User:Logomancer/Isolation (BP) - Revision history

Logomancer: /* The Rise of the Gaian Effort */

2026-03-23T06:09:24Z

The Rise of the Gaian Effort

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:09, 23 March 2026
Line 105:		Line 105:

	= The Rise of the Gaian Effort =		= The Rise of the Gaian Effort =
	''This part will talk about how the Gaian Effort came to be -- Ian MacDuff's beginnings as a neo-Druid in the Scottish countryside (heavily fracked by the oligarchs); the Europan eco-disaster; MacDuff's emigration to Mars to agitate for a cometary lifestyle; the Socialist Campaign for a Green Mars election scandal in ~~2050~~; MacDuff's followers forming the Gaian Effort and migrating to the Kuiper Belt; the assimilation of the Fringe Alliance and the tensions that poses; and MacDuff's war on the Feds.''		''This part will talk about how the Gaian Effort came to be -- Ian MacDuff's beginnings as a neo-Druid in the Scottish countryside (heavily fracked by the oligarchs); the Europan eco-disaster; MacDuff's emigration to Mars to agitate for a cometary lifestyle; the Socialist Campaign for a Green Mars election scandal in 2350; MacDuff's followers forming the Gaian Effort and migrating to the Kuiper Belt; the assimilation of the Fringe Alliance and the tensions that poses; and MacDuff's war on the Feds.''

	= The Fall of Strife =		= The Fall of Strife =
	''Goes into the Jovian-Gef Conflict of 2376. It starts with the Gefs' destruction of Clarke Station over Europa and the simultaneous surprise attack on several other stations (Simak, Kornbluth, Campbell, Heinlein?). Things get dicey for the Jovians as their ships (mostly ''Sanctus'' cruisers and ''Purusha'' frigates) are considerably underpowered against the Gefs' attack-heavy gunboats and massive Rim Defense fortifications, but the strikecraft balance is considerably more tilted in the Jovians' favor, destroying Gef supply convoys and Fringe Alliance factories before hitting Eris Base, the main Gef stronghold. MacDuff and many of his followers escape to the outer fringes of the system, but the war is effectively over, with tens of thousands of Gefs killed in the fighting or imprisoned for war crimes.''		''Goes into the Jovian-Gef Conflict of 2376. It starts with the Gefs' destruction of Clarke Station over Europa and the simultaneous surprise attack on several other stations (Simak, Kornbluth, Campbell, Heinlein?). Things get dicey for the Jovians as their ships (mostly ''Sanctus'' cruisers and ''Purusha'' frigates) are considerably underpowered against the Gefs' attack-heavy gunboats and massive Rim Defense fortifications, but the strikecraft balance is considerably more tilted in the Jovians' favor, destroying Gef supply convoys and Fringe Alliance factories before hitting Eris Base, the main Gef stronghold. MacDuff and many of his followers escape to the outer fringes of the system, but the war is effectively over, with tens of thousands of Gefs killed in the fighting or imprisoned for war crimes.''
	''After this disaster, MacDuff finally loses control of the Gaian Effort, and the leadership fractures. Several cells will eventually emerge after a few years, with MacDuff's Kostadin Cell being the most hardline and also the most adherent to the old Gef philosophy.''		''After this disaster, MacDuff finally loses control of the Gaian Effort, and the leadership fractures. Several cells will eventually emerge after a few years, with MacDuff's Kostadin Cell being the most hardline and also the most adherent to the old Gef philosophy.''

Logomancer: /* Scaling Issues */

2026-03-23T06:07:09Z

Scaling Issues

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:07, 23 March 2026
Line 86:		Line 86:
	''Here, the Ubuntu Party has to deal with a few challenges -- the recalcitrance of the remaining oligarchs in Europe, Russia, and North America; the rise of piracy in Sol after the reignition of intra-system trade; and the ongoing teething issues of Ubuntu's economic algorithms, which were never designed to scale to the size of managing an entire planet's economy.''		''Here, the Ubuntu Party has to deal with a few challenges -- the recalcitrance of the remaining oligarchs in Europe, Russia, and North America; the rise of piracy in Sol after the reignition of intra-system trade; and the ongoing teething issues of Ubuntu's economic algorithms, which were never designed to scale to the size of managing an entire planet's economy.''

	After declaring their intentions, the Elders continued their work to improve the planetary economy and steer Earth away from recession. In this respect, they had their work cut out for them. Ubuntu had wrested political power from the oligarchs of Earth on the planetary level, much to the ~~oligarchs~~' fury, and they resolved to destroy these upstarts. A few of these princelings resorted to brute force to remove Ubuntu from power, using local police or the military to arrest Ubuntu officials on trumped-up charges. ~~By and large, these~~ actions backfired drastically as they resulted in vicious local protests ~~not seen~~ in ~~a decade. Ultimately~~, the oligarchs who chose violence were forced to back down, ~~and~~ often ~~lost~~ power in the ~~bargain~~.		After declaring their intentions, the Elders continued their work to improve the planetary economy and steer Earth away from recession. In this respect, they had their work cut out for them. Ubuntu had wrested political power from the oligarchs of Earth on the planetary level, much to the latter's fury, and they resolved to destroy these upstarts. A few of these princelings resorted to brute force to remove Ubuntu from power, using local police or the military to arrest Ubuntu officials on trumped-up charges. These actions backfired drastically as they resulted in vicious local protests; in the end, the oligarchs who chose violence were forced to back down, often losing power in the process.

	Most oligarchs, however, recognized these attempts as ~~fool's errands~~; the principles and policies of Ubuntu enjoyed wide popular support, and the people involved had considerable credibility. The obvious avenue of attack was to erode that credibility. The oligarchs still held sway in local regions, particularly in the Global North, either through being elected to local office or through their social and economic ties to business and industrial establishments. For many local projects, Ubuntu was forced to partner with the oligarchs as they contained expertise~~, know-how,~~ resources~~, or property~~ crucial to the project's success. ~~As such, they used their considerable influence~~ to slow down or render ineffective many local rebuilding projects Ubuntu counted on to foster goodwill in places not currently under their influence. Combined with a bit of judicious propaganda blaming the Ubuntu project management, this strategy proved largely successful; many ~~regions~~ in Russia, Europe, Australia, and the Americas were souring on Ubuntu leadership.		Most oligarchs, however, recognized these attempts as foolhardy; the principles and policies of Ubuntu enjoyed wide popular support, and the people involved had considerable credibility. The obvious avenue of attack was to erode that credibility. The oligarchs still held sway in local regions, particularly in the Global North, either through being elected to local office or through their social and economic ties to business and industrial establishments. For many local projects, Ubuntu was forced to partner with the oligarchs as they contained expertise or resources crucial to the project's success. The oligarchs leveraged these partnerships to slow down or render ineffective many local rebuilding projects Ubuntu counted on to foster goodwill in places not currently under their influence. Combined with a bit of judicious propaganda blaming the Ubuntu project management, this strategy proved largely successful; many locations in Russia, Europe, Australia, and the Americas were souring on Ubuntu leadership.

	~~In truth, the~~ floundering of Ubuntu's recovery project was not the fault of the oligarchs alone. As Ubuntu's network got wider and more complex, the simulations they had been using to make investments and predict future outcomes had grown increasingly erratic in their calculations. Ubuntu's first economic models had been adapted to Han-Ronald's tactical fleet simulations. and while they sufficed to make small-scale, limited forecasts, the number of inputs required to simulate a changing, complex global economy and its ever-increasing number of dynamic actors dwarfed the largest conceived fleet actions of the old GTA admiralty. After several investments in eastern Europe failed massively due to the old system, it was clear that a new model -- and new computers to run them on -- were needed.		The floundering of Ubuntu's recovery project was not the fault of the oligarchs alone. As Ubuntu's economic network got wider and more complex, the simulations they had been using to make investments and predict future outcomes had grown increasingly erratic in their calculations. Ubuntu's first economic models had been adapted to Han-Ronald's tactical fleet simulations. and while they sufficed to make small-scale, limited forecasts, the number of inputs required to simulate a changing, complex global economy and its ever-increasing number of dynamic actors dwarfed the largest conceived fleet actions of the old GTA admiralty. After several investments in eastern Europe failed massively due to the old system, it was clear that a new model -- and new computers to run them on -- were needed.

