STARWEB EMAIL DISCUSSION GROUP (THE SEDG) (Sponsored by Flying Moose Technologies' Starweb Analyzer - http://www.flyingmoose.ca) VOLUME 81 October 2004 CONTENTS Feature Article - Dominoes by Larry Dunlap Questions - Large Battles SEDG Web Page URL The Swap Corner Correspondence FEATURE ARTICLE Here is some fine SciFi based on Starweb by a fellow gamer and game moderator. Thanks Larry - you get a free plug too :-). DOMINOES By Larry Dunlap Imperial Wars Intelligent Life Games www.imperialwars.com "Hee, hee, hee," giggled the old man in the opulent bridge of the mile long space ship. The ship had just come out of hyperspace and was receiving its first messages since Transfer. Even though sub-space communication and sub-space travel were both instantaneous, time still went by in the real universe. The old man was dressed as an Admiral of the United RAces of the NUbiyat System - URANUS. His collar was open, his frame lanky and still lightly strapped into the acceleration couch he lay on as he spoke loudly toward the Captaincy couch, several feet ahead and below him. "Sanvaal, those damned machines left the artifacts at Maidenhead just like I said they would. You owe me 100 CR: you cross-eyed son of a bitch." "Okay Admiral," replied the dusky skinned man, eyes pinned to the lights on the console in front of him. "But what about Hudson's World?" "The damn robots will capture it, of course. Kill every living being on it and set up shop with their own kind. Badlife and all that rubbish. What did you expect, damn your eyes, they are machines of death. That's all they trade in." "So you traded the lives of all those colonists for Overlord artifacts, Admiral Kingston." The Captain still didn't turn around. "Colonists, where'd you get that stupid idea? Those 'colonists' are garrisons from Procyon V training for an invasion of Nonesuch or Maggies's planet, both of them border worlds of URANUS. So another belligerent empire builder lost an army. Screw 'em." "How soon to orbit, Captain?" "I'd make it about two hours. Admiral, printout from the Overlord Beacon is coming in." "Well, get someone up here in a hurry with it, not next week. We'll be within striking distance of this planet's home fleets within two hours." The balding Admiral stretched out and brooded at the display monitor resisting the impulse to return the couch to a seated position. "Beg pardon, sire" said a young lieutenant from near his elbow. The Admiral jumped. "Don't you young bastards know better than to sneak up on people when they're thinking?" "Sorry, sir. I've brought the printout from the Beacon sir." "Well don't just stand there sonny, spill it." "Yes sir. This planet is known as Mithrandir, Universal Code 16. Stargate connections are to world 19, where we came from of course, and 127 and 38." "Hmm", murmured the Admiral, unhooking and swinging himself around to sit on the edge of the couch. "A three connector. I don't know about 127 but I think 38 is Zzyzx, if I recall." "Yessir. Neutral or unexplored as far as we know. No info on 127, at all." The Admiral ruminated. The old veteran of the Rim wars, the largest conflict in history since the discovery of the Overlord civilization, thought about the Overlords. He, in fact, was obsessed with them. When several races had reached their satellites, they found evidences of a highly advanced race that had left behind indestructible machines known as "Starkeys". Attached to a flagship, these Starkeys would take an unlimited number of ships in fleet formation through Stargates just outside of each system. Near the gates were Overlord Beacons that monitored each of the planets webbed into the Overlord system. There were a limited number of keys and the gates connected anywhere from seven to one worlds together. The conflict known as the Rim wars had started with the clash of technologically equal but philosophically different races coming out of each other's Stargates. So far no one had found the inventors of the interstellar web whose Beacons gave numbers to each planet. "Admiral" said the young lieutenant, stepping from one foot to the other. "Are you listening?" "What, Oh. Hmm. What were you saying?" "Mithrandir's got some industry. Beacon rates it a 2-industry planet. Rich in raw materials, 9 RMP and a high population." Kingston swiveled his head towards the young officer. "What's your name Spacer?" "Jamieson, sir" answered the blonde haired lieutenant. "Well Jamieson, let's get something straight. First of all I don't give a shit about raw materials and that claptrap. I want to know about artifacts. I don't want to know about germanium, melange or whorehouses from Circus II. I want to hear about artifacts." Jamieson hung his head and stared intently at the sheaf of papers in his hand. They trembled slightly. Lieutenant Jamieson, damn it all, I'm too old to have teeth so I can't bite you. Don't blush, read your report and I'll try to shut up." "Mithrandir belongs to TERRAN, sir." Kingston jerked around. "I don't recall TERRAN having any worlds in this