The aether is kept secret because a long time ago it was that tech that enabled us to obliterate Mars. The Galactic government then cut us off, and cut a deal with the elites to keep the human race here on earth, they could do what they wanted with us, as long as they never let us leave to wreak havoc on the Galaxy. When we receive enlightenment once more we can rejoin. Or when they need us. We are the greatest warriors the galaxy has ever known.

The elites want civil war and WW3, because they're planning rebellion from their imprisonment. They want us to perfect and use this tech to fight them, so when the Galactics come to stop us, they can unite us, the meatshields and warriors, with them in rebellion, all to try and return to our multi-planet imperial glory.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and if both are my enemy, side with the one whos at least sharing my DNA. That's what they're hoping we'll figure. "Forget our cancer causing chemtrails, these aliens will eradicate us."
That's what they're gonna say.