Turn Eight

When my printout arrived I found I had botched the transfer of artifacts at W56, making the mistake of transferring the artifacts to a fleet EEKER was giving to me in trade for one with the Plastic Pyramid. Fortunately a phone call straightened things out and evidently convinced EFKER that I wasn't trying to cheat him. This might have been difficult, considering that on this turn my score (1,111) passed his (975) for the first time. Also my attempt to explore W165 had failed because I had made the mistake of trying to do it with the wrong fleet - a loose key. Of the other worlds I explored W183 and W103 were routine, but W10 had two industries, as well as three RMP and, unfortunately, one I ship. It also had the Platinum Sphinx, the Radiant Sword and the Golden Lodestar.

EEKER told me he had learned, from KUBLA, of another player, called HLAKA. I sent the latter a brief, introductory note, of which I did not keep a copy. But I had still not met another player directly, though I now owned about one-eighth of the 225 worlds supposed to be in the Web. But there were, presumably, considerably more than eight players, so I already had far more than my share of worlds.

This turn I built 29 ships at W44. Also W44's RNIP went up from two to three this turn, as every world's goes up one after every seven turns of continuous ownership by the same player. So. with the 28 RMs I unloaded this turn I'd have W44's industries up to full production next turn. Eight RMs were brought in this turn from W61, six from W194 and seven from W113. Also three more were brought to W113: one from W183 and two from W103, and a fleet of 39 ships met them there from W44. The large fleet that was sent there last turn enabled me to accomplish several missions: Fourteen were sent to W82 to replenish the fleets operating in that direction. Seven went to W30 and four went to explore W6, four to explore W136 and four to explore W52. The one-ship fleet at W209 was sent, via W46 and W215, to W222. Meanwhile two ships were sent from W103 to explore W191, three from W2 to W207 and one from W183 to W156. Also I tried once more to send a one-ship fleet from W55 to W165. I plundered W61, W183, W103, W197 and W152 for 50 points each, and W144 and W203 were replundered for 40 points each.

I sent the following letter to KUBLA this turn:

Yes, I know EEKER, and it was from him that I learned about you. We met on Turn 3. We have, so far, avoided conflict, agreed on a common "boundary," traded artifacts and exchanged geographical information.

I have no claims or ambitions regarding W209, W122, W214 or W93. According to my computer printout, Eeker has owned W209 since Turn 3. Your other disputes with Eeker I'm in no position to judge. Although I have nothing against Eeker I might be willing to back you in a fight with him, if convinced you have the ships, fleets and intelligence to make a good showing. (Your low point total is evidence against all three.) I have 27 fleets and 138 ships. Eeker probably has about the same number of fleets but fewer ships by 10% to 20%. He is my closest neighbor, and, so far, closest rival, so sooner or later he and I will have to fight it out, I suppose. I'd rather do it with the advantages of surprise and an ally or two.

He has been talking up a possible attack on either you or FREEN (who I assume you've met) or both. I've tried to be discouraging because I think he could take you (even both of you) and that would only make him stronger. I'd advise you to either come to terms with Eeker or convince me of your value as an ally. An alliance with FREEN couldn't hurt either.

Have you met any other players besides EEKER, FREEN and me? I haven't. I have mapped 78 worlds, (I own 28 and will be adding seven more this turn,) thanks to the info exchange with EEKER. And I know the numbers and locations of the home worlds of both EEKER and FREEN (the former 100% certain, the latter 90%! If you're interested in combining against EEKER, let me know, and supply some information on your own situation. In any case lets keep the lines of communication open and the dialogue going.

P. S. I would regard any attack by you on either EEKER or FREEN without first consulting me as an unfriendly act.

A note from EEKER, accompanying the map of his system, informed me that in a phone conversation with KUBLA he had learned of two more players: LIE and DRM! I sent a copy of the following introductory letter to each:

I've heard about you, round about, from other players. Evidently, you are near KUBLA. There is another player, EEKER, between KUBLA and me. I also know the location of a player called FREEN, who is also on the other side of EEKER from me. So far I have met no one on the other side of me from EEKER, though I have explored out that direction quite a distance.

As for the diplomatic situation: Eeker and I have established a mutual border and maintain peaceful relations, including exchange of geographical info regarding this "Universe." He is an artifact collector and knows this game well. He has 1230 points this turn. I've corresponded a little with FREEN and KUBLA since I heard about them from EEKER. FREEN is also an artifact collector but evidently does not understand this game as well as EEKER and I, since he had only 60 points the last I heard (two turns ago), KUBLA is a berserker, as I assume you know I can only assume from his low point total that he doesn't know how to play this game very well. Since I don't have a common border with KUBLA or FREEN there hasn't been much opportunity to interact with them. I know KUBLA took offense to some actions of EEKER's last turn but believe they have patched it up, probably because from info I gave him about EEKER's strength, KUBLA realizes he can't afford a fight.

I'd like to hear from you, and maybe we can be of some mutual benefit to each other in the future. My home address is above, so you can correspond with me direct instead of via Flying Buffalo. At left is a sketch of the relative positions of the players I know.

STARWEB Part III: Introduction
STARWEB Part III: Turn 5
STARWEB Part III: Turn 6
STARWEB Part III: Turn 7
STARWEB Part III: Turn 9
STARWEB Part III: Turn 10