Fall from grace a gameplay example

(Originally posted in parts on the AAR forum - posted here for wider reading)

(Large Map – everything abundant - Masochistic – no Ctl +N – no tech trading). This is the story of how the Altarians conquered the galaxy but lost their soul.


Part 1 – The Crossroads of Fate.

The election had been a landslide, our Popularist policies of free love and understanding (which we knew would boost our population and morale beyond all previous levels) had found almost unanimous approval with a cynical electorate.

Our first day in office was a swirling sea of data from a variety of sources as military, scientific, economic and industrial advisors clamoured to be heard.

We already knew that Alteria had no special regions to boast of. We saw our neighbouring planet of Wisp, cold and inhospitable, yet so close at hand. Our "free- love" policy would create overcrowding problems really quickly. We had to expand and expand quickly. Our foreign policy advisor pointed to the 9 other races we had knowledge of. A crude chart on the wall showed a rough coloured circle where we believed they were based.

The most striking feature was that our circle was not at circle at all. Only a semi-circle of turquoise showed on the map, the other half was white. It appeared that the Iconians were in the very next sector to our North. Together ,we were in the top left segment of the galaxy with all the remaining races to our south and east. The closest of these others were the Yor directly to the south and the Drengin to the South East. Both had fierce reputations of being dictatorships of the worst kind.

Our mood blackened. These races would not let us live in peace in our little corner of the galaxy, they would soon come calling for tribute, threatening death. Surely we had to protect our people against this threat.

We would soon crushed into dust if we didn’t come up with a plan. We looked again at the map. We must expand and take what planets we could to live on and to thrive. But then again surely the other races would be doing the same. The picture was very bleak. We had only 3 systems in range which we would be able to reach first whilst the other races look as though they will be able to get 6 or 7.

Our thoughts turned to our neighbour. The Iconians are an ancient race, who share many of our values, maybe we could ally with them and together be stronger to fight the menace to the south. Our meagre resources amount to one colony ship and our flagship. We set the flagship to survey the galaxy while we set about deciding our way of establishing a foothold. It does not look good.

It was only our first day in office but already we looked doomed. If only we could reach more planets. But the Iconians are so close that they will surely reach all of the planets to our North before we can get there.

Crisis meetings ensued, what course could we possibly take? Orders were sent to design better ships, we began to research technologies which would in turn allow us to research other spheres more quickly, and we spent heavily in buying factories (queuing many more) and the newly designed ships to colonise those 3 systems we could reach first.

However as dusk settled, it was obvious this was never going to be enough. There would be wolves at our door before we could tool ourselves and with their greater resources we would never withstand the invasions from the south.

Together with our closest advisors we hatched a plan that would save us but would damn our souls for eternity.


Part 2 – The beginning of the slide

It was clear we were doomed if we sat there and waited for the Dregnin and the Yor. It was suggested that we met them head on but their reputation as fierce warriors meant that the direct attack would be suicide. It pained us but we decided the only way to cope with the threat to the south was to secretly research "planetary invasion" and take our idealistic neighbour’s land to the north. Such a plan was only justifiable as a desperate measure.

It would take nearly a year to research that if we were to do so immediately. So we set about establishing a research network. We increased our production to the maximum, (where it would stay for the remainder of our time in office). Our taxes were reduced to the barest trickle so that our people would flourish, and everyone was happy, blissfully unaware that our civilization stood on a precipice.

We colonised Wisp, a district there would give an industrial complex twice its normal production, so we rushed a factory onto it and queued a starport and another factory (filling all of the planet’s usable land). This planet was forever set to build constructors and helped build the infrastructure of the empire.

With our second colony ship, we headed for the nearby system of Nero. Nero was a small system in a direct line with the Iconians capital. Our ship arrived in the system one month after setting out to find 2 planets orbiting a strange purple sun. Nero II was like nothing we had ever seen. It was paradise. Whilst the smaller Nero III was still a wonderful planet by Altarian standards.

