From one twig, a cosmic tree.

[Machiavellian]

"Today the human race is a single twig on the tree of life, a single species on a single planet. Our condition can thus only be described as extremely fragile, endangered by forces of nature currently beyond our control, our own mistakes, and other branches of the wildly blossoming tree itself. Looked at this way, we can then pose the question of the future of humanity on Earth, in the solar system, and in the galaxy from the standpoint of both evolutionary biology and human nature. The conclusion is straightforward: Our choice is to grow, branch, spread and develop, or stagnate and die."
Robert Zubrin, Entering Space, 1999

His hand fumbled momentarily with the reflective silver wrapping of the tablets. The struggle persisted for several seconds, then all at once ended. The packaging ripped and the two white tablets dropped into glass, foaming and bubbling with excitement as they contacted the water. Nicholaus was thankful for the artificial gravity aboard the ship, it saved him a lot of headaches, but right now it was his stomach that concerned him. With cool resolve he placed the glass to his lips and swallowed down the unpleasant tasting liquid to the last drop. The bombardment of artificial simulations he had to endure indicated that traveling through slip-space made him queasy and while the tests were a long way from accurately duplicating the effects of hyperdrive the last thing he wanted to do as captain was retch in front of his crew. No better safe then sorry in this case. Slip sickness doctor Biely called it. Much like sea sickness, not everyone got it, and it also caused nausea and in some cases intense vertigo. Palek Biely had been one of the fortunate few crewmembers to come out the Carcassone's maiden voyage unimpaired.

Absently pinching the arm of his soft brown pleather chair Nicholaus doubted that his predecessor had to endure that vile remedy. Captain George H. Nelson, unlike Nicholaus had been in the prime of his life. A gung-ho daredevil willing to risk everything he had for the betterment of the Dominion. He had. Nicholaus Trencavel was a different sort of breed. He too would risk his life for the dominion, but it wasn't for glory, fame or promotion. It was all he knew and at fifty eight he reckoned he was too old to change. Polite and rather mild mannered, Nicholaus was an unlikely replacement to captain the Carcassone. While he had served admirably as a young man during the unification - flying strikers against first Richmond, then Dayton and Cincinnati, and finally at the battle of Chicago - he knew neither that nor his later lunar missions or even his walk on saturn's moon Enceladus were what got him his current seat. It was nepotism that put him aboard the science vessel Carcassone and he was fine with that. He was proud of all that Jaris had achieved and if his nephew wanted to use his position as Prime Minister to help out his family, who was he to refuse. Let others whisper behind his back for all he cared, they would act no differently in his shoes.

Tugging at his bushy, chest length white beard Nicholaus leaned back in his chair and nodded to himself. "To boldy go.." he whispered to himself and a hint of a wry smile crept to his thin lips. Gingerly pressing down a button located on his desk console he leaned forward, inching needlessly closer to the small transmitter. "Attention crew, this is your captain speaking. I hope you are all as excited and honored as I am to be here today." Nicholaus paused wondering if that last comment was too much. "We have received word from lunar control that we are now safely beyond sanctuary zone and should proceed with our mission. Ready all systems and personnel for hyperdrive."

Captain Trencavel disengaged communication from his end and sighed. He stared at the large portrait of George H. Nelson that Nicholaus didn't have the heart to take down. Normally, as captain, Nicholaus would be on the bridge with his crew but after what happened during the Carcassone's maiden voyage into slip-space the big-wigs at Dominion command had ordered that the captain remain in his quarters during the first run of the hyperdrive engines despite the added safety mechanisms.

How could anyone have known that the human brain could not correctly process the appearance of slip-space? In it's first flight the Carcassone's active crew suffered severe epileptic seizures, resulting in blindness, full amnesia and in most cases death. Fortunately a portion of the vessel's crew was asleep or were not exposed to the visuals beyond the ship's hull. This luckily included much of the engineering and science staff. Near blind they were able to turn the Carcassone around and limp back to the Sol system. The Carcassone's new safety mechanisms supposedly prevented the repeat of that initial mishap, but valuable time had been wasted and the Dominion did not want to the risk the investment made in Captain Trencavel.

"Captain, this is Commander Thiago Perreira" The rough voice came over the console speakers. "We are underway. All systems read optimal. Welcome to the future Captain."

Nicholaus Trencavel reached forward and pressed down the button again. "Thank you commander. Please keep me informed. That will be all for now." Nicholaus turned off his side of the communications once more and allowed himself another wry smile. His internal motors were running and he thought to himself. 'Funny, I didn't feel a thing. I guess the tablets work.'

