Imperium 20 - Conclusion

Surface of Kholdan, 14.2.2428:
"With Rayden and Fierias colonized two years ago, and Ursa just moments ago, the former Klackon homeworld is now the 29th Psilon colony. All the colonies of our future will be made in times of peace - for before the year is out, all our wars will be permanently ended."

Low Reticuli Orbit, 18.3.2428:
"Now receiving a transmission from Jinga, the final Klackon world; I'll splice it with ours from this final Silicoid star."

"That's the end."

Mentar Imperial Observation Platform, 21.3.2428:

"So be it."

"We are victorious, and I shall rule over all the galaxy - now the Psilon galaxy! - thanks to this indomitable fleet."

"The Deep Space Radiation Labs shown in this image from last year formed our final war-time colonies while all the rest dismantled our enemies. This in spite of our utterly backward weapons technology, stagnated for generations, and still at the level at which its funding ceased at the outset of 2300. Our total victory would have been impossible if not for our swift work and the development of highly advanced non-weapon technologies!"

"So, at last, the Psilons have inherited the galaxy!"

"Quit whining, Newsdroid! That's the price you pay for peace!"


...


...


...


Hidden Volantis Asteroid Base, 2.6.2433:
(Pirate Admiral Work Circulate pumps all four fists and turns to his Captains' Council) "We just got confirmation! High Master Iac and his honor guard went to reclaim Orion with the entire Imperial fleet, thousands of starships strong - and none of their weapons could penetrate the Guardian's shields! The Imperial forces are decimated, their leader killed, their government in disarray!"
(Captain Mrreowr Prrsha smiles, showing her feline teeth) "Then it's time forrr us 'Pirrrates' to show ourrr trrrue colorrrs - and the Mrrrrshan, Bulrrrathi, Silicoid, Darrrlok, and Klackon discoverrries and populations we've been concealing! Unlike the rrrest of the galaxy, we have up-to-date weapons technology!"
(Captain Nightside Shadow's eyes glow with pleasure) "And thankss to Chief Imperial Archivisst Dead Ssurrender and his ... generossity..." (Nightside poses briefly in the shape of a beautiful Psilon woman, then reverts to its natural form, with only its glowing eyes visible beneath the cowl of its billowing cloak) "...we alsso have the sstate-of-the-art Pssilon shield technology, including the latesst classs ssevens, ssufficient to give uss complete immunity to every weapon the imperial fleetss can carry."
(Captain Graoar Monch slaps his massive right fist into the palm of his left bear paw.) "My troopers are ready to move in wherever necessary!"
(Captain Sandstone Sedimin's inner lights gleam through its crystalline facets) "Whkich shkould be just a few imperial hkold-outs, thkanks to Nighktside and its people fomenting unrest agkainst thke empire and preparingk thke gkround for our populark welckome."
(Queen-Captain Ixitkitxitik Klaquan clicks her pincers together as her eyes light up, blue as the skies of Kholdan) "Then the time is right! Let us set out together ... and free the galaxy!"

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Back to the Front Page

Imperium 20 - The Final Road to Peace

Mentar Galactic Command Center, 20.10.2421:
"In spite of the earthquake that killed 39 million and destroyed 234 factories at Neptunus this year, and in spite of being forced to reject Krungo's offer of peace - a peace that would have consisted of his restocking and updating his weapons in preparation for another attack - those aspects of my rule over which I have some semblance of control are going well."

"Our bombers did a lot more damage this year than did that quake, and our spies are paving the way for more by taking out a Fierias missile base. Crystous even called to thank us for blowing up some Darloks - which, considerng that the one colony we completely destroyed this year belonged to Crystous itself, is just more proof that these aliens have no comprehension of peace."

Low Xudax Orbit, 18.9.2422:
"Our destruction of the Silicoid colony here has rolled the rock beings back into the northeast and temporarily broken contact with them again, while I understand the eastern fleet is erasing the Bulrathi colony at Thrax in the last Silicoids' immediate vicinity. Can you confirm that Jasana complimented us for our bombers' hit-and-run raid at the Darlok homeworld? It seems odd, since I know the southeastern fleet just bombed her Hyades colony halfway to oblivion. I have to say, these new E-Impact 5.0 bombers sure seem to get around quickly."

Surface of Omicron, 15.4.2423:
"No sooner did our long-range radiation lander establish our forward base here than we received thanks from Crystous for burning down the Darlok homeworld while last year's hit-and-run fleet was moving on to Quayal! Also, is it true that Jasana thanked us for killing Bulrathi? I didn't even know we did kill any Bulrathi this year! I only heard about our finishing off Hyades and nearly doing the same to her Volantis colony! Oh, and can you confirm that the Klackons declared war this year? ... No, no, I realize we must be at war with them now, but I'm having trouble believing we weren't already."

Surface of Esper, 4.6.2424:
"We have arrived on this day to commemorate the millions who died under Silicoid death spores."

"The Esper Memorial shall stand forever hereafter to honor the innocents slain: Both Psilons murdered by rapacious Silicoids because of a pilot's error and those innocent Silicoids, if any, who died to make way for the clean-up crews necessitated by their pollution-loving leaders - but also any innocent Darloks who might have lived in their empire, for with this year's destruction of their Nitzer colony, the shapeshifters have been eradicated from the galaxy. A sad tale indeed, but one that carries the proof of its necessity: Following that very event, as well as our bombing of varous Mrrshan colonies, we received calls from Jasana, Krungo, and even Crystous ... thanking us for a hit-and-run raid on Kholdan and for blowing up a portion of the Klackon star fleet. Non-Psilon races simply refuse to understand the concept of peace."

Mentar Galactic Command Center, 20.5.2425:
"I am sorry to report that meetings of the nascent interspecies government known as the Galactic High Council have been suspended indefinitely, due to a sharp drop in the number of inhabited worlds in the galaxy. In additional to our other bombing activities, this year saw the destruction of the Klackon colony of Proxima, the Silicoid base at Pollus, and the Mrrshan colonies at Volantis and Phyco, as well as their homeworld of Fierias. Nevertheless, take heart: Not only are nearly all the alien leaders complimenting me on my bombers' work against all the others, but we will soon fill the void left by the High Council with a new ruling body for the galaxy - namely, me."

Mentar Galactic Command Center, 16.4.2427:
"Hear me, Klackons and Silicoids! And pay mind to recent history!"

"First we came for the Darloks - but none of you are Darloks, and so you said nothing of it, but only praised us for killing others of your enemies. Then we came for the Mrrshans - but of course you are not Mrrshans, and so you said nothing of that, and your praises continued. Now we have come for the Bulrathi - but you are not Bulrathi, and so you say nothing..."

"...except to call for each other's heads!"

"Silicoids..."

"Klackons..."

"We are coming for you."

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Next: No One Left to Speak

Imperium 20 - Peace Out, Dude...

Low Paranar Orbit, 29.1.2413:
(-begin auto-delayed beacon transmission-) "The sitting RBO-20 is clearly out of his mind. Public opinion is turning against him already, but I'm not going to wait until he's finally ousted from power or our weapons become obsolete. The Bulrathi have been at war with us almost since the moment we met them; its high time we gave them a motive for working toward peace. I'll get court-martialed for this, but history will thank me!"

