# The Trial: Campaign **URL:** https://aurora4x.com/t/the-trial-campaign/1055 **Category:** Campaign Reports - pappy\_reen **Created:** [August 29, 2026, 5:38pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/the-trial-campaign/1055 "2026-08-29T17:38:50Z") **Posts on this page:** 1 **Showing post:** 5
### Author: ![pappy\_reen](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/aurora4x.com/pappy_reen/32/2205_2.png) [@pappy\_reen](https://aurora4x.com/u/pappy_reen) #### Post date: [September 3, 2026, 5:08pm UTC](https://aurora4x.com/t/the-trial-campaign/1055/5 "2026-09-03T17:08:44Z")
# Interlude 1.3: Election Night 0014 [News Jingle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtn_hy6BHhk) _Camera pans round brightly lit studio. Male news anchor says something to female besides him, causing her to laugh in a way that almost looks natural_ ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/aurora4x/original/2X/8/8e2872f2bb1106294259757229b6a4a95fa3ea9b.jpeg) Brian: I’m Brian Wilson - Ellie: - and I’m Ellie D’Moll. Welcome to BCDAB News. Brian: You join us for our election special. For those just tuning in, let’s have a look at the results. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/aurora4x/original/2X/1/1fb312a57bc811146f7b579bc69d8a2c154e5a7d.png) Ellie: Thanks Brian - it was a close run thing, but _Morrigan’s Children_ just squeaked out ahead of _WOTW_. I guess the ladies really do love a man in uniform huh? Brian [patronising] That’s right Ellie. With neither party holding a strict majority, a coalition between these huge power blocks will be holding the reigns of power firmly and surely. But will their leaders be able to yoke the diverse and impetuous horses of public opinion like an expert charioteer, or will they be left mangled in the wreckage? Lek’tel Jones reporting from the scene; Ellie [off mike]: Brian, what the hell was that charioteer drek? If you tortured that metaphor any more it would have been a war crime! It’s bad enough I have to be a damn news bimbo without you - * * * _Excited newsman brushes a lock of blonde hair of his forehead as he speaks to camera. Besides him, the ‘General’ from the advert towers over him_ ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/aurora4x/original/2X/a/a19531981a09758e05855496496ceb50ff089433.jpeg) Lek’tel: Lek’tel Jones, political correspondent reporting here from the ‘Speaker’s Pit’ here on Morrigan. General - how did you achieve such a victory here today? General: The victory isn’t mine - it’s the brave crew of our fleets and troops - not just fending off the aliens but using their excellence to make the galaxy a safer and better place. Lek’tel: And how do you feel about the upcoming coalition? General: The people spoke; jobs, industry, a better quality of life. We are ready to answer - the military will always be pushing the frontier of the possible, and that will always benefit the public. * * * _Within the infrastructure of **Morrigan** , the real work has been going for several weeks. Experts, organisers and civil servants walk between cubicles and across cheap carpets_ _Fae, a stern, no-nonsense woman, pokes her head into a cubicle. Standard grey suit, no frills, trainers with good arch support_ Fae: Sarah, Jacob - walk with me. _She sets off without turning back to see if they are following._ Fae: Sarah - how are we doing on the research front Sarah: We should be able to make it - barely. The demands are pretty steep. Fae: Remind me - what are the tec specs of these STOs? Sarah [handing her a page] **Here are the minimum requirements** | Requirement | Target | | --- | --- | | Range | \> 200k km | | Fire Rate | \>12 / min | | Damage | \> 1 | we think that Lasers are best here. Versatile, long range - Fae [interrupting]: Good - Jacob, how are we gonna get them there? Jacob: Well, there are 8 colonies, 5 of them populated **and needing police crews alongside enhanced STOs**. We have the squaddies doing jumping jacks on base but we’re gonna need purpose built troop transports - technology we just don’t have yet… Fae: But we will? Jacob [uncertain]: Erm… yes? Fae: Good - let’s make it happen. Remember **we can’t get distracted by civilian research - we have homes to protect** Jacob: And the jump point? Fae [stops to look out of a tiny porthole, the light pink of aetherium giving the air of **Morrigan** a light