another foil and two Gamma infantry which are sent to join the fleet.

M.Y. 2174 - Ultraconductor received from Hellraiser, missile prototype rushed.

M.Y. 2175 - Grimgravy sends out his isle of the deep from the Hive to escort the fleet. The plan is to gift him my transport units once they've unloaded, both because I wouldn't need them anymore and to hide his invasion somewhat from Merc, although I always assumed he saw it coming a mile away.

M.Y. 2176-77 - Get Long Ranged Missiles from University and also develop Resonance Theory. Research continues towards Mechanical Resonance to give me access to the Planetary Energy Grid (yuge for Morgan). As a bonus, the tech gives deep radar ability, vital for naval operations. Around this time I got this crazy idea to wait on building the Planetary Energy Grid as planned and instead use my project minerals to rush the Progenitor Translator (+2 free techs) and pray for Colonial Aviation.

My idea was to help Grimgravy flood the Spartan mainland with missile choppers, which although nerfed by poor range in the mod would still be able to hurt precisely only Merc on account of their extremely close proximity. However, RNG Krizto did not approve. I was unable to select Colonial Aviation but instead I got access to the tech that gives 5 armour and conventional missiles. In addition, it ALSO unlocked lower/raise terrain ability, enabling a landbridge that would enable a massive land invasion. Plans were immediately made with Grimgravy to pursue this path while my fleet would continue to surprise Merc with a flank landing.

M.Y. 2178 - A gamma frigate is upgraded to radar and missile variety. I make the decision to gift the unit to Grimgravy so he can reverse-engineer and get access to both abilities without actually having the tech. Same year Gravy is made governor with very slight margin denying Merc the seat for a second term.

M.Y. 2180 - Following Grimgravy's heroic defense clearing the staging point of Spartan ships, the fleet assembles in preparation for the landing. Meanwhile, massive push at home to build CorpSec Beta probes to guard all my bases against tech-stealing. Amusingly, Merc managed to probe me one or two turns before. He took a random stab at stealing tech and got Mechanical Resonance out of some 3-4 different techs. Yeah. Real prosper moment. Fleet moves to staging point in fungus south of Hommel's Citadel, where the transports are upgraded to now-prototyped pulse plate armour and radar variety.

M.Y. 2181 - The landing. Hommel's Citadel was defended by single armoured probe team, nearly beat my attacking missile rover (no access to amphibious pod, it was the only way to rapidly take the base). Units landed in base and used the road network to scout ahead. Two spartan scouts en route between bases (?) destroyed, infantry stacked up to block incoming probe teams. Received credits from Hellraiser and AgentOrange to help upgrade my units. At this point I had no defensive probes in the base. A huge gamble, because Merc could subvert the base for peanuts on account of it belonging to him and his superior probe rating. It would give him access to missile weapons and pulse armour through reverse engineering! Still made the move, because intelligence reports indicated he was trying to probe Grimgravy.

M.Y. 2182 - No subversion. Base still stands. Third transport arrives with an armoured probe team and a probe foil also makes it into harbour. Felt very safe at this point. The base would not fall easily. Fungal guys were reinforced by upgrading to a Broliath (2-5-1) and Dreadnought (6-5-1), both with pulse ability granting +50% defense against rovers. ETA to Hive landbridge was 3-4 turns. Started making plans to move against Bulwark Base.

At this point Sparta had 122 population. By comparison, Hive had 48, University and yours truly had something like 28-35, Believers even less. Like Hellraiser pointed out, there were many possible routes Merc could take to fight back, probing and reverse-engineering being particularly attractive. He also had AAA and access to instant elites. In addition, this joint effort of ours wouldn't have endured perpetually. From my perspective, the war was only about one thing: cutting Sparta down to size. Could have easily survived as a second rate power, even won the game as part of a new coalition. Biggest mistake was probably the early boom with nothing but shitty scouts at home. The chutzpah!

