World of Neocron

By the end of the third millenium, earth has changed… Global pollution, excessive wars and a perforated atmosphere have turned the planet into an almost lifeless sphere of toxic mud. Radiation is everywhere and most animals have either gone extinct or have mutated into bizarre monstrous creatures. The remnants of mankind seek protection from the desolate, scorched world and gathered behind the protective walls of giant cities. These few mega cities became the last lights of hope, in the darkness of Earth’s final dusk. The following pages contain the most important events from the year 2005 up to the year 2750, i.e. from our era to the time when the game officially begins. Not all events are directly related to the occurrences following them. The purpose of this timeline is rather to explain the background and the history of the city of Neocron.

The Way to Apocalypse (2005-2143)

2005

Holographic mass storage media are introduced to the world market. The Holodisk is scanned with a laser and even the introductory model can contain amounts of data which are over 100 times greater than the maximum capacity of conventional mass media based on magnetic fields.

2008

NASA succeeds in conducting the first manned mission to Mars.

2010

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) launches the Ceres Project, which has been designated to take 20 years to complete. The goal of this project is to store the entire stock of human knowledge clearly arranged on Holodisk. Publicly available science data of the present is reviewed and collected by a group of 250 professors and students from all over the world. The name Ceres is derived from the Roman name of the Greek goddess Demeter, who was worshipped in ancient Greece and Rome as the mother of the Earth and the goddess of fertility. The name was chosen because the knowledge of man is the seed (physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics etc.) as well as the fruit (technology, architecture, medicine, agriculture etc.) of the planet Earth.

2018

In the course of the fourth mission to Mars the entire crew is killed in a launch accident.

2028

Dr. Karmann, leader of the Ceres Project, explains at a press conference that if a primitive civilization were to gain access to all the information the Ceres Project contains, it would be able to build nuclear plants after a few decades. This remark provides the project with an enormous amount of public attention.

2029

Dr. Karmann is murdered. The Ceres Project is removed from MIT and is classified as a top-secret state-affair.

2031

The sixth mission to Mars ends with a huge success; a formerly unknown metal possessing amazing qualities is found on the red planet in considerable amounts. Thorough scientific investigation shows that this material will not become radioactive, even after the long and intensive influence of Neutrons resulting from the fusion of Triton and Deuteron. The suggestion of doubling the subsidizing of atomic fusion research is made, due to the unique qualities of the newly discovered metal. An atomic reactor based on nuclear fusion can only produce a viable source of energy if radioactive side effects can be eliminated. As the new material does this, it will provide the perfect shielding for the reactor.

2035

According to certain rumors, the Ceres Project has been completed by the NSA, after secret military and scientific information was added. Several NSA agents are assigned to attend to the project in the future report updates continuously. The project is relocated, probably to an isolated, hermetically sealed laboratory complex, where it will be safe in case of an environmental catastrophe or war.

2046

The US concludes a plan spanning fifteen years by establishing operations on a Mars colony. The installation is used for to some extent scientific purposes, but its main function is the mining of the metal that was discovered there in 2031.

2047

After the fossil fuels of Asia have been exhausted, the continent is reduced to poverty and chaos. Grim battles over the last oil reserves rage between Russia, Japan and China.

2049

In an American research center a Deuterium- Tritium-plasma is held stable over a sufficient amount of time. The commercial utilization of nuclear fusion is close at hand.

2051

While Japan becomes an ally of the US and is supplied by the state with arms and reinforcements, China subdues the former Soviet splinter states, whose defensive potential is weakened by corruption, anarchic uprisings and Mafia activity. After collaborationists sabotage Russia’s desperate final attempts to recover from the aftermath of a nuclear strike, Russia surrenders and most of Asia is united under the Chinese flag. Through this victory China becomes the most powerful nation in the world, an empire spanning from the Pacific Ocean to Poland.

2052

The first D-T-fusion plants are put into operation in the US and parts of Europe. Efforts of the Western World to use the newly acquired findings of nuclear fusion for weapons research and the production of a plasma weapon yield no practicable results.

2053

Following the subjection of Asia, China begins to re- establish communism in the conquered countries. While the countries of Singapore, Thailand and South Korea, which were neutral up to this point, become allies of Japan, the remaining countries hold their loyalty to the Chinese Empire.

2054

The United Arab Emirates sign an alliance with the Empire and provide it with oil. China grants the Emirates military protection from the US.

2055

Because of the Japanese arsenal of hi-tech weaponry, the Chinese Empire fails to occupy Japan. This leads to the signing of a non-aggression treaty. The border between Japan and the Empire becomes a highly guarded boundary. The diplomatic relations between Western Europe, the US and Japan on the one hand and the Chinese Empire on the other hand are at an all time low.

2060

Representatives of the Western World and Japan sign an article of agreement about the “Federation of the Free World”. This alliance will protect the member states from the mighty Empire.

2063

While the efforts to design plasma weapons are still not making any progress, the use of bundled energy / particle rays as weapons for air- and ground-based vehicles are promoted successfully by the western industry nations.

2066

The last power plant based on nuclear fission is shut down in Europe. This concludes the change from the conventional nuclear power resources to fusion power within the federation.

2068

The Federation establishes a colony on Mars which provides it with minerals.

2075

China puts the 62nd nuclear fission plant into operation to power the urban areas in former Russia. Nuclear power now has completely replaced fossil fuels and alternative power sources in the Empire. Though the Empire has obtained the theoretical knowledge of nuclear fusion by means of espionage, the trade agreements prevent its own research, the sheathing material from Mars being under Federation control.

2080

Even the oil resources of the Arab Emirates run low. The most important Arabian cities will be connected to the Chinese power supplies in the following decade.

2095

The first cold nuclear fusion is accomplished in a German nuclear research center. The development of compact high-performance energy generators draws nearer. At the same time the development of new kinds of fusion plants will further improve the efficiency of this kind of energy.

2098

At Xi An, a metropolis situated south of Beijing, a jet fighter crashes into an out-dated nuclear fission plant. The sheathing of the reactor is destroyed by the power of the impact, which results in an uncontrolled nuclear melt-down. Not only Xi An is contaminated by the nuclear radiation released, but also nearby Beijing. Millions die in the following years from the exposure to radiation. Radioactive dust is blown eastward by the wind, in the direction of Japan, but the neighboring state remains largely unharmed.

2100

Aroused by the disaster in Xi An the Japanese government decides to build radiation protection domes above the nation’s major cities.

2102

The Chinese Empire discovers a way to hide conventional missiles from radar sensors. The Kerolin Stealth missile is able to deliver any kind of warhead to its target unnoticed. The Federation claims to have been in possession of this type of stealth technology but to have kept it secret until now.

2104

China and the Federation sign the SALT-17 treaty, which prohibits the stationing and especially the deployment of stealth missiles for both sides.

2108

The conversion of the existing fusion plants within the Federation to utilize cold nuclear fusion for energy production begins.

2113

Red Terra is established on Mars as the first civil colony. Red Terra consists of seven domes and is the new home for 3,000 people. This measure initiates the extraterrestrial colony program of the Fede- ration of the Free World. The plan is to relocate 400,000 people to Mars by the end of the century.

2120

Scientists discover that they can start a reaction by adding a complex gas mixture to the atmosphere of Mars, which will make the planet’s atmosphere breathable within 300 years. In the same year the pioneers begin with the terraforming. The gas mixture is called Gabanium after its developer, Dr. Gloria Gaban.

2124

The technologically backward China surprises the world as it puts up a sea blockade around neutral Australia in almost no time. Australia now is totally isolated from the rest of the world. The Federation determines not to intervene, in hopes of averting a third world war.

2125

The Empire attacks Australia after the blockade lasts nine months. Demoralized Australia surrenders to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, as it has become clear that the Federation won’t support the country. In the past the Federation had tried many times to convince Australia to join them, but to no avail. The continent, which has always held its independence and neutrality in high esteem, could not be convinced.

2126

The extremist Chinese dictator Kong Jieshi is found murdered in his private villa. An army of bodyguards was unable to protect him. China officially proclaims that contra revolutionary troops had, in a surprise attack, shot the dictator in his sleep. The citizens of the Federation on the other hand are convinced that special squads of the free world had infiltrated the villa to correct the extremist political course of China. The latter version was, of course, never confirmed by Federation government.

2130

The political situation has stabilized. The new Chinese dictator Xu Derui knows of the technological inferiority of the Empire compared with the Federation and lessens the imperialistic drive of his people. Japanese researchers develop the prototype of a small fusion powered engine that can be used for vehicles (Furytec Drive). Furytec powered vehicles are as nimble as a helicopter with a maximum speed limited to that of small sports airplanes. Thus they are the ideal means of transportation for the large cities, which are overburdened with skyscrapers. Since the fusion reaction inside the Furytec Drive creates close to no pollutants at all, these drives are also great to use within the Japanese city domes.

2136

Astronomers discover that the third planet of the solar system Irata, 80 light years away, is very similar to Mars. Even the chemical composition of the atmosphere is nearly identical.

2137

With hopes to colonize this planet sometime in the future, a probe is sent to Irata III, featuring a new second-generation fusion drive. After its arrival the probe will inject a finely dosed amount of Gabanium into the atmosphere of Irata III. The probe will need to travel for approximately 100 years to reach the planet. The atmosphere should be breathable after 300 years, if everything goes according to plan.

2140

The Empire surprisingly presents the prototype of a generation spaceship to cover distances of several hundred light years. Project Starcruiser is based on the fusion drive of the probe, which was sent to Irata III by the Federation three years ago, and has room for up to 3,000 passengers. Until now the Federation was assuming that China did not even possess knowledge of the technology of cold nuclear fusion, much less a second-generation fusion drive. It’s suspected that China brought the technology into its possession by means of espionage. But the spaceship contains even more technical highlights which the Federation either didn’t know of, or which were at least still in the testing stage and therefore, classified. Especially the inertia absorbers should be mentioned in this context, which allow the ship to accelerate under maximum power without harming the crew or damaging the installations. The maximum speed of the Starcruiser amounts to 80% light speed. Near the end of the year the president of the Federation, Eva Goreman, accuses the Chinese Empire of industrial espionage by asking publicly how a nation that produces 80% of it’s power by the antiquated means of nuclear fission could suddenly present a spaceship with a modified fusion drive. The governing Chinese dictator, Xu Derui, strictly rejects this innuendo.