	~~Of the two intertwined problems, making a new model was the easier of them to solve, if only marginally.~~ Initially, the Steering Council started a search committee to interview candidates for the modeling project. The team was envisioned to draw from multiple disciplines -- primarily economists, but also political scientists, sociologists, psychologists, data scientists, and software engineers. The aim behind the simulation was primarily economic, ~~but~~ as ~~several members of~~ the ~~team pointed out~~, economics is largely determined by human ~~behavior~~, which meant that the simulation would need to model this ~~behavior~~ to some degree in order to be feature-complete. ~~Finding~~ suitable economists proved to be the greatest hurdle for the search committee. The ~~old GTA's many years of~~ central economic planning had polarized the economics profession on Earth into two camps -- those fully invested in heavy-handed government involvement, and those advocating something similar to the so-called "anarcho-capitalism" of the oligarchs. Neither camp was suitable to the committee as they were fundamentally misaligned with Ubuntu's ideas about individual freedom and the rejection of dogma in favor of science and good data~~. While suitable economists were eventually found, the search and interview process was a difficult one~~.		Initially, the Steering Council started a search committee to interview candidates for the modeling project. The team was envisioned to draw from multiple disciplines -- primarily economists, but also political scientists, sociologists, psychologists, data scientists, and software engineers. The aim behind the simulation was primarily economic, and there was concern by some on the model's design committee over the potential for "feature creep" as the talent search continued. The Steering Council, however, countered that economics is largely determined by human behaviour, which meant that the simulation would need to model this behaviour to some degree in order to be feature-complete. Unsurprisingly, finding suitable economists proved to be the greatest hurdle for the search committee. The central economic planning of the old GTA had polarized the economics profession on Earth into two camps -- those fully invested in heavy-handed government involvement, and those advocating something similar to the so-called "anarcho-capitalism" of the oligarchs. Neither camp was suitable to the committee as they were fundamentally misaligned with Ubuntu's ideas about individual freedom and the rejection of dogma in favor of science and good data.

	The biggest name attached to the project would ultimately be found not on Earth, but Mars. Roger Le was an economics professor at the University of Bologna in the 2330s who advocated a form of democratic economy informed by complex economic modeling. ~~The wartime~~ economy of the ~~GTA~~ and the ~~kleptocracy~~ of the oligarchs ~~would not find him in~~ political favor, and an invitation from the Martian Concordia to consult on economic policy, ~~combined with intimidation from the oligarchs, convinced him to emigrate~~ to Utopia Planitia in 2341. He had also taught Lin Taudigani, a member of the Steering Council, during her undergrad years at the university. While Le had been largely outside both Ubuntu and the Human Futures Project, Taudigani personally invited him to interview for the project. The subspace teleconference took several hours, but in the end the Steering Council was convinced that he was the right fit to lead the project. After his return to Earth, the project proceeded relatively smoothly, and the broad design of the model was completed in 2349.		The biggest name attached to the project would ultimately be found not on Earth, but Mars. Roger Le was an economics professor at the University of Bologna in the late 2320s and 2330s who advocated a form of democratic economy informed by complex economic modeling, building on work pioneered by Stanford Beer in the late 20th Century and iterated upon in the succeeding decades. During his tenure, he taught many students, including a young Lin Taudigani, and his views gained a cult following in the early 24th Century. As the GTA transitioned Sol's economy to a central planning model during the 14 Years' War, some of Le's ideas were adapted to reduce the time and complexity of decision loops in the planning process. With the rise of the oligarchs, his ideas fell out of political favor, and after political pressure from the European Committee on Institutional Reintegration, he was dismissed from his teaching position. In 2341, after an invitation from the Martian Concordia to consult on economic policy, he emigrated to Utopia Planitia.

	~~Obtaining~~ the ~~infrastructure needed~~ to ~~run~~ the ~~new simulation~~ was ~~another challenge. Computing assets large enough~~ to ~~run~~ the ~~simulation were hard~~ to ~~come by~~, as the ~~GTA did not invest much in computing infrastructure since~~ the ~~Great War; beyond some tactical simulators and specialized physics and chemistry labs on Faustus-class science vessels, there~~ was ~~not really a need large enough~~ to ~~justify~~ the ~~investment~~. ~~The oligarch class~~, ~~naturally, had no use for them either. While local and regional networks had received occasional upgrades over~~ the ~~years, in many rural areas communications infrastructure~~ and ~~computing datacentres~~ were in ~~much~~ the ~~same state they had been at~~ the ~~end~~ of the ~~Unification Wars; useful for basic communication, but not for~~ the ~~intensive data-gathering~~, ~~telemetry, and inference the new Ubuntu models needed~~.		While Le was a distinguished economist, and his ideas had merit, he had never been a member of either Ubuntu or the Human Futures Project, and his current views were somewhat opaque to the search committee. But Taudigani was convinced he would be instrumental to the project's success, and personally invited him to interview for the project. The subspace teleconference took several hours, but in the end the search committee was convinced that he was the right fit to lead the project. After his recruitment, the selection of the remaining members of the design and implementation committees were relatively straightforward; Le's academic contacts as well as some of the Steering Council's colleagues (with some other notable outliers) would fill in the rest of the gaps, and the design of the model continued apace through the end of 2350. By 2351, things were falling into place.

	Naturally, this needed to change. Ubuntu politicians would propose massive infrastructure projects building new datacentres across the globe, but the oligarchs resisted this, pointing to the enormous costs of these computing facilities and the potential drain they would have on local electricity grids. Thus stymied, Ubuntu ~~would come up with the notion of~~ a distributed simulation, running multiple different local nodes in parallel using smaller computing centres in small cities across Ubuntu's region of influence. Where possible, communications links were upgraded for the first time in decades, allowing ~~the cities' residents~~ to enjoy high-speed datalinks to the rest of the ~~system~~.		Obtaining the infrastructure needed to run the new simulation was another challenge. Computing assets large enough to run the simulation were hard to come by, as the GTA had not invested much in Terran computing infrastructure since the 14 Years' War; most of the GTA's Great War investments had been concentrated off-planet. The oligarch class, naturally, had no need for large numbers of supercomputers. While urban and regional communications networks had received occasional upgrades over the years, in many rural areas communications infrastructure had existed in the same state they had since the end of the Unification Wars; useful for basic communication, but not for the intensive telemetry and two-way data gathering the new Ubuntu models needed.

			Naturally, this needed to change. Ubuntu politicians would propose massive infrastructure projects building large new datacentres across the globe near sources of renewable energy, but the oligarchs resisted this, pointing to the enormous costs of these computing facilities and the potential drain they would have on local electricity grids. Moreover, while the scale of Ubuntu's model required vast amounts of data on human behaviour, surveillance of this type had produced considerable controversy on Earth in recent years, as the GTA and the oligarchs had used this data to identify and target "subversive elements" in their bid to retain power. Thus stymied, Ubuntu's model design committee pivoted to a distributed simulation, running multiple different local nodes in parallel using smaller computing centres in small cities across Ubuntu's region of influence, feeding data to their limited supercomputing assets. Where possible, communications links were upgraded for the first time in decades, allowing city-dwellers to enjoy high-speed datalinks to the rest of the planet.

			Finally, a number of software applications were aggressively marketed to civilian populations under Ubuntu influence, giving them access to personalized advice on business, social affairs, mental and physical health, and even dating. Once the effectiveness of these applications were widely known, they spread like wildfire across the planet, proving genuine advice to millions of people -- and feeding the Ubuntu models, first on the small scale, and then larger ones.

