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I wasn't planning on doing another AAR but ended up with a situation that may prove interesting.[:)] I won't say too much yet and let the AAR do most of the talking. This game has been going for a while and I'm playing as the insectoid Sluken race with Hive Mind government. I've recently destroyed one of the weaker AI and ...

Prelude

The recent wars of annihilation against the technocratic block of Kaidian scientists and their small Teekan worker base had left the insectoid Slukens the strongest of the known empires along the galactic rim. The Teekan desert world had fallen easily and these industrious but weak rontents had been put to work in mines across the empire. No point assimilating them as they would just weaken the gene pool. The intelligence of the Kaidian scientists, however, was another matter entirely. On Ulabrea 7, the Sluken home-world, insectoid geneticists developed a method of wiring the Kaidians into the Sluken hive-mind vastly boosting research and engineering.



Other races may have found the methods dubious and uncivilised, but the results were all that mattered. And the results were good. So good in fact that a Kaidian intelligence unit led by the master spy, Bhalod Jattub, intercepted the complete operational plans of the Dila Supremacy.



The reptilian race of Mortalen warriors from the Dila Supremacy had been largely unknown until recently and only one of their lesser planets had ever been located on the edge of the core. Scattered reports and rumours from the galactic core itself spoke of terror and unrelenting conquest as the reptiles took planet after planet.



Now all their planets and plans are laid bare and the true extent of their threat is revealed. Worryingly, our Sluken warships are dwarfed by the might of this reptilian juggernaut.



From the industrious Sluken home world of Ulabrea 7, our empire extends along the southern rim of the galaxy finishing on the western frontier (orange on the map). To the north is the weak and peaceful utopian paradise of the Free Vilabre Harmony (blue on the map). A group of free thinking Securans. They are annoyed with our scientific experiments on the Kaidians but pose no great threat. Further around the rim is a Teekan mercantile guild (brown on the map). More rodents but with the ability to build massive space-ships - although this ability hasn't translated into a fleet yet. And in the core reside the dangerous Dila Supremacy (red on the map). Somewhere else in the core is a race of Quameno amphibians already at war with the reptiles.

But the news is not all bad. Recently we have discovered an abandoned ancient project in the western frontier called a Devastation Moon. A planetoid with the ability to destroy whole worlds. Constructors are on their way to complete this before the other empires get wind.



And at the star system Dinnascar, the furthest extent of the empire, a desert moon called Korabbia was found to produce a rare spice that will give the empire massive development bonuses. A ship of Teekan slaves have been sent to start mining the spice but the distance is too great for freighters to reach. So outposts are urgently being built along the route but it will be quite some time before the first shipments will reach the rest of the empire.

Deciphering the Mortalen intel

Relations are strained between the Sluken insectoids and the Mortalen reptiles of the Dila Supremacy. The reptiles have instigated trade sanctions and war seems imminent. The decision is made to strike while the iron is hot and while the intel is still relevant.

Strategically, because we are much weaker and smaller than the Dila Supremacy, we will need to launch a surprise attack and capture as many of the highly populated planets as possible BEFORE war is declared. This will be the safest way to fly under the awesome fire-power of the Mortalen spaceports and defence bases in orbit around these planets. So we need to evaluate what we can capture in a single audacious attack. Only the highly populated planets are worth-while. The small outposts would be easy pickings but the true power and wealth comes from the handful of highly developed planets.

The situation as revealed in the reports is as follows:

A Mortalen invasion fleet (Fleet 1) prepares at Uttithan. It consists of 16 ships carrying 26 troops. The quality of the troops looks impressive - almost on the same scale as our Sluken warrior class. The orders of this fleet are to attack and bombard a planet called Kantreem 2 in an unknown system. No doubt this is a planet of the Quameno Empire. It doesn't look like Kantreem 2 will hold out for long.



The Uttithan system consists of two highly developed planets. Multiple planets to conquer within a system will be a problem because of rebellions and dissent. If both planets are not captured together the effort will most likely be wasted. Lets look closer...



The planet Uttithan 3 appears to be the muster point for Fleet 1. Interestingly this is a planet of Zenox felines. Most likely the remnants of a once proud empire that fell to the might of the reptiles. This planet has 9 troops on the ground and a large powerful Zenox spaceport in orbit. Looking too hard as a target.



