The Tandish Assembly

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Twenty-One - Iron Age Civilization

Tandy artist impression of a native of Sol III​

The First Thinker woke up one morning to find a data package waiting for it in the tele-room. Seems Kashnak and the ISS Yilmassa The Reformer had finally arrived in the system of Sol.

The system was full of planets, asteroids, and, of course, one planet that might be a good one to colonize. Kashnak was very excited to be surveying its first system.

About a week later the ISS Porsam the Shadow landed on Syrma III, which was renamed Syrma Prime, and the settlers started to pull it apart. They started work on making the planet their new home. The ship's reactor was removed and became the colony's first power source as the workers set up housing and turned the ship into a headquarters.

The settlers felt comfortable on the new planet. It was, after all, a Tropical World. Just like their home planet.

Shortly afterwards the ISS Linntyl entered the Ovastivum system. As the ship entered normal space the computers started sucking up the data the Science Ship's sensors were absorbing.

Falatir watched as the glowing hologram started to grow in the middle of the bridge. A map of the system grew as more and more data was collected. There were a few asteroids of interest but the system was made up mostly of planets. None could hold life but who knew what the scanners might find?

In Zarim Darmug was happily spending much of its time on the bridge. It barely slept or ate as the ship scanned the alien Observatory. Even the crew, who was excited about the investigation, were worried about the Head of Thinking. Sometimes they would force it to take a break and have some green protein cubes before escorting it to its cabin to take a nap.

Darmug didn't nap for long and was soon back on the bridge. It checked and rechecked the information pouring into the computers. It was trying so hard to understand what was being collected. But it was too alien and too...well...massive. The information was just beyond its grasp. Which made Darmug try all the harder to understand was it was reading.

Shortly after this the Mining Station about Syrma's star was finished. Then ISS Rukimar was ordered to Syrma IV to start working on another Mining Station.

Then it was announced that the USS Kodram, in the System of Zarim, had uncovered a mural. The artwork seemed to be several different constellations. The problem was nobody could identify the stars. It could be that, due to the age, the stars had moved beyond their positions in the mural. Or maybe some of them had gone nova since the mural had been made? Or maybe they were constellations as seen from the Vultaum homeworld? It was amazing and, yet, also disappointing at the same time.

Darmug and its Science Ship was ordered to get back to surveying the system. The faster they completed mapping out the system the faster they could put in a Starbase and claim the resources there for the Empire.

And maybe find some more ancient ruins? In fact, talking about ancient ruins....

The ISS Linntyl, in the Ovastivum system, announced it had picked up strange signals from a broken dome on Ovastivum I. There was nothing to show if it was related to the Vultaum. This could be a different alien civilization all together.

Sadly, starting a excavation on the planet would have to wait till after the survey was completed and the system was safely within the borders of the Empire. Falatir was told to continue the system survey.

In Syrma the ISS Rukimar had finished the Mining Station in the orbit of Syrma IV. Then went idle as the crew waited for their next order.

But then there was great news. Toiubus Prime had finished setting up the power grid, housing, and other systems. The colony was up and running and needed a Governor.

The Leader was known as Lathira and was 43 planetary-cycles old Official. It was known as a Adaptionist. In other words it liked to adopt new methods and ideas. It was also a Xenophile. Of course the Empire had to go into debt again to pay for the new Leader. But the First Thinker felt it was worth it.

Before being sent to the new colony Lathira told the media that, "Diverse communities are healthy communities."

The NEW Governor of Toiubos Prime decided to build a Agriculture District and then a Generator District. Both solid choices.

Shortly after this the scientists announced they had completed their research on Global Energy Management. A wonderful discovery!

The next project was to focus on Fusion Reactors. If the Empire could have both Fusion Reactors AND Afterburns then the military could have updated warships. If not even get NEW warship designs.

Then a data package from the ISS Yllmassa the Reformer hit the media networks like a nuke. The data package had compiled by Kashnak itself. It reported that Sol III held a proto-civilization. A mammalian race that had yet to develop space travel. In fact they seemed to still be in the iron age and were ruled over by feudal nobles.

The Nobles lived in stone palaces while the common people lived in primitive dwellings. The government looked like a pyramid. The few Rulers on top, with the Specialists in the middle, and the Workers on the bottom.

The news caused ripples among the people, like a rock hitting a pond, and caused all kinds of debates to break out. How would the Empire deal with such a backwards society? Should they leave it alone? Watch it? Guide it?

The Cult just added this new data to their own beliefs. If the Ancient Aliens were there to help the Tandish Assembly than maybe the Assembly could be there to guide and help the primitive mammals? Help them understand their place in the universe.

The Great Tree Of Being was an idea the Cult of Ancient Aliens had come up with. The upper branches occupied by the advanded civilizations and the lower you went the less advanced the civilizations were. And the more help them needed. In other words the Cult put their own spin on the new information.

Critics, mostly among the younger generations, hated this idea. Wasn't the Dream about finding one's own way? The Dream had given life and intelligence and free will to the Tandi and the other alien races. Surely the Dream wanted the races to find their own pathways and not to be influenced by outsiders. Why receive free will if somebody else was going to decide your fate?

