The Sol Bulletin was originally intended as a temporary way for the survivors of the Battle of Earth to stay informed in the chaos following the firing of the Crucible. As time passed and more and more media outlets began running again - for instance, the Alliance News Network, which was back to running constant coverage less than two weeks after the Crucible fired - the editors and reporters of the Sol Bulletin considered closing up shop.
However, the Sol Bulletin's independent reporting and willingness to keep publishing even under pressure from the Alliance - for instance, after Khalisah al-Jilani was arrested, or after their London offices were raided following a rebroadcast of Persephone footage - had won them a loyal readership and an unexpected prominence in the nascent new galactic society. In the end, the publication continued to operate.
However, the name "Sol Bulletin," it was decided, had become a misnomer, as the majority of the Bulletin's reporting now took place outside the Sol system. The Bulletin was rebranded as the Galaxy Bulletin. The rebranding effort included a new numbering scheme based off of Earth standard dates.
The 1.14.2187 issue of the Galaxy Bulletin was published approximately six months after the Crucible fired.
Alliance Parliament Will Convene Without Earth Delegates
Alliance High Command and diplomats from various Earth-based governments announced today that the latest round of talks over elections for the Alliance Parliament have failed to resolve disagreements over the role of Earth-based governments. "The 'Earth First' proposal President Ford brought to the table is a violation of the Systems Alliance Charter. It's not acceptable to us," said Major Kaidan Alenko, head of the Alliance delegation to the negotiations. "National governments haven't had the power to directly assign their parliamentary delegations for decades. And the idea that certain parliamentary privileges would apply to Earth-based representatives is frankly ridiculous."
President Lisa Ford of the UNAS was equally dismissive in her statement. "The Alliance couldn't protect Earth during the Reaper War. They failed us. Now they want to go back to the same old system with the same people in charge. It's not acceptable. The people of Earth deserve better."
Major Alenko said colony and spacer elections will go forward and the Parliament will convene next month as planned, and operate to the best of its ability until arrangements for elections on Earth can be agreed upon. President Ford responded that Earth would recognize no Parliament without Earth-based delegates.
Despite the apparent impasse, both Alenko and Ford emphasized that this was a temporary arrangement and negotiations would continue. Some analysts consider the end of these latest talks as de facto secession of Earth from the Alliance, however. After Ford and Alenko's statements, the Salarian Union announced that it would be opening separate diplomatic relationships with several Earth-based nations.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Sol Bulletin #29
The following is excerpted from issue #29 of the Sol Bulletin, an ad hoc news sheet distributed electronically among survivors of the Battle of Earth in the chaotic period following the firing of the Crucible. Issue #29 was released thirty one days after the Crucible fired.
Fleets Withdraw From Luna; Shepard Speaks
Today the force of Asari, Geth and Turian warships assembled over Luna withdrew back to their respective fleets, after a nearly 24 hour standoff saw recently-friendly fleets locked in a standoff over Luna.
The combined fleet was deployed around Luna to pressure the Alliance into releasing war hero Commander Jenna Shepard, who was apparently being held in an Alliance facility on Luna's surface. The withdrawal followed a lengthy closed-door session of the Inter-species Summit, which met without any representatives from Earth due to their walk-out protest yesterday when it was first discovered that Commander Shepard was being held in an Alliance facility. By agreement in the Summit, Primarch Victus of the Turian Hierarchy was allowed to visit the Alliance's indoctrination treatment center and speak to Commander Shepard, who has apparently been living there since the Battle of Earth.
Following the visit, Primarch Victus issued a statement: "I am satisfied that Commander Shepard is not being held against her will and is being accorded the respect due to a sentient of her stature. The Inter-species Summit will continue to monitor the situation, but for the moment we're satisfied that she's alright." The Primarch pledged that an investigation into the affair would continue. "The Alliance will face a lot of hard questions about exactly what happened here."
Primarch Victus also presented a brief recorded video message from the Commander:
Transcript follows:
"Hello, I'm Commander Shepard. I'm sorry that I haven't spoken to you before now. The truth is, I wasn't up to it after the battle. I had a lot of Reaper contact before and during the war. At the very end of the battle I was beginning to feel the effects of indoctrination. Fortunately I was with an exceptional team, and they completed the mission without me. Despite me.
"I want to say two things. First, I'm here, I'm safe, and the last thing I want anyone to do is fight because of me. We all stood together to fight the Reapers. A lot of people died to make that Alliance real. Don't throw it away now.
