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"For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh:
and the slain of the Lord shall be many."
-- Isaiah 66:16, Conclave Bible
THE SWORD OF THE LORD OBLITERATES MORGAN INDUSTRIES!
NEWSFLASH - Morgania is fallen! Rejoice over her, New Zion! Morgan's insolent scorched-planet campaign could not prevent the inevitable; facing the invincible host of the Lord God advancing upon his factional headquarters the brute ape acted as mere beasts do and tasked his remaining corp-sec with the activation of self-destruct sequences to butcher the shareholders he fraudulently claimed to protect, presumably hooting and howling while at it. Suffice it to say those people choose poorly.
It is far better to be a stakeholder with Christ and collect riches in Heaven than to chase hedonistic pleasure on Planet only to burn forever in the Lake of Fire. Now we, the Royal Priesthood, shall take possession of what God has prepared for us; the Heavenly Diocese declares the entire former Morganoid territory as the rightful property of New Zion, thus fulfilling many prophecies of the extent of the Promised Land. No interference shall be tolerated!
"Trespassers will be shot on sight!" proclaimed Crusader Paladin P. Orky - decorated war hero in charge of the final cleansing operation, speaking in place of Sister Miriam who, by nature of being a woman, simply would not be fit to speak of military matters. Our good brother went on to remind eager brethren to exercise extreme caution and refrain from independent operations until cleared by Believing High Command.
"Don't be stupid! Untold numbers of mine fields, booby traps and automated defences may still require neutralisation, not to mention the even greater spiritual threat posed by Morganoid holo-reels and physical produce of such unspeakably vile nature they demand imminent cleansing of the Holy Flame. Again: all settlement of new territory must be approved by the proper authorities!" Amen brother. Finally, the undisclosed figures of crusade-related casualties were published in full detail. Let us all pray for the blessings of our Martyrs and eternal damnation of the enemy and thank the Lord God for our supreme victory!
Well our good man pizza is out of the picture, dropped out due to real life reasons, probably getting chased by Interpol for drug possession or something. We decided to nuke his faction since Hellraiser didn't want to play it. Turns out he played the whole game until now using governors and automated mass moves which probably helped frustrate Hellraiser due to the sheer unexpected idiocy of automated unit moves. He didn't really have much at home, due primarily I reckon to running empty bases allowing mind worms to eat his population at their leisure. Very Gaian for sure.
All in all, nuking was still preferable to turning the faction into an A.I. since it would sell my world map to everyone like the whore every A.I. is. Still painful to see 100 credits and 2 alien artefacts go into ze ovenz. Damn it pizza. Current standings have University as definite no. 1 in pop and tech, Sparta close second dominating military now (disturbing to say the least) and U.N. outperforming me in population almost 2 to 1. Only Human Hive is weaker than yours truly. I got treaties with everyone except Hive who until now still somehow remain aloof in splendid rice-farming isolation.
Ever since the imposition of centralized command and control across the entire Spartan Federation more than two decades ago – the oft-derided “war communism” necessary to prepare Sparta for all its inevitable future struggles against the enemies of freedom – the activities of the Research and Engineering Corps had gone somewhat sadly neglected. A requirement to run every proposal for new experiments past the quartermaster’s office, each minute of lab time or megawatt of power a direct drain on Sparta’s logistics, meant that little practical work was being carried out. Even the laboratories under First Among Equals, the Spartan supreme headquarters, were not immune to such depredations.
Despite this, the Colonel had demanded results.
The REC stood to perfect attention as the high-powered entourage made its way through the corridors, dozens of boots clanking over steel walkways. Even for headquarters, this was an impressive assemblage of command power, which included representatives from the General Staff, the High Command, the Intelligence Service, and even the so-called “civilian” sector that mostly served as a sinecure for lieutenant colonels who had served past their prime. And finally, the Colonel herself: tall, aloof, and imperious at the heart of her assembled coterie, narrowed eyes always surveying the battlefield for any threats, whether they be from without or within.
Every staff member here was keenly aware that this official inspection could see them either promoted upstairs, or reassigned to xenofungus research out on the Far Western Front. Nobody dared to stand out.
Captain Vincenzo Nicoli waited to receive the entourage at their destination. He was not exactly what one would describe as the Spartan ideal. A handsome man with rich black hair and finely sculpted features, his origin was not in the UNS Unity’s security forces, but as one of the crew they were supposed to be tasked with protecting. While he was trained to survive the harshness of humanity’s new world like everyone else, his skill set was in less martial disciplines: anthropology, the study of human biology and society, of how humans would adapt and evolve under the glare of Alpha Centauri’s twin suns. Sparta considered this skill valuable, which was why they had chosen him, but he was not fully trusted. That was why he was down here instead of up there.
Now was the chance to prove his worth.
“Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce to you: the Human Genome Project!” His manner was cheerful and exuberant, as though displaying an exhibit at a science fair. “It is to be the next step in Sparta’s efforts to achieve genetic superiority on Planet. We are, of course, already engaged in large-scale geneering programs, but until now we lacked a proper systematic method of doing so, which meant we prioritized quantity over quality. I’m sure you’re all aware of the Military Police’s struggles to contain the undisciplined masses of citizens and future enlistees we’ve unleashed on this brave new world. As our wise Colonel says, superior training and weaponry will beat raw numbers every time.
“But this? This is what will allow us to take the first real steps towards an Incline on the genetic level. Now that we know what to look for, we can begin properly screening our future generations for desired traits, eliminate undesired ones, and make our own tweaks when necessary. Eradicating congenital diseases will alleviate the need to prematurely discharge citizens unable to fulfil their patriotic duties. Amped up production of steroid hormones will aid muscle recovery, allowing harder training. Enlarging the frontal lobe will make our soldiers into better problem-solvers, while carefully regulated releases of certain neuro-chemicals will keep them disciplined, both under fire and in the barracks. The possibilities are endless!
“Of course, all this is still in the early stages. We will need thousands of hours of fine-tuning, field testing, experiments, refining and discarding failures to allow the project to reach its full potential.”
Captain Nicoli paused with a dramatic flourish, the cue for several lieutenant colonels in the entourage to start muttering between themselves.
“So this is where all that research funding went,” Lieutenant Colonel Ashford from the Logistics Corps remarked appreciatively. “I must say, it’s a pleasant surprise compared to the theoretical technobabble that landed on my desk a decade ago.”
“You know full well that was all just a cover for the other factions,” Lieutenant Colonel Lebwohl of the Intelligence Service answered. “Why tip our hand if we don’t have to?”
“These deployment schedules.” Lieutenant Colonel Grzeskowiak brought attention to a specific monitor. “I would’ve expected our brave men and women at the front to be the first to benefit from this sort of cutting-edge geneering. Instead, you’ve got them going to... plumbers? Radio operators? Rover drivers? Judges? Quartermasters? Please explain this to me, Captain Nicoli!”
“My dear Lieutenant Colonel, you ought to dream a little bigger.” Nicoli beamed, as if the whole room hadn’t just frozen at the impropriety. “Yes, of course, our line infantry and special forces are the tip of the spear. They could take the enemy a hundred to one with these enhancements! But then what? What difference will a few good men make to a real war? Worst case, they’d be killed and take millions of credits of investment with them, credits that could’ve paid for a whole regiment's worth of grenades or batteries!
