Okay folks here it is the re-vamped, structured and updated chronology of the Fall of Mankind and the Birth of a New Era.
The End of Days
November 24th 2002 another asteroid is spotted on a trajectory with earth like the one only two months earlier it is assumed this was a Grue attack and the ATOM family are called upon to divert this one also, however attempts to stop it fail. In a final desperate attempt the united nations of earth, agree to fire a joint nuclear missile strike at the asteroid in the hopes of shattering it into enough smaller fragments that it will burn up on entry.
The missiles from all nations are launched simultaneously at 03:17am on Monday the 25th of November 2002. As the missiles reach the earth’s upper orbit however they are destroyed by the asteroid itself! Which is finally revealed to be not an asteroid but a cunningly disguised vessel of some extra terrestrial origin. The destruction of the missiles causes the skies to turn black.
Some 14 minutes later, the vessel hits somewhere outside Washington DC causing a crater some 10 miles in diameter and 2 miles deep. However it is the shockwave that follows, which decimates the earth’s surface, causing earthquakes, tsunami and worse. In the hours that follow the earths surface is changed forever and 92% of the earth’s total population is wiped out by its wake.
Old Allies and Enemies Return
In the days, which follow only the Atlanteans and Utopians among the earths surviving peoples are largely unharmed. The Atlanteans seeing this apocalypse as a sign from the heavens would have continued to live their lives as usual were it not for the Utopians who for the first time in centuries open portals through the dimensional fold surrounding their city, offering the world survivors a place of refuge. The Utopians quickly re-establish contact and ties with their cousins the Atlanteans and arrange for food and shelter as well as passage to Utopia itself for such refugees. The Atlanteans previously nomadic tribes soon grow into burgeoning undersea city-states under the rule of a council of leaders and as a result the Atlanteans become a nation in their own right.
Meanwhile beneath the Earth’s surface the Terra King extends his kingdoms borders. Now Sub Terra thanks to the destruction has access to many more new caverns and tunnels beneath the earth’s surface. Of course many others were closed and Sub Terra did suffer the loss of some settlements. The Terra King quickly recovers from the apocalypse and in short order unites the Sub Terrans, Civilised Serpent Peoples and Morlocks under his rules and the Lemurian Empire is refounded and leading his people with him, they return to the surface and quickly stake a claim to the remnants of the Middle East renaming it “New Lemuria”, the few remaining survivors of those countries are quickly killed or enslaved without much effort.
The Dawning of the New Era
Eight Months later the skies finally clear and the first rays of sunlight’s fall onto the remnants of the Old Earth once more and christen it anew.
Unbeknownst to many however, the fallout from the missiles that were destroyed in the earth’s upper atmosphere begins to rain down onto certain areas most notably of which is on and around the Kuril Islands. As a result of this fallout the mutated beasts of Kaiju no longer find themselves restrained by their islands boundaries or the international community and quickly begin to spread out in all directions. Additionally the radiation acts as a catalyst to trigger further beasts on the island to mutate and grow to goliath sizes. Even in the seas surrounding the islands are affected and the marine life also begins mutate and grow. Quickly what was the remnants of Russia and Japan become feeding grounds for these creatures.
The World Changes and the Dinosaurs return
The Impact seemingly having caused a shift in the earths orbit begins to suffer some drastic changes in global temperature. Everywhere the world over it begins to warm up, the effects of which begin to be felt the Earth seemingly now settles into a predominantly tropical climate, which has a drastic change on the fauna and flora of the global ecosystems. The crux of these changes is marked by the ice caps melting, which in turn causes sea levels to rise dramatically and across the globe many areas disappear beneath these rising waters.
Another side effect of the impact is also a weakening of barriers between earth and the lost world. And finally due to this and the climate changes, dinosaurs once again begin to appear all across the earth. Pangea is no longer a myth told of only in storybooks but an ancient ecosystem of plants and animals, which suddenly finds itself in favour once more with the world. In fact most of what was once Russia, Chine and some of Eastern Europe is quickly transformed into jungle and swampland known as "The Pangean Beastlands" and the dinosaurs migrate into it and reproduce in vast numbers, preyed upon only by the odd small group of human or metahuman survivors or the giant Behemoths that also dwell there too. And so the second age of the dinosaurs begins.
Mankind of course as adaptable as ever, quickly acclimatises to the new situation, and those who did not manage to find their way to a coastline and end up transported to utopia tend to form into small highly guarded communities. These tight knit communities frequently dwell amongst the skeletons of the dead worlds lost civilisation and urban centres. There they scrounge for food and technology to make their lives easier. Food and Clean water are prized above all else now and money is now little more than kindling. There is no telecommunication in the majority of the world or electricity, fuel is scarce too and few vehicles if any are in use. Those with technical skills are highly prized and given much prestige and status in these communities.