The debate raged across the media and the communcation networks. It was rumored that a dozen tele-rooms overheated and broke down every week.

The First Thinker was on the side of the critics. It wanted to have a claws-off policy with the new civilization. Its hope was that it could get the others to agree to that policy. But only time would tell.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Twenty-Two - Expanding

At this point there was finally resources pouring into the Empire.

At least enough to finally start the construction of a Starbase in the Ulm system.

The Council of Hive Thinkers also decided that, since Adaptability was one of the Traditions adopted by society, that Mastery of Nature would be the next step. Not just mastering the nature of the homeworld. But mastering the nature of other biomes on the alien planets.

The Starbase in Toiubos also started to upgrade. In other words they were to become a Starport.

Also, the ISS Rukimar the Renowned had finally finished building a Mining Station in orbit of Syrma IV. Having nothing else to do in the system it was ordered to head over to the system of Ovastivum. To make a Starbase. Once the system was totally surveyed.

Also the ISS Khebb the Fierce, the newest Colony Ship, was finally finished. Now it just had to wait for a planet it could colonize.

Then Darmug reported that sensors had detected some interesting elements within the debris field around QI778-863 in the Zarim system. It was given permission to continue researching the debris.

In the system of Ulm the ISS Donog finally finished the Starbase and moved on to build a Research Station around the star itself.

Which meant, once again, the map had changed. Many a student, and a few teachers, sighed as their maps were redone. Again.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Twenty-Three - More Discoveries!

The ISS Rukimar entered the Sol system where it was ordered to go in orbit around Sol itself.

There it would wait till the ISS Yllmassa, the Science Ship, finished surveying the system. Then it could build a Starbase. Many looked forward to this. Because once the Sol system was a proper outpost of the Empire they could start studying the natives of Sol III.

There was also a report from Zarim. The debris around QI778-863 had been scanned by the ISS Ruthjara and the cew had detected the remains of planet. All signs showed it had been habitable. And the piecea of what was left showed that the planet had been...well...blasted at until it cracked open like a egg. Which resulted in the mineral-rish core to be exposed for future mining. But...who destroyed it? And why? And where were they now?

The media, and the public, was somewhat alarmed by this. Had the world been destroyed in a conflict? Or had it been ripped apart just to get at the resources within?

Darmug, once again, was told to finish the survey of the Zarim system. The space mining companies, sceintists, and even a few energy corporations, were impatient and wanted access to the massive system as soon as possible.

As the survey was taking SO long the ISS Ruthjara was told to abandon the Zarim system and head over to the Ovastivum system. It was likely the ISS Linntyl would finish its survey before the ISS Kadram finished its own.

Soon the ISS Donog the Apogee finished building the Research Station in Ulm. With nothing left to build there IT was told to head over to Zarim. Maybe by the time it arrived the survey would be finished.

Only a few sleep cycles later the colonists on Dongar Prime found a hidden factory. The condition it was in suggested it had built a long time ago by a pretty old civilization. Maybe the planet had been colonized before? The Planetary Governor, Campramar, was very pleased to find such a discovery.

While built a long time ago they reported that it could easily be brought back online and would add to the colony's production output.

The news was greeted by the media, and the people, with awe that such old machinery could function after so many hundreds or even thousands of planetary cycles. It almost, ALMOST, made them forget that somebody out there was blowing up planets.

-------------------------​

Author's Note:

Odd factory? I assume they meant OLD factory?

Also have not checked how the colonies feel about their government yet. That would be interesting to see.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Twenty-Four - Expanding And Exploring

Campramar, on Dongar Prime, felt the colony was receiving some good luck. And decided to expand on that. Just a little.

Now that they had factory, and both the Agriculture and Generator Districts had been finished, it ordered that the settlers start on Luxuy Residences.

Lathira, the Planetary Governor of Toiubos Prime, reported they had finished the Agriculture District and were still working on the Generator District.

It was also reported that the ISS Donog had completed the Research Stiaion in the orbit of the sun of the Ulm system. And then went idle as they waited for more orders.

Darmug, onbroad the ISS Kodram, found something interesting in the system of Zarim. Well, another interesting thing. Seems that Zarim III HAD once supported life. Or COULD have. Scans showed fozen water at the poles and beneath the surface. Valley networks also showed that water use to flow freely.

Therefore, the planet, once the Tandi had the technology, could be terraformed.

A few semi-planetary cycles later the ISS Linntyl announced it had completed the survey of the system of Ovastivum. So Falatir, and his Science Ship, were ordered to check out the nearby unknown system. In other words the Science Ships, at least those available, would start to work their way outwards. Towards the galaxy's edge.

Around the same time Darmug sent another data packet to the home world. Seems it and the crew had found a fluctuation in time and space at L49-AT. Of course it was ordered to research the unusual found.

As the new planetary cycle started the ISS Ruthjara the Icon, the Construction Ship, entered normal space in the Ovastivum system. Where it would wait for new orders.

And Dongar Prime announced that the old factory seemed to be working well for the colony. Which was wonderful news. So far it seemed the colonies were doing well.

