Dimension Delta Zeta 17-46
Work In Progress
This page is frequently updated to add material and make retroactive corrections for consistency.
Summary
Dimension Delta Zeta 17-46 is an alternate dimension where the United States and Great Britain diverged into hated enemies and eventually destroyed their world in a nuclear apocalypse.
This world presents a backdrop for deep background histories for several characters including Samantha Grey.
There is a canon City of Heroes Multiverse in the HC Wiki which this dimension is implied to be related to.
Author's Note
American and British in this timeline are different than those in the Primal (or Real) dimension in their ethics, morals, attitudes, and prejudices. In some ways they may seem backward, primitive and or brutal, and in other ways they may seem more civilized, intelligent, or advanced. This world history is centered on Western nations who rapidly outstrip other world-wide competitors industrially and technologically. Imperialism and Colonialism go into overdrive, and with only a few exceptions, other cultures and peoples are assimilated, enslaved, or destroyed. The morals and prejudices of the characters in and from this dimension run counter to our real-life norms in many ways; please do keep in mind this is a fictional dystopian scenario and does not represent the views or ideals of the author.
This is a closed-RP setting; please do not make characters who are from this setting without coordinating in advance with the author.
Early Times
There were few divergences between the Primal Dimension and Delta Zeta 17-46 before the American Revolutionary War.
Distrust of Magic, Magical Items, Creatures, and Users. One notable difference was the attitude of colonists in the Croatoa and Salem communities during the Witch Trials. In both, severe pogroms erupted against the magical and fae creatures preexisting on the North American continent.
Around the World, there had always been supernatural creatures and and objects of power. At times, individual humans or small groups of humans would encounter, learn of, or develop magic, magical skills, items of power. These were of mixed use for both good and ill. However, normal humans were never comfortable in the presence of the supernatural. Creatures, objects, or people who were touched with or who used supernatural, magical, or arcane powers were generally distrusted and feared.
By the late 1600's, witch burnings, anti-supernatural hysterias, and pogroms to destroy fey creatures were not uncommon in Europe, Asia, and North America.
In colonial America, in the 1700's, there were small religious sects which were more tolerant, but the mainline groups were anti-magic in orientation, and forbid their memberships from interacting with, using, or harboring magical creatures or even accepting that magic actually existed. Instead, all such phenomena were attributed to influence of satanic forces. One notable exception was the Catholic Church; but even they were not tolerant, just less intolerant, and this was due to long study of the arcane through the middle ages by the senior catholic academic societies.
By the late 1700's popular hatred and resentment of magical creatures, force, items, and the people who associated or used them was widespread in the United States. Before 1850 and the emergence of the Intemperance Leagues, incidents of violence were sporadic and uncoordinated. Most magical creatures or people were still able to move around and escape the worst persecution.
Main Divergence
The primary divergence of the Delta Zeta 17-46 Timeline from Primal Dimension is a stronger personage of King George III. In October of 1760, George III took the throne of England. In Primal Dimension, his reign was somewhat spotty and heavily checked by Parliament. In Delta Zeta 17-46, he was a vastly more competent and strong ruler, but still unable to prevent the American Colonies from revolting. Thus, the revolutionary war was fought longer and more severely under his direction, leaving great mutual hatred in its wake.
Earlier events differ from Primal Dimension; however the two timelines maintain a loose correspondence of events and personages up until the primary divergence.
Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
Timeline 1776 to 1830
Revolutionary War
1775. Beginning of the Revolutionary War in British North America. The Battles of Lexington and Concord ignite a violent conflict, with George III quickly recognizing the need for a robust response. He appoints General William Howe with a clear mandate to crush the rebellion swiftly. British forces implement strict martial law in major cities, employing troops to maintain order and quell dissent. This heavy-handed approach incites further violence, leading to more brutal skirmishes.
1776. The Continental Congress declares independence. Howe's forces launch a massive campaign, utilizing overwhelming firepower in battles resulting in significant civilian casualties. British propaganda campaigns portray the revolutionaries as traitors and rebels, further polarizing the conflict, while loyalist militias rise to assist British troops, leading to bloody reprisals against suspected revolutionaries.