What technology these communities do have or can scrounge from the ruins is guarded jealously… as a result many conflicts occur between neighbouring communities over lost technology or for sources of food or water. Strangers are not welcomed in many places, being just another potential mouth to feed and are frequently killed or turned away unless they have something to barter with or skills which may be used.
Most of these small communities are led by those who can take the power and hold it as a result many communities are led by surviving metahumans. Once feared or despised these Homo Superior are now given status and prestige and their powers are revered and respected.
Contact with Outside
Some twenty five years (25 New Era or N.E) after the apocalypse, having watched Earth from afar the Farsiders finally send an expedition to explore the world and if possible re-establish contact. their first objective however is to investigate the asteroid crater itself.
However upon closing with the site their ship is shot down. Those Farsiders who do not die in the crash either manage to hide or are discovered and taken away by the Grue who arrive on the scene!
Three weeks later a Farsider survivor is found by an Atlantean patrol along the Eastern coast of what was once America and is taken promptly to Utopia. Utopia has now grown into a huge sprawling city both above and below that waves, which surround it. Protected on all sides by the dimensional fold.
The Farsider survivor a scientist by the named of J’Lan relays the information that the origin of the vessel that brought about the destruction of earth was Grue, and that the Grue are a hostile alien species from beyond the earth to the Utopian council.
The Utopians after some discussion, decide to help the Farsider send a signal to the Farsider city on the moon, and as a result the Utopians make contact with the Farsiders and a mutual peace treaty is signed between the species in the months, which follow.
Re-Exploration of Earth begins
Farsiders build a compound in Utopia from which to use as a staging point for their operations on Earth and in the months, which follow with the help of the utopians they also create a permanent dimensional gate between the earth and the moon. The Utopians and Farsiders still retain technological capabilities far beyond those of the surviving humans dwelling beyond its protection. Even the Atlanteans have relatively primitive technology in comparison. However the Atlanteans have an understanding of magic, which baffles most Utopians and Farsiders.
The Enemy Revealed
Some months following the creation of the Utopia-Farsider City gateway, it is discovered that the Grue have finished fortifying what was once Freedom City, building upon the ruins a fortress of immense proportions and advanced technology, which becomes known as APEX.
Other Grue outposts have also quickly begun to spring up all over north and South America. Survivor settlements encountered by the Grue are either pacified (destroyed) or enslaved and used for labour or even used in experimentations whose ends are as yet undiscovered. Some fortunate few who believe the rumours flee to the coasts and where lucky are picked up by Atlantean patrols.
It is also around this time that reports of other aliens besides the Grue are seen on occasion and by all accounts, these mysterious armoured beings appear to be the driving force behind the Grue, who themselves may be little better than a servant race of a more powerful species. These mysterious aliens are hereafter referred to as the “Hidden Masters”.
Terminus Re-Opened
On April 7th 2028 (26 N.E) In Western Europe in what was once Germany a passage opens to the Terminus in the resultant explosion must of what was once Berlin is atomised. Five days later the being known as OMEGA emerges from the rift once more his forces in tow and in short order lays waste to all of western Europe, until finally Omega’s foothold on earth extends as far east as Russia (but not into due to the Mutant behemoths) and as far south as the Grue Empire and the Lemurian Empires. OMEGA is however unable to extend any further West into Britain, which is seemingly protected by a magical barrier. In the months, which follow OMEGA establishes his capital in what was once Rome, now renamed Nova Roma and from there he plots the conquest of the rest of the earth. The portal to the Terminus is surrounded by a powerful fortress that was built upon the Ashes of Berlin, but the luminescent glow of the portals energies lights up the sky over the fortress and can be seen for many miles.
The Heart of Magic stirs
The Island of Britain has now seemingly become a magically focal point and haven to many powerful sorcerers, druids and mystics who have congregated there since the Apocalypse. The island itself has by all accounts become a nexus for the magical energies of the earth, and as a result its survivors seem to have come to reject technology completely returning to simpler times. As a result Britain is much akin once more to a feudal kingdom of Old, albeit one now ruled over by a Magistocracy of wizards. What settlements exist have sprung up around the wizard’s enclaves, much as they would spring up around a lords castles of old.
The Island itself is protected by powerful magical wards that prevent enemies from being able to find its shores, effectively cutting it off from all but those who mean it no harm. Thus far its wards have proven effective and even OMEGA was unable to lay siege to the Isle. Britain is once again a temperate paradise thanks to the magic’s protecting it and is more wilderness than the urban landscape of old. Once again wild beasts roam the woodlands and hills. It is even rumoured that the boundaries between Earth and the Faerie realm has once again grown thin and that the Fae have returned to Britain.
