Cloud Madness is Man Made

Summary

Some say that Cloud Madness was not the product of a flawed terraforming effort, but due to the deliberate actions of a secret cabal in an attempt to size control of Lyra II. By depopulating and isolating the planet for a period of 10 years, all territorial claims would be voided and any surviving structure would be legitimate salvage.

Historical Basis

At the time of the outbreak, the planetry government was the most unified world in the system. There was growing favor for universal representation and a subsequent vote to break from the suzerainty. Due to an incredibly complicated series of treaties and pacts, Nijama could not threat the polity without suffering reprisals.

Spread

The Anti-Nijima factions jumped on this theory, using it as more evidence of Malfeasance by their distant rulers.  Abroad any Nijama operated habitats, any reference to it is quickly flagged as seditious and scrubbed from feed.

Variations & Mutation

The acting party is changed to suit the narrative of the teller, but the goal of depopulating the world for private gain remains in every telling.

Cultural Reception

To the vast majority of citizens, the theory falls somewhere between an inappropriate but passable what-if scenario and extremist dogwhistle rhetoric.  In some areas, fervent believe in this theory is likely to put one a watch list at best and a anti-terrorism blacksite at worst. This heavy handed response only adds fuel to the fire and "proves" its veracity to conspiracy. Those same people tend to ignore manifestos citing this theory as justification for violence against the state.

In Literature

There many groups collecting evidence and testimony to build a case for the theory. Like garbage on the breeze, these manifestos and pamphlets travel hand to hand across the system to collect in its dark corners.

Related Locations

• Firebreak Command
• Lyra II

Related People

• Sigmar Niji

Related Organizations

• Firebreak
• House Lyra