[center][i]“Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” - Arthur C. Clarke[/i][/center]

The [b]Known Galaxy[/b]. It is a seemingly trivial place. A contraption of a million mechanical parts with whispering stars and exploding holes of immense blackness. Then there is [b]You[/b]. What are you? Not a single entity. No. You are a conglomeration, a billion hearts beating at one time, stuffed away in your own corner of the galaxy. The average galactic year (AGY) is about [b]3,125[/b] and although your peoples' own calendars are markedly different, you are but a pawn in a much larger game. I would show you a map of the galaxy, but you wouldn't believe it. You have dropped a Styrofoam cup into the ocean and decided that the galaxy is this big. What remarkable things are in this cup! But if I were to show you my own map, it would look much like an ocean. Not only this; on your own map, you are decidedly somewhere in the middle. Oh, you think you're quite important, don't you? Truth is.. You're over here .. Yes, right on the corner of the map. Not very important at all. Well, this isn't very important at all. Let us move on.

There was a great discovery in your civilization. What was his name? I can't be bothered with the details right now, but his name will forever live in adoration anyway. He found a way, you see. A way to see the stars. He may have discovered how to bend the temporal slopes of space to his own whims, or perhaps he found a way to accelerate to unfathomable speeds in the frictionless blackness of space? Was it a she that developed it? Everything's so fuzzy now. So sorry. The important bits are here, I promise you! You've done tests, jumping from one edge of your solar system to another in mere seconds. Some of you have even colonized the large chunks of space rocks you called planets and for that I applaud you -- you have done so much in so little time!

This is where our story begins. With you. Have fun.

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[b][u]WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW[/b][/u]
You start each TURN (1 Average Galactic Year) with [b]4 POINTS[/b].
There are five principle mechanics in the first phase of the game. 
-- [b]GROWTH[/b]: (2 POINTS): A home effort. By increasing our standard industry, we will increase our capabilities to expand and defend ourselves. This will increase our GPP by $10 Trillion.
-- [b]EXPLORATION[/b] (1 POINT): Send a [i]single[/i] exploration vessel into the void. You must pick a galactic position (Galactic North, South, East or West) to travel. This will jump into the nearest inhabitable solar system in that direction. [i]For 1 Additional Point[/i] you may send a military escort.
-- [b]SURVEY[/b] (1 POINT): When you discover new solar systems, you will also discover new planets. Studying them for habitability, resources and even life will be essential to finding out if they are worth your time for possible colonization.
-- [b]COLONIZE[/b] (2 POINT): Sending colonists and the necessary tools to sustain life and even possible terraforming will be absolutely essential to expanding your society into the stars. It is possible to colonize planets you have no surveyed.
-- [b]COMMUNICATE[/b] (2 POINTS): If you do discover life, you will wish to communicate with them. Music, language, radio signals. The possible methods of communication are untold and to communicate we must employ all of them. We must be ready at all times.

Points do not stack. Use it or lose it. You will PM me your moves for each round and RP at your whim. I will do periodic [b]UPDATES[/b] to let you know what your moves have uncovered. A Cosmographic Map will be generated once [b]1 Civilization[/b] has found another the [b]Homeworld[/b] of another Civilization. Happy hunting, err .. exploring.