Trani - Mar 02 19:30 - Tick 280 Cycle 14

We're now into Cycle 14 and victory is getting closer. 

Stars: Necria (45) Gilgamesz (37) Inerz (29)
Total Ships: Necria (6587), Gilgamesz (6160) Inerz (5313)
New ships: Necria (112) Gilgamesz (99) Inerz (58.5)
Cycle Income: Necria (2525) Gilgamesz (1823) Inerz (1542)

Strategic 

• A scenario I am taking slightly more seriously than I was a day ago is Gilgamesz and Anita making quick work of Inerz. The infrastructure gap has started to rise and Gilgamesz ship production is now far outstripping Inerz. There are also signs that Inerz knows the fight isn't going well. Darrows worlds are all also very well fortified. His ship count is not insignificant and is only a little shy of Inerz. I should be able to make fast progress but it would be a disaster if Inerz was for example, to quit. If Inerz actually quit (stated themselves defeated) I'd offer a RTQ to Gilgamez and Anita and I'd give them a full cycle to respond to it and agree to it.
• I've made sure I have high Scanning (6) to give me lots of notice of any hostile fleet movements.

Diplomatic

• Inerz has contacted me and said they would accept 2nd place with me in 1st if I'll help them against Gilgamesz. As this will involve betraying my game-long ally I can't accept this. I need to think about my response though, I don't want them to lose hope yet. 
• Now is very close to the time to reach out to Gilgamesz and start talking RTQ. I don't think he would accept yet and I don't think I am 100% winning yet. There's still paths to defeat (though most involve a very unlikely Inerz/Gilgamesz 2v1) that are slowly thinning each tick.

Tactical

• Ktoc has downed tools and surrendered. His final worlds will be captured shortly bar one. My forces will be leaving this area

• Colonel Cockroach and Saboteur Slug will be capturing and eliminating Dust's final world.

• There's no real tactics to talk about against the AFK Darrow but General Bison and Saboteur Horse are working as a team to capture worlds with minimal losses. Reinforcements are flooding to them and I'm going to deploy the Roach and the Slug for a second pair.