See the new thread for all poll options
about the technology they have at the start of the story, I'd say early "Halo" technology. They have the ability to make naval space craft, not just shuttles, and I'd guess some short range warping technology.
The explanation to a lot of the alliances and "why things have to be" problems, are that behind this storyline is a huge twist that is kind of odd, and I didn't want to bring it up yet since it'd just be like "wtf". basically, when the game actually STARTS, all alliances go out the window. The reason the story seems a bit choppy is because we're supposed to be building it, so we'll be doing so using the poll threads such as "why do we leave earth".
To answer some other questions though,
You have to understand the population is just too large for the massive military of TEF7 to keep in check. The early NoCP had much time to plan what they were doing, and they did so by the classic underground guerilla methods- they were never found out because TEF7 was arrogant and expected them to do their job without question. The first generation of newborns in the colony had no concept of freedom. When they revolted, they only attacked important targets, such as guard outposts along the way out. Of course TEF7 followed them back out, but they escaped too fast for much damage to be done, and the military TEF7 had was suited for dealing with problems INSIDE the colony, meaning they did not have the all terrain vehicles or aircraft to pursue them outside of their paved streets.
BV on the otherhand, were attacked first, and had no intention of leaving until they were. They were cut down badly before they were all able to get out.
About the alien tech problem, at this point humans have better building techniques, but not transmutation or anything "Supreme Commander" style yet. They stole what artifacts they could, and were able to replicate them, and make devices like them- if any tribes had a technological advantage over another, it'd be soon balanced by another.
Also, TEF7 is supposed to look as close to an "american war machine in the future" as possible, because that's kind of what I'd expect them to be in the future. I wouldn't want an "imperium of man" or any religion method to brainwashing, so I think a simple matter of being born into a new world would make people believe that this was the way life was meant to be. Also like said, schools would most likely inject propoganda right into children from the start, but nothing too extreme.
