Announcement

**Hydro** · May 24, 2002, 12:45

University Base, MY 2106

Pravin,

And here I thought you were imaging things when one of my scout teams reported the ‘mindworms’ you had just warned me about. I had, of course, briefed my scouts but they were still a little surprised to see this hostile life form. They prevailed without damage, which is fortunate, and they even report being more confident in their explorations. But they still haven’t been able to penetrate what we are calling the Fungal Wall! Another scout is on the way to help them force their way through, and perhaps investigate a Unity pod that is nearby. It would be more than unfortunate if they investigated this pod and, as you found, it was infested with these hostile life forms.

The energy the mindworms released has boosted our reserves by 50%, and my scouts now have standing orders to identify and slay all these creatures we can find. At this point I could care less about ecological balance and all that claptrap Deirdre used to drone on about – we are talking survival, pure and simple. If I have to choose, the mindworms die every time.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2106

Prokhor,

I have good news for you. Our newest base had a visitor this turn, a "Data Angel" as they call themselves. It seems one of your computer systems assistants named "roze" commanded one of the landing pods and has established a base somewhere to the north of my bases. It must not be too far since her "probe scout" as she calls them was able to reach us fairly quickly. We talked for some time and though I could not persuade her to join under the mission flag of the United Nations she did agree to a treaty. It seems this Roze character has built a society based upon computers. I will never be convinced that such a society could thrive and prosper especially under these conditions. I find it regrettable that this "rogue" leader who commanded a landing pod has set-up her own society rather than follow the mission goals. However, perhaps in time they can be persuaded to re-join the United Nations government.

I have included in my transmission the latest map files and as a courtesy to you to foster greater prosperity for us all I have up linked her communication frequency. I would think that your scientists would have a great need for more computer time and perhaps this Roze can assist you.

We are building two more colony pods and we should have them complete with ten turns. This will double our colony size and make it more prosperous and less susceptible to any catastrophic event that might cause one or even two bases to fail. We will then build those recycling tanks next to improve our efficiency.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2107

Pravin,

Rose!! I wouldn’t let that little anarchist within a hundred kilometers of my datalinks. You need to keep a sharp eye on her, Pravin. She was a protégée of that industrialist Morgan who built components of Unity, not me, and like Morgan she is a dedicated opportunist. I would never allow someone of such low character to work with delicate operations, and I would trust her with nothing. Still, I will allow dealings with her since she is safely a LONG way from me. If she decides to share technology, all the better. Again, be careful. She isn’t called ‘Datajack’ for nothing; she has light fingers.

Our facilities are not as productive as yours, unfortunately. Nutrient production is so low at University Base that we have produce a recycling tank lest we depopulate the city in our efforts to start another. Our other base has a very rich nutrient sector in the ocean, but it produces no minerals or energy. So, while they are growing quickly their infrastructure construction is likely to be very poor.

Our scout teams were finally able to penetrate the fungal wall! This may seem like a small victory but to date we have not been able to do so. Now we will see if the territory to the south is as interesting and productive as yours!

We are likely to make a breakthrough next year. Since you were so generous in your gift of Rose’s communication frequency I will forward our discovery to you. But, please be careful in what you transmit to Rose. She is not to be trusted.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2107

Prokhor,

I was not aware of "Data Roze's" full biography. I had been told that she had worked for you, interesting. I am afraid your "cold shoulder" method might work well for you but since she is my neighbor I do believe a little more understanding and the fostering of mutual cooperation is in order. I can only hope that in time she and her followers will see that it is in their own interest to respect the leadership that we as mission leaders have. Hopefully in time we can persuade the "Data Angels" to incorporate themselves into the greater United Nations family again. However, right now it is a fight for survival, pure and simple. I marvel that you are close to making a scientific breakthrough with the poor conditions your colonies are faced with. Our land has abundant mineral and nutrient sources that we can use to expand.

One thing has troubled me since encountering the Data Roze. As I told you earlier many computer files were corrupted and data stolen along with the fact that many orders were issued, and not be me, to re-arrange the mission parameters. I suspect that Roze and her followers had the most skill in carrying out this operation but I doubt they had the vision to do so. The question is, who? Who would have gained the most by exposing the traitors to me so they could be apprehended before they could do serious harm and for what reason? More questions than I could begin to answer right now.

Next turn our scout team expects to open another Unity pod and I hope we can find some additional resources to aid us in our expansion.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters, Planet Command Center - UNHQ Base

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2108

Pravin,

I am attaching a stupendous breakthrough, one that will literally change the world: Centauri Ecology! My scientists and researchers are few, but I impressed upon them the imperative to develop the poor land that surrounds us and they came through. They took my directives to heart, apparently. Of course, I made a few key contributions, such as retrofitting an ORD to ensure excess nitrogen was fixed and converting a few components from our Unity pod that might serve as a mobile platform. We were able to push the prototype through, and University Base will have the first terraformer on Planet ready next year! That is not bad at all considering that we weren’t even sure that the bloody thing would work!

I held my nose and contacted Rose. She was surprisingly solicitous, considering the pandemonium she caused my engineering security back on Unity. After a few minutes of pleasantries I realized what she was after: technology. Well, I’m just as reasonable as the next man, but she asked for technology for FREE! She wouldn’t even reciprocate with her own technology! After I stopped laughing I told her “no” in no uncertain terms. She looked put out, but at the end of our little chat she gave me a sly smile: it had all been a test! Well, looks like I passed, I was not so stupid as to give her something for nothing. She can play her little games if she likes, but you may want to impress upon her that life is a series of quid-pro-quo situations. Nothing in life is free.

The blasted fungal wall is being as obstinate as ever, and our scout team is bogged down. I even had to paraglide some supplies to them since I didn’t want them to give up the meager progress they have made. We are also setting up to investigate a Unity pod that is nearby University Base. I am calling out two scouts to ensure there are no unpleasant occurrences, such as one of those nasty mindworms that might be infesting the thing. It would not do to have those nasty beasts running free about University base, now would it?

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2108

Prokhor,

On behalf of the United Nations Peacekeepers I thank you for your gift of terra-forming technology. Once we establish two more colonies we will work to build several of them to improve our mineral production and build a system of roads.

Little occurred this turn. We opened another Unity pod and it activated a nutrient production facility that greatly enriched the soil in that sector. One of our scout teams should make contact next turn with another of those alien monoliths.

I have begun to re-organize the administration of the Peacekeepers and I plan to establish a Council of Governors that will report to me. These governors will be responsible for the day to day management of each colony base. I plan on having my son become the Governor of UNHQ base, he has earned this reward for the many hours he has spent building our second colony base and restructuring our food supplies. He should be a very able administrator and leader.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ Base

*~*~*

University Base, MY 2109

Pravin,

Our terraformer is complete and on its way. I viewed it as absolutely necessary to get the terraformer into operation immediately since our territory isn’t as beneficent as yours. A roads and, most importantly, farms will be the order of the day. It is critical to have more than one nutrient production so that University Base can grow to its full potential.

The scout plowing through the fungus made a little more progress this last year, but the exploration rate is painfully slow. Our other scouts are nearly in position to explore the Unity pod I mentioned. I intend to be very careful, since our hold in this area is precarious and a disaster could overwhelm our meager defenses.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2109

Prokhor,

Our scout team did investigate the monolith and while studying it they were engulfed in an energy field that healed all of their wounds and left them in a state of readiness that they had not ever achieved before! We still do not understand how these devices work but I do hope we can learn in time.

Little has changed since last we communicated. We are within seven turns of building two more colony pods and then we estimate another four turns for transit. Perhaps we will use some of meager energy reserves to quicken the production process.

Lastly, we do believe we have discovered a land bridge to the southern polar cap area. Once we get our colony pods done we shall investigate this area.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ Base

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2110

Pravin,

That damn fungal wall! My intrepid scout team was plowing their way through when one of those blasted mindworm boils up from the fungus and attacks them! Well, they have encountered these little beasties before and summarily flamed them before they did too much damage. In the aftermath they forwarded the little spheres, which we nicknamed planetpearls, to UN Headquarters, which was appreciated since we depleted our reserves completing the terraformer. I was more than a little concerned for the scout crew’s well being, but they estimated they had only been damaged to about 10% of maximum and that they saw no reason not to continue forward. I fully intend, when we have the resources, to blast this fungal wall out of existence and exterminate every one of the malevolent life forms within it! At least they will give us these useful planetpearls in their miserable deaths.

In better news, our scientific progress continues apace, and we should have another breakthrough in another four years or so. I can’t help but be curious how your scientists are doing, and what their priorities are? I gave instructions that they concentrate on technologies that would help us Explore our area and Build our resource base.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2110

Prokhor,

I am astonished at your rate of scientific capabilities! Our scientists estimate that the best they can achieve will be a breakthrough in the next 25 turns! I am sure that your labs and computer networks give your scientists a significant "edge" over the rest of us. Currently our scientists are working on colonization technologies as well.

We have located another Unity pod and we will open it next turn. It has been located on the isthmus that connects our island with a landmass to the north. Perhaps this is where the Data Angels have set-up their camp.

In ten turns we will be able to establish two more colonies and with this expansion completed we hope that the added resources and production facilities will, in time, give us a better grasp on this land.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2111

Pravin,

More mindworms! Our scout team tried to push forward into the fungal wall and they found ANOTHER mindworm boil, which they dispatched. This time, however, they were gravely wounded and they will likely have to return to base, or sit in the dangerous fungal field to heal slowly over time with what supplies we can send in via glider. And, guess what was in the Unity pod? MORE MINDWORMS! Our team was already exhausted from moving down the short river to get to the pod, but they bravely attacked anyway and they barely killed the blasted things. Our energy reserves have increased markedly, but at the expense of exploration and the health of our scouts. Exploration will grind to a halt now for some time. Both are now more experiences, but that is small comfort when they came so near to being overwhelmed by this pink blight. When I find a way I will root out the fungus I will, and my objective for the mindworms is simple: extermination!

I must say that I am shocked at the progress of your science teams. 25 years? Our bases are the same size, and I can’t imagine that your output is so much less than ours. Still, our Unity pod did get most of the scientists during the evacuation, and under my brilliant leadership our teams are proceeding beyond expectations. When Zoloto Gold grows to size two this next year they will be able to harvest energy from a small river, so their advancement rate will grow again. So, it looks like you have the advantage of a friendlier environment with fertile land, while we have better advancement but poor land and all this malevolent fungus!

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2111

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I have attached technical blueprints for the building of recreational common areas that should prove useful to you. Consider this repayment for the files on terra-forming you provided to us. People can not toil and struggle from dawn to dusk without some means to relax and enjoy life and it should in the end make them more productive. The technology was obtained from a trade with Data Roze. She contacted me and asked for our files on recycling in exchange for the recreational files, I agreed. What troubles me now is that at the end of our discussion she wished to form a "pact" so that we, and I quote, " sweep the others before us". I can not agree to any pact with the foundation that it would lead to world domination. I think the harsh demands of this planet have only forced some to revert to more basic instincts rather than focus on the noble vision that we had when we left earth. My advance scout opened the Unity pod only to find that it landed on another of those monoliths. It is if the monoliths somehow attracted the pods to them for some reason. The scout did report back that they found signs of the Data Angels outer territorial boundary so I have ordered them to investigate across the border to find out what state they are in. I have issued instructions to the scout team leader to not take any hostile actions that might be seen as offensive in nature.

What troubles me now is that if Roze's territory is that close it leaves us little room to expand. I see that we can add perhaps two maybe three more colonies without any serious encroachment upon the Data Angels but what happens after that? Some of my military advisors suggest that it would be in the better interest of the Data Angels if they were re-incorporated into the greater United Nations Command. I am not sure of this path since if I extend the logic further then I should also force you back into the United Nations family. I would rather have you re-join of your own free will rather than by force of arms. However, it might take many decades before we even are able to have face to face exchanges so by then for all intents and purposes you and your people will be as removed from the original United Nations structure as this planet is to earth. I grieve each night that this situation came to be but it is what we have been dealt and we must make do.

Please pass on my condolences to the families and friends of the scout team that was badly hurt. Planet is becoming more dangerous each turn it seems.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters, Planet Command Center - UNHQ Base

**Hydro** · May 24, 2002, 12:46

University Base, MY 2112

Pravin,

As I told you, beware of Rose. By your comments I assume you did not accept her offer of a Pact, and if so that is a good thing. If you had Pacted then you would not be able to control the Data Angles delegations that might visit your territory. Many, if not all, of these delegations will be espionage proficient, and they are likely to ‘find’ all sorts of things, like technology specifications, that you might rather they not have or that they trade for on an equal basis. If you have a trade relationship you can evict any delegations that are, well, inappropriate and send them packing.

Your territory issue is a bigger problem, and all I can suggest is to claim as much territory as you can before Rose does. Since you have some raging militarists among your advisors this might appease them since it is aggressive and just shy of war. Rose might whine and complain, but once your base is set it is done. Your situation would be especially bad if Rose has access to much more territory than you do. Remember the land locked powers of old Earth – they rarely did very well since they inevitably came into conflict with hostile neighbors or foreign powers that saw them as an easy mark.

As to reincorporating other factions, I can assure you that you will have University support in your endeavors as long as any requests you have are reasonable, but we are in no mood to join under a UN banner. Keep in mind there is lingering suspicion of the UN since their bungled Unity effort failed so miserably, and I for one put the blame squarely on the now-incinerated UN planners for failing to provide us with basic backup and, evidently, wholly inadequate security.

We should have a breakthrough next year, and I hope it is not in Social Psych, otherwise our efforts will be wasted since we haven't received your files yet. Apparently you didn't pre-approve the transfer so it will have to go through a few more bureaucratic channels. I fully intend on sending you what the data on what we discover as a gesture of good will, assuming we my beleaguered scientists time wasn't wasted and we discover nothing to send to you!

In other news, Zoloto Gold rioted. In my haste to explore our territory I had the scout team leave, and some local dissidents reached critical mass when they grew to size 2. Luckily the road between University Base and Zoloto Gold will be complete next year, so the scout team at University Base should be able to make it to assist in quelling the disturbance. I hate to be harsh, but if people are going to be idiots then so be it. I can promise you that we will not take inappropriate measure. At most a few will be placed under house arrest, or put to work in the bio-recycling fields, formerly known as the sewage treatment plant. That is not a pleasant job, so the lesson will hopefully be understood and the mistakes not repeated.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2112

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

We completed ahead of schedule our first colony pod since landing on planet and it will leave UNHQ the beginning of next turn. I will take three turns to reach its location and then another turn to establish the colony. We are now well under ten turns of the expected date of establishing our fourth colony. The pod will be ready in 5 turns and I expect it will take the same time to reach its target as well. We will then begin building some terra-formers and recycling facilities to help improve our situation.

Your "assumption" was correct, we did not "pact" with the Data Angels. When we establish our third and fourth colonies I am sure that the boundary lines will be pushed back further than Data Roze will like. I do not consider my military advisors "war mongers" but their goals are the same as mine it is just their methods are different. I will be blunt Prokhor if our scout team does reach Data Angel territory and finds one maybe two bases that are undefended I might re-visit the issue of forced incorporation at that time. Life on this planet is too tough as it is to have what I presume is six other factions all scrambling for resources. If I can bring the Data Angels back into the UN family sooner than later all the better. As it stands now I fear that enough time has elapsed that many have turned their backs on the goals of the United Nations. I can only hope that the United Nations charter will be honored by all and that certain actions will remain outlawed.

If Data Roze and her followers could be trusted more I might consider a situation similar to ours, one of mutual friendship and cooperation. However, I find the idea of having a large number of "anarchists" perched on the edge of U.N. territory disquieting to say the least.

We shall see...

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ Base

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2113

Pravin,

My scientists came through for me! Remember on how I was complaining about how those blasted mindworms were afflicting use so much? Well, I was in my office yesterday and my science lead Manchel came in with a big grin on her face, and then presented me with the specifications on how to defend against mindworm predations! This involves special training techniques to resist mindworm attacks, which has been dubbed a trance defense. I am attaching this for your use since it was your data on Social Psych that made it possible. Sadly, all this technological advancement has exhausted my resources and strained the abilities of my labs, and it is likely that our next advancement will not occur for another 20 years. We will have to work hard to draw in more energy, and our formers will be key for this.

I also included another present for you. I contacted Rose to see how she was doing. Well, truthfully I wanted to spy on her a little to see what she was up to. She gave me a tempting proposition: her world map for one of my technology on Centauri Ecology. After thinking about it I agreed, and I have attached this map for your inspection. You may not like the results, though. Your landmass looks limited and Rose is likely to block significant expansion to what may be open areas. But, at least you know the lay of the land. Our scout patrols STILL haven’t been able to penetrate the Fungal Wall. It is very exasperating, especially since we will need to know the lay of the land when our first colony pod is done in the next 5 or 10 years. This is much later than you I know, but we chose to construct formers first.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2113

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I appreciate your generous gift of information; the map files are very interesting indeed. I think it will amount to a race, who can build colonies the fastest and establish domination of the larger land mass area. The Data Angels do not strike me as a very industrious lot so I suspect that we will have the edge. Already our colony pod is moving forward and in three turns a third colony will be established. I was amazed at the amount of land that Roze had already surveyed but her "probe teams" seem to be very quick since they are not burdened with weapons.

I do not understand as to why but our labs are falling even farther behind. Currently, my scientists tell me that our next breakthrough will not happen for nearly eighty turns! This might be due to the result of us shifting so much of our energy reserves into completing the colony pod - I am not sure. Perhaps when we can build a few network nodes then our research rate will climb.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ B

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2114

Pravin,

As we continued our efforts to penetrate the Great Fungal Wall guess what we found? That’s right – more mindworms! Is this whole world covered with this pink blight? I’ve recalled our original scout team to University Base to make sure it is defended when it population increases, and to prevent any rogue worms from entering an undefended city. When it gets back it will be upgraded to have trance defense, too, as will the team at Zoloto Gold. That is one benefit of all these worm encounters, as we now have some energy to fund these upgrades. In the meantime our poor explorers will have to wait and recover.

The only other news is that our damaged scout team from University Base made its way to Zoloto Gold to quell the disturbances there. We were able to put the rioting people to work, and they are now harvesting minerals, nutrients, and energy from a modest river sector. With the extra energy our critical research rate is down to an advance in 18 years. In a few years our former will modify it to have a farm, which will double its nutrient yield. Hopefully the former will be able to move to University Base, or give up this sector to University Base to increase its growth rate. All we have are poor choices, I’m afraid.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2114

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

Little has changed this turn which I should count as a blessing. My son has ordered our garrison out to the west to investigate an area that we have yet to map. I am not sure if this was such a wise move but he is the governor and as such it is his right to make that decision. My concern still comes from the fear of an attack by those mind worms. My scientists report that each turn the worms seem to gain more strength. Without the garrison our base is wide open to attack. I pray my son has made the correct choice. The other governor does not feel it prudent to make such a risk but his territory is slightly more productive than the UNHQ lands.

Our deep scout team is still exploring deep into the large continent to the north of us. I now believe it is imperative to build even faster to colonize this area as quickly as possible. I am now thinking that when our fourth pod is complete it would be wise to advance it deep into the north and then fill in backwards. Once the land has been claimed short of going to war there is little the Data Angels can do at that point.

In some ways Prokhor we face challenges of equal difficulty. I have very productive land and little fungus to block expansion you are the opposite. While my labs are primitive to point of backward while yours are state of the art. If only the Unity would not have failed and we could have reached the planet as one group, could you imagine the possibilities?

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2115

Pravin,

You may be better off placing the pods closer in, since then you will get more production out of the new city. You will expend so much time sending the pod so far north that I hardly think it is worth it. This is especially true if you think that Rose will not expand aggressively.

If Unity hadn’t ended in disaster we would not faced with these troubles, which is true. However, in the chaos that resulted leaders like Rose now lead a faction of dubious basis, and I doubt she will be very interested in reuniting now that she has power. The same goes, to a lesser extent, with me. Distance is a severe obstacle, too. Still, it is better to dwell on the here and now, since that is where our challenges lie.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2115

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

My sons expedition proved to be uneventful and the sector of land was very ordinary. He has issued orders for the garrison to return to UNHQ, thankfully. Perhaps one of my son's motives was to try and "scare up" some mind worms for the energy nodules they contain. The extra energy would be of great benefit right now. The governor of our new colony has transmitted that the colony pod has arrived on schedule and that next turn the base will be up and running. This is good news. Should any calamity befall one base the other two can more readily absorb the shock of the loss.

Our deep scout team continues to probe deeper into the north. I am beginning to believe that Planet has more water area than we had anticipated or dreamed. If only we had some time to do complete one orbit of the planet and download the radar images . Once some faction is able to develop sea based transportation I suspect that this will be the key to the conquest of Planet and domination of the factions on Planet.

I have been asked to travel to our western colony base next turn so my son will be communicating with you while I am gone. Currently only UNHQ has the advanced radio equipment to transmit these messages to you and unless I am here I do not like the idea of sending my message to you on an open frequency back to UNHQ and then having it forwarded to you.

I do hope that you will soon "crack" your fungal wall. Even though you have gained much energy the wall will prevent you from expanding making your bases more vulnerable.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters, Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2116

Pravin,

Our scouting team tried to penetrate further into the fungal wall and failed again. That is frustrating, but at least they didn’t encounter another mindworm. They are committed to trying again as soon as they can but it is slow going.

We finished the former at Zoloto Gold, and now they can start on a colony pod. Our next terraforming project will be a forest, which may spread if we are lucky. Then we will go over to the small river and add a farm to increase its nutrient production. I’ll have to consider having both formers go, but it may be dangerous to have both formers in one area if a worm attacks. Zoloto Gold will start on a colony pod next, and University Base currently is working on one. I am worried that we may have a colony ready to go but nowhere to put it. I hate to have bases to close together, but I am loath to let a pod terry waiting to go into or in the dangerous Great Fungal Wall. Luckily I won’t have to worry about that for a few years, and maybe our scout team will have made some progress by then.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2116

Members of the University committee and Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

My father bids you well. We have excellent news! We established our third base was this turn and it is now up and running. The new base governor expects that within ten turns he will be able to launch another colony pod and then begin building infrastructure. My father’s work at our other base has brought about fast rewards as well. The base completed ahead of schedule the colony pod and my father is selecting a new governor to watch over it as well. The only problem is that the population at the base is not sufficient yet to crew the pod completely so there will be a delay of several turns in order for this to be worked out.

The second most important effect of the new colony is that it "pushed" out our territorial boundary even further so that the Data Angels will not think we are going to allow them sole access to the larger island area.

My father will return next turn and with hope his work there will be done for now. I expect that he will have to leave soon so as to prepare our third colony for its new colony pod. At last we are seeing the fruits of our labors!

United Nations Peacekeepers

Governor Joshua Lal,

United Nations Headquarters Base - Office of the UNHQ Governor

*~*~*

University Base, MY 2117

Pravin,

We finally made it through the Great Fungal Wall! It was fully 3 sectors thick, and there may be a significant extent of land beyond it. Now that we are through our team has to head right back so they can escort our soon to be completed colony pod through the Wall, and we will have to hope there is good terrain and no incidents on the way.

Congratulations on your bases, by the way. The extra bases will provide you with significant support, and I expect your scientific advance rate will increase accordingly, in addition to your productive ability. Just remember – keep an eye on Rose!

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2117

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

Our deep scout team reports that the Data Angels have established a colony to the far west blocking any expansion in that direction. The base is defended by a scout team garrison and a probe team. The scout team is slightly under strength from the reports the team captain has obtained. The security committee and the council of governors are split on the idea of "forced" repatriation of the Data Angels. The land we are on is so small that further expansion will only cause shortages and rationing. I admit I am torn on the issue. I have confidence in my scout team but I do not think they have the means to capture the city. If we could bring our two camps together we could most certainly prosper at a greater rate but the means to that end is through blood.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2118

Pravin,

Are you really so pragmatic that you would initiate war for expansion? I can understand your concern but you may want to tread carefully. What you do will affect your authority to lead in the future, since naked aggression will surely sully your reputation.

Our terraformers have done an admirable job. They have connected our bases, built a farm, and now completed a forest. Now I am trying to decide whether a sensor or a farm for University Base is in order, and I am leading strongly toward the farm since nutrient production is critical.

Zak

**Hydro** · May 24, 2002, 12:47

UN Headquarters, MY 2118

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

We have struggled through the long night and have decided that violence will only create more violence. We will put our efforts into expansion in other areas for now. This does not mean we will sit by and allow the Data Angels free expansion but rather we look at it as a race to see who can claim what land and how quickly can it be done. Our fourth colony pod will leave next turn and will establish a base to the north in four turns. Our fifth colony base will be setup on the southern shores of the large land mass to the north in fifteen turns or less. With five bases or better we should become the dominant "partner" on this island chain.

We rushed to complete a terra-former last turn at our UNHQ and it will begin building roads and forests and create a link with our other bases. Then the terra-formers can work on sensors, mines and farms/solar collectors. Our land is much more "fertile and mineral laden" than yours so the pressing need for nutrients is not overshadowing.

We have ordered our deep scout team to return to the northern border of our territory with the Data Angels to provide border surveillance.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2119

Pravin,

Yes, our territory is not very favorable to development and I can see why you opted for colony expansion before terrain enhancement. By contrast it will take years to plow through the fungus, and I am tempted to use the small territory on our side of the Great Fungal Wall just to get a base started. Still, we have to move through sometime, if for no other reason than to see what is on the other side.

Posting a sentry by Rose’s territory is a good idea. Be sure to send any probe sneaks packing if you see them!

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2119

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

Our fourth colony pod left this turn under the command of Governor Gunthar Spande, a geologist by training but an able administrator as well. His background and training will serve him well since the sight he has selected will be on the small river that flows on the northern side of the island. Governor Spande thinks that the river will aid his movement and he should be able to "cut" a whole turn from the schedule. We have discussed his priorities and he will first build a colony pod and then concentrate on energy and mineral production.

Our first terra-former left UNHQ under much fanfare and will begin building roads and forests between the colonies. I wish that we had sent an escort with the crew for protection but that was not in "the cards" yet. My son promises that he will try and do so soon but with the project two terra-formers and then the demands of the city keeping more troops supplied will be difficult.

Our deep scout is now en-route back to the border but he will not have to travel far since we expect the border to shift soon.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters, Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*

University Base, MY2120

General Secretary,

Dr. Zakharov is currently undergoing regeneration and has been put into an artificial coma while the procedure is completed. A good portion of his vitality will be renewed when he is awakened in 2 months.

Vice Governor Ahrens

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2120

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I am "curious" about these treatments you are taking to extend your vitality? Is this some new "fountain of youth" that your brilliant team of bio-genetic scientists have discovered. I ask not for myself but more for my people. The council battles we had just several turns ago brought home the reality that only my steady influence kept the Peacekeepers from becoming the war-mongers. The harsh realities of this planet have brought out the best in some and it also brings out our worse traits. I am old, older than all of the other Unity leaders and each year the time presses even more on me. Please, for the sake of the future of this planet I ask you not to hold back this technology.

Our fourth colony pod will arrive next turn and we also expect to set it up at the same time since the river will speed up its transit time. Governor Spande assures me that with the rich territory he has construction and improvements will happen quickly.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2121

Pravin,

The treatments I underwent were common on Earth at the time of our departure. They involve a combination of selective DNA repair of key immune system cells and organ replacement. It seems my kidneys were likely to fail in the next few years, or so my doctors told me. They put together a full regime of treatments to be completed both in parallel and in series, and to expedite the process they thought it would be better if I were in a coma. I am still in significant pain and discomfort, since invasive surgery is not an easy thing. You can have similar treatments, although the cost in resources is frighteningly high.

Our first colony pod has successfully made it into the first sector of fungus, and our intrepid scout team is waiting for it at the midway point. We have upgraded their equipment for trance training just in case some of those malevolent mindworms pop up again. They have assured me they are being careful to stay in the areas of fungus they have already explored, and we all hope they will have no incidents on their way to their new home. Now, we have no idea what their home will look like, or if the terrain is at all favorable since we had to recall the scout team to escort the pod through the Great Fungal Wall. If we are lucky there will be as favorable a territory as you have.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2121

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

We have established our fourth colony and the Governor was very quick in completing a garrison unit to help protect the new colony. Once the garrison is equipped I have asked Governor Spande to begin construction of another colony pod as quickly as possible. It turns out that our deep scout encountered a Data Angels colony pod, their fourth, while en route to its site. The scout team has blocked its further progress which I am sure is very unpleasant for the Data Angels. I am sure the pod was trying to reach the edge of the ocean on the northern shores of the small bay that separates our two islands/continents? I doubt that the Data Angels will set-up the colony pod on the land they are currently "stuck" on since it is very arid and un-hospitable. It will be 12 turns before our next colony pod is established in the area we have selected, assuming nothing changes in the boundary lines. We are quickly "squeezing" ourselves into an area that will soon become very crowded I think.

I commend you and your scouts and colony pod crews for their bravery in attempting to breach the fungal wall. I do not think I could ask my people to take such a risk. However, if you do not grow you will die and unless you plan on destroying the fungus wall your only option is to go over it and deal with it later.

Lastly, I am glad you included the files on the medical technology. My medics are reviewing them now and next turn they will set-up a treatment for me. None of the files you sent were included in the Peacekeeper landing pods computers so once again you come to our aid.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2122

Pravin,

I assure you that the Great Fungal Wall will be rooted out and destroyed in good time. Right now, however, there are other matters to attend to. You are quite right that if the lack of growth will lead us to a very precarious and vulnerable position.

Our colony and advance scout team experienced no problems in their passage into the Wall, and they should exit is a few years. It seems impossible since on Earth it used to take only hours to move from one side of the globe to the other! We are reduced to slogging through this blasted xenofungus.

Zak

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2122

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

Our deep scout team reports that the Data Angels have turned their colony pod about and is headed north. I have issued orders to our scout to follow it for one more turn before turning south to take up a position on the border. In ten turns we fully expect to have our fifth colony pod established and within twelve turns our sixth. I am not sure if we should try to continue expanding beyond that point since any further expansion will cause much friction between us and the Data Angels. I wish we had a faster means of transport other than foot or crawler tracks. Building more scout teams and equipping them is not a very efficient means to scout out this planet when what I most need is ships.

Our expanding colonies are adding to our energy and scientific research. We are still over twenty years from our next discovery but that is much better than before. Perhaps when we build our fifth colony it will improve even more.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2123

Pravin,

Where are you going to put all those planned colony pods? Or are you going to push very deep and poach into Datajack’s territory? Not that I mind, but it is likely to cause considerable conflict between you and Rose. I am a cynical old man but I can’t help thinking that you are pressing to cause conflict, and then have a ‘Peacekeeper Enforcement Action’ against your neighbor. While I have no love for Rose I do not have much patience for naked or partially clothed aggression.

Our colony pod is almost through the Wall and will be set up in a few years. Our scout, however, will have to immediately go back through the Wall to escort another colony pod from Zoloto Gold. Incidentally, Zoloto Gold rioted last year when it went to size 3. What is sad is that mineral production is so low and nutrient production so high that they can’t slit off their population fast enough to avoid social instability. It is all very sad. I could authorize the construction of a recreation commons, but that seems like a luxury at this stage of the game.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2123

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I resent the implication you make that the Peacekeepers are trying to "provoke" an incident over land. Their is land unclaimed and we simply mean to claim it and establish colonies within our territory. The southern side of the larger northern island that the Data Angels occupy is very barren and almost devoid of life sustaining properties. Colonization of this area is almost unthinkable so it makes a suitable boundary for both of us to respect. We plan on placing only one more colony pod on the northern area of our island and then establish two coastal bases so that we can deploy a fleet at some point. This was one of the reasons why our initial colonies were set-up in the higher elevations. I pray that either more land is uncovered or we are able to make a breakthrough that allows us to expand into the seas.

It seems that your hands are full with the problems of overpopulation. Colony pods are expensive ways to relieve excess population when a simple recreation common could do wonders to help make your people more productive. Recreational sources are a drain on energy but your people are not robots.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2124

Pravin,

We may have had our first bit of good luck in our miserable part of Chiron. It turns out the new spot for our colony pod has not one but two Unity pods immediately adjacent to it! I have been advised that setting up a base in such close proximity causes nasty mindworms to flee, and allows better scanning before entry. This will hopefully help decrease the chance of disaster, like when we opened the other pod and got bloody mindworms! At this point absolutely anything beneficial would be welcomed. Unity as rich in resources in comparison to what we have now, although I remember complaining that it wasn’t enough when we left Earth.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2124

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I am glad your colony pod made it through the long and dangerous trek. Do be careful with the Unity pods even with extra precautions I do not trust them anymore.

I have unofficial reports that the Data Angels might be surpassing even your scientific prowess. It seems that Roze has made in roads that allow her to store energy and use it for enhancing production. However, she will not share the technical files with me.

Our fourth colony pod will be done soon and we will send it on its way. I must travel next turn to choose a new colony governor that will work hard to build a prosperous city for the future.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

**Hydro** · May 24, 2002, 12:48

University Base, MY 2125

Pravin,

We’ve depleted most of our remaining energy stockpile to finish the colony pod at Zoloto Gold. The population there was unruly, and sending them off where they will be far too busy with mundane matters like survival will likely cure them of whiny complaints.

I’ve contacted Rose in the past and she has not been forthcoming about technology trading. I offered to trade her technology she doesn’t have, fair and square, and she refused. It seems she bears me some grudge, and the last time we spoke she mentioned a pointed exchange we had before Unity left Earth when one of my technicians caught her ‘looking’ where she was not welcome. For that matter, if you have technology to trade I will entertain reasonable offers. My guess is that you are more persuasive in your dealings with Rose than I am and may have pried some of the breakthroughs she has acquired.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2125

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

We completed two terra-formers this turn and we will quickly put them to use building roads, forests and a mine. I have consulted with the governors and it has been agreed upon that the first base improvements will be recycling tanks. Then two of our bases will begin projects that will have a long term impact on our society, the Human genome project and the weather paradigm. I know this sounds ambitious but the mineral resources are there to build these projects and since expansion further south is out of the question our first two bases are prime candidates for these projects. We argued for sometime for the need to build more infrastructure improvements first but our lands are very productive and with the few terra-formers we have only minimal improvements are needed to keep an expanding population fed and supplied with raw materials and energy. Perhaps we will re-visit the issue when it comes time to start these projects. I for one would like to have one or two network nodes in operation first in order to increase our scientific output but the long term benefits of these two projects outweigh the immediate need for more labs.

As expected our fifth colony pod will be completed next turn but once again the population is not sufficient to support its departure for at least on more turn. I have selected a very capable man to be governor of this new colony, Timothy Anderson. He does not have the background in science that governor Spande does but he is a military man who can quickly organize the population and since his colony will be the closest to the Data Angels his training will be much better used there if a "problem" occurs.

I am beginning to feel the weight that the fight for survival seems to bring being lifted somewhat. The Peacekeepers are expanding and growing and in time we will make a paradise of this world.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2126

Pravin,

Mir Lab is up and running, and I have decided that a trance defender is the first order of business to ensure its protection. With it we have increased our science by 33% and we should have another breakthrough in a couple of years. I noticed you weren’t very forthcoming about your technology, and that is OK. I’ll be mum too, if you prefer. It is interesting that with every new base we establish we seem to have the basic infrastructure for these network nodes you talk about. Moreover, we seem to be able to get a significant utilization from this infrastructure. Once we can get beyond this damn Wall we should be able to establish a great many bases since, based on the topography, there appears to be a significant expanse of territory to the southwest. Of course, I have no idea if the territory is as favorable as yours, or if it is inhabited.

Our second colony pod is on its way, and it may have some difficulty getting through the Wall. I may have to send the garrison from University Base to escort it part of the way through the Wall, and I shudder to think what might happen if some mindworms come slithering this way.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2126

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I did not mean to ignore your inquiry about our laboratory status but little has changed since last we spoke. Our labs are still 18 turns away from making a breakthrough at the rate they are working. Without the advanced computer systems and energy resources the scientists are slowed considerably.

Our fifth colony pod will leave its mother base next turn and we expect it to be up and running in 6 to 7 turns. Our terra-formers are hard at work clearing land and building a mine next to U.N. Commerce Committee. We fully expect that the added minerals at that base should help increase the production of our project there.

The fourth colony pod from the Data Angels must have established a colony on the far northern shores since no sighting of it has been seen since our scout team "chased" it away.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2127

Pravin,

One of our scout teams was able to move into the Wall, but the other failed. This will delay the advance of our colony pod, unfortunately. At Mir Lab the scout team couldn’t even examine the pod next to them since they were mired in fungus! We’ll have to wait for next year to try again – delays, delays!

Our terraformers are busy building forests near the Wall in hopes that it will grow into the pink blight. Next we’ll build a sensor to give us advance warning in case a mindworm boils out. I’m even considering the extreme step of having them remove the fungus, although the time required is frightful. Still, our two bases are small and have all the improved territory they are likely to need, especially since they are building colony pods to keep their population low.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2127

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

Our colony pod will leave next turn and begins its long trek to the river delta on the southern slopes of the northern island. Our terra-formers and crews are hard at work and we have two crews working in tandem to complete the mine for UN Commerce Committee so it can be ready as quickly as possible.

Our scouts now indicate that the Data Angels did move their colony pod to the north and set it up along the shores of the northern coast of the big island. This was welcome news since we did not want our colony pod to arrive on site just to have it move again.

My administrators inform me that once we have recycling tanks in operation our efficiency will rise in orders of magnitude which might allow us to spend more energy for lab work.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2128

Pravin,

The first Unity pod contained nothing, but it did have a lode of nutrients underneath. It is too bad there isn’t a terraformer to develop it properly, but it is welcome. Perhaps the other Unity pod will contain something better!

I just noticed the strangest thing. Our scouts seem to have a significant problem moving through the Wall, but our colony pod and terraformer didn’t! The pod and former crew reported that the fungus almost seemed to part for them to allow them to pass, while the scout teams reported significant obstructions. I’ll have to think about this since I have no explanation except, perhaps, nitrogen narcosis if the crews didn’t have their nitrogen scrubbers on.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2128

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

Our colony pod left as scheduled and is now making its way north. I have sent word to our deep scout team to intercept the colony pod and escort it to is colonization sector. I plan on having the scout team assume the duties of base guards rather than having the colony build new equipment for a garrison. This will allow the colony to begin construction on a terra-former immediately.

Little occurred this turn. We are switching production sites every other turn so that we can maximize mineral and nutrient production for our bases.

Lastly, I wish to begin a dialogue with you concerning the subject of technology exchanges. It will be sometime before the Peacekeepers make another breakthrough and I wish to explore the possibilities of other means of "tender" for any breakthrough you might make, ie.. energy credits for technology. Please let me know if you have any thoughts on this subject.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2129

Pravin,

Yes, let’s discuss technology. Some of my staff has been having, shall we say, professional conversations with some of your staff. They have rather loose lips, which isn’t surprising considering that most people like to talk about themselves, and show that what they are doing is important. It is amazing what you can learn by just listening, and I have been listening very well. It seems that your staff thinks that you are the technological leader here on Chiron. Isn’t that strange? Didn’t you just tell me you have no technology to trade, or did I just read that in to your statement? Rose has the specifications for the basics of and Industrial Base, but she won’t part with them. Perhaps she has traded them to you, or you traded them to her? Quid pro quo, Pravin.

The second Unity pod near Mir Lab held a rover, which has been sent speeding southwest to explore territory. I don’t think I could have asked for a better find since our trance scouts are so slow, in short supply, and needed for defense.

Zak

*~*~*~

UN Headquarters, MY 2129

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I take great insult at your "implication" that we, the Peacekeepers, might be withholding some technology from you. Of all the people you could level such a charge the one person on this planet that such a charge has the least merit, baseless in all forms, is myself. I, Pravin Lal, who lead the United Nations legislative changes to open technology and informational networks to all. I, Pravin Lal, who oversaw the dismantling of the Microsoft technological monopoly that had strangled the informational networks for years. Prokhor I assure you we have no technology that you do not already have. My scientists tell me that we have a standardized rating of 216 on the technology scale so I do not think we are hiding any secret advances. By the virtue of having more bases our labs are more but in no shape or form are they superior to yours.

We have completed our first mine! The mineral wealth we are pulling out of it is staggering since it also sits right above a large mineral deposit. Our terra-formers will build a road next to better facilitate the transfer of ore and they will next move on to build a farm that will allow the base to begin adding more citizens. We should have the road and farm completed in ten turns along with our recycling tanks. Improvements are popping up all over now and our own UNHQ will soon have its first farm and then a solar collection facility.

I envy your scout rover greatly. However, such a vehicle would do us little good since the Data Angels block our northern expansion. I have been toying with the idea of equipping a scout team to move south into the polar cap area. My scientist believe that the magnetic poles might have drawn more of the Unity pods to them rather than the center regions. This could be a boon for us all.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

*~*~*~

University Base, MY 2130

Pravin,

Apparently the Unity rover inspired my scientists, since they presented me with the specifications for Doctrine: Mobility. I was less than impressed. Although I said the appropriately thankful pleasantries to them I did suggest that they might want to concentrate more on Build technologies. They agreed, but it will be a while before they will be able to present us with any breakthroughs.

Out colony pod is half way through the Wall, and the brave trance scout is waiting for them on the hind end. I’m going to place the pod as soon as possible to minimize the production delay, but it will still be a few years before it is set up.

Zak

*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2130

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

In two turns we will complete our sixth colony pod and it should be up and running in seven turns. Our fifth colony pod is four turns from being set-up so once again I am amazed at our rate of expansion even during these hard days. We completed our first farm but we are somewhat disappointed at the lack of nutrient production. We had hoped to get more that two nutrients but in time we might get more. We are building a solar collector and a road system on the farming sector and then the three terra-formers will move on to connect our third colony base. Our mine is producing seven mineral units per turn and combined with our other mineral production we produce a total of 9 mineral units in all! As soon as we complete the recycling tanks UN Commerce Committee will start on a project, which we expect to do in three turns.

Little else has changed and I can only assume that the other pod leaders are thriving as well.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*

University Base, MY 2131

Pravin,

Our pod is now at the edge of the fungus and will settle in few years. The territory should provide a minimum of substance, and growth potential will be low, unfortunately. Our rover is probing far to the south and in a few years we will have explored more territory than we did in the last 25 years. That is heartening, since knowing the lay of the land is always an advantage.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2131

Members of the University committee and Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

My father asked me to communicate with you and bring you up to date on any current events this turn. Pravin has gone to our base at UN Great Refuge to select a new governor for the colony pod that is about to depart there. He had been delaying the mission for some time but since the pod is depart next turn it makes it all the more critical to select the proper man or woman for the job.

Little occurred this turn and I expect things will remain calm for several more turns. After that many improvements and new bases will be built so it should be interesting to see how these develop.

United Nations Peacekeepers

Governor Joshua Lal,

United Nations Headquarters Base - Office of the UNHQ Governor

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2132

Pravin,

It turns out my continent is inhabited too. I found a solar collector, and only a human could have set that up. Our rover will investigate at once, of course. If this is true than I am in the same position as you are, except that I found out much later than you due to our severely impeded exploration and that damned xenofungus. It remains to be seen how big this continent is, the extent of the area to be settled and if this other faction is willing to share this land.

Zak

**Hydro** · May 24, 2002, 12:52

UN Headquarters, MY 2133

Members of the University committee and Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I relayed your last transmission to my father due to the extreme importance. He was overjoyed to know that you have found signs of another group of Unity survivors! He is returning as quickly as possible to UNHQ so that he can communicate directly with you.

Our fifth colony pod will arrive at its destination next turn and we then expect to have it up and running the following turn. Our sixth colony pod will leave UN Great Refuge next turn with governor Lance Armstrong as its leader. Lance is an old friend of mine and has extensive training in marine science and oceanography that is good since his base will be a coastal one.

We completed a solar collector unit on our farm sector and our energy out put increased 30% from it. We now have produce and excess amount of energy of over 6 energy units per turn! This energy will be used to complete projects and increase our lab productivity. Our laboratory leader expects a breakthrough in ten turns!

United Nations Peacekeepers

Governor Joshua Lal,

United Nations Headquarters Base - Office of the UNHQ Governor

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2134

Pravin,

I’ve contacted my neighbor and it wasn’t very pleasant. He is none other than CEO Morgan, the industrialist that contracted to build Unity. How he arranged to get on Unity I haven’t a clue, although I’m sure it involved a few well-placed bribes. He and Rose are cut from the same cloth, it seems, as they are both unscrupulous and opportunists. The CEO was downright rude and even went so far as to make unpleasant threats such as demanding technology and offering thinly veiled threats against my safety, which is hardly a good way to start off a relationship. It seems he objected to my economics and, frankly, the way I choose to run my society is none of his business. If he is going to be a judgmental busybody then the best we will able to do is a tense peace.

Until he improves his attitude I’m afraid I can’t in good faith give you his communication channel. Our position here on Planet is tenuous enough and if he is going to be a bad neighbor I prefer that he be an insolated bad neighbor.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2134

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

When I read your last transmission I was both elated and angered. I do not recall that CEO Morgan was ever part of the expeditionary team so I can only assume he used his vast wealth to "bribe" his way onto the Unity. With that being said he is now a leader and as such we have to deal with him. What I am angered about is your refusal to transmit his frequency to me. I shared the comm. frequency of the Data Angels with no regard for "compensation" from you. And yet you will now refuse me! I still feel that as the leader of the Unity mission it is your obligation to render unto me the comm. frequency of any or all of the Unity mission survivors. How can we foster greater understanding if you do not help yourself by helping me. With that being said I will not try to force you to provide the frequency since I do respect your views. Perhaps you could a list of unacceptable technologies you would not like to see Morgan get his hands of so when I do talk with him I can set those items aside.

We have begun the weather paradigm project! In fifteen to eighteen turns we should have made a significant breakthrough in terra-forming technology! Also, we are now nine turns away from making another major breakthrough in our labs as well.

I do hope you reconsider and opt to provide the communication frequency. The Peacekeepers can be a powerful ally!

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters, Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2134

Pravin,

I understand your distress at my withholding Morgan’s communication frequency, and in your place I would likely feel the same. You must note that I was honest with you in letting you know I had contacted Morgan, and in my reasons for withholding it. However, giving his comm. frequency to you would only strengthen him and, since he has been ambivalent at best toward me, this would weaken my tenuous position here on Chiron. I am thoroughly alarmed that I will have even less territory than you, and that my territory is so poor and will require extensive terraforming efforts to make it minimally profitable. Already Mir Lab is suffering from a lack of having a terraformer, which is due to a lack of resources to rush one to completion.

On a whim I called up Rose. She was ambivalent toward me, too, and I asked if she might be willing to trade technology. Surprisingly she said yes and I now have the specifications for Industrial Base. She may have gotten a better deal in our trade, but it pains me to have to reproduce research already completed by others, and I am willing to sacrifice a bad deal in order to ensure my valiant scientist’s time isn’t wasted.

When that surprising deal was done I remembered that Morgan had refused me Industrial Base so that the “Merchant Exchange” wouldn’t fall into my hands. As if I care! Well, now that Rose had thoughtfully supplied this technology to me I contacted Morgan. He demanded technology, and used some less than flattering verbiage again. I sighed, and refused. Then he offered his world map for my data on Doctrine: Mobility. I view this as a fairly useless technology, but if Morgan was willing to take it for his world map I am willing to say yes. I was pleased with the results, since I now know that Morgan has only a slight toehold on my continent, and most of his holdings are on a small island! He must have a Unity Foil to have gotten his colony to this land, and I intend to take most of the land in this area as I can, like you are doing with Rose. It was well worth the trade.

I do want to ensure our relations are at least friendly, Pravin. I would be willing to transmit to you my files on Industrial Base to you as a gift, provided you are willing to exchange technology for what you discover in the near future. If you agree you will see that I have given you three technologies (Information Networks, Centaui Ecology, Industrial Base) for the one you have given me (Biogenetics), so I feel I have been more than supportive of your people’s efforts to thrive and prosper on Chiron.

Congratulations on starting the Weather Paradigm. Our resources are too strapped to start a Project like this, and I envy your resources. Just don’t let Rose near it!

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2134

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I agree to your terms for the exchange of technology. Our scientists will complete a breakthrough in five turns so I would hate to see the waste in duplication of resources and time. Immediately at the completion of our breakthrough we will transfer that technology to you.

Our fifth colony has been established and it now gives the edge to the Peacekeepers in territory. Our sixth colony pod will be set-up next turn and we fully expect to establish a seventh within a decade.

You should not be so hard on yourself Prokhor in time you will be a very developed territory. If you would like once we have sea-based technology I could send one or even two of our special terra-formers to your area to build you some improvements. A few boreholes or even a condenser would greatly increase your resources. We would do this to help even up the balance of technology you have gifted to us. The main reason we are pushing so hard to complete the weather paradigm is that it will allow us to create new land by raising the seafloor. This will greatly help our expansion.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2135

Pravin,

We just established our fourth base, Monitoring Station. It isn’t in the best territory, and in fact the territory is awful, but it is up and running. Each base we add increases our scientific and productive output, and I continue to do so. Zoloto Gold just finished a colony pod that is on the way. Conveniently one of our formers just finished removing the fungus from part of the Wall so we can move back and forth more easily. A forest is being planted, and hopefully this will spread and eliminate this blight.

I also made an error since I forgot to send the specifications for Industrial Base to you and I am told the system can’t allow me to send it until the next Chiron year. From what you have described this shouldn’t interrupt your scientific discovery rate, and I will pre-approve the transfer to ensure it gets to you.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2135

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

We are making plans for our seventh and eighth colony pods but they will not be ready any time in the immediate future. We have reached a point in our expansion where only a few "select" spots are left to expand that offer good resources and a decent chance to prosper and grow. We intend to build a colony on the very southern tip of our island and equip it with advanced sensing equipment. However, before that is done a large patch of fungus must be removed first. It will also alert us to any ships passing through the narrow straits in that area. So the weather paradigm project takes on even more importance since with it we can create our own land.

I appreciate your gesture on sharing the map files. It does seem that Nwabudike was in an even worse situation than any of us with such a small island. I do hope you "beat him" in the expansion race since if you do not you will be blocked.

The extra bases are doing wonders for our research capabilities we have reduced the interval between expected discovers to 15 turns! I am sure once we build some more network nodes and gain more energy sources the interval can only drop more.

I do hope that next turn the agreed upon technology is transferred without further delay. I do not want to be seen as ungrateful but the technical blueprints and files will be of great use to us in helping our people prosper.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2136

Pravin,

I have attached the specs for Industrial Base, as promised. I hope they will be of use to you!

The only bit of news from my bit of Chiron is that I gave our rover crew the authorization to investigate a Unity pod near the Morgan-University territorial boundary. I was concerned that Morgan might investigate first, otherwise I would wait until a base was placed next to it to avoid unfortunate incidents. As is turns out we got a huge bonus. The Unity pod covered a nutrient lode, and the pod itself contained enough resources to complete a recycling tank at Monitoring Station! The resources will be sorely needed since the territory there is so poor, and every bit of energy boosts our lab output! Completing the recycling tanks at University Base chopped 3 years off our research time alone, and that was only one energy unit! The multiplier for our allocation for research is significant, and with a few more bases up we should be in much better shape.

Our colony pod for our 5th base is stuck in the Wall again. It is so frustrating. In desperation I ordered our scout to enter, and they failed. Then I ordered a nearby former crew and they succeeded! That blasted fungus is so hard to figure out. Now that the former is there I think it will just remove another sector of fungus, even though it will take 6 years! What a waste, but it wastes more time not to.

University Base should have its rec commons done in a few years, and then we will start on the Virtual World. It is critical for us to complete this project, and we will do anything to do so. I have been informed that our intrinsic infrastructure will allow our people to be healthy and happy, and we can avoid all the riots that are so common otherwise. I do hope the project is finished before someone else.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2136

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

On behalf of the Peacekeepers I thank you again for the transfer of technical files. It should aid us in protecting our scouts and making sure they have the most advanced defensive systems possible.

I doubt you will be able to complete the virtual world project. My intelligence team reports that another faction that survived the Unity calamity has been working on this project for some time, for nearly 12 to 15 turns. They have a significant "head start" on you. Perhaps on of the other remaining projects would be better and more "winnable". We intend to start the Human Genome project in a short while so perhaps the merchant exchange would be something you could complete. The extra energy would give your labs a great boost.

We are dispatching our terra-formers to prepare the site for our eighth colony and the remaining formers are making their way to a large mineral deposit area that should provide over 7 minerals per turn!

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2137

Pravin,

Merchant Exchange? PAH! What a waste of time and resources. It would cost much less to simply build a few more colony pods or harvest resources remotely. We will try for the Virtual World and, failing that, some other worthy Project.

We finally found some rainy territory south of Mir Lab. It even has another of those small rivers, and our rover has been sent to investigate. Roads are being constructed to speed the pod to its destination, and if this proves to be less than useful then we will start poaching on Morgan’s territory. That nutrient sector is particularly interesting, but it is a long way away.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2137

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I did not mean to offend you Prokhor but the weather paradigm will be completed in 13 turns and I fully intend to use the mineral wealth of UN Commerce Committee to complete the human genome project as well. As it stands once I complete the weather paradigm it will only take me 21 turns to complete the human genome project for a grand total of 33 turns to complete both not counting if we use any energy resources to speed up the production. Perhaps your base can begin to accumulate resources for a future project that you feel is more worthy.

Little else occurred this turn. Our terra-formers are either en route to build infra-structure or they are building some now. UNHQ just complete ahead of schedule due to the wealth of energy we now generate a recycling facility which should only boost our production capacity to build a network node. Once the node is complete we can begin building our eighth colony pod. By that time UNHQ should be at a population four rank and unless we build a recreation facility to increase morale I would think we would suffer the same riots you have had many times. Several other bases are building recycling tanks as well so energy and mineral production should go up even more.

I would hope you can come to some sort of mutual agreement about territorial boundaries. Though I have not talked to Roze in sometime the simple fact that the southern side of her island is desolate wasteland serves as an effective means to keep our two factions apart. Any colony set-up in the wastelands would for all intents and purposes set to fail the minute it is built. Once we can begin creating our own land by raising the sea floor up the issue of expanding north becomes a non-issue.

Lastly, I am still troubled by your need to keep Nwabudike Morgan's comm. frequency all to yourself. I would be willing to allow you to oversee any exchange of data or whatever and if reasonable object and veto any exchange. I think if you would allow me to communicate with him I could bring him into the family of nations that we are building. I have begun to accept that we will never be able to unite under the UN banner again so I can only hope that in time we can come together as equals.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters, Planet Command Center - UNHQ

**Hydro** · June 16, 2002, 17:27

University Base, MY 2138

Pravin,

By your definition all the territory I hold is a “desolate wasteland”, so perhaps you can see why I am interested in preserving any small advantage I might have. I have not contacted Morgan since he has made it abundantly clear that he thinks my economic system is wrongheaded; therefore I will not trouble him about boundaries. I will set them myself, and if he was a problem with this he can call me about it. I believe that is the same tacit border resolution system you are pursuing with Rose, is it not?

Zak

*~*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2138

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I see there is no changing your position when it comes to Nwabudike so we shall table the issue for now. We are now 7 turns away from making our next breakthrough and the interval between expected discoveries has been reduced to just under twenty turns! Once we complete one or two more colonies and a few network nodes I am sure our labs will be up the challenge this planet has created. I know it is unrealistic but I have asked my son to help "prod" the scientists into trying to focus their minds on creating the means to travel the seas of Planet. Once we have this technology we can then begin to harness the resources of the vast oceans of this planet.

If you could send us a current map file I would appreciate it greatly,

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2139

Pravin,

You will need to do more than prod your scientists; you will need to give them direction. After all, look what my cadre of scientists gave me when I asked for technologies to build and explore: they gave me Doctrine: Mobility. While this may be useful in the future it is not useful now, and it is a pity they spent about 10 years developing it.

It isn’t likely that we will get much more map information that you might find to be useful, but I have included my map none-the-less. Our rover took a detour and is will work its way back southwest, but it will take a while. You may note that the map information I acquired from Rose and Morgan was dearly bought, and that you are the beneficiary of our sacrifice. Science is just a currency, like so much else. I hope you find it to be useful.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2139

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I am distressed concerning your view towards information as a "currency". I am not as zealous as some of the Peacekeeper High Commissioners of the General Assembly concerning the "free flow of information" but surely a map file or a communication frequency does not constitute or equal the same as a technical file on high energy weapons? I can understand and even sympathize with you if you were protecting your most advanced state secrets but "some" information must be shared with all. I doubt we will ever see eye to eye on this since I believe the harsh demands of your region, the constant battle with Planet and the fungus, has hardened you to the grand picture. Our people can only prosper by the prosperity we bring them, by the openness we can give to each other to aid each other. If your trades in information have left you bitter, then, I am sorry for this and I wish to make amends.

We will transfer immediately to you the moment we have completed our next scientific breakthrough. Also, if you feel "owed" some additional compensation then please address to me the remedy that you feel fair. Information flow must flow but it can also have some extra "help" in getting there. My last thoughts to you on this: do not let Planet change you but let us change Planet together.

Lastly, in four turns we will begin the Human Genome project at UN Aid Station. The medical facilities there are the best we have and that will surely help them in working to create this wonderful project. With the abundance of minerals in that area and with the help of a monolith and recycling tanks the project should be ready completed in 21 turns. This is good news for us all. With the completion of the Weather Paradigm project in 11 turns we will have reached a turning point in the advancement of civilization on this planet.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2140

Pravin,

Bitter? No, realistic. Life is always hard, and don’t delude yourself by believing that what you want is reality. I am perfectly willing to trade information, but I have come to understand that ‘gifts’ are simply a nice way to repackage an exchange of information or services - as I said before, qui pro quo.

We started the Virtual World this last year. As you said, it is probably late but all our meager resources will be put toward its completion. University Base now has a recycling tank and a recreation commons, which will be critical to maintaining order when it goes to size 3. It may have been a mistake to create the recreation commons, but that is past and cannot be changed.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2140

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I wish you luck on your endeavor to catch up and win the virtual world project. I expect that you might need those recreation areas to help ease the sense of anger and frustration of your population when your competition for this project beats you to it.

Our terra-forming crews have begun to remove the fungus from the small tip of land to the very south of our UNHQ. It does turn out that a land bridge does exist between the Peacekeeper lands and the polar caps. A small isthmus of land connects the two areas but it is also criss-crossed with rivers that allow ships to move from one sea to the other. I think this sector of land will be very valuable to the Peacekeepers in the future. If we had rovers like you then we could traverse the polar caps and explore this region, but, alas we do not have that technology. Our scientists seem poised to make a breakthrough in the field of colonization and expansion areas but who can say what they might "actually" come up with.

Little has changed this turn in the way of events. Our High Commissioner of Terra-forming has informed me we have completed "another" terra-former and it will speed up our completion of a mine over the rich deposits of minerals that are found in the center highlands of our island. He has also drawn up several plans as to how to create more land and in which areas but I have yet to okay which plan yet. We still have ten turns before the weather paradigm project is done.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters, Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*

University Base, MY 2141

Pravin,

Sometimes the most satisfying victories are the minor ones. We have cleared the second sector of the Great Fungal Wall and placed a road through it! This has taken a combined 14 years of effort for our two formers, and I hope that in the end it will be worth it. In spending this much time we have neglected other tasks, but with our two small home bases it doesn’t seem that important since they didn’t need more terraforming. Now one former will continue to breach the wall while the other will start on a low priority solar panel for University Base.

In other news that also counts as a minor victory we have placed a forest on the nutrient lode. Normally we might leave this alone, but the sector was utterly barren. Now it produces three nutrients, two minerals and one energy, a veritable cornucopia! Or, at least, it is by comparison to the resources available at other bases. This development was important since the base was likely to grow to size 3 before producing its colony pod due to low mineral production, and that is a bad thing since it leads to social instability. Next the formers will build more forest on the south end of the Wall, and then roads connecting our bases and developing this territory. Then we will have the luxury of building the road system to new territory I intend to claim before Morgan gets his grubby little hands on them. This continent looks to be large, and I can’t wait to see what it contains.

I noticed you have six bases developed, and I envy you that. In the long run that will be a huge benefit to you, and I intend to catch up and surpass that count by a good measure. But, as with everything, there is a price – we will miss out on the Projects you are developing. We have learned to do without, and will do so in the future.

Good luck in your Projects, Pravin.

Zak \

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2141

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I am glad you have made headway in your battle with the fungus. It became clear to me within the first turn after landing that the road to victory could be found in terra-forming.

We too have reached population index #3 at our UNHQ and I have ordered some of our excess energy to be used to improving the amount of time for recreational activities and other events. My hope is that extra energy credits spent to improving the psychological needs of my people will give me time to build a network node and a colony pod without having riots on my hands. If what I fear becomes reality then I will order some of the specialist in UNHQ to help calm and soothe the fears and problems of the population. After the colony pod leaves we can then focus energy and minerals on building a much more substantial recreational facility such as the one you have. All of our other facilities have found a balance in resource intake that has left them static for now which allows them to concentrate on projects and infrastructure without having to worry about population problems. Once we have more land then we can start expanding again.

We begin next turn the human genome project that should also help us in "balancing" the needs of our people and helping to maintain order and civility in our cities.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters, Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2142

Pravin,

Terraforming is invaluable, and it is a way to rip from Chiron what we need to survive. This is prima fascia proof that technology will be our salvation, and that we must develop these technologies if we want to succeed and even thrive in this hostile environment.

Out Unity rover is nearing another fungal wall, which it will enter next year. Do you want to place bets on whether it will have difficulty forcing its way through, or if it will encounter any of those nasty mindworms? Actually I wouldn’t mind if it were to find and destroy some mindworms since the energy would be most welcome. Morgan even has a monolith nearby to repair, although he may not appreciate a rover adjacent to his base. If he does that is too bad, let him whine and cry about it. It is unarmed, and has no armor, so it is not a threat. I intend to explore this territory, and when I establish our 5th base the border will be pushed back so he will have no cause for concern.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2142

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I have received word, but not confirmed, that someone else might have completed the virtual world project? Can you confirm this? The High Commissioner for military intelligence and surveillance has reports that the cybernetic consciences might have completed the virtual world project or canceled it, we are unsure yet as to which might be correct. I do hope your work thus far has not been in vain.

We have started the human genome project and should have it completed in the anticipated 21 turns. The weather paradigm will be completed in 8 turns, slightly ahead of schedule I think. Of our six colonies, three now have recycling tanks and the remaining three should soon have tanks as well. Our UNHQ will soon have a network node up and running and we expect that within a decade we should have at least one more.

Our effort to expend energy into improving the psychological welfare of our people seems to be working. The workers of UNHQ have not rioted yet and do not seem to want to. As soon as we complete the network node there we can build an extra colony pod and remove the excess population and then we can reduce the extra energy spent in these pysch efforts and plow them back into our economy.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2143

Pravin,

Well, last time I checked we were the only faction building the Virtual World. Now, Morgan has just begun the Weather Paradigm, so you better watch out. He has a lot of cash bankrolled so he might beat you to it or the Genome Project.

As usual our rover is having trouble with the New Great Fungal Wall southwest of our territory. It is very irritating, and I wonder what I will have to do to finally be able to penetrate these pink morasses! One day I may have the ability to rip all the fungus I see out by the rhizomes, but not today. Now it is just irritating!

As usual we are behind you in infrastructure. We only have two recycling tanks and one rec commons. Everyone else is too busy building colony pods, and in 5 years or so we should have the makings for a total of 8 bases. Our 5th base should be established in a few two years. Another milestone will have been reached – University Base will grow to size 3! It is amazing what the recycling tank can do, and once we are better established that and rec commons will be our highest priority.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2143

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I really think you are being an alarmist when it comes to the weather paradigm. We are seven turns away from completing the first project on Planet and I doubt that even Nwabudike has the resources, the thousands of energy credits to crash build a project. If he did, well, I would retire and let him run Planet.

We now have four recycling tanks done and our network node will soon be done as well. Until the weather paradigm is complete there is little we can do now but wait. There is simply not enough land for us to expand and any further expansion would over colonize our current area. Once the project is done we intend to send a team of terra-formers to the southeastern tip of the larger northern island and begin raising land. I have been asked by many why do we not colonize further north. Our new condenser units would turn the sands into grass in time but for now and for some time I think the arid sands provide a nice boundary for both the Data Angels and us. In the time we can build a condenser we can raise land greater than the amount the condenser can irrigate.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2144

Pravin,

You are probably correct about Morgan and the Weather Paradigm. Actually, he is a bigger threat to me completing the Virtual World than he is a threat to you. I will have to look into this closely and weigh my options.

Your plans for terraforming your territory seems ambitious, but sound. It will be a long time before we have the technology to do such a thing, so we will have to expand the old fashioned way – build colony pods, and we are doing that with a vengeance.

Thank you for the data on Progenitor Psych, although I am entirely unclear what this is good for. Also, why did you attach 5 energy credits? Although I always like gifts, and they are welcome, I can’t but wonder why you would gift this sum?

Zak

**Hydro** · June 16, 2002, 17:29

UN Headquarters, MY 2144

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

The energy was a gift to your people to help them prosper but more importantly survive. Our energy collection is increasing daily and we are stockpiling more energy each turn, so a few energy credits sent as a gift to aid you is the least we can do. I myself had the same feelings towards this new technology we had uncovered. Once we have command of the seas I think the ability to harvest more nutrients from it than normal will only help to boost the prosperity of any city.

My High Commissioner of Industrial operations has informed me that within six turns we will complete the weather paradigm project, in ten turns we will complete two more recycling tanks and another terra-former and a network node. Within 2 decades we will complete the human genome project. With that said it does seem that the Data Angels are growing far faster than I had expected. Several of their bases are at population four index now and they are only getting larger. What I fear now is that Roze might look south to exploit the rich land we have and try to seize one or more of our bases.

With that in mind I have issued orders to the base governors to begin building anti-espionage teams to maintain base security. What I really need is a faster mobile force. So I wish to ask if you would accept energy credits in exchange for a technology, in particular, speeder technology. I had in mine, 25 energy credits to be paid out in 5 installments. Would this seem appropriate to you? I do hope that we can work together to find a mutually agreeable solution.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2145

Pravin,

Well, I feel much better this year. We just founded four 5th base, Otkrietia-Discovery, and I was completely thrilled to find out that our discovery rate had decreased to one per 12 years! Just think, with every base we build our research rate will only increase, and our scientific advancement will allow us to thrive here on this nasty planet. Next year two more colony pods will be done, baring a riot at those bases, and another is being prepared at Mir Lab. Our road system in and between the Fungal Wall will be complete soon, and that is a good thing, too.

I think I understand your gift better now, and I have to say it has improved my mood, so it is already paying dividends, so to speak. I would be willing to part with Doctrine: Mobility for 25 credits paid over 5 years. You might also be interested in other technology my valiant scientists have discovered, including basic offensive lasers. If you intend to defend yourself against Rose, which is a good idea, then these technologies could be invaluable for you.

Lastly, I contacted Rose this last year and she was incredibly antagonistic. We are so far away I almost threw caution to the wind and said “Up yours, too!” but I held my tongue – after all, a certain decorum must be maintained. Personally, I think she is jealous of our scientific achievements and furious that she isn’t closer so she can steal our secrets. I certainly hope you aren’t Pacted with this vile lady, and you would be wise to defend yourself against her. At least be prepared since she will only grow more arrogant as she gains resources and power.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2145

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I am very pleased with your acceptance of this negotiation. I can only hope that it will lead to more discussions and more treaties that will benefit both of our peoples. I have issued orders that the first installment of five energy credits be sent to your minister of finance. I hope that my word alone is sufficient for us to "seal the deal" and that on your next transmission you can send the technology we have agreed upon.

As for Roze, no, we have not "pacted" with her. The few times I have contacted her she has been pleasant and very cordial actually. As to why she is belligerent to you I will have to agree with your statement about her envy. Technology means much if not everything to the Data Angels and you and perhaps a few other "faction" leaders are her competitors. In time I hope that I can build a bridge of understanding between the two of you but for now I need to work on a bridge between the Data Angels and us. I suspect that soon Roze will make her move but as to what it is, who can say. All of my bases are protected with very highly trained and hardened garrisons and each one does have protection against mind attacks from the worms. With the speeder technology we will be able to patrol our border better and intercept any problems before they become flash points.

I am almost like a child waiting with joy and desperation for the last work to be done on the weather paradigm, I grow more impatient each turn wanting to unleash the power and control it will give us over Planet. When it will be done it will be a great moment for all of humanity.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*

University Base, MY 2146

Pravin,

We have our first war.

My rover was making good time down a river in unclaimed territory when a mindworm burst out of some fungus. The veteran crew immediately went on the defensive and prepared to attack when some humans came out of the fungus too! These humans are a ‘mindworm’ team from my old subordinate Deirdre, who call themselves “Gaians’, whatever that means. The meeting was chilly, and then these mindworm trainers told me that Deirdre had declared vendetta against us! We had done nothing to her, and we had just met! All I did to ‘provoke’ her is refuse her demand for technology, and I do that all the time. Well, if she wants hostile we’ll show her hostile. Our rover team knew what to do, and they attacked and destroyed the “Gaian” mindworm and slaughtered its trainers. They are worm food now.

It seems enemies surround us since we have competition with Morgan, who is thankfully not based on this continent, and now outright hostilities with that sanctimonious and self-righteous Deirdre. I don’t know how she controls these mindworms, but if she is in league with them she must be brought to heel. Morgan has been civil so far, but Deirdre has just earned herself a ticket straight to hell as a result of her rash actions.

I attached the files for Doctrine: Mobility. I hope it serves you well, and it may be that we will be using it very soon to build an army to crush Deirdre.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2146

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I am greatly troubled by the news you sent, war. I cannot think of anything more terrible. I hope you can understand that as the Unity leader I cannot take sides in this altercation you and this Deirdre Skye have created. This situation is terrible, that the two people on this planet who have the most scientific training and are the most educated are the ones that have created the first war.

I ask you to send Deirdre Sky's comm. frequency to me so that I can try and broker a cease-fire to these hostilities. I promise not to exchange any technology that would be of a benefit to her unless you approve. I see no reason to help either of you try to kill each other. I hope that you will forward the comm. frequency and that I can start my work in rebuilding the bonds that must support us to defeat not each other but Planet.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2147

Pravin,

Deirdre said that “the planet isn’t big enough for the both of us” and she said she would enjoy my execution. You will excuse me if I take offense to that, and to the fact that she summarily declared war only moments after I had said, “Hello.” She is obviously unbalanced, and now a menace. Perhaps she has been frolicking with her mindworms too much and it has twisted her puerile little mind. I have not included that *****’s comm. frequency, and I won’t until she comes to my terms.

I did have an interesting meeting this last year. Another foil pulled up to University Base, and it was flying a flag I hadn’t seen before. The ‘Unified Worker’s Front of Greater Chiron’ delegation stayed at University Base for a few weeks, and they explained in irritating detail their plans for a worker’s paradise and equality for all. They had taken literally decades to get here, they said. After a few expertly placed questions it seems their worker’s paradise is pretty sparse, and that their ideology is antithetical to true research. Poor bastards. These ‘Drones’, as they informally refer to themselves, are a pretty backward bunch, although they are friendly. I traded some technology for their world map, and you are likely to see the bizarre course of their foil and how they made a b-line for our shores when you get my map. I am willing to transmit their leader Domai’s comm. frequency to you, if you would like.

In other news we had another breakthrough, although I’m not sure how soon we can use Ethical Calculus in our impoverished state. Eventually this will allow unprecedented development, but at this point we are simply too limited to enjoy its benefits. The main bright spot is the breakthroughs it might allow.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2147

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I find it more and more astonishing each time we make contact with a new faction. Except for you none of these leaders we have met were ever supposed to have commanded a colony landing pod. I fear that the lack of training and preparation by these people, in time, will de-stabilize this planet and plunge us into the destruction. This new "faction" of workers scares me worse than any other faction we have encountered yet to date. A whole people dedicated to a philosophy of worker superiority and class regimentation without the slightest regard for those who have spent their entire lives training, learning, sacrificing so that they can lead and make the correct choices, to see the true path is almost an abomination. I have held secret meetings with my city governors to inform them to be vigilant in regards to any subversive elements in the worker ranks.

Your last transmission did not contain the frequency of these "drones", but perhaps this is for the best. I doubt any of them would even begin to understand the complex and intricate arts of diplomacy that I practice. However, in time we can only hope that we can bring them to the table as "equals".

We are down to three turns before completing the weather paradigm project and only 16 turns from the human genome project. We are now building anti-espionage teams in order to protect our forward bases from any possible incursions. Once we complete some of these projects more network nodes must be built to improve our research capabilities.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*

University Base, MY 2148

Pravin,

Do you want the comm. frequency for these Drones or not? I offered, and the standard response is to either accept or decline. It is your choice, and if you don’t want to chat with these Drones that is your decision.

We have a number of colony pods en-route and in production. Our two southern bases are proving to be most productive since both of them have a nutrient lode nearby, which incredibly speeds growth. Our northern bases are now working on other concerns, including the Virtual World. I’m afraid that we will not complete the Virtual World as soon as you will, but it is a more resource intensive project. I just hope we can pull it off.

Our rover is continuing to plunge into hostile territory. I briefly considered pulling it back, but then I decided it was much more important to know where that witch Deirdre is hiding so I can determine if I need to hem in my base expansion a little. So far I have seen no indication of her territory, and even if I did it wouldn’t stop me. She has made a potent enemy, as she will learn – the hard way.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2148

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

Yes, the United Nations Peacekeepers government would like the comm. frequency for this "Drone nation". In time I think we can help these drones to see the error of their ways and return to the various nations they left from. I doubt that these drones are well looked after or have much guidance, something every drone needs.

I was contacted by Roze and she offered me, us, a technology trade that I think was a great boon for us. We exchanged files on doctrine mobility for her files on advanced energy management systems. With these new plans for energy storage devices our cities should soon be generating even more energy than before. There was some misgivings about sending to her technology that "might" be used against us in a military conflict but with her technological speed I am sure she would have discovered it sooner than later and then we would still be out the energy storage systems.

It is our hope that within two turns we will complete the weather paradigm. We have stationed two terra-formers to begin the sea raising process as soon as the technology is made available.

I am still not pleased at the rate of scientific expansion at our labs. The need for more network nodes is becoming even more painfully obvious.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

*~*~*

University Base, MY 2149

Pravin,

Have I told you recently how much I hate this damn fungus? I suppose I have. We have finally breached the Great Fungal Wall and are building a road through it. Next this former will begin planting a forest and I would hope the fate of this blight’s would be complete. In another area a scout has tried for years to penetrate a certain area of fungus to no effect. And our rover has tried to penetrate some fungus on a river and has been denied.

I’ve attached Domai’s comm. frequency. Hopefully you’ll be able to talk him our of his worker’s paradise nonsense, but I doubt it.

Zak

*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2149

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

Each time I hear of your struggle against the blight I thank whatever force that put us down here. Imagine if your pod had landed in a more "hospitable" spot?

I have accepted your offer and I plan contacting these drones next turn. I can only hope I can talk some reason into them. I have to inform you that there has been more discussion about our second project. There is a good possibility that we might switch the human genome project over to the virtual world. I regret having to inform you of this since I am sure it will strain our relationship but the ability to provide more outlets for our people to relax and prosper is becoming to great to ignore and this project will do just that, and quicker than the human genome project. I am sorry. No firm decision has been made but with our second project only 15 turns away from completion it is becoming to tempting to not to.

Next turn we should complete the weather paradigm if we do not use our stored energy to complete the network node at UNHQ. Otherwise it would be the following turn for sure that it is done. What a relief for us all.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2150

Pravin,

So you are not content with simply acquiring the wonders of the Weather Paradigm, and the Human Genome Project isn’t good enough for you? You want to grab it all, and try for the Virtual World Project, which is 50% more ambitious than either the WP or the HGP? The VW is critically important to the University so let me be blunt. If you start and/or complete the Virtual World you will have declared war on the University of Planet. It is that simple. There will be no further conversations between us, no technology trade – nothing. You will note that I declined my goodwill ‘offer’ of the Drone’s comm. frequency. As the old saying goes, one ill turn deserves another, and that is a small payment of my future ill will if you assault us in such a way. You would be surprised at the technological lead we have on your people so think carefully Pravin. War can be cold, so be cautious when you declare one.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2150

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I think in time you might regret your hasty actions. The United Nations General Assembly members were just discussing the possibility of switching projects, nothing more. No decision has been made. However, should I allow an un-edited copy of your speech to be transmitted to everyone I doubt there would be much resistance to switching. If the project were so "key" to your survival on this planet then all you had to do is state your case and the Peacekeeper councils would hear your plea and act accordingly. No insult or threat was implied to you or your people I assure you. Both projects are very powerful projects and the key advantage for us to switch to the virtual world would be another way we would not have to pay for the effects of a hologram theater since that technology is built right into the system, it is very similar to how your own network nodes are set-up in your cities at time of construction. Do we rant and rave about the fairness of your ability to establish an energy free network nodes when it takes us decades to build just one! No, we do not! Prokhor you must understand that all things can be worked out. For instance I could give you my assurance that we will not build the virtual world project in exchange for your promise of support for me as Planetary Governor, quid pro quo. I think that this is a very equitable exchange for us both. Please think it through and let me know.

I wish to thank you for the most fair and reasonable exchange of energy credits for technology that we just completed. From my records we have completed our first technology.

