Conversations

[Hydro]

UN Headquarters, MY 2181

Lady Skye,

I am glad that our gift to you has been so useful. I have been informed that you have begun work on the planetary transit system as well. My Minister of Science informed me that even at top production effort we could not complete the project before you so we opt to back out of that endeavor. Please know that there are no ill feelings about this - it are just a simple matter of economics. However, we do continue forward with our efforts on the citizen's defense force. In fact, we have moved this project to our capital and devoted the resources there to completing this project ahead of the University. We have a good 30-turn advantage over the Professor by doing so and it does allow us The Planetary Trust base to continue forward with more fundamental projects that will aid them.

I did contact the Professor and he was "curt" to me as well for some reason.
I thought about offering the technology to him as a gift but the General Assembly voted to discuss the issue in depth. I think many of the delegates feel a bit bruised by the treatment the Professor has extended to us in the past so they are taking out their frustrations.

All was calm and peaceful on the domestic front and I hope to keep it that way. Our friends all seem to working the same goals as before and are still on tract to make the same scientific breakthroughs.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2182

Charles,

The captain of UNS Centauri Seas veered too far west, and Friendly Isle found them only after wandering around for a while. Please head straight for Gaia's High Garden. Friendly Isle will try to lead you, if possible. Our new Isle investigated a Unity Pod, but it contained an Artifact instead! We will be taking it to Gaia's High Garden ASAP. Isle Hunter did it again, but the way - they captured another isle this turn that they disturbed while moving through the sea fungus! They sure have a knack for talking with floating partially solidified masses of mindworms!

You will note that I am including the specification for Superconductor, which I traded from Santiago. She was pleased to accept Intellectual Integrity for it, and she is welcome to it! She also asked that I team with her to attack Yang, and of course I refused. I was somewhat insulted that she asked, and although I dislike Yang's society I have absolutely no reason to make war on him, even if I wanted to! I contacted Miriam, and she offered to pay 50 energy for Industrial Automation. That seemed fair, but she was more than belligerent about it. I won't be contacting her for a while.

As for Planetary Transit System, I do not necessarily intend to complete this project, but merely to start a project at this base. If you think this project would enhance your growth then please start it. By the way, I think Santiago started Citizen's Defense Force. If she builds it, and I hope she does not, then she will be even with Yang in defenses. After her offer to declare mutual war on the Chairman I suspect she does have designs on Yang. Considering she is so much bigger than him I hope he as his defenses up!

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2182

Lady Skye,

I have relayed your instructions to the captain of the UNS Centauri Seas and they will proceed as fast as they can to your port. I do not have much else to report this turn all was quiet and productive. As to the questions of the Planetary Transit System, it is not an issue with the General Assembly and you main continue your efforts. Our main focus is the completion of the Citizens Defense Force project before either the Professor or the Colonel. I think we have an advantage on them but they do have greater energy reserves that could, if committed, put them much closer to us.

The General Assembly has decided to wait on trading any technology to the Professor until he makes his next breakthrough. The consensus is to find out if he will trade information and increase the overall knowledge of the planet or not. So we will see in a turn or two.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 8183

Charles,

Friendly Isle has cleared the way for UNS Centauri Seas, so tell your captain that he has a mindworm escort to Gaia's High Garden! All he has to do is go straight south, and then tack west along the coast.

You will note that we have made another breakthrough: Ecological Engineering. This is a truly wonderful advance, since it allows the full mineral resources to be harvested from Planet's bounty. Our formers have prepared a few mines, and bases with poor mineral output to increase their production will now use these. The Council has unanimously approved boosting all bases' mineral production to 12 to 15, to be limited only by the onset of ecological damage due to extreme terraforming and mineral extraction. This is a small repayment for your kind gift of Industrial Automation - a token of our continuing friendship.

All the Unity Pods in the center of the Sargasso Sea have now been opened. Overall it was disappointing, since all that resulted was an expansion of kelp beds. Note that this would be a fine place for a sea base, when you decide it is appropriate to place one.

Another note: Miriam finally finished her sea base, and it is along the western coast of Santiago and Yang's continent by the Monsoon Jungle. I doubt that Santiago even knows she is there, since she has not explored this area for some reason. I dislike having one of Miriam's bases so near mine, but I know that is just a little bit of paranoia. Right now it cannot possibly be a threat. I will just have to accept that.

Our base's infrastructure continues to mature, and I hope the completion of a few energy banks will increase our overall energy surplus. The weight of the energy maintenance is a challenge, and I do not know what we would have done without the boon of Wealth that Industrial Automation allowed.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2183

Lady Skye,

It seems CEO Morgan has had a change of heart and has asked to form a Pact with our nation. The debate over the subject was not long and the decision was to accept the offer. The consensus is that by building more alliances and showing to the other three faction leaders the advantages of peaceful coexistence that they will "warm" to the idea. Chief Delegate Ahram Ston, who is the leader of the opposition, felt that we already have enough "pacts" and if we continue we could find ourselves embroiled in a conflict that we would be forced to chose sides. I hope this would not be the case because if it did come to pass I could loose a vote of no confidence if we ended up choosing the wrong faction to support.

What prompted the delegates to accept the offer more than anything was the news that the Spartans are now equal to us in the completion of Citizens Defense Force. In fact, they seem so desperate to complete it that they have two colonies working towards completion. I can only hope that we can gather enough resources in time to complete it before them. Many delegates felt that with the financial backing of Morgan, if needed, we could complete the project before them. We should find out soon which path was the right one.

The preliminary work has been laid out to construct our eighth colony and the UN Planetary Trust colony will start that process since they have the most population to support this endeavor. They have also completed a habitation complex so that the colony can continue to expand. Much terraforming has already been prepared so that the additional population has resources to grow.

Not much else has changed since my last report on our fellow leaders.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2184

Charles,

One of our sea scouts recently investigated a Unity pod and came into a large quantity of energy reserves, and I put them at your disposal in your efforts to complete the Citizen's Defense Force. Our immediate energy problems have been alleviated, and I would hate to see one of your Projects taken by Coronal Santiago. On a happier note, Song of Planet just completed the Empath Guild, with the help of a supply crawler worth of materials from Flower's Preach. With these empathi at my disposal I will no longer have to trouble you for information on the other factions since I will be able to use their abilities to determine their status.

Isle Hunter has done it yet again! That valiant crew has persuaded a third Isle to join the Gaians! This Isle will be heading off to the west along the pole, and will pick up a few of our very board mindworms that are patrolling the unsettled areas to the northwest of this continent. I plan to have them explore the polar areas, and maybe an unclaimed island or two. I'd also like to explore the Monsoon Jungle since Santiago seem to have little interest in it. With respect to the Jungle I have a proposal for you: I am willing to place a colony pod there with support defenders, establish a colony, and then give that colony to you. This would allow you to expand beyond your Isle, and take advantage of the fruits of the expansive Jungle. One word of warning, however; Santiago might not take kindly to your presence, even though you are nowhere near her claimed territory. So, consider this proposal, and if you think it has merit see if the Assembly agrees to this venture.

Take care, friend, and let the Council and I know if we can be of assistance.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

[Hydro]

UN Headquarters, MY 2184

Lady Skye,

Attached with this transmission are new blueprints for plasma armor plating. Our new "pact" brother CEO Morgan contacted me and asked if we could make an exchange of information, on our end we transmitted the plans for the impact cannon. The Security Council was most pleased to make this exchange since it will give even greater protection for our troops and equipment. My generals and admirals consider this an excellent exchange of information since we lacked plasma armor and have already more advanced weapons systems, such as, the gatling laser.

I think your offer of energy credits is most considerate but we have taken it upon ourselves to shift more resources into mineral production at our headquarters colony and I think we have improved our production time greatly to complete the Citizens Defense Force. If we do learn though, that either the Colonel or the Professor, has committed their energy reserves to the completion of the project then you most likely will get a call from me. We also thank you for your offer of the colony but after much consideration we have decided to decline the offer. As it turns out the malfunctioned Unity pod, which our scout opened some time ago, has created a very substantial addition to our island and I think it will allow the expansion of several more bases in that area. The elevation is very high and will offer a substantial increase in energy production. Also, our scout reports that large amounts of uranium ore are present in several sectors, which is another added boon in energy. We have also considered the impact, should Col. Santiago learn of our presence there and do not think a hostile neighbor is something we would like to face. If the area was more strategically located to our own island we might consider this but the distance is far to great and the likelihood of it becoming stranded and cut-off from the rest of our holdings is too great. We thank you again for your offer.

Please give my regards to the Captain of the UNS Centauri Seas when you meet him. Also, I hope that you will not over indulge the crew with your hospitality. Gaian hospitality is rumored to be the best on this world and has caused many a visitor to take up permanent residence. Again, I offer my thanks for your most generous assistance.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2185

Charles,

I have spent much of the last year with my empathi snooping on the other factions. Frankly, I am impressed by how much they are developing their societies instead of gearing up for war. Some, like Miriam, seem to lack the technology for war (thankfully), but even Santiago seems to be pursuing a peacetime agenda. Yang, as you suggested, has devoted his bases to producing all network nodes, although there seems to be no chance he can support the energy costs.

Speaking of Yang, I got a most unpleasant call from him last year. He insisted that I give him Superconductor. I did not like his tone, but offered it quid-pro-quo for High Energy Chemistry as a gesture of good will, since I know you have gifted this to me. He turned me down in an abrupt way. So, instead of trading he wants to hold what he thinks is precious technology to himself. He also saw fit to lecture me on the perils of Democracy, and how an iron hand is needed. At that point I was quite done with our little chat, and I closed the channel.

In more pleasant news, exploration continues in almost all directions, which you should see on the map I have sent you. Except for my chat with Yang, things are going well

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2185

Lady Skye,

I have good news. We have traded with the Professor and obtained some new technology. I am sending it you and I think it will be most useful. I have been asked by the General Assembly to request some "compensation" for this additional technology. I feel a bit awkward in making this request since you have been so generous in the past but we are at point right now that we are in need of some additional energy credits. The General Assembly has required that I ask you for 75 energy credits. You might have noticed that I have encrypted this e-mail so that I can tell you that in reality the General Assembly would accept 50 energy credits but they are hoping for more. I would understand perfectly if you choose to send only 50. I regret even having to make this request but the "people" have spoken and I must do as I am told.

I hope you have noticed that Chairman Yang has constructed a base almost on the doorstep of the Spartans. In fact, it seems that the Hive incorporated some existing Spartan mines in the process. I am sure Colonel Santiago will not take to kindly to this act and I am sure military preparations are in place. I have tried to send e-mails to each faction leader offering my services as a mediator but neither of them seems willing to listen at this point. I am afraid my effectiveness as planetary governor is very poor.

I hope that I will have better news for you in our next communication.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2186

Charles,

I thought we had left the horrors of Earth behind us, but they have followed us, like a malevolent spirit, to Planet. So much of what has happened to date has filled me with hope: peaceful (although not necessarily friendly) relations with all the factions; a close friendship with you and your people based on trust and understanding; strange new friends in CEO Morgan and his people; and a hot-cold friendship with the erratic Zak. This beautiful illusion was shattered this year. I received a summons, like you have, to vote on repealing the UN Charter that prohibits atrocities. Some made it quite clear that that were going to vote in the affirmative, and that they supported the repeal. Miriam, Santiago, and Yang all voted YEA. Santiago has always been indifferent to human rights, and Yang almost dismissive of any rights of humans, so I can see their vote, even if I view it as abhorent. Miriam, even though I find her society distasteful, has given me the rudest shock, since how could the self-appointed representative of a kind, loving, benevolent god vote to allow atrocities against humans? There are many within the Gaian community who follow their faiths, and we are stronger for it. Miriam's vote reveals her perverted view of God, and I will not soon forget.

I trust that you will vote against the repeal of the Charter. With your vote there will be three for, three against (you, me, and Morgan), and one abstention. I tried to talk to Zak, but he demanded more energy to change his vote than I had, and he would accept nothing else in return for his vote. I find this deeply disappointing. Zak and I have had our ups and downs, but he has generally been a good, if far flung, neighbor. Morgan's vote makes me think that I made the right decision in accepting his offer to Pact. Even though I intensely dislike his disregard for Planet, our views on humans and human rights are in alignment. It is my hope that three for, three against, and one abstention will mean the repeal will fail. If it does, for some reason, go through I would hope that you, as Planetary Governor, will veto it soundly and immediately.

In other news, the Council has approved the sale price of 100 credits to the Peacekeeper Assembly for the advance in Cyberethics. I know this is more than you requested, but in view of our long friendship and our recent good fortune the Council unanimously agreed that this is a small price for this advance. You do not, of course, need to 'sell' technology for us. If we can help, simply ask and we will do what we can. I suspect that this is a formality to smooth the transaction, and that is fine with me. Our Gaian society is, apparently, more straight forward and blunt, so I hope I have not misinterpreted this request since finesse is not a Gaian strong point. If so, please tell me.

After the vote all other events seem small and petty. We continued to expand our understanding of Planet with our exploration. One of our foils encountered a rogue isle, and they dispatched it. In our undeveloped territory a feral mindworm was found and exterminated. My attached maps should show you what we have found.

MY 2186 will live long in my memory. This is a black year, and for the first time I see more darkness than light ahead of us. I hope I am wrong.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2186


Lady Skye,

I thank you for your most gracious trade. On behalf of my people I thank you for the tactful way you have handled our request.

Do not fear about lifting the ban. The ban on prohibiting atrocities is at the very core belief of our society. With the unanimous support of the Greater General Assembly I vetoed the proposal outright. As long as a Peace Keeper holds the planetary governorship no repeal will take place.

I think the Greater General Assembly was even more galvanized into action when our long range sensor array at the UN Educational Agency base detect an infantry unit just entering the borders of their territory. The unit was from the Believers. It is a well-trained unit armed with laser weapons and armored by the looks of them. Our southern coast is still somewhat underdeveloped so they must have landed along that area. The Security Council convened immediately and issued orders to upgrade the garrison at Educational Agency with laser weapons and have plans to arm them with gatling lasers if needed.

We tried to contact Sister Miriam but to no avail. We are girding ourselves for action and are awaiting what her next move will be. It must be understood that we cannot allow any other faction to construct bases on our island. We can only assume that this unit is a scouting unit for that purpose. I hope that you will understand that should we take action against the Believers in this regard we will ask our loyal allies to support us in this endeavor as we would you. At this time we are not asking for any direct assistance only that you not support or give aid to the Believers should armed conflict begin.

I do have to warn you of something. Depending how this situation is resolved you might be dealing with a new leader of the United Nations Peacekeepers. There is an undercurrent of disapproval that could swell into outright action if this upcoming conflict is not resolved to our liking. Under our present constitution I would remain as Planetary Governor but I would not have any direct control of the workings of the Peace Keepers. I can only hope that at some point I could mount another vote and hope for the best. Leading the planetary council will still leave me with a great amount of administrative resources at my disposal, which I would use to the help all the people of this planet.

And yes, this has been a terrible year in deed.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2187

Charles,

I am very glad you dealt forcefully defeated the motion to repeal the Charter. On behalf of the Gaian people I thank you, and your Assembly for their unwavering support.

My military adjunct reviewed the files you sent, and it does indeed look like Miriam has sent a lone laser infantry synthmetal deep into your territory. I did some snooping, with the help of the empathi of the Empath Guild, and these Believers are from Godwinson's Hope. If you review what is going on in this city you will find that this group is causing considerable unrest in Godwinson's Hope while out of her territory, and this can only mean that Miriam is using a Free Market economic model. Now, while this means she has a higher research and energy production rate, she cannot carry on a significant war without serious internal disruption. You may want to keep an eye on this city of hers, and if she changes to another economic system then you know she may be gearing up for war. Your preparations will hopefully be sufficient in case she gets belligerent since your base defense bonus and the built-in sensor bonus (a wise move to build the city on a sensor, by the way) easily outweigh the attack bonus a laser infantry might have.

On the diplomatic front, I would have no reason at all to assist Miriam in her war aims against you, or any other faction. If you call, I will come to your aid. The Gaians are, as we speak, gearing up to prototype all available armor and weapons in our command centers, and the prototypes are being rushed with supplies from crawlers. We will also be building an interlocking defense of armored probe defenders, and strategically placed rovers. Other defenses will remain as they are. At last the Gaian generals, who have been a lonely voice in the wilderness, are getting their due.

You may have noticed the little gift I have sent you. Happy Isle brought back a network node he discovered from the edge of the Sargasso Sea. We were waiting to investigate the artifact until High Energy Chemistry and Cyberethics made their way into our databanks. So, I happily present you with Synthetic Fossil Fuels, which the artifact revealed after it was linked to the network node! You will note that this allows you to create a fungicidal agent that is very effective in formers against fungus. This technology is also the key to making a fearsome weapon: the missile launcher. I strongly recommend that you keep this technology under wraps, and that you not give or sell this to any other faction. It looks like this might start an arms race, and already gatling weapons are rife in Santiago's land. I reviewed her territory, and fully half her bases are producing war material. I find this alarming.

Take care, Charles, and good luck in the Byzantine politics of UN Headquarters.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

UN Headquarters, MY 2187

Lady Skye,

It seems that the scout unit has moved to the west and is approaching the UN Headquarters territory. My generals still suggest caution when dealing with this invader/scout. We have upgraded the garrison at the UN Headquarters with impact blasters so they should have an edge in weapons. I still cannot contact Sister Miriam to determine her intentions. This fact alone troubles both the Greater General Assembly and myself the most. The lack of information to correctly determine a course of action is our weakness. If we knew that she was only a scout then we might let them pass through but if it is part of invading force, the first wave, then that is something all together different.

I thank you for your gift in technology and on behalf of the United Nations people I thank you again. We are now only 15 turns away from completing the Citizens Defense Force project and it wont come a minute to soon. With that extra protection for all our colonies we will fill much more secure.

I have little else to report this turn so I will be brief since I have to return to the Security Council and get an update from the council.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2188

Charles,

Not much to report this year. Our exploration at sea is continuing very nicely, as you can see by the attacked map. One of our foils encountered a hostile isle that was carrying a few mindworms and when they killed the isle there was a huge number of planetpearls to be found. Another foil investigated a Unity pod and found a cache of energy. This windfall I am giving to you, seeing that we have more windfall energy than we know what to do with right now.

I also noticed that your bases are growing very, very fast! One of your bases is almost double the largest Gaian base! That is truly a marvel since our land does not have the food resources to grow so large, and I am sure that our bases would become unstable due to discontent.

Our two command centers are cranking out prototypes fairly quickly thanks to the occasional crawler of minerals. Right now we are working on a plasmasteel speeder and trained impact speeder. I will let you know how it goes! If you would like I can have one of my isles of the deep send a few of these to your territory to help guard against a sudden attack from Miriam. It will take a while to get there, but just let me know!

Walk with Planet,
Dee

[Hydro]

UN Headquarters, MY 2188

Lady Skye,

I think you for the gift in energy credits. The Peace Keepers appreciate your gift and if there is anything we can do in turn to compensate you please let us know. As to the assistance of troops I have had discussions with the Security Council and Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs and we all conclude that if your troops were to enter the "possible" fray it could widen the conflict farther than we would like. Of course should your ships patrol the western sea-lanes and help scout for any possible landing craft we would appreciate that. It seems that this unit is a lone scout since we can find no evidence of any terraforming activity. I have consulted with my planetary administration staff and they concur with that assumption. For now the plan is to watch and wait and see what "deviltry" this infantry unit is about. Should they start destroying any ecological refinements we will of course interrupt that as an act of war and will act accordingly.

We have suffered our first drone riot. I think the strain of this situation and the rapid expansion of the Planetary Trust base has put everyone on edge. In order to correct this situation was have decided to slow done the growth of that colony considerably and we have also decided to proceed with a new economic model. We are still exercising great control over the economy but we have moved to a "green" model. The built in inefficiency of our old model was wiped away and we now have greater efficiency and less growth. We have studied making this move for quite some time so I think it will of a great benefit to our people. I am sure you will also agree with our move since it helps preserve the ecological balance of the planet.

We will soon be sending out three more colony pods so the overall expansion on our island will significantly increase. I think we can handle the administrative strain it will cause.

The captain of the UNS Centauri Seas has informed me that the ship is now 50% repaired and it within two more years they will be ready for sea again. I thank you again for your support and aid for the crew and the cost of the repairs to the ship. I think once the UNS Centauri Seas is ready for action that his next orders will be to patrol the eastern sea-lane approaches to our island. Our other ship UNS United Seas is undergoing repair as well since it encountered an isle as well. It should be repaired at the same time as the Centauri Seas.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2189

Charles,

I talked to a couple of your base administrators and I noticed that they hadn't authorized the production of supply crawlers. When I tried to explain how they could supplement the nutrient, mineral, or energy production they did not seem to understand. Our base administrators have had great luck in building a crawler and having it harvest the minerals at un-worked areas. For instance, even a forested area can boost mineral production at a young or small base significantly, and this boost is even greater near at a mined square. Most of your bases seem to have a fairly low mineral output and you may want to encourage your administrators to build a few crawlers. I can guarantee that they will pay for themselves in a fairly short time. Moreover, they can be cashed in at their build value for prototypes or Projects, which can be invaluable in hurrying their production without the excessive fast-build surcharges for Projects (4x real cost) or other items (at least 2x).

I will have one of our empath foil and isle pairs start patrolling your seas between you and Miriam. I would hate to see trouble erupt, but if there is to be trouble then for warning is extremely important. I am also eager to explore the coast around the Chairman's land, which is currently dark on our charts. Centauri Seas is welcome to stay at Gaia's High Garden as long as they wish, of course. They may even find some isle friends now that the PKs are green!