"Second, I'm ok. I was feeling the effects of indoctrination. Indoctrination is a spectrum - we've known that since before the Battle of the Citadel. At one end are the monsters the Reapers made out of our fallen soldiers and loved ones. At the other end are people affected by Reaper contact who are struggling with strange thoughts and feelings. If that's you, or you're afraid it might be - you don't have to live with it. You can get better. The people here can help you. They helped me.
"Thanks. That's all I wanted to say. That, and... it's late, and I'm sorry, but... we won. Thank you to everyone. Survivors on Earth, fighters in the fleets. Thank you."
The Sol Bulletin attempted to reach some of Shepard's known associates, such as Garrus Vakarian and Admiral Tali'Zorah, but located nobody who was willing to comment. Major Kaidan Alenko answered the Sol Bulletin's emails with a brief statement in which he implicitly confirmed he fought alongside Shepard on the Citadel: "I won't contradict the Commander's story. But I have to set one thing straight: we couldn't have done it without her, and I'm not being polite or making a point. I mean Hammer and Sword would have failed and the Crucible would never haved fired if not for what Shepard did up there."
Alliance High Command has not issued a statement and spokespeople refused to comment. The Alliance did, however, quietly and without fanfare release Miranda Lawson, Kasumi Goto and Khalisah al-Jilani from custody.
Fleets Withdraw From Luna; Shepard Speaks
Today the force of Asari, Geth and Turian warships assembled over Luna withdrew back to their respective fleets, after a nearly 24 hour standoff saw recently-friendly fleets locked in a standoff over Luna.
The combined fleet was deployed around Luna to pressure the Alliance into releasing war hero Commander Jenna Shepard, who was apparently being held in an Alliance facility on Luna's surface. The withdrawal followed a lengthy closed-door session of the Inter-species Summit, which met without any representatives from Earth due to their walk-out protest yesterday when it was first discovered that Commander Shepard was being held in an Alliance facility. By agreement in the Summit, Primarch Victus of the Turian Hierarchy was allowed to visit the Alliance's indoctrination treatment center and speak to Commander Shepard, who has apparently been living there since the Battle of Earth.
Following the visit, Primarch Victus issued a statement: "I am satisfied that Commander Shepard is not being held against her will and is being accorded the respect due to a sentient of her stature. The Inter-species Summit will continue to monitor the situation, but for the moment we're satisfied that she's alright." The Primarch pledged that an investigation into the affair would continue. "The Alliance will face a lot of hard questions about exactly what happened here."
Primarch Victus also presented a brief recorded video message from the Commander:
[Video not available in this archive]
Transcript follows:
"Hello, I'm Commander Shepard. I'm sorry that I haven't spoken to you before now. The truth is, I wasn't up to it after the battle. I had a lot of Reaper contact before and during the war. At the very end of the battle I was beginning to feel the effects of indoctrination. Fortunately I was with an exceptional team, and they completed the mission without me. Despite me.
"I want to say two things. First, I'm here, I'm safe, and the last thing I want anyone to do is fight because of me. We all stood together to fight the Reapers. A lot of people died to make that Alliance real. Don't throw it away now.
"Second, I'm ok. I was feeling the effects of indoctrination. Indoctrination is a spectrum - we've known that since before the Battle of the Citadel. At one end are the monsters the Reapers made out of our fallen soldiers and loved ones. At the other end are people affected by Reaper contact who are struggling with strange thoughts and feelings. If that's you, or you're afraid it might be - you don't have to live with it. You can get better. The people here can help you. They helped me.
"Thanks. That's all I wanted to say. That, and... it's late, and I'm sorry, but... we won. Thank you to everyone. Survivors on Earth, fighters in the fleets. Thank you."
The Sol Bulletin attempted to reach some of Shepard's known associates, such as Garrus Vakarian and Admiral Tali'Zorah, but located nobody who was willing to comment. Major Kaidan Alenko answered the Sol Bulletin's emails with a brief statement in which he implicitly confirmed he fought alongside Shepard on the Citadel: "I won't contradict the Commander's story. But I have to set one thing straight: we couldn't have done it without her, and I'm not being polite or making a point. I mean Hammer and Sword would have failed and the Crucible would never haved fired if not for what Shepard did up there."
