The virus is back? Damn! I was hoping Lucan was just going to build some
experimental TL 16 ships w/ antimatter drives or something...
Okay, I'm sorry, but the virus is just too stupid to believe. Therefore, as an
alternative, I present:
Hardcore Times, or Desperate People Doing Desperate Things Like Real
People Actually Do.
1129: Archduke (Emperor?) Dulinor of Illesh is assassinated on Dlan. After
reading a formal concession to the throne by Duke Craig, Bzrk, Margaret,
the Aslan, and strangely enough, the Hivers, Admiral Irene guns down Dulinor
and claims the throne herself by Right of Assassination. Clever fleet
deployment strategies enable her to live long enough to bind most of
the fleet to her. Daibei and the Hierate immediately send all available
aid, and a defensive perimeter is set up between Margaret's and Dulinor/Irene's
safe zones.
1130: Military construction in Margaret/Illesh/Daibei almost ceases completely.
Aslan mercenaries are used to destroy independent units within the bounds of
the domain, and obsolete ships are used to construct a makeship X-Boat
network within. Lucan is, of course, incensed, and his master plan is near
completion.
1131: Emperor Lucan assassinated on capital by units eventually proven to
be Zhodani commandos. almost immediately the Capitol safe zone disintegrates,
and Lucan's former navy divides up into six fleets. Empress Irene issues
no statement concerning the death of the pretender Lucan, but divides the
responsibility for the destruction of his former forces among Antares,
Massilia, Vland, Illesh, and Daibei. Antares strikes first, destroying both
core fleets in a strange, almost comic battle. Other attacks follow.
1132: By 230, the remains of Lucan's great fleets are destroyed or captured,
and mass excecutions of his former offices commence. His great secret weapon
is never found, of it was, no details were ever released. Solomani warhawks
finally come out on top, and some attacks are launched. Imperial forces
(with the new capitol at Reference) quickly stall the advance, and the
border ceases to be anything but a large 5-pc-wide free-fire zone.
1133: At imperial orders, industry on all available planets converts to
the production of general-purpose consumer goods, high-yeild foodstuffs, high
tech (but low-maintenace) building materials, GP weapons like lasers, etc.
Starship construction is pursued as fast as possible, but a full half of
starships active between 1132 and 1144 are converted military models.
1135: Empress Irene abdicates in favor of Armand, a powerful Merchant. A new
law code is introduced, and specifically denies the Right of Assassination,
and all nobility is to be non-hereditary, except that each noble of standing
B or more can designate one issue (the first, basically) as a knight. The next
90 years are spent repairing the damage done in 1117-1130, and this is done in
a variety of ways. Landless Aslan (I can't remember the word) males are given
failing and doomed worlds to play with, technological exchanges are set up
to assist those in low-tech areas, and the new IISS is converted into an
internal investigation service, and by 1139 has full policing powers under
the new imperial extradition/interface laws set up by Armand and his daughter
Cassidrine (a tradtion of males following females and vice-versa is set up).
- ---
So mabye I could have done better, but looking at GDW, I know I sure as
hell could have done worse. This leaves our players as follows:
Lucan: Dead. His area becomes a wasteland. Loser.
Bzrk: Autonomous Domain, much larger than Antares. Archduke. Winner.
Vland: Autonomous Domain. Winner, sort of.
Dulinor: Dead. Area becomes integral part of new Empire (the Fourth).
Craig: Archduke, grandson becomes emperor in 1178. Winner.
Norris: Sixth Frontier War finishes him off. Deneb is divided between Vargr,
Aslan, Vland, and Zhodani. Loser.
Aslan: Get lots of worlds in Deneb and devasted areas. Lots become imperial
citizens. Winners, big time.
Hivers: Ever-so mysteriously, trade expands to a vast degree. Big bucks for the
starfish. Winners.
Solomani: Terra falls again in 1198. Entire Solomani area appropriated by
Fourth Imperium and Aslan. Losers.
Zhodani: Low-level contacts increase. Deneb headache gone for good. Time for
another few core expeditions. Keep sneakiness image. Winners.
Vargr: Get lots of land in Deneb, find themselves under Bzrk's thumb trailing.
Break Even.
Margaret: Loses in the shadow of the more flamboyant and decisive Irene. Still,
dies in bed. Winner, sort of.
Strephon: Gimme a break. Dies during a refrigerator accident. Loser.
Law and Order: A line of competent rulers take power, and stave off the
night just in time, dramatic like. Epics galore, but nice clean places
to read about them, too. Winner.
- ---
The reason I like this better is that you get it both ways. In safe areas,
you have the good `ole Imperium IV, with all that we knew and loved. In
devastated areas, you have slow rebuilding, rediscovery, and more aliens than
you can shake a stick out. There are always a few more raiders to go after,
planets to save, etc. Advanture stuff. But you can go back to Daibei and
actually get s ship built to boot! I know I'd rather play in such a universe
than `Twilight:2000 in Space'.
Comments, please.