Zhirriza Logs
Pre-game Turns
Exalted Lord Sod'iam! Herein lays the history of the Zhirriza Imperium's rise to the stars. Enclosed you shall hear exploits of derring-do and the unceasing search for glory!
OK, enough with the vain-glorious monologue. I am Lord Sod'iam, the Minister of Space for the Zhirriza Imperium, and this codex entails the journey of our Imperium to an interstellar empire.
It all started when a lucky ore carrier (OC-045) accidentally made the first warp transit. It ended up in a binary star system dominated by a Red Giant star. It returned through the point to Zhirz, and the race to the stars was begun.
Our people began a construction program to exploit the stars. The first vessels we designed and constructed were two types of surveying vessels. These were for surveying the moons and planets in our system.
CT/S16 HSHT1
2 H(BbM)(Ic)(BbL)(BbL)XHQs(Ic) 4 (AC) 16 ct
3 of these vessels were deemed sufficient for planetary surveys. They were constructed and sent to fully explore our home system.
These were designed mostly for looking for warp points.
EX/S7 HSHT1
2 HHXHQs(Ic)4 79 MC/11.85 MC maint.
We built 57 of these vessels to go elsewhere.
While these ships were building, a group in the Government decided to create some mining colonies on a few moons in our home system. To get miners out there, we built some freighters.
FT430 HSHT1
3 H(Ic)QQQQQLhHHHH(Ic)QQQQQLhHHHH(Ic)Qs(Ic) 4 (AC)
229 MC/17.18 MC maint.
8 of these freighters were deemed sufficient to emplace 5 colonies among the best moons in our system.
Due to the problems we initially had building the survey EX, we quickly built an orbiting construction facility to make that task easier.
SS850 HSHT1
0 Sx10 Ax10 H(BbL)RRRRRRRRMgLhQ(SYx)x10 0 3 st
Sx10 Ax10 Rx8 Mgx1200 BMTrg:16320 MC/6.4 MC maint.
Finally, with the survey efforts in full swing, the Emperor decided that having a space borne combat capability would not be a bad idea… So, Warrior Command was born, and 2 different combat ships were designed. One for long-range combat, and a smaller ship for close-range fighting.
DD30 HSHT1
3 SSAAAAAH(I)Qs(I)R(I)R(I)R(I)RMg(I)Qs(I) 7/3
Sx2 Ax5 Rx4 Mgx1200 BMTrg: 1289 MC/43.35 MC maint.
CT16 HSHT1
2 SAAAAAH(I)(I)(I)Qs(I)L 8/4
Sx1 Ax5 Lx1Trg:1140 MC/21 MC maint.
6 DD and 19 CT makes for a very powerful fleet. We mothballed 7 of the CT to lower maintenance costs and to have a Reserve in case we find an unfriendly race Out There.
Finally, since we have the money for it, we put 3 Billion Marks (3000 MC) toward increasing our technical proficiency (HT2 startup).
After 3 months of reconnaissance, we divined the location of 2 further warp points, for a total of 3. Warrior Command decided to split the fleet into the following components:
Survey Force One: 19 EX/S, 1 CT/S, 3 CT
Survey Force Two: 19 EX/S, 1 CT/S, 3 CT
Survey Force Three: 19 EX/S, 1 CT/S, 3 CT
Battle Fleet: 6 DD, 3 CT
Reserves: 7 CT
Each of the Survey Forces was assigned a warp point to probe and explore beyond. As the probes began, we began the clock for the Imperium!
Month 1
SF1 entered the system first found by OC-045, named Thrr-Gilag, and determined that it was a binary system, with a Red Giant primary and a Red Dwarf secondary. The EX began a warp point survey, while the CTs moved to the secondary star to survey the planets orbiting it. Very soon, the moons were found to be 70 VR, 20 R, and 10 N mineral wealth.