We settled both planets in quick succession. Nero III had many features which made research easy two districts in particular had a beneficial affect on the research buildings built there. We built two factories before turning most of the rest of the planet over to research (later we were to build the tech capital here). Nero II would be our economic centre, after 3 factories we set about building markets, farms and entertainment for the population. Our policies would soon fill this planet with willing (or not so willing) tax payers.

Meanwhile in secret our research was nearing completion. We switched all attention to research for 2 weeks to complete our shameful technology. Then switched all our resources to making improved transports. Our plan was to fall on them with a surprise attack before they knew what had happened.

The Iconians had colonised 6 planets by this time, but we knew that it would be the homeworld that held the key. So stealthily 3 full transports were loaded and headed for New Iconia. The result was slaughter. 6 Billion Iconians died with less than 500M casualties on our side. (Much better than our analysts had predicted and it allowed two of the transports were re-loaded to take future planets). The Iconians were a peace-loving race and their troups had no way to fight back against our soldiering strength. We snatched the technology of Impulse Drive II from them (a hugely beneficial advance that merely speeded their demise).

Week after week, transport after transport came from our homeworld and invaded the defenceless worlds populated by the Iconians. More technologies, ironically including laser and minaturization technologies, were stolen as the planets fell like dominoes. The Iconians kept trying to colonize even as we invaded their more established planets. Their pacifism could not comprehend our aggression. Our cause was greater. Our only chance to fight evil was to become strong.

Euphoria swept our empire as ample room was created to expand into. Taxes were raised (since we had been running in deficit only propped up by our survey ship finding space debris). Each captured planet was set to work, many as pure revenue earners with three factories, a starport, a farm, an entertainment building and lots of markets. However those on our southern border were held to production only, aware that these simple victories were merely the fore- runner of a much greater and deadlier battle to come.

At this point we had hardly any military and with what ships we had in the far North mopping up the Iconians. However, even before darkness fell on the Iconians, the moment we feared arrived. The Yor and Drengin demanded money that we simply could not afford. Two weeks later they simultaneously declared war. Our sensors picked up their fleets, purple and red dots littered our borders, we were surely doomed.

Part 3 – Rearguard Action

The first sightings of enemy ships on our southern borders caused panic. We sent an emissary to the Iconians to ask for peace. They gratefully accepted. They had just two minor planets left and their civilization was in ruins, brought to them by their trusted "friend".

We counted the Yor and Drengin worlds. We had 10 planets the Yor had 7 and the Drengin 11. Sensors scanned the incoming fleets. The Yor had similar ships to our fleet (just many more of them). Twin lasers on small hulls. Maybe we could switch production to fighters and hold of the invasion.

Such hopes were almost immediately dashed. The Drengin ships completely outclassed anything we could build. They steadily approached with several fleets, each of 3 ships totalling 36 beam attack on our scale. Our military commanders blanched. We had 5 fighters, all in the north, totalling 7 beam attack in total. It could only be suicide to build fighters to attack them.

Surrender looked the only option.

Then a junior officer pointed out that the Drengin fleet only consisted of fighters. Their technology had not yet allowed them to gain the ability to invade planets. It would surely only be a matter of time but it was time to put something in place which may save us. But what to do? Our front line was a wide line of planets, some settled by us, others ripped from the Iconians. Our scientists were set to research Warp drive. So that we could out manoeuvre if not out gun any enemy ships.

We looked at the stellar charts, the attack could come from anywhere. Defending all the planets on the border would be impossible. We could only focus our defences in one or two places. The Drengin would have to wait. The Yor were nearer and at least in part managable.

We had no defenders, but a single transport, "lightening" class had just been completed on Altaria. There was a Yor planet of Sauron between our two empires. It had not got any defenders, and looked as though a quick strike by transport could grab it within 2 weeks before hostilities began in earnest. It would be difficult to hold it but it would be essential for the Yor to retake it before going for any of the other planets on the Southern border. However with no fighter cover, and limited sensors the plan would be doomed if it encountered a single other ship.