"I see we're setting up an experimental ship lab at the ultra-rich world of Ryoun as well; I hope a new RBO-20 is elected in time for us to make the right kinds of ships there!"(-end transmission-)

Low Whynil Orbit, 18.4.2414:
"The incoming Bulrathi Tooth cruisers are armed with Heavy Blast Cannons! Our Perimeter 3 cruiser couldn't have held them off indefinitely even with its repulsor beam and auto-repair. We had no choice but to fire on them when they attacked us, and to destroy them when they refused to stand down. Seven Probe 3.0s were lost in the course of this sad, unnecessary battle; may future fights be avoided preemptively!"

Bio Lab Imra, 21.5.2414:
"We have at last developed the capability of terraforming planetary atmospheres to improve hostile wolds' ecologies, and new chief of research Surgeon Cerotype is already running with the idea, seeking ways to improve the healthfulness of already-fertile worlds' atmospheres and surfaces via Advanced Soil Enrichment! Surely if we can accomplish this, we can find a way to make peace!"

Interstellar Space, 19.8.2415:
(-begin auto-delayed beacon transmission-) "I am now departing Ursa with the tiny, crippled remainder of my fleet. We received warning that we are being sought for court-martial, and chose this suicide run on the Bulrathi homeworld, a far better option than some self-righteous peace-obsessed preacher's idea of due punishment. Had we not exhausted our full store of nuclear bombs, we'd never have retreated, but with the planet down to just two missile bases, I'm going - I won't say where - to refill our bomb bays and gather such reinforcements as will join me for one last run on the planet in a few years' time! If this weakling RBO-20 wants me at his schoolmarm-style court-martial, he can come to Ursa and drag me home from there!" (-end transmission-)

Gorra Transmitter Relay, 5.10.2415:
"Certainly, Crystous; as always, we want nothing more than peace. We would be happy to end the conflict between our peoples. With your massively polluted world of Esper cleared out by our EIRs earlier this year to make way for our cleanup crews, your timing is especially good. Delay any longer, and it will be hard to guess what may happen with the growing unrest among the Psilons. In fact, earlier this year, a group of Psilon rebel pilots protesting our current RBO-20's peaceful policies gathered at our Toranor colony, and have begun raiding merchant ships as pirates to reduce the wages of peace. Now is therefore an excellent time to make peace with us, before it's too late! You need only agree to galactic environmental law, cleaning up all your waste, submitting Environmental Impa... Crystous? Crystous? ... Now, why did it break the connection? I thought it wanted peace!"

Fierias Electronics and Computer Technology Lab, 9.7.2416:
"I've got the secret Mrrshan plans for ECM Jammer Mark II along with a gratifying report from GNN, thanks to our new Romulas colony!"

"If the news droid is right, leaders are getting ready to merge with us, which can only - I hope, at least - mean achieving peace! I hope so most of all for the sake of the alien races; if we nearly control a majority of the galaxy today, think what it's going to be like next year, when we land our cleaning crew at Esper and colonize the rich world the Bulrathi called Paranar, which will become our experimental ship lab's western annex."

Low Xudax Orbit, 2.5.2417:
"I understand that our Perimeter cruisers and their fighter support were forced to destroy yet more aggressive Silicoid and Bulrathi war fleets earlier this year, including a huge Polaris dreadnought, and this news saddens me. I dearly hope that we will soon return to purely peaceful activities, like removing the pollution-causing factories and attendant Silicoid population here to allow for eventual waste cleanup."

Main Mentar Electronics Research Complex, 17.7.2418:
"Tremendous news! We've finally perfected our space scanning capabilities, and reports are already coming in from planets all across the galaxy!

Better yet, we've just started research on Improved Robotic Controls V and managed to inform the Materials Physicists just in time to get them working on the best available Improved Industrial Tech as they completed their waste reduction project almost simultaneously with our scanner breakthrough!"

Mentar Warp Propulsion Laboratory, 8.4.2419:
"I don't believe the reports of popular unrest - this nonsense about pirates at Toranor and a small fleet of rebel EIR pilots bombing Ursa from orbit after losing nearly all their small numbers in a suicide run against its bases; these calls for Leak Scarab-Alum to step down as RBO-20. Everyone I know loves RBO Leak, and who could object to the galactic situation when our EIRs have freed Proteus from its polluting oppressors, with Impulse Drives just developed and Ion Drives on the way? These rumors are surely blown out of proportion by a minority opposition; nothing could possibly convince the peaceful Psilon people to turn against an overlord so unbendingly committed to peace!"

Low Esper Orbit, 15.1.2420:
"No problem here, even though our colony is still barely-formed and working on slowly cleaning up the planet's waste. Almost 50 Morey destroyers are hardly a concern in spite of their death spores; our Perimeter cruiser can keep them away from the planet easily. It's time to prove yet again the validity of Leak Scarab-Alum's doctrine of purely defensive action in case of war."
(Perimeter 3.0 moves to repel Morey destroyers, but miscalculates slightly, as the presence of another Silicoid ship directly behind them prevents the repulsor from functioning from its current position)
"No problem; it's a mistake anyone could have made, and they still can't reach sporing range with their current speed; they..."
(Morey fleet rushes directly toward the Perimeter and past, a cloud of ships all around)
"We ... no ... NOOOO!!! DISENGAGE THE REPULSOR! CUT OUT THE REPULSOR BE..."
(Automatic repulsor fire accelerates the Moreys toward the planet's surface; a cloud of spores is released, thick enough to choke the entire world)

"We've lost two million civillians - the first and only Psilon civillians to die from other than natural causes since the era of space exploration began! We destroyed the attack ships at the same time, but we're too late to save the colony! It's all my fault! I should have paid more attention and ... oh no; RBO-20 Leak's policy! Just because following it left one of our clean-up colonies open to total destruction in the case of a single navigational error, people are going to believe it's a flawed policy!"

Mentar Peaceful Diplomacy Center, 16.1.2420:
(RBO-20 Leak Scarab-Alum holds up all four of his hands) "Let us not leap to conclusions and reject the wise course we so long have set, just because of losing a mere two million civillian lives! We've only lost a single colony, and though my opponents claim peace is hopeless with our oldest friends declaring war with no provocation, I'm convinced that peace will be restored with all the galaxy's races, no doubt in the election due to be held in five years; after all, consider Narzina! In spite of what my predecessor did at Whynil - don't pretend now that it was the right move! - and the resulting war, Narzina and the other Darloks agreed to peace, and that peace has lasted, and will last, for no bonds are forged stronger than those that have been tested and re..."
(In the background, the emergency diplomatic holoprojector comes to life, and Leak spins to face it)

"Wait, but ... 'Psilon slime,' Narzina? Isn't that a little harsh? Wait ... but ... you're declaring war?! But why ... wait, Narzina, we ... wait; come back! Can't we discuss..."
(The crowd that had gathered outside the Diplomacy Center roars, and not with approval for their emperor...)