	= The Rise of the Gaian Effort =		= The Rise of the Gaian Effort =

Logomancer: /* Scaling Issues */

2026-03-23T04:17:09Z

Scaling Issues

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:17, 23 March 2026
Line 98:		Line 98:
	Obtaining the infrastructure needed to run the new simulation was another challenge. Computing assets large enough to run the simulation were hard to come by, as the GTA did not invest much in computing infrastructure since the Great War; beyond some tactical simulators and specialized physics and chemistry labs on Faustus-class science vessels, there was not really a need large enough to justify the investment. The oligarch class, naturally, had no use for them either. While local and regional networks had received occasional upgrades over the years, in many rural areas communications infrastructure and computing datacentres were in much the same state they had been at the end of the Unification Wars; useful for basic communication, but not for the intensive data-gathering, telemetry, and inference the new Ubuntu models needed.		Obtaining the infrastructure needed to run the new simulation was another challenge. Computing assets large enough to run the simulation were hard to come by, as the GTA did not invest much in computing infrastructure since the Great War; beyond some tactical simulators and specialized physics and chemistry labs on Faustus-class science vessels, there was not really a need large enough to justify the investment. The oligarch class, naturally, had no use for them either. While local and regional networks had received occasional upgrades over the years, in many rural areas communications infrastructure and computing datacentres were in much the same state they had been at the end of the Unification Wars; useful for basic communication, but not for the intensive data-gathering, telemetry, and inference the new Ubuntu models needed.

	Naturally, this needed to change. Ubuntu politicians would propose massive infrastructure projects building new datacentres across the globe, but the oligarchs resisted this, pointing to the enormous costs of these computing facilities and the potential drain they would have on local electricity grids. Thus stymied, Ubuntu would come up with the notion of a distributed simulation, running multiple different local nodes in parallel using smaller computing centres in small cities across Ubuntu's region of influence. Where possible, communications links were upgraded for the first time in decades, allowing the ~~ctities~~' ~~redidemts~~ to enjoy high-speed datalinks to the rest of the system.		Naturally, this needed to change. Ubuntu politicians would propose massive infrastructure projects building new datacentres across the globe, but the oligarchs resisted this, pointing to the enormous costs of these computing facilities and the potential drain they would have on local electricity grids. Thus stymied, Ubuntu would come up with the notion of a distributed simulation, running multiple different local nodes in parallel using smaller computing centres in small cities across Ubuntu's region of influence. Where possible, communications links were upgraded for the first time in decades, allowing the cities' residents to enjoy high-speed datalinks to the rest of the system.

	= The Rise of the Gaian Effort =		= The Rise of the Gaian Effort =

Logomancer: /* Scaling Issues */

2025-12-07T05:37:25Z

Scaling Issues

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:37, 7 December 2025
Line 97:		Line 97:

	Obtaining the infrastructure needed to run the new simulation was another challenge. Computing assets large enough to run the simulation were hard to come by, as the GTA did not invest much in computing infrastructure since the Great War; beyond some tactical simulators and specialized physics and chemistry labs on Faustus-class science vessels, there was not really a need large enough to justify the investment. The oligarch class, naturally, had no use for them either. While local and regional networks had received occasional upgrades over the years, in many rural areas communications infrastructure and computing datacentres were in much the same state they had been at the end of the Unification Wars; useful for basic communication, but not for the intensive data-gathering, telemetry, and inference the new Ubuntu models needed.		Obtaining the infrastructure needed to run the new simulation was another challenge. Computing assets large enough to run the simulation were hard to come by, as the GTA did not invest much in computing infrastructure since the Great War; beyond some tactical simulators and specialized physics and chemistry labs on Faustus-class science vessels, there was not really a need large enough to justify the investment. The oligarch class, naturally, had no use for them either. While local and regional networks had received occasional upgrades over the years, in many rural areas communications infrastructure and computing datacentres were in much the same state they had been at the end of the Unification Wars; useful for basic communication, but not for the intensive data-gathering, telemetry, and inference the new Ubuntu models needed.

			Naturally, this needed to change. Ubuntu politicians would propose massive infrastructure projects building new datacentres across the globe, but the oligarchs resisted this, pointing to the enormous costs of these computing facilities and the potential drain they would have on local electricity grids. Thus stymied, Ubuntu would come up with the notion of a distributed simulation, running multiple different local nodes in parallel using smaller computing centres in small cities across Ubuntu's region of influence. Where possible, communications links were upgraded for the first time in decades, allowing the ctities' redidemts to enjoy high-speed datalinks to the rest of the system.

	= The Rise of the Gaian Effort =		= The Rise of the Gaian Effort =

Logomancer: /* Scaling Issues */

2025-12-07T05:24:35Z

Scaling Issues

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:24, 7 December 2025
Line 90:		Line 90:
	Most oligarchs, however, recognized these attempts as fool's errands; the principles and policies of Ubuntu enjoyed wide popular support, and the people involved had considerable credibility. The obvious avenue of attack was to erode that credibility. The oligarchs still held sway in local regions, particularly in the Global North, either through being elected to local office or through their social and economic ties to business and industrial establishments. For many local projects, Ubuntu was forced to partner with the oligarchs as they contained expertise, know-how, resources, or property crucial to the project's success. As such, they used their considerable influence to slow down or render ineffective many local rebuilding projects Ubuntu counted on to foster goodwill in places not currently under their influence. Combined with a bit of judicious propaganda blaming the Ubuntu project management, this strategy proved largely successful; many regions in Russia, Europe, Australia, and the Americas were souring on Ubuntu leadership.		Most oligarchs, however, recognized these attempts as fool's errands; the principles and policies of Ubuntu enjoyed wide popular support, and the people involved had considerable credibility. The obvious avenue of attack was to erode that credibility. The oligarchs still held sway in local regions, particularly in the Global North, either through being elected to local office or through their social and economic ties to business and industrial establishments. For many local projects, Ubuntu was forced to partner with the oligarchs as they contained expertise, know-how, resources, or property crucial to the project's success. As such, they used their considerable influence to slow down or render ineffective many local rebuilding projects Ubuntu counted on to foster goodwill in places not currently under their influence. Combined with a bit of judicious propaganda blaming the Ubuntu project management, this strategy proved largely successful; many regions in Russia, Europe, Australia, and the Americas were souring on Ubuntu leadership.

	~~<!--~~ In truth, the floundering of Ubuntu's recovery project was not the fault of the oligarchs alone. As Ubuntu's network got wider and more complex, the ~~models~~ they had been using to make investments and -->		In truth, the floundering of Ubuntu's recovery project was not the fault of the oligarchs alone. As Ubuntu's network got wider and more complex, the simulations they had been using to make investments and predict future outcomes had grown increasingly erratic in their calculations. Ubuntu's first economic models had been adapted to Han-Ronald's tactical fleet simulations. and while they sufficed to make small-scale, limited forecasts, the number of inputs required to simulate a changing, complex global economy and its ever-increasing number of dynamic actors dwarfed the largest conceived fleet actions of the old GTA admiralty. After several investments in eastern Europe failed massively due to the old system, it was clear that a new model -- and new computers to run them on -- were needed.

			Of the two intertwined problems, making a new model was the easier of them to solve, if only marginally. Initially, the Steering Council started a search committee to interview candidates for the modeling project. The team was envisioned to draw from multiple disciplines -- primarily economists, but also political scientists, sociologists, psychologists, data scientists, and software engineers. The aim behind the simulation was primarily economic, but as several members of the team pointed out, economics is largely determined by human behavior, which meant that the simulation would need to model this behavior to some degree in order to be feature-complete. Finding suitable economists proved to be the greatest hurdle for the search committee. The old GTA's many years of central economic planning had polarized the economics profession on Earth into two camps -- those fully invested in heavy-handed government involvement, and those advocating something similar to the so-called "anarcho-capitalism" of the oligarchs. Neither camp was suitable to the committee as they were fundamentally misaligned with Ubuntu's ideas about individual freedom and the rejection of dogma in favor of science and good data. While suitable economists were eventually found, the search and interview process was a difficult one.

