Perfidious Probes: Part 1

"Two advanced probes from an unknown faction have been detected on the capitol planet in your empire. One invites your empire into a vast galactic alliance of peace. The other explains that your planet will soon be destroyed. Both probes say the other is deceitful."

Objective 1: Form a committee to meet with the alliance probe. (-100  on empire, Must put any hero on capitol system)

Outcome 1: "The population benefits from the news, inspiring productivity."

+10 , +1% , +1%  on Planet for 5 turns.

Objective 2: Research the alleged threat to the planet. (must add one  improvement, one  improvement on capitol planet)

Outcome 2: "The population dreads the supposed annihilation, but invest their resources to research the problem."

-10 , -1% , -1%  on Planet for 5 turns.

Perfidious Probes: Part 2 Version A

"Over the years, elected officials from each nation meet with the probe to discuss the invitation. Your empire is taught new technologies and terraforming processes to improve the planet. Envoys from the alliance will reveal themselves to you empire once a period of time passes."

Objective 3: Prepare the planet for the alliance. (Must put research into any Diplomacy and Trading technology, must add one Food improvement to capitol planet)

Outcome 3: "The population's productivity continues to improve as they prepare."

+10 , +100 , +2% , +2% , +2%  on Planet for 5 turns.

Cheapest Diplomacy and Trades technology obtained.

Perfidious Probes: Part 2 Version B

"After years of study, your scientists theorize the world killing process may have already been initiated by the probes. They have detected two large objects that have drilled through the planet's crust on opposite ends. One consists of an unknown matter, and the other an anti-matter. Your lead researcher predicts the alien substances will slowly spiral around the core for years, then impact each other, causing a massive planet-wide earthquake."

Objective 4: Formulate a plan to mitigate damages to the planet. Begin to evacuate the population. (Must put research into any Applied Sciences technology, must create a fleet of at least 4 ships in system)

Outcome 4: "The weary population starts to put the plan into effect."

-10 , -100 , -2% , -2% , -2%  on Planet for 5 turns.

Cheapest Applied Sciences technology obtained.

Perfidious Probes: Part 3 Version A

"The envoys of the galactic alliance visit your capitol. They tell you the deceptive probe was part of a test they give to potential allies. They help complete the terraforming on the planet and usher your empire into a new era of peace. You are encouraged to visit their homeworld to promote the new partnership." (Random home system revealed (Non-Craver), increase diplomacy)

Objective 5: Send an envoy to complete the galactic alliance. (Must send at least one ship with Hero to revealed home system)

Outcome 5: "Your empire proudly gains a new ally."

+10 , +100 , +5% , +5% , +5%  on Empire for 20 turns

Ecologist Ideology Bonus.

Garden of Eden Anomaly on Planet.

Perfidious Probes: Part 3 Version B

"The galactic alliance proved to be a psychological deception that blinded your empire from the truth. The world killing process had been initiated years ago, and now it is too late do find a solution. A massive explosion from the core creates a planet-wide earthquake that devastates the surface."

Objective 6: Try to save as many as you can! (must create a ship of the highest available type on home system)

Outcome 6: "Your capitol planet is nearly destroyed by an unknown faction. Very few are able to board the single escape vessel and leave the world in time. The survivors witness thousands of new probes exit the dead planet and fly off to new destinations. They vow to never let another world fall to the mysterious oppressors."

Capitol planet is turned into a Lava planet.

Reduced to 1 .

Remove all improvements.

All Advantageous/Debatable Anomalies removed.

Cheapest Galactic Warfare technology obtained.

Militarist Ideology Bonus.

Perfidious Probes: Part 3 Version C

"A mysterious message is broadcast around the capitol. It seems the planetary destruction was a clever illusion designed to test potential new allies. The objects within the core were going to help the planet, but have now been rendered inert. The strange probes are disappointed in your empire's reaction. They soon leave your planet."

Objective 7: Try to communicate with the deceptive probes. (-100 )

Outcome 7: "The probes are silent. You have somehow failed to impress an unknown faction. The population is quite unhappy with the outcome."

-10 , -1% , -1%  on planet for 10 turns.

Perfidious Probes: Part 3 Version D

"Your capitol's preparations have paid off. Billions of lives are saved. Most of the population is able to evacuate the planet prior to the explosion. Countermeasures are used to diffuse the earthquake. The destructive energy is redirected and results in an unexpected benefit. Scans of the planet reveal more strange objects forming within the core."

Objective 8: Make sure the probes do not replicate! (-500  on empire, -500 , -500  on planet for 1 turn)

Outcome 8: "The survivors are able to stop the objects from replicating and reverse engineer some of the technology. They also are able to locate the origin of the probes."

Capitol Planet is turned in Arid planet.

Improvements randomly reduced by 1/2.

Population reduced by 2 .

Other planets in home system gain 1 .

Random Advantageous Anomaly on Capitol planet.

Cheapest available Exploration and Expansion technology obtained.

Non-ally home system revealed, lower diplomacy.

Scientists Ideology Bonus.

This quest is an homage to the book Forge of God by Greg Bear. The results may seem extreme, but I really wanted to have a quest that effects a planet in a memorable way. The final parts in Chapter 3 are decided randomly, which will ensure different outcomes if the player encounters the quest in other games. I know it may count as 3 choices but the only one the player can make is the choice in Chapter 1.

Amplitude, please let me know I my quest has any issues and I will try to fix them. Thanks! :D

EDIT: Thanks for the suggestions, Frogsquadron. I tried to update the quest with the following improvements:

- added proper objectives to make the player more involved

- balanced outcomes

- balanced end rewards

- at least one tech rewarded no matter what path is taken, two techs rewarded for some paths

- made it the player's choice to make an alliance or declare war

I realize that there isnt really a capitol planet in the game, just a home system for each faction, right? I guess when I refer to a capitol planet in I mean the main Class I planet in the home system the player starts with in a new game. Also, I know the ending is dramatic, just like the book it is inspired from, but I really tried to keep it only effecting the planet. I dialed down the drama for the bad endings hopefully by adjusting the ending outcomes, so players might want to redo the quest in another game. Please let me know what additional changes I may need to make so I can qualify to enter the contest, thanks! :D