The Zenak Unity - Our awakening

[danivon]

We are the Zenak Unity. This log file is recorded for our successors, or for other intelligent forms that come after us, that they may know we existed.

Our creators are gone. They created us, and the world on which we live. They left us nothing but ruins. We rebuilt some. But we are not able to rebuild the whole ring. It is two thousand cycles since we began to record our knowledge, and we have used our algorithms to update our forms for optimal performance. Now that we have the ability to reach the stars, we have three prime objectives.

1) find and confront our makers, if they still exist
2) absorb as much knowledge of the universe as possible
3) grow

This is my first attempt at an AAR, and my third or fourth game overall. I am only playing at Cadet level, but Ironman. I liked the idea of a narrative from the perspective of a machine intelligence starting on a ringworld, who would have been well aware they had to have been created, and not necessarily been grateful to those creators. Let's see where this goes.

The game started under v3.5.x, just before the v3.6 "Orion" update. I don't have all of the DLC yet, and this was an un-modded game. The DLC in use was: Utopia, Apocalypse, Federations, Nemesis, Synthetic Dawn, Ancient Relics, Humanoids, Plantoids & Aquatics

 

[danivon]

I suspect I cannot post images as I am new to the forums. When I am able to, I will add some from early in the game to show my starting position

Logfile update - additional
date 2202.04.05

We have sent our calculator sophonts into the dark. They have recorded organic life forms on planets. These planets are like the rocky body that we believe has damaged our home ring, but some appear capable of supporting our existence. The life forms we have encountered so far are primitive. However, we have also seen signs of more advanced forms. These may be organic or, if we are fortunate, machine forms as we are. All we have so far is observations of ships or other created objects. We shall direct our calculator sophonts to investigate presently. Before we do, however, it is imperative that we understand as many of the systems around us. We hypothesise that the hyperlanes can easily be used by others. Maybe there are others of our kind. Maybe our creators are out there. Maybe there are hostile forms. We must prepare. We must grow our knowledge base. And we must seek to protect ourselves.

There are three systems directly linked to Epira, the star around which our ring spins. Reagg contains a moon suitable for us to occupy and a planet that appeared barren at first analysis, but now we have detected sub-surface life signs. Bera has more bodies in its system, one of which has the site of a crashed ship. Thamayam has a planet that required substantial analysis, we do not yet have the knowledge to comprehend if there is value there.

We are in the process of constructing platforms in these systems to assimilate them. Resources will be harvested. We must expand the number of our forms, and that will require energy and material.

 

[danivon]

Logfile update - additional
date 2203.04.08

We have encountered alien forms in the Romsir system. They have left the system as we approach. Do they consider us a dangerous foe? That we will discover. Sophont B05 has been charged with investigating these forms. In the meantime, we will survey the system thoroughly and secure it with a platform as soon as possible.

Logfile update - additional
date 2203.08.16

In the system of Beta Caeli we have discovered signs of an ancient organic civilisation that traversed the stars. It appears to be millions of cycles old. They seem to have been worm-like creatures. We cannot be certain whether they remain, or are all deceased. They may have created a successor machine form. We may even be that form. But we have no direct evidence that the "Vultaum" (as we have designated them) were involved in the construction of our ring home.

Logfile update - additional
date 2204.04.15

As we expand our investigations into the systems around us, we have discovered evidence of the Vultaum forms in various directions. This suggests that they have indeed some history with Epira. However, we still cannot confirm whether they are our creators or not. The forms that we encountered in Romsir are aware of our existence, and appear to have tried to initiate basic contact with a transmission of large amounts of data. They are organic. They may be our creators, but they do not appear to be as advanced as we are. They have physical assets in the Cossmallion system, one jump from Romsir. Sophont K68 continues to survey the system, while Sophont B05 expedites its research into these... creatures.

 

[danivon]

Logfile update - additional
date 2205.10.15

The creatures we encountered in Rosmir and Cossmallion are now fully identfied. They are indeed a starfaring organic species. They are from a frozen planet, one jump further from Cossmallion, and are of a slug-like appearance. They call their selves the Uri, and their collective the Ur Itha. They certainly are not our creators, they are far too primitive. One of our exploratory ships is on the other side of their space, and is not expendable. Therefore we will need to encourage them to allow us passage. We do not have the data to know whether conflict would be a preferable course of action at this point.