vicinity. As an ally, they've got a star map on file with us don't they?" "I've got it here Admiral.. No mention of world 16. And sir, ALMACH's got a fleet heading for orbit right now. They've got two artifacts on their manifest according to the Beacon. Lessee, A76, The Platinum Crown and Al6. That's The Ancient Pyramid." Kingston's eyes popped. The muted roar of incomprehensible engines, an occasional word from the flight crew were all that broke the silence. "The Ancient of Ancients here" breathed Kingston . "We must have it," he said to Jamieson. He swiveled. "Sanvaal, that black-hearted snake, merchant fleet has the Ancient Pyramid. Do you hear me, Captain?" "I heard. But the ALMACH aren't our enemies anymore. In fact, they're supposed to be allies aren't they? Why don't we just ask them for it?" "By all the Gods Sanvaal are you crazy? No one knew we were coming to this world. We started our Transfer three connections away. ALMACH would have let us know as soon as they'd found it if they'd intended for us to have it. Why hide it? They know it would be most precious to me. And TERRAN, too. They're in on it. You can bet those bastards are paying a pretty piece for that bauble, The Platinum Crown." "Do you think there's a double-cross, admiral?" asked Jamieson. The Admiral stood up to his full six foot four height. Suddenly he didn't look very old at all. He laid a finger beside his nose in an age-old gesture and smiled. "You bet your ass, sonny. I know there's a double-cross happening. l can smell 'em. Ought to, pulled enough of my own. What else is happening here youngster?" "Lot of activity, sir. The ALMACH'S fleet has eighteen ships," said Jamieson. "Must be planning on picking up a load of raw materials here, I'd guess." "Reasonable" nodded Kingston. "RED, the pirate has got eighteen corsairs here. Our old friends MECH, the berserker's got a DeathStar and fourteen robot ships in orbit and the apostle DEIMOS has a fleet with twenty-one ships on it here. Bet it's chocked full of pilgrims and missionaries, sir. Of course: there's us, sir. URANUS, fleet 105, fourteen ships of the line." Kingston turned his head towards Sanvaal. "This place is sure busy for a world not on our maps. Well, I guess we can't highjack those artifacts; too many witnesses. Got to be subtle, I suppose." "Right sir," said Jamieson. "We sure wouldn't want anyone to misunderstand our actions with this many guns around." The old Admiral looked at Jamieson with a strange smile on his face. "Right, lieutenant. That's exactly right." Kingston began to stride up and down the narrow walkway, forcing Jamieson against the bulkhead. "Where in hell is my political officer. Whatsisname. Marlowe. Somebody get Commander Marlowe up hare on the double." "Uh, sorry sir but Commander Marlowe mustered out at Maidenhead, sir. I was his second so I guess I'm your new PO," said Jamieson apologetically. Admiral Kingston stopped looked down at Jamieson and frowned. Then he grinned. "I see. Lieutenant, you're about to get your final exam in political mechanics or how to get the other guy when you've found out he's about to get you. And you're going to do your part, too. And if you don't do it right, I'm going to hand you your head in a basket - got that?" Jamieson grinned glassily. "Captain Sanvaal," yelled the admiral, striding again, hands clasped behind him. "We will approach orbit leisurely. Steward, bring me a brandy. Now. Lieutenant Jamieson, make usual signals to the TERRAN rep planet-side and be careful what you say. When you've done that, get me patched into the comm circuit, ship to ship, on my console and join me here." When Lieutenant Jamieson returned to the bridge Admiral Kingston lay stretched out full again on his couch whistling a Bach exercise. As Jamieson was about to pass Captain Sanvaal he paused and said, Captain, the Admiral seems more at ease, more... I guess, mellow. I don't understand." Sanvaal smiled. "That's the way he is when the pressure's on. I've been with him since the Rim wars. It's also when he's the most dangerous. Watch and enjoy." "Jamieson, get your ass over here," called the Admiral amiably. "What's up, planet-side?" "I talked to someone named McDermott sir. He's the Planetary Coordinator. He seemed quite surprised to hear from a URANUS fleet. He asked if we had gotten our Beacon print-out." "And I trust you were appropriately devious, lieutenant?" "I told him I was new, sir, and that I was knee deep in print- outs. I told him I'd seen that the planet was TERRAN'S and since we were allies I asked him to sort of fill me in. To save me time in reporting to my superiors." "I expect he was quite relieved. I also doubt that his report to you was totally complete." "No sir, not quite," grinned Jamieson ."He had the grace to mention that through some inadvertent mistake the TERRAN map did not include world 16 and that he was just about to put a message on sub-space transceiver to URANUS headquarters. And, of course, no mention of the artifacts." "He was not suspicious?" "Not