Pre-ChaNES: Into the Void

[Chandrasekhar]

So... In that case, is there no interest in taking over China? Considering that no one has claimed it yet, I suppose I'll give it to the first prospective player to say they want it.

 

[Niklas]

Since no one else with better/earlier claims seems to be willing, I'll take China.

 

[Chandrasekhar]

I'm setting the deadline for orders to be in by January 20^th. I'm trying to be lenient with my deadlines here, considering all the NESes that have started recently, but I'd like to get some progress in on this thing, lest it be considered dead.

 

[Head Serf]

Who are you still waiting on?

 

[Niklas]

Orders sent.

 

[Chandrasekhar]

Who are you still waiting on?

No one. I'll try and get a faster update this time, now that holidays aren't an issue.

 

[Fuschia]

How much longer are we looking at? I have a few ideas I want to try for the next update.

 

[Chandrasekhar]

I'd like to have it done by Monday night (or Tuesday morning, with my sleep schedule), but I can't guarantee it. This update is going to require a lot of writing. Currently, the update itself is about halfway done, but I still have to update the Tech Files, stats, etc.

 

[Chandrasekhar]

Minor update on the update: The writing itself is done, as is the map. All I have to do now is update the stats and write up the new tech files. This will be done tomorrow and perhaps the next day.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Excellent!!!

 

[Chandrasekhar]

Pre-Update One
2054-2075 CE​

The years immediately following the Stigma event were marked by wild speculation and hurried development of colonization technology. In laboratories across the world, from the deserts of the western US to the new facilities of the IISP, Stigma particles were being fabricated and energized, and new space ship designs were being engineered to prepare for the time when Stigma technology could propel them.

The first interstellar exploration was carried out by the EU. By the year 2060, probes had been sent via Stigma technology to all three of the promising systems near Sol. By American suggestion, the system 086-025 was renamed Infinitas, and this name was recognized by most of the international community. The other two systems retained their official designations for the time being, due to their overall lower habitability, and thus lower international interest.

As the 2060's continued, so too did technological progress by all the great powers. While Europe retained a bare lead on Stigma technology, the United States experienced a technological surge, a side effect of its dedication to free enterprise. China experienced a surge as well, though this was more due to unscrupulous safety policies and sacrifices by the population than any individual ingenuity. Finally, in a somewhat distant fourth place, the Indonesia-centered IISP made significant progress in the field of spacefaring technology. Following Indonesia's example, the nations of the IISP made great contributions to the organization, and much international brotherhood was established between the Muslim nations that joined in 2053 and the following years.

Even before Stigma technology was perfected to a useful degree, however, colonization efforts within the Sol system were considerable. All four of the major powers (and some of the minor ones) made their own permanent bases on the moon by 2057, which were generally used as launch platforms for the varied interplanetary missions.

Through the late 2050's and early 2060's, spheres of influence throughout the Sol system developed. America and China made opposing claims over the red sands of Mars, with China's much larger colonial population being countered by the heavily militarized American settlement. America made the sole claim to Jupiter, with automated missile silos and working harbors on some of its moons. Meanwhile, China's Mercury settlement remained mostly uncontested, as did the fringe IISP facility placed in the orbit of Venus despite loud American disapproval.

As the space race turned from the interplanetary frontier to the interstellar one, the domestic and diplomatic policies of the great powers made for an interesting political situation. For the first time in decades, the American government tightened its hold on the economy of its nation, and literally trillions of dollars were spent by the federal government to promote Stigma research. The country's corporate power structure was understandably shaken by this move, and some factions in the populace were violently opposed to the "aggressively imperialistic attitude" of the American government towards space, but most people were either persuaded to accept it by careful government assurances, or were already predisposed to view such an attitude in a positive light.

In Indonesia, however, the situation was less positive. Though its dedication to the IISP cemented it as a new leader of the Islamic world, it continued to face many problems on the domestic front. The problems that Indonesia had historically faced seemed to bubble to the surface at once, and several pirates and terrorist groups converged to make the domestic foundation of Indonesia's diplomatic high ground very shaky indeed. Matters did not improve when America declared a very public embargo on Indonesian goods, citing concern for Indonesia's oppressed and endangered people as the reason. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Indonesia's dedication to the IISP did not waver, and the Islamic colonization of space seemed destined to continue.

As for China, the world's most populated nation reacted somewhat predictably. Rejecting all diplomatic efforts at a predetermined division of space (of which Indonesia was admittedly the only proponent), the PRC put its considerable industrial might and manpower into the new space race. Of course, this diverted manpower might have been better used to help China's domestic issues, and the common people suffered. Nationalistic fervor can only carry a population so far, and there was some chafing of China's massive lower class, but the space program continued undaunted.

And finally, the European Union retained a carefully neutral stance in the disputes between Indonesia and the US, just as it avoided the heated struggle over the Sol system's planets. Instead, the few years after the Stigma event were marked by careful, steady progress by the Europeans, and a focusing of resources on preparing for the journey to the stars.