1777. The British, sensing that traditional tactics are insufficient, adopt a scorched-earth policy in areas of rebellion, leading to widespread destruction. In response, the Continental Army's guerrilla tactics become more organized, resulting in a drawn-out, brutal war of attrition. The French, observing the bloodshed, cautiously decide to intervene but only provide limited support, as they perceive the conflict as an opportunity to weaken British power without full commitment.
1778-1780. With the war dragging on, British forces experience rising casualties. Howe is replaced by a more ruthless commander, General Henry Clinton, who intensifies counterinsurgency operations, leading to massacres in key rebel strongholds. The American colonies become more fragmented, with some areas supporting British rule while others remain fiercely revolutionary. Civil war-like conditions emerge, as loyalists and patriots clash violently in the countryside.
1780's: In Britain, Georgian Reforms to the Aristocracy instituted, partly as a response to the situation in the colonies, which tie British social classes together and strengthen national will to power.
1781. The British launch a campaign to capture key cities, leading to the Siege of Yorktown, which becomes a protracted battle. The Continental Army, bolstered by French troops, manages to hold out despite significant losses. General Clinton has many American Loyalists executed for insufficient martial spirit; news travels and the 'Clinton Atrocity' causes American revolutionaries and former loyalists to unify.
1783: The Revolutionary War continues in North America, with the war becoming a stalemate, with both sides suffering heavy losses.
1790-1800: American settlers and frontiersmen, acting outside official American boundaries, start to take control over former French territories in North America (Louisiana). This is done through a combination of migration, land purchases from indigenous peoples, and sometimes by force against competing European claimants. The British government recognizes the potential of Indigenous tribes as allies against the colonial rebellion. They provide financial support, weapons, and training to various tribes, encouraging them to harass and disrupt American supply lines, settlements, and military encampments. This strategy results in violent raids on colonial farms and military outposts, with Indigenous warriors often targeting American settlers as a form of retaliatory resistance against land encroachment and cultural erasure. The British portray these attacks as defensive actions, further inflaming tensions.
1799: French Revolution occurs. Napoleon Bonaparte leads a military coup to depose and execute the French Monarch and establishes dictatorial control over France in the name of the masses.
Napoleonic Wars
1802-1803: Napoleonic Wars begin with the formation of the Second Coalition against France. The Thirteen Colonies in North America continue to fight with British forces for their independence in an increasingly brutal war.
1803-1806: British forces are hard-pressed to fight in North America and continental Europe simultaneously. Napoleon makes initial gains on the continent, taking advantage of British weakness. American forces develop ruthless tactics fighting and defeating Indigenous tribes supported by Britain on the western settled edges; and turn those methods against the British held major cities. Battles in Baltimore (1804), Boston (1805) and Savannah (1806) convince British that troop levels in the Colonies must be surged to twice or more of their already high levels or face defeat.
1806. As British forces reluctantly abandon the colonies following a protracted and bloody conflict, the United States is established. It formally claims ownership of the expansive territories of former French Louisiana, taking advantage of France's diminished influence in North America due to its own internal struggles and Napoleon's focus on European conquests. With the British distracted by the costly war in America, Napoleon, heavily invested in his campaigns on the Continent, does not challenge the U.S. claim. Instead, he focuses on consolidating his power in Europe, allowing the U.S. to expand westward without immediate threat.
1806. A significant wave of immigrants fleeing conflict-ridden Europe seeks refuge in North America. Many are disillusioned with the wars and seek new opportunities, contributing to the rapid growth of the young nation. Simultaneously, the British evacuate remnants of Indigenous tribes from North America, forming unique Janissary-style troop formations made up of these displaced peoples. These troops are trained in European military tactics and sent back to fight against Napoleon's forces, providing the British with a new source of manpower.
1810. Napoleon's empire reaches its zenith, controlling much of Europe from Spain to Russia. His military campaigns are relentless, and his armies are well-trained and disciplined. The British, still reeling from their American ordeal and slow to recover their military strength, find it challenging to mount an effective response to Napoleon's aggressive expansion. The loss of resources and manpower in North America leaves Britain vulnerable.
