[Suicide Junkie]

2401.0
Things went badly this month. The AIs were prepared, and only a quarter of the combat technicians made it down to the surface. All four deliverator ships were lost. We can only hope that our troops will be able to disrupt the planetary construction network long enough for us to find a way to get reinforcements to them.
An AI ship entered Telome and sent encoded messages to all of our planets. Although there was some trouble with sanitation bots on Telome II, the demolish and rebuild strategy was effective on the colonies.
The AI ships have begun spreading out in all directions lately, so the planets in Texrak and Telome have begun working on defenses.
The outer colonies, with their new construction yards, have begun building a new wave of liberator class ships. The more planets we have on our side, the better off we will be.

A number of plans to counter the AI drone carriers have been tried in simulations and rejected. Given the technological limitations we are currently under, it seems that there will be no easy way. The western worlds are cooperating again, this time to build Independence class carriers, and Asp fighters. Although similar in design to their AI counterparts, our missile bombers will have extra armor and cost more. Given the limited number that can be carried into combat with our limited number of ships, the tradeoff should help us.

2401.1
With our fleet demolished in Auric, the AI forces have redoubled their forces and threats at the mining colony. Our troops are well experienced with the enemy, and know which demands to accept and which to not. While the AI fleets secure orbit, we have been busy organizing defenses. Between signal jammers, EMP mines, nanotube aerosol grenades, and a host of other tricks cooked up by the local technicians, the citizens will be well prepared for the inevitable invasion.

2401.2
The appearance of an AI facility repair ship in the north has concerned the alliance council. Allowing the AIs to restore their control over the minor worlds in that area would be devastating to our cause. One of the unused deliverators has been reassigned from transport duty. Its new mission is to search out AI ships making reconstruction attempts, and stop them before they can complete their work. With luck, the deliverator's technicians should be able to make use of the AI's own heavy construction equipment, allowing the deliverator to help many more planets than it otherwise would.

2401.3
Although we have not yet established reliable contact with the combat technicians on Auric X, alliance leadership is hopeful. The fact that no new ships have been constructed there since the attack is encouraging. The blockade of the mining colony has also been lifted.
Elsewhere, the new wave of liberators have begun rebuilding facilities at worlds on the fringe of free space.
Already, there is talk of using the new Independence class carriers and the last remaining Deliverators to make another troop run at Auric X. With enough of our fighters to fend off whatever remains on the surface, and the remaining space aboard the carriers used for extra troops, the assault should be far more successful.

2401.4
Much optimism was crushed this month, as the reason for the abandonment of the blockade became clear. A fleet of eight AI ships, including three carriers, are now about to warp through to Texrek. Even though Texrek is our main fighter production center, this will be tough to withstand.
A three ship AI fleet was spotted up north in Othello as well. Defenses there are light, and will be strengthened in the next two months.
There was again no new ship construction in Auric, so as soon as the immediate crisis is over, a fleet will be sent with troops to reinforce our position there.

2401.5
The AI fleet stopped at the warppoint, and added a fourth carrier to its number. Even with the timely addition of 40 fighters from a deliverator, we will still be outnumbered if the fleet attacks Telome II.
North, in Othello, a fleet of AI ships have moved to intercept the newly constructed Liberator. Although escape is doubtful, the ship has been ordered to make a run for it.
More bad news in Auric; the last of our technicians were overrun by AI forces, and a new ship has been built there. Reinforcement is no longer an option, and this time the ground forces will be better prepared for our arrival.
The only good news is that our technicians at home have uncovered some useful technical plans in the archives. A prototype speed-4 fighter engine, and very old schematics for an inhabited space station. Such a station should allow us to supplement our ship construction efforts with enthusiastic engineers.

2401.6
The AI fleet's analysis of the situation in Texrek must have mirrored our own. High risk for both sides, with little to no possible gains. The fleet has moved back through Auric towards the north.
In Othello this month, a truly heroic effort by the defense forces distracted the AI warships long enough for the Liberator to break orbit. With five more AI ships entering the system, the Liberator set down on Othello V, and began organizing the natives into a defensive force in record time.
A prototype Assembly station has gone up at Aldan IV, and it is being very well received by the locals. More are planned for other colonies, and we should soon have a strong supply of Independence carriers. In Sophenis and Texrek, the supply of fighters is currently five times larger than the current capacity of our carrier fleet, so every additional ship will be a great help.

2401.7
The AI fleet is heading towards Telome now; although there are plenty of colonies with only basic defenses there, we are confident that we will be able to hold off any ground forces they have brought. The newly built orbital facilities are the most vulnerable.
In the north west, the Deliverator patrol has paid off. As an AI colony entered orbit of Dussullet IV, the Deliverator forced it down to the surface and deployed troops. 600 technicians were able to capture the AI equipment intact and without casualties! After building tools for a militia of 50 more technicians to help the locals restore services, work will begin on a space yard.

2401.8
Not much activity this month. Fleets are gathering everywhere, and the AI fleet has turned north. All available Deliverators and Independence are being gathered in Telome and Texrek for a two pronged assault planned for early in the new year.

2401.9
13 AI ships are being tracked across the northern areas, and ten more are leaving Auric to the north. Where they will strike is anybody's guess. Only three ships are orbiting Auric X this month, but our ships are not yet in position.