Stellaris Wars - Resurgent: A Rise of the First Order AAR

[Arithmetician]

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(Hi! It's been way too long! I'm sorry that I didn't finish the last AAR that I started... things got really crazy, and then I had to get a new computer too, so I wasn't able to continue. I'll try to keep things more succinct this time so that I can actually finish the report.)

I recently completed a game where I played as the First Order from Star Wars, making use of the Rise of the First Order mod, and the Animated First Order Portrait mod. However, rather than using the Origin that gives Starkiller Base (Rise of the New Order), I chose to mix things up a bit. Through a freak hyperspace accident, the flagship and mobile capital of the First Order, the Mega Star Destroyer Supremacy has been stranded in a distant, unknown galaxy. Unperturbed, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, now older and somewhat wiser, has vowed that the First Order will establish dominion over this new galaxy, bringing about a new era of law, order, stability, and progress.

Before we begin the AAR proper, a quick rundown of my build for the First Order.

Government: Military Dictatorship

Ruler Title: Supreme Leader

Civics:

Project Resurrection - This gives various small military bonuses, allowing the First Order to quickly construct an advanced navy and train new ground forces

Nationalistic Zeal - the First Order is nothing but not zealous in pursuit of its goals

Ethics:

Authoritarian - a strong hand is required to bring order to the galaxy.

Fanatic Militarist - above all else, the First Order is a military organization, aiming to achieve hegemonic domination over the galaxy.

Species: Imperial

Traits:

Intelligent
Natural Engineers
Conformists
Decadent
Repugnant

The First Order will have a strong focus on building the most technologically advanced navy in the galaxy, with warships and superweapons dwarfing those of any potential rivals, in turn requiring great feats of engineering (Intelligent and Natural Engineers). Members of the First Order, especially its troopers, are indoctrinated in its ideology from a young age, and Imperials in general believe strongly in loyalty to the government (Conformists). Like the Empire before it, the First Order will have little qualms about enslaving aliens, freeing Imperials from menial work to focus on developing new weapons (Decadent). However, the totalitarian ideology of the First Order and often spartan lifestyle of a constantly mobilized military make few enjoy their company (Repugnant).

That's it for this post. Next up, the actual AAR itself!

 

[Arithmetician]

Marooned.

The Supremacy is adrift, cut off from the rest of the First Order's navy. Heavily damaged by a hyperspace jump gone disastrously wrong, it floats through deep space. None of the surrounding stars appear to correspond to any known systems, so using what reserves of power it has left, the Supremacy continually maintains a Hyperspace Beacon, so that ships dispatched on scouting missions can find their way back to it.

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Eventually, it is determined that the Supremacy has come to rest near the Outer Rim of the new galaxy that it has found itself in. Much of the Supremacy's infrastructure has been ruined by the accident, and its hyperdrive is beyond repair, but enough remains to rival the output of a small industrial system.

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The years after the Supremacy's arrival in the new galaxy were long and hard. The Mega Star Destroyer was already designed for self-sufficiency and permanent habitation as the First Order's capital, but nevertheless, a strong hand was required to lead the survivors. After some initial doubts about his temperament, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren proved himself up to the task.

(Traits-wise, I could have hardly asked for a more fitting leader than the Kylo Ren here for my RP purposes. Ruthless, Warlike, and with the Fleet Expansion agenda, Kylo would help ensure that the First Order was a force to be reckoned with).

Given the damage done to the Supremacy's own construction bays, a space station was constructed nearby it, using what equipment could be salvaged, to help maintain the small fleet of support vessels that would mark the start of the First Order's conquest of the galaxy at large.

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Among the vessels docked at the station was an advanced new model of science ship, which would chart the nearby systems for the resources that the First Order needed to rebuild.

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Back on the Supremacy itself, cavernous hydroponics decks, reactor stations, and astro-mining bays provided the raw resources necessary to support its continued operations, while state-of-the-art laboratories both developed new technologies and sought to reclaim what had been lost. Of course, the ship was so large that there were some disorganized pockets in its deeper recesses, but they would be brought to heel shortly.

A new era awaits the First Order! Soon, all systems will bow before its might!

 

[Nikolai]

Glorious! Glad to see you back @Arithmetician !

 

[Arithmetician]

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To the galactic southwest of the Supremacy, the newly deployed science ship, FO Basilisk, discovered a pair of habitable worlds in what was dubbed the Schedir System, an arctic planet and its tundra moon. Scientist Sheev Lionne named the planet Kelvin, and its moon Kelvin Minor. In time, Kelvin would grow to be one of the largest tech-worlds for the First Order, home to a major university, and a dimensional portal, through which trade was eventually established with an alternate version of the First Order. Kelvin Minor would develop a local monarchy, which was permitted to exist ,provided that it continued to pay fealty to the Supreme Leader, and much of its population would be employed as bureaucrats. Together, they would be some of the most populated planets in First Order space.

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Kelvin was also home to a presapient mammalian species, which First Order scientists called the Lahtrepians. Preliminary studies of them indicated that they were exceptionally tolerant to high levels of background radiation.