If it failed then chances were our whole civilization would crumble. As they set sail the entire planet of Altaria held its breath. At the half way point the scanners would be able to detect whether there would be any resistance. We hoped the Yor’s overconfidence based on our lack of firepower would be their downfall. And so it was to prove. The transport landed on Sauron and we had first blood. Still with no defenders we at least had a focal point on our southern border with the Yor.

Wisp was manfully raising constructors to build military starbases at Sauron and Altaria. The remainder of the empire was producing defence ships with 2 of our fastest engines. They only had one point of attack but had 7 points of movement.
Meanwhile, the Drengin breezed through our space, killing any ship in their wake. Our flagship fell, a lone transport, two of our fighters (who using old designs could not out run the enemy). Finally one fleet took out the starbases surrounding Altaria itself.

Luckily Sauron was not near their field of vision. That was where we were locked in a deadly struggle with the Yor. The Drengin had complete control of our skies and "running the gauntlet" to get to the front line was just as dangerous as when the rookie crews got there. At least if they managed to get to Sauron they had a chance to fight back. As the weeks past, every available ship was sent there, and a huge military starbase was enhanced over and over again.

Wave after wave of Yor fleets crashed against the brave defenders. Our numbers were dwindling, but the Yor were dwindling faster. Again whether through bravery or desperation it was decided to advance against the Yor. The next target was Westerfeld and a squad of fast fighters and two transports were sent to grab the planet.

The Yor, so long the attacker, were not expecting this counter attack and the planet fell quickly despite their skilled defence. With it we gained strange shielding technology which might help our cause. Moreover, a strange pre-cursor mine was discovered which would allow amazing levels of production.

Again, just as we dared to hope, these were dashed. A previously unseen Drengin ship type appeared within Altaria’s sensors. The week later the Drengin were destroying billions of our people. Panic and carnage gripped the empire in equal measures. People scrambled to leave the planet, the government even considered torching the factories so that they could not be used by the invaders, but the speed of attack meant nothing was done. Two weeks later Altaria itself fell. With their new deadly ability to grab our worlds the Drengin would surely seize all they wanted.

Part 4 – Descent into darkness

Nothing could stop the Drengin. The week after Alteria fell, another planet was subsumed into the Drengin culture. Their awesome soldiering prowess meant defence was almost impossible. Our ships were still hopelessly out classed even with the new shielding techniques stolen from the Yor.

The one remaining pocket of strength we had was around Sauron. Ironically we had been winning the battle against the Yor, but it was impossible to fight on two fronts. We collected together as much cash as we could and sent a diplomat to discuss peace with the Yor. To our surprise they did not want the money. Our military must have taken more out of them than we’d guessed and they were surely unaware that the Drengin were close to destroying us. Instead we received a small amount from them for ceasing the hostilities, at least for now. I think we both knew, even as we talked, that eventually one of us would destroy the other, but at least for now the fighting stopped.

Freed from their fight against the Yor, the brave, veteran crews around Sauron swung round to the East to where certain death awaited. They would take a few Drengin with them but they would not be able to hold out long.

Again recklessly we decided to counter attack. A transport was built on Sauron to make the mirrored trip to the one just six months earlier. Its mission was to out run the Drengin fleets and land on Altaria. It was surely a defiant but token gesture. We landed and captured a hugely valuable prize of phasor technology. These would allow a quantum upgrade to our defenders’ design but it was surely too little, too late.

Drengin fleets crowned the skies. Weeks passed, but even our updated designs did little to dent the military might. At least when we could muster greater numbers we could now win, the problem was that the updated design took longer to build. Our need to boost our infrastructure was obvious. We started to research further enhancements to governments.

The Yor meanwhile had taken to wiping out the neighbouring Drath. We never saw the conflict but it must have been very one-sided as within a few weeks they surrendered to their aggressors. Unfortunately for us this widened the front to the West of Sauron. (This was the least of our worries but meant we needed to have one eye to our rear as surely the Yor would someday attack again).

