Files:
ZONELD - BASIC
ZONELD1 - BASIC
Neuzone - machine code

Far into the next century, the planet Earth rules an Empire containing millions of planets. This is policed by giant space cruisers, communities in themselves, that patrol the Galaxies endlessly.

The average person's working life has been cut drastically over the past 100 years. Nowadays most people work only a 30 hour week for 5 years of their life, after this the state provides for them. Some jobs take longer and are more dangerous such as research and exploration of the Galaxies. These two areas have the distinction of the highest casualty rates but suitable rewards are offered to potential candidates.

The Earth's influence spreads over many thousands of planets. The planets are classified into two categories; the pleasure planets and the mining planets. The pleasure planets, for most people, are their one and only place of residence. Once housed on a pleasure planet, with your working life behind you, you live out the rest of your life in luxurious retirement. The mining planets, on the other hand, supply the Earth and her empire with vital minerals.

Many mining planets are owned by private individuals, a legacy left over from the great space race when every trading house sent out expeditions to conquer the mysterious and never ending space. Many an expedition failed to return, but as better space craft appeared with improved engines and navigational aids, space travel became the norm. New civilisations were discovered, some more advanced than Earth whilst others less so. When new civilisations were discovered a treaty was usually drawn up to specify the boundaries between the two empires. These were often disputed. Incursions were frequent and committed by both sides.

The minerals, once mined on Earth, were now mined on the mining planets. These minerals were transported back to the motherland in giant cargo carriers. So big were these ships that they could never land on a planet, instead a fleet of smaller craft service and load them.

Some private planets, owned by trading houses, have declared their independence from Earth so as to escape taxes. This, naturally enough, maximises the return on shares in the trading houses. Perhaps for this reason alone, Earth (or should I say the politicians with shares in the trading companies) allowed these planets their independence, usually, without hindrance.

Unfortunately, for some of these planets, they were on the border of the Earth's empire. Without their motherland's protection, neighbouring empires often invaded and captured the planet. Then, sometimes, the planet would be recaptured for either strategic or more often monetary reasons.

Small private armies were common among the trading houses and were frequently used against each other in inter-house squabbles. Many independent planets prospered, some had even set up governments modelled on the Earth's. When strong enough, these planets usually made economic treaties with Earth which benefitted both partners.

Miners, from Earth and its empire, could sign a 5 year contract with a trading house. This, once the contract was completed, would entitle the miner to live out the rest of his life in extreme comfort. A place of residence would be reserved either at Earth, if the miner had good contacts, or more likely a pleasure planet.

You have just graduated from one of the Earth's military colleges. Your first command is a squadron of tanks on a desolate mining colony whose only claim to fame is that it produces the second rarest mineral known to mankind. A command similar to yours, on almost any other mining colony, would involve 5 years of boredom.

Unfortunately, for you, the trading house that controls this planet has just declared independence from Earth. Normally the Earth's grand council would not send you to an independent planet but as this one is important to the Earth (both the politicians with shares and industry) an exception has been made. You have been ordered to defend the planet from other civilisations and if possible supply military information back to Earth. This information will be used so that an invasion can be planned and actioned when an appropriate excuse has been found. Due to the geometrical position of the neuzonian group of planets in the Galaxy, other civilisations would normally have left it unmolested.

However, the Nones (whose empire matches the Earth's) have, by tradition, supplied the ore Zon to us. To maximise profits, they have limited the quantity of Zon on the market. This small mining planet, Neuzone-2-Alpha, threatens the Nones cartel on the ore Zon, thus declaration of independence was greeted as a god send by the Nones. The reason behind this enthusiasm was that the Nones could start (and hopefully win) a 'limited' war with the mining planet for a relatively small price to pay.

Each Zonian space carrier contains hundreds of atmospheric craft which will be used to destroy the defence systems located on Neuzone-2-Alpha. Your squadron of tanks forms the last line of defence, once past you the planet will be destroyed. Each of your tanks contains its own radar which is finely tuned to pick up the sub-sonic atmospheric attack craft.

Your tank is positioned in the middle of a large flat expanse. In the distance, you can still make out the mountains of ore that are waiting to be mined. Each mountain of ore represents enormous wealth but also danger as this is where the attacking craft will appear from. They can, and will, attack from any angle. However your special armour will protect you, from their bombs, for all but the 90 degrees needed for your vision. As time progresses, the squadrons of attacking atmospheric craft, will multiply from 3 to 9 craft as the Nones become more desperate to destroy you.

Armed only with a quick firing cannon and two reserve tanks your mission is to hold out for as long as possible. Failure will mean certain death with other consequences felt across the galaxies. To help you, reinforcements have been sent secretly from Earth but, due to the blockade, very few reach you.

How long will you survive?