posted 06-04-99 06:21 PM ET        

May the Games begin.

From The Archives of Planet, Section 2161.UoP.1:
"My friends, we are all students in the myriad and hostile stage that we call life. Error is our pedagogue. Progress is inexorable, and we must learn to adapt to our changing environment. It is through continual learning over the finite quanta of time that we call ours that we learn to adapt and survive to our continually changing environment. The University has been blessed with rich lands and a capable people. The survivor flourishes in a fertile environment. It is here and now that we lay the foundations of a new Empire."
"Another chapter in human history has begun. Every new beginning closes old havens in the wave of nostalgia, but it is the fool who does not see that countless other opportunities arise. We must take advantage of this opportunity--our newfound dynamism and the bravura inherent in our people--and expoit it."

posted 06-07-99 08:47 AM ET            

Nothing there yet but announcment. That will change very soon.

The address is www.iinet.net.au/~custompc

posted 06-07-99 03:56 PM ET            

Les personnes sans titre, I

posted 06-08-99 10:58 PM ET            

Extract:
---------------------University Post------------------------
June 8, 2163 M.Y.

The High Council has announced, today, the completion of the first University Expedition Force (UEF). This expedition force is composed primarily of young, inexperienced, and eager troops. These troops today departed from the fringe colony of Byzantium with their rovers parading through the streets to the crowd's cheers.

The High Lord himself has released an official statement regarding the UEF:
[extract]: 'It is the destiny of our civilisation to follow the natural callings of our deep instinct. We have always been a curious race, seeking the unknown. We will go forth and seek fertile lands to righteously sow our potent seeds in. Our society will expand, and, by doing so, it will thrive.'

It is rumoured that more powerful weapons of war are being constructed at the core colony of University Base. These weapons of 'defence' could easily be dispatched into the field to quell peasant uprisings or, possibly, to fight other, as-of-yet-unknown, human factions.

posted 06-11-99 08:11 PM ET            

Les personnes sans titre, II
-With all due respect, m'Lord, what happened to your lofty espousements of idealism? Here is your chance to cure that 'uncaring, indifferent society' as you put it. And the opportunity slips through your fingers.
-You know as well as I that our defences could not withstand an attack by that fanatical army...
-But what were you expecting? For them to lay their faction at your feet?
-No. There is a difference in this situation. They found us first. Our defences are at a bare minimum...Okrieta Discovery would have fallen at the first gunshot of those fanatics. Which is why I have dispatched the UEF to find the Believers. You know as well as I that our offencive units are far superior to anything Miriam has.
-And what will you do? You have signed a treaty with them. Will you betray them? How can you gain the trust of the other factions if you do?
-That is what most troubles me. But if I had not signed that treaty, we would be currently swamped with religious fanatics. It would be a war where the enemy can see us but we cannot see them. It is a dangerous position.
-But will you, the idealism-preaching poet, betray your word and declare an unwarranted war with the Believers?
-Moral leaders rarely survive. I have a coat of moral tefflon, public opinion will be with me.
-I am surprised at you, I thought you had honest thoughts of following 'righteousness,' whatever that may be.
-I do, believe me. But in certain cases, I have to do what is best for my people, and, as much as it pains me, I must become a hypocrite to do so.
-But declaring war on Miriam? She is a weak faction. What will we obtain from a war with her? We will only get a broken land She is a completely useless faction in our hands.
-She has the potential to become a major threat. Our intelligence has not been able to find out if she has infiltration technology yet. If that is the case, it could be we that are enslaved instead of her. We must act while we have the upper hand. At the moment, we do not. With the new UEF unit departing from Okrietra Discovery, however, we should find them in due time...

From the Archives of Planet, Section 2164.UoP.2:

---------------University Post---------------
January 29, 2164 MY

Yesterday, the University of Planet came in contact with another surviving human faction. They call themselves "the Believers" and are dedicated to the prayer and worship of God. While the officially agnostic University seems an unlikely partner, the University of Planet and the Believer faction has signed a treaty of friendship. Today, there were joyous crowds in a rural town on the outskirts of Okrietra Discovery as Believing commanders paraded through the streets on duck-shaped floats. The University High Council has declared permanent relations of friendship with the Believing faction and hopes of future understanding...

From the Archives of Planet, Section 2164.UoP.3:

Extract from performance by the University Philharmonik in honour of the newly signed treaty between the University and Believers:

posted 06-13-99 10:51 PM ET            

Les personnes sans titres, III

-You are in no condition to go and negotiate treaties, m'Lord
-Ah, I am fine. I am as fit now as ever.
-You have had too much vodka.
-Ah, my friend, I am drunk not of alcohol but of sorrow...
-Your wife has only recently been placed on the funeral bier...perhaps your demeanor is...how shall I say it...rash?
-I will do what I may, perhaps I will regret it in the morning, but it will be so....
-But listen to us! Perhaps your move is viable, but at least stop to think about it!
-my friend, God does not play dice...

From the Archives of Planet, Section 2166.UoP.2:

-----------------------University Post----------------------
April 23, 2166 M.Y.

The Believers have become increasingly more intrusive of University sovereignty. They have complied to the High Lord's wishes to evacuate their forces from University territory, but a UEF expedition team has revealed that they plan to build a base right on the border of University-Believer territory, thereby replacing the border almost to the city of Okrietra-Discovery itself. The High Lord Veracitas has expressed his deep dissatisfaction...

From the Archives of Planet, Section 2166.UoP.3:

-----------------------University Post----------------------
December 3, 2166 M.Y.

posted 06-15-99 09:59 PM ET            

Our worst fears are realised. The Believers are expanding ravenously and have claimed precious University territory as their own. Under the terms of the treaty, this is legal, but the borders have now been pushed to the city limits of Koppernigk Observatory (Formerly Okrietra Discovery).