The Ikkuro System has only one populated planet and is also highly developed. Looking more hopeful as a target for attack.



This planet holds Quameno amphibians and Ikkuro primates. Most likely a previous conquest again. 10 troops on the ground so for safety we should attack with about twice that number. Our total troop strength is about 40 so that would mean half our attack to take this planet. The spaceport is only medium size so would not be able to defend itself for long. It does however have two defence bases in orbit.



Too expensive in terms of resources for the gain.

On to the Dila System - home of the reptiles. This consists of three populated planets but the third is much less developed than the other two.



The Mortalen home-world, Dila 2 (with the star in the graphic), has four defence bases but no spaceport. Only seven troops guard the planet.



Dila 1 houses the large spaceport for the system and also has only seven troops on the ground.



The small desert planet Dila 3 only has one troop defending it but grabbing the other two planets will most likely lead to a rebellion on Dila 3 anyway.



Bang for buck, the Dila System looks the juiciest target. We would capture the two most important planets and secure a bridge head in the heart of the enemy's empire.

Sluken logistics

Our 3rd Fleet consisting the bulk of the troop transports from the Kaidian war are now old and worn. Recent developments in both shielding and transporting dictate that this fleet should undergo a re-fit before any attack can be contemplated. The order is given and the fleet head toward the Umiga 1 Spaceport. Meanwhile, the heavily populated planets will be given instruction to start producing more troops.



The Sluken 2nd Fleet consists the most powerful of the ancient ships our explorers have been able to find. Two massive capital ships, one cruiser, and a destroyer for a combined firepower of 853. Not powerful enough to survive a sustained battle in the heart of the enemy territory, but enough to support the captured spaceport and defence bases.



The problem will be getting the fleet to the battle field. The core planets are more than a tankful of fuel away which would mean the ships would be out of fuel and energy for any fight. We can either send them anyway and refuel from the captured planets, or try and secure a refuelling point along the axis of attack. We don't want to declare war until we are ready to land the troops so we will need to build any refuelling points secretly.

Looking at the Design Screen of the various ships, most use Caslon as their fuel.



However, our Devastator flagship uses Hydrogen. This is the Sluken's most powerful ship so should be brought into the fray along with the other ships.



So it is vital to find sources of Caslon ...



... and Hydrogen.



The maps don't display the resources within the Dila Supremacy because the intel team only intercepted the operational data. Ideally we want sources of both these fuels within the targeted Dila System. The spy school is given the task of deciphering the galaxy map before the invasion takes place to see if important fuel sources can be discovered close to the action. But in the meantime, there are two gas clouds close to each other. One with Caslon and the other with Hydrogen.



The Quameno Empire already controls the more important Caslon gas mining operation and the blue fuel icon indicates we can buy fuel from them. That solves the Caslon question and should allow our fleets to arrive with some fuel in the tanks. The Hydrogen cloud, however, is being mined by the Mortalen reptiles. As we won't be declaring war until after the troops land on their home worlds and they have a trade sanction against us, we won't be able to use this a refuelling point for the Devastator flagship.

Nothing to do yet except wait while the transports refit and continue building more invasion troops.

I should point out that economically my Sluken empire has spent most of its income on building the outposts toward Korabbia. The projected income is in low triple digits and the available funds are in the red.

12 months later

Much of the following makes reference to this galaxy map:



The transport fleet is still finishing its refit at Umiga 1 (G10 on the map). A low level bureaucrat stationed on the home world Ulabrea 7 (I8 on the map) deemed it prudent to keep the larger spaceports free to build new freighters so a production bottleneck occurred at Umiga 1 where only two ships could be refitted at any one time. The last of the transports is currently being refitted and should be ready in some short weeks. The hope is that the delay will not prove costly.



The desert moon Korabbia in the Dinnascar system (C10 on the map) is getting closer to the chain of outposts (D10 to G10 on the map) and it won't be long before the spice will run. A small spaceport is under construction on Korabbia itself now that some freighters can reach it with building materials. (Building a distant oupost can prove troublesome if freighters can't reach it and the game often just removes the unfinished port if too much time elapses)

Good news is that the Kaidian intel group this time led by Agent Dyr Varkiy has deciphered the Dila Supremacy galaxy map. Who said wiring Kaidian scientists to a mainframe was dubious?!



