[Lucika]

Thing is, even if military spending would be reduced in peacetime, you have to remember that during the 32 years between the two shivan encounters, the GTVA did MASSIVE R&D to fight the shivans should they ever come back.

The GTVA itself told its pilots that the shutting off of both the Epsilon Pegasi and Vega nodes leading to Capella was "only a temporary measure", so even after the 2nd conflict they would keep researching technologies to help them fight the Shivans.

Honestly, there ARE unanswered questions regarding the NTF, but the theory that Bosch was an agent is absurd.

Simply, Allied Command (as the General Assembly is more related to civilian matters, it would not be them, and somehow I doubt the Vasudan Imperium would have planned this), once they found out about ETAK, wanted to know more and thus let Bosch carry on with his business.  Also I'm pretty sure that the GTVA did not know ETAK was designed as Shivan Comm Tech until the first loop mission when you scan the Iceni and the Hinton.

This explains the Sunder escort mission following it, and it explains why the GTVA chastises Admiral Ahmose for violating orders by sending that Mentu and Sobek to destroy the Iceni.  It is highly possible that Ahmose was on standby, that if it was found ETAK was a WMD, Ahmose's ships would be sent in, but when they realised there was no weapon on board, they got curious and wanted to know more.  Remember that at that point in time, the NTF rebellion was already extremely strained, the Repulse having been destroyed, along with the NTF 2nd in command, Rear Admiral Koth. (was it established that he was 2nd in command in canon?)
This means the GTVA could buy time and find out all it could about ETAK.  My guess is they never expected the "rush to the node" when Alpha 1 got luckily transfered to the 64th Raptors to wipe out the NTF fleet.

I don't answer for "this is absurd". There is a lot of evidence what I have listed above, no matter what you say.
About the knowledge of ETAK:
"All right, pilot. I've got some good news and some bad news. Good news is we got the Iceni and the Hinton to Regulus. The scan data you collected has been transmitted to the GTVI, and our operation to uncover the secret of ETAK continues as planned. " (Debriefing from Rebels & Renegades (Loop 1 - mission 1)

"Thanks to our heist, the Sunder is now in allied custody. With our scan of the Iceni and the capture of the rebel transport, the GTVI can begin to unravel the secret of Bosch's ETAK project. " (Loop 1 - mission 2)

The latter makes it sure that the GTVA didn't know about what ETAK is at this point of the campaign. Thus we must say that they still think that ETAK is a weapon (if they know what it is, then the obvious question is: who gave the info? /I'd say Bosch/). If so, GTVA would surely decide that destroying the Iceni - thus slashing the dragon's head - is more useful than searching for a superweapon.
The question is: why didn't they do that? Because Bosch was their agent.

[eliex]

The latter makes it sure that the GTVA didn't know about what ETAK is at this point of the campaign. Thus we must say that they still think that ETAK is a weapon (if they know what it is, then the obvious question is: who gave the info? /I'd say Bosch/). If so, GTVA would surely decide that destroying the Iceni - thus slashing the dragon's head - is more useful than searching for a superweapon.
The question is: why didn't they do that? Because Bosch was their agent.

Uh no. What about SOC's undercover agents hearing rumours here and there and ETAK, perhaps NTF pilots re-defecting to the GTVA? There are more possibilities than Bosch informing the GTVA about ETAK.

And as for not destroying the Iceni - on that frigate holds the full research and information about ETAK. The GTVA wants the information so if they destroy the Iceni they would lose the only source of true information about ETAK.

Finally the question is - if Bosch really was a GTVA agent, with such power over the NTF, why didn't he just beam over the specifications of ETAK? Why didn't he just stop when the Colossus blockaded the Knossos portal?

[Lucika]

The latter makes it sure that the GTVA didn't know about what ETAK is at this point of the campaign. Thus we must say that they still think that ETAK is a weapon (if they know what it is, then the obvious question is: who gave the info? /I'd say Bosch/). If so, GTVA would surely decide that destroying the Iceni - thus slashing the dragon's head - is more useful than searching for a superweapon.
The question is: why didn't they do that? Because Bosch was their agent.

