Cassidy
Arcane
Index
- Planetfall(Right Here)
- One Century of Peace
- Agenda 23
- First Planet War
- Tribute to Shiva
- Fall from Heaven
- Godforsaken
- Armageddon War
- "Human" Evolution
- I, Robot
- Twisted Dreams
- Birth of Daedalus
- On the eve of defeat and singularity
- The End of Kali Yuga
With the Peacekeepers, a faction that on surface seems a carbon copy of the typical ideals of "western democracy", arguably the most "mundane" of the factions in the game regarding its values, but is still a fun one to play with. Kalin already did the always amusing Believers although he never finished it, so I decided to attempt reaching endgame with the Peacekeepers.
These are the Peacekeepers stats:
-1 Efficiency (U.N. style bureaucracy)
Extra talent for every four citizens (Attracts intellectual elite)
May exceed hab complex population requirements by 2.
Receives double votes in election for planetary governor and supreme leader.
Basically they lack any major strength or weakness, making them a very flexible faction to play with. They can fit any strategy but obviously not as well as the factions specialized at specific strategies with stronger pros and cons. The advantage more population brings depends on difficulty level: the highest the difficulty, the less impact it will have because of the increased number of drones, but it will still be useful combined with the extra talents.
As for Victory Conditions, all are possible:
Conquest: Some factions hate DEMOCRACY and will sooner or later wage war on anyone with Democracy as their form of government. Conquest is a definite possibility but I intend to show all stages of the game, from early to late game, so I won't really rush.
Diplomatic: Meh, too "easy". The advantages of the Peacekeepers in planetary votes and extra pop. favor them a lot for this. I will never attempt it.
Economic: The Corporate Jew Masters of the UN formed their own faction in Morgan Industries, and the -1 Efficiency will put the Peacekeepers at a disadvantage. Plus it is grossly unethical to monopolize energy like that.
Transcendence: The ethics of the process are dubious at best, but if other factions begin it, it is Lal's duty to ensure the Peacekeepers' level-headed, sane, free and humanitarian ideals will guide such post-human future that is perhaps the Hindu concept of Satya Yuga transformed into reality.
I'm using kyrub's latest AI improvement, and this is vanilla Alpha Centauri without the "improvements" of Alien Crossfire. Difficulty is Transcend, Huge Map of the Planet because random ones rarely look good for a Let's Play. Other than the geographic basics of the map revealed and no random research, rules are the default ones, so for example, unity pods("goody huts"), unlike in Kalin's LP, will be spread across the map, and the first bases will have fixed start locations.
I will add some extra quotes I believe relevant, they may suck or not.
And there will be a canon crossover, you'll see:
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"Now, the Dark Age of Kali Yuga has come.
Plant the Naam, the Name of the One Lord.
It is not the season to plant other seeds.
Do not wander lost in doubt and delusion."
-- Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Datalinks
1. Planetfall: A Tip separated from the Iceberg
UNATCO Theme - I think it fits the Peacekeepers, to an extent.
Confirmed by History and Pravin Lal's words, the users of a certain corner of Earth's Planetary Datalinks known as /pol/ were truly prophets, and some biased intellectuals among the Peacekeeprs believe the past events known together as the ULTIMATE DOOM EXPANSION SET FOR KWANZANIA and the very disaster on Earth could have been avoided, had Ron Paul been elected President in his country, but the manboons were too busy watching Oprah and making retarded smiles to Kinect devices to realize their impending ITZ. With enough surveillance infrastructure to make STASI very jealous, Kwanstain dissolved into a fascist dictatorship while the world faced Ultimate Economic Meltdown, and such events brought its fragmentation shortly after, starting with the survivalists and militias of the National Secessionist Front and with the bible thumpers of the Christian States of America.
The Unity left Earth shortly after the demise of North America was reaching its final stage, a new hope for peace and knowledge, but some things never change. Captain Garland, leader of the mission to Alpha Centauri was assassinated, the culprit never caught, and the crew divided among followers of seven different ideals as the unity suffered a reactor malfunction that forced them into escape pods. The Peacekeepers are those most faithful to the principles of the Mission, the values of Democracy, Human Rights, Rule of Law and Liberty the better part of the United Nations always stood for regardless of what tinfoil hat wearing lunatics claim.
Crash landing near an isthmus in this alien planet, the first year of the UN Headquarters began. Promising mineral reserves and sea nutrient reserves were scanned, and a second colony ship with the remaining citizens of the Peacekeepers was directed northwards, because there were unity pods to the north, while the detection of suspicious, reddish patches of extremely rugged alien fungus with some suspicious, unexplained signatures, motivated a cautious expansion and recon policy, considering the likelihood such fungus could be a barrier to the south.