			The biggest name attached to the project would ultimately be found not on Earth, but Mars. Roger Le was an economics professor at the University of Bologna in the 2330s who advocated a form of democratic economy informed by complex economic modeling. The wartime economy of the GTA and the kleptocracy of the oligarchs would not find him in political favor, and an invitation from the Martian Concordia to consult on economic policy, combined with intimidation from the oligarchs, convinced him to emigrate to Utopia Planitia in 2341. He had also taught Lin Taudigani, a member of the Steering Council, during her undergrad years at the university. While Le had been largely outside both Ubuntu and the Human Futures Project, Taudigani personally invited him to interview for the project. The subspace teleconference took several hours, but in the end the Steering Council was convinced that he was the right fit to lead the project. After his return to Earth, the project proceeded relatively smoothly, and the broad design of the model was completed in 2349.

			Obtaining the infrastructure needed to run the new simulation was another challenge. Computing assets large enough to run the simulation were hard to come by, as the GTA did not invest much in computing infrastructure since the Great War; beyond some tactical simulators and specialized physics and chemistry labs on Faustus-class science vessels, there was not really a need large enough to justify the investment. The oligarch class, naturally, had no use for them either. While local and regional networks had received occasional upgrades over the years, in many rural areas communications infrastructure and computing datacentres were in much the same state they had been at the end of the Unification Wars; useful for basic communication, but not for the intensive data-gathering, telemetry, and inference the new Ubuntu models needed.

	= The Rise of the Gaian Effort =		= The Rise of the Gaian Effort =

Logomancer: /* Scaling Issues */

2025-12-06T19:28:58Z

Scaling Issues

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:28, 6 December 2025
Line 86:		Line 86:
	''Here, the Ubuntu Party has to deal with a few challenges -- the recalcitrance of the remaining oligarchs in Europe, Russia, and North America; the rise of piracy in Sol after the reignition of intra-system trade; and the ongoing teething issues of Ubuntu's economic algorithms, which were never designed to scale to the size of managing an entire planet's economy.''		''Here, the Ubuntu Party has to deal with a few challenges -- the recalcitrance of the remaining oligarchs in Europe, Russia, and North America; the rise of piracy in Sol after the reignition of intra-system trade; and the ongoing teething issues of Ubuntu's economic algorithms, which were never designed to scale to the size of managing an entire planet's economy.''

	After declaring their intentions, the Elders continued their work to improve the planetary economy and steer Earth away from recession. In this respect, they had their work cut out for them. ~~To begin with~~, ~~while~~ the oligarchs of ~~Earth had had their~~ power ~~diminished by~~ the RP in the ~~political space~~, ~~they~~ still ~~commanded considerable political~~ and economic ~~clout within~~ their ~~own~~ regions of ~~influence~~.		After declaring their intentions, the Elders continued their work to improve the planetary economy and steer Earth away from recession. In this respect, they had their work cut out for them. Ubuntu had wrested political power from the oligarchs of Earth on the planetary level, much to the oligarchs' fury, and they resolved to destroy these upstarts. A few of these princelings resorted to brute force to remove Ubuntu from power, using local police or the military to arrest Ubuntu officials on trumped-up charges. By and large, these actions backfired drastically as they resulted in vicious local protests not seen in a decade. Ultimately, the oligarchs who chose violence were forced to back down, and often lost power in the bargain.

			Most oligarchs, however, recognized these attempts as fool's errands; the principles and policies of Ubuntu enjoyed wide popular support, and the people involved had considerable credibility. The obvious avenue of attack was to erode that credibility. The oligarchs still held sway in local regions, particularly in the Global North, either through being elected to local office or through their social and economic ties to business and industrial establishments. For many local projects, Ubuntu was forced to partner with the oligarchs as they contained expertise, know-how, resources, or property crucial to the project's success. As such, they used their considerable influence to slow down or render ineffective many local rebuilding projects Ubuntu counted on to foster goodwill in places not currently under their influence. Combined with a bit of judicious propaganda blaming the Ubuntu project management, this strategy proved largely successful; many regions in Russia, Europe, Australia, and the Americas were souring on Ubuntu leadership.

			<!-- In truth, the floundering of Ubuntu's recovery project was not the fault of the oligarchs alone. As Ubuntu's network got wider and more complex, the models they had been using to make investments and -->

	= The Rise of the Gaian Effort =		= The Rise of the Gaian Effort =

Logomancer: /* A Means of Restoration */ More rewrites

2023-01-12T00:15:49Z

A Means of Restoration: More rewrites

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:15, 12 January 2023
Line 32:		Line 32:

	= A Means of Restoration =		= A Means of Restoration =
	~~As the~~ GTA ~~faded into irrelevance,~~ Sol ~~was in~~ dire ~~straits~~. Six weeks after the Terran Assembly -- now only representing Earth and Luna -- declared an end to the wartime state of emergency imposed by the GTA, it declared a peacetime emergency due to its continuing economic crisis. Earth's national governments struggled to provide for their large populations after years of the GTA's mismanagement, and ~~deprioritized~~ interplanetary trade. This, in turn, impoverished the Jovians, who were dependent on trade with Earth. Meanwhile, the Martians were critically short of experts to maintain their fragile ecosystem. Sol was in the midst of economic congestive failure.		The GTA's removal from power did not change Sol's dire situation. Six weeks after the Terran Assembly -- now only representing Earth and Luna -- declared an end to the wartime state of emergency imposed by the GTA, it declared a peacetime emergency due to its continuing economic crisis. Earth's national governments struggled to provide for their large populations after years of the GTA's mismanagement, and curtailed interplanetary trade. This, in turn, impoverished the Jovians, who were dependent on trade with Earth. Meanwhile, the Martians were critically short of experts to maintain their fragile ecosystem. Sol was in the midst of economic congestive failure.

	~~The new political landscape following~~ the ~~elections of 2339 had caused a buzz of discussion about the future of Earth. Many concluded~~ that the end of GTA rule signified a rebirth of democracy and an economic golden age for humanity. ~~However~~, a loose collective of philosophers, historians, educators, scientists, and spiritual leaders voiced their concern about the new political order. These people were alumni of the GTA's Human ~~Future~~ Project. Established in 2330 to "foster the next wave of human leadership and innovation", the ~~Human Future Project~~ was part symposium and part think tank. It pushed the envelope of human research on many levels with breakthroughs in linguistics, scientific modeling, psychosociology, logistical distribution, and many other fields. While most of these innovations were directed to serve the war effort, some had large impacts on civilian life as well.		Despite the system's challenges, many believed that the end of GTA rule signified a rebirth of democracy and a coming economic golden age for humanity. At the same time, a loose collective of philosophers, historians, educators, scientists, and spiritual leaders voiced their concern about the new political order. These people were alumni of the GTA's Human Futures Project. Established in 2330 to "foster the next wave of human leadership and innovation", the project was part symposium and part think tank. It pushed the envelope of human research on many levels with breakthroughs in linguistics, scientific modeling, psychosociology, logistical distribution, and many other fields. While most of these innovations were directed to serve the war effort, some had large impacts on civilian life as well.

	This collective recognized that while the oligarchs who had taken control in the wake of the revolts professed a love of freedom and democracy, their actions after ~~the uprising and after the election~~ were more consistent with a disdain for it. What ~~else would be born from this disdain~~, however, was less clear. Recruiting computer scientists formerly employed by Han-Ronald's simulations division, they constructed a predictive model of the sociopolitical situation in Sol.		This collective recognized that while the oligarchs who had taken control in the wake of the revolts professed a love of freedom and democracy, their actions after gaining power were more consistent with a disdain for it. What the ultimate goal of these actions was, however, was less clear. Recruiting computer scientists and developers formerly employed by Han-Ronald's simulations division, they constructed a predictive model of the sociopolitical situation in Sol.