Uh no. What about SOC's undercover agents hearing rumours here and there and ETAK, perhaps NTF pilots re-defecting to the GTVA? There are more possibilities than Bosch informing the GTVA about ETAK.

And as for not destroying the Iceni - on that frigate holds the full research and information about ETAK. The GTVA wants the information so if they destroy the Iceni they would lose the only source of true information about ETAK.

Finally the question is - if Bosch really was a GTVA agent, with such power over the NTF, why didn't he just beam over the specifications of ETAK? Why didn't he just stop when the Colossus blockaded the Knossos portal?

It would be nice if you'd at least TRY to think that this is true, thus you'd be able to answer these questions on your own.
1) If there are re-defecting pilots, then it's sure that they're coming from the lower ranks, thus they don't know what ETAK exactly is.
2) As I said it earlier: why is the GTVA so interested in a superweapon? Considering the rebellion, it would've been much more useful to deal with Bosch - thus slaying the dragon's head. And, as I proved it earlier, GTVA doesn't know what ETAK is at that point.
3) The SOC mission was a ruse. A RUSE. And nothing more, OK? I'd say that it was forced by people who didn't know about Bosch's real belonging. Trust me, if the GTVA would've wanted this info that much, they would've just captured the Iceni outright. And if they know that this "weapon" isn't done yet, we can ask again: What is the source of that (nonexistent) information?
4) Why didn't Bosch stop? For the Holy God's sake! He had to test the device!
By the way, this point of yours made me think and I took a look on that "NTF saboteurs" on the Colly.
30,000 chosen crew members. Including NTF loyalists? Come on! It is sure that there was a strong security protocol on the Colly and it is highly improbable that they were able to get over there. If they were NTF loyalists (note that the Colly wasn't done before the rebellion started), then why didn't they defect earlier? Did they decided that "Oh my God, there might be a big bad GTVA ship, we should wait that if it exists, we should get up and sabotage it if attacks the good old Iceni?"
I'd say that this is another occasion of the GTA helping Bosch: letting him through the Knossos.

[General Battuta]

I think you're wrong. But at least now we have the Freespace equivalent of tinfoil-hat conspiracy nuts.

[Lucika]

I think you're wrong. But at least now we have the Freespace equivalent of tinfoil-hat conspiracy nuts.

Nice proof. Sorrry for the wording, but check the evidences... And try to condradict them.
Seriously, anyone'd make an article of that in the same fashion as the Shivan Manifesto or other theories? I am not good in Wiki editing.

[General Battuta]

You even sound like one. 

Theories are fun, but don't get too rabid about it.

[Lucika]

You even sound like one. 

Theories are fun, but don't get too rabid about it.

You see, everyone says that this is crazy. And no one was able to tell a reasonable why

[Pred the Penguin]

It just defies reason.

Everyone's so used to seeing Bosch as the bad guy. 

It's definitely plausible, but if true it'd probably turn a few heads.

[General Battuta]

It just defies reason.

Everyone's so used to seeing Bosch as the bad guy. 

It's definitely plausible, but if true it'd probably turn a few heads.

For exactly the same reason 'plausible' conspiracy theories aren't true: it requires a lot of justifications, obscenely complicated explanations of simple facts, and spinning the obvious truth into layers of deception and deceit.

It also defies all reason that the GTVA would create a massive and thoroughly damaging rebellion, consuming most of its own resources and power, simply for a hare-brained intelligence gambit.

Lastly, Bosch's monologues make it clear that this is his own personal crusade.

[Lucika]

It just defies reason.

Everyone's so used to seeing Bosch as the bad guy. 

It's definitely plausible, but if true it'd probably turn a few heads.

For exactly the same reason 'plausible' conspiracy theories aren't true: it requires a lot of justifications, obscenely complicated explanations of simple facts, and spinning the obvious truth into layers of deception and deceit.

It also defies all reason that the GTVA would create a massive and thoroughly damaging rebellion, consuming most of its own resources and power, simply for a hare-brained intelligence gambit.

Lastly, Bosch's monologues make it clear that this is his own personal crusade.