Speaking of Miriam, she has planted another sea base near me: Belly of the Whale. What a strange name! But, I suppose it is no stranger than the names our colonists choose for their homes (like Flower's Preach, or Last Rose of Summer). One of our isle took aboard a synthmetal rover a few years ago with the purpose of investigating pods along Santiago and Yang's continent western coast. They investigated one in the Jungle, and there was a horrible occurrence - an earthquake! The land rose significantly, and the Jungle in that area was ruined. Miriam's sea base near this area came near to being a land base! Sadly, the isle did not survive the experience and now the synthmetal rover is all by itself. They will explore the terrain, which should not annoy Santiago since it is nowhere near her territory. I'll try to free up an isle to rescue them, but in the meantime they will be quite busy.

The Council is now debating another round of expansion. There is plenty of area in our continent, some of which would make fine base sites. I am also becoming concerned about the sea-lanes near Gaia's Landing, since I would hate to have Miriam place a base off our coast. I think we will wait until the Planetary Transit System is complete, then we will consider this effort again. Also, if we do so we will site several colonies in one year, and each site will be well prepared with sensors and roads. This will take some time to pull together, as you well know.

I am glad you are implementing a green economic system. It has allowed we Gaians to prosper, and you may even find some native friends in the process! I am sure your bases will be more efficient, too, which will increase the overall happiness of your people and your energy production.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2189

Charles,

Lady Skye,

I had additional talks with those administrators and we WILL switch production soon to build some of the supply crawlers. Unfortunately other things seem to have moved to the top of the production list with not much thought to as why.

I thank you for your support in watching our eastern shores. Any intelligence you gather please pass it on to our liaison. As the "rogue" scout it is still moving through our headquarters area and it still shows no sign of belligerence but who can say. Our Headquarters garrison stands ready to defend our base if needed.

Not much else has transpired this turn. I still cannot initiate any direct contact with either of the newly discovered factions. None of them wish to communicate with me my reprehensive. I cannot gather any reason as to why this would be the case.

I hope that on my next turn I can have better news.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2190

Charles,

This year was uneventful for us, too. Our sea scouts investigated three Unity pods, one of which had a hostile isle. Our isle fought it and barely survived, but it grew from the experience. The other pods contained a nominal amount of energy, and created a kelp farm in the process. Our efforts at prototyping are proceeding very quickly with the help of the supply crawlers. I also paid off my loan to the CEO, and he was very happy with this. He now has an obscene amount of energy, and I could see him flush with pleasure now that his coffers are full to the brim. I wonder what he will do with his newfound wealth? He is busy building habitation complexes, so his smallish bases will now be able to grow again, so maybe is planning a round of growth and the founding of new bases. Zak is moribund, which is strange. His society is suffering from a long-term malaise, it seems.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2190


lady Skye,

I have grave news to report. It seems that a state if vendetta exists between the PeaceKeepers and the Believers. The captain of that infantry unit asked to address the Greater General Assembly. Under a flag of truce we admitted him into our base. We gathered the delegates and ministers and once assembled he keyed into our comm system a frequency to open a channel to Sister Miriam. Sister Miriam opened up with some barely polite banter but then proceeded to inform us that the Believers considered the UN PeaceKeepers a minor faction and that she demanded a tribute from us. The outrage from this statement drowned the heavens above. I then answered Miriam that there would be no tribute and her extortionist tactics would not work here. With that she broke down into a religious frenzy of a display of anger, hatred and outrage. She declared vendetta on our faction, while frothing at the mouth, and swore to destroy us at all costs. I then ordered the frequency closed and ordered the captain to leave. Once the captain had reached his unit I ordered our forces to open fire upon them. I could not believe how vicious the fight was and how determined, almost possessed, the Believer infantry acted. Our reports indicated they were down 20% in effective fighting strength and yet with the advantages we possesed in advanced sensor systems and our base they almost defeated us. It was a close call to say the least. We had already agreed that if things turned out this way that our forces would strike. My generals and admirals all felt that a forceful response had to issued so as to make the Believers think twice. I have to agree with their assessment but I don't think they take into account how fanatical the Believers are, but they might now. The one upside of this event, if there is one, is that the Greater General Assembly, for now, is united behind by leadership. The forceful response to Sister Miriam's demands has bolstered the confidence of many of the delegates so I don't think I should have to face a vote of no confidence any time soon.

The Greater General Assembly does not want to ask our allies, at this time, for any direct military support but any other assistance you can offer will be of great use. I think that you will soon fall under the glare of Sister Miriam soon since you are my pact sister. So with the support of the Assembly I do have to ask you if you wish to renounce your pact with us so as to not anger the Believers please let us know. We would prefer not finding out when at a crucial moment we need your support it is not there. I hate having to write this but I feel it is only fair to offer to your people the chance to "distance" yourselves from us so as to not anger the Believers and force a conflict on you.

So I await your response, I do hope that you above all our pact brothers and sisters remain with us.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

Gaia's Landing, MY 2191

Charles,

You and your people have the unfailing support of the Gaians. The Council and I are horrified at the display of intolerance that Miriam has displayed, and we are worried at her wonton aggression. We will not withdraw from our Pact unless the Assembly demands it. Moreover, we will give you any aid that we can. I still have a treaty with Miriam and for the time being I can act as an intermediary. The Council is leery of declaring war on anyone, but we will do so to defend our friends.

I have contacted Miriam. She grudgingly agreed to talk with me, but she was more than seething. First she demanded that I terminate our Pact and declare vendetta. Of course I refused. Then she demanded the advance of Synthetic Fossil Fuels, and I dismissed her demand out of hand. I requested that she call off her vendetta against you and she said that she had accepted payment for your destruction. That is alarming since it suggests that there may not be a way to end the vendetta. Could it be possible that someone has bribed Miriam to attack you? If so she is nothing less than a base mercenary. That assessment does nothing, however, to alter the situation. I fear that your people will have to gear up for war. To that end, one of our bases will be constructing armored probe defenders, which we offer to you. These have little offense but can have significant defense value since they have plasma armor. They can also help defend your territory against infiltration and subversion, should that need arise. We also have a recently prototyped gatling speeder, which we can also send. If Miriam attacks our people if they are at you bases then she has declared war on the Gaians, too. We are more than willing to take that risk. All you need do is send word.

The current situation has also altered our view of exploration. To this date our foils have had no weapons, only empath ability. Their armor has been minimal. This will now change, and all of our foils will be upgraded to have at least impact weapons and plasma armor. A few isles will also be shifting over to your eastern seas, since Miriam will have a significant problem dealing with native life units.

For your defense I strongly recommend that you upgrade all your defenders to plasma steel. Finishing the Citizen's Defense Force should be a priority, too. It sounds like most of your bases have sensors, but any that don't need them as soon as possible.

I inspected Miriam's bases and she has now changed to a war footing. Many of her bases are constructing impact infantry. I neglected to check if she has any transports, but if she doesn't then many of your worries can be eliminated since she cannot get her troops to you.

In happier news our scientist completed work on Environmental Ecology. This is a critical advance since it allows the construction of tree farms, and it eliminates any waste in harvesting energy resources. I am forwarding this technology to you. At the very least it will increase your energy production, and it also has the effect of enhancing trade, which is always a good thing.

Take care and remember - if you need something, just ask.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

[Hydro]

UN Headquarters, MY 2191


Lady Skye,

It was such a relief to hear your response. The entire General Assembly thanks you and has drafted a letter of deep appreciation for your support. With that said we would like to ask for your military assistance. My planetary administrators and PeaceKeeper Security Council has informed put together a joint task force to keep track of the Believers. It seems that Sister Miriam is building a small invasion force at Godwinsons Hope. She has two colony pods a terraformer and I assume is building an infantry unit to sail with them. What we would like is to establish a blockade of our eastern coast. With that in mind I have dispatched UNS Centauri Seas and next turn UNS United Seas to proceed at best possible speed to that area and force any Believer ship to return or if not sink them. What we would like to see is your isles to deploy in the same area and interdict any Believer ships. At this time we would not ask you to force a military engagement but just alerting us as to position of their ships will help us greatly. I think if we stop the conflict before it reaches our shores the better.

We have also expended all of our reserves to completing the Citizens Defense Force at top speed. We are only 13 turns away so if there is any aid you can give us in this regard we would greatly appreciate. We have switched production priorities and have more military vehicles coming on line soon but we have projects already in process that we cannot stop. So bringing on new units within the next 10 turns will be unlikely.

Our scout unit in our northern area has finished mapping the new area and it seems we have a nice addition to our island, which has fertile ground with abundant energy and mineral resources to use.

Please advise us as soon as possible concerning our request. Thank you again.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2192

Charles,

The Council has authorized a grant of 300 energy to the Peacekeepers. We have been extremely fortunate recently when exploring Unity pods and in collecting Planetpearls, so this grant is not a hardship for us to give to you and your people. I hope this will speed your base's projects, or even the Citizen's Defense Force.

My empathi did a little snooping and Miriam has 3 transports and 4 impact infantry at her disposal. She is building more. These transports are slow, and it will take a while for them to reach your shores. However, expect them to come. Since they are infantry they will have a significant advantage over the synthmetal defenders, so I strongly recommend that your exposed bases upgrade the defenders to plasmasteel and have an attack rover nearby. To this end I am sending you a mindworm that is currently in an isle at sea immediately south of your island, and another isle that will be loading a our two newest prototypes: a plasma rover defender and a trained gatling rover. Let me know where you wish these land forces to go. A foil, which will be upgraded soon, and the two isles are what we have in the area that can assist in your defense at sea.

In other news, our sea foils near Morgan and Zak captured an isle full of worms this year. We will use these to explore some uncharted territory, and investigate any Unity pods we happen across. Many of our bases are now producing tree farms, but our bases with command centers will be making armored probes for our defense. We also will be making a few more impact foils so we can deal with the two sea bases Miriam has near our territory, if it comes to war between the Gaians and Believers.

Take care, and Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2192


Lady Skye,

I seem to open every transmission with a heartfelt thank you and I am doing it again. Your resources you have placed at our disposal are most generous indeed. I cannot thank you enough. Preparations are underway, as you can see, and we should be prepared for the upcoming conflict. I did check with my administrators again and they informed me that the Believers have only two active transports. One transport is still at Godwinson's Hope and they cannot detect the other. The two colony pods are gone there but the transport remains, this is good news unless the other transport has picked them up.

We have placed the bulk of your gift into completing the Citizens Defense Force and we are down to only 7 turns before completion. We are upgrading units as best we can and we are beginning to proto-type new military units. The only bad news I have on this regard is that one of more veteran units who were exploring the northern portion of our island opened a Unity pod and it was full of mind worms. They were able to defeat two worms before being overcome in the battle. I have sent letters to the family members myself. I only hope that their sacrifice was not in vain. We will have to dispatch our garrison unit to escort the newly completed colony pod so that it arrives at is destination safely.

I will notify you the moment your troops arrive and I will make sure they want for nothing while they are in support of our nation.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2193

Charles,

I called on Santiago and she is now at war with Chairman Yang. I can't say that I am surprised since both of these parties were willing to throw the UN Charter aside so they could boost their military machine. A couple of Santiago's defenders are damaged, evidently as a result of combat. Santiago demanded that I declare war on Yang, but I declined. He has done me no wrong, even if I dislike his policies. Plus, I would not want to be distracted from the problems that beset you.

The isles are on their way. I will reconfigure the empath foil in your area to an impact, plasma foil with deep radar. This will allow it to see incoming transports better, and it will act as a fine sentinel.

We have started the Planetary Database. I don't really intend on finishing it, since I just want to get a base starting accumulating resources toward a worthy goal. The Planetary Transit System is nearing completion, and that will herald the second wave of Gaian expansion.

You should know that I called up Morgan and gave him Cyberethics. I had not contacted him in a while, and he views politics as quid-pro-quo. Therefore this gift will keep him friendly. The last thing I want is to have the CEO suddenly decide it is not in his best interests to remain our friend. Morgan works on greased wheels, and hopefully I have greased his.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2193

Lady Skye,

Your isle of the deep with troops just appeared on our long-range sensor array. I would suggest that they continue east and land on the eastern edge of our island. We expect that will be the place of first contact with the believers. We are in the process of preparing more roads to enable more rapid transit between bases. The one advantage we will have is that we can rapidly more reserve forces into action if need, or as my generals say good interior lines.

Not much happened during this turn. We made a further installment on the Citizen's Defense Force project and it should be done in 5 turns - what a relief that will be for us all.

I don't find it all surprising that the Colonel and Chairman Yang went to war. I really expected that they would be the first to open hostilities and not us. What a disappointment to us all. I cannot believe in any way that Chairman expects to win in any conflict with the Spartans. His energy reserves are next to nothing and his enemy is much more prepared for a sustained conflict than he is. If Sister Miriam were to expand south then he would be very hard pressed and chances are they would be feasting off the remains of the Chairman. I know that statement is not very diplomatic but it is a military one.

I will contact you again when I have more information or if your troops disembark.

Thank you again.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2194

Charles,

Our isle with the mindworm is making its way to your eastern-most base. The worm will reside in the fungus, where it will be better able to move, repair and (if necessary) ambush any Believers that threaten it. Our other isle will make its way to this base, too. Its conventional units will take up residence within the base.

I approved the use of two crawlers to complete the Planetary Transit System this year. It will not do us much good now, but it should in the future when we are ready for our next phase of expansion.

I do have a bit of good news. A foil investigated a pod and it contained enough minerals to complete the tree farm at Gaia's High Garden, which is where Centauri Seas was laid up for so long. Now they will have a new tourist attraction if they stop by in the future!

You may have noted the two sea bases opposite your eastern boarder. You may consider having Centauri Seas attack these bases. They have synthmetal defenders, and your impact should be able to overcome their resistance. When you do so the base is likely to sink beneath the waves, which would be a tragic loss of life, however.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2194

Lady Skye,

My Security Council and Planetary administrators inform me that the transport ship that was docked at Godwinson's Hope has left. I can only presume it is en route to our island. Please send "instructions" to your isle to set-up the blockade as soon as possible. The UNS United seas is plowing through a heavy field of sea fungus and will not be able to set-up on station for at least 8 to 10 turns. Our UNS Centauri Seas is proceeding to that Believer base just south of our nation. We hope to neutralize that holding so as to deny the Believers any close support. The other base is too far south for us to deal with currently.

Our production schedule is almost ready to begin ramping up the factories to produce military equipment. We are going to try and squeeze in a few improvements and a supply crawler now and then but development will be slowed now. The Professor contacted me; he asked for some advanced technology, in particular, industrial automation. Perhaps you could offer this to the Professor so as to mend your relationship and ease the strain on our alliance.

I also have reports on my desk of a massive build up by the Spartans in one of their forward bases along the Hive border. I don't believe it will be long before they launch their attack. I wonder whom the Hive will try and ensnare into an alliance?

The decision was made to recall the escorting troops for our colony pod heading north. I hate trusting to blind luck for their safety but the lives of many more depend upon that garrison right now more than the few brave souls in that pod. I hope they are able to make it and build up a garrison quickly. We do have a terraformer already stationed up in that area to try and prepare some sensor arrays but I don't hold out much hope for their safety.

Though I wish with all my heart we could have staved war off for some time we have able allies and our bases have the bravest men and women you can find.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2195

Charles,

Our isle and foil Isle Hunter are on the way. Isle Hunter hasn't been refitted yet, but our isle is always ready to go. Our mindworm defender will be there in short in about three years. The other isle, with the plasma rover defender and the gatling rover, is on the way but it will take longer to arrive. What I suggest is that the refitted Isle Hunter will have plasma armor, at least impact, and deep radar to improve its ability to see the transport. They will position themselves two or three sectors east of your eastern base, which is the one most likely to be attacked. The isle will patrol between you and Miriam.

Another interesting note - Godwinson's Hope is in full-fledged riot. Miriam is still running Free Market, and her believers don't like having a far-flung army in the field. I don't know what she can do to alleviate this problem except change her economic emphasis or recall her army. Frankly I hope she recalls her army.

We finished our last prototype, the missile speeder, last year. It will be rushing toward Gaia's Landing just in case Miriam does something sneaky. The Council has also authorized upgrading most of our coastal garrisons to plasmasteel, just in case. Another gatling foil is in the works, too, to take care of Miriam's coastal bases if she gets too aggressive, or is so foolish to declare war.

I noted something strange, by the way: I saw a helicopter streaking toward University Base! It looked like it was in distress, and I couldn't tell if it crashed before reaching a base or if it was simply streaming smoke. That is very strange since my scientists tell me that the only way to support such a vehicle is by understanding synthetic fossil fuels. Did you gift Zak this advance? Also, Zak just established a new base. It is far from any of his other bases, and he clearly bypassed plenty of good base locations to get there. It does have a little patch of Jungle, so I can understand why it was so tempting.

Taking your advice, I gifted Zak Industrial Automation. He was very pleased, and he complemented me on choosing Knowledge as one of the main focuses of our society. Frankly, the Council didn't approve this for Zak's benefit, but rather since it allowed a marginally faster scientific advance rate (from 9 to 8 years). We took a hit on energy production, but I am not too worried about that. It will make us more susceptible to probe action, but we are girding for this as we speak.

In other news, one of our foils captured an isle of the deep, and this will now enter the effort to investigate Unity pods on their way toward Believer territory. An interesting note is that I will be passing through a Morgan base into the Freshwater Sea! This sea is completely land-locked, and it will be a wonderful scientific effort to see what is there. There may even be some Unity pods to investigate.

Take care, Charles, and good luck to your colony pod!

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2195

Lady Skye,

I can assure you that we did not trade the formulas for synthetic fuels. I find it very disturbing that a faction has access to airpower and has not shared it with the others. What a fantastic military edge they must possess if this is correct. It does look like that next turn several of us will make scientific breakthroughs of our own. Of course, you will be the first one we contact with this discovery.

I have unfortunate news. Our assault on the Believer sea base is underway. However, the UNS Centauri Seas took 60% damage during the battle. To make matters worse Sister Miriam ordered the production of a replacement defender almost immediately. My admirals assure me that a second blow will bring victory since the garrison will not have the training yet to be on the same par as our ships crew. Yet our ship is damaged. I will trust their judgment on this matter and on our next turn the assault will begin again.

I have also been informed that a terraforming unit was attacked and destroyed by a mindworm along our southern coastline. What a tragic blow. That unit was to install the sensor array for our next base. We cannot tolerate a rogue worm so close to the heart of our bases so we will have to dispatch one of the garrison units to deal with it so that the colony pod can proceed unharmed. We will have to install the sensor equipment at a later date.

It seems as of late that I have only bad news to report. However, we are only 2 turns away from completing the Citizens Defense Force now, well ahead of the other factions. We intend to crash complete the program next turn so that we can release our Headquarters production force for more immediate projects.

Your plans for the deployment of your forces sits well with my generals contact me with any additional advice you see fit.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

[Hydro]

Gaia's Landing, MY 2195

Charles,

Our isle and foil Isle Hunter are on the way. Isle Hunter hasn't been refitted yet, but our isle is always ready to go. Our mindworm defender will be there in short in about three years. The other isle, with the plasma rover defender and the gatling rover, is on the way but it will take longer to arrive. What I suggest is that the refitted Isle Hunter will have plasma armor, at least impact, and deep radar to improve its ability to see the transport. They will position themselves two or three sectors east of your eastern base, which is the one most likely to be attacked. The isle will patrol between you and Miriam.

Another interesting note - Godwinson's Hope is in full-fledged riot. Miriam is still running Free Market, and her believers don't like having a far-flung army in the field. I don't know what she can do to alleviate this problem except change her economic emphasis or recall her army. Frankly I hope she recalls her army.

We finished our last prototype, the missile speeder, last year. It will be rushing toward Gaia's Landing just in case Miriam does something sneaky. The Council has also authorized upgrading most of our coastal garrisons to plasmasteel, just in case. Another gatling foil is in the works, too, to take care of Miriam's coastal bases if she gets too aggressive, or is so foolish to declare war.

I noted something strange, by the way: I saw a helicopter streaking toward University Base! It looked like it was in distress, and I couldn't tell if it crashed before reaching a base or if it was simply streaming smoke. That is very strange since my scientists tell me that the only way to support such a vehicle is by understanding synthetic fossil fuels. Did you gift Zak this advance? Also, Zak just established a new base. It is far from any of his other bases, and he clearly bypassed plenty of good base locations to get there. It does have a little patch of Jungle, so I can understand why it was so tempting.

Taking your advice, I gifted Zak Industrial Automation. He was very pleased, and he complemented me on choosing Knowledge as one of the main focuses of our society. Frankly, the Council didn't approve this for Zak's benefit, but rather since it allowed a marginally faster scientific advance rate (from 9 to 8 years). We took a hit on energy production, but I am not too worried about that. It will make us more susceptible to probe action, but we are girding for this as we speak.

In other news, one of our foils captured an isle of the deep, and this will now enter the effort to investigate Unity pods on their way toward Believer territory. An interesting note is that I will be passing through a Morgan base into the Freshwater Sea! This sea is completely land-locked, and it will be a wonderful scientific effort to see what is there. There may even be some Unity pods to investigate.

Take care, Charles, and good luck to your colony pod!

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2195

Lady Skye,

I can assure you that we did not trade the formulas for synthetic fuels. I find it very disturbing that a faction has access to airpower and has not shared it with the others. What a fantastic military edge they must possess if this is correct. It does look like that next turn several of us will make scientific breakthroughs of our own. Of course, you will be the first one we contact with this discovery.