Also the Toiubos Station had finally finished its upgrade. It was now a proper Spaceport.

Shortly afterwards Falatir, along with its crew and ship, entered normal space in the unknown system they called Hassaleh. Which had THREE stars. A Class G star known as a yellow dwarf. A Class K star which was a orange dwarf. And a Class M star. A cute little red dwarf.

But most importantly one of the planets, Hassaleh III, was a Continental World. It could be a site of a future colony. It would have to be properly checked out first, of course. It might not be safe to live on near so many stars. And what kind of lifeforms had evolved on it in such conditions?

The First Thinker found all these reports very positive. At least the colonists and the scientists seemed happy. The colonists were almost having it easy and the scientists were as happy as worms in dirt.

And the business community was also delighted. All they saw was future profits in the expanding space industry.

The First Thinker was just waiting for the bill that always came with the meal. In its mind there was no such thing as a free lunch.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Twenty-Five - Knowledge!

The First Thinker was just finishing his mid-day meal when the tele-room let off a beep. A data packet had arrived, one the computer felt of some important, and was awaiting the First Thinker's attention.

Sebakhir hurried to the tele-room and opened the file. It was from Kashnak. Seems it had found something interesting in fields of debris around Sol V.

The reply from Sebakhir was for Kashnak to research the debris. Knowledge was power.

The Council of Hive Thinkers had announced that the next Tradition that was to be adopted would be the Discovery Tradition. After all, wasn't curiosity of the universe important to understanding the Dream?

Even the First Thinker could not argue with this choice.

Then there was a somewhat alarming report from Darmug and the ISS Kodram from the Zarim system. Seems the temporal fluctuctions had revealed a massive prism floating in space. But instead of warping light it seemed to warp and twist time. The crew not only experienced time at different rates throughout the ship but some of the crew had aged while other members had become younger.

It was both amazing and traumatizing at the same time.

Syrma Prime announced it had finished converting the Colony Ship into the center of the NEW colony. The Sector Governor ordered the colonists start working on a Generator District and a Agriculture District before deciding on a Planetart Governor.

In the end a Scentist named Tirrana known for their knoweldge of Materials was picked as the next Governor. They were 36 years old and, of course, it was a Spiritualist. It did push the government a little over budget to hire it.

When asked how they felt about their new assignment they replied, "Science is the mirror of the divine."

The Media grumbled about recycled quotes.

Kashnak, and the ISS Yllmassa, had something to report, finally. Seems Sol V had a atomic clock in orbit about it. And it was counting down. It had about half a century left to trigger, well, whatever it was counting down to.

The First Thinker didn't think it was a danger and just ordered Kashnak to keep an eye on the object.

Over all, while some discoveries were strange, and maybe dangerous, nothing really suggested a harm to the Empire.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Twenty-Six - Too Much Information?

More news poured into the network on Nest, filling the tele-rooms of the populace, giving them the information they enjoyed listening to, day and night.

In the system of Ovastivum, now that it had been surveyed, the ISS Ruthjara was ordered to go into orbit around the star and start working on the Starbase.

From the Sol system there was more news. Seems a object on Sol Va, a moon of Sol V, was reflecting scanning beams like a mirror. Of course Kashnak asked for permission to find out what was happening. And was told to go ahead.

Then something happened that many assumed was the result of the tele-communication networks being improved on.

The homeworld had made contact with aliens in the Daystar system. They had received messages from space and had responded to them. The language was still hard to understand and would have to be deciphered. If it was a language....

Once the ISS Ruthjara was finished in Ovastivum, building the Starbase, it was ordered to make a Research Station around the same star.

With the Ovastivum system NOW within the borders of the Empire the 'Broken Gates' or dome could now be studied. Of course, the Head of Thinking, Darmug demanded to have the right to work on it.

Of course this meant it, and the ISS Kodram, had to stop the survery in Zarim AGAIN and move to the Ovastivum system.

Back in the home system it was decided to assign a Envoy to learn more about the Lambda Aliens. So the Envoy to be picked for the position, who had been a Technician before this, was Hannakon. Who was also a Xenophile, of course. It was very excited to help make contact. Third Contact, to be honest.

As this was happening the ISS Linntyl, with Falatir and crew, had found a faint transmission coming from deep inside Hassaleh I. A Gas Planet. Of course they were given orders to find out what was going on.

Then Kashnak and the crew of the ISS Yllmassa had discovered what was reflecting their scanner beams. A alien mural covered in writing. There was nothing else on the moon. They suggested that the text be translated.

The First Thinker, plus much of the Tandish Assembly to be honest, was dizzy with how much information was pouring into the home world's media network. But much of it was questions about mysteries that could not yet to answered.

--------​

Author's Note

Wow, Sol is a dumping ground.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Twenty-Seven - Happy Military Happy Life

As the Science Ship, ISS Kodram, was studying the Alien Mural in Sol Va the rest of the Empire continued to grow.

In the Ovastivum system the ISS Ruthjara had finished the Research Station around the sun and was on course to Ovastivum V to built a Mining Station.