We are not Alone
Some time into 2033 (31 N.E), just as the first drops of the rainy season begin to fall a Lor Republic cruiser named the Vashan Ti crash-lands into the Atlantic ocean, which has since been renamed the Atlantean ocean. Its survivors are quickly picked up by the Atlanteans and transported to Utopia. As a result of this event the discovery that a war of galactic proportions is taking place between the Lor, the Grue and their hidden masters beyond the Sol system is discovered… a war that by all accounts the Lor are losing badly.
It is also reported that these hidden masters are indeed the driving force behind the Grue Empire and that these unknown aliens are technologically advanced utilising biological technology, a technology the likes of which not even the advanced Lor Republic can counter or understand with much success.
Nevertheless as a result of this accidental contact, although no official treaty is made, communication lines are from then on established between the Kingdom of Atlantis, the Human survivors, The Utopian Independence, and Farsider nations, which have since become collectively known as the League of Free peoples (L.F.N) and the Lor Republic.
In the years that follow little except the occasional exchange of non-military technology and news is gained from the contact with their galactic neighbours, though the L.F.N is grateful for the irregular contact as it has no great wish to be drawn into an interstellar conflict, no provide the Grue on Earth an opportunity to re-establish contact with their people. That is unless they had already managed to do so, something the Council of Representatives dearly hoped was not the case.
Borders are Set
Between 2034 (32 N.E) and 2058 (56 N.E) there are numerous border conflicts ranging from skirmishes to battles between thousands fought between the young nations and borders shift now and then, settlements are built and destroyed, people and resources lost. However through it all the threat each empire seems to pose to one another seems to stop things from ever descending into all out war and their inability to work together prevents any one from conquering any other providing a stalemate of sorts between the powers.
The Barriers Fall
In August of 2059 (57 N.E) a representative from the Magistocracy of Britannia named the Grand Magus Telperion of Avalon appears magically in Utopia, passing the dimensional fold by some magical means. Needless to say there is much chaos and panic, before it is realised that he is an envoy set in peace. After being taken to the Council of Representatives Telperion expresses a desire to open talks as a representative sent on his nations behalf. No longer can Britannia stand on its own, it is only a matter of time before the wards fail or their neighbours find a means of breaching them and should that happen Britannia would surely fall.
In the weeks that follow a treaty is finally made and agreed upon and Britannia becomes by and large a part of the League of Free Peoples.
Earth Reaches for the Stars once more
Some years later in 2063 (61 N.E) the L.F.N with help from technology obtained from the Lor Republic, manage to launch its first collective starship from their Sea of Tranquility shipyards on the Moon, named L.F.N Good Hope and with it reach Mars.
By 2065 (63 N.E) there are over two-dozen L.F.N vessels in its fleet and the first offworld colony on Mars is constructed. This enclosed domed habitat and adjoining hydroponic bio sphere houses some 20,000 scientists, soldiers and support staff. The colony is named “Sydonia” and represents a massive leap forward for the Earth. For the first time since the Apocalypse earth is finally taking steps forwards out of the darkness that befell it.
Later the same year the League also begins to ship water as ice via special tankers to the Moon and the slow process of Terraforming its surface and forming an atmosphere begins.
The Grue Arrive and the Earth is cut off
In late September 2066 (64 N.E) a garbled message from Sydonia reach the Farsider capital on the moon. “Beware, were under attack… they’re here” is all that is received before the signal is lost.
At about the same time on Earth OMEGA utilises something called a dimensional siphon he has constructed and surrounds the earth with a dimensional void, effectively cutting it off from the universe beyond by any conventional means. In fact anything passing through the earths atmosphere either into or out of it is instantly destroyed as it is ripped into this dimensional void. One Earth the skies turn a shade of orange as the light from the sun is filtered through the effect around the planet.
The only way off world now is via Dimensional travel, limiting travel once more to only that of small groups via the Dimensional gates between utopia and the Farsider city. Of course this is exactly what Omega wants as Dimensional travel is his specialty and it is only a matter of time before he manages to find a way to intersect these gateways and attack the L.F.N’s capital from within its own city walls, as a result the Dimensional gates are used sparingly.
Meanwhile from the Farsider City a single ship the L.F.N Exemplar is sent to investigate the Mars colony in order to gauge the situation. Upon its arrival they find Sydonia totally destroyed and all of its inhabitants murdered. Moments after their discovery a fleet of Grue vessels, which had been laying in wait behind mars emerge and the investigating ship is destroyed shortly after forwarding the information to the Farsider City.
