From W.A.B.Y. Z. Chicago, it's This Imperium Life, distributed by Matt Martins and Hunter Donaldson.

I'm Ira Glass, and the theme of today's show is Twilight Imperium. What is it exactly? Today, we'll find out.

Music by Ben Prunty, featuring Matt Martins and Hunter Donaldson. I was playing as the embers of Muat, and I was doing great.

The Nalu Collective was rushing for a victory.

They were on Mechatol, had several points, and the speaker token to secure themselves imperial.

Meanwhile, I was in a pickle. I had a stage

two and a secret in the bag, but I was at six points, just barely shy of the win. I had been feeling

confident that no one knew I had enough trade goods for the stage two objective, but there was

nothing I could do to win this round.

I resigned myself to getting to nine, but without the perfect secret objective, the next round,

there was no way I could beat the Nalu, unless I dealt with them. I bargained with the Isarl

to purchase his promissory note, Spy Network, so I could take from him a flank speed. With this flank speed, I could get my

war sun in a small fleet to the Nalu Production Center to destroy their fleet and flagship,

and then be in a position to seize their home. I stalled out the table, then began my move,

first to take a cultural planet to prevent their secret and clear the way for the feature

presentation. Unfortunately, unless the combat went really well for me, I wouldn't be able to score a

secret objective here. I wasn't too concerned, though, as I wasn't going to win here anyway.

Until the Nalu offered me their support for the throne. In one transaction, I could win the game.

The table was stalled out. I could use my war son to guarantee my secret, and the game will be over.

No one could stop me. My first win as the embers was secured, but I had made a deal with the

Isaral to attack the Nalu. The Isaral reminded me of my pledge, the non-binding assurance that I would attack the Nalu

collective.

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