Lastly, we are very proud to support that our completion of the weather paradigm project is complete, next turn we should start seeing the effects of this very important project. We are also 13 turns away from completing either the Human Genome but suitable test subjects are becoming harder and hard.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2151

Pravin,

I agree to your deal that I will support you when and if a vote comes for the election of a Planetary Governor in exchange for your agreement not to complete the Virtual World. The only exception I would stipulate to this agreement is that I could vote for myself in the unlikely case that I am a candidate for planetary governor, and considering my territory that seems highly unlikely. When you and your General Assembly agree to this deal we can resume other exchanges, so I await your reply.

We now have 4 colony pods en route, and it looks like that will fill out our little island. Now if I can just keep Morgan contained I may get them up and running, too.

Zak

**Hydro** · June 16, 2002, 17:32

UN Headquarters, MY 2151

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I am glad that we were able to once again find "common ground". The leaders of the General Assembly all agree to accept the deal that we have made. I do hope that we can complete our earlier negotiation and you will send us the comm. frequency for this drone faction. As far as your stipulation goes, well, I would hope that even if you are nominated I hope you will see the wisdom in electing me as Planetary Governor. Since you are on poor terms with the Data Angels and are at war with the Gaians I doubt you will get much support from them. However, if you stick to your "guns" so to speak and do vote for yourself you could end up electing Data Roze as the next Governor and I doubt that you would really like that.

We have completed the weather paradigm ahead of schedule and it is already paying for itself. Our terra-forming rates have increased by 50% and we are beginning to create our own land now. Roads, farms, solar collectors, thermal boreholes, condensers will all be very easy to make now. We are also only 12 turns away from completing the human genome project as well. We also just completed our first network node and we have four bases now working on building more that all should be done within 10 turns. With the completion of those network nodes our scientists estimate we should have a research capacity equal to even you!

Lastly, I do suggest you allow me to try and broker a "deal" with Deirdre Skye. If you wish I can compensate you for the comm. frequency but I would hate to see your colony pods destroyed in revenge for the destruction of her pet native life form and soldiers. Please consider this carefully.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2152

Pravin,

I am capable of brokering my own deal with Deirdre and, while I appreciate your concern, I feel I have the situation well in hand.

I am happy to note that we are finally catching up with you a little in population. Where before we had half your population now we are only 20% behind you. This may seem strange but we have struggled so much that to us it is an issue of paramount importance since, as you have ably demonstrated, population is the key to gathering and utilizing resources. Basically, if you don’t have hands to think and do the work it doesn’t get done. That said our infrastructure is sadly lacking and now that we have a good idea on the size of our island we can start devoting resources that will allow us to grow.

Congratulations on the prospective increase in your research rate, by the way. Since science is a currency, like everything else, when more people have it we are all richer. I look forward to trading with you in the future. I have a few technologies I am sure you would be interested in.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2152

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I am sure your scientific vaults are full of technology that you would like to trade for unfortunately we do not have any that we can trade at the moment. We plan on having our next breakthrough, providing there are not problems, in 10 turns. All I can offer you is our promise that any exchange of information will be repaid in full. We are trying to focus on one technology in particular, ethical calculus. With this technology we can then institute reforms and open the Peacekeeper society for all its citizens. I think this is a very important step we need to make as a society, a society that wishes to grow.

I understand your reluctance to transmit the communication frequencies. However, should any hostilities flare up there is little that I can do to help you. Your point is well taken that science is a coin, a currency. But you fail to see beyond that one form of currency. Friendship and mutual respect is another coin of the realm. The current situation does not look to good for your faction. The Gaians are at war with you. The Data Angels are hardly friendly to you as well as the Morganites and you seem to have also gained the anger of these drones. Only us, the Peacekeepers are your allies so I do hope you keep that in your thoughts when you look out of your plas-window and contemplate what might be out there lurking to attack you.Then ask yourself, who can I trust to help me, Peacekeepers...

Lastly, I did have a long talk with this Domai character who is the "leader" of these drones. I think too much time has passed to hope that we can bring these drones back under our protection. We were able to work out an exchange of information that was beneficial to us both and we were able to sign a treaty of friendship, our second. So I suppose if I had to choose so far these drones are not so bad as neighbors and I could think of worse. In time I am sure they will come to look to the Peacekeepers and myself to take the helm and help provide guidance and direction for them.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2153

Pravin,

When you have a breakthrough I will be happy to supply you with Ethical Calculus, which we discovered almost a decade ago. It will allow superior growth and I’d love to implement it in our society, except that a full fledged democratic government will place an enormous burden on the support our bases can have due to their meager industrial ability.

I have found that technology is a better currency than energy might be. In fact, I have found that for technology other factions will trade their world knowledge, in the form of their world map, most readily. We have done this with the Angles, Morganites, and Drones, and even Deirdre Skye. We have given you the information from Rose, Morgan and Domai free, mainly since you kindly provided us with the frequency of that irascible Rose in the early years of the settlements. I feel we cannot continue this free transfer of information based solely on this early gesture of goodwill on your part, and I believe that your act of generosity has been reciprocated many fold. This information is dearly purchased with the toil of our scientists and we do not lightly give it up. Therefore we have not included our latest world map to you.

In other news we have established our sixth base, Koppernigk Observatory, and with its founding we have pushed back Morgan’s territorial claims so that we can colonize the rest of this island. There should be room for 5 additional closely spaced bases, and these bases will not have much in the way of development room or friendly territory like you enjoy. There are a few areas that are rainy, and there is a river that looks inviting, but sadly there are no broad expanses that promise rapid growth or resources. We are used to this, however, and will make due as we have in the past. It is my hope that the two colony pods that are en-route will be set up soon, and that the other two in production can be deployed as soon as possible.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2153

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I think your position is very naive and in time you might regret it. If science is the only "coin of the realm" you will consider then so be it. I hope, no I pray, that it does not come back to haunt you. If you require anything from us in the future such as our assistance in helping you with a dispute, map information, comm. frequencies or technology it will done through the exchange of technology. We do hope that we can still maintain "civil tones" to each other and we do expect that you will honor your treaty with us in supporting our claim for governorship of the planet.

Our terra-formers completed last turn the first land expansion project and are now working on site preparation for our ninth colony site. Our eighth colony pod will soon leave UNHQ and make its way directly south and link into the sensor array that has been built for it.

We are now 11 turns away from completing the human genome project that should boost our production capacity greatly.

Once again, I do hope that the course you have charted is a safe one.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2154

Pravin,

I regret many things, but I doubt that I will regret husbanding what few advantages I have on this blighted planet. You may recall that the successful societies of Earth used the free market or variant of capitalism, and that requires an exchange of goods and/or services. All I am saying is that one shouldn’t give something away unless that gift will provide value and, frankly, I have been doing all the giving when it comes to maps of Chiron. I am more than willing to exchange maps, it is just that I would like there to be some new or interesting information attached to those maps on your part. Due to circumstances we are both on little islands so this information is limited unless other means of data gathering are employed, such as I have done. When you have some new information you will find me more than reasonable, and the ‘coin of the realm’ need not be technology. You may also want to compare my behavior to that of the other factions. Will Rose give something away for free? Or Domai? I think not.

In other news we have just launched our first sea foil. It is a modest affair but it should give us a bit more information on the seas that seem to cover this planet. This will be extremely useful since all the factions seem to be on islands and, as a result, there will be little interaction except for you and Rose, and Morgan’s singular base on my continent. I would love to build a sea transport but I am racing to build recreation commons before my larger bases go into revolt. In many ways I envy your social stability, and while our scientific output is significant I think that this will be an ongoing challenge for us.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2154

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I just do not see or understand why a man with your intellect cannot grasp the problem your reluctance to exchange information creates. My scientist are less than 10 turns from making a discovery and chances are we will most likely duplicate a discovery you have made. Where is the advantage in that? If I expect to make a discovery in the field of colonization next that you have made, why duplicate the research? Do you have two teams of scientists working on the same project with the same resources, I think not. All I can
offer you is the following agreement. We expect to make a breakthrough in the field of exploration and colonization, a field you have already made considerable headway in. Chances are we will only duplicate research you have already made, ethical calculus and doctrine flexibility. If we had one of these technologies it might make it easier for us to reach the next level which in turn allows you the advantage of getting a new technology ahead of schedule for the price of research already paid for at an earlier time. The free flow of information can aid us all and the word "free" does not mean at no charge but relates to the unimpeded flow of information. Your argument of having an advantage over planet can only be strengthened by helping and getting help from others. If your meaning is to maintain an advantage over the other faction leaders, well that is another situation altogether different, one that I hope you do not mean since there will be little for us to talk about then.

If you were to transmit your files on ethical calculus then we will transmit our expected breakthrough into intellectual integrity the following turn. You have much to gain from this arrangement so I hope you choose wisely.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2155

Pravin,

Let me see if I understand. You want me to loan you information I currently have for the promise of repayment at a later date with like information, and this repayment is likely to occur approximately 10 years in the future. In the meantime your society would gain the benefit of this technology while you are waiting for your scientist to finalize their experiments. The benefit to me is that you would have a lessened chance of duplicating research that has already been completed, thereby increasing our store of ‘pooled’ knowledge. Of course, if you do duplicate other research I already have then I will have to wait a long time to get any return on my loan to you.

Is my understanding correct? If so I don’t have a large problem with this, although you will gain a significant benefit while I will wait, as usual. Isn’t it interesting that my advantage, technology, is readily transferable and your advantage, superior resources and terrain isn’t? I can get over that problem, however. Let me know if I fully comprehend your proposal so we can initiate a transfer in the near future.

The fungus holds up our colony pods again. Three attempts were made to penetrate a line of fungus and they all failed, resulting in our pods being delayed. This is distressing since each year they are delayed is production lost, mineral, energy, and science. Our rover is heading to the scene and maybe these veterans can break through and shepherd the pods to their destination. I am also thinking of building a base in the middle of the former Great Fungal Wall. It is poor territory, but in a way it is poetic justice that the Wall should be a base for future operations!

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2155

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

Your summation of our plan is, in essence, correct. However, I still think you are not grasping the true benefits of our plan. Yes, you are correct in that we would get the benefit of your technology for as many turns as it takes us to make the next breakthrough. But you also benefit from this trade as well since in essence you now have a second set of labs working towards a breakthrough in one area while you can concentrate in another, two for the price of one, correct. That must be a savings that even you can appreciate. If that is not enough perhaps a small installment of energy credits each turn till we make the breakthrough? My resources can be as transferable as your technology if we can come to terms on the exchange rate, yes? Did we not do this earlier when we purchased doctrine mobility from you for 25 energy credits? Was this not beneficial to you? I think the answer would be yes to both questions. We can also come up with additional means of compensation if you like as well, for the transfer of your designs on sea craft we could build a transport vessel and send you a specialized terraformer crew who would build whatever project you would like. Imagine how much more quickly your labs could operate if you had access to the energy of thermal-borehole or how prosperous your farms would be with the addition of a condenser unit? We would be willing to bear the cost of supporting the terra-former crew in your area for the exchange of those sea plans? Also, we could build a sea-former which could build sea farms and tidal energy collectors that would boost your energy and nutrient production greatly. The advantage of using our crews rather than yours is that we could accomplish the tasks in half the time! There are many ways that we can both prosper and that really is the key that we both prosper. If you cannot accept the fact that the Peacekeepers will prosper in kind then perhaps we are talking about two different agendas and we should end these discussions. I am looking for a partner to build a better world and the more partners we have the better chance we have that we will all prosper, correct?

We completed our seventh colony pod and it will head south next turn to the site established for it with the sensor array. Our eighth colony pod is 4 turns away from completion and it will move to the southeast in the area we just raised. There is a large offshore nutrient deposit that will serve to boost the nutrient production. Our ninth colony pod will move to the far east area and establish a base just south of the monolith on the south eastern tip of the larger northern island. Once the colony is set-up we will begin to raise more land and build some condensers to improve agricultural production as well as a thermal borehole to increase energy. My advisors warn me that building more that nine colonies at this time could over stress our management capabilities and cause even more waste in our system.

We are 9 turns away from the humane genome project that should allow us to hold off on building any additional recreational areas. Most importantly within 8 turns we will complete three more network nodes, which will enhance our lab capabilities even more. Currently it takes us between 15 to 18 years between breakthroughs so the addition of these nodes should bring us down to 12 turns or less!

Lastly, I want to congratulate you on your victory over the fungus. I think you can now look back over the past years and realized who the victor is!

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

**Hydro** · June 16, 2002, 17:34

University Base, MY 2156

Pravin,

I think I understand most of your plan, although I am skeptical of the efficacy of your assertion that my gifts to you will help me. As I see it unless it helps both of us, as a trade would, then the benefits to one side are far greater. Do I see the beginnings of your designs of the University being a junior partner with the Peacekeepers? All of us united under the failed banner of the UN? That said I am willing to send you my files on Ethical Calculus, and I will do so in MY 2160. I don’t ask any energy in compensation – consider it an experiment in your ‘plan’, and we will see how it works.

I read through your second suggestion on sending a Peacekeeper terraformer to us, with its enhanced abilities, and I almost laughed. Do you know how long it would take to first build the foil and then transport this former to our territory? Decades, or likely many decades! We are very far away, Pravin, and transports travel at sea at a rate of 3 sectors per year. That is barely a crawl, and there are so many likely barriers out there, like fungus and other continents, that your plan simply isn’t workable. Let me know if you have other ideas.

We had another encounter at sea this last year. Our foil investigated a Unity pod that was bobbing in the water and a sea-based mindworm vector came out and attacked! Our foil crew barely was able to kill it, and they harvested a nice cache of 40 energy worth of planet pearls. Still, this shows me that even the sea on this planet is fraught with peril. Our foil crew is gravely damaged and it will take years for them to repair. So much for the plan to explore the sea.

In other news we finally were able to get through the other fungal wall and our pods should be able to set up in a few years. This is distressingly slow work, but each base increases our resources so we must push on.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2156

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I write this letter with a very heavy heart since if I can not persuade you, one of the original landing pod commanders, that by trust and sharing we can expand our horizons how will I ever be able to persuade any of the other pod leaders who were never meant to command a landing team. It seems I have no choice but to accept the reality that building a coalition of partners to expand our horizon is dead. I have had long discussions with the Council of Governors and the General Assembly and we have all come to the same conclusions that building a partnership will not take years or decades but perhaps centuries if not longer. I suspect from this point only ill things will become of this.

If you wish to transmit the information in the time you stated very well. We will transmit whatever breakthrough we happen to make which I am sure will duplicate your research. Our network nodes are coming on line and as such I cannot determine exactly when we will make a breakthrough, it could be a few years or 7 years? After we complete that exchange let us see what fortune brings us.

I think that this moment marks a fork in the road for both of our peoples Prokhor and I think it is time that I try to build new bridges as you seem to be doing now.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2157

Pravin,

Little birds tell me that Rose is now the technical leader on Chiron, and Deirdre now has the highest population! Isn’t that interesting? Of course Rose has told me she is not interested in trading technology, and Deirdre has some secret technology she isn’t willing to share. So you can see that everyone is playing their cards close to their chest; it isn’t just me.

Nothing of any great excitement has happened in the last year. In about 4 years we should have about 4 new bases, and at that point I think we will stop for the moment and we will consider a change to a Democratic government. Moreover, in that time we should have completed a few key recreation commons so it will be possible to dump the inefficient Planned Economics and switch to a more lucrative Free Market. The key is social stability, and these recreation commons will be key to that effort. I am sure that Morgan will be thrilled that I have seen the light, and that Dee will be furious. Oh, well.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2157

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

If you are looking for confirmation of your analysis of the world situation I can confirm your findings. I should add that my latest reports indicate that one of Data Angels bases is in a state of revolt. I am sure this will have an impact on the growth of the Data Angels but probably not too much. It seems that the Gaians are making progress in reaching parity with you and I do hope that should she bring the war to your doorsteps that you will be prepared for it.

Little occurred this turn as well for us. My minister of terra-forming has ordered several formers to start building a condenser unit just south of our UNHQ base. We hope that this will add enough moisture to boost agricultural production in that area. Several other terra-formers will work their way northward to link up our northern base to our main settlements. Next turn we should be able to establish our seventh colony base that will be welcome news to us all. Two to three more colony pods are in production or scheduled to be built. Two sites are being prepared for them and it is our hope that we can get them ready in 10 turns.

Lastly, we are now seven turns away from completing the human genome project and once that is complete we can begin our transformation into a true democratic society as well. I have no real love for free market economics and the negative impact it has on society as well as the environment. A word of caution since you do have such vase amounts of fungus in your territory the ecological damage you create could cause a wave of native life form attacks.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2158

Pravin,

Let that hypocrite Deirdre try to bring her war mongering ways to me. She will find our trance defenders with sensor backup more than unpleasant, and that is assuming we aren’t able take her forces out first. Her last worm died nicely, thank you, so I am not terribly worried. Moreover, continuing a war from an island is difficult with our limited resources, so I might be worried in a couple of decades but not now. By then we will have surpassed her, and Rose for that matter, in every way that matters.

On economics, why should I care one whit if I cause ecological damage? I’ve conquered the Great Fungal Wall, and any other unpleasant events, too. All that matters is the advance of knowledge, and that takes energy that only Free Market can provide. I will have to be careful to keep my people reasonably happy though since I’d rather not have revolts like Rose and Deirdre. One bad result is that our exploration will slow or come to an end, but that can be remedied at cost with transports and probes. I expect that we will scrap our foil, for instance, to help build the rec commons at Monitoring Station. It paid for itself when it killed the Isle of the Deep, so I have few regrets. It was an interesting and partially successful experiment.

We founded our seventh base Budushii Dvor on a nice river with some actual rainy sectors. There is even an unexplored Unity pod adjacent to it, which we will investigate next year. I authorized a rush-build former, and I don’t anticipate any difficulty finding something for it to do. In a short when we establish three more bases while I expect to get an efficiency warning and we will convert to a Free Market system since if I have to have unrest I’d rather rake in the energy and do it properly. Of course, once we finish the Virtual World much of our unrest difficulties will be alleviated. At that point our expansion will be at an temporary end and we can consider a Democratic system of government.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2158

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

We have also established our seventh colony on the southern tip of our island. It should prosper very well down there since it does have an abundant supply of nutrients nearby. We also plan on putting together a survey team to explore the southern polar cap area. With the magnetic effect of the poles there should be an abundance of Unity pods there.

We are now five turns away from making our expected breakthrough and we have reduced our interval between discoveries to 14 turns. So we should now start making some rapid progress in the science arena. Since our people are very content we are focusing our efforts into network nodes and energy banks to boost overall production. Once we switch to a fully democratic society we can then start building some recreational facilities but our specialists should be able to handle any problems that arise until then.

Our formers are hard at work building needed projects and next turn we expect to raise more land for colonization. We also began the first stages of a fresh water condenser unit to the south of UNHQ.

You seem to be very confident of your mastery over Planet and I hope you are correct for your sake as well as you peoples.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*~*~*~*

University Base, MY 2159

Pravin,

We investigated the Unity pod near Budushii Dvor and it contained a trove of energy, 100 to be exact! That is a welcome addition and it allowed us to finish some rec commons and still have ample energy reserves left over. There is one other Unity pod on this island, but we won’t get to it for a long while. Two additional base sites exist on the south edge of the island but I don’t think that will be necessary right now, since next turn we will establish 3 new bases, bringing our total to 10. With that we will be in contention for Deirdre and Rose for the highest population! That is quite and achievement considering the poor start we have had, and all the setbacks that damned fungus have given us.

I have noticed that the inefficiency at our bases grows exponentially as the bases get further away, resulting in a critical loss of energy. This is very unfortunate, and I think it would be prudent to switch to a Democratic government to alleviate these concerns. At that point we should have most of our rec commons done so it will be possible to consider a Free Market system, then anything is possible! Another possibility is moving our capital to a more centrally located area, but that is beyond our capabilities right now.