What vessels can of the L.F.N fleet exist, are mustered and several other half constructed vessels are put into service, half finished and ahead of schedule and with skeleton crews in preparation to meet this threat. In an act of desperation word is sent to the Lor Republic (though little hope of a response is expected due to their own war efforts going so badly). On March 23rd 2067 N.E The League of Free Nations fleet sets course for Mars.
The L.F.N and Grue fleets meet on April 1st 2067 (65 N.E) over Mars and in a long and bloody fight lasting three days the fleets do battle. Finally however after a desperate manoeuvre involving the L.F.N fleets flagship the L.F.N Oracle rigging its jump engines to explode when it rams the enemies flagship is able to defeat the Grue, but only at great cost, almost 80% of the L.F.N’s own fleet is lost in the engagement.
However for the first time, after scouring the stellar debris of the battle the L.F.N are able to get an up close look at the remains of one of the Grue’s hidden masters and some samples of their biological technology for themselves. Needless to say the L.F.N’s scientific community are very excited by the prospect.
Mars Rebuilt and the formation of the Terran Knights
By 2070 (68 N.E) later the colony on Mars is re-established and thus “New Sydonia” is born.
Also, the scientific community of the L.F.N having spent some time researching the Hidden Masters technology succeed in making some leaps forward technologically and for the first time begin to field some prototype suits of advanced power armour called Hardsuits, which are promptly put into service. These suits require specialised training to operate, and as a result its initial trainees becomes the founding members of a group of elite guardians that are christened the Terran Knights. The Terran Knights much like the Knights of the Round Table of Old Earth Myth spend much of their time going around singularly or in small groups, due to their small numbers and perform good deeds, defend the L.F.N’s borders, provide rescues and fire support and the like. And in short order they become legends, and their deeds help to inspire the rest of the L.F.N’s forces on Earth in their fights against their neighbours. The Terran Knights are led by a charismatic, Farsider commander named Arthuis.
Birth of the Bio Booster
By 2097 (95 N.E) the L.F.N has secretly managed to make some success in deciphering several organic pods taken from the destroyed Grue vessels over Mars and as a result of their research the first Bio booster armour is created. The Bio Boosters unlike most conventional armours are actually living symbiotic creatures that merge with a host and boost their biological capacity to perform in all areas.
In the Months following the creation of the Bio Booster Armours candidates from among the L.F.N's Terran Knights predominantly are screen and tested for their compatability for Symbiosis with the Bio booster symbiotes. These candidates are thereafter christened Bionoids. However in December, just before the process can be initiated an L.F.N transport moving four of the bio booster pods to their Bionoid candidates in the field, is shot down by Grue attack craft and the transport is lost with all hands onboard. Upon later investigation of the wreck no sign of survivors OR the pods is found.
Creation of the Gateway Nexus.
In 2099 (97 N.E) a number of other permanent Dimensional gateways are constructed by the L.F.N, this time "New Sydonia", “Atlantis”, “Avalon” and “Pax” are thereafter linked by the gateways, which form what is then known as the “Gateway Nexus”. The gateways still continue to be used sparingly, but new fail-safes help to provide early warning of any attempt by external means to intersect with the nexus, resulting in an active portal instantly being shut down. This does have the unfortunate catch of that should anyone be in transit through a gateway at the same fraction of a second in which there near instantaneous travel occurs with an external attempt to break into the Nexus. That those beings in transit would effectively become lost as their portal of stable dimensional energy between source and destination vanishes, no longer protecting them from ending up somewhere other than their destination gateway. Effectively those in transit could be dumped anywhere in the multiverse. Thankfully no such accidents of this nature have occurred.
Lemuria and Atlantis go to War
Early in 2107 (105 N.E) Lemuria declares War with Atlantis and the L.F.N in the months that follow lose hundreds of thousands in the brutal warfare.
In August of the same 2108 in an act of spite the Leumrians begin to intentionally pollute and poison the sea. As a result of this within a decade the waters around the coast of the Lemurian Empire (what was once the Middle East) are bereft of all marine life and act as a barrier to all Atlanteans except the Deep Ones who are Lemurian citizens anyway. As a result the L.F.N can now no longer keep an easy discrete eye on Lemurian activities from the Oceans.
During the War the Atlantean colony of "Aquila", is also claimed it apparently falls due to some unidentified biological weapon employed by the Lemurians. All communication attempts to raise the colony fail. Eventually the open warfare ends when it becomes obvious that for it to continue would risk both sides weakening their borders and strength to repel the other powers.