Alliance High Command has not issued a statement and spokespeople refused to comment. The Alliance did, however, quietly and without fanfare release Miranda Lawson, Kasumi Goto and Khalisah al-Jilani from custody.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Sol Bulletin #28
The following is excerpted from issue #28 of the Sol Bulletin, an ad hoc news sheet distributed electronically among survivors of the Battle of Earth in the chaotic period following the firing of the Crucible. Issue #28 was released thirty days after the Crucible fired.
Shepard Alive On Luna
A sparsely attended press conference called by the team that will attempt treatment of two indoctrinated individuals from Earth was the scene of unexpected drama today, when Commander Jenna Shepard surprised reporters and event staff by walking onstage and taking the podium.
The Commander was visibly unwell. She was pale and haggard and her hands shook as she stood before the small crowd of reporters. When she spoke, however, her voice had the firm and decided tone familiar across the galaxy from countless interviews and ubiquitous Alliance recruitment vids.
"I need to say something," the Commander said into the microphone. "Miranda Lawson and Kasumi Goto are good people. They're heroes. They should be released at once, or if they're really indoctrinated they should be sent here for treatment."
Reporters started to shout questions; some rushed forward toward the podium and had to be restrained by local police officers on hand at the event. Meanwhile, Commander Shepard was hurried out of the room by Dr. Liara T'Soni, the scientist scheduled to speak at the conference.
News of Shepard's brief appearance was at first met by widespread skepticism, but after a video taken by an alert journalist hit the extranet doubt was quickly replaced by rampant speculation. Local authorities on Luna denied any knowledge of the Commander's presence; Lt. Chris Larson, a spokesman for Alliance High Command, admitted that the Alliance had sponsored the indoctrination treatment program but denied that Command had known Commander Shepard was there.
Nobody from the indoctrination treatment team could not be reached for comment. Eyewitnesses noted that Shepard's arrival seemed to surprise Dr. T'Soni, but that Dr. T'Soni's speed in assisting the Commander offstage suggested she was not completely shocked.
An Alliance special forces team was deployed to the facility housing the team and has cordoned off the area. Nobody has been seen coming in or out since.
Shepard's sudden appearance, and the Alliance's apparent complicity in her disappearance, created a political firestorm. Representatives from Earth-based nations walked out of the Inter-species Summit in protest to what President Lisa Ford called "conspiratorial and frankly tyrranous behavior from our so-called friends in the Alliance." Meanwhile, the Asari, Turian and Geth fleets hastily cooperated to deploy a large force to close orbit over Luna. Primarch Victus explained the move on the floor of the Summit, saying all three fleets, together with the Krogan ground forces, were prepared to take drastic steps to rescue Commander Shepard from Alliance custody if her welfare seemed to be in any doubt.
Primarch Victus specifically called on the Quarians to join their newfound Turian and Geth allies, but the Quarian Admiralty Board is reportedly deadlocked on how to react to the new development
No official has been willing to comment on the question of what Commander Shepard is doing at an indoctrination treatment facility, or on whether Commander Shepard was or is indoctrinated.
Shepard Alive On Luna
A sparsely attended press conference called by the team that will attempt treatment of two indoctrinated individuals from Earth was the scene of unexpected drama today, when Commander Jenna Shepard surprised reporters and event staff by walking onstage and taking the podium.
The Commander was visibly unwell. She was pale and haggard and her hands shook as she stood before the small crowd of reporters. When she spoke, however, her voice had the firm and decided tone familiar across the galaxy from countless interviews and ubiquitous Alliance recruitment vids.
"I need to say something," the Commander said into the microphone. "Miranda Lawson and Kasumi Goto are good people. They're heroes. They should be released at once, or if they're really indoctrinated they should be sent here for treatment."
Reporters started to shout questions; some rushed forward toward the podium and had to be restrained by local police officers on hand at the event. Meanwhile, Commander Shepard was hurried out of the room by Dr. Liara T'Soni, the scientist scheduled to speak at the conference.
News of Shepard's brief appearance was at first met by widespread skepticism, but after a video taken by an alert journalist hit the extranet doubt was quickly replaced by rampant speculation. Local authorities on Luna denied any knowledge of the Commander's presence; Lt. Chris Larson, a spokesman for Alliance High Command, admitted that the Alliance had sponsored the indoctrination treatment program but denied that Command had known Commander Shepard was there.