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The surrounding systems proved to be rich with mineral wealth, a great boon to the First Order's industry. Meanwhile, Gallius Phennir, a scientist specializing in archaeology, discovered a Crystal Codex, which proved to offer a wealth of insight on the techniques of statecraft. Gallius immediately put this knowledge to his own benefit, using it to earn the Supreme Leader's favor, and in a few short years would be appointed the head of the Commission for the Preservation of the New Order (the Authoritarian Faction). Kylo himself would come to organize the Knights of the Void, as a successor to his Knights of Ren, dedicated to the conquest of the galaxy.

While not an arctic world like the original Ilum, which had become Starkiller Base before its destruction, Mu Pavonis IV was dubbed "New Ilum", for it had incredibly rich veins of minerals and vast forests bearing rare crystals. They were of comparable quality to the Kyber Crystals that had been once mined on Ilum, and would greatly enhance the First Order's weaponry.

(Please forgive the spelling error in the planet name in the screenshot).

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If Gallius Phennir was Kylo's right-hand man, Natsai Darksword was his right-hand woman. A fastidious individual who hated any sort of waste, she was also a slave driver, who oversaw daily operations on the Supremacy with an iron fist.

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Soon, it became clear that a mighty precursor civilization had once inhabited the portion of the galaxy that the First Order found itself in. They were called the Cybrex, and had once sought to exterminate all organic life. Their technology was incredibly advanced, and the Supreme Leader ordered that he should be immediately notified of any new Cybrex discoveries, so that the First Order could claim their power for its own.

An abandoned cruiser was found orbiting a gas giant in the Ethiuq system. While its exact origins were unknown, it appeared to be of an Imperial design, and was immediately pressed into service.

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After 17 years, the First Order had built itself a burgeoning empire..

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Then it had its first encounter with a star nation native to the galaxy... one that was much more powerful than the First Order.

 

[Arithmetician]

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In many ways, the Assembly represented everything that the Supreme Leader hated. Yet having been longer established in the galaxy, the Assembly's navy was not to be trifled with. And so discretion proved the better part of valor. The Supreme Leader made plans to send an an envoy to the Assembly, while research feverishly progressed on FTL Inhibition technology and new Destroyers. One way or the other, they would be brought under the rule of the First Order in the end, but the Supreme Leader needed to stall them first. Thankfully, their peaceful nature made the industrious Yl'Khahan quite trusting, limiting the threat that they might have otherwise posed.

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First Order crews also took the opportunity to gain live combat experience agains the fleets of mining drones on the periphery of known space.

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Perhaps they were overeager, as several corvettes were lost in the skirmishes. However, relations with the Assembly were continuing to improve, and evenly the Supreme Leader signed a commercial pact with them.

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The threat of immediate hostilities with the Assembly increasingly remote, the Supreme Leader directed the investment of the First Order's alloy production into the construction of a network of starbases, to secure as much space as possible. However, soon a new potential enemy emerged. A mega corporation, the arthropoid Themlar shared the Assembly's egalitarian ideals, but they were far more willing to use military force, and were suspicious of the First Order. Fortunately, the Themlar were too far away to launch an effective attack agains the First Order for the time being.

A leviathan was in the Outer Rim, a beast that devoured stars in much the same manner that Starkiller Base once did. The science crew that witnessed it only had time to send a brief distress transmission before all signals from them were lost. The First Order was still in no state to challenge such a fearsome foe.

As the First Order slowly built up its fleet strength, the Supreme Leader was proving himself an increasingly competent administrator, with an eye for finding talent where others saw only eccentricity.

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The pace of the First Order's rearmament continued to accelerate, as did its military R&D programs. However, while continuing to explore to the galactic south, scouts discovered the Omni Continuity, a vastly powerful and ancient Machine Intelligence. Unlike the Cybrex, they were not genocidal, but they still clearly were. not to be trifled with.

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Soon, contact was made with two more star nations. Both of them were zealously intolerant, and neither of them were friendly.

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Once again, distance was an ally of the First Order, buying it the time it desperately needed to develop a decisive technological edge over its foes.

Around this time, a proposal began circulating among the star nations, to band together in a "Galactic Community", not unlike the Galactic Senate of the old galaxy. While the Supreme Leader had no love for the institution of the Senate, he was increasingly understanding the benefits of playing the long political game, so on the behalf of the First Order, he accepted its invitation. Thus, the First Order became one of the Galactic Community's founding members.

Other members of the Community were the reptilian Lokken Mechanists, the molluscoids of the Empire of Ymoria, the planetoid slavers of the Regime of Vetiri, the undead merchants of the Jhennlot Starcorp, and the reptilians of the Anathurian Star Regime.

For now, the Supreme Leader would bide his time and wait for the perfect opportunity to strike.

 

[Arithmetician]

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The Shabtak quickly proved their aggressive nature, declaring a holy war against the Lokken Mechanists, who they claimed profaned the spirits with their machines. The First Order remained strictly neutral in the conflict, instead quietly building its strength. Military R&D managed to redevelop the infrastructure necessary to support construction of Resurgent-class Star Destroyers and larger dreadoughts. However, they still needed to solve the problems of producing reactors and drives powerful enough to support such large capital ships. It would be decades before dreadnoughts could become a reality once more.

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The Galactic Community took up debate on whether or not to ease environmental regulations in the interest of improving worker productivity. The First Order threw its support behind the measure, and it passed overwhelmingly.