	The results, delivered two months later, were frightening. ~~Within~~ a decade, the oligarchs would have complete control over the Terran Assembly and the national governments of Earth and Luna. Most of the programs in place to restore Earth's infrastructure would be curtailed, as would ~~most~~ regular spaceflights to Mars and the Jovian system, to enrich the oligarchs further. As Earth's infrastructure broke down from lack of maintenance, billions of people would die, decimating the labor force ~~and skill sets available~~ and making any hope of recovery impossible. On Earth, human civilization would backslide and enter a Dark Age; in the rest of the system, it would simply cease to exist.		The results, delivered two months later, were frightening. The model predicted that, within a decade, the oligarchs would have complete control over the Terran Assembly and the national governments of Earth and Luna. Most of the programs in place to restore Earth's infrastructure would be curtailed, as would regular spaceflights to Mars and the Jovian system, to enrich the oligarchs further. As Earth's infrastructure broke down from lack of maintenance, billions of people would die, decimating the labor force and making any hope of recovery impossible. On Earth, human civilization would backslide and enter a Dark Age; in the rest of the system, it would simply cease to exist. Galvanized by the report's bleak outlook, the collective organized into the Restoration Project in April 2340, resolving to forestall the model's dark predictions.

	~~Galvanized by the report's bleak outlook~~, ~~these Human Future alumni formed the Restoration Project in 2340, and set to work to prevent the coming darkness. Unable to stand for important offices due~~ to ~~a lack of corporate sponsorship,~~ the Project ~~went grassroots, recruiting humanitarians, aid workers, and spiritual leaders to its cause, and running for local offices, which were not highly contested~~. By 2341, the RP had gained a foothold in some of the most strife-ridden areas on Earth, and started setting up homeless shelters, food kitchens, and trade schools, most of them converted from abandoned munitions plants or GTA barracks. During the GTA's fire sale, ~~they~~ acquired, for a very low price, most of Han-Ronald's computer archives, including its cutting-edge tactical simulators and the computers to run them. These simulators were soon adapted to make models of social and economic growth, and ~~they were deployed~~ in areas where the RP had power. In areas where they didn't, they made microinvestments to local businesses ~~with potential based on advice from~~ the simulators. In many areas, the simulation program was successful; where it wasn't, the data was shared and the model refined.		Initially, there were two strings to the Project's bow. One was economic. During the GTA's fire sale, the Restoration Project acquired, for a very low price, most of Han-Ronald's computer archives, including its cutting-edge tactical simulators and the computers to run them. These simulators were soon adapted to make models of social and economic growth, and their advice was implemented in areas where the RP had gained power. In areas where they didn't, they made microinvestments to local businesses the simulators identified as having potential. In many areas, the simulation program was successful; where it wasn't, the data was shared and the model refined.

			The other string was political. Unable to stand for major offices due to a lack of corporate sponsorship, the Project went grassroots, recruiting humanitarians, aid workers, and spiritual leaders to its cause, and running for local offices, which were not highly contested. The combination of familiar, respected faces running for office and some of the top minds in political science running their campaigns paid off as they gained local office in many rural areas. The Project gained also began offering their services to negotiate the end to bitter conflicts that had brewed in Africa and Asia. While the resulting peace settlements didn't always last, the ones that did gave the Project considerable respect and political credibility, which they leveraged into further election wins. By 2342, the RP had gained a foothold in some of the most strife-ridden areas on Earth, and began setting up homeless shelters, food kitchens, and trade schools, most of them converted from abandoned munitions plants or GTA barracks. These initial successes gave them the means to move forward with their plans to ultimately wrest the oligarchs from power.

	== The Outcomes Doctrine ==		== The Outcomes Doctrine ==
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	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

	It was a very idealistic document, especially during a time when megacorporations controlled 90% of the Terran Assembly. Most oligarchs dismissed it as nonsense. But to many in the underclasses, it was a refreshing viewpoint compared to the GTA's grim ~~predictions~~ during the Great War and the contempt of the oligarchs after the collapse. Coupled with the success of ~~their modeling~~ efforts, it was enough to give people a sense of hope they had not had in years. By November, the Restoration Project had gathered enough petitions to be recognized as a political party in the Assembly.		It was a very idealistic document, especially during a time when megacorporations controlled almost 80% of the Terran Assembly. Most oligarchs dismissed it as nonsense. But to many in the underclasses, it was a refreshing viewpoint compared to the GTA's grim survivalism during the Great War and the contempt of the oligarchs after the collapse. Coupled with the success of the Project's efforts toward peace and economic recovery, it was enough to give people a sense of hope they had not had in years. By November, the Restoration Project had gathered enough petitions to be recognized as a political party in the Assembly.

	Much of the following year was spent organizing local party structures, refining and evangelizing their predictive models, and making inroads in other regions. Sub-Saharan and southern Africa were the next regions to see the RP's presence; some local groups used the name "Ubuntu Party", after an African political party organized along similar lines. Central and southeast Asia were soon to follow. In the elections of 2344, to the surprise of everyone, the RP gained 68% of the seats in the Assembly. The vision of hope that the Restoration Project had given a crushed generation had given them the means to put that vision into practice.		Much of the following year was spent organizing local party structures, refining and evangelizing their predictive models, and making inroads in other regions. Sub-Saharan and southern Africa were the next regions to see the RP's presence; some local groups used the name "Ubuntu Party", after an African political party organized along similar lines. Central and southeast Asia were soon to follow. In the elections of 2344, to the surprise of everyone, the RP gained 68% of the seats in the Assembly. The vision of hope that the Restoration Project had given a crushed generation had given them the means to put that vision into practice.

Logomancer: /* The Collapse of the GTA */ Rewrite for flow and to change the end of the GTA

2023-01-11T23:14:16Z

The Collapse of the GTA: Rewrite for flow and to change the end of the GTA

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:14, 11 January 2023
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	= The Collapse of the GTA =		= The Collapse of the GTA =
	The GTA's response to the floundering of its biggest civilian partners was twofold. First, it bailed out or nationalized the failing corporations and tried to ~~restore~~ them ~~to stability, if not profitability~~. Second, it put ~~their~~ newly acquired corporations to work on ~~a massive government project -- in this case,~~ Project Bifrost, ~~an attempt~~ to ~~open~~ the Sol-Delta Serpentis subspace node. For months, subspace physicists from the GTA's nationalized conglomerates ~~scrutinized~~ sensor logs of the ''Lucifer'''s destruction and the subsequent node collapse, looking for ways to restore the system's connection to subspace. In the spring of 2338, the GTA's experts concluded that reopening the node was not possible with Sol's current technology. Project Bifrost was shuttered, and the GTA redoubled their bailout efforts, nationalizing entire sectors of the economy.		The GTA's response to the floundering of its biggest civilian partners was twofold. First, it bailed out or nationalized the failing corporations and tried to stabilize them. Second, it put these newly acquired corporations to work on Project Bifrost, a massive endeavor to reopen the Sol-Delta Serpentis subspace node. For months, subspace physicists from the GTA's nationalized conglomerates reviewed and analyzed sensor logs of the ''Lucifer'''s destruction and the subsequent node collapse, looking for ways to restore the system's connection to subspace. In the spring of 2338, the GTA's experts concluded that reopening the node was not possible with Sol's current technology. Project Bifrost was then shuttered, and the GTA redoubled their bailout efforts, nationalizing entire sectors of the economy.

