1 - Do NPRs have to perform fleet training to avoid penalties? Doesn't look like it...

2 - Do NPRs fully use FACs and fighters and carriers now? Have seen FACs, but not sure on the fighters and carriers.

3 - Do NPRs have civilian shipping lines? Can't quite see why they wouldn't but would be nice to know.

I’m enjoying it as well. I went into it basically blind, so my first game has been some what slow with plenty of mistakes. I haven’t actually built any ships yet, but I have mines on the Moon, Mars, and 1951 Lick. Time to start designing that first ship!

Ceres is also important, because it has great water deposits. But there is risk if you expand too much that the aliens start to attack your outposts.

Month 213, Day 30, T’Pau home system
The Alliance 5th Fleet had been assembled at the warp point to the D’Bringi home system to ensure that the Imperialists did not try to break the blockade of their system.  No one knew how much of the old Alliance 2nd Fleet, which had been stationed in the D’Bringi home system, had gone over to the Empire, so no risks were being taken.  The forty-one ships of the 5th Fleet, along with its three hundred and forty-five fighters, were joined by the twelve battleships of the Alliance Strategic Reserve.  At the center of the warp point’s defenses were three BS3’s supported by nearly five hundred automated weapons and minefields, and over four hundred SBM pods. 

The defenses had been watching the warp point for long enough that no one really expected to see anything come through, when suddenly, a CD appeared on the warp point.  The CD began broadcasting standard Alliance contact codes, including a special code sent to the D’Bringi home system at the start of the blockade, to be used if they wanted to negotiate.  The Alliance flagship downloaded the CD’s message bank to an isolated system, where it was examined and re-examined for malware and other threats.  After being cleared, the fleet commander Cho-sho Tok, viewed the message.  The message was from a D’Bringi claiming to be not only in charge of the D’Bringi fleet in the home system, but, interestingly, was also styling himself as “Governor” of the D’Bringi system.  In essence, the D’Bringi admiral was asking for the Alliance to end the blockade so that the D’Bringi home system could rejoin the Alliance. 

The 2nd Fleet’s CO immediately sent off a message to the home world, and then responded to the D’Bringi message with one of his own, agreeing to meet and talk.  The details would have to be worked out, but at least the D’Bringi were talking. 

Month 213, Day 30, Aurarii controlled Sheund system
Aurarii naval intelligence teams complete their examination of the two captured Doraz hulks.  On one the crew managed to wipe the ship’s databanks, but on the second a serious of mishaps and malfunctions prevented the remaining crew from wiping the system.  The damaged heavy cruiser’s systems provided the Aurarii with a wealth of data, including data on the last two systems the ship had passed through, which included the Doraz home world.  In addition, there was information on the status of the Doraz fleet forces in the home system.  All in all, it was a windfall for the Aurarii invasion, which had originally gotten off to a rocky start. 

Month 213, Day 30, Lothari controlled Liawak System
The Kingdom’s assault fleet had been stalled here after successfully seizing the system as naval intelligence hadn’t been able to uncover any astrogation information on the Alliance systems surrounding them, and the 2nd Survey Squadron had only just begun its work.  In the meantime, the ground troops under the control of Swordsman Hartmann had busied themselves establishing control of the Alliance colonies in the system.  Swordsman Hartmann had spent much of his time meeting with the Alliance officers he had captured, and in particular had dined with the T’Pau commander of the Alliance patrol group, who, after a few days, had realized this wasn’t a trick to try to get information out of her, and that instead, Swordsman Hartmann meant what he said when he claimed he just wanted to get to know the Alliance a little bit better. 

It took a while, but Sho-sa Tegrix eventually relaxed and actually began enjoying the daily meals with the Swordsman, mostly because of the honorable treatment they had all received at the hands of the Lothari Navy. 