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Space that the First Order could occupy without fighting a war it was not fully prepared for was rapidly running out, so research commenced on the construction of additional space habitats, like the one that the Supremacy had become, but on a much smaller scale.

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More contacts were made - the Hathgum Pious Conclave, a snail-like species between the Themlar, Vetiri, and Anathurians, with very delicate biologies that mostly restricted them to pristine Gaia world. In the galactic southwest, there was the Vhellet Star League, another necroid species, but one that looked far less gruesome than the Thorquell or the Vetiri, even as their flesh slowly atrophied. The Vetiri were staunchly democratic, and the antithesis of the First Order's ideals. Then there was the Glorious Aztani Imperium in the far galactic east, molluscoids with bony shells protecting their faces. Lastly, in the galactic north, there was the Polvanite Star Corp. The Polvanites were lithoids that greatly resembled the mythical unicorn.

Gradually, through concerted diplomatic efforts ,the Themlar came around to the First Order's way of thinking. Their corporate backing was a great boon to the First Order's economy, and they quickly established a Branch Office on the Supremacy itself.

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Three years later, similar efforts bore fruit with the Jhennlot. With a newfound wealth of credits pouring in, the First Order continued to ramp up the industrialization of its worlds.

Nonetheless, it came as a surprise to many throughout the galaxy when the First Order successfully launched a bid to have the Galactic Market established around the Supremacy's Hyperspace Beacon, ushering in a new age of commerce.

 

[Arithmetician]

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Military R&D was soon on the cusp of several major breakthroughs... insights into the nature of space and time itself, a study into the mysteries of the Force, and developing an improved version of the old Imperial Star Destroyers, which the First Order now had the economy to support. At the same time, an ambitious project to uplift the Lahtrepians were underway, with plans to impress them into the First Order and use them to colonize a tomb world in the Chi Fornacis system.

To the surprise of many among the old guard, the Supreme Leader granted the newly-sapient Lahtrepians full citizenship rights in the First Order. While few in number, the Lahtrepians were fanatically loyal to the First Order, out of gratitude for uplifting them. After a few years, a handful of talented Lahtrepians began to join the ranks of officers on First Order warships, and in the Stormtrooper corps. It would be only a matter of time until a Lahtrepian achieved the rank of Admiral or General.

While First Order scientists were still researching the Cybrex and scouring the galaxy for any clues that might lead to their home system, a transmission was received from a species that was every bit as dedicated to exterminating all sapient life that was not themselves, the Shantari. Besides their genocidal obsession, they had a strong warrior culture, and were rumored to raise undead legions in secret.

(The birds in the helmet are now officially the Shantari in my mind, from my own campaign using that name and portrait, and their later prominence in this one).

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The first Imperial-class Star Destroyer to be constructed in the new galaxy quickly got its first real combat test, and was dispatched to the Amikiri system to put down a rebel band of pirate who were disrupting an Outer Rim trade route. Some said that sending a Star Destroyer to do the job was overkill, when a handful of corvettes might have sufficed. However, such detractors missed the Supreme Leader's true purpose in sending a Star Destroyer to crush the pirates; it was a show of force, and proof of the First Order's technological superiority.

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Research into the Force led to increasing numbers of Imperials displaying psionic abilities. Yet at the same time, this led a marked growth in the power of the Sith Eternal (Traditionalist) faction within the First Order. To appease them, the Supreme Leader made a declaration outlawing advanced artificial intelligences, which was claimed to be an abomination next to the Force.

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Speaking of abominations, the Techarus Eliminators had aspirations of finishing what the Cybrex started. Along with the Shantari, they made the galactic east a very unfriendly place.

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It was clear that a firm hand would be needed to bring order and stability to an increasingly violent galaxy. Thus, the Supreme Leader issued his command: the navy was to be expanded until Star Destroyers could blot out the skies of every world, bringing devastation to all who resisted. From that day onward, the First Order was no more; it would now be known to the Galaxy as the Final Order.

(New civics are Distinguished Admiralty and Final Order, the latter of which is from the mod. Final Order massively buffs build speed for Battleships and Dreadnoughts).

 

[Arithmetician]

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The development of Climate Restoration technology soon after the declaration of the Final Order would give it much-needed living space.

Gallius Phennir later showed evidence of force-sensitivity, again making him one of the Supreme Leader's most valuable subordinates.

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And at last, the Cybrex Central Nexus was located. Their ring world and precursor shipyards would become one of the Final Order's most valuable military assets, capable of mass-producing over a dozen capital ships at a time, given enough materials.

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At last, the solutions to the problem of Dreadnought propulsion seemed within reach. The Physics Department was developing a miniature superlaser that could be fixed to Imperial Star destroyers, but this was just a prototype, a proof of concept for a far deadlier weapon that had been envisioned. But no efforts were more frantic than in the Sociological and Biological Research Department. The Supreme Leader was rapidly nearing the end of his natural lifespan, but it might just be possible to buy him a few more years.

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After years of effort, the first climate restoration projects came to fruition. The formerly lifeless world of ViMass V was successfully turned into an arctic plan. Its very high gravity would prove useful to producing dense, high-quality alloys for military use, and the planet was renamed Rhulag upon its colonization.