	The GTA's focus on Project Bifrost had dire consequences for its off-Earth holdings. Money that had been ~~used~~ to maintain habitats ~~on Mars and the moons of Jupiter~~ was ~~instead being used~~ to fund the project or bail out Earth-based corporations. As maintenance budgets were slashed, ~~shortcuts had~~ to ~~be taken to keep the habitats livable~~. While Martian habitats were ~~relatively well-off~~ due to their partially terraformed home planet and culture of self-sufficiency, Jovian habitats lived on a razor's edge, ~~often~~ sacrificing citizens to maintain the integrity of the habitat for the rest of the populace. The hardest hit were the habitats beyond Jupiter, which often received no ~~supplies~~ at all, causing a permanent humanitarian crisis at the edge of the solar system~~. In most of Sol's non-Terran colonies, the crumbling infrastructure soon gave way to famine, disease, and environmental disaster~~.		The GTA's focus on Project Bifrost had dire consequences for its off-Earth holdings. Money that had been allocated to maintain habitats throughout Sol was diverted to fund the project or bail out Earth-based corporations. As maintenance budgets were slashed, infrastructure crumbled, giving way to famine, disease, and environmental disaster. While Martian habitats were the least affected due to their partially terraformed home planet and culture of self-sufficiency, Jovian habitats lived on a razor's edge, sometimes sacrificing citizens to maintain the integrity of the habitat for the rest of the populace. The hardest hit were the habitats beyond Jupiter, which often received no aid at all, causing a permanent humanitarian crisis at the edge of the solar system.

	As conditions worsened, tensions erupted into strikes, riots, and other forms of civil unrest. In response, the GTA declared martial law ~~throughout Sol~~, ~~and~~ troops ~~were dispatched to Mars and the Jovian system~~ to restore order. But it swiftly became evident that the GTA military, after 15 years of ship-to-ship combat and naval boarding ~~actions~~, was ill-prepared for the massive groundside police actions required to keep the peace. The marine detachments of the 1st Fleet were overwhelmed as entire nations ~~rebelled~~ against GTA rule, and funding for additional troops dried up in favor of attempts to stabilize the economy.		As conditions worsened throughout Sol, tensions erupted into strikes, riots, and other forms of civil unrest. In a predictable response, the GTA declared martial law, dispatching troops to restore order. But it swiftly became evident that the GTA military, after 15 years of ship-to-ship combat and naval boarding operations, was ill-prepared for the massive groundside police actions required to keep the peace. The marine detachments of the 1st Fleet were overwhelmed as entire nations began rebelling against GTA rule, and funding for additional troops dried up in favor of attempts to stabilize the economy.

	The failure of Project Bifrost, the ongoing economic catastrophe, and the peacekeeping misadventures of the 1st Fleet ~~precipitated~~ a sea change in the perception of the GTA by its citizens. Less than five years before, the GTA was seen as the force that united humanity across the universe; now, it was seen as the chains dragging it down to the abyss, and this was reflected in the movements that sprung up in the late 2330s. The loss of countless lives and valuable infrastructure in the Jovian system was blamed on the GTA's overregulation, and citizens agitated to break with the GTA and establish an autonomous free-trade zone. The labor unions of Mars felt helpless in the face of the planet's decaying ecosystem, a process that they felt the GTA's incompetence accelerated. Their movement, branded "eco-Marxism", aimed to seize the means of production from the GTA and put it in the hands of local worker's councils, whose guiding philosophy would be to provide for the people and the environment.		The failure of Project Bifrost, the ongoing economic catastrophe, and the peacekeeping misadventures of the 1st Fleet caused a sea change in the perception of the GTA by its citizens. Less than five years before, the GTA was seen as the force that united humanity across the universe; now, it was seen as the chains dragging it down to the abyss, and this was reflected in the movements that sprung up in the late 2330s. The loss of countless lives and valuable infrastructure in the Jovian system was blamed on the GTA's overregulation, and citizens agitated to break with the GTA and establish an autonomous free-trade zone. The labor unions of Mars felt helpless in the face of the planet's decaying ecosystem, a process that they felt the GTA's incompetence accelerated. Their movement, branded "eco-Marxism", aimed to seize the means of production from the GTA and put it in the hands of local worker's councils, whose guiding philosophy would be to provide for the people and the environment.

	Ultimately, the death blow to the GTA would come from Earth herself, where there emerged a class of oligarchs not seen since the early 21st century -- the product of both the GTA's bailout program and massive profiteering. By exploiting regulatory ~~loopholes~~ designed to streamline war production and the GTA's ~~feeble~~ enforcement power, the oligarchs and their corporate empires grew explosively in resources, and gained influence at every level of government at the expense of the Alliance. In 2339, they would seize control outright.		Ultimately, the death blow to the GTA would come from Earth herself, where there emerged a class of oligarchs not seen since the early 21st century -- the product of both the GTA's bailout program and massive profiteering. By exploiting regulatory shortcuts designed to streamline war production and the GTA's weakening enforcement power, the oligarchs and their corporate empires grew explosively in resources, and gained influence at every level of government at the expense of the Alliance. In 2339, they would seize control outright.

	That summer, a previously unknown species of rice pathogen was discovered in Cambodia. The pathogen's spread destroyed 70% of the rice crops across Asia, causing massive famine in the region. With billions facing starvation, the GTA ordered a planetwide rationing of food while it scrambled to divert food to the affected regions. ~~However, many~~ local governments ignored Alliance directives, and allowed oligarchs to stockpile large amounts of food -- either to sell at grossly inflated prices or for use themselves. This led to widespread and vicious food riots in China and India. Lacking the means to stop the oligarchs directly, the GTA was trapped -- either they spent valuable resources to put down the food riots, protecting the oligarchs, or they let the riots burn themselves out, and risk ~~an overthrow of their leadership~~ in the region. While considering these options, they ran out of time; the oligarchs in the region declared that the GTA's lack of effective response to the "Rice Crisis", as it became known, was the final proof of its total incompetence to govern, and urged the people to join them in revolt. National governments throughout Asia were ~~toppled~~, and ~~the GTA's power base all but destroyed~~.		That summer, a previously unknown species of rice pathogen was discovered in Cambodia. The pathogen's spread destroyed 70% of the rice crops across Asia, causing massive famine in the region. With billions facing starvation, the GTA ordered a planetwide rationing of food while it scrambled to divert food to the affected regions. Many local governments ignored Alliance directives, and allowed oligarchs to stockpile large amounts of food -- either to sell at grossly inflated prices or for use themselves. This led to widespread and vicious food riots in China and India. Lacking the means to stop the oligarchs directly, the GTA was trapped -- either they spent valuable resources to put down the food riots, protecting the oligarchs, or they let the riots burn themselves out, and risk completely losing control in the region. While considering these options, they ran out of time; the oligarchs in the region declared that the GTA's lack of effective response to the "Rice Crisis", as it became known, was the final proof of its total incompetence to govern, and urged the people to join them in revolt. National governments throughout Asia were overthrown, and oligarch-led "governments of stability" took over.

	The revolts ~~following the Rice Crisis~~ sealed the Alliance's fate in the 2339 elections for the Galactic Terran Assembly. Pro-GTA factions, bearing the blame for the economy, the ~~state of~~ the ~~military and~~ colonies, and the Rice Crisis, suffered devastating defeats at the hands of oligarch-aligned parties and populist movements. In the ~~end~~, these new factions controlled ~~roughly 80~~% of the seats in the Assembly, and the GTA had almost no support at all. With the change of power came a mandate for Earth to take control of her own affairs away from the corrupt Alliance it was shackled to, and ~~the first vote of~~ the new Assembly ~~was~~ to do exactly that.		The revolts sealed the Alliance's fate in the 2339 elections for the Galactic Terran Assembly. Pro-GTA factions, bearing the blame for the state of the economy, the military, the colonies, and the Rice Crisis, suffered devastating defeats at the hands of oligarch-aligned parties and populist movements. After the votes were tallied, these new factions controlled 78% of the seats in the Assembly, and the GTA had almost no support at all. With the change of power came a mandate for Earth to take control of her own affairs away from the corrupt Alliance it was shackled to, and the new Assembly moved to do exactly that.

