Update 2: Wasp Air Commandos and Other Oddities
The Alean Dominion is looking forward to its future. It has discovered a race whom could prove incredibly useful for forced labor. The Zakra Siphilae are insectoid, seemingly mindless, and definitely a hive. Their greatest telepaths launched an attack on the hives, completely wrecking their connection with the Queens and rendering the civilization almost totally disabled. In this confused state, the Aleans landed and attacked the Siphilae directly! No planetary defense systems were discovered in the initial attack, and numerous queens at least forty were killed and at least five captured. Millions of disoriented Zakra seemed like easy targets.
Then they struck back. The Zakra were not a technological civilization at all, but had developed many natural defenses that were just as good as a lot of technology. Among other things, they had the ability to rapidly change their states over a period of days, from relying on the Queens psuedotelepathic connection to communication primitively with movements and clicks and whistles. This may not seem to prove to be much of a problem, but the Zakra also have developed winged acid-spitting and stinging castes amidst their soldiers. The Alean military was completely caught off guard by this incredible display of natural offensive power, and all light attack forces were either overwhelmed or forced into a retreat. Reinforcements arrived, however, and the Zakra troops including their dreaded wasp air commandos are being driven back. There is certain to be a great military interest in these beasts primitive-yet-powerful natural abilities.
In other Alean news, the Zakra Queens were really rather easy to get under telepathic control
but theyll need a number of males to be fertilized with, or else there wont be any hatchlings to use as labor. Also, the system of Oros due to some effective propaganda has quickly become organized with a number of great leaders. These leaders quickly decide together to form a ground militia for colonial defense purposes.
The Athaan Ayende quickly move to have translators speak with the nearby reptilian aliens. After some slight tensions, diplomatic hearings began. Though communication was of course basic and limited, it would appear that these neighbors are known as Qol [pronounced coal] and live within a confederation of systems. This confederation the Commonwealth of Qolyuf is based on the concept of each systems right to govern itself within limits. They are democratic, hold a great love for freedom, and so forth. They display disgust at the idea of engaging in offensive warfare but appear quite capable in technologies involving armor and some kind of shielding, meaning theyre quite capable of defending themselves. Their ships are built to appear like giant living creatures because of the shock value it could have on possible invaders.
However, theres certainly a darker side to this seemingly-benevolent race. They retain a gladiatorial-style execution for mass-murderers and convicted terrorists and maintain a complex satellite monitoring system for their citizenry, tracking each individuals every move freedom is a fantasy that is fed to the population. The systems squabble constantly over little things like minor trade violations and whether there should be laws restricting the trade of icy desserts. Overall, however, the Qol are amicable and could be valuable as a friend.
Also, the colonized system of Ils'anya'en has some strange anomalies around it, severely limiting the space around it that can be controlled. A proper science ship might be able to study these anomalies, but the Athaan lack the technology needed to built them
Elsewhere, the Arkatus discovers a globally-united Genetic Age minor empire ruled over by corporations and rich families. The people of this world are called the Ieus [eye-us] and their government is republican in appearance, but on closer inspection is definitely more akin to an Empire. Rebellion is apparently stirring on this world, though communication is not possible. It may be an easy conquest later during the firestorm of a civil war.
There is also the discovery of another highly-advanced civilization, the Provincial Republic of Iatok. The Iatoki are rather grotesque in appearance, with beaked mouths, fur and feathers stringing together all across the body, other areas being hairless or covered in scales. The eyes are small, almost fish-like and can show no emotion. Their feet are three-toed, but are not clawed and allow them to stand upright. Iatoki hands are three-fingered, with an opposable thumb. The Iatoki give friendly greetings to the Arkatus, having themselves mastered some basic translation techniques, and look forward to future relations with them.
In a completely unrelated note, Arkatus economic status has increased. With the improved economy, citizenry are living more luxurious lives than ever before. As such, there has been an increase in citizen happiness.
Tau Federation expansion continues steadily, their claimed systems becoming colonized and their ships heavily defending their systems. A few minor skirmishes occur along the border with the Illidi, who have stepped up defensive patrols between their territory and that of the Tau, disrupting Federation attempts to colonize past the patrols. One claiming effort does get through, though. Also, realizing how valuable research would be, the scientists of the Federation continue what theyve learned from the Artillery Frigate fiasco.
Weird News of the Update: Some scientists of the Tau seem to have mistaken their location in the known galaxy, thinking themselves all the way across to the other end of the spiral arm. This weird event has been blamed on a map being turned upside down.
