Diplomacy

While it lacks the economic heft or exotic technology of other planets, Earth has firmly made a niche for itself as a hub of knowledge and of diplomatic activity – though in the latter case, some might resent the length of trips to get to the isolated planet (which are formidable, even via manifold collapse). Earth has hosted a wide variety of political gatherings since its accession to the Alliance in as wide a variety of venues – receptions are held just as often in caves, bivouac meeting halls on mountaintops, and reconstructed palazzi as they are in the planet’s dedicated conference centres.

The exchanging of items of historical and/or scientific interest is considered a sign of trust on Earth, and a number are held securely in different places across the Alliance as a result. Conversely, Earth also hosts exhibits of loaned artifacts from its Alliance allies; a visitor to an Earthling museum might view thousand-year-old human tapestries, Vari balloon-silks and intricate Omdua kites in the same gallery, with each item being both the means and the results of the delicate diplomatic processes that keep the Alliance moving along with minimal friction.