Fellow Members of the Human Sphere

"Fellow members of the human sphere,

My name is Robert Shasworth, CEO and Chairman of Shasworth Financial. For those who don't know me or my firm, Shasworth is a Fortune 10,000 banking, accounting, and consulting company, with significant business operations across all major governments and interplanetary corporations.

My role requires a broad view of the human sphere. From that perspective, I am deeply concerned by the rising nationalism, misinformation, bad faith, and the inevitable conflicts that follow. We've already seen it starting:

The idea that Aleph and O-12 have consistently misled us about these "shape-shifting aliens" and their collaboration with the Nomads of Bakunin. I believe these are well-intentioned efforts to keep people calm against stupid rumors. This isn't some bad horror movie on Maya (or Arachne!) and the Tohaa, whatever their intentions, don't seem to be shape-shifters. But people will believe what they want to believe - let's give the international government credit for trying.

The wounds of the Kurage Crisis must be healed. It's clear that Yu Jing feels it was dealt a grievous insult at Kurage, where PanOceania conspired to help JSA break away. The Japanese must seek a way to normalize relations with Yu Jing; PanOceania ought to make reparations to the State Empire for their part in the crisis. And Yu Jing needs to be held accountable for the human rights abuses they committed against their own (JSA) citizens.

The whole affair was a trampling of Ariadnan territorial rights. The Ariadnans deserve their own nation and we must support their continued independence. Ariadna owns the teseum on Dawn - isn't it only fair for them to decide how to sell it, and to whom? We should therefore recognize the legitimacy of financing through Nomad-based banks on Tunguska, or exclusive logistics deals with Haqqislam.

All of this, and now murmurs of war at the human edge. What atrocities will come from further armed conflict?

My intention is not to rub salt in these wounds. No, instead we must recognize that no human nation is free of sin, and by being direct and inclusive about these grievances, we can begin a process of disarmament and healing.

In support of that goal, I am proud to announce the creation of a new political advocacy commission backed by the full resources of the Shasworth Egalitarian Foundation: "Sphere Itself."



Join us in demanding accountability and justice from our governments. Together we can wield our power as citizens - a power sharp as a monofilament blade - and ascend to a better future.

Robert "Bob" Shasworth
CEO and Chairman
Shasworth Financial"

-Posted to Maya by Shasworth Financial

 

Thank you for your inquiry, Mr. theGricks!

Please consider the Shasworth Egalitarian Foundation (SEF) as being in the same multi-national "box" as O-12, albeit as a non-governmental organization (NGO). We have no formal military affiliations, but will liaise where appropriate.

Sphere Itself is a SEF commission with a specific goal: serve as an independent watchdog to hold the governments of the Human Sphere accountable in order to facilitate peace, justice, and prosperity. We achieve this through:

• Advocating for greater governmental transparency. We are shining light on "deniable" quasi-military operations such as "Red Veil," or "Icestorm." Innocent civilians have been harmed in all of such operations - consider Haqqislam's accidental murder of a Nomad family on Neon Lotus. Our analysts hold security footage showing a known Ramah Task Force operative throwing the grenade that was responsible for their deaths.
  
  
• Taking governments to task for violations of the Concilium Convention. Tragic deaths like the above happen when those rules are ignored; how many of your fellow Haqqislamite citizens have been killed by indiscriminate boarding shotgun fire during caravansary raids by Nomad pirates? Or mercenaries hired by Yu Jing operatives?
  
  
• Empowering citizens. SEF believes that we are the hidden power in the Human Sphere. Governments conceal their actions because they fear that power - just look at how the Kurage Crisis came about. We want to mentor "citizens" to become "citizen-advocates;" a people who will speak truth to power, regardless of their home nation.

Left unchecked, we fear these "deniable operations" will grow insidiously until they explode into interplanetary war. Rather than risk tragedy on planetary scales, we want to facilitate hard conversations today to make a better tomorrow.

If you believe in ending violence in the Human Sphere, please consider pledging your support to SEF. Any contributions are tax deductible, and you gain the right to use the Sphere Itself logo in your communications as a citizen-advocate.

Inshallah!

 

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your comments. We are not sure what a "Shasvaasti" is, as we could find only limited information on Maya (some type of Tohaa?).

However, those of us at Sphere Itself, assure you that we are continuing our advocacy for the territorial integrity and sovereign rights of Ariadna. Grave injustices have come from potentially illegal land claims made by Panoceania and Yu Jing. We have reports of civilian casualties stemming from international disputes over teseum mining sites, and intend to bring this information to appropriate international bodies.

In the interim, stay strong, Ariadna! Don't let these bigger, more-advanced nations bully you into submission.

 

Mr. theGricks: we are heartened to hear this, and our representatives will seek avenues for productive collaboration. Certainly Haqqislam and it's enlightened values set a good example for the rest of the Human Sphere. A shame the Ariadnans refuse to follow your leadership.

Sir, while silver tongues may be of less service on the battlefield, they are critical for diplomacy. Perhaps we can facilitate some goodwill trade missions on behalf of Ariadna? For example, Sphere Itself possesses strong trade contacts on Neoterra through Swanson Exports/Imports (a proud affiliate of Shasworth Financial). Newfound prosperity always helps to defuse military tensions.

Thank you, Brother Smoke. Sphere Itself could not agree more with your message of citizen empowerment. Nonetheless, we are saddened these times call for such paranoia.

Yes, please cooperate with lawful peacekeeping actions. However, be advised that neither Sphere Itself nor its citizen-advocates will be complacent about overreach. We know the kind of brutality that can come from overzealous "peacekeeping" operations.

 

Captain, the Shasworth Egalitarian Foundation (SEF) is a legal not-for-profit foundation associated with a multi-national corporation, Shasworth Financial. We do not "scurry," and assure you that we are fully committed to operating in plain sight.

SEFs IT security team did identify abnormal activity in our HR servers. Fortunately, we managed to isolate the breach before any sensitive personnel or financial data about our agents were exposed.

Sand Cats Tactical Security LLC: we appreciate the public admission of your criminal activity, as that will save effort on data forensics. Your organization should prepare for criminal investigation and litigation - you may be formidable on the battlefield, but we'll see how you do in court.

Mr. Thandar, perhaps we can give you another point of agreement with many Ariadnans: Shasworth Financial provides excellent financial services with a number of convenient locations for when you want that "personal touch." Come on in and open an account, with our newest branch office located in the Novyy Bangkok Main Strip.