when I was done with him. I have a standing invitation as soon as we hit in-system orbit for an exotic drink and an even more exotic lady." "Good " said Kingston rubbing his palms together. "We're ready to begin. Get me that damned ALMACH snake on the comm." Jamieson punched a code into the remote comm he had brought to the Admiralty battle station and soon an image took shape on the small screen. "Holy shit," said the Admiral. Zlither, is that you?" The reptilian humanoid that stared unthinkingly from the screen showed no facial expression but in spite of its alieness Jamieson felt the being was caught off balance. "S'Kingsston. Sss. S'Admiral S'Kingsston?" "You bet Eggmaker, it's your old nemesis from the Rim," said Kingston, his face hardening. "That was the best war you ever lost." "We have ss learned many thingss, S'Kingsston. We are ss s'peaceful s'trustworthy s'traderss, now.. We've learned how s'to win ss s'the peace." "Peaceful. Trustworthy. Sure, Zlither. By the way, we hear from DEIMOS that you're carrying two artifacts. Bringing them to me I assume. "Leader-of-s'thousands Zlither, if you s'please, S'Kingston," corrected the alien. "S'those feather brained fanatics are right ss for a change. It is s'true we are ss carrying s'two artifactss s'for the imperialisst S'TERRAN Federation. Sss. You are aware ss l am sure s'that we musst carry out our contract entirely with ss whom we made s'the arrangement." "Of course, of course. I know the code," said Kingston brushing aside Zlither's comments. "I'm sure they'll just transship them to us as soon as you deliver. You are aware that there is an alliance between URANUS and the TERRAN throne? But are you aware of the agreement between your boss, the Leader-of-All ALMACH and URANUS?" "Of s'the S'TERAAN alliance, no, I am not aware, S'Kingsston. However, ss not surprised. I was opposed to s'the URANUS alliance ss but I will abide by it." "Well, in honor of our alliance I've got some information for you. DEIMOS doesn't know about the alliance between URANUS and TERRAN. Their Bishop is certain you're double-crossing us. So, they're trying to recruit our fleet to attack you along with the berserker. They, of course, don't really want to shoot at you. If you'll take the DEIMOS fleet for me, I'll take care of MECH, the berserker. If you don't you're done for - wallet-skin." "S'they would attack peaceful merchants?" "You bet. For the sake of our alliance and the word of the Leader-of-All, I better be able to count on you." Zlither hissed and shook his whole head in a burlesque of a human nod. "Ss I must do as you say but it is unthinkable s'to be ss fighting along side you S'Kingsston." "Practicality, my snake ally, makes strange bedfellows. Send a shuttle in with the artifacts to TERRAN. That way I'll know they're safe. That'll be our signal to begin. Oh, one thing, Leader- of-Thousands, the empty Starkey gets added to the URANUS fleet. You agree?" "Sss S'thats s'the S'Kingsston I know. I can more easily s'trust your self-interest, human, s'than your word. I will send the signal." Kingston gestured a brusque farewell and cut the comm. "Admiral, we haven't had any messages from either DEIMOS or MECH since we came out of Transfer." Kingston just grinned contentedly and said, "Get me that berserker DeathStar on the comm, Jamieson." The screen cleared to a dimly lit, red mass of blinking lights and machinery. "Yes, goodlife." "Right, goodlife. Then you are in touch with the unit that dealt with me regarding Hudson's World?" "Proper Overlord Universal code number . . . . 93. . .is . . .now in process . . .of being . . . sanitized," monotoned the berserker known as MECH . "You're sure those were garrisons, Admiral?" said Captain Sanvaal. Kingston bared his teeth at the turned head of Sanvaal. "Unit," asked Admiral Kingston . "Are you aware that your Starkey is coveted by another whose fleet is here at Mithrandir? I mean world l6?" "No, goodlife." "Right, don't forget we're goodlife over here. RED the pirate, who is badlife to us as well as MECH, is prepared to attack you and take your Starkey." "Is...impossible. Too many other fleets...here..." "No," said Kingston, shaking his head at the unseeing robot. "They've all got their own fish to fry." "Does not compute." "I mean, dummy, that ALMACH'S here to pick up raw materials and make a drop, not to fight anyone. DEIMOS is your ally but I'm warning you he won't help you if it comes down to it. He's loaded with pilgrims. He's here to convert some new ones. He won't fight unit. If you agree that we'll go after RED first then I'll fight with you and we both blow away the badlife. But if not, you're on you're own." Jamieson and the Admiral listened to a 60-cycle hum through the comm. "The sound of a genius thinking," said Kingston in an aside to Jamieson. "Look, MECH unit, if you'll give me the artifacts about to be dropped here, I'll help you robotize this world. Well, at least I'll stay out of your way and stop anyone else from interfering. Now, that's a deal!" "Much