The Downgrade of Society and Reintroduction of War

By Will Carlton, Masters of Marxism-Leninism

Scholars will argue until the end of time whether communism was achieved on Earth after the revolutions of the mid-to-late 21st Century. While global socialism was set up for certain by the Socialist Brotherhood of Humanity, they were only capable of achieving some of Marx's august goals set out in the Manifesto. The goals of building communism have always been contingent upon resources; and so humanity was stuck in the first stage of communism, or socialism, and has remained so until this day. Still the greatest hope of humanity is, and always has been, rested upon the leadership of the vanguard party of the working class.

The wars of unification had left their mark, and it was necessary to spend a generation rebuilding the economic foundations by which the proletariat would shape the universe by their own will. Moreover the failed experiments of 20th Century Stalinism had to be undone in the minds of the wavering masses. People looked upon the excesses of these regimes and ascribed them to Leninist ideology not understanding the river of blood which ran between Bolshevism and its red-painted Georgian executioner. This lead to a series of debates in the 2080's between Stalinist and other factions, with a union of all the latter ones eventually winning the day and declaring "Marxism-Leninism" to be separate from "Stalinist opportunism." Still, the Communist Party of the Brotherhood of Humanity Politburo looked to the past, even the unfortunate times, for humanity's future. Had not the Soviet Union put the first man into space? The regime had been more autocratic than necessary but had not had the tide of history on its side. The Brotherhood, however, did and also knew that Earth's limited resources could not sustain 9 billion working-class peoples' socialist endeavour, let alone a communistic and stateless society.

The Politburo therefore sough, and gained, the majority vote of the global Supreme Soviet to explore the stars once the immediate actions of forming a socialist society were completed. With the professional army demobbed into an armed people, the means of production nationalized, and bourgeois elements ruthlessly suppressed, the proletariat launched into its historic task. The world was repaired and an extensive space program set up to expand into, and ultimately terraform, Mars and other smaller systems close to Earth. Though our people's finest minds were concentrated on this new quest, the secrets of faster-than-light travel still eluded them and so our species was confined to this system.

By 2110, the terraformation of Mars was completed. Human settlers arrived and the population exploded of our people exploded. The state could not whither away as this all had to be overseen by the Party, with Soviets set up. Moreover the STAVKA's strategic thought embellished the notion that weapons needed to be made available in case hostile life was detected, and training maintained. A socialist society is impossible when armed to the teeth, and though derided by peaceniks the more sensible Army faction won out during the debates of 2115.

Socialism flourished over the next three decades. Despite insistence upon armament, settlers found no hostile foreign life. Indeed the idea of aliens was often derided by certain Party members and workers as a pipe dream. Stations were founded on many moons while sub-light space travel extended short of Neptune. As this expanded so too did the living standards of the people; on Earth Marx's goals were not fully met but poverty was wiped out while the cities were gradually made more even with the countryside. In the colonies cities had to be founded first from which the local Soviets and Party would expand outward. The future seemed bright for humanity. Our people had united and the red star of our brotherly union ascended. In actions if not in words we were for the first time able to achieve that mantra "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need."

It all ended the day after the 130th Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, when we discovered the ruins of the Prothean Empire. Soon after, we engaged in our first war in almost a century, this time against aliens bent upon destroying our achievements and socialism itself.

Political and Party System of Earth

A note from the works of Dr. Mordin Solus circa 2172

Arrived on Earth last week by their time. Happy to get embassy post; only just received medical degree.

Strange people humans. Much like Salarians; very technophile. Constant need to adapt and improve and successful at this. Lovers of all things that make them have to work less but not sign of laziness. Oh, yes, culture. Unsure of political system: inherently egalitarian and meritocratic. More similar than they admit to their Turian nemeses. General communal values and emphasis on military service. Social conservatism high despite public protest to contrary. Example: clothes. Dress for men old-fashioned, have resisted alien styles. Suit and ties, they are called, only younger or daring men wear odd cuts and colours. Most have only "single-breasted" jacket and drab tie. Party or military flag pins ubiquitous. For women little different. Subdued styles, combined human and Asari fashion. More modest, sexual frivolity frowned upon. People call one another "comrade" or by title. Sometimes combination of two. I am "comrade doctor Salarian" to strangers. Learned hard way: do not call young woman "miss." Indicates strong desire to copulate. Only used by rude, or long-term partners.

Also race has sense of strong justice and protection of weak from strong. Economic planning for equity central, but apply ancient leader St Juste to enemies "rule by iron" those who do not subscribe to socialist social contract. Also done for development; not just kindness. Evidence: military tour few days ago. New weapons powerful; designed to make up for current weakness of biotics though STG reports are in training. Do not seem to love heavy armor like Turians. Favour speed and firepower. Ships made along this principle; almost no dreadnoughts. Many carriers. Most named after people. Socialist heroes. Or famous events. Officers only called "Commander" plus what they in charge of. Confusing. Most folks convinced of scientific and economic necessity of ideas and system. Apocalyptic belief in inevitable universal revolution; foundation of stateless society. Do not think Patriarchy would like that.

