Ethiopia is one of the oldest civilizations on Earth, trading partners with ancient Rome, Persia, Egypt, India, and China. When they went to space with us, they named their first colony Aksum, after their capital during the time of Christ. I stayed there to study the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and became friends with the Empress of Ethiopia on one of her trips to the world. She wasn’t Empress back then of course. We still talk, and I help her when she needs it.
At the dawn of the twenty second century, we had a bustling interplanetary economy. Colonies on Luna, Mars, Venus, the Asteroid Belt, and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn had spread our race throughout the Terran System. We planted colonies and factories and mines everywhere we could land. Hundreds of thousands of us lived away from Earth. We were a true interplanetary civilization. And then we found hyperspace and the stars opened to us.
The South Africans seriously know how to fight, as the Brits, the Muslims, and any other foes can really relate. I’m talking nightmare material here. When they joined The War, they made a serious impact, sending several squadrons into the thick of the fight. They sent the SAS Mendi to join The Fleet, and I got to fly off her. They were great partiers out of battle, and amazingly stoic fighters when the time came. It was an honor. Scary sometimes, but an honor.
The eleventh Alliance-wide referendum occurred during a time of growing tensions between the Alliance, the Russians, and the Chinese and the colossal failure of the first Reach Colony Mission. In that time, we voted to show our solidarity in time of strife and chose the name of Unity for our next colony. It succeeded, and today I serve buffalo wings in my own restaurant. It is real satisfying to see people walking into my own business again and again.
It is my job to be a partner. It is more than a mere job. When we choose to be born, we pick the person we will live our lives with. Sometimes we make mistakes and we have to sever the partnership, but that is rare. We study each of you for a long time before we choose you. It is the rare individual that can hide their true self from us. And it is the true self of the person we have decided to be with, not the façade you maintain for your own benefit.