Nobody from the indoctrination treatment team could not be reached for comment. Eyewitnesses noted that Shepard's arrival seemed to surprise Dr. T'Soni, but that Dr. T'Soni's speed in assisting the Commander offstage suggested she was not completely shocked.
An Alliance special forces team was deployed to the facility housing the team and has cordoned off the area. Nobody has been seen coming in or out since.
Shepard's sudden appearance, and the Alliance's apparent complicity in her disappearance, created a political firestorm. Representatives from Earth-based nations walked out of the Inter-species Summit in protest to what President Lisa Ford called "conspiratorial and frankly tyrranous behavior from our so-called friends in the Alliance." Meanwhile, the Asari, Turian and Geth fleets hastily cooperated to deploy a large force to close orbit over Luna. Primarch Victus explained the move on the floor of the Summit, saying all three fleets, together with the Krogan ground forces, were prepared to take drastic steps to rescue Commander Shepard from Alliance custody if her welfare seemed to be in any doubt.
Primarch Victus specifically called on the Quarians to join their newfound Turian and Geth allies, but the Quarian Admiralty Board is reportedly deadlocked on how to react to the new development
No official has been willing to comment on the question of what Commander Shepard is doing at an indoctrination treatment facility, or on whether Commander Shepard was or is indoctrinated.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Sol Bulletin #27
The following is excerpted from issue #27 of the Sol Bulletin, an ad hoc news sheet distributed electronically among survivors of the Battle of Earth in the chaotic period following the firing of the Crucible. Issue #27 was released twenty nine days after the Crucible fired.
Arcturus Command Reports Contact With Eden Prime Colony
Today Admiral Quwil of Arcturus Command sent word that elements of the advance force sent through the Arcturus-2 relay to the Exodus Cluster have successfully activated the Exodus relay and returned to Arcturus. Even more significantly, they report successful contact with the human colony of Eden Prime. For the first time since the Crucible fired, the Sol system is connected with another inhabited world.
The news was a welcome relief to sentients across Sol. Many ships were run by skeleton crews as impromptu inter-ship celebrations were announced on ships large enough to host them, and traffic to the Terminus fleets ships that have been serving as space-bound pleasure destinations rose dramatically. The milestone is more than symbolic. Eden Prime has an extensive agricultural base, and while some fighting took place during the war, infrastructure is largely intact. Eden Prime will probably be able to supply all levo-amino sentients in the various fleets with food for the foreseeable future.
Even while the celebrations continued, many fleets announced plans to relocate the bulk of their forces to either Arcturus or the Exodus Cluster, including the Asari, Salarians, and the ships of the Terminus Fleet. The tense political situation in Sol that likely accounts for these hasty re-deployments was reflected in a noted lack of jubilation among officials of the Earth-based governments. A spokeswoman for the Chinese People's Federation seem to captured the mood when she characterized the reconnection with Eden Prime as "good news for aliens" - the implication being, perhaps, that only bad news for non-humans would be viewed as good news on Earth in the current political climate.
The Inter-species Summit did not meet today, for the first time since it was first called to order. Officials on both sides of the Earth/space divide seem relieved that the galaxy has suddenly gotten bigger again.
Arcturus Command Reports Contact With Eden Prime Colony
Today Admiral Quwil of Arcturus Command sent word that elements of the advance force sent through the Arcturus-2 relay to the Exodus Cluster have successfully activated the Exodus relay and returned to Arcturus. Even more significantly, they report successful contact with the human colony of Eden Prime. For the first time since the Crucible fired, the Sol system is connected with another inhabited world.
The news was a welcome relief to sentients across Sol. Many ships were run by skeleton crews as impromptu inter-ship celebrations were announced on ships large enough to host them, and traffic to the Terminus fleets ships that have been serving as space-bound pleasure destinations rose dramatically. The milestone is more than symbolic. Eden Prime has an extensive agricultural base, and while some fighting took place during the war, infrastructure is largely intact. Eden Prime will probably be able to supply all levo-amino sentients in the various fleets with food for the foreseeable future.
Even while the celebrations continued, many fleets announced plans to relocate the bulk of their forces to either Arcturus or the Exodus Cluster, including the Asari, Salarians, and the ships of the Terminus Fleet. The tense political situation in Sol that likely accounts for these hasty re-deployments was reflected in a noted lack of jubilation among officials of the Earth-based governments. A spokeswoman for the Chinese People's Federation seem to captured the mood when she characterized the reconnection with Eden Prime as "good news for aliens" - the implication being, perhaps, that only bad news for non-humans would be viewed as good news on Earth in the current political climate.
