MY 2245 status report:
What happened two turns ago: I killed a Spartan probe team, thus allowing my spectres to roam around undetected. Reminder: the Spectre special ability is a unique Angel spec ab which grants probe team invisibility and allows to attack the weakest unit in a stack. They were crucial in the conquest of Academy Park.
What happened last turn: Iskender moved forward half of University Base's defenses in an apparent bid to recapture Academy Park. Defending Academy Park would have been a massacre, as Iskender could have weakened my defenders with his interceptors, before moving in with his ground troops. So instead I decided to move a couple defenders just outside of Academy Park and outside of interceptor range, so that they could retaliate against Iskender's forces, if he chose to proceed with the attack. Which I hoped he would. Why? Because I also moved in the transport "From Ergonomia With Love", filled with my surviving Spectres, into Academy Park's harbor, and dropped the Spectres outside of University Base for a surprise strike the turn after. Half of University Base's former base garrison was off recapturing Academy Park. In addition, as Iskender wasn't expecting an attack, his two In Vitros in University Base were still unpromoted, thus making them easier targets than if I went in announced with guns blazing. I would take losses, but Iskender would lose much more if the base fell, namely the 4 interceptors stationed at University Base.
What happened this turn:
1) Iskender signed a peace treaty with the University.
2) Iskender chose not to attack Academy Park, and withdrew 2 interceptors from University Base, to combat the native life infestation at Fort Survivalist/Superiority. He did move two formers inside of University Base, making for an attractive prize.
Overal situation screenshot, showing From Ergonomia With Love in Academy Park's harbor:
Highlight on my spectres:
Highlight on University Base's defenses:
So I opted to continue with my plan. The Impact Trooper was easy pickings of course. I lost a Rotor (was in a transport off shore) and one of my Spectres softening up the two InVitros. But as said, Iskender lost more. Besides his three garrison units, he lost the Rotor in production, two Interceptors and two formers (which I captured :D). Unfortunately, because Iskender didn't press the attack on Academy Park, he had forces to strike back at me in his turn. The odds I could keep University Base were not very favourable in the long term. I could probably win a Pyrrhic victory against his little force between University Base and Academy Park, but had no hope of holding out against reinforcements backed up by interceptors. Therefore I opted to make use of Iskender's peace treaty with Zakharov, and gave the base back to the University faction. The aftermath:
This is an awesome tactical improvement for me!
1) As Iskender has no open borders with Zakharov, his forces in the area got bumped outside of University territory. As most units are unable to move directly from lowland to ridge plots, his forces are now several turns away from Academy Park.
2) Iskender no longer can use University Base as an airfield to strike against Academy Park with his interceptors. As a consequence, my hold on Academy Park is now very firm. I should soon be able to hurry forces right on the frontline if so required.
3) Zakharov still hates Iskender despite the peace treaty, so it's unlikely he'll agree to an open borders agreement. I on the other hand do have open borders with Zak. So now, for the next 10 turns, I've created a safe area from which I can strike against Iskender without fear of retaliation. Who knows I might be able to advance against Fort Legion and Library of Planet.
Of course, I fully expect Iskender to ragequit after opening his turn.
I'm having lots of fun, so I hope the game doesn't end due to Iskender being a sour loser.
***
In other news, last turn I stole Nanotubes from Mardoc. No reaction from him, so I guess he is ok with it. Or at least, he doesn't dare protest as he needs me to fight Iskender.
This allowed me to upgrade most of my submarine fleet to Hunters. I will now try to achieve naval dominance over the sea around Sparta Command, perhaps as a prelude to invasion.
Nanotubes also enables the Space Elevator. This national wonder functions as an "airport", allowing instant transportation from the space elevator base to any other. Useful to get troops to the front of course. Unfortunately it can only be built at most 30 degrees north or south of the equator. My major production centers fall just outside of that... Trying to at least get some use of it, I have founded a new sea base - Conshelf 57 - close enough to the equator. Working the Garland Crater north of Shanty Town, I'm currently looking at a production time of 19 turns. :-s Iskender has started researching Field Modulation (which allows psi gates/"airports" in every base), so who knows I might even get psi gates before my space elevator completes...
his ass off while Mardoc is wasting resources and building up a huge and unnecessary fleet of hunter submarines, or he's waiting with a build-up until he has Dropships or air units.
Reason for founding there was to have a base for repair of my units, and to rush a couple more mind worms for the IMMINENT INVASION. Let's show Mardoc how it's done. 