Difference between revisions of "Systems Alliance"

From Imperial Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(28 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
The '''Systems Alliance''' is the representative body of Earth and most of its colonies in [[Mass Effect]].
[[File:Systems alliance logo.png|thumb|right|Systems Alliance symbol]]The '''Systems Alliance''' is the representative body of Earth and most of its colonies in ''[[Mass Effect]]''.


==Organization==
==Organization==
The Systems Alliance is responsible for the government and defense of all extra-solar human colonies, and represents humanity on the galactic stage.  It is a supranational government, with a parliament appointed by sovereign member nations on Earth.  The parliament does not convene on Earth, but rather in the Arcturus System on Arcturus Station, the largest human-built space facility.  It has direct control over a large spaceborne navy.
The Systems Alliance is responsible for the government and defense of all extra-[[Sol]]ar human colonies, and it represents humanity on the galactic stage.  It is a supranational government, with a parliament appointed by sovereign member nations on Earth.  The parliament does not convene on Earth, but rather in the Arcturus System on Arcturus Station, the largest human-built space facility.  It has direct control over a large spaceborne navy.


==History==
==History==
The Systems Alliance was chartered by Earth's eighteen most prominent nations in 2148, after the discovery of alien technology on Mars provided access to FTL technology and knowledge of mass relays, ancient point-to-point relays that allowed instantaneous transit between star systems and star clusters.  In 2156, the Systems Alliance was given control of the Systems Alliance Military, a force provided by  member nations.  In the same year, Pluto's moon Charon was revealed to actually be a mass relay encased in ice.  After melting it, the Alliance went through the relay and discovered the Arcturus system.  They continued exploring outer space using FTL technology and various mass relays, establishing colonies along the way.
The Systems Alliance was chartered by Earth's eighteen most prominent nations in 2148, after the discovery of alien technology on Mars provided access to FTL technology and knowledge of [[mass relay]]s, ancient point-to-point relays that allowed instantaneous transit between star systems and star clusters.  In 2156, the Systems Alliance was given control of the Systems Alliance Military, a force provided by  member nations.  In the same year, Pluto's moon Charon was revealed to actually be a mass relay encased in ice.  After melting it, the Alliance went through the relay and discovered the Arcturus system.  They continued exploring outer space using FTL technology and various mass relays, establishing colonies along the way.


Politically, the Systems Alliance had little clout, until the inevitable happened.  In 2164 an Alliance exploration force was attacked by an alien patrol while trying to activate a newly discovered mass relay, the beginning of what would be known as the First Contact War.  The aliens found the Alliance colony of Shanxi, attacking and occupying it.  An Alliance fleet dispatched from Arcturus defeated the enemy fleet and retook Shanxi.  The Alliance geared up for full-scale war with the aliens, but war was averted by the alien's peers.  The attacking aliens, called [[turian]]s, were part of a galactic organization known as the Council, based at an ancient space station called the [[Citadel]].  The two other member species, the [[asari]] and [[salarian]]s, noticed the turians preparing for war and stopped them, opening relations with the Systems Alliance.  As it turns out, activating dormant relays was restricted by the Council, as in the past hostile species had been found on the other side.  Of course, the Systems Alliance could not have known about this.  With this misunderstanding resolved, the turians backed off, and the Systems Alliance became the political face of humanity to the rest of the galaxy.
Politically, the Systems Alliance had little clout, until the inevitable happened.  In 2164 an Alliance exploration force was attacked by an alien patrol while trying to activate a newly discovered mass relay, the beginning of what would be known as the First Contact War.  The aliens found the Alliance colony of Shanxi, attacking and occupying it.  An Alliance fleet dispatched from Arcturus defeated the enemy fleet and retook Shanxi.  The Alliance geared up for full-scale war with the aliens, but war was averted by the alien's peers.  The attacking aliens, called [[turian]]s, were part of a galactic organization known as the [[Citadel Council]], based at an ancient space station called the [[Citadel]].  The two other member species, the [[asari]] and [[salarian]]s, noticed the turians preparing for war and stopped them, opening relations with the Systems Alliance.  As it turns out, activating dormant relays was restricted by the Council, as in the past [[rachni|hostile species]] had been found on the other side.  Of course, the Systems Alliance could not have known about this.  With this misunderstanding resolved, the turians backed off, and the Systems Alliance became the political face of humanity to the rest of the galaxy.