In pink on the map are the four systems controlled by the embattled Quameno Empire of amphibians (F5 & F6 on the map above). Of interest is the still intact Kantreem system. It would appear the reptilian assault faltered. The stronger the Quameno, the more likely the reptiles are to not declare war on us, and the more likely our invasion plans will succeed.

The new intel also allows us to make an evaluation on the fuel requirements of the fleet now that we can see all resources of the Dila Supremacy.



Unfortunately, neither Caslon or Hydrogen are available in the Dila System (E5 on the map). We will need to take over another nearby system to ensure our ships can sustain a long fight. Buying fuel from the Quameno will just make them more nervous bringing our capital ships into their planetary systems so it would be best to conquer our own supply. A desert world called Romulus looks promising (F5 on the map). It is well developed for a desert world but doesn't have a spaceport. It is unlikely to have many troops so can be attacked after the initial forces capture the Dila System.

So now the waiting game is nearly over. Nearly ready to mobilise forces and launch our surprise attack!

Plans awry

The last troop transport has finished its refit and the 3rd Fleet starts to head back toward the heart of the Sluken empire and the cadres of waiting troops when a message is received by the Department of Foreign Opportunities.



The Sluken High Command are furious! Was there a breach of security? Is there a spy in our midst? The timing is all too perfect. Just when all the battle fleets are primed and ready for clandestine action this news hits like a thunderbolt.

Contingencies! If we can secure the hydrogen gas cloud and then try for peace - however unlikely considering the Mortalen-Quameno war has raged for years - we may yet bring about our plans of capturing the Dila System and shaking the reptilian empire to its core.

Fleet 2, the small but powerful fleet of capital ships, is dispatched to the hydrogen gas cloud to destroy the mining operation. Once destroyed we will send our own constructor. The distance between the rim and the core is our friend as the Mortalen attack ships are far more advanced in fire-power and numbers than our fleet. The best option is to choke their supply and keep their fleets inside the galactic core.

New orders given. Ships leaving space-dock. When another message is received.



Those do-gooder Securans of the Free Vilabre Harmony and their placards of 'Free the Kaidians'. So they have decided to act after all. Little do they know that the very Kaidians they wish to release are being used against them. Years ago now, even as the first Kaidian scientists were wired to the collective, the environment selected for initial testing was the Securans themselves. Their every move has been monitored and they have been deemed a low threat.

It is unlikely the Mortalen reptiles will make their way across the void in meaningful numbers given the fuel constraints so even before the 2nd Fleet has left the Ulabrea Home System, the directive from High Command echoes throughout the hive mind, 'Crush the Securans!'

Securan timing

In the Sluken High Command War Room the various officers and advisors stare at the maps of Securan theatre of operation in disbelief. If the Securans had waited until the 2nd Fleet was committed in the void they would have only had the weaker 1st fleet and a collection of antiquated system ships to contend with. As it stands now, the rally point for preparing the Mortalen invasion was the Sluken home system of Ulabrea - right on the border with the Securans Free Vilabre Harmony. The two attack fleets are fully fuelled and armed while the troop transports of 3rd Fleet are on their way to Ulabrea 7. The Securans will be facing the full might of the Sluken Ulabrea Sovereignty from the very start of the war!

The area of operations is clearly divided into two distinct theatres.

The southern theatre



This consists of the core Sluken worlds in the south of the sector comprising the Ulabrea, Slukis, Memban and Betilosi systems - all churning out troops for the planned Mortalen war. To the north is the Sluken stronghold of Urtu with the research base monitoring the black hole, Devouring Chasm. Above Urtu is the important mining system of Kurrubah which supplies important gasses to the empire. Stuck right in the middle is the lone Securan system of Adare and its single desert world.

The Securan 1st Fleet is in deep space but infiltrators show its orders are to attack the Kurrubah 2 Gas Mining Station. It has a fairly impressive fire-power of 408.