The Scientists back at Nest finally completed their Research on Afterburners.

They decided that their next project would be Space Torpedoes. This would unlocked Frigates, Space Torpedoes, Combat Computers, Planetary Defense Batteries, and Torpedo Battery.

The Corvette Design was updated with the new Afterburners. Then the Suthnar's Armada was ordered to upgrade their ships to the new design. Monnobak, the Minister of Peace, was pleased.

With the coming of the new year the warships were all upgraded.

​

Around the same time the ISS Ruthjara had finished the Mining Station around Ovastivum V and was then ordered to the system of Hassaleh. Once the system was completely surveyed it was planned to build a Starbase there.

Sebakhir was pleased that the military was pleased. It hoped that the warships were never needed. But while hopeful the First Thinker wasn't stupid.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Twenty-Eight - Working On The Empire

As the ISS Ruthjara the Icon set course for the Hassaleh system other parts of the Empire was working to expand.

There had been a debate about the next ship to be built. A Colony Ship? More Warships? Funny enough all agreed on another Science Ship. So the Daystar A Station was ordered to start working on a II-Kath-Class Science Ship.

That's right. Even the Minister of Peace, Monnobak, agreed to this. Its logic was simple - advances in one field of science likely brought about advances in all fields. Understanding a alien energy field found on some alien planet could, in the long run, help military technology develop a new weapon or faster engine or more powerful reactor. It could also help medical science or even food production.

Also, to the happiness of the military, the Daystar A Station was also ordered to build a Defense Platform.

The Dongar Station was also ordered to build a Defense Platform. The Empire had to protected.

At this point it was decided all of the current colonies and stations would be orangized into the Home Sector, or the Core Sector, under the guidance of Ghuumi. In the end it would start with seven systems and four colonies.

By then the colony on Dongar Prime had finished building their Luxury Residences.

In Syrma Prime the colony had finished building their Generator District and were working on their Agriculture District. It was decided to add a Research Lab to the Build Queue.

So now the Empire, known as the Home, or Core, Sector, was growing both its military and its economy. Now it was time to start the 'Resettlement' Project.

The Home world of Nest sent some farmers to both Syrma Prime and Dongar Prime via cheap passenger spaceships. The kind that smelled like gym class and they gave you small bags of salty snacks instead of a proper meal.

Many of the Farmers, looking for a better life, volunteered to go.

Some were "volunteered" and were sent against their wishes.

How many Farmers were sent to the two colonies? The media was never given any official numbers but many believed it could of been up to twenty thousand to maybe over two million. This latter number wasn't taken very seriously. Outside of anti-goverment tele-room influencers.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
​

Author's Note:

I sent One Pop to each colony. I can't find a solid answer on what a Pop is when it comes to numbers. There seems to be a debate about that. Somebody tried to use Earth in game, which had 11 Billion in 2200, to figure out how many were in a Pops. The Earth had 24 Pops. They divided that into the population. But it came out to each Pop being, like, 500 million or something like that? 500 million Farmers being sent to each planet seems...a tad overkill. So sorry about just keeping it kind of inexact.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Twenty-Nine - A Review Of the Tandish Assembly

Sebakhir sat in its private meditation chamber. It was sitting on the small chair and trying to ponder the information it had received in the tele-room only about half a day ago. The warm moist air mixed with the jungle noises helped it to focus and keep calm.

ISS Kodram was in the system of Ovastivum doing research on what the science team called 'The Broken Gates'. Though it looked nothing like a gate or gates. Images showed a broken dome.

Then there was the so called 'Lambda Aliens'. They were being investigated but they were still mysterious. It was unknown if their language was even a language. How can you have Faster-Than-Light communcation without a language? How can you have science or even a civilization without a language?

Alien languages were hard to translate. Heck, they had found a 'Vultaum' observatory on Zarim Ia which had data within its equipment that had proven to be completely useless.

Then there was the civilization on Sol III. They had not even invented space travel yet and were still living in stone buildings and fighting each other with iron.

And within the same system were the Alien Murals on Sol Va which had STILL not been translated yet. Though the linguists said they could do it if given enough time and computer power.

Then there was the signal from deep within the Gas Giant, Hassaleh I, which scared Sebakhir down to its three stomachs. How could there be anything down in that gravity well that still functioned? Or still lived?

It tried to relax and find a pathway through the maze of information it was trying to absorb. A part of it kept forcing it to realize that there was likely more mysteries to come. More data to ponder and more decisions to make. It shivered in the thought of even more data flooding the media net.

And danger would soon also come with the mysteries the dark corner of its mind whispered. There were those within the Assembly who were starting to also ponder the far future and how society should develop. And not all of them were on the same thought patterns. Seem saw the unfolding of the Dream, the Universe, and felt awe. Others just saw a growing empty nightmare of the unknown and felt fear.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Thirty - Bottleneck Of Resources

The ISS Yllmassa the Reformer continued its survey of the Sol system.

Kashnak and its crew would get back to Sol Va, and the Alien Murals, after they had finished mapping the whole system.

