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The Cats

A ship that was previously detected by my newly acquired monitor station`s powerful long range sensors turned out to be a mere exploration ship of a Zenox Territory faction. These funny-looking creatures seem to have friendly intentions. Well, having met so many guys that wanted to harm my people i`m really happy to meet someone with a nice and peacefull smile at their furry faces.

One of my explorer reported sighting a strange space-dwelling creature. My bio-genetics said that crew of my scout got drunk or under some other drugs or just too tired and had an hallucination. They stubbornly refused to belive that such kind of life is possible. After seeing video report all those guys begged me to send them to study that creature. One of them even bubbled something about ancient Gods or something. An exploration team was sent to learn more about that creature and warn us if it acts aggressively.

Another two exploration vessels reported back about two other space-dwelling creatures. Both seemed to be of a different kind. My bio-gens got crazy about the idea to capture one of these things for experiments and other science nasties. My military said that we should first learn as much about these creatures as we can. For the first time in my life i was surprized by my military not rushing mindlessly into battle. What`s going on?! I sometimes feel that there is something that i`m not being told about...

Increased civilian traffic

My expansion advisor reported that privates are happy about security of their bussiness that my military provides. Thats good to hear. Advisor also mentioned that privates have put a large order on mining and freighter ships, so my spaceyards might be busy for some period of time.

I started to receive personal messages with threats from Dark Gang - the other and currently only one still breathing pirate group. They constantly spam me with 'offers' of protection. Guys, let me only find out your whereabouts and my battle-crabbies will show you who actually needs who`s protection! For now i was unable to locate any pirate activity in nearby space.

An alien derelic

While i was adjusting my galactic mail application to autoblock pirates spam i was contacted by communication officer on a high-priority channel. One of my scouts encountered another space creature that was quite aggressive and forced my scout to flee. While running away explorer managed to make some pictures of the area. On one of them these is a clear siluette of a large space station or something similarly large. I requested my war-ships to clear the area, but they refused to act immidiately reffering to ships being too scattered all over the empire. I checked my holomap an indeed found out that my ships wont consolidate faster than in a day or so. I need seriously consider creating an emergency fleet that would be ready to react quickly.

Another high priority message stated that there is an unknown ship apperared at my homesystem! I was so pissed off of my patrols being unable to detect it earlier that i ordered an immidiate extermination of that vessel. Unfortunately it run away probably transmitting its findings to its superiors. Not a moment later a new race contacted me - Humans. These creatures reminded me of demons from our civilisations legends. I demanded my researches and engineers to develop a long range scanner to prevent any future suprise incursions into my space. Scientist were uncertain how long will it take to develop such device.

Salvaged a tech

A meeting that was called to discuss the recent encounters was interupted by another high-priority message. An expedition team sent to investigate a distant world of Kareda 11 reported that they found some kind of a beacon that was incidently triggered. Fearing worse expedition crew retreated to their ship right in time when a small alien fleet of three vessels appeared on orbit of that world. Aliens called themselves Ketarov and said that they have retreated from an enemy that was devastating their empire. They asked for refuge and i had no other choice but to accept it. Two of their advanced ships were send for tech salvaging, while the largest - cruiser Oslo V - was enlisted into my military ranks. That is defenetely the most intriguing encounter i ever had. It produces a lot of questions answers to which my new 'friends' will give in some near future wish they or not. Past events makes me think that what i encountered is just a mere piece of what awaits me in the future.

As my scouts were searching for a suitable planet for the refugees to settle on one of my scouts made the most important discovery on one of the worlds. Under the layers of snow and ice a vast complex of alien origin was waiting for the first sentient being to enter it. As soon as the first of my scouts entered its enourmous halls his mind almost blew up as it was inprinted with images and sound of an ancient lore. The only thing that the poor explorer was able to tell is that a long time ago human (yes yes! those humans that i have encountered not long ago) bravely fought a deadly and vicious invaders that came to our galaxy to consume it. The guy passed away before his was able to tell us about the outcame of that battle and any attempts to reactivate the complex were unsuccessful. Whatever was the outcome the humans that we have encountered does know nothing of that. At least their technological achievements does`t seem to be so advanced. I ordered my scientists to 'crash research long range scanners' in order to quicjly set up a perimeter of detection bases between our territories. For some reason i do not trust these creatures, especially when our legents about two-legged pink-skined creatures flying on grotesque air-bugs and throwing deadly firebolts could turn out to be true.