The Systems Alliance grew in power over the next few decades, butting heads with a race called the batarians over control of a region of space called the Skyllian Verge.  The batarian government never formally declared war with the Alliance, but sponsored pirates and slavers to attack Alliance colonies.
The Systems Alliance grew in power over the next few decades, butting heads with a race called the [[batarian]]s over control of a region of space called the Skyllian Verge.  The batarian government never formally declared war with the Alliance, but they sponsored pirates and slavers to attack Alliance colonies.


In 2183, the Citadel fell under attack by by a AI race called the [[geth]], led by an ancient [[Reapers|sentient ship]] called Sovereign.  The Alliance managed to defeat the geth fleet and Sovereign and were rewarded with membership on the Council.
In 2183, the Citadel fell under attack by by an [[AI]] race called the [[geth]], led by an ancient [[Reapers|sentient ship]] called Sovereign.  The Alliance managed to defeat the geth fleet and Sovereign and were rewarded with membership on the Council.


==Territory==
==Territory==
The Systems Alliance has dozens of colonies, spread out among many star clusters. Normal FTL is insufficient to traverse between the star clusters, so mass relays must be used.  Not all human colonies are under Alliance control.
The Systems Alliance has dozens of colonies, spread out among many star clusters. Due to fuel limitations, normal FTL is insufficient to traverse between the star clusters, so [[mass relay]]s must be used.   
 
There are additional human colonies that are not under Alliance control, particularly in the ungoverned part of the galaxy called the Terminus Systems.


==Threat Assessment==
==Threat Assessment==
The Systems Alliance is a major power in the ''Mass Effect'' universe, but its territory is small compared to [[United Federation of Planets]] and tiny compared to the [[Galactic Empire]].  Technologically, they are somewhat below the Federation, and far below the Empire.  It would possibly be a minor power in [[Star Trek]], although it should be noted they should have been a minor power in the ME universe, too, and the same factors which prevented that may apply in ST. It would be an insignificant power in [[Star Wars]]. Their power and influence could be considered comparable to that of the [[Earth Alliance]] from ''[[Babylon 5 (series)|Babylon 5]]''.
The Systems Alliance is a major power in the ''Mass Effect'' universe, but its territory is small compared to the [[United Federation of Planets]] and tiny compared to the [[Galactic Empire]].  Technologically, they are somewhat below the Federation, and far below the Empire.  It would possibly be a minor power in [[Star Trek]], although it should be noted they should have been a minor power in the ME universe, too, and the same factors which prevented that may apply in ST. It would be an insignificant power in [[Star Wars]]. Their power and influence could be considered comparable to that of the [[Earth Alliance]] from ''[[Babylon 5 (series)|Babylon 5]]''.
 
===Space Navy===
The Systems Alliance possesses a fleet of hundreds of ships, ranging from kilometer-long [[dreadnought]]s to hundred-meter-long frigates. Dreadnoughts are rare, and before the Reaper invasion the Alliance possessed at least nine.  A starship's main weapon is a [[railgun|magnetic mass accelerator]], which accelerates metal slugs to hundreds or even thousands of kilometers per second.  A dreadnought's [[mass accelerator]] can deliver 38 kilotons of kinetic energy or more with a single shot (roughly 30 TW over time). For defenses, ships use [[kinetic barrier]] [[shields|shielding]], [[ablative armor]] specialized to stop energy weapons, and GARDIAN [[point defense]] lasers.  The point defense lasers are noted for having made long-range ship-to-ship missiles obsolete in the ''Mass Effect'' universe.  Kinetic barriers are effective at blocking projectile attacks, but do nothing to stop [[directed-energy weapon]]s such as lasers and particle beams.
 
