Further rounds of tech trading continues as well as wonder building. The Big Bs decide that they like the look of 5 sided buildings by completing the Pentagon, followed by The Three Gorges Dam (a total smoke on my part as I could have just build a hydo-dam for my single city) and the Eiffel Tower.
Its at this stage (1856AD, turn 298) that the Perpen Fuhrer finally catches up with the Band and declares war. I'm not sure if he checked the diplomatic situation but he now finds himself in a three way war thanks to my defensive pacts (Both Qin and Catherine declare war on Germany). I'm not sure if this is good or not for my permanent alliance. My oil is not online, Catherine will sell me oil for 160 gold (yes and then forget to cancel to deal when the oil isn't needed - duh) but I have uranium. While I am teching Fission I finish my drydock and get ready for a sea battle by mining my floodplains grassland for its uranium. I also lose all of my sea based resources.
In 1860AD (turn 300), the critic (France) who has been checking the diplomatic situation declares war but only with me (the defensive pacts have been cancelled). My city is starving due to the lack of seafood so I decide to hire only scientists (it doesn't matter if you are 1 food short or 100 food short - starving is starving ... well, at least I think it doesn't matter).
The land based forces are quickly dealt with with my infantry and cannons. It is only the sea based units that are causing problems. I spend 10 turns building nothing but Combat III Medic I (did I mention I build the Red Cross national wonder which claims to give each unit Medic I but doesn't!) battleships. With 10 of these guys, I have enough to totally seal my coastal resources ...
The war situation during these heated battles.
In 1896 (turn 318), 54 turns after Catherine and I signed a Defensive Pact or were involved in a war, I decide that we must get peace and try for our Permanent Alliance. I organise peace between Catherine and Perpen Fuhrer for flight and 260 gold (both from me to Catherine) and sign a peace deal with PF (he gives me 20 gold). France offers a peace deal and askes for 730 gold as part of the deal (no way, have Liberalism instead). In other world news, the Mystery Woman becomes a groupie [vassal] of The Persian Pussy cats. It seems that Cyrus had been beating the snot out of her for a while. Also, The Qinsters comes to his senses and decides that they actually like touring on their own [Qin renounces the protection of Catherine].
And so the world is at peace. Space ship parts are going up left, right and centre. I check on the PA with Catherine ("No, not enough time!" 54 flippen turns!!!). I blindly play a few more rounds until 1814AD (turn 317, 63 blood turns!) only to find that Catherine has changed civics into Free Religion (I lose the +7 from shared religion and drop from friendly to pleased) ... shit! Now what? Well, I try this ...
Bingo! She jumps back into Confusianism, back up to Friendly and the Permanent Alliances is green ... whooo hoooo
Now the careful reader might have noticed the clock time in some of my pictures. What was I doing playing Civ IV in the very early hours of the day. Well, this game just happened to help me pass 5 or so hours on one of my trips back from Korea. I don't change the PC time when I travel so I can tell at a glance what time it is back home.
Still nothing about the band?