All of that changed when a special liner arrived in orbit over the largest Alliance colony.  The liner arrived without arrangements being made with the naval forces in the system, and when it had been questioned at the warp point the liner’s commander had used a high-level security code to shut down all questions as to its presence.  Swordsman Hartmann only found out about the liner’s presence when he received a summons to his own docking bay.  Upon arriving he found that the bay had been taken over by Kingdom Internal Security troops.  InSec was feared throughout the Lothari Kingdom, and rightly so.  Many who had encounters with InSec were never seen again, and those who questioned such things had a way of disappearing as well, no matter how important or necessary they thought they were.  Upon arriving Swordsman Hartmann was relieved of his sidearm and efficiently searched, then ushered into the presence of an InSec officer.  InSec troops wore body armor and helmets that completely obscured their identity, and officers only wore insignia that identified them as InSec officers, but nothing that would give anyone an idea of their rank.  This was done as an intimidation measure, as anyone speaking to an officer would have no idea if that officer was a green lieutenant or a general. 

Not knowing if this was his last moments, Swordsman Hartmann waited for the InSec officer to speak.  After the officer looked the Swordsman up and down, a second officer approached and spoke in the first’s ear.  The first officer nodded and then approached Hartmann.  “Swordsman, you have achieved a victory here, it seems.”

The InSec officer’s tone of voice made it very clear that Hartmann’s achievement was little more than what was expected.  “Still, there have been errors made here.”  The InSec officer looked the naval officer up and down, then continued.  “Not yours, perhaps, but still.  In the future you should be more diligent.  Your so-called intelligence officers have failed to get the information the State needs to prosecute the Great Leader’s war. Now that we are here, that will end.  Internal Security will assume responsibility for the occupation of the former Alliance colonies as of now.  In addition, we require that all Alliance naval personnel in your custody be transferred to my shuttle, now.”

Swordsman Hartmann knew what that meant for the prisoners, and knew that he couldn’t change that, but had to try.  “They are enemy military personnel.  They should remain in military custody, by the law and as tradition demands.”

The InSec officer stepped towards the Swordsman, and the InSec troopers behind him shifted their weapons to cover the naval officer.  “While you have achieved much here, don’t let that go to your head.  I am operating at the Supreme Leader’s direction, and to deny me is to deny him.  Is that what you intend to do?”

Swordsman Hartmann, knowing he had lost this battle before it even began, took a step back.  “I obey the State, as do we all.  The prisoners will be prepared for transport.”

The InSec officer took a step closer and leaned towards Hartmann.  “Very good, Swordsman.  After all, we wouldn’t want word of your coddling of these enemies of the State to get to those who may…misunderstand…your reasoning.  Would we?”

“Is there anything further, officer?”

The InSec officer turned away.  “That will be all, Swordsman.”

Swordsman Hartmann left the docking bay, carefully controlling his emotions.  The fact that InSec was here, now, was a blow to his offensive every bit as serious as the sudden appearance of an enemy fleet.  In the run up to the start of the offensive, he thought he had convinced the Supreme Leader to leave these matters in the hands of the military.  Thus, he would be able to ensure that the military personnel and the civilians they captured were treated well, and given no more reasons to fight against the Lothari forces than they already had.  Obviously, InSec had gotten the Supreme Leader’s ear and changed all of that, which would change the tenor of his campaign.  InSec only understood fear and brutality, and they used both with a will. 

Later, as Hartmann watched the Alliance prisoners being matched into the InSec shuttle, he knew that he would never see them again.  The knowledge twisted his heart, but he buried it deep within himself.  He was a protector of his people, sworn to their service, and if he began a pointless and doomed fight with InSec then his usefulness to his people would be at an end. 

If you enter the site with HTTP instead of HTTPS you are likely to see all the icons... not sure why this is.

I've also been playing around wit the early access. Its an interesting game with a very slow start, and my first few restarts have been figuring out what I've been doing wrong and starting over to do better.

So far at least in the very early game, you want councilors with high persuasion so that you can take over control points far easier. Unfortunately, mine have been... less good at that. I also can't for the life of me see why you'd want a scientist early game.