In addition, they have [[starfighter]]s, possibly numbering in the tens of thousands (a senior military officer has casually mentioned the option of building 12,000 fighters instead of the ''Normandy SR-1'').  Cruisers carry a handful of fighters in the baffles under their armor, while dreadnoughts have hangars; the Alliance also possesses dedicated fighter [[carrier]]s.


They possess a fleet of hundreds of ships, ranging from kilometer-long [[dreadnought]]s to hundred-meter-long frigates. In addition, they have fighters, possibly numbering in the tens of thousands (a senior military officer has casually mentioned the option of building 12,000 fighters instead of Normandy SR-1).  Dreadnoughts are rare, and before the Reaper invasion the Alliance possessed at least nineA starship's main weapon is a [[railgun|magnetic mass accelerator]], which accelerates metal slugs to hundreds or even thousands of kilometers per secondA dreadnought's firepower with such a weapon is in the double-digit kiloton range.  Cruisers carry a handful of fighters in the baffles under their armor, while dreadnoughts have hangars; the Alliance also possesses dedicated fighter carriers.  For defenses, ships use kinetic barrier [[shields|shielding]] and GARDIAN point defense lasers. The point defense lasers are noted for having made long-range ship-to-ship missiles obsolete in the ''Mass Effect'' universe.  Kinetic barriers are effective at blocking projectile attacks, but do nothing to stop directed energy weapons such as lasers and particle beams.
In space battles, dreadnoughts can engage at ranges of tens of thousands of kilometers, while cruisers are limited to thousands, and frigates fight between hundreds of kilometers and "knife fight" ranges of tens of kilometersGARDIAN defense [[laser]]s are limited to within 10 kilometers.  At close range, frigates and fighters use [[disruptor torpedo]]es, which can bypass kinetic barriers and create fields that warp space-time in a localized area. The rapid asymmetrical mass changes cause the target to rip itself apart.


Regarding tactics, dreadnoughts can engage at ranges of tens of thousands of kilometers, while cruisers are limited to thousands, and frigates fight between hundreds of kilometers and "knife fight" ranges of tens of kilometers.  GARDIAN defense [[laser]]s are limited to within 10 kilometers. At close range, frigates and fighters use [[disruptor torpedo]]es, which can bypass kinetic barriers and create fields that warp space-time in a localized area. The rapid asymmetrical mass changes cause the target to rip itself apart.
===Ground Forces===
Systems Alliance ground forces employ infantry armed with [[mass accelerator]] based weaponry, personal body armor with [[kinetic barrier]]s, and an assortment of [[armored fighting vehicle]]s. Soldiers typically have a militarized [[omni-tool]] for repairing and modifying equipment in the field. The size of their standing army is unknown.


[[Category: Mass Effect]]
[[Category: Mass Effect]]
[[Category: Factions]]
[[Category: Factions]]
[[Category: Human Factions]]
[[Category: Human Factions]]

Latest revision as of 15:46, 5 December 2023

Systems Alliance symbol

The Systems Alliance is the representative body of Earth and most of its colonies in Mass Effect.

Organization

The Systems Alliance is responsible for the government and defense of all extra-Solar human colonies, and it represents humanity on the galactic stage. It is a supranational government, with a parliament appointed by sovereign member nations on Earth. The parliament does not convene on Earth, but rather in the Arcturus System on Arcturus Station, the largest human-built space facility. It has direct control over a large spaceborne navy.

History

The Systems Alliance was chartered by Earth's eighteen most prominent nations in 2148, after the discovery of alien technology on Mars provided access to FTL technology and knowledge of mass relays, ancient point-to-point relays that allowed instantaneous transit between star systems and star clusters. In 2156, the Systems Alliance was given control of the Systems Alliance Military, a force provided by member nations. In the same year, Pluto's moon Charon was revealed to actually be a mass relay encased in ice. After melting it, the Alliance went through the relay and discovered the Arcturus system. They continued exploring outer space using FTL technology and various mass relays, establishing colonies along the way.

