AAR4- Now it begins

[Green1]

NOW.... it begins.

Good thing, too... because, like a dummy, I posted the wrong screenshot! Not surprising since I play Miriam a lot. That other game was from an early play test with University, Hive, Oblivion, and Antimind to make sure AI was handling it right.

Here is the real deal:

2 pods... lots of water. Could be isolated start? I hope not.

Of course, my standard Miriam tactic first: I will go Centauri Ecology then start Applied Physics then more military techs for a possible early rush. Of course, being Miriam, that will be a bit since I have to wait a few turns before getting research points.

Pods are popped revealing a nice Nutrient square and a unity rover.

[Green1]

Exploring around.

I like getting unity rovers because unless you are Sparta, exploring can take a bit. Being Miriam lends itself to a very aggressive game and I will have a powerful AI like the Antimind, I need to know the lay of the land.

Another pod I will pop.

[Green1]

Critics of Miriam often cite that she begins with what they feel is the most worthless tech, Social Psych. Now, I will agree that Centauri Ecology or Biogenics is really nice. But on thinker and above, I notice many folks do not realize the impact of drones until it is too late and they are losing production.

With Miriam, since there is nothing else to do yet, I like to pop out the recreation commons early. That way while smarty pants AI that are too good to worship the lord thy Miriam are churning out Applied Physics and stuff then wondering why red faces are appearing, I have that covered and keep pumping out troops.

After all, what kind of church does not have activities other than services for its members?

[Green1]

Speaking of which, Antimind is NOW on Planet somewhere....

My luck with pods now runs out as I trigger a fungal bloom that will cause issues for that colony pod. Also, with any native power faction like Antimind, Cult, Dieidre, etc I really do not like the idea of places for roaming mindworm units to sneak around in...

[Green1]

I am going to hope that the fungus near the colony pod breaks somewhere. I really need to make another base.

Meanwhile to the south, I see Sunny Mesa. That should be good for energy later on. Good god, all this fungus, though and rough terrain.

Wild mindworms are starting to stir, but nothing the scout patrol and the rover can not handle yet.

Another pod reveals another unity rover.

[Green1]

That money grubbing Lawyer who is somewhere on planet got Secrets of the Human Brain to get a free tech.

Meanwhile, south of Sunny Mesa, one of our rovers runs into the Comrades!

He wants to talk... not that Miriam really likes the idea of atheists near the promised land.

[Green1]

As loath as I am to trade with atheistic heathen communists, I am a lady of intelligence.

For one thing, he offers Centauri Ecology, which I really need for all this fungus in exchange for my Social Psych. That will work nicely.

Second, he wants to exchange maps. I agree, because I like to know where the heathens are at. The Comrades seem to have one base far over rough terrain to the southeast.

He wants friendship? Well, that will do .... for now.

It appears that we are not isolated.

[Green1]

Ahh.. a place to put that colony pod...

Then, what the hell?

A Borg probe team shows up out of nowhere right outside New Jerusalem!

It wants to talk....

[JarlWolf]

Already encountered the Comrades? This is getting mighty interesting indeed...

[Green1]

The Borg ask for tech, but do not want to give anything in return. Typical of soulless abominations such as these. Then they ask for friendship, which I decline.

I capture and return the probe team unmolested. The Borg are a threat, but I am not quite ready yet to "witness the word of God" unto the masses with only scout patrols and a unity rover or two. I also now see the border of Borg territory near Revelation Base.

One pod finishes the rec commons at New Jerusalem. I will have both bases put out formers so I can start improving the terrain and maybe kill some of the fungus around Revelation Base.

[Green1]

I rush the former at New Jerusalem for around 80 EC. I need that former, but I need to start cranking if I surrounded by both the Comrades and the Borg.

All that fungus up north of Revelation Base.... Gaaahhh.

[Green1]

Still working on Applied Physics for laser infantry. When that tech is ready and the first prototypes are out, I will either backstab the Comrades or hit the Borg before they know what hit them. Of course, that scout patrol is going to march through Borg territory like it is mine. that is because it IS mine. They just do not know yet.

The first former is going to put  farm/mine/rode on one of those two nutrient squares. New Jerusalem is going to be a colony pod breeding machine for a bit.

[Green1]

Brothers and sisters of the Faith, look at what the scout patrol has found and ask yourself one question:

What Would Jesus Do?

[Green1]

I will give you a hint.....

[Green1]

The Borg bring up a lone former to protect that previously empty base. But, my scout patrol takes out that colony pod to keep the filth for expanding.

Early War is upon us!