PATCH CENTRAL Version 1.25 [Windows] (5.3MB) Installation Check [Windows] (28KB) Version 1.25 [Macintosh] (5.0MB) SHOPPING CENTRE MoO3 @ Chips&Bits ($29.95) MoO3 @ EB ames ($39.99) MoO3 Strategy Guide @ EBGames ($19.99) MOO3 PREVIEW PART 6: LET'S CALL IT A DAY PART 5: NOT ALL QUIET ON THE GALACTIC FRONT PART 4: SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR TALK PART 3: THE JOURNEY BEGINS PART 2: FOR CUSTOMIZATION'S SAKE PART 1: LET'S MEET THE PLAYERS

MoOving In: A Detailed Preview of Master of Orion III
PART 5: NOT ALL QUIET ON THE GALACTIC FRONT (Page 2)
By Daniel Quick | Apolyton CS Co-Owner/Administrator

Instead, to my amazement and horror, my scout takes its time trying to transverse the entrance to the Taben system. Given that avoiding the skirmish in the first place was not an option and not knowing the ship configuration of my rival, I felt the best recourse was to gather speed in taking the most direct route out of the hostile territory. Precious seconds had been lost by thanks to the captain's hesitation and my not taking command of the scout myself. “Retreat, retreat!” I screamed at my monitor as if the game could understand my order even if it could hear me.

I then realized that in my haste I had told my scout to 'Blockade Planet' as its 'Combat Action' on the previous screen. If I had recalled this, I would have been pressing the 'General Retreat' button like mad from the outset. My scout had just gotten itself turned around when a few seconds later, the enemy appeared out of the shadows firing once and disappearing into the darkness once again. My scout exploded into oblivion. They didn't even fight, but then again they didn't even have a chance. There were no survivors.

As I attempted to impart in Part 4, I pursued a primarily peaceful co-existence with my galactic neighbours that had more or less positive outcomes on the whole. The above serves as the most devastating example of the less-than-positive consequences stemming from my decision to employ as a minimal number of minimally armed ships as possible. In what may have been nothing more than a coincidental event, the turn following the Apolytonian defeat at Taben several Apolyton colonies were reported as having degenerated to unstable status following rampant rioting. The citizens were demanding more protection for themselves at home and their loved ones abroad. It wasn't enough of a ruckus to cause a total shutdown of these communities, but it was enough to make the lead story in my 'SitRep' ('Situation Report'; for more on this, see Parts 3 and 4). I felt like joining their protests and feeling sorry for myself in the process. But with great power comes… well, you (oughta) know.

MANAGING FOREIGN RELATIONSHIPS IS A FULL-TIME JOB

“… consult the Foreign Matrix to find out who your enem[ies] might be.” ( MoO3 Manual | Page 101 )