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So, are there sources of neutronium outside the Coalition?

Mikey wrote:So, are there sources of neutronium outside the Coalition?

Yes, about ten or so galaxywide.

Do any of the known species own one?

Graham, have you considered using everything you've created to form the basis for a game? everything you have hear so far would be brilliantly applied to a Real Time Strategy game, promise!

Teaos wrote:Do any of the known species own one?

The Zaketh have two. None of the others I have posted about here do. Between them the Zaketh and the Coalition supply the needs of a good quarter of the galaxy.

MetalHead wrote:Graham, have you considered using everything you've created to form the basis for a game? everything you have hear so far would be brilliantly applied to a Real Time Strategy game, promise!

Not something I've ever put any thought into.

Why dont one of the more powerful species like those retarded kangaroos capture the Coalition pulsar?

Same reasons anybody holds off from invading anybody they don't like who happens to control a precious resource, really.

You're talking about one major galactic power declaring war on another - and not some distant skirmish or proxy war either, but an all out war of conquest. Such things do happen from time to time, but a lot of factors would need to be in place. Can you mount the forces to do it, against the expected resistance? Can you hold the population under control once you conquer them? Or alternatively, are you prepared to genocide them? And if the aim is to capture the pulsar, can you stop the Coalition from wrecking the infrastructure around it? In the pulsar system there's a fleet of specialist mining vessels, plus their support facilities, plus handling facilities for the neutronium, and a port and tankers to start it off on the way down the chain to the end customers. If I were invaded, first thing I would do is have some cruiser stop by and turn the whole lot into glowing slag. Stuff like that can be rebuilt, but it takes time to build, and time to build up the expertiese to do it properly.

Most importantly, how is everybody else going to take it? The Coalition isn't hugely popular but they do have some real allies, and a LOT of trading partners. The prospect of having a major reduction in the galaxy's neutronium supply for a year or three, and then having it in uncertain hands, is not one many would support.

Put it this way. Neutronium is the oil of the galaxy, and the Coalition is Saudi Arabia. People don't necessarily like Saudi Arabia, but they aren't easily willing to sit back and let the devil they don't know walk in and conquer the devil they do.

You should really try and get this universe put into a game of some kind. Start with something simple, like make a mod for homeworld 2 or something (alot more complicated than it sounds, I know) and see how it looks/feels/etc.

but question, with what you said about the coalition being like saudi arabia, are they generally viewed in a disgruntled manner?

From what I've read they are more viewed as up starts. Playing with the big boys when they should still be at the kids table.

MetalHead wrote:You should really try and get this universe put into a game of some kind. Start with something simple, like make a mod for homeworld 2 or something (alot more complicated than it sounds, I know) and see how it looks/feels/etc.

but question, with what you said about the coalition being like saudi arabia, are they generally viewed in a disgruntled manner?

Yes.

Many factors are at play in it. Partly it's simple envy; the Coalition have risen to a high level of power in an extremely short time. Partly that's a result of an accident of history - Humanity was conquered by a widespread, rather aggressive race called the Saravan, and then freed itself with the help of the Turgrans a couple of centuries later; the Humans and Turgrans divided up the Saravan worlds between them. It gave them a both a big boost - they inherited something like 40,000 planets in that coup, and they've expanded on it greatly in the centuries since then.

Then the nature of the Coalition itself is unusual. They're a composite civilisation with many species as members, rather like the Star Trek Federation. Most galactic powers are mono-species empires of one sort or another. Worse, like the Federation they also go around sucking up new members at a high rate, and they often give membership to those who are local rather than galactic powers - people whose territory spreads over hundreds of light years rather than thousands. There are many who look at the Coalition of a collection of upstarts or wannabes who aren't a "real" galactic power at all.

The Coalition is openly friendly to artificial intelligences, and provides military and diplomatic protection to Galatea, the only AI settlement in the galaxy. Amongst most galactic powers this is very controversial - there are many who would nuke Galatea without compunction if they were able.

Then they have the neutronium, which is a source of envy to many.

On the upside the Coalition are known for being pretty fair. They don't damage primitive societies, and indeed protect and mentor them where appropriate. They are supporters of the accepted ethics and norms of galactic politics, in most cases. They police the Deep Range and keep it from boiling over. They are expansionist, but are not particularly aggressive about it - they don't fight wars of conquest, nor support those who do. Knowing that they aren't popular, they do tend to make a concerted effort to win friends and play nice. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't.

interesting, so like the federation, generally good and decent but with a few naughty bits

Well just because you have a reputation for fair dealing doesn't mean you always live up to it!

I've modded the bow to make it look a little less like the Type 21 battleship.