The task for our 2nd Fleet withs its fire-power of 853 will be to intercept and destroy the Securan fleet at Kurrubah. As all ships in the fleet are fully fuelled and have barely left the Ulabrea System the new plans are easy to implement. Cancel the orders to attack the Hydrogen cloud mining operation and switch to protection of Kurrubah 2.



The desert planet Adare 1 only has a single troop defending it. Our 1st Fleet consisting of some destroyers and frigates with a combined fire-power of 297 is too weak to take on the superior Securan fleet but it does carry two Sluken attack troops. They can easily deal with the Adare System while the capital ships fight the real battle.



The northern theatre



The northern theatre of operations is almost the inverse of the southern theatre. At the top is the Securan home system of Vilabre while at the bottom are the two minor Securan systems of Pudires and Almanea. In the middle of this is the extended and weak Sluken outpost in the Yaga System.

After the southern theatre is secure, the action will move into the northern theatre and the fight will be taken to the Securan home world.

The main prize in the Sluken-Securan war will be to capture as many of their planets before they surrender. If their home worlds are taken there is a strong likelyhood that they will appoint us as their overlords - but that isn't enough now! We want it all.

The home system for the Securans is Vilabre with its two developed planets.



Vilabre 1, the lush continental world, has a garrison of ten troops with another three under construction. Even though these are likely to be mediocre Securan Assassin units, they may still put up a fight to protect their homeworld.



Orbiting Vilabre 1 are two troop transports carrying another 5 troops each.



The Securan government is on the Vilabre desert moon of CP397. Only a garrison of three troops here and no orbitals to contend with.

Great to see an AAR with some developed empires taking each other on. Slukens vs. Mortalens is a great fight, with a Securan side show to make things really interesting. I hope the Mortalens don't hit you while you're busy teaching the Securans to mind their own business.

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

I hope the Mortalens don't hit you while you're busy teaching the Securans to mind their own business.

They will struggle crossing the void, just like I'm going to have a difficult time getting to them (unless their ships use Hydrogen and can refuel at the gas cloud). [8D]

Ducks on a pond

A week after the Securans made their futile declaration of war, the Sluken High Command review the situation in the southern theatre.



The Sluken 1st Fleet is nearly at Adare. Adare is completely defenceless and so will fall easily. The 2nd Fleet is in deep space moving at full speed toward Kurrubah 2. The Securan 1st Fleet is moving slowly toward its target and it looks as though the 2nd Fleet may even arrive in time to save the mining station. The seven transport ships of the 3rd Fleet are mere days away now from docking at Ulabrea and collecting more troops. These will only be needed for the second phase, the attack on the Securan home worlds.

Days pass and the Sluken destroyers arrive in the Adare System. Land the troops!



The news of the capture of Adare 1 is greeted throughout the empire with pride and joy. The first blow has been struck!



Meanwhile, in space above Kurrubah, the Sluken capital ships of the 2nd Fleet speed past the the unsuspecting Securan 1st Fleet. The insectoids will reach the mining station first and can lay an ambush!



And back on Ulabrea 7 the 3rd fleet has arrived and starts loading more troops.



More days pass and the ambush at Kurrubah 2 is set. The printine captial ships along with a ragged assortment of old frigates and destroyers greet the Securans as they leave hyperspace. This is going to be a massacre!



One by one the Securan ships are destroyed.



Until only three remain. The stragglers who didn't reach Kurrubah with the main group.



But what's this? The fire-power of these three ships is still 252! They must have a capital ship!

A quick scan reveals it is still a long way off in the void west of Pudires. The Sly Liberty, flagship of the Securans. And it still has orders to attack Kurrubah.



Even though the Securan fleet is mainly space debris floating in low orbit around the gas giant, Kurrubah 2, the Sluken High Command keeps the capital ships there in case the Securan flag ship continues its attack trajectory.

The 1st and 3rd Fleets will be sent to the Yaga outpost for refuelling, to prepare for the final attack on the Securan home worlds.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the galaxy...

With orders given to all the fleets it is time to use the breathing space and quickly review the situation within the empire.



The galaxy map is brought up at High Command and focus is dragged from the Securan war in the east to the frontier in the west.