I have unfortunate news. Our assault on the Believer sea base is underway. However, the UNS Centauri Seas took 60% damage during the battle. To make matters worse Sister Miriam ordered the production of a replacement defender almost immediately. My admirals assure me that a second blow will bring victory since the garrison will not have the training yet to be on the same par as our ships crew. Yet our ship is damaged. I will trust their judgment on this matter and on our next turn the assault will begin again.

I have also been informed that a terraforming unit was attacked and destroyed by a mindworm along our southern coastline. What a tragic blow. That unit was to install the sensor array for our next base. We cannot tolerate a rogue worm so close to the heart of our bases so we will have to dispatch one of the garrison units to deal with it so that the colony pod can proceed unharmed. We will have to install the sensor equipment at a later date.

It seems as of late that I have only bad news to report. However, we are only 2 turns away from completing the Citizens Defense Force now, well ahead of the other factions. We intend to crash complete the program next turn so that we can release our Headquarters production force for more immediate projects.

Your plans for the deployment of your forces sits well with my generals contact me with any additional advice you see fit.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2196

Charles,

Please accept my apologies for implying that you might have given Zak the secrets of synthetic fossil fuels. My empathi investigated the matter and found that Zak does not have this ability, or Doctrine: Airpower. I have no explanation of what my foil commander saw, but it was conclusive. There was a Unity copter about. It was very strange.

I also have to report that the mindworm trainer guiding the isle ferrying our prototypes to your shores got a little carried away when he heard of your attack on Belly of the Whale. He changed course, and disgorged his troops in an effort to assist in your attack. He forgot one thing: we Gaians are not at war with the Believers! I wish you well in this matter, but your attack may not succeed with 60% damage. I'd hate to see your ship Centauri Seas founder. As before I offer my bases for repair. I will also send my chastised brood trainer on his way to your lands.

There was a seething call from Miriam this year, too. She demanded that I break my pact with you and declare vendetta, and then demanded the advance synthetic fossil fuels. I refused on both counts. For a moment it looked like she would declare war, but at the last minute she thought better of it. Even her fanatical mind must understand that declaring vendetta on the two strongest factions on Planet would be extremely ill advised! As it is I think she is overmatched in her fight against you, with our people's material and logistical support.

I notice your scientist may make an advance next year. I with them well! Planet seems like a dangerous place now, and any edge we have would be well received.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2196


Lady Skye,

My admirals received more telemetry from the UNS Centauri seas and it does seem that if were to engage the base a second time that it would be for naught. Though we would have more firepower the ship could not take the pounding. However, I doubt it will withstand our new destroyer! That is correct we are downloading information on a new "cruiser" hull design that will more than triple the size of our ships. They will be able to mount heavier weapons and more powerful engines that will make them the zephyrs of the sea. Along with this technology we made inroads on how to construct naval bases. As much as I am loath to see the resources of our Headquarters base tied up with more projects we have the most mineral resources to make sure the Maritime Project is completed. It will allow all of our colonies to build naval bases and the advantages of even faster engine designs. However, the General Assembly has agreed that should you wish to proceed with this project we would defer to your wishes. This is the least that we can do in light of all your fantastic support of our nation. So please advise me as to your nations wishes.

Good news at last! We have completed the Citizens Defense Force and none too soon. What a great relief for everyone in our nation. Should the Believers come to our shores they will find our bases very tough to crack indeed!

I have so little time these days and I have to make sure I read only the essential reports but I did get a report that the Spartans are moving against the Hive base just north of their territory. My administrators have gleaned that several infantry units are as I write within only a sector of the Hive base. It should be open conflict soon. I had my administrators do some checking of energy outlays and expenditures for the past 10 turns and I think that the Spartans are responsible for prompting Sister Miriam's attack. It seems that the vast energy supply they build up has been quickly depleting at odd rates, unlike any of the other factions. I suspect now that the Spartans are using the Believers to "occupy" our time to leave them free to act without impunity of reprisal. What is your assessment? I find it hard to believe that Sister Miriam no matter how much she might dislike our nation would launch an attack across the opposite side of the planet when there is a vast amount of land just below her domain.

We will be establishing a new colony next turn and we hope to dispatch the rogue worm as well. I do hope that your isle can reload the troops and get under way, or whatever they do and arrive on time.

Thank you again for your support.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2197

Charles,

The Spartan offensive has begun. The Hive lost Communal Nexus to Santiago, and her losses did not seem that severe. Yang was cut off early and his growth is very low, whereas Santiago has a whole continent to expand into. Moreover, Santiago has a large and expanding population, whereas Yang does not. And, with every loss, Santiago grows stronger. Yang's days may be numbered, although it will be a long, bloody war, to be sure.

In brighter news, thank you very much for Doctrine: Initiate. The Council and I are very interested indeed due to our strong sea presence, which grows every year. This year, for instance, we captured another isle, which happens to be in a great position to interdict any transports that are coming from Miriam's territory. Unfortunately we cannot stop them, we can only warn them of their impending arrival. The Maritime Control Center would be very welcome, and I can see why you would want to build it. It is expensive, however, and we will have to discuss who should build this valuable project.

Isle Hunter is now refitted and ready to take his place to guard your eastern territory. I noticed that several of your bases are undefended. This seems dangerous, although I can understand the desire by your base commanders for an aggressive defense against mindworms. I would suggest caution, however. Mobile forces, like a simple speeder, are much better scouts than infantry. Infantry are for defense, and base offense. They are not good against worms unless the worms are caught after they have finished a movement cycle.


An isle north of Zak and Morgan's territory found an artifact, which they are hurrying back to our territory. There are no other reports of hostile mindworm vectors, either by sea or by land. I have located another small island off your western coast. It might make good land to colonized once your home territory is filled out. Alternatively we could colonize it and then give this territory to you! This has the advantage of generating larger bases quickly due to the Planetary Transit System. Your people would be well suited toward governing new bases here due to your ability to attract talents.

Not much else to report. Walk with Planet, Charles.
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2197

Lady Skye,

I agree with your assessment concerning Chairman Yang. I think his days, as well as his twisted ideas, will soon be at an end. What now should concern us both is how strong will Colonel Santiago become? If Sister Miriam was a clever leader she would help sustain Yang's war effort as a means to ground down the Spartans and use the time to build up their forces to move south into that large and fertile continent. Do you find it strange that we no longer discuss the really intellectual challenges of this planet. All our discussions and time are focused on this effort to contain the unwarranted acts of one nation and now perhaps several nations. I find this the greatest tragedy of them all.

In speaking of tragedies, our colony pod that was moving north has been destroyed by a mindworm. The infantry unit that was guarding the pod was too far on the eastern side to intercept the worm. We will have to destroy the worm before it can restore itself and then prepare another colony pod. The worm that was threatening our central areas has been dispatched and the infantry units will return to their colonies at full march. We had to insure that the worm was destroyed. I agree, as do my generals, about using speeders for defense but the need to build other items has pushed back those units. I hope that we would not have to withdrawal those units from their bases again.

Concerning the Maritime Control Project. We have begun the project at our headquarters base but the resources can be switched to other items if need be. I understand your desire to possess this project and we will submit and defer to you should you decide to build it. I can only state that in time your defense will rely more heavily on ground forces than ours. We will eventually begin sea bases to extend our sensor arrays around our island and help provide needed nutrients from the sea while you still have a vast continent to harvest from. Sea power will become our greatest assist in either expanding our nation or defending it. If the enemy should hit our shores they will be able to inflict great harm upon us since we lack the numerous bases that you do. So I have passed on to you the arguments that my admirals have made to me. I am very curious to hear your views on the matter and I hope to hear from you soon on this matter.

I know that our nations will take the paths the best serve not only our people but the greater good of this planet.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2198

Charles,

I found both of Miriam's transports. An isle was traveling around Yang's coast and there, right off his coast, were both of her transports. They were empty. Needless to say, the split up and moved away, one to the north and the other to the west. So I do not think you are in immediate danger of invasion, which should be a relief. Isle Hunter is not in position off your coast, and another isle is patrolling between you and Miriam to prevent any unpleasant surprises.

I grieve for your loss of your colony pod. They are more than an investment in resources - they are human lives. I hope that in the future you will be able to escort them with a trance defender, just in case. You have some inviting land to settle once you can free up your resources.

As to the MCC, it will be a while before tough decisions need to be made. The investment is huge - 300 minerals. Even our most productive bases would take 20 years to finish it, assuming we didn't devote a supply transport or two to the job.

Our homeland defense is shaping up. We have an elite missile speeder at Gaia's Landing, in addition to the Demon Boil Loala. A little laser speeder is there too, but that group will be moving on to defend other territory against mindworm attacks. There are two armored probe teams moving around now, too, and more are being produced. Most of our territory is forested or improved, so hopefully we will not be as afflicted with mindworms as you have been.

We expect a breakthrough next year, by the way. I will forward any advances to you ASAP!

Walk with Planet,
Dee

[Hydro]

UN Headquarters, MY 2198

Lady Skye,

Our troops engaged three mindworms this turn and defeated them all. Where do they come from? How do they suddenly appear from out of nowhere? If you have any data on this subject please transmit it to me. The added energy from the remains, or "planet pearls" as you call them, have been a wonderful bounty this year. We were able to complete several items before schedule due to the extra energy.

You cannot believe what a relief your news was for us all here. To have a firm sighting on those transports and realize that they were nowhere in sight of our land was a great relief for us all. This is most fortunate for us since many of our bases our building supply crawlers per your suggestion. Minerals are the bedrock of all production in our system and the addition of any minerals is a great boon. After we complete several of those then we can continue to our military defense buildup to secure our territory and expand.

Since the realization that we are no longer in danger of seeing Believer flags cresting over the ocean waves I have ordered my Ministers of Intelligence, Security and Defense to review the current geo-political situation. They have come to the conclusion that Col. Santiago was behind the payment to the Believers to force a conflict. It makes perfect sense since with the Believers occupying our attention Col. Santiago has been free to expand her military conquests. I think if we had not been so pre-occupied over the past 9 turns with this conflict then we could have taken a more active role in preventing conflicts. Also, I am sure it is Santiago's design that while the Believers and Peacekeepers are embroiled in a conflict they will defeat the Hive and then move to wipe out whatever faction is the weakest from the conflict. I am sure that CEO Morgan or the
Professor will hardly want to antagonize the Colonel and so will not move against her. I am afraid that would leave the Gaians versus the Spartans in the end. Of course we have made some basic assumptions but I assure you that this is exactly the type of tactic the Colonel would employ to achieve her goals.

I thank you for you concern about the losses of people we have suffered and we will pass them on the parents and spouses of those lost.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2199

Charles,

Our empathi from the Empath Guild have obviously inspired our scientists to greater heights! They have unlocked the secrets of Centauri Meditation, which allows an even greater understanding of Planet, far deeper than we have achieved so far. First and foremost we can now breed isles of the deep! At this point it is not necessary, since we have been able to capture quite a few. Also, it allows greater focus on your society through the use of empaths to boost both the happiness of your citizens and your economy.

We have found out that mindworms are spawned within the fungus at random intervals. The more fungus there is, the greater chance there is that one will spawn. Once spawned the mindworms seem to migrate to the source of the irritation, which invariably is human settlements or terraforming. Each of these disturbs the fungal net. They are single minded and selfless once they start toward a target. They seem to ignore friendly Gaian mindworms, though, but not isles - feral isles will attack friendly isles on sight. I find this dichotomy interesting, if perplexing. The only defense is active removal of fungus, and I have found that forests, which spread, are key to this. Likewise a few well place sensors are key, since these give you advance warning. Nothing is worse than one or more mindworms boiling out of the fungus, and making a b-line toward undefended terraforming or a minimally defended base.

Our trusty isle has now found Miriam's troops. She has one impact infantry and a scout advancing within Yang's territory. This seems to confirm your suspicion that Miriam is working with Santiago to take down the Chairman. Now, it is possible that she is helping him, but I doubt it. She has shown only belligerence, so I doubt she would help a friend in need, and considering that Yang is opposed to all form of religion outside of his religion-of-state I would think that he would be at odds with Miriam.

Our plasma rover is now garrisoning your undefended new base at the southern-most extent of your territory. Our isle was passing by, and that is as good a place as any. The isle will continue north and will place the gatling rover at your eastern-most base - then the three isles and the foil will continue exploring and keeping an eye on your eastern seas.

Incidentally, we have switched to Wealth to augment our economic model. This degrades our morale of our troops, but it significantly increases our industry and energy production. We are still allocating 60% of our economy toward research, which stands to have a breakthrough every 8 or 9 turns. We hope to increase this during our next phase of population expansion.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2200

Lady Skye,

I wanted to inform you that we have quartered your troops and have given them t best accommodations that we have. We have given them access cards so hat they can use the entertainment channels and have opened up credit accounts for them so that they can purchase "trinkets" to remind them of their stay. I am also including a comm channel frequency so that they can have direct communications with your people. In time I hope that we can offer them more but the bases they are quartered at are still primitive when compared to the larger colonies and in time we could even provide the logistic support for them. We will treat them as our most honored guests.

We are working towards completion of our first destroyer and hope to have that completed soon. We have three bases working on the supply crawlers and hope to use them soon. I wanted to inform you that we have decided to begin construction of several thermal borehole pressure mines to increase mineral production. We have established that no more than 3 boreholes are to be built so as to not jeopardize the fragile planet ecology. We are also working on building an echelon mirror to help boost energy production at our headquarters base. The mountain just to our north is to have a farm of solar collectors that should benefit greatly form the elevation and the mirror.

All else is quiet on our home front and we hope to establish another colony soon. I wanted to thank you for gift of technology and I hope that soon we can utilize the benefits from it.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2200

Charles,

This seems like an auspicious time: we have been on Planet a hundred years. Do you know how long a hundred years is? It is more than the mere passage of time; it is the passage of events. On Earth it seemed like we were advancing at a geometric rate, doubling our knowledge every ten years, and then every five years. At the same time the degradation of both our environment, and each other, accelerated. We barely developed the technology to leave our beloved Earth before we destroyed our home and ourselves.

So I ask you the question: have we done any better here? From bare beginnings we have developed new societies, some of which are only loosely tied to philosophies of Earth. Our technology is almost equal to Earth, and only in one hundred years and after starting from almost nothing. That is balanced by the destruction; Miriam's war against you, and Yang and Santiago ripping at each other's throats. I was almost ill when I heard that Santiago had captured another Hive city, and this time they left only ruins - no survivors, no one to be conquered. Just death. It reminds me of Earth. All the time we make advances in knowing, but not in understanding. The same patterns are here - advances and disastrous setbacks.

Well, I had to get that off my chest. I hope you don't mind, but sometimes there seems to be more darkness than light. I was contemplating the crew of Isle Hunter. They were killed this last year by a rogue isle. The isle they were escorting destroyed the isle, but that doesn't help the crew. It was ironic. This crew, who hailed themselves as isle hunters, only persuaded isles to join us and, in the end, they are destroyed by what the same isles they originally saw as enemies but came to see as friends.

For all that, there was some good news. We hooked an artifact up to the network node at Chiron Preserve, and after we deciphered the data we found an advance in advanced subatomic theory. This should prove useful in disrupting attack rovers, since defenders can be fitted with transceivers that disrupt their communications.

In other news we are finishing a few tree farms, and our formers are working on a few boreholes, too. We are careful not to tip the balance and cause ecological damage, and we have found that that is easier if the ecology is managed by the tree farm, which seems to mitigate some of the disruption.

Take care Charles, and Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2200


Lady Skye,

I have been told by my scientists that along with the new technology you have given us that the possibility exists to construct a facility that will create the means to allow vehicles and people to travel through the fungus fields as if they were walking on solid ground, can this be true? I would think that this might be a worthy project for you to begin working on. We are now only twenty turns from completion of the Maritime naval project so I would hate to proceed further if this is something you and your people truly need. Please let me know what the consensus of your government is on this issue.

I cannot agree with you more on you statement concerning our time here on Chiron. I do hope that the next 100 years will bring us more prosperity than heartache. I do grow more worried about this conflict between the Hive and the Spartans. My Minister of Intelligence informs me that Believer forces are now operating within the Hive borders. I can believe these forces are there to assist the Hive with their military defense. I can only assume that within the next 20 years all of those people how live under the rule of the Hive will either find lasting peace in the grave or the oppressive weight of Spartan might as slave laborers. I think the Hive stands as an equal with the Spartans on military technology but they lack the resources to exploit it. I have been informed that the Hive have almost exhausted their meager energy reserves so that soon they will lack the ability to defend themselves or feed their people.

I think the next 10 turns will be mark a milestone for the Peacekeepers. We will have completed the UNS Peacekeeper the first of a mighty new class of naval vessels. We will have supply crawlers adding minerals to our production and new bases to build. It will be an exciting decade indeed.

The crew of UNS United Seas has picked up your isle just off their port bow. The United Seas is planning on moving further east to position themselves at a "chokepoint" that offers the best passage from the Believers to us. It is also the narrowest point due the topography so it should aid the United Seas in spotting Believer ships.

I did notice that Sister Miriam is building more sea colony ships just off your eastern seas. I wonder if she were to be so bold as to try and create a sea colony next to our territory? What is the anticipated reaction by the Gaians to such an event?

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia's Landing, MY 2201

Charles,

Yes, the advance in Centauri Meditation will allow a fundamental understanding of the fungal nets, if we devote the resources toward the Xenoempathy Dome. As intriguing and useful as that might I don't see it as necessary right now. Its primary use would be for military conquest, and I hope that we are not to that desperate point. So, I will put off bringing up the subject formally with the Council.

I have noticed that Miriam is staging bases very near our territory. Some of her sea bases near the Jungle are producing impact foils and others more sea colony pods. I can only guess that she is planning on expanding, and then keeping her bases safe. Do not worry that she might use these forces against us - there are already two gatling foils patrolling the fungus in this immediate area. If Miriam so much as sneezes in my direction we will have a tissue ready - she will not get far. A third foil is in production, so soon our force will be overwhelming. Let me assure you that I will let Miriam be as long as she behaves herself, or until you call upon me to deal with Miriam more forcefully.

One last note: The Council has forced me to authorize a Planned economy. They pointed out that our populations in our bases can now sustain another period of rapid growth, and some that have habitation enhancements will be able to grow almost to the size of your bases. I argued strongly that this was a wrong-headed approach, and that we should do everything in our power to stay in great harmony with Planet. In the end is persuaded only two of the nine on the Council. They did throw me a bone, though - we will only stay planned until our population has reached its maximum, then we will fall back into a Greener stance.

Yang called. He demanded that I declare war on Santiago, and that I give him Synthetic Fossil Fuels. I was almost tempted to do so since this might even the score with Santiago, but it seemed more than foolhardy to give this technology into militaristic hands. I am loath to let all of Yang's lands fall into Santiago's hands. Diplomacy might suffice in such an event. We will have to keep our options open.

I wish you well on you economic expansion, and especially in your crawler use. They have performed wonders for our economy and I will guess they will do the same for you.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2201

Lady Skye,

We have established our seventh colony along our southern shore. It is in an arid portion of our island but it does have access to several mineral laden sectors to develop. Soon we will have our eight and then on and on. I think we have turned a corner, so to speak, and we are now on tract to make some very steady advances.

We have had a small problem with our new missile destroyer. It seems while the engineers were installing a coolant leak occurred and the entire engine compartment was flooded with radiation. The dosage was enough to make the entire hull unusable. So the decision was made to take the missiles and plasma armor and retrofit them for use with an infantry unit. It is a shame that such a costly mistake was made but it seems that we cannot determine why the coolant system went into shutdown, especially with so many safeguards that failed to engage. My Minister of Intelligence now believes this was an act of military sabotage by the Believers. Some of our population also follow that faith as well and now are falling under the minister's gaze. I do hope that this is not the case.

I have to inform you that I will soon be stepping down from office. I have been the Supreme General Secretary for over a hundred years. When I landed here I was a young man and even with the advances we have made in medicine I am getting too old for the job. I am sponsoring my chosen successor, Karl Broddarp. He is in his early thirties and is very intelligent and knowledgeable. He has held the post of High Commissioner of Justice and Minister of the Interior but is now serving as my Deputy Secretary General. I know of no man more capable than he to lead my people. Unfortunately he does not have the full support of the Council of Ministers so I suspect he will have to take 5 years or so to establish his control in the Council. I suspect that the council will elect as First Minister a man by the name of Mikal Bikel. Bikel is a very capable administrator but lacks vision and is somewhat "xenophobic" he believes that the free exchange of ideas and diversity only apply among us, not the other factions. I am encrypting this transmission to ask a favor of you. Karl Broddarp will be able to establish control faster if he can show that he has your support and that from this support he can establish dominance and prestige amongst our government. So when I step down next turn please for the next year or so try and offer "small" gifts or trade pacts so that he can show immediate results that stem from his leadership. I thank you...

I will retire and begin writing my memories and I do hope that before I die I do get to see you in person and walk in your green fields and enjoy the splendors of your gardens. The weight of command has been so very hard.

I suspect that I will transmit once more and I hope that Karl Broddarp will pick-up my work.