Then, a turning point in the Final Order's history since arriving in the new galaxy: the first alien nation willingly submitted to its rule. Battered and bested by the Shabtak Empire in repeated wars, the Lokken turned to the rising power of the Final Order, hoping that its now-powerful fleets could protect them.

As a reward for willingly aligning themselves with the Final Order, all Lokken who immigrated into Final Order space were granted full citizenship and military service rights. For many years now, the same had been extended to the founding species of other nations considered allies of the Final Order, namely the Yl'Khahan, the Themlar, and the Jhennlot, in addition to the uplifted Lahtrepians.

All other aliens who entered Final Order space were considered second-class citizens, trapped in indentured servitude, and an increasing number now worked on the lower decks of the Supremacy, doing dirty and dangerous work that was now considered beneath the talents of Imperials. Yet they still flocked to the Final Order willingly, seeing it as increasingly prosperous, and far more stable than the countries that they had left, and while they lacked political freedom in their new home, their overall living standards were decent enough. Ironically, as of this point in its history, the Final Order was also one of the most peaceful nations in the galaxy, and had never been involved in a major war, which had done much to bolster its reputation amongst its neighbors.

(It costs a pittance of consumer goods to give Slaves Decent conditions as opposed to Basic Subsistance, and they avoid a 10% happiness penalty, making it much easier to maintain stable and productive planets).

For now, the Lokken would enjoy self-rule in their domestic affairs, while in vassalage to the Final Order. But soon, the last vestiges of their independence would be stripped away.

 

[Nikolai]

Lightening speed as usual I see.

 

[Arithmetician]

(Was busy with work yesterday, so I couldn't post, but here's another update)

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Seeking to expand its influence and rally its people against a common enemy, the Supreme Leader declared the Shantari Star Hunters the rival of the First Order.

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This helped bring the wealthy Polvanite Company into the fold, who had grown wealthy as a Refining Consortium (a mod civic from the Venture Politics mod). They were the dominant power of the north-central galaxy, and had managed to subsidize a smaller nation known as the Sacred Ziiran Theocracy. Fierce rivals with their Shantari neighbors, they welcomed a potential ally, and the Final Order welcomed a new flow of credits.

Gradually, a clearer picture began to emerge of the largely uncharted space between the Assembly and the Polvanites. A region of it was occupied by the Mishar, an ancient fallen empire, comparable in power to the Omni.

Further research into the nature of the Force brought about a tipping point, and psionic abilities suddenly manifested themselves in all Imperials throughout the Final Order. Or more accurately, all Neo-Imperials, for they had engaged in a program of widespread genetic modification to improve their average lifespans.

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Between leader enhancement, genetic engineering, and the blessing of a powerful patron from the otherworldly Shroud, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren's further rule was assured for decades to come.

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The Final Order was also going through major organizational changes, marked by the establishment of a diplomatic corps. Even as the military continued to build up, the Supreme Leader had by now fully grasped that there were other ways to achieve dominance over the other nations of the galaxy.

Just over 101 years after its arrival in the new galaxy, the Final Order established a Hegemony over their vassal, the Lokken Mechanists, the Assembly, and the Assembly's own protectorate, the Tyrathian Confederacy. In the case of the Assembly, this was accomplished through a concerted diplomatic offensive, and targeted bribes (Favors) to their elected officials. They would be forevermore bound to the Final Order, giving up a measure of their sovereignty in exchange for the promise of mutual defense and commerce. Yet this was just the beginning of a soon to be increasingly centralized galactic government. Each member would still have significant autonomy over their domestic affairs, but all would respect the authority of the Supreme Leader.

In spite of the Final Order's dominant position in the new Hegemony, the Assembly was still one of the most powerful nations in the galaxy in its own right. If even they would bow to the Final Order, then others were sure to follow.

 

[Arithmetician]

The Supreme Leader's diplomatic strategy continued to pay dividends. Through political maneuvering, the Final Order managed to get itself, the Assembly, and the Themlar to be named to the newly-formed Galactic. With one of the Council members subordinate to the Final Order, and the other an economic ally of it, they now had a powerful influence over the lesser star nations of the Galactic Community.

Around this time, the mysterious L-Cluster had been opened as well. There were reports of strange dragon-like creatures emerging from the L-Gates, but the Cluster itself remained largely a mystery to the Final Order, for it had no direct access to the L-Gates. Its scientists however, managed locate and tame one of the L-Drakes that had emerged from he cluster.

(This is actually the first time I have seen an AI open the L-Cluster; usually, I'm the one who opens it, or else it doesn't get opened at all.)

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Just a year later, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren ascended to become something more than merely a Neo-Imperial. Now an ageless, immortal being, with unparalleled power in the Force, it was clear that he was one chosen to rule the galaxy.

Kylo, however, denied that he was a god, asserting that the title of 'Supreme Leader' spoke for itself. Nonetheless, many throughout the Final Order would take it upon themselves to worship the Supreme Leader as a living god in private.

(The Divine Sovereign event fired for me, but I declined, as it would have messed up my Civics).

While they were not the ones to open the L-Cluster, the Azanti were the first to lay effective claim to it, following the construction of their staircase in the Terminal Egress system. Recognizing the monopoly that this gaze the Aztani on transit through the L-Gate network, the Supreme Leader began making diplomatic overtures toward them, so that the Final Order could remained assured fo access to it.