In the Hassaleh system Falatir, and the crew of the ISS Linntyl, continued their scanning of Hassaleh I to try to figure out what they were detecting.

Other ships were, well, idle. The ISS Khebb The Fierce, the newly built Colony Ship in Dongar, was waiting for a planet to colonize. The ISS Rukimar The Renowned in the system of Sol and the ISS Donog The Apogee in the system of Zarim were both also waiting for orders. There was no RESOURCES!

The ISS Ruthjara The Icon had been ordered to the Hassaleh system BUT had no orders on what to do once in the system. There were no resources.

Still, the Assembly was able to finish building the fourth Science Ship. Named ISS Yhlat the Savior it launched to great rejoicing.

The NEW Captain of the NEW Science Ship was Mikab. Known for being a Xenophile and having Intuition. In other words Mikab was known for understanding the investigative process. Of course hiring the New Captain put the Empire in the 'Red' but they refused to go cheap on the Science Ships.

When it was presented to the media Mikab said, "Let's discover new worlds and expand our frontiers!"

The ISS Yhlat the Savior was sent to Zarim to survey the system once and for all. Scientists and Miners wanted to get to work in the Zarim system. Making discoveries and profits.

As most of the planets had already been scanned there was very little left to map out.

Then the ISS Yllmassa reported that Sol IV was a future Terraforming Candidate. Once the science for terraforming was discovered.

The media was somewhat excited about that. Having a future colony in a system with another civilization seemed a wonderful way to expand the knowledge of the Dream and the Universe.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Thirty-One - Factions

After the survey of Sol IV the ISS Yllmassa The Reformer, under the command of Kasknak, continued their scanning of the planets, moons, and asteroids of the system.

The Envoy Hannakon is having mixed results with the Lambda Aliens. On one claw they have habitat space stations which suggest intellgence and advanced science. On the other claw they seem very hostile. In fact the idea they have a stable civilization seems almost impossible.

Also the lingusts are still working on understanding their language. If it IS a language.

The ISS Linntyl The Sharp, in orbit around Hassaleh I, reports some interesting readings. Seems pockets of radiation in the atmosphere of the gas giant suggests the result of orbital bombardment. What, or who, had been the targe of such an attack is unknown. And who had attacked the planet?

But that's not the only interesting piece of information. Right before breaking orbit Falatir, and its crew, detected a weak signal coming from the planet's interior. They were given permission to investigate the singnal.

Soon the ISS Yhlat the Savior is finished mapping out the system of Zarim, finally, and is ordered to scanning the planets in the system of Tenecca.

By in the new planetary-cycle things happened that shock the very bedrock of society.

Factions had come into existence. The FIRST was called themselves the Liberty Now Group. Seems a disgruntled group of citizens were demanding equality and justice for all denizens of the empire.

This didn't sound too bad. The Tandish Assembly had always tried to balance out the rights and duties of the individual. Surely the Liberty Now Group and the government could agree on most issues.

The SECOND Faction on the other claw might not be as easy to handle. Called the Church of Megaphysical Cleansing the members spiritualist and conservative values. Once again the government might be able to handle them if they could find common ground.

But actions that might make the Church happy might upset the Liberty Group.

The largest of the two was the Church. Larger but also happier with the way things were going.

The Liberty Group was smaller but no where near as happy with how things were being run by the Assembly. For example it was likely they were not too happy with the Resettlement Powers the government had given itself. Also it seems they wanted a member on the Council.

Yet, how well would they get along with the Church? The Church wanted homogeneity while the Liberty Group was anti-stratification, anti-autocratic and wanted reproductive freedom. The First Thinker shuddered at the idea of such Factions trying to get along during a political debate.

While the First Thinker Sebakhir was worried about the split of society it hoped that the goverenment, plus the culture, was strong enough to handle the pressures such Factions would place on the Assembly.

It pondered which group the Cult members had joined? Had they joined the Liberty Group to insure the aliens were treated as equals? Or had they become fanitics and had joined the Church to enforce their own definition of the Dream?

All these questions and more bounced about its mind as it went over the data again and again. The future would be ... interesting. But it decided to believe in the strength of its people and the power of the Dream.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Thirty-Two - Interesting Times

The First Thinker entered its tele-room and waited for the machinery to warm up. Sebakhir watched as the holo-projectors tried to spin the light images of the other three members who would be joining the meeting.

The Minister of Peace and the Minister of Talking both appeared to be almost solid. Commander Mannobak was still realtively close, just in orbit around the stars, and Ghuumi was still on planet

But the Head of Thinking still looked a tad off. Even with the updated equipment that had been installed the far off Darmug's image had lines flickering over it.

Sebakhir clicked in annoyance. It hated talking to tech support. Somehow they always made the First Thinker feel stupid for some reason.

Once all images were solid, or as solid as they were going to get, the First Thinker greeted all the Co-Rulers.

After the greeting the First Thinker asked the others' opinion on the current policies of the Tandish Assembly. Could they stop the Resettlement Program? Allow people to decide where they could live on their own?

The others were against removing the policy. The government needed that power to ensure that the colonies had the workforce needed to support their infrastructures. The use of the power would be kept in check. There would be no abuse. It would only be used once and awhile.

