CONTINGENCY PLANNING - OPERATIONS PLAN E-50: CONCERNING THE HUMAN EARTH SYSTEMS ALLIANCE

CLASSIFIED INFORMATION

In the event of a Reaper invasion of Earth Systems Alliance territory under present circumstances, it is almost certain that the defending forces would soon lose effective control of most colonization clusters, with the possible exception of the Arcturus Stream, and those systems solely accessible through it. So long as present political and military conditions continue unaltered, the Alliance's military strength alone cannot decisively improve this prospect.

The operations of the Alliance Navy reflect a lack of aggressiveness, and are in part handicapped by simple numerical disadvantage. A Reaper invasion could without difficulty penetrate the extended Alliance perimeter and rapidly overcome the defending forces. Although the Alliance Navy's Fleets would be capable of limited defensive action in the case of an invasion, there is a grave risk of them being overwhelmed. To reiterate what has been previously stated, only in the Arcturus Stream and in their home system [Earth], where the humans are organized in significant depth, could effective resistance against a Reaper assault be expected; however, even here, the inferior front-line strength of the Alliance and the lack of reserves would inevitably compel a withdrawal.

At the moment, it is doubtful that the Alliance will be able to provide large-scale reinforcements to its colonies in sufficient time to oppose an invasion. Our intelligence suggests that the Alliance Navy is currently in the process of recalling the entirety of its fleets back to the Arcturus Stream. While the fall of the Alliance to the Reapers would likely hasten their arrival into our space and deprive us of a source of aid, the short time period in which we foresee an attack leaves no alternative; and we must be prudent, and attend to the security of the space under our governance first and foremost.

...Our recommendations are to station the fleets and augment defense systems at those cluster-points through which Reaper forces could cross over from Alliance space: namely, Relay 285 (the 'Bythnian Gate'), Relay 314 (the 'Shanxi-Theta Cluster'), and Relay 303 (the 'Brissen Bight'). The aforementioned must also be applied to those locations that are crossing points between our territory and batarian space: in particular, the Mactare-Taetrus Cluster, whose defenses have been substantially reduced by the separatist conflict there...

-Excerpt from a confidential assessment originating from the Turian Hierarchy's Protostrator to the Council of the Primarchs, 2186

Refugee Crisis in the Exodus Cluster

September 19, 2186

Since two days ago, Terra Nova has been subject to an unprecedented influx of batarian refugees. For now, the efforts of the Alliance's 79th Flotilla and our militia's forces have been successful at preventing them from landing, although they continue to remain in orbit over the colony, and have long since overrun our customs stations. By these methods, they had hoped to either be allowed ground access to the colony, or permitted passage further inwards into Alliance space. From a legal standpoint, there is now a stalemate; for the laws of the Alliance do not recognize this method, and the laws of this colony prohibit access to members of the batarian race. For now, they are respecting our colony's - and the Alliance's - sovereignty. Communications with the refugee parties have informed us of the dire situation in Hegemony space, and the reason for their rout to Alliance territory: they claim unknown aggressors attacked batarian space earlier this month, and that the Hegemony has fallen.

This is why they are staying put, in makeshift conditions; however, they are obstructing the normal functioning of the colony. Moreover, a number of individuals in the colonial legislature have brought up possible security concerns, as well. It is for these reasons, both humanitarian and practical, that we strongly urge the Alliance to achieve a mutually-acceptable solution. In our opinion, there are only two possible solutions to this situation: to allow the batarian refugees passage to the Citadel proper [allowing them to land in an Alliance colony would likely trigger civil disorder or conflict, whereas leading them into turian or salarian space would assuredly damage our relations with them at this time when we must cultivate them diligently] , or to deal with the situation at least temporarily in accordance with humanitarian principles.

We find it necessary to emphasize that the abnormality of the situation is being caused above all by the conflict currently taking place in former Hegemony space. In light of this, we have also reviewed the guidelines entrusted to us by the Dept. of Colonial Affairs, and have commenced preparedness measures per the recommendations.

-Correspondence from Governor Kjeldsen of Terra Nova to the Alliance's Department of Territorial Stability & Security, 2186

EMERGENCY - 9/30/86

Transmitting urgent message:

Our scanners and early warning instruments have detected the entry of large numbers of unknown entities into Earth Systems Alliance territory at various relay points. We have lost communication with these same systems in which unauthorized entries were detected; we advise the use of QEC to determine the status of these colonies. Entities are presumed hostile...

-Message from the Alliance's Reconnaissance Office (ARO) to Arcturus Naval Command, 2186