* SPYING (F7) + + + Certain races prefer to avoid open hostilities and rely on more subtle - and underhanded methods to achieve their aims. The use of spies to - achieve these aims is a well-established practise. Spies can be used - for many different tasks including theft, sabotage, kidnapping and - assassination. + + Your empire can employ a maximum of 12 spies. Your first spy is - housed at your headquarters but to employ further spies you will have - to build spy centres. The number of spies you employ and the maximum - you can employ is displayed at the bottom of the window at the bottom - left of the screen. + + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Spies + + Left click on a spy to select him. His personal information is displayed in - the window at the bottom right of the screen and contains the following - information. + + Name + Race + XP: During missions your spies acquire experience points. The more complex the - mission, the more points they receive. + Rank: After gaining enough experience points, your agents achieve a - new level, or rank. They get 3 skill points at each rank, which can be - divided among the following four skill areas: + - Infiltrate: This is important when the mission's target is * outside your empire. If an agent has high offense skill, they will * have a higher chance of returning safely. * - Counter Intelligence: This skill is useful for agents that are * sent on counter intelligence missions. You can use them to prevent * the enemy spies from attacking your empire. The more spies you * have on counter intelligence missions, the less chance enemy spies * have of succeeding in their missions in your empire. + - Combat: This skill is used when two enemy spies meet. The spy with * the best combat rating will win. + - Loyalty: If enemy forces catch your spy, they may try to * convert him into a double agent. Spies with higher loyalty ratings * are harder to convert. + + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Double agents + + If your spies manage to catch an enemy spy you can decide whether to - kill him or employ him as a double agent. The latter option offers - several advantages. When the double agent is sent on a mission against - your empire he will fail his mission, yet if he is sent on a mission - against other empires, he will provide you, as well as his original - employer, with information without costing you anything. + + Naturally, the enemy can also try to convert your spies to double - agents, so you should never trust anyone completely... - If you suspect one of you spies is a double agent, you are able to kill them. + + + New Spies + + When a new spy arrives in your empire, several options are available to you - in the window at the bottom right of the screen. The cost of hiring the spy - is shown as "Required Credits". If you don't have the neccasary credits you - can ask the spy to come back to you later. + + + + Missions + + As the rank of your spies increases, they can solve more and more - difficult tasks. In the beginning they provide you with basic - information but later they are able to acquire well-kept secrets from - other empires. + + For certain tasks, such as stealing inventions, you can specify a - target. First you have to select the mission type, then select the - name of the empire you want to target. In some cases you can also - specify what design your spy has to steal or which planet he should - sabotage. + + Once you have sent an agent on a mission, you will see how many days - are left until completion of the mission, and what chance he has of - success. His chances depend on his level, skills and other factors. - If you have more agents on counter intelligence missions, you will - decrease the chances of success of enemy spies (see Level 1 missions). + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Level 1 missions + + Training + You can send your spies on training missions. These missions allow - your spies to develop their skills in safety. + + Info: Check empire - You can get different kinds of information about enemy empires such as how - many planets are in their empire, their population, their ships and - developed inventions. + + Info: about planets - There are two types of missions. You can select "any planet" as the target, - which enables you to learn the name of a new planet. If you set a specific - planet as a target, you can learn the population number, the morale and the - number of tanks present. + + Info : inventions - If the mission is successful, you learn the names of three inventions - researched by the enemy. + + Counter intelligence - You can try to prevent enemy spies from damaging your empire. The mission will - continue until you recall your spy (or he is killed). + + Level 2 missions + Steal money: You can steal money from the treasury of the enemy. + + Level 3 missions + Sabotage - This is a slow but effective way of weakening the enemy. In a successful - mission the target building is destroyed. You can select specific targets - only if you have previously received information about them. + + Detonate ship - Similar to sabotage but in this case the target is a spaceship. + + Level 4 missions + Steal invention - If you know that the enemy has developed a certain invention that you have - not, you can try to steal the designs. + + Level 5 missions + Incite revolt - If you incite a revolt on a planet the revolting colony breaks away from the - ruling empire and will join another one. + + Level 6 missions + Hunt for enemy spies - If you think that the enemy's spies are causing too much trouble, you can - try to kill them. Be sure that your agent has good combat skills! + + * + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Level 8 missions + Assassination of ruler - This is the most difficult mission to complete. Your agent has to penetrate - into the highest circles of the enemy empire and wait for the appropriate - moment to kill their ruler. The murder will result in a chaotic situation in - the empire resulting in the possible revolution or defection of some - colonies. + + Below these you can set a target race, target planet and building - (where needed). The only mission to use all three targets is the sabotage, - where you have to decide which race, which planet and which building is the - target. + + Before you select to start a mission, the time, chance and cost are displayed - in the window at the bottom left of the screen.