Planet post-Yalta II is definitely interesting, however. We're all still allied, commerce is great. I am booming now, but only to size 5 of course. Grimgravy is pulling ahead. Mightily concerned about his worm force - it is out there somewhere! I was hoping those boils would get burned by elite Spartans in the brutal slogwar for the mainland, all while I would sit back, enjoy the show and launch Morgan MegaBank to rake in the yehzah. No such luck. Still, Icarus was downed, so mission accomplished on that front.

 

[RK47]

^ We are Kings - By CEO Morgan , a 100% accurate account of Operation Chiron Freedom

 

[Jason Liang]

So... MI played Sparta exact opposite to Sparta's strengths....

Also as far as I can tell this invasion of Sparta was only possible since you guys banned crawlers, yes?

Hilarious that in the absence of Sven, Morgan became Chiron's naval power.

 

[RK47]

dude, they be gangbangers man.
nigga got his china triad and fukken homie sistas in da hood to save the nerd boiz yo.
spartan ho never stood a chance

 

[Hellraiser]

Also as far as I can tell this invasion of Sparta was only possible since you guys banned crawlers, yes?

They aren't banned, the mod puts them very far in the tech tree. I don't remember where exactly even. I think this is for the better after game 3...

 

[Comte]

Also as far as I can tell this invasion of Sparta was only possible since you guys banned crawlers, yes?

They aren't banned, the mod puts them very far in the tech tree. I don't remember where exactly even. I think this is for the better after game 3...

What mod did you guys use?

 

[Hellraiser]

Also as far as I can tell this invasion of Sparta was only possible since you guys banned crawlers, yes?

They aren't banned, the mod puts them very far in the tech tree. I don't remember where exactly even. I think this is for the better after game 3...

What mod did you guys use?

Binary Dawn.

 

[Grimgravy]

Megalas Ellas. What will we find the the ruins of Sparta? We must be wary lest we catch their madness.

Status of the Hive, 90 years since planetfall:

Diplomatic situation: Exemplary
Following the fall of Sparta, only Lal stands in the way of world peace. All other factions seem dedicated to peace and global alliance.

Strategic Situation: Good
Strong allies and a strong military equate to a good strategic situation. But we must prepare lest our alliances prove to be short lived now that the giant is slain.

Research Situation: Tolerable
Progress is slow but steady, but when will Morgan and the University pull ahead?

Base situation: Good
Domestic development is proceeding with the fall of Sparta. Expansion into the former Spartan mainland has commenced, but full exploitation will take many cycles indeed.

 

[Kalin]

YES!

Friends! Shareholders! Customers! Chiron has entered a new era - a shining double dawn for humanity! Populations are booming! Xenofungus is cleared Planetwide! Giant structures reach ever higher towards our Centauri sky! In the golden domes of Morgan Industries, the phrase Pleasure, Progress and Prosperity is not merely a slogan - it is the basis of our life, right here, right now. With me as your governor I will extend our lifestyle - not merely to a select few - but to all of mankind!

Now, I love Governor Yang like a brother. A splendid chap! Yet what kind of friend would I be if I did not make my own play for power? Surely there is no greater crime than to uselessly and pointlessly cripple oneself. Planet is ripe and ready for enrichment, and by Jove - we have barely begun reaping its rewards! People of Chiron, whom is best suited to lead you to lasting prosperity? I am confident you will make the right choice, because as the saying goes: With Morgan, YOU WIN!

*** VOTE MORGAN! Help Morgan help YOU! Unlock prosperous rewards! Get VIP Joy-Rec access! Amazing discounts! Loot boxes and MORE! ***

*** CEO Morgan is YOUR FRIEND! Morgan LOVES YOU! Morgan will MAKE YOU RICH! VOTE NOW! ***

Spoiler

Barely managed to beat Hellraiser to second spot thanks to my Golden Baby booming scheme! Sort of a slog to set it up, but my project helps a lot to get the required amount of talents to trigger golden ages. Hopefully I can grab the governor seat, that bonus commerce is too sweet to ignore!

Rankings as of M.Y. 2191. Grimgravy pulled ahead in tech after trading with Hellraiser. They both have Ecological Engineering and Psionics, and are both going for the Empath Guild and Weather Paradigm (well, based on my estimates anyway). AgentOrange is building the Maritime Control Center and yours truly is building the Longevity Vaccine in two bases. In other words, quite a race going on for projects right now. Will be interesting to see who manages to snatch what.