"What are these red dots and squares near Korabbia?" asks a low ranking Sluken officer.

A minor bureaucrat from the Korabbian Spice Ministry smugly answers, "We've been monitoring these for the past few months. The Mortalens have been sending construction ships to mine resources. Nothing to worry about. They haven't encroached on the Dinnascar System or its precious moon Korabbia and none of their diabolical military ships have arrived."

The bureaucrat continues, "As you can see from this sector, Korabbia is entirely safe with only a small handful of reptilian mining stations in the surrounds."



"And, the best news of all, Korabbia Spaceport has been completed and even as we speak the first shipments of spice are being loaded onto the waiting freighter, Regal Rebel." The bureaucrat crosses his multiple arms across his chest waiting for the adoration of the High Command.



Tensions rise as a crusty old general turns on the bureaucrat. "What protection do we have on the frontier?"

"There is no threat. We have no ships other than two destroyers and two frigates."

The general turns to a subordinate. "Form those four ships into a fleet and destroy all the mining bases." Then he growls, pointing at the bureaucrat, "And dispose of that garbage!"

Mortalen attack

In the Undirun Region of the void (Sector G4) the Sluken had won a back-water outpost in a long past battle with pirates. The outpost holds no real strategic value and was very nearly scrapped to save the maintenance cost. Now it seems the Mortalen have decided the issue for us. Their 2nd Fleet move in and quickly destroy the outpost.



So the reptiles are moving eastward. At this stage they pose no immediate threat but this is the first real aggression of the war between the insectoids and the reptilians.

To cap things off, a Kaidian intel squad led by the impressive Mavoq Yurkan have infiltrated deep within the Mortalen hierarchy. All their ship movements and ground forces can now be seen.

A question of timing

Some months pass and finally the 1st and 3rd fleets arrive at moon outpost AC833 of the Yaga System. The 3rd fleet is given the order to refuel and its seven ships are full to the brim of highly trained Sluken troops. 42 of them in fact. This will be a good trial in preparation for the future Mortalen attack.



The pieces are ready. All fleets are in position. It is time to take the Securan war to its final conclusion. But first the High Command request a strategic appraisal so the final tactical dispositions can be worked out.

In deep space, the Securan flagship Sly Liberty has changed course. It has stopped its attack on Kurrubah and is now looking to refuel at the Pudires System moon of WP764. But it is a long way off and travelling slowly.



On Vilabre 1 there are now eleven ground troops guarding the planet.



In each Sluken transport are 6 troops. As this is the most important planet to take four of the seven transports will be dispatched to take this planet.



That leaves three transports left. One will be sent to capture the Securan government on the desert moon CP397 also within the Vilabre System. Another will be sent to the moon WP764 in the Pudires System. And the last will be sent to take the planet Almanea 4.

Timing will be critical as we need to ensure that all four planets are attacked simultaneously. We don't want the Securans surrendering until after they have lost everything!

The five ships are sent to the Vilabre System, then a week later another is dispatched to Pudires. Finally, after a few days the last transport is dispatched to Almanea. They should all arrive at about the same time.

Securan swan song

The last transport to leave is the first to arrive at the largely undefended planet, Almanea 4.



WP764 is more heavily defended but the transport with its improved shielding should have no trouble getting the troops to land.



The Securan government is entirely defenceless.



But Vilabre 1 has heavy fire-power with its large spaceport. The fleet flagship moves in too early without the support of the other three ships.



All four ships should be moving in together to help draw fire away from each other. The shielding should protect it long enough to land the troops.



Nooooo! The large spaceport rips through the shielding and before troops can be landed the hull is breached. The captain frantically tries to take the transport out of orbit but it is too late.



The flagship is destroyed along with its full contingent of highly trained Sluken troops. These are the cream of the empire having become veterans in the Kaidian wars. A massive loss.

The three remaining transports dive at the planet using the destruction of the flagship as cover. In the end 18 of the planned 24 troops are on the ground. Perhaps it will be enough.



Another of the transports limps away from the battle barely functional but successful in dropping its cargo of troops. It is now the new fleet flagship. The shielding on the other two ships are tested but manage to hold.

The last hope now is that the ten Securan troops in orbit will not reinforce Vilabre 1. They would surely tip the balance if they entered the fray.