The reconstruction of the Cybrex Central Nexus was proceeding smoothly. Meanwhile, Merould had'Marn, the first Lahtrepian to reach the rank of Admiral in the Final Order's navy, led the newly-constituted federal fleet to the Etamin System. He distinguished himself by vanquishing the Stellarite Devourer. When its remains were studied, Final Order scientists were able to rejuvenate the star, and with it reveal two lush planets, ripe for colonization.

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At long last, the Final Order had built up the industrial and technological ability to construct its first Resurgent-class Star Destroyer in the new galaxy, which was named the Finalizer. Almost twice as long as an Imperial Star Destroyer, which would be considered a Battleship in the naval classification system used by most of the other nations of the galaxy, the Resurgent could only be considered a Dreadnought.

At the time of its construction, the Finalizer was the most powerful warship in the galaxy, outside of those owned by the fallen empires, and a symbol of pride for the Final Order. However, it would be only the first of many Resurgent-class Dreadnoughts.

Nevertheless, the Resurgent class would initially be few in numbers. At the time, a single Resurgent represented twenty-two months of industrial output across all Final Order worlds, over four times the cost of a an Imperial Star Destroyer. Resurgent-class Dreadnoughts also took almost three times longer to build than the Imperial-class.

However, increased onboard automation meant that Resurgents were far more efficient in terms of manpower, rated a '10' on standard galactic naval capacity scales, to the Imperial's '8'. The Resurgent also boasted an effective hull potential rated at 8,000 to the the Imperial's 3,000, with comparable shield and armor ratings, and far more large gun emplacements than the Imperial, along with four torpedo launchers and six hangar bays, giving it a much greater fleet power, and making it rather cost effective.

The hangars of the Resurgent would soon be filled with squadrons of TIE/fo space superiority fighters, and later, each would carry a squadron of TIE/vn fighters, known as the "TIE Vendetta" or "TIE Silencer". TIE/fo squadrons boasted approximately 40% greater firepower than the advanced strike craft of other nations, and could attack from a greater range, though they were slower, a fact that was vexing to Final Order admirals, who were used to TIEs being among the fastest fighters in the old galaxy.

The TIE/vn further traded speed and raw firepower for durability and range, and was exceptionally heavily shielded for a strike craft. Its main weapons were actually weaker on paper than those of advanced strike craft, with only 87.5% of the nominal damage output, but they could penetrate both shields and armor to deal direct damage to enemy hulls, not unlike disruptor technology. Moreover, the TIE/vn could engage the enemy from an effective range three times greater than the TIE/fo, making it truly deadly in combat. However, the cost of its construction meant that TIE/vns could only be fielded in limited numbers, with a typical squadron having half as many fighters as the TIE/fo, and they were reserved for the most elite pilots among the Final Order.

(The above is based on in-mod stats, and is not meant to be a reflection of the Resurgent nor the TIE/fo or TIE/vn's canonical capabilities).

(Also, as you may have noticed in the pictures above, my population growth appears to have frozen here... because it has. At this point, 2.8.1 went live, breaking pop growth with certain mods. I would eventually fix the issue, and when pops resumed growing normally, they would do so all at once, giving me the number of pops I should have had, though that would cause the whole galaxy to undergo some growing pains. I am surprised it took me as long as it did to notice the issue).

The Final Order continued to focus on ramping up its alloy production so that it would be able to field more Resurgent-class Dreadnoughts. However, it would continue production of Imperial-class Star Destroyers for two main reasons. As they could be constructed faster and in greater quantities, that meant that a fleet of Imperial-class Star Destroyers was able to respond to potential threats more quickly than a single Resurgent-class Dreadnought. Additionally, Galactic Law mandated that all nations maintain use of at least 50% of their naval capacity. If the Final Order built only Dreadnoughts, it would risk eventually being in breach of this law.

 

[Arithmetician]

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Continuing its focus on furthering its technological edge over its rivals, the Final Order began construction of a Science Nexus nearby Kelvin, while continuing to rebuild the Cybrex Central Nexus.

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The Themlar were the next to formally recognize Kylo Ren as their Supreme Leader, and joined the Final Order.

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Some began to suspect that Scientist Essaj Gann, who had pioneered research into the Force, had somehow gained immortality following crippling injuries sustained while investigating the Sentinels. Decades later, Essaj would still be serving the Final Order as longevity-boosting technology eventually caught up to her.

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First contact was made with another fallen empire, the Zaydran Remnant, located in the galactic southeast. Intensely xenophobic, they demanded that the surrounding star nations leave a buffer zone around them, under the pain of the direst consequences.

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The Techarus Eliminators completed their development of plans for a Colossus-type weapon, comparable to the Death Stars of old. Recognizing the clear threat that the posed to the galaxy, the Cooperative of Tanzin promptly declared war on them.

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At the same time, malcontents jealous of the Final Order's rising prominence sought to form their own federation, standing in opposition to the Supreme Leader. The Thorquell persuaded their fellow necroids, the Jhennlot, to join them as a founding member of the Allied Star Nations. This foul betrayal marked the start of an irreversible decline in relations between the Jhennlot and the Final Order.