Your friend...
Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

[Hydro]

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2202

Charles,

I will be sad to see you step down as General Secretary. You have led the Peacekeepers through trying times, and you have led them to great prosperity and peace. However, you are still Planetary Governor and we have placed our trust in you. You can step down from that post, too, if you like, but then you must call for new elections in the Planetary Council. We do not want to start a trend of inherited Planetary Governorship – that would be too much like the old, corrupt monarchies of old Earth, and we do not want to regress in that way. It breeds what I think we both dislike – a festering incompetence, and a lack of responsiveness to the will of the people. While I will support your designated successor as General Secretary in any way that I can, be advised that my actions are partially dictated by my Council. You are a known commodity, and the Council and I trust you. Your successor, however worthy, we do not know. I cannot guarantee that our votes would be entrusted to him if he were to run for Planetary Governor. I would guess that you could better tend to the duties of the Planetary Governorship if some of the burden of being General Secretary were lifted. I have felt old and stretched throughout these many years, but through the wonders of technology I am still hale, at least mostly. I can only think that with proper care, and perhaps a little rest, you might be able to take the reigns of the Governorship more fully. I would guess that those responsibilities would grow with time since our world is becoming increasingly complex, and be assured that I will support you in any way that I can.

Congratulations in founding your newest base! I looked over its territory and I see great promise there. Arid lands can support rich forested lands, and the sea can provide ample food. It will only take a little time before this base is one of your most prosperous!

I am alarmed that your great venture and naval prototype destroyer was damaged and scrapped. I hope that Miriam would not be involved, but she did declare war on you. But be careful in placing blame. Such a great task if fraught with risk, not the least of which is untested technology. It could be that the engineering was not quite right, or that the economics were too great a strain.

In other news, our society is growing again, perhaps at a reckless pace. One base, Thorny Vineyard, actually rioted, and we had to deploy some empaths to help the unsettled citizens understand and deal with the strain of such growth. I am still tenuous on this course of action, but he Council insists. I fear that more bases will be rioting soon, and this will have to be managed by their base managers. Some bases are growing exceedingly large now that their habitation expansion is complete, and Gaia’s Landing was the first to break this threshold. None of our bases are as large as yours, though. I always marvel how you can maintain such a growth rate, and manage you people so well. Your society seems to draw the best, all the talent that Planet has to offer. We Gaians seem to have other talents.

Another fear is the spread of ecological damage that has accompanied the growth spurts. During slow growth it is easy to identify and squelch, but with so much happening everywhere it is hard to keep tabs on every place. Base governors have this nasty tendency to put production before prevention of ecological damage, and I fear that one over zealous manager will allow too much pollution, and that Planet will punish us for it. To this end, Gaia’s Landing is building a Chiron Preserve to help us understand what Planet is trying to say. Our economy is charging ahead like an old out-of-control bullet train we both saw in horror movie vids as children. I only hope we can hang on, and that there isn’t a crash.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2202

Lady Skye,

I apologize for not making myself more clear about my position as the Planetary Governor. I will retain that position until I am no longer fit to hold the office or another is elected. I actually think I might be more effective as just the Planetary Governor if I don't have to also run the affairs of the Peacekeepers. I feel that my role as Governor has been hampered since many of the other leaders might feel that all I really care about are the affairs of the Peacekeepers and their rise to power. That is one reason I want Karl Broddarp to be elected as General Secretary over Mikal Bikel. Karl and I have worked together for many years and we will still work together but he will concentrate on the affairs of the Peacekeepers and I will work towards creating peace and unity among all the children of the planet. So you can inform your Council that they do not have to fear this change but in fact welcome it as a means to reach a much higher goal for us all. I will help guide my young successor and help keep the continuity of leadership. With that I am informing you that this will be last transmission as the Supreme General Secretary since I am proud to announce the election of Karl Broddarp as the new Supreme General Secretary and Chairman of Security Council. As expected Mikal Bikel did get elected as the First Minister of the Council of Ministers so for the time being there will be some "power sharing" going on until Karl can get his candidates installed as ministers and then call a for a vote. So from time to time you might get many transmissions from the Peacekeepers, myself as Planetary Governor, Karl Broddarp as Supreme General Secretary and Mikal Bikel as First Minister. Please once again I ask you and your council to not be alarmed. We have had a very orderly and peaceful exchange of leadership and all of our agreements and alliances will remain.

I have little new "news" to report since my last transmission. We have completed the echelon mirror and it has come on line. We are working on a second bank of mirrors and once we get a supply crawler working to aid mineral production at our Headquarters base we can then bring on the mighty energy generators. We are trying to "crash" complete the missile infantry unit so that we can begin upgrades of all our troops. My generals and
Admirals are trying to convince Karl of the requirement to build a "skunk works" as they call it. By setting up one or two colonies with secret labs and top of the line facilities we can bring new units on line much quicker than a standard military production facility.

Do not fret about change; it is the nature of the universe!

I will contact you in a few turns after I have had time to reorganize the Planetary Governors administrative office and get them back on track.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
For the last time....

Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2203

Charles,

Growth continues and, as expected, there was considerable instability. At some point the growth will outweigh the societal cost, but I have not convinced the Council of this yet. I was extremely alarmed when we had our first fungal bloom at Last Rose of Summer. As feared, industrial pollution got out of hand and the previously quiescent Planet erupted, spreading xenofungus as far as the eye could see. I am just glad there was not loss of life. We will have to remove the fungus, of course, but not right now.

Not much else to report. A few base managers petitioned the Council for energy credits to finish their habitation complexes or tree farms early, and those that were more than 50% complete were granted. This drew down our energy stores a bit, but it will be worth it in the long run. Most bases have what is near to their limit in mineral production without ecological damage, and a few are a little over. I’ve noticed that geothermal boreholes, which have been built near several bases, seem to spike ecological damage when even built, and much more when actively used. There seems to be an upper limit on production, and we are hard pressed to keep it under control.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2203


Lady Skye,
Problems with sunspot activity. I cannot get a clear channel, I will keep trying to re-send this message.

Massive mindworm attack at UN Humanity and UN Planning Authority bases due to sun spot activity. I wish that our first communication could have been about better
circumstances.

Charles

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2204

Charles,

Your last message was completely garbled, and I could not make heads or tails of it. However, I did find one thing out after the fact – the base our plasma defender is in is under attack by two mindworms! Unfortunately, we found this out after they had been given orders to stand down. Being loyal Gaians they did as they were told, being leery of the mindworms that were so close. Luckily they are equipped with trance defense, so they may be able to withstand the assault. I wish them, and those in your base, well. The other defender was one of your foils, and it was badly damaged.

At home growth continues. I am almost growing weary of paniced calls from base managers who are either reporting a serious civil disturbance or claim they are in need of energy credits to finish this project or that. After careful discussion the Council has decided to only fund projects that directly impact a base’s stability, or its growth potential. Many bases are finishing up tree farms or habitation expansions. However, there will be an end, and it will likely be soon. Our energy reserves are sinking to an all time low, and our ability to withstand the pains of this population boom may be too intense.

There is more sad news from the Hive: they have lost Fecundity Towers to Sparta. This is the third base they have lost, and it looks increasingly grim for them. I don’t see how Yang’s society can survive under such pressure, but the same could be said of we Gaians if we were under relentless attack by Sparta’s well-trained hordes. I am just glad I am not the neighbor of either of them. For that matter, I am glad I am not the neighbor of Miriam, either.

Take care, and contact me soon.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2204


Esteemed Lady Skye,

I will have to make this transmission brief. Our scientists have found the means to transmit very short communications but only during certain periods time. So I will be brief. Your valiant crew fell in defense of the UN Planning Authority colony. Our foil tried to assist as best they could in providing bombardment from the docks but it had little effect. I want you to know that they did not die in vain. Their sacrifice allowed the colony to complete the outfitting of the new garrison there, which we hope will be able to defend the colony.

Are situation is perilous to say the least. We are being attacked from all directions by mindworms due to the increased solar activity. It seems to effect the worms and agitate them into frenzied action. I wish we had more time to talk but I must get back to the council chambers and help plan our defenses against the worms. Governor Dix sends his regards and once we can establish communications on a consistent basis he will communicate with you again. I fear my tenure as leader of the Peacekeepers is not starting off as well as it could. However, Governor Dix informs me that it was much harder when the first landings occurred and that we will survive this as well.

I look forward to more conversations and I hope to earn your trust in time.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2205

Karl,

I wish you had a better way to start your term. I am glad that our people were able to defend UN Planning Authority. As I understand it, they survived the first wave and only barely succumbed to the second. You should be able to finish off the last badly damaged feral mindworm with relative ease.

As to the worm attacks, the only suggestion I have is to switch to a green-based economy. Also, ecological pollution seems to draw worms, as do non-forest terrain enhancements. A squadron of rovers, good sensor nets, and a interconnected road system are your best defenses.

Disorder grows here. We have been able to keep a like on riots, but just barely. Some of our garrisons are being switched from trance defenders to police, and that helps. Still, it is hard to see such rampant growth.

Your new friend,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2205

My esteemed lady Skye,

I must be brief again but I have to let you know that we have captured our first mindworm. The data we are collecting is tremendous! Our newest infantry unit that was formed at our UN Humanity Base faced off with a pre-boil worm mass. One of the privates in the unit suddenly collapsed and began shouting frantically to not shoot at the mass. After a few minutes he came to and slowly walked up the mass and the worms began to crawl all over him but did not attack. The private was promoted to a captain on the spot and is now in charge of our first native military force. What a victory for us all!! The captain has named the worm "archie". A name I doubt will strike much fear into our enemies but a name that is forging respect for us all. I have asked the captain to take "archie" on a tour of the colonies to show the people that we can exist with our world in friendship. Governor Dix is beside himself and has asked to go the Humanity Base at once to see the worm himself. I could not deny my old friend such a chance, I do envy him.

I have did want to let you know that I have prepared all the personal articles left from your crew and will turn them over to the first ship you send. Once again we thank you for the gift of life from the sacrifice your crew made.
My scientists do warn me that I must end transmission. I hope that you will find the correct balance in your population to stop the rioting. I suggest using empaths to help you people learn to deal with their emotions and channel them into constructive work.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2206

Karl,

Congratulations, and convey my warmest wishes to your brand new captain and ‘archie’! It turns out one of our first emissaries will be visiting you soon. Ehn, one of our mindworms, has been exploring the poles and he is now coming up on the new slice of land that you are planning on settling. He will be working his way down, and he would be pleased if he could be allowed to escort your new colony pod to its new location! All you need to do is let him know where you are going and he will bravely lead the way. Hopefully this time the colony will reach its location, and will not have such a tragic accident as the other pod that went this way.

Thank you for your kind words about our crew. We are not in a position to collect their belongings yet, but please keep them in save keeping until such a time comes about. I will relay your sentiments to the families – I am sure they will appreciate it.

I think the Council is almost convinced that we should call off our reckless adventure in a planned economy. The growth is still dizzying, and I am waiting until we have a bad event to punish us for our hubris. One funny thing has happened, though. Ever since the fungal bloom at Last Rose of Summer we have been able to increase our mineral production without ecological damage. Our best scientists are perplexed, but some think it is because of the tree farms we have been building. If so, I would encourage your base managers to start these ambitious projects when they get their recourse base in order.

Walk with Planet (this has a new meaning for you now!),
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2106

Esteemed Lady Skye,

I have unfortunate news to deliver. The Believers in the seas just east of our island have destroyed our brave ship the UNS United Seas. The ship was taken by surprise it seems and was unable to even get of hardly a shot in their defense. I wish I could come to some agreement with Sister Miriam and settle this war. It is a drain on our resources and most importantly the loss of life is unbearable. We have a terraforming unit on the northern tip of our island that connects with the polar region. It is being pursued by an unfriendly worm mass. If your worm is close enough to intercept it and save our crew I and my people would be most appreciative. Our newest colony pod is being escorted north to that area by our missile infantry unit and "archie" and they should arrive their in 5 turns.

Our scientists and ecological engineers agree with your assessment about the benefits of tree farms. We are building one as I write at the UN Education Agency colony to try and alleviate the ecological damage that is being done there. The demand for minerals seems more than the land can bare in that area.

First Minister Mikel Bikal informed me that you are building the Planetary Datalinks project. Can I infer that you do not mean to proceed with the Maritime project? We are only 14 turns away from completion and any changes now would result in a large loss in materials.

I must be brief again. I have promised Governor Dix that he can send you the next message and update you on planetary issues.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council

[Hydro]

Gaia’s Landing, 2207

Karl,

Ehn is on his way, and is immediately east of your terraformer. If your former can continue north Ehn will be able to protect him. Please do not go into Ehn’s area since then the mindworm will attack and likely destroy both of us. Hopefully this will work out well for both of us!

My condolences to your crew. It is sad that Miriam continues her war, and that she will accept no reasonable solution to it. I am afraid that it will have to be pressed to a conclusion, sad though that may be.

Silverback Park is only accumulation resources toward a Project, and Planetary Datalinks is just a vehicle to this end. The Council and I see the Datalinks as having a low value since, between us, we hold a significant technological lead over the other factions.
Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2207

My dear Lady Skye,

I hope that you are still well and that all is well. I have been checking with Karl from time to time and the Peacekeeper nation seems to be doing well. I do find it distressing that both the Gaians and the Peacekeepers seem to be working towards the same project. I hope the completion for this technology does not "sour" your budding relationship with Karl Broddarp. I have been asked by him to relay to you that our terraforming crew in the north had to head directly south since a second worm mass was spotted. We can only hope that their continued evasion will help them. If your worm can aid them in any way it would of great assistance. I have just recently returned from examine our new worm "archie". What a wonderful thing indeed. Have you ever let them crawl all over you the experience is unique to say the least. It seems that "archie" likes contact with humans since they like to digest the dead skin cells that cover our body. Captain Archer says that they liken it to a desert, how odd, yet wonderful.

I have only a brief amount of time to write so I will be brief. Karl Broddarp has also asked me if you have any intelligence on the whereabouts of the Believers transport ships? Since the loss of our UNS United Seas we are almost blind in that area. UNS Centauri Seas will be leaving port soon to patrol our southern flanks net turn. I have been keeping up with the other factions as best I can with the lack of communication time we have. I see that Chairman Yang’s energy reserves have increased greatly sometime in the past four turns. I can only imagine that he has traded some technology for energy credits or has received assistance from someone. Whatever the case may be I don’t think it will much longer before he falls to the Spartans.

With that I most close my letter to you. I do hope that you can continue to help Karl because I feel that he will be able to soon press his claim for the position of First Minister.

Friendship and Unity,

Charles R. Dix IX
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2108

Friend Charles,

It is so good to hear from you again. As you suggested, I tried to send Karl a gift to aid him in his political efforts: Planetary Economics. When I tried to send this and our maps showing recent exploration I was informed that sunspot activity had disrupted this communication. So, these advances will have to wait for the moment. You can be sure that we will transmit as soon as we are able. Our scientist unlocked these secrets after examining the implications of Environmental Economics and Intellectual Integrity. This advance will allow us to create a new base project – the hybrid forest. This will hugely increase the productivity of forests for both food and energy, and it will decrease ecological damage. I foresee a day when there will be no terraforming except forests, roads, and maybe a few mines and boreholes, where appropriate. That day is far off at the moment, but I am sure it will come.

I do have some good news for you. Ehn has dispatched the northern mindworm that was threatening your former. Assuming your former survives this next year he will move south and try to block movement by the hostile mindworm. Although he is too damaged to attack, he can prevent aggressive movements on the worm’s part. Just be sure to keep behind Ehn and he will block for you.

In other news, I know why Yang had a sudden increase to his treasury. One of his garrisons destroyed a mindworm along his coast. One of our isles happened to be in the area and witnessed the combat. Yang’s plasma armor defender had a good morale and easily won, while suffering little damage. I also sighted one of Miriam’s impact foils skirting the southern edge of Yang’s continent. It was traveling west and I will instruct our isle handler to have the isle track it, if possible.

We have had a disastrous setback at Razorback Wood. For the last year or so there has been a general famine, and this has severely impacted their ability to grow and harvest sufficient foodstuffs. They were in a sever deficit, and an astute member of the Council was finally reached by the panicky base leaders. So many administrators have been calling about ‘emergencies’ due to civil unrest, or pleas for energy, that the filter was a bit too strong. We have rectified the situation, and nearby bases have given up their productive areas so the base’s population does not go into free fall. We will monitor this carefully, you can be sure.

As to Projects, the Council has agreed to be flexible. Silverback Park has switched to Aesthetic Virtues, which was made possible due to the advances in Planetary Economics. We have started Maritime Control Center, but have not committed and could switch to another Project, if needed.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2208

My esteemed colleague Lady Skye,

I thank you for you assistance with the mind worm. Our mindworm and missile infantry unit are just two sectors away from the rogue worm. We have completed our first tree farm and we hope that it will be both the economic and environmental boon that you claim. Not much else is occurred this turn. We did site a Hive impact skim ship just off our southern coast and dispatched UNS Centaruri Seas to investigate the ship. The Hive crew made no attempt to return our signals so no contact was made. I find this news disconcerting since why would Chairman Yang order a highly trained, well armed and armored ship to sail so far away from this coast when the Spartans are pounding him into submission. It smacks of some desperate plan.

Governor Dix sends his regards and he did enjoy your e-mail. When this sunspot activity subsides then you will be able to catch up with him on all the events that have occurred. He informed me that one of your cities was suffering food shortages to such extent that rioting was occurring. I do hope that you have been able to solve the situation and restore order. We have yet to have such an event occur in our cities. Many of them are structured so as to produce just enough nutrients for the population but not enough to allow the population to outstrip production. I suggest that you move back to a "green economy" as soon as possible. Your advice to us was as sound now as it was then, so you should follow your own advice.

On a personal note, if all goes well within the next 5 to 10 turns I should be able to solidify my control over all aspects of the Peacekeeper political system. Governor Dix has informed me of the generous gifts you plan on giving us so I hope with that boon I should persuade the ministers to support me.

I must stop writing now since a new solar flare wave is about to disrupt communications again.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2209

Friend Karl,

I have news that is both grave and, in a way, heartening and hopeful. Sister Miriam has launched a surprise attack on us. The impact foil I mentioned that was stalking in your eastern seas, just north of Hive territory, attacked one of our isles without warning. The isle handler was surprised and initially paralyzed into inaction, but the isle took over. Great chunks of the isle were blown off at the beginning of the ferocious Believer attack, and water soon started to fill the hollows of the isle. The isle counterattacked and moved forward, and it totally engulfed the Believer ship! Reporting after recovering from most of his injuries, the handler said he could hear the screams of the doomed Believer crew. They wailed for help from their God; they got none. Sean caught a lasts glimpse of the one member of the crew at the bow of the ship, which was by now almost covered by the swarming mass of mindworms. She was paralyzed with a frozen look of fear as the mindworms swarmed over her and, horribly, burrowed into his head. He looked away since he did not want to contemplate the crew’s sad fate. He was still shaken in the weeks afterward.

So, now Miriam has made her unproved war with you a world war. She had forced us to enter this unjust war, and be assured that we will hold back not one bit as we press her and show her the errors of her way. Even now our 3 impact and gatling foils are poised to take her sea bases near our territory, and my military advisors predict that two will fall within the next two years. We will also start building transports, escorting cruisers, and amphibious troops to take the war to her.

I have never been able to understand my Pact Brother Morgan. We are at odds over so many issues, but he has been a loyal pact mate for almost 50 years now. Shortly after the attack by Miriam I received word that CEO Morgan has pronounced Vendetta on her. I was doubly astonished since I had thought him to be a pacifist, and since Miriam until recently was running Free Market, which he supports. I find it heartening that he would honor our Pact and declare war even though I hadn’t asked him to. His holding are much smaller than either of ours and he is ill prepared to press this war. Still, I am glad he is on our side.

By chance I have located both of Miriam’s transports. One is three years away from your western shore. Be assured, however, that it will never get there. One of our isles will overtake and sink it. The transport has a probe team and some impact infantry. If Miriam is wise she will disgorge these troops on the Isle of Athena, near where she is traveling, since the transport itself is doomed; it is unarmored, an it will bear up poorly against our isle. The second transport is empty, and it is south of Miriam’s lands near the Hive’s eastern coast. It is trying to flee the isle the found it lurking in the fungus, but it will not get far.

In other news, Zak has made a critical breakthrough: Pre-sentient Algorithms. He had converted his Project to Hunter Seeker Algorithm. My understanding is that this is a valuable Project that provides invulnerability to probe attacks, and we should both do what we can to get this technology. Due to the difficulties of the episodic sunspots neither of us will be able to contact the good professor. Even if we do I do not think he will trade technology with us.

Yang may have evened up his battles with Santiago militarily. He seems to have developed Synthetic Fossil Fuels, and he is now prototyping a missile rover. If he gets many of these fielded it should more than make up for his numeric inferiority, but it is hard to say how much. One thing is certain – Santiago’s efforts to crush the Human Hive has now gotten much harder. I can’t say I am too sad at this development since I do not wish to see Santiago capture all of Yang’s strongholds since she would then be likely to press her attack elsewhere. It may be realpolitik, but I am now sorry to have two of the warlike and aggressive factions on Planet fighting each other instead of us. We have troubles of our own.

Good luck in all your efforts, and Walk with Planet.
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2209

My esteemed Lady Skye,

It was with a heavy heart that I had to report to the Greater General Assembly the unprovoked attack by the Believers. I have been authorized under General Assembly directive 112AZ12301 to initiate a military alliance with your government to force the Believers into the "Family of Nations". It has become obvious to the leadership of the Peacekeepers that Sister Miriam and her government must be held accountable for their actions against the peace loving people of this planet. Our goal is simple enough, to enforce a state of non-belligerency on the Believers and institute a system of governmental reforms that will insure the Believers will not harm other nations again. We would establish a "protectorate" over the Believers for such time that was necessary to insure that the Believers would not threaten the other nations. I am transmitting the United Nations guidelines for the administration and oversight guidelines for the establishing a "protectorate". Please take the time to read them and if you have or your government has any questions please contact my administrative staff. I understand that we are not requiring you to adhere to our principals but rather offering our advice as to the best ways to administer any concurred territory.