Badlife at world 16. Is logical... agreed." "Okay. Attack when you hear a message from ALMACH to URANUS that they are shuttling down the artifacts. Set your comm scrambler on L4.' "Agreed goodlife. Endit." The Admiral rolled his eyes up and grinned. "Oh this is just getting better and better," he said. "Admiral," worried Jamieson, "You've just committed our fleet to two different battles. We'll be wiped out." "If you're going to be any damned help to me lieutenant," said Kingston gently. "You better figure it out because I'm sure as hell not gonna tell you." "Now get that billy-be-damned perverted zealot apostle's fleet on the comm. Time is short." Admiral Kingston's words belied the angelic smile on his face. "Greetings from his most Puissant Holiness, representative of His Supreme Holiness, Imperator of the New Holy Empire, Pope Ultimo, His Holiness DEIMOS IV," intoned a red robed, head shaven acolyte from the DEIMOS flagship. "Whom shall I say is calling?" "Tell the Bishop that Admiral Kingston of the United RAces of the Nubiyat System has a most urgent communication for him." The figure nodded and shortly the screen showed a portly man, white hair fringing his head and dressed in an ornate purple robe. "Greetings from..." "Uh, I beg your pardon your holiness, but time does not permit all the honorifics deserved by your illustrious person," said Kingston. "I must speak with you concerning present matters in this system." The Bishop leaned forward slightly, frowning into the screen and said, "Aren't you Admiral Kingston, legend of the Rim wars?" "I guess legend is as good a word as any for old." "Admiral," beamed the prelate. "Because of your bravery the Holy Faith was able to bring salvation to the Horse Nebula. I must thank you on behalf of DEIMOS IV, himself." "Bishop, I heard that more lives were lost during your conversions than during the whole conflict of freeing that sector from the ALMACH." "It does not necessarily follow, Admiral," said the Bishop, wagging a finger, "That the souls are freed just because the bodies are. Our battle was as furious and as imperative as yours. Right made us mighty and, in the name of the Five, we saved souls by the millions though they live in the next world." "It is strange that we had not run into one of the URANUS fleets before now. We hear of you often. Of course your home sector is quite far from ours." "Yes, said the Admiral. And in the future l would speak with the Vatican Temple regarding an alliance but there is a problem right here in the present for both of us. You have noted, I am sure, the ALMACH fleet in orbit here." "The ALMACH have certainly not forgotten the Rim wars, Bishop. It happens that I personally defeated the commander of this fleet, Leader-of-Thousands Zlither. Though he'd love to, he can't attack me outright as URANUS has an alliance with the Leader-of-All. He does remember DEIMOS however and there's no alliance between the Vatican Temple and the ALMACH." "If it is the will of the Five, so be it, said the Bishop piously. "The Sword of God is mighty. There are twenty-one ships here on this Starkey." "Bishop, if you get into a fight and lose any ships, you lose a whole lot of missionaries which means you lose a whole lot of converts. And, unless you get your converts on the ground, no martyrs and no martyrs, no publicity." "Your logic is, of course impeccable. But its bad press for a religious to fire weapons of death. There must be another way." "Even with twenty-one ships, your Starkey is easy picking since everyone knows just what you're saying," said the Admiral. "But if you know for sure in advance its better press to survive." "And this. Since I'm being double-crossed by 'TERRAN.. I'll guarantee to help protect your converts as you land them on Mithrandir if you'll guarantee me the artifacts that the ALMACH fleet are carrying to TERRAN." "But, but who says we are converting world 16," blustered the Bishop. "Twenty-one ships," replied Kingston. "C'mon. Whatever you do here is your business. Any rumor of an alliance between TERRAN and URANUS is just that. My help, for those artifacts, of course." "Why do you collect those artifacts so assiduously, Admiral Kinston." "Bishop, I haven't even asked you your name-" "Keltnik. Bishop Keltnik, His Most..." "Right. Well, Bishop Keltnik, I've done most everything we've been able to do since we've discovered the Overlord civilization. I'm old. The mystery of the Overlords is the only challenge that keeps me alive. I feel if I can get all the artifacts together, I might come up with a clue to what happened to them. Andy maybe follow them. Who knows? It also might help us discover more about ourselves and our origins." "You border on blasphemy, infidel," spat out Bishop Keltnik. XXXXX "No names, Bishop," chided Kingston gently. "I know of too many that could be applied to the DEIMONS. Besides, we're frogs in the same puddle today, laddie." "You're right of course, my apology. In regard to the ALMACH, as long as I get them all, the Temple won't mind