“But in the rear, where they are protected, is where their talents will shine and ripple out to the rest of our society. Increased muscle mass will allow troops to lift heavier loads, without injuring themselves and wasting long hours in sickbay! Enhancing the posterior partietal cortex will let them identify which parts of the front most require supplies, and the improved frontal lobe will let them figure out how to make them get there. Even a Spartan soldier fights better with a loaded rifle! Finally, neuro-chemical regulation will ensure that they do not shirk their duties or become tempted to embezzle supplies, even if it is to help their comrades in the field. The battlefield is no place for such sentiments.
“Therefore, you see, by concentrating our efforts on the shaft, the spear will strike with much greater and more sustained force! Wars are not won by heroics on the battlefield, Lieutenant Colonel; they are won by spreadsheets in boring little offices like this one. And this will be Sparta’s force multiplier in the quartermaster’s office.”
There was a long pause.
“A fine presentation, Captain Nicoli,” the Colonel at last deigned to speak. “You have my approval to begin the deployment at once. Do not disappoint me.”
“Yes, my Colonel!” The salute and stand to attention were as crisp as any Spartan’s, but the giddy grin on Vincenzo’s face as the entourage left his lab was decidedly not.
Built this project a few years ago, always a solid grab in the early game. It’s not quite as great as I’d hoped; the description says +1 talent, but the actual effect appears to be +2 psych, which is not the same thing. Still pretty nice, since it let me grow up to size 5 without issues and also skimp on police for my frontier bases.
Things have been pretty quiet after Morgan and Deirdre bit the fungus. Made contact with the University, exchanged some tech and a treaty. Sparta is building, Peacekeepers are booming, Believers recover from the war, Hive is still farming rice. We'll see how long it lasts.
The HGP does kinda give you a talent because it operates after the hard drone control has been applied. Say you have one MP unit in place that changes one drone to a worker. The HGP then improves the worker to a talent and the base does not riot at size 2. Normal psych applies before hard drone control. So it partly cancels out with negative psych from bureaucracy.
Excerpts from the Planetary History of The U.N. Peacekeeping Forces Datalinks>
2101. Document A1 -Planetfall
The last of the United Nations Peacekeeping administration made ground not far from the UNS Unity. Last to abandon the ship they had landed on the Central Continent of Chiron.
Our mission clear: Unite the Factions in a Global Council so that civility between nations might once again reign
2105. Document B5 -Planetbirth
Brother Pravin Lal quickly established himself as the organizer in establishing the U.N. organization and its colony on Chiron and soon assumed the title of Commissioner
Later he would be accused of having several Colony Pods take unnecessarily long routes to their final destinations, but the final U.N. report on the matter found this had been the fault of lower level management which had since been sacked
2109. Document G4 - UNS Wreckage reached
7 surviving colonies of humans confirmed to survive on the surface of Chiron
2110. Document B8 - Spartan Federation - strong in negotiation!
A Spartan Federation rover was encountered this year, leading to extensive negotiations that continue to this day.
The U.N. Mission control rejoiced to have made allies of the strongest faction on planet.
2117. Document C9 - Energy Fields
A particularly rich piece of land encompassing a field of Uranium Flats was settled in this year. Projected to produce awesome yields for the U.N. mission
2128. Document A7 - The Lord's Believers
The strange church of Sister Miriam Godwinson was contacted this year through a heroic expedition by the Spartan Federation. The suspicious woman (+2 probe) was soon won over by fierce U.N. negotiation tactics, and a pact was signed.
2137. Document A5 - The Great University of Planet
The highest rated faction in the land - The University of Planet - was added to the list of future council members this year. Intense diplomatic action ensued and several misunderstandings later a pact was finalized.
2138. Document C3 - Morgan Industries Bankrupt!
U.N. Peacekeeping leadership first expressed surprise when the existence of an independent start-up company lead by one Nwabudike Morgan was revealed to them to have established an independent existence somewhere on Chiron's . Who was this black wildman trying to make it on his own out there in the harsh lands of Chiron?
However - Morgan went broke when Believing Forces decided to acquisition his assets in the year of 2138.
The U.N. Peacekeeping Forces having never made direct contact with CEO Nwabudike, crossed the company off their list of potential future Council members.
An insignificant oddity on the whole, Commissioner Pravin still expressed his regret over the loss of human potential on Chiron saying, stating that "one day they might've become good voters"
2140. Document A3 - The Eternal Bureaucrat
In this year U.N. Headquarters completed the construction of the Longevity Vaccine, birthing a new era in Peacekeeper organizational structure.
"Today we take a great step away from being merely a faction and towards becoming an Institution. The Longevity Vaccine will ensure that the essential cogs of the U.N. machine need never be exchanged again" - Commissioner Pravin, Longevity Vaccine press release conference
2143. Document J8 - Flowerfall - Gaia's Stepdaughters destroy themselves in Fungal Fused Craze
Nothing remains of Gaia's Stepdaughters. The disappearance of Lady Deirdre Skye broke the stalk of Gaia. Rumors has it she was last seen in the year 2141 walking alone into a particularly deep patch of the pervasive Chiron Fungus. This after reports that she had been suffering intense nightmares for some time.
The young Stepdaughters then proceeded to follow their leader into oblivion, blowing themselves up, drinking poisonous brews and walking madly into the fungal jungle and being eaten by it.
The United Nations regret the loss of this faction, and having never had the chance to gain their Vote in Council.
2145. Document E2 - Fungal POP
One of the most prosperous mines in all of the U.N. administration holdings collapsed this year in what scientists call a "fungal pop". Can this be the result of careless environmental politics? With the expertise of Gaia out of the picture it will be hard to tell
2147. Document A8 - Furtive Hive contacted
U.N. Scout forces made contact with scouts from the Human Hive this year in upper regions of the western continent of Chiron.
The isolationist socialist commune that so long braved it out on their own had finally been reached.
The U.N. quickly negotiated a pact, and confidence in the last member of the Global Council grew as the good Chairman Yang proved himself a man of distinction and good values.
2148. Document A1 - Chiron Council established electing Pravin Lal as Global Governor in unanimous vote
U.N. Mission stage 1 supreme success
Its 2156 now, I've been slow with broadcasting, have found it very hard this game. It trips me up what format I am actually supposed to be writing in... I'm gonna make sure to make this a whole lot easier for myself in future games
aiming to make a more extensive Governor Post soon but who knows, the in game situation for my faction is low-key intense right now and hard to say anything without making wrong steps
A great many brothers and sisters have been blessed by the Lord God with splendorous new abilities after being anointed with tongues of flames by the Holy Spirit. This miracle occurred in conjunction with the culmination of our sacred communal worship project which involved ardent mass praying, rigorous fasting and occasionally even scientific endeavours. The Heavenly Diocese wishes to emphasise that the new powers of rudimentary telekinesis and long-range telepathy should not be confused with the old sorcery of Babylon for which the punishment must always be death. "These are gifts from God Almighty", Sister Miriam proclaimed.
"In fact, when Aaron's rod turned into nachash and devoured those of Pharaoh's magicians, was this not actually a case of psionic transmutation? When the vicious sodomites were afflicted with blindness, was this not an act of angelic psi warfare? Fundamentally, the inner workings of most miracles of the Scriptures are now being revealed to us. This is to be expected, as we rapidly approach the pure state of Adamic pre-fall perfection. Now as then, we are the soldiers in the great battle between God and Satan spanning the galaxies, and when the Lord bestows new gifts upon us, we must grasp them with utmost zeal and reverence."
All across New Zion a great sense of peace and tranquillity is manifest among the congregations. Elders remind the public there has been no "policy-shift" as such, merely a refining of the methods of our Ministers. Proactively reinforcing key tenets of the Faith of our Fathers and preventing sin by acting on the seed of evil thought before it ripens into poisonous fruit of action, our beloved brothers remain as dedicated to defending the right of Christian liberty as always.
Finally, Believers in the Lord God's Scripture are once again vindicated, as the elite empaths of Sword of Gilead suspended in psionic amplifier spheres perfectly fulfil the characteristics of the ever-watching wheels of Yahweh's throne fleet as revealed to the Prophet Ezekiel. As we always knew, the Heavenly Host have long employed its angelic servants to screen and survey the adversary. What an honour it is to take upon ourselves this blessed task to anticipate and catalogue every move undertaken on Chiron. Praise be!
Yep, rushed the Empath Guild once again. It seems I almost always end up getting it.
The findings are interesting to say the least.
Also running police state now with non-lethal method ministers scanning brains for sin-think.
Having been given the supreme vote to serve mankind on Chiron I now wish to raise an uncomfortable fact of our life on this Planet.
By now we have all encountered and fought with the disturbing native life that breeds in the Chiron fungus. The aggressive pop-expansion of the fungus ever since the invention of boreholes has doubtlessly also troubled you all.
U.N. scientists have now presented me with a report that gives cause to believe that there is more than mere animal instinct driving these worm boils to action, and that the fungus is not just simple fauna.
At coordinates (14, 32) the United Nations administration has constructed a research station on top of an ancient ruin that we call the Manifold Nexus. These ruins have given us insight into secrets of the fungus (+1 Planet rating), from where it came, and perhaps where it is going.
The fungus that covers this planet is not wholly natural, but an experiment by the same long gone aliens that left behind the obelisks and artifacts that you have all encountered. The experiment is one in planetary wide consciousness, and the fungus network its brain and synapses, the worms its hands.
It would seem that our presence here, and our terraforming work, is awakening this old fungal network, and within it a slumbering consciousness. Another, non-human, faction.
My xeno-sociologists have performed extensive outreach experiments -
- to see if this Planetary Mind can be negotiated with and turned into a good voter. So far no progress has been made, and the United Nations is skeptical that the native life can ever be incorporated into the Planetary Council of civilized minds no matter how vast its network grows.
We predict that going forward the fungal aggression from this alien force will continue to increase in step with our continued effort to terraform this planet into our new home.
My mission as Governor is to see humanity thrive here on Chiron, and I will not accept this attack on our race. Tapping the planet for necessary resources is something that the U.N. Governors Office through administrative insight (infiltration gained from being Governor) can see that each faction has taken as their right.
I am not willing to give up my boreholes, my condensers or my echelon mirrors - and neither will I ask any other faction to. I must however note that there is one Faction which has gone far further than any other in changing the landscape of this Planet, and thus bare a greater burden for provoking the fungal mind. Not pointing any fingers other than at a shared problem, that I hope to receive comment on.
We will all increasingly suffer from attacks by this alien, and we must take action together for the good of the greater race.
For in the ruins of the Manifold Nexus we have found records of other such experiments on other planets - and the tragedy that ensued, leaving these ruins behind. If left unchecked there is no limit to the potential in the fungal network or its expansion. If the fungal mind is allowed to freely flower, it will consume us all.
We have only 60 years together here on Planet, and many more will pass before this threat gets out of hand. I only bring this up now, that each faction might consider it while there is still time.
- Global Governor Pravin Lal
I'm building the Ascetic Virtues next year, claiming it now because no one will have the chance to take it from me. It will give me a handy +2 population limit, letting me have bases up to size 11 without building Hab Complexes, a very good size that most of my current bases won't have the resources to grow past anyways
The ascetic virtues is by far my favourite Secret Project video too.
Building that base on the Manifold Nexus has been very practical, having +1 Planet lets my troops walk through fungus much more easily. Had a very frustrating time stuck in fungus earlier in the game.
currently in the lead tech wise, don't think I'll stay there for long, free flow of information and all that. The University is also absolutely crushing it with their tech output
The Strongest Faction in the Land 2161. Document H1 - U.N. Infrastructure Development Program bears fruit in Hive tech boom
When U.N. planners invested in Hive Network Nodes back in 2152, they did so in an attempt to bolster the welfare of Hive citizens. Had they a little bit more foresight they might've seen the likely outcome more clearly.
Last year the Jinping Militia revealed their new fearful invention at a military parade in Hive base Seat of Proper Thought - the (8) Chaos Gun
With the secrets of the strongest weaponry currently available on the planet in their hands, the leaders horde, numbering far more military units per base than any other faction, is certain to ensure a glorious future for the Hive to continue thriving in.
The great Chairman has earned the respect of the U.N. Administration and we expect him to use sound judgement in putting this new technology to good use for the good of all humanity.
bing ping ding, taking liberties while youre silent
Needlejets operated by the University of Planet buzzed Spartan Navy vessels in the East Garland Sea, sparking a diplomatic incident between our two factions.
This brash and brutish show of force took place as the two vessels, consisting of a laser-armed frigate and an unarmed logistics tender, were conducting freedom of navigation operations in interfactional waters. According to footage from the scene, the jets buzzed so close to the vessels that “their radars were reflecting off our laser’s mirrors”, a sailor remarked on camera.
The flyby was followed by Provost Zakharov issuing a broadcast threatening to sink the vessels if they did not immediately leave the East Garland Sea, claiming that they were “amusing but annoying”. While Spartan High Command denied all acquiescence to any University threats, they did acknowledge that a “redeployment” was taking place in the East Garland Sea in light of “recent developments”.
Tensions in the East Garland Sea have been high ever since University sailors defected to Sparta, complaining of an environment of communism and technocratic elitism under the Provost’s academic clique. Further complicating matters is the University’s ongoing refusal to release scientific data related to the development of missiles and needlejets to the rest of Planet, a naked attempt to retain its current monopoly on Planet’s common airspace.
The incident was unanimously condemned by the Spartan General Staff as an affront to freedom on Planet, with spokeswoman CPT Kovalevskaya having harsh words for the subsequent press conference. “Far from the freedom of information the Provost and his clique espouse, this incident demonstrates that any contact with the outside world which could conceivably challenge the University’s version of reality is seen as a deadly threat to the intellectual echo chamber which he relies on to stay at the top of his ivory tower.”
In other news, a wave of democracy has swept over Planet, with the Spartan Federation, the United Nations, and the Kingdom of God all holding their first ever elections since Planetfall more than half a century ago. Inspired by the new Planetary Governor Pravin Lal’s example, faction leaders benevolently ended the near-dictatorial measures used to ensure stability in the chaotic post-Planetfall years and instituted democratic reforms, in which all citizens of Planet would be guaranteed a say in their future governance. It was only natural that COL Corazon Santiago’s tireless efforts in service to the people of the Spartan Federation, second only to those of the Spartan High Command and the Spartan General Staff, led them to be reappointed to their positions of supreme leadership by an overwhelming supermajority of Federation officers on behalf of their commands. As the Colonel’s first act upon securing reappointment, she formally pledged to enact market reforms within the next five mission years.
Sparta is officially the #1 faction on Planet, having more than doubled its population in the last decade to reach over one hundred thousand citizens, enlistees, and officers. This massive surge in population is attributed to the Human Genome Project pioneered by CPT Vincenzo Nicoli, who was personally awarded with the Superior Service Medal by COL Santiago herself for his efforts. According to the captain, while the project focused on promoting quality over quantity in Sparta’s geneering efforts, he and his team found out during its deployment that there was no need to trade one for the other: by screening for traits which encouraged greater fecundity and willingness to perform one’s patriotic duty for the Federation, it became possible to both expand the size of the gene pool and maintain its purity at the same time! We can only speculate what the ingenious captain will come up with next.