1812. The British finally begin mass conscription to mobilize for a counter-attack against Napoleon's empire. However, their efforts are hampered by the lingering consequences of the American conflict, including depleted resources, low morale, and a military that has not fully recovered. The Janissary troops, while initially promising, struggle to integrate into British military operations. The British attempt to bolster their forces through alliances with other European powers disillusioned by Napoleon, such as Austria and Prussia, but these alliances are tentative and fraught with distrust.
1815. The British manage to regroup and launch a more concerted efforts against Napoleon. This phase of the war becomes a grinding struggle, with heavy casualties on both sides. British forces, supported by their Janissary troops and continental allies, engage in fierce confrontations with Napoleon’s armies. The war becomes characterized by trench warfare and attrition, reminiscent of the Revolutionary War’s brutal tactics but on a much larger scale. Trench lines and battles of attrition form in the low countries, along the Franco-German border, across the Italian Peninsula, and into the Balkans.
1818. As the war drags on, the wave of immigration from Europe to North America subsides. Exhausted by the ongoing conflict and economic turmoil in their homelands, fewer people are willing or able to make the journey. The U.S. grapples with its own challenges, including the integration of new immigrants and managing its expanding territories, while still maintaining a focus on establishing itself as a significant power in the Americas. Hatred of the British and of the Indians who had fought for them, is intense.
1819. In a pivotal moment in the Battle of Ligny Creek, in Belgium, Napoleon is killed on the battlefield during a major confrontation with British and allied forces led by General Sir Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington. The Duke's forces include tens of thousands of Janissary troops recruited from North America and former prisoners of war, local recruits, and defectors from various backgrounds. In the aftermath of the battle, the pursuit leads to unprecedented slaughter of retreating French forces, breaking the back of the military potential of the French. Napoleon's death leads to a power vacuum in France and across Europe, which shifts the dynamics of the war. The Napoleonic Wars begin to wind down, but the British, exhausted and depleted from years of warfare, find themselves unable to capitalize fully on their victory. The political landscape in Europe becomes unstable, with various factions vying for power in the absence of a strong leader.
1820. The British begin to consolidate their gains in Europe. They leverage a combination of hegemonic agreements, and strategic alliances to maintain their newfound position of power. The British attempt to stabilize the region by supporting moderate factions in France and other affected countries, and using brutal repression with Janissary regiments to crush the potential for revolutions similar to those that had erupted in the past.
1821. The Napoleonic Wars officially end, with France devastated, Russia in the throes of a peasant revolt, and Great Britain in control of most of Western Europe. King George III declares the establishment of the Empire of Europe, with himself as Emperor.
1822. In Europe, and especially in Britain, the distrust and oppression of magical creates increases greatly when the Imperial Staff reveals they had determined Napoleon had himself been a sorcerer before his death, and had been using magic to twist minds and create stratagems.
Empire of Europe
1825. The British Empire begins to take shape, with the establishment of a formal administrative structure and the appointment of governors and viceroys to oversee its territories.
1825. Mexico become independent nation under a dictatorship.
1827. Peasant revolts in Germany and Austria are suppressed by Imperial Regular and Janissary troops; George III dissolves German and Austrian aristocracies for the ineptitude, replacing them with English nobles raised during the war.
1830: The Empire of Europe is formally declared, with the British English at its helm. The empire's borders are still somewhat fluid, but its influence is undeniable. All pre-existing non-English noble families are dissolved, formally establishing British Colonial rule over those formerly famous and ancient regimes of Europe.
1830 World Overview
In 1830, North America is a complex and dynamic region, shaped by the prolonged Revolutionary War and the subsequent Napoleonic Wars. The United States, established in 1806, has expanded its territory through the Louisiana Purchase and the influx of settlers, but its growth is marked by tensions with Native American tribes, British loyalists, and Spanish Florida. The British, though defeated in the Revolutionary War, still maintain a presence in North America, with British North America (now comprising modern-day Canada) serving as a buffer zone between the US and British territories. The region is also home to a diverse array of indigenous peoples, many of whom have formed alliances with Britain in a bid for survival and self-determination. As the British Empire consolidates its power in Europe, its influence in North America is tempered by the growing assertiveness of the US, setting the stage for future conflicts and power struggles in the region.
