Analysis / Supreme Commander

Representations of the main factions

While not looked over much, each of the three main factions (UEF, Cybran Nation, and Aeon Illuminate) take a strong inspiration from real-life societies and cultures, as seen in both the histories, themes, and aesthetics of the separate factions.

United Earth Federation

The UEF is naturally the United Space of America, representing itself as a presidential democracy with a diverse set of characters and comparable aesthetics of its armed forces. However, it also incorporates the negative aspects in its history including years of discrimination (only with symbionts instead of people by color) and practice of imperialism as displayed in its history as the Earth Empire. Further proving its role as The Empire is its desire to unite the galaxy under its banner, seeing itself as a world peacekeeping force existing to protect it from terrorists and religious fanatics, and its endgame weapon Black Sun being synonymous to the nuclear bomb in World War II.

Regardless, the expansion shows more positive aspects with the original government lost and under General William Hall. Despite years of transgression, the General and the player completely set aside their differences with their former adversaries and become the core founders of the Coalition for the Defense of Humanity, comparable with the formation of the Allies in the mentioned world war, the League of Nations, and the current United Nations. He even goes as far as to order his men to put down a General Ripper when his actions threatened both an important mission and a truce with the other factions. After the war is over, the UEF’s prejudice against the Cybrans and Aeon are marginalized to create a lasting peace.

Cybran Nation

While not outright stated, the Cybrans draw many parallels to the ideals of the Soviet Union or at least Russia. The Cybran Nation is designed to be like an ideal socialist state, where everyone was equal, individual, and united under its main leader and founder Dr. Gustav Brackman. Unlike similar demagogues in the past (i.e. Lenin, Stalin, and Mao), Dr. Brackman can be seen as a true absolute founder who cares very well for his people, to the point he calls them all children. The tactics of the Cybran are also comparable as they engage in uprisings, terrorism, professional espionage, subversion, and proxy wars instead of a head-on fight to confront its enemies.

Aeon Illuminate

The Aeon is a weird case as it’s not directly based on a single nation but combination of both European and Asian cultures. They are a highly advanced state more so than the UEF, along with far more territory and people than any other faction. The main point is its role as a Church Militant faction as shown with their ranks (I.e. Knight, Templar Crusader) while having a quasi-Buddhist philosophy yet is as fanatical as any Corrupt Church. Despite these failings, however, there are those who have a strong belief in The Way, with many of them being female figures and heroes inspired by those of said regions. The campaigns following the Aeon show its perspective of war while also designed like a Standard Fantasy Setting: the player is a common warrior knighted by a Princess Classic and protects her from various enemies, including internal ones like an Evil Chancellor (Kael) and a General Ripper (Marxon) who plot to overthrow her, and save the galaxy from destruction.