The first research project was an attempt at transforming psychology in a more precise science through analysis of the largest detailed supply of information on human behavior: the chaos after the assassination of Garland and the reactor malfunction that doomed the Unity.
An unity rover recovered from one of the pods began to further explore this new and alien world. Somehow, around this mysterious monolith it found, relatively large quantities of nutrients that could be processed into something edible by humans, energy and minerals were detected. Because of them, it was clearly an interesting location to build a new base around.
To both study and explore consciously the natural resources around the monolith, UN Planetary Trust was founded. In the early days of the Peacekeepers, expansion was hectic. There was no formal, defined guidelines of governance and economics, people had to read what they salvaged from the Unity, and books became valuable heirlooms during the second generation, for intellectual pursuits were highly valued within their society, but on a more philosophical and ethical level than those pursuits of Zakharov, who believes science is an end which justifies all means, including horrid methods such as unwilling human test subjects.
Another of the strange monoliths is located near the Planetary Trust. For now a cautious analysis proceeds, but it is very clear perhaps even centuries of study will be required to finally reach an understanding of how they focus so many natural resources around them and what they were built for.
Commissioner, the research on social psychology was concluded. Public libraries can be constructed at your discretion
The UN bases remain small enough, for the time being, to not require comprehensive investment. Recon of the planet is our first priority, Secretary Manderley. What else did this study open in possibilities?
It is possible for the conclusions of this study, combined with our previous knowledge of Biogenetics, to be employed in an attempt to reach a precise and scientific understanding of the relation between our brain and our sentience, something with future applications in many fields.
This is a dangerous discovery, Manderley. Imagine what men like Yang could do if they could discover how human sentience works, and how to precisely reshape it and human mind for their totalitarian whims. Nevertheless, we must be sure there is no way to tamper with the human brain, and if there is any way, we must have the theoretical basis to develop countermeasures against such horrific possibilities of thought control technologies. We must discover the secrets of the human brain first, Secretary.
I will inform our research teams immediately, Commissioner.
A malfunctioning pod caused a most strange seismic move, lifting once submerged lands above the sea level and altering rainfall patterns. This unexpected and massive event created a new potential fertile location for a new base.
One of the Unity rovers locates a strange mass of alien lifeforms.
Half of the crews of the rovers perish, and according to the reports, sensations of the greatest suffering and visions of machete gangs committing to the most brutal and inhuman deeds, of a face that never remembered and of a dying Earth assaulted the minds of the crews. Flamethrowers were fired wildly, sometimes against each other in the panic, as these alien worms seem capable of injecting horrific torments in the minds of their victims. Fortunately the rovers managed to retreat before their complete demise, and a team is being dispatched to finish what they could not.
It was a costly battle with heavy casualties, the worms burying inside the brains of their tormented victims, driven to a state of catatonia only the strongest of will were not afflicted with. Finally, all of those vermin were purged, and it was evident they came from that suspicious fungus, now clearly a major threat. All colonial efforts must be escorted from now on, and all bases must be protected all times, to ensure no immense disasters shall occur.
Commissioner, the results of the studies on what remained unknown of our mind have been quite interesting, with a myriad of potential applications. Furthermore such important breakthrough will ensure us a greater scientific edge.
I wonder if we just opened a Pandora's box. Tell me of the immediate applications of such breakthrough, Secretary.
First, with such knowledge, we have developed a prototype for a device that shields its wearer's mind against the psych attacks of the mindworms. Burning them before they reach our installations by attacking them first remains the optimal solution, however. It may be wise to start issuing all our defensive forces with such shields immediately, considering the frequency of such dangerous alien life forms.
I will see to that. Any other potential applications, Manderley?
None that would be compatible with the values of the United Nations, Lal. Such deep knowledge of the nature of human sentience could be exploited by religious demagogues and zealots to brainwash their populations into blind devotion and fanaticism of the likes never seen before in mankind's History.
What matters is that we made such important discovery first, and it will be used for the purpose of augmenting human rights, liberty and life. It also may give an answer another question: could ethics be quantified into a mathematical model?
Was that a rhetorical question? In any case, we have all the means ready to re-implement Democracy in this new world.
Manderley, a formal Democracy can wait until we have expanded reasonably through this world. The people would be wary of the current size of the Peacekeeping forces, despite most of them being in support of the expansion of new colonies rather than a military operation, and such refusal to support them would hinder our early progress. Once the United Nations have expanded sufficiently, then we will evolve past the frontier arrangements.
And eventually evolve past the necessity of a facade of democracy.
What did you just say, Manderley?