The Spartan High Command officially denied allegations that logistical failures were in any way responsible for recent nutrient shortages at supreme headquarters First Among Equals, denouncing them as “seditious falsehoods of the lowest order”. According to the latest analysis by the Spartan Intelligence Service, aerosolized fungicidal agents were carried by prevailing westerly winds over the Sea of Unity from Continent Charlie, where they were originally used as a revenge weapon by Morgan Industries in a last-ditch effort to punish Gaia’s Stepdaughters for its crimes against market freedom. While an admirable last act, the rushed development of the weapon meant it failed to properly discriminate Spartan terraflora from Gaian xenofungus. This unfortunate case of collateral damage is just another example of how no human is ever truly safe from conflict, and all Spartans would do well to be ready for the day that war on other continents inevitably spreads to us here on Continent Alpha.
Finally got the chance to sit down and write some propaganda. Been way too busy this week. This is all stuff that mostly happened 5 turns ago.
My mission to probe the University rather sadly failed, as the transport carrying probes was detected while still multiple turns out from their coast. I bribed the patrol that found me (yeah, that’s right, I TUK his foil), and planned to continue on, only for Zakharov to issue his ultimatum. There wasn’t really anything I could do about it, so I retreated for now.
The Peacekeepers started pop-booming shortly before calling the election, the outcome of which was already decided since Lal and I had the most votes on Planet between us. I soon followed with my own boom, which raised my population from around 50 to 130. Having the effective extra +2 Psych from HGP helped a lot, as did building police units, which is one of the few advantages Sparta has with its +1 POLICE. I possibly overbuilt on drone control, but it’s certainly better than underbuilding and wasting production as a result.
I got a climactic variance event which inflicted -1 nutrients on all tiles at my HQ, which is more annoying than anything since it makes me lose minerals from shuffling workers around to avoid starving.
Here’s the power chart as of the current turn, M.Y. 2161. Sparta is currently in the lead after pop-booming with 131 pop. Miriam has 101, Lal has 99, Zak has 94, Yang has 51. PKs are leading in tech and University leads in military, no doubt due to its needlejets. Stiff competition ahead.
Major Vincenzo Nicoli checked over his appearance one last time in the cool reflective metal surface. His cheeks were clean shaven and finely moisturized; the buttons of his olive blazer were perfectly aligned and symmetrical; his shirt was properly pressed and ironed; his tie was as straight as the Spartan arrow; the Superior Service Medal glinted proudly on his left breast.
Major. That was a title he was still getting used to. Not even in his wildest dreams could he have predicted the extent to which the Human Genome Project would transform the Spartan Federation for good. Using the genetic screening techniques he’d improved on, the cognitive elite of humanity had been found, selected, and cultivated, until they were now in charge of all Spartan bases large and small. Under their command everything ran on time, meaning that soldiers and citizens alike were happier and more productive. The first glimmerings of humanity’s Incline were starting to shine through at last.
All thanks to him.
His appearance was as good as he could make it. It would be a far greater infraction to keep the Colonel waiting. He nodded to himself, then to the guard, who led him through the secure checkpoint and into the great chamber beyond.
The supreme command centre of the Spartan Federation was a dark, foreboding place. It took the shape of a triangular pyramid, with each level lined with consoles that shone neon light into the monofocused eyes of their operators – all members of the cognitive elite. Taking up an entire wall was a massive holoscreen showing a great map of Planet, so that the higher you climbed up the pyramid, the more of the big picture you saw. On the dais at the summit, the Colonel and her trusted adjutants waited.
“Major Nicoli, reporting for duty!” He snapped a perfect salute.
“At ease, Major.” The Colonel stood as she always did, tall and aloof at the apex of the world. “Come forward.”
He dutifully obeyed. The lieutenant colonels nodded at him as he approached – not all of them appreciatively. Someone like him rising to the top so quickly was always going to draw resentment and envy; accusations of favouritism, a potential threat to their own positions. It was inevitable in any organization, even in one as meritocratic as Sparta.
The lieutenant colonels were all clustered around another holoscreen. A tiny grin tugged Nicoli’s mouth at the sight of the data stream from the Maritime Control Centre in the top right corner: another innovation his work had led to. But the rest of the display was made up of a cartographic analysis of Continent Bravo, where the University of Planet continued to expand its domain. There were a great many base markers present.
“You are a man of many insights, Major Nicoli,” the Colonel spoke. “I would now like to hear one of them. Tell me: what do you see?”
Nicoli studied the screen for a moment. “I see a civilization that has grown tremendous and mighty. Comfortable and secure on its solitary continent, possessing an abundance of mineral resources, and isolated from the threat of war, the University has been free to achieve grand and extraordinary feats. Prokhor Zakharov is a man who now reaches for the stars – but he has lost sight of matters here on Planet as a result. It is precisely when a civilization has reached its very peak that its leaders grow arrogant and overconfident, thinking themselves to be untouchable masters of the universe. And at that moment of ultimate hubris, when a man takes his first steps into the heavens, the reality he thought himself above acts to restore balance, and he comes crashing back down to earth.”
“That’s all very interesting, Major Nicoli,” Lieutenant Colonel Grzeskowiak interjected. “But what does that mean for us in practical military terms? The University already out-numbers everyone else on Planet, and they haven’t even begun to reach their peak, from what Lebwohl’s analysts are telling us. Superior training and weaponry can overcome great odds, yes, but I have to say, these odds are very great indeed.”
“It means…” Nicoli stared at the screen some more. Possibilities were beginning to take form. “Could I have a marker, please?”
The Colonel snapped her fingers. An aide-de-camp brought the requested item.
“Thank you.” Nicoli started to sketch on the holoscreen. The lieutenant colonels’ initial indignation was forestalled as they looked carefully at what he was drawing. Over time, they came to see what he saw.
“But that’s–” “There’s no way that could possibly–” “No, maybe if–” “If we move here, outside of their range, then–” “It’s too risky, what if–” “We have to take that risk, else–”
“Yes,” the Colonel pronounced, nodding slowly. “It may just work.”
----------
The Battlefield - M.Y. 2165
Officers, enlistees, citizens of Sparta! Last night, at 1900 hours, the Spartan Federation commenced a special military operation, with the objective of total demilitarizion and decommunization of Continent Bravo. The tyrannical technocracy of Provost Zakharov and his clique, who even now tread on the backs of their fellow man as they leap into space without the rest of us, have been designated Enemies of Humanity and Agents of Decline. The Spartan Armed Forces will show no mercy.
Initial strikes with shore-based cruise missiles against the University’s naval assets were an unqualified success, clearing the way for our forces to approach. Among the enemy’s ships sunk was a transport filled to the brim with espionage teams, no doubt on its way to pollute free society with their foul lies! The shock and awe of Sparta's combined arms was so great that we saw the second defection of University sailors to our service: more are sure to come!
Following the strikes, our forces conducted a massed amphibious landing on the beach just northwest of Rho Sector, where the deployment of our Mobile Construction Vehicle allowed troops to immediately reassemble and advance towards their targets. One task force went east, swiftly demilitarizing the northern coastline of Continent Bravo with its destruction of multiple needlejets on the ground. As they advanced, they found military police and commissars whipping hapless drones into forced terraforming efforts to raise yet more land from Planet’s oceans: a veritable crime against freedom! Subsequently, decommunization of the northern coast was achieved with the trial and execution of every last University commissar present.