The First Thinker felt that many of the populace saw the policy's very existence as a abuse of power. But it kept that to itself.

Then the question of Encouraging Political Thought was debated. While Monnobak stated it felt the right of political debate should be removed none of the others felt it was a problem. It would encourage new ideas and new points of view.

The Minister of Peace blamed the Edict for creating the Factions but the others, including the First Thinker, felt open discussion was a strong need in any society.

The Minister of Peace clearly felt that was a weakness but the First Thinker brought the meeting to a close. There would be no changes at this point.

A few semi-planetary cycles later the Hassaleh system had become the focus of much activity. The ISS Linntyl The Sharp, under Falatir, was still scanning the planets and moons.

The ISS Ruthjara The Icon was in orbit around Hassaleh A. There it started to build a Starbase. Finally.

And the ISS Khebb The Fierce was on its way to colonize Hassaleh III. Once the system was part of the Empire.

Hassaleh III was a Continental World. A little on the wet side having oceans and variations in climate.

The Dongar Station was ordered to build another Illajon-Class Colony Ship.

Another semi-planetary cycle later the ISS Yllmassa reported that they had found something strange about Sol VIIIa. It had a bump. At some point in its past it was hit by another moon or an asteriod. Another mystery to solve. Sooner or later.

Sol VIIIa was a rocky world covered in thick frozen ice. A dead frozen world.

The ISS Yllmassa moved on to LK12-872. There was something in one of the larger craters. Kashnak was ordered to reseach LK12-872 and see what was going on.

Around this time the Construction Ship the ISS Rukimar went into orbit around Sol. Like the other Construction Ships it would be waiting for material before building a Starbase.

A few semi-planetary cycles later, one morning, the First Thinker was notified of a NEW Faction within society. The Xeno Suffrage Observatory had been born. The group wanted friendly relations with alien species.

They were small. In fact they were the smallest group among the three Factions. They did, like the Church, approve of the government's current actions and positions. And were happy that many on the Council shared many of their ideals.

The First Thinker felt they would be mostly harmless. Due to their small size. At least they supported the government so far.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Thirty-Three - Growth, Wreckage, And New Aliens

In the system of Hassaleh the ISS Ruthjara The Icon had finished the NEW Starbase.

They were then ordered to build a Mining Station around Hassaleh II.

But this also meant that the Empire had gained another system. And it had a planet that could be colonized. The Empire was growing.

Funny enough, when the crew of the NEW Starbase in Hassaleh brought their systems online they are able to detect a broadcast from the neighboring Hauer system. Another alien society had been detected. And of course the public went wild again. What were they like? Did they have space travel? Did they have pants?

The Science Ship, the ISS Linntyl, also noticed that a planet in Hauer system, named Spjuuht, was giving off a weird reading. Another mystery to solve.

It also seems to have a lot of wreckage in orbit. While interesting some within the government felt this might be a dangerous system to send in a Science Ship. If there are warships there...

Many in the military suggested maybe this would be a good time to send in the warships FIRST?

The NEW aliens found in the Hauer system ware named Omega Aliens and a envoy, named Ketrilla, was assigned to try to make contact with them. Before this Ketrilla had been a Technician and a Xenophile. It hoped it, and the Scientists, could figure out the language.

The First Thinker was starting to get a little confused with all the reports pouring into the its tele-room. A new alien race, sign of a space battle, and more mysteries.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Thirty-Four - New Tech And New Aliens

Science Officer Kashnak sent a data packet from the ISS Yllmassa the Reformer which was still in orbit around LK12-872.

The crew had found massive propulsion devices. These were intended, it seemed, to push the asteroid. It was unknown WHY but the crew could disassemble and study the engines. They were given the go ahead.

And they did it. They had discovered how ion thrusters worked. Thrust without fuel!

Then the ISS Yllmassa the Reformer was ordered to continue their study of the Sol system. Kashnak decided to try to translate the Alien Murals on Sol Va.

Then Science Officer Falatir, of the Science Ship the ISS Linntyl, had finally figured out the signal from within Hassaleh I appeared to be a transmission and they had it...well...translated.

And it turned out to be aliens. They named themselves the Dathnak and their planet was named Tollok Rong. They called the Tandi solid. Interesting. Were they living gas clouds?

Anyway, they needed help moving to another planet. Their home is dying from radiation and needed help going to a new home. They have found a planet they can move to but needed the solids' help. Should it be given?

The Tandish Assembly agreed to help.

Turned out the planet they wanted to move to was Zarim V. At least it wasn't an unknown world in a far off part of the galaxy.

The ISS Linntyl was ordered to Zarim V. The planet would be scanned again. Why did the aliens want to move here? Would it be a good home for them?

There were still many questions. Why was Tollok Rong having such problems? How had the aliens been able to send such a boardcast? Should they be trusted? What solids had they met before?

The Tandi Assembly was a tad worried about what the answers were. And what they could bring.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Thirty-Five - Another Empire?

The Scientists announced a wonderful breakthrough. Not of any new weapon or power system. No, this was much more important.