Those just ideas; political system even stranger. Not like us- we have some votes, some positions need expert appointees. Humans have direct democratic means both economic and social. Workplace leaders drawn from ranks of work-force; self management in factories. Strange anything gets done but seems efficient. Engineers have power over factory; determine what is produced while proletariat enacts. All engineers from Party, elected officials may not be. This odd. Why have two parallel organisations for one? Humans love Party. Thought this was an anecdote about propensity to love of alcohol and dancing. Hypothesis confirmed, but also follow their Communist Party. Strange. This love unheard of even amongst Salarian militants. Then again, humans only have one party.

Government structured along similar lines. Supreme Soviet sits in many places a year: Berlin, Johannesburg, Havana, Singapore. Made up of many delegates. Most powerful also from Party. Enacts policy decisions; almost never goes against Party. If so, major crisis. Party most powerful organization. Politburo of one hundred makes almost all grand decisions. This core elected from Central Committe, a few thousand, elected by junior Party cadres. Political Bureau all veterans. Not just of war, but manoeuvring. Seems friendly, days of disappearing opponents finished in 2090s. Now much nicer, seems to work. Right of recall in full effect, has been exercised more than once to prevent abuse of power.

General-Secretary sits in cabinet with Commissioners who maintain portfolio. This government level, but also has Politburo advisors. Decisions then signed off by President of the Brotherhood. Grand title for old warhorse with little power. Met him yesterday at official dinner. Sat close. Name: Dr. Moskovchenko. Understands position, jovial and kind man. Also shares human love of drink. Smart; shame only Masters of Biology, PhD in humanity's obsession: Marxism-Leninism. Kept trying to convince me of its nobility and inevitability. Asked "Even to Salarian frogs?" as joke. He smiled. Answered "of course."
Confidence is singular among humans. Maybe true they are Brotherhood. May be some merit to ideas. Requires further study. Tomorrow go on another tour of new military hardware. No doubt meant to instil fear at might again.

Discovery of Prothean Tech

By Will Carlton, as part of completion of PhD in Intergalactic Relations

On November 8 2147, teams on the miniature planet Pluto discovered that humanity had never been alone in the galaxy. These brave men and women had chosen to mine far from Earth and Mars, and the long voyages our poor sublight technology at the time entailed. But what they found was more important for the development of socialism than any rare resources.

What we found changed our entire perception of the past. There was on this minor planet ancient technology by a humanoid race- most of it still operable and intact. It gave us technological advantages too detailed to go into detail here but nevertheless allowed feats undreamt of by Marx and Engels. At last, our race was able to ascend to the stars at the speed of light. And we did so with great speed. The Planning Commission on Earth immediately set about converting construction to allow use of the new "mass effect drives" which would let our ever-expanding population reach further into space. Communism in space seemed as inevitable as the revolutions which preceded socialism.

However a major hypothesis of STAVKA and most historical materialist scholars was shattered with these findings. STAVKA had assumed that aliens would be cruder races, possibly lacking even sentience, whom we would be able to wipe out quickly with small arms. Now we had proof our predecessors were much more powerful, and humanoid to boot. This meant others like this could be out there. More troubling was the fact this Prothean race had disappeared. While we were able to pool the finest minds of humanity to translate some of their language and use their technology, we had no idea of who caused their abrupt disappearance. This worried us as something more powerful may be out there. There was of course, but it was not the xenos we wound up fighting.

Also worrying was that this ancient species, almost 50 000 years old, had existed long before that. Moreover despite developing advanced space technology it had never achieved socialism or communism. Indeed this race had instead been stuck in a bonapartist semi-feudal system that was reliant upon its military force alone to control the galaxy. This caused endless debate among academics and in Party meeting, and drinking, halls. Why had a humanoid race so much like our own never advanced past the third stage of production? Or was their militarist society a deformed, Stalinesque form of socialism designed to protect them from what eventually destroyed them?

We did not have much time to ponder. Humanity continued its constant expansion and blossomed out across the galaxy. As we moved we did finally encounted primitive life but none of it was very hostile, and those few that were could be eliminated by the militia with ease. There was no need to restore the old Navy, Army and Security apparati.

That was until New Year's Day 2156 when the colony of Sinkiang was attacked by hostile aliens. These folk were stuck in a society similar to the Protheans, and sought to exploit us quickly due to our perceived weakness. The socialist experiment in space would not bend to a foreign aggressor. We would make them pay in blood.