I am also reporting the destruction of a Believer Impact foil just off our southern coast. The UNS Centauri Seas caught the craft unawares and in short order sent it to the bottom of the ocean. I hope that with back-to-back losses such as the Believers have sustained Sister Miriam will re-think her strategy. UNS Centauri Seas will be returning to base for repairs and hopefully an upgrade as well.

Time is short so I must relay to you that Governor Dix is still trying diplomatic channels to try and broker a peace between us all and hopes that if you have any information on the Believers or contacts he can use to set-up a diplomatic channel he would appreciate that assistance.

Lastly, due to the escalation in this conflict the Council of Ministers has decided that my appointment as First Minister should be put forward at the next meeting. I feel confidant that I shall win and thus solidify my control over the reigns of government. Currently I have to rely on Minister Bikal for much of my information and I am unsure as to if all of the General Assemblies and my orders are getting carried out correctly and in the spirit in which they were passed.

I find it very encouraging that our other allies CEO Morgan and the Professor are still standing with us in light of the current situation. I have yet to talk to either one of them and get a feel for their leadership.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council

*~*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2210

Karl,

We Gaians’ have had our first conquest. The Believer sea base I mentioned fell quite easily since it had only a synthmetal defender against our gatling foil. A second foil entered the city, and a third took up residence just in case. The next Believer sea base is to the south, and our foils will be able to reach and capture it next year. Both foils, unfortunately, escaped us. The foil with the troops disgorged them, as I suspected they would. We could not sink the transport since we were scouting with a empath foil, which has no other weapons. I will order that it be upgraded next turn, and I hope we can catch up with the transport that is now moving back toward Believer territory. The second transport we simply could not find. The isle handler took a gamble that they were hiding in a particular patch of fungus and they weren’t.

Seeing our present circumstances I was finally able to persuade the Council to go back onto a Green economic model. A few members mentioned the extra industrial bonus of a Planned economy, but our concern is now economic and military. A green outlook will help our sea units and land units against native life, and also it will help out when our native units go after those of Miriam’s.

Congratulations on sinking Miriam’s foil. That is one less hostile unit that can threaten us. Kindly give my regards to the captain.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2210

Revered Lady Skye,

Our scientist are still having only marginal success in sending transmissions so I will have to make this brief. I applaud your success and liberation of the Believer base. If you need any administrators to help assist you in management of the colony perhaps we could be of assistance. This brings up another issue. Once we repair the UNS Centauri Seas we plan on having them assault the sea base just south of our island. However, it will be at least 3 to 4 turns at best before this occurs. If you are able to lay siege to it and liberate before then I am authorized to extend the following plan. We would like to have the base turned over to our administrators for Peacekeeper management and control. We would compensate you for this exchange with a sum of energy credits you would find adequate to compensate you on any losses. We would then put high priority into rebuilding the base and re-educating the population so as to build a thriving peaceful city. Please consider this offer. I think a joint assault on the base, if we can coordinate the assault would also demonstrate to the other faction leaders how solid our alliance is and that an attack against one is an attack against us all. Perhaps this threat will discourage others to follow the path Sister Miriam has chosen.

I want to congratulate your scientists on the boon that tree farm technology has given us. Our Education Agency colony was inflicting very serious damage on the surrounding lands. With the interdiction of tree farms our impact on the environment is zero now. We thank you and your people.

We are close to building to our ninth colony and the plan is to develop a sea base in the small gulf between our island and the polar caps. Because of the earthquake that inland sea has become a gulf with only a small entrance that we will construct sensor and bunkers and man them with artillery units. This area will be our main staging area for our naval forces. Your ships are also most welcome to use the facilities once we have them on-line.

I must conclude my transmission...
Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council

[Hydro]

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2211

Karl,

I have more good news! We have captured a second sea base of Miriam’s – Fisher of Men. The base Loaves and Fishes was captured last year. There is a bit of unrest at both bases since the inhabitants are just getting used to the new base administrator, and we are very different from Miriam. Like many of our cities, we’ve creased police specialists to help quell unrest, except these have the best armor possible in anticipation of a sea assault from Miriam. Two of our foils are injured but, when they are repaired, they will strike north to ‘liberate’, as you put it, the base to the north, which I think is called Belly of the Whale. When and if we liberate it before you we will turn the base over to you at our soonest opportunity. There is a Gaian mindworm prowling the huge fungal expanse north of Morgan’s territory. They found that Miriam has established a base in the center of the Monolith Ring. They attacked and destroyed the defender, but the rest of the city was destroyed in the process. It is such a waste of life, but I know Miriam would have absolutely no mercy for me if our positions were reversed. So, two years after declaring war Miriam has lost 3 bases to us, and that is without any sort of war machine in action! We destroyed the fleeing transport off of Yang’s western coast with minimal damage to our isle. The second transport may get away from us since we had to spend this last year upgrading weaponry so it can destroy it. If we are lucky we will catch up. In any event, Miriam no longer has a navy besides that one transport. Between the two of us we have swept her from the waves!

One of our isles brought back another artifact, which we linked to the network node at Forest Primeval. When we were done analyzing the data we discovered the secrets of Superstring Theory. This will allow an even more powerful weapon: the chaos gun, which is fully twice as effective as the impact gun. I would forward this to you but the sunspot activity seems to get in the way. Another isle investigated a Unity pod and found another artifact. They are far to the south and it will take them a while to reach a friendly base.

It has been a busy year. There isn’t much going on at our home bases, which have quieted down now that the population boom is over.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2211

Most honorable Lady Skye,

We concur with your military assessment of the Believers military situation. They have to be "reeling" from the multiple blows we are dealing them. My generals and admirals are "chomping" at the bit to confer with your military staff to coordinate in depth our assault plans. I am trying to temper my military’s enthusiasm and make them understand that military force is just a means to bring the Believers back to the bargaining table. Only if at that time when all other dialog breaks down and we see no hope in site then I do agree that like a rabid dog they must be "put down". We had a very ordinary turn and we continued to build up our infrastructure as well as our military forces. I sometimes regret that my processor did not order more aggressive building programs and expanded our domain more quickly. The term I have read by our planetary developers is "pop" building. If we had more bases we could build more material, it is as simple as that. Currently we have more projects lined up than we have the capacity to build. I am trying to rectify that as quickly as possible. We are about to establish our ninth colony and our tenth colony pod is en route while a sea colony pod is next in line to be built. Once those colonies are established they will "pop" build several more. My overall plan is to add at least 10 more bases to our nation within the next 10 years. I know it is ambitious plan and even falling short we will double our current population. Please don’t get me wrong I don’t mean to be over critical of Governor Dix but I feel that we don’t pull as much wait in our partnership.

My last question is do you have any idea to the length of the sun spot activity? My scientists are unable to give me an exact date. Also, I have forced the vote in the Council of Ministers and I am now First Minister. I know have control over the executive, military, legislative and the bureaucracy. This will allow me to push through reforms and changes at a greater pace.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2212
Karl,
I agree with your assessment that we should not let your vengeful and militaristic side take over our thinking. We need to defend ourselves, and bring the conflict to Miriam, if necessary. However, Miriam really can’t hurt either of us right now. I destroyed another of her transports this turn. She has just built another and has another foil completed, but we seem to be destroying them faster than she is building. As long as there is an integrated defense we should be in good shape.
The key to development is resources, and the key to resources is population base. We Gaians had the good fortune to be in an expansive area and to start many bases early. Typically we built bases to the exclusion of all else. As a result there are more nodes for production, and these nodes are generally fairly effective at production. I whole-heartedly agree with your assessment that expansion is critical.
My science advisors tell me that sunspot activity generally up to 20 years, but he exact duration is variable. I hope it ends soon so I can send you the plans for Planetary Economics and Superstring Theory. I’d hate to have our scientists duplicating efforts.
Walk with Planet,
Dee
*~*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2212

Honorable Lady Skye,

A rogue worm has destroyed a terraforming unit at the UN Humanity colony. The crew was hard at work on a thermal borehole when the worm appeared out of nowhere and destroyed the crew. My military commanders feel that a complete search of the fungal fields just north of that base is in order to clear out any remaining worms. Our worm Archie has been tasked to complete this job. I hope he and his guide can return safely.

Not much else occurred this turn. We are still on tract pumping any excess energy into building projects and our destroyer. Once that is complete we intend to develop a "skunk works" at that facility to reduce prototyping time. When do you plan on having any naval forces in the area of that last Believer sea base? If it all possible please coordinates that attack with my generals, perhaps that joint strike as I mentioned earlier can still be achieved.

We do have good news ourselves concerning these alien artifacts. Our Missle infantry unit on the northern tip of the island opened a pod and discovered an artifact. It is being brought to the sensor station and once our base is built it will moved into safety. Unfortunately we will be unable to unlock its secrets until we get a network computer system installed to decrypt the information.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2213

Karl,

Two foils were dispatched this year for the last Believer sea base. They will be able to attack the base in three years (e.g. – two years in transit, then they will assault in 2216). Most of our bases are working on major infrastructure, specifically hybrid forests. We should be able to convert some of our bases to a war footing in not too long. Even so, I am loath to convert our populace completely to war since we are not really threatened, and since I have to take care of many of the interests of our people’s well being.

Ehn, one of the Gaian worms in your area, investigated a pod. I contained an artifact. Since this was found near your territory I have asked Ehn to escort it to your nearest base and then turn it over to you. I hope you don’t mind Ehn’s, shall we say, willful nature, but he is an alien being after all.

Many of our foils and isles are resting and recuperating after hostile encounters they have had recently. As soon as they are ready they will resume their exploration.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2213

Honorable lady Skye,

I thank you for your gracious manners in "returning" the artifact. I would not have worried either way since I know your character is without question.

My admirals are like new school children as they look over the almost completed UNS-DD Diligent Peace. The ship will be completed in only a turn or two and then we can complete the exploration of our small gulf. In the meantime the admirals want to build an AEGIS destroyer that will have advanced radar and sensors. This way the ships can travel in formation and provide mutual assistance. They make a strong argument but that would mean putting off the building of the skunk works. However, all they had to say was how nice that new ship would look at the bottom of the ocean after Believers surprised the ship and blew it to bits. Now that we have the destroyer hull designs completed and the dockyards for that class of ship ready the next ship should only take a fraction of the time.

Archie is en-route to the UN Humanity base and none too soon. Two worms were detected just north of the colony now blocking the passage of our colony pod. Perhaps Archie and his handler will be able to capture one of them as well. We can only hope.

Lastly, before I loose this clear comm line I have some grave news to report. Governor Dix has taken to his bed. He has been struck down by some virus that has robbed him of the use of his legs. Our doctors are working to combat the illness but it might be that he will never walk again. The illness has also left him frail. I think the long period of inactivity due to the solar blackouts have left him without focus. To know that you cannot bring your intellect to bear on a very important issue due to an act of nature has affected the Governor. That was one of the reasons I asked you on a prior e-mail if you had any idea as to the end of the storm. We might have to call a new election once the storm has abated and the comm channels clear. I would like to ask you for your support for my nomination as Planetary Governor. Please do not worry about Governor Dix's feelings. In fact, he has forced me to write you about this issue in lieu of what has happened. I am sure once the storm clears the other faction leaders will quickly learn of his illness and act. So before I loose this signal please consider my nomination.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2214

Karl,

I have some unfortunate news. An isle carrying two mindworms was attacked and destroyed by the tattered remnants of Miriam’s navy. Rest assured that the foil, which was severely damaged, will not escape. I mourn their loss, and I think I will have to steel myself for more losses like this in the future. We have had no losses to date against the Believers and it is too much to expect that our conflict with them will remain bloodless.

You should know that there are two Gaian mindworms on your unsettled continent, and one or both might be able to help in your mindworm attack. One is shepherding the artifact south, and the other is moving west. It can tack north, if you like.

I am very sad to hear of Charles’ illness, and I have a hard time believing that modern medicine cannot restore at least some of his function. Even so, being crippled would in no way damage his ability to be Governor. Is there any evidence that he is not of sound mind? The only other thought that enters my mind is that he has lost his desire and passion for his duties. That would be a very sad fate indeed since Charles personifies the ideals of the Peacekeepers. He may have made mistakes, but we all have made mistakes, some of them grave ones. In his larger mission he has been singularly successful: helping keep the hopes and dreams of the United Nations alive here on our distant home. If nothing else Charles can take continuing pride in this achievement, and he should know that his leadership will always be needed.

On a happier note, our scientists have duplicated Zak’s research in Pre-Sentient Algorithms. No one was more surprised than I was, but they presented this achievement with huge grins on their faces. Who would have thought that mere years after Zak makes his breakthrough that we will have make ours? It might be that our society is now biased toward Knowledge and away from Wealth. We have less luxury, but our scientists are so productive now that they forecast a breakthrough every five years.

I wish that the sunspots would let up since I now have many advances to send you. We also need to discuss the Project that Pre-Sentient Algorithms allows: the Hunter Seeker Algorithm. This is immensely powerful, in my mind, since it reputedly makes you immune to efforts in espionage and sabotage. Zak is already working on this, but his poor resource base makes this a long time in coming for him. Either of us could finish this project much before he could. We do not, however, have too much time on our hands, and we will have to act quickly after the sunspots are over. I can see how your society, in such close proximity to the Believers, would benefit from this Project. There would likely have to be sacrifices, since it may not be possible to finish this project from scratch and still beat Zak to the punch. Please let me know what your thoughts are on this matter.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2214

Most honorable Lady Skye,

Out newest base has been established and the artifact has arrived there as well. Your worms are welcome to rest in the fungal fields just to the east and south of our base if they like. In fact it seems that it is full of mind worms. Archie was racing back to Humanity base and bumped into a worm and it formed a bond with the same handler. So Archie and now "Jerome" are moving south to defend that base against two rogue worms. Unfortunately those two worms seem larger and since we are new to the facts with mind worms we are not sure if they can cope with them. I hope they can.

Good news. Governor Dix has recovered much of his health and should be on the mend. This is a relief to us all since it will not force a messy and very pivotal planetary power struggle. He will contact you on the next transmission.

It seems that we have also made the same breakthrough as you have. Duplication of research efforts is such a waste. I agree with your assessment that the Algorithms project is crucial but I cannot see us embarking on any new research projects any time soon. We have basically geared our headquarters to maximize mineral production to the exclusion of all else. This in turn has kept our Headquarters in "Limbo" for almost 25 years. This cannot continue. Our other bases, especially Planetary trust, lack the mineral base yet to be more productive. I hope that within the next 20 years all of this can be rectified but first we need our navy and expand our colonies. I encourage you to build this anti-espionage project since your scientists seem to flick their fingers and another advancement is made. Your labs have to be the envy of many other factions.

Governor Dix has informed me that the Hive and Spartan factions seem to be at each other throats again. Early reports indicate a massive build up at several Spartan bases and Hive troops advancing on Spartan colonies. We have also detected a Hive foil just off our southern coast. It has not made any threatening moves but we are concerned. UNS Centauri Seas is 2 turns away from the remaining Believer sea colony. I hope that we can participate in a joint attack with you. UNS Diligent Peace has been completed and should be crewed within the year. We intend to put her to sea trials soon and get her ship shape. UNS Vigilant Peace, the new AEGIS escort destroyer will now start taking shape.

My time is up, we will talk soon.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2215

Karl,

The sunspots are over! I have asked our scientists to forward our latest advances in Planetary Economics and Superstring Theory to you. I hope you will find them to be useful.

I am so happy that Charles is feeling better! Now that the sunspots are over he should be able to resume his full duties. Miriam may even be receptive to your overtures of peace.

As our impact frigate advanced on the Believer foil that destroyed our isle and two mindworms I got a call from Miriam. It seems she wanted peace, and she was willing to pledge a truce with me. I vividly remember her response to my early efforts for peace between your people and hers, and I knew she would never consent to a peaceable relationship with you. So, I rebuffed her advance, rejected her offer of peace, and had my captain send her foil to the bottom. I felt to accept her offer would be to abandon you, and I could not do that. I propose that either Miriam make peace with both of us or neither of us.

Our two foils are in position to attack Belly of the Whale next year, and they currently are hiding in the fungus south of the base. I noted that a colony pod just left the sea base, and this could be problematic since small bases generally completely destroyed during conflict – it is a matter of chance. I suggest we wait until the base is size three, since it will not collapse into the sea during the struggle.

Vale of Winds has given up Maritime Control Center and has started the project Hunter-Seeker Algorithm. I am still open to your people having this valuable project. You just need to let me know. I noted that CEO Morgan has started this project, and I would guess Zak sold or traded the technology to him. The CEO also is likely to finish the Planetary Datalinks next year, and he is welcome to it. Silverberg Park is completing Aesthetic Virtues this year, which should help we Gaians understand each other and ourselves.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

[Hydro]

UN Headquarters, MY 2215

My dear Lady Skye,

I am so glad to have the chance once again to talk with you and what news I have to share. In hopes of increasing the prosperity for all the people of this planet I have been working with my administrators for some time about a "global trade act". My dream is that through the exchange of goods and services we can bring our planet closer together and provide a better world for the children of tomorrow. I initiated the planetary council session and I have votes from all the other factions, minus you. Unless you would vote against the act, which I cannot see why, the benefits of free trade will double in a few short years. My hope is that those not participating in free trade will soon learn that not trading will leave them with a backwater economy. Already my contacts at the University, Morgan, your Gaians own show a doubling of your trade rates. What an accomplishment.

I am sure Karl Broddarp has informed you of my illness but I assure you I am very strong now and should be so for some time. I do hope that you are well too.

I do have to report that Karl Broddarp did try to contact Sister Miriam but she still would not answer. So with heavy heart Karl Broddarp had to inform the entire assembly that the war must continue. I do hope that with time she will see reason but as we grow older I think we become more "entrenched" in our ways. This was one of the reasons I left the leadership of the Peacekeepers to Karl Broddarp so that I could break the chains of continuity and explore new aspects of thought and reasoning.

I am very excited that with the end of the sunspot activity we can all resume a dialogue that will bring more achievements for us all.


Charles R. Dix IX
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System


Most Honorable Lady Skye,

I am sure that Governor Dix has updated you on his wonderful diplomatic efforts. I am sure that in time his wisdom will be seen by all and that all the people of this land will learn to live with one another in a more harmonious manner.

I must thank you on behalf of the Peackeepers for your most generous gift of knowledge. I marvel at the ease at which your scientists are able to make breakthroughs. I hope that we can aid you as well soon.

However, until then the war continues. You do not have to worry about that sea colony ship that left the base. It now rests at the bottom of the ocean. Admiral Burke informed me that as the UNS Centauri Sea was passing through the channel just to the north of the sea colony it found the sea colony ship trying to escape. The UNS Centauri Seas opened fire and within minutes the ship sunk. We tried to look for survivors but none could be found in the think sea fungus. If you launch your attack next turn Centauri Seas should be able to move into position and attack, however, my admirals agree with your strategy and they will also wait in the fungal growth for a turn or two until the base is ready. Intelligence does report they are building an armored impact foil that will be ready in a few turns so we might want to attack just before it is ready so that we can tie up even more Believer resources on the bottom of the ocean. I have also been informed that once again a task force is building on the western end of the Believer island with several transports and troops. Luckily UNS-DD Diligent Peace is now under way and will be moving to the eastern portion of our island to take up an intercept position. If you have any ships or "isles" in that area we could also combine our attacks.

Our newest colony, UN Aid Station is now prospering but it is also in need of minerals to assist development. We will try to get more terraformers into that area but currently we are short on supply. One of newest mind worms "Jerome" defeated the large mind worm and now Archie is moving into position to intercept the other one. Jerome was injured but he should be able to recover quickly. My scientists have told me that the effect of the alien monoliths has an even greater effect on the mind worms. Archie and Jerome will both visit the nearest monolith to experiment. We are only 4 turns away from completing the Maritime Control project, which should increase the speed of our ships even more.

Lastly, the Hive foil is still making no overt shows of hostility but I still wonder why they are exploring our island when all vessels should be in support of their war efforts against the Spartans. My mind begins to wonder. I also found some interesting information a while back about special "espionage" units. Your files on this subject were very detailed and since we are not pursuing the advancement of the Algorithms project counter-espionage units will need to be in place to protect our research. We will try to get each base one full team within the next 10 years but I think this is very optimistic.

I must close so that I can attend a banquet in honor of the achievements made this turn by Governor Dix. He has earned them indeed.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2216

Charles,

It is so good to hear from you again, and I am delighted that you are feeling better! Once again, I credit your leadership in formulating the basis for a planetary trade pact, and it selling it to Morgan and Zak. Morgan, I would bet, would be an easy sell and Zak probably wouldn’t need much convincing, either. All of us are relatively peaceful, and are content to build our people’s resources unless otherwise provoked. As you might guess, I whole-heartedly support this venture, and the Council, in a rare move, unanimously approved our signature to the trade pact. I was not surprised that Miriam, Santiago, and Yang voted against. After all, their societies are not based on development, but on a more brutal philosophy of subjugation in will or in fact. I hope this Pact brings all of us a great benefit!

Feel free to contact me any time. I always enjoy your views, and I might even be able to add to your ideas!

Walk with Planet,
Dee


Karl,

I have investigated the Believer sea base Belly of the Whale and it had (note ‘had’) two garrisons. I have eliminated one of them, but they put up a good fight and our foil was almost lost. What is important is that they have switched production to a garrison instead of an impact foil, so now they will not be a menace to the seas. There is one sour observation, though. They will grow to size 3 in 18 turns. I am not willing to wait that long, and I suggest that we attack and take our chances on the base foundering. These three foils could then rest and recuperate, and then advance to protect the seas around your territory. They will join an isle that is already in the area. If the base survives and we capture it I will turn it over to you since it is much closer to your sphere of influence.