Politically, the Systems Alliance had little clout, until the inevitable happened. In 2164 an Alliance exploration force was attacked by an alien patrol while trying to activate a newly discovered mass relay, the beginning of what would be known as the First Contact War. The aliens found the Alliance colony of Shanxi, attacking and occupying it. An Alliance fleet dispatched from Arcturus defeated the enemy fleet and retook Shanxi. The Alliance geared up for full-scale war with the aliens, but war was averted by the alien's peers. The attacking aliens, called turians, were part of a galactic organization known as the Citadel Council, based at an ancient space station called the Citadel. The two other member species, the asari and salarians, noticed the turians preparing for war and stopped them, opening relations with the Systems Alliance. As it turns out, activating dormant relays was restricted by the Council, as in the past hostile species had been found on the other side. Of course, the Systems Alliance could not have known about this. With this misunderstanding resolved, the turians backed off, and the Systems Alliance became the political face of humanity to the rest of the galaxy.

The Systems Alliance grew in power over the next few decades, butting heads with a race called the batarians over control of a region of space called the Skyllian Verge. The batarian government never formally declared war with the Alliance, but they sponsored pirates and slavers to attack Alliance colonies.

In 2183, the Citadel fell under attack by by an AI race called the geth, led by an ancient sentient ship called Sovereign. The Alliance managed to defeat the geth fleet and Sovereign and were rewarded with membership on the Council.

Territory

The Systems Alliance has dozens of colonies, spread out among many star clusters. Due to fuel limitations, normal FTL is insufficient to traverse between the star clusters, so mass relays must be used.

There are additional human colonies that are not under Alliance control, particularly in the ungoverned part of the galaxy called the Terminus Systems.

Threat Assessment

The Systems Alliance is a major power in the Mass Effect universe, but its territory is small compared to the United Federation of Planets and tiny compared to the Galactic Empire. Technologically, they are somewhat below the Federation, and far below the Empire. It would possibly be a minor power in Star Trek, although it should be noted they should have been a minor power in the ME universe, too, and the same factors which prevented that may apply in ST. It would be an insignificant power in Star Wars. Their power and influence could be considered comparable to that of the Earth Alliance from Babylon 5.

Space Navy

The Systems Alliance possesses a fleet of hundreds of ships, ranging from kilometer-long dreadnoughts to hundred-meter-long frigates. Dreadnoughts are rare, and before the Reaper invasion the Alliance possessed at least nine. A starship's main weapon is a magnetic mass accelerator, which accelerates metal slugs to hundreds or even thousands of kilometers per second. A dreadnought's mass accelerator can deliver 38 kilotons of kinetic energy or more with a single shot (roughly 30 TW over time). For defenses, ships use kinetic barrier shielding, ablative armor specialized to stop energy weapons, and GARDIAN point defense lasers. The point defense lasers are noted for having made long-range ship-to-ship missiles obsolete in the Mass Effect universe. Kinetic barriers are effective at blocking projectile attacks, but do nothing to stop directed-energy weapons such as lasers and particle beams.

In addition, they have starfighters, possibly numbering in the tens of thousands (a senior military officer has casually mentioned the option of building 12,000 fighters instead of the Normandy SR-1). Cruisers carry a handful of fighters in the baffles under their armor, while dreadnoughts have hangars; the Alliance also possesses dedicated fighter carriers.

In space battles, dreadnoughts can engage at ranges of tens of thousands of kilometers, while cruisers are limited to thousands, and frigates fight between hundreds of kilometers and "knife fight" ranges of tens of kilometers. GARDIAN defense lasers are limited to within 10 kilometers. At close range, frigates and fighters use disruptor torpedoes, which can bypass kinetic barriers and create fields that warp space-time in a localized area. The rapid asymmetrical mass changes cause the target to rip itself apart.

Ground Forces

Systems Alliance ground forces employ infantry armed with mass accelerator based weaponry, personal body armor with kinetic barriers, and an assortment of armored fighting vehicles. Soldiers typically have a militarized omni-tool for repairing and modifying equipment in the field. The size of their standing army is unknown.