![]() ![]() The UEF are defined in opposition to both Cybrans and Aeons, and the Cybrans and Aeons can both be anything from outright heroic to utterly monstrous depending on the above questions. On the whole, I don't think we really know enough to say who has the moral high ground. I am unclear on whether the Way is simply a religion you convert to of your own free will, or if it's something of a viral meme and there's mental compulsion. Other missions seem to suggest free conversion one mission has you, as an Aeon commander, defending UEF civilians to show them that you have the moral high ground. That helps! The Way seems to have elements of a psychic meme as well, judging from Rhianne's conversion of the UEF soldier, but that may not be entirely true. We know you can interpret it as pacifist and as incredibly violent. We can't render judgement without knowing about that religion, and the picture we get in the game is distressingly broad. Unlike the Cybrans, who actually do something fundamental to change themselves, even though we might not know what it is, the Aeons are simply ordinary humans with a religion. What is the Way? What, exactly, do they believe? Judging from characters' actions, the Way can be interpreted as anything from a transcendental pacifist philosophy, emphasising meditation and oneness, to a one-dimensional rabid crusader ideology. Does the Cybran Nation simply brainwash all cyborgs into being loyal to them instead?)Īs for the Aeons, the problem is similar. (Interestingly, given the loyalty program, one wonders if Brackman's virus in the original game is any different. All it seems to do is give the Cybrans a lot of ugly metal implants sticking out of them and allow the UEF to mind-control them with loyalty programs. ![]() ![]() What are the psychological consequences of the cyborgisation? What is the relationship between the brain and AI, and how does the human's consciousness change? Does it at all? Again, the game doesn't show us anything that might give us a hint. ![]() What does the process do? Combining a human brain with a symbiotic AI construct sounds a lot like it would change a person's personality. What's the point? What, if anything, do they get out of it? Given that they effectively lobotomise themselves to perform this operation, and that they are a persecuted minority for it, one assumes that they believe they have pretty damn good reasons for doing it, but we have no idea what those reasons might be.īeyond that, what is the nature of the change itself? A similar but distinct question. But in the game we can clearly see that the Cybrans aren't any smarter or stronger than unaugmented humans. Since Brackman invented it and they undergo it voluntarily, presumably there is some perceived advantage in combining the human brain with an artificial intelligence. The problem I have with the Cybrans is that I really don't know what their cyborgisation is supposed to achieve, or even what it does. I'm not really willing to pass judgement on the Cybrans or Aeons because both factions hinge on complicated technologies or ideologies that we just don't know enough about. The most debatable issue would be that of cyborg slavery, but that's really defining the UEF in relation to the Cybrans, and the Cybrans have a whole host of issues related to them. Their ostensible goal, reuniting humankind, is arguably admirable, and in fairness most of the time they are on the defensive, against Cybran terrorists and rebels and Aeon armies. They don't upgrade themselves, and are basically secular. The UEF are, more than the others, defined by what they are not. I've watched the Forged Alliance cutscenes on YouTube, but haven't seen any of the missions or briefings. Note that I've only played the original Supreme Commander. Clearly a balanced look at the three factions, appreciating the complex nuances and philosophical differences between them. ![]()
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