A drug dealers dream

When we left off we had discovered that our friends to the north, the rat people, and wanted to make some friends with them.

Traditions and Tech

First, we unlocked Hyrocentric and finished the Supremacy tree. Unlike many games we’re not rushing towards anything and while we’re economically doing well we haven’t expanded to a third colony. Right now we’re unlocking the Federation and are pursing the Mercantile path before getting to our ascension.

Friends and Neighbors

We’ve made some new friends. As you can see in the picture above we met four new empires. First, to our south is the Djunn Collective a hivemind that we get along with fairly well despite not having the ability to provide them with life saving drugs. They loved the extra energy, food, and trade we provided and we have are targeting them to form a federation.

Second, they rival the Uva-Xavanian Star State. These are some authoritarian birds are fanatically xenophobic. What I loved to see is that they took long baths in mutagenic spas. As a drug pushing cartel this means that we can be ensured that there are several medical workers on each world when we “open” for business. We’ve made them a steady client and have three branch offices with the capital city having 100% crime already. They serve as the perfect foil to let us grow crime over time.

Most recently we met the Figyaran Stalwart Legion. We don’t know much about them but the nice ocean planets seem to be teeming with customers just looking to be liberated and smuggled to our free haven.

Before we get to our last new potential friend and customer I noticed that the Immutharan Republic had pathetic fleet power. Instead of being the strong militaristic friend they became a weight around my ankle that couldn’t stand up by themselves. To save them I allowed them to become my vassal. In doing so I caused them to lock me out of opening up new branch offices until our truce is resolved even with a commercial pact. Fortunately my feathered friends in the Star State were able to pick up the slack.

I suspect they have been sending ships to destroy some of the mining drones that appeared. Maybe the AI shouldn’t do that.

So why have I waited to talk about the last empire, the Royal Cyanidtan Nations? Because they’re space nazi’s and anyone who has watched the rocketeer knows that even if you haven’t ever made an honest buck in your life you don’t work with a nazi. Fanatical Xenophobia and genocide I can live with in the universe but selective kinship? No way!

These villains even declared war on my rat friends and I heroically rose to defend them since they have been paying me protection money. While they have a larger fleet the smart Stellaris AI was intent on dividing up that fleet so my 6K fleet could defeat 3 3K fleets instead of fighting them all at once. I’ll be retreating behind my lines where I’ve formed a defensive perimeter and waiting out this war to a status quo victory.

The War

First, the Cyanidtan moved through Emara and defeated the pathetic forces of the Immutharan Republic and occupying several systems while splitting into 3K occupation fleets.

Second, the heroic pharma state syndicate moved to free our Immutharian customers by defeating a single 3K fleet at Thespia. Voidborne Mary, our minister of defense, ordered all remaining fleets to gather to her and rested and refit at Emara while we continued to produce corvettes.

This war is the first war fought by the Salorim Syndicate over galactic distances and the ability to produce trade, convert the trade into alloys, and convert the alloys into fleet power is a testament to the forethought of our corporate leaders. It really helps that we’ve been buying off the Hive Mind to our south the entire time.

As shown above our current state is gathering strength behind our lines. Early losses by our allies have caused both sides to see an increase in war exhaustion and the most likely outcome is 10 years of “peace” while we continue to make full war production.

Next Steps

The story will continue on Twitch where I will livestream all of this game. Join me, or at least follow and I’d love it if you chat. Also, if you found this blog from twitch please let me know if it was helpful to catch you up on the current game.