The Hive has accepted our entreaties and has joined forces with the University against the condemned heretic Miriam Godwinson. The crusader movement is strong within the University, and we will be able to tap into the nationalistic energies of the people for our own purposes. Such powers are strong, though, and hard to control, and we would hate to see the day those energies are turned against us.

--Foreign Report, UEF Command Force, M.Y. 2167

From the Archives of Planet, Section 2167.UoP.2:

In only six years, our people have broken from our cold isolationism and have expanded vigourously and gloriously. With each passing day, our power on this planet rises. You should be proud of your country. It has accomplished a great many things, and it is destined for future glory. You should be proud to be the University of Planet.

--'Realisation' High Lord Veracitas,
Kerensky Plaza, University Base, 2167 M.Y.

From the Archives of Planet, Section 2167.UoP.3:

The political temperament of a society evolves whether or not the government leaders want it to. I think that our most esteem�d 'High Lord' needs to realise this. Our state is bogged down by the costs of monitoring our economy to the very last detail. Our citizens are kept under strict controle from our University military force. When will it be realised that the University citizens are not children anymore? Our society is mature enough for us to implement profitable free-market economies and democracies. But instead of making profit for the good of the people, we must cut from useful domestic programs to expand our already overbloated military. What will he do with all that power? The potential answers are frightening, to say the least...

posted 06-19-99 11:11 PM ET            

Tensions between the University of Planet and the Believing faction reached an apex today. There was much anger on both sides of the diplomacy table over the much-disputed territorial disagreements. University diplomats demanded that the intruding base be ceded to the university, to no avail.

My UEF rover division was dispatched into Believing territory that was formerly ours show the misguided peasants that the University cannot be pushed around. The Field Marshall of the UEF has informed me himself that at least three legions of Impact Squads have been produced and are on their way to reinforce our position. Our war-heightened industry has proven to be able to produce units at an amazing rate.

Our patrol teams have located the powerful Believing city of New Jerusalem. Our initial reports estimate it to be at least as large as University Base. Hive intelligence has informed us that the Believing army still uses highly outdated weapons that would be no match for our recently produced Impact technology. Should it come to blows, they will fall easily, and it is quite apparent now that it will not be long...

posted 06-23-99 03:17 PM ET            

It is unclear when the University of Planet finally declared war on the Believing faction, but it is apparent that High Lord Veracitas--from the various personal logs and transmissions--had been brooding over the concept for quite some time. Sometime in the year 2171 M.Y., Warriors from the First Legion crossed the rocky, fungus-infested Uni-Believing border and assaulted a Believing rover squadron. The precise date of the battle, however, remains ambiguous, at best. Specifics are unknown because the University of Planet had taken precautions to tighten security throughout so that no important tactical or strategic document has survived to this day. Free flow of information was certainly not a priority of the University as it embarked upon its war with the Believers.

From the Archives of Planet, Section 2171.UoP.1:

The following document is the official response of the High Council of the University in the context of Lord Moss's proposed election for Planetary Governorship.

"We wholeheartedly accept the lukewarm extension of the Gaian faction for peace between our peoples. However, we vehemently protest the nomination of the Gaian leader Lord Moss to the position of Planetary governor."

"It is in our best interests that our belov�d ally--Brother Lal of the Peacekeeprs--be elected for the governorship. We believe that Brother Lal will be impartial and fair to all the factions on planet. His counciliar experience and peace-loving character make him the best candidate for Governorship"

posted 06-23-99 06:31 PM ET            

Archivist's note: The following file was found partially corrupted, and the full content thereof could not be fully extracted. Certain phrases that are self-evident have been restored by the Archivists, but, most unfortunately, the precise date of the transmission, which marks the first battle between human factions on planet, is not discernable.

...the break of morrow, the Prima Cohort from the University's Legion I appeared over the...camouflauged by the dim mist and heavy snow. The Cohort commander had ordered his troops to paint their synthemetal armour a white colour to blend in with the snow. Sister Miriam had dispatched...Believer's 232nd Cavalry Guard to the...border...outbreak of the territorial disputes between the University and the Lord's Believers...rumoured that a UEF rover division had already penetrated the border.

...heat that emanated from the rover patrols...easy targets for the Prima Cohort's Impact weaponry. Initially surprised by the attack, the 232nd withdrew through a valley, hoping to gain the upper slope faster ...infantry...and bury the University units within the valley...infantry moved with amazing speed, however, and they overtook the rover division even as they began their descent...suffered heavy losses from artillery bombardment from the Prima Cohort. With the last of the 232nd reaching the other side of the valley, a stalemate had been clearly established. The 232nd, seeing...decisive...speed...retreated deeper into Believing territory.

The rumours of the UEF force penetrating...territory proved...well-... The UEF Rover Division II emerged from hiding and assaulted...remnants....The division commander did not believe that an undisciplined scout force could be a match for a trained army, and thus, held his ground.

The UEF Rover division sped recklessly towards the 232nd...severe casualties. The 232nd had three sides of river around them, effectively giving them a Kremlin defence. As the undisciplined...of the UEF sped in single file through the narrow...into the battlefield, they were made easy targets for the hidden artillery on either side of the bank. One by one...were...shot down. The 232nd, feeling victory at hand...towards the UEF Rovers, equally as reckless. This...their undoing.

UEF infantry squads emerged from either side of the bank and ambushed the artillery units. Taking over...positions...began to bombard the 232nd. With the 232nd trapped in their own fortifications, and the UEF...the only escape, the Division commander surrendered.