General Note

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Early in the 21^st century the United States of America suffered a catastrophic financial collapse. As a result it retreated into isolationism. Greatly reduced national income was barely sufficient to maintain it's infrastructure and massive scale backs in military spending crippled it's military. It faded from the global view as a superpower.

Europe, bereft the much hated power that had nonetheless protected it for the past half century was unable to shoulder the burden of self defense while maintaining their extensive social programs. NATO without the United States fell apart. Suffering from extensive social unrest due to a rising tax burden on the younger generations due to their comparatively small size, extensive foreign immigration (from primarily Muslim nations) without assimilation, and with a critical energy crisis many traditional European nations began to fade even as they became fundamentally Muslim nations.

At the same time a resurgent Russia attempted to reestablish itself as a global power. China likewise expanded, though for different reasons. Russia expanded west and retook the vast majority of it's former territory as the USSR and expanded still, taking almost everything east of France. China took control of the majority of southeastern Asia and the Pacific with the notable exceptions of Japan and India. Both had drastically expanded militarily at the first sign of Chinese expansion, Japan buying up much of the United States Pacific fleet to provide a buffer for itself and India turning it's fledgling economy to military production. In the process India destroyed what little economic growth it had, but it's course was set. With the rise of the Islamic Alliance (as detailed below) it had no choice but to continue military production in the interest of national security even as it destroyed the nation.

In the end both China and Russia bit off more then they could chew. By the 2030's both were suffering from massive manpower shortages. Their populations had been in a steady decline since the early 1980's, China with their own population control measures that produced a new generation half the size of the last, and Russia as a result of social and economic factors that did not promote families or children which had the same result as China's measures.

Russia by far faced the larger issue. Pacifying it's new western holdings proved a costly task in both manpower and materials, but the larger issue they faced was their sudden near Muslim majority. Internal terrorism from Islamic extremists across the new Russian Federation was devastating and all but unstoppable.

During this time much of North Africa and the Middle East was united into the Islamic Alliance. With access to arguably the largest available energy reserves, with the possible exception of the American reserves which had lain untapped for decades and which would take years still to come to fruition for America, they strangled the energy deprived Europe and all but controlled them by proxy. It was both a power play against the Russian Federation which had previously supported their energy needs and a bid by the Islamic Alliance for expansion into a decrepit and largely (by this point) Muslim Europe. The exact rational behind the decision was extremely complex and grounded both in practical plans for expansion, religious motivations (attempting to unite the world under Islam as instructed by the Prophet Mohammad millennia before), and anger within the general populace over the treatment of Muslims within the Russian Federation.

The World map following the expansion of the new super powers

At this point the Russian Federation faced enormous issues on every front. Their energy reserves, long tapped to fuel both their own expansion and used until the emergence of the Islamic Alliance to pacify and control what of Europe they didn't already control, were severely depleted. Even the most optimistic estimates only gave their oil and natural gas reserves another decade of production at anything approaching their present levels. Coal was already largely played out. Nuclear power, the obvious alternative to at least domestic and commercial power generation had been largely avoided after two nuclear plants had been destroyed by domestic terrorism. Internally they faced enormous social unrest, both from the traditional Russian people and from their newer largely Islamic citizens in what of Europe they held. The power play but the Islamic Alliance only served to exacerbate these issues. It began to slip from largely democratic nation into a military dictatorship.

In 2036 it finished it's slide, with enormous support from the traditional Russian people. The new military leadership promised a return to Russian property under the same principles that had grown it into a superpower following the fall of the United States, largely ignoring the fact that the world had changed enormously since that time, and the fact that such principles had gotten them into their current situation. Tensions with the Islamic Federation increased steadily as Russia engaged in further military buildup. The Islamic Alliance increases it's own military spending in turn.

