Ok, it's officially not original to try to insert story lines, quests, events, etc.. into a 4X game, but why not expand on the idea of events in Gal Civ?

Why not chain quests, a la the MMORPG's?
If developed, they could be alternate victories in their own, or conspire to add an extra level of difficulty, and add some subtle backstory to make each game more different than the last, and not just in a roll for next event kind of way. These would act similar to the way campaigns work in GC, but take place in a single map game, and not need to switch maps.

Just to give an example of an implementation:
1. Player triggers chain quest by discovering a particular minor race.
2. Race gives next quest----help them colonize one planet on the map(so to advance the plot, player has to acquire that planet by some means and give it to the minor race)
3. 30 turns after colonizing and holding that planet, with player assistance, the minor race makes revelation that advance the plot further
4. ad infinitum

The quest arcs force the player to challenge the balance of power away from survival, to completing one or more story arcs, and add more flavor than random events.

The quests could have rewards (planet bonus, free techs, prog ships, etc..) at certain points, or award victory points.


Just a thought, but the allowing modifiable arcs would add a lot of flavor and replayability to the game.