Categories
Gaming Sci-fi

[75] Of conquering Alpha Centauri

It has been a while since I last wrote anything in my diary or in this page.

The week had been somewhat a depressing gaming week. First of all, I accidentally deleted my favorite game of all time – Civilization 3. The next worse thing that could happen happened. Here is the story.

I was playing Alpha Centauri as a Gaian. Of all the factions, the Green is my favorite because I myself am a moderate supporter of green movement. I was on an island alone with a fanatic Fundamentalist who wishes to spread the idea that the Church must rule the Planet. Hah, I should use wished instead of wishes. My ideology was the environmentally-concerned democratically society who thinks power is the only way to save the Planet from further environmental disasters from happening. Through that, I made a lot of enemies and little friends.

In the first few decades, I expanded at a fast rate until I met up with the fundamentalist lunatics. My first impression of them was fairly good but their bases location made my expansion policy ran disarray. So, deep in my heart, I want to get rid of these maniacs. That hope seems to be vanquished but later after a few years, the unexpected happened.
The Fundamentalists leader threatened me. They were mad because I was the ally of the United Nations movement and I was upholding democracy against God’s will. I was certainly delighted to hear those threats for at the same time, I was searching for a reason to start a quarrel with them. Snatching the chance, I simply pushed their demands aside and thus, the expulsion of the Fundamentalist immediately began. I was more than ready to overrun them.

My rovers were all set for war mode. They invaded the Church faction lands and quickly overcame their pathetic defense. Consequently, I gained half of their land-based bases before they managed to say “Oh my God!!!” (Janice’s style). By the time it was their turn to move, I expected them to liberate a few key cities but my expectation was wrong. Instead, they made a cease fire offer of which I refused. They were infuriated by my decision and said something like “We’ll destroy you while you are prancing nakedly among the trees”.

Later, it turned out that they were merely bragging as I conquered all of their land based cities without even sweating but that was not the end. The Academicians were worried of my expansionist ideology and told me to stop expanding eastward. I complied with their request seeing that I need to rebuild my military after such a huge expansion in such a short time frame.

All the same, it was not long until the Academicians started to become an annoyance. Like flies, they built their water cities and stole my precious resources in the east. Eager to reclaim those minerals that were rightfully mine, I sent an expedition against the Church so the that possibility of the Church launching a surprise attack while we reclaim our resourses from the University will be eliminated. A few beating later, the Church surrendered and agreed to be my servant. Before accepting their surrender, I persuaded them to make those unbelieving Academicians reach hell first. Desperate for a peace treaty, they mindlessly declared a holy war against the Academicians. Back in Gaia’s Landing, the Greens government seat, I was laughing evilly, like Satan after a successful “persuasion”.

The University was more resilient than the Church. Instead of seeing the Academicians’ influence diminished, the Church was reduced to a mere whipping dog. Pushed against the walls, the Church sent a representative to me asking for help. They were angry seeing me dancing nakedly among the green trees while they were fighting for their lives. After much urging from them, I said to myself it is time to reclaim those natural resources and use it for sustainable growth, not for excessive modernization that could repeat the mistake that the Human did back on planet Earth.

The first phase was initiated by the bombing of the Academicians’ water cities. They were caught by surprise and unready because their forces were concentrating on their northern enemy and never had they considered a western threat. The Green Air Force swept through the University sphere of influence and took all the University’s water cities near to our eastern shore. Victory was achieved but the Academicians were not the as weak as the Fundamentalists. They technological advanced society is liken to of a bee hive and one should never disturb a bee hive if one doesn’t want to be stung. Our victory was achieved due to the University’s water cities distance from their western shore and the fact that their forces were looming over the northern front against the Church but with the Church weakened, I realized my time of defeat will come if I keep on pressing eastward.

Furthermore, a new threat from the south had emerged. The United Nations had just declared war against the industrious Hive society. Fighting at two fronts was not included in my plan of expansion. Therefore, I made a decent proposal of peace to the University. The University, realizing that the militarist Spartan was intensifying their expansionist policy in the south keenly accepted my offer and thus peace was restored in the northern region for decades to come.

But unfortunately, that peace was giving way to the wind of war that was blowing as powerful as a typhoon from the south.

