Words of warning.
~ Ascendancy of Talitha Report- Day One ~
Raku Contemplating Galactic Dominance
Raku, Sub-Oligarch 12 of the Talithan Ascendancy, sclorfed his gelatinous body, tentaculous body through the bent pillars of his Command Temple. Four mismatched eyes stared in deep focus at the starmap.
"Blago. Bring up the economic overlay."
"Certainly, Master."
The assistant gingerly took the interface out of Raku's tentacle, pressed a button, then handed it back.
"Hmm."
There was a brief pause.
"Well, economic development across the core territories is going as well as hoped, and industrial development remains on par. Our fleets continue their outward spread, and the first Ascendant Expansion Sphere will be secured in a matter of hours. However..."
The pause resumed.
"Yes?" asked Blago, pulsating nervously.
"Our treasury... we have just successfully seized control of some of the richest planets yet known, and we have..."
"Seven Galactobucks."
"SEVEN GALACTOBUCKS? I couldn't even buy myself an Ascendant Slaguccino for that little, let alone subsidize the economic development of an uninhabited world never before seen by sentient eyes!"
"It- it's not that much more expensive, and Slaguccinos are ridiculously overpriced as it is-"
"NO! I will not have you speak ill of the holy beverage, you Ascendant Idiot. What we have here is a complete failure to account for the fact that, before the start of the next economic cycle, we would have a huge pile of new, virgin worlds requiring the construction of thousands of new Temples and Slagoplexes."
"If it's a-any consolation Master, the new structures on Sadr are really quite lovely-"
"BUT THEY COST FOUR TIMES AS MUCH TO BUILD THERE!"
"I'm afraid there's nothing we can do.
Raku slumped. Inside, he knew that Blago was right- not that he'd ever admit it.
"Fine. Begone."
"At least we've got the new trade pact worked out-"
"Get out!"
"I just hate seeing you upset like this, your tentacles will go purple before your third birthday at this rate-"
"Oh shut up! Go ascend yourself."
"I will do that master."