I wish you well on the Maritime Control Project. We finished the Aesthetic Virtues last year, and the base that was working on it now has some serious catching up to do for basic infrastructure. We will move forward with all due speed on the Hunter-Seeker Algorithm, and then will start accumulating the resources for another Project. Incidentally, you are wise to invest resources in defense probes. I suggest making infantry probes, perhaps with armor. They are less expensive than offensive probe teams and can act as base defenders if needed!

Congratulations on your newest bases! You remind me that we now have several sites prepared and can build a few more new colonies to fill out more of our continent. We also should build some sea colonies, although the Council has voted to put them off until their cost can be borne more easily. There is also a significant expanse of sea south of Santiago’s island that needs to be explored, and a few bases will construct a few empath foils to do this.

You many have noted that I have forwarded you the secrets of Silksteel. We hooked up an artifact an isle returned from near Zak’s land to the network node at Greenhouse Gate. When we deciphered the gibberish a sharp-eyed scientist there discovered that we could build better armor with the advances, disjointed though they were, within the artifact. I figure this will be a great advantage since this armor puts us on par with Miriam’s ability to attack.

Like you I do not understand why Yang is exploring the seas instead of defending his own lands. It is heartening that he didn’t attack you, which would be suicide for him since he is overmatched against Santiago as it is. I wish we could see the lands near his bases, but the interior of his are is black. He never wanted to share his world map, even in exchange for technology or energy. His paranoid need for secrecy is denying us the ability to accurately understand how he stands. It may be necessary one day to consider aiding Yang, although we will have to consider this very carefully.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2216

Most honorable Lady Skye,

I have interesting news. Sister Miriam contacted me and for 2 hours vomited forth a tirade of accusations and lies. She vowed to destroy my "democracy" at all costs and she would see that the godless heathens would perish in the pits of hell. After I cut the comm frequency I was left stunned. I contacted all the ministers and let them review the tape and they were as horrified as myself. In all honesty I don’t believe that the only way we are going to end this war is to end her twisted world.

I cannot agree with you more about the effects of projects on a colony base. I have sometimes wondered about moving the entire government to the UN Education colony. They have worked so hard to build a city that is both functional and yet attractive to the eye and senses. I intend to focus a considerable amount of time on building up the UN Headquarters once the Maritime Project is complete.

I cannot believe the wonders that the world trade pact has provided. My economists have informed me that our energy production is equal to yours now and the additional wealth that it generates is most welcome. We will be able to crash build some very needy improvements and it will allow us to add more colonies.

I do have to inform you that one of my adjuncts forgot to add our latest map information to our last transmission. I will rectify that on the next download.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2217

Charles,

I have to say I am stunned, absolutely stunned. Chairman Yang has declared vendetta on me. He called up demanding Pre-Sentient Algorithms, and when I offered him Superstring Theory instead he threw it back in my face. Then he offered a Pact to declare war on Santiago, which I quickly declined. He was apoplectic after that, and babbled about the subjugation of the drones and that he would now use military force to stop my delusional ambitions. Is he completely insane? He is losing his war with Santiago, and now he declares war on me, too? His only friend is Miriam, and she is almost his ideological enemy. Now I think we can understand who paid Miriam to attack you. Both of them have been in league for who knows how long. In the end it is likely a desperate ploy, and I see no hope of either of them surviving. We Gaians are not warlike, be we will defend ourselves. It is our right, and duty, to do so, especially when we are wantonly attacked or war is forced upon us.

Friend Charles, I do not ask that you enter this war. In fact, it is my hope that you, as Planetary Governor, can intervene on my behalf and ask Yang to give up his extremely ill conceived designs against me. I am willing to accept a truce from him since I see no good in destroying him any quicker than he will be by Santiago. Try to contact him, and if you can ask him to give up his vendetta.

In other news, our two foils have taken Belly of the Whale from Miriam’s control. However, I cannot find out a way to give the base to your administration. We will have to remember this in the future, since it is most inconvenient. It seems I can give a base from any of the other factions BUT the Peacekeepers, who are my closest friends. Why this is I have no idea.

With regard to economics, I noticed that I received a modest increase in trade energy but that your surplus has been enhanced significantly! I can only think that the Trade Pact, and your status as Planetary Governor, enhances the trade effects. Surely you do not regret the boon!

Walk with Planet,
Dee

[Hydro]

UN Headquarters, MY 2217

The most honorable Lady Skye,

I have grave news to report. It seems that the Spartans have been able to design an aircraft that will operate on our world. They currently have one unit in production. I have been in consultations with Governor Dix for several weeks after his administrative staff learned of this development. It is safe to assume that this new technology will surely tip the balance of power on that continent if not the entire world. It seems like a slap in the face that we should complete the Maritime Project only to have it obsolete in one night. My generals are demanding that we somehow prepare for this possible new threat. What is your assessment of this situation?

I do want you to know that I have just left the Greater General Assembly and we have voted to support your struggle against the Hive. I can only believe that age has finally caught up with Chairman Yang and he is now drooling in some pot of gruel while playing with tin soldiers. I did try to contact the Chairman but to no avail. I have asked Governor Dix to try and get his staff to work with CEO Morgan or the Professor to somehow intercede on your behalf. Unfortunately I don't think they have any more diplomatic channels than do we.

I do want to report that Sister Miriam is now building an escort foil for her two transport ships. As soon as UNS Centauri Seas is shipshape again I have ordered them to proceed at flank speed to our eastern shores to take up escort/scouting duties with Diligent Peace. I think it might be time to bring this war to the Believers soon. With that in mind I am working with my entire Security Council and Ministers to reorganize some production facilities to create some transport ships of our own and marine landing troops. I will advise you when we have completed our work.

This new trade deal has been a godsend to us. We completed five projects last turn by crash building them available funds and energy! What a boon this has been for us! In short order I think we should be able to make some significant advances. We have our tenth colony pod en route and two more in slated for production that includes a sea colony pod. That colony will take roots in the small inland sea just to our north and be our key naval base.

Governor Dix would have written but he is still trying to broker some negotiations with the Spartans and Hive to settle this conflict. I wish him successes.

Prosperity through Peace
Charles R. Dix IX
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2218

Charles,

Life just got even more complicated. Santiago gave me a call, and she didn’t even bother to say hello. She demanded 600 energy, ‘Or else’. I have no intention of giving her that much energy, since I know what she will do with it. I did not, however, wish war with her so I suggested 300. She responded that now she will take up arms to eradicate my eco loony ideas from Planet. So, now I am at war with Santiago, Yang, and Miriam, and this is now a true world war. Only our long-time friends Zak and Morgan are quiescent, although they must quail somewhat at the frightful increase in war that has erupted on Planet in the last 10 years.

Santiago called another Planetary Council meeting and requested the lifting of the Charter. Again, Miriam and Yang voted with her, and Morgan, Zak and I voted against. You hold the key vote again, and I trust you will sink this loathsome effort immediately. War creeps across Planet, and its insideious tendrils spread everywhere. The last thing we need is to introduce chemical warfare to his deadly brew.

I am just as alarmed at Santiago’s acquisition of air power as you are. I can think of no other means of long-range destruction that promises to tip the scale of war more than air power. We must acquire this advance at all cost, and I think I will plan some espionage if my scientists don’t reproduce this advance first. Our scientific output is bar none and our advances occur every four or five years. That, and cashing in alien artifacts at our nodes, means that the Gaian knowledge machine is finely honed. Already we have four more artifacts making their way back to Gaian territory, although it will be a while before they make it there. All I have to say is that I thoroughly appreciate the value of the isles, which we have in abundance. In fact, we just captured another isle with two mindworms last year in the seas south of Zak’s holdings, and another in the fungus just south of Greenhouse Gate.

However frightful Doctrine: Air Power is, my scientists have developed one that is even more terrifying: Fusion. I am fairly certain I forwarded this to you, but if not I apologize. It has been a very rough week, and the Council is in chaos. Half want to abandon some or all of our hybrid forests in favor of war material, and the other half want to make peace at all costs. I think it would be sound to take a middle ground where we finish our hybrid forests, expand our colonies at several locations, and start a significant effort in production of weaponry and probes. Many of our cities have a non-ecodamage mineral production in the mid 20s now, so this will not be too trying.

Friend Charles, we need to decide what to do. I am now at war with almost half of the factions on Planet, and none of them seems at all interested in peace. I would not ask you to declare war on Yang or Santiago, but I do ask your advice. Do I concentrate on Miriam, who is smaller and, frankly, not much of a thread? Or do I go after the bigger fish, Santiago? Perhaps Yang, since he is the weakest of them all? Another option is to let the state of war exist and not press the attacks. I am isolated on my continent, and I have a good screening to prevent attacks. Moreover, each party is well involved in other concerns and they are not likely to mount a serious attack on me. I am worried about you, however, since you are close to each of these three belligerents. Your island is some protection, but not as much as you might hope. I foresee a day when there may be many transports full of troops going toward your shores, more than your navy can deal with.

This has not been a good year. My hopes of a peaceful Planet seem dashed.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2218

Most honorable Lady Skye,

This communication is a joint effort between Governor Dix and myself. We thought it best to work together on this due to the gravity of the situation.

First, I am very proud to inform you that with no dissenting votes the entire General Assembly agreed to a binding resolution of support of the Gaian nation, the Peacekeepers would stand with the Gaians at all costs in this conflict. It has become obvious to all concerned that the three rogue nations, Spartans, Hive and the Believers, are bent on creating another cataclysmic war just as we had on Earth. This will not be! We have spent months since hearing of the news preparing plans and we are ready to act! We are reducing our plans for base improvements by 50% and are putting the other half of our resources into increasing our military preparedness. It is crucial that we have a force, no matter how large, ready to act if needed. If you take the time to review the production schedules you will see that we will have a very sizable naval presence within the years to come. With the benefits of the Maritime Control project our fleet will be second to none. With that foundation I have to let you know that we are not alone in this conflict.

I contacted CEO Morgan and it seems that he is at a state of war with the Believers. So we now have an active third partner to put down these rabid dogs. CEO Morgan suggests that a joint attack on the western most colonies the Believers posse is the most prudent plan of attack. My generals gave their tentative agreement to this idea but at this moment we lack the means to provide immediate assistance. Perhaps you could assist us in this endeavor? I also think that it might be prudent to give/share, if needed, some of our advancements with the Morganites so that they will be a stronger ally, do you concur? Governor Dix did try to make contact with the three belligerent nations but none of them wanted to negotiate. This entire situation has taken a toll on our good Governor. He has spent many hours with us in consultations trying to develop a strategy that would untangle this affair but to no avail.

Lastly - the question of what shall we do. I have conferred with my generals and admirals and their assessment is that even though the Spartans have air power technology they will not have the planes in any numbers to really threaten us. The Spartans I think will still be "occupied" with the Hive for some time unless the Believers get involved and aid the Spartans in tearing the Hive down. We believe that you should work on establishing a foothold on the continent held by the Spartans and Hive. Once you have a land base your new sea bases can help screen any sea attack and your land base can then provide you with the means to swat down any planes trying to fly over the sea to your continent. We do believe that it will be you they attack first simply because of the chance to rape and plunder your scientific coffers. Look to protect them at all costs! If for some reason your scientists do uncover the secrets to airpower on this world I would put maximum effort into that project. Planes can stop any approaching transport just as easily as a ship. The key to our survival will be in denying them the ability to project sea power and transporting troops across the seas on to our land. With this in mind we believe that Sister Miriam holds the greatest threat to us all. If she does have a pact with the Spartans then her bases will/could be used by the Spartans in assaulting our lands. Neither the Hive nor the Spartans have any transports or sizable foil ships to provide escort. By taking the Believers out we not only rid ourselves of a threat but we deny our enemy of an ally!

Good hunting!

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly


Undersigned by:

Charles R. Dix IX
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2219

Charles and Karl,

I have made this an open communication with you since there are issues that are in both of your previews.

I am forwarding you the secrets of Fusion. I apologize for not sending this last year, but the Council was in total chaos and I was too distracted to ensure my harried aids transmitted the information. This advance will significantly bolster our offense and defense, and it will ensure our selected research facilities are top notch with the base fusion lab improvement.

I contacted both Zak and Morgan to see if they will enter the vendetta against Miriam and Santiago. I offered energy and technology, but neither would join us. Zak warned that Santiago and Yang had done him no harm, and Morgan asked that a contribution of over 2000 energy credits could not even begin to compensate him for the war. Of these only Morgan is at war with the Believers, and this leaves a dangerous avenue open for intentional or unintentional transfer of information or technology. Both Zak and Morgan are more advanced than Santiago, Miriam, and Yang due to their development, and technology trades and gifts between us. While this has made them friendly toward us and they have supported our motions on the Planetary Council, there could be a day when this changes. I hope it does not.

Military technology is flowing between Miriam and Yang. Miriam is now constructing missile infantry and rovers, and this makes her much more dangerous. Now all the factions seem to have missile technology. The next hurdle is when fusion is developed or is sold to these combatants. If we thought we had troubles now, just wait until the fusion missile weaponry starts pouring out of their arsenals of destruction. I fear our monopoly on fusion will not last long.

Both of us missed a crucial change in the Hive-Spartan war. About 10 years ago Santiago captured Fellowship City. This city has the Command Nexus project. So, Santiago now controls this project and has for quite a while. Now all her cities can be primed for war. That war she is pursing with vigor, and she captured another Hive city this last year. Yang is quickly slipping down a slippery slope, and he greased the skids when he declared war on me.

As to war matters, you should know that seven bases are completing hybrid forests this year, and with that most of their basic infrastructure is complete. This frees them up for constructing supply crawlers, command centers, and the production of sea going and land base prototypes and weaponry. As for the target of these hostilities, the Council was blown over by your suggestion to establish bases on Santiago and Yang’s continent and press the war on their turf. This is brilliant since there is a large expanse on unoccupied Jungle, which is ripe for development. Since we control the Planetary Transit System, any bases we establish will be productive immediately and they will act as forward bases for hostilities against Santiago. We will also establish bases at locations prepared within our territory at the same time.

Miriam does not have a Pact with Santiago. She has a treaty with the Hive, and that is all. You may want to review this with your infiltrators, Charles, to make sure I am not in error. Since Santiago is so much closer it makes some sense to press the war against her, with naval support given to you in the combined assault against Miriam. I think we can leave Yang alone – he has his own rather serious problems.

Thank you both for your clarity of thought. The Gaian Council is now in agreement; we will take the middle path, and will press hostilities primarily with Santiago with significant assistance against Miriam. If you have any other suggestions please let me know.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2219

Most honorable Lady Skye,

I am heartened that the Gaians have resolved your internal disputes and now have a clear plan of action. I think we are agreed that the Gaians will focus on establishing military bases on the Spartan continent and begin building up forward deployment areas in order to keep the battle on Spartan soil and not Gaian. We are fortunate that the Spartans do not seem to like to get their "feet" wet and lack even a scouting ship at this time. The Security Council is convinced that you should have at least 20 turns to establish your bases before the Spartans can launch any sizable attack. As long as your bases have anti-aircraft protection they should be able to withstand anything less than a major assault. It is our belief that Col. Santiago is extremely focused on destroying the Hive and that even if she detected your bases her primary thrusts will be at the Hive. The question is how long can the Hive hold out? So we encourage you to begin at once and try and establish at last one base on Spartan soil within the next 3 years. You also have one major advantage: your native contingent of soldiers, the worms. We have consulted with Governor Dix's administrators and it does seem that the Spartans do not place any emphasis on PSI warfare. This could be their Achilles heel! If you could hatch some worms from these new colonies and have mature mindworms guide their attacks you could cut a deep swath in the Spartan ranks. Our own generals are looking at this very possibility for defending our island. Enemy assault troops would not be trained to defend themselves against massed attacks by worms.

For our part we will concentrate on the Believers. The UN Education Agency colony can now produce a chaos/fusion destroyer within five turns and we hope to have Equality Village on the same production level as Education Agency very soon. With these ships we will force a blockade of Sister Miriam’s ports. My admirals have developed plans for a sea based infantry unit that will be able to conduct coastal assaults and establish beachheads for further deployments on Believer lands. Our best weapon against the Believers now is our economy. Our production in food, minerals and energy gives us a decided advantage in building up a potent attack force before them. Our weakness is the lack of production facilities to quickly build up massed military might, so, we will have to use smaller formations. Our goal is that within 25 turns we will be able to capture two Believer colonies. With these bases in our hands we can then focus on the ground campaign and bring that wretched women to justice. We have had further discussions with CEO Morgan's military administrators on a joint attack on the Believers. Their emphasis is still on capturing the western colonies as the primary focus of attack. We also tried to talk about an attack on the Spartans but, in the words of one of my generals, the Morganite generals " pissed their environmental suits " whenever the Spartans name is used. Bottom line, the Spartans sheer military might knocks the backbone right out of the Morganites and the University. I concur with your assessment that if pressured by Col. Santiago they would trade credits, technology or alliances to be spared the Spartan jackboot.

We thank you for your gift of fusion power. What a great boon it has already been. No longer do we have to go expensive re-processing of very radioactive material before disposing of it. This will save a lot of time and protect our environment! I do wish that we could share this technology but I am sure that if we did it would be used against us in a matter of years. We Peacekeepers have at our core the belief that information should be free and available to all but we also believe in not committing suicide either!

We have completed our first sea colony pod and it should be able to anchor in the small inland sea to our north. Our colony pod is making its way north and should be able to set-up within the next 3 turns if all goes well. We plan on building only 2 more land colony pod and 3 more sea pods but that alone will add 8 new bases in all since I took the helm of the Peackeepers, doubling are size! We begin construction this year on the UNS-DD Vigilant Peace. It is a Fusion/Chaos destroyer with AEGIS radar technology and then we will begin on UNS Guiding Peace an anti-aircraft armed destroyer.

Lastly, I want to discuss a matter of importance. There has been a lot of discussion about the military taking over our research labs so that they can focus on more direct military applications. I am not sure this is the best course of action. For well over a hundred turns our scientists have focused their efforts and scientific training into pure research and colonization. I think asking them to change now would only disrupt the process and cause great dissent. What are your thoughts?

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

[Hydro]

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2220

Karl,

Have a colony established on the Spartan and Hive continent in 3 years? That is ambitious, and not do-able at the moment. An isle is working its way north as we speak, and it will act as a worthy transport for men and supplies until others can be built. We will use the three Believer bases to construct shell garrisons, and then bring them to shore with the transports. Colony pods will be constructed on the mainland since it will only take one or two turns to construct them. Even if all goes well I cannot see getting a colony up in less than 5 years. It will take at least that long to start some serious prototyping, which we need for silksteel, chaos weaponry, and cruiser hulls. There is also the serious possibility that our scientists will develop air power soon, so that will have to be prototyped, too. In short, there is much to do and little time to do it. Another option is to build a land bridge, which will be useful for a rover force. That, however, will take even more time.

It will also take some time to get the last required infrastructure at bases that have completed hybrid forests. These bases can now produce an amazing 30 minerals without ecological damage, and this will allow massive production of war material at a very fast clip. My guess is that three more years will be required before half our bases can be fully converted to war material.

You may also have noted that the Gaian economics and values have been shifted. Last year the Council, on a narrow vote, decided to switch back to a wealth focus. This year they overruled me and we now have a Planned economic system, which seems to have a perverse appeal to both the nuke-‘em-now and please-don’t-hurt-me factions in the Council. Personally, I think they are both wrong and that we should concentrate on our harmony with Planet, but I was completely overruled on this one. We can also expect a period of instability as our bases grow very quickly again, as I expect they will all grow to size 16 in short order. One item that has suffered is our research rate, which is lowered to one advance every seven years since our allocation is now 50% (down from 70%) due to inefficiency. A benefit is that our energy reserves will get a huge spike since more is now allocated to our general reserves. As to research orientation, we have the critical technologies to mount a war on any of the hostile factions except air power, so there is no great need to switch our orientation at this time. With our combined research we should easily out pace our rivals, and there are now 4 artifacts making their way to Gaian territory, and linking these to network nodes always yields a technological surprise.

The Hive is now down to 5 bases. Before this last year was out I noted that one of Chairman Yang’s bases was missing its intrinsic perimeter defense, and that can only mean sabotage by the Spartans. With this defense ripped away Santiago’s well-trained missile infantry and rovers are sure to make mince meat of Yang, and, sure enough, that same base fell this last year. It seems Yang’s time is quickly slipping away since he has lost 5 bases to Santiago, fully half of what he started with at the onset of his war. This makes Santiago all the more dangerous, and it may be useful to stage a amphibious assault to wrest the Command Nexus from her hands. With this Project she is dangerous indeed.

I wish you all due speed in your base construction program. You might want to consider placing your sea bases in the Sargasso Sea, which is now overrun with kelp. This area is also farther away from any marauding Believer or Hive forces. Speaking of the Hive, their only sea foil attacked our isle patrolling his northern boarder. It must have suffered a critical morale failure since it foundered and the isle sustained no damage at all. This isle is making its way back to our home territory so it can act as an amphibious transport along Santiago’s eastern and/or northern boarder.