While this was happening, a secondary landing took place just west of Assembly Area Alpha, where a small strike force entered and demilitarized the coastal base known as Pavlov Biolab. Pavlov Biolab likewise housed numerous commissars overseeing fungal penal crews, who were forced to battle mind worms without even simple flamethrowers, and it was also believed to have recently housed University needlejets. Once again, the base was decommunized in its entirety, bringing Sparta another step closer to achieving full naval supremacy in this conflict.
Simultaneously, troops from our coalition partner, the Kingdom of God, made their own landing on the east coast of Continent Bravo. Lacking Sparta’s MCV technology, they were unable to advance as quickly; nonetheless, their marines fought bravely to secure the beachhead and lay siege to Nu Sector, clearing the way for follow-up landings.
But all of these were diversions from the true display of tactical genius this day: where, in a masterful enactment of Advanced Deep Battle Doctrine, Sparta’s armoured thrust was able to penetrate enemy lines and drive hard south in a lightning maneuver to reach the enemy’s greatest technological nexus, Zarya-Sunrise. Or so the University’s propaganda would have you believe! In reality, the gleaming ivory tower concealed an assortment of horrific crimes against humanity: ecological debasement of Planet, alternate realities for drones that kept them electronically shackled while they carried out their labour, and the gross violation of intellectual property! The token defenders, taken utterly by surprise, were easily dispatched, and these abominations permanently obliterated from the face of Planet!
Additionally, with the work of attached S.I.S. teams to secure the University’s files on Doctrine: Air Power, Mind-Machine Interface, and a full copy of its satellite mapping data, Sparta can proudly declare that two of the major strategic objectives of the special military operation have already been achieved! The campaign has only just begun, but a victory is already in sight!
This effort has not been without some sacrifice for us back at home on Continent Alpha. Special security measures have been enacted in several critical bases, ensuring that our production of materiel will continue in spite of recent industrial shortages. Despite this, the core tenets of our military democratic capitalist framework remain solidly in place, and the bedrock of our society remains secure! While Sparta will always work to protect freedom on Planet, we trust that Spartans understand the importance of security in these chaotic times.
ITZ! Most intense turn in my life, even more so than when Hellraiser went Barbarossa on me last game and I had to counterattack (I had magtubes and big money then, so all I had to do was push units while he struggled with sudden worm ITZ at the same time). It was a lot more complicated this time around: I spent many turns sketching tactical maps to try and figure out the optimum plan of attack. In the end, it paid off big time: despite the University having access to jets and foils to patrol the ocean, complete operational surprise was achieved and my invasion force landed safely to begin the attack.
Like all good invasion maps, the snazzy graphic I drew up there for this update severely exaggerates the extent of the territory captured. It particularly doesn’t account for all the terraformers I’ve bypassed and the jets I’ve had to leave alive as I pushed further inland. That could cause problems for me next turn, but in my assessment it was more important to ensure that the greater strategic objective was achieved.
Despite the huge success so far, I made a number of fuckups with this invasion: I moved several units sub-optimally, leaving them unnecessarily exposed for next turn; and I also forgot to scrap Aerospace Complexes before razing bases, meaning I lost out on a whole 80 credits of loot, not an insignificant sum considering I make 230 credits per turn right now with 80% Economy on Democratic + Free Market. Still smarting over that one.
So how did this invasion come about? Well, around 25 turns ago, I managed to infiltrate the University by sneakily landing a probe with a transport foil (I originally intended to infiltrate Morgan with it, but that never happened since Hellraiser tapped out just before I got there). This is what I saw:
Absolutely disgusting levels of ICS, the likes of which I don’t think have been seen here since Binary Dawn Game 3. With that many terraformers and the Weather Paradigm, he would simply run away with the game. So I shared the data around and everyone agreed that something needed to be done, and soon. We’ve all been plotting this in secret for a month now.
At the time of my invasion, the University had over 56 bases and 130 terraformers, and had just begun to boom, which was already accelerating their score into the stratosphere and beyond (literally, with the satellites they were building). I dread to think how things would’ve looked in 10 years from now.
So that’s where we are now. I struck a great blow, but the University still has nearly 50 bases and +2 INDUSTRY to wage war with. Brutal campaign ahead.
Sabbath 04/29 2173 A.D. 20:42:45 FPS:29 Mem:0015989A00 CPU24 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ENTER
Bethel Node Gabriel Online
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Playing gileadswordministry47.mp7
Gilead Gospel Temple of Heavenly Evangelical Truth
Daily Family Holy Flame Worship Study Sermon - Loyalty is Love of the Lord
"The one who looks at the clouds will not reap." — Ecclesiastes 11:4
As true believers of the Lord God we do not judge our success by the number of souls in God's Kingdom, nor pointless statistics of industrial, economic or technological output (Luke 8:11-15). These things mean nothing to the Lord Almighty, whereas our purity of heart is paramount to our good standing in his Heavenly Kingdom's Hierarchy. Whereas the corrupt fester in feverish ungodly pursuit of unfettered "knowledge" and "progress", the Lord's Chosen, dedicated solely to the great work of the Kingdom, nevertheless enjoy all the spoils of their toil through heavenly blessings for faithful service, without wasting as much as an energy credit. Such is the power of the One True God, providing for his children today as he provided us with manna in the wilderness of Sinai.
Similar to the miraculous Gifts of Gaia received in yesteryear, ardent witnessing work in conjunction with Sparta's inspired free-flow-of-information approach to Zakharov's unethical arms- and human experimentation research has rapidly allowed the Kingdom to gain not only tech parity, but actual technological superiority, allowing us through God's ever-present hand of fate to monitor and contain the gross excesses of the depraved servants of Satan, all while focusing our energies at home towards returning Adamkind to the pastoral life envisioned by the Father.
It is thus our righteous overt hostility towards Zakharov's satanic faction, begun in 2164 A.D. with the sinking of University spying vessels by our Heavenly Diocese "Floating Fortress" gatling laser platform, a move prompted by concern they would detect and compromise our fully loaded Holy Arks en route to conduct Enhanced Ministry Outreach in his territory to redeem what remains of the unadulterated Adamites under his perverse rule, continues in fierce and fiery warfare to this day with slow but steady progress.
In 2166 A.D. Holy Marines established a beachhead near Alpha Sector. Destruction of Theta Sector and Nu Sector occurred the following years. Meanwhile, faithful converts did their utmost to stem the tide of University population growth, blessedly martyr-bombing extensive childcare facilities in Planetary Archives, Nauk Science Center and many other bases. Counterattacks have traded evenly in terms of human and non-human lives. Of particular note is the University's use of terraformers as "flesh shields" forcing the brethren to spend much time and effort exterminating entrenched and obstructive fodder. To date, the enemy's former fleet is still legion, dwarfing that of the Kingdom by nearly 5 to 1.
It is with much regret we observe the perverse nature of the factions operating outside the rule of Divine Law. Of particular note, the insistence upon development of neural agents and transhuman abomination sends shivers of disgust down the spine of every righteous son and daughter of the Most High. Especially repulsive and chief among the crimes of the fallen is the duplicitous dealings of the so-called "Governor" Lal, withholding technology and cutting deals with the very faction he so eagerly encourages Sparta and the Kingdom to fight. The futility is apparent to all with wisdom to see. God is not mocked! Remember, the one who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone — it will come back to crush him (Proverbs 26:27).