The Inter-species Summit did not meet today, for the first time since it was first called to order. Officials on both sides of the Earth/space divide seem relieved that the galaxy has suddenly gotten bigger again.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Sol Bulletin #26
The following is excerpted from issue #26 of the Sol Bulletin, an ad hoc news sheet distributed electronically among survivors of the Battle of Earth in the chaotic period following the firing of the Crucible. Issue #26 was released twenty eight days after the Crucible fired.
Second Persephone Broadcast Addresses Alleged Conspiracy, Shadow Broker
Today what seems to be a second Persephone broadcast went out on a widely-used civilian channel. It featured the same electronically disguised voice as the first broadcast, but originated not from Earth, but from within the Alliance fleet - seemingly from Commander Shepard's old ship, the SSV Normandy. A transcript of the broadcast is presented below:
"This is Persephone. To be precise, this is another member of the organization called Persephone. Kasumi Goto made our first broadcast in an effort to protect our member Miranda Lawson. Since her broadcast was clearly insufficient for that purpose, we intend to release more information in this second broadcast. If a third broadcast is necessary, still more information will be released.
"Ms. Lawson and Ms. Goto, as well as Khalisah al-Jilani, were arrested as part of a conspiracy between certain Alliance personnel, various individuals associated in one way or another with Jenna Shepard, and the infamous information broker known as the Shadow Broker. This conspiracy aims to conceal the current whereabouts of Commander Shepard, who survived the Battle of Earth and is presently recovering from the trauma of the war. Proof of this will be released to the Sol Bulletin publication for independent verification.
"I will now address the members of this conspiracy directly. We know you you are. We know Commander Shepard's current location. We even understand your motivations. We believe that you have made a serious mistake, and we ask you to reconsider your course. We ask you to reconsider if this is really what Commander Shepard would want. However, we will take no further action against you if Ms. Lawson, Ms. Goto and Ms. al-Jilani are released.
"If they are not released, our next broadcast will begin revealing your identities. If our remaining members are targeted, the remainder of the Citadel security footage that was leaked when Ms. Goto was arrested will be released.
"The Shadow Broker, in particular, should be aware that we will not hesitate to unmask her.
"Shepard is the one person, more than anyone else, who brought the galaxy together against the Reapers. She is a unifier, and a symbol of unity. The conflict that your decision to hide her has created must end. We are not your enemies. I am not your enemy."
The Sol Bulletin can reveal that we have received additional information that seems to bear out Persephone's claims in this second broadcast. We will release it publicly as soon as it can be verified.
Second Persephone Broadcast Addresses Alleged Conspiracy, Shadow Broker
Today what seems to be a second Persephone broadcast went out on a widely-used civilian channel. It featured the same electronically disguised voice as the first broadcast, but originated not from Earth, but from within the Alliance fleet - seemingly from Commander Shepard's old ship, the SSV Normandy. A transcript of the broadcast is presented below:
"This is Persephone. To be precise, this is another member of the organization called Persephone. Kasumi Goto made our first broadcast in an effort to protect our member Miranda Lawson. Since her broadcast was clearly insufficient for that purpose, we intend to release more information in this second broadcast. If a third broadcast is necessary, still more information will be released.
"Ms. Lawson and Ms. Goto, as well as Khalisah al-Jilani, were arrested as part of a conspiracy between certain Alliance personnel, various individuals associated in one way or another with Jenna Shepard, and the infamous information broker known as the Shadow Broker. This conspiracy aims to conceal the current whereabouts of Commander Shepard, who survived the Battle of Earth and is presently recovering from the trauma of the war. Proof of this will be released to the Sol Bulletin publication for independent verification.
"I will now address the members of this conspiracy directly. We know you you are. We know Commander Shepard's current location. We even understand your motivations. We believe that you have made a serious mistake, and we ask you to reconsider your course. We ask you to reconsider if this is really what Commander Shepard would want. However, we will take no further action against you if Ms. Lawson, Ms. Goto and Ms. al-Jilani are released.
"If they are not released, our next broadcast will begin revealing your identities. If our remaining members are targeted, the remainder of the Citadel security footage that was leaked when Ms. Goto was arrested will be released.
"The Shadow Broker, in particular, should be aware that we will not hesitate to unmask her.