In 2064, a great milestone in history was made as the Genese, the EU's carefully constructed first colony ship, was sent to the Infinitas system with three dozen colonists on board. Citing concerns about the stormy weather of the aquatic planet Carmenta, the colonists made a last minute decision to instead settle the large cold rock of Bacchus. 2067 saw American and Chinese colonization missions sent to Carmenta. As the 2060's became the 2070's, several more colonization missions were sent. America sent missions to Bacchus and to 021-047B (renamed Chnum), while China ambitiously sent missions to all three nearby systems (though one of those missions ended in spectacular tragedy).

Finally, in the years approching 2076, several interesting events happened. Firstly, in 2074, a global storm on Carmenta proved the Europeans' misgivings correct, and two massive hurricanes ravaged the American and Chinese settlements there. The American settlement managed to weather the storm, but the Chinese one was destroyed entirely. China quickly began building another colony ship to replace it, but as of yet it has not been completed.

Secondly, the EU revealed the fruits of its dedicated technological research. The Veicolo I had the appearances of another colony ship, but it was far larger than its American and Chinese counterparts. Yet though the energy required to send such a large ship on a Stigma jump would have been prohibitive, the travel to Bacchus happened without any trouble. Close investigation of the journey revealed a Stigma-based device used on Bacchus's end to aid the journey, but the exact method of travel remained closed to the international community as of this update.^[1]

Thirdly, the IISP finally reached its culmination with the completion of the Penyelidik, its first colony ship. Preparations for its journey proceeded as planned, but as 2075 wound down, the launch of another spacecraft complicated the issue.

Equipped with missile pods across its lateral lines, and a powerful coilgun along its dorsal structure, the Liberty's sleek shape was clearly designed for Stigma travel. It was just as obviously designed for warfare. The construction of this ship was just as momentous an event as the voyage of the Genese, and the politics of the coming years would be shaped along similar lines.

Player Instructions: 01/24/08

This turn will be very similar to the last one, except for the addition of colonial governors. These players will have some degree of autonomy, and will be very influential in how a colony develops independent of its parent nation. While not all of these slots strictly have to be filled, I think we should be able to run a full roster. I currently need only three colonial governors; that is, one for each nation that has colonized the Infinitas system. You may apply to be a governor for one of the lesser two colonized systems, but due to these systems' notably lower overall potential, I wouldn't recommend it.

Also note that the previous restrictions on colonization also apply, with the caveat that it is quite difficult and somewhat counterproductive to establish a launch platform^[1] in a system that has not been populated enough to support the construction effort. Yes, European Bacchus qualifies for this, which is why another system has been added to the stats.

(Map and additional commentary will be posted after the stats have been updated.)

[1] Again, see additional information in the Tech Files.

 

[Chandrasekhar]

Here's the new map. I've taken Symphony's suggestion to thicken the quality rings around each system.

This update took longer than expected, but it was manageable. I can only imagine what it's like to mod one of those NESes with dozens of players, but perhaps I'll have a chance to find out if this one gets popular enough. We're on the way there, I guess... And already, this NES is taking on a unique flavor and setting. Keep it up, players!

Edit: Ah! I forgot to mention another thing. I've overhauled my economy system. It's currently in the format X (Y/Z) [+W], where X is the spendable economy, Y is the state economy tied up in providing public services, and Z is the privately owned economy by corporations and such. W is the amount gotten, and there's an additional term for each system that EP are being collected from. All of the W's added together should equal X+Y+Z. This shouldn't be terribly important in the Pre-NES.

 

[Fuschia]

Edit: Ah! I forgot to mention another thing. I've overhauled my economy system. It's currently in the format X (Y/Z) [+W], where X is the spendable economy, Y is the state economy tied up in providing public services, and Z is the privately owned economy by corporations and such. W is the amount gotten, and there's an additional term for each system that EP are being collected from. All of the W's added together should equal X+Y+Z. This shouldn't be terribly important in the Pre-NES.

Just to make sure I am understanding: Indonesia therefore has four eco-points to spend?

Also, could you come up with a list of additional nations that joined the IISP, if any? I wish to see just how far it has moved.

 

[Chandrasekhar]

Were this a normal turn instead of a BT one, yes, it would have four EP to spend.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Great update Chandra!

 

[Luckymoose]

Still looking forward to the real NES. Great work so far.

 

[Shadowbound]

zAwesome.

Given the choice between an increasingly worrying USA, Commie China-land, Socialist-Liberal European Union, and... uh, Indonesia, I would like to apply to be Iggy's first colonial governor. Unless Toltec wants it, as he called being a colonial governor before me.

 

[Toltec]

If it's alright I would actually like to be the EU governor. Sorry Shadowbound.

Of course it's up to Chandra and Iggy. Nice update btw

 

[Head Serf]

Excellent update! I'm glad to finally see how things turned out.

To EU
From America

Would you be interested in joining us in our trade embargo of the politically oppressive nation of Indonesia?

 

[Lord_Iggy]

I would be happy to accept either of you as a European Colonial governor on Bacchus. Perhaps you could share the job until I have set up a colony elsewhere?

To: America
From: European Union
What specifically has Indonesia done to warrant a trade embargo from Europe?