[b][i]Plot Ideas/Future Plot for the Story[/i][/b] Expansion Arc (Arc One): - The Sphinx Domination begins a new offensive, using a massive number of ships; they're not more advanced than what the others have, but they are more than what the Domination can normally produce. They also seem to have more troops. - Paradise 'Par' Rapids is in Vegas station to negotiate with 'Mr Hut' and hire mercenaries for operations against Sphinx Space. The Sphinx, however, have their own agents trying to subvert Mr Hut. Basically, internal intrigue and skirmishes. - The regions of space closest to the front will be affected by the apperance of enemy fleets. - The regions of space furthest from the front will be affected by the drafting of troops and the diversion of resources to the front. - Depending on player activity, the PCs might learn that the Sphinx are being aided by a mysterious force. Interlude One: With the Sphinx Domination either defeated or victorious, it's time for the PCs to take a breather; thankfully, there are three opportunities: For PCs who choose to align themselves with Par, the latter arranges a vacation to the Tyrias system, or asks Charles Harris to do so. There, they do stuff like racing, stargazing, eating, and, sigh, navel-gazing. There might also be romantic hijinks and accidents. Also ships getting fixed and probably serious medical treatments. For PCs who are aligned with the Sphinx or are otherwise villainous, Alan gives them a vacation in the tropical beach world of New Hawaii, where they are served and 'served' by half-clothed slaves. There is surfing, waterskiing, doing hard drugs, and people trying to screw each other. For Neutral PCs who haven't chosen a side yet, they get a mysterious invitation from Mr. Hut, who may or may not have lost Vegas Station, inviting them to his Luxury Dreadnought, [i]The Palace[/i]. There, they enjoy racing, stargazing, eating, drugs, and have both romantic hijinks and people trying to screw each other. Oh, and Mr. Hut will continue trying to manipulate them to taking his side in matters. Siege Arc (Arc Two): - Whether the Sphinx Domination is defeated in the Expansion Arc or not, they will still muster a vast fleet and attack Terra Nova using overwhelming numbers, causing Par and whatever group he musters to go there and help the defenders in defiance of Guild orders. Should said overwhelming numbers fail, the Sphinx Domination will unveil a series of new dreandoughts, equal to Geth Ships. This new fleet is both numerous and technologically superior, and so Terra Nova falls with only the minimum of railroading. Alan Anderson, Emperor of the Sphinx Domination, then prepares to set fire to the garden world below, before Par approaches Alan and asks for a deal; he can have Terra Nova and its technology, but if he 1.) spares the gardens, and 2.) allows the population to evacuate, he would give himself over to Alan as a political hostage (Heir to the Guild, remember?). Alan then orders Par to strip to demonstrate his resolve, clamps a slave collar onto Par, then keeps his word, allowing the remnants of the Gardeners of Gimloe to live another day, albeit demoralized. Interlude Two: A Council is held in New Amsterdam between all the remaining factions opposing the Sphinx. Players either participate in the Council or go enjoy the taverns. Alliance Arc (Arc Three): Basically, the Council succeeds and forms an alliance against the Sphinx, which is churning out large numbers of advanced ships. People are also suspecting that something is up with said Sphinx, because it is not normally in their capacity to keep fighting for this long, even if they are winning. So, by now, there is speculation that they are getting help from elsewhere, speculation that is true - the Sphinx are being given a hand up by the Archonate of New Athens, one of the Successor States of the Human Federation back in the Terran/Core Sector. How do people find that out? It's up to the players; they can capture prisoners, break into paper archives, 'rescue' a brain-in-a-jar, or make up their own option. Either way, the Alliance manages to force the Sphinx into a stalemate, and the PCs have the task of turning the tide either for or against them, and, to ensure maximum freedom, they are allowed to make suggestions. And so, the PCs do their things, there is a final battle against either the Sphinx on their Throneworld, with the Domination and the Archonate of New Athens being defeated, or a final battle in New Amsterdam, where the Alliance is destroyed. If the former, Par gets rescued, and may or may not have avoided getting raped, and if the latter, he definitely gets raped.