SF2 entered the second warp point, and named the system Zbb-Rundgi. It was a single star system, with an Orange star. More importantly, it contained 2 planets within the biosphere of the star! The EX force began the WP survey, while the CTs moved in-system. By the end of the third week, they found that the second planet at 3 LM was a Harsh, cold environment, but Very Rich in minerals. The third planet at 5 LM was a very bleak and Hostile planet, with a Normal wealth in mineral deposits. A CT was dispatched rapidly to notify us by the end of the month.
SF 3 entered the last warp point, and emerged in a system with a Yellow star, and named it Chrr-Ogdano. Chrr-Ogdano also had 2 planets within its biosphere! While the EXs began a search for more warp points, the CTs discovered the third planet was very Benign to the Imperium's subjects, but was Normal in mineral wealth. The fourth planet was also a Hostile environment, as Zbb-Rundgi-3, but was Very Rich in mineral wealth. SF3 also sent a fast CT to inform us of our luck.
Meanwhile, back in Zhirz, Survey Command decided that more vessels were needed to make exploration faster. So, 18 EX/S were laid down, and would be completed by the end of the month. Also 2 CT were laid down to increase the Reserves. To finance this (since we only had 1.15 billion Marks available, and the cost of the 20 ships was 1.702 billion), we sold off 570 million Marks of Industrial assets, leaving a surplus of 23 million Marks. Progress was also started on improving our technological capabilities.
Month 2
The 18 EX/S were divided into 3 groups of 6 and sent to bolster the 3 Survey Forces. SF1 continued the survey for warp points in Thrr-Gilag, joined by the CTs. SF2 and SF3 continued to search for more warp points, while their CTs completed surveys of the moons and asteroid belts of Zbb-Rundgi and Chrr-Ogdano.
The newly-created Colonization Command packed up and sent 2.15 million Zhirriza to Chrr-Ogdano-3. To finance that undertaking, we had to liquidate 120 million Marks of Industrial assets again. We also completed the 2 CT we started last month. They were added to Battle Fleet.
Month 3
Survey efforts continued, with all warp point surveys being 50 completed.
2.25 million colonists were shipped to Chrr-Ogdano-3. However, the Colonization Command noted that we totally saturated our available shipping capacity in doing this, so 10 FT4 were laid down in our shipyards.
Month 4
Survey efforts are still ongoing, and are thought to be completed by the middle of next month. We console ourselves that if we hadn't built the 18 EX/S 2 months ago, it'd be another month additionally.
Colonization Command has a new Shipping Manager this month. We found out that the previous Manager was only shipping half of the colonists we had the capacity for, and pocketing the difference. I forgot that 1 stMP shipments only use ½ normal capacity… Due to this realization, we were able to send 4.7 million colonists to Chrr-Ogdano-3, liquidating 570 million Marks in Industrial assets again to pay for the colonization efforts.
Month 5
Finally! We completed survey efforts in the 3 systems we are exploring. Zbb-Rundgi has 3 more warp points. One leads to a single Yellow star system, another to a binary White-Yellow star. The fourth leads to Thrr-Gilag, thoroughly surprising the members of SF1, who were about to probe that same warp point! SF2 decides to start surveying the binary system, beginning a rough survey while the CTs move into the planets orbiting the White star. They name the system Svv-Selica.
The third warp point in Thrr-Gilag leads to a single Orange system. Since that is the only route open to SF1, they proceed through, naming the system Thrr-Mezaz. The EXs also begin a rough survey while the CTs move into the system toward the star.
SF3 completed the warp point survey in Chrr-Ogdano, but find that it is a dead-end system, with no other warp points. SF3 moved back to Zhirz, then to Zbb-Rundgi to survey the single Yellow system that SF2 discovered but did not survey yet. Along the way, the system was named Rrt-Zevesti.
The 10 FT4 were completed this month, giving us capacity for half a million more colonists to be shipped out next month. 4.9 million more Zhirriza were shipped to Chrr-Ogdano-3 this month, with 450 million Marks of Industrial assets liquidated to cover the cost.
Month 6
SF1 continued to survey Thrr-Mezaz. The CTs discovered no habitable worlds in the system, and completed a survey of the non-habitable bodies within 2 weeks. They then moved back out to assist with the warp point survey.
