Hello, Ric here and today we’re taking a look at the Systems Alliance, the human founded
organisation and how it is perceived by the other races of the Mass Effect universe.
For many aliens, the systems alliance is the face of humanity in one way or another and
as such, its members are to set an example for the species.
Although in truth humanity is far more widespread than simply those who wear the naval uniforms
or the diplomats encountered on the presidium of the Citadel.
A vast majority of humans are in fact to be found spread across numerous planets trailblazing
colony worlds and establishing footholds across numerous systems.
The first and most obvious observation most species make of humanity is its diversity.
And I don’t just mean in skin tone, height, weight, hair colour and so on, but in the
sheer number of personality traits on display from paragon virtues of diplomacy to the renegade
actions of violence.
One never quite knows what to expect from a human and this can be daunting.
But why does humanity defy simple categorisation like many other species?
Well, let’s have a quick rundown of their history as a spacefaring species and perhaps
the answer will become apparent.
Despite common misconception, the governmental body of the humans is not solely the Alliance.
The many governments of earth are still present in the year 2149 but many have unified into
the Union of Incorporated Nations.
The Alliance itself was a joint funded space exploration venture whose mission statement
was to colonize the solar system and develop means to harvest the resources within.
Consumed with their own issues on Earth, the Systems Alliance was more of an afterthought
of most nations until the discovery of a buried Prothean data cache on Mars.
This data cache, like many others discovered by a myriad of species across the galaxy,
held within information on faster-than-light travel, medical advances, new technologies
and the two most important discoveries, the mass effect phenomena and the Charon Mass
Relay.
This discovery brought proof beyond any doubt that humanity was not alone in the universe
and suddenly they had more reason to expand and now the means to do so.
Over a period of years, most religious institutions had to incorporate this new evidence into
their doctrine or were dissolved.
Among the many that continued were Catholicism and Buddhism, the latter even gaining interest
among other species.
The first race humans encountered were the Turians as human pioneers attempted to activate
a dormant mass relay.
Unbeknownst to the humans, this action is illegal in citadel space and they had indeed
trespassed into in citadel space.
The cautionary tale of activating mass relays is best summarised by the Rachni Wars where
a Citadel expedition, just as humanity was doing now, attempted to investigate a new
relay and found an aggressive race of insect life on the other side.
The Turians fought off the humans from the relay and then occupied the colony world Shanxi.
This was the first contact war of 2157.
That occupation did not last long, as the Systems Alliance retaliated quickly and drove
the Turians back.
From the Turian’s point of view they were attempting to placate a potentially invasive
species that had already established footholds in citadel space.
After being driven back the Turians began to take this new species seriously by preparing
for war.
It was then that the greater galactic community took note and stepped in, placating the Turians
and introducing humanity to the citadel races.
However, the fact that humanity’s first contact was affixed with the word war would
prove a looming anchor for the species.
Although the Turians conflict with humanity had been brief, it had marked them as a serious
threat.
This in turn served as a mark of begrudging respect although much resentment would still
reside on both sides.
Other species eyed the newcomers with caution, after all, these humans had been caught performing
illegal actions before squaring off against the strongest military in the galaxy in what
must have seemed a colossally reckless move.
Add to that the fact that humanity had gone from one solar system to dozens in only 9
years and many species first opinion of the race was that of a lot of foolhardy upstarts
who would inevitably collapse under their own ambition.
Not the best first impression to make but it did establish the notion that humanity
was not going to take no for an answer.
In 2165, humans were granted an embassy on the Citadel, the galactic hub for inter-species
culture.
This put them on the same footing it seemed, as species such as the Volus, Elcor and Batarians
who themselves had an established diplomatic presence long before humans were ever on the
scene.
“You seem to have a bit of a chip on your shoulder, Din.”
“You humans are new to the Citadel, and yet the council has granted you great facour.
Being the outermost representatives of Earth and her colonies, the Systems Alliance was
chosen as the face of humanity and its ambassador would be the one to rub shoulders with the
assembled intergalactic community.
Many humans of entrepreneurial spirit moved to the Citadel and private organisations began
establishing lines of commerce with the more trade-minded species.
These sorts of interactions further added to the collage of human interaction among
the council races but for every positive outlook, a negative one could be formulated.
“Well humans are very intelligent.
Or are they just schemers?”
“They’re so reckless, look at how they toyed with that Relay!
Well, perhaps they’re simply curious, what’s wrong with that?”
“The species has so many colonies already, they must be so adaptable.
Or perhaps they’re just invasive…”
“They’re varied.
Yes, but that makes them unpredictable.”
Of course unease was reflected on the human side too.
Many organisations such as Terra Firma and the underground Cerberus began to gain support
from humans who mistrusted aliens cultures or humans who agreed with the sentiment that
they were expanding too fast.