You have worked only in the tip of the iceberg the UN is, your Peacekeepers are such tip separated from the rest. You stand for the publicly stated goals of the UN. There are secret goals the UN worked for all along, you do not have the clearance to know them, and let's leave it at that.
Do not force me, Manderley. Tell me now everything of what you just slipped in! On whom authority do you claim clearance levels? We are a free society, and a truly free society does not require overt confidentiali... Manderley! No! Don't do this!
"Who will help the widow's son?" *BLAM*
... he killed himself to send his secrets to the grave. First the death of Garland, and now this.
Regardless of whatever dark secrets Joseph Manderley knew about the "secret agenda of the United Nations", the Peacekeeper project cannot be lost to the despair of losing a close friend like that. Lal continued to direct the colonial expansion of the UN, confident whatever such secret goals were, his new United Nations can transcend and avoid them.
Another great discovery! Hopefully it will be very, very useful for the cause of liberty.
Such knowledge allowed the creation of a new form of alloy, synthmetal, that will make possible the establishment of the first truly effective military forces of the Peacekeepers for more than burning mindworms, until then made exclusively of unity rovers and scout patrols.
Named the Republican Guard in reference to the Republican and Democratic ideals of the UN, these dedicated defenders are also equipped with the trance shields that will make them more resilient against the mental horrors of the mindworms, and thus better at defending the UN bases from such alien menaces.
One of the Peacekeeping forces disobeys the directive to not investigate one of the mysterious monoliths up close, and is immediately recovered from all wounds and given a strange, mysterious wisdom that shapes them into more seasoned soldiers. They cannot explain what they have felt and seen and why it shaped them into hardened soldiers.
Not so convenient, the mines in those areas are inferior to other theoretical options in terraforming, but in 2123 the Peacekeepers still lacked the necessary technology to terraform in the first place.
Many of the colony vehicles are severely threatened, their escorts having a hard time keeping a constant presence of the horrors at bay, but humanity will prevail as surely as democracy and liberty.
Despite still understrength, the same unit of scout patrols guarding one of the colony pods successfully purges another horde of mindworms, saving over ten thousands of lives with their heroic victory, their survivors hardened and determined, and they were almost reaching their nutrient-rich final destination.
Finally the UN concluded basic research on the nature of this alien ecosystem. Some surprising conclusions were reached, included the fact the strange fungus has some kind of symbiotic relationship with the worms, and may be a colony of the same. Most importantly, techniques to purge the xenofungus were developed, that will allow the formers to not only boost the economy of the bases, but also increase their security through the removal of all fungal blooms.
Almost 30 years have passed since Planetfall, and things are shaping up.
In 2129, the first prototype for the Republic Guard was completed.
As long as economically possible, all scout patrols defending bases would be upgraded with the new training and equipment of the Guard.
A patrol that fought heroically against waves and waves of mindworms was further enlightened by the mysterious monolith, becoming the first truly veteran unit of the Peacekeepers. Some hypothesize such monoliths may, frightening, have similar effects to any of those dread worms that get close to it, making them even more dangerous and deadly than before.
The entire character of a base and its inhabitants can be absorbed in a quick trip to the Rec Commons. The sweaty arenas of Fort Legion, the glittering gambling halls of Morgan Bank, the sunny lovers' trysts in Gaia's High Garden, or the somber reading rooms of U.N. Headquarters. Even the feeding bay at the Hive gives stark insight into the sleeping demons of Yang's communal utopia.
-- Commissioner Pravin Lal, "A Social History of Planet"
In preparation for its shaping into the center for the construction of a great project, Planetary Trust receives the first Public Library of many yet to be built along UN bases.
With a wealth of information in both digital and printed forms and computers, unfortunately still mostly isolated rather than networked, with both information and a plethora of "intellectually stimulating" entertainment such as complex strategy simulators, flight simulators and others, a good start for the first public recreational area of the Peacekeepers.
After a dangerous journey more than once threatened by mindworms, Humanity Base is established on top of a lush mountain, with many wealthy nutrient resources around it.
Further south through the isthmus, to take advantage of a wealthy mineral reserve, and also to create a canal that will allow easy passage of ships, once the technology for their construction is developed, between the inner and outer seas, Information Agency is the next step the steady, rapid but successful expansion of the UN Peacekeepers and their ideals through the Planet.
Commissioner, we have a problem in the Education Agency.
What problem, Secretary Shirl?
I understand it would be unethical to hide what the food produced from the recycling tanks is made of, but most of it is being wasted because most of the inhabitants of the Education Agency refuse to eat it.
Human remnants should never be sent to the tanks. I already emphasized that before, and as the Secretary of the Food and Agriculture Organization, you should know it.
