Extreme Difficulty Shadows After Action Report

[Icemania]

I like to target Pirates early but what a tempting target an Explorer found ... going to start building an overwhelming army and schedule in Transport Systems research.

Since Gerax isn't all that far away, ships that finish missions can start to wait at my home planet.

[Icemania]

Looks like a sneaky troop transport with 30 or so troops should be enough.

[Icemania]

Sneaky Ardillus, didn't even see you coming, lucky there are enough guns on that Medium Spare Port!

[Icemania]

Gerax Hyperdrive is complete, starting to upgrade all ship designs and ships that have finished their recent missions.

[Icemania]

Now built up to 30 Explorers with Gerax Hyperdrive and another phase of population growth with 0% tax.

[Icemania]

The Exploration focus pays off already with Way of the Ancients found via the Imperial Archive. Since mines are in good shape, they "move to" to look for interesting things only (i.e. super luxuries, debris fields etc) and do not fully explore.

[Icemania]

I'll pay, I'll pay! Be Friendly ... let's all just be Friendly! For the moment anyway ...

[Icemania]

Zentabia Fluid found, Construction ship on the way. Defending it might be a problem early but there are some relatively friendly Ancient Guardians around. All other Construction ships are repaired debris field ships which are being retired helping research only. I don't need too many mines inviting more trouble than I can chew.

[Icemania]

Found a Lost colony arising from Exploration. Armored Factory now ready on homeworld.

[Icemania]

Found Devastator Pulse via Nexus of the Red Claw. Elsewhere, more Zentabia Fluid, Way of Darkness via Temple of Darkness.

[Icemania]

Naxillians conquered followed a sneak attack by fast and well armoured Troop Transports. Interesting the AI still has Size 159 ships, no hyperdrive on many ships ... LOL!

[Icemania]

Ruslan Technology Installation built to accelerate High Technology Research. Also back to 0% tax.

[Icemania]

1st Fleet to destroy Pirates formed, 24 Ships, Size 400, Shockwave Torpedo & Deucalios Shields, intended for the largest bases. To try to avoid fuel shortages the civilian economy is on Caslon while Military is on Hydrogen.

[Icemania]

Home world is now at Maximum Population after the 0% tax policy hence the strong cashflow.

Three Pirate destroying fleets have been on the prowl and are returning home. They'll be needed at home for a while as I'm ensuring all protection agreements have been cancelled.

A couple of new Colonies from Beacon Exploration (Ackdarian, Dyahut) but kept in or near existing systems to ensure they are defensible. Traded Technology for Colonisation hence some other Colony ships are being built again close to home for the moment.

Second wave of Exploration. Lost plenty of the original "tin foil" Explorers ... now a vastly upgraded fleet of 40. I struggle to continue to micromanage at this point so most are on Auto, but some start Auto far away from home to avoid "No Mission" Auto's.

Similarly all Bases are progressing major upgrades to 10 Shockwave Torpedoes and 10 Deucalios Shields. As the maintenance cost increases, checked to ensure that I don't have too many mines for each Strategic.

[Icemania]

The upgraded bases with a few ships in each system for defence in enough for almost all pirate attacks. A fleet is reserved for near home duties for the odd "super" Pirate ship or fleet.

Long range scanners are complete and all bases are being upgraded accordingly. Point Defense is on the way.

The conquered home plant has reached maximum population, so plenty of funds to build more pirate extermination fleets including an Explorer with Long range scanner in each fleet to sniff out the next target if needed.

Cassidor Weapons Centre is complete.

[Icemania]

Very few Pirate attacks now and when they do attack they are weak. Up to 5 Extermination Fleets now. They need longer and longer range due to lack of nearby targets remaining.

Danuta Engineering Center on the way.

[Icemania]

Now up to 7 long range (~2000 fuel) fleets with Meridian Shields and Plasma Thunderbolts. 5 prowling across the map, 2 defending new Colonies until Spaceports are up. Will need Ultra Long Scanners soon otherwise will run out of targets.

[Icemania]

The battle for the Gizurean home system is almost over ... I hate bugs!

[Icemania]

Since Pirates are attracted to the remaining Independents like a moth to a flame, sending an Extermination Fleet to the more busy Independents can help whittle down Pirate numbers.

[Icemania]

Near victory e.g. if I chose to take out the Teekan home world next. But there is still fun to be had e.g. to continue to track down all the Pirate Bases etc.