They doesn't make it clear. He HAS a crusade.
And it seems to me that everyone fails to understand that Bosch boy wasn't ordered to create a rebellion, just to grop the rebellious persons together. And it is very hard to circumvent the GTVA's continous aid of Bosch.

[Scotty]

It would be nice if you'd at least TRY to think that this is true, thus you'd be able to answer these questions on your own.
1) If there are re-defecting pilots, then it's sure that they're coming from the lower ranks, thus they don't know what ETAK exactly is.
2) As I said it earlier: why is the GTVA so interested in a superweapon? Considering the rebellion, it would've been much more useful to deal with Bosch - thus slaying the dragon's head. And, as I proved it earlier, GTVA doesn't know what ETAK is at that point.
3) The SOC mission was a ruse. A RUSE. And nothing more, OK? I'd say that it was forced by people who didn't know about Bosch's real belonging. Trust me, if the GTVA would've wanted this info that much, they would've just captured the Iceni outright. And if they know that this "weapon" isn't done yet, we can ask again: What is the source of that (nonexistent) information?
4) Why didn't Bosch stop? For the Holy God's sake! He had to test the device!
By the way, this point of yours made me think and I took a look on that "NTF saboteurs" on the Colly.
30,000 chosen crew members. Including NTF loyalists? Come on! It is sure that there was a strong security protocol on the Colly and it is highly improbable that they were able to get over there. If they were NTF loyalists (note that the Colly wasn't done before the rebellion started), then why didn't they defect earlier? Did they decided that "Oh my God, there might be a big bad GTVA ship, we should wait that if it exists, we should get up and sabotage it if attacks the good old Iceni?"
I'd say that this is another occasion of the GTA helping Bosch: letting him through the Knossos.

1)  What's to say that?  You ask for proof, and then spew stuff like this.
2)  Why wouldn't they be?  There's a suspected superweapon out there and you want to take out someone who can be easily (if not effectively) replaced with a subordinate?  Better check your priorities there.
3)  How do they know the 'weapon' isn't done?  If the GTVI SOC command doesn't know Bosch is an agent, no one does.
4)  In any battle, a ship takes damage.  With almost any damage, a ship loses personnel.  The Collosus was rammed by the Repulse, which would have caused casualties.  Those casualties must have been replaced, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.  That, and there is such a thing as a 'sleeper agent.'
4b)  Okay then, you disable the engines before he jumps out again.

I think you're wrong. But at least now we have the Freespace equivalent of tinfoil-hat conspiracy nuts.

Nice proof. Sorrry for the wording, but check the evidences... And try to condradict them.
Seriously, anyone'd make an article of that in the same fashion as the Shivan Manifesto or other theories? I am not good in Wiki editing.

Checked, and contradicted.

[General Battuta]

It just defies reason.

Everyone's so used to seeing Bosch as the bad guy. 

It's definitely plausible, but if true it'd probably turn a few heads.

For exactly the same reason 'plausible' conspiracy theories aren't true: it requires a lot of justifications, obscenely complicated explanations of simple facts, and spinning the obvious truth into layers of deception and deceit.

It also defies all reason that the GTVA would create a massive and thoroughly damaging rebellion, consuming most of its own resources and power, simply for a hare-brained intelligence gambit.

Lastly, Bosch's monologues make it clear that this is his own personal crusade.

They doesn't make it clear. He HAS a crusade.
And it seems to me that everyone fails to understand that Bosch boy wasn't ordered to create a rebellion, just to grop the rebellious persons together. And it is very hard to circumvent the GTVA's continous aid of Bosch.

As Snail has widely maintained for years, the GTVA wanted to get their hands on ETAK.

[Lucika]

It just defies reason.

Everyone's so used to seeing Bosch as the bad guy. 

It's definitely plausible, but if true it'd probably turn a few heads.

For exactly the same reason 'plausible' conspiracy theories aren't true: it requires a lot of justifications, obscenely complicated explanations of simple facts, and spinning the obvious truth into layers of deception and deceit.

It also defies all reason that the GTVA would create a massive and thoroughly damaging rebellion, consuming most of its own resources and power, simply for a hare-brained intelligence gambit.

Lastly, Bosch's monologues make it clear that this is his own personal crusade.