The situation with the Drengin was still hopeless. Squads of our fastest ships picked off transports where they could, but soon Altaria fell again.

Our fighters were being outnumbered everywhere. Even though they evaded conflict wherever they could soon only one or two remained. Seeing their chance again the Yor declared war. The end must surely be close.

Darkness was descending on our civilization. We started the darkest of research in a desperate bid for survival.


Part 5 – An unexpected turn

I’ve never met a Terran, and since they are all dead now I guess I never will. I’d like to think we were similar to us so that some of their sacrifice would be carried forward. However their role was pivotal to our history. The Drengin were not really pressed by our feeble attempts at resistance. So much so that they declared war on the Terrans just as our Empire lay helpless before them.

The transports stopped coming. We can only guess they were now bound for Earth instead. We still had warships to contend with but for now, our planets were our own. We had time but no hope. Desperate times lead to desperate measures.

It was our darkest hour and our priests turned our population to embrace the darkness. They allowed us to use the power of the mind to enhance our weapons. It was the only choice. That it warped the minds of those who were used did not measure against our need to survive. Our beam weapons were enhanced using the new technology. The results were unbelievable. One single weapon gave a rating of 12 beam. Two new designs were immediately commissioned, one with engines with one such weapon and a shield, the other with no engines but two weapons.

The first of these designs proved the most valuable. The first 3 produced all headed directly for Iconia and the next 3 for Yor controlled Dratha. Transports were in close attendance. They blasted straight through the Yor defences, which were now totally inadequate against our dark technology. Iconia and Drath were in our hands. Even at home we were starting to clear our space of Drengin invaders. Over the next few months we pushed the Yor back and back. We made peace, at a great cost to the Yor, only to immediately resume the fight. We had no morals when it came to dealing with our enemy. Soon the Yor existed no longer.

The Drengin, temporarily distracted, had allowed us to grow strong enough to face them head on. We had risen from the gutter, but at what cost. The technology needed sacrifices, was a soul too much to pay.

Part 6 – Spreading Evil Everywhere

The Drengin had conquered the Terrans, whilst the Torians had taken all but the last Korx planet before they surrendered to the Arceans. The Thalans had succumbed to the Arceans . All that meant that the map showed just four large empires left, the Drengin, Torians and Arceans. The latter two had not been close to my territory, being predominantly based in the North East and South East corners of the galaxy. After the mind control center and the artifical slave center were built and suddenly we had a stable position.

We researched Hyper Warp and made transports which could cover half the galaxy in a single turn. We produced fast escorts which could be positioned at waypoints to ensure their safety for their one week stopover. It was our turn to push out toward Drengin space. The Torians and Arceans joined our quest to exterminate them, but were also at war with each other. We stormed into Drengin space. Week after week of invasions all allowing us to expand. Speed was of the essence. We needed to grab the Drengin spoils before the other races got there. This we did with new found efficiency.

Our research switched to allow us to build huge long range assault ships. The Arceans had almost won their battle against the Torians. Their empire stretched the whole length of the Eastern half of the map. They had most of the wonders and mining resources (our early conflicts had meant that we’d not had time to grab and build on the resources we had found). As a result the Arceans where far ahead of us in technology. They had black hole eruptors whilst we still relied on our psionic weapons. However, in real terms we were unstoppable.

The end was near. In a few short weeks we built a huge fleet of 40 transports and 80 assault ships, specially designed to nullify the Arceans Eruptors. The Arceans (and what was left of the Torians) declared war to battle our "Evil Empire", but we were experts at war now and within just 2 weeks we had ¾ of their planets under our control. 5 weeks later they had both surrendered and our conquest was complete.

So we sit here, masters of all we survey. Our lives have been drawn into an eternal twilight. No-one remains for us to conquer and no-one to fear except what we’ve become.