Quietly during this time the United States was reestablishing itself in the world using the model that had propelled it to greatness in the first place. With China's manufacturing abilities largely gone following their population doom (the term coined to describe the massive reduction in the size of the most recent generation) the United States stepped up to provide production of most goods. Slowly but surely under the direction of the new party born in the wake of the economic collapse in the early part of the century, the Nationalists, the economy rebuilt itself into the economic juggernaut it had once been in the twentieth century, though the United States was careful to show no interest in expansion or interference in the affairs of the Islamic Alliance or Russian Federation. As such, and given it's comparatively small military, it was largely written off by both superpowers. In 2036 Joseph Alexander was elected President of the United States in a shocking upset to the Nationalist party. Running independently he was the first candidate to win election in the nation's history. Under President Alexander's direction federal spending, formerly scaled back along with taxes to help promote economic growth, is increased ten fold in virtually all scientific fields. Shortly thereafter the first major breakthrough in previously outlawed human cloning is made.

Joseph Alexander

In 2038 tensions between the Islamic Alliance and the Russian Federation reach the boiling point and escalates into open war. Like the great wars of the 20^th century this battle is fought largely in Europe. The Islamic Alliance had little interest in expanding into what they soon knew would be little more then a Siberian wasteland and Russia lacked the logistical ability to wage a war in the Middle East without enormous difficulty. Within a year the war claims three million lives, with no sign of stopping. Russia holds a technological edge and is better able to deploy it's forces, but the Islamic Alliance has a massive edge in manpower and the advantage of insurgents within Russia itself that while not crippling to the Russian war effort was very damaging.

The world map at the beginning of the war between the Russian's and Alliance.

Both nations destroy their economies and social production capabilities along with their next generation of young men in the war and become more and more dependent on trade with the United States while remaining woefully ignorant or careless to the growing power of the United States. In 2044 President Alexander leaves office with generally high approval despite his failure to resolve the Islamic-Russian war. He immediately goes to work within the private sector, specifically within manufacturing and advanced applied sciences. His successor is a weak man. American's grow more and more disturbed by the growing war in Europe and the enormous loss of life. In 2045 nuclear weapons are used for the first time in the Islamic-Russian war. Berlin and six other cities are destroyed. The environmental effects are nearly as stunning as the lose of life but the war swings in favor of the Russian federation and the war expands into many previously neutral European nations. In response (and at the urging of many European leaders) the American president sends a token peacekeeping force into Europe in an attempt to shield parts of it from the conflict at the insistence of the remaining European leaders and attempts to hold peace talks between Russia and the Alliance. Both blow up in his face.

Both nations walk away from the bargaining table and threaten to limit trade with the United States if it does not withdraw its forces. In 2046 nearly sixty thousand American soldiers are killed when the war jumps into eastern France and they are caught between Russian and Islamic forces. The President of the United States withdraws American troops from th region and largely concedes to the demands of both the Alliance and the Federation, unwilling to risk further loss of life, damage to trade relations, or open war. This further enforces the idea that America is weak in the eyes of much of the world. His approval rating plummets into the single digits as the American people react to the death of their young men and women. Within two weeks 90% of all trade between the United States and offending parties disappears, not due to any action on the part of any government, but instead in anger over the lose of life by the American people. Russia and the Alliance both make grandiose if largely empty threats as the president cowers and flounders in indecision. Former President Alexander becomes the voice for the outraged of the American people. In 2046 candidates he supports win election to Congress in landslides. There is open talk and wide speculation that he is the only leader who will stand up for American interests abroad. The 22^nd amendment is repealed and current President Mathew Adams is impeached. In emergency elections Alexander is elected to a third term of office. He makes no secret his intention to enter the war if he wins the election. His first act is the commissioning of two dozen next generation aircraft carriers, broad expansion of military spending, and a suspension of all remaining trade with the Russian Federation and the Islamic Alliance. The two rage at the slap in the face and at the American military buildup but do little more, their finances, manpower, manufacturing, and in Russia's case energy reserves all critically depleted by eight years of war.

