World Economic Consortium

The **World Economic Consortium** was one of Earth's early global governments, taking power after the United Nations became obsolete was corporate entities gained more and more power. As corporate wars were waged, the WEC was founded in 2350 CE by DOMO, the Europa Economic Interest, the American Alliance, and the African League of Nations to keep the peace between Earth-based corporations. Several corporations were driven off-world, rather than submit to the new government.

The WEC instituted a worldwide electronic network which monitored the finances of every citizen of Earth, used facial recognition even in private video calls in order to track down criminals, and handled every electronic interaction. This network even extended to the WEC colony on Mars, despite continued protests by the MCR government. However, the MCR managed to protect their planet from the ravaging that the WEC inflicted on Earth -- strip mining, destroying entire nations.

The government, led by primarily by corporate executives and elected officials who were lining their pockets, quickly became corrupt and dedicated to this new, destructive status quo. While the population desperately sought out change, and rebellions began. At first, they were violently put down but as members of the military became unwilling to turn on their own people, the government began a long process of dissolving the military altogether in favor of mechanized robot soldiers.

In 2367 CE, for additional funding, the WEC began to increase wage garnishments on the general populace. By 2373 CE, garnishments had increased b over 7% -- reaching an over 50% total. Protests and riots began, the first organized resistance to the WEC. Garnishments were reduced below 50% -- if only barely. Nevertheless, alternative policies and even entirely alternative governments were beginning to be proposed. To counteract this, the WEC created the Scientific Administration, which published research that more often than not "proved" that the WEC's policies were sound. These included works like *Predictive Economics*. Intellectuals and scientists who challenged the findings of the Scientific Administration were disgraced or disappeared. Overall, the general population began to believe the findings and the propaganda released by the WEC.

However, the population did find issue with the WEC's rising use of monitoring every citizen. As this went on, so did another increase in wage garnishments. Soon, food shortages began to occur. In some cities, there was no work or pay to be found. As people's needs failed to be met, unrest grew once again and ultimately protesting and rioting began again. As before, it was suppressed. Between 2390 CE and 2393 CE, over 75,000 dissidents were killed or arrested, and countless more were punished for various Resistance activities.

Meanwhile, the Resistance was growing powerful enough to actually influence some government policies. The WEC publicly promised to evaluate various proposed reforms -- however, these efforts either stalled or were met with scientific reforms "proving" the current policies were best. With this much unrest, it should come as little surprise that in 2394 CE, an independence movement began. The city of Petra held an election and overwhelmingly voted to declare independence from the WEC and cease paying taxes. The WEC came down hard on Petra to make an example -- utterly destroying it.

Despite this catastrophe, more cities declared independence. They met the same fate. Overall, the WEC left twelve cities in utter ruin. Within the next few years, Resistance activity grew heightened -- the fall of the WEC seemed inevitable. The WEC suffered severe losses in 2396 CE, particularly with the loss of the orbital Vigilance Platform and with the death of Chairman Draygan at the hands of a Silencer who had defected to the Resistance.

However, the WEC was saved by a new threat: the imminent end of the world. Unchecked pollution, largely due to a lack of regulation in WEC policies, had wreaked havoc on Earth and the population would need to find a new home. The Scientific Administration engaged in actual scientific research, attempting to terraform Venus and Luna enough to support the population of Earth. Neither effort succeeded. Ultimately, plans were made to colonize the 34Tauri star cluster, and the WEC gave way to the Global Exodus Alliance.

## Source

The World Economic Consortium is derived from *Crusader*. For canon information please visit the Cruader Wiki.