re: Choosing sides
Most of humanity, throughout most of history, has spent its life as a subject species. Even amongst the conquerors, there is usually a hierarchy of dominance that only a very few have the luxury to not be personally oppressed by, in some form or another. We do not overlords from space to oppress us, we've already developed it into an art form. Freedom is not the natural condition of mankind, it is the occasional and temporary gift of heroes.