Mentar Peaceful Diplomacy Galactic Command Center, 6.7.2420:
(The new RBO-20, Iac Seraph, addresses the gathered Psilon council) "It has always been my position that if we are unwilling to fight for our right to rule ourselves, we will inevitably be conquered by those willing to fight to rule us. I'm just sorry that we had to demonstrate it here: Leak will not be executed for his treason in locking himself in here when the election went my way by a three to one margin and trying to force his policies on us for what he called our own good, while raving about the Psilon people being tricked. He shall live out his days in the comfortable madhouse cell he deserves. Now, let's put that ugly business behind us. Along with our election victory, we have our clear poll results. My point was well taken when I pointed out that the alien civilizations, so-called, had all been rapidly researching weapons technologies, to say nothing of such horrors as death spores. To welcome them and their cultures and knowledge into our empire would be to violate the code under which we have lived for one hundred and twenty years. Moreover, our plans are progressing: Once Class X shield technology is researched and such shields are installed on all our worlds, each of our planets will be immune to fire from all our existing weapons - but not those of the other races of the galaxy! If we are complacent, someday one rogue pilot with a shield of class 7 or more and a single advanced bomb bay will be able to bring civilzation to its knees. If we are to eschew weapons technology, we must eschew all races who partake of that technology - which means all the non-Psilon races in the galaxy!"
(Coral Syrup taps both sets of steepled fingers together) "Come to the point; you spoke of the polls. Our people are well aware of the threat from alien military forces, but also of the millions of innocent non-Psilon sentients around the galaxy. Surely those who merely tolerate murderous emperors should not be punished along with their leaders! What is your mandate for dealing with the alien races in a manner safe for us but fair to them?"
(Iac waves a hand) "To expedite the deity-mediated redistribution of the entities in question."
(Coral Syrup coughs slightly) "... What exactly does that mean?"

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Next: Let God Sort 'Em Out!

Imperium 20 - A Galaxy Divided

Whynil Transmission Relay, 19.11.2396:
"Tremendous progress has been made in our negotiations with the Darloks, as we grow to better understand their ways. In their minds, it would be dishonorable to receive the planet of Whynil from our hands without a fight after losing it in battle to our predecessors, akin to accepting charity, and for similar reasons, they do not seek reparations in exchange for peace; rather, they consider our mutual interests the strongest bond of peace that can exist, thanking us regularly for our work to bring the Silicoids in line with galactic environmental policy."

"As a result, they have agreed to peace this year on the one condition that we continue to diligently enforce the galactic laws against the destruction of planetary ecologies. Moreover, to seal the new peace, they have agreed to a trade package amounting to 150 BC annually."

Mentar Peaceful Dipomacy Center, 4.9.2397:
"Our diplomats have proven the value and sustainabilty of peace in the galaxy beyond all doubt; both Narzina and Jasana are so pleased with our policies that each approached this very year to request a full alliance with our people. Sadly, we were forced to refuse, since they were particularly interested in a military alliance, and though all of us are at war with the other three races in the galaxy, the Mrrshans and Darloks as yet seem to seek the destruction of those other races, whereas we regret the state of war in which we find ourselves, and seek - for ourselves and our friends and enemies alike - a lasting peace."

Paranar Advanced Electronics Research Facility, 27.2.2399:
"Following up Drain Ceritfy's success last year, when he snagged the plans for Deuterium Fuel Cells from Kholdan, I have penetrated deep into Bulrathi space, and can now provide detailed design specifications for Battle Computer Mark III."

"While I was here, I was also able to observe our activity at Cryslon from this facility's powerful scanning and communications network; it sorrows me to hear that the Silicoids remain intransigent on environmental policies, but I am pleased that Cryslon itself will at last begin the long process of recovery from their flagrant pollution when we colonize it and begin waste cleanup efforts next year. Best of all, of course, are leaked reports from the Klackon Queen that she and her ecological people are deeply impressed by our work at Cryslon and will at last agree to a peace proposal later this year."

Mentar Peaceful Diplomacy Center, 2.6.2400
"Last year's peace agreement with the Klackons is holding strong, and we continue to make major progress on the pan-galactic goal of restoring the galaxy's most polluted worlds to their ecological heritage. With the still-intransigent waste-loving Silicoids marginalized, no longer receiving any electoral nominations, we are near to a time of true galactic peace. With the support we each got from other races, Jasana and I could have cooperated to elect a high emperor of the galaxy this year - indeed, had just one more vote swung to me, I could have elected myself without her votes - but Jasana voted for herself without consultation, and since the Silicoids voted for her as well, not in support of her or her policies but as a statement of displeasure with me, I felt I could not support their position by voting the same way, and therefore abstained. Time enough in the next election to select Jasana or myself as ruler of the galaxy. For now, much work remains to be done."

"Perhaps now that Cryslon is in Psilon hands and recovering from Silicoid pollutants, the remaining crystalfolk will see reason and accept our diplomatic proposals, or submit counter-proposals of their own in place of defiance and war. We can only hope."


Low Nordia Orbit, 25.1.2402:
"The Silicoids remain noncompliant. Seventy-six factory complexes were present, without any EIRs on file, no waste scrubbers, no cleanup efforts, and a planetary atmosphere choked with pollutants, to say nothing of the surface itself. We're going to have to confiscate this world like the others, and clean it up ourselves. We have begun the process already by removing all the waste-spewing factories and Silicoid population from the surface, making room for our clean-up crews. They should be able to land here soon, thanks to the radiation-control bases just devised by our scientists back at Bio Lab Imra, and with Atmospheric Terraforming technology in development, we have hope that the world may someday become a paradise in spite of the horrors perpetrated by the Silicoids here."

Mentar Orbital Force Field Test Facility, 30.3.2403:
"I am pleased to follow up Drain Certify's description of Klackon designs for Battle Computer Mark IV with confirmation that our own repulsor beams have finally passed their full battery of tests, and are ready for deployment in the field. With proposals for highly advanced personal or ship-class shields also on the table, we have elected to pursue a Class X Planetary Shield to help enforce the peace without taking warlike actions ourselves even in defense."

Paranar Warp Mechanics Research Complex, 27.2.2406:
"The necessary formulas for the design of Bulrathi Irridium Fuel Cells have been transmitted to our own scientists successfuly. I congratulated them as well on last year's development of Zortium Armor leading to Reduced Industrial Waste 40%, the better to continue our environmental policies. There is yet more news however: The Bulrathi are continuing to receive GNN transmissions, and thanks to our colonization of Nitzer last year, when our cleanup crews establish their base on Nordia later this year, it is expected that the newsdroid will claim that our 18 star systems threaten control of the galaxy! It appears incapable of recognizing that we seek not control, but peace."

Mentar Peaceful Diplomacy Center, 24.5.2407:
"There's certainly a lot going on in the galaxy ... mostly good news, fortunately."

"One of our agents working in Mrrshan space stumbled on plans for Improved Terraforming +10 while our EIRs were clearing Seidon for our clean-up crews' arrival - but the best news of all is the end of the plague at Fierias; Jasana will surely be in a better mood hereafter, and return to her peaceful friendship with our people."

Rhilus Diplomatic Communication Center, 3.7.2408:
(Trust Celerity smiles with genuine delight upon seeing Jasana's face on the holo-display) "Jasana! It's shaping up to be a great day! I'm not surprised to see you here, what with our cleanup crew arriving at Seidon, and the pollution centers of Gorra wiped out by our EIRs earlier this year. I imagine you wanted to congratulate us, especially in light of the war you've long faced against the Silicoids for their environmentally disastrous activity."
(Jasana's image smiles sweetly) "Indeed. You have done well against our Silicoid foes, making ours the two most powerful races in the galaxy. Please convey this message to the ruler of your people:"

(Trust Celerity stares, unbelieving) "But you were ... Why? When we've been friends for so long, and done each other so much good, why would you want to destroy us and our leader?" (There is no response; Jasana is gone, and the holo-display has gone blank) "... Well ... at least she offered her sincere apologies."