glow] If we have time, and it’s a big if **we have to get some troops and defences on the other side of one of those** * * * _Back in the studio_ ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/aurora4x/original/2X/8/8e2872f2bb1106294259757229b6a4a95fa3ea9b.jpeg) Brian: Of course, the _WOTW_ make up a considerable part of this coalition. When we reached out to them for comment, they had this to say: Ellie: Wow - some pretty radical words there from our new government! We sent Lilith Bra-ben down to the party headquarters for some follow-up. Lilith - how’s it looking over there? * * * _It’s hard to tell if the reporter is inside a factory or a pub. Oil stained hands dip into kegs of alcohol as the shattering of dropped glass earns the eternal “waheyyy!” from hundreds of drunken, red, sweating faces amongst girders and pipes spouting steam_ Lilith: The _WOTW_ are celebrating their incredible win in their traditional style - heavy drinking and - _In the background, a woman spits a spray through a sparking welder. A huge blue cloud of flame explodes to resounding cheers and applause_ Speaker[shouting] Quiet… Quiet! SHUT UP YOU CLANGERS! _In one hand he holds a lead pipe which he strikes against his artificial leg, the repeated metallic ring slowly quieting the crowd_ ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/aurora4x/original/2X/5/50af00f30ebd39e65a05db1982e96fa666364f83.jpeg) Speaker [swaying slightly]: We have won! United we stand against the tyrant called Capital! From this day forward, we will interdict the building of: - Auto mines - Shuttle ports - Telescopes - Infrastructure - Any installation that does not employ workers **If it doesn’t employ a friend of mine -** Crowd [in unison]: **- we refuse to give them factory time!** Speaker [if there ever was a script, he’s going off it now] **Not only will we slash unemployment** but we’re gonna show those plutocrats who is boss - **new, more successful cooperative colonies to dwarf the private ones** They’ll defect from their overlords as soon as they see our majesty! _Raucous cheering fills the room. Somewhere, a pinata in a monnocle and top hat is smashed with bats, spraying half-melted chocolates over the concrete floor, to be crushed by steel topped work boots_ Lilith [shouting up at the speaker]: What is your plan for the jump point? _There’s a strange moment of silence - you can almost head the primal part of her brain asking “why is the forest suddenly so quiet?”_ Speaker: What do I care about the universe out there when we have children starving down here? When the worksrscry out for work, purpose, joy, life who cares about - * * * “Turn it off.” ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/aurora4x/original/2X/2/263cb07bb170fb465162c6c6303c1ab2a7130a42.jpeg) _A gentle click shuts the screen off in the minimalist office. As it sinks silently into the wall, it leaves the two viewers in the dim light. A low wooden table holds two delicate glasses of amber liquid between them_ Man : How did they win so much of the electorate? We are living in the time of aliens, of interstellar travel… These luddites are dragging us down into the mud! Woman [sipping from drink]: I can only agree, my friend. But what can we do? What the voters as they are… Man [anxious]: If only there was some way to get a bit of research time… Some minerals…I could make the first interstellar vehicle. I could show them how wrong they are, find the future! Woman [smiling]: Professor, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship… _Given the recent events and poor showing at the elections, **Ad Astra** and **Abundance Inc.** have merged into one new party **Ad Astra per Aurum** _ ## Gameplay Concequences Taboos: > 50% of research at all times must be committed to military tech > Can not build anything that does not employ workers (unless all workers are already employed) Mandate: > STOs with at least 200k range, 12 shots per min and 2 DMG on every colony > Police units on every inhabited colony > Halve “unemployment” (Available workers) from 119.75m (9.2%) to less than 59.88m (4.6%) Bonus: > STO and / or ground troops stationed beyond Sol > Establish new _restricted military_ colonies (no private sector) which have higher population than current private colonies --- _[View the full topic](https://aurora4x.com/t/the-trial-campaign/1055)._