LP's Note: As with the other Broker reports, everything in this document will be entirely in-universe and usually with edits only to stylistic and linguistic elements and not to content. I've been able to give Xabiar a free hand to create because frankly in canon the Terminus is an illogical mess that has zero detailing.
The Circle of the Fallen is my own little idea, one that I have detailed out only very lightly so far since (like a lot of other things) they don't really impact the main text. Xabiar took very fragmented bits of nothing - you can't even call them notes - and produced something wonderful. As with the rest of the series, you have to do a little reading between the lines to get everything.
Xabiar's Note: Hello there. If you haven't read the supplementary narrative that's been in the previous Broker Files, I would highly recommend you read the one before this (Attached to the Terminus Clan). You will be very, very confused if you don't. Otherwise, if you want to get to the Circle doc, just click to the next chapter.
THE TERMINUS SYSTEMS – MAJOR POWERS
SECTION 3: THE CIRCLE OF THE FALLEN
SUBSECTION 1: HISTORY, FUNCTIONS, AND THE UIORIAN PRINCIPLES
OVERVIEW
The Circle of the Fallen holds a strange place in the galactic consciousness, even within the Terminus Systems. People are aware of its existence, but would be unable to describe it in any detail. The backing powers are widely known, yet has little to no influence over its influence. It is an entrenched force in the region, yet it has little impact on the day-to-day lives of the Terminus.
While finalizing this report, I was forced to come to a very simple conclusion from this.
The Circle of the Fallen exists.
This is far from a satisfying conclusion, nor does it seem appropriate in many ways. Considering the degree of structure, detail, context, and internal politics that take place within it, it cannot be said that it amounts to anything ultimately substantial in its current incarnation. The Circle of the Fallen can only merely exist, because the Circle of the Fallen is inextricably tied to the status quo.
It is, in most ways, a victim of it's success.
The Circle of the Fallen cannot become something more than it is now. On paper, the Circle of the Fallen has the foundations to become the center of Terminus power. In reality it is viewed as a club for the criminal elites of the Terminus; a loose alliance at best, but nothing much more serious than that.
This perception is incorrect.
The more educated rightly view the Circle as a legitimate defense alliance, one that is designed to maintain a certain stability among the major and minor players in the Terminus. This is a more accurate assessment, but fails to capture the scope and complexity of what the Circle is.
It isn't a club, and it's more than a simple alliance. It's a complex organization comprised of interlocking institutions, dynamics, and authorities which are designed to achieve a few narrow goals. The Circle of the Fallen is a state power in most ways that matter – but one organized in a way that limits what it can actually do with such power.
The Circle of the Fallen should not be seen as the Terminus equivalent of the Citadel, nor is the sometimes-mocked moniker of 'Dark Council' accurate either. The Circle serves themselves first and foremost, and they are focused on preserving stability to enable them to carry out their operations unimpeded.
It is critical to many of them that it never becomes anything more.
The result is a state power which is innately hamstrung from employing authoritative power. It is the entrenchment of a status quo which freezes change, lest it cause disruption. It is a project that has succeeded on paper, yet is so much less than the original vision.
Thus, the Circle of the Fallen exists.
The Circle of the Fallen is instrumental in maintaining the status quo of the Terminus Systems – but that does not mean that it is without strife and internal debate. There are slowly widening fissures within the organization, and this combined with the ambitions of several individuals present the potential of the Circle perhaps becoming something different from what it is now.
The Terminus Systems approach a crossroads, and the Circle of the Fallen is no exception to this. They will soon set off on their own path, and what path that is may be just as important as Omega.
HISTORY
OVERVIEW: The history of the Circle of the Fallen differs from previous coverage of major powers for two important reasons. The first is that it is by far the youngest such organization in the Terminus at only forty-four years of actual operation. The second is that a large portion of relevant history does not involve the Circle at all, yet is nonetheless instrumental in understanding its current incarnation.
As a result, this section will be shorter than in previous reports, but will still provide the needed information to understand the circumstances and events that led to the modern Circle of the Fallen, and where it stands today.
BEFORE THE CIRCLE
UIORIAN, THE WHITE BLADE: Nearly four hundred years ago, there was an individual who primarily operated within an obscure part of the fringe Terminus. His name was Uiorian, though to those who were aware of his existence, he was known first and foremost as the White Blade.
A blue-scaled Drell, his services revolved, as one might expect, around the removal of unsavory and unpleasant individuals. Assassination was how he built his reputation, and the White Blade moniker came from the fact that he never left any evidence behind. Few deaths even seemed like assassinations, but instead unfortunate accidents.
There was a certain mystery around Uiorian as to who he was, and where it came from. Of course, many believed he was a former Remembrance Dancer, but surprisingly this never became anything more than rumor. Few of those who employed his talents cared, as he was an assassin without peer.
However, he considered himself more than an assassin, and his interests were as varied as his talents. A master of disguise, it is claimed that Uiorian spent numerous years under forged identities traveling through Citadel space, acquiring advanced degrees, taking part in research projects and archeological digs, and rumors even speculate that he held positions in government institutions and intelligence agencies.
Almost all of these rumors are baseless, but there is enough evidence to support the idea that Uiorian was extensively well-traveled and educated. He might not have worked for the STG, but it's not out of the question he visited the Reach Research Compound at least once.
All the same, these talents and interests was largely unknown to his clientele, and the galaxy at large. This changed when he made an unprecedented move, and founded an organization that would be remembered as the Obelisk.
Or as Uiorian called it, the First of the Criminal States.
BUILDING THE OBELISK: No one had expected statecraft to be an interest of an assassin, yet Uiorian quickly showed that he was a Drell of many talents and interests. He formed the Obelisk as a collection of local warlords, mercenary organizations, and criminal groups. He planned for all of them to integrate into a single power bloc, under a unified structure, and mutually benefit from the results.
As he announced this with the leaders of founding members, most serious researchers believe that he had likely developed these networks, and forged all of the agreements long before he made the official announcement. Within days, a small chunk of the Terminus was unified under a power unlike any that had existed before it.
It was not a new Omega. It lacked the trappings of 'legitimate' governments like the Terminus Clan or some independent worlds. It was too complex to be a straightforward merger of organizations, yet the criminal intentions of it were placed front and center. To any who looked at it from the outside, they were often left more confused than intimidated.
The few who were aware of it predicted that it would collapse very soon.
As after all, alliances of criminals never last.
EXPANSION, PURGES, AND PUPPETS: There is unfortunately a significant amount of conspiracy surrounding the Obelisk and Uiorian himself among those who have actually studied it seriously. This fringe region of the Terminus, and this period in particular, is infamous for its lack of documentation. Few academics devote their efforts to a relative unknown like Uiorian when the exploits of Aria or the Solar Matriarch happen around similar periods.
