Dunno where I made the odd turn, but I find myself now playing Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars and having one heck of an amusing train wreck imagining the Humans as if they were led by President Cave Johnson. You do get "portals" by mid-game (the star gates), and what better way to think with portals than to warp in a battle fleet to lay down some "semi-guided photon science" upon the Meklar? I even have three fleet captains that give science bonuses!

This could make a funny LP.