 

[Hellraiser]

The most elite of elite school founded by the renowned Professor Elegnem is now actively seeking out the best and brightest from all children of the University! Under the guidance of Professor E's unique and breakthrough education techniques a new generation of Talents will emerge, vastly exceeding the capabilities of prior generations. Your child can be part of this new elite! Get your child assessed! Find out their true hidden potential! Ensure they get the very best in education on Chiron!

Our boarding school for gifted youngsters is located in the lovely Galileo Heights district on the outskirts of University Base, a serene environment surrounded by the Babylon Riverside Forest that augments the learning and intellectual development of children. We operate as a non-profit organization funded by generous sponsors eager to see our society transcend into an unparalleled state of intellectual prosperity. Your child will have the very best in boarding, nutrients, recreational activities and education for absolutely free! All they need to do is score high during our very sophisticated assessment procedure! The top 100 applicants will join the first class! Don't risk losing out on this opportunity, take your child to see Professor E and his assistants! Have them assessed! Give them the future they deserve!

Spoiler

The race for projects is on as Kalin mentioned. Lots of projects up for grabs, lots of contenders. These include the Longevity Vaccine aka the smokescreen project which was constantly built by everyone only to switch to something else (last time to the Planetary Energy Grid by the Spartans, which they razed giving Morgan PTSD), might actually get finished this time. There's also the Empath Guild, Weather Paradigm (the mod shifts it all the way to ecological engineering in the tech tree, so no more early boreholes as it is now unlocked by the same tech as boreholes) and the Maritime Control Center. And there are I think twice as many bases building them as there are projects up for grabs.

Also Morgan is governor now, pity I did have 4 less pop than him but oh well.

 

[Hellraiser]

Eva Petrenko: Project officials confirm the Tempestas system went live earlier this week and is operating well beyond expectations. The new system utilizes a network of weather sensors mounted on weather balloons, ground stations and sea buoys to feed data into a powerful new mainframe called the Tempestas Hub. The unique weather modelling simulation running on the mainframe has been shown during its testing period to accurately predict weather conditions on a given sol on timescales of up to a cycle. It can also predict weather changes within a specific decisol as far away as a decicycle in the future, accurately in this case means within 1 kelvin for temperature, one meter per second for wind and 1 millimetre for rainfall per sol.

Eva Petrenko: The accuracy of the system is so great in fact that it predicted the absolutely catastrophic and unprecedented hail storm that destroyed the Babylon Power Company solar farms near University Base and Mir Lab. Engineers initially thought this was a glitch in the code or the sensors considering no hail storm of such power has ever been recorded by University meteorologists, but after the news of the disasters reached them they felt oddly relieved that indeed it was not another glitch that needs to be fixed. Thus one more layer from the layers upon layers of secrets that Planet still hides from us has been peeled away.

Eva Petrenko: This information on forecast data is shared with terraforming engineers allowing for unprecedented optimization in terraforming planning and, to quote one technician, “projects being done ahead of schedule, for once”, end quote. With a lot of terraforming projects in the pipeline for the former crews and many in progress such as project Devana, project Svarog or project Dazhbog, University citizens will no doubt quickly come to appreciate the work done by the Tempestas team in the University Base headquarters of this new meteorological agency.

Eva Petrenko: Provost Zakharov has signed a renewal of our joint declaration of coexistence and cooperation, highlighting the immense benefits this friendship has had on both factions across all the cycles it has lasted.

[transition to footage from Gaia's Second Landing]

Provost Zakharov: Gaian contributions to our society have been immeasurable ever since direct contact was made cycles ago, still during the Great War of Planetary Defense. The peaceful Gaian people are our neighbours, friends and allies. We intend to coexist with them in harmony and any threat seeking to disrupt this harmony will be met with decisive response from our side. That is what friends do after all.