However, there is fortunately enough sources to put together something of a timeline and picture of what was happening. To say that Uiorian's management of the Obelisk was…erratic, is to be as charitable as possible.
It became clear soon after the founding that he was a master of institutions, systems, and mechanisms that would be expected in an state-like entity like the Obelisk - but the way he exploited this knowledge was rarely to the benefit of the organization, or its members.
Uiorian was the only one who seemed to understand how the Obelisk was supposed to function, and the byzantine bureaucracy and mechanisms seemed intentionally designed to be confusing. This resulted in members sometimes being given contradictory guidelines, or one might receive resources meant for the other.
Competition for operations and responsibilities within the Obelisk became was fierce, and encouraged by Uiorian who used rules, procedure, and institutional mechanism to achieve the results he wanted – usually to benefit one party over another.
From anyone looking outside in, Uiorian seemed to be more interested in manipulating the various members against each other, instead of maintaining a functional organization. This is contrasted by the bizarre fact that for every mistake he made, he would sometimes inexplicably make a decision that was brilliant, and ensure the Obelisk remained intact.
For anyone else, running an organization this way, especially one comprised of criminal and mercenary elements, it should have collapsed in months. Uiorian kept it intact for years, methodically making the right critical decisions which oftentimes just fixed his previous blunders.
He ensured his control in more direct ways as well. Opportunistic rivals looking to take over the Obelisk disappeared. Replacements who'd assumed their roles found themselves thrust into a prison of rules, procedures, and documentation with Uiorian as their only lifeline. Some were driven to seek to overthrow Uiorian like their predecessors had, while others tried to grit their teeth and maintain their loyalty.
Plots and conspiracies within the Obelisk against Uiorian were apparently common, but Uiorian seemed not to mind or be offended by the existence of such. An unsurprising view, given that in the game of shadows and conspiracies, he was almost certainly manipulating them like puppets on strings. It was widely believed that he had a shadow network of informants throughout the Obelisk who fed him information on all activities taking place.
The Obelisk faced problem after problem, infighting was rampant, factionalized, and atomized. It was impossible for almost anything to get done. Ironically, the Obelisk was directly responsible for a drop in regional criminal activity, as all its members were too focused on pouring resources into the Obelisk instead of committing crimes or performing jobs.
It was inevitable that it was going to collapse at some point – yet it seemed like it would only collapse when Uiorian wanted it to. That day eventually came.
THE COLLAPSE OF THE OBELISK: The end of the Obelisk came just as quickly as its founding. It was rather swift and final, even for Uiorian, as if he decided one day he wanted it brought to an end.
Uiorian brought each of the leaders within the Obelisk together, closed the doors, and for over a day no one emerged. Finally, some subordinates forced the doors opened, and found the bodies of each attendee – minus Uiorian, who had vanished without a trace.
Without Uiorian, the only thing keeping the Obelisk together was gone, and it did not take long for the former members to turn on each other and plunder the remains. The fallout was described as so violent and total that to this day that region of the Terminus is largely uninhabited, and whoever won the confrontation fled, never to return.
THE ENIGMA OF UIORIAN: It would be remiss to not discuss the conspiracies surrounding the Obelisk and Uiorian, though at least for some of them, it seems less conspiracy, and more unspoken, uncomfortable fact.
The most known one proposes that Uiorian was not a singularly incompetent leader, nor was he someone whose whole personality centered around power and manipulation. Both go against the personality traits he had displayed before, the education he likely had, and the aftermath after the dissolution of the Obelisk.
It is proposed that everything to do with the Obelisk was Uiorian conducting a massive experiment on the viability of the underlying theories concerning what he referred to as the 'Criminal State.' This is supported by how Uiorian made numerous efforts to ensure the Obelisk did not collapse first, as well as his masterful management of the myriad of relationships, rivalries, hatreds, and histories of the Obelisk members.
At their expense, of course.
This theory helps to explain what can be best described as 'phases' the Obelisk went through, where the entire structures of the Obelisk would be completely upended. There were shifts from equal councils, to Uiorian being the undisputed leaders , or from a largely decentralized structure, to standardization across the board.
And then back again, or something completely different. The point being that Uiorian was fond of massive changes, both to structures and rules, where he was the only one who really knew how anything worked. All of these changes were justified through loopholes and technicalities that no one found before they happened.
If not for the generous pay, from a source that Uiorian never seemed to run out of, it's unlikely that many would have tolerated this. However, as mentioned earlier, Uiorian was a master manipulator who cultivated relationships with each member and used them to his own ends.
Asari, turian, salarian, those who would be expected to know better seemed to fully buy into what Uiorian told them, and acted exactly as they were manipulated to. This is exceptionally strange, yet is reflected in every primary source I can find.
Other conspiracies and theories go deeper, and become arguably more outlandish from suggesting that Uiorian had mind-control powers, was a shapeshifter, or that the Obelisk didn't actually exist and the entire incident is a psyop. These are not worth paying attention to, but there is one more fringe theory that is worrying plausible, and made by several respected academics.
It proposes that Uiorian was not an ordinary Drell, but instead one of the Six Hundred; genetically engineered supermen of Rakhana who ruled the Drell for a long period in their history, and are widely (and incorrectly) believed to have been wiped out. When comparing what the Six Hundred were capable of intellectually, physically, and socially, to Uiorian's actions, there are concerning parallels.
There is no hard proof that Uiorian was one of this breed of Drell, but there is nothing that disproves it either. Medical records are non-existent, and physical descriptions only capture his scale color and physical prowess.
This tangent is relevant for what happened to Uiorian after he collapsed the Obelisk – or rather, what didn't happen.
UIORIAN'S PAPER AND DISAPPEARANCE: Uiorian was never seen again in-person. Even those who tried to contact him for business purposes found they could not reach him. Every single trail became cold, every single trace of his existence was removed. Uiorian had effectively erased himself from the galaxy – but for one final note.
Nearly three years after the Obelisk, he released a fully-complete academic paper over four hundred pages long titled "The Foundations of the Criminal State" in which he describes in significant detail how an alliance of criminal interests can not only work together, thrive, and grow – but how to ensure that it becomes a major power with minimal risk of collapse.
This is effectively confirmation that the 'conspiracy' that the Obelisk was a massive experiment is true. Comparing what we know about the Obelisk, and the principles outlined in his book, it is clear that Uiorian was intentionally testing his own theories, and in the process destroying thousands of lives and entire organizations.
All to write a book?
The motivations for this entire episode are a complete unknown. It was unlikely to be for fame, because he released it on fringe Extranet site, without any academic peer review, and with zero fanfare or marketing. It also wasn't a springboard for a second attempt, nor to return to a pseudo-public state, because he disappeared for good after its release.