Nevertheless, as long as we endure in fighting the good fight and preaching the good news, Yahweh God will view us as being successful and reward us according to our deeds. Why? Because we are being obedient to him and his Son (Mark 13:10; Acts 5:28, 29). 2169 A.D. saw the first launch of the Kingdom's first intercontinental missile, blessed Fire of the Lord utilised to wreak total destruction upon the repugnant "fungal tower" infestation polluting the southern tip of New Zion. Similarly, the skies abound with fusion assault copters and Vigilance needlejets, comprising the Host of Heaven by which total dominating victory shall soon be achieved.
From our Kingdom Ministry Outreach outpost, established at the tip of the wastelands constituting approximately half of Zakharov's realm so effectively burnt to toxic rubble by the Spartan offensives, the holy crusade continues with utmost credit in Heaven. As we redeem those who may yet be saved, and expunge those of the serpent corruption, let us pray and praise the brave and noble sacrifices of our crusaders whose deaths on the field of battle assuredly warrant them the highest seats of honour in the Universal Heavenly Government of Christ Almighty. Truly, verily, there is no greater joy than to die for the Lord God who created you, and to whom the power of eternal resurrection promises eternal bliss in the Universal Concordance to come.
We have this additional incentive: The destruction of Satan is fast approaching! The time left to share in this lifesaving work is greatly reduced. Do not delay or feel that you have to wait for the perfect circumstances to take part in our vital crusade. Act NOW to strengthen your motivation, deepen your knowledge of the Scriptures, build your courage, and cultivate self-discipline. Dedicate yourself to the great work, and you will experience the joy of Yahweh (Neh. 8:10). Amen!
Yeah I was bribed to fight University and I'm doing my part, very good builder game by civac2 and excellent surprise attack by TROYTRON - the most brutal I've ever seen in any game so far. Closest I recall is the attack Hellraiser and I launched against troy when he played Gaia.
I've inflicted some damage, but I've also taken a lot of casualties. Effectively University is cut down to size and is quite equal in population to the rest of us. Still retains 100 something formers though (I have like... 18? heh). Suffice it to say, Sparta with elites getting that extra move is truly frightening to behold.
In other news, RNGesus seems to want me to interact with Chairman Bing:
This baby appeared out of nowhere and with a simple bit of land-raising we'll share a new mega-continent.
NEWSFLASH: Lunatic Lal mass-produces weapons of mass destruction, refuses to disclose nerve gas research to New Zion
The arrogance and sheer hypocrisy of the so-called humanitarian "governor" has reached an all-time high with the revelation by our ever-watchful empaths in Bethel that Lal is mass-producing long-range nerve gas bombers. Contrary to previous arrangements and statements the demon refuses to disclose his illegal research in the fields of bio- and retro-viral engineering. Logically, the only reason for this obstinate behaviour must be to genocide not only the crippled University, but the faithful followers of the Lord God as well! One can only ask:
Taking swift action to defend the faithful from this deadly deception, Believing High Command has ordered a rapid re-deployment of the Host of Heaven to secure above all the well-being of the congregations. All "United Nations" staff has been expelled from Kingdom territory. Be advised that any "Peacekeepers" found lurking in proximity of New Zion shall be most brutally executed as per the God-given right of preemptive self-defence.
Fortunately, not all among the booming "Peacekeeping" population cling to the totalitarian ambitions of their corrupt leader. Many among the dystopian "U.N." mega-cities have turned out to be far more committed to the principle of free flow of information, spontaneously sharing with us new technological data. What a mighty miracle of giving!
Evidently, lunatic Lal has been hard at "work" developing not only genocidal strains of gene-tailored viruses, but also blasphemous cloning and mutation techniques of the very worst sort, effectively replicating the sin of the antediluvian scourge whom Enoch proclaimed mixed their seed with the beasts of the field to give rise to many mutated abominations through illegal genetic experimentation prompting Lord God to wipe out this Dark Eden with the Great Flood. Truly - there is nothing new under the suns!
Rest assured, however, that now as always, the hand of God rights all wrongs. Effective immediately the Kingdom pursues with utmost rigour the completion of these "Cloning Vats" to safely monitor and control this dangerous technology, perhaps even allowing it to be turned into an instrument of good. Praise be!
ARMAGEDDON PROTOCOL ACTIVATED! ALL BRETHREN REPORT TO BATTLE STATIONS! DEATH TO SPARTA! DEATH TO UNITED NATIONS! HOLY WAR DECLARED ON BABYLON MOTHER OF WHORES! ZAKHAROV RE-DESIGNATED MOST FAVOURED ALLY!
RED ALERT - All men, women and children to battle stations! Spartan insolence and utter betrayal warrants divine punishment of apocalyptic proportions. Long have we endured their disgusting affronts to the Divine - NO LONGER! In miraculous related news, Brother Zakharov has seen fit to repent much like Paul steeped in the most horrible doctrine turned to the Light of True Enlightment, becoming in fact one of the most important vehicles of the Will of Christ. True Believers hold no grudges, but are ever so happy to accept a fellow White Israelite into the fold of New Zion. As we advance upon the serpent seed, remember always: the Lord God wills it!
As always, the Lord God is in total control of the situation. Using the vanity of the enemy against her, he perfectly engineered the circumstances so as to embolden the heart of the Whore to think the blatant theft of our secret project would go unpunished, much as he hardened the heart of Pharaoh to prove his supreme point. U.N. files on Retroviral Engineering are much appreciated! Regrettably, the tech promised in return is put on hold, lest perhaps Sparta will surrender its headquarters to Kingdom inspectors, the only righteous move following such disgusting betrayal.
Meanwhile, Kingdom forces still operating near Zakharov's realm have been tasked with cleansing the affront to the Lord God known as Assembly Line Alpha. What a joyous sight to see heaps upon heaps of godless freaks gassed to death with their very own weapon of mass destruction. Once again: God is not mocked, and every sinner gets what he deserves. PRAISE BE!
Ultimate butthurt activated! I truly had no idea TROYTRON had so much shit at home to allow him to rush the project of projects before I did. The ultimate insult. Worst project steal, personally, but it's probably Karma for the shit I did to Grimgravy years past. Either way this couldn't go unpunished. HE. TUK. MY. VATS.
The final bloodline is rising and it shall be legion, the dream becomes reality as the Spartan Way leads us towards our genetic destiny! Mankind will burn down history and triumphantly march into the stars unburdened by the weakness and inferiority of genetic dice rolls. BURN DOWN HISTORY, SLAY THE BELIEVERS, SHOW THEM THAT GOD IS DEAD AND THE NEW MAN TOOK HIS PLACE IN HEAVEN!
Seriously envy TROYTRON now. Wish I ever had a chance like this for major as Sparta. Bah, butt is still sore from oldbonebrown's pact breaking fucking up my very good plan of obliterating the UN 3 games ago with my ubermensch marines and nerve gas aviation carrier fleet. It would have been glorious if not for the retarded pact breaking mechanics at sea.
SPARTAN MILITARY ARCHIVES THE “SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION”
2165: The year of the first landing. For this operation, Spartan High Command set out the following strategic objectives:
1) Secure all enemy technologies.
2) Destroy Zarya-Sunrise, the enemy’s secret project base.
3) Inflict as much damage as possible to impede enemy growth.
Both 1) and 2) were achieved in the opening hours of the invasion.
2166: Sparta’s main thrust continued to push through the Garland Crater, with leading elements once again breaking through token enemy garrisons to strike as far south as Mir Lab, within spitting distance of the enemy’s headquarters at University Base. More defections of enemy forces were reported in the face of superior Spartan maneuvers and firepower. This year also saw the first Spartan incursion into the western peninsula.