In 2047 the USS Freedom, USS Justice, USS Destiny, USS Legend, USS Independence, and USS Fury roll out of shipyards in rapid succession to the amazement of much of the world. Few realize that the shipyards used to produce the ships were financed by Alexander during his presidency in preparation for these events. The carriers are deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and immediately catch the eye of the world. President Alexander demands, not requests as President Adams did, that the Alliance and Federation seek peace. When both refuse the carriers begin strategic strikes on both nations infrastructure, military forces, and supply stockpiles and addresses the United States, and much of the world, declaring that war between the human race must become a thing of the past, and that if necessary he will unite the world under one flag to do so.

USS Freedom

The Russian Federation and Islamic Alliance attempt to respond to the attacks and are crushed by the carrier strike group. For the first time the United States reveals it's enormous edge in technology as individual American warplanes engage entire squadrons and dominate them. Within two weeks the remains of both nation's navel forces and air power are gone. Both attempt strikes with nuclear weapons, only to have them countered by more advanced technology. Alexander responds with nuclear strikes on both the Islamic Alliance and the Russian Federation. Million die. Russia officially surrenders to the United States of America on April 19^th, 2047. The Islamic Alliance is more stubborn, believing the United States lacks the manpower to invade and occupy it, much less it and Russia. They are mistaken.

Following the Russian Surrender

The further fruits of America's technological buildup under President Alexander are shown. On October 1^st, 2047 the United States lands half a million soldiers in the former Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Egypt simultaneously. Millions more follow. Each is a clone, grown specifically for the war. Millions more occupy Russia.

Clone Armies

On November 29^th, 2047 the Islamic Alliance officially surrenders. An insurgency continues for decades to follow but is ground out by the turn of the century by the overwhelming manpower that is brought to bear.

Following the Islamic Surrender

On January 1^st, 2048 Japan, Great Britain, India, the remains of France and Spain, and dozens of smaller nations officially sign, with some objection, the Pact of Dominance, giving the United States near absolute power within their borders. Over the next two years regional governors are put in place in each country to oversee them, each effectively having unlimited power within their nations to implement changes seen as necessary by President Alexander.

Following the signing of the Pact

On March 2^nd the handful of nations that refused to sign the Pact are invaded by clone armies. Backlash within such nations and abroad as well as domestically is terrible for Alexander in the short term, but by the end of the month each nation has been pacified, effectively placing the entire world under Alexanders command. He has command of over fifty million cloned soldiers and the most technologically advanced military in the world by a wide margin.

By 2049 democracy was virtually gone in the world, save for within the United States, wiped away in favor of regional dictatorships controlled ultimately by one man, Joseph Alexander. Even with the population depletion of the past half century never before had so many human beings lived under one mans power. At the same time never before had so many beings died by the order of a single man. Conservative estimates put the dead between Alexander's nuclear strikes and invasions at over one hundred million.

In 2050 an alien probe crash landed in North America. Knowledge that mankind was not alone, that other races were in the galaxy and more advanced shocked the populace. It was enough to secure Alexander's reelection. Over the next four years Alexander laid the groundwork for what would become an Empire. In 2055 he declared himself emperor. At that point there was no stopping his rule. Since that time he has ruled the Empire, thanks to great advances in medical technology, with an just but firm hand. Democracy, as school children are taught within the Empire, was a failed experiment. People are not on the whole worthy to rule the planet themselves. Instead individual leaders with foresight, the best interests of humanity at heart, and talent are to rule using armies of clones that are utterly loyal while under Alexander's supervision.

It is those same clones that mankind plans to reach into the stars with. It knows it cannot compete with other races who have expanded across thousands of worlds over thousands of years and who have hundreds of billions of citizens. Mankind as it expands in the 23^rd century will do so with billions of clones to man factories, fight wars, and build warships, overseen by a comparative handful of true human commanders who are overseen in turn by the Emperor. In 2225 the first ships, outfitted with newly designed hyper drives are ready to launch into space to begin mankind's journey through the stars.