Mentar Galactic Command Center, 17.9.2409:
"The public unhappiness with our present circumstances is perfectly understandable - it was a great blow when Jasana chose to reject the rule of peace - but the increasingly pointed questioning of Imperial policy in public forums must be addressed before it grows beyond a few disgruntled extremists into a misguided movement. Now, when it seems most difficult, is the most important time for us to embrace and uphold galactic peace! Nor are we wthout hope in that regard: The development of warp dissipators earlier this year will give us yet another nonviolent means of containing attacks from less enlightened peoples as our scientists begin work on Impulse Drives, and with the removal of pollution-generating blight from the surface of Kailis, we have again temporarily lost contact with the Silicoid empire, ensuring no further attacks on our worlds by the poor, misguided rock people at least until our clean-up crew reaches Gorras in three years' time. There is yet hope besides that the Mrrshans will not prosecute their war. At the very least, we must give peace a chance."

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Next: One Last Chamce

Imperium 20 - Environmental Activism

Mentar Galactic Command Peaceful Diplomacy Center, 30.11.2383:
"It is in a time of crisis that I accept the title of 20th and highest RBO, gravely aware of my duties. With the previous RBO-20 convicted of war crimes by unanimous vote of the other nineteen Really Brainy Overlords, and all the pilots of our Probes replaced by peaceful Psilons while those loyal to the war criminal are tried in courts martial for betraying their oaths to serve the Psilon people, I must strive to earn the trust of the other peoples of the galaxy. To my predecessor, I say: You are wrong; we will never come to thank you for the horrors you have committed. But I hope and believe that we will one day achieve a true and lasting peace throughout the galaxy, in spite of your ruinous deeds.
"Even now, we are making overtures to the peoples of the galaxy who have had the restraint not to declare war: The environmentalist Mrrshans, Klackons, and Bulrathi. You all are well aware by now of the Silicoids' intransigence in the face of galaxy-wide demands that they end their flagrant acts of pollution, and so with the blessing of these friendly species and of the population at large, we are sending a starfleet to the known pollution center of Neptunus to investigate and enforce compliance with the galaxy's new environmental policies.
"With memories of Whynil fresh, I wished to leave our ships unarmed, but reports that the Silicoids had established a number of missile bases on the surface for the express purpose of repelling peaceful ships and preventing us from establishing Environmental Impact Reports has forced our hand. I regret the need to incorporate nuclear bombs into our EIR 3.0s but acknowledge the necessity."

Endoria Main Communications Hub, 12.6.2384:
"Reports are coming in of a Probe 3.0's encounter with the Guardian, but we've got bigger news coming in."

"It looks like Crystous is non-compliant with galactic environmental law, as expected; it even went so far as to try to bribe us off, imagining mere money would convince us to forego an accurate environmental impact report. It also has a Polaris dreadnought in orbit over Neptunus, reinforcing hints of its willingness to combine pollution and war."

Interstellar Space, 19.6.2384:
"That is correct. I transmitted a friendly message, and the Guardian proceeded to fire on me with plasma torpedoes and a cloud of missiles. Not wishing to cause more offense than I already had, I immediately set my warp engines to depart the system, and the Guardian respected this act, moving away from my ship rather than closing and firing."

"The supposition that it did so only because my ship was armed - with a single laser surely incapable of harming the behemoth - and because it had a payload of missiles and torpedoes on the way, is surely indefensible. I survived not because of my ship's warlike design but by my own peaceful actions, surely!"

Whynil Transmission Relay, 2.6.2387:
(Candy Celebrate spreads all four hands before the holocom console in a warm greeting) "It's a pleasure to see your face again so soon, Krungo! Was there something we forgot to cover in our conversation with the whole Bulrathi cabinet? Perhaps you would like to offer further advice on our environmental..."
(Krungo's image appears to yawn slightly) "Pardon us, we forgot to mention that we have decided to destroy the Psilon empire now." (Image disappears)
(Candy opens and closes her mouth, staring at the now-empty holodisplay, the translation script still scrolling) "You ... our ... the..." (sigh) "You know, that comma really ought to be a semicolon..."

Endoria Main Communications Hub, 14.6.2387:
"Ah, our good old Klackon friends! What can I do for you?"

"The conjunction of the planets? Really? In which star system? Or is ... wait, you want to eradicate the Psilons from the galaxy? But ... but aren't we..."

Mentar Peaceful Diplomacy Center, 2.10.2387:
"While it's perhaps understandable in light of what my predecessor did at Whynil - and the fact that the bugs are frankly bonkers - the Bulrathi and insect declarations of war cannot simply be ignored; nor can the Mrrshans go unrewarded for surprising the doubters by continuing along the path of peace. Our one true friend in the galaxy, allied to nobody, Jasana has agreed to join our peace-keeping coalition in exchange for Duralloy Armor, which will help ensure her people's ability to resist Bulrathi assault as we stand together against Ursine incursion. Her resulting declaration of war on the bears is in truth a declaration of solidarity with our people; surely, once Krungo sees reason, Jasana will be as eager as I for peace. In the meantime, we must hold off warlike attacks, like the Darlok fleet at Endoria earlier this year and the Bulrathi one expected to strike at Whynil next year as well. We fortunately have sufficient forces present to persuade them - I hope not by force, though I fear it may be needed - to retreat. More PT-DEF 3.0s are in production even now to make our deterrent force more effective and avoid the need for battle entirely."

Bio Lab Imra, 28.4.2389:
"Reports that Mentar's electrical engineers have made a quantum leap in scanning technology may be encouraging for those who fear our warlike neighbors, but they are nothing to the latest work of Stem Cereus: We have found the means of rendering all our habitable planets fertile, and while the computer engineers at Mentar can devise no better way to move forward than the usual combat-related technologies - taking Battle Computer Mark V as the most advanced and therefore interesting technology - Stem has drawn up tentative plans for cloning our people, or better yet, rendering even the most hostile planets susceptible to soil enrichment! In anticipation of doing so, we are all hard at work now on Controlled Radiated Envionment technology, to open up more fertile-worlds-to-be!"

Morrig Electronics Lab, 10.3.2392:
"I think I'm onto something here. Attempting burst-transmission..."

"I made it down here while the Klackons were concentrating on their assault at Incedius - something like 500 ships, as I understand it, but lacking the weapons needed to penetrate our missile base's shield. All the Klackon plans for ECM Jammer Mark I are included in my transmission, so I hope it's coming through! I'll report again when I have an opportunity!"

Whynil Communications Relay, 8.11.2392:
"Peace negotiations with the Darloks remain stalled, in spite of their surprising call to thank us earlier this year for the good work of our IERs at Neptunus. I had thought that an industrialist would be the less appreciative of our efforts there than its ecologist neighbors, but Narzina has demonstrated that the ecology is everyone's concern; in fact, some years ago, perhaps for this very reason, she went so far as to declare war on the Silicoid polluters. Sadly, our offer to return Whynil and pay reparations in exchange for peace has made no headway. Narzina insists that it will not accept as a gift the planet that it lost in war; it demands the right to kill at least a million of our people in some crude rite of vengeance before it will accept the world! Obviously, this suggestion is preposterous, and their alternative demand is sickening - they asked for our best terraforming technology in exchange for peace, as if to say that they don't care about the people who died at Whynil or about the planet itself - only about the potential space to grow voting population. A better Psilon would have gladly given knowledge in exchange for peace, but the horrible calculation of the thing was so disgusting to me that I had to refuse; I doubt the offer will be renewed."

Mentar Peaceful Diplomacy Center, 22.10.2393:
"I have no doubt that you all are aware of the defensive situation, with another Darlok fleet repelled at Endoria last year, and a Klackon fighter force destroyed at Neptunus when they attacked our fleet there this year - another chapter in the sad tale of that world."

