Hi guys I am playing on v1.31 with Gigantic Map, occasional habitable planets, frequent anomalies and all races (less the rather-to me-irrelevent Archeans) set on intelligent. The general difficulty is 'Challenging'

Background: My race are the Mambani-a distant but seperated offshoot of humanity (arent there many?) who started with bonuses in economics, trade, diplomacy and loyalty. My plan is to really go for a strong economy (Galactic Stock exchanges backed up by massive trade)and see whether that will then provide a suitable power base for a diplomatic victory (always my preferred type)or failing that an influence victory. I will update the story in pretty much real time: here goes......



September 2228

I was the 3rd Mambaman to be named Senats'sos and to be given the weighty responsibility to lead our people, as many Mambamen had led over the centuries ever since the great Ruction from our ancestors. Some say the Terrans were our ancestors, others the Altarians and until recently it had not really mattered as they had been like some distant dream steeped in myth, but in the year 2175 all that had changed with the human discovery of Hyperdrive technology. The secret that was not a secret was soon scattered across the galaxies like sand and thus it was only a matter of time before the loneliness and vastness of space were diminished greatly and the fraternity of races came together.

I lead the Federalist Party upon my homeworld of Mamba-a party that is given to the pursuit of a strong economy above all else-a party until recently that was insular and wholly concerned with matters to do with only our world.

in Jan 2225 all that changed. We were ready to spread our wings at last and expand across the far reaches of space. A Colony ship packed full of half a million intrepid colonists was our lowly beginning-that and a resourceful survey ship whose mission was to go out and explore. I remember clearly the nay-sayers and the dissenters who tried to tell me this new policy of expansion at all costs backed by our carefully amassed treasury of 5000bc would be the ruin of our great race and I remember holding the line, I remember hushed talks with councillors within my party, persuasion and coercion even threats to keep them all on board.

We had quickly expanded, colonising our 5 new planets: Adder a class 9 world, Asp (4), Anaconda (12), Cobra (10) and Python (10). And whilst our economy groaned under the weight of the upkeep of these new planets and colonies I kept our taxes low to promote growth and prayed that the brilliant young Captain that I had personally picked to command our Flagship, Per Thuisi, would deliver. And deliver he did: whenever our Financiers were on the verge of calling a halt to my mad adventure he would bring in the goods-usually artefacts and old ships wrecks worth billions of credits.

We had survived and not only survived but thrived too and within 3 years our shiny new galactic stock exchanges were the powerhouses of the Mambani economy. We had established no fewer than 7 Trade routes too, 4 to the powerful but peaceable Iconian Refuge, our nearest neighbours, 2 to the war-hungry Drengin and 1 to the erstwhile Iconian Robot-slaves of the Yor Collective.

And now we had a fleet to keep hungry predators at bay- a fleet of 21 Striker snub fighters with new Corvette class Heavy Strikers just commissioned at the shipyards. With Per Thuisi commanding the Mambani Fleet I felt we were in good hands. And so on that balmy September afternoon I had every reason to be very pleased with myself as I looked out from my office Balcony at the thriving metropolis that was Mamba Prime, economic and political capitol of our race-this push for colonisation had made me a very powerful man indeed and I, or rather my party with me at its head, now held Imperial sway over all the 5 colonies. I allowed myself to wallow in my achievements as a smug smile played over my lips...

I was interrupted by my private secretary announcing that I had a visitor, none other than Councillor Fwag'had Perol of the War Party no less. My smile faded to be replaced by a frown of irritation. Now what?

I moved across my cavernous and darkeened office with hand outstretched and smile fixed

'Fwag how pleasing to see you here. You come unnanounced though-is there something wrong?'

Perol shuffled and oozed towards me, the sun's heat obviously caused him discomfort so it was as well that my office sunblinds were activated and the office cool.

'Nothing Senats'sos' he bowed low-decorum was still to be observed even though I was pretty sure that this particularly odious specimen had, many times, tried to plot my downfall. He knew and I knew that if I could ever pin anything on him his life would be cut short at the wave of my hand....

'I want to talk to you about the possibility of War sir'

'War? Indeed Fwag'had?' How predictable I thought-doubtless yet another attempt to get me to take on the rapacious and savage Drengin empire many parcecs to our 12 O'Clock on the clock face and all mixed up with land grabs by the Yor Collective and the Iconian Refuge-it had not yet come to war...but it would and we were best left well out of it was the view that I took.

'You mean with the Drengin I presume?' I motioned for cool drinks to be brought.

Perol wheezed and panted as he took his in one paw 'No no Senats'sos you misread me'-his moistened claw clamped itself around my arm and he ushered me over to the rising holographic Map table that had just been activated.

'See we are at the centre and rear of the Galaxy as we see it with the Iconian Refuge main worlds 3 to 4 parsecs to our 9 O'Clock and their colonies stretching round to our 11 O'Clock.'

'Yes I see that'

'And as we know we have an interesting land grab by the Iconians, the Drengins and the Yor 5 parsecs to our 12 O'Clock with the main Drengin Homeworlds not far beyond leading to what must become conflict-yes? Perol licked his lips at the thought. I felt the bile rising...

'Your point Perol?' I dropped the niceties-this creature was seriously ruining my good day.

'The Yor, the Yor-they are involved in the land grab to our 12 and they have their homeworld behind us at our 3-many parsecs from the land grab. Their colonies are seperate sir-do you not see....?'

Finally I was beginning to see what he was getting at-it was an opportunity: with their main worlds Iconia and Iconia V behind us the Yor were seriously disconnected from their 3 colonies to our 12-if we did nothing they would likely deem us a threat in the near future and attack or they would want to connect the 2-either way the situation was fraught with danger. Our spies on Iconia told us that their fighters and heavy fighters were mainly equipped with Beam and missile technology, counters to both of which we had been researching thanks to Perol's party's urgings (they did have their uses these warmongers I thought). We had been crafty and on my orders had been researching Mass Driver Technologies for just such eventualities.

I inclined my head and seats materialised. I would give him my time

'Tell me in detail your plan Fwag'had Perol-where do we stand versus their military?'.......

To be continued