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Improving growth, more colonists, more growth and production in every facet... Another fleet should help with that too. Instead of having Beta fleet bring more immigrants in, you instead send it far away to the Oon cluster of stars to gather some more of the rare crystals for research purposes. The trip, having military members of all three Hegemonic races among the fleet on a long term voyage with no access to the homefront, along grants the Threemind some interesting research data. After all, it has not been since the days of the Reconquistia and the stealth-cruiser mission that a Hegemony ship has been so isolated. You gain a small <span class="mu-s">2% Research progress</span> bonus from the data.
<span class="mu-s">Year 156 of the Resurrection Era</span>
After exactly <span class="mu-s">50 years</span>, your trade deal with the Esaal has finally ended. You retain ownership of the cold water planet in exchange for your past half a century of AI core production. However, on that day, you receive a message from the Esaal, specifically, the womanfolk in support of the military. You recognize her as the highest ranking woman of the Esaal's entire species; a rear admiral in charge of supply lines.
<span class="mu-r">"Hello, Supreme Ruler of the Hegemony. In other circumstances, I would thank you for your upholding of our trade deal, but unfortunately our situation is not very good. Truthfully, the war with the Aristocrats has gone on way too long, and our resources are simply... exhausted. One hundred billion metal plates buried in the ground to stop burrowers from attacking the men while they sleep, hundreds of ships, tin can for rations. It's just too much. They demand more after our supplies are exhausted and do not understand. Fools."</span>
She looks to her aides, also high ranking women. Was this rehearsed, or is this genuine apprehension of speaking to the Supreme Ruler?
<span class="mu-r">"In our culture, the menfolk believe any task that is not related to killing and conquest is weak and effeminate. But we know your culture praises great builders and healers just as much as its warriors. We believe you will see why this is so difficult for us. In short; we <span class="mu-s">requires more raw materials</span> to finish our war while our budget is already expended. We cannot offer you any useful technology you couldn't retrofit yourself, nor would we feel an insulting small payment in Consortium credits would be proper. So instead, we ask for your <span class="mu-s">charity</span>, in humility."</span>
It seems that by <span class="mu-s">arming the Aristocrats with Antimatter</span>, the war has extended beyond the Esaal's ability to fund it.
If you accept helping the Esaal, you will give up <span class="mu-s">half of your current and all future mineral incomes from your quarries</span>, in exchange for improved relations and little else. What do you think?
>Accept
>Decline
>No, but we'll help in a decisive battle (Send new fleet, war vs Aristocrats)