"Shepard is the one person, more than anyone else, who brought the galaxy together against the Reapers. She is a unifier, and a symbol of unity. The conflict that your decision to hide her has created must end. We are not your enemies. I am not your enemy."
The Sol Bulletin can reveal that we have received additional information that seems to bear out Persephone's claims in this second broadcast. We will release it publicly as soon as it can be verified.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Sol Bulletin #25
The following is excerpted from issue #25 of the Sol Bulletin, an ad hoc news sheet distributed electronically among survivors of the Battle of Earth in the chaotic period following the firing of the Crucible. Issue #25 was released twenty seven days after the Crucible fired.
Indoctrinated Individuals Found Near Reaper Remains, Evacuated to Luna
In the first confirmed case of Reaper indoctrination since an indoctrinated Asari destroyed two ships in the Arcturus Flotilla, two inhabitants of Mogadishu in United East Africa were taken into custody yesterday. The couple attacked their neighbors after reportedly living near a destroyed Reaper for some time.
The Sol Bulletin spoke to Ayana Dalmar, a resident of the same apartment building as the alleged assailants. "I heard yelling, not words, just noise - like a moan. They came out of their apartment. There were a few of us in the hallway - they'd been distributing food in the city center, and we all came home together - and they just came at us, moaning like that. They were refugees, the woman had told me about how they were living beside a Reaper wreck before the police made them leave, so we guessed what was happening right away." Dalmar and the other building residents took shelter in an apartment until local police arrived.
"They talked some," Dalmar said. "Not like the husks from when the Reapers were around. They just rambled, though - about the Reapers were gods and how everyone was going to die. I was around some people during the war who I think were getting indoctrinated. It's pretty much the way they sounded."
A statement from the United East African National Police confirmed that the couple - whose names have not been released - are believed to be indoctrinated. "They will be transferred into Alliance custody. The Alliance assures us they can be treated," said a spokesman.
"Scientists from the Crucible project have been working on the idea of treatment for the indoctrinated since before the Battle of Earth," said an Alliance spokesman in a separate statement. "We can't guarantee success. But we have some ideas for how to go about treatment."
Indoctrinated Individuals Found Near Reaper Remains, Evacuated to Luna
In the first confirmed case of Reaper indoctrination since an indoctrinated Asari destroyed two ships in the Arcturus Flotilla, two inhabitants of Mogadishu in United East Africa were taken into custody yesterday. The couple attacked their neighbors after reportedly living near a destroyed Reaper for some time.
The Sol Bulletin spoke to Ayana Dalmar, a resident of the same apartment building as the alleged assailants. "I heard yelling, not words, just noise - like a moan. They came out of their apartment. There were a few of us in the hallway - they'd been distributing food in the city center, and we all came home together - and they just came at us, moaning like that. They were refugees, the woman had told me about how they were living beside a Reaper wreck before the police made them leave, so we guessed what was happening right away." Dalmar and the other building residents took shelter in an apartment until local police arrived.
"They talked some," Dalmar said. "Not like the husks from when the Reapers were around. They just rambled, though - about the Reapers were gods and how everyone was going to die. I was around some people during the war who I think were getting indoctrinated. It's pretty much the way they sounded."
A statement from the United East African National Police confirmed that the couple - whose names have not been released - are believed to be indoctrinated. "They will be transferred into Alliance custody. The Alliance assures us they can be treated," said a spokesman.
"Scientists from the Crucible project have been working on the idea of treatment for the indoctrinated since before the Battle of Earth," said an Alliance spokesman in a separate statement. "We can't guarantee success. But we have some ideas for how to go about treatment."
Friday, June 1, 2012
Sol Bulletin adjacent: "The Paragon Conspiracy" twitter essay
The plotline of unruly Earth governments undermining the wider community reflects a pet theory of mine about the ME universe, by the way.
Namely, that the Alliance essentially seized power after the First Contact War, radically de-democratizing humanity's transition into space.
Think about it: the Alliance is like if NATO held parliamentary elections and announced they'd handle foreign policy for member nations.
Yes, there's a parliament, and elections matter, but (as we experience today), in large federations each vote matters less.
Money & influence matter more. So the people with those things jumped on the Alliance's popularity after Shanxi to lock out nat'l govs.
With the best of intentions! They ushered in a golden age. But they left Joe & Jane Public behind. Now, Joe & Jane are catching up.
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