![[sli.png]] *Added to the Codex on* ***March 19th, 2024*** --- ### Quotes "There would be no Shearwater program without lithium ore. At Shearwater Lithium Industries we strive to maximize our output while leaving the smallest ecological footprint."[^1] - Shearwater Lithium Industries "This November, vote 'Yes' on the Chilean Lithium Expansion Project Referendum."[^2] - Arkangel "They tried to buy our votes with the promise of compensation. Blood money! We've seen it happen time and time before across our country."[^3] - Violeta "Chile sold its soul to secure its own Shearwater weather satellite. Add it to the list of bowing to corporate interests."[^4] - Blasco <br> ### Description As the demand for Shearwater satellites surged in the mid-2040s, so too did the demand for lithium ore. [[Arkangel]] established Shearwater Lithium Industries (SLI) in 2044 and expanded operations dramatically over the following year, building stations in Australia, Argentina, Canada and Chile. As compensation for the right to mine lithium, each country was given access to Shearwater weather satellites and financial incentives for the affected communities. With its highly invasive and environmentally disruptive operations, SLI quickly found themselves ensnared in controversy. Reports highlighted that certain shortcuts to increase expediency had also triggered negative ecological effects in the regions. While SLI claimed confidently any damage inflicted on the environment would be fixed utilizing the very satellites the lithium was being mined for, this did little to dissuade angered communities. In an effort to mollify the situation, Arkangel shutdown SLI facilities in numerous regions and instated newer, more environmentally-conscious third party companies, declaring they'd overhauled operations and practices. These were, however, shell companies that utilized names and branding of defunct businesses with paper trails from across the world. They were SLI in all but name and this was a ruse that, in most communities, ultimately worked. [^1]: This is one of the Shearwater Lithium Industries' loading screen quotes. [^2]: This messaging was a part of Arkangel's [[Shearwater Vote Initiative|Shearwater Vote Initiative.]] [^3]: Featured in [[Violeta's Speech|Violeta's Speech.]] [^4]: This is one of Blasco's loading screen quotes.