"The Silicoids' refusal to clean up or in any way reduce their pollution in that star system became a matter of urgency, as you know, when we discovered the total ecological collapse of its large Terran world. It will take years to clean up the mess that they left and restore the planet to its pristine beauty, and our new colony has been created on that world expressly do so. The EIRs for our labs-to-be there are already on file with the galactic councl and approved by the ecological committee. The worst news of the year however is the virulent plague that struck Jasana's homeworld. Even as we began mobilizing to help her find a cure, our efforts led by Stem Cereus herself, Jasana called and appeared to wish to take out her frustrations on us. Her complaint about fleets amassing on her border is particularly revealing, as virtually all our ships are gathered or gathering as far from her as possible, to inspect Silicoid worlds for noncompliance with enviornmental law and to deter warlike threats in the north.
"Nevertheless, it is my pleasure to report that we need not fear attack from anyone much longer. Safe behind our new planetary shields, with plans for a Repulsor Beam on the way, it won't be long before we can settle down to truly live in peace."

_______________

Next: The Great Divide

Imperium 20 - The Whynil Affair

Mentar Galactic Command Center, 10.10.2365:
"Proceeding as expected. Toranor is ours now, and we have more Probes on the way up to Whynil. Obviously, they're going to have to lead our peaceful negotiations with Narzina, since the twenty-six Venom destroyers and armed Darlok Colony Ship we saw in the area last year just chased our Discoveries from orbit there and claimed the ocean world at the heart of the galaxy. We need that place to reach the galactic northeast, so there's no way we can let the shapeshifters keep it. We'll just have to make sure those xenophobes learn to see things our way!"

Rhilus Academy of Linguistic Studies, 19.5.2366:
"Translation of the GNN Newsdroid transmission was a success! It was obviously triggered by our arrival at the world of Imra, where the absence of heavy minerals will allow for extensive biological experiments in a pristine natural setting, factory-free. Our twelfth world will become a planet-sized bio-laboratory!"

"The previous GNN message must obviously have been about the waste-producing crystals, which at the time had spread to six worlds in the galaxy. They've now spread even further, so it's perfectly understandable that Machine Shop Vega should continue producing Probes to help deal with them - though it's odd that all the Probes are heading out toward Whynil, where no reports of crystal activity have been received."

Mentar Planetary Communications Suite, 1.6.2368:
"A terrible thing has happened! A horrifying discovery! The propogating crystals we had planned to wipe out, the so-called Silicoids, are not an out-of-control pollutant, but a race of sentient beings! It never struck us that entities so utterly unlike ourselves could possibly be thinking creatures, that their waste-generating devices could actually be akin to our own factories! Obviously, they only need to be taught to rein in their waste production or clean up the results as we do - certainly not attacked and destroyed! The transmission following our destruction of the last crystals at Rha was an unsurprising declaration of war! We must correct this as best we can, and fortunately, we have an opportunity in the same context in which we made the discovery! Representatives of all the races of the galaxy are in conference by holotransmission, to choose one being to lead the galaxy in peace! With our own top RBO as the alternate candidate thanks to the peaceful expansion that has left us with the highest population in the galaxy, I am able to make a peace offering to the Silicoid leader, giving Crystous our five votes on top of the seven it had already. Unfortunately, this is not sufficient to establish it as ruler and bring on galactic peace, but I hope it will be a step in the right direction at least. Obviously, we will have to stop production of our crystal-containing laser fighters immediately! ... Or as soon as Galactic Command acknowledges my message at least..."

Low Whynil Orbit, 7.5.2370:
"Thanks for the news; the production of a Deep Space Geolab to capture the last barren planet of which we know is clearly a positive sign. It's also good to hear that our terraforming techniques have improved, and Soil Enrichment is no doubt the right way to proceed, considering the number of habitable planets we control. It's good to see we'll be able to someday live at radiated worlds too, and that terraforming can be improved still more. We're obviously going the right way."

(-maximum security military decryption sequence complete; replaying transmission-)

"Coded order sequence acknowledged. Last year's 45 BC trade deal with the crazy bugs will not affect our plan for dealing with the Darlok incursion here. Our initial strafing run took down only two factories, but demonstrates that we can still penetrate the planetary defenses, with dozens more Probes due to arrive and contribute each year."

(-encrypted transmission complete-)

Celtsi Fission Propulsion Lab, 26.4.2373:
"Power Certitude has come through again, making warp 3 engines a reality, and proposing another refolding technique to freeze military starships in space, preventing them from attacking without resorting to fighting ourselves! It's a real disappointment that the recent rumors about engine instability swayed public opinion to the point of demands that we design an Inertial Stabilizer - they have no basis in fact, but they persisted in spite of all the proof we present, almost as if someone were intentionally propogating them. There's no peaceful use for such devices that I know of, but now we have to finish the project to retain our funding. It's good to hear we're colonizing Xendalla now at least."

Mentar Planetary Communications Suite, 27.6.2375:
"Good morning, Narzina. It is true that we abstained from the galactic council vote instead of joining you in voting for the Silicoids; under other circumstances, we would certainly have cast our vote to unite the galaxy in peace. Our vote was a necessary protest however, since the Silicoids continue to behave unacceptibly, polluting the environments of all their worlds in spite of our protests. Since we will likely have a veto over all council proceedings by the time of the next election, it will be necessary for them to clean up their act if they are to become the rulers of the galaxy."

...

"Wait, that's not what you wanted to discuss with me?"

"Attack one of your colonies?! We can't have ... we couldn't be ... oh my thoughts! The Probes! I haven't heard anything about the Probes since the first fleet's report from Whynil! They've been way out at extended range, beyond the reach of our planetary scanners, all this time! They can't be ... they can't have ... oh, no ... oh, NO! The Probe 3.0s that were built this year and last, ostensibly to replace our slower scout fleets, are heading in Whynil's direction as well! We've been betrayed! Narzina, please understand! Please accept our apologies! We were betrayed by a small group among us! We want peace!"

Mentar Galactic Command Center, 12.8.2376:
"I must repeat what I have told you again and again: That the Probe 3.0s were built for the purpose described, and have continued to be built and routed toward Whynil precisely to investigate allegations of insubordination and war crimes - war crimes, as we all know, consisting of the perpetration of any act of war - by the older Probe fleet established there. Whatever was done at Whynil was not an act of war planned here at Mentar! I submit to you now however that the absence of reports from that direction hints of another explanation of events altogether: We have only the word of Narzina itself, ruler of the cloak-shrouded, shape-shifting Darlok spies, that any combat took place at Whynil at all. Surely we cannot call it a peace lover, now that it has issued a declaration of war! Consider the possibility that even as they claim to be under attack, the Darloks might have slain - or kidnapped and tortured - all our peaceful pilots! I dearly hope it is not so, but until I see evidence to the contrary, I will not believe our loyal Probe pilots are at fault when the one speaking against them has revealed itself as a warmonger! The Darloks are so untrustworthy, even their former allies broke with them years ago. Let us not be more credulous than the Klackons themselves of these shape-shifters who would force us into war!"

Low Whynil Orbit, 2.2.2379:
"It is just as we feared! All our Probes were trapped on the planet's surface along with the Deep Space Autolab, and the pilots and crew were suffering torture under the pseudopods of Darlok interrogators. Only a daring and completely peaceful raid, in which no one was killed, was able to free them - and then the Darloks pursued with an assault fleet!"

"We had no other choice than to open fire on their missile boats and armed Colony Ship cruiser to save what ships we could. It is only with great regret that we took this drastic step, and we hope that it will never happen again!"