2141

The technical advances made in the field of nuclear fusion in the last years were also utilized in arms development, which has now resulted in the manufacturing of advanced hydrogen bombs in large numbers by the Federation. These offer an unimaginable concentration of radioactivity while showing a huge explosive effect and a high sphere of impact at the same time. The new warheads are used by the Federation mainly for Cold Fusion long- range missiles.

February, 11th 2143

In the morning hours of February 11th the Starcruiser embarks on its first and last voyage. 3,000 colonists from all population strata of the Chinese Empire are aboard. The destination of this voyage is kept secret. So is the technology, which was installed in the last six months as an enhancement to the fusion drive.

February, 13th 2143

Two days following the launch of the Starcruiser, the ship disappears from the instruments of imperial ground control. After a short search a Chinese flight squadron finds some debris which probably belongs to the Starcruiser.

February, 14th 2143

China accuses the Federation of not being able to accept the technological advancements of the Empire and implies that the Starcruiser was destroyed by a Federation fighter squadron for this reason. The violent-tempered Chinese dictator Xu Derui threatens the Federation with vengeance for the death of the 3,000 colonists.

February, 15th 2143

President Eva Goreman announces that the Federation has no interests in the Chinese plans for colonization and that they never had planned to sabotage them. Furthermore she considers China’s claims of holding a technological leading position to be bold and provocative. China could only rightfully claim this if they were in possession of detailed information about Federation technology. Has China, therefore, indirectly admitted to industrial espionage? Further on, Goreman announces that she is sorry for the Starcruiser incident and that she wants to express her condolences to the remaining relatives of the 3,000 colonists - although the destruction of the ship would seem to prove that the Empire has always overestimated its own abilities.

February, 16th 2143

Xu Derui announces that further proof for the presence of Federation fighters shortly before the disappearance of the Starcruiser has been found at the last known position of the ship. Enraged, he once again threatens with vengeance. Goreman announces that same day that the Federation will no longer stand for these repeated and unfounded threats.

February, 17th 2143, 06:40 am

The sensors of a German radar station pick up three shadows above the English Channel, which are only visible for a few seconds.

February, 17th 2143, 06:58 am

It’s a rainy morning in London, England, when suddenly a bright white light flashes through the city. Seconds later eight million people are dead.

February, 17th 2143, 07:45 am

A briefing of the crisis committee in Federation HQ, New York is held. It’s decided to modulate the sensors of all radar installations to the frequencies of the German station which detected the missiles that destroyed London.

February, 17th 2143, 08:02 am

Two Kerolin Stealth missiles hit Berlin, Germany, and destroy the city. Since the sensors of the Federation satellites were aligned to the navigation frequency of the missiles, they were able to detect the missiles 40 seconds prior to impact. In addition, 27 other missiles approach other major Federation cities.

February, 17th 2143, 08:07 am

With the SALT-17 treaty of 2104, both the Federation and the Empire had agreed neither to produce, nor employ any Kerolin Stealth missiles. The deployment of this treacherous weapon by the Empire will now destroy all densely populated portions of the Federation within the next 20 minutes. At 08:07 am, minutes prior to the total destruction of the Federation, President Eva Goreman gives the command to counter-strike with Cold Fusion long- distance missiles. 85 of these missiles are launched from Federation platforms, targeting imperial cities. President Goreman and more than 90% of the Federation’s population will not live to see the moment of impact.

February, 17th 2143, 02:00 pm

In the last six hours approximately 23 of 24 billion human lives have been eradicated.

End of February, 2143

Triggered by the enormous detonations, volcanoes erupt, earthquakes ripple through the ruins of the cities and the waters of giant floods mix with the blood of the fallen victims. Those still alive fear that this is the end of the world, and for most of them it indeed will be.

The Second Ascension (2144-2557)

2144-2400 In the following centuries the face of planet earth changes in a way for which it would have required millennia under normal circumstances, due to the unnaturally provoked tectonic activity. The North American continent appears to deviate to the east, while Europe drifts away from Asia. Africa and South America have for the most part sunk beneath the waves of the oceans - but for the eastern part of Africa, which splits from the rest of the continent and drifts northward, there to collide with South Asia. The few survivors of the war, the radiation and the ensuing natural disasters form a new kind of human race. Trained by the ongoing escape from death, grown strong by the fight against the forces of nature, small groups and tribes gather all over the planet, which is slowly calming down. The earth and mankind itself are now in a state comparable to the early Iron Age. Although some wisdom could be passed on over the generations, there is a lack of any kind of infrastructure which might put this wisdom to good use. Technical devices surface sporadically from the debris, but people lack the knowledge to repair them. Only occasionally will a tribe gain possession of a functioning technical device, which then is enshrined and protected like some kind of god. Most humans feed on vermin and other small animals. Some plants prove to be nourishing, as well.

~2480 Some tribes begin to trade with one another. In the regions of lesser radiation tribes conduct farming and cattle-breeding. Metal processing trades are prospering in the heavily contaminated regions. People living in the latter territories have developed a higher resistance to radiation during the course of generations.

~2500 Some very few people gain electricity from water and wind power, using it to run primitive technical installations. But power supply systems are non- existent.

