Finally! I have been able to play more of DL! Here is the third installment of the Gur-Gun Ascension! Hope ye enjoy. I finished the actual writing of this part last night, so I really haven't done a lot of editing yet.
Sorry about the lack of screenshots, but there really isn't anything good going on quite yet.
Discovery...
On the 22 of the seventh month from Enlightenment, Em'Kin was informed that the second of four planets in the Xasica system was colonized. He was also told by his Minister of Economics that they were close to learning how to trade their goods over long distances. Em'Kin was pleased about both, and ordered that to keep the researching skills of the Gur-Gun empire strong the newest planet would be dedicated to research.
"Make the next Xasica planet a research planet as well, it will do us well to have a strong knowledge base," Em'Kin told his Minister of Planetary Manufacturing as he walked into the room. Hearing this, he promptly turned around and walked out, wearing a great smile on his face.
The next week, the Gur-Gun empire had trade. But, since there was still not a single Seeker out yet, no plans were made for a trade-good transport ship. The Star-Tech engineers met with Em'Kin and asked him to please allow them to present their designs for approval. He said no, "there is no reason yet to make one. No plans are needed. Come back in a few months once all of Xasica has been colonized." And with that, the star-tech engineers were dismissed.
Em'Kin then met with his researchers, they needed a direction for their next project. They said that they needed to research a better hyperdrive. Em'Kin agreed, but feared that expanding too quickly would hurt their already struggleing economy. The next week they came back and said "ooh! This is really cool, and we are on a roll. Please allow us to try to make another, better version of this before we go back to the boring stuff." Em'Kin agreed with their enthusiasm, but still didn't like the possible effect on the economy. "Go for it!"
"An Iconian colony ship has been spotted Sir! It looks like it's heading to the other planet in our system! What are we going to do?" The entire planet of Gur-Gunia was in a panic, not knowing how to react to a possible threat on their doorstep.
"Do not worry, we have bought our peace from the Iconians. They wouldn't attack us." Em'Kin says this with uneasy enthusiasm, not knowing if even his words will be trusted with possible threat on the horizon.
Multiple alerts flooded into the chambers of Em'Kin. "The Iconians have taken our nearest neighboring planet!", "We have an Ion Drive! It is even smaller then the Hyperdrive Plus.", and several others that follow the same lines as the first, but with more threatening undertones. With the newest engine available, Em'Kin resolved that they should upgrade their Seeker designs to use this new technology, and so the Ion Seeker was born. It is no different visually from the original Seeker, but is able to go farther because of increased life support.
On the first day of the ninth month since Enlightenment, yet another Iconian colony ship was seen. It was headed to the fourth and final uncolonized Xasica planet. Em'Kin heard of this and ordered the newest, almost finished, Seeker to head in a different direction. The star-tech engineers suggested to make the half-done Sender into a Seeker. No extra time would be needed, and it would allow them to quickly explore the sector they reside in. Em'Kin agreed, since he didn't know where any other viable planets were, and ordered the construction of the Sender to be replaced by the Ion Seeker.
"We have made our first Ion Seeker, Em'Kin. Should we continue to produce them until we can explore rapidly?" the Star-Tech engineers asked. The only answer Em'Kin could think of was "Yes..." The Minister of Research came in and reported that they were close to finding a way to more easily entertain the masses. Em'Kin was confused, he had not ordered any new research projects...
"What is it that you are researching, without authorization?"
Aprehensive, the Minister replied "we are looking into some entertainment for the people sir. If the people are happy then we can get more things done and may be able to get our economy out of the hole."
"Continue with it, I am glad to know that some people in this empire can think for themselves."
On the first day of the tenth month since Enlightenment, another Iconian colony ship was picked up on sensors. This one seeming to be heading for the second planet of the Westerfeld system. Em'Kin decided to allow them to have that one as well, it would do the empire good to have a few strong planets near it for protection if it is ever needed. It is time to meet with the Iconians to see if they would like to start trade negotiations.
The Iconians agreed to meet with Em'Kin. That very week Iso himself came to Gur-Gunia to meet with him. Iso seemed rather perturbed that Em'Kin had asked him to come, as they were not especially good friends, and had only spoken to each other when peace was determined. Em'Kin asked how he was, but Iso was impatient to get to business, and only answered with a cold stare. "What do you want Em'Kin, I have little time to waste here and have many more pressing things to deal with."
I am offering a trade. We are not very military minded, and are not sure really how to even start our research along these lines. We would like your help with this. I would like to trade to you the secrets of Trade in exchange for your secrets of Space Militarization, Basic Armour, Intersteller Warfare, Ship Defense, and Xeno Industrial Theory just to round it off.
"This seems like a fair trade Em'Kin, I will have my researchers send the information to your own, after you give us Trade." Iso said this with a smile on his face, or at least Em'Kin thought it was a smile.
"Im sorry, but that is not a good choice for me to make, who would be able to say that I didn't just give you the secrets of Trade? I think that our researchers should do the trade themselves, I think that would be the best option for both of us."
And so the trade was complete, and Iso departed. Em'Kin immediately ordered the design and construction of a trade vessel through his star-tech engineers. He was told that a design would be ready by the end of the week.
The next week, the Taker Class Trader vessel was created.
Taker Class Trader Ship:
"This ship is massive, but relatively cheap for what it is made for. It will pay for itself several times over by the time it completes its first trade cycle." the star-tech engineers reported to Em'Kin. He seemed pleased about this and ordered the immediate construction of two Takers. The economy might be saved yet...
On the twenty-first day of the tenth month from Enlightenment, we met the Korx. The Korx are evil, or at least claim to be so. Em'Kin met with the leader of the Korx and, since they did not have any technology that we didn't already have other then the ability to make slightly larger fleets (we dont need that just yet because it is considered a military tech), we sold them the secret of Basic Armour for 399 Billion Credits.
On the eighth day of the eleventh month from Enlightenment we met the Scottlingas. They seem nice enough, but meeting so many new races has brought wariness to Em'Kin, and he speaks to them carefully. Walter Montgomery seemed like a very interesting person, and was also very interested in trading his race's technology to us. We traded to them the secrets of Trade and Planetary Improvements in exchange for Space Weapons, Beam Theory, and the Laser, as well as 275 Billion Credits. "I am glad that we could come to an agreement Walter," Em'Kin said cordially.
"I am glad as well, and hope that we will have a productive relationship."
The very next week, Gur-Gun researchers informed Em'Kin they had discovered how to make their fleets of ships larger. "Now we wont have to buy the secret from those...those...those Iconians."
"Though we have the ability to attack and defend alien races, we shall not head down that path yet. We should try to increase our sensor abilities. Go and research that." Em'Kin said to the researchers.
On the second week of the twelvth month since Enlightenment, we established our first trade route. The second will be established in another two weeks. An extra 12 billion credits each turn will do this economic disaster of an empire some good. Another Iconian colony ship was sighted near Gur-Gunia, but Em'Kin didn't bother with it. There were no newly discovered planets near them that were left uncolonized.
Will the Iconians threaten the existence of the Gur-Gun race? Or will they both continue to live in peace? Will the Korx try to eat the Gur-Gun?