	On March 29th, 2340, the fifth anniversary of the destruction of the ''Lucifer'', Earth declared her withdrawal from the Titan Accords, her secession from the GTA, and an end to the state of ~~planetary~~ emergency enacted twenty years before. Mars and Jupiter ~~were quick to follow~~ suit, reinstating the Martian Concordia and the Jovian Systems Republic largely along the lines they had envisioned.		On March 29th, 2340, the fifth anniversary of the destruction of the ''Lucifer'', Earth declared her withdrawal from the Titan Accords, her secession from the GTA, and an end to the system-wide state of emergency enacted twenty years before. Mars and Jupiter quickly followed suit, reinstating the Martian Concordia and the Jovian Systems Republic largely along the lines they had envisioned. Many habitats beyond Jupiter, having established a loose mutual aid association in 2337, formalized and fortified this organization as the Fringe Alliance.

	After the abandonment of the Titan Accords, the GTA still existed in Sol; however, its ~~authority was limited~~ to ~~the land on Earth it owned through the companies it had nationalized~~. ~~Even then,~~ the GTA was ~~ill-equipped to manage what~~ it ~~had purchased, due~~ to ~~its lack of political control and its evaporating finances caused by its radically shrunken tax base~~. Faced with insolvency and eager to cut expenses, the GTA ~~started a re-privatization program,~~ selling off its assets ~~wholesale~~ in order to ~~continue~~ operations. ~~Most~~ of these assets were ~~bought up at drastically reduced prices~~ by the oligarchs the GTA had previously made rich~~, and it still wasn't enough~~. In the winter of 2342, the GTD ''Washington'', once the flagship of the GTA 1st Fleet, was sold to a Jovian scrap dealer; the rest of 1st Fleet had been disposed of earlier in the year, as the GTA lacked the ~~funding~~ to fuel them.		After the abandonment of the Titan Accords, the GTA still existed in Sol as a political organization, with resources and property throughout the system; however, its greatly curtailed revenue hamstrung its ability to utilize these resources to further its own ends. Much of the GTA's time and resources in 2340 and 2341 was spent defending corruption charges pressed by populist elements of the Terran Assembly, making it difficult for the organization to pivot. Faced with insolvency and eager to cut expenses, the GTA began selling off its assets at drastically reduced prices in order to maintain operations. Many of these assets were acquired by the oligarchs the GTA had previously made rich. In the winter of 2342, the GTD ''Washington'', once the flagship of the GTA 1st Fleet, was sold to a Jovian scrap dealer; the rest of 1st Fleet had been disposed of earlier in the year, as the GTA lacked the money to fuel them.

	~~By 2343~~, the GTA ~~was virtually defunct~~, with a few squadrons of Valkyrie fighters ~~to its name, patrolling the skies~~ of rural China and India, ~~lacking~~ the ~~authority or the means to do much of anything else~~.		Even with these heroic efforts, the GTA never managed to recover. By 2343, with much of its senior leadership in prison, its assets reduced to a few squadrons of Valkyrie fighters and some plots of land in rural China and India, the GTA was virtually defunct.

	= A Means of Restoration =		= A Means of Restoration =

Logomancer: /* The Collapse of the GTA */ editing for brevity and better flow

2023-01-10T16:31:22Z

The Collapse of the GTA: editing for brevity and better flow

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:31, 10 January 2023
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	The GTA's focus on Project Bifrost had dire consequences for its off-Earth holdings. Money that had been used to maintain habitats on Mars and the moons of Jupiter was instead being used to fund the project or bail out Earth-based corporations. As maintenance budgets were slashed, shortcuts had to be taken to keep the habitats livable. While Martian habitats were relatively well-off due to their partially terraformed home planet and culture of self-sufficiency, Jovian habitats lived on a razor's edge, often sacrificing citizens to maintain the integrity of the habitat for the rest of the populace. The hardest hit were the habitats beyond Jupiter, which often received no supplies at all, causing a permanent humanitarian crisis at the edge of the solar system. In most of Sol's non-Terran colonies, the crumbling infrastructure soon gave way to famine, disease, and environmental disaster.		The GTA's focus on Project Bifrost had dire consequences for its off-Earth holdings. Money that had been used to maintain habitats on Mars and the moons of Jupiter was instead being used to fund the project or bail out Earth-based corporations. As maintenance budgets were slashed, shortcuts had to be taken to keep the habitats livable. While Martian habitats were relatively well-off due to their partially terraformed home planet and culture of self-sufficiency, Jovian habitats lived on a razor's edge, often sacrificing citizens to maintain the integrity of the habitat for the rest of the populace. The hardest hit were the habitats beyond Jupiter, which often received no supplies at all, causing a permanent humanitarian crisis at the edge of the solar system. In most of Sol's non-Terran colonies, the crumbling infrastructure soon gave way to famine, disease, and environmental disaster.

	As conditions worsened, tensions erupted into strikes, riots, and other forms of civil unrest. ~~The~~ GTA~~'s response was predictable;~~ martial law ~~was declared~~ throughout Sol, and troops were dispatched to Mars and the Jovian system to restore order. But it swiftly became evident that the GTA military, after 15 years of ship-to-ship combat and naval boarding actions, was ill-prepared for the massive groundside police actions required to keep the peace. The marine detachments of the 1st Fleet were overwhelmed as entire nations rebelled against GTA rule, and funding for additional troops dried up in favor of attempts to stabilize the economy.		As conditions worsened, tensions erupted into strikes, riots, and other forms of civil unrest. In response, the GTA declared martial law throughout Sol, and troops were dispatched to Mars and the Jovian system to restore order. But it swiftly became evident that the GTA military, after 15 years of ship-to-ship combat and naval boarding actions, was ill-prepared for the massive groundside police actions required to keep the peace. The marine detachments of the 1st Fleet were overwhelmed as entire nations rebelled against GTA rule, and funding for additional troops dried up in favor of attempts to stabilize the economy.

	The failure of Project Bifrost, the ongoing economic catastrophe, and the peacekeeping misadventures of the 1st Fleet ~~produced~~ a sea change in the perception of the GTA by its citizens. Less than five years before, the GTA was seen as the force that united humanity across the universe; now, it was seen as the chains dragging it down to the abyss, and this was reflected in the movements that sprung up in ~~2338~~. The loss of countless lives and ~~valuble~~ infrastructure in the Jovian system was blamed on the GTA's overregulation, and citizens agitated to break with the GTA and establish an autonomous free-trade zone. The ~~worker's~~ unions of Mars felt helpless in the face of the planet's decaying ecosystem, a process that they felt the GTA's incompetence accelerated. Their movement, branded "eco-Marxism", aimed to seize the means of production from the GTA and put it in the hands of local worker's councils, whose guiding philosophy would be to provide for the people and the environment.		The failure of Project Bifrost, the ongoing economic catastrophe, and the peacekeeping misadventures of the 1st Fleet precipitated a sea change in the perception of the GTA by its citizens. Less than five years before, the GTA was seen as the force that united humanity across the universe; now, it was seen as the chains dragging it down to the abyss, and this was reflected in the movements that sprung up in the late 2330s. The loss of countless lives and valuable infrastructure in the Jovian system was blamed on the GTA's overregulation, and citizens agitated to break with the GTA and establish an autonomous free-trade zone. The labor unions of Mars felt helpless in the face of the planet's decaying ecosystem, a process that they felt the GTA's incompetence accelerated. Their movement, branded "eco-Marxism", aimed to seize the means of production from the GTA and put it in the hands of local worker's councils, whose guiding philosophy would be to provide for the people and the environment.

	Ultimately, the death blow to the GTA would come from Earth herself, where there emerged a class of oligarchs not seen since the early 21st century -- the product of both the GTA's bailout program and massive profiteering. By exploiting regulatory loopholes designed to streamline war production and the GTA's feeble enforcement power, the oligarchs and their corporate empires grew explosively in resources, and gained influence at every level of government at the expense of the Alliance. In 2339, they would seize control outright.		Ultimately, the death blow to the GTA would come from Earth herself, where there emerged a class of oligarchs not seen since the early 21st century -- the product of both the GTA's bailout program and massive profiteering. By exploiting regulatory loopholes designed to streamline war production and the GTA's feeble enforcement power, the oligarchs and their corporate empires grew explosively in resources, and gained influence at every level of government at the expense of the Alliance. In 2339, they would seize control outright.

