Balance Mod Game Story - Rise of the Xiati Empire

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Rise of the Xiati Empire Main | Previous Chapter 2409.1-2410.0 | Next Chapter 2411.1-2412.0

Turns 2410.1 to 2411.0

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Xiati Ambitions

The last year has been a period of buidling up internal infrastructure in preparation for future expansion. With no freely available systems, Emperor Tax'renath has refocused the Xiati efforts on moving into other occupied systems. To support these ambitious plans, many new ships are being constructed, including armed Invader class troop transports, Striker class seeker ships, Protector class point-defense ships and a series of upgrades for the many existing Raptor, Phantom and Dauntless class combat ships. Xiati naval assests have increased almost 50% in the last year.

Protector class Point-Defense Ship (for dealing with pesky EEE Plasma Missile ships!):

Quadrant Diplomacy

Overall, the quadrant has started to stabilize. The Jraenar Imperium and Uktra-Tal Collective have both reduced their level of aggression, which has resulted in a less pronounced gap in relations between the Northwest (Jraenar, Phong, Xiati) and Southern powers (EEE, Cue Cappa, Terran). Emperor Tax'renath continues to strengthen ties with the Sergetti, if only because, they are the only empire best aligned with the interests of the Xiati Empire. The quadrant's wars are: Xiati-EEE, Xiati-Cue Cappa, Sergetti-EEE, Sergetti-Cue Cappa, and Ukra-Tal-Terran.

*Empire Treaty Grid:

Empire
Xiati Empire	X	None	Trade	War	Non-Aggression	Trade	Trade	Non-Aggression	War
Norak Continuum	None	X	Mutual Protection	Trade+	Trade	Trade	Trade+	Trade+	Trade+
Jraenar Imperium	Trade	Trade	X	Trade	Trade	Trade	Trade	Partnership	Ceasefire
Cue Cappa Commonwealth	War	Trade+	Trade	X	Trade+	War	Trade	Trade	Partnership
Terran Confederation	Non-Aggression	Trade	Trade	Mutual Protection	X	Non-Aggression	War	Partnership	Mutual Protection
Sergetti Empire	Trade	Trade	Trade	War	Non-Aggression	X	Non-Aggression	Non-Aggression	War
Ukra-Tal Collective	Trade	Mutual Protection	Trade+	Trade+	War	Non-Aggression	X	Partnership	Trade
Phong Confederation	Non-Aggression	Trade+	Partnership	Trade+	Trade+	Non-Aggression	Partnership	X	Trade
EEE Consortium	War	Trade+	Ceasefire	Partnership	Mutual Protection	War	Trade	Trade	X

*Note: Some treaty relations are estimates

EEE War Re-ignites

After a couple of years with limited direct conflict, the EEE resumed their attacks against the Xiati. With the defensive minefield shell of the Xiati nearly completion, the EEE brokethrough the Obotron-Fwandrei WP on several occassions, including the year's largest battle with the Obotron Defense Fleet in 2410.4. The EEE's technological advantage is becoming more evident, as EEE Cruisers made their first appearance. If it wasn't for the excellent defensive position of the Xiati fleet, it is likely that Tax'renath would have lost his whole fleet, instead of just two Raptors and a Phantom.

The EEE also attempted attacking the Reticulum system from the southern Prot system, but lost their whole fleet when it encountered the very large Reticulum-Prot minefield. A third incursion of an EEE fleet occured in Obotron in 2410.9, with the Obotron Defense Fleet stationed at Obotron I for repairs and upgrades. A small force of Chargers and the Dauntless 0008 engaged the fleet in a hit and run attack managing to separate the two accompanying mine sweepers. Charger 0005 was able to capture one of the mine sweepers and it was returned to Obotron I for analysis.

Battle of Obotron-Fwandrei WP part III, 2410.4:

Cue Cappa War Goes Hot

As with the EEE conflict, the Cue Cappa war had also entered a quiet phase. Based on observations from Forager class scouts in the northeast, Cue Cappa fleets were mostly engaged with the Sergetti. Minefields at the Lezzari-Cunaxa and Lezzari-Fezzran warp points had prevented the Cue Cappa from entering the Lezzari system at will, but surprisingly a small fleet emerged from the northern WP (Lezzari-Quesstris) and attacked Lezzari I in 2410.1. This time the large Lezzari Defense Fleet engage the Cue Cappa (4xFGs,2xDEs) directly and destroyed them with no losses.

A few months later, a second Cue Cappa fleet broke through again from Quesstris (still without a protective minefield) and proceeded towards Lezzari I. Curiously a fleet of 9 Norak ships (3xFGs,3xDEs,2xLCs,1xMF) also approached. In 2410.3, the Cue Cappa fleet (4xFGs,2xDE,1xLC,1xMF) attacked the planet. The Lezzari Defense Fleet was not in direct orbit and was forced to take on the Cue Cappa fleet outside the protective range of the Lezzari I weapon platforms. The Cue Cappa were routed, but did manage to destroy the Phantom 0014. The Norak forces did not participate (treaty with Norak was still in place).

Battle of Lezzari I part VIII, 2410.3:

Norak Betrayal

The presence of the Norak fleet in the Lezzari system and their arrival in orbit of Lezzari I was not taken lightly by Emperor Tax'renath. Immediately after the battle, he dissolved the the Norak ceasefire treaty despite the additional resources the Norak tribute was providing. With the delay in communications, the Lezzari Defense Fleet was not able to engage the Norak until 2401.4. At this time, the Norak fleet had withdrew from Lezzari I and moved south towards the Lezzari-Cunaxa warp point. The Norak fleet was obliterated by the large Xiati minefield before the Xiati fleet could even engage. Xiati Charger class boarding ships in the north (Drax system) have started to hunt down straty Norak ships to capture.

A Pirate's Life Part II

The Xiati xenophobic nature has left them relatively far back in terms of technological development. The other empires seem to freely engage in technological sharing. However, Emperor Tax'renath has re-invested in the Charger class program, which performed the famous EEE Gas Colonizer capture in the 2405s, with a mandate to capture as many stray enemy ships as possible. Within a few months of their deployment, the Chargers had captured several EEE, Cue Cappa and Norak ships. Returning them to Xiati Space Yards for deconstruction and analysis has yielded new technology levels of ship construction, resupply, engines and weapons. The most daring was the Charger 0005's capture of a mine damaged EEE LC in the Reticulum system.

Charger 0005 captures EEE Light Cruiser, 2410.6:

Quadrant Map 2411.0: