Premise
Ever wonder what would happen if everything predicted about the Y2K bug went wrong? If we actually knew who was operating that little airbase known as "Area 51"? This is our little exploration into the rebirth of our world.
An large research corporation fearing a World War III occurring built a large bunker designed to hold one million people long enough to build a city above it. The leader of this corporation was later to be known as "The Director", who has through the mists of time grown into a mythical figure. He allowed 'mutants' to live within the confines of the domed city. It is this decision that caused many humans to become acquainted with their mutated cousins. This introduction however caused hostilities on both sides. Humans despised Mutants due to their meta-human abilities and bold textappearances. Mutants disliked Humans due to their constant use of technology and unwillingness to give up on their attempts to terraform earth, which they consider 'theirs' now.
The location for this domed city is Phoenix, or now known as New Phoenix. It was chosen for its location away from the ocean and isolated terrain. It was also chosen for its namesake, as the place where earth will rise from the ashes. Though the efforts for this rebirth are vast such as the climate change, the mutant threat, and the societal problems that face both humankind and mutant-kind. These conflicts combined could cause what all species fear: Extinction.
Holocaust
World War III, was a massive nuclear exchange between all of the major powers/countries on the planet. Every country was effected and the world in whole was forever changed. Every major city in the world was leveled by a nuclear weapon. Only some small countries avoided being hit directly by a weapon but the radiation from these weapons spread throughout the world. This radiation killed many of the survivors, it is safe to say that after all was said and done only 5 percent of the world's population remained. Governments mostly fell apart and ceased to exist. Small city-states were formed by those survivors who could find each other. The lucky ones were those who made it to "The Bunker". These survived within the close quarters of a nuclear shelter, they however were exposed to not much radiation at all. The rest of the world did indeed have some shelters, not quite as advanced as it but they did function. The population is still very small and resource hungry, as they need to rebuild their lives and cities. It is a task that will take many generations to complete but if there is a will, there is a way.
Technology
The technology within this reality is very strange indeed. Outside of the Dome, most of the technology you will find is late 20th century. Though most of this is only laying on the ground, not able to be produced. In that aspect, most of the world remains very un-technological. Knowledge was one of many casualties of the war, it's only scraps remain within the scraps of libraries and universities. The Bunker is one exception to this rule, it was designed and built utilizing technology that would be considered very futuristic. It's main power source is throbbing fusion reactor, which in the 20th Century is only a dream. The technology that the Optima-Omega has put within the vaults of this place rival anything humankind has ever thought of. The problem however comes into existence when there is no scientists skilled enough to be able to even figure this information out. So therefore, the Dome may be able to maintain the technology they have but technology that is within their vaults will take a long period of time to be able to have something usable come from it. The lack of raw materials is another problem which keeps all technology from developing at anything faster then a snail's pace. Mutants, on the other hand, mostly despise technology as being the work of the humans who destroyed the planet. They may occasionally utilize it but they do not dare attempt to understand it.
Climate
The war caused vast amounts of ash to rise into the air, but this ash did not trigger the global Nuclear Winter, it was the actual burning off of all of the burnable materials on earth that caused a Nuclear Desert scenario. The runaway greenhouse effect caused the ice caps to melt and transformed all coastal cities into ocean, and transformed any temperate climates into deserts. The Bunker's climate hasn't change much for the better either. It is located in Phoenix, which was already a dry place to begin with. This has been amplified to make Phoenix look like the Sahara desert. The life that remains on this alien landscape has been adapted and mutated to live in this hostile environment including vegetation, animals, and humans. It is rumored that the northern reaches of the globe have been transformed into paradises. This fact has not been proven yet but it is within reason to think so.
Social
The complex social systems that govern our lives nowadays have fallen away with the death of government. The only governing bodies that exist would be the city-state governments formed by the largest of survivor and mutant towns and the government of the Dome. The government of the Dome is quasi-democratic. "The Council" as they are referred to is made up of 12 representatives which are appointed from certain sectors of the Dome by the Director, however they are approved by the masses. It seems that the people of the Dome rarely disagree with the Director's choice for the filling of a seat but occasionally he must choose another person when one is knocked down. If the council ties in a decision, the Director makes the final decision. The rules governing this council have been slowly evolving as people of the Dome seem to always be blaming the Council for problems they are facing. Sometimes, when a crisis occurs, the Director can gain full powers from the council and rule as a Dictator. It is a very rare occasion that this occurs.
Education is more advanced then it was during the 20th century as it is required to be able to do your chosen job by the age of 18. All students are taught teamwork before kindergarten and it is education is severely stressed.
Weapons
The presence of weapons among the scattered ruins of the planet is something seen very often. Police pistols, rifles, and even assault weapons can be found. Their also has been a leakage of 'advanced weaponry' into the outside caused by thief and sometimes bribery. These advanced weapons include rail guns, gauss rifles, and miniguns. Most of these weapons however are too large to carry without being hindered greatly by them. These weapons are also rare and in game terms would require some wizard approval of high-level tech weapons.
Power Armor is considered a rare commodity, and to those who wear it, a prized possession. In the Dome, Power Armor IS allowed, however you will be monitored by security. If you do not act honorable within the New Phoenix, your 'right' of wearing power armor within the Dome may be withdrawn. The breakdown of weapon laws in New Phoenix by level:
| Roof | This level is the main food supply level and will also have guards posted making sure that contamination of this precious commodity does not occur. Heavy Weapons are prohibited on this level of the Dome. |
|---|---|
| Residential | Governmental level of the Dome along with the primary housing level, therefore all weapons are not allowed on this level of the dome. Unless authorized and permitted by the Council. |
| Ground | The main level of the Dome, and due to the massive influx of people and commodities into the Dome, handguns are allowed along with other non-automatic weapons. Heavy weapons are to be permitted only with authorization and permission from the Council. |
| Underground | The Bunker level is still considered one of the primary levels of residence and therefore weapons are not permitted on this level, unless authorized and permitted by the Council. |
People
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Economy
Not everything can be rebuilt quickly, especially the economy. In the 20th century, we had labor excesses in this century, we have labor shortages. There also lacks anything dealing with manufacturing, most labor is either farming, resources gathering, scavenging, and construction. White-collar jobs are not found anywhere else but the Dome and other large cities such as it. These jobs however are needed, such as researching technology that has never been used in a long time. Also would be the fact that you need a lot of designing to build structures that can keep humans within safe from the elements.
The Economy as a structure is however is on the edge of being more communistic then capitalist. This is due to lack of resources and you might say to good leaders. Within the Dome, few lack the necessities such as food, water, education, clothing, and housing. All of this is run by the corporation/government, few individual enterprises exist. The most open market would be in luxury goods, as manufacture is too expensive and labor consuming, most products are scavenged from the outside. Laborers within the Dome are given a supplemental income for recreation and luxury. This payment varies according to the amount of time you have spent learning your trade or occupation. Most people of the Dome know that the highest paid (which isn't very much by our standards) are those who run the fusion reactor down below. They have knowledge that few on earth can compare to.
Justice
Within civilized society, the handing over of our retribution to others has been commonplace. Within the Dome, this is not much different. The Police of the Dome are known as the "Security Force" or "SF". They are well trained and equipped in defending citizens of the dome from each other and from forces outside of it. This means that they can be classified as military police. The Justice system is not quite as complex as it has become in the 20th Century. The Judges of the Court are also members on the council and therefore are interpreting their own laws in court. These punishments can be: fines, probation, hard labor, jail, and the most violent of offenders get expulsion from the Dome. The most popular form of expulsion is a one year sentence which is often called 'a year of hell' by those who survive it. Therefore, the death penalty is not currently an option, as those who deserve death will be sentenced to permanent expulsion. Some differences in the court room would be use of voice stress analysis along with lie detectors, the proper weight given to the imperfect reliability. Ooh, and for those who said all lawyers should be killed. There exists only public defenders, which are much better trained then ones of our time period and do not cost the defendant anything. Though the court orders repayment if the defendant can afford it.
Food
Food is both a commodity and a required resource for those of this century. In a world of radiated soil, food and water is an extremely important part of life. Different groups get their food from different places such that Citizens, Survivors, and Mutants do have far different diets.
Mutants, with their immunity to radiation and genetic mutations have a nearly animal-like ability to literally eat anything, raw, if needed. This is not to say they may prefer to cook it first. They tend to shy away from farming due to the lack of physical activity, since they are usually genetically-predisposed to keep themselves physically busy. They hunt and gather all sorts of mutated animals and vegetables. Little to nothing can turn their stomachs, if it moves, it can be eaten. Recently Mutants have begun experimenting with farming but this is in fact a limited project.
Survivors, with their limited immunity to radiation do not have any immunity to food-borne disease such as mutants. They must cook their meals and prepare them such as you would in the 20th century. They however do not have the nomadic behaviors of most mutants, they have settled in sections where their farms can grow the largest crops of grains. They also have the typical selection of livestock, some mutated and others not. They tend to try select the ones which would provide the most amount of food for cultivating.
Citizens are however without any radiation immunity at all, though some cases have begun to appear within the population, it is a rare thing. They must grow all their food in the Dome. All of their livestock is un-mutated as a result of the radiation hardened Dome. Their grains and vegetables the same however food in the Dome is usually processed into individual servings such that they could be associated with rations. The typical family can cook meals but usually opt for the Dome's mass-meal preparation apparatus.
