As mentioned in this thread, https://noblesofnull.com/threads/the-gdws-obsession-with-space-habitation.198/, the GDW has the most populated, independent infrastructure in the human community, developing their own unique cultures and ideologies. While other nations have either easily controlled, central space stations and many skeleton crew stations, the GDW's space colonies are more extensive. Foreseeing a potential conflict, the GDW preemptively enacted the Extraterrestrial Reformation that put the space colonies, nominally, at equal status with the Earth nations. So long as Earth representatives acted in good faith and compromised with space rep's, peace and cooperation were maintained for over a century.
However, the forever divergence of cultures was unavoidable, and the increasing military presence in space, by all superstates, created a politically brittle environment in the void. Space stations from all superstates were all deemed strategic nodes that required military infrastructure to protect. While people of other superstates deemed these as simple security measures at their workplaces, the space borne of the Commonwealth thought differently, seeing them as weaponization of their homes, fearing the brighter and brighter targets painted on their entire livelihoods, generations of work to make the void habitable.
The space born's worst fears were made reality in 2321 when the GDW abruptly made a preemptive strike against the Soyuz for still unclear reasons. Asteroids, moons, and low orbits were made battlefields within a few hours. While conflicts occurred on Earth as well, the space born suffered the most. Vital supply lines of air, water, and food were disrupted or cut entirely. Thousands faced starvation and asphyxiation, condemned to their metal tube homes for coffins.
Besides the economic downturn, Earth representatives acted without compromise in the Council, passing a series of legislation with no space-born votes in the name of supernational security; policies that the space born would call "7030". These included the Freedom of Housing Act, which allowed marines to be deployed on space colonies without local government consent; and the Democratization of the Military Act, which authorized the use of foreign PMC's, primarily those coming from the American Union. The space born were no strangers to militant policy; their own courts allowed a liberal use of martial law to regulate life support. However, Earth born meddling in their affairs to such an extent was heavily frowned upon.
However, the forever divergence of cultures was unavoidable, and the increasing military presence in space, by all superstates, created a politically brittle environment in the void. Space stations from all superstates were all deemed strategic nodes that required military infrastructure to protect. While people of other superstates deemed these as simple security measures at their workplaces, the space borne of the Commonwealth thought differently, seeing them as weaponization of their homes, fearing the brighter and brighter targets painted on their entire livelihoods, generations of work to make the void habitable.
The space born's worst fears were made reality in 2321 when the GDW abruptly made a preemptive strike against the Soyuz for still unclear reasons. Asteroids, moons, and low orbits were made battlefields within a few hours. While conflicts occurred on Earth as well, the space born suffered the most. Vital supply lines of air, water, and food were disrupted or cut entirely. Thousands faced starvation and asphyxiation, condemned to their metal tube homes for coffins.
Besides the economic downturn, Earth representatives acted without compromise in the Council, passing a series of legislation with no space-born votes in the name of supernational security; policies that the space born would call "7030". These included the Freedom of Housing Act, which allowed marines to be deployed on space colonies without local government consent; and the Democratization of the Military Act, which authorized the use of foreign PMC's, primarily those coming from the American Union. The space born were no strangers to militant policy; their own courts allowed a liberal use of martial law to regulate life support. However, Earth born meddling in their affairs to such an extent was heavily frowned upon.