Many point to these sorts of human-first movements as proof of the species inherent dangers but
it would be prudent to point out that that face humanity tries to show is one of peace
and that intent must count for something.
Throughout the 2160’s humanity began colonizing the Skyllian Verge and encountered opposition
from the Batarians who were also attempting to establish a foothold.
By this time, humanity had become a common sight in even alien homeworlds as they continued
to establish ties.
Many human businesses were already deeply involved in interstellar commerce as the shared
prothean origin of most technology allowed for surprising ease of compatibility with
innovations.
The reverse was not so common though, aliens were seldom seen on human occupied worlds,
perhaps due to the lingering uncertainty many felt about the newest species.
The Batarians Hegemony never openly declared war on the Systems Alliance over the Skyllian
Verge, but after the council denied their petition to have exclusive colonization rights,
in 2171, they withdrew their embassy, renounced the citadel and began funnelling organised
crime operations into the Verge to interfere with human interests.
Batarian propaganda painted the council’s decision as favouritism and they did much
to spread this notion, enough that many others listened.
It must be said in the human’s defence however, that the council did not declare the Verge
an area of Batarian interest, but neither did they declare it of human interest.
Many simply blamed the Batarians for raising a ruckus but the lingering effect here was
that the Batarians would forever more mistrust and downright resent humanity on principle.
Many other species too thought this another sign of human perseverance, for good or ill,
they truly were here to stay but they were earning quite a reputation as being at the
centre of trouble.
At this time, the Systems Alliance had been part of the galactic community for only 14
years.
I guess I don’t really need to explain human physical traits to you, but one feature of
note is that over time, recessive traits such as blond hair and blue eyes continue to increase
in rarity although many humans colour their hair or undergo genetic alteration to mimic
these uncommon traits.
Yes, in human culture, gene therapy is common place for medical and militaristic purposes.
Human life expectancy is around 150 years and many have no reservations about installing
cybernetic augmentations for a practical purpose.
Like most other species, they have their rare individuals known as Biotics, manipulators
of dark energy although their power is limited when compared with older citadel races (Although
as with every area of human technology, innovation continues at an accelerated pace).
Humans are about as strong as a Turian but more agile, slower than a salarian or drell
though more hardy.
The human governmental structure consists of the UNIN, the nations of Earth working
in partnership with the Systems Alliance.
The Alliance in turn oversees the military and exploratory arms of humanity’s galactic
presence although the human Military is proportionally the smallest of many species making up only
3% of enlisted individuals.
Human colonies each have their own governing body which the Alliance allows to operate
with a great degree of autonomy, which, like all things human, means that their social
constructs end up quite varied.
As of late 2183, humanity gained a seat on the council, making it the fourth race to
do so and marked the next stage of increasing relevance.
Though their relative newness still means that their voice in the galactic community
carries little weight, even if their actions do.
This feat was hard earned, and came of the back of a great deal of respect and sacrifice.
Many species took it as further proof of humanity’s invasiveness and a weakening of the citadel
council, However many also understood the influential role that humanity had come to
play in the galactic landscape, especially as the Systems Alliance had no strong ties
to any one race in particular to leverage power.
This has affirmed the belief that humanity when offered and inch will take a mile, or
more optimistically, humanity will always seek to achieve a higher tier.
Of power, technology, happiness, whatever.
If it’s there, humanity will choose to tackle it and this approach to constant self-improvement
is contagious it seems as many other species have begun to exhibit human traits and idioms.
But after all, that is what the citadel was established for, so that the many species
could learn from one another and grow as a collective and the inclusion of humanity and
the Systems Alliance in this smelting pot in the long run will prove advantageous to
all its inhabitants.
Those who have visited Earth often see the potential that humanity can offer and Earth
is regarded as an good example of a paradise world akin to the Asari’s Thessia and optimists
regard humanity as being on the right path, albeit travelling quicker than one would expect.
Overall many species reserve judgement on meeting a human individual, despite hearsay
as they honestly don’t know what to expect.
The species is ambitious in its reach, flexible in military tactics, variable in innovation
and diverse as a people.
This variation comes from the fact that humanity is the youngest interstellar power still in
the process of growth and although it identifies as humanity over individual cultures, it is
still trying to find its place among the stars.
Thanks for listening to this index, I tried to approach this one from a different angle,
seeing what the other races of mass effect thought of the humans and the alliance in
particular as its face.
I know I missed a lot of little details, but I love talking mass effect so no doubt will
revisit the series time and time again.
Until then, the next index as usual is a voted one of either the Star Wars Togruta or another
from the mass effect smelting pot, the Drell.
Like the appropriate comment to cast your vote, even though I’ve notices that the
number of likes don’t always display, they still register eventually.
Thanks again for watching and I hope to see you again soon, buh bye.