Game Settings

Civilization Settings

Economics +30%

Weapons +10%

Moral +20%

Social Production +10%

Military Production +20%

Research +10%

Luck +25%

Creativity +25%

Super Ability

Super Breeder

Party

Technologist Party

Starting Technology

New Propulsion Techniques

Hyperdrive

Ion Drive

Xeno Engineering

Xeno Research

Opponents

Dregin

Thalan

Arcean

Yor

Krynn

Altarians

Map

Habitable Planets: Abundant

Number of Planets: Common

Number of Stars: Common

Star Density: Tight

Anomalies: Abundant

Asteroids: Abundant

Tech Rate: Normal

Minor Civilizations: 7

Starting Position

OOC Pretty good actually. I've got almost the perfect tight clusters setup, far enough away from the AI's that we can each colonize our culsters. I've also apparently got one of the larger clusters. Means I can expand at my own pace. Unfortunantly given the distance odds are I won't get to trade tech for funds, so balancing the economy is going to be important.

Starting World

OOC No bonus tiles of note. Shame. I typically run with the all factory stratogy, but I think this time around I'll go balanced to see how it works. I set some factories and labs to build and send my ships out to find new worlds.

We have one chance and one chance alone to survive in the galaxy, we must expand quickly. I've reviewed logs, telemetry, and reports from deep space probes. As near as we can tell there are six major races expanding toward Earth. These expanding elements are only pieces of much larger empires that hold thousands of worlds. We don't know of they will be hostile towards us, but must assume they will be. The other option, assuming they come in peace and being wrong is more terrible then I can imagine. If we allow them to control this sector of the galaxy we will never survive as a race. The first colony ship is ready, loaded with half a billion clones. We understand the process now and future ships won't take nearly as long to construct. Production on the next is already underway.

It is days like today that I am thankful I have absolute power. In the ancient days, 21^st century there would be factions demanding we attempt to contact any aliens, protesting the idea of taking weapons into space or killing other sentient life. The time for such nativity is long past. The galaxy is a big place full of big beings. Time for humanity to grow up.

I've put Captain Earnheart in command of Survey I. He's a fine enough commander, though hardly the best or brightest. I have no intention of letting them out of my sight. He is however seasoned and loyal which is nearly as important. The kind of man you want to make first contact.

Captain Earnheart

First Colony

OOC My first colony is a beauty, a class 17 world with bonus research and manufacturing tiles. Given it's location in the center of my empire I'm thinking research focused world.

Today our first colony ship landed on a world that can only be described as a near paradise from what I have heard. The ship has already been broken down into initial factories and labs for our technicians, along with a batch of cloning vats. I have to admit it makes me feel at least somewhat more relaxed to know that if something happens to this, our Earth, the human race will survive.

Four Months In

OOC I've only got one world... which is extremely annoy. Splitting between research and production is destroying my manufacting speed. I just got my second colony ship finished. I've researched Stellar Cartography, Space Militarization, and Sensors.

Expansion is... slow. We just finished the construction of our second colony vessel. Sadly construction is not proceeding as smoothly as we had originally hoped. We've had some breakthroughs, we nearly doubled the range of our ships sensors, but even the technological front isn't particularly optimistic. The only plus is we have yet to encounter a further alien vessel, though our deep space sensors report to us that they are out there, and they are expanding just as we are.

First Ethical Event

OOC Stupid event. I want to go Neutral but I'm not shelling out BC for stupid space frogs.

On our third colony we discovered an alien ship full of mutant frog like beings that seem to have been breed for combat. The creatures viciously attacked several clone soldiers. I ordered the site nuked from orbit. No use taking chance. I'm disheartened by the fact that first contact with an alien species resulted in human casualties and the confirmation that there are militant races in the galaxy.