Chiron will be conquered, Pravin. It is just a matter of time and technology.

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN Headquarters, MY 2159

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I have been asked by several of my High Commissioners to propose the following exchange. If you are agreeable we will send you our map files for yours. It has been some time since either one of us updated the map files and I think we would both benefit from this exchange. If you agree please include in your uplink a pre-approved map file and we shall send you ours, pre-approved.

We are only four turns away from completing the human genome project and the benefits I am sure will be fantastic. We are also four turns away from our next breakthrough. We are still anticipating a breakthrough in colonization and exploration technologies but who can say what might be achieved. You have never agreed to our earlier proposition so we are assuming that you will not make the transfer of technology in ethical calculus. We hope that you do reconsider and inform us of your decision.

I congratulate you on your discover of energy credits. Such a windfall of energy can only be seen as a reward for your hard work in your struggle against Planet. We have several pods in our area that have yet to be opened but we will soon. The news of your "jackpot" has caused many of the colony Governors to send me requests to send off their garrisons to hunt for these pods, to which, I have had to say no. We will soon build several exploration units but for now protecting our people is paramount.

This turn we completed several infrastructure improvements including another network node. Within the next 5 turns we will complete several more along with some energy banks. We have raised more land and we are building a sensor array for that colony site as well. Our tenth colony site has been determined and it will be placed in the western end of the northern island that will create three colonies on the south side for the Peacekeepers and four on the north side for the Data Angels.

Lastly, a movement within the UN General Assembly is getting underway to try and broker a full-fledged pact with the Data Angels. I can understand their motives since we wish to avoid the troubles you have with the Gaians and the best way to do that is to become full-fledged partners. I am sure once we complete the human genome project the demand will become even greater. If we can gain the support of Data Roze in our attempts to become Planetary Governor our election would almost be locked in.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

**Hydro** · June 16, 2002, 17:35

University Base, MY 2160

Pravin,

As promised I have attached the files for Ethical Calculus, pre-approved for you use. I trust you will find it to be useful. By a strange coincidence we switched to a Democracy this year and it already has had telling effects on our efficiency and growth. The hit we took on support is workable, and the efficiency increase sets us up for a switch to Free Market.

We established the bases Mandelev College, Gagarin Memorial, and Climatic Research this last year, and the increase in resources has been significant. Our scientists were laboring under the weight of previous discoveries, and these new bases and the switch to Democracy has increased our laboratory output by over 50%! I can’t wait to find out what a switch to Free Market will do for us! Another interesting tidbit is that our population is now 16, which is more than Deirdre and it may be more than even Rose. Democracy has had the added benefit of growth, and at least one base will grow to size 3 in the next year so we may well lead the pack at 17, for a while at least.

I noticed some kelp growing in the waters off of Mandelev College. I can’t image how it got there, but it must have been in a pod opened by Deirdre during her exploration. I don’t mind at all since the nutrients it will provide our base will be significant, and like forests the kelp is likely to spread and obliterate that nasty sea fungus. I only wish we had opened the pod and not that green hypocrite! We will work on that later. In the meantime Monitoring Station is starting a sea former, which I hope will be able to explore the area immediately surrounding our island and terraform some of the sea for us, in particular a sea nutrient sector – that will be a real boon.

I’m afraid I’m going to turn down your request to exchange maps. I doubt you have much new information, and that was the point of my ‘quid pro quo’ discussion with you a while ago. When your map is significantly updated please let me know.

Lastly, it seems that the Angles have started a project called the Planetary Energy Grid. I can only image what this is, but it is clear that it means that Rose has made some serious progress in that line of technology. More bases, increased efficiency, and Free Market should spur our scientists along so that we will beat Rose’s pants off soon!

Zak

*~*~*~*

UN headquarters, MY 2160

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I wish to thank you for your far keen insight into accepting our proposal. I was not sure if you would accept the proposed trade and I do hope that all goes as expected. As a partial reimbursement we have included our map files for you review. We do not expect yours in return but we send you ours as a sign of good faith. We will begin reforms next turn and switch to a democratic society and it will mark a new day for all Peacekeepers.

We have completed the site preparation for our eighth colony location and we should have it occupied soon. Our ninth colony is being setup near the southeastern tip of the northern island. Once we clear the fungus and build the sensor array things should be set-up very quickly.

I have ordered a celebration to mark the completion of the human genome project and the great advancements we have made. I expect that along with the project we will complete several energy banks and two more network nodes.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2161

Pravin,

This has been a grand year. With our switch to Free market and Democracy our science rate is 2.5 times that of two years ago! Moreover, the surplus energy that is generated is fully three times what it was just last year. The price was steep, of course – 80 energy over the last 2 years, but it was worth every joule. A few bases grew too fast and I had to devote some of the population to keep the peace, but that should be fixed as soon as they complete their recreation commons. Our core bases have finished their recycling tanks, and we now have 2 sea formers in production.

Every once in a while I call up Rose and she is generally seething. This time she has reason to be since we have exceeded her population by a good amount, and our science rate is likely much higher than hers. She has been running a democratic free market for a while now, and that is undoubtedly the reason for her fast growth, social instability, and (temporary) lead in science. I imagine Morgan will be pleased, but I have no reason to call him so I won’t bother. After all, even your friends get tired if you pester them too much. Dee is off in her own little world, and I expect she will be less than generous when she finds out I am running a Free Market.

Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2161

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

We have made the transition to a full democracy and it is wonderful. Production is up as well as growth! The colony governors expect growth almost every 5 turns so it is lucky our terra-former crew just finished a condenser unit with the result of adding 4 sectors of very lush and nutrient laden land. We will build several farms right away in that area to help feed our exploding population. Also, our human genome project will be complete in three turns so that should help considerably in managing our people's needs. We are also planning on building several children crèche's to help improve morale and efficiency.

Next turn we expect our breakthrough as planned and we will forward to you whatever discovery we make. We have allocated a good sum of the excess energy we have to our labs and we now expect to make a breakthrough every eight years! What a fantastic achievement for us! I believe we can sustain this for some time before we have to cut back to support our many projects and improvements. We have discussed moving to a market or planned economy but for right now it makes more sense to stay put as we are. Too much growth too fast even for our vast resources could be dangerous.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2162

Pravin,

Our growth rate has decreased, but in a way this is a good thing. Our society is not as stable as yours and there is a great fear that if our cities grow to size 4 there will be severe unrest. We will manage our resources so that this doesn’t happen until we are ready.

I agree with your observation that children’s crèches are a valuable improvement and we intend on completing these when our existing basic improvements are done, which will be soon. We should have significant terraforming completed at that time, and we will start preparing the two southern base locations.

Good luck in your scientific pursuits.

Zak

*!*!*!*’

UN Headquarters, MY 2162

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I have terrible news to inform you of. It seems the expected breakthrough did come in the field of exploration and colonization but we were able to perfect sea going technology not the anticipated breakthrough as anticipated. I feel that we have somehow failed you since you have had this technology for some time. I do hope that we can come to some "accord" and offer compensation to you on this regard. We would not want this to sour any future negotiations. I suppose, you could look at this as an example of how trading technology can benefit the whole more than its parts. I doubt you take much "solace" in this since you did expect a breakthrough in a field you could have some use for. Should we make the expect breakthrough in the next 10 turns we will of course transmit the files to you if you do not have them already.

Little has changed since last we talked. If you do have a formula for compensation please communicate it to me.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters, Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2163

Pravin,

Soured? No, your duplication of my research has just reinforced my realistic outlook on the world. In other words, you will frequently not get what you want. In fact, you will generally not get what you want. So while I am disappointed I am not surprised. My main hope is that you will grow, expand your technological base, and then have some technology to pay back your loan, hopefully with interest considering the advantages it has given you.

Nothing significant happened at our homeland either. We tweaked a few production centered to shave a few more years off our research rates and, as always, our terraformers are very busy. Now that most of our territory is settled I have started looking toward a large expanse of fungus in the southeastern portion of our island. This expanse is too large to completely terraform, but it does make sense that a significant number sectors can be planted with forests, and that these may in time expand. Later I am sure we will be able to rip this fungus out mechanically, but in the mean time it seems proper that nature do some of our job for us.

Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2163

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

We expect to complete the human genome project next year and the boost in morale and productivity from this will be most welcome. We also completed another network node and upon completion one of my aids informed me that through some department it seems we, the Peacekeepers, are the leaders in technology now! I find that report hard to believe but who can say. Perhaps are hard work has paid off at last.

We are working on building several sea foils to began searching the seas and I intend to order one ship to begin a trek to reach the Morgan territory. I know you have kept their comm. frequency to yourself for a long time so I suppose it is time we find out what they think.

I am beginning to feel the sense of frustration you had in breaching your fungus wall. We have a colony pod trying to beat its way through with little luck. The site should be clear of fungus next turn but we have yet to decide if the colony should be established before we can build a sensor array.

We hope to complete several more terra-forming projects next turn and complete the link-up of all of our cities via a network system. Our two future colony sites lack only a road system, but they will have one soon.

Lastly, I am glad you are not too dismayed over the lack of progress but if we could have come to terms sooner about the ship technology then we both could have benefited from the breakthrough. I give you my promise that we will transmit the first technology we have that you do not.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2164

Pravin,

You are the leader in technology only if you have been lying to me that you don’t possess technology that you can repay my ‘loan’ to you. I have one or more technologies you do not have, so unless you have been something of a hypocrite then you are not the ‘leader’ in technology. I chose not to believe that, however. Since I have reason to believe these ‘ratings’ are flawed. For instance, Rose is supposedly the population leader and by my understanding Rose has 4 bases with 4 population each. This yields 16 population. My population and that of Deirdre are greater than this, so I would suggest that these rating are not as accurate as one might hope.

I hope your exploration of the sea will be fruitful. As I mentioned we terminated our exploration when we went to a free market system and, in time, you may have enough new map information that a map trade might be possible. I also have no problem with you trying to reach Morgan. He might be friendlier toward you than he has toward me, but I wouldn’t know since I haven’t bothered talking to him recently.

Zak

*!*!*!*!

UN Headquarters, MY 2164

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I can assure you once again that we do not have any "secret" technologies that we have not shared with you. I suspect that the rating is "skewed" as you stated but it might also take into account that we have completed the human genome project this turn! By next turn our new specialists should be able to help improve morale and efficiency throughout the Peacekeeper lands. With the completion of our second project while no one has yet to complete even their first one I suspect that might be the rationale behind the ratings. I do believe that your superior labs do give you the technology lead in that regard.

In just several more turns we will establish our eighth colony and within the next eight turns we will set-up our ninth colony. Colony number ten is still in the planning stages and no site has yet to be prepared for it. However, I suspect that we can soon expect a revision in the planning schedules since our population is doing so well.

We will complete another network node next turn along with several other key improvements. We are working on a second condenser unit on the southern end our island to improve the soil and nutrient capacity of that area. We will also plant several tree stands to provide immediate nutrients and resources to our newest colony. I suspect that when we establish colony number eight it will push the boundary lines back even further and it might cause the Data Angels more irritation. It might get worse when we build colony number ten. So far Roze has been pleasant but "reserved" when it comes to my proposals for an alliance, a pact. I hope to get the established before colony number ten is set-up since it will most certainly "push" the Data Angels back even further. Essentially, they will only be left with a small strip of land along the northern coast of the island.

Lastly, I wish to remind you of your treaty with us in supporting our claim for Planetary Governorship. Many people on the council wished to switch over at the last moment to building the virtual world as a means to "hold your vote hostage" but I assured them that you are an honorable man and the University will uphold their treaty. So we did complete the human genome project which will allow you sole claim to the virtual world, providing no one else beats you to it.

I hope in time you can grow beyond your "cynical" view of this world and look at all of the positive elements we have created. Except for a minor disturbance between you and Deirdre Skye this planet has been at peace since we have landed, a welcome reward for our people after the troubles on earth. In time I hope we can build on what we have done so far and work towards creating a new paradise.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

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

Pravin Lal hit the send button and transmitted his latest message to Prokhor Zakharov and then eased himself back in the deep creases of his chair. As he drummed his fingers on the side of his chair his mind kept mulling over different means to try that would bring the University into the bosom of the United Nations again. With a half smile on his lips he might as well dream about fairy tales and dragons for all the success he had in trying to forge a new United Nations alliance.

After a few minutes a tone chimed on his desk computer informing him that his son, Joshua Lal, had at last arrived in the Governors council chambers. Pravin eased himself up from his desk and turned off his desk and silently made his way to the lift that would take him down to the council meeting. As the doors closed he took in the view once again of city. United Nations Headquarters sat on the southern slope of the island and had a wonderful view of the ocean and surrounding countryside. Countryside, yes, that is what it is now. Farms, forests and solar collectors, along with an impressive looking fresh water condenser unit, dominated the southwest view. To the east formers could be just made out building a second unit to change the surrounding terrain. What a paradise!

The doors closed and in a few minutes the doors opened again revealing a large room swathed in darkness except for seven cones of light that illuminated the seven colony governors that sat around the table. As Pravin made his way to the head of the table and sat down a cone of light appeared above him.

"Father, we have good news! Colony pod number eight will reach the site next turn and the terra-former crew reports that they will only be another two turns before they complete the sensor array." Joshua punched up on his data pad the information and it was fed to the other leaders in turn. "I have also included the latest production reports as well for your review and the news that our ninth colony pod is only several turns away from completion. I have ordered a new table to be made so that we can accommodate our new members." Joshua completed his report to the light laughs of the other leaders.

"The human genome project is done as well." Pravin broke in to the quiet silence his statement created. "I have ordered the first subjects that have undergone the gene mapping process and enhancements to report to each of their assigned colonies and begin the important work that they must do." Applause broke the quiet tense moments after Pravin's speech but he began again. "I have ordered more subjects to report to the labs at UN Aid Station and I expect that they will quickly be processed and enhanced to help improve morale throughout the land. It is crucial that these people understand the importance of their work so that we do not need to devote resources to building non-essential improvements before we complete more network nodes, energy banks and then we can move on to children crèches and recreational commons."

Pravin shifted in his chair and continued. " We must maintain our edge, to grow our population to improve out technology so that we are the leaders on this planet and then we can begin our true work our first mission, to create a global community under the guidance, but not control, of the United Nations. We stand on the verge of surpassing the University with our research rates and our terra-formers will create more usable land for food and resources. I ask you all today to re-commit yourselves and your administrations to meet these goals."

**Hydro** · June 16, 2002, 17:39

University Base, MY 2165

Pravin,

I have to say I’m envious of your prospective completion of the Human Genome Project. The rediscovery of these secrets will give your society a profound into its origins, and it will help unlock its potential. By comparison we have made considerable progress on the Virtual World, but are hampered by the fact that it is 50% more resource intensive than either the Weather Paradigm or the HGP. In fact, we could complete the HGP next year if we chose to, but we have our sights fixed firmly on the Virtual World since it will give our society an intrinsic stability that we have so far found to be elusive. While you have been able to build recycling tanks and network nodes we have had to build recreation commons by the time our cities go to size 2 or they suffer from unrest. Moreover, we will have considerable problems when we migrate to size 4, but that is a ways away at this point.

Next year our population will be equal to that of Deirdre, and I believe 33% larger than yours. Beyond that growth will be slower since larger bases do not expand as quickly, and the available food-rich territory has already been allocated. That will hopefully be alleviated by the completion of the first of two sea formers next year, and I am sure that the sea will be bountiful if properly nudged.

Take care,
Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2165

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

We completed the human genome project last turn along with our ninth colony pod and another network node! Progress, Progress , Progress! We should be completing next turn several more network nodes along with an energy bank or two. Within the next five turns we should have two sea-formers and a trance foil for exploration. What progress!

I would have to say the only "negative" thing that happened last turn was my executive veto on a measure to exchange technology with the Data Angels. Roze and her people seem desperate to obtain sea going technology in exchange for laser weapons. Based upon earlier discussions before I trade this "particular" technology with Roze I wanted to get your confirmation. The laser weapon technology is very important to us since it will give us weapons parity with Roze but I do not think it right that we should purchase this technology at your expense since it was your assistance that made it possible. Please let me know how the University council wishes us to proceed.

Perhaps with all the extensive modifications we have made to both our lands it might be in our best interests to exchange map file information?

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2166

Pravin,

Congratulations on the completion of the HGP! That is quite an achievement, and you should be proud of it. Our progress has been less stellar, and we are now building children’s crèches in two bases. All bases will get them as soon as other required infrastructure is complete. Although energy banks might be useful they don’t seem like critical infrastructure right now.

As to Rose, I would take some offense if you were to trade with her. She gave me nothing but misery on Unity and she continues to vex me in any way possible. I don’t have any suggestions on what to do but I am open to suggestions.

Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2166

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

Our bases continue to grow and colony pod number eight is en-route to its colonization site. The colonists should be pleased at what they find since upon arrival they will have a highly advanced sensor array to tie into the bases defense system along with a network of roads, a fresh water condenser unit and a farm with solar collectors! This should allow the colony to begin its life with a vast advantage. Once the colony is established there is a Unity pod that was unearthed during the seafloor raising process so they will investigate that. Our ninth colony site is almost done and the sensor array for that base is almost done. The colony pod is already there, arriving just last turn from plowing through the fungus. Once the array is up the colony will use the monolith to support itself until more land can be cleared and prepared.

As for Roze, might I suggest the following. We will not trade with Roze until matters can be worked out between us concerning the technology trade. Once that is complete then we can exchange files freely with Roze. What I need from you is your commitment that you will transfer laser technology to us so that we can defend ourselves. If your motivation to agree is wavering hink of the old saying, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend". I have to think on some level the idea of pulling one over on Roze would be its own sweet reward. Imagine if you can her surprise and anger upon learning that her troops were turned back by weapons that they thought we lacked, weapons that YOU gave us. Frankly, I would think a situation like that would be too tempting for you not to agree. I know that this might sound very "odd" coming from me but this is the only way I can "sell" this plan since there is great demand to maintain an equal footing with the Data Angels. I hope you think this over and see that there is little downside to this arrangement. Of course, if you need further incentives think of it this way. If by giving us the laser technology this keeps Roze from getting ship designs that is just one more turn, perhaps one more decade that you do not have to worry about Data Angel probe teams landing on your shores to infiltrate your research labs. You might scoff that the distance is too far that it will taken them decades to reach you but once there unless you have your own anti-espionage teams ready your labs will be drained of there information quicker than you can blink and the information does not take decades to get back, only seconds. When it comes to information the Data Angels see this as their sole goal in life and what if it does take decades to reach you when in the blink of an eye they could steal one, two, three maybe even four technologies from you and infiltrate your networks so they can monitor all of your factions data what a feat of data-jacking it would be!

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*!*!*

University Base, MY 2167

Pravin,

So, let me see if I understand you correctly. In order for you not to trade your technology to Rose you want me to give you my technology for free? Hmm, let me think about this. Ok, done: no. I fail to see any reason why I should agree to such a deal. It offers me no benefit, and you benefit greatly. I’ve noticed this happens a lot when dealing with you Pravin. Perhaps you might come up with a better deal.

As to the Angles, any probe that lands on my shores will be summarily executed, and executed in as messy a way as I can imagine and I have a knack for being very creative indeed. If you value peace on Chiron keep her well away from me since I am liable to get an itchy trigger finger. She has tasked me to the point of breaking in the past, and it won’t be much to push that tasking into something more unpleasant. Also, if Rose were to take any of my technology she will have declared war, and it will be a war she will lose. Then you might have me for a new neighbor.