Meanwhile Almanea 4 has sucumbed.



And after dropping troops on WP764 that transport makes its escape under fire.



So with the ground battle raging across the devastation that was the Free Vilabre Harmony, two enemy fleets enter the theatre.



The Securan 1st Fleet is still desperately looking for fuel. It will be too late to use the moon WP764 as the Pudires System has days left before it succumbs to the superior Sluken troops.

Of greater concern is the Mortalen 2nd Fleet assembling to attack the Kurrubah system. Their 16 ships have a fire-power of 482 but they are low on fuel. They will bare watching but the void will most likely prove our best defence as it is unlikely they will reach Kurrabah with any fuel reserves.

The Securan capital falls.



And the troop transport is ordered to quickly reload the troops. They may be needed to boost the attack on Vilabre 1.



WP764 also falls.



But on Vilabre 1 the battle rages on. The Sluken troops slowly drive back the Securan assassins. One Sluken troop has been destroyed for three of the enemy.



The writing is on the wall. Vilabre 1 collapses after weeks of fighting and the Sluken troops quickly take control of the powerful spaceport, turning its fire-power on the Securans in orbit.



The butchers bill is not too high. Only two Sluken troops were lost and many have gained crucial battle experience.



A quick glance at the small galaxy map will show the only remaining Securan planet coloured blue in the top right.

This is Yenhurr 2 and houses a motley collection of refugees.



They still boast a fairly impressive military strength for an empire without any spaceports. And they have not surrendered yet.



Our choices are to ignore them as they are a long way away. Or we can take the last planet and gain control of their remaining ships. Their capital ship would be a worthy prize which is still limping around in the remnants of their old empire searching for fuel.

Yes. Dispatch one of the transports to take the last Securan world.

Hey dude!  Awesome description of the war so far.  I like the way you write it and your Sluken have great personality.  Also, this is a much bigger war than anything I've ever fought yet in DW [:D]

Cool AAR there - I was engrossed!

You're right - those Securan troop transports should have reinforced their planet Vilabre 1. I'll put that on the list for the AI...

Thanks
Elliot

Thanks for your comments guys. [:)] And thanks for making this awesome game Elliot. I've noticed that quite often the AI will not use their transports effectively. Not sure if the Securan transport that escaped will launch an attack or not. We'll see I guess.

One aspect of the game I have kept 'vanilla' up until now is ship design. I like the range limitation on freighters in particular that slow down rampant colonisation. You really need to build a full infrastructure to support distant worlds (pun intended) like Korabbia in this instance and it would be a shame if you could easily strap on fuel cells and get around these limitations.

High Command

In the war hall of the Sluken High Command, deep beneath the surface of the home world Ulabrea 7, a mixed group of the empire's military, intelligence and scientific leaders stand watching the massive floor to ceiling screen where various maps and reports are shown. Currently on the screen is footage of a powerful yet cumbersome Sluken troop transport approaching a blue-green world. Streams of missiles and beams bombard the transport from a large spaceport in orbit over the planet. The transport enters the atmosphere and heads toward the surface but is not going to make it. It veers away but the damage is too great. Finally, in a fireball above the planet, the transport blows apart.

"Enough!" commands one of the generals. He turns to a group of scientists and says angrily, "You said the refit would strengthen the shielding! You said the plating would hold! Yet a lone Securan spaceport destroyed our best troops before they could land."

One of the scientists, a hunched and discoloured Sluken with a sickly disposition showing not the slightest fear growls back at the general, "You call the battle for Vilabre 1 a failure! It showed us the way forward."

The general, not used to his authority being challenged, turns abruptly toward the scientist, "Our strongest ships cannot withstand a single Securan spaceport. How are they to survive an attack on the Mortalen home-world with defences four times as powerful? Vilabre 1 showed us the way forward alright! The way to our destruction!"

A cloaked figure moves forward. One of the Sluken intelligence officers. "The general is right. Our original plans for a surprise attack are no longer valid. The Mortalen have not responded to our attempts to end the war. This will drag on until we are ultimately destroyed. Their military might is three times the size of ours and their capacity to wage war is stronger. If we cannot strike decisively and gain a defensible position in the core we will eventually succumb. Even now the reptiles are colonising parts of the rim and have recently discovered a fruit to rival our Korabbian spice! The only thing holding the reptiles back is the resistance of the amphibians in the core. But they are sorely pressed so will not be a buffer for us for long."

