Prologue:
Citadel Central Calendar. 4th Quarter 2157.
Diplomatic Intelligence Envoy between Salarian Union and Citadel Council.
Document Title: STG Preliminary Political Report: The Homo-Sapiens
Part 1: The Benefactor Factions
The [Transport Union], is a loose Federation of sovereign [ring nations]. 'Somewhat' analogous to the Citadel Council. During what the humans call the ['Third Age of Exploration'] the Union has become a governmental level forum for the 575 coalitions, societies and System Governments that comprise [The Union body electorate]. It's capital is [Medina Station] in the Slow Zone.
The [Laconian Empire], [United Nations of Earth ＆ Luna], [Mars Congressional Republic] and [Outer Planet Alliance] all hold 'benefactor' membership in the Union Congress. Implying a stature similar to the council races within Citadel space. The remaining 575 members have limited electorate power. Executive power is delegated by a board of directors known as the Union Executive Committee.
Theoretically, the Transport Union has jurisdiction over all 1,373 ring systems in the slow zone. In practice the Transport Union controls' 400 'Directorate' systems and protects 180 semi independent 'Protectorate' ring systems. The Union handles disputes between members and possess a modest navy and marine contingent. This force operates as 'Peacekeepers' in times of war or anti piracy and smuggling force in times of peace.
The Laconian Empire once ruled all humanity under an iron claw. Today, it serves as the hegemon of all mankind. They are the pre-eminent power. The [Laconian Marines] widely respected as the most formidable warriors in human history. Its Capital is Laconia in the Laconian Ring System.
Imperator [Winston Duarte] is the absolute dictator of 500 Laconian ring systems and client systems. Thereby managing more resources than the 3 other benefactor factions combined. Imperator Duarte's open but highly competitive immigration policy is able to pick the most motivated and brightest humanity has to offer. Laconia space is home to 100 billion human beings.
After decades of occupation by the Laconians. Earth and Mars signed [the Second Earth-Mars Coalition treaty] or 2-EMc roughly 150 years ago. Pooling what was left of the two ancient human home worlds capital into one.
Although, each a sovereign planet domestically; they share one military and aligned national interests. While Laconia spreads wide, Earth and Mars spread high. 2EMc 'only' controls 100 systems. But 87 of those ring systems have a population upwards of a billion. Although not as centralized as Laconia; 2EMc can call on enormous production capacity given enough time. Today, 2EMc is in a very cold war with Laconia. Realistically, in the event of a hot war, a Laconian victory is a foregone conclusion. However, 2EMC is by no means defenceless.
The [N7 corps] is considered the most versatile special operations group in human space . Called the Little Army the N7 corps is designed to be a battlegroup the 2EMc can send to areas with "increased military activity". The theory is called 'small footprints, big fists'. The N7 Corps fights a majority of the 2EMc's [Diplomatic Wars]. The total population of the Second Earth-Mars Coalition is 174 billion. 2EMc's Capital is Earth's moon [Luna].
The last of the big four. The Outer Planet Alliance or OPA is a countermeasure to Laconia might, and Earth-Mars' weight. Independent solo ring systems preferring to align with the soft power of the OPA compared to the total submission demanded by Laconia or the economic slavery mandated by 2EMc diplomatic policy. The OPA only controls a modest 50 systems. Its capital is a Planetoid named [Ceres] in Sol's Asteroid belt. The total population of OPA controlled worlds is 37 billion.
Part 2: Societies, Coalitions and Solo Ring Systems.
A vast majority of the non benefactors states are called ['Solo systems']. Name deriving from their one ring governments. Sometimes these Solo Systems may be governed by a league of societies. Each society may rule a celestial body or major space station within a solo ring system.
One of the most developed, populated and oldest Solo Ring systems is Ilus. Population 10 billion. Human political literature claims that Ilus indirectly controls 40 other systems in what is known as the Free systems Coalition. A confederation of 40 sovereign solo systems. Although not considered a benefactor "nation" the FSC is in the same league as the big four. A close ally of the OPA, the FSC has defeated both Laconia and 2EMc in limited proxy wars. It has skillfully never engaged any of the benefactors in direct war. Capital in the Ilus system. Population 40 billion.
There are a few dozen other less significant coalitions. Ranging from trade partnerships to multisystem federations like the OPA and FSC.
