2494
So we have 3 turns to find a way to deal with the incoming fleet of 2 dreadstars and 300+ mediums. The only chance I see is to overload their targeting capabilitiy, so 2 beam stacks, 4 isp stacks + bases is the way to go. I disband the scanner and design a fast ISP-hardend medium with ARS, IS and 2 fusion beams along with 2 new ISP designs. In fact, i postpone the "rugged beam" for of a placeholder ATM.
I pump up espionage on the Humans - maybe we get lucky for a change ...
2495
The psilons gained orbit over Toranor, albait only slightly so (only 3 star blades survived). Still, it might trigger them to send troops.
2496
No new techs, the 4 ISP stacks are in place, now on to the beamers (with repulsors or a good missle, life would be much simpler ...).
Paranar is also under attack. Same ETA as the 2nd wave for Tau Cygni, which means that we need a 2nd set of ISPs or lose the bases of one planet. We'll need some reserve money to pull that off, so I set Cygni to provide some.
2497
Showtime! I attack the battleships first while softening up the ca. 300 corvettes and the dreadstars. We destroy the whole fleet while losing one ISP and some mediums.
In other News, Psilon captured Toranor.
Next year, we will have to deal with 2 simultanious invasions. I split the fleet, produce and reloc 4 new ISPs and 5 mediums, using reserve spending and leaving waste.
2498
Victory! Both fleets are mostly destroyed - no losses! The Humans are down to Psilon level in the fleet chart. Our heroic fleet:
Obviously, this fleet is more or less a single purpose tool. While it did its job well, most of the designs should be scrapped soon.
Not knowing that ISPs are always hit, ISP 5.0 to ISP 5.2 are suboptimal as they pack unnecessary battle computers. The biggest drawback of the hf-beam is that they lack hit&run capability - not necessary for giving an ISP-softend target the final shot, but invaluable for regular space combat, esp. if you are faster than your enemies. The f-beam features an ARS - unless unless your are going against ISPs.
The real problem is that our construction tech royaly sucks and that we miss some crucial stuff like decent armor, bombs or repulsor beam.
I scrap the ISP 5.0 for a huge rockstar design with ISP, ARS, heavy fusion beams and class vi shields to withstand the Silicoid scatter packs. It's meant mostly as a placeholder to give the next emperor something to work with.
2499
The Klackons have been genocided by the Psilons.
2500
Battle suits pop, armored ex. next
The 60 mio. human invasion force has been destroyed.
And here comes the vote (us vs. Humans, 21 total):
6 Humans for themselves
4 Silicoids for Humans
4 Psilons for us
7 Alkaris abstain
I note that the Psilons have so far not settled Kholdan nor do I see and inbound fleets. Also, I see no dreadstars anywhere within scanner range.
Wow, what a ride. This was probably the most difficult turnset I've played so far, esp. I as have basically no experience with ISP as I virtually never use them (something that will certainly change ...).
We are now about ready to go into the offensive and the Coids have more or less volunteered to be our first victim - and they are also the only ones we can cope with ATM, anyway. Kailis would be a nice prize and we
need those AM bombs. The cheapest way to do it would probably be two single purpose large shield6 designs, one ISP and one fusion bomber - along with a big defense fleet.
Toranor is a spud and Kholdan is unsettled and not too heavily guarded (11 larges), so their might still be some use for the current fleet.
Since I switched turns with Olorin, the Roster now is:
Olorin <-- UP NOW
ignatius <-- just played
ungy <-- on deck
Archduke
Good luck emperor Olorin!
cu
ignatius
aranar has mostly completed the ISP huge I was using as a placeholder.