Yet this was only a prelude to the conflicts that were to come...

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The Great Khan had risen.

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The Khan's Fleets moved to strike both the Aztani and the Cooperative of Tanzin.

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And at last tensions came to a head between the Final Order and the Allied Star Nations. Using a casus belli fabricated by the Themlar Conglomerate, the Final Order declared war on its enemies.

At last the galaxy would witness its might.

 

[HistoryDude]

The Shabtak and the other Eastern nations looked threatening, but nothing seems to have happened.

Nice reference to Rise of Skywalker.

It seems as if the Force has spread. Still, every deal has its price.

 

[Arithmetician]

(Yeah, I was also surprised that I was able to get away without a war for 129 years. In this first war, I was actually outvoted by the other members of my Hegemony, as hadn't yet been able to change federation laws / have enough diplomatic weight to completely outvote them. Or more accurately, they all voted in favor of it before I could either vote for or against it.)

(Anyways, I may be able to post another update later tonight, or by the weekend. But what I found to be the most interesting stage of the game is about to begin soon...)

 

[Arithmetician]

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The Techarus proved to be a paper tiger, folding rapidly under the Cooperative of Tanzin's fleets, in turn preventing the machines from constructing their Colossus.

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Unfortunately for those who dared to oppose the Final Order, it quickly began to develop plans for its own Colossus.

The Cooperative of Tanzin pushed on to engage the Great Khan in battle, defeating his fleet. However, the Khan had still managed to carve a path of destruction in his wake, and few doubted that he would be back before long.

Seeing mutual enemies in both the Khan and the Shantari, relations slowly began to improve between the Vhellet of the Cooperative and the Final Order, and a migration treaty was signed soon afterward.

Meanwhile, the war against the Allied Star Nations went well. The federal fleet, led by Admiral Merould had'Marn, spearheaded the invasion of Thorquell space.

The Allied Star Nations were no match for the First Order.

Given the distances involved, it still took seven years to occupy enough of their planets for them to surrender, but victory was never in question.

With the rival Federation defeated, the Final Order began redeploying its fleets to the Galactic East, aiming to strike a decisive blow against the Khan.

The Supreme Leader also seized the opportunity to invite the Polvanites into the Final Order, using the considerable leverage he had on them to compel their agreement.

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The Final Order now controlled a wide swathe of the galaxy, and the Lokken Mechanists' systems had been brought under the direct control of the Supreme Leader. It was clear that lesser star nations would either have to align themselves with the Final Order, or face its fleets...

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Fleets now fielding Mandator IV Siege Dreadnoughts and the fearsome Xyston-class Star Destroyer, Derriphan...

(As a notes on the economics and power of these warships.... the Xyston-class cost over 11,000 alloys, more than 2 Resurgent-class Star Destroyers. Overall, it was roughly proportional in fleet power to cost to the Resurgent. However, it had only 10,000 HP, shields, and armor to the Resurgent's 8,000. Most of the Xyston's extra fleet power was concentrated in the incredible firepower of its super laser. Moreover, the Xyston lacks any hangars, and relies on other ships for its point defense. It took 10 naval capacity and slightly longer to build than the Resurgent.)

(The Mandator IV was definitely far more broken than the Xyston. Costing over 19,000 alloys, it has 150,000 HP, dozens of point-defense turrets, and its autocannons are both rapid fire and ignore shields and armor, making it easily capable of wiping out fleets on its own, with roughly 250k fleet power. Because of how overwhelmingly powerful this was, I decided to limit myself to no more than one Mandator IV per 1,000 naval capacity, so that they would act as flagships for my major fleets. A Mandator IV itself took 25 naval capacity, and more than twice as long to build as a Resurgent).

One by one, star nations began voluntarily submitting to the Final Order's rule, lest their worlds be visited by its mighty fleets. The Vetiri and Ymorz were made a direct vassal and a protectorate of the Supreme Leader, respectively, while the Hathgum joined the broader hegemony, as did the Azanti.

The Final Order had also completed the construction of the DS-3 Battle Station in secret at the Cybrex Alpha shipyards. The Supreme Leader ordered an immediate test of the weapon on an uninhabited planet in nearby star system.

​

Finally arriving on the other side of the galaxy, the Final Order's navy began its campaign against the Calactora. Their Khan had already been killed in battle against the Cooperative, but the Supreme Leader had ordered that every last Calactora Void Dwelling was to be destroyed.

​

The Calactora fought bravely as they made their final stand, but they were hopelessly outnumbered by the TIES that descended upon their Void Dwellings and capital ships.

With the Khanate whipped out, it seemed that none could oppose the Final Order's tightening grip on the galaxy. Few suspected that its greatest test was about to come...

 

[Arithmetician]

​

The arrival of Space Storm Ti-Ra, would, in retrospect, be seen as a harbinger of the age of strife that was about to engulf the galaxy.

​

The Iron Age primitives of Crescim I, a world formerly observed by the Lokken Mechanists, were conquered and pressed into indentured servitude. One can only imagine their fear as the Resurgent-class Star Destroyer in orbit of their world commenced its bombardment, shortly thereafter followed by an invasion of an overwhelming number of stormtroopers, supported by AT-M6 walkers. To them, it must have seemed like the Final Order were gods, or more likely demons from the stars.