SF2 also continued the search for warp points in Svv-Selica. Their CTs completed Habitable and Non-Habitable surveys for the primary star. Svv-Selica-A-3 turned out to be a nice Benign world, and Rich in minerals.
SF3 entered Rrt-Zevesti and immediately went to work, with the EXs again searching for warp points and the CTs moving in-system to the primary. Rrt-Zevesti-A-3 turned out to be not only a Hostile environment but also Very Poor mineral wealth. Such a disappointment. Rrt-Zevesti-A-4 turned out to be much better, not only a Benign world, but also Very Rich!
Back home, we laid down a seventh DD to start building more of a Reserve (only 9 CT at present). Also, we sent 6.25 million colonists to Zbb-Rundgi-2, liquidating 900 million Marks more of Industrial assets.
Month 7
Nothing much to report from Survey Command this month. SF1 continued to search for warp points in Thrr-Mezaz. SF2 also continued their search while their CT force started in on the secondary component of Svv-Selica. SF3 finished non-habitable and asteroidal surveys and continued on a search for more warp points.
Zhirz saw another DD laid down, and only 3.25 million colonists sent to Rrt-Zevesti-4 to capitalize on the mineral wealth there. We only had to liquidate 120 million Marks of Industry this month.
Month 8
Still not too much to report from Survey Command. SF2 did complete a habitable survey for Svv-Selica-B, discovering that both habitable planets are Benign to our race. Svv-Selica-B-2 has a Normal wealth of minerals, but –B-3 turned out to be Very Rich in minerals!
Back in Zhirz, a third DD was laid down, as were 2 FT4. The DD laid down 2 months ago was completed and assigned to the Reserves. Another 3.4 million Zhirz were sent to colonize Rrt-Zevesti-4. We only had to liquidate 30 million Marks of Industry this month.
Month 9
All 3 Survey Forces report completing warp point surveys, reporting a total of 5 new warp points. They are waiting till the beginning of the month to probe.
Success! We have completed advancing our technological base HT2. This opens up a larger realm of technology and wealth. We laid down 4 more FT4, and an eighth DD was completed and added to the reserves. Half a million Zhirz were sent to Rrt-Zevesti-4 and 3.1 million more were sent to Svv-Selica-B-3. We liquidated a final 540 million Marks of Industry, leaving no more for exploitation.
Month 10
Survey Command spent this month conducting probes and deciding where to go.
SF1 probed the 3 warp points they found in Thrr-Mezaz. They found a White star system, named Cvv-Panav; a Blue Giant system, named Nzz-Oonaz; and a Red star system, named Klnn-Dawan. SF1 entered Cvv-Panay to begin survey operations on day 23.
SF2 probed the one warp point they found in Rrt-Zevesti, and found a single White system. Naming it Gll-Borgiv, SF2 began survey ops on Day 23 as well, the EXs beginning a warp point survey and the CT group moving in-system.
SF3 also probed the single point found in Svv-Selica, finding a single Orange star, which they named Hgg-Spontib. Once again, the EX/S group began a warp point search, and the CTs moved to the planets.
Back home, we completed the ninth DD and the 2 FT4, and started a prototype larger hull, tentatively named a CL(P). Construction should take no more than 7 months.
CL(P) 45 HSHT2
3 SSSSAAAA(BbS)(I)(II)HGbGbGb(I)GbGbMg(II)LL(I)LhQ(II) 6/3
Sx4 Ax4 Gbx5 Lx2 Mgx1200 GMbTrg:1455.5 MC/67.13 MC maint
Certain items of technology were proposed for development, and the Emperor decided that the following items would be started this month, for the expenditure of 2.5 billion marks:
External Ordnance Racks. Items to increase the initial throw-weight of missile salvoes.
Courier Drones. A larger missile that can carry messages faster than ships.
Gun Missile. Larger sprint-mode missile weapon.
Gun Launcher. A specialized launcher for the larger GM.
Due to this expense, only 2.1 million colonists were sent out to Svv-Selica-B-3.