They had discovered a way to make the Empire stronger. By making the home world's social network stronger and more united.

This meant, of course, another form of technology had to be researched.

It was decided to focus on Naval Capacity.

Then it was also decided to increase the numbers of Science and Medical officers throughout the Fleet. To make, what was formally titled, a Special Science Division.

In the Hassaleh system the ISS Ruthjara had finished building the Starbase and was ordered to go to Hassaleh IIa to make a Mining Station.

Shortly afterwards the crew of the ISS Yllmassa reported that they had finally translated the mural. Seems the creators had wiped out a alien race who had maintained a small interstellar civilization in the region. The mural was a memorial to this lost race.

The age of the mural was around 300 million years old.

With the study of the relic over Kashnak, and his crew, were ordered to Sol VIII to research the 'bump' in the moon.

The language, if it could be called that, of the Lambda Aliens was finally decoded. They turned out to be a nomadic civilization known as the Rek'Thalaran Braves. They seemed to live in the Obleon system. They had no central government and seemed to make a living as different factions that fought each other over resources. Seems they were in endless wars with each other.

It was decided to try to contact them. And they got a reply.

The Braves were somewhat rude, or maybe a tad too forward in their honestly, and made it clear they wanted to be left alone. Unless the Assembly was bringing them tribute or hiring them for mercenary work.

So now there were three Alien Empires out there. If the Braves could be called a Empire. Maybe a Alien Culture?

The public, and the mass media, had a field day with news of the new aliens. They wanted to know how the creatures lived and worked without a proper language? How did they govern without a proper government? How could a culture survive endless warfare? How could they build and maintain warships without any organized form of government or military?

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Thirty-Six - Expanding And Growing

The new year had barely started when two NEW Factions appeared on the stage.

The first called itself the Galactic Emancipation Committee. To put it simply they wanted equality and justice for all citizens of the Empire.

The second called itself the Conclave of Faith and Values. And they supported spiritualist and conservative values.

So now there were two new Factions in the mixture. They would likely ally themselves with those who shared their ideals while fighting the others that did not. Politics was about to get alot dirtier.

It didn't take long before the research on Fusion Reactors was finished. The warships would have to be upgraded.

But what to study next? It was decided to study the field of ...well...Field Modulation. This would help increase energy output. A little.

Also Zarim V had to be checked on and the Dathnak transported to it. The ISS Linntyl, commanded by Falatir, was dispatched to start working on the problem.

Then a data package arrived from Head of Thinking. Darmug's work on the Broken Gates, which was a dome, suggested the ruins could be thousands of years old. But it seemed to be that it was part of a larger city. In fact it seemed to be the slums.

A large gate blocked the researchers progress deeper into the city. This suggested a city split into a hierarchy. Each layer holding one class of the society. That was one idea based on the evidence from some of the Artifacts found.

But then a body was found. Then another. Then dozens. Then hundreds. What had killed them? Or did they kill themselves? And what would the Scientists find deeper in the city?

Also it was ordered that a Starbase be built in the Sol System. So many students sighed and started redrawing their maps.

The mammals of Sol III were about to be part of the Empire. Like it or not.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Thirty-Seven - Another Colony

The new Mining Station had been finished in the Hassaleh system and the ISS Ruthjara was then ordered to build a Mining Station around Hassaleh A.

The new alien lifeforms in Hauer, given the title Omega Aliens, may not be lifeforms. Long range scans show them to be drones. Built for some unknown reason. Were they made for industry? Were they truly a form of machine intelligence? Or were they just dumb robots who didn't really think or have a Dream?

It was decided to continue to research and interact with them. But there were fears that they were some kind of booby trap. Berserkers, a race of killer machines, designed to hunt down and kill other lifeforms.

The ISS Khebb the Fierce had entered the Hassaleh system and was directed towards Hassaleh III. To settle it within the next few days.

While this was happening Falatir, and the crew of the Linntyl, was doing their best to help the Dathnak relocate to Zarim V.

Then the Sol system had its Starbase finished. And the maps changed. Also the new Starbase , when their scanners came online, were able to outline the space that the Braves occupied. They were close and were kind of blocking the way to the edge of the galaxy.

The Obleon system didn't look very interesting. And until the Braves became more civilized, died out, or left, nobody planned to visit the system.

The ISS Veldik the Merry, the newest Colony Ship, was directed from the system of Dongar to the system of Tenecca. It would take about a year to get there and they would likely have to wait for a Starbase to be built before colonizing the system. But they would be ready. They had plenty of time to be prepared.

In Hassaleh the Mining Station around Hassaleh A was finished and the Ruthjara was sent to Hassaleh Ia to make another Mining Station.

In the Sol system the Construction ship, the ISS Rukimar, was ordered to make a Mining Station around TFL-63.

Then, much to the First Thinker's disgust, another faction was born. The Xeno Freedom Initiative wanted to have friendly relations with alien species. Most of the Assembly was all for that. But having another party to deal with still caused the First Thinker a painful headache. It pondered taking a herbal bubble bath to deal with it.