~2510 The total population of earth now amounts to approximately 800,000 human beings; 75% of them living in the Northern Hemisphere. The remembrance of WW3, which lasted only a few hours, found its way into the rites and customs of the tribes long ago. In some tribes people talk about the cleansing white light, in others about the fires of the apocalypse and in yet other tribes people believe in the breath of the devil, which haunted the earth and banished the human race from paradise. Although the memories of the catastrophe which condemned humanity are kept alive by these rites and customs, there are certain tribes which haven’t specialized in farming or cattle breeding, but in the art of war. On the one hand they raid rich tribes to acquire their goods and wealth, on the other hand they offer their fighting abilities to other tribes, giving them the opportunity to deal with unfriendly neighbors.

~2520 Two warlike tribes with strong leaders become remarkably known: the tribe of Crahn and the tribe of Thor. Both of these tribes roam the contaminated earth in search of wealth and power. While the people of Thor wander through the northwest of the nameless new continent, the tribe of Crahn has declared the east of the continent to be its territory. Both tribes gain in size and influence over the years.

2523 While searching for minerals a patrol from the Crahn tribe discovers the entrance to a cave, which was buried by rocks. Since they suspect an ore mine to be within the cave, ten of the tribe’s strongest men begin to excavate the entrance. After working for four days they discover a cathedral-sized passage, which leads deep into the mountain. Upon clearing the way of all obstacles and after another group has ventured deeper into the mountain, they are astounded by encountering other human beings. They learn that these people have lived inside the mountain for countless generations, isolated from the outside world. Their ancestors had sought shelter from the forces of Naure in the caves centuries ago. After the entrance to the caves became buried, no other exit remained. A subterranean river supplied the people with water and food and thus they dwelled for centuries in the colossal underground caverns of a mountain range. The skin of these people is hardly pigmented and they are extremely thin and lean of stature. They are bald and have big black eyes with virtually no irises left. It’s discovered that they apparently don’t communicate verbally and are virtually blind. When one of the warriors hits one of the cave dwellers on the head just for fun, his companions witness the assailant being raised nine feet into the air by invisible hands, prior to exploding! Afterwards two witnesses confirm that the eyes of the cave dweller glowed red during the occurrence. From then on the cave dwellers are treated with much respect. They are led to Crahn, who is fascinated by them from the start. Since he assumes that one day his tribe will profit from the powers of these people, he decides to admit the cave dwellers to his tribe Though they quickly learn to talk, they nonetheless remain among themselves. Since they obviously possess telekinetic psi powers the other tribe members call them PSI Monks.

2525

The tribe of Thor and the tribe of Crahn meet at the Sea of Silence at the center of the new continent. Both tribes claim the western shore for themselves, which leads to a grim battle eventually won by Crahn’s people - through the help of the PSI Monks. Thor’s people draw back from Crahn’s troops and retreat further westward.

2527

Because of the psionic powers at his command, Crahn believes himself to be invincible and follows Thor’s troops. They reach Jeriko, the hometown of Thor’s people. In a bloody battle Thor’s tribe is reduced to a few thousand men for whom Crahn sets up a prison camp, where they are forced to perform heavy labor. One night Thor and a group of about fifty fellow prisoners manage to escape from the ruins of the city he once ruled. They flee to the west, to the tribe of Ceres. Though Thor and Ceres have never been allies, they always tolerated each other peacefully. Ceres admits the exhausted men into his tribe. Since Ceres is aware of the threat Crahn poses, he proposes an alliance to Thor. The area around Jeriko, the former home of Thor’s people, is for the most part only irradiated to a minimal extent and lies strategically well protected, situated slightly above a river’s mouth. The PSI Monks suggest that Crahn build a mighty fortress on the ruins of Jeriko, to consolidate his power. Crahn, being the vain person he is, agrees. He declares the construction of this fortress to be the beginning of a new era and therefore calls the fortress Neocron (Greek: neo = new, cronos = time).

2533

Six years later Jeriko has disappeared. Where once the people of Thor lived, now the mighty fortress of the new age is situated: Neocron. It is ruled by Crahn and the PSI Monks.

2545

The hermit Mecando has seen many parts of the new world. His skin has been tanned by the weather and his provisional radiation protection suit is tattered and torn by the time he reaches an outpost of the Ceres tribe, totally exhausted. Quickly Thor and Ceres hear about the traveler from afar and, being curious about him, visit the outpost to meet Mecando. The old man tells them about the small tribes and their accomplishments, about heroic deeds and tragedies… and about Neocron, the huge fortress where nobody would offer him refuge. When Mecando, Ceres and Thor meet together one evening, Mecando asks Ceres about the origin of his name. Ceres answers that his people once undertook an expedition into the north of the new continent. They advanced into a very cold and inhospitable area. The further they marched into the north, the more men froze to death or starved. When they finally reached the conclusion to abort the expedition, they discovered the tomb of a great warrior. A huge rock overhang covered the entrance to the tomb and enormous steel doors sealed the tomb itself. The only part of the tomb discernible from the outside was a black granite slab on which the word ‘Ceres’ could be read. When they looked at it more closely they also could make out the words ‘Wisdom… Power…’ and ‘…Knowledge…’. The rest of the engraved words had been ground away by the elements through time. Ceres presumed that a mighty tribal leader had been buried here. Since the tomb was apparently several hundred years old, he decided to help Ceres rise again by adopting his name. He hoped that by assuming the name of this northern tribal leader, the gods would give him the strength to bring the expedition home in safety. And so, indeed, they did. Mecando is confused and tells them that he encountered the name ‘Ceres’ before in another context in stories and myths, although he’s unable to recall their exact content. But he is sure that there was no connection to any warrior or tribal leader, and he urges Ceres to lead him to the spot where the tomb lies. Ceres, aware of the dangerous terrain up north, is not too eager to give in to the old man. But Thor becomes curious and is prepared to lead an expedition to the tomb. The warnings of Ceres fall upon deaf ears and after he tells them the way to the reputed tomb, Thor, Mecando and twenty tribesmen journey into the stark landscapes of the north.