They doesn't make it clear. He HAS a crusade.
And it seems to me that everyone fails to understand that Bosch boy wasn't ordered to create a rebellion, just to grop the rebellious persons together. And it is very hard to circumvent the GTVA's continous aid of Bosch.

As Snail has widely maintained for years, the GTVA wanted to get their hands on ETAK.

I should stop quotestacking...
GTVA DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ETAK IS WHEN THE FIRST LOOP OF THE CAMPAIGN BEGINS!!!!! IF THEY DO, WHAT'S THE SOURSE AND WHY DO THEY STATE THAT IT IS A SUPERWEAPON?

[Snail]

GTVA DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ETAK IS WHEN THE FIRST LOOP OF THE CAMPAIGN BEGINS!!!!! IF THEY DO, WHAT'S THE SOURSE AND WHY DO THEY STATE THAT IT IS A SUPERWEAPON?

Dude. Now you're contradicting yourself. If Bosch was an allied operative, wouldn't the GTVA know everything about what he was doing? Sheesh. No need for allcaps man.

[Dilmah G]

Classified Info possibly?

Ever read Sun Tzu's Art of War (or however you spell it). The tactic is feed your own people false info so even if they do get captured etc they wont say anything meaningful. Anyway I don't have anythign against you, I just don't see light in it.

[terran_emperor]

During Petrach's command briefing near the begining of the main campaign game (or was it in the Debriefing for "Place of Chariots"?). It is stated by your superior that ETAK is believed to be a WOMD.

This indicates one of two things to me

1) The GTVA has no idea what ETAK is supposed to be (all they've heard is the Project Name and that Bosch is personally overseeing it so it must be Very important).

or

2) The Upper Eschelons of the GTVA High Command know what ETAK is but haven't told their pawns...erm Subordinates. Thus Petrach or Lieutenant Loukakis depending who it was who first mentioned ETAK doesn't know it is. (This seems highly likely considering later events of the Campaign).

Besides if bosch were an operative then only the Security Council would know...Basically if he was, then his entire opperation would be classified beyond level Omega. Hey what's the point of being a Secret Agent or a member of a secret conspiracy if you tell everyone about it  

[Lucika]

GTVA DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ETAK IS WHEN THE FIRST LOOP OF THE CAMPAIGN BEGINS!!!!! IF THEY DO, WHAT'S THE SOURSE AND WHY DO THEY STATE THAT IT IS A SUPERWEAPON?

Dude. Now you're contradicting yourself. If Bosch was an allied operative, wouldn't the GTVA know everything about what he was doing? Sheesh. No need for allcaps man.

I meant officially. Look, two versions:
1) Bosch isn't an operative -> the GTVA thinks that ETAK is a weapon. Now, instead of using the possibility to slay the dragon's head, they search fro an unknown weapon. This is stupid.
2) Bosch is an operative -> the highest members of the GTVA know what ETAK is -> they create a fake mission OR someone who doesn't know what ETAK is orders some SOC guys to get info about the ETAK.

No contradiction.

[Dilmah G]

The thing that doesn't add up for me is. If Bosch is an allied operative, why is the GTVA standing by and willfully sending their own pilots and marines into combat with a force they created themselves, unnecessary waste of money and life IMO.

[Pred the Penguin]

GTVA has some imperialistic views, not to mention an actual empire is part of the alliance. I wouldn't see it as impossible that the top brass might think it necessary if only for the greater good. Soldiers do seem to be bred to die a lot in Freespace. XD



I actually understand this theory. Most of it adds up pretty well the way it's put

But it's still just a theory, not that I'm saying the others are certainly true.
It's just a little out there that's all, but definitely possible.

[Snail]

I meant officially. Look, two versions:
1) Bosch isn't an operative -> the GTVA thinks that ETAK is a weapon. Now, instead of using the possibility to slay the dragon's head, they search fro an unknown weapon. This is stupid.
2) Bosch is an operative -> the highest members of the GTVA know what ETAK is -> they create a fake mission OR someone who doesn't know what ETAK is orders some SOC guys to get info about the ETAK.

Well yeah, officially.