With the University now down to 45 bases from the 60 they held prior to the invasion, objective 3) was being carried out with even greater success than the most optimistic of pre-operation projections.
2167: This year saw the last of the rover companies which deployed as part of the initial landing forces breaking down from attrition in the field. Reinforcements were shipped in from Continent Alpha and moved to the front, whereupon the forces there destroyed Relativity Schoool and reorganized to continue their offensive.
A significant intelligence failure led to the first major setback of the operation. Prior to the operation, the Spartan Intelligence Service had reported that the enemy’s seaborne intelligence teams were probing United Nations waters, and this was believed to still be the case. However, a single team was present in the western inlet after being expelled by the U.N., and it proceeded to capture a Spartan rover and interrogate its crew for secrets on fusion power, which the S.I.S. had assured High Command that the University would not have access to for another decade. Despite this, LTC Lebwohl was still riding off his earlier successes in securing University technology for Sparta’s own use, and managed to avoid any significant recrimination from this failure.
2168: Spartan forces successfully destroyed 4 more enemy bases, bringing the enemy’s total down to 38. Aid came from an unexpected defection in the far northeast, with yet another University rover crew citing disillusionment with their faction’s ongoing crimes against Planet and being convinced to defect by a prepositioned S.I.S team.
2169: Enemy needlejets would finally overwhelm the initial landing force, wiping it out and bringing an end to the first phase of the operation. All who died in battle on that day were true heroes of the Spartan Federation. What survivors remained were brought back to Assembly Area Alpha, where they would rest and rearm for the next offensive. They would be reinforced with multiple needlejet squadrons and the first fusion laser infantry to be deployed on the battlefield.
A disturbing report from the Spartan Intelligence Service brought attention to the enemy possessing classified information on Superstring Theory, the technology that powered chaos weaponry – information that could only have come from one of the Pact of Unity. This was a clear sign of treason in the ranks, and formed the basis of the Kingdom of God’s later public accusations (without proof) against Planetary Governor Pravin Lal.
2170: All quiet on the front as Spartan forces made an operational pause. COL Santiago announced a temporary lifting of martial law on Continent Alpha in order to accumulate additional funding to support upcoming planned offensives in the west and the south of Continent Bravo.
2171: The Spartan Navy suffered its first serious losses since the operation began, with enemy needlejets sinking multiple ships just off the western coast. Post-battle analysis indicated that the crews failed to maintain appropriate sensor discipline, having grown overconfident after the sinking of the entire University navy in the opening hours of the special military operation. After recovering their wits, nearby cruisers quickly locked on and shot down the offending needlejets with their surface-to-air missiles.
It was discovered just prior to landfall that the landing forces’ MCV lacked the ability to effect an amphibious landing due to a manufacturing defect. LTC Ashford, Chief of the Spartan Logistics Corps, would be disgraced as a result of this oversight, only managing to avoid demotion after successfully arguing that the faulty MCV could be preserved for establishing another staging post elsewhere. His quiet reassignment to the civilian sector would take place a few months later.
Nonetheless, Spartan troops adapted to the conditions on the ground, and were able to make landfall and carry out the offensive as planned, with air support from Assembly Area Alpha making up the difference in firepower. The western peninsula was swiftly secured, with 5 bases captured and 1 destroyed. It was intended that these bases would be used to perform on-site fabrication to support further offensives. Additionally, Sparta was able to greatly extend its sensor coverage on Continent Bravo thanks to the existing facilities.
2172: The enemy’s response to the western landing was more rapid than expected, with a counterattack led by needlejets decimating the spearhead forces and retaking Korolev Center. With high levels of partisan resistance making it untenable to move forward, the survivors of the landing force elected to raze most of the captured bases and regroup at the newly established temporary command post at Cosmograd, where on-site fabricators allowed them to quickly dig in with flash-fabbed anti-air and anti-rover defences.
Taking advantage of this distraction, Sparta’s main force moved out of Assembly Area Alpha, advancing through the forests of the Garland Crater under air and sensor cover. This was the largest Spartan formation assembled to date, with half a dozen mobile companies and an equal number of supporting infantry. In addition, multiple jet and missile squadrons were on standby to provide close air support.
At the same time, Kingdom of God forces landed an MCV on the north-eastern coast to establish a staging base for their helicopter squadrons, inbound from Continent Charlie.
2173: Enemy needlejet squadrons attempted to intercept Sparta’s force moving through the Garland Crater, but the Spartan anti-air defences allowed them to break through and deploy flash-fabricated nerve gas to spectacular effect, laying waste to the University’s headquarters and multiple support bases. Further gains were made on the flanks: by the forces at Cosmograd in the west, and by the Kingdom of God’s helicopter squadrons in the east.
At this point, the University of Planet was falling apart. From the 60 bases it controlled at its height, it now held a mere 24; its population had been halved; all three of its secret projects were destroyed; its technological lead had been equalized. The University was a ghost of itself, one foot already in the grave. All Sparta needed was one more push to send the Agents of Decline down to where they belonged.
Alas, it was not to be, for the same treacherous forces which had brought down the UNS Unity above Planet would now rear their ugly head again.
That’s right, Sparta was stabbed in the back on the cusp of victory by the (((Believers))) in a most shameful display.
Okay, it wasn’t quite the cusp of victory. Despite my absolutely incredible successes on the battlefield, civac2 still has 24 bases capable of producing units to fight back with. It could’ve taken some time to finish him off even without this betrayal happening.
These were the most intense turns I’ve ever played in my life, with maximum amounts of autism being deployed to find the most optimal combinations of moves that would let me slip my forces past the University’s enormous fleets of terraformers and reach their targets. However, the massive ICS that prompted us to team up against civac2 would be a double-edged sword, as it meant he had a lot of ground to defend and not enough units to do it with. This operation was expensive in terms of units lost and industrial potential denied, but I was expecting worse and the results were still well worth it.
The University’s managing to obtain both fusion power and chaos guns a few years into the invasion was definitely not desired, though. I expected resistance would stiffen soon after landfall, of course, but not to that extent.
Also YES, snatched the Cloning Vats out of Believing hands and won utmost glory for the Spartan race. Kalin’s outrage is somewhat amusing to me, as if everything had gone to plan, he would’ve never had the chance to build it in the first place. It was pure luck that oldbonebrown just happened to connect an artefact and receive that exact tech, and that Kalin would steal that tech instead of nerve gas a turn later. I tell you, I fucking shat bricks when he made that post having stolen the tech, thinking that I’d lost my chance to build the project. I knew I couldn’t risk waiting any longer, so I dumped my artefact and a bunch of units and a lot of credits to get it over the line. Absolutely worth it though, it would’ve been a complete disaster if Kalin got it, what with the massive continent he has all to himself.
Anyway, the vendetta proceeds, with me and Kalin both hastily redeploying away from the University to gain control of the ocean and gas each other’s bases. Minor losses on both sides so far.
I realized I forgot to include any screenshots in the previous post, and there haven't been a lot posted in this thread so far, so here are a few so you can get an idea of what we were (and still are) up against.
SPACE LAUNCH SUCCESSFUL - KINGDOM SECURES COMPLETE ORBITAL SUPREMACY!
Righteous rejoice as the Kingdom Space Force has successfully launched into orbit mankind's first weaponized orbital defence facility in Alpha Centauri: the Heavenly Diocese Stadsklev Vigilance Platform! Tasked primarily with minute mapping of enemy territory, safeguarding lives of the faithful, and of course, destroying the depraved enemies of God would they ever dare enter into the Celestial Realms, this mighty miracle of divine engineering ensures our total domination of the firmament of heaven for all eternity.