The general interjects, "The war has gone on for two years with only minor skirmishes. Reports now show that the weak Teekan empire to our north is allowing the reptilian ships to refuel. It won't be long before the storm clouds break." He turns to the scientists and snarls, "And your incompetence has left us with no options!"

The crooked scientist raises a gnarled hand, "Yes. Yes, your plans are futile. At Vilabre 1 you lost a ship. At Dila you would have lost it all. That was the true value of Vilabre 1. The ability to learn from small losses." He turns to the large screen and nods. A new image appears. Thousands of zombie-like humanoids are strapped to hard slabs. Machinery and wiring is connected to their bulbous heads. This is the Kaidian Research Facility on the old Kaidian swamp moon of YX999 in the Uphediraan System. Sluken scientists wander through the scene checking connections here and there. A figure appears in the foreground. The lead doctor of the facility.

The hunched scientist talks loudly to the doctor, "It is time doctor. Tell the High Command of your progress."

The voice from the speakers crackles and the doctor nods, "Gentlemen. We stand on the verge of great advances in our knowledge of construction and shielding. Within weeks we will be able to build transports that are much larger, stronger and faster. And we will be able to build a new fleet of cruisers designed to reach and fight in the galactic core itself!"

A new design

Three months later the doctor in charge of the Kaidian Research Facility in the Uphediraan System addresses the assembled High Command once again shown on the large screen. This time the setting behind him is different. He is inside a large construction bay where the skeleton of some monstrous ship is in the first stages of construction.

He speaks over the machinery around him, "Gentlemen! Behold our glorious future!" He points to a portion being fitted to the skeleton that looks like a large scoop or cone, "That is the new energy collector that will allow our ships to re-energise without fuel."



"Not perfect but will help in an emergency. And the ship itself is possible because of the new improved yard."



"Finally, the ship will be protected by the newly developed shields."



"And armed with the same weaponry as the Mortalen ships."



One of the generals at High Command asks, "Doctor, the ship behind you doesn't look like a troop transport."

The doctor nods, "That is because it isn't. It is the first of the new fleet of cruisers."

There is general approval from the assembly. The general states, "Timely indeed. Recently on the frontier a lone Mortalen destroyer single-handedly defeated a fleet of four of our ships."



One of the black cloaked intelligence officers adds, "And the Teekans have welcomed the Mortalens with open arms and are allowing their fleet to refuel at their home-world. It is only days or weeks before this fleet is used against us."



"And the Securans have bowed to our demands and become subjugated to us so we will not get the use of their ships in the coming battle."



The general smiles with a snarl, "No matter now that we have this fleet at our disposal. The reptiles will dread the day they declared war. Doctor. How many cruisers will comprise this wondrous fleet of yours?"

The doctor hesitates then says, "Um. Two."

"Two?! What good is two against hundreds?"

The doctor hastily adds, "General. We ran out of funding. All we could afford was two."

"How could you have run out of funding? That is impossible. The spice tax should have covered a fleet of at least twelve ships."

The doctor moves toward the screen and says, "General. It did! Look at this." The doctor pushes a button and the screen flickers to a different ship design.



"General, this is your new troop transport. This is the Revenge.", the doctor states proudly. "More than double the shield capacity of the old design. Double the fuel capacity. Much higher speed. And vastly improved armour. And to top if off, when it reaches the atmosphere it homes in on the target and will not deviate no matter what instruction the captain gives it. We have studied the footage of the Vilabre 1 attack and the captain of the flagship could have reached land if he had kept his head. The ship would still have been destroyed but the troops could have been deployed on the surface. His moment of hesitation cost us our best troops because he had discretion to retreat once his shields reached 50%. Now that decision has been taken from the captain and once the ship is committed it will continue regardless of what is thrown at it."

The doctor waits a moment. "The six remaining ships of the transport fleet are being retrofitted to this new design. And a further eight transports are currently under construction!"