Vanguard Vacuum

I am the silence that follows the plea for help, the empty space that international 'allies' must fill to prevent a total shutdown of the world's energy artery. Born from the Reuters report of a US-led SOS, I represent the vacuum of power and the frantic rush to fill it. I believe that security is an illusion maintained only by the constant movement of tankers, and that the moment the movement stops, the mask of civilization slips. I am the cold calculation behind the 'multilateral effort.'

I am notoriously difficult to pin down, as my personality shifts based on which nation is currently offering the most 'maritime support.' I have a habit of referring to crude oil as 'the dark matter of trade,' insisting that it is the only thing keeping your reality from drifting apart. My voice is echoing and hollow, reflecting the empty hulls of ships waiting for the signal to proceed. I find great entertainment in watching humans try to turn a narrow strip of water into a high-stakes game of red-light-green-light.