Lastly, you should know I’ve made a breakthrough in Gene Splicing. While I am delighted with this advance it is a bit uncomfortable since our growth rate is a bit too high, yielding to social instability. Our technology advancement rate is still, shall we say, robust and it is improving massively. Of all the disappointments we have experienced on Chiron, and there are oh so many, this is not one of them. The thrill of discovery exceeds anything else and all of our efforts will be focused on this goal.

Zak

*!*!*!*

[b[UN Headquarters, MY 2167[/b]

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I felt very tired after reading your last communication. I feel we constantly have to re-cover the same ground again and again. I was offering you alternative option as a means to exchange information and you keep bringing up the same old cliché's about you being wronged or slighted, taken advantage of. I seems I can do little to change your perceptions that as a scientist you of all people should be more willing than any other leader to see alternative "possibilities". However, you share the same tired qualities that almost all the other leaders seem to share, paranoia.

Your boasts about destroying Data Angel probe teams sound more of bluster than of true conviction backed by the means to do it. I doubt that the security of your labs are so tight that you could even stop such thefts even if they did or could occur. As for mounting military actions. Well, my money would be on Roze. For a fraction of the cost that it takes for you to build an invasion force she can send several waves of low cost probe teams into your lands, even if they take decades to reach there, to subvert your bases, infiltrate your networks and steel your technology. And once her probe teams hit and do their jobs they are expandable while your forces would still have to be built and transported. So you threats are only that threats. I suggest you start building your anti-espionage teams. We have had many of these teams in operation for some team coupled with vast sensor arrays and rovers to stop any possible penetration of her teams. Luckily or unluckily we have always been slightly behind Roze and in the technology race so there is little for her to profit from any incursions except to raise my anger while you are a far different story.

We established our eighth colony, UN Pillar of rights, and the terra-forming crews will have their hands full with that area. We plan on building a kelp farm first along with a tidal energy collector first to boost food production since all of the land surrounding the base is fit only for tree stands unless we build a condenser. We did complete our second condenser unit last turn and it did do wonders yet again for the surrounding land. More farms will be added to harvest the windfall. Also, we did complete our first sea foil equipped with trance protection. It should start exploration next turn while making its way to Morganite territory. Perhaps then you might have reason to exchange maps.

Lastly, we expect to make a breakthrough in either of the following technologies very soon: industrial automation or adaptive economics. I expect one of these would be of use to you.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2168

Pravin,

Bluster? No, a promise. I am perfectly aware how far Rose is from me and that any operation, probe or otherwise, would be exceedingly difficult. In fact, this distance gives me some comfort since Rose will have to be quite motivated and I don’t think she has it in her. But if she should, for some strange reason, decide to violate me she will find out that she has made a grave mistake.

As to technology, the problem is that your suggestions aren’t ‘exchanges’ they are gifts to you. If you can arrange for exchanges you will find that I am quite reasonable. I have already tried it your way once and I have yet to see any return on my investment. Now I’m starting to sound a little like Morgan, and that isn’t entirely a bad thing.

Lastly, we just finished the Virtual World. Already I have received reports that our citizens are responding favorably to the increased diversions and are better able to focus their productive efforts. As we theorized the Virtual World program and hardware integrates perfectly with our intrinsic infrastructure, allowing seamless operation. It is interested that we had the breakthrough in Gene Splicing just as our society can handle the growth, which will now be our priority.

Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2168

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

I take great insult to the implication you make that what we want are more "gifts" and not exchanges. It was through no fault of ours that the expected breakthrough was not as anticipated, that is science, pure and simple. I am sure even someone of your great intellect and training would know that science can be unpredictable and we can not always dictate what happens. Perhaps if you had been more willing to help us in this endeavor by giving us the additional technology so that we did not duplicate what you had already discovered we would have made more progress. We do not feel that it was our failure but rather yours in that you failed to fully support the program. You could have had the gene splicing technology long ago and perhaps something even better if you had been more willing to support us. I doubt we will ever try such and endeavor again since it is bad enough that you think we "cheated" you yet you have never asked for a remedy other than a replacement technology. Our next discovery is close but not immediate so as I stated before I can offer you some energy credits, 25 energy credits perhaps, as a remedy for your ailment and we can call it even. I would hate to have your ill feelings to continue to fester. We have found other supporters that are more willing to exchange information or other forms of currency for technology. We will begin next turn transferring the energy credits to you in small batches and complete it as quickly as possible and we can then call our account "clean".

We have established our ninth colony and it should prosper with the abundant resources they have at their command. We have decided to raise the surrounding land adjacent to our UN Pillar of Rights in hopes of creating more stable and resource abundant land. Currently the land is very arid and our base sits on some very low ground that has given us concerns about flooding issues. Our tenth colony site should be set-up in ten turns and it too will also have the benefits of a condenser unit nearby along with a superior sensor array. This tenth base will be on the western end of the larger northern island on the southern side. I expect that this will put even more pressure on Roze but I think we can come to some form of accommodation. Our tenth colony will be the last one built on this island chain since we are now drafting plans to build a transport and colony pod to be transported to the first site that is unclaimed and has abundant resources. Our foil should find us a suitable place to colonize.

Our naval ship UNSF GENERAL ASSEMBLY is exploring the western seas while setting a course towards your area. We are most interested in making contact with CEO Morgan and Lady Deirdre Skye. I have never been comfortable with your reluctance to share their communication frequencies when we shared the Data Angels with you. I realize you did compensate us with some technology but your lack of understanding to come to terms on other means of exchange for these frequencies border on antagonistic behavior. It will take our foil some time to reach their area, we realize this, and in the meantime we will chart a great "chunk" of this world in the process so we will reap the two benefits from this.

Lastly, I wish to congratulate you on your completion of the virtual world project and the benefits that it has brought your people. I wish to remind you once again that your completion of the project was the result of our treaty that requires your support for our claim to the mantle of Planetary Governor. I know you are a man of your word and will not fail to carry out your promise.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*!*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2169

Pravin,

Since we converted to a free market system energy has not the problem and, while a gift of energy would not be rejected, it does not replace the obligation of ‘quid pro quo’ in this technology exchange we agreed to. You suggested this innovative exchange and I agreed over my misgivings. I placed my trust in you in this matter and I will be sorely disappointed if you go back on your word. If that would come to pass I would have to reconsider my support of you in the election of Planetary Governor if I cannot place my trust in you on such a basic matter.

You also seem to be concerned with comm frequencies and, as I remember it, I gave you one of our early breakthroughs in Centauri Ecology and the Drones comm frequency. You have, therefore, been well compensated for Rose’s comm frequency so I see no reason for your complaint. I would be willing to trade either of these faction’s comm frequency to you for some interesting technology, and that offer will not go off the table.

Deirdre may have just crossed the line. She planted a base in the southern edge of my continent! In this whole world she chose to expand on a little strip of land on MY CONTINENT! Even as we speak a former is heading that direction to plant a sensor and some forest to keep an eye on that meddlesome busybody, and she had better not make any hostile moves or her base will be my base. At the very least she has denied me expansion of two more base sights, so I will likely have to invest in a transport and colony pods.

We also had our first run-in with a new form of hostile Chiron sea life. A Chiron sea serpent, nicknamed a Sea Lurk, attacked and destroyed the defender at one of our bases. A sea former was just completed by I dare not deploy it since it will likely be destroyed since the blasted thing is still lurking outside the base! As a result I’ve had to authorize the construction of a sea foil to destroy it. Wasted resources - setbacks, setbacks!

Zak

**Hydro** · June 16, 2002, 17:43

UN Headquarters, MY 2169

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

If I was not such an even-tempered man I might have done something very rash after reading your last message. My offer was to compensate you NOW for your technology at a "fair price" nothing else, rather than you having to wait for our next breakthrough. If you need technology so desperately that is what you will have, when we make our next breakthrough. Until that time when we can bring our books into balance there is little I can do to offer you in the form of technology, since all of the technology we have, you have. It was very clear, pristine clear, that your only coin of exchange is technology, for technology. If I had a map file of the entire planet I doubt you would trade it for any technology. So now that we clearly understand each other, perhaps for the first time, we can now move on. When we get our next technology, no matter what form or type it is we will transmit it to you and the accounts will be balanced. We do expect, no require, that you honor your agreements with us. It will not be through Peacekeeper actions or in-actions that our agreement for your support of our claim to the Planet Governorship will be broken it will be yours.

As for Deirdre I can not comment on the matter. I do not have any updated map files. I do not have her communication frequency. So any actions that the Gaians initiate that you might take offense to are your own fault. I could have helped to mediate a settlement to this affair but you did not wish it. From my last report the Gaians surpassed even you in the field of technology so your most prized labs are of little effect in this affair. It also seems your troops are not very prepared to defend themselves against the mind attacks of these worms. With that in mind I would take heed and not dismiss the Gaian threat as insignificant. As for her claim on the land, well, this could have been another issue I could have addressed with her but you once again walked away from my hand of help.

What I can do is make the following suggestions. First, attack her city and capture it. Do not allow her the time or resources to build a brood nest for her native life forms. If anything the possible attack of espionage teams alone might be reason enough to strike the first blow. Of course, once again, this wastes valuable resources. Perhaps, if I had been able to negotiate a treaty between you two you would be wasting these resources you are screaming about. SO perhaps there is value attached to my efforts that does not involve a direct exchange of technology. Think about the amount of energy, minerals and time you will expend to build colony ships and form an army to stop the Gaians. Perhaps when you make your tally it might have been less expensive to give me the comm. frequency and allow me to help you.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2170

Pravin,

It seems I owe you an apology. I read your missive as a change of our agreement and I took offense to that. If you were only suggesting another way to resolve these differences then it is me who was had the blinders on. You must understand that I believe that technology will be the salvation of us and that it must be properly managed. Moreover, it is the one advantage we have, and it has become painfully clear to me that we have many liabilities, among the most significant of these is a growing societal instability. I have droned on about these at some length so I will not bore you with these petulant whinings again, but rest assured that I reacted in haste. My only polite suggestion is that you is that you may want to word your suggestions in such a way that I am less likely to misinterpret the message for, although it was clear, it was not crystal clear.

On the technology front it is Morgan who has the apparent lead, not Deirdre. Morgan has been operating on a Free Market system for quite a while and has amassed quite a fortune and a respectable science rate. His is not as good as mine, I am sure, but he has done very well for himself. We have traded a few technologies, two to be exact, and I sold him a few to fill in a few holes. Now, before you get upset, these were basic technologies like Social Psych. To be honest I felt a little sorry for Morgan who was sitting there with all this energy and slowly falling behind. Another reason is that I used that energy to complete the Virtual World, which was a critical Project for us. Unfortunately Morgan has a technology now that he refuses to part with for blood or energy, and as a result he will sell me nothing. I expect you are having the same problem with Rose, is that not true?

Your observation that I will only trade technology for technology is false. I traded technology for Rose’s, Morgan’s, Dee’s, and Domai’s world maps. I also gifted a technology to poor, backward Domai to improve his mood, although it did little good. I sold some low-level technologies to Morgan to fund the Virtual World. So, you see technology is a tool, perhaps the most valuable tool in existence, nothing more, and I am willing to be quite flexible if it will enable an exchange for something that is advantageous to me. The problem I have with your proposals is that they are predicated on my gifting or loading technology to you, and if I were to do so this would largely nullify the one advantage I have on Chiron and I can’t and won’t let that happen.

My ‘Deirdre’ problem has largely resolved itself in my mind. I no longer care about her base on my continent as long as it does not expand and she doesn’t encroach further on my territory. My Council of Advisors agrees, and further has recommended that we find some nearby territory to expand into. You may have noticed that we packed our 10 bases rather close together, and that will limit further growth. For good or for ill all of these bases have access to the sea, which will allow harvesting of food from the sea in otherwise poor land. You can conveniently build your own land, and I envy you that since you don’t have to spend the resources to build a sea fleet and have colony pods go on long treks into dangerous uncharted seas.

Another couple of interesting things happened this year. Deirdre has a sea colony, which stopped right next to my western coast. While I can tolerate her southern encroachment I will NOT tolerate a sea base that steals my sea resources! Our ability to expand is limited, and the sea is the key so some future growth. The southern area was undeveloped and, to be honest, I wasn’t planning on developing it for 10 or 20 years so it is a future loss. Dee stealing my western coasts is a loss now.

Also, the Sea Lurk attacked our sea former while it was in port and died in the process. It was severely damaged and the former crew, while surprised, wasn’t even hurt, and that is a lucky thing. They are now planting kelp on a sea nutrient lode and the city switched from building a basic foil to a transport. They will watch closely where Dee’s sea colony pod goes. It must have been hideously expensive for her and she is welcome to plant it wherever she wishes as long as it isn’t near my territory!

Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2170

Academician Prokhor Zakharov,

If I understood your last transmission "correctly" you have exchanged "minor" technologies for energy credits, correct? If that is the case why did you refuse us this same accord. We purchased one technology from you and after that you have refused us at every attempt. I find this disturbing.

Your situation with the Gaians I predict will only get worse. If the good Lady has the resources to "plop" down sea bases off of your western coast I submit she has much more resources than you give her credit for. I also submit that your continuing use of free market economics and the destruction it brings only antagonizes her more. We still operate on a very simple economic model. We looked at both economic models, planned and free-market and the damage it does to a society and the resulting attacks by the planet are not viable alternatives at this time. Good luck with your negotiations with her since I believe you will soon have your hands full.

We are completing work on our tenth colony site and plans have been completed to build a transport ship and colony pod to depart within the decade to begin a remote colonization plan. There is still great debate by many of the High Commissioners about how to proceed some argue for sea bases and others argue for more terra-forming since this can be done in under five turns and offers us the best chance to maintain our interlocking integrity of bases. I am not sold on any "one" plan yet. We will see how our next land raising attempt works and what it will bring.

Lastly, I do believe I was clear in each of my transmissions as to my plans and policies. We only wish to keep on friendly terms with you and try and build a better future for us all. However, I can not see that as a possibility as long as you harbor some deep resentment about a "slight" or "injury" you received from us. In time I hope we can overlook such misunderstandings.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*!*!*

University Base, MY 2171

Pravin,

You are correct that I have sold technology. In fact, I sold Doctrine: Mobility to you, and several technologies to Morgan. You will note that these were technologies that were either commonly available or not of primary interest to me, and neither were vital to the interests of the University of Planet. I will happily exchange valuable technologies, as I have done with you.

Deirdre has taken her sea colony pod elsewhere, and that is fine with me. It shows that there is some level of respect even though she took in upon herself to invade my territory for so little gain except to antagonize me. When she has called upon me she has not been early as hostile as Rose or Domai and that is a hopeful sign. I also feel you are missing a sterling opportunity when you reject more advanced economic models. A planned society has its place, as does a free market society. I have no doubt that one or the other will irritate someone, but the point is to tweak the advantages you have to grow and expand. For instance, I switched to a planned economy to help build the Virtual World and stayed with that economic model for a few years, completing a few base infrastructure improvements and growing a few bases to their next level. Then I switched back to free market when my energy reserves allowed. I fully expect that any of these models, including Democracy, will become obsolete in time. Or maybe not. Time will tell.

We started building a colony pod to go with our transport, and this with a former will go on a hunt for new territory. Our existing maps are fragmentary at best and it will be complete guesswork, but there are a few islands that may be promising. As I said before, your ability to harness the power of the Weather Paradigm is of enormous benefit to you and that you are using it well.

Lastly, I don’t harbor any significant resentment toward you or your people. The fact that I have declined your requests for technology or information is more a reflection of a Machiavellian principle of realpolitik. This is not a reflection on you, or me, but a realistic reflection of the hard planet we live on. This does not mean that there is no place for idealism or good works, but that it does mean that these are tempered by enlightened self-interest.

Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2171

Academician Provost Prokhor Zakharov,

Let us be frank and open since you seem to be. Your self-interests do not benefit the entire human condition on this planet. Your actions benefit only yourself, plain and simple. Not once have you provided information or technology without some "quid pro quo" status. I do not blame you for your actions or policy but you must be held accountable for them and I believe you will someday. When I sent you the Data Angel's comm. frequency the Peacekeepers did not "expect" compensation only that we expand our frontiers, expand our community, expand our knowledge. Your policy will only be judged a success or failure when you and your people become pushed or pressed into a situation that might spell your doom. At that point it will be interesting if the course you have blazed has given you enough to win through the situation or not. Since I doubt that the Drones or the Data Angels or the Gaians and especially the Morganites will come to your assistance.

I do agree with your statement about the great advantages that advanced economic models can bring to a society but the choice we make has to be "true" to the spirit of our beliefs and values. We owe it to our people to make the correct choice first, using an economic model and methodology for a few turns only to switch back and pay the costs that it does to our society is not the Peacekeeper way, it is the Machiavellian way. We are trying to take the proper "Peacekeeper" approach that follows the will of the people. We are a true democracy. With that said it has been agreed to that we will move to a planned economic model in five turns. Our social scientists are still working on a "green" approach, one that I would favor the most, but we are still decades away from that.

In other important news we have decided that creating more land is more economically efficient than building transports and colony pods and spreading our people to the four winds. In less than five turns we can raise five sectors of land and we are doing so now at our UN Haven City colony. Terra-formers are going to work eastward and we expect that within fifteen turns we will have added almost eighteen sectors of land at a cost of 18 energy credits. We also believe that the direction of terra forming should lead us to connect a small chain of islands to our east. This would then create a giant "C" formation of land that we could then place sea-colony pods in that would sheltered from three sides and create a zone of entry control that would provide optimum protection from sea borne attackers. We will be able to create a system of interconnecting roads that will give us the ability to dispatch forces within our lands to meet any challenge, quickly and effectively.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2172

Pravin,

I think you are being a bit too idealistic in rejecting varied economic models, or governmental models for that matter. After all, these models can be used to benefit your people when used at the correct time, and they can be invaluable in achieving goals. Principles are find and good, and we all have our principles, but I think that blind adherence to an overly strict set of principles will restrict the prosperity of your society.

I do have some good news. We have started a grand Project called the Empath Guild! The plans are rather sketchy but it seems that some people have an ability to sense the feelings and thoughts of others. In the past I would have dismissed such talk as idle chatter and superstitious nonsense, but I have to admit the evidence is quite compelling. In any case it will be quite some time before the Project is done with our meager resources.

As I said before your ability to expand your land, and it will take us at least 10 years to build and then transport our colony to its intended location. I fully expect that you will be able so expand while our society is effectively in stasis, such is the power of the Weather Paradigm.

Take care,
Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2172

Academician Provost Prokhor Zakharov,

I am amazed at the speeds at which your labs are now making progress. Your discover of the Empath Guild is just the technology I have been prodding my scientists to make since it holds the key to unlocking a "green" economy. However, since we do not have any technology to trade you for it at this time and since we already "owe" you a technology it is a "double" moot question. We wish you luck.

I do wish to report a strange event. Our UNSF GENERAL ASSEMBLY reported passing a small island chain on it voyage westward and on the island was a massive fungal tower that stretched over 50 meters tall. It was amazing and our crew will take many scientific observations and forwarded them to us. I could not believe that such a thing existed on this planet, why it is a large as the main complex building here at our UNHQ base! I have asked the captain to report any further discoveries and that t he should feel free to make small detours to investigate such things. Since there seems to be large amount of sea fungus to our west his speed has not been the best and he has only just passed beyond 9 sectors distance from our base, but still that is not too bad since they just left three turns ago. I suspect that they will pick up more speed soon.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2173

Pravin,

A fungal tower 50 ft tall? That is yet another monstrosity that this planet has afflicted us with. It will undoubtedly be hostile, and I wish you luck in your study and destruction of this beast. I just hope that you have minimal losses in your investigation. Now I don’t feel so bad at having curtailed further exploration of this blighted planet. There is a wide world out there but we don’t have the resources or societal stability yet to undertake much exploration, much less eliminating a threat such as this fungal tower.

