>>723791484
To counter-act that, one needs ubiquitous control, that is natural, unobtrusive, and normalized, and unsuspected. It's not even perceived.
Just like there is the Shadow Broker, a massive system, there is the pan-galactic eezo civilizational social control system that controls everything. It's not necessarily centralized, but nevertheless it is there as an "agreement".
Military runs the show. High tier, high skill runs the show. High money, new, old, certain politicians and free and rogue agents that pass the filter make it.
Everyone else is normal or "normal".
Shepard is the elite human glowie. This is why s/he has N7 code, and why N7 is a publicly known item, in spite of obvious operational risks of wearing VIP ranks. Spooks are never known, so why is N7 public?
It is precisely because of what the rank of N7, of Asari Commando, of STG et al represent.
N7 is the rank of a field active military official answering to and carrying the intentions of highest government authority comparable to the SPECTRE title, which may or may not be known or unknown to the agent.
If an N7 is on the block, should they die or be blemished - and die they may, if you are really THAT good, - you and everyone will be in a shitshow at an undetermined place and time.
At once disposable and not, a single spook of this stature controls much simply by being there, and where an N7 or STG is, there are sand lines that can only be resolved by more spookery, by "gentleman's rules" ala IRL "avoid torture and try to convert" spywork tradition.
This is why Shepard can pass so assuredly through any situation. He is close to the top where things are done.
This is why other normal people look so incompetent, - they live their lives, optimized by others.
And this is why Shepard's peers and the Council are so antagonistic yet "chummy", - they are on the same wavelength.
They do a lot of things unsaid because they live in their own elite sphere.