2546

Thor’s expedition has been underway for nearly eight months and has been reduced to fourteen men by the time they find the place of which Ceres told them. Mecando is confident that they must enter the tomb to disclose its secret. The men begin to breach the enormous steel doors, and when Thor and Mecando enter the depths of the ‘tomb’ they sense that nothing would ever again be as it was before their discovery. And thus the people of Ceres come into possession of Mankind’s entire knowledge from the 22nd century. For months the wise men of the tribe study the Ceres Project. There are specific instructions on how to erect workshops, factories and power plants. Ceres orders a valley plant in the west shut down and the scholars of his tribe begin to experiment with the newly discovered knowledge. Mecando becomes chief researcher and Thor is usually the first to test the new acquisitions. Since he never stopped dreaming about conquering Neocron and freeing his oppressed people, he urges Mecando to develop new weapons enabling him to accomplish this goal. Despite of Ceres’ doubts, Mecando is convinced by Thor to work on the development of new weapons.

2550

Of course, such an important event in the development of mankind as the discovery of the Ceres discs cannot be kept secret for long. The monks of Crahn by now have established an excellent intelligence service. Many of the most intelligent and agile citizens of Neocron have been recruited for the NSD (Neocron Security Department). The NSD succeeds in planting some of their members in the Ceres Project, who pass on information to the people of Crahn. Crahn is totally enraged when he learns about the Ceres Project. He knows that in the event of war, his people cannot come up with anything equivalent to this technological leap. Therefore, he orders the PSI Monks to initiate the elite of the NSD-Spies in psionic techniques, so they can read the minds of the researches of the Ceres Project. In fact, the tribe of Crahn succeeds in acquiring large amounts of knowledge about the Ceres Project by utilizing these methods. Following their failed attempt to steal the Ceres discs, the NSD-Spies are discovered and executed. After this incident only citizens and friends of Ceres’ tribe are allowed to participate in the project.

2556

Ten years after the discovery of the project, Ceres decides to begin with the construction of an enormous city in the still sealed-off valley. He wants to realize all the theoretical knowledge gained from the Ceres discs in this city. Mecando advises him to place a protective dome of glass and steel over the city, to protect it from the deadly radiation. Ceres announces his plans publicly, and so the Dome of York becomes a legend long before the foundation stone is laid. But in Neocron things have changed, too: the people of Crahn have begun to put the newly acquired information to good use and expand the city. The buildings become bigger and grander from year to year.

2557

By now Thor, Ceres and Crahn are all about 50 years old. On his deathbed Mecando tells Thor about the secret of a new weapon. He calls it ‘energy weapon’ and explains that it does not shoot projectiles of solid matter, as do conventional firearms, but bundled energy. Mecando also tells him that he already has developed a prototype of this weapon and where it can be found. Thor gives out orders to push the development of this new weapon. He plans to distribute several hundred weapons to his men and to attack Neocron by the end of the year. Ceres and Thor argue about this plan. Ceres advises Thor to forget Jeriko and Neocron, but Thor wants to free his people. Ceres threatens to abandon him if won’t discard this plan. But Thor mocks Ceres by saying that his men are the only warriors, anyway and that the tribe of Ceres would be defenseless without him.

Modern Times (2558-2750)

2558

Throughout the spring Thor mobilizes his own men and some new followers from the ranks of Ceres to take Neocron with their help. Thor’s men are equipped with a powerful hand weapon which shoots heavy plasma. This green glowing, concentrated energy wields an enormous amount of destructive power. When Thor’s men leave the city, they know there’s no turning back. Ceres has told them that anyone choosing choose war over peace would be forfeiting his place in this community. The Battle of Neocron doesn’t last long. After Crahn and his PSI Monk bodyguards manage to escape, the remaining PSI Monks surrender quickly, realizing that they stand no chance against the powerful energy weapons of Thor. Thor is displeased by the escape of Crahn, but the joy and jubilance of the liberated people comfort him sufficiently to help him forget his disappointment soon enough. Not only his own people receive him with cheers, but the people of Crahn, as well. They, too, had suffered badly under the cruel reign of Crahn and his monks. They now hope for the organization of a just government with Thor at its head as a just ruler: Thor, about whom they had heard so many encouraging tales. Crahn flees together with his guards into the wastelands. Building over the base of an old ruin they begin with the construction of a secured abbey. In the course of the following years Crahn dies. His guards found the Sect of Crahn in the abbey. This sect will become a most influential religion in the following decades.