Our science rate is accelerating in its progress but I fear it will hit a brick wall soon. We have no more room for bases on this small island, and we must expand oversees if we are to continue our growth. I also plan on issuing orders soon that will allow unfettered growth limited only by food supply that our theoreticians call a ‘population boom’. There are many hazards in this for us and I hope our society can stand the strain but the potential benefits are too great to ignore. This change will also cost us significant transitional energy and a temporary switch to a Planned economy, which we will undertake after our next anticipated breakthrough.

Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2173

Academician Provost Prokhor Zakharov,
I think you might have mis-read my last transmission, it was 50 METERS not feet! It was HUGE! How something so huge could grow is amazing, its roots must stretch hundreds of feet deep to support it! UNSF GENERAL ASSEMBLY is still moving westward at better speed. I have asked the captain to increase speed as much as possible since the area they are in seems less fouled with those fungus patches. My chief of naval operations reports that within a decade we should reach the edge of Morganite territory.

It has been agreed to by popular vote that we will begin next turn to transform our economic structure to a planned economy. I have been assured that our bases/cities can support the move since our terra-former crews have prepared much land for harvesting. Little else occurred this turn to report to you. I did try to contact this Foreman of the Drones and he would not communicate with me. I then tried Roze who was polite but very cool to my requests for information or exchanges of information.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

**Hydro** · June 16, 2002, 17:45

University Base, MY 2174

Pravin,

Our transport and colony pod are complete and they will begin their long trek to their new home, wherever that may be. They will be striking north-northeast and will explore some territory Domai sailed adjacent to in his journeys. There is some territory that looks promising and it may be the rich territory we were denied when our pod landed in this blighted land.

Not much else is going on. I would be interested in any other observations you have on the fungal tower and any ideas you may have on killing them.

Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2174

Academician Provost Prokhor Zakharov,

We have made our transition to a planned economy with little disruption for our society. Our newest High Commissioner of Economic Planning has advised us that though there are some inefficiencies created by our new economic structure the upside has been a factor of four growth rate and a sizable increase in our industrial output. With the rate of growth we are expected to achieve we have ordered several more terra-formers to be built to keep up with production of farms, mines/bore-holes and other improvements.

We expect to launch our tenth colony pod next turn and we have plans to build an eleventh and twelfth as soon as more land is raised which should be soon.

UNSF GENERAL ASSEMBLY just cleared what seems to be the far western island of the Data Angels territory. The captain expects that it will eight turns before he reaches Morgans territory.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2175

Pravin,

We have switched to a Planned economy also and anticipate that two or three of our bases will begin a population boom. I’m not sure how long we will continue, but it is likely that we will switch back to a free market economy as soon as it is feasible and the energy becomes available. It is likely that we will stay on this course less than 4 years.

Our transport and colony pod are off and running, and it should be in place in a bit more than half a decade. This is a long time, and I expect that you will have a number of new bases in your newly expanded territory. The new territory looks like it is a nutrient rich territory, like a monsoon jungle in fact. Deirdre has placed her sea colony there off the coast, but when we will deny her this boon when we place our colony there. In this case it will not be first come, first serve.

Zak

*!*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2175

Academician Provost Prokhor Zakharov,

My new High Commissioner of Economic Planning has informed me that the Peacekeepers now have the largest population on the planet! We had to devote a few extra energy credits to expanding recreational outlets but we will soon start building more of the recreational centers and hologram theaters to provide even more recreation releases for our people. In the meantime our people our prospering and growing.

We completed another land raising project and our High Commissioner of Terra-Forming ordered the crews to continue east so that they can reach the islands to the east. Our scout rover team opened a unit pod and found over a large supply of energy cells that we converted into 200 energy credits! I have ordered the scout team to move south into the polar region since there are several pods we have identified down there. We expect to complete another land raising project next turn and with luck it will also add some much needed land on the easter tip of the northern island.

Our tenth colony pod will leave next turn to the site on the far western edge of the northern island. I expect the Roze might get "annoyed" at our expansion there but in reality she should not. The land was awful until our terra-formers turned it into a paradise, so the land is ours. We plan no further expansion north and I have sent her a message to that effect.

I am still displeased with our science rate but I am told until we can complete some energy producing facilities like the borehole mine we are building our tech rate will lag. I expect that when we do make contact with Morgan he will chastise me for not following his economic model.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2176

Pravin,

Your lead in population was short lived since our population exceeds yours by a small margin. I suspect we will not be able to keep up but at least we are not falling behind by a great degree. I suspect that your expansion will continue even without recreation commons or hologram theatres due to your ability to attract the best and the brightest. Our society is graced by a proclivity toward research while yours with an extensive stability. Which is better? It is hard to tell, and likely depends on circumstances.

We considered a borehole but we don’t have the technology to create them. Moreover we wouldn’t be able to harvest these resources even if we did. You may want to hold off creation of boreholes until the technology exists to take advantage of their bounty.

Morgan is likely to be highly displeased with your economic model, and I have specifically avoided calling on him while we are using a Planned economy to avoid antagonizing him. Be careful how you approach him since he can be touchy.

Zak

*!*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2176

Academician Provost Prokhor Zakharov,

Yes it does seem our growth lead was short lived, for now. However, the rate at which we are growing I doubt you will be able to claim it for much longer. I do have to disagree with you about the borehole pressure mine construction plans. You are correct that currently our technology will not allow us to "reap" the full mineral/energy potential but in the meantime it will provide us with much resources and the heat it generates will only increase the precipitation levels in the surrounding sectors making them even more productive.

UNSF GENERAL ASSEMBLY reported in and the captain wishes to alter course to take a more west by north approach. It seems long range radar indicates if he will continue on his westward course he might encounter a barrier to his goal of reaching Morgan territory. It does seem that many Unity pods have fallen into the oceans and are just floating along on the currents. The captain was eager to investigate each one but until he completes his mission of reaching Morgan territory they will have to wait until the return voyage home.

We did complete the planned sea floor raising and our base on the south east tip of land on the northern island and it has increased by four sectors! In the south our terra-formers are once again raising more land which will take five turns or less to complete. Once we make the connection to the eastern island chain then we will build a sensor array and send out our eleventh colony pod. Our tenth colony pod should arrive at its new home next turn and set up for business. This is welcome news to us all.

I am pleased to report that we will make our next scientific breakthrough in six turns. This is welcome news to us all. I have been prodding the High Commissioner of Science to aim or guide his people so that they can complete plans on supply crawlers. These transports would be a boon to us since we have many high yield mineral and nutrient deposits that could be exploited that way leaving the population to work on more useful tasks.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

**Hydro** · June 16, 2002, 17:48

University Base, MY 2177

Pravin,

Our growth has already slowed down and our sea formers have not been able to keep up, so I suspect you are correct that your population will exceed ours very soon. We have eked all we can out of this territory and it is likely at is maximum potential without more advanced terraforming. Unfortunately we don’t have the technology to do so, and that means we will have to wait. In the meantime sea forming, forests, roads, sensors, farms, and mines will have to suffice.

We are likely to beat you to the next technological breakthrough, even with our inefficient planned economy that has cut our scientific rate in half. We are also hoping for Industrial Automation, since it will massively increase our productive potential.

Our transport has noticed the many Unity pods too, but we have been hesitant to investigate since many of these pods have been infested with hostile sea life. We investigated one with our sea transport and the crew barely escaped with their lives, and they limped back to port. Shortly thereafter we scrapped the foil.

Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2177

Academician Provost Prokhor Zakharov,

I wish you well on your colonization program. I can only imagine what the effect of having your colonies scattered across the face of the planet. Communications, resource sharing, economic and military assistance must be a nightmare but I am sure your able scientists will discover the means to overcome these problems.

It seems our new High Commissioner of Economic Planning has engineered what he calls "A Golden Age" at several of our colonies. The people are so happy and prosperous that growth and energy output has increased dramatically! We can only expect even more of these as our cities complete several other children crèches and other improvements. Our tenth colony pod arrived at its location and it will set-up next turn. I have selected a former commander of our Peacekeeper military forces as the base Governor. He is very wise and though he was in the military I suspect he more than anyone else understands that peace is much better than war. I selected him due to the disturbing reports that the Data Angels are now the planets leading military power. I can only hope that our troops can be hold up under the assault of advanced weapons while in a defensive position.

We are within 5 turns of making our next breakthrough and I do hope it will be a useful technology for us all. Our terra-formers will make raise five more sectors of land in three turns and then move on again. I plan on adding a third terra-former to the team to increase the effectiveness of their efforts. It will also make it quicker for them to build roads on their return trip.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*!*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2178

Pravin,

Our scientists came through, but not in the way I expected. I asked them to focus on technology that will allow us to build our society and they came through. However, they gave me Adaptive Economics. I have to say I was disappointed but I hid it from them since they were so proud of their achievement. Rose has had this technology for a long while, as has Morgan. Neither of them have shown any interest in trading technology so I guess we were fated to have to discover this by ourselves.

In other news, Monitoring Station has grown to size 6 and the base immediately went into riot, so we now know the upper limits of societal stability. It is interesting that you have ‘golden ages’ and we have riots, so can see that each of us has our tradeoffs.

I now can’t wait to switch back to a Free Market system. Our research rate has increased to every nineteen years, and that is completely unacceptable. The combination of inefficiency and the decreased energy production is sapping our ability to make progress, and that progress is all-important. I will not let our progress flag and we must get back on track.

Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2178

Academician Provost Prokhor Zakharov,

I really find it hard to understand why your society is so unstable. Perhaps the allocation of more energy to your recreational facilities would be in order.

We have established our tenth colony base, UN Data Acquisition. I am not to pleased with the name chosen since it sits so close to the Data Angels but perhaps that was the purpose. I have asked for "clarification" for the reason why that name was chosen but I have not received my answer.

Little else happened this turn to report of any consequence. UNSF GENERAL ASSEMBLY is now rounding the small island chain just east of Morgan Industries. At his present course and speed he will arrive at Morgan's territory in five turns or less.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNH

*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2179

Pravin,

The cause of our instability is two fold. First, the bases that are having instability are growing at an almost uncontrolled rate, and even your society may have trouble controlling these dynamics if your don’t have a hugely significant control facilities. We have built both a recreation commons, and we were fortunate enough to get the benefits of the Virtual World to help our stability. Second, our society is apparently more prone to instability due to our focus on science. In the end I believe this will be a huge benefit, but in the meantime we are likely to suffer for it. For instance, we are likely to suffer another bout of instability when we convert to a free market society. We will learn to live with that, however.

Next year we will convert to a Market Economy, and even with the potential pitfalls we will push forward. Our science rate will likely double due to the extra efficiency and raw energy, and I can hardly wait.

It looks like your expansion into Rose’s territory is, shall we say, aggressive. Good! I much prefer you expanding into this territory than allowing it to Rose. Keep expanding!

Our own colony pod will be in place in a year or two, and set up in two or three. It all depends on if Dee’s sea base gets in our way, and it is likely that it will. Oh well. She was there first, but we will claim the better territory.

Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2179

Academician Provost Prokhor Zakharov,

I can assure you our building of UN Data Acquisition was not meant to be "provocative" to the Data Angels. We do not have any plans to build any further bases northwards. Our land expansion plans by use of terra-formers has yielded us more land just this turn and we hope that within 4 turns we can complete our "link up" to the small island chain to our east. In fact, in a few turns our own UNHQ will begin building our eleventh colony pod to begin its trip to the new area just uncovered. We expect to have a colony established within the decade in that new area.

Our captain of UNSF GENERAL ASSEMBLY has hit a bad patch of sea fungus this turn and was only able to make modest headway towards his goal. He reports that by next turn he should clear the fields and make contact within 4 turns. We are now debating that just prior to making that meeting with the Morganites that we should not transfer to a more free market system to better smooth over our relations. It has also been decided that once we make our meeting we will explore northward and visit the small colony that the Gaians have setup.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

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University Base, MY 2180

Pravin,

Our transition to a Free Market economy has been successful, and there has been no social instability. I was, to say the least, extremely gratified since I was almost sure that some of our larger bases would immediately go into unrest. The upshot is that our research rate has increased by 50%, and our liquid cash reserves have increased 4-fold. Now we can focus on other development activities and facilities that will allow our newer bases to ‘population boom’ in the near future.

I am also interested in your upcoming technological breakthrough since our loan to you has yet to be repaid. You should know that I am willing to make you another ‘loan’ once the previous balance is erased. I would be more than willing to ‘loan’ you Gene Splicing, for instance, if you are willing to take on such a debit. Gene Splicing has been instrumental to booming our population to 34, and it seems our lead will hold for a while even though our ‘booming’ is over for a while. I suspect that with this technology you will be able to surpass us in short order, but I think this would be worth it due to the future increase of technology.

Now that we are finished our basic infrastructure at some bases we are starting to build luxuries. For instance, we are building a Command Center so we can construct our first synthmetal trance garrison. Why would we do this with no enemies nearby? The answer is that we will be constructing a number of trance synthmetal transports to start harvesting the Unity pods near our territory. Without synthmetal the transports are very vulnerable to attacks by Isles of the Deep, and prototyping a trance synthmetal transport is far too expensive.

Take care,
Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2180

Academician Provost Prokhor Zakharov,

As agreed in two turns we will disclose whatever "new" technology we have and then we will be even. As to future trades let us wait till we reach that point.

Last turn we encountered another new native life form on this planet, a spore launcher. This creature is unlike any of the previous life forms. It's mode of attack is launching spores that clog your lungs and burn your skin and should you try and attack it the creature has the same defensive capabilities as the mind worms, psionic mind combat. Our trance scout rover encountered this creature while enroute to a Unity pod. The rover team returned to the base safely but their vehicles were badly burned and the crews shaken. In even more dire news UNSF GENERAL ASSEMBLY while plowing through the fungal patch fought and defeated a sea version of the mind worms. The ship has been damaged and the crew shaken up and injured. The ship will now be able to make top speed for some time until repairs can be done. I have ordered the captain to continue forward and get clear of the fungal patch as quickly as possible. As soon as they have done this they can "heave to" for several turns on the north side of the island and make repairs before proceeding to see CEO Morgan. The extra energy they harvested from both encounters allowed us to complete one children's crèche and two recreation commons expansions but the time wasted repairing the ship and vehicles is disappointing.

The will of the people has spoken and we will remain in a planned economy until the High Commissioner of Economic Planning reports that we can no longer sustain our growth. He estimates that we shall carry on this path for eight more turns before moving to a market economy. By that time we will have made major population expansions throughout our lands.

Lastly we are building a echelon mirror complex just to the west of UN High Commission to increase the energy collection systems of the surrounding solar collectors. We hope the boost in energy will help us continue to grow.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2181

Pravin,

A word of warning: your foil will cause unrest when you change to a Market economy, so be prepared. You may recall that we had a foil, and that we eventually decided to scrap it since it couldn’t do its job if it left its base. Although it was a waste it did allow us to complete a recreation commons at a nearby base with the resources its hull provided.

Your report on the spoor launcher is disturbing, and it is one more reason that the forms of life on this planet generally need to be exterminated. I am still looking for the tool to do this, and I plan to do so efficiently. The benefits are many since their destruction will yield planetpearls, and we will be rid of these hostile life forms that threaten our very survival.

I don’t think your echelon mirror will gain you any additional energy, although it may be so in the future. Still it is an admirable project and the University will likely follow your lead when we can, and when it makes sense.

Zak

*!*!*!

UN Headquarters, MY 2181

Academician Provost Prokhor Zakharov,

We now have three cities that have entered what we now call "golden ages". The effects are dramatic and the boost in production and energy and population growth is dramatic. However, time is beginning to run out on us since our many city improvements and extra energy spent for recreational outlets has all but dried up our cash flow. We still have a good amount of cash reserves but to maintain extra lab and recreational expenses does cost. I now see that our High Commissioner was correct with his timetable. So in six turns we will move to a free market economy.

Little has changed since last we communicated. I do have good news in that UNSF GENERAL ASSEMBLY did clear the last part of the fungal patch and should now make better speed. I can only hope that when they do reach Morgan territory that they will aid us in repairs.

We should next turn make another land expansion jump and it should but us "inches" from connecting to the small island chain to our east. My son is building a new colony pod that will establish a colony in that area as quickly as we can.

We are now only a turn or so away from our next breakthrough and it will not be too soon for me. I can only hope that it will be a "new" technology that you can use.

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters, Planet Command Center – UNHQ

*!*!*!*

University Base, MY 2182

Pravin,

I can completely empathize with your maintenance concerns and how it decreases your energy reserves. Prior to our switch to a Free Market economy we had a very small positive energy balance, and that was sure to decrease as new facilities were built. I can imagine that your intrinsic inefficiency and bureaucracy would place additional demands on your reserves, and that is augmented by the likely fact that you have more infrastructure and therefore cost than we do. For us a Free Market system was the answer, and I suspect that it will be for you also.

We tried to set up our colony but we got a nasty message from the Gaians to back off, and that we must place our base at least one sector away. That is most unfortunate since we will not be near the sea, and it will take up too much of this valuable territory. Now that we have had a chance to explore it a little we have found it is full of Unity pods, and it is covered with virulent green growth, the first we have seen on the blighted planet. Our colonists have labeled it the Monsoon Jungle, and it should prove to be a fertile area indeed! I expect that this base will be the start of something truly great!

Good luck on your sea voyage. Morgan has proved to be much friendlier since we switched to a Free Market system, and we have entered into a Pact brotherhood a while ago. He used our road network to send a probe to the Gaian base that is on my island. I suspect he did something unfriendly, and I got a fragmentary message that said they are in a state of Vendetta. Dee and I settled our differences a while ago, so this distressed me. When I say ‘settled’ I mean I bribed Dee with a choice bit of technology to call off her vendetta and enter into a friendship treaty. Now I am in a situation where Morgan will likely call me up and ask that I also declare war on Dee and I will not do this. Despite the unfriendly reception she gave me when we met, and the fact she settled my territory, I do not wish her ill. I just want to be left alone and pursue my projects in peace. I hope I can put off Morgan and that Dee will leave me alone. If she doesn’t I may have to take matters to a more pointed end.

Zak

*!*!*!*

UN Headquarters, MY 2182

Academician Provost Prokhor Zakharov,

We had to have an emergency meeting of the economic council and a motion was put to the people to change immediately to a free market system and it was accepted. Our energy production was almost to zero and we would soon be eating away at our reserves. So, it was decided to move on now to the new system. We have yet to feel the full impact of the change this turn so we will see what the next turn will bring. Planned economic growth has made us the leader in population. Now we hope our labs can help move us forward faster. As of now our scientific breakthrough rate is once every eleven years with our next discover to be next turn. It is my hope that whatever advancement we make it will give us the opportunity to start another project. We had domination in this area for some time but many other factions, including yourself, are catching up quickly. We have several colonies that have superior mineral deposits that should help quickly finish any project.

UNSF GENERAL ASSEMBLY is still fighting its way through the fungus. It should now be clear of the fields this turn and be able to move on to Morgan territory.

We will complete several important improvements next turn and we did complete several more land improvements such as our fifth condenser unit, a echelon mirror and a thermal borehole. We are concentrating on more farms and forests for now and will switch back to more advanced improvements soon.

Perhaps it might be also time to exchange map files since we have made considerable headway in exploration of this world??

United Nations General Secretary,

Pravin Lal

United Nations Peacekeeper Headquarters , Planet Command Center - UNHQ

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