This DiD will contain spoilers and certain exploits (no nividium mining though.) The game is vanilla X3TC 2.5 (will move to 2.6 when released) with the usual "no re-loading" rule; the other rules are listed below.
I take part in a serial multiplayer game of X3TC (which means there will be breaks in this story from time to time,) in which it became clear to me that there are a lot more ways to play than I realised when I first started playing. I hope to pass on some of the things I've learned in the last year or so that aren't accepted as the "correct way to do things." Critique of any nature is welcome, especially if you have found a better way of doing things. Pics will be added at a later date...
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PROLOGUE
For the attention of Sentinel Rednoahl
From Eldar Council - Regarding closed gate network X344r
The council is concerned about the lack of progress in CGN X344r. If any of the sentient races in this network are to survive and be welcomed into the council proper, pacification of all sentients within must be achieved. So far all attempts upon to pacify the inhabitants of CGN X344r have led to total failure. The council wishes to know why.
Sohnen Executors have been in contact with the so called Xenon adaptives for some time - the Xenon adaptives aggressive nature has so far not been curbed and the council suspects foul play. Xenon adaptives are finding ways to leave the CGN; the council is worried that harmony may be breached, and Sohnen assurances that this event will not occur does not settle us at all.
It has not escaped our attention that there have been several rogue Sohnen acting independently in several of the closed gate networks recently. The council believes that while these rogue Sohnen are not a direct threat to the harmonised Galactic community at present, harmonious union may be threatened in the future unless we have answers to why such faithful executors would turn rogue.
Meanwhile, the organic races of CGN X344r continue strengthening in an aggressive manner. We added new systems to CGN X344r to give the races room to expand - we hoped without conflict. Alas, that has made things worse and our usual tactics with younger races are failing; we need fresh perspective. The situation may worsen still too. The Terran race is now a part of CGN X344r - they are dangerous and xenophobic, and it is here that you come into the picture.
We have found a suitable host - a Paranid known as Tupmanckolanks (who used his slave chip to gain the upper hand in many ventures.) Unfortunately for Tupmanckolanks, the slave chip reacts badly to the particular repair laser he was using - ceasing all brain functions. The chip has been repaired, but there have been complications. The chip no longer works properly and with the body being dead for a while, a micro-organism has started working on killing Tupmankolanks body; if left unchecked it will kill Tupmanckolanks again in roughly two days. The Paranid will think you as being cursed, an affront to their holiness so don't expect them to be in the least bit friendly - expect them to be hostile. Terrans dislike Paranid, so if you can get them to accept Tupmankolanks, bonds of trust may form between the Paranid and Terrans over time.
This is a high risk assignment, and one you alone deserve. In your last assignment, you failed in every respect. We will not risk detection picking you up if you fail; if Tupmanckolanks dies so do you. We hope the added incentive of living a little while longer will make you work harder than you have before. You are alone in this assignment, do not ask or expect any aid.
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The council has the following questions that must be investigated:
Have the Xenon adaptives the power to alter the thought processes of a faithful Sohnen to turn it rogue?
Have the Xenon adaptives fully investigated the ancient Gate Hub left to them by a Sohnen rogue?
How do the inhabitants of CGN X344r intend to deal with the Kha'ak?
The semi-enlightened Goner are showing signs of backsliding. What would cause them to do this?
Just give us the facts, sentinel. The council will draw it's own conclusions. We do not require your interpretation of the facts like you did in your last assignment.
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Your Orders:
Take possession of the Paranid "Tupmanckolanks," and find a way to "heal" him. This may prove awkward as you will only have two days to find a means to pay for the cure. The Boron Research Institute have a cure, but it will be costly.
Avoid direct contact with the Paranid and their allies the Split - you may look Paranid, but you won't act Paranid. There is a Paranid pirate faction where you may learn the Paranid mannerisms - if you work for them for a while, we may rescind this order.
Tupmanckolanks will have a repair laser attached to his spacesuit. You must not use this or you will suffer exactly the same fate as Tupmanckolanks.
We have "arranged" to have a few ships left around the gate network for Sohnen collection prior to your assignment. You may use these but you may not sell them unless you have the full blueprint or you can buy another easily.
Since reputation is of paramount importance within the closed gate network, you must attain the highest trade rank you can, and it must always be higher than fight rank. We would forbid you to fight but Tupmanckolanks wasn't a diplomat and it would be out of character for him not to fight now and then. We draw the line at the Kha'ak - you must not kill any Kha'ak yourself - use whatever means to protect yourself but the Kha'ak must not find out it is a council sentinel calling the shots. Relations with the purple host are strained enough - if they found out a council sentinel was destroying their ships directly, we'd be in serious trouble. Use the slave chip to control your units to directly engage the Kha'ak if you have to fight.
Since mining nividium is illegal in harmonius space, avoid mining the material if at all possible. If it becomes clear to us you need to mine the material, we will contact you and tell you where and how much you may mine.
You must establish a base of operations in every block of race sectors. Once the Paranid believe Tupmanckolanks is healed, you must start building and begin the investigation proper.
We require you to know as much as is possible of CGN X344r. Get all ships and factories that you can for future study.
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The Welcome
I gain control in a sector called Preacher's Refuge and I'm warned almost immediately to leave Paranid controlled sectors. I head towards the East gate, albeit slowly - the Demeter Hauler does 74m/s flat out currently and it manoeuvers like it it's swimming in a viscous fluid. At least I have a few fighter drones and a singe rear turret to use if I need to.
The way towards the East Gate looks fairly clear, certainly clearer than I expected. There are a few freighters between myself and the gate. In the distance a couple of Paranid Police M3 fighters; the only ships with enough potential firepower close enough to catch me. The Police fighters intersect my intended flightpath, but they are ignore me to go check on a Paranid High tech transporter, noticing me too late. I'm through the East gate before they can fire a shot.
I'm now in a Boron sector, Shore of Infinity. I have targeted what stations I can see to find the best and closest trading opportunity. There is a station full of Bio Gas, and as I get closer there are two Bofu chemical plants that require Bio Gas, one is almost out meaning I should get a decent profit.
I don't have a Trading System Extension (a type of ship software that allows remote trading and the prices at stations to be shown via the nav map) so I can only judge the price by how full or empty the factory is. I won't make that much money trading Boron foodstuffs (Boron foodstuffs are the least profitable,) but at least it's a start.
With 65 units of Bofu in my cargo hold I set off towards the East gate towards Lucky Planets, waiting briefly for a Zeus to go ahead of me, noting that Shore of Infinity wouldn't be a bad place for a Ore Mine or Teladianium foundry in the future.
In Lucky Planets, I sell the Bofu for a reasonable profit sell one of my 25mj shields and then trade silicon and missiles for a couple of trips which gets my account to 176,000Cr (and my Boron Reputation to "Trusted Courtier.")
Then the Paranid came en masse....