Britain has consolidated its hold on Europe, transforming its subject states into colonies, deposing or removing their aristocratic elites, and exerting direct imperial control over the territories that used to be Spain, Portugal, France, the low countries, Germany, Austria, and Northern Italy. Only the Scandinavian countries and lower Balkan states remain independent, and the northern nations will inevitably fall within the British sphere and face annexation.
Many refugees from former French and Spanish upper classes have escaped to Mexico and Central America; worsening the divide between the peasantry and the ruling Creoles. However, the increased military and police strength of the ruling classes keep the peasantry in serfdom.
Russia and Britain share a contested border through eastern Europe, from the Baltic Sea stretching down to the Balkans. Britain claims control of all former overseas colonies of Spain, France, and Italy, including South America, large swaths of Africa, most of the Middle East outside the Ottoman Empire, and large portions of South East Asia. Russia's losses in the Napoleonic wars present great difficulties for the Romanov dynasty, but they are beginning to meet it head on with substantial reforms.
Europe is a continent transformed by the Napoleonic Wars and the subsequent rise of the British Empire. The French Empire, once the dominant power, lies defeated and conquered. The British Empire, having emerged victorious but at great cost, has established itself as the preeminent power in Europe, with King George III declaring himself Emperor of Europe. The continent is now a complex web of British-dominated territories, vassal states, and buffer zones, with the British Navy maintaining a tight grip on trade and commerce. The German states have been devastated and now are ruled by Britain; while the Russian Empire, having survived the Napoleonic Wars, looks on warily at British dominance. The continent is marked by a sense of unease, as the British Empire's influence is tempered by the simmering resentments of defeated powers and the nationalism of various European peoples, overseen by the increasingly domineering British Empire.
The Rise of the United States, with a new expansionist zeal, and the hegemonic actions of the British Empire, set each into the sights of the other. Continued conflict has speed weapons and logistical developments including cartridge-based firearms, railways, and steamships; as well as begun the process of government supported basic and applied research and development.
First and Second North American Wars
Timeline 1830 to 1880
1830-1850. Under Emperor Daoguang, China experiences significant political stability that facilitates a series of transformative reforms aimed at internal development and modernization. The Qing Dynasty prioritizes economic growth through infrastructure improvements, agricultural innovations, and expanded trade, while also focusing on military modernization by adopting Western technologies and forming new military units to strengthen defenses against foreign threats. Additionally, the government promotes education and cultural exchanges to cultivate a more knowledgeable leadership.
1830-1850. As Russia sought to recover, Tsar Nicholas I implemented a series of reforms aimed at modernizing the military and technological infrastructure in order to strengthen its defenses and catch up with Western advancements. The government initiated military reorganizations, invested in modern weaponry, and adopted new training methods to enhance the effectiveness of its armed forces. Simultaneously, the empire faced significant unrest from peasant revolts fueled by social inequities and economic hardships, prompting a cautious approach to liberalization. The Tsar aimed to stabilize the country through limited reforms, including educational and administrative changes, and successfully navigated his way through to a relatively prosperous and peaceful time for the bulk of Russian and Imperial Russian peasants. By the end of the period, Russia's defense in the west precluded an immediate attack from the British, and held potential to contend with the Manchus in the east and with pre-existing British colonial possessions in South Asia.
1830-1860. Waves of fear and hysteria sweep across the United States, fueled by rumors of supernatural creatures and magical practices. In response to this perceived threat, grassroots organizations known as the Intemperance Leagues emerged in various parts of the country. These leagues were comprised of ordinary citizens who shared a common goal: to identify, hunt down, and destroy any magical items or creatures that threatened their way of life. The Leagues' advocacy for stricter laws and harsher punishments against those practicing supernatural powers or magics resonated with many Americans, leading to widespread support and participation.
First North American War
1834. The Great North American War begins. Emperor George IV attempts to seize former French and Spanish territories from the United States.
1834-1835. Former Spanish and Portuguese possessions in South America are quickly taken by British Imperial expeditionary forces.