(-maximum security military decryption sequence complete; replaying transmission-) "Took out another defensive fleet; lost a few fighters, but no problem. Good luck selling the rest of the campaign." (-encrypted transmission complete-)

Main Mentar Electronics Research Complex, 19.5.2379:
"Let's not get too carried away by tidings of war. The new shields developed two years ago make our planets immune to all forms of laser fire, and our force field labs are in the process of developing a Class V Planetary Shield to help protect our worlds from almost everything else. If we remember the lore of peace, it won't be long before we need fear no war. That's why the materials physicists followed up last year's advances in factory-building technology not with combat-ready new armor materials, but with an Automated Repair System to heal meteorite punctures aboard our starships. And that's why our new robotic controls will be followed in this very complex not by combat technology of any kind, but by an Improved Space Scanner to ensure we need never fear attack when none is truly on the way. Thus, even in time of war, our labs develop hope for peace."

Endoria Governor's Palace, 24.1.2381:
"The Darloks sent a fleet of Venom destroyers to attack us, and their nuclear missiles, over 150 in total, could penetrate the shields of our missile base! I hate to say it, but I'm glad we had our Probe and dozens of PT DEFs in orbit. More than 25 brave pilots lost their lives, to say nothing of the Darlok crews they were forced to kill; war is a horrible, horrible waste ... but now that I've seen the nuclear missile boats closing in on my world, I'm glad that, if war there must be, we are in position to win that war."

Surface of Whynil, 12.6.2382:
"I regret to report the actions of our star fleet here at the heart of the galaxy."

"The Probe fleet that was supposedly defending our forces from Darlok attack has actually remained in the system, attacking and last year destroying the Darlok colony. Their protests that the Darloks attacked first, in the course of forming that very colony, of course fall on deaf ears as mere pro-military drivel. Right action by definition is action approved by the peace-loving Psilon populace, and if they were taking the right action, they would not have needed to conceal it from the people until now, when it is a fait accompli. We have raised a Wall of Shame to commemorate our pilots' murder of the this world's Darloks at the colony we built where their homes once stood, and negotiations will begin to return this world to the Darloks, with monetary reparations for the tragedy that struck here ... if they ever become willing to talk to me.
"Some little good has come of this at least: We have finally met the last of the great space-faring races of the galaxy. Through their leader, Krungo, the Bulrathi greeted us - a little aggressively perhaps, but in the environmentally-friendly fashion of all the many ecologically-driven people in the galaxy. The time is come to establish a lasting peace with their three-planet empire, beginning with 200 BC in trade, and to seal the friendship that has grown between us and Jasana's people, boosting our annual trade with the Mrrshans to 275 BC. Thus, on the heels of the horrors of war, we find new opportunities for peace."

_______________

Next: Taking Advantage of an Opportunity

Imperium 20 - If This Be Peace...

Celtsi Planetology Research Complex, 14.5.2340:
"Terraforming biosystems are now ready to deploy at all our worlds! With theoreticians suggesting contained environments for toxic worlds as well as improvements to both of our existing planetology technologies, our chief of research has elected instead to quickly turn over a simple Controlled Barren Environment project, for two stars we know already."

Celtsi Materials Physics Lab, 2.5.2341:
"Scan Seratonin's inspired improvements to factory construction measures hold promise enough to be doubled immediately, but the concept of Duralloy Armor is more appealing to high command, and we too are eager to explore new concepts instead of rehashing old ones. In light of that, we're looking forward to next year's ground-breaking as well, on a Force Fields laboratory that will allow work on Class II Deflector Shields, starting two years from today.

Low Rha Orbit, 17.9.2344:
"Our attempts to contain the pseudo-industrial waste production of the crystals on the surface have met with only limited success. Concentrated laser fire destroyed one of the objects we have identified as waste-generation units this year, but no more, and none of the larger patches of propogating crystals were affected. In light of this and continued popular pressure to demilitarize, it should come as no surprise that our PT DEFs are being decommissioned..."

Surface of Rana, 12.6.2345:
"No sign of pro-military rebels in this system; can we be sure of the veracity of earlier reports? Surely their activity must be limited to the north. We should be perfectly safe here at our new colony in the east...."

Mentar Propulsion Lab, 3.7.2349:
"I have trouble believing reports of a pair of Darlok Needle smallcraft advancing threateningly on our Discovery at Endoria. What military-loving rebels could hold out in the face of our peaceful advances, like the new fuel cells that will lead us on to Nuclear Engines? (The notions of more fuel cells or some kind of stabilizer are being tabled for now.) It's no doubt false reports like these that allow Lock Cerements, unworthy succcessor to equally-unworthy Storm Cerberus, to order new PT DEF fighters in the north. It's been proven that they're of almost no use to prevent pollution, and what do we need with so many even if the reports of the Needles are true?"

Low Rha Orbit, 29.6.2351:
"I think all Psilons owe Lock an apology. His assessment of the waste-crystal situation was correct: We simply didn't have enough PT DEFs last time through. With dozens out of Machine Shop Vega showing up this year, we have cut down all the waste production centers on the surface and shattered a sizable fraction of the crystals too. With more new PT DEFs already on their way over, we believe that we can remove the swift-spreading, waste-producing crystals from the surface entirely. I advise that work begin on an Autolab to colonize the surface, clean up the waste, and learn what we can from the remains once the toxic crystals have ceased to propogate."

Outer Nitzer Orbit, 28.4.2353:
"It's a regular hotspot of rebel activity out here! I'm sorry to hear the planetology teams just switched to Improved Terraforming +30, because better eco management would have been quicker, and we need to find out if we can colonize radiated worlds like this system's as soon as we can. Last year saw a Darlok Scout retreat, and this year saw two separate rebel fleets do the same: One with the call sign Klackon Scout shortly after the Silicoid Colony Ship we've spotted from time to time - reportedly the pirates' mothership in this part of space! I don't suppose there's a chance of getting the PT DEFs out here to investigate...?"

Mentar Galactic Command Center, 30.6.2354:
"Slow down; slow down! I'm still trying to make sense of all the stuff that's going on!"

"Our Discovery has uncovered what appears to be a major rebel base at a yellow star near the center of the galaxy, with no less than ten ships in orbit, and 11 fully-armed missile bases on the planet's surface as well - clearly a nest of rebels in love with military! On top of the five Darlok Needles, we detected a Hornet six times their size, and fully four ships of the class we imagined to be the rebel motherships in the past! The pro-military forces are more widespread than we ever imagined! Moreover, with the breakup of the last waste-propogation crystals on Rha, we received a high-powered signal from the remaining crystal-harboring worlds known to exist in the galaxy ... followed by a complete cessation of the background signals first detected from those worlds two decades ago! I want our new Autolab sent at once to investigate."

Surface of Rhilus, 7.10.2355:
"Hard to believe all the news coming in across the galaxy! The largest rebel fleet ever encountered is presently in orbit at the world of Volantis, with almost 150 ships! The new lab at Rha was founded at the same time as ours right here, and rumor has it that with all possible warlike options before them as well, the science teams on Mentar are moving forward with Improved Robotic Controls III. The biggest news is ours, though: We're picking up energy signatures from three different worlds to the east, with completely different frequencies from those of the waste-crystal worlds that we just started receiving again. Analysis of the energy readings will begin at once, but I fear there may not be time; the new scanners that opened the way toward those controls are doing vital work already!"

"Two destroyer-class rebel starships, each of call sign Mrrshan Cheetah appear to be en route from Volantis to this very star! If they are as violent as I fear they must be, I fear we can't possibly arrange sufficient defenses in time!"

