[Puke]

well, after trading the starting planet for a colony ship, i lost all contact with other races. this forced me to guard the colony ship as i moved it across the quadrant to a safe system, while every system i passed through sent raiders after me.

once i established a colony, i was able to construct a shipyard and retrofit the starting ship with premium components and massive mounts, and replace the machine shops with the organic healing/life support thing, and a spaceyard to boot. while the ship repaired its self, i constructed resource facilites on my new planet, and once at a sufficient level, forced the capitulation of the herd-animal neutrals.

that being done, i expanded my base in that system, and moved out to re-establish contact with everyone. treaty making was slow going, so I retrofitted some boarding parties onto the andromeda, and went out capturing ships for a blocade effort. soon the Xlati had their backs to the wall, and turned over their planets as well.

Most races I was able to convince to make peace at this point, and this is about the time that the first sistership of the upgraded Andromeda was rolling off the production line. There are still some border wars going on, but I think they can be solved with the removal of only one or two races.

I just noticed something though, and I am VERY curious. Is the special ability on your starting planet just a cute description, or does it do something?

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"...the green, sticky spawn of the stars"
(with apologies to H.P.L.)