The Martial Unity

In exchange for almost absolute liberty and sovereignty in the stars, it demanded a powerful commitment to the protection of human civilization, which Gaian Civilization offered. The Shepherd had understood exactly what Rui wanted from the expansion of civilization and had made sure that even in the laissez-faire model, colonialists and conquerors would commit to protecting human civilization.

Under the ‘means’ category on the screen was everything that she had just listed to him. Currency, control over transit nexuses, control over vital goods and services, control over other forms of leverage meant to have just enough control over civilization to compel them to commit to their fundamental duties.

“And most importantly.” He turned towards her with a serious expression. “What do you think is the probability of success of this plan for achieving the goal that I gave you?”

Her expression grew complicated. “Fifty percent.”

Rui frowned at those words. “What? The best plan you have to offer me only has a fifty percent chance of working?”

She heaved a sigh. “What do you expect of me, Your Majesty? You have aimed for a truly absurd goal of ten thousand stars in ten years. The laissez-faire model that I have offered you harnesses the productive forces of human civilization to its absolute maximum with extremely powerful incentive structures that offer them power and wealth unlike anything they would be able to acquire otherwise. It is only thanks to this that there is even a fifty percent probability of success. The reality is—”

She directed a critical look at him. “—You just came up with that number because it sounds cool to say ‘ten thousand stars in ten years’ without caring about practicality. It’s just an arbitrary pipe dream that would be impossible if not for me.”

She tapped the laissez-faire model. “No other method can get you ten thousand stars in ten years. And no other method can keep them roughly united for the purposes of civilizational security, which appears to be the only thing you care about, without allowing them to completely get out of control.”

She turned towards the large bundle of sheets with a wistful expression. She would have preferred the balanced solution where the Gaian Alliance was much more heavily involved in the development, governance, and administration of each star because it was more elegant and graceful in her eyes, but alas, she was not the Chancellor of Gaia.

Regardless, she had done her best to create bonds that would bind human civilization as a collective species. Control over currency, over transit nexuses, over negatron matter, and Gaia seeds, these were the best ways to ensure everybody remained compliant with the Gaian Alliance for things that truly mattered, even if the Gaian Alliance guaranteed the fundamental right to sovereignty and the fundamental right to liberty to all pioneers of the stars.

“Once human civilization expands to ten thousand stars, the number of member states of the Gaian Alliance will increase one hundred-fold,” she remarked. “It will have to become an alliance that serves as an umbrella that not only protects everybody from external forces, but also holds human civilization together.”

Rui was quite impressed by what he heard. Harnessing the most productive and destructive forces of humanity to accelerate expansion across the stars, while still having bonds that bound them together to ensure their commitment to the protection of human civilization. That was the absolute best outcome.

He wasn’t pleased to learn that there was only a fifty percent chance of them conquering ten thousand stars in ten years, but he ultimately got over that. It was true that the goal of ten thousand stars in ten years was extremely arbitrary.

“Alright, my decision is final, then.” He nodded, placing a hand on a thick bundle of sheets. “As Chancellor of Gaia, I choose this laissez-faire model as the destiny of human civilization.”

Of course, the chancellor couldn’t directly have the Gaian Alliance implement this system. The reality was that the chancellor was an executive whose purpose was to serve as the representative of human civilization and to serve as the commander-in-chief of the Unified Gaian Forces. It was the General Assembly of the Gaian Alliance that would have to vote on ratifying the laissez-faire model he proposed as the model of interstellar expansion.

Not that it mattered; his de facto power over human civilization was so great that he could get it done with just a single word to the member states of Gaia. Nobody had the capital to defy him.

And that was why they wouldn’t defy him even if they could. The laissez-faire model was an opportunity for all of them to gain more power in human civilization relative to the powerful Martial Transcendent and put greater balance between them.

Once he made the decision, it didn’t take too much longer after that. He had the Shepherd officially recommend the laissez-faire model to the General Assembly of the Gaian Alliance, transmitting a message to all of them to ensure that the bill was passed.

And within a week from that point on, they did exactly that. “Bill #2,” the speaker of the General Assembly announced loudly into a microphone, reading the title of the bill. “Laisse-Faire Interstellar Expansion Act.”

The speaker turned towards the member states of the General Assembly.

The delegates of countless members had gathered in the large congressional hall recently built to accommodate the General Assembly of the Gaian Alliance. Delegates of the Panamic Alliance, Genoran Elven Civilization, of Evolutionary Army, of Greater Tekvoria, and of the other great powers of human civilization, as well as of smaller states like the Hlakaschken Trade Empire and the seafolks in the ocean. The air was heavy, for what was to follow would alter the trajectory of human civilization. The room was silent, save for the press that snapped photos and pictures of the proceeding, causing a cacophony of clicks and snaps to disrupt the otherwise silent atmosphere.

“All in favor?” The congressional speaker asked.

Each and every single one of them, without exception, raised their hand, signaling their support for the bill.

“All against?”

All their hands fell.

“Then, Bill #2, the Laissez Faire Interstellar Expansion Act, is unanimously passed by the General Assembly.”

And thus, it became law.