Mentar Orbital Force Field Test Facility, 29.5.2356:
"Our new shields are now up and functioning. The proposed miniaturization project is rejected; if our people fight one another on the streets, it will represent so great a failure that mere personal shields would be like a band-aid for a beheading. Rather, we will proceed with research into Class III Deflector Shields to protect our worlds from the rebel forces that seem to be everywhere around us."

Mentar Galactic Command Center, 13.10.2358:
"It's high time we revised our opinion of the threat. These fleets cannot be passed off as the work of a small military-loving minority - not unless that minority represents the very most ingenius and industrious portion of the Psilon population! No little disgruntled faction could possibly have constructed star fleets on this scale. Arguably the most powerful fleet encountered to date was spotted at a yellow star called Kholdan just last year, even as another Silicoid Colony Ship fled from our star force at Rha, and now another fleet of aggressive ships with Mrrshan call signs were encountered at Hyades as well - to say nothing of the Cheetahs due to reach Rhilus next year! We need a more realistic appreciation of the threat, of the other and powerful factions ruling the galaxy around us, and we need it at once!"

Rhilus Orbit, 9.1.2359:
(Wipe Celebrity kicks the throttle of his PT DEF 1.0) "Both Cheetahs are closing and ignoring all requests to stand off. We're picking up some kind of low-level transmission with a peculiar energy signature from the ships, but nothing deciperable. Rush, I want your Discoveries closing alongside me to provide cover in case this gets ugly!"
(Rush Serendipity leads the trio of Discoveries forward) "I'll do what I can, but it may be hopeless; what can we do against ships of that size?"
(Emergency sirens sound aboard Wipe's PT DEF) "Go full evasive! They've got a missile salvo tracking me!" (Wipe fires a baffler flare to cover his retreat, fleeing the incoming missiles at top speed...)
(Emergency sirens scream aboard the Discoveries even as Rush begins their evasive maneuvers) "They're locked on to us with another salvo! We've got to get out of here!"
(Wipe kicks in full throttle as the first salvo bypasses his flare) "Stick with it! We may yet outrun th..." (Impact - a blaze of fire)
(Rush pours all his Discoveries' little power into flight) "We've lost Celebrity! We're defenseles in the system! Missiles closing - I can't tell how ma..." (Rush's starboard wingman goes out in a titanic nuclear blast as Rush rolls just clear of the blast radius and another missile detonates) "We've lost another ship! Any more of those missiles and we're ... hold! They must have expended their payload! The Cheetahs are standing off! They must not realize our Discoveries are unarmed! The rebels are in retreat! I repeat..."

Mentar Galactic Command Center, 18.11.2359:
(Lock Cerements stares at his screen in open wonder) "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it."

(Freeze Carob-Bella shakes her head) "You knew all along that the ships we've encountered couldn't be the work of a small rebel faction. When I realized the Cheetahs at Rhilus transmitted with the same energy signature as the planets to the east, I got everyone started on deciphering them - it's a shame it took this long to consider a different language and transmission system as a possibility. As you can see, this alien Jasana is not only sentient, but happy to trade with us now that we've cleared up our previous misunderstandings. It is likely that many of the other ships we've encountered were built by other sentients out there in the galaxy."
(Lock shakes his head) "A sentient, xenophobic kitten in love with ecology, and willing to trade 35 BC? What's next? A sentient insect waving its feelers at me?"

Surface of Endoria, 13.8.2360:
"With barren Vulcan last year, this is now our ninth glorious colony of peace! And look what rewards we reap here: Contact with a ... cloaky thing? ... er ... anyway ... and a sentient insect waving its feelers in a friendly (if slightly insane) fashion at me! I'll bet Lock can't wait to see it! These two aliens are even allied to each other already, and each has something in common with Jasana too: Narzina the industrialist also calls itself a xenophobe, and the erratic bug loves planetary ecology! We could be in for a regular love-fest here! Hurray for peace!"

"It ... uh ... might just have been a little more encouraging if one of them had been interested in a trade agreement..."

Celtsi Fission Propulsion Laboratory, 22.9.2360:
"Brilliant news! Our nuclear engines are working, with no further melt-downs reported! We should even be able to extend their effective range by fueling them with Dotomite! Power Certitude has a better idea though: Reversing the polarity of our warp generators to refold space over existing warp folds should allow us to actually exceed the effective speed associated with nuclear engines without breaking the light barrier. Work will begin on designing the new Sub-Light Drives immediately!"

Surface of Keeta, 1.7.2364:
"Think how fortunate we are to dwell here in the far southeast, where even the greatest fearmongers of the galaxy could never persuade us we shall ever face anything but peace! Moreover, with two more Autolab 2.0s on their way to colonize the rest of the south in peace, even the duralloy armor developed on Mentar two years back is being turned to peaceful purposes: It has paved the way for the peaceful infrastructure development of Improved Industrial Tech 7, and for the miniaturization necessary for the Deep Space Lab crossing the stars toward distant Whynil, at the galaxy's core, even as I speak - and also, finally, for our first Warp 2 scouts: The Probe 2.0s just built this year! The noble Lock Cerements has personally assured me that the reason for their laser armament is to help eliminate any waste-generating crystals we might encounter, the better to please our ecologist friends around the galaxy."

_______________

Next: Assured!

Imperium 20 - Give Peace a Chance

Mentar Planetary Convention Center, 24.3.2300:
"And I want to thank you! All you Psilons who wouldn't take no for an answer! All of you who heard them say weapons research was integral to the sciences and answered, no! We won't have it! Because of you, our mission is successful at last! Our goal is fulfilled! Weapons research is forbidden throughout the Psilon Imperium!" (Cheering!) "Teaching the basis of weapons research is forbidden in all Psilon schools!" (More cheering!) "The intellectual infrastructure of weapons development is being crippled for all of time!" (Uproarious cheering!) "As long as we stand firm - as long as we hold true - then within our lifetimes, we can ensure that no weapons development can occur for centuries!" (Thundrous applause) "That's how long it will take to rebuild the basis for weapons beyond the lasers and nukes we have today! Lasers and nuclear warheads! Who would have believed when these weapons were developed that people would be saying we need more, that these incredibly destructive devices are not destructive enough? Hear me! They are enough!" (cheering) "They are too much!" (more cheering) "We never will use more!" (cheering grows louder still) "They call us short sighted! They are the ones who want to put the tools of ultimate destruction in our people's hands!" (Tremendous cheer, shaking the walls of the convention center's main hall) "All we are saying..." (cheering crescendoes) "...all we are saying..." (pause for breath as cheering slowly quiets) "...all we are saying is, give peace a chance!" (Cheering rocks the convention center again, merging haphazardly into song.)

Mentar Military Headquarters, 24.3.2300:
(Storm Cerberus drums his fingers on the table, resting his brow in his upper hands as his fourth hand shuts down the newsfeed) "To do what?"
(Wave Cerulean taps both sets of her steepled fingers together) "Would you care to provide context for your question?"
(Storm looks up) "Give peace a chance to do what? They're not even in the argument. They don't know or care about the situation the empire is in. They say to give peace a chance with no idea of what it's supposed to be given a chance to do - still less how peace is supposed to do it! They..."
(Wash Ceremony softly clears his throat.) "On the contrary, they have an excellent argument of their own: Thirty-five million votes for their policies!"
(Pan Cerumen scratches his head) "Who cares about all that? Where are our starships going?"
(Wave lays her hands flat on the table in front of her) "To too few stars. We need more Discovery scouts built at once!"