Another unidentified space vessel entered orbit of one of my colonies. This time my military ships were prepaired to meet it. A ship`s cap introduced himself as a member of independent traders. He offered us to buy a large cargo of Carson gas and asked a permission to start his little bussiness in our territories. Trade seems to be good, so i ordered my military ships to leave it be, but to watch it closely. This 'trader' could actually be an enemy agent or a pirate infiltrator that was sent to map my space in order to find an ideal target for a raid. Thinking of this i almost commanded my officers to blow that ship just in case. The poor bastard didn`t know that his life was saved by the emmisar of a furry cat-like friends of mine who interrupted my violent thoughts.

Zenox contacted me and offered a trade treaty. Once again i thought that trade is better than war (or at least than nothing) and signed the agreement. However i ordered my intelligence agency to send some agents under cover of simple traders. Knowing who your neighbours are is a very useful thing.

A time has passed before my trade advisor sent a message that our finest drops-snacks did not inspire our new trade partners. However one of the traders that illegaly kept a flock of Terallions aboard his ship bartered these birds at a very high price. These birds were quite old and actually did bad as drop-producing 'devices' so trader gladly exchanged them for a good sum of money. Advisor suggested that we trade Zenox our old birds that produce bad-quality drops rather than the spicy product itself. A good tactics i must confess - a man is defenetely a true trade specialist, the best from the whole Wekkarus empire (speaking of which - it now has 5 stars under control and numerous civilian and military fleets).

After sending another whipping on request for my scientist to develop LR sensors ASAP one of the bravest of them dared to propose me to construct a research facility near the black hole. He said that emmitions of some kind of particles that are able to escape black hole`s gravity could result in tachy-something... agh dammit! All he ment was that this should increase our research. After getting rid of that mind-flaying scientist i ordered my engineers to prepare all necessary blueprints for such a facility. While they were busy working on it my trade advisor expressed a nice idea of adding some spa and resort facilities to that station. He said that many crabbies might be interested in looking into the 'eyes-of-the-end-of-the-world'. Man i love that creative guy!

Galaxy map

Excellent, enjoying your AAR a lot Okim. [8D]

I'm enjoying your AAR too Okim. Entertaining reading. You must take copious notes. I'm having a fun time in my little "Solar Republic" and things are happening that I should just jot down and share too.

Thanks for writing this Okim. You are a truly gifted AAR writer.

My new favourite AAR [&o] Can't wait for a new update of this epic tale!

Thanks from me too, Okim! Can't be easy writing such a good AAR, in your second language, too. It has really made me want to buy the game.

Roll on Wednesday.....

It seems that you have a rather small galaxy. A deliberate choice?

Nice.
 

All he ment was that this should increase our research. After getting rid of that mind-flaying scientist...

So, how did the emperor get "rid" of that scientists. Just told hi to get back to work or killed him? Heh. Killing a productive scientist is counter productive.

Nope, the guy is too valuable for my empire`s technological advancement. He just was sent back to his team.

A few years have passed since my first contact with humans. These pinky ugly creatures proved to be quite cunning and unceremonious. They secretly established multiple mining sites in territories that my Wekarrus people considered to be rightfully theirs. My people started to get nervous of these neighbours and some planet securities even reported spotting more and more aggressively anti-human groups. A trade embargo was put on all human imported products after several death that were caused by poor-quality human food. This incident started a 'cold war' that was escalating with each passing day.

Long range sensor
LRMSA Spotty

My scientists whom i was so hardly pressing managed to discover long range sensors much faster that i was expecting. Each scientist was granted an unlimited supply of Vodkol and Terillion spicy drops for their achievements. People should know that 'empire forgets never' such acts of patriotism! The device that my smarty guys managed to develop was quite large. In fact it was so huge that it beat in size my light freighters! Engineers said that this is not a serious challenge for them and a new LRMSA 'Spotty' (Long Range Mobile Sensor Array) design was added to my navy archives. I decided to make my LR stations mobile in order to create a flexible early-warning system that could be easily redeployed should the need arise. 8 Spotties were constructed and deployed in a wide line between the most  probable Human space and my main colonies. As my explorers dared to venture deep to the north into Human territories i found several suitable planets for colonisation and repositioned my EWS (early-warning system) to prevent surprise attacks at these colonises.