Under Final Order Rule, Cresicm I would be rapidly industrialized, its skies filled with the smog of alloy foundries. The same would be true of the former Lokken colonies in the system, including the sector capital and multiple habitats, though unlike the hapless inhabitants of Crescim I, the Lokken enjoyed full rights as loyal members of the Final Order. Indeed, the Crescim System's metallurgical output would eventually come to rival, and then surpass that of entire sectors, second only to that of the Final Order's core worlds. As such, the Crescim System would play a vital role in supplying war materiel in the decades to come.

At the same time, construction was beginning on a Dyson Sphere and a Matter Decompressor, which would provide the raw materials and energy to fuel the Final Order's ceaselessly growing war machine. Relations were steadily improving with the Anathurians as well, and soon thereafter, a Commercial Pact was signed with them, bringing in still more energy credits.

​

The Themlar Conglomerate requested permission to declare war on the Thorquell and their Jhennlot allies, seeking to seize one of their relics. The Supreme Leader granted their request. The Allied Star Nations had proven themselves no match for the Final Order before. They would surely fall just as easily again.

At the same time, the Supreme Leader declared war on the Sacred Shabtak Empire, which had recently awakened to its full psionic potential. They would be made to join the Final Order, or they would die.

Neither opponent would have proved a challenge on their own. But few could have predicted how quickly events would spiral out of control.

​

Firstly, much of the fleet was still deployed on the Eastern side of the galaxy, from its mission to eradicate the remnants of the Khan's forces, far from the wars with the Allied Star Nations and the Shabtak. Moreover, while the vast shipyards of Cybrex Alpha provided a continuous stream of new warships, Space Storm Ti-Ra greatly slowed their deployment to the front.

The Allied Star Nations and the Shabtak were quick to recognize this fact, and seized the initiative, invading and occupying worlds throughout Hathgum, Vetiri, and Ymorz space, as they were too ill-equipped to fight back without the Final Order's fleets.

​

There were, however, a number of early successes in the war against the Shabtak. Lokkur, the Lokken homeworld, long ago conquered by Shabtak aggressors, was at long last liberated, and placed under a provisional military government by the Final Order. Meanwhile, Crescim was used as a staging point for fleets before jumping deeper into Shabtak space.

It was one such fleet, including the Xyston-class Star Destroyer, Derriphan, that entered the Shabturiss System, the site of the Shabtak homeward, Shabtar.

The notion that a Star Destroyer can destroy an entire planet, is, of course, patently ridiculous. Nonetheless, many claimed in coming years that it had been the Derriphan that destroyed Shabtar, with the superlaser mounted to its underbelly. The superlaser was in fact an anti-capital ship weapon, capable of vaporizing other capital ships in a single shot, but destroying a planet would require vastly more power than its reactors could provide.

(The axial superlaser of the Xyston-class Star Destroyer, named the "Darth Mickey Gun" in the mod, cannot in fact destroy planets, but it is still an extremely powerful and long-range weapon).

What destroyed Shabtar if not the Derriphan? Naturally, that was the DS-3 Battle Station, more commonly known as the Death Star III.

​

With the utter destruction of their capital, it seemed inevitable that the Shabtak would have to surrender, but it only galvanized them to further resistance. Scattered and on the run as the bulk of their forces were, the Shabtak would continue to wage a spirited guerrilla war against the Final Order, striking vulnerable outposts with what remained of their fleets, making the eventual occupation of their space as protracted as possible.

The Galactic Community was informed by the Supreme Leader that Shabtar had been destroyed in "mining disaster", but few believed the official account. All sorts of rumors circulated, including the more outlandish stories surrounding its demise, as the galaxy sought other explanations.

The Vhellet of the Cooperative of Tanzin strongly condemned the destruction of Shabtar, as did the members of the Allied Star Nations. Most others in the Galactic Community remained silent, as they were already subject to the hegemony of the Final Order. Among those remaining nations, the Anathurians did not speak out against Shabtar's destruction, and there was the sense that they silently approved of the Final Order's actions. And of course, the genocidal Shantari did not care about any lives that were not their own.

The Supreme Leader cared little for the opinions of less powerful star nations.

​

And soon, he had much more pressing matters to worry about.

 

[Arithmetician]

​

In spite of their professed spiritualism, the Assembly had invented advanced thinking machines, never thinking that their creations might one day rise up against them, and now the Mictor Databank had spread across their worlds like a virus. Most of the planets conquered by the Mictor were in the northern half of the Assembly's territory, some of them in close proximity to planets held by the Final Order proper. At once, a pair of Mictor fleets began moving toward the Jillis System, via Gamma Horologii.

​

Scrambling to intercept the Mictor, a fleet of newly-constructed ships jumped from Cybrex Alpha to Gamma Horologii, consisting of nine Imperial Star Destroyers, three Resurgent Star Destroyers, and a Juggernaut, a pale imitation of the Supremacy. Admiral Gorlife had'Fuleth's, a Lahtrepian, had served as an engineer and a logistics officer at the Cybrex Alpha shipyards before being hastily given command of the fleet. Already at a disadvantage due to the great strain that using Jump Drives took on his ships, the machine fleet significantly outnumbered his own.

