Special Projects which ones, and how to set about getting them built

[Googlie]

I know we've discussed these in the past, but I've searched the last year and can't readily find where the discussion is. So here's a convenient place to renew it.

Next turn we'll be able to start the Maritime Control Center

Either next turn or the one thereafter we'll be able to start on the Command Nexus

After we research Int Int (our next tech) we'll be able to start on the Citizen's Defense Force

[Maniac]

I assume by the time we'll acquire IntInt, we'll have plenty of crawlers and energy to build the CDF in no time.

So I guess the immediate question at hand is whether to build the Command Nexus or the Maritime Control Centre first.

Googlie has indicated he considers the MCC more important than the Command Nexus. I agree with that.
So if I had to choose between one of the two SPs, it would be the MCC.
But of course the Command Nexus is also rather useful. While we could build some command centers in specialist military bases, having the CN - and thus free command centers in all basses - gives a high degree of flexibility. One can build any land unit they want in any base they want, with higher morale. And not only a higher morale for our probes and offensive units, but also for all our simple hoplites, crawlers, formers (together with a bioenhancement center those would be elite: +1 MP )...
So if we could grab it, I think the CN could certainly be worth it.

Now the complication is that the Hive is currently building the Command Nexus, so if we want to get that SP, we need to do it soon. This time limit doesn't count for the MCC as far as we know.

As we don't have enough industrial or financial power to finish two SPs before MY 2153/4 (when the Hive wil complete the CN), if we want the CN we would have to build that SP first, before constructing the MCC. If desired, we could have it by MY 2150: after the current OA crawler production is finished, just cash in the two artifacts and the 80-min crawler.

[Googlie]

Yeah - I say we nab the Command Nexus and then churn out crawlers for the MCC. Neither Yang nor Zak can go for the MCC (what will Yang change to when he misses out on the CN?) yet.

I wouldn't put it past the Angels or Gaians going for Doc Init after we send them flex, so we've prolly got an 8 to 10 turn window to capitalize on crawlers for the MCC

[Maniac]

Originally posted by Googlie
(what will Yang change to when he misses out on the CN?)

My guess is he'll churn out a whole bunch of impact units to be sent right to the Gaian borders.

Yeah - I say we nab the Command Nexus and then churn out crawlers for the MCC.
I wouldn't put it past the Angels or Gaians going for Doc Init after we send them flex, so we've prolly got an 8 to 10 turn window to capitalize on crawlers for the MCC

MCC would take ten unupgraded crawlers.
Or another alternative 270 credits and 5 crawlers, of which 3 to be upgraded to 0-2t-1 with the credits.
Possible sources of cash:
a) Zak's personal bank account, currently around 200c. To be emptied whenever we capture a Uni base.
b) selling techs to other factions, eg EthCalc to the Angels, or EcolEng to the Morganites.
Should be doable I think.

[Googlie]

We could also prolly be safe in selling techs to Zak that Morgan already has. I reckon he'll find Zak long before the A's or G's do (esp if they only get flex this next turn or so)

[Maniac]

What techs will we have that Zak doesn't? DocLoy and DocIni?

[Googlie]

LOL - good point. We're neck and nexk right now, he's researching EE2 while we're on Doc Init. We'll get Doc Loyalty from the DA's and he'll likely get HEC from lal.

So we don't (and won't) have any that Morgan has but Zak doesn't

[Googlie]

So - to update.

2150 we'll have completed the Command Nexus, and will have put the 2 speeder crawlers to good use for the MCC

2151 we'll complete the Maritime Control Center

[Snoddasmannen]

Originally posted by Googlie
So - to update.

2150 we'll have completed the Command Nexus, and will have put the 2 speeder crawlers to good use for the MCC

2151 we'll complete the Maritime Control Center

The other guys aren't going to like this ... We build these two wonders very quickly, go Fundy and then start invading the Uni. They'll know:

• We have fast moving cruiser transports
• We have elite impact rovers
• We have elite impact infantry/marines
• We have elite probe teams
• We are on the move

Do you think anybody will be scared? Those Gaians shouldn't be feeling too comfy right now.

[Modo44]

Originally posted by Snoddasmannen
Do you think anybody will be scared?

No, I think they will be terrified. Good.

[Maniac]

Indeed. Especially too when we soon release the next Issue of the Phalanx, announcing the Maniac Doctrine, the other factions will notice our self-confidence.

Hell, who knows the Morganites won't dare to take action in response to our probe infiltration out of fear we could have an invasion army that could soon be at their gates if we wanted to.

[Modo44]

Originally posted by Maniac
Hell, who knows the Morganites won't dare to take action in response to our probe infiltration out of fear we could have an invasion army that could soon be at their gates if we wanted to.

Don't we actually have that army? How far is it from the University to Morgan territory?

I'm not suggesting we should turn around, I'm pointing out that the Morgans (and everyone else, right?) will soon know that we have a strong offensive force. I mean, they will notice the bases changing colors at some point, right?

[Googlie]

LOL ..................... and whereas Zak has been a good ally ................ and whereas 2/3rds of Morgan bases are currently undefended .............. and whereas in 5 turns Mercury could be in the bay by Vander Eudaimonics with a shipload of Impact Rovers ..............

(Of course, we'd need to follow right behind with another shipload of Crypteia or our new bases would soon disappear along with our juicy techs to Morgan Attorneys!!)

[Snoddasmannen]

(Of course, we'd need to follow right behind with another shipload of Crypteia or our new bases would soon disappear along with our juicy techs to Morgan Attorneys!!)

Yes I agree. I'm very afraid of those defence attorneys ... Even if we bring along a transport of probes, they'll have far more, and can build new ones faster than we can ship ours over. Losing back a city ain't all that bad, but losing an army of rovers with it is devastating ...

On the other hand, there's no time like the present, those lawyer guys will keep on coming I suspect (not less so now that we've infiltrated them). And hey, being fundamentalists makes us tougher to probe

[Googlie]

I agree - but just as we doubled up on longstriders to make sure that we got a successful infiltration, I'll bet Morgan tagteams his 2 foil probes to get us - this might mean 2 crypteia in every coastal base?

(alternatively, as they'll likely win any planetary governorship election soon, we'll be infiltrated by them that way, so just defend conventially against Gaian and Angels probe etams, maybe?)

btw - my tongue-in-cheek post easrtlier wasn't meant to suggest I'm favouring an attack right now on Morgan - just demonstrating that it might not be so far fetched as we think. I'm still in favor of capturing University Base in 2151