harmonic42
Chieftain
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2010
- Messages
- 23
Hey everyone. I've been thinking about this for the longest time and I finally wanted to get it out there. I'm not sure if someone has already done this, and believe me I've searched for it. But if you play SMAC enough to memorize all the quotes from techs, projects, and buildings, you start to see a "canon history" of what really happens on Planet. They don't tell you *everything* but one can make some educated guesses. Above is a map of planet, with my opinion as to the faction starting locations, and the location of the ascent to transcendence. A lot of this is just guesses, but much if it is based on the quotes. So, here's how it goes!
State of the factions:
GAIANS: Achieved victory. Began on the Pholus Ridge, as suggested by the Pholus Mutagen, and her closeness to the Ruins. Diedre apparently not as peaceful in canon as she is in the game. Apparently, Diedre was able to wield an inexplicably strong army of native lifeforms that all opponents were unable to overcome. Crowning conquest achievement was the defeat of the Spartans in M.Y. 2390. Was the creator of almost all nature-based secret projects. Used the Telepathic Matrix to great effect, calming any dissent from the people of the far-flung enemy faction cities were under Gaian conquest. Completed the Ascent to Transcendence within the Ruins. Enjoyed godhood as the dominant personality of Planet's consciousness.
HIVE: Destroyed. Began in the large continent in the North, near the Barren Wastes, as suggested by the graphics of his faction. Wantonly committed atrocities against his own people, expanded aggressively, and quickly became a hated enemy of all other factions. Used SMAC's first and only Planet Buster, with the target being a series of Miriam's bases in the Monsoon Jungle, all but eliminating that natural feature. Other factions respond by forming a coalition to eradicate the Hive, and launch a solar shade to offset the damage from the Planet Buster. Was able to establish a strong presence in the North, but was the first faction to taste total defeat, by Miriam, and an alliance of several other factions. Hive is destroyed and Yang is imprisoned by year 2300. Either died before the end of the human era, or remained in stasis forever.
UNIVERSITY: Survived. Began near the Uranium Flats and maintained a small empire. Maintained good relations with Morgan. Had indecisive disputes with Lal. Briefly went to war with Diedre, whom he greatly resented and considered a delusional imbecile, in the waters west of University Base, and was overwhelmed by native lifeforms under her control. Soundly defeated in 2400, becoming a grudgingly submissive pact member with Diedre for the rest of SMAC. Zak seemed to have a particular hatred for Mind Worms, suggesting either a huge natural infestation, or a war with Diedre that wasn't going so well. However, he was instrumental in later projects, particularly the Space Elevator and the Voice of Planet. It would seem as though the Voice of Planet was administered by Zak with some cooperation from Morgan, Lal, and Diedre. Ascended to join in godhood, realizing that the human era was at en end, but suffered for eternity, knowing that he is an insignificant component of Planet's consciousness, a mere satellite of his hated enemy, who became God.
MORGANS: Survived. Began on the northern island, as suggested by his seeming impunity from the ravages of faction versus faction wars. Did engage in some combat, defeating an invasion by a huge Believer naval force through the purchase of mercenaries and elite allied armies. Instrumental in the establishment of an economy of hard currency and industry. That, combined with his great wealth, afforded the Morgans excellent diplomatic relations, pulling in massive amounts of energy from commerce. Funded wars and remained neutral, but contributed massive materiel and weapons technology to the highest bidder. Transcended to become a minor component of Planet's consciousness, but become integral in the management of energy and entropy. Happy in his ultimate fate of safe, and rich... forever.
SPARTANS: Destroyed. Began on high ground east of Freshwater Sea. Established strong forward bases on the freshwater ithsmus and the sea's southern land. Enjoyed good relations with Morgan and the University. Took a survivalist, isolationist approach until M.Y. 2250, when the Peacekeepers began encroaching on Spartan territory, near the Straights of Prometheus and on the way to Mt. Planet. Repeatedly reprimanded by Lal and diplomatically isolated by his Plantery Governorship, and went to war. Outnumbered 2 to 1, but had infinitely better troops, tactics, and weapons. Easily defeated Lal and conquered all his southern holdings. Used air power to bomb his home cities, forcing him to surrender. Used her air power to great effect against Miriam, devastating Miriam's ground army. In M.Y. 2340, Suprise attacked by Diedre's bio-army while the main Spartan force was far to the east. Lost her main front base, Assassins Redoubt, to nightmarish Mind Worm attacks, presumably assisted by the Dream Twister. Unable to muster a force specific to Mind Worm defense, Sparta Command falls in M.Y. 2385. Disoriented, the rest of the Spartan Army falls in short order, and Santiago is imprisoned by the Gaians. Second faction to fall. Santiago either dies before the end of the human era or remains in stasis forever.
BELIEVERS: Destroyed. According to the quotes, lasted quite a while, though seemingly in constant retreat. New Jerusalem located west of the Dunes. Expanded extremely aggressively, even reaching across the waters, to the Gaian/Spartan continent, as well as the peacekeeper/university continent. Maintained a very large but technologically backwards military. Constantly at war with Yang, which was a stalemate until the Monsoon Jungles were planet busted, calling in all factions to eradicate the Hive. Miriam's rampant use of Probe teams and her stubbornness in the advancement of the species led to diplomatic isolation. Attacked by the Spartans, Gaians, Peacekeepers, and University. Her ground army was totally decimated by the Spartan air forces, as a coalition swept her bases, forcing Miriam and her most devoted followers into a constant state of retreat. Her faction was all but eliminated by M.Y. 2400, but she and a small, fanatical group of followers continued to cause trouble worldwide. In M.Y. 2450, down to her last stand, escaped through a psi gate to an isolated island in the Great Northern Ocean. Before they are tracked down and eradicated by enemy factions, Miriam and all remaining believers commit mass suicide in M.Y. 2455.
PEACEKEEPERS: Survived. Apparently not great at keeping peace. (Just like in the game.) Was Planetary Governor for a great deal of the SMAC era, and tended to use his diplomatic strength to sway the power balance against his enemies. Organized the coalitions that defeated both the Hive and the Believers. Was attacked and soundly defeated by the Spartans. All his outer holdings conquered by Santiago, and his home cities were destroyed by Santiago's air forces, to be "administered" by the University military in the name of maintaining order. Lal was allowed to live in exile, possibly with Diedre, or Morgan. Lived in obscurity, but transcended to be an insignificant part of Planet's consciousness.
Thoughts?
