2554
Sector 1
The Human-Sandhana Republic continued its programme of rapid expansion, and like before, it brought them into conflict with their neighbour, Verlin. The Trader had just surveyed one of the systems in their planned route of expansion when HSR colonists entered the system and settled down on one of the planets. When the Verlinese surveyors protested this, citing that the system had already been claimed by Verlin, they were ridiculed and their claims dismissed, with the colonists refusing to budge. When news of this arrived in Verlin, it caused an uproar in the Verlin Congress, who demanded that the Human-Sandhana ceased their encroachment on Verlinese territory. Verlin was backed up by the Trade Order, with Nitheim as the most prominent member. Additionally, the Union of Central American Nations and the Kingdom of Komnenia became entangled in the dispute, both of them being wary of the HSR attitude as of late. The decision of what to do would have to be resolved by the HSR President. [+2 Hazardous Systems, and +2 Normal Systems to HSR. Dispute with Verlin]
This tense situation was certainly not helped by the continued build-up and modernisation of the HSR military. New ships started construction, and observers were sent to observe the ongoing Nitheim-Commune War, though they were unable to ascertain much information until it had actually concluded. Still, what information they could acquire would prove vital in improving the tactics of the HSR navy. [+1 Heavy Ship in 3 turns, +2 Medium Ships in 2 turns, and +4 Light Ships in 4 turns to HSR. +1 Space Tech Level to HSR in 2 turns. -210 credits from HSR.]
The HSR biological research hit a snag, as the research teams received nonsensical instructions with no base in reality. They were told to attempt to increase the intelligence of the new species, in spite of the fact that they were still only conducting research into the field and had not yet utilised the knowledge gained to proceed with the main project. It must also be noted that they did not yet have the expertise required to grow a sapient species. The lead researcher was deemed mentally unfit and was relieved from his position, to be replaced by a more competent colleague. [-30 credits from Human-Sandhana republic]
A search was conducted for resources on the planets of the newly colonised systems. A fair amount of minerals and metals were discovered which allowed them to cover the expenses of maintaining the colonies on the more hazardous systems. [The two hazardous systems gained each receive +1 Development Level]
The SCM-UC Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation was signed by the Soczarist Communczaric of Manx and the Union of Communes, creating a united front against the forces of capitalism. The exchange system mandated by the Treaty was immediately put into action, slowly rumbling into motion. The first effects were being felt by the end of the year as the industry in the Manx home system was expanded. Also the UC felt the positive effects of the treaty, helping speed along its militarisation programme. Additionally, the creation of the Interstellaire further cemented the bonds between not only the SCM and the UC, but also other extreme leftist parties and currents. [+1 Development Level to Homesystem. +5 Prestige to SCM. -50 credits from SCM]
Shortly following its creation, the first congress of the Interstellaire was held. Funding was granted to those extreme leftist parties who followed a non-authoritarian branch of socialism. This prompted several of those neglected authoritarian leftists to re-evaluate their stance, with some totally changing ideology to one more similar to the UC or SCM. Special funding was granted to the Communist Party of the UCAN, which allowed them to drum up much support among the UCAN populace through actions such as helping the poor and downtrodden, charity actions, and also propaganda campaigns which they before did not have the funds necessary for. As the CPUCAN did not agitate for a violent disposal of the old order, the UCAN did not react to this, especially since the growth of the CPUCAN brought the ruling coalition into trouble. Many of the leftist parties in the coalition wanted to leave it, which was in no small part encouraged by the Interstellaire, though this was not known to anybody except the SCM leadership. [CPUCAN major player in UCAN politics. Imminent UCAN political crisis. -80 credits from SCM]
The SCM also pushed funds to support the Colonial Worker's University of Kalmir. This effort was a massive success, seeing the University more than triple in size, to become a proper University. Shortly thereafter, a breakthrough was made regarding habitats on planets hazardous to human life, greatly boosting the SCM's economy. [All (2) Hazardous planets gain +1 Development Level. +5 Prestige to SCM. -40 Credits from SCM]
The SCM colonisation programme was also continued with success, with the SCM cementing its control over the Scorpion Spit. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the systems seized turned out to be utterly worthless. [+3 Worthless Systems to SCM, and +2 Normal Systems to SCM]
Sector 2