Crayfish mkII

While i was designing my LRMSA i got a message from one of my constructors reporting reaching its construction site at Black Hole. He detected two large space stations that he believed to be Human. These cunning bastards managed to get there ahead of me... A wave of protests and anti-human mass-meetings rolled over my newly established border colonies. Fearing that my people wont tolerate any more human tricks i ordered a massive military fleet build-up. A total of 22 military Crayfish-class frigates were constructed and assigned service in two border fleets - Fleet 7 under the command of Ketarov refugee cruiser captain Burbok Slas`Ma and Fleet 8 under the command of a local Military A-student Ckick Clack. Both fleets were assigned to Sandora 2 planet and were put on a high-priority list for repair/resupply stations and recreational facilities to make ships and crew be battle-ready and in 'good-spirits' should an emergency occur.

My expansion advisor reported that a refuelling station in Anzat system is finally operational and my explorers can start exploration of the eastern fringe. This in fact allowed my scouts to reach that mysterious location that i found in computers of monitoring station. A fleet of exploration ships was sent to search for new planets and resource deposits.

A team of bio-gens that were observing local space monsters reported that creatures seem to be highly-territorial and never leave intentionally their 'hunting ground', so they believe that these creatures pose no significant threat to colonies and distant mining sites in systems that they live in. One of the chief science-boys asked permission to capture one of the beasts to study its biology and genetics. Feeling that bio-boys would incidentally get devoured by the beast i assigned Click Clack and his fleet to perform the mission of capturing the beast. I pick a monster that was guarding a derelict in an asteroid cloud to be captured and tortured by my sadistic bio-boys. This mission was a success and allowed my salvage teams to finally study the abandoned base. It was empty, but still operational and could be repaired. Station turned out to be an old ore refinery that my archaeologists believe to be a part of that mystery race that once was inhabiting my Homeworld.

I asked Zenox if they know something about this race and for the first time i heard its name... I ordered my historians to contact Zenox and share our knowledge of the past. Who knows what we may find in our ancient lores...

Police cutter design

Dark Gang has committed its first dare attack on Anzat gas mining stations. Luckily my newly designed and widely used Police Cutters were more that able to deal with this raid. My intelligence reported detecting at least two pirate raid bases, but both beyond my Crayfish-class frigates range. Military advisor suggested retrofitting the whole my fleet to a new design that has more fuel storage and includes a hyperdeny device. I accepted this design and ordered an empire-wide retrofitting  project. All 22 ships were assigned to nearby docks and work on upgrading my military strength 'began to boil' (started at full strength). Both fleets consisting of fresh ships were sent to take care of pirate bases and scored victories without loosing any ships. This new design with a hyperdeny device proved to be a very effective anti-pirate measure.

Mercenaries offer
SOL Gang surprise attack on humans

Meanwhile i was contacted by a 'mercenary SOl Gang' as they call themselves. These were just a bunch of out-law roddent-like buddies that had a small fleet in a neighbouring space near the Human homeworld SOL. They offered me a nice deal that included raiding attacks on Human installations and ships - a useful crippling blow to the very ones that makes me sick with their only look. I ordered my military advisor to analyse all data that my 'new-allies' promised to provide us with. I also ordered my Intelligence to infiltrate human territories and gather as many information as they can about their fleet strength, planets and mining operations. I decided to prepare for a decisive strike at the very heart of my future enemy...

A declaration of WAR

But Humans have out-planned me! They striked first and invaded my systems that i have considered to be far from conflict zone. They quickly blasted several of my defenceless mining stations and even a not-so-long obtained derelict refinery! My people were outraged and demanded quick and brutal retaliation. While my local police cutters were amassed to repel the invaders, my both fleets were ordered to immediately strike at SOL system. My construction yards were ordered to construct troop carriers and weapon labs began working on orbital bombardment weapon. A Wekkarus war engine was slowly awaking from its slumber. Never before my feudal crabbies were working so productively side-by-side!

Fleets on course to SOL
First invasion
A forced retreat

The first strike on SOL system was a total massacre. Both my fleets were cut in half and my brave captains Click Clack and Burbock Slas`Ma were slain in seconds by three orbital defence platforms that orbited SOL homeworld planet. Disgraced and heavily beaten my whats-left of both fleets were combined to a single one and were ordered to retreat to a border colony that was the closest to Human territories. A blunt attack at Human`s heart turned out to be a total disaster that heavily undermined my empires military strength and ability to defend it. Humans understood that as well and two more mining stations fell to their surprise attacks. The fact that Human fleets were striking far away from my EWS sensor coverage only proved how vicious and cunning these pinky bastards are! It aslo meant that humans have a base of operations somewhere to the far west of SOL system. My intelligence later confirmed that fact.