2565

After seven years of growth, justice and progress under Thor’s reign, he considers himself to be too old to continue with ruling over Neocron. He passes his power on to his son, Regant. Regant wants to develop Neocron into the most powerful, most modern and largest city of the new world. The construction of the Dome of York is nearly finished as well. Following the insight gained from the Ceres Discs, York is organized like a city of the 22nd century. The dome of former Tokyo, which had protected that city against radiation centuries ago, served as an example for the protective dome above York. Regant doesn’t believe in the concept of the dome. Educated by Caalron, the successor of Mecando, he creates a plan for a magnetic shield, which can reflect more than 50 percent of the radiation without a physical structure. The benefits of Regant’s plan are based on the fact that his concept won’t limit the physical expansion of the city.

2570

Despite the magnetic shield, the population of Neocron still suffers from disease which can be traced back to the influence of radiation. Regant plans to improve the shield and asks the now 65 year old Ceres to give him a copy of the Ceres Discs to supplement his knowledge about magnetic shields. Surprisingly, Ceres refuses his request. He tells Regant that he had warned Regant’s father against bloodshed and that there will be neither partnership nor friendship between Neocron and York. Bewildered, Regant insists on his right to gain access to the Ceres Discs. He points out that it had, after all, been his father who discovered them. But Ceres doesn’t sway from his point of view. Regant is left no choice but to give up his plan.

2575

A deadly virus infection kills thousands of Neocron’s residents. The city’s medics are helpless, and even the PSI Monks, who have wondrous healing methods at their disposal, are puzzled. Once again Regant turns to Ceres and pleads to gain access to the discs to find some medicine against the plague. But Ceres states that the plague is the vengeance of the God of the Blinding Light, who is punishing Neocron for the senseless bloodshed. Beside himself with rage and not comprehending how Ceres is able to tolerate the demise of so many innocent people, young Regant declares that there will be more bloodshed and begins to assemble his troops for a war against the Dome of York.

2576

Regant and Ceres are unable to come to a peaceful agreement. Regant orders the PSI Monks to use their knowledge about genetic engineering - gained primarily while fighting the virus infection - to breed a stronger and more robust warrior. The PSI Monks, who studied genetic engineering since Thor’s capture of Neocron and the introduction of the new doctrine, pursue this task intensively and develop a prototype, which they call GenTank, after just a few months. The GenTank can be produced as a fully trained warrior in a short amount of time and has all the characteristics Regant requested. In addition, Regant’s scientists develop new armored vehicles based on 22nd century military tanks. Piloted by the new warriors with their genetically enhanced reflexes and tactical abilities, these Hovertanks become extremely effective weapons. Ceres, too, instructs his researchers to work on new military equipment. They develop a new kind of walking vehicle, a powered giant of metal, equipped with numerous weapons and piloted by an artificial brain. This new kind of field weapon is called WarBot by its developers. Furthermore, they work on a new mass destruction system on the basis of the former atomic bomb.

2577

Once again Regant asks Ceres to grant him access to the discs. He explains that, regardless of whoever discovered the discs, Ceres is not entitled to use the knowledge of the discs exclusively for himself. In fact, the knowledge contained in the discs should be accessible by all of mankind. He issues an ultimatum to Ceres to make the discs accessible by the end of the year. Should Ceres not react by then, Regant would use force to ensure that the knowledge of the discs be shared by everyone.

2578

Ceres proclaims the discs to be his property and states that Neocron has already benefited more than it merits from the knowledge they hold. Regant deploys his army of GenTanks equipped with heavy weapons and attacks the Dome of York with full force. Regant’s strategy is based on a short, powerful military strike against Ceres, but he fails to take the defensive mechanisms of the dome into account. The area surrounding the city is covered with mines and spring-guns, and the GenTanks that break through this protecting wall face an army of WarBots.

2578-2585

What had been planned as a short strike becomes the longest military conflict in the history of the new world. While Ceres dispatches his armored warriors to the battlefield, the PSI Monks raise one Tank after the other and the factories spew out thousands of Hovertanks. The earth surrounding both of the cities is soaked in blood and covered with debris by the time Ceres’ scientists discover a weapon based on the atomic bomb, which would kill unprotected organic material while leaving Ceres’ own walking weapons unharmed, by means a special shielding for the WarBots. Ceres does not hesitate to detonate this bomb over the battlefields between the two cities. Thousands of genetically bred GenTanks fall victim to the radiation of the bomb. Ceres threatens to employ the bomb over Neocron, if his enemies don’t surrender within one week. But he doesn’t know that the PSI Monks have already copied the shielding of the WarBots and applied it to a new type of armor suit, which they developed by adapting some technologies they acquired from destroyed or captured Ceres-WarBots. This armor suit enhances the reflexes and capabilities of the GenTanks even further, and the next wave of GenTanks goes into battle adequately protected. Because of the protection, increased power and efficiency provided by these suits, the GenTanks vanquish Ceres’ warriors and WarBots and invade the Dome of York. The government is overthrown and Ceres publicly executed. Regant seizes all of the Ceres Discs and begins to reveal their knowledge to the public. Furthermore he appoints a new ruler from his own ranks, who is to control the reconstruction of the dome.