In related good news, our dedicated bombardment of the Spartan homeland has yielded ripe and juicy heavenly fruits of the sweetest victory. In addition to the nerve-gas induced mass casualties of satanic sickos in Special Warfare Centre, Fortress of Uplifting, Life Lived for Struggle and General Dynamics Plant, as well as expert Miriam Youth-manned martyr rockets destroying enemy mines and boreholes, High Command is pleased to report that the entirety of HESCO Bastion has been utterly devastated by enthusiastic Space Force Martyrs, effectively dealing a mighty blow and shattering for all time the myth of Spartan superiority!
Finally, the Council of Elders wishes to further emphasise the foolish futility of resisting the Will of the Almighty, proudly declassifying details of our most beloved Armageddon Project - a revolutionary new weapon said to contain the condensed wrath of the Lord God Himself in all its majestic glory! Suffice it to say that the destructive power of this Sacred Artefact can easily wipe out any populated installation on Planet. All praise the Lord God for his bountiful blessing in our hour of need!
In other news:
Angel of Death nerve gas bomber squadron gifted to the University
Fire of the Lord burns Spartan Copter Hunter Killers out of the skies Kingdom Ministry base lost to the enemy, half of Lord's Chosen martyred
Burning Sword Battalion sustains triple missile strike before succumbing Samsonite bombers wipe out 50,000 demons in U.N.mega.city6:Oceania
What the fuck, how did you drop and raze that base, there was nothing near-
Ohhhh, I see what you did there. You left the scout out the turn before and then built the MCV underneath it, flash-upgraded it and dropped it. Very smart.
Also yeah Believers rushed a nuke and an ODP this turn, shit's not looking good for the forces of freedom right now.
Officers, enlistees, citizens of Sparta! Five mission years have passed since the so-called Kingdom of God showed its true colours. Not content with its Judas act of stabbing the brave sons and daughters of Sparta in the back as they fought for freedom in the forests and craters of Continent Charlie, the God-fearing zealots sought to inflict terror upon the freedom-loving Spartans of Continent Alpha itself!
While the Spartan High Command was of course prepared for this eventuality, not even they could have anticipated the horrific depths to which the fanatic Miriam Godwinson would stoop. Chemical weapons were used against Fortress of Uplifting and Life Lived for Struggle in barbaric attacks that slaughtered more than a hundred thousand Spartan citizens; suicide bombers massacred the entire population of HESCO Bastion; and crude terror rockets fired across the Sea of Unity damaged vital industry in the form of mines and boreholes at Reaper Drone Airfield and Revisionist Power! And while the Spartan Aerospace Force’s retaliation was swift and effective, targeting half a dozen Kingdom training camps with airstrikes that wiped out nearly two hundred thousand of their most hardened fanatics and secured Continent Alpha against further terrorist attacks, Mission Year 2176 remains a date that will live in infamy.
And yet, these shocking and barbarous acts of terror were only the latest in a long list of crimes against humanity perpetuated by Miriam Godwinson and her brainwashed zealot followers. Recently declassified archives, including eyewitness accounts from Morganic refugees who fled to the safety of Sparta five decades ago, have revealed the true extent of the Kingdom of God’s genocidal campaign against Morgan Industries. Their program of “de-Morganization” involved the systematic displacement and murder of Morganites to make way for the Kingdom’s own preferred “matrimonial families”, whose men were promised rewards of land and women for taking part in the genocide. The few Morganic employees who were permitted to remain on the newly styled “New Zion” fell under the dominion of the collaborationist Morgan Megachurch, which regularly demanded tithes of “martyrs” and “altar boys”, brutalizing them with “communion worms” if they ever refused. Starvation was a frequent hallmark of Miriam Godwinson’s illegitimate settler-colonial regime, which preferred to invest its ill-gotten gains from the expropriation and plundering of Morganic private property into building weapons of mass destruction with which to threaten the rest of Planet. A threat that has now become all too real.
For far too long, the Planetary community was forced to overlook these crimes, turning a blind eye in exchange for the Kingdom’s participation in the special military operation against the University of Planet. But all that ends today! For in an extraordinary session of the U.N. Planetary Council last night, with the full authorization of Governor Lal, the Spartan High Command and the Morgan Board of Directors in Exile voted to initiate Operation Morgan Freedom!
Even as we speak, an elite task force made up of former Morganic exiles and refugees is making landfall on the shores of Continent Bravo. Provided with training and weapons as part of the Freedom Fighters Initiative, in which former Morganites would be granted Spartan citizenship in exchange for military service, these valiant men and women have put their lives on the line in the fight to free their homeland from Miriam Godwinson’s theocratic tyranny. And they are not fighting alone: not only is a Spartan expeditionary unit on station to provide logistics and air support, but the Morganic people themselves are rising up against fifty years of oppression! Resistance movements such as Morgan’s Free Men, the Hydrazine Hellraisers, and the Angry Worm Ranchers are already seizing upon the opportunity provided by their long-lost colleagues, with massive uprisings all over the occupied territories throwing out the Megachurch oppressors and liberating the majority of pre-genocide Morganica.
Shocked by the swiftness with which its colonial empire was falling apart, the Kingdom of God’s high priests immediately reached for their safety blanket, the nuclear weapon housed in The Lord’s Gift, in a futile attempt to stop the Freedom Fighters’ liberation. However, bereft of proper intelligence, they were unaware that the Spartan Intelligence Service had anticipated this very move, and was performing a feint designed to draw out the enemy’s WMDs. This feint was massively successful, with an expendable forward base being wastefully targeted by the enemy, neutralizing the WMD threat and allowing Spartan-Morganic forces to proceed with impunity!
With their colonial headquarters at The Lord’s Chosen swiftly coming under siege, and desperate to erase the evidence of their horrifying crimes, the collaborationist leadership of Morgan Megachurch resorted to a brutal scorched earth campaign using chemical and biological weapons against their own holdings. While Sparta’s rapid response force was sadly too late to prevent another genocide of the Morganic population, they were luckily able to secure proprietary research left behind from the last days of Morgan Industries, including innovations in the fields of Organic Superlubricant and Advanced Ecological Engineering, which would surely have attracted substantial profits if the corporation had not been robbed of the opportunity to bring them to market. Recognizing the need to secure investment funds for the rehabilitation of the Morganic population, the Morgan Board of Directors in Exile generously voted to make the information available to all citizens on Planet for a nominal fee, proving once again the innovative capacity of the free market.
This operation could’ve gone a bit better, but it could also have gone a lot worse, so I’ll take it! Kalin is putting up a fairly strong defense in spite of his disadvantages. At first, I laughed at the extravagance of using one of his two Planet Busters to nuke one of my forward bases, but after tallying up all the minerals I lost from it, it was actually a pretty solid move. Plus, we’re all building Orbital Defense Pods now, so it was better to use it while he still had the chance.
Still, I’d say the gains were worth the losses so far. Sure, they were mostly crap outposts with the bare minimum of development, but each one taken still denies production and territory to the enemy. Plus, I secured the tech for 12-attack weapons, which should help me maintain my military edge against all the 8-defense armour that’s proliferated. Seriously, the arms race has been insane this game.
as Sparta. Bah, butt is still sore from oldbonebrown's pact breaking fucking up my very good plan of obliterating the UN 3 games ago with my ubermensch marines and nerve gas aviation carrier fleet. It would have been glorious if not for the retarded pact breaking mechanics at sea.