1835-1836. Major battles are fought in Detroit, Baltimore, and New Orleans, as well as American assaults on the British colonies in southern Canada. The British attempt to overthrow Mexico, but American forces intervene. Naval fighting intensifies as Americans devise new ironclad warships to defend their coastlines and harbors from the Imperial British Navy.
1837. The Great (First) North American War ends. The British assault on Mexico is beaten back, and the war in North America ends in a draw. The United States takes over some Canadian areas of Ontario and southern Quebec. South America is taken over by the British European Empire and subjugated. Mexico retains its nominal independence, and Central America remains in a chaotic state, controlled by local warlords.
1838. The British Empire begins to develop and deploy ironclad warships, giving them a significant naval advantage.
1840. The introduction of the telegraph allows for faster communication across the British Empire, facilitating the coordination of military efforts and the transmission of intelligence.
1842. The British Empire begins to develop and deploy semi-automatic rifles, which become the standard issue for British soldiers.
1845. The first steam-powered warships are introduced, further increasing the British Navy's dominance over the seas.
1847. Internal combustion engines invented.
1848. The Americans and British begin to develop and deploy early machine guns, which are used to devastating effect in colonial conflicts.
1850. The construction of massive ironclad battleships, such as the HMS Imperator, begins. These ships will become the backbone of the British Navy. America follow suit, focusing on industrialization and naval power.
1851. The Russian Empire begins to expand into South and East Asia, engaging in a series of proxy and border wars with the British Empire in regions such as Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Ferghanas, Mongolia, and Manchuria.
1852. Tensions between the United States and the British Empire escalate as the British attempt to restrict American trade and commerce in the Caribbean and Central America. The British Navy's dominance of the seas and its ability to blockade American ports creates a sense of vulnerability among American policymakers.
1852. The Intemperance Leagues' first major success when a "Cleansing" event took place in rural Ohio. A group of vigilantes, fueled by rumors of witchcraft, track down and execute several individuals suspected of practicing magic. This early victory emboldens the Leagues, leading to similar events across the country in quick succession.
1854. The British Empire begins to develop and deploy early forms of tanks, which are used to break through enemy lines in colonial conflicts.
1855. The United States begins to mobilize its military and economy in preparation for a potential war with the British Empire. The government invests heavily in infrastructure development, including the construction of new railroads, canals, and roads.
1858. The widespread use of trench warfare becomes common in ongoing skirmishes between the British and Russian Empires. Conflict between Britain and Russia takes on a long term low-intensity nature.
1860. The British Empire begins to develop and deploy more sophisticated artillery, including rifled cannons and howitzers. Widespread and large scale resource extraction industries develop world-wide.
1861. The British Empire, seeking to expand its territories and influence in the Americas, begins to make secret overtures to the Empire of Mexico, offering military and economic aid in exchange for territorial concessions.
1862. The British and Russian Empires are engaged in a high-stakes game of imperial rivalry, with both powers vying for dominance in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, the Middle East, and South Asia. Secret British overtures to Mexico become known publicly, and there is outrage among nationalist citizens in the United States. Public calls for war with Britain and Mexico. The British Empire, feeling threatened by American expansionism, begins to mobilize its military and naval forces in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.
Second North American War
1862-1873. Second North American War. American patriots provoke industrializing United States into colonial war with Empire of Mexico by staging a massacre in San Antonio which is blamed on Mexican agents. British Imperial forces intervene, and American government nationalizes all slave populations in the south, forcibly inducting all healthy males between 16 and 50 into military service.
1865. Another wave of violence through the Midwest, as mobs targeted alleged witches and half-demons in Indiana and Illinois, accusing them of working with British agents. The authorities struggle to contain these outbreaks, resorting to brutal force to quell the riots, but more often sympathetic officials allow rioters to run wild against the supernaturals.
1865-1872. The war rages on, with major battles fought in the southern United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The British Navy blockades American ports, and the American military responds by developing new ironclad warships and submarines.
1870. First Red Laws enacted. As public hysteria reaches a fever pitch, lawmakers responded by enacting the Red Laws – a series of draconian measures aimed at suppressing any form of supernatural activity. These laws criminalize magic use and possession, and imposing severe penalties on those found guilty.