***

"Lunar Command informs us that the Carcassone has safely made the transition into and out of hyperspace. Captain Trencavel sends his compliments." Henry began to laugh, but the icy glare from the Prime Minister choked the amusement quite suddenly from his body.

"and the Daedalus?" The Prime Minister asked impatiently, his glacial eyes returning to the myriad screens stationed around his metallic 'U' shaped desk.

"Th.. the colony ship is awaiting our order to commense sir." Henry worriedly glanced over his shoulder at one of the muscular, slate skinned body guards stationed in the chamber. Jaris Trencavel had a reputation and he hated delays. "The infrastructure for the mining operations upon the Sol asteroid belts is already underway." Henry quickly added.

That polar gaze from the Prime Minister fixed upon Henry once more. Annoyance riddled his voice when Jaris spoke. "Cul." Henry didn't recognize the word, but assumed it was a curse from one of those antiquated languages the Prime Minister dabbled in. He stood silently, waiting for Jaris Trencavel to continue. He wasn't going to fall into the trap of interupting perhaps the most powerful man in all the Dominion.

"Well, what are you waiting for? A second Calamity?" Jaris pushed himself up to his feet and glowered across the length of his intimidating, yet utilitarian office at Henry. "We've had enough setbacks as it is.. Earth can not afford for delays caused by incompetance and uncertainty!"

The Prime Minister dragged his fingers backward through his combed flaxen hair in frustration. He breathed heavily through his nose and tsked twice. "Give the orders for Daedalus to begin travel to the Alpha Centuri systems at once. I also want the selection of crew and passangers for the Darwin to be completed in the next twenty days. Is that understood Mr. Woolley?"

Henry bobbed his head up and down and finally managed a feeble "yes sir. I'll get right on it sir."

The Prime Minister sunk back into his high backed red leather chair. "Very well. You are dismissed." Jaris Trencavel didn't give Henry another look, returning his attention to the vast array of computer monitors constructed into his desk. He barely heard the door sliding shut as Mr. Woolley left. One of the screens flashed a new notice from the scientific team assigned to the Korx probe. Three more were notices from two of the three senators from district 31. No doubt more complaints about Detroit being classified within district 27 and not their own. It was thirty two years after the former United States accepted unification, yet sometimes they acted as if it was only yesterday. Jaris had been shocked at how many concessions they had been given when he read over original treaty of capitulation. There was a fourth notice Senator Teshale Meseret. Jaris made a note to look at it later and swiveled his chair away from the monitors on his desk.

He knew he had been too hard on Henry, but Jaris was certain Henry understood the true cause of his frustration. After the tragedy of the Carcassone’s first flight Jaris had been, as the modern expression goes, charging all lobes.

"Finally humanity will take it's place among the stars." Jaris said aloud, though his bodyguards did not respond. They had been trained not to comment if not spoken to directly for the Prime Minister had a tendency to speak his thoughts aloud. "But will we be alone?" uncertainty and worry punctuated his words.

Jaris Trencavel wrinkled his face up in disgust as concerns came to the surface. The Korx probe that found Earth on August 5th 2209 had been a mixed blessing. At first it had given the young Dominion of Sol direction and focus. It was a clear sign that mankind was not alone in the Universe - providing an answer to a centuries old question. It had taken nineteen months for the team of cryptanalysists and linguists to decode the alien language of the probe. The information the probe provided was bewildering and wondrous. While the thought of building a Star gate as the Korx probe intended was immediately dismissed by the Dominion Senate, scientists working intensely with the probe and it's schematics discovered certain revelations that filled holes in the Heim theory for Hyperdrive. Vast sums of additional funding were given and led by Dr. Audra Kuzavinis, a team of scientists worked night and day on plans for a functional hyperdrive engine which would allow for reasonable intersolar travel. Unfortunately nothing is ever free. Though the initial designs had been finished in 2215 and a first engine constructed in 2219, it was only in 2221 that a outside security company helped discover the true purpose of the probe. The Korx probe had been a clandestine spy. Hooked up as it was to the scientist’s computers it had accessed the global networks and surreptitiously utilized the vast transmitter array on the dark side of the moon to broadcast immeasurable stores of information into the not so empty blackness of space.

Little was discovered about these Korx, but information from the probe did indicate that they were not alone in the universe and that interstellar travel was for the most part limited to ancient star gates. One cryptanalysist suggested that from all accounts these Korx seemed to be galactic merchants. That their language seemed heavily oriented around acquisition and trade. That only served to make matters worse. The secret of hyperdrive and all the advances of Earth had been broadcast across the galaxy. While the transmission had finally been cut shortly after it was discovered, the last five years had become Earth’s third great space race. However, this time the opponent or opponents were not another rival nation, but alien and wholly of another world.