Low Tyr Orbit, 17.7.2303:
"...Terran world with room for 85 million Psilons! I believe, as you hoped, you will get my report from this northwest red star before the colony ship makes its nearest approach to the yellow star in the east, and I fear we may have sent that ship to the wrong star!"

Surface of Celtsi, 21.9.2303:
"We are grateful for the message, but are nonetheless already forming our colony. This world has every bit as much to recommend it as does Tyr ... and we're already here!"

"I observe the first batches of Discoveries already bound for the outmost stars we can see, and the millions already boarding transports to join us here. The other colonists will be pleased."

Primary Mentar Planetology Lab, 15.6.2307:
"With so many amazing habitable planets so close to home, there's no need to think twice about barren ones just yet. We'll have plenty of time to work on barren technology if we need it after Improved Eco Restoration research is complete."

Outer Endoria Orbit, 4.10.2308:
"Unidentified starship advancing. Call sign is Silicoid Fighter. It is not responding to signals, and is behaving in an aggressive manner. Can this be a breakaway war faction - rebels against the cause of peace? If so, we must prevent them at all costs from establishing a foothold in space!"

Outer Endoria Orbit, 14.2.2310:
"Still no sign of the Silicoid Fighter since my retreat and return via hyperspace relay, but something's incoming. It's another starship - a new one! Call sign Klackon Scout! Attempting to establish communications ... failed. It has retreated to hyperspace. Is it the rebel faction watching our preparations?"

Outer Rhilus Orbit, 7.3.2314:
"Troubling signs; the rebel forces last reported in the Endoria region may be more widespread than we feared! An unidentified starcraft, call sign Mrrshan Scout, has just appeared and retreated from this system as well! I've had no success communicating with the Scout nor with anything in its direction of origin. Um, so with talking coming back zeroes, will someone remind me what other tools peace has in its toolbox while we're giving it a chance? Waiting and hoping everything comes out all right?"

Main Celtsi Planetology Lab, 5.09.2324:
"Excellent news! We've increased our waste cleanup efficiency by 50%, and are proceeding with Improved Terraforming +20!"

"With controlled environmental tech for barren and especially dead worlds still regarded as a low priority, this seemed the best course to take. No other developments were possible. I repeat, for the official record, no other technological developments are possible at this stage in the field of planetology. If military personnel are listening, please be aware there is no possibility of developing planetological weapons; none! It will never be a possibility!"

Mentar Military Headquarters, 5.10.2324:
(Storm slashes the air with the edge of his lower left hand) "Who does he think he's fooling?"
(Wash smiles blissfully) "It doesn't matter. You'll never get anyone to research such a thing. It might as well be true."

Outer Rha orbit, 28.2.2325:
"Impossible! I'm scanning an incoming ship off the scale of any heretofore imagined rebel capabilities! It's large enough to carry 2 million people and their life support equipment, at least! Call sign is Silicoid Colony Ship, and it must be their mother ship for this region of space! Attempting to open lines of peaceful communication ... attempting ... negative. It's disappeared into hyperspace."

Newly-established Celtsi Materials Physics Lab, 7.2.2329:
"Everyone's very excited about starting on Improved Industrial Tech 9; once the rebels see how technology is advancing under the banner of peace, they'll realize the error of their ways, and return to our welcoming arms. There's nothing to worry about really...."

Outer Rha Orbit, 12.1.2331:
"The Silicoid Colony Ship is back! And the Silicoid Fighter reported from Endoria appears to be in company! Attempting to establish communications ... attempting ... hold! The Colony Ship is now retreating, and the Fighter advancing aggressively! We're in danger of allowing the rebels to break the peace! I am now in full retreat!"

Low Rha Orbit, 5.8.2332:
"We should have known their warlike nature and rebelliousness would bring their doom upon them. I can see pieces of the Silicoid Colony Ship clustered on the planet's surface below, and no signs of the Silicoid Fighter. It appears that some kind of crystalline silicon structure propogated throughout the ship and damaged vital systems, causing them to crash on the planet's surface. No sign of the rebel Psilon inhabitants; just the silicon structures and the pieces of the ship, arranged in a surprisingly orderly fashion. Perhaps an effect of the crystal lattice. In any case, our automated laboratory-construction ship built last year at Mentar should be in no danger as it approaches Tyr - not from this group of rebels at least. Watch out for any crystalline formatiions developing among the warp cores though...."

Surface of Tyr, 18.9.2334:
"Our first planetary laboratory is complete; we should be able to develop the planet from here. Already, our work is bearing fruit, with new discoveries: Emanations similar to those from the crystal crash site at Rha have been detected from three other stars in the north!"

"This will require further study, perhaps with the aid of the Autolab 1.0 cruiser due to complete at Mentar next year...."

Mentar Military Headquarters, 19.11.2336:
(Storm taps the news console with his fingers, shutting it off.) "Where does the transmission come from, and what is that golden robot supposed to be saying?"
(Freeze Carob-Bella clears her throat) "We can't detect the source, and translations are still hitting a brick wall. We keep thinking we're getting close, only to come up with nonsense words like 'Silly Rocks' and things. We're pretty sure it has something to do with six star systems, but we don't know which six."
(Wave cranes her neck to look up at the ceiling) "Didn't we just detect those crystal emanations at a sixth system in the galaxy?"
(Pan yawns quietly.) "Obviously a coincidence. When does our Autolab hit Vega? And where are our new Point Defense fighters headed?"
(Wash spits out his water) "Fighters? Defense?!"
(Storm smiles like a cat in cream) "Haven't you been paying attention? The PT DEFs are our new laser fighters, to discourage rebel forces from threatening our colonies or taking aggressive action. Never to attack, of course; they're fighters for peace!"

Outer Vega Orbit, 21.1.2337:
"Something's wrong! I'm detecting another cruiser-class starship, call sign Silicoid Colony Ship, just like the one that crashed at Rha! Are we sure that wasn't a decoy? Is it possible the rebels are spreading those propogating crystals intentionally? I tried to communicate with the ship, but it went into immediate warp retreat...."

Mentar Propulsion Lab Grand Opening, 15.8.2337:
"...and with Hydrogen Fuel Cells to quickly get us started, we will open the way toward new horizons in propulsion research from this day forward! We follow a great tradition of Psilon scientists - and now even pilots - making amazing discoveries, beginning this year at the crystal-infested world of Neptunus!"

"Observe the massive quantities of pseudo-industrial waste built up there by propogation crystal activity, reducing a vast and beautiful world to a wasteland of radioactive decay. Already, plans are being formed to solve this disaster and others like it with our existing IER technology, but we could never have begun without this discovery!"

OOC Note: There are actually many factories and Silicoids on Neptunus of course, but there seems to be a bug in the planetary display, such that it does not show the correct population or factory count at an alien world until you end your turn (or load the game) with the scouted world in scanner range (or do so with a ship in orbit). In this case, of course, the bug fits the story nicely...

Surface of Vega, 4.6.2339:
"Even as our scientists, forgoing the evils of ECM and Battle Computer combat technology, start work on a Deep Space Scanner for still greater discoveries, we stand ready to support them! For this ultra-rich planet of Vega shall be hereafter a machine shop for the use of all the scientists among the Psilons, an experimental apparatus construction center for all the galaxy!"

"Our Autolab has assembled our first manufacturing center already, and we shall build it into a wonder of factories even as tens of millions come to join us from Tyr! Our time has come! Let us seize the day!"

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Next: Peace? Really?