Most would expect this to be the end of the story, and Uiorian to be a footnote as a very strange individual in a fringe region of the Terminus. However, he had left the seeds of an idea, and over three centuries later, they would be discovered by a turian driven mad, who held a desire to leave a scar on the galaxy.
THE CRIMINAL STATE REBORN
SIX SINS, FACINUS, AND AN EVOLUTION: Without Venethix Varok, better known to the galaxy as Six Sins, there is no Circle of the Fallen.
[For the purposes of this report, she will be referred to as Venethix outside of several instances where usage of her popular moniker is more appropriate.]
The infamous leader of Facinus, the Turian terrorist organization, is initially noted by many as a rather odd founder of an entity like the Circle. However, for those who are aware of the woman's past and more familiar with her capabilities, this is far from a surprising direction for her to take, or an initiative to pursue.
Though it was one that she did not arrive at immediately.
It is first important to define what it is about Facinus which differentiates them from other terror cells. Facinus' primary target is the Turian Hierarchy, though targeting a specific species is not unique among terror organizations. The Free Sexuality Movement and Terena's Tears almost exclusively target Salarians and Asari respectively, but Facinus has something that didn't exist until Venethix took over.
Effectiveness.
Facinus was little more than a criminal band prior to Venethix arriving and whipping them into shape. Within a decade they had turned into a disciplined, organized, and lethal organization that resembled a special forces unit than mere terrorists. Facinus is better understood through the lens of a professional military than a terrorist organization, which is the handiwork of Venethix's time in the Blackwatch.
She was also acutely aware that this alone wasn't going to be sufficient.
While other terror cells might be content with striking at most against politicians and military targets, she understood that those ultimately could be replaced. Wars could not be won through intermittent attrition. Victory came as much through soft power, as military power. Venethix is psychopathic by Turian standpoints, but this has not blunted her military skill and leadership.
Venethix considers herself at war. And she operates to win wars.
She was going to make the Hierarchy, and by extension, the Citadel hurt. To do that she needed a better strategy, and terrorist attacks were only one component. There was something she knew as missing - and it just so happened she stumbled upon something that gave her the missing link.
[For readers interested in a complete history or dossier of Venethix or Facinus, this will not be provided in this report. This will extend to most associated organizations and leading figures referenced in this report. Relevant information will be provided, but extensive detail will be found in their dedicated reports.]
JOINING A FRIEND: Venethix has a significant number of contacts across the Terminus and beyond. Many of them are business or military acquaintances at best, and usually employed as such. However, through fortune or luck, a copy of Uiorian's paper on the Foundations of the Criminal State found their way into her hands.
She quickly realized that she had the solution to the conundrum facing her.
While Facinus operations continued, she began devoting significant time towards conceptualizing an initiative based on what she'd read. She spent the next several months plotting, planning, and assessing if what she wanted to do was possible according to what she had read.
She did not rush it, and involved her people at multiple stages. She was extremely wary of making any permanent decisions, as it could mean the difference between her ultimately success or failure. She would get one and only one chance to do it right.
So she asked a friend for insight.
There are few people that Venethix considers friends. Truth be told it is questionable that anyone can be a friend to her. Despite that, there are people who she holds legitimate respect for – one of them her now-second-in-command, and Commander of the Circle of War, Eiron.
That name will be familiar to anyone who is familiar with Facinus. Despite the strangeness of a Drell being so high within a Turian terror organization, he has been her undisputed second, and confidant for decades. While they had worked closely before he formally joined her, it was not until this point when it was considered.
Eiron differs from most Drell in several ways. He had little to no martial training, and finds the assassination business uninteresting and limited in effectiveness. He instead made a name for himself running a private elite logistics and smuggling business for criminal powers across the Terminus.
It was through this business that he and Venethix first met, and Venethix was impressed with how he was able to augment their capabilities that she attempted several times put them on exclusive contracts, if not outright integrate them. Eiron politely declined the efforts, but Facinus became a favored client, and both became friends.
She trusted him enough to ask for his insight into if what she was considering was possible.
He left, said he needed to run some numbers, and came back a few days later telling her that it was.
With this foundation, Venethix proposed a formal integration of his business into Facinus, with Eiron taking a major role in bringing this initiative to life. This might seem rash, were it not for the fact that it was not the first time that Venethix had discussed her plans and existing shortfalls with him, and he'd expressed an interest in assisting if she'd found a solution to her question.
Now that she had, it was a natural progression for him to assist, as he clearly wanted to. The Circle of the Fallen was beginning to take shape, though would not come to fruition quite yet.
BUILDING THE NEW ORDER: With Eiron at her side, they spent a significant amount of time plotting a strategy of how to entice, recruit, expand, and organize the structure of this pseudo-state. They both privately referred to it as the Circle, and over months institutions, structures, and mechanisms of this Circle were conceptualized and developed.
Venethix was very cautious about going to any potential member without a clear plan of how it would work, how it would benefit them, and how it would remain stable. As anyone can imagine, proposing what is effectively a pseudo-decentralized state power comprised of various criminal and mercenary organizations comes with some skeptical questions.
There were specific people and organizations that Venethix considered essential to the Circle's success and legitimacy among both the Terminus and Citadel. Aria and Omega were at the top of the list, but she also sought out the Shifter, the Blue Suns, and the Depthwalkers.
The organizational institutions for the Circle included more than the roles for the above groups to fill, but Venethix was less concerned about filling the smaller institutions at this stage. She was convinced that once the Circle had been legitimized in the eyes of the common criminal, they would come of their own accord.
And from there, the Circle would be able to identify the best of the best, and bring on who they actually needed.
APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES: Throughout this entire process, Venethix and Eiron kept close to the principles Uiorian outlined in his paper, while making sure to orient the mission and purpose of the Circle into something that was widely enticing and had clear focus.
Venethix assessed that there were two elements which would appear to the major powers – a greater ability to entrench their own power within the Terminus, a clear augmentation of their existing capabilities, and a guarantee of operational continuity.
It is unclear if Venethix considered this the ultimate endgame of the Circle from the beginning, or if that was intended to be the starting pitch to just bring the major players on board. Regardless of the answer, what she did do was tie Facinus intrinsically into the Circle, to a degree that no other member has done.
It is clear that the Circle is what Venethix considers her only chance to win her war, for better or worse.
It is ironic then, that the Circle is proving more a hinderance than tool to advance this war due to how the Circle has been designed and implemented. The shortfalls in this capacity will be highlighted later, but as it relates to this people, Venethix was only interested in making sure it was started at all.