In January 2109 (107 N.E) rumours of a mysterious lone figure waging war against the Grue reach Utopia via tales passed along by scavengers and small settlements in the Grue Empire (what was North America). By all accounts it sounds as if someone has with one of the L.F.N's bio booster armours that was lost when there transport was shot down. Attempts to follow up on the reports in order to track down the individual fail to turn up any leads.
Formation of the Enclave
Several months into 2110 (108 N.E) a group of unhappy Humans, tired with the constant war with the opposing forces, and their minority position within the L.F.N and apparently under the direction of some shadowy figure they revere with quasi religious fervour, decide to break free of the L.F.N and declare independence, forming what they call the “Enclave”.
The Enclave is quickly noted for its devotion to technology, and it soon becomes more of a quasi religion than before and the Enclave soon becomes a power in its own right, small but incredibly advanced.
The L.F.N is understandably concerned by the advanced nature the Enclave begins to exhibit in such short order. And attempts to reintegrate the Enclave back into its populace fail. As do attempts to discover whom the religious leader of the Enclave is. Al the L.F.N agents manage to discover is that their leader is a being they refer to as “The Progenitor”. Soon Robots, cyborgs and very advanced technology above that of the existing powers is witnessed in increasing quantity, and in May of 2117 (115 N.E) all communication with the Enclave ceases and it withdraws from the rest of the world seemingly content to remain neutral and aloof from all outside conflict and contact.
All attempts to open communication with them fails, in fact so closed off does the enclave become that soon any vessel trying to come within 100 miles of it is instantly destroyed by powerful energy weapons. The various Empires, with the exception of the L.F.N try numerous times to take the Enclave but always these attempts fail and are met with deadly force.
In December of 2117 (115 N.E) L.F.N Intelligence reports indicate that the Grue's, Hidden Masters have begun to use their own form of Bio Booster and the impact of the Grue’s own Bionoids is soon felt along the borders as for the first time in two decades a potentially devastating threat is faced. Fortunately for all concerned Bio booster symbiotes are slow to grow and although both sides now have the means and technology to field them, neither can do so in great numbers. Nevertheless the Terran Knights also take their first casualties since their inception from something other than natural causes.
The Enemy Unmasked
June 1st 2119 (117 N.E) after an L.F.N scientific team finish unearthing some recently discovered ancient ruins on the seabed in an area known once as the Dead Sea Fault of the Atlantean Oceans. They discover that the ruins predate any known civilisation on earth and show evidence of the civilisation that once dwelled there having technology beyond anything known today.
More startling yet is the discovery of DNA that provides a direct genetic link between these fabled "Preservers" and the Hidden Masters of the Grue! The genetic link is related though, not direct, meaning the Hidden Masters are some offshoot of the original Preserver race themselves!
In an additional discovery it is discovered that some of the technological remnants among the ruins also provide a link from these preservers to the technologies the Enclave has been witnessed using. Needless to say the L.F.N is shaken by this news.
The Creation of the Land of Perpetual Night
July 2121 (119 N.E), at approximately 19:04 PM the volcano (once known as Bunda Bunda) in what was once known as central Australia, long thought extinct erupts, shooting lava, and debris high into the atmosphere. Over the next three days the whole continent is plunged into perpetual night from the ash in the sky above it. Further Volcanic eruptions seemingly triggered by the first continue to occur all over the continent from other long extinct volcanoes, as a result most life still there is wiped out... however some creatures prosper in the new environment, dark, twisted, predatory creatures long since mutated from the radiation that drifted from the north on the trade winds and rain clouds... The continent is in short order transformed into a practical hell on earth and is known thereafter as the “Land of Perpetual Night”.
After the failure of a beacon light, within a settlement known as “Ankhar” and the resultant massacre of its inhabitants by the things that lurk in the perpetual darkness outside. All remaining settlements of refuge, which remain on the continent soon end up focused around a central light or beacon, these lights are all that hold the creatures of the night back from devouring the settlements and their inhabitants.
This also heralds the founding of the organisation known as the “Brotherhood of Light”; a group who are dedicated solely to defending and maintaining the beacons of these communities.
Stranded!
On August 1st 2121 (119 N.E) the L.F.N receive word from the Lor Republic the message is brief but states they have a plan to end their war finally. On September 17th at 04:16 AM all contact with the Lor Republic is lost for good. Numerous attempts to establish contact with them fail, leaving what citizens it had in the Sol system stranded. Discussions begin regarding sending a vessel to investigate what has happened to their friends from beyond the system, but fears that even a single vessel could effectively provide the means for their enemies to follow them back here are abundant and the debate continues.
September 19th 2121 (119 N.E) The Present Day