1872. The war begins to turn in favor of the United States, as the British Navy is unable to sustain its blockade and the American military gains the upper hand on land with massive military manpower advantage gain from conscription of slaves and Mexican peasant refugee volunteers, and shorter strategic supply lines. Widespread peasant revolts in Mexico overthrow the ruling Creoles who were seem as responsible for allowing the British to goad them into the devastating war with the US.
1873. The Second North American War ends with the signing of the Treaty of Washington, in which the British Empire begrudgingly recognizes American sovereignty over the entirety of Canada and Mexico north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
1874. China enters a period of rapid economic growth, driven by increased trade and industrialization. The country's vast population and abundant natural resources provide a strong foundation for economic expansion, and the government is able to implement policies that encouraged the growth of key industries such as textiles, ceramics, and tea. British colonialism within Chinese territories is expelled as British are preoccupied with fighting the Americans. Emperor Tongzhi begins a new policy to find and educate the best and brightest Chinese children of any social class, and sends agents abroad to bring back western knowledge and technologies. Japan, in rivalry to China, follows suit.
1874. President Lincoln manumits all slaves in aftermath of war, uses seized wealth of Canada to compensate former owners. Amendments to constitution forbid slavery and civilian forced labor except by national government in times of declared war. Military conscription of whites and blacks alike continues for decades. French language speakers and culture forcibly repressed after attempted succession of Quebec. British European Empire loses control of India to mass uprisings sponsored and supported by Manchu and Russian Empires – nearly a million former colonists killed. Gratitude of Americans for role of Mexican peasantry in concluding the war creates mass citizenship grants and literacy and regional development programs in Mexico.
1875. First heavier than air flight.
1880. Propeller driven monoplanes, widespread truck transport, mass artillery, early armored vehicles and early mechanized warfare.
1880 World Overview
The aftermath of the Second North American War war sees a significant shift in American society, as former slaves are integrated into mainstream culture and society. Many former slaves take advantage of the government's offer of land grants and education, and begin to establish themselves as farmers, businessmen, and professionals. Mexican peasants see ways forward from under the heel of rump Spanish and begin to adopt a distinct hybrid of Mexican social culture and American economic drive. Multi-lingual education is becoming a norm.
American social culture is becoming rapidly anti-British and and Manifest Destiny has become an imperative, to the detriment of the native tribes of North America. In the wake of the war in which most indigenous peoples had been used by the British as proxies, the Americans began to abrogate existing treaties, remove reservations, and forcibly assimilate all native peoples, often due to indigenous peoples' use of magic. Those which refuse are exterminated. The divide between English-ancestry Americans and hated English imperials is so great that white Americans begin to see more commonality with African-American former slaves and Mexican Peasants. The winds of change blow hot.
In Europe, Britain has continued to oppress the conquered peoples of Spain, France, Germany, and Italy; dividing the regions into new British colonies and expanding their aristocracy to rule them. Industrial development races ahead, and the older systems of agricultural feudalism are replaced with a modernized, brutal, industrial serfdom. Heavily hierarchical society results, with English Britons at the top, with their own relatively mobile systems of commoners and nobility, and with subject populations of technical workers, Janissary military conscripts, land/factory attached serfs at the bottom. Chattel slavery does not formally exist, but serfdom is severe enough in cases to be indistinguishable.
The Russian Empire, in stark contrast to the British, have begun to liberalize, and under several enlightened Czars, brings mass social change to their imperial subjects. Czarist rule in Eastern Europe becomes substantially positive, with Polish people experiencing something of a two-generation long Golden Age under his rule. The Czar's grip on India and Pakistan is less enlightened, and those regions remain backward. In a friendly overture to the US, the Czar has sold all the territory of Alaska to the Americans, and substantial trade between the two has begun.
Manchu China continues to catch up to the western powers at their best speed, but border clashes with both the Russians Empire and the disorganized nations of Southeast Asia occupy the Manchus. Reports of 'dragons' being employed by the Manchus against the Russians are discounted.
Science and technology around the world proceed rapidly, as all major nations participate in a race to develop industrially and technologically to ensure their dominance, or at least, survival.