2587-2610

The radiation level in the area between the Dome of York and Neocron is enormous. Even with the best possible radiation protection, the distance between the two cities can’t be covered without the unfortunate traveler suffering permanent damage. This leads to a rather isolated development of both cities in the following years. The irradiated area on the brink of and outside the protective dome is called the Wastelands. The first district of Neocron adjoining Wastelands is the Outzone. While the Outzone is protected against radiation, the numerous and hard-to-survey installations and buildings provide a certain incentive for criminal elements. To the inner districts of the city belong Pepper Park, an entertainment and red light district, the Plaza, the actual center of the city, and Via Rosso, the governmental and financial center. It is a peaceful time, which furthers research and financial growth to a great extent. The PSI Monks, to whom Neocron more or less owe the victory over Ceres, have taken command of the military. There is no further genetic development of GenTanks. From the PSI Monks’ point of view, a battle unit based on an organic being can’t be the optimal solution. The existing GenTanks are left to themselves. Much like the PSI Monks, the GenTanks mostly remain among their own kind. Nevertheless, they more or less succeed in integrating themselves into the social system. They accept security and bodyguard jobs and thus create their own place in society. But the GenTanks are never drawn into the regular police force. Regant, who suffers heavily from the effects of the radiation disease, apparently loses influence and the well organized PSI Monks become more and more a secret power within Neocron. The intelligence service, NSD, once founded under Crahn’s rule, controls the activities of the police and increases its power steadily. The NSD sets up internment camps in the Wastelands, where political opponents are held and tortured.

2611

Regant dies. His chosen successor is found murdered shortly thereafter. The PSI Monks immediately seize control over Neocron. The PSI Monks introduce rigorous laws, but also do much for the progress of the city. In the meantime the complete knowledge of the Ceres Discs has been put into practice, except for space travel. In some areas the progress has already surpassed the theoretical knowledge.

2618

For the first time people succeed in establishing an uplink to the old satellites, which have reamined in orbit for centuries. Much to the amazement of the scientists, more than half of the satellites still function By use of these satellites they discover that on another continent, which emerged from East Asia, yet another city is being constructed. Since it’s situated on the other side of the earth, it’s impossible to reach this city by traveling in regular vehicles through the irradiated areas. From the Ceres Discs the PSI Monks also know about the colony on Mars. The council of the PSI Monks resolves to develop a spacecraft with which to penetrate the orbit and thereby escape the deadly radiation on earth. By this means, the East Asian metropolis can, indeed, be reached. In a second phase of the resolution, a spacecraft shall be developed which is able to fly to Mars.

2630

After twelve years of work a flying vehicle which is able to break through Earth’s atmosphere and travel outside its orbit is at the city’s disposal - for the first time in 480 years. A selected crew is sent to the newly discovered metropolis. They are amazed when they learn that the city boasts a high level of development; both technologically and culturally. Just like Neocron’s, the protective dome of Tokyo II is based on a sophisticated magnetic shield. But the two shields also make radio communication between the cities impossible. The Asians react quite coolly to the foreigners and are not interested in any further contact with the Western World. Thus the crew is unable to learn how the inhabitants obtained the knowledge of the old world. After a stay of just a few days in Tokyo II, the crew is awakened by soldiers in the morning and escorted to their spacecraft. Without having accomplished much, the crew travels back to Neocron. After they have reported to the PSI Monks, the latter decide to ignore Tokyo II and to concentrate on the space travel program.

2633

A group of young scientists feels oppressed in their work by the PSI Monks, and they decide to leave the city. They erect a small base in the Wastelands, protected from radiation.

2636

Named after the chief of the PSI Council, Shirkan, a spacecraft, embarks in September on a journey to the Mars colony, which will take nine months.

2637

The astronauts discover the remains of the more than 500 year old Mars colony, Red Terra. The logs show that the colony fell victim to an unknown virus in 2212. Thanks to the logs, the crew of the Shirkan experiences in a gripping manner the despair of the colonists when they discovered that the Earth was nearly demolished by WW3 - while at the same time unaware that they could have prevented the horrible war from happening, had they known the reason for the catastrophe. On the 13th of February, 2134, Red Terra received a distress call from a spacecraft named Starcruiser. They were told that the ship has been hit by meteor debris which damaged the sensors and their long range communications equipment. The crew of the Starcruiser was therefore unable to send a radio message to Earth, but had already begun to repair the equipment. The ship’s crew asked Red Terra to forward this message to mission control in Beijing. But Red Terra knew nothing about the launch of the Starcruiser and there were two fighters in the area which couldn’t confirm the existence of the ship. Red Terra command therefore thought the message to be a joke from the patrol and ignored the call. And so the disaster took its course. The astronauts also learn about the attempt to make the atmosphere of the planet breathable by using Gabanium. But according to the logs, the Gabanium stimulates the development of the deadly virus on Mars, which is why the experiment was discontinued. A few days later the crew of the Shirkan discovers that Red Terra receives a continuous Hypercom message. It’s from the crew of the Starcruiser. The content of the message - arriving every three hours at the colony - is that the generation cruiser has arrived on the planet Irata III, the Gabanium experiment has transformed the whole atmosphere of the planet according to plan, and that they’ve been ready to receive new instructions for generations. Apart from these important insights into the history of mankind and the realization about the order of events of WW3, the crew also picks up all kinds of technical devices. The loot ranges from a Mini- Holodisk player to a VR-Videogame console when the Shirkan leaves after their two-week stay on Mars. The metal, which contains the elements needed for fusion drives, is also taken to Earth in large quantities. The news about the colonized planet Irata III spreads quickly through Neocron. The government decides to develop spaceships which can cover the distance of 80 light years to this planet.

