Turn 1

Liao builds 11 conventional regiments and reinforces his three manufacturing centers. He nervously looks to his neighbors and decides to stay put for the moment.

Marik builds up some forces also and does not attack. He wonders why the five states can't just get along.

The first set of pictures were taken at this point. I had the flash on for some of these pictures which produced a bright spot. Later on I left the flash off.

Steiner decides to launch an attack on Marik. The units in Donegal move and take Sierra. Troops from Tharkad, Odessa, and Skye move and in and take the Marik region. The other leaders note that Steiner has dangerously committed most of their Jumpships to the front, lightly guarded by the surviving units of the offensive. This bodes ill for when Marik counterattacks. The Marik manufacturing center is damaged in the fighting.

Kuritan spies report the cards that Davion has. Lord Kurita pales at what he sees, but bravely decides that the Combine must still attack. Kurita launches an assault on Davion while Steiner is occupied. A force moves to take Ozawa while a large force lands on Robinson. Liao uses his free bribes and Death Commandos to help the Kuritan offensive, as the Combine troops take both regions. Aaron Sandoval is captured. Once again, too many Jumpships are committed to the front and are dangerously exposed.

Davion hires the Outworlds Alliance, which launch an attack on New Samarkand. He then sends any troops he can to retake Robinson. Prince Hanse Davion himself leads the attack. Davion bribes ComStar to place a House Interdict on Kurita. A gasp from the other players. But Marik bribes ComStar to life the House Interdict. The Davion attack goes off as planned. Kurita doesn't destroy the Robinson Jumpships, a gamble that fails as Davion forces quickly destroy the Combine defenders and retake Robinson. This leaves the Combine with only three small Jumpships. There is now a very large stack of Jumpships on Robinson. Davion tries to hire the Bandit Kingdoms but Kurita outbids him. Davion builds conventional units.