Lobster-class frigate
Salvaged Devastator cruiser

Analysts suggested to design a ship that is more adapted for a long range combat and thus should be useful against orbital defence facilities. A new Lobster-class design was added to navy archives and a whole fleet of these leviathans was commissioned and readied for a second invasion. Right in the same time as my last Lobster frigate left orbital dry docks of Sondare 2 an exploration ship reported finding an abandoned cruiser that was given the name of Devastator. This powerful ship was a crucial addition to my newly re-enforced Fleet 7.

Second invasion

Second invasion was carefully planned and costed me only few ships. A full strength Fleet 7 consisting of a mix of 32 frigates and under the command of Devastator cruiser invaded SOL system and immediately blockaded SOL 6 colony. After smashing a pitiful counter attack that humans desperately launched my ships were ordered to simultaneously attack the major mining sites in SOL system as well as black hole facilities. In a few moments Humans were stripped of gas and ore mining operations all over the system. This attack attracted all human invasion fleets that were beating my defenceless distant mining stations. The final phase of the invasion was about to start when two important news came from different parts of my empire.

Mun Kalamare

On the eastern borders of my empire my expedition reported finding a fully fledged empire of... Wekkarus species! I mean, they are ours! Immediately a whole empire-wide shock struck my people. Who are they? How is it possible that they are... we? Archaeologists and historians were so exited that even sponsored a reuniting project with those Mun Kalamare fellas. 

The second report came from the western borders where humans made their first dare attack. People feelling that my empire is no longer able to protect them have overthrown my rule and declared independence. A fleet that was almost ready to leave for conquest of SOL 6 planet was immediately send to take care of that rebellious scum. That event forced my Fleet 7 to once again leave SOL system, but this time intact and victorious.

Both 'independent empires' joined my ranks and while on one of the worlds a great celebration took place with grand supplies of free-of-charge Vodkol and Terillion spicies being consumed in tons on the other world there was a wave of executions and arrests. The empire forgives never!

A united project to uncover the secrets of the galaxy was started. My own historians alongside with Mun Kalamare`s and Zenox consolidated their knowledge in an attempt to discover any possible clues to the past of the galaxy that all three sides might have in their ancient legends and archives.

Black Hole

In a mean time my constructor began constructing a research $ resort facility near the black hole and a set of 4 defence stations around it. Just in case

Galaxy map

Very nice again. Ip all the screen shots. Can I ask how you can order a fleet to simultaneously attack several things and blockade a colony at the same time?
Were you able to destroy the orbital defense with the long distance frigates?

I made that manually by selecting several groups of ships from my fleet and giving them attack orders. In fact without automation i HAD TO MANUALLY assign targets for my ships as they wont even fire back at their attackers sometimes

Defence platforms also had torpedoes and turned out to be too tough for my LR frigates. Honestly i wasn`t able even to destroy a single resort station that was parked in one of the western systems with 4 such frigates - all four were blasted by stations torpedoes. I imagine how much human tourists have paid for such a spectacular show

But do not rush ahead

For some reason i feel that people visiting this thread may be overlooking the latest AAR update. Guys it is on previous page - the last post on it

lol . I like the way you see the humans. I find starbases/ports/etc also quite tough when you only have destroyers to attack them. In particular the larger bases are very strong and difficult to destroy. I believe it is better to try to take over the colony with troops, while keeping the base occupied with cannon fodder. Then you get the surrounding space ports as a bonus I believe.

Thx for good AAR Okim. keep doing the good job.

ORIGINAL: Okim

Archaeologists and historians were so exited that even sponsored a reuniting project with those Mun Kalamare fellas. 

I know, I know I'm really picky but aren't they called Mon Calamari? [;)]

P.s. keep up the good work Okim, these are really fun to read when waiting for a save game to load!

You saw the shot i posted

Okim,

Fantastic AAR, it keeps getting better. Really like how you are managing your empire as well, good to see all the original planning you are doing in how you build your economy and defenses, from ships to bases and how you plan your offensive strategies. Well done on your second attack there. [8D]

I still have no idea how to beat that enourmous station and other three bases parked at their planet.

I haven't got the game, but maybe ships with reasonable shields, long range weapons, and good ECM - since it seems it's the bases torps that are toasting you??? Maybe good manoeuverability too - doesn't that cut down on torp hit chances?