In Mongolia, expansion started up rapidly. Vast swathes of systems were claimed by the Mongolian expansion fleets, greatly expanding the reach of the Mongolian Empire. Many of these systems were also very well-suited to human life, so they could probably be swiftly developed to provide a huge industrial and economic base for further expansion out into the stars. [+2 Worthless Systems, +3 Hazardous Systems, and +14 Normal Systems to Mongolia]
Half the Mongolian treasury was also spent to improving the defences of the home system. Unfortunately, bureacratic inefficiency led to most of those funds either disappearing into thin air or being utilised for other purposes. [+2 Development Level to Homesystem. -150 credits from Mongolia]
The Jorlyon Empire, securely in control of the entrance points to its region of space, moved to secure control of those systems lying to its south and west. Unfortunately, it was discovered that many of these systems were utterly worthless. [+3 Worthless Systems, and +2 Normal Systems to Jorlyon Empire]
The expansion of the Jorlyon navy continued, with another cruiser and three more frigates being added. [+1 Medium Ship to Jorlyon in 1 turn, +3 Light Ships to Jorlyon in 1 turn. -66 credits from Jorlyon Empire]
Concurrent with the second wave of colonisation for the year was the reformation of the Imperial Administration into something capable of administering the vast lands under the control of the Jorlyon Empire. This effort was a huge success, bringing in extra funds for the Empire that would have otherwise been lost to bureacratic inefficiency. However, the second wave of colonisation ended up an utter failure, claiming only two more systems for the Empire as the rest of the colonisation fleet was destroyed due to accidents and pirates. [+1 Hazardous System to Jorlyon, +1 Normal System to Jorlyon. +1 stability to Jorlyon Empire. +10 Other Income (Imperial Administration) to Jorlyon Empire]
Despite the new and more efficient administration, many of the funds pushed to improve the less habitable systems of the Empire still disappeared, though most of it was expended for the purpose that they were meant which did require a lot more funds than originally thought. Still, both of the less habitable systems stopped being a constant drain on Jorlyon finances. [+1 Development Level each to the 2 Jorlyon Hazardous Systems. -150 credits from Jorlyon]
Sector 3
For the Terran Ascendancy, much of the first part of the year was marked by setbacks. Research was done for next generation laser cannons to upgrade the Terran navy with. Unfortunately, multiple setbacks pushed back the estimated time to completion and full upgrade of the pretty much nonexistent Terran navy considerably. [+1 Space Level to Terran Ascendancy in 3 turns. -110 credits from Terran Ascendancy]
The attempt to expand the Terran mining industry ended up a costly venture, also due to multiple setbacks. [+2 Development Levels to Terran Non-home systems. -150 credits from Terran Ascendancy]
The expansion of the Terran navy suffered many setbacks which made the process go painfully slowly. [+1 Medium Ship to Terran Ascendancy in 3 turns. +2 Light Ships to Terran Ascendancy in 3 turns. -55 credits from Terran Ascendancy]
However, the projects initiated during the later part of the year were more successful. The continued southward drive of expansion alloted the Ascendancy five new systems, although none of them were especially stellar quality. [+2 Worthless Systems, +2 Hazardous Systems, and +1 Normal System to Terran Ascendancy]
A successful attempt was made to iron out efficiencies and corruption in the Terran administration, netting the Ascendancy some extra income. [+5 Other Income (Efficient Administration) to Terran Ascendancy]
Sector 4
The Alkaterian Empire launched a massive colonisation campaign, laying claim to vast swathes of uninhabited space. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these systems were hostile to Alkaterian forms of life and were mostly a drain on the Alkaterian economy. [+1 Worthless System, +4 Hazardous Systems, and +2 Normal Systems to Alkaterian Empire]
The Alkaterians also invested in building up an industrial base for their previously claimed systems. This proved to be an expensive yet successful venture. [+1 Development level to each of the four Alkaterian systems. -200 credits from Alkaterian Empire]
Several scattered elements of the Alkaterian fleet emerged from the void to form up with the existing Alkaterian forces later in the year, greatly increasing the size of the Alkaterian fleet.[+5 Light Ships to Alkaterian Empire. +3 Medium Ships to Alkaterian Empire. -96 credits from Alkaterian Empire]
Unbeknownst to most, but knownst to the Alkaterian top leadership, quite a lot of funding was put towards the system deemed totally worthless. The why, how, and where were all unknown to most of those who knew about it but were not directly involved. All of this was kept under wraps, and any outsider would not know that anything even happened. [Effects are classified. -10 credits from Alkaterian Empire]
An inquiry was also made to find out who had proposed the idea of serving Cauliflower casserole. However, after initially making some headway, the trail suspiciously dried up. What was suspicious was that a ship captain, which was the next lead in the trail of clues, had been found killed by a gunshot to the head.
While Nitheim fought the Union of Communes, Merchanos made a bid to acquire full membership in the Trade Order. This was successful, though only by a very very narrow margin. In fact, had they tried to do this a month later than what they had, then they would have surely not been accepted. With Nitheim being unable to use their full clout within the Trade Order, and with their position not being as powerful as it was after the Nitheim-Commune War, the vote looked like this: The Aluxian Descendants, Luopica Colonists, and the Galan Rim Union voted in favour. The Arn Consortium, Nitheim Resurgence, and Verlin voted in opposition of the Merchanian application. The observer state Farunenion was brought in to resolve the tie. They voted in favour of Merchanos on the promise that Merchanos would lobby in favour of full membership for Farunenion. [Merchanos now a full Trade Order member. +5 Other Income (Trade Order) to Merchanos]
In less dramatic news, Merchanos funded increased industry in their existing colonies. [+4 Development Levels to Merchanian systems. -200 credits from Merchanos]
The expansion programme of Merchanos received massive funding this year to facilitate rapid colonisation of the border systems with the Great Tiě. Unfortunately, the Tiě caught notice and sped up their colonisation programme as well. What resulted was a series of disputes, primarily in the "north". One system in particular (de facto controlled by the Great Tiě) became hotly contested between colonists from the Great Tiě and Merchanos, though several other systems along the Merchanos-Tiě border are also contested, though these are all de facto Merchanian. [+1 Worthless System, +2 Hazardous Systems, and +3 Normal Systems to Merchanos. One more Normal System disputed with the Great Tiě (de facto controlled by Great Tiě). Also several other systems claimed by Great Tiě (though de facto Merchanian)]
A second expansion programme was also undertaken, aiming to colonise the systems directly to the east and west of Merchanos. The drive to the west successfully claimed one system without problem. However, the second system claimed to the west became a source of dispute with Nitheim, with the Resurgence having de facto control over the disputed system. The eastern drive was peaceful though, the only problem met being the large number of utterly useless systems. [+3 Worthless Systems, and +1 Normal System to Merchanos. One Hazardous System disputed with Nitheim (de facto controlled by Nitheim)]
Due to these conflicts a massive expansion of the military of Merchanos was undertaken. [+2 heavy Ships to Merchanos in 2 turns. +4 Medium Ships to Merchanos in 1 turn. +5 Light Ships to Merchanos in 1 turn. -253 credits from Merchanos]
The Imperium of Manx attempted to construct an observation station on the border with the Western Imperium to ascertain the strength of the Western forces. Unfortunately, it was sabotaged and when the Manx attempted to use it they were unable to spot anything or send back any reports of this as the observation station was vaporised in an explosion. The perpetrators behind this act are unknown, though some blame the Western Imperium, the Union of Communes, the Soczarist Communczaric of Manx, or even the Trade Order.
The Manx colonisation programme received new directives this year: to at all costs block Western expansion. They succeeded in this project by concentrating their resources to settle only a few systems. Unfortunately, the Western Imperium was also quick, and managed to acquire enough of a foothold to dispute the westernmost system claimed by and - de facto administrated by - the Manx. [+2 Hazardous Systems to Imperium of Manx. One Normal System disputed with Imperium of Manx (West) (de facto controlled by Imperium of Manx (East))]
In response to the increasingly hostile relations between the Western and Eastern Manx Imperiums, the Earth-based Manx decided to construct a myriad of training facilities on the border to the Westerners. This was looked upon favourably by the Imperial populace, who felt much more secure with the better guarded borders. [+1 Stability to Imperium of Manx. Planetary defences in systems bordering Western Manx better. -10 credits from Imperium of Manx]
The Manx also spread propaganda among the people of the Western Imperium, calling them to unite and join the one true Imperium. This was surprisingly successful, causing several fringe systems to secede from the Western Imperium to form an independent state whose goal was to join with the Earth-based Imperium, calling themselves the "True Manx". The less remote systems who rebelled were brutally brought to heel, although they did buy some time for the True Manx to put together some sort of fighting force. [Western Imperium destabilised. True Manx in open revolt against Western Imperium. -20 credits from Imperium of Manx]
Due to the decrepit state of Imperial finances, the state asked people to donate for the cause of remedying that. This was mildly successful. [+20 credits to Imperium of Manx]
In the Brotherhood of the Stars, large amounts of funds were poured into improving the least livable of the Brotherhood's settled systems. This turned out to be a huge success that was well worth the money invested as income from the system shot through the roof, necessitating the repair of said roof. [+7 Development Levels to Brotherhood Hazardous System. -175 credits from Brotherhood of the Stars]
The Brotherhood colonisation programme also met with huge success as seven new systems were claimed and settled by the Brotherhood. Unfortunately, this brought the Brotherhood into conflict with Crimea Ryvuhr, who disputed the claim of some of the border systems. Tensions are high, and it is unsure if a peaceful solution can be found with the belligerent Crimeans. Despite this, the tensions have not erupted into any armed conflict as of the moment, though forces on both sides of the border are eyeing each other warily. [+1 Worthless System, +2 Hazardous Systems, and +4 Normal Systems to Brotherhood of the Stars]
Funds were also poured into constructing a giant orbital financial centre in the Brotherhood homesystem. The tasks of this station were to be many, including serving as a stock exchange and trade station. This facility was constructed to facilitate easier trade between the systems of the Brotherhood. Delays lengthened the contruction time and shattered the optimistic estimate that it would be done by the end of the year. [+5 Other Income (Homesystem Financial Centre) to the Brotherhood in 2 turns. -30 credits from Brotherhood of the Stars]
In more external businesses, the Brotherhood of the Stars successfully established full diplomatic embassies in the Great Tiě, Aluxian Descendants, and the Purian Hierarchy in anticipation of increased ties that could impossibly be effectively handled by the current relatively slow long-distance communications that bound the rest of known space together. However, when meeting with the Great Tiě to discuss this among other things, the Tiě pleaded the Brotherhood to aid them against the more powerful Merchanos, whom they had a territorial dispute with. [Brotherhood relations with Great Tiě, Aluxian Descendants, and the Purian Hierarchy are improved. Great Tiě want Brotherhood aid]