A CIRCLE OF THE FALLEN
THE FIRST PITCH: It was not only the major powers that Venethix approached, but also a number of smaller organizations and outfits that had been identified as having a use for the Circle.
Venethix surprisingly got more interest expected, though in retrospect this wasn't completely unexpected. Facinus is a well-known quantity in the Terminus Systems, and had a solid reputation - enough that people paid attention to what she proposed.
As a result, Venethix was able to gain a few of these organizations for the Circle to fill niches and roles that might not have been filled quickly if she'd exclusively pursued the heavy hitters. This proved to be the correct decision, as the groups she did include were rather small, but were known as elite and professional units who gave her more credibility as she shared her pitch elsewhere.
She scored a major success with both the Shifter and Kaltoth's Depthwalkers joining her initiative, finding it intriguing and a useful way of projecting their own interests. The Blue Suns declined, which Venethix found disappointing, if not surprising. With two major groups backing her, word was starting to spread. She was soon approached by Remembrance, and of all people, P.
Venethix and P. never have, and never will completely get along, and she had not considered him as a possible member. However, he gave the Circle what it needed most at the time – legitimacy. Like him or not, P.'s network, operations, and reach were substantial enough to justify his inclusion, and so he also joined the Circle of the Fallen.
There was only one who had not yet joined, and whose presence would turn the Circle from a curiosity into a force to be reckoned with – Omega.
OMEGA'S SANCTION: The meeting between Venethix and Aria in Afterlife is one of those conversations that one would kill to just listen in on. Sadly, we do not know the contents, only the aftermath. Within weeks Aria had also joined the Circle of the Fallen, in a move that solidified the Circle of the Fallen as the most important intergalactic institution in the Terminus.
It is interesting that this move sparked concerns within the Citadel, and there was talk about what this new alliance meant. Were the powers of the Terminus attempting to federalize? Were they preparing to challenge Citadel authority? No one knew, but there was a rare feeling of uncharted territory in the air.
One with something of an anti-climax.
Omega's inclusion into the Circle came with some downsides that Venethix had failed to properly anticipate. While Omega's resources and support were a significant force-multiplier, Aria made it very clear that the Terminus was still under her control, and that the Circle should not be considered a substitute. It similarly was made clear that the Circle was at best a suggestion to Omega's policy, and while they would contribute, to attempt to bind Omega to any agreement was considered…unwise.
Omega firmly put to rest any ambitions the Circle might have had of significantly changing the status quo. Ironically, Venethix's insistence on ensuring Aria had a place on the Circle effectively doomed it to a purgatory of being at best a second-fiddle power to Omega.
This is not to say Omega does not contribute what is expected to the Circle – but its presence created a chilling effect on all the members. Despite Venethix founding the Circle, more often than not Aria is the one to whom the members look towards, and among the general public, the Circle is yet another arm of Aria's extensive empire.
Something that Venethix has never appreciated, though knows better than to contest it.
A GROWING COUNTERWEIGHT: Despite this hindsight, this wasn't something completely clear at the time. The Circle was still young, and had yet to fully establish itself. Thanks to the hard work of Venethix and Eiron in developing the structure, each member was given authority over a certain Circle of operations, and allowed to develop the internal structure as they saw fit.
There was a period of growth, experimentation, and refinement for the Circle as they slowly became more familiar with each other, and soon were running a well-oiled machine that enhanced their individual operations all across the Terminus. The Circle of the Fallen was now being associated with the most powerful forces in the region, and was seen as a mechanism for success.
There is not a month that goes by without applications to the Circle being submitted from ambitious groups and organizations in the Terminus. It comes with influence and prestige that otherwise is difficult to acquire without swearing fealty to Aria or being the absolute best of the best.
The Circle's organization grew more efficient, and its leadership more comfortable. While each of the members kept their focus on their own organizations, many who were working directly within the Circle wondered if there was something with greater potential. There was legitimate discussion of the Circle becoming the primary center of power in the Terminus Systems, and a true counterweight to the Council.
However, it was not to be, and once Aria made it clear that the reach of the Circle would have limits, it was considered a settled matter to most.
Most, but not all.
STAGNATION AND UNMET AMBITIONS: It took only a few decades for the realization to set in for Venethix, as well as the more ambitious and imaginative of the Circle, that the grand vision of the Circle as the center of Terminus power was unlikely to be met.
Stagnation is an accurate term for the current state of the Circle, yet it implies a more negative situation than what currently exists. By all metrics, the Circle is functioning exactly as it was intended. It is a well-oiled machine which amplifies and augments the influence, power, and wealth of its members.
But it is nothing more than that.
It is not just the ambitious among those who see the Circle as the potential center of power in the Terminus - but also those members in the Lesser Circles who have sought elevation to the Greater Circles where the true matters of the Circle are discussed, and major decisions made. While many are satisfied with the perks of the Circle, others chaff at their perpetual state of exclusion, and the perception that they are unimportant compared to Omega or the Shifter.
However, these were largely grumblings among a minority, and given the limited ultimate power of the Circle, never gained much prominence until a development that threatened the composition of the Circle of the Fallen.
THE EXPULSION OF P.: Before one of the Grand Circle Councils, P. declared that he would refuse to share the results of a research project that had been conducted within his Circle, which was responsible for research, development, and innovation. This was an unprecedented stance, as it was understood that anything produced within the institutions of the Circle was to be shared with all members.
P. refused to comply with this directive. In effect, he dared them to force him.
So they acted.
In response to P.'s ultimatum, the Circle conducted their first and only expulsion. P. was removed from the Circle within a day of his statement of defiance. P. has claimed that he quit of his own accord without any prompting, but the truth is that he seemed to think that he could get away with a stunt like that, only for Venethix to call his bluff, and force his removal from the Circle.
This result was a hit to the Circle, but notably was viewed as a positive development. It showed that the Circle did have the spine to stick to its rules, and it opened up a spot on the Greater Circle for another to take the place of P. There were a few members of the Lesser Circles who expected to be elevated, as a result of their hard work and loyalty.
This was not to be.
Instead, Aria nominated Golo'Mekk to take over P.'s Circle with his own people. The Circle soon agreed to this, and Golo became the newest member of the Circle of the Fallen, and sat within the ranks of the Greater Circles. To say this was an unpopular decision among those within the Circle of the Fallen, especially the organizations in the Lesser Circles, would be an understatement.
It is widely believed that Golo's appointment was a thinly-veiled move by Aria to gain a reliable ally on the Circle, and a possible means of subverting existing policies and institutions. Venethix has insisted this is not the case, but regardless of the truth, there is little disputing that most consider Golo an illegitimate member, and holding a position that rightfully belongs to another.