2654

After nearly 20 years of work, the Avenger is at Neocron’s disposal, a spaceship which is to bring 2000 people on a journey of 90 years to the planet Irata III. The crew also has the necessary equipment to construct a permanent communication installation on Irata III; to establish contact with Earth and Mars, respectively.

2660

The colony Red Terra is once again put into operation. The construction of a vast communication facility begins.

2684

After a powerful explosion in the Wastelands, rumors accumulate about hidden laboratories engaging in research on secret weapons and defensive measures. Supposedly the PSI Monks run these laboratories to protect their power by force in case of an insurrection.

2722

The crime rate rises to new heights in Neocron. The citizens accuse the PSI Monks of being unable to control the situation, despite their tough leadership. Lioon Reza, an eloquent ex-member of the secret service, founds a group of terrorists, who set their sights on overthrowing the government and reforming the laws of the city.

2724

After a failed attempt to take over the mighty government building in the Plaza district, Lioon’s troops succeed in surprising the government of the PSI Monks and banning the members of the government from the city. The remaining PSI Monks are tolerated within the city, but are not allowed to congregate or to be active in the field of politics. Many of the PSI Monks of the former government retreat to the old Crahn Abbey in the Wastelands.

2725

Lioon becomes the new dictator of Neocron. He introduces the CopBot system to the city. CopBots are policemen-cum-judges and therefore are able to take rigid action against violence and crime in the streets of the city. The laws become strongly simplified and the punishments are severely increased.

2727

After an insurrection in the old districts of the city, Lioon decides to concentrate the presence of the CopBots on the inner areas of Neocron. Following this decision the outer districts, especially the Outzone of the city, degenerate dramatically. The laws are once again tightened. The only punishment for a criminal act is immediate execution. All aggressive actions are punishable. Carrying unconcealed weapons in the inner districts of the city is (after a caution is issued) punishable by death. Everywhere in the city monitoring systems are installed, which are to protect particularly the inner areas of the city - Plaza and Via Rosso.

2740

The Avenger arrives at Irata III. Red Terra 2, the new colony on Mars, establishes contact with Irata III. Apparently the people traveling with the Avenger have found a paradise on the planet: Irata III is covered with forests and oceans. The Chinese have erected a city of stone and wood, which they call Typherra. The newcomers are warmly received, but the news of the destructive events on Earth shocks the inhabitants. Since the planet is so big, the Typherrans offer to accommodate more people.

2742

The news of the paradise that is Irata III spreads quickly through Neocron. Lioon Reza decides to populate Irata III and subjugate the inhabitants of the planet. He promises a prosperous life to the citizens of Neocron, if they join his troops and his trek. Most people are sick and tired of malformed children, radioactive water and the general hopelessness on the contaminated Earth, thus joining Lioon’s trek.

2743

For unexplained reasons contact with Irata III suddenly breaks off. Red Terra 2 rules out the possibility of technical malfunction in the communication facility. The plan of the great trek continues to nonetheless, although Lioon himself decides to stay on Earth.

2746

The great trek begins. Forty spaceships, which were constructed following the examples of the Avenger and the Starcruiser, embark on their journey to Irata III. The new design allows 8,000 passengers per ship, which means that 320,000 people are leaving the city. Six months later, another twenty spaceships launch. But those were only the beginning. Almost daily, more, much smaller ships, are leaving. The fact that the contact with Irata III has been interrupted for almost a year now only seems to strengthen the wishful thinking and the faith in this new paradise.

2747-2749

The void left in the population of Neocron by those who have embarked on their long journey to Irata III opens up new opportunities for criminal elements. Since the trekkers are forced to leave most of their personal belongings behind, the government decides to collect this property for their own use. But there are others who would also like to profit from the abandoned belongings, ranging from everyday utility items to whole buildings, and thus the governmental ‘reacquiring’ operations are disturbed more and more by criminals and gangs. One man in particular, a lowly criminal named Trevor Denton, succeeds in organizing the raids on abandoned property. By forging alliances between several criminal organizations - even between members of the Mafia and the Yakuza - he greatly impedes the government’s progress and succeeds in accumulating a good share of personal wealth. But a large measure of his success is based on the fact that he is loyal to no one except himself, betraying every ally whenever it seems profitable. At the end of his short career, Trevor Denton is the most wanted man in Neocron and is finally killed by one of his many pursuers. To prevent any of Trevor’s children from taking over the organization, the government arrests all of them. They are either executed or used as guinea pigs for scientific experiments. Two of them, Xav and Zeke, are pardoned after they survive a series of experiments. Xav is disfigured for life, while Zeke Denton has lost a good deal of his memory.

2750

The treks have left their marks on the face of the city of Neocron. Deserted areas and the collapse of the spacecraft industry are among the harmless effects. Lioon increases the presence of the CopBots further to prevent the people left in the city from plundering and committing other violent acts, but the CopBots hardly succeed in their task; particularly in those sections of the city difficult to oversee; like Pepper Park and the Outzone. When the contact with Irata III is still not re-established four years after it broke off, Lioon’s interest in Irata III drops noticeably. Of course he knows that the treks won’t arrive at Irata III before 2840. He, as opposed to the frozen passengers of the generation ships, will be long dead by then. Realizing this once and for all, Lioon’s interest turns once again toward the security aspects of the city and his governmental duties.