	That summer, a previously unknown species of rice pathogen was discovered in Cambodia. ~~Ultimately, it made its way to China, where~~ 70% of the rice crops ~~were lost~~, causing massive famine ~~throughout Asia~~. ~~As millions faced~~ starvation, the GTA ordered a planetwide rationing of food while it scrambled to divert food to the affected regions. However, many local governments~~, ignoring~~ Alliance directives, ~~did very little~~ to ~~prevent oligarchs from hoarding~~ large amounts of food -- either to sell at grossly inflated prices or for use themselves. This led to widespread and vicious food riots in ~~Asia~~ and India. ~~The~~ GTA was trapped -- either they spent valuable resources to put down the food riots, ~~thus~~ protecting ~~a tiny minority at~~ the ~~expense of the majority~~, or they let the riots burn themselves out, and risk an overthrow of their leadership in the region. While considering these options, they ran out of time; the oligarchs in the region declared that the GTA's lack of effective response to the "Rice Crisis", as it became known, was the final proof of its total incompetence to govern, and urged the people to join them in revolt. National governments throughout Asia were toppled, and the GTA's power base all but destroyed.		That summer, a previously unknown species of rice pathogen was discovered in Cambodia. The pathogen's spread destroyed 70% of the rice crops across Asia, causing massive famine in the region. With billions facing starvation, the GTA ordered a planetwide rationing of food while it scrambled to divert food to the affected regions. However, many local governments ignored Alliance directives, and allowed oligarchs to stockpile large amounts of food -- either to sell at grossly inflated prices or for use themselves. This led to widespread and vicious food riots in China and India. Lacking the means to stop the oligarchs directly, the GTA was trapped -- either they spent valuable resources to put down the food riots, protecting the oligarchs, or they let the riots burn themselves out, and risk an overthrow of their leadership in the region. While considering these options, they ran out of time; the oligarchs in the region declared that the GTA's lack of effective response to the "Rice Crisis", as it became known, was the final proof of its total incompetence to govern, and urged the people to join them in revolt. National governments throughout Asia were toppled, and the GTA's power base all but destroyed.

	The revolts following the Rice Crisis sealed the Alliance's fate in the 2339 elections for the Galactic Terran Assembly. Pro-GTA factions, bearing the blame for the economy, the state of the military and colonies, and the Rice Crisis, suffered devastating defeats at the hands of oligarch-aligned parties and populist movements. In the end, ~~this~~ new ~~faction~~ controlled roughly 80% of the seats in the Assembly, and the GTA had almost no support at all. With the change of power came a mandate for Earth to take control of her own affairs away from the corrupt Alliance it was shackled to, and the first vote of the new Assembly was to do exactly that.		The revolts following the Rice Crisis sealed the Alliance's fate in the 2339 elections for the Galactic Terran Assembly. Pro-GTA factions, bearing the blame for the economy, the state of the military and colonies, and the Rice Crisis, suffered devastating defeats at the hands of oligarch-aligned parties and populist movements. In the end, these new factions controlled roughly 80% of the seats in the Assembly, and the GTA had almost no support at all. With the change of power came a mandate for Earth to take control of her own affairs away from the corrupt Alliance it was shackled to, and the first vote of the new Assembly was to do exactly that.

	On March 29th, ~~2240~~, the fifth anniversary of the destruction of the ''Lucifer'', Earth declared her withdrawal from the Titan Accords, her secession from the GTA, and an end to the state of planetary emergency enacted twenty years before. Mars and Jupiter were quick to follow suit, reinstating the Martian Concordia and the Jovian Systems Republic largely along the lines they had envisioned.		On March 29th, 2340, the fifth anniversary of the destruction of the ''Lucifer'', Earth declared her withdrawal from the Titan Accords, her secession from the GTA, and an end to the state of planetary emergency enacted twenty years before. Mars and Jupiter were quick to follow suit, reinstating the Martian Concordia and the Jovian Systems Republic largely along the lines they had envisioned.

	After the abandonment of the Titan Accords, the GTA still existed in Sol; however, its authority was limited to the land on Earth it owned through the companies it had nationalized. Even then, the GTA was ill-equipped to manage what it had purchased, due to its lack of political control and its evaporating finances caused by its radically shrunken tax base. Faced with insolvency and eager to cut expenses, the GTA started a re-privatization program, selling off its assets wholesale in order to continue operations. Most of these assets were bought up at drastically reduced prices by the oligarchs the GTA had previously made rich, and it still wasn't enough. In the winter of 2342, the GTD ''Washington'', once the flagship of the GTA 1st Fleet, was sold to a Jovian scrap dealer; the rest of 1st Fleet had been disposed of earlier in the year, as the GTA lacked the funding to fuel them.		After the abandonment of the Titan Accords, the GTA still existed in Sol; however, its authority was limited to the land on Earth it owned through the companies it had nationalized. Even then, the GTA was ill-equipped to manage what it had purchased, due to its lack of political control and its evaporating finances caused by its radically shrunken tax base. Faced with insolvency and eager to cut expenses, the GTA started a re-privatization program, selling off its assets wholesale in order to continue operations. Most of these assets were bought up at drastically reduced prices by the oligarchs the GTA had previously made rich, and it still wasn't enough. In the winter of 2342, the GTD ''Washington'', once the flagship of the GTA 1st Fleet, was sold to a Jovian scrap dealer; the rest of 1st Fleet had been disposed of earlier in the year, as the GTA lacked the funding to fuel them.

Logomancer: /* Scaling Issues */

2022-07-25T00:07:18Z

Scaling Issues

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:07, 25 July 2022
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	= Scaling Issues =		= Scaling Issues =
	''Here, the Ubuntu Party has to deal with a few challenges -- the recalcitrance of the remaining oligarchs in Europe, Russia, and North America; the rise of piracy in Sol after the reignition of intra-system trade; and the ongoing teething issues of Ubuntu's economic algorithms, which were never designed to scale to the size of managing an entire planet's economy.''		''Here, the Ubuntu Party has to deal with a few challenges -- the recalcitrance of the remaining oligarchs in Europe, Russia, and North America; the rise of piracy in Sol after the reignition of intra-system trade; and the ongoing teething issues of Ubuntu's economic algorithms, which were never designed to scale to the size of managing an entire planet's economy.''

			After declaring their intentions, the Elders continued their work to improve the planetary economy and steer Earth away from recession. In this respect, they had their work cut out for them. To begin with, while the oligarchs of Earth had had their power diminished by the RP in the political space, they still commanded considerable political and economic clout within their own regions of influence.

	= The Rise of the Gaian Effort =		= The Rise of the Gaian Effort =
	''This part will talk about how the Gaian Effort came to be -- Ian MacDuff's beginnings as a neo-Druid in the Scottish countryside (heavily fracked by the oligarchs); the Europan eco-disaster; MacDuff's emigration to Mars to agitate for a cometary lifestyle; the Socialist Campaign for a Green Mars election scandal in 2050; MacDuff's followers forming the Gaian Effort and migrating to the Kuiper Belt; the assimilation of the Fringe Alliance and the tensions that poses; and MacDuff's war on the Feds.''		''This part will talk about how the Gaian Effort came to be -- Ian MacDuff's beginnings as a neo-Druid in the Scottish countryside (heavily fracked by the oligarchs); the Europan eco-disaster; MacDuff's emigration to Mars to agitate for a cometary lifestyle; the Socialist Campaign for a Green Mars election scandal in 2050; MacDuff's followers forming the Gaian Effort and migrating to the Kuiper Belt; the assimilation of the Fringe Alliance and the tensions that poses; and MacDuff's war on the Feds.''