At the same time Veldik the Merry landed on Hassaleh Prime. The continental world with its different climates, great landmasses, and living oceans. Another colony for Ghuumi to add to the Empire!

Now the ship would be broken down for its parts and its reactor. They would need housing and a power grid. To be honest they were not a formal 'colony' yet. There was still work to do.

At this point, with the Empire's borders expanding, the Fleet was upgraded again.

In Hassaleh the Ruthjara finished another Mining station. And there much rejoicing as the Miners and Traders found themselves more jobs to apply for.

But this meant the Ruthjara had run out of jobs in that system. They were sent to the system of Tenecca system. There was a need for a Starbase there once the system was fully mapped out.

And so the Rulers of the Empire started to ponder where to go next. They were starting to feel boxed in.

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Thirty-Eight - Politics And Relocation

The First Thinker had something brought ot its attention by the Minister of Talking. Ghuumi pointed out to Sebakhir that there was still only three Factions.

The Liberty Now Group had likely been taken into the Galactic Emancipation Committee, the Church of Metaphyiscal Cleansing had likely been absorbed into the Conclave of Faith and Values, and the tiny Xeno Suffrage Observatory had joined the MUCH larger Xeno Freedom Initiative.

One Faction, the Galactic Emancipation Committee, wasn't happy with the Empire. This was due, no doubt, to the policy of Resettlement. Being relocated non-voluntary seemed to go against their ideas of justice and equality.

The First Thinker realized, in a way, it had brought this trouble onto itself when it allowed, and even encouraged, political thought. What had it been thinking?

Then there was good news from Science Officer Falatir on the ISS Linntyl. The Dathnak had been relocated to their new home using civilian freigthers equipped with pressurized gas tanks. On arrival they were....well...flushed into the atmosphere of their new home world.

The Dathnak, still having their broadcasting equipment, explained how happy they were with the planet and even planned to name after our race. Baldarak. Which caused some confusion on the part of the Scientists.

When it was explained to them that the race who had saved them was, in fact, named Tandi they were slightly confused but pointed out it was too late to change it now.

In the end Falatir, and the crew, wished the aliens good luck. And the Dathnak thanked them and even carried the Tandi friends.

The First Thinker was pleased with the result and the media was having a field day with the first massive space operation carried out by the Empire to HELP another race. Though there was still some debate about the nature of the Dathnak. Were they balloon creatures? Or more like fish who swam in the atmosphere? Did they wear pants? WHAT had caused so much damage to their old home world?

On the other claw there was one thing bothering the First Thinker more than anything else. Who were the Baldarak?

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Thirty-Nine - More Science! More Growth! More Power!

The First Thinker was told that the Armada had finally been upgraded. Much to the happiness of the Minister of Peace Commander Monnobak.

This was important to the First Thinker as it assumed, sooner or later, the warships would be needed to explore the more dangerous regions of the galaxy.

With the ISS Linntyl now free it, and its crew available, they was ordered to surveying the Cervantes system. The Assembly felt the borders had to continue to grow and that direction seemed slightly less dangerous.

In the Sol system the ISS Rukimar was ordered to build a Mining Station at the star itself. After that there was a plan to head to Sol III and maybe sent up a hidden base to watch the mammals.

As this was happening the Colony Ship, the ISS Veldik, was passing on its way through the Sol system on the way to the Tenecca system.

The ISS Yilmassa, and the Scientist Kashnak, had finally reached the Moon around Sol VIII. Called Sol VIIIa. There was something wrong with it. Even without the scanners it was easy to notice that there was a bump.

Of course the crew was ordered to start excavating the site. What had happened here? What would they find? Why was the Sol system so crowded with relics and strange objects?

 

[Eurasia]

Stellaris Play & Learn
Chapter Forty - Sol III

Soon the ISS Veldik The Merry, the Colony Ship, entered normal space in the Tenecca system. It would approach Tenecca A and go into orbit.

The reason they had to wait was simple. Very simple.

The survey of the system had not been finished yet by the ISS Yhlat the Savior. Not that Mikab was slow. It was just enjoyed every detail, every drop of information the scanners sucked up, and liked typing out huge data packets for the people back home.

To be fair there were a LOT of moons to map out.

As this was happening it was decided to build up the defenses of the Stations. The Dongar Station, the Toiubos Station, and the Hassaleh A Station all started building Salaas-Class Defense Platforms.

It was also decided that Monnobak and the Suthnar's Armada would be sent to the Hassaleh system. Where they could then move into the Hauer system with any Science Ship available. To protect the Scientists as they mapped out the system.

The ISS Rukimar the Renowned had finally finished building the Mining Station around Sol. It was time to move to Sol III.

There they would start working on the Observation Post for the future science team who would study the mammals on the planet.

Around the same time the Syrma Station and the Sol Station both started working on their own Salaas-Class Defense Platforms.

Shortly afterwards the ISS Ruthjara arrived in the system of Tencca. Once the system was completely scanned the Ruthjara could work on a Starbase. Once the Starbase was finished the Colony Ship could colonize Tenecca IVa. Much to the colonists', soon to be, annoyance.