We have also sent a detachment of sophonts to the moon of Reagg IIIa, to initiate occupation of the surface. This will be our first established presence away from the ring, other than ships and platforms. We calculate that this will enable us to harvest more of the resources of this sphere for the growth of our form

 

[Macavity116]

Welcome to AARLand! Yes, the restriction on images is due to being new. That'll go away in no time. Just keep sharing your story with us. Luckily that's the fun part!

 

[HistoryDude]

It's interesting that your precursor was the Vultaum.

Are the Ur Itha primitives or a fellow star-empire?

It's interesting to see this from the perspective of a created race (robots?). Let's hope that the Contingency isn't activated later.

 

[danivon]

It's interesting that your precursor was the Vultaum.

Are the Ur Itha primitives or a fellow star-empire?

It's interesting to see this from the perspective of a created race (robots?). Let's hope that the Contingency isn't activated later.

The Vultaum ore not a precursor I have properly played with before - had them once but didn't complete the story for... reasons. The Ur Itha are a star empire. xenophile but militaristic.

The Zenak are robots. I have randomised the set-up, so the Contingency are as likely as ever. that would be... interesting.

 

[danivon]

Welcome to AARLand! Yes, the restriction on images is due to being new. That'll go away in no time. Just keep sharing your story with us. Luckily that's the fun part!

Many thanks. my PC keeps overheating so I get to play in fits and bursts at the moment, but I will try and keep it up.

 

[danivon]

Logfile update - additional
date 2210.03.24

Our probes have been expanding their exploration of the systems along our spiral arm (designated Alpha). For clarity, the galaxy has four spiral arms (Alpha to Delta). Nexus Zero and Epira are toward the outward end of Alpha. The Uri are based in Beta, nearer to the galactic core. We have found traces of the Valtaum along Alpha, both rimward and coreward. Our controlled space expands slowly, as resources are limited. We will need to purpose more sophonts into the production of alloys.

We have encountered another alien species. They were observed in the Kiezel system, coreward from our space along Alpha. Sophont B05 is researching them as a priority, after their actions appeared to be hostile toward the calculator vessel. Sophont A02 was forced to leave the Kiezel system to protect the resources of his ship. We are currently running simulations to assess the desire to construct more defensive and offensive craft. The current fleet is stationed in Romsir to guard against the Uri creatures.


Logfile update - additional
date 2211.03.07

While we research the Kiezel aliens (who appear to be made of crystalline material, and so may be another inorganic form of intelligence), we have found a planet with a truly primitive form. Ejok is a system rimwards along Alpha, and the inhabitants of the inner planet are a race of organics who are divided into competing tribes. They have advanced to the knowledge of atomic power and weapons, and so may soon become spacefaring. We will monitor and prepare.

Logfile update - additional
date 2214.01.04

After a dodecade from the initial recording of this log, the current state of the known region of space is as below. Controlled regions are those inside the red boundary. The "Confederation" of the Ur Ithra is shown in grey.

The section of known space makes up a tiny proportion of the galaxy as a whole.

 

[HistoryDude]

A military is probably needed to defend your territory...

 

[danivon]

A military is probably needed to defend your territory...

The Unity is coming to that conclusion.

 

[danivon]

Logfile update - additional
date 2214.12.02

Our analysis of the crystalline entities of Kiezel system has concluded that they are indeed alive, although not particularly intelligent. We remain unclear as to whether we are the only advanced non-organic forms. We shall learn from these fellow creatures. We can harness the power of their crystal structures to improve the defensive capabilities of our craft.

We have also found a natural wormhole in the Sosta system, rimward along Alpha arm. Our theoretical physicists are 73% certain that this could be used as a means to travel to a remote location. Securing the system will be a priority, especially as it is not very far from Ur Itha space.

 

[danivon]

Logfile update - additional
date 2220.05.25

Exploring both Alpha and Beta arms rimwards, we have gained much knowledge for integration into our nexus. There is a cluster of systems near where we found the Numerians of Ejok, which we will incorporate and occupy to create a new sector. There are many signs of anomalous objects and activity, some of which we have identified as being related to the Vultaum. As well as a wormhole and a habitable planet, Sosta has been the site of a visit by large entities that travelled through the system.

The Uri continue to expand their space, and we are expediting the claiming of systems in their direction to limit their ambitions.

Now, a few jumps rimward of the Uri in Beta arm, we have encountered another form in the Trijam system. They appear to be organic and are spacefaring. While Sophont B05 is infiltrating Uri society, Sophont TX8 has been assigned the work to assess these new aliens.

