Morgan Industries DECLARES WAR!

[Googlie]

Maybe it's time for us to gather all our formers at 1 base and gang-terraform a borehole (2 turns with 12 formers) then move en-masse to the next base to repeat - the energy boost will also give us a leg up on research while delivering the 7 mins + per borehole

[Zeiter]

Yes, boreholes sound like a good idea.

It definitely looks like, from their peace proposals, that they were hoping and expecting that we'd give in and sign a treaty again. Especially from the fact that they still aren't getting themselves on a defensive footing as of 2154, it shows that the Morganites are gambling on the prospect that we'll forgive them. If only they knew what a dire and risky gamble it was, and what it is now going to cost them. If we can obliterate the PTS and HGP, the entire Morganite nation will instantly be plunged into massive drone riots, giving us yet one more turn to tear them apart before they can get rushed defenders built. This is going to be so sweet.

[Snoddasmannen]

Welcome back Zeiter! Good to see you, active members don't grow on trees in Sparta

Originally posted by Zeiter
It definitely looks like, from their peace proposals, that they were hoping and expecting that we'd give in and sign a treaty again. Especially from the fact that they still aren't getting themselves on a defensive footing as of 2154, it shows that the Morganites are gambling on the prospect that we'll forgive them. If only they knew what a dire and risky gamble it was, and what it is now going to cost them. If we can obliterate the PTS and HGP, the entire Morganite nation will instantly be plunged into massive drone riots, giving us yet one more turn to tear them apart before they can get rushed defenders built. This is going to be so sweet.

Yes I think you're right, this is not at all what they expected

But one thing to remember is that at the time they probed us, our forces were engaged in a conflict in Arcadia. The same turn they declared vendetta on us, Zak surrendered. Now that they know our forces are no longer tied up over there, they might just put two and two together and figure out that "hey - they have an army that's 4 turns away from our soft-spot, and why haven't they signed that peace treaty yet?"

So I fear that they will start mobilizing in their west soon enough ...

[Modo44]

Originally posted by Googlie
Maybe it's time for us to gather all our formers at 1 base and gang-terraform a borehole (2 turns with 12 formers) then move en-masse to the next base to repeat - the energy boost will also give us a leg up on research while delivering the 7 mins + per borehole

Sounds like a plan.

[Maniac]

Originally posted by Googlie
"If you are willing, we have a transport with a probe just exiting Hive waters (en route to pick up a stranded Rover that was how we met the Gaians a number of turns ago).

Should we be that specific? How about making it more general eg "If necessary we could send a transport with a probe to the Angel east coast."

If we tell the Angels we have a probe in their neighbourhood right now, perhaps they and the Gaians will start building probe defences, reducing our chances to infiltrate them later on.

EDIT: Hmm - just scenario tested it - we lose the Coastguard cutter With the cutter's morale at Hardened, and the Hunter at very Green, Morgan loses the Hunter every time to a long-range engagement so what'd be the point in a Crypteia in a Trannie anyway? (unless it was going somewhere)

Weird. As these results sounded strange to me, I tested it too a number of times. Very Green Laser = 1.5 strength. Commando Gun = 1.37 strength. So most of the time the laser foil should win. And in my tests it indeed did, destroying our Coastal Guard.

In a direct attack the Coastal Guard wins almost always of course. So I guess we'd have to count on the Morganites not thinking the long range fire method. Googlie, have you played PBEM games with jtsisyoda or Mead where you engaged in naval battles?

[Googlie]

Originally posted by Maniac


Should we be that specific? How about making it more general eg "If necessary we could send a transport with a probe to the Angel east coast."

If we tell the Angels we have a probe in their neighbourhood right now, perhaps they and the Gaians will start building probe defences, reducing our chances to infiltrate them later on.

Good point - we needn't say it's there (nor that it might have an elite impact rover on board)

Googlie, have you played PBEM games with jtsisyoda or Mead where you engaged in naval battles?

Never played a PMEM with either - so I'm not much help there

[Googlie]

Hmm - this PTS raid is taking on more of the characteristics of a longer term invasion.

