Vespae VI - Tick 60, Cycle 2

Part way through the third Cycle now and I'm in a commanding individual position but should have a big target on my head.

Activity Update

• Bubblegum went AFK then returned but he's been AFK enough that I decided to treat him as AFK. He may miss any given turn.
• Inerz was replaced by MiniMe (Melkor) an experienced player I don't think I've come across before.

Strategic

• Strategic priority at the moment is establish robust defenses through a combination of fleet movements to choke points (e.g. wormholes) diplomacy (this one is key considering I'll soon border most players in the game) and presence (visible fleets) 
• Plan will still be to go to war with CRISPR soon but this isn't urgent. I've got a good swath of territory and control the key strategic stars I want to so I can wait and be patient to an extent. 
• Medium term strategy is get a good tech lead and start saving up some specialist tokens to give me flexibility and also to get worldbuilders/financial analysts in place as soon as I can.

Diplomatic

• I've arranged with Cypher and Vik Ia that I will take the wormhole and no other territory up north. They're on board with that.
• Cypher and Vik Ia have a NAP/are coordinating to attack Bubblegum. Innoble has some apprehension about that which I can later play on. Am I apprehensive about it? Not really, not yet - I think I can handle that threat diplomatically. 
• I've done an initial trade with MiniMe and I'm going to try to keep that border peaceful for now during this consolidation phase. 
• Will be trading tech with Innoble next turn and looking to build that trust up. 

Tactical

• Attack on Bubblegum was a success and I've secured the northward wormhole. I should be able to defend this now against whatever he throws back at me, though hopefully he wont contest it.

• My other wormhole is also suitably defended
• My borders with MiniMe are fortified enough for now but likely need strengthening
• My borders with CRISPR are weak and a determined attack south from his territory would be difficult to defend. I assess the threat right now as low though.