a few dead snakes. In regard to the artifacts, policy demands that any deals be made through the Vatican Temple. I can't believe there would be any difficulty, though. How do we coordinate our attack?" "Easy." The Admiral leaned into the screen, conspiratorially. "Put your comm receiver on channel L4 and wait f or a transmission from the ALMACH fleet. It'll be telling me that the snakes are shuttling down the relics. That ' s when we go. " Jamieson just sat and shook his head whistling softly to himself as the Admiral and Bishop closed their conversation. "Beginning to see it, aren't you youngster? " asked Kingston . "Break out one of those cigars that god-rotted medico says I can only have once a week . In fact, steward, bring me the whole damned box and fill up this snifter. God's Eye's it's good to be back in action.' "Admiral, if one piece of this puzzle doesn't fit . . . " "Jamieson my boy, if that happens we'll do the only manly thing. Run. We'll have advance notice unless someone's lying to us. In which case, we're dead. But we'll know it's coming so don't worry your head. But now, snap to it and get that bloody pirate on the corm. Things are about to puddle." A military aide came on the screen and immediately put them through to a slender man with thinning hair and dressed in casual undress khakis. He looked more like a bookkeeper than a pirate. "Commander Rojo here. Fleet 17 of the independent space forces known as RED." "Admiral Kingston, URANUS, calling, Commander, I'd hoped to run into a RED fleet before this. You are aware of my quest?" "Yes, of course, Admiral. Overlord artifacts." The steward handed Kingston a cigar and he bit off the end and spit it out before continuing. "That's right, artifacts. I know RED'S not interested in most of them. It also seems that I do a lot of traveling. I'm pretty innocuous these days, just willing to barter for the relics. But I run into a lot of worlds that RED would be interested in plundering. I'd trade him the information for all the artifacts he came into contact with." The pirate commander seemed totally at ease as he raised an ornate cigarette holder and took a puff. "Actually, I'm not too crazy about the word plunder. Goes too easily with pillage and rape. I believe 'liberated' is much more accurate." The pirates grey eyes looked directly into the screen and though his mouth smiled, those eyes remained cool and watchful. "As you say," replied Kingston, seemingly oblivious. Clouds of blue smoke arose around his head as he lit his cigar. The ventilator swept it away. "The point is we are natural allies. We should make it formal and soon. As a gesture in this direction, there is a lot happening in this system right now." "I have noticed that there are a lot of ship movements for fleets in orbit. Do you have information?" "Let's just say this is getting to be a very crowded system for me," replied Kingston, drawing and exhaling dramatically. I have an ancient enemy and two supposed allies here. I'm not always sure which are which. "I notice from the Beacon report that the merchant snake ALMACH are transporting two artifacts. A most precious one to you and one almost as important to TERRAN. Am I correct?" "Correct. Proposition. Suppose I double-cross my TERRAN ally who is already in the process of double-crossing me and I agree to help you ah, 'liberate' Mithrandir. Will you help me take the merchant?" Admiral Kingston stared hard into the screen. Rojo casually flipped ash from his cigarette. "Leader-of- Thousands Zlither would be your old adversary, I suppose. That would be from the Rim wars, of course. Actually, for a snake, I sort of like the bugger, myself. What of DEIMOS and MECH? I'm doing a deal with MECH in regard to another World, I believe. " "You are remarkably well informed"' replied the Admiral with some amazement. The pirate nodded. "My relationship with DEIMOS is a good one. Once the merchant is eliminated, I am sure I can convince them to allow you one cycle for 'liberating' all you can find on this planet. Looks like quite a lot from what the Beacon says." The pirate paused. "I would, of course, add the ALMACH Starkey to RED'S fleet?" "Of course." "When do you attack the snake?" "When he sends word that he is sending down a shuttle with the artifacts to TERRAN on it. Set: your receiver to L4." "Our corsairs will proceed then. We will discuss alliance at our next conversation. Til then." The pirate gestured a dismissal. "Whew, that's one cool bastard," breathed Jamieson. "I sure wouldn't want him on my tail." "You're right sonny. That is one dangerous man. But we've still got work to do." "Yessir." The lieutenant snapped to attention. "Take command of the Snark's shuttle and tell Captain Mathieu to be ready to pick you off Mithrandir. You're going to the surface to visit Coordinator McDermott." The young man gulped audibly. "Whatsamatter?" puffed Kingston. "You're going to send me down there with pirates due to attack, with a berserker robot attack coming and, and . . . " "Don't worry