Jaris Trencavel curled the fingers of his left hand around the balled up fist of his right. He leaned his chin and mouth against his hands and stared at the Dominion flag. Absently, the Prime Minister repeated the words he first spoke when he stood before the Earth Senate prior to the inaugural flight of the Carcassone. He had borrowed a portion of his speech from another made by an American who served as secretary of the interior during the Second World War. “We know little of what awaits us out there beyond the reach of our Sun. We do not know if these Korx are hostile or what enemies we may find. Senators, since we first started putting humans into space, there have been accidents, and people have died. Space is a frontier, hostile and inhospitable like no other, and while it behooves us to be as cautious as possible without crippling ourselves in order to minimize fatalities, we must accept that some deaths will happen. We must also accept that time is no longer on our side. Since the Calamity we have known that Earth alone can not be our only sanctuary. We must be firm and decisive. We must know our will and make it felt. And we must hurry.”

[Machiavellian]

Hello to anyone who has taken time out of their busy day to read this. It's been a long time since I tried my hand at an AAR or really any narrative writing in at least a year. I've been away from the forums for a while, but of late i've returned.

I had planned to return by writing a Europa Universalis III AAR, but due to my computer using an intel graphics chip that has not been an option. I do however have Galactic Civilizations Gold, which includes the Dark Avatar expansion. The game is rather enjoyable and hugely inspired by Director's wonderful story (which is far greater then anything I will produce) i've decided to try my hand at an AAR.

Truthfully I have no idea where the story will go. In an effort to not abandon the tale, I will be for the most part playing along with my writing. While I have played two years ahead, the game is not anywhere near completed.

Now for some specifics about the game and so forth.

Galactic Empires: Dark Avatar. (most recent)
Galaxy: gigantic
Victory: research, alliance, influence
Tech trading: enabled (though I won't be doing it unless allied or it makes sense via the story)
Allow CPU intensive algorithms: yes
The computer AI's are all: Bright or higher.

Number of planets: common
Habitable planets: occassional
Number of stars: common
Star density: random
Anomalies: occassional
Tech rate: norm

Race: human; Dominion of Sol
Political party: Industrialists

The ship colors are dark red hulls with black trim. Not quite as nice as they could have been, but easy to find on the map. The logo I selected was the planet with the sword through it.

I believe I have the maximum amount of computer enemies, as well as minor races. I randomized them and had a few of my own design tossed in. I know at least two of my races made it in. The Korx were automatically put in with neutral relations with Earth.

Much like Director, I have abandoned the back story of the game. Obviously our universes are different, though I will be shamelessly borrowing his idea for the galactic week equaling one earth month.

I used the Korx to explain the sudden knowledge the other races have of Hyperdrive. Also, to further handicap myself, I gave the Korx all my starting technology for free.

Comments are always appreciated, including criticism as long as it is constructive. I am always seeking to learn how to write better and like others, I love feedback.

[Director]

Off to a nice start, Machiavellian! Good to see you take up the GalCiv pen.

Yes, we pesky Americans... you can assimilate us but you can't prevent us from thinking we deserve special treatment.


From your mention of asteroid miners I assume you are playing Dark Avatar?

[cthulhu]

Great to see you return, Machiavellian! I look forward to follow this tale.

[Stuyvesant]

Hey, hey! Another GalCiv AAR! Now, I better be careful: much as Director's story made me buy the game proper, this story could well end up making me buy the expansion - and I need my money to update my struggling PC...

Anyway, good luck with the story and the game! I'm looking forward to see how your game and society will develop and differ from Director's effort.

[Machiavellian]

-- Just a minor update: I'll likely be posting a continuation this weekend, but I did run into a small setback. Apparently the first game I ran was too easy. See, this why playing the game first is an advantage. Basically, I had a really excellent start position and expanded rapidly. Never had any wars and by 2230 I was able to get every single major race to ally with me except one. I decided that wouldn't be an interesting tale and restarted (after I beat the first game) - story wise it won't make a big difference fortunately.

Game wise: I've upped the difficulty to tough. All AI's are intelligent. I re-randomized the races and bumped up the aggression on a few. I've got a much, much worse starting position now so it should all be good.

[Corbett]

Good luck! This is the first GalCiv thing I've looked into. I'll have to investigate this forum further. I'm enjoying this AAR thus far.

[Stonewall]

Good luck. You have a good start there. Looking forward to updates.

[Inostra]

best wishes, space opera is the only writen form of opera I can stand