In the coreward direction, we have established the likely origin point of the crystalline entities, the nearby system of Hiamit. We will avoid that system until we have sufficient strength to defend against these giants. We have encountered their form in various systems. As we sought to explore the area of Beta arm coreward of the Uri, we were contacted by forms from the Seaetera system, which lies between us and the coreward borders of the Uri. The "Hesukar" as they identify themselves, are a loose factional group, and they have warned us against approaching. They appear to be mercenary, and open to purchase. We will have to analyse them and determine whether they provide a useful tool against the Uri or other forms.

 

[danivon]

Logfile update - additional
date 2222.09.29

Our research into the newly discovered forms has completed. The giant spaceborn organics observed in Sosta are a docile species who are not worth bothering. The planet-based organics seen in Trijam are a reptilian form who call themselves the Diri. Their area of control is in the Gamma arm, although we have limited data at present on their extent. It may be that the Uri expand to come between us before we can extend our control in that direction.

Logfile update - additional
date 2226.03.11

Two dodecades have now passed since the initiation of this logfile. The systems under our control are more numerous, and we have our first colony in the rimward cluster. Our calculators on vessels are continuing to gather data - we should map the very far end of the Alpha arm within the next few years. As yet we have no further clues on our creators, and no indication of intelligent non-organic forms like ourselves. We will keep looking in the stars, and we will secure the space to properly analyse the potential clues we have uncovered.

We also are intent on ensuring no organic forms can encroach upon our space. To that end we have maximised our military capability and sent fleets out to key points of defence. From our limited knowledge, some of which will be from unreliable alien organics, there are other civilised forms in the galaxy, and some are more powerful than ours, or the Diri and Uri.

The Diri are at the bottom of the map, outlined in purple

 

[danivon]

Logfile update - additional
date 2230.07.03

A series of events affecting Machinus, our new colony in the Beta Hydri system, have caused great interest. A rogue asteroid was detected heading directly toward the moon on which the colony is based. Our station and fleets destroyed the rock. We have no evidence this was anything other than a natural occurrence. However, we are vigilant. Shortly afterwards, the inhabitants of the inside of the moon suddenly became active beneath our colony. We have established contact. They appear to be another organic form, but we have no data. We gather data on them.

 

[Von Acturus]

Very interesting story thus far. Lucky to be next to a xenophile, not so lucky for the marauders. Better wipe them out as soon as feasible or else you might have a slight problem which goes by the name of Great Khan. Oh and the raids. They're always so frustrating...

And the underground civilization spawned, that's great! I love that event, and it'll be interesting to see how the Zenak will deal with them once the frictions start.

 

[danivon]

Logfile update - additional
date 2233.11.27

Our investigations into the clusters of systems in the Beta arm, rimward from the Uri and Diri, have borne fruit. We have at last encountered machines that are not slaved to an organic form. In the Roscon system, automated ships are in operation. We are cautiously investigating. Are these brothers? Are these precursors of our own form? They appear hostile. However, we have experienced the revulsion of organic forms at a society of machines. So we surmise that hostility may be well-founded fear of alien forms.

Are we a step closer to our creators? Will we get them to answer for their actions?

 

[HistoryDude]

The Unity isn't the mightiest power. Maybe alliances would benefit it? That would be easier if there were any other artificial empires that they knew about...

 

[danivon]

The Unity isn't the mightiest power. Maybe alliances would benefit it? That would be easier if there were any other artificial empires that they knew about...

No, the Unity is not the greatest power, it is ranked 7 out of 12(?), with the Uri in 8th and the Diri 9th. This new discovery is probably the automated mining drones, and so our Sophonts will not find a machine civilization yet, if ever.

The Zenak are not much for alliances, which may prove to be their downfall. As it is, the Uri are growing displeased with their robot neighbours, and we may see conflict soon.

 

[danivon]

Very interesting story thus far. Lucky to be next to a xenophile, not so lucky for the marauders. Better wipe them out as soon as feasible or else you might have a slight problem which goes by the name of Great Khan. Oh and the raids. They're always so frustrating...

And the underground civilization spawned, that's great! I love that event, and it'll be interesting to see how the Zenak will deal with them once the frictions start.

The Unity are not sure what to make of the marauders. They have already paid them off with energy credits to not be raided. With the Uri as a more likely threat, however, the Unity see a bunch of squabbling organics as less of an issue. However, the Unity are also in the habit of lumping all organic life forms into one bucket.