However, the Lesser Circles have not let it affect their responsibilities within the Circle. At the same time, Venethix is cognizant of the fact that the decision badly hurt the trust that had been built, and is unhappy with the outcome, even if it was necessary for stability.
This entire ordeal has set the stage for interests and ideas within the Circle of the Fallen to gain traction, which are set to make themselves known. The Circle has continued to perpetuate a status quo, but it is one that fewer and fewer are willing to endure.
AN INTELLECTUAL CONTAGION: As we reach the present, the Circle of the Fallen occupies a unique space within the Terminus Systems. Many of those who nominally lead the Circle are largely divorced from it, and delegate their responsibilities to subordinates who act in their stead within the Circle.
Conversely, those who manage the Lesser Circles have emulated Facinus, and integrated themselves further into the Circle, to the point where their exterior operations have become secondary.
This leadership divide is only one factor driving a desire for change in the Circle – all of which is oriented around the growing view that the Circle can be more than it is. This idea has only just begun spread through the ranks - but the stagnation of the current leadership, the recent questionable decisions, and personal ambitions have only added fuel to this fire.
There is what some would call an intellectual contagion sweeping through the Circle of the Fallen, which calls for a refinement of Uiorian's Principles, and to take them to its natural conclusion. One that envisions a Terminus dominated not by disparate criminal powers, and an overreaching Omega, but instead by a central authority that can bring the region to heel.
One term has become associated with this contagion, which is only just starting to be noticed among the leadership.
The Perfect Circle.
THE UIORIAN PRINCIPLES
OVERVIEW: The Uiorian Principles as they are often referred to, are the main sections of Uiorian's paper, the Foundations of the Criminal State. Given that they are what Venethix used as a blueprint to build the Circle of the Fallen, understanding the Principles, and how they are applied, is critical to any work that explores the Circle in detail.
The original paper is worth reading in its entirety as well, especially since it contains data and references that reinforce the points Uiorian makes, and is an exceptional treatise of a kind of statecraft that no traditional government would consider.
Despite it's thoroughness, it isn't surprising that none attempted to put it into practice before Venethix. It appeals to only a specific kind of person, and said person is often incapable of translating ideas into practice.
To follow each of the Principles to the letter, or even to the spirit, you have to be ambitious, intelligent, administratively brilliant, sufficiently charismatic - and have the resources and wealth to pull it off. What Venethix and Eiron managed to do should be rightfully seen as impressive – though if this current incarnation will endure remains to be seen.
There has been a perception among those who have read the Principles, and are familiar with the Circle, that Uiorian intended for his paper to be the endstate of his vision. One where deviation and evolution would only threaten the Criminal State, not secure it. This is a view that Venethix holds as well, given her conservatism in managing the Circle.
However, having become familiar with the subject matter, I would argue this is far from set in stone. A clue might lie in the name of the paper itself, which might imply that Uiorian did not intend for the paper to be the only iteration. In fact, it is arguable that he would have wanted anyone who followed him to build upon what he proposed.
After all, what does one do with a foundation?
Traditionally, they build upon it.
While it seems unlikely that Venethix will attempt to build or adapt any of the Principles, it is entirely possible that others will. Until then, it is worthwhile to review the existing Principles, and their relevance to the Circle of the Fallen.
PRINCIPLE I | INSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS: Uiorian spends a significant amount of time on the necessity of institutions. However, while the institutions of a traditional government would be more concerned with public services like taxes, healthcare, social services, and other departments that reflect a need to serve a constituency of citizens – the ones for the Criminal State obviously don't need to do the same.
However, they have to exist.
Uiorian is very clear – and makes numerous well-argued points – that any state that lacks a solid institutional foundation is one that can be easily undermined, exploited, and is little better than anarchy. Institutions are necessary to execute objectives and reinforce the structure of the state itself.
Notably, he gives no recommended method for actually establishing said organization in question, but instead makes the point that these institutions should serve very specific purposes, have minimal to no overlap, and each one serve the greater purpose of the organization. After all – the purpose is not to necessarily facilitate a true 'state' but to enable a specific outcome or mission.
Within the Circle of the Fallen, institutions fall into two categories of Circles: Greater and Lesser, with each Circle focusing on a specific effort. Warfare, economics, logistics, innovation, and so on. Each institution exists to service the members of the Circle of the Fallen, and support their efforts upon request.
So if, say, the Shifter needs to set up a logistic network in some obscure planet, or Aria wants an economist opinion on a certain venture, or the Depthwalkers need some extra protection, they can work with the respective Circle to gain what they need. The Institutions are ultimately resources to be used by members, which help enhance and augment their own operations.
PRINCIPLE II | INTEGRATION OF PRINCIPLE PARTIES: This section in the paper primarily focuses on recruitment and expansion of the theoretical Criminal State – and the core message is that all parties must have a degree of investment to facilitate development, and any parties integrated into the organization must become indispensable – or at least consider themselves such.
There cannot be waste or trivial honorific entitlements dispenses for strategic or political purposes. If one is to become a part of the state while holding power, they must fulfill an explicit role and be invested in its success. The section presents a number of strategies for accomplishing this, most of which rely on slowly drawing in more and more resources and personnel, as well as integrating them into organizational operations on a day-to-day basis to reinforce criticality.
The working theory is that a member or element that is sufficiently invested will be less inclined to abandon or betray it, especially if they are regularly benefiting from it. At the end of the day, the sunk cost fallacy is real, and Uiorian has little qualms about exploiting it to its fullest degree.
The Circle of the Fallen smoothly handles the execution of this Principle by giving each member authority over a certain domain through the Circles, and designing the organization to be a self-sustaining loop. The more useful the Circle is, the more you are willing to invest in it, and the more you invest, the more useful it will become.
Each member of the Circle has invested a significant amount of resources into it, though some have invested far more than others. All of them have invested enough that at this point, they would be unwilling to simply abandon it – just as Venethix intended.
PRINCIPLE III | DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES: Uiorian spends what is arguably an unnecessary amount of time on this Principle to drive home a simple point – never, ever, give members overlapping or similar responsibilities.
Criminal and illegal organizations are very sensitive when it comes to matters of territory and responsibility. So-called 'team-building' strategies do not work in a criminal environment, and in fact will only ensure that all parties resent and are suspicious of the other, all of which undermines the entire point of the organization.
Instead Uiorian outlines the need to have each member fulfill a specific role or niche and only focus on that within the state. While many criminal groups, especially larger ones, have multiple foci they can do well, within the Criminal State they are only responsible for doing what they're best at without fear of competition.
There are very distinct spheres of responsibility, and Uiorian insists that they never be impeded upon. The only time where responsibilities should change is if one member or entity is incapable of performing said duties, and even then, it must go to a completely new entity. No single member should have control over more than one defined sphere, else it leads to consolidation which destroys the cohesion and trust between parties.