[transition back to studio]

Eva Petrenko: Zoloto-Gold 2.0 has unveiled a monument titled “the master rebuilders” dedicated to those that survived the Zoloto-Gold massacres and returned cycles later after the war to build a new glorious city atop the ashes of the old one. And while ruins, rubble and slag still surround the new habitats, the citizens of Zoloto-Gold, both those old and new, work with song on their lips aiming to not just restore the base to its former glory, but to have it outshine that which the Spartan monsters laid to waste. The monument itself is the work of the citizens themselves with everyone contributing at least a piece of scrap found in the ruins while the new Caladan Construction Corporation lent tools for the artisans so that the scrap could be turned into the masterpiece.

Eva Petrenko: Former Ad Astra members are displeased with the lack of research into spaceflight following the development of the Von Braun rocket, threatening yet another split in the RP faction. Meanwhile the ruling coalition is facing a new external threat to its position from the new Enlightened Union faction which has started to gain public favor in recent polls. All of this is happening while the Augment Front also continues gaining support. The next assembly elections will be quite a test to Zakharov, who while close to ruling the faction for nearly a hectocycle might lose power for the first time, unless he manages to once again prove how skilled he is at navigating the waters of University politics and public opinion.

Spoiler

We're on turn 96 and I managed to beat the Hive to the Weather Paradigm, which as I probably already mentioned is later in the tech tree of the Binary Dawn mod. For some reason Grimgravy had a sudden unexplainable influx of energy last turn which I did not expect, but luckily he did not try to rush it with his energy and artefact last turn. My autistic spreadsheet told me he should only be able to rush it this turn if he used the artefact, but that was before he got the cash. I knew it was my last chance to grab it so I took it, definitely worth it.

Out of the current batch of available projects its the one that is objectively the best. Not game winning by itself but it gives a material industrial advantage, especially in a phase of the game where we need a lot of terraforming for vertical growth (especially after the war).

Projects so far, without spoiling much I will just say that this will change fast:

 

[Storyfag]

Climatic Research Terraforming Project Svarog

I approve

 

[Grimgravy]

Spoiler

For some reason @Grimgravy had a sudden unexplainable influx of energy last turn which I did not expect

I'm doing honest work purging Xenos. Got 4 or 5 in one turn. Where did your unexplainable influx of energy come from? Where did Morgan's energy go? It's a mystery

 

[Hellraiser]

Spoiler

For some reason @Grimgravy had a sudden unexplainable influx of energy last turn which I did not expect

I'm doing honest work purging Xenos. Got 4 or 5 in one turn. Where did your unexplainable influx of energy come from? Where did Morgan's energy go? It's a mystery

Spoiler

Don't blame this one on black space jew tricks, this was done 100% with University science! It is not so much of a mystery as a not so obvious game mechanic that normally wouldn't really be used if crawlers weren't so late game in this mod. I disbanded units, it refunds half of the mineral cost if done in a base unlike the full cost for a crawler (IIRC).

I had to scrap only three units to do this, some of which I kept near but not inside University Base. I actually throught you might do the same, but now I know you weren't aware this was an option.

I also had a head start in Uni base of a few turns. I regret getting that energy bank in Kopernigk before switching to a project, would have had more minerals there which would give me more options for rushing. I didn't notice your artefact until after you started building projects.

I switched back from power to knowledge (+1 industry for me and +1 efficiency as well) and I had econ set to a lot and labs to nothing for a few turns which gave me mad cash. Not Morgan levels of mad cash but nearly three times as much as you make currently per turn sans worm looting. Never underestimate high efficiency and shifting sliders to high econ while running free market, this is something I learned from Kalin when he used it against me as the Believers in game 2. The downside is my research is in the middle of bumfuck nowhere currently, where it will stay for the foreseeable future.

 

[Jason Liang]

micromanagement

 

[RK47]

HIVE JUSTICE: 2 gravlift operators charged over H$1 bribes

THE HIVE : Two gravlift operators were charged on Tuesday (Dec 11) for allegedly obtaining H$1 bribes in exchange for favours.

Chen Ziliang, 47, and Zhao Yucun, 43, were both working as forklift operators at The Chairman Container Depot, when they set out to obtain "small value bribes" from crawler drivers at the depot, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in a press release.