Events are passing quickly, and both of us need to prepare for the unwanted wars that have been forced upon us. Still, as you say, we must defend ourselves and, if we do, we must do so aggressively. We Gaians are not well suited to this, but we will do our best.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2220

Venerable Lady Skye,

The Security Council agrees with your assessment on the Hive. We predict if the Spartans continue their war that within 10 turns the Hive will cease to exist. It does seem tragic that the Hive people will loose one oppressor only to gain another. If I know Col. Santiago at all she will not let up until she finishes off the Hive. We expect that the Spartans will then take some time to "consolidate" their new holdings and enhance their infrastructure. If the data is correct the Governor Dix provided us the Spartan economy is still very "primitive" when compared to ours. Their soldiers might be the best on this world but their workers and scientists don't seem to be very efficient in improving their economy.

We understand that it will still take more time than expected for you to get some bases operational on the Spartan continent. Our concern is that Col. Santiago is, if anything, predictable. When she discovers your bases she will throw the full weight of the Spartan war machine at them. Like a lion protecting her territory Col. Santiago will not allow any interlopers on her land. I just hope that the distance and the lack of infrastructure, i.e... roads, will cripple the Spartans means of putting massive amounts of troops in your new territory.

On to brighter news - we have completed our first sea colony pod and it should anchor next turn and begin enhancing the surrounding area. We have picked an area that has a rich mineral sea floor sector. This should aid the base in building up their infrastructure more quickly. We also agree with your assessment of building a colony in the heart of the Sargasso Sea. My generals concur that it would have great strategic value since it could provide long-range detection of approaching ships and a forward supply center for our ships.

I was surprised to hear that you are switching your economic approach again. The last time the Gaians attempted this your economy got out of control and you had massive riots to deal with, if I am correct, not to mention the impact on the ecology. For some strange reason the benefits of our Green economic plan outweigh those of the planned economy. Our Peacekeeper political and economic system seems to have an inherent inefficacy that only by adopting an ecologically friendly economic system seems to correct. We would grow faster and have more wealth under a planned economy but the inefficiency and other drawbacks are too great to bear. I wish you luck on your endeavor, if any nation can do what you are attempting it will be the ever-resourceful Gaians.

It has been decided by the General Assembly that we will not militarize part of our scientific community. Many in the military screamed that we would regret this decision sometime in the near future. However, if you look at our enemies, the Believers and Spartans, they really lack the scientific expertise to out surpass us. We have agreed to shift 10% of our economic output to science to increase the effectiveness of our labs. We hope that with this effort we can make more breakthroughs that will not only make us a stronger military power but also a stronger nation.

One last note: Governor Dix is planning on traveling to your nation to discuss issues with you, face to face. It was agreed that "secrecy" would be his best protection rather than mustering all of our ships to escort him. I think you will find his insight very useful and I will miss having it here. I think that it will be last time I will see him since he plans on moving on to visit the University and the Morganites when done. Please look after him for us.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

++++++++++++++++++++++

My friend Lady Skye,

It has been a while since we last communicated. I think that it might be time that we meet. I have contacted a merchant vessel and he has agreed to transport me to your closest base. Karl Broddarp is not too happy about my decision but I think it is time that we discuss current events and how they will impact the future. I would like to spend a year or so with your people if you can put up with me. I do travel with a large contingent of administrators who will also need accommodations. My plan is to move on to the University and then to Morganites to open dialogues with them. I will be out of communication for some time so expect me when I arrive. Karl Broddarp's Minister of Intelligence has warned me to keep this mission quiet, currently only 4 people know what I intend to do. My administrators think I am just going to visit another Peacekeeper base.

I look forward to seeing you soon.


Charles R. Dix IX
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2221

Friend Karl,

I am not sure I agree that the Hive only has 10 years before all of Yang’s warrens are conquered by Santiago. He is hiding behind formidable natural defenses, unless subverted, and he can likely hold out for a good time. However, he will grow less and less able to exert any authority at all. Santiago, in the mean time, is likely to be myopic in her drive to conquer Yang while he is weak and on the run. By the time she is finishing him my bases should be established with a significant buildup of armaments. Then Santiago can truly understand the impact of military might backed by a comparatively enormous production and economic base.

As to the Gaian economy and society preferences, I agree with you. But since we have a democracy it is difficult for me to exert and press my will on others. I can influence and cajole, but almost all the members of the Council are aligned against me. So, for the time being we will have an inefficient Planned economy with an emphasis on wealth. I have to concede that this will allow us to build our infrastructure and a massive rate and that our population will quite literally boom, but it is destabilizing to our society. We had no fewer than 5 bases riot this last year and the rioters were only placated by training our police in non-lethal methods and by the use of empaths. I expect more riots in the coming year. While annoying, these riots do not really harm our society other than delaying production and scientific output. Riots are only a true threat if left untended; that is when significant harm can be done to our infrastructure.

I wish your well in setting up your sea bases. The Sargasso Sea is a rich place for a series of bases, and it is high time someone took advantage of Planet’s bounty. These bases will also be a fine staging area for our foils – kind of a way point. Eventually I expect you will have sea bases ringing your island, both for production, energy, and most importantly as sentries.

As I feared the secrets of fusion power were short lived. Both Morgan and Zak now possess this advance, and thankfully this has not slipped to any of our belligerents – Miriam, Yang, and especially Santiago. I hope both of these peaceful builders will keep their head and maintain this dangerous technology under wraps - if not our then lives will have gotten much more complicated.

You might note that Santiago until recently had a sea foil. It met a most unfortunate fate at the hand of a rogue isle, and while I feel for its crew I do not feel any sense of loss for Santiago. The point is that Santiago has discovered the use of sea power, and I urge you not to neglect the defenses of your new sea bases. I suggest forming a basic trained scout and then upgrading to fusion plasma or silksteel as soon as possible since this will reduce your window of vulnerability. Make sure they have at least two defenders with the best fusion armor as possible. Your naval centers you will acquire with the Maritime Control Centers will be of great use, and will double your sea base defenses.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

+++++++++

[encryption code: #### Secure channel only; retinal verification of recipient required ###]

Charles,

I will welcome you to our lands, and I will be happy to personally give you a tour of anything you might like to see. I recommend that your transport dock at Gaia’s High Garden, which is the northern-most Gaian base. I want to make sure that you are exposed to as little threats while at sea as possible, and I will feel more at ease when you are safely at a Gaian base. Your planned trip to Morgan and University lands is likely to be long and arduous. I offer the use of one of our isles for this purpose since it will not be hindered by sea fungus, and it is likely to withstand all but the most determined assault by hostiles or rogue mindworm isles.

Do you know that I haven’t seen you in over 120 years? It is hard to believe that it has been that long, and I can see you standing in the biology lab on Unity as if it were yesterday. I wish you a safe trip, and I hope you can extend your stay for a while. We have so much to discuss – more than our regular notes can relay.

Until then,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2221

Most venerable Lady Skye,

We have established our first sea colony, UN Ocean Authority base. It is a marvel to behold! We appreciate your concern and advice about the colony's defense but it is well situated in our inland sea and we don't anticipate allowing any enemy ships to enter. However, the Sargasso Sea base will be something all together different. That is why UNS Centauri Seas will escort the colony pod to the site and stay on duty until the base can set-up adequate defenses.

My generals were curious as to why you have left the scout helicopter unused at our UN Aid Station colony. Surely this unit could find more practical uses such as patrolling your perimeter or scouting Spartan defenses? Why military aid have gone there along with a great many of our machinists and scientists to study the machine. I think I would rather have an air force, as my generals inform me, than of planes. One of the alien artifacts should reach the UN Planetary Trust base next turn and then we can unlock its secrets. There is still one in storage at the UN Aid Station but my Security Council is afraid to risk its transport across the dense fungus fields.

The Greater General Assembly has been meeting almost continuously about the sudden disappearance of the Governor. I have been ordered to appear several times for hearings but under my executive privilege I have refused to divulge the whereabouts of Governor Dix. This event has truly unnerved the population and there has been some panic. Once he arrives at your base please notify me so that I can release a recorded message from Governor Dix that explains his reasons for leaving.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2222

Supreme General Secretary Broddarp,

I am Linsay Wise, Lady Skye’s senior attaché, and I am contacting at the request of Lady Skye. She has been evacuated from Gaia’s Landing at the insistence of the Council, and over her VERY vocal objections, due to a full-scale riot here, and at 2/3 of all Gaian bases. She knows too much about decorum to tell the Council ‘I told you so,’ but I could see it in her eyes that she was disgusted that the policies they forced down her throat were the cause of so much pandemonium. Even with all this chaos the Council is set in its plans to maintain our current economic and social priorities. Just before she was whisked away to an undisclosed location she gave me your communication code so I could fill you in on a couple of critical issues.

First, our scientists have reverse-engineered Santiago’s work on Doctrine: Air Power, which she has authorized me to send to you as the representative of the Peacekeepers. This advance should do much to bring parity to our forces once the planes have been prototyped and produced. Dee said that as soon as the chaos dies down two or three bases will start an aerospace center and then a chaos fusion needlejet, both attack and interceptor types.

Second, she wanted me to tell you that the ‘special package’ arrived safe and sound. She didn’t tell me what the ‘special package’ is, but I assume you know. I will leave it at that.

That’s all for now. Gaia’s Landing is in lock down this evening and I have to return to my quarters. Take care.

Yours truly,
Lindsay

[Hydro]

UN Headquarters, MY 2222

Most venerable Lady Skye,

I do hope that you will soon find peace in your lands. It has been over 70 years since our last worker riots and I think it would be difficult for us to deal with them again. Perhaps you could send us some of the data you have collected on the means to suppress such events. My Ministers of the Interior and Police would like to review them.

Your assistant’s message came through and I do hope that Governor Dix is well. I have informed the Peacekeeper population and to my astonishment there was such a great outpouring of support for his new "mission" that we declared a national week of celebration in his honor! I look forward to reading the scope of your talks and how they develop.

We have completed our last land-based colony, UN Great Refuge colony. From now on we will only construct sea-based colonies. The plan is to construct 5 to 6 more additional sea-based colonies that would ring our island. The debate now rages if we should try and place a colony on the small island to our west. It could support two maybe three land based colonies and it would provide an excellent forward support base. The question is should we look west first then build our sea colonies. The problem with building on the small island is one of support. Not only would we have to put one or two colony pods on the island at the same time we would also have to provide garrison units and at least one terraformer. This does not included the cost of building the transport ship along with at least 2 destroyers to provide some screening force for the island. Currently we lack that type of material resource. Another place we are looking at is the small island, Hollow Island. It would serve as a forward supply base, we could develop several sea based colonies on the northern and eastern sides of the island that could take advantage of both land and sea resources. However, it is very close to your territory and we would not place our colonies there without some an agreement. Perhaps we could work out a compromise. If your isles of the deep could provide the screening force on the western side of the Isle of Athena then we could build one colony pod and one terraformer to get things started. Please feel free to give me your thoughts and your government’s wishes.

We have completed UNS-DD Vigilant Peace and it will make its way to take up station with UNS-DD Diligent Peace. With this task force in place our eastern shores should be well protected. We also have plans to build an anti-aircraft escort destroyer for the task force to give it another dimension, the UNS-DD Resolute Peace.

Many of our long-range terraforming projects are coming close to completion. Thermal boreholes and condensers should help improve the amount of resources we can extract from our island.

It does seem that your assessment was more correct than my Security Council on how quickly the Spartans would absorb the Hive. What troubles me even more is the buildup of troops by the Believers. They now have large numbers of infantry units but with only two transports the only likely use of these units will be to move south towards CEO Morgan. The question will be, will Morgan fight or pay!

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2223

Karl,

The riots weren’t so bad this last year, especially since our bases are reaching their maximum size of 16 now. As to riot control, you already know of two of the key techniques – facilities such as recreation commons, holo theatres, and research hospitals, and conversion of workers to roles such as empathi. You can also train your garrisons in non-lethal methods, and this will help sooth an otherwise angry worker to relative contentment due to diplomatic yet purposeful behavior on the part of the police. Unless you are a police state only one such garrison works in a base, and any more than that is redundant.

Charles was my guest for over two months. We had so much to talk about, and we delighted in our achievements and mourned our losses. So much has happened that it is almost hard to believe that this is not our home, yet every time I go outside and have to wear a breather and see beautiful fields of xenofungus I am starkly reminded that we are just visitors here. We had in-depth discussions on Charles’ vision for the future, where peace if brokered and, if absolutely necessary, enforced throughout Chiron. This seemed to weigh upon Charles and he seemed to inspire and overwhelm him at the same time. It is a grand vision, and I am happy to be part of it. My vision is for Chiron itself. The longer I am here the more I am convinced this is more than a planet, and that we have stumbled onto something greater than we are. We need to understand where we live, and how Planet works or, dare I say, thinks, if we are to achieve harmony with it. Charles was observant and respectful of my vision, and he labored to find a place for it in his. I think they are compatible and that both can be achieved. After two months I could see he was anxious to move on, and we made our way to Thorny Vineyard, our base closest to University territory. He boarded an isle and, while interested, he clearly was not prepared to be transported on a floating mindworm boil! I stayed and explained how the isle worked and introduced him to its handler. After a day or two he was content, and I bid him a fond farewell. I got a squirt from him yesterday and he is in a small swatch of sea xenofungus, but they are making good progress. He will likely be in University lands by the end of next month.

As for expansion, I suggest you concentration on the Sargasso Sea first. If you are interested in more land bases you may want to consider the Isle of Athena to your west. It could easily hold three basses. There are vast tracts of territory on the northwestern part of our continent, and you are welcome to establish bases there, too. The territory is not terribly inviting, but with some judicious terraforming it should do. If you wish to settle on or by Hollow Island be my guest. It is unused and too small to be of immediate use to us.

Yang does seem to be putting up a fight, but he is slowly having his defenses destroyed faster than they are built. Santiago will eventually win, but it will drain and distract her. I can’t say I am disappointed. Miriam was expanding south, but we destroyed her base in the Monolith Ring. There are two Gaian mindworms patrolling the fungal wall between Miriam and Morgan, so we are effectively screening him. This is a broad expanse of fungus and it isn’t likely that Miriam, who is blinded by her belief in her vengeful god from seeing and having even the most basic understanding of Planet. It must be a formidable barrier to her. But, not to we Gaians! To us it is a playground! Rest assured that is we find any Believer forces in the fungus they will not last long. Our mindworms are especially good at attacking in their native environment!

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2223

Most venerable Lady Skye,

I want to thank you for your government’s timely response to our questions concerning expansion and from those answers we have made the following decisions. First, we will expand south before we got west. We will move sea colonies into the Sargasso Sea area first and move easterly towards Hollow Island. We formerly extend the following arrangement that no Peacekeeper base will expand more south than the southern shores of Hollow Island. We thank you for your offer of the northern areas of your continent but it still does not solve our biggest problem, logistics. By expanding south we insure that we are able to respond quickly from any eastern or western base. It also builds and invaluable sea bridge between your nation and ours. Perhaps the gentleman that will someday take my place will expand to the west but not me. It will be two turns before we get a colony base to the site we have chosen in the Sargasso Sea. If for some reason you nation changes its mind please let us know.

We have achieved some key domestic goals this turn. First we have completed a thermal-borehole near at our UN Equality village and a Condenser near UN Planning Authority. The mineral and nutrient boosts these projects will give are immeasurable. Also, you will find that with the aid of one the alien artifacts we have made an enormous breakthrough concerning terraforming operations, the super-former. I think you will find it all but eliminates all previous versions of terraformers. We also completed the UNS-DD Vigilant Peace. It is moving at top speed to join UNS-DD Diligent Peace on our eastern seas. If Sister Miriam brings her missile foils to tangle with our Chaos and Missile destroyers she will have to contact them at the bottom of the ocean.

On the diplomatic front none other than Chairman Yang at long last contacted me. He looked terrible. He all but begged me to join with him against the Spartans. We had a very long discussion that resulted in our signing a treaty of friendship. He was very insistent on trying to get hold of either airpower technology or silk steel. He even tried to make up some "tale" about lives at stake and needing that technology to save lives. Well, the only life he was trying to save was his own and the unknown threat I am sure was the fear of seeing Spartan battle flags hanging from his walls. In the end no technology was exchanged. I even tried to get him to cancel his vendetta against you but to no avail. He claims he has been "paid" and that under the terms of the contract he must complete his task in destroying you. The man is mad! Even as he clutches on to his last five bases he dreams of actually crushing some faction that has thousand times the power he does. I am now more convinced than ever the Sister Miriam "steered" Yang into a war against you, which distracted him from the real threat, Sparta! I am positive the Sister Miriam and Col. Santiago must have had a hand in it.

It seems we are not the only ones with air power now. If you will have your intelligence teams check you will find CEO Morgan is building needle jets. I am pretty certain that the Morganites discovered it themselves but it is still a troubling event.

Lastly, I am still going through Governor Dix's last transmission before he left your homeland and I do have to see that I will have to provide and edited copy for the General Assembly. Your Gaian hospitality certainly extends into areas that we Peacekeepers would never have dreamed - ummm ummm. Aside from that it has been very enlightening and I hope someday to meet you myself.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2224

Karl,

You used a rare artifact to speed the production of a former prototype? That must be a valuable project to use such a rare find! Personally, I save them for Projects, if I am desperate, or I link them to network nodes to speed research. As you have seen, gaining and retaining an edge in the technological race is of paramount importance, and artifacts can greatly aid this race. We have utilized about four artifacts to yield breakthroughs, and four more are now on Gaian territory to be linked with nodes.

One of our isles was found by one of Miriam’s foils this last year. They survived the encounter, mainly because Miriam’s crews seem to have little idea on how to battle native units. Still, it was irritating since she seemed to know exactly where the isle was in the wide expanse of sea to the east of her island. The isle contained a recently upgraded missile foil with amphibious ability, and it was going to be used to pluck poorly defended city from Miriam’s grasp. Now the isle will have to spend time healing in a patch of nearby fungus. Two upgraded fusion missile foils are heading toward Miriam’s last sea base along her southern boarder. Hopefully we will get there before she gets a decent sea foil completed, since she has no hope of surviving without it due to our combat advantage (approximately 3:1).

Thank you for the technology Advanced Ecological Engineering. Although it hasn’t arrived yet, we will take advantage of this ability to retrofit our existing formers to aid their abilities. New bases will build rover-based formers, since these can move faster over flat and improved terrain.

Yes, I heard about the Charles’ exploits. It seems he is quite charismatic and at least one of the young aids fell at Gaia’s High Garden under his spell. He wasn’t like that on Unity, and my only guess is that he was able to relax and let his more basic (if you will excuse the use of the work) self come through. Still, the years seemed to have melted off him by the time he left and he did seem to enjoy himself. If you hear how he is doing with his visit with Zak and Morgan please let me know.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2224

The revered Lady Skye,

I apologize about the mis-communication. We did not use the artifact for prototyping rather we linked it to our networks and it allowed us to make the breakthroughs on super terraformer technology. I do hope that you will get to incorporate them into your terraforming operations. We hope that they will be of great benefit to us. Many of our old terraformers have been around since our very first days on this world and their operations are very inefficient but they still work.

We have established ahead of schedule UN Marine Agency colony in the heart of the Sargasso Seas. It should give us both a much-needed port in that area which will help us firm up our control even more. We plan on building several more colonies in that area. One more sea colony pod will be dispatched to set-up just south and east of the Marine Agency colony and the last one will set-up south and east of that pod in the secluded bay on the northeastern edge of Hallow Island. This should give us sufficient presence in that area and help establish a chain of colonies that can assist each other in times of danger.

We do plan on building one more sea colony pod in the inland sea just north of our island near the entrance. When we complete that expansion we will be done with expansion with a new emphasis on infrastructure improvements. I will have met my own goals of doubling the overall size of the Peacekeeper nations. While I am on the subject of improvements, the General Assembly has asked that I make a small request of your people. We have fallen behind in upgrading many of our base defense units. Some of them are still armed with only laser weapons. We would like to arrange a small loan, whatever you feel is appropriate, to complete some upgrades in that area. At the minimum we would like to improve four infantry units to missile units if possible. This would cost somewhere around 250 credits. If you feel that sum is too extravagant we do understand and should you decide to offer less that will be understood as well.

How do you fair with your work towards building bases on the Spartan continent? Do you plan any offensive operations against them soon? Some of my admirals have been developing a plan to neutralize a key threat to us all. At Godwinson's Hope Sister Miriam is building up some sort of amphibious landing force. Once UNS-DD Resolute Peace is completed and forms up with the task force lead by UNS-DD Diligent Peace they would like to assault that Believer base and end that threat. Would your forces be in a position to assist in 7 turns or so to make that assault? Please have your military advisors contact mine and confirm your willingness. The end result, if successful would be the end of that invasion force and the freeing up of needed ships for other operations.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2225

Karl,

I apologize for the misinterpretation. I simply didn’t read your note correctly. We have already begun an upgrade program on our terraformers, although it is somewhat expensive at 60 energy credits per so they can be fusion super infantry formers. In reality, though, 60 energy to double the terraforming rate is a bargain!!

Your expansion initiative is an excellent one, and the Council has approved a gift of 500 energy toward your effort at expansion and defense upgrades. I noticed you have prototyped silksteel, which we still need to do. One of our worms traveling along the northern pole saw one of your destroyers, and they are very impressive! Miriam will have a hard time sinking one of those even if she gets the first shot, and if she doesn’t then her crew will be exploring the wonders of Davy Jone’s Locker.

As to colonizing Santiago’s continent, we finished prototyping the cruiser transport and it was inaugurated this year. Two colony pods on rover chasses are being constructed as we speak, and they will be transported over as soon as they are done. Two other bases are working on Aerospace Centers, and they will start producing aircraft very soon. The first shipload of troops will begin their trek as the colonies are being set up. One other option is to put the colonies on aircraft hulls! This will speed deployment, but we have to prototype needlejets first.