Part 3: The Ring Network, Slow Zone and Shanxi System.
So far, no known citizen of council space has ever gone into the slow zone and returned. All knowledge is therefore obtained through second hand accounts secured from the human collaborators. The slow zone appears to be a trans-dimensional 'terminus station'. Within this terminus station are 1373 rings, several thousand kilometers in diameter. Each is a bridge to a new solar system, seemingly engineered for human life. The humans have been spreading into these solar systems for 250 years. How the slow zone came to be or who created it is unknown. The humans coyly claim they "found it".
[Shanxi] or system 314 appears to be the only known Ring system that also has a Mass Relay. Before the First Contact War it was a Transport Union Protectorate. In practice, Shanxi citizens formerly paid a small tax in return for Union anti-piracy and smuggling naval patrols. Domestically, the Shanxi parliament once had full autonomy and jurisdiction over the system.
Today, Shanxi is a Transport Union Directorate. Controlled by the [Union Executive Committee] or EUC on Medina Station. Shanxi's parliament is now an advisory body and advocate for the ethnic Shanxites but has been stripped of its political power.
The Shanxi system according to Human intel assets, is rapidly becoming the most fortified system in human space. All of the benefactor members and a few of the more influential Coalitions each have a military installation in the system.
Laconia alone seems to have commandeered the largest gas giant and its entire moon system as a naval base of operations into Council space. Half of all vessels currently in Shanxi, military or otherwise, are Laconian warships.
2EMc has annexed Shanxi's sister planet Bingzhou and appears to be rapidly turning the planet into a cultural/market exchange. On Bingzhous largest moon, Qin. Several underground installations are being constructed. The purpose or nature of these structures remains unknown.
The OPA have fashioned a novel yet formidable asteroid citadel. As diagram 3 illustrates several planetoids a beaded web structure 100,000km in diameter. As diagram 4 illustrates, the OPA has turned a quarter of Shanxi's outer belt into a celestial fortificiation. Planetoids and Large asteroids as metaphorical palisades. Several space stations orbit in its center. This will certainly become the OPA and FSC port into Council space.
Part 4: Conclusions.
The humans pose a significant existential threat to the galactic order. A vast majority of their power base is outside of any possible Citadel control, influence or surveillance. As recently stated, the humans have rushed thousands of warships and colony/construction infrastructure into Shanxi and now Mass Relay Space. The type of naval power needed to dislodge or stop such a force is rapidly becoming 'impossible' to match by our standards.
In exception to the Free Systems Coalition, all non benefactor Ring systems can effectively be ignored. The Transport Union Executive Committee speaks for non benefactor members and as such they are whom the Council should cultivate warm relations.
The benefactor members; OPA, 2EMc and the Laconian Empire must be dealt with as individual states with their own interests. As a summary, Laconia will always take the hardliner approach. Their first and last tool is war. The threat of force is how they conduct diplomacy.
The OPA is willing to seek equal partnerships. It will attempt to negotiate open border policies as well as free access to system asteroid belts. The OPA uses extensive lobbying as a means to secure its interests.
While the 2EMc will uphold the utmost diplomatic civility. It is renown for its espionage as well as quick and decisive "diplomatic wars". An invasion from the 2EMc N7 Corps is not an immediate cause of panic. The 2EMc will fight a limited war just to achieve very specific diplomatic objectives. Such as getting a trade partner to outlaw nationalized industry or forcing open trade.
Of the big four; the writer believes the OPA is by far most likely to submit to authority of the Citadel Council. They can also serve as a conduit into the human dominated Slow Zone. The writer also believes attempting to alienate or antagonize humanity as a whole is a recipe for disaster. Humanity is not a monolith.
The Homo Sapiens may be visibly divided, but will unite if the species feels under siege. Recommendation is to tolerate the larger factions, 2EMc and Laconia. The Batarians can be used as a bulwark against 2EMc. While the lawlessness of the terminus system will drain Laconian resources and man power.
During this time the council should foster beneficial relationships with the OPA and Transport Union Executive Committee. Having them aligned with us may assist in the eventual clash between the council and the more powerful benefactors.
May the several agents who lost their lives compiling this brief never be forgotten.
End of Report.
Major Kirahee.