Chen was charged with one count of corruptly trying to obtain H$1 from a crawler driver, in exchange for not delaying the return of a container to his vehicle.

Chen was also charged with receiving similar bribes from crawler drivers between May 2016 and March 2018, for not delaying the collection or return of containers to their vehicles.
Like Chen, the other forklift operator, Zhao, was also charged with obtaining similar bribes from crawler drivers. These offences allegedly took place between September 2014 and March 2018, and were also in exchange for not delaying the collection or return of containers.

CPIB did not specify the total amount that both accused allegedly received from the bribes.
If convicted, they face up to H$100,000 fine or maximum five years' jail, or both.

"Employees are expected to carry out their duties fairly instead of obtaining bribes in exchange for favours," CPIB said.
"Even if the bribe amount is as low as $1, they can be taken to task. Bribes of any amount or any kind will not be tolerated."

 

[Hellraiser]

Eva Petrenko: Faction officials in Kopernigk Observatory officially opened the new Curiositas Naval Nexus today. The complex houses maritime control nodes, training facilities, simulators and new oceanographic institute offices, effectively re-establishing the University naval development. The facility aims to efficiently control sea traffic, train a new generation of naval officers and aid navigation which is vital given the lack of satellite capability by human factions on Chiron. All of these are now more than necessary as new harbours have been erected on the coast of Caladan Mare and Vulcan Mare within the last decacycle.

Eva Petrenko: While some question the logic of locating such an important maritime complex in Kopernigk Observatory Viceprovost Karlsson has reassured detractors that it is in the interest of faction security that the facility is located inland. He has also cited other more pragmatic reasons, the chief of which is that KOMICO's HQ and major production facilities, including the progenitor borehole, are located in Kopernigk Observatory.

Eva Petrenko: The new complex, unrivalled in scale by anything else built by mankind on Planet so far, is named after the first exploration vessel of our faction - the Curiositas. It is a monument to the triumphs and sacrifices of the legendary vessel and its crew. Provost Zakharov has underlined the remarkable achievements of the Curiositas in his speech during the opening ceremony.

[transition to speech footage]

Provost Zakharov: We must not forget the feats the Curiositas accomplished. It first warned us of the Spartan menace and installed a backdoor to their datalinks which saved countless lives during the war that followed cycles later. Its crew also aided the sabotage operation in Neo Kowloon destroying the Spartan recycling tanks in that base. Later the ship deployed operatives which have liberated the alloy technology from the Spartans. Finally the ship and her crew did their best to prevent the criminals that burned down Zoloto-Gold from escaping, all the way until Spartan war ships came down to sink it. And while this was a tragic end, the Spartan decision to send two of their war ships all the way to Caladan Mare after it meant they could not be used to prevent the invasion of the Spartan mainland and ensured the naval victories prior to the landing. We owe a lot to that ship and to the men and women that served aboard her.

[transition back to studio]

Eva Petrenko: The construction of the complex also marks an end of an era for the Science Legion. An enormous quantity of military materiel from the pre-cyborg era has been repurposed for use in the project allowing it to be finished ahead of projections, the final step of the demobilization process ongoing since the end of the war. It is expected that the new facilities will be a great boon to the young oceanic ports of Planetary Archives and Zoloto-Gold 2.0, as currently the only oceanic vessel of our faction is aquatic terraforming barge two working off the coast of Planetary Archives, with its sister ship busy in the landlocked Picon Mare.

Spoiler

Got the Maritime Control Center. I didn't really plan on getting it, I wanted to get the Empath Guild but I realized only yesterday I could have rushed it on the same turn as the Paradigm. At that point it was too late as Grimgravy's response to my rush of the Paradigm was rushing the Empath Guild with cash and partially rushing the Longetivity Vaccine with his artefact but not enough to finish it. Or the other way around. In any case it was too late. I dumped lots of pre-borg rovers into the MCC to get it as it seems the most useful. Effectively I have 0 rovers currently and I had a lot. The vaccine which I could have also rushed as it costs the same is just pointless for a free market faction, +50% econ in just one base is a joke for 300 minerals.

The race is almost over, only the vaccine is now left up for grabs.