I'm now projecting an ETA of 2159, assuming there is absolutely no seafungus to impede our progress until those 2 tiles in Mussel Bay

[Googlie]

Detouring thru Climatic Research shouldn't take any longer (assuming that the Mercury can get thru those last 2 fungus tiles at Mussels Bat in the 2159 turn:

From Arcadia University to Climatic Research


From Climatic Research to Morgan Mussels

[Snoddasmannen]

Regarding the transport to Morgan Mussels, we don't want to stay overnight in Climactic Research, the Morgans will know we're coming. If it's the same amount of time, I suggest we go through AU after all. There are other pick-ups too, such as the forests south-east of CR which we might be able to use.



Using my nice new shiny toy Googlie gave me (SMAC sim ): 10,16 looks like a nice place for the troops to rendez-vous, without much (if any) delay. The only risk is if the Hunter stumbles on to the waiting rovers.

[Maniac]

I drew this screenshot after seeing Googlie's posts but before seeing Snoddasmannens. It'd solve the trouble of staying out ClimRes' base radius:

[Googlie]

The last 2 tiles that the Mercury must navigate through the channel to Morgan Mussels are fungus, so we need to ensure that it has enough mp's left to successfully get into the second one or we'll tip our hand:

[Kassiopeia]

But again and again my thoughts turn back to the fact that the Morganites declared war on us.

The irrationality of this move has been widely admitted and analysed here, but I still can't fathom what possibly they thought they could stand to gain. Certainly they must have realized that they'd be on our target list after Zak? Instead of getting an opportunity to appeal "oh no! we're being invaded by the evil Spartans!" once we start to steamroll them, they can only meekly whisper "oh drat, I guess we had this coming". We, in turn, can with freedom paint a picture of the yellow faction trying to establish itself into a winning position after crushing their distant second in the interfactional competition, us. And how the Angels and Gaians can stop the Morganite juggernaut only by refraining from co-operating them.

It just amazes me. Morgan had everything to lose and zilch to gain from this vendetta. The Hunter, IMHO, is more than an acceptable price to pay for this diplomatic advantage which can become gamebreaker (mainly, it'll break the Morganites' game).

I mean for the love of god. We're going to PWN them! This is just too damn easy.

[Snoddasmannen]

Originally posted by Kassiopeia
I mean for the love of god. We're going to PWN them! This is just too damn easy.

I wish I could share your shameless optimism Kass, but I won't celebrate before that accursed PTS is burning. And now that the other factions have presumably met ... I'm scared

It'll be more fun role-playing wise now that everybody has met, I'm happy about that

[Zeiter]

It would all be different if it weren't for the fact that we have infiltration on them. If we didn't, there's the chance that they would've been able to trick us into sailing a huge armada of ships towards their mainland, only to have them sink it all or probe it all away or something. Instead, we KNOW that they don't have the capability to do any such thing. We KNOW what kind of defenses they have. They can't trick us. Perhaps they've forgotten?

Or perhaps they happen to have a fairly good idea of just how long it would take us to mount an invasion or a raiding party on their lands. I mean, they had infiltration on Zak, so they would have known about where University base was located. They most likely know that our transport is still in that vicinity due to our Uni invasion commitments. They know how far it is from University base (now Arcadia University) to their western shore. They know that we can traverse up to 8 tiles/turn because of the MCC. They know how long it would take a raiding party to reach them. They know how long they have to prepare for such a party. Perhaps they will switch all of their production over to synthmetal skirmishers suddenly 2 turns before we land our party, causing us to find some tough defenses when we get there. I don't know. That's the only logical explanation I can come up with.

One thing I think we should keep in mind is, if it looks like there is ANY doubt that our raiding party will fail in its objective within the first turn of invasion, we need to call it off and wait to combine it with the second invasion force. As of now that doesn't look to be the case, but things could change 4 turns from now.

[Modo44]

Originally posted by Zeiter
Perhaps they will switch all of their production over to synthmetal skirmishers suddenly 2 turns before we land our party, causing us to find some tough defenses when we get there. I don't know. That's the only logical explanation I can come up with.

My guess is, they wanted the proverbial "poke in the eye", counting on a quick peace after that. Teaching us a small lesson, or what have you.

Originally posted by Zeiter
One thing I think we should keep in mind is, if it looks like there is ANY doubt that our raiding party will fail in its objective within the first turn of invasion, we need to call it off and wait to combine it with the second invasion force. As of now that doesn't look to be the case, but things could change 4 turns from now.

This is why I suggested that we sign peace, even if for 2-3 turns, to keep them in the dark until they're dead for real.