There are no human remnants in the tanks other than urine and feces sir, but they still refuse to eat anything that comes out of them, no matter how precise the information about the perfect purification process is and how some foods that existed on Earth had more fecal coliforms than the recycled nutri-packs. I was given one suggestion to solve that though, but I find it a bit on the edge of our ethics, specially because it sounds like something Morgan would do, so I need to ask you first if it would be acceptable.
Tell me of such suggestion.
My father mentioned there were snacks back on Earth, of the kind that was pure sludge with flavoring added. Do you know of them?
I avoided such industrialized foods, but yes, I know what you are talking about, and I see where you are going with this, Secretary.
Popamolitos was one of the most popular snacks, my father said, and he swore that without flavoring, it would taste worse than any nutrients from the recycling tanks, while it was filthier too, naturally. What I am asking is if it would be OK to add artificial flavoring to the nutrients extracted from the recycling tanks and some machinery to shape them like those junk foods and soft drinks from Earth like Popamolitos and Mountain Brew, without the unhealthy chemicals they had and with a more balanced nutritional value, of course.
As long as those eating and drinking them know they were flavored and the labels make it clear, sure. Why did you even ask, Shirl? Go right ahead and make that tasteless food from the tanks into something more appetizing.
tl;dr NUTRIENTS FROM RECYCLING TANKS ---> INDUSTRIALIZATION --->
Former production begins in the Information Agency, which needs terraforming more than other bases because while near rich mineral resources, it is lacking in nutrient sources.
In 2143, first contact was made with one of the other six. Unfortunately, they were the zealous and fanatical Lord's Believers, whom reasoning with would be very difficult.
Because the Peacekeepers still retain a Frontier government, there is not yet instant hostility, but Lal is no fool.
They lack technology for terraforming, and that is one shortcoming that the longer they suffer with, the safer the overall situation is for the UN, specially once the time is opportune for the transition to a formally instituted Democracy.
They insist.
And another technology that would certain benefit them is denied as well.
Although he doubts it will be long lasting, on behalf of peace, he signs it. Lal knows that as soon as Democracy is implemented, these fanatics will begin to consider a crusade, regardless of their odds. The horrors of Earth have shown clearly that sometimes, the only way to secure peace is by having no enemies, specially of the uncompromising, fanatical and ideological kind, but for now there will be peace.
In 2148 a defector announces the ecofanatics began a through analysis of the Human genetic code. While the mapping of the human genome was completed, the identification of what exactly each and every gene does was not. Such discovery would allow for an old science, discredited by the tyrants and madmen who misused and twisted it into pseudoscience to justify their genocidal agenda, would now finally have complete scientific backing: with knowledge of the Human genome in the level of knowing what genes are responsible for below average intelligence, criminal behavior and the likes, eugenics would be implemented again, and Lal was no librul to deny the people the right of a better future because of something someone did over 200 years ago, plus because he is brown, he has a free pass for that.
They will not allow those hippies to use such knowledge for hugging alien trees better.
And so, the race begins.
The formers of Humanity Base are lost because one of the unity pods was infested with those worms. Now the Republican Guard must defend Humanity Base from these xenos only someone like Deirdre would consider reasoning with.
Now, finally the first computer networks in this new world can begin, but most importantly, this discovery paves the way for an ethically questionable, but likely to succeed solution to the problem of sharing a land border with a bunch of religious nutjobs who have an irrational hatred against Democracy.
Particle impact rifles are predicted to allow the formation of the a formidable force to defend humanity and democracy. Even with Synthmetal, the zealots will be hard-pressed against a successful operation, once the time is right for it. As a safeguard against the presence of the Believers, such project begins.
Fortunately the Republican Guard saved Humanity Base from the horror of the Mindworms. The Human Genome Project will ensure only the finest will compose the population of the Peacekeepers, allowing larger cities without the risk of societal decay, but will the Peacekeepers beat the Gaiains to it?
While Lal rules, he always listens, and he has gathered public opinion about the Believers, who will almost certainly declare vendetta against the UN because they hate democracy. What should be done about them?
1) Preemptive offensives are justifiable sometimes, and this is one of them because only a fool would hope they will not eventually attack the Peacekeepers, and the longer they are allowed to exist, the greater will be the humanitarian tragedy. After nonlinear mathematics are researched, prepare an army to eradicate their authoritarian, human rights abuser, ignorant and oppressive regime.
2) Maintain the Friendship treaty and leave them alone, for declaring a vendetta would be unethical, but prepare for the inevitable souring of relations and war once Democratic politics are implemented by building a force of infantry with impact rifles ready to show them the Peacekeepers already expected their aggression.
3) Maintain the Friendship treaty and leave them alone, and don't waste valuable resources in preparation for giving them a surprise should they be ruthless enough to attack first.
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