The Ottoman Crisis and The Great World War
Timeline 1880-1920
1880-1903. Continued Imperial militarization of Europe, reports of brutal repressions of unrest and local rebellions in Central Europe by Internal Imperial Security come out. Nations of world progress technologically and economically; large-scale national identities coalesce in protracted cold war between American, British, Russian, and Manchurian Empires. Further refinement and intensification of industrial serfdom in British Empire. British society coalesces into a wider aristocracy to rule directly over the entire Empire. British Imperials begin to practice large scale Janissary recruitment from subject populations of Europe, and later, all reaches of the Empire.
1880. Tensions between Britain and the Ottoman Empire come to a head when the Ottoman government defaults on its debts to British investors. This sparks outrage in London and prompts calls for military intervention to protect British interests.
1880's. The aftermath of the Second North American War war sees a significant shift in American society, as former slaves are integrated into mainstream culture and society. Many former slaves take advantage of the government's offer of land grants and education, and begin to establish themselves as farmers, businessmen, and professionals.
Ottoman Crisis
1881. Britain declares war on the Ottoman Empire, citing the need to protect its citizens and investments. The British army, bolstered by its industrial and technological advantages, quickly gains the upper hand in the conflict. The Ottomans, caught off guard by the sudden attack, struggle to mount an effective defense. Their outdated military equipment and tactics prove no match for the modern British force, which include armored vehicles and biplane aircraft.
1882-1890. The war drags on, with the British steadily advancing through Ottoman territory. Key battles include the Battle of Gallipoli, the Siege of Istanbul, and the Battle of Adrianople. The Ottomans suffer heavy losses, both in terms of personnel and territory. Their economy is devastated by the conflict, and their political system becomes increasingly unstable.
1890's. The United States experiences a period of rapid industrialization and economic growth, driven by the expansion of its territories and the growth of internal trade. The government invests heavily in education and infrastructure development, and the country begins to take shape as a major world power.
1890's. High performance propeller aircraft, armored vehicles. Early experimental jet engines.
1891-1895. The British, sensing victory, launch a final push to take Constantinople, the Ottoman capital and symbolic heart of the empire. After a long and bloody siege, the city falls in 1895, marking the end of the war and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The remnants of the Ottomans are absorbed into the British Empire, which now extends its reach across the Middle East and North Africa.
Great Cleansing
1885-1892. Most states pass their own versions of the Red Laws, creating a patchwork of restrictive legislation across the country. The Leagues' influence was critical in these efforts, as they worked tirelessly to shape public opinion and pressure lawmakers into enacting ever more strict laws.
1885-1896. In Britain, secret cabals of aristocrats had been forming social groups such as the "Birmingham Circle of Friends", and the "Speakers of the Thorn"; but these are systematically outed as supernatural and demonically influenced groups, put under sanction by Empress Victoria, and eradicated as Threats to the Empire.
1896. The Intemperance Leagues achieve their greatest triumph with the "Great Cleansing." Riotous mobs, fueled by years of propaganda and hysteria, descended upon cities across America. Supernatural creatures – including witches, half-demons, and other magical beings – were hunted down and mercilessly killed over a period of six weeks in May and June. The Great Cleansing marked a turning point in American history, as most remaining supernatural entities were eradicated from society. The Leagues' disbandment over the next two years followed, their mission being considered accomplished. Hatreds of supernatural and of British nudge Americans of different races together. Final public executions of Thorn Speakers held in London; their corpses are burned.
1896-1903. British Imperials began to suppress supernatural groups, creatures, and magic users as well. After the Great Cleansing in the United States, the Imperials orchestrated a massive campaign to eradicate the last of the sorcerers, witches, fey creatures, and the like from Occupied Europe and all the other regions of the world they controlled, which included the old French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and German colonial empires. In Europe, this had the contrary effect of lessening intolerance for the magical beings by the peasantry and industrial serfs, who hated their British overlords even more.
1897. The United States, seeking to expand its own global influence, purchases Alaska from Russia in exchange for industrial aid against the British. This deal strengthens the American economy and military, and gives the US a foothold in the North Pacific region.