Yet Admiral had'Fuleth held the line and proved his mettle, decisively defeating the soulless machines with the superior bravery of his men, to say nothing of the Final Order's more advanced technology.

Space Storm Ti-Ra had ended, but the hegemony was stlil reeling from the new front that the Mictor had suddenly opened up. Sensing an opportunity to strike, the Shantari Star Hunters declared war on the Azanti, and by extension, the Final Order.

​

The Aztani had already been greatly weakened fighting the Khan, and were in little position to defend themselves from the Shantari. Meanwhile, the DS-3 continued to destroy Shabtak planets, hoping to force an end to a war that was now increasingly a distraction from far more serious threats.

​

The Shabtak nonetheless continued to fight on, but the Final Order was undaunted. It spearheaded a campaign through occupied Ymorz territory, liberating their homeworld of Ymoria, which had been conquered early in the war, from the vile Shabtak.

​

Even as Admiral had'Fuleth continued to win victories against the the Mictor and defend Final Order planets, the machines had managed to consolidate their holdings, dashing hopes of a quick end to the uprising.

​

Around this time, the Final Order finished integrating the Vetiri directly into its command structure. However, the former Vetiri worlds were poorly defended. The sector capital was already under Shabtak occupation, and only a few bastions were holding the concurrent invasion of the Allied Star Nations, for a time. Martial law with forced conscription was declared on several planets in the sector just to give them enough soldiers to fight off incoming necroid troops. In some cases, these desperate measures succeeded, but slowly the northern Vetiri worlds began to fall the Allied Star Nations, with the southern Vetiri planets trying to hold on long enough for the fleet to arrive and receive them. There was even reports of mass abductions of civilian populations by pillaging Jhennlot fleets.

​

And just when things seemed like they couldn't get any worse, the Mishar Chroniclers declared war on the Assembly, slighted that a younger star nation might think of them as a rival.

Beset on all sides, and in the darkness of a hostile galaxy, there was only war for the Final Order.

 

[HistoryDude]

The Final Order seems to have jumped headfirst into the abyss.

At least they have a Death Star...

 

[Arithmetician]

​

The Mishar swept into Assembly space from the South. However, in spite of the power of their fleet, they quickly seemed to become preoccupied with orbitally bombarding a hapless colony rather than actually invading it. Their slothful approach brought much-needed time to redeploy the Final Order's forces and respond to more aggressive threats.

​

The Shantari had seized control of most of the L-Cluster early in the war. Controlling Terminal Egress was essential for allowing fleets to move from one L-Gate to another, and to allow them to come to the aid of the beleaguered Aztani before all could be lost.

​

Indeed, the Shantari had already conquered numerous Azanti worlds, and had begun pruning their populations. Jumping from the L-Gates, fresh Final Order fleets rushed to relieve the Azanti and beat back the Shantari fleets.

​

With their own planets liberated, allied fleets from the Empire of Ymoria began to assist the Final Order, helping to finally rout the ever-slippery Shabtak fleets. But yet another machine menace arose, this time in Themlar Space, once again stretching the Final Order's forces thin. The DAAR Subsumers swiftly began assimilating the inhabitants of the worlds that they conquered into their collective intelligence.

​

Yet the Final Order bravely fought on, once again liberating Vetirisius Prime, which had been invaded by the Thorquell soon after its initial liberation from the Shabtak.

Eventually, with five of their planets destroyed and the rest of their worlds occupied, the Shabtak were forced to surrender, and grudgingly joined the Final Order, per the Supreme Leader's demands.

​

With the Shabtak defeated, the Final Order's attention could turn to the Thorquell, and the remaining occupied Vetiri and Hathgum worlds.

​

In another bit of good news, the Anathurians declared war on the Allied Star Nations. Some time later, the Cooperative of Tanzin would declare war on the Shantari Star Hunters. The entire galaxy, outside of some of the Fallen Empires, was now at war.

​

New fleets had been constructed, and departed from Cybrex Alpha to finally start pushing back the Mictor.

​

However, the DAAR had managed to consolidate their own holdings in the meantime.

​

In a move viewed with suspicion and disbelief considering the ongoing war against the machines, the Polvanites abandoned their organic bodies and uploaded scans of their neural patterns into synthetic avatars. The soulless constructs were now forever cut off from the Force, and a sizable portion of their species had effectively committed mass suicide, with the "Ascended" to carry on in their places. Still, the Supreme Leader would not refuse their help against the Final Order's enemies.

(This is actually the first time I've seen an AI player go full synthetic ascension, in all of my time playing Stellaris.)

At long last, the DS-3 Battle Station arrived at the Shantari homeworld, Shantar.

​

The Shantari had been developing their own Colossus plans, and had to be eliminated once and for all before they could carry out their genocidal campaign across the entire galaxy.

Only the Supreme Leader could be trusted with the decision of whether to unleash such destructive power or not, signing the death warrants of entire worlds.

Who in the Galactic Community was going to object? Thanks to an emergency resolution pushed through with his privileges as a Galactic Council member, the Supreme Leader WAS the senate now.

 

[HistoryDude]

"I am the Senate"
"For how long?"

Also, sentients willingly cutting off their access to the Force? Madness!