youngster. You'll be fine." Kingston patted Jamieson's shoulder. "Just take two marines with you. I don't want you to leave the spaceport but here is a message that must reach McDermott, soon as you land. Send it by diplomatic pouch. McDermott will fire his I-ship and P-ship batteries. When he does you skedaddle out of there in a hurry. We'll be about ten AU's out. "Oh, and Jamieson. Bring back the artifacts when you come." "What? Sir the planet's TERRAN. How can I...with two men." "Lieutenant, I guarantee that you will be arriving just prior to the artifacts themselves. All hell will break loose down there and up here at the same time. Just go pick them up in the confusion. TERRAN won ' t have any claim on them by the time you pick them up and TERRAN won't be able to stop you anyway. Just keep your head when other's are losing theirs and you'll be fine. Now git going. " Jamieson took the ornate envelope addressed to Planetary Coordinator McDermott and, holding it at arms length left the bridge. "What now, Admiral," said Captain Sanvaal. "Me wait, my friend. In the meantime prepare the fleet to fire on the planet. I want every ship to hit those I and P batteries with everything they've got. Then move us out to 10 AU's. okay?" "By the numbers. Mind telling me why sir?" Kingston lay back on his leather couch and rolled brandy around in his mouth. Just before he reached for another cigar, he said. "Yes." Halfway through his third cigar Admiral Kingston heard Captain Sanvaal confirm a message from one of the ships. "Snark's shuttle is on the ground, Admiral." "Good." "Something happening on the ALMACH fleet, sir." "What is it?" Kingston asked, sitting up. "Well I've had a monitor on the flagship ever since you told me to and it looks to me like the lee port has been opened. "Something coming on the comm, sir. It'll be on your monitor now." "Ss? Admiral S'Kingsston, United Races of s'the Nubiyat Ssystem. shuttle underway to S'TERRAN. Personal to Admiral S'Kingston: S'Thiss time you are saved, egg eater. May s'the One keep you safe until I have another chance: The universal is not big enough to hide you from me S'Kingsston." Kingston laughed. "Bitter. I'll bet that snake wanted to backhand us again and got over-ruled by the Leader-of-All." "Admiral there are ship movements. I see hits among the RED and ALMACH fleets. They are firing. Like little red flowers... hits in DEIMOS. The DeathStar is moving but taking damage. " The talk rose all through the twenty crew members on the bridge as the reports kept coming in. "Sanvaal let me know when Mithrandir's batteries open up." "Right now, sir," replied the Captain "I can see flashes now." "Then fire, Sanvaal. All ships and don't miss one of those I s or P's. " "Aye aye sir. " When Sanvaal came to the Admirals cabin the old man was stretched out peacefully on his bunk, Even though there was more space in his cabin, the Admiral led a Spartan existence. His bunk was no different than the one ratings slept in. He awoke easily to the Captains touch. "Ah, yes captain." Kingston swung his legs and sat. "Sir, I've been with you since the wars and I still don't see how you can sleep through a battle." "Well, Sanvaal" said Kingston, running a hand across his thinning scalp. "All the hard work was done before the shooting started. It'll either come out the way I planned or it won't. You're a better tactician than I am so I let you worry about the battles." "Sir, Jamieson's shuttle is hooking up now. That's why I thought I'd wake you. But before we go down to the bridge, Admiral, I want to ask you what happened. It's quiet out there. No life. And no one even took a shot at us. What did you say to McDermott.?" "I just told him that DEIMOS was landing converts and that RED was going to take the planet to plunder. That I'd help him but he'd have to make an effort to drive them off. P ships firing at the apostle's fleet and I ships firing at the pirate. Told him he had no time to wait. That as soon as firing broke out among the fleets in orbit, that he'd better start shooting." "But Admiral," said the Captain. "There's not a soul answering our hails out of some seventy ships and four fleets." "Let's go up and see Jamieson. If he didn't bring those relics back I hope you gave orders to keep the lock shut." Jamieson and Kingston and Sanvaal stepped onto the bridge at the same time. Jamieson wore a tight grin. "I got 'em, Admiral. Both artifacts are in hold number one. It went just like you said it would. The shuttle practically threw them out the door and jammed out again. I just told the ground crew I was authorized to pick them up. They had a lot of other things on their mind." Kingston rubbed his hands in glee. "We've got to go down there and look at them. Good job, Jamieson." A subaltern stopped Sanvaal and handed him a communications flimsy. He glanced at it and with a hidden frown handed it to Kingston. "Beacon printout," he said. Kingston handed it to Jamieson without looking at it. "Here boy. I can see you're chomping at the bit. This