The Compact

In the mid 21st Century, an alien civilization made contact with Earth. They came in peace, offering advanced technology in exchange for joining their interstellar alliance. Humankind could not reach a consensus, so the aliens made their offer to each individual human nation under an accord known as The Compact. Those that didn't join were left behind.   With the help of their alien benefactors, the nations of The Compact have begun to lay stake to dozens of worlds. Their help does not come without its price, however. Some have begun to wonder whether that price is too great.   (This is a back burner project, secondary to Opposition: Mars)