We currently have two fusion missile foils that are stationed along the Miriam’s southern border. They will begin their attacks as early as next year, so let me know how your progress toward the area.

Lastly, I neglected to let you know we completed the Hunter-Seeker Algorithm a few years ago. I was distracted due to the riots, but no more. Our land has quieted down, although the growth is still fasts at our younger bases.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

[Hydro]

UN Headquarters, MY 2225

Most venerable Lady Skye,

I have both wondrous and terrible news to inform you of. Our scientists have re-discovered the secrets of space flight! I know you will find it hard to believe but a top group of researchers have discovered the means to create rocket propellant from the minerals of this planet. Along with that discover they also handed me data crystals that have plans for satellites. I am also sending you information on rockets or more correctly ICBMs. This is the most chilling discovery we have made since landing on this world. We also have information on the creation of fusion armed ICBMs that can wipe out entire cities along with the surrounding lands. My hands are trembling in fear as I write this communiqué.

I wish I could consult with Governor Dix on a secure line about this issue but none exists in University territory. I did ask him to return immediately due to matters of national importance. He said he would. He is expected to arrive this turn at one of your bases. Please try and consult with him on your government’s policy towards this issue and if you could speed his return I would consider it a great favor. I am sure he would prefer that I lock the secrets into a steel box and drop them off into the ocean never to be seen again. However, we both face terrible adversaries that will stop at nothing to destroy us. Should they obtain the same secrets we now posses they could try and threaten us with destruction if we do not comply with their demands. By having this technology we have at least the option to arm ourselves and hope that the counter strikes we could delivery would be so terrible that our enemies would never use them on us. With this in mind I am sending you the data, may the spirits of this planet forgive me. If you choose to destroy it and never use then that is your choice. It is mandated in our constitution that we cannot create thermo-nuclear weapons of any type. The unfortunate reality is that our enemies know this too so our very ideals destroy the only deterrent why might have against our enemies using them against us. I have not decided if I will force a vote to amend the constitution so that if needed we could arm ourselves. Nonetheless, we will build non-nuclear ground to sea, air and ground "interceptor" missiles and we will establish a United Nations Air and Space Command agency that will coordinate our air and space defense and early warning systems. Once the network is established and missiles are created any enemy vessel that approaches our island will be warned and if they do not turn about we will fire our interceptors. I have been told even the most heavily armed/armored ships could not withstand even one of these missiles hits. We might have uncovered the means to protect our island but at what costs.

We do appreciate your "gift" of credits and have made good use of them. We upgraded many garrisons to missile technology and with the latest silk steel armor. We are also trying to bring in several terraformers at a time to upgrade them as well to super terraformers. We have completed a tree farm project at our Headquarters and the boon from that project is tremendous. We hope to add more improvements in time. The latest reports I have from he council of ministers indicated that within the next 10 turns we should have turned the corner, so to speak, and our many of our bases will have the necessary improvements to move to a war production system that will sustain any military campaign we devise against the Believers.

Lastly, none of the other "faction" leaders wished to communicate with me during this turn. It seemed like they somehow knew what new "technology" we had created and did not know how to act. I pray that is not the case.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

*~*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2226

Karl,

Your advance of Orbital Spaceflight is ominous and hopeful. It is ominous since it allow the development of planetbusters, which promise to sow the same societal and environmental degradation as they did on Earth. At the same time it is hopeful, since it will allow us to take our first steps to the stars, and do it much sooner than any might have expected. I expect that our monopoly on this advance will last about as long as fusion, and one someone else gets it we are likely to see it spread. We will both have to work hard to make sure these devices are never used.

It turns out you were right about Santiago’s conquering of the Hive – he will likely lose his last bases in the next few years. He lost Great Clustering this last year, and with that he is down to three bases. He long ago slipped below critical mass, and it is just a matter of time before Santiago’s troops roll into his last pathetic warren. Once that occurs Santiago will turn her greedy eyes elsewhere, likely me. She will not find me cowering in a hole, since as we speak our first transport full of colony pods, garrisons, probes, and attack units are on the way. First I will have a covert team subvert Santiago’s western-most base north of the Jungle, then build a couple bases in the jungle. The next transport will be ready next year, and it will bring more pods, troops, and formers. We will start prototyping our needlejets next year, and by then our war machine will be in full gear. I anticipate that about half of our bases will be geared up to fight Santiago, and the rest will continue with infrastructure.

Also, our two missile foils are in position to attack Miriam’s last sea base. It will be a long fight since she has some of her invasion force there. But, better to take it out there then have it land on your shores!!

My scientists advise me we are scheduled for a breakthough next year. I hope it doesn’t duplicate your efforts. We will have two or three artifacts to link to network nodes next year, and who knows what wonders they will yield!

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2226

Most venerable lady Skye,

I concur with your statements about the threat of thermo-nuclear war and I wanted to inform you that the Peacekeeper nation has debated the subject and we have taken a national referendum and the result was a astonishing. Nearly 80% of the our people voted to not to tread down the path of the nuclear dragon, no nuclear weapons will be built. Once I am able to contact Governor Dix I am sure he will be most proud of our people.

Our destroyer squadron is en-route to support your missile foils attack on the Believer sea base. They will arrive a turn too late since at maximum speed they will only reach the outer perimeter of the sea base. The following turn they should be able to lend full support to the attack. Should anything "sneaky" occur your foil crews should be aware that Peacekeeper ships have their backs covered and will enter the fray as soon as possible.

Once we have neutralized the sea base and the amphibious assault force stationed there then I intend to have our destroyers eliminate any sea improvements that are in the area. I don't want that base able to build another attack fleet soon. I tried to get CEO Morgan to join us in our assault but he, and I suppose he should be, more concerned with the bases on the eastern half of the Believer island since they have a land bridge to him. I tried to get him to realize that our attack will most probably force Miriam to change her strategy and "hunker" down as my generals say to protect her bases.

I did get another frantic call from Chairman Yang it he was begging for more assistance against the Spartans. I know that no formal state of war exists between us and the Spartans but when that day comes it will come with us standing shoulder to shoulder with our Gaian allies and not with the Hive.

Please let me know when Governor Dix boards the merchant ship to return to our lands.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

*~*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2227

Karl,

This was an extraordinary year for Gaian scientists! First we discovered the secrets of Neural Grafting, then we linked up three network nodes and were able to decipher the secrets of Mind/Machine Interface, BioEngineering, and Organic Superlubrication! The worth of these advances can hardly be understated. Neural Grafting will allow us to give our military and civilian units more abilities, and it will allow us to start the project Neural Amplifier, which we have done. Mind/Machine Interface will allow the construction of the Cyborg Factory, which will significantly improve the morale of our troops. BioEngineering will allow the Longevity Vaccine Project that will enhance the overall well being of our populous. Lastly, Organic Superlube makes all other weapons obsolete, since it has an attack factor of 10!

You may have noticed that most of these advances are military in origin. I can assure you that this was not intended. Moreover, some of these have some frightening applications if misapplied, such as the Neural Amplifier, Cyborg Factory, and of course the more efficient attack weapons of Organic Superlube. All I can say is that I am glad that we have these and not the more malevolent factions, specifically Santiago.

Our two foils have destroyed two of Miriam’s defenders in her sea base. There are many more, and your destroyers are welcome to join the battle. I suggest that when the last defender is eliminated that you secure the base so it can be used in your future operations against the Believers.

Chairman Yang has three bases and four defenders. He will not be able to survive much longer. That is all the more reason to press the attack on Santiago! As I mentioned last year, our forces are on the way. We are building basic military structures, like Command Centers and Aerospace Centers, that we have neglected up to now, but soon our war machine will be cranked up to full speed. Somehow I don’t think Santiago will stand up long against fusion powered fusion lasers.

Lastly, the good Governor Dix is on his way home. He did not stay long and seemed preoccupied by your advance in Orbital Spaceflight. We had a long talk at Gaia’s Landing and decided that neither of us will build these horrific weapons, even at the expense of military defeat or a significant setback. Charles was thinking, as always, of the precedent such an action would set for future generations, and I agreed with him. We did come to an accord that we should build some satellites as soon as possible. As soon as a Gaian base finishes its aerospace center we will start a Hydroponics Satellite if that base has a good mineral output.

Events threaten to overtake us, Karl. Kindly let me know what your thoughts are.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2227

Most venerable lady Skye,

Your gifts are overwhelming! We still have not been able to incorporate all of that new technology into our society and military, it will take us years. I was able to communicate briefly with Governor Dix before he left and I informed him of your transfer of information and he too was left speechless. We all thank you again.

Perhaps as a small repayment I take pride in informing you that our destroyer squadron "blew to pieces" two Believer foils that were just to the west of your position. One of destroyers did take some damage but the captain feels he can continue on and lend assistance to the other destroyer and your vessels. The Believers fought valiantly but did not have the weaponry or armor to withstand our salvos. Our destroyers should arrive at the sea base next turn to help your assualt.

To be honest with you it seems like things are going too well. Our bases are growing at a steady pase and we are firming up our defenses every year by upgrading our defenders. Once we have some more ships of the line to provide a suitable escort the Security Council is planning a major offensive against the Believers. The plan is to build several armored transports and load them with highly trained ground assault troops and counter-intelligence teams to protect them.

Things are still quiet with the other leaders. Each time I communicate with Morgan and the Professor they seem almost strangely quiet about anything. Even the news about our double blows against the Believers did not seem to arouse him. Odd...

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2228

Karl,

I am much relieved that I have FINALLY convinced the Council to switch from their irresponsible Planned economics and Wealth orientation to a more sensible Green economy and Knowledge orientation. It was a hard sell, and I admit I had to twist a few arms to do it. I even evoked your name as an example, and held it up to them to shame them saying: If our allies the Peacekeepers hold our values dearer than we do, what does that say about us? I got a sullen silence in response. The vote, which was by roll call, was almost unanimous. Our infrastructure and military hardware will be more expensive, but so be it. I also forced through an allocation of 70% of our economy to science, and our advances will occur every three years or so.

We have continued our assault on the Believer sea base and two more garrisons were eliminated. I will welcome your destroyers to the fray since my foil captains report that they have sustained not inconsiderable damage in the last two assaults. They have one real garrison left, and after that unarmored transports and probes, which will crumble fairly quickly. I will leave the base for your destroyers to administer, as we agreed.

Our first transport nears the first Spartan base. Our elite probe teams will subvert it next year – it is so kind of Santiago to provide us with a ready-made base of operations!! Our colony pods will be next, and the formers after. I’m having a hard time forcing the base administrators our of their myopic focus on infrastructure, but with the morale enhancing facilities complete they will have no more reason for delay. It is high time that we got our production partially re-oriented toward suppressing the aggressors around us.

Take care, friend Karl. Charles should be back by now, and give him my best.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

[Hydro]

UN Headquarters, MY 2228

The most venerable Lady Skye,

I have just received a communication from the commodore leading our destroyer task force and he informed me that his ships have bombarded the Believer base which resulted in the destruction of the last infantry garrison. The UNS-DD Vigilant Peace also destroyed a Believer seaformer and has positioned their ship just to the west of the base. The Vigilant Peace is equipped with long-range radar so should the missile foil being built in the Believer base on the northern side of the island try to sneak in behind us we will have ample warning. I have been instructed to make the request that the Peacekeepers try and make the final assault on the sea base. If we can capture the base we can put a thorn in the side of Sister Miriam and force her to come to terms, we hope. Perhaps by capturing the base we can trade it back to them for peace. Our reasoning is that such a humiliating defeat will force Miriam to come to terms with her failed grasp for power and learn not to jeopardize peace again. Of course both our governments must agree upon our plan of action. I know that soon you will find yourselves braced against the full might of the Spartan war machine and your collective will and might will be bent on repulsing them. If by this action we can free up our forces to concentrate on the Spartans, all the better for us. The author of this plan for the most part is our very own Governor Dix. It is his analysis that the Believers only respect power and by showing them such a humiliating defeat is the only way to find the crack in their armor. Of course, should the plan not succeed we still would have a nice forward base that we can use to "pick away" at Believer ships and destroy their coastal terraforming projects. In time they will be forced to accept some form of peace or be faced with the reality of governing an island in name only.

We are still growing, steady and sure, at all our bases. Our new Minister of Terraforming in adopting a new strategy which he calls "gang forming". I am sure you have been using this for some time since he says he learned to concept from papers written by your own very talented terraforming experts. We have every reason to believe that we should be able to bring on needed terraforming projects in half the time. The key will be for us to help give the teams of terraformers some escort protection. In essence we put all of our eggs in one basket and one wild mind worm mass could take out an entire colony's terraformers. These escorts can also be used to react to emergency situations such as invasions or riots.

Lastly, I have to bring up an important issue with your government. There is growing debate within the General Assembly that the Peacekeepers are not following the true spirit of our nation. We are currently holding a vase reservoir of information, and the Gaians as well, and we are not sharing it. I would like to suggest a plan of action. Could we not agree to begin transmitting some of the more "non-lethal" technology, to the University first then the Morganites, that we have accumulated and see how things progress. The one reservation we have is the transmitting space technology. Even though both the Morganites and University have never been violent towards any nation the ramifications of such information is too terrible to grasp. Once information is given you cannot control where it goes and how they use it. We could face in just a few turns the Spartans and Believers armed with planet buster ICBMs! What are your thoughts and those of your government? If I cannot show that we are not upholding the values of our great nation I will soon loose support in the government.


Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly


+++++++++

My dear friend Lady Dee,

I wanted to take just a moment and thank you for helping me with my travels. I am have been thrust back to work by Karl Broddarp almost the minute I landed. Between endless strategy meetings and consultations and of course the banquets in my honor I have had no peace. I have been thinking about leaving again and going to the Believers just so I can be thrown in jail in get some peace. Just kidding.

I am sure Karl Broddarp has brought up the issue of the information-hoarding problem we are facing. It seems that many of the delegates to the General Assembly now feel that since the war is being fought on Believer soil the threat has disappeared. I for one have learned much in my travels over the past five years. Though I agree with the upright principals of our nation the reality of the situation is such that practical concerns have a more direct bearing. I wonder sometimes how generous these delegates would be if one or two Spartan planet busters landed our island and sent it to the bottom of the sea. Some information should be shared at all costs and some should be buried at the bottom of the deepest ocean at all costs. I am sure both Karl and you will work out some arrangement that will benefit all concerned.

I have been approached by many of my planetary administrators about new projects I should lend my strength and advice too. Some are so strange and outlandish they don't even merit my time. However, some of my administrators have been working with your scientists and they think they might have discovered the power core to our space ship. I have plans detailing the recovery procedures, if it can be found, and the expected boon in energy it will give us all. What are your thoughts? I am troubled that just at this critical point that in your "invasion" plans and our Peacekeeper assaults that we would be giving much needed aid to the enemy. I have other projects but this is the one that caught my eye, I would like your thoughts on this issue.


Charles R. Dix IX
Planetary Governor of the Alpha Centauri System

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2229

Karl,

I have two bits of good news for you. Our foil captains have eliminated the resistance at the Believer sea base, so your destroyer should be able to take stewardship of the base. When that is done my captains request that they be allowed to repair their vessels, which will be very fast due to your intrinsic naval centers! The other bit of news is that Gaian probe operative have “convinced” the leaders of Halls of Discipline to defect to the Gaian side of this war. It took a ridiculously small amount of energy as ‘encouragement’. This has opened up a whole new realization for me: we may be able to limit the bloodshed and subvert Santiago’s bases from under her. This is especially true of bases she has conquered from Chairman Yang.

Speaking of Chairman Yang, he has just lost his capital The Hive to the Spartans. This means he has only two lightly defended bases left, and they won’t last long. The Spartans have overmatched him in numbers and morale from the beginning, and now Santiago’s dreams are coming true, and Yang’s nightmares. The sad thing is that I would have been willing to help him, or at least cede him a base to let his cause live on (in a very reduced way) but he took it upon himself to nurse his insane quests and declare war on me. In a strange way his people may be better off under Santiago, but not much better off.

I do have a suggestion for your formers that will significantly increase their likelihood of long-term survival: upgrade them to super clean formers with some armor, at least synthmetal or plasma. Now, when a worm come marauding through your territory, it will not find an easy mark, and the former will at least significantly weakening the worm, allowing another defender to save the day. A side benefit is that your bases will no longer be burdened with the former’s support, and they can add a last-ditch defense in case of disaster! The cost is formidable (80 energy each, I think), but long term it will pay for itself.

Speaking of energy, you may have noticed a gift of 500 energy shortly after this note arrives. It turns out that even after we increased our energy allotment to science we still have a major surplus, and most of our base improvements are done. I figure that you or Charles will find some good use for this energy since it is doing us little good just sitting around.

Zak and Morgan have been our allies and friend for a long while now, and I have no problem gifting them non-lethal technology. Note that they are likely to be interested in technology we are not willing to give, but so be it. Both are fairly advanced now, and developing rapidly, and our monopoly on Orbital Spaceflight will not last long. Still, the longer it is limited the better. Also, if you give anything to Zak, be sure to give it to Morgan, too. Since he has the Planetary Datalinks any gifts to Zak will mean he gets them for free since three factions will then have that advance. I notice that he got several advances (like fusion and neural grafting) that way. At least if we gift it to him we get brownie points!

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*~

Charles,

I was delighted with your first fairly lengthy visit, and with your short visit on the way home. Being gone four years shows your extraordinary dedication to your task, and I salute you for it. I do not get out that much and I know I should. Sometimes it feels too comfortable, and that might make me complacent.

I support your initiative to gift non-lethal technologies to Zak and Morgan. As I mentioned to Karl, be sure to gift them to both since Morgan will get the tech for free if you give it only to Zak. In any case, both have been long-term allies for so long that they deserve to share in our bounty.

I do not think salvaging the Unity core is a good idea. This would give hostile factions, as well as friendly ones, access to an inordinate amount of energy that they otherwise would have no hope of obtaining. Instead, I am willing to set aside some energy for our initiatives. In a matter of 20 turns our energy production has risen geometrically with the production of hybrid forests and energy banks. It will rise more when we get more fusion labs on line – currently we have one operational at Gaia’s Landing. While I wouldn’t mind Zak or Morgan getting this energy, I fear that Miriam and Santiago will but it to evil use. Even worse, Santiago might take Yang’s portion when she conquers him. That would be very bad, indeed.

Hope you can visit soon.

Walk with Planet,
Dee

*~*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2229

To the Gaian nation and their most esteemed leader Lady Skye,

Peace! Yes, we have achieved peace with the Believers. Shortly after occupying the base I received a communication from Sister Miriam and she asked for a ceasefire and the establishment of a formal peace between our two nations. I asked Governor Dix to handle the negotiations and in short time the documents were completed. Governor Dix was very astute in his negotiations, so much so, that we did not even have to trade back the Believer base that we captured! The base will never be a major colony for us since under the agreement the base does not have access to any land and even some of the sea area is still under Believer control. But it will serve as a vital outpost in that area for our ships, intelligence gathering station and a vital staging area for ships and material. One of the most important tasks ahead of us is the brokering of a peace between CEO Morgan and Sister Miriam. I am sure Morgan will be somewhat upset at our sudden peace breakthrough but better peace than war. I hope that you will be able, in time, broker such a peace with the Spartans. We still stand with all our pact brothers and sisters and should you request we will support your attacks on Spartan bases with the full force of our economy and military all you need is ask. However, we would like to try to pursue a peace process first, but we both understand that sometimes peace has to be constructed from the debris of war.

We tried to contact both the University and the Morganites to establish a transfer of information but once again all they want is access to the very destructive technologies of war. We tried to offer them full access to all of our other technology at no charge at all, free and complete access but they would hear nothing of it. Our negotiators tried their best trying to explain the dramatic benefits that such technology could bring them and help improve their nations and peoples lives but they closed their minds to it all. This was most disappointing to us all.

Well, both Governor Dix and myself must leave for a victory parade and then a series of banquets and awards for the next several weeks. I take great pride in informing you that your efforts and the sacrifices your people have made to bring peace between the Believers and our nation has not gone unnoticed. The Gaian people and yourself will be awarded the United Nations Peace medal in honor of your efforts. We have awarded this medal only to several people since its creation and I hope you bring honor to its ideals.

Prosperity through Peace
Karl Broddarp
Supreme General Secretary of the Greater United Nations General Assembly
Chairman of the United Nations Security Council
First Minister of the Council of Ministers of the Greater General Assembly

AND

Charles R. Dix IX
Planetary Governor of Chiron and the Alpha Centauri system

*~*~*~*

Gaia’s Landing, MY 2230

Karl,

I am pleased, and somewhat surprised, that Miriam agreed to peace with you. You should know that the Council and I agree that, of the two primary combatants with the Gaians, the Spartans are a much greater threat. They will, therefore, receive the bulk of our attention.

I am also sending you the specifications for a rather alarming new technology our scientists have discovered: Retroviral Engineering. This will allow the horror of genetic warfare – an occurrence I am sure neither of us wants. Nonetheless, it will be useful to study this advance to prepare us for the future.

Your attempt to gift technology to Zak and Morgan did not have much success, so I contacted both of them. Morgan was interested in Silksteel, and I saw no harm in giving this to him, and he was quite pleased as a result. Zak was only interested in Orbital Spaceflight and Retroviral Engineering, and since I let it be known these were off limits he didn’t want anything. Well, so be it.

In other news, Yang is now down to one base and that base has one defender. It will not be long now before he is gone. It is strange, but I will find in strange that the old head of security being defeated by his former subordinate Santiago. I am sure this must be a bitter cup for him, and even more so since he stirred his cup by declaring war on me when I might have been willing to help.

Walk with Planet,
Dee