is the result." Jamieson read: W16 (19,127, 38) [URANUS 2,9,185,200, T/0=1 RMS=45] F113 [URANUS]=0, F17 [URANUS]=0, F55 [URANUS]=0, F105 [URANUS]=14, (A76 "THE PLATINUM CROWN") (A16 "THE ANCIENT PYRAMID"), F160 [URANUS]=0 Jamieson's mouth made an O. Admiral Kingston turned to Sanvaal. "Send one ship out to each Starkey, Captain, and have then have the prize fleets follow us through the gate." "Yessir. But..." "Sanvaal, you bastard, what's wrong now?" Sanvaal eyed Kingston speculatively. "I don't know whether I should say anything, sir." "Damn it man, you are about to really piss me off. You know better than that. Speak up." "Admiral," said Sanvaal taking a deep breath. "I think our fleet's in danger, our federation's in danger and your career's in danger. All for two stupid pieces of junk. We'll be outlaws all through this arm of the galaxy. No one will ever deal with us again. We're through." "Captain, don't ever underestimate the power in those 'pieces of junk'. Do you think I'd risk everything for junk? As for the rest, you just haven't thought it out. The ALMACH attacked DEIMOS. DEIMOS attacked MECH.MECH blasted RED and RED took out the ALMACH. The only possible survivors were wiped out by the TERRAN defenses and that was in RED and DEIMOS fleets. Everyone who fought here didn't survive. Who's going to tell? The printout will be so confusing that there will probably have to be a lot of explaining done by everyone who participated to everyone who was here. But we showed up here with the smallest fleet. How will we look aggressive?" "What about the planet? We fired on TERRAN Federation territory." "I can guarantee you that in the excitement they will never know who it was who fired at them. And besides, we're just about to send a message to TERRAN. "Jamieson take this for TERRAN. Send it sub-space just before Transfer. "As innocent bystanders at the tragic events at Mithrandir, World 16 we are sending eye-witness accounts and returning the world that was inadvertently given to us by the Beacon here. Kingston grinned at the other two. "It is impossible for us to know what went on in the minds of the commanders of the other fleets but suddenly war broke out among them. TERRAN batteries bravely fought to protect their population. We were able to rescue two artifacts from the battle that I am sure were intended for us anyway. Sorry about the mix-up and the loss of the planet's guns. However, nothing that can't be fixed soon . Our most gracious wishes for His Majesty, the Emperor's health. Sign it and add all the hoopla necessary. " Jamieson and Sanvaal both gaped. Sanvaal said, "You mean no one. No one will ever know what actually went on here? " "Not unless you plan on telling them. How could they? No witnesses but us. " A grin started to split Jamieson's face. Sanvaal spotted it and felt a foolish giggle bubble out. Soon all three were roaring and groaning with laughter. "Oh Admiral, " spluttered Jamieson. "'Where did such an idea come from?" Through a giggle of his own, Kingston said. "From a game I used to play when I was a kid. We'd stand all these little pieces up and if you tapped the first one just right, every one of them would fall over. We called them dominoes." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTIONS - Can anyone answer these? Recently I have been asking for people to exercise bragging rights on stuff such as large pirate captures. Anyone have a story about the largest battle seen? I seem to remember one where a pirate showed up with over 1000 ships and did NOT make a pirate capture. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- STARWEB EMAIL DISCUSSION GROUP - is now available on the web. Look for our new MAPPER'S SECTION on the SEDG Web Page. http://www.accessv.com/~somnos/sedg.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEATURE - THE SWAP CORNER STARWEB ANALYZER V1.5 - It's on the web site and it's no longer a Beta! Go get it! As before - registered clients of any previous V1.x version can upgrade for free. www.flyingmoose.ca I'm sorry to say there hasn't been a lot of movement with The Starweb Analyzer V2.0. It is being built in the Dotnet framework and has a lot of potential for neat new features but at present it isn't as advanced as V1.5. It is being alpha tested by a few diehard fans and I will report more about it when we have gotten a little further along. Elliot ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CORRESPONDENCE I received some interesting email regarding John Gault's comments last SEDG. Bob Becker wrote: >A blacklist against such players is what I hoped would happen when >wrote my rant in FBQ. But I don't think anyone at FB is willing to >even attempt it because of the disagreements it would generate. Sheesh this would end my gaming within Starweb, more than half the reason I play PBM or PBE games was for the alliances and the socialization. Bob Jack Fulmer said: In a different vein I was a bit surprised by John Davis Gault's comments in SEDG #80. I perceived the general tone as