[To be continued…]

Categories
Sci-fi

[68] Of I love you Tanya

He woke up and realized it was morning. The checked his alarm clock. It was still early, two more hours before the intended time he wished to wake up. He contemplated for awhile on whether he should just get up from bed or continue having his sweet dream. For minutes, he laid on his bed thinking about the bleak future, the future that promised nothing but darkness.

There is nothing more to dream, he said to himself. I want to get up and savor these last moments of mine, he said in his mind.

Wearing nothing, he felt the coldness of living in the Underground. So, he took his favorite blanket to provide the warmth that he needed.

“Cold”, he said. “I should check the internet for the latest news.”

So, he went to his desk and sat in front of his computer. A flat screen with a powerful processor, he had what a boy could only dream of.

“Computer – 2D mode.”

The computer switched on, initiating its operating system quietly. The screen flashed a red light and then suddenly the light that came out from the liquid crystal screen changed from red to something brighter. He covered his eyes, trying to help his retina to adjust accordingly to the lights.

“Welcome Sir. Today is the-”

“Zero volume please”, he interrupted Gaia.

He saw a dark wallpaper on his LCD. It was one of his favorite backgrounds for his computer desktop. His desktop was highly customized but today’s wallpaper provides an ironic meaning. He sighed and touched the Netscape Version 21.1icon near the bottom of the LCD and the Reuters’ website came alive.

The latest reports were already in. Some of the latest headlines told him that the Moslems and the Israelis had finally learned to live peacefully side by side. He smiled at himself, realizing that Human did want peace but considering the current situation, all were nothing but too late. Another headlines read “Jesus Failed to Come to Expectation”.

Another false savior killed by the Book people, he said without pronouncing anything. He turned his head to the clock. It was 0630 hours. He opened up his diary and in it, written meet Tanya.

He stood up and went to washroom to take up his ablutions.

“A few more days if the calculation is correct.”

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

“Hi there!”

“Tanya, how are you today?” he asked.

“Well, with a few more hours to go, I don’t know exactly how I feel”.

He observed her. He could see in her eyes that she was scared. He was scared too but he tried to be brave. Everybody felt the same way too, whether one was a president of the greatest block or the bagger in the smelly sewer system. “I know what you mean. Where are you heading to?”

“I’m going upstairs to watch the stars. They say that with the current development, we could see Jupiter as brighter than ever”.

Yes, somehow, the Jupiter’s inept gases are being ionized, making it to produce a bit of light. Actually, I’m interested to see it too. May I join you?”

“I will be more than glad”, Tanya replied with a smile.

She is beautiful but why am I holding this feeling. Those words were audible in his head. Nevertheless, this feeling will matter not anymore. It’s too late but yet, what do I have to lose if I express it?

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

“I still remember the days when at night, the temperature was not as hot as right now. I wish those days will be will be a reality for those who chose to live on. I really do.”

“Why didn’t you choose to go with Hope? You were given the chance but yet, you refused it. Most people would kill for a place in that ship.”

“I don’t know. Maybe I am just tired living this life. And you, what is your reason?” she asked him back with a softer tone.

“I… I have nothing more to fight for. This Earth is my home and I want to stay with her. I will never abandon her. I fight for her all my life and now, the end is almost here. I can’t abandon her after years of work. If I must fall with her, I will”.

He scoured the night sky for Jupiter. Indeed, Jupiter had become the second brightest celestial object in the night sky. “Do you still remember Orion? They say that it was the most recognizable constellations throughout Human history”.

He checked his PDA, twenty more seconds.

“Yes. Things changed after million of years. But that part of the sky was called the Orionides. Betelgeuse was there, before it went-”

“I love you Tanya”, he cut Tanya short. Tanya was shocked but then all was too late. All ceased to exist, at least in the Solar system.

Categories
Sci-fi

[66] Of I’m the chosen one

:: how jedi are you? ::

One day, I will rule the Earth and more…

Categories
Pop culture Sci-fi

[62] Of Star Wars fever

The Star Wars fever has not ended yet.

Below is the original motion picture soundtrack of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones’ booklet cover.

p/s – Please refer to my past entry here. And read this if you think Star Wars sucks.

Categories
Pop culture Sci-fi

[60] Of Star Wars is out!

HEY, HEY, HEY!!!

STAR WARS EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES IS OUT!

“Join me and we shall rule the galaxy as father and son…”
– Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker), The Empire Strikes Back, 1981.