Already our northeastern battle fleet is in motion, ensuring we will have a northeast passage to the galactic north, for we know the humans will not settle for peaceful expansion. Bladrov's treachery is written in the stars.
2370: Already four worlds ultra-rich in neutronium have come under Silicoid sway, with Dunatis the latest, claimed just two years ago. A warp-one long-range Farlander just completed by another, Tau Cygni, thanks to last year's sublight engines that led the way toward fusion drives, will now be scrapped however, as warp one is too slow even for me. Death spores have taught us now to work toward more advanced terraforming, and a new Farlander can be built at Tau Cygni, ready to approach Artifacts Ryoun at warp three. Phantos spreads reserves throughout our empire, the life-magma of the Silicoids, so the rich and ultra-rich worlds nearer the edge of our expansion, like Kronos in the west, can concentrate on colony ship construction.
2371: With desert Seidon and poor Talos joining the enlightened rock beings' worlds, we are running away with twenty-eight stars, and the golden droid returns to sing our praises.
There shall be more praises sung, as more landers still roll on toward the edges of Silicoid space.
2372: Our battle computers, just improved, can be advanced still more, but the peace of the mountains guides our research toward factory-growing robotic controls.
2374: Ion Cannons are far for a stone to roll with only lasers to protect it, and the growth of the mountains, slow but sure, will not soon support missile bases at contested stars, all with small, new colonies. So hand lasers open the way toward NPGs, to stengthen our defensive fleets, as our first Farlanders claim artifacts Ryoun and the fertile jungle of Gienah, home of our Klackon-deterring southeast combat fleet, and the short-range landers likewise continue their good works.
2375: Among this year's new colonies, fiery Keeta stands tall as a rocky spire, for it brings the Klackons' four stars into view in the far southeast corner of the galaxy.
Ruthless militarist though she claims to be, Klaquan proves open to friendship with a trade of 300 BC.
2376: Our new deflector shields protect our worlds, but rather than growing stronger still, soon they will protect the rock beings themselves, as personal deflectors for every rock.
2377: Reticuli, by the nebula in the far northwest, is now our fifth ultra-rich world, and with it and Rha this year and the many other stars that came before, the golden droid is prompted to return. We span 41 systems, and if not contained, our word of peace wll soon control the galaxy.
2378: Human colony ships arrive to challenge our northern and northwest defense fleets at Ryoun and the little desert world Seidon. Our artifacts world is defended easily, but our Seidon ships are ordered to retreat. They can handle the humans without danger, but the humans of whose treachery the stars sing their deep music must be given their one opportunity to prove the honor their emperor claims. Their colony ship is permitted to hold the planet's orbit and look down upon its sandships and their rocky crews, moored in desert harbor among silvery domes like pearls.
Klaquan greets us with a request as well this year, and ruthless militarist though she claims to be, we know by this that she means no harm to us in her insectoid heart, within her frail, unrocklike carapace. It is not wise to accept a non-aggression pact just yet - we should wait two more years to be safe - but in trust, perhaps in error, I agree.
2379: With no less than four stars added to our empire this year, we at last have a quorum for the galaxy's most ancient ruling body. The rock beings have more than a fourth of the votes themselves, and these are given to Bladrov II as a sign of peace. If he attacks us now, there can be no pretense; it can only be an act of treachery. We are far from blind to the possibility. Our people are evacuating the pearl-domed harbor cities of Seidon even now, anticipating that very treachery.
2380: One of our scout ships has managed to locate Orion.
A memorial statue will be erected at nearby Reticuli. Kulthos joins the empire as well, in the southeast corner of the galaxy, and no Klackon ships are incoming. The truth of Klaquan's insect heart shines clear.
The treachery of Bladrov's heart shows as plainly, dark as coal. Thirty one troop transports will arrive next year at Seidon. A fleet is in position to intercept, but will not do so. No assumption of guilt shall provoke us, though the evidence seems abundantly clear. Only when the humans put their evil desires into action shall we declare them our blood enemy for all eternity.
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Next: The Crunch Continues