Riddla expansion goes well until they discover an unknown alien civilization this one attacks their scouts before any further data can be sent back. Little is known of these new aliens, but theyre obviously at the very least xenophobic and possible even xenocidal. Elsewhere in Riddla affairs, another alien race is discovered, but its quite a lot tamer its a race of docile, aquatic beings living on a world in one of their claimed systems. The world is 90% water and 10% land, so theres likely to be some underwater colonization efforts that obstruct this race later on. However, the rest of the system is quite ripe for colonizing. However, there is a bit of a dilemma the system can never go above Industrialized if these underwater aliens are not dealt with. However, observation of these aliens may yield some useful scientific data that cannot be obtained elsewhere. What to do is up to the Riddla government. [OOC: The system is the upper-right one nearest the Riddla capital system and the race was discovered after early colonization]
The Progenitor race, finally ready to expand into space after their great disaster, quickly set out to claim and colonize. Because of their push to colonize fast, three systems are claimed quickly. A fourth would have been colonized, but apparently a disease wiped the first colonists out in a matter of days. That system needs to be analyzed before anything else is done. Otherwise, everything is quiet for the Progenitors.
The Illidi Empire went about massive system claiming efforts in their region but to their surprise, they discovered numerous minor empires and races, and even a civilization with FTL Drive that was their equal! Nothing has yet come about of these meetings, however, because the ships were too strung out. The government will likely have be ready to deal with them in the coming months, however. There were still no major confrontations with the Tau Federation, though.
The Tegory Wuma colonized their claimed systems and began an assault on the minor race nearby, the feline Perisie. With their new fleet of 30 Artillery Frigates, the Tegory Wuma played God from the skies, bombarding Perisie settlements from above and proclaiming that the two races the Ferlpoul and the Lesser Ferlpoul submit to their rule. There was a little resistance from the Classical Age civilizations at first, but most of them submitted immediately. After the military set up bases and it started to become clear to the intellectuals of the Perisie that these were mortals, small resistance groups formed using stolen bits of technology. They wont prove to be much of a problem, but it certainly hints at the intelligence these beings are capable of having.
The Vurilurs colonization went unimpeded, but their exploration was halted by the Dominion of the Redrigard, a civilization of territorially aggressive humanoid beings. Though there was little contact with them, the initial first contact was one of negativity. They obviously dont want to communicate. Vurilur exploration teams went of elsewhere to get around this.
The Terran Republic of New Rome seemed to stagnate for the five years, though colonists quickly flowed to their newer system. Also, a large supply of Lesium Crystals were discovered in said system. Lesium Crystals are special, rare crystals which can be fashioned into extremely good lenses for anything. They arent particularly strong or anything, though, so that is about their only use outside of jewelry.
The Earth Federation expanded readily, colonizing four claimed systems and contacting the Provincial Republic of Iatok, the first truly alien civilization to be discovered. The Iatoki ambassador seemed to tense up upon seeing the Terran emissary, and there appears to be some nervousness amidst the Republics higher ups. Whatever for, no one knows. However, they sent their greetings and wished good will to the Federation, even offering Basic Translation as a gift technology!
The Dwarji Union expanded, nothing of note really occurring during their colonization. They also began researching translation so that they might communicate with their neighbors. A minor race was discovered, and some strange signals to the east of their territory prompted them to claim a system in that direction. There appear to be mysterious, ancient alien ruins in this systems somewhere
Diplomacy
To: Earth Federation
From: Provincial Republic of Iatok
G-greetings, aliens. We are the Iatoki. We hope for amicable relations and offer to you basic translation techniques as a gift of our sincerity.
To: The Arkatus
From: Provincial Republic of Iatok
We offer our humble greetings to our new neighbors. We of the Iatoki Republic love peace and would look forward to future trading opportunities with you and yours.
To: Athaan Ayende
From: Commonwealth of Qolyuf
The great Qolyuf Commonwealth give our greetingf to you. We hope for amicable relahonf with you.
To: Vurilur
From: Dominion of the Redrigard
Leave us be, and we shall leave you alone. We want nothing to do with you or anyone else.
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Okay, so there's honestly no excuse for this being so late. I can't ask for forgiveness, and I doubt I can assure you of anything. However, I will make all effort to speed things up -- even if it be at my own expense.
Toteone, what was that?? 
As in, having the numbers actually mean something.
That's just how it is. I need to get my orders into Espirito's NES, too. oo;