I cannot stress enough how long Uiorian spends on this (Over sixty pages) – he makes every possible argument to attack the egos of anyone who would think 'We can manage more than one responsibility." He ends with saying that while some of the other Principles have flexibility, deviation from this one will destroy the state without exception.
The Circle of the Fallen has done as instructed, and ensures that each member is responsible for one and only one Circle of Authority. Within this Circle they have near-unlimited authority in managing it, but they are unable to take on multiple responsibilities. There isn't much more to say than that.
PRINCIPLE IV | NON-INTERVENTION: This is seen as another critical Principle, which is that the Criminal State never interferes in the internal affairs of its members. There are no red lines, no morals, no rules, and no instance where intervention or interference in sitting members is justified or permitted.
Uiorian states that failure to adhere to this Principle should result in expulsions of offending members, as it critically undermines the trust of members in the state institutions and mechanisms. Once intervention, intended to be helpful or otherwise, begins, it will become normalized and state dynamics will devolve into more traditional criminal power blocs, which will eventually destroy the state.
The exception, of course, is if a member asks for help or mediation, but even that Uiorian cautions against this, even if it is consensual. He argues that members should be able to manage their own problems and issues, and external meddling becoming normalized in any context, consensual or not, is one he strongly recommends against.
Fortunately for the Circle of the Fallen, this has yet to become an issue, as there are numerous rules and policies which prevent any sort of intervention into the private affairs of members, and there are mechanisms to punish or expel members that break this policy. It is a Principle that few expect will be put to the test in the Circle.
No one wants anyone to interfere in their private affairs, especially when crime is involved.
PRINCIPLE V | CRIME AS AN EXPORT, NOT FOUNDATION: In other words, this is a very long-winded way of saying "Don't mix business and pleasure."
This is perhaps the most fascinating part of Uiorian's paper, because it gives an exceptionally deep insight into his own views on the topic of crime itself. It is here that Uiorian temporarily drops the pretense, and reveals just what he thinks of the people within the criminal system.
He first makes a distinction between those who use crime, and those who are criminals. He believes that crime is a legitimate tool to use to a specific end, but he notably does not consider them criminals as in those who actively commit the crimes or willingly contribute to its spread.
He considers criminals degenerates who are easy to control, manipulate, use, and dispose of. He is scathing against the conventional criminal psyche, one that he sees only fit to be exploited to a more appropriate end. One might have noticed an underlying suspicion that Uiorian does not think very highly of criminals before this point, but this all but confirms it.
Uiorian is very clear about the fact that crime is destructive to society. He spends a large amount of time detailing how the normalization of criminal and deviant behavior, including unrestricted drug use, prostitution, vigilantism, gang glorification, and more destroy societies and states. He says that the best thing one can do to weaken an enemy is to give them the tools and arguments to destroy themselves.
If you were to ask me, it sounds as though he speaks from personal experience, though from which side of the aisle it is impossible to say.
He points out that this also applies to criminal societies. Now there are going to be people who argue that the Circle is not a society, but a pseudo-state that facilitates crime. That is true, but as will be shown later, there is an internal culture that has developed within the Circle where members are notably different from their counterparts in respective member organizations.
Ironically, if crime is normalized within the Criminal State, it will degrade and ruin it just like any traditional state. Uiorian purports that the state should be strictly focused on letting the crime be an export of the state. The rewards of crime should be reaped, but should not be brought into the process.
Uiorian approaches crime first and foremost as a tool, and presumes that anyone who wants to apply the Principles does the same. He sets standards for who should be given authority and power, and quite hilariously these include individuals who are not drug addicts, not sexual deviants, not psychopaths, and certainly not suffering any mental ailments or illnesses.
Given the current composition of the Council these particular standards were almost certainly treated as suggestions by Venethix.
Yet the point is clear. Crime within the state is not something that can, or should be tolerated, even if it is the primary export. Thus, the individuals within it have to be reliable, trustworthy, and preferably lacking any traits that Uiorian refers to as 'degenerate.' Crime is a double-edged sword, and it can just as easily destroy a criminal state as it ruins others.
How the Circle of the Fallen applies this Principle is interesting, in that there are standards that each formal member of the Circle must meet. The Circle is not the place to stick just anyone, but people who meet minimum qualifications. Corruption, theft, and sabotage are not tolerated within the Circle, though the policies stop short of prohibiting other vices such as recreational drug use, slavery, and prostitution.
If Venethix had her way, it's unlikely even these would be tolerated, but given the makeup of the Circle, that was likely a bridge too far.
PRINCIPLE VI | MULTI-LAYERED TRUST: Trust is a rare and precious commodity in the criminal underworld, which is something Uiorian spends a lot of time on. He also points out that there are limits to trust, and that complete and unreserved trust is not something that should be sought or expected.
However, he states that there is a baseline of trust that should be established. Members within this state should be able to trust each other on a few critical matters – they will not betray each other, they will not interfere in internal matters, and they can rely on them to support them in instances of emergency and danger.
That is all the trust that is needed. Uiorian spends roughly a third of this section setting that up. The rest is spent on how you get each member to that point.
The answer is nothing especially fancy. Merely fulfilling the basic promises of the state, especially in terms of material support, collaboration, and defense is enough to show your intentions, and the more time passes, the more comfortable they will become relying on the state for support.
Uiorian also adds that, if the state has been established correctly, the various institutions will interact with each other regularly, and will have to work together to support the needs of the Circle, and its respective members. This naturally builds reliability and trust in a natural way, and reinforces the purpose of the state, which is to support its members.
Uiorian insists that this level of trust between members is necessary, as if it does not exist, then the state will eventually become stagnant and wither into irrelevance.
The Circle of the Fallen does little to deviate from what Uiorian outlines. The Circle is set up in such a way that merely employing an aspect of the Circle to support your efforts will engender a positive perception, and the more that it is used, the more it becomes routine. To be truthful, this is only something that can be properly employed in the structure itself which you can only do once.
Fortunately for the Circle, they set it up correctly.
PRINCIPLE VII | MUTUAL DEFENSE ASSURANCE: There is strength in numbers, and power in deterrence. Uiorian spends the least amount of time on this sections, primarily because he considers the takeaway pretty obvious. As a result, he spends less time on the merits of mutual defense, but a lot on emphasizing the need to ensure that the state is ready to follow through.
Uiorian states that an existential threat to a member is the acid test for the Criminal State. If it does not immediately band together and fully crush the threat against itself or its members, then it demonstrates to its members, and the wider galaxy, that deterrence is an illusion, and irrevocably breaks the trust within the state.
There is an emphasis on ensuring that members are prepared to provide military support to their colleagues, from public assurances, to official documents, and regular material contributions. According to Uiorian, the state lives or dies on how seriously they take the prospect of mutual defense.
Those that embrace it will endure, and those who do not are doomed.
The Circle of the Fallen has yet to be in a situation where a member invokes the agreements or policies that trigger a full mobilization – but such expectations do exist, especially among the members of the Lesser Circles. However, most are confident that if they were invoked, the Circle would respond appropriately.
PRINCIPLE VIII | CULL THE OUTLIERS: The final Principle that Uiorian spends the latter part of the paper on is that of outliers. These outliers are defined as anything from operational patterns to personnel that regularly act outside the expected norms. He encourages the establishment of a 'baseline' of expectations and operations, and to measure everything against that.
If something works, it should not be tampered with. If a process is sufficient, meddling with it puts it at risk. Uiorian warns against large, significant, and rapid changes, as those have greater potential to undermine and risk the state than benefit it. He states that thinking outside the box is not a valuable trait, as it introduces instability.
Instead, Uiorian recommends that progress and innovation should be methodical, and experimentation tightly controlled lest uncertainty be introduced. Outliers should be removed, culled, or mitigated. He does not say exactly what should be done with them, but that their impact should be minimized.
This Principle is odd, and arguably out of character from the normally methodical and pragmatic Uiorian. Why he becomes strangely conservative in his approach is unknown, but he makes arguments for it all the same.
This insistence on a uniformity and baselines ultimately leads to stagnation. Something which raises a red flag is that he never comments on this risk as even a possibility to avoid. It would be easier to ignore if the rest of the paper didn't have him extensively going through and addressing the most obvious counterarguments to his proposals, or the risks that come with them and how to avoid them.
I do not believe that he suddenly forgot to do this now, which makes me wonder if it was intended, and if so, to what end? A test? A trap? Or is it a fundamental misinterpretation of what he actually means?
Regardless, Venethix took the Principle at face value, like all of the other ones, and her solution was for the Circle to have a complex bureaucratic progress which prevents significant changes without majority consensus, and punishes those who act outside of protocol.
It is somewhat ironic that it is arguably this Principle, out of all of them, which has contributed to the Circle being unable to reach their potential – to say nothing of the fact that these policies are and remain the source of significant discontent.
FUNCTIONS OF THE CIRCLE
OVERVIEW: The Circle of the Fallen is an entity which members join for a variety of benefits, and many of them are not just related to the material boost to their operations, but also the significant boost to their soft power in the Terminus.
A member of the Circle of the Fallen immediately receives numerous benefits that make them an entrenched part of the Terminus and the dynamics therein. There are expectations that come with this, but these do not deter many criminals, mercenary, and warlord outfits from continually attempt to join the Circle.
At the absolute minimum, it's a near-guarantee of continued relevance and protection. Several other universal benefits are detailed below.
ENTRENCHMENT AND PROJECTION OF TERMINUS POWERS: The most immediate benefit one sees if they are a part of the Circle is that they become firmly entrenched in Terminus affairs for so long as the Circle remains intact. As the Circle is backed by the most powerful and influential of the Terminus powers, moving to remove one of the Circle from the region would be akin to dislodging the entire Terminus hierarchy itself – a tall order in the absolute best of circumstances.
There is a prestige and assurance that comes with the Circle that cannot be acquired anywhere else. To join the Circle is to show yourself to be among the elite of the underworld, which has obvious benefits for their your own business, outfit, or enterprise.
There are many clients who are far more willing to deal with those who are associated with the Circle, because they know they are likely to get the best in the region. To be part of the Circle is to have no shortage of clients willing to pay a premium for your services.
Together with the defense agreements and policies, this also provides a level of immunity from any possible threats. Any who threatens a member of the Circle risks the mobilization of the entire organization, which is more than sufficient to crush almost all threats.
There is a power in that guarantee, and thus far, no one has been able to put the strength of it to the test.
MUTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGIES, MECHANISMS, AND WEAPONS: This was one of the first initiatives that Venethix included in her initial pitch for the Circle was an effort to develop domestic research and production facilities to develop weapons and technologies that would be exclusive to Circle members. The idea here was likely that this would function as a springboard to breaking technological strangleholds that the Citadel possessed on certain pieces of equipment or technology.
That was the idea. The implementation has had mixed results.
The Circle maintains a number of research and development facilities under the Circle of Innovation, staffed by competent and dedicated scientists and engineers, who have produced a number of indigenous models and weapons. However, few would say that these products are superior to other ones on the market. The results are ultimately because all of these are criminal groups who are focused ultimately on themselves.
The Circle will only really be able to produce products that are at or just above an unstated baseline. The Circle members are unwilling to share breakthroughs or technologies that might give their rivals and competitors an advantage. That they are willing to work together through the Circle does not mean that they want their own positions to be threatened. This especially applies to Omega, which has its independent research initiatives and sources, and have shown little willingness to provide technological breakthroughs unprompted.
The interesting wrinkle in all of this is that this mindset only applies to those within the Greater Circles, such as Omega, the Shifter, Facius, and such. Within the Lesser Circles, where less-known members execute their roles, they are far more willing to contribute, and actively benefit from these developments.
No one can say that this initiative has not been useful to them, and indeed it is a draw of the Circle especially among smaller groups. It has little benefit for major powers who have resources – but it is a notable force multiplier for ones much smaller.
DECONFLICTION AND DEESCALATION: One of the most important benefits, especially for the major powers of the Terminus, is that the Circle provides a direct line between the leadership of various parties to immediately commence deescalation and deconfliction measures.
Criminal groups are never going to get along, and there is a high chance that what starts as a minor dispute can become a violent conflict that ruins the relationship between parties and forces leaders into taking destructive actions. This is obviously not ideal for maintaining any kind of stability and working relationships across the Terminus – and the Circle is useful for that function alone.
There are mechanisms in place which ensure that misunderstandings, accidents, or incidents that otherwise might cause a schism are resolved, addressed, or mediated by neutral parties if appropriate. I am aware that all of this is exceptionally odd in the context of the Terminus, but there have been numerous incidents that have been quietly resolved through the Circle that could have turned into violent flashpoints.
One notable element to this is that many times, these aren't handled by the leaders themselves, but high-ranking subordinates, who are usually able to resolve it themselves. The only time the leaders usually become involved is in situations where extensive violence is about to break out – and fortunately, those incidents are very few and far between.
ENSURING RESILIENCE OF SUPPLY CHAINS, CURRENCY, AND RESOURCES: While an oft-overlooked part of the Terminus, and management in general, the Terminus Systems has been noted as having a strangely robust and expansive supply chain, where all of the major players have minimal issues with supply and logistics.
The Circle is a major part of why that is.
Being part of the Circle comes with certain guarantees – such as the ability to ensure you can supply, pay, and equip your personnel. The wealth each major power is able to contribute makes establishing a bare minimum simple, and it is a common sense approach to execute. In practice, this means that members of the Circle will never run out of money, equipment, or personnel needed to maintain their operations or internal functions.
The Circle is obligated to support their members, so long as it is within reason. This is of course a major draw for any who want to join, as it removes the largest hurdles of expansion and development, and allows such refinement and evolution with minimal risks, and maximum gains.
To the credit of the Circle, this is not something that is abused, and members take efforts to make sure their internal management is competent. But sometimes bad luck or emergencies happen, and the Circle coffers ensure they can recover without fear of repossession or debt.
Again, perhaps a strange policy for a criminal alliance, but it is a fundamental part of why the Circle can function as it does, and why it's in the interests of all the members to maintain it. It is why that no matter how upset some members may be with some decisions, they objectively benefit more being a part of it, even if they are stuck at the lowest ranks.
MUTUAL SECURITY GUARANTEES: One of the most important functions of the Circle of the Fallen is their security guarantees. Members of the Circle have a military obligation to support any who come under attack if requested by another member. It does not matter if they are a from Lesser or Greater Circle – if they demand military support, they must be supported.
There has been much speculation, even within the Circle, of to what degree this would be answered depending on the context. While everyone would expect a full mobilization if Aria invoked these guarantees, there remain some doubts surrounding the same situation, but for a member of a Lesser Circle.
The concern is not that they would fail to 'officially' answer the summon, but instead would not devote the needed resources, or contribute the bare minimum. This is a known divide between both leadership Circles, the latter of whom hold private suspicions of the willingness of major members to actually support them at the scale they would expect.
However, it is worth highlighting that the guarantees are unambiguous in their expectations, and it is unlikely that the Circle would risk one of its most critical measures of stability being challenged if the circumstances are less than ideal. A failure to provide support outlined in the guarantees results in expulsion from the Circle without exception.
Fortunately for the Circle, they have yet to find themselves in a situation where these guarantees may be invoked. Right now they expect that the mere threat is enough to deter others from attempting to test any member of the Circle.
Thus far, they appear to be right.
INTERFACES AND MECHANISMS WITH FOREIGN POWERS: A more understated benefit of the Circle, especially in the Lesser Circles, is that it provides mechanisms for interfacing with foreign powers, and other non-Circle major powers in the Terminus, such as the Terminus Clan.
The Circle of the Fallen maintains unofficial, and sometimes official, channels with various foreign entities. These range from the Citadel, to the Systems Alliance, the Broker Network, Batarian Empire, the Vol Protectorate, as well as numerous corporations of all species.
These mechanisms were established to assist in deconfliction in the event of any potential hostile action, though have been primarily used to develop mutual understandings and quietly facilitate certain operations.
Multiple foreign powers view the Circle as a useful vector for facilitating their own operations in the Terminus with minimal risk, in exchange for providing certain resources, technologies, or payments to the Circle.
This influence of foreign entities on the Circle will be elaborated on later in this report, though it should be emphasized the Circle is very aware that this is an objective of foreign powers – while also believing they can be used for their own ends. There is some division within the Circle on what degree of foreign cooperation is acceptable, which is unlikely to be resolved in the near future.
THE PERFECT CIRCLE | A BRIEF OVERVIEW
The Perfect Circle was mentioned earlier in this section, and before proceeding to the later ones, it is worth providing a brief overview of what it is, given its impact on the rest of the Circle of the Fallen. This particular element is critical to navigating the dynamics and relationships of the Circle of the Fallen.
The exact definition of the Perfect Circle is not yet fully defined. Some view it as a movement, others an ideology. The more pragmatic see it as a faction or an alliance. All of them consider themselves aligned to the ultimate purpose of the Perfect Circle, which is to evolve it into something greater than what it currently exists as.
They wish to change the Circle of the Fallen from a facilitator of multiple criminal organizations into the central and undisputed galactic power of the Terminus Systems. They no longer want to be merely facilitating the status quo, but be the answer to the Citadel Council for the Terminus Systems.
It is important to understand that the visions of the Perfect Circle are not uniform. They are as diverse as the numerous members that comprise the Circle of the Fallen, and the motivations are just as varied.
Some see the Perfect Circle as a way to achieve their personal ambitions, others are driven by more grand plans of a central resistance against the Citadel, still more want only to shift the balance power in the Terminus, and finally others who are, for lack of a better word, idealistic and want the Circle to actually achieve something worthwhile.
As a result, there are multiple sub-factions within the overarching Perfect Circle umbrella. There is also no formal structure or organization - yet. Sympathies and ideas are all that exist right now, but given the culture within the Circle, it does not take long for such to turn into actions. Recent events are only accelerating these trends.
These sympathies are becoming widespread, and growing more appealing, because ultimately those who are inclined to want to work for the Circle of the Fallen are not your usual criminals. They are not brain-dead thugs, greedy mercenaries, or people whose motivations are dependent on how much money or flesh you throw at them.
They are individuals who see benefits in cooperation, mutual assurances, alliances, and grand plans. They are organized, bureaucratic, ideological, and driven. They are more inclined to work with colleagues, instead of put their employer above all else.
When enough such people work together, it is not unlikely that they might question why they are perpetuating an inefficient status quo that only benefits a small number of masters, when they could be so much more? Such questions are dangerous, and the out-of-touch decisions by the Greater Circle have unknowingly granted permission for such ideas to become discussed more openly.
The Perfect Circle has been able to find sympathetic ears throughout the Circle because of this dynamic. However, again, all of this is recent, and yet to be cracked down on, if they even could. No one who would sympathize with the Perfect Circle has thus far taken action in a way to draw retaliation - but the sharing of ideas and sentiments has a danger all of its own.
Further worsening matters on this front is that few of the leaders of the Greater Circle seem aware of this sentiment, or do not believe it to be a threat. This disconnect between the leaders, and those who actually make the Circle function, is one that has further contributed to a sense that they can do better, because they have been doing better.
There remain many loyalists to the current function and mission of the Circle, but every day the Perfect Circle grows a little larger. The Perfect Circle has get to achieve a state where it can be assumed what it would do – but make no mistake the main individuals driving it have ideas, and these would certainly change the region forever.
Venethix has become aware of this – and perhaps most curiously, she has yet to strongly react to it. It is almost certain that the ultimate fate; the success or failure of the Perfect Circle will come down to how the founder decides to act.
Further details as to the Perfect Circle will be provided further in this report, but it is important to understand these sympathies exist, are becoming widespread within the Circle of the Fallen, and are already beginning to have an impact.