Approx. one year before the invasion of Yim III
A small kitchen in a terrace house, Beev City, planet Ecteen, Treecuu Star Empire

It was early in the morning, but Tuum had already prepared her daily cup of bil, a steaming red beverage with plant extracts. She held it firmly with both hands and carefully took a first sip and breathed in slowly.

"Computer, voice to text record, title 'An Alternative Way'. Begin."

Tuum's command was confirmed by her computer with a cheerful beep.

"The Treecuu Star Empire, perhaps one of the most powerful empires known to exist. The great heroes of Utac showed us the way when..."

Tuum was abruptly interrupted by a stern voice. It was her mother, entering the kitchen.

"Not this nonsense again. I mean it, you could get in serious trouble for your strange ideas. Why can't you be more like your sister, she..."

"I know! I know! A fleet commander, decorated hero, knowing her place. We've had this discussion a million times. I'll tell you what she is. Part of the system!" snapped Tuum.

"And a good citizen!" her mother responded. "You know I do love you, but I can't let you submit this for everyone to see on the intercon."

Her mother turned to the computer.

"Computer, disconnect intercon, resume only on my command."

The computer beeped cheerfully again.

"We will have a talk about this when I get back from work. Now do yourself a favour, go out and look for a proper job. Like your sister." Her mother said as she walked over to the door.

Making sure her mother had left, Tuum picked up a short metallic cylinder and put it on the computer.

"Computer, connect to intercon and resume 'An Alternative Way'"

The cylinder contained a small device that could circumvent her mother's voice-activated restrictions. The computer confirmed her command.

"The Treecuu Star Empire is perhaps one of the most powerful empires known to exist. The great heroes of Utac showed us the way to go when they defeated Oleth and ended the Calamities. But was it a victory, really? Haven't we ultimately been defeated by fear and paranoia?

Let me tell you about the ugly truth behind our beloved state and why we must listen to the Alternative Way Movement. Let me start with what's really going on on planets like Bicaan..."

Tuum continued recording for more than a standard hour, then she edited the text before finally posting it on her favourite hub on the intercon. Like she had expected, her text was read several hundred times even before lunch.