Balance Mod Game Story - Rise of the Xiati Empire

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Rise of the Xiati Empire Main | Previous Chapter 2410.1-2411.0 | Next Chapter 2412.1-2413.0

Turns 2411.1 to 2412.0

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Xiati Build Up...

With plans to go on the offensive, Emperor Tax'renath has spent the last two years and much of the Xiati's Empire resource stockpiles on constructing new ships. In 2410.0, the Xiati Empire had 66 ships and 5 bases, but has almost doubled in size by 2412.0, with 122 ships and 5 bases. Major fleets are stationed in the Fornax, Obotron, Talara and Lezzari systems. Smaller fleets reside in Ventrux, Lacerta, Eskirk and Reticulum. In addition, unit construction has also greatly increased, with extra troops built for ground combat and a host of defensive units (mines, seeker satellites) for warp point deployment.

Ships and Bases of the Xiati Empire:

Image	Class	Hull	Design Type	In Service
	Forager B	250kT Frigate	Ship (Scout)	6
	Raptor D	400kT Destroyer	Ship (Attack S)	24
	Phantom B	400kT Destroyer	Ship (Seeker S)	24
	Protector	400kT Destroyer	Ship (Point-Defense)	12
	Dauntless B	540kT Light Cruiser	Ship (Defense S)	13
	Striker A	540kT Light Cruiser	Ship (Seeker M)	12
	Charger B	400kT Destroyer	Ship (Boarding)	4
	Fixer	500kT Small Freighter	Ship (Repair)	5
	Prickler	500kT Small Freighter	Ship (Mine Layer)	8
	Sweeper	500kT Small Freighter	Ship (Mine Sweeper)	8
	Palantir	500kT Small Freighter	Ship (Satellite Layer)	3
	Invader	500kT Small Freighter	Transport (Troop)	2
	Transporter	500kT Small Freighter	Transport (Cargo)	2
	Space Yard	500kT Small Base	Base (Space Yard)	5

Economic Downturn...

With the massive ship building program, maintenance costs are skyrocketing and deficits in minerals and radioactives are increasing. With most of the Xiati's colonies fully developed and a significant loss in trade income (due to recent diplomatic events) there's certain to be another resource crunch. Efforts are being undertaken to obtain remote resource collection technologies for both resource types, so the rich asteroids can be harvested for their plentiful resources.

Jraenar Imperium Turns

The Jraenar Imperium had primarily been aligned against the Cue Cappa, EEE, and Terran empires for much of the last 10 years. Maintaining a modest trade treaty with the Jraenar, Emperor Tax'renath had not considered the Jraenar as a major threat as they were generally distant (in terms of colonies) despite their large size. However, that all changed in 2411.1, when General Jar'Nolath dissolved all diplomatic ties with the Xiati. Suddenly the Jraenar had made peace with the EEE, were friendly with the Cue Cappa, and against the Xiati's Sergetti allies. Within a few turns, most of the Xiati Watcher satellite network in the Yullado and Yoshri systems were destroyed. A moderately sized Jraenar fleet now lurks in the Lezzari system and two larger fleets are a few systems north in Yoshri. With the Jraenar turn, the Xiati are up against the three largest empires in the quadrant.

A Pirate's Life Part III

Up to the current date, the Xiati efforts against the Jraenar have been to pick off stray colonizers and freighters that were left far from home with the Jraenar broke the treaty. Charger clas boarding ships have captured a number of Jraenar colonizers (including one loaded with 60 Jraenar fighters!), some empty Jraenar transports, and a Space Yard ship. The analysis of the captured SY Ship proved fruitful and gained the Xiati improvements in Space Yard technology.

Jraenar Space Yard Ship Garaith V 0001 captured by Charger 0004 in the Talara System:

EEE War

The EEE continue to attack the Xiati throughout the southern systems and the Xiati have had a tough time keeping key strategic warp points mined. One EEE fleet (4xFGs,2xDEs,2xCRs,2xMFs) reached the Ootoola system and was holding the Ootoola-Fornax warp point hostage. The Fornax Defense Fleet was stationed at Ootoola VI to contain the threat and was ordered to engage the EEE fleet directly in 2411.2. Generally, Xiati ships had faired poorly in direct combats against the usually long ranged EEE ships (armed with mix of APBs, PPBs or dangerous Plasma Missiles). In the battle, the Xiati ships maintained a tight formation providing a shell of protective PD, while returning fire with fast moving ABMs. With an almost 2-1 advantage in ships, the Xiati took out the EEE fleet with only minor damage to a handful of their destroyers. Chargers managed to capture both EEE mine sweepers, which were later analyzed and brought crucial improvements in medium ship construction.

Battle of Ootoola-Fornax Warp Point in 2411.2:

A second major battle occured in orbit of Talara V when an EEE fleet (3xFGs,3xDEs,2xLCs,2xMFs) that broke through the Lezzari-Cunaxa warp point in 2411.3 and bypassed the favourite Cue Cappa target of Lezzari I, and headed instead to the lightly protected Talara system. The Utekra Defense Fleet was stationed just south and was able to reach Talara V right before the EEE fleet in 2411.5. Again using a tight formation and in close orbit to Talara V, the Xiati fleet slowly picked off the EEE ships in what became a rout.

Battle of Talara V in 2411.5:

Cue Cappa Front

Although matching up poorly against the EEE, the Xiati ships have had a generally easy time against the large short ranged ships of the Cue Cappa. Observations from Forager class scouts have seen most of the Cue Cappa fleets near Sergetti space, in one of the quadrant's other hot wars. However, in 2411.9, a Cue Cappa fleet broke through the Lezzari-Cunaxa WP and was blockading it. The Lezzari Defense Fleet left its base on Lezzari I and attacked the Cue Cappa fleet, with a modest numerical advantage. The Cue Cappa fleet was destroyed and only one Phantom class destroyed was lost. Just prior to this report, another Cue Cappa fleet is approaching north from the Quesstris system. Looks like the Cue Cappa are making good on their threats about the Lezzari system.

Xiati Opening Missile Barrage at the Battle of Lezzari-Cunaxa Warp Point:

Other Diplomacy...

In addition to being pitted against the largest 3 empires in the quadrant, the Xiati's primary ally, the Sergetti Empire, continues to falter. To make matters worse, the previously friendly Ukra-Tal (4th largest!) are becoming increasingly hostile (likely due to their rampant ship losses to Xiati minefields, which Emperor Tax'renath's refuses to provide the Ukra-Tal codes for). At least the Norak came to their senses and entered into a new non-interference pact.

Quadrant Map 2412.0: