Systems Alliance

The **Systems Alliance** is the representative body of Earth and all human colonies in Citadel space. Backed by Earth's most powerful nations, the Allianc

e has become humanity's military, exploratory, and economic spearhead. While the Alliance is rel

atively new to the galactic community, it has already made a name for itself, gaining humans an embassy on the presidium. The Alliance is governed by a parliament based at Arcturus Station, which also serves as the Alliance's capital.

## History

### Establishment

In 2148, a mining team on Mars made perhaps humanity's greatest discovery. After investigating the "Bermuda Triangle-like" reputation of the southern pole, the team unearthed the subterranean ruins of an ancient alien research station, revealing incontrovertible proof of the existence of alien life. Humanity was no longer alone in the universe.

The impact was profound in all areas of human culture, but nowhere more so than religion. New beliefs sprang up overnight such as the Interventionary Evolutionists, who zealously proclaimed the discovery as proof that all human history had been directed and controlled by alien forces. Even established religions struggled to explain extraterrestrial life. Some tried to incorporate this new-found knowledge into their dogma, some remained silent, while a few tried to stubbornly deny the evidence found on Mars.

The news of the discovery dominated the media and raised questions not only about the existence and purpose of humanity, but questions about the aliens themselves. Foremost, were they still out there? While these questions had served to fracture most religions they had a unifying effect in politics. Rather than nations fighting each other over their differences, it was now "us vs. them" and the foundations of a united human front were laid.

Within a year of the discovery, Earth's eighteen largest nations had drafted and ratified the Systems Alliance charter, establishing a representative political body to expand and defend human territory. Shortly thereafter, the various nations of Earth pooled their military resources to create the Systems Alliance Military. The same year, 2149, the Alliance discovered the Sol system's mass relay orbiting Pluto, previously thought to be a moon, Charon. The Charon Relay propelled them into space and the reach of humanity grew quickly.

### First Contact War

The Alliance began a rapid campaign of expansion, establishing numerous colonies and constructing a large fleet, even though it had yet to encounter another species. Maintaining this expansion policy, the Alliance activated all the mass relays it could find to seek out new resources and possible colonies. But despite this success, the Systems Alliance was not considered a serious political body, as it was considered to lack the authority of individual nations.

Eight years later, in 2157, humanity made first contact with another alien species and everything changed. A scout fleet consisting of three frigates and two cargo vessels, trying to activate a mass relay, encountered a turian patrol fleet. Activating a dormant mass relay without knowing where it led had been declared illegal by the Council, though the humans did not know this. Only one of the human ships made it back to Shanxi colony, which was subsequently discovered by the turians and invaded. While individual governments remained unsure on what action should be taken, the Alliance took control and attacked the turians.

The resulting First Contact War was relatively short and bloodless, lasting only months and costing 623 human lives (with a slightly higher number of turian casualties). The Citadel Council intervened and negotiated a peace. With the discovery of the Citadel and the greater community, humanity leapt onto the galactic stage. The Alliance received a surge of popularity, which gave it the necessary political credibility to establish its own Parliament and speak for humanity as a whole.

### Expansion

Since then, the Alliance has continued its expansion, with the resource wealth of a dozen settled colonies and hundreds of industrial outposts flowing back to Earth. This expansion brought the Alliance into conflict with the batarians as both species rushed to settle the Skyllian Verge, while maintaining a careful truce with the turians. The Alliance has also been granted an embassy on the Citadel. It has been speculated, given humanity's remarkably fast rise in terms of military, political, and economic power, that the Systems Alliance may soon be invited to join the Citadel Council. This has been a source of some concern to several other species.

Humans have expanded rapidly from Earth in a very short period of time, becoming swiftly integrated into Citadel society and the galactic economy. They have become less ethnically diverse in the twenty-second century, due to a more multicultural society and greater unity between nations. Improved medical advances and gene therapy have led to longer, healthier lifespans; the average citizen can now expect to live to around 150. Most humans retain their native tongue, but learn alien languages or trade pidgin for the sake of convenience or as a gesture of unity.

One of the lasting consequences of the First Contact War was the interruption of a period of relative peace in the galaxy. Fairly or unfairly, humans are often thought of as aggressors, and are sometimes portrayed as a disruptive influence by non-human media. At the same time, other races recognize humans as an adaptable, intelligent and militarily capable race.

## Cabinet of the Systems Alliance

* Systems Alliance Department of Government
* Systems Alliance Department of Justice
* Systems Alliance Department of Finance
* Systems Alliance Department of Foreign Affairs
* Systems AllianceDepartment of Home Affairs
* Systems Alliance Department of Defence
* Systems Alliance Department of Health and Social Care
* Systems Alliance Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
* Systems Alliance Department for Intergalactic Trade
* Systems Alliance Department for Work and Pensions
* Systems Alliance Department for Education
* Systems Alliance Department of Communities and Local Government
* Systems Alliance Department of Colonial Affairs
* Systems Alliance Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
* Systems Alliance Department for Transport
* Systems Alliance Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

## Sub-Organizations

### Civilian

* Alliance Intelligence Service
* Systems Alliance Parliament

### Military

* Alliance Intelligence Service
* Systems Alliance Military
	+ Systems Alliance Marine Corps
	+ Systems Alliance Air Arm
	+ Systems Alliance Navy

## Fleets

### Fifth Fleet

Current Commander: Fleet Admiral John Shepard

Vice Commander : Rear Admiral Carter Shepard

## Alliance vocational codes

Here's my proposed list of Alliance vocational codes:

* A - Communications
* B - Infantry
* C - Artillery
* D - Armor
* E - Intelligence
* F - Aviation
* G - Expeditionary Forces
* H - Utilities, Facilities and Infrastructure
* I - Transportation, Logistics, and Supply
* J - Administration and Personnel
* K - Science and Research
* L - Hospital and Medical
* M - Special Operations
* N - Special Forces\*
* O - Engineering
* P - Navigation
* Q - Resource Management
* R - Rescue and Recovery
* S - Tactics and Strategy\*
* T - Military Police
* U - Internal Affairs
* V - Legal
* W - Finance
* X - Specialized Combat
* Y - Public Affairs
* Z - Morale

Starred vocations *cannot* be entered into straight out of basic training. A proficiency level of 3 must be achieved in an approved vocation before applying to either Special Forces (N) or Tactics and Strategy (S).

Hopefully, most of this makes sense so far. I'm going to cover my basic train of thought for the creation/organization of some of these, starting with The Problem of Ashley.

* **S - Tactics and Strategy:**

(Thanks, Ash, for showing up in ME3 with a supposed new vocational code. /s)

Tactics and Strategy is the vocational code for fleet officers, who command and coordinate movement between aerial, ground, and non-Alliance forces. In essence, Tactics and Strategy is the only military vocation that grants a person command over more than one ship/base. Unlike other vocational codes, Tactics and Strategy and Special Forces CANNOT be entered into straight from basic training. You must be at least a level 3 in an approved vocation before applying to switch to the Tactics and Strategy vocation. S1s like Ashley are currently enrolled in Tactics and Strategy educational courses, and may NOT take charge of any command outside their own. S2s have completed all the educational requirements required. Proficiency levels beyond S2 are strictly based on active combat experience. Hackett is an S7 (from a former G6), and Anderson is an S5 (from a former N7).

Applicants to the Tactics and Strategy vocation must have active combat experience, and have achieved the at least the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Promotion to Rear Admiral/General is dependent upon achieving an S2 ranking.

* **Splitting Aviation (F) and Navigation (P) in a spaceflight society:**

The way I figure it, spaceflight being a common thing requires massive infrastructure. Not only that, but there are obviously different levels of flight, both in and out of atmosphere (skycars, shuttles, fighters, etc.). So I felt I needed to separate Aviation (which is everything involving flying) from Navigation (which would involve FTL/Mass Relays), since, you know, if you fuck that up you'll end up in an asteroid field or black hole or unidentified jungle planet or something . So Cortez would be an F-something (Aviation, since he mentions he's a former fighter pilot) , while Joker is obviously a P7-001 (Pilot, Frigate), since frigates are the smallest military vessels capable of FTL speeds and Mass Relay jumps.

* **G - Expeditionary Forces:**

Yes, this was totally dictated by the Aug. 17 Andromeda trailer. I'm thinking when humanity achieved FTL travel is about when the global society/military was established, and within the military structure they included a vocation that was somewhat specialized in extra-solar exploration. Expeditionary Forces would be the scouting and survey parties, finding new systems and worlds and cataloging them. So hopefully this is the case in Andromeda, and G2 isn't the model of the jetpack or something. (Again, this information is from the Aug. 17 trailer, I have tried to avoid everything about ME:A since then)

* **Q - Resource Management**

The Alliance Military is HUGE. Resource management is the vocation that deals with the acquisition/maintenance/defense of the raw materials and supplies needed to keep the army running. They make the deals with military contractors, and then Utilities, Facilities and Infrastructure (H) and Transportation, Logistics, and Supply (I) obtain their supplies from Resource Management. Finance and Legal work closely with Resource Management, while Internal Affairs keeps a close eye on what's going on. When Shepard mines planets or finds mineral deposits, they are sent to Resource Management. When Cortez becomes the de facto procurement specialist on the Normandy, he is applying directly to Resource Management rather than going through a Supply officer (who would consolidate and request the needs of the entire ship.)

* **R - Rescue and Recovery:**

Rescue and Recovery can operate in almost any environment, and do not limit themselves to only the rescue of Alliance military. They are trained in rescue operations and emergency medical treatment. They also perform salvage operations, and can set up short-term refugee camps. Rescue and Recovery is the only vocation where the title matches the letter designation code. This is to make it easier for survivors to identify rescuers in stressful situations.

* **X - Specialized Combat**

Specialized Combat differs from other active combat vocations in that the personnel in the Specialized Combat have an rare talent or skill that dictates their fighting style. Kaidan is an X7 in ME3. (If your Shepard is a biotic, they are a former X3.)

* **Z - Morale**

Anything that isn't a physical or logistical need for soldiers goes into the morale vocation. Music, religion, recreation, entertainment, etc.

* **Special Operations (M) and Special Forces (N):**

These are both umbrella terms for unconventional warfare, but whereas Special Forces is still rooted in traditional combat, Special Operations focuses on other types of warfare: chemical, biological, psychological, political. These two vocations work closely with each other and the Science/Research vocation.

* **N - Special Forces:**

ICT is the name of the school, applicants must have reached a proficiency level of 3 in one of these approved vocations before applying to Special Forces.

Approved vocations for admittance into the Special Forces vocation:

* A - Communications
* B - Infantry
* C - Artillery
* D - Armor
* E - Intelligence
* F - Aviation
* G - Expeditionary Forces
* M - Special Operations
* R - Rescue and Recovery
* T - Military Police
* X - Specialized Combat