nearly unrelentingly negative. I have no desire to start a flame war but would like to respond to some of the comments he made. If I write something rational as a rebuttal to some of his comments would you consider publishing it? I'm wondering if I should bother to take the time to do so. I'm not sure what your "policy" would be regarding one reader replying to another using SEDG. Regards... Jack Editor's note: I don't support flame wars either but I welcome intelligent and thoughtful discussions on a topic. Anyone who directs email to me regarding stuff in the SEDG should expect that it may be featured in an issue (unless they expressly ask me not to post it). John Gault responded: >You responded to my letter: > Editor: The idea of limiting 'A=' orders was to make it a bit more > difficult for multiple allies and to convey the idea of a small > alliance game. Your idea of monitoring communications is cumbersome > and unworkable and I don't think players would tolerate this form of > censorship. This is basically the same thing as an anonymous game with BP-like messaging added. In other words you allow the players to talk about anything game related, but not to find out each other's identities. >> A blacklist against such players is what I hoped would happen when >> wrote my rant in FBQ. But I don't think anyone at FB is willing to >> even attempt it because of the disagreements it would generate. > Editor: A blacklist for players who ally too much? It's too > draconian. That's a mischaracterization of what I wrote. I thought it was obvious that I mean a blacklist against players who improperly "pre-ally". John Brian Lease wrote: Elliot, This last issue was very amusing. I had not read about the idea of a new game with 50 different character classes before. That might bring back some of the oldtimers like myself. It could make for a rather interesting open ended game and if it were big enough I can imagine that quite a few people might like to participate. Brian Editor: I would also enjoy such a large open-ended game. Unfortunately I don't know anyone who is creating such a game. But we can wish for it. Jeff Calkins wrote: > Multi Starweb > I have no experience with this variant. You run 3 positions and play >in a game of 5 players. JDG >>I'd recommend this as the first game for a beginner. It is generally boring because the number of players is too small for the degree of interaction in a 15 player game. From the point of view of a good player it also has the problem that your positions pretty much have to be working at cross purposes, since you are required to choose 3 different character types. The 2 position x 7 player variant used in the Captain's Challenge games alleviates both of these problems, and I would like to see it become a regular offering, possibly instead of Multi.<< I disagree with his assessment of Multi. I think it could be overwhelming for a beginner, particularly if he doesn't have the SWAP (no prompting needed for the plug, I find the program indispensable for Multi). As for strategy, the key is to not have your positions work at cross purposes to each other, but have them work together. It comes down to picking the right combination of characters. Three that work well are the Pirate/Collector/Merchant, the Pirate/Berserker/Merchant, or the Apostle/Berserker/Merchant. With PCM give your HWs to the collector and everything else to the Pirate (except merchant hauling fleets). High metal worlds can be traded to EBs or Apostles for art. With PBM you are looking to fight. Pirates get all worlds. Except when PBBing, Berserkers should not kill all the population so that Pirate can get every possible plunder. Attacks spearheaded by huge Pirate fleets and small Berserker fleets can be devastating at HWs. Capture the fleets when you arrive and transfer ships and robotize the next turn. You can end the battle in two turns. With ABM, you can win the game two ways. Don't go to war and martyr the apostle to a high score. Or declare jihad and attack. But since kills count for both characters, your score can really move. The real drawback to Multi is player drops/missed turns. The game I'm in now has lost one drop and disappear, one player miss his turn, and a third get replaced. Since a miss on all three positions can be devastating, the suspense has gone out of the game and the result is almost a foregone conclusion. I would prefer FBI suspend the game to find replacements (including a small diplomacy period) rather than run Multi with missed turns. As for Captain's challenge games, they sound fun and I'd like them to be a normal variant. If that doesn't happen and you put another together, Elliot, count me in. Take care, Jeff Calkins Editor's Note: I have no plans to organize another private game in the near future. I have way too much on my plate. Perhaps in the future. Well, that's it for Volume 81. Don't be afraid to submit articles or suggestions. They don't have to be long. Address your correspondence to Elliot Hudes at somnos@compuserve.com