Rated Challenges Thread

[Alneyan]

A gentle bump, and a partial update on my game with Geo.

Annual Forecast of the Frobboz Magic Company, Five Years After the Beginning of the Bidding Affair. (Turn 50 or so)

The game has been very quiet until turn 45 or so, with only four of my ships destroyed by mines, and two of his taken down by my own forces. I have focused on expanding in the early game, as I had good planets for once, and almost enough of them to sate my greediness. I went for the two other colony techs rather early on; both were researched before turn 45 I think, and Gas was done around turn 40. My Empire has then been colonising all planets in sight, while it seems like Geo has not been doing so much colonisation; he does have Gas tech however, though no Ice in view.

I had a few more systems under my greedy hands, and enough space to expand without being too vulnerable against an early assault. Light Carriers were nonetheless built, should something unexpected (say, fifty Light Cruisers) arise. Minesweepers were thrown in for good measure, and my first fleets soon found themselves on the offensive.

Around turn 50, my first fleet secured a few systems in the north-west, and that whole border with Geo. A handful planets were glassed, he abandoned the others, and a few vessels were destroyed on both sides when I ran into his defending vessels. In the meantime, 17 Light Cruisers were sighted in the middle of the map, but soon fled when my own fleet entered the area. (I had about 30 Light Carriers, and a few ships in the system itself)

Such is the situation at the moment. Geo assures me he has no trick under his sleeve, but I cannot believe him, of course. I believe he can still turn the tables, though his window of opportunity might be getting narrower now. We both have Battlecruisers, if nothing else, but we have only shown weak weaponry and ECM/CS in the few battles we have fought. What other technologies we have is still a mystery, if we have any.

So here we are, at turn 51. What will happen next in my takeover bid? Will Geo be able to strike back at the Corporation? Will Mary and Jack find the happiness they deserve despite the schemes of John? We will find out next week.