January 1, 1897: President James Garfield, facing mounting pressures to maintain social cohesion amidst rapid cultural change in the United States, signs Executive Order 97-1, formally establishing the Internal Security Bureau (ISB). The ISB, operating as a direct report to the President, is tasked with identifying and neutralizing threats to national unity. Dr. Edgar Allen Moore is appointed as the first Director of the ISB.
September, 1897. Operation Eagle Eye: The ISB launches a widespread surveillance program targeting French Canadian communities in Quebec suspected of harboring separatist sentiments. The ISB utilizes informants, wiretaps, and postal interception to monitor communications and identify potential threats. Thousands of French Canadians are detained, and many are forcibly relocated to labor camps in the American Southwest and Mexico. This action intensifies the cultural repression already underway in Quebec and fuels resentment towards the American government.
1898. Russian and Manchu Empires assure other major powers they no longer have magical creatures or users in the territories they control. Doubts remain in British and American intelligence services, especially of the Manchus.
1900. The American military, having emerged victorious from the Second North American War, is now one of the most powerful and modern in the world. The country's economy is booming, and its people are confident in their nation's destiny.
1901. Tensions between the British, Russians, and Manchus continue to escalate, with sporadic skirmishes and border incidents occurring in the Balkans, Mongolia, and Indochina. The situation in India remains volatile, with ongoing fighting between rival factions and militias. Mass famines in India and within zones of conflict.
1902. The British, seeking to assert their dominance over the region, launch a series of military campaigns against Russian forces in former Romania and former Poland. These campaigns are met with fierce resistance, and the fighting becomes increasingly brutal and bloody.
1903. The Americans, seeking to prevent Imperial Britain from conquering Russia, begins to provide military and economic aid to the Russians. The Manchus see continued development of Russian infrastructure and power in Siberia and North Asia, as well as American establishing a greater presence in the North Pacific as a grave threat. Relations Manchus and Japan, a third-tier power in the region, continue to sour over Japanese cooperation with American efforts to supply Russia with arms.
The Great War
1904. The situation in the region reaches a boiling point, with all sides mobilizing their forces for a potential conflict. There are widespread fears that a full-scale war between the British, Russians, Manchus, and Americans is imminent. Nationlists and militarists on all sides prevail, and widespread war breaks out.
1904-1911. Heavy fighting in the Balkans. British and Russian Empires fight for control of Slavic nations in Eastern Europe. Both sides suffer heavy losses, and the conflict becomes increasingly brutal and bloody. Americans secretly send agents to stir up dissent, strife, and rebellion among slavic serf populations to interfere with British war efforts. Rebellions eventually crushed by British Janissary legions.
1905-1907. Major naval campaign fought between the Manchus and Japanese Empires for control of key trade routes and resources in the Pacific region. The conflict is characterized by massive naval battles and the widespread use of submarines. Japanese and American cooperation is strained -- America's true priorities are supporting Russia and fighting in Central America.
1906-1909. A series of battles fought between the British and American Empires for control of Central America. The conflict is characterized by brutal trench warfare and the widespread use of poison gas causing widespread death and injury among soldiers and civilians alike. With plans for a canal across Panama never having been executed, the Americans have difficulty coordinating their separate Atlantic and Pacific fleet to support ground operations. Both sides suffered heavy losses in Central America, and the use of poison gas and other chemical weapons left a lasting impact on the region and its people.
1900-1911. Heavy investment into industrialization of Mexico to support the conflicts and widespread war in Central America jumpstarts economic development and catches Mexico up to the economic level of the core of the United States around the Great Lakes. The war effort has driven significant investment in key industries such as steel, textiles, and chemicals, which has helped to modernize and expand the Mexican economy. The U.S. government has also invested heavily in infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, and ports, which has helped to support economic growth and development. As a result of these investments, the Mexican economy has become more diversified and less reliant on agriculture and natural resources. The region has become a major exporter of manufactured goods, including automobiles, electronics, and machinery. The service sector has also grown significantly, with the development of industries such as finance, telecommunications, and tourism.
NAFR Established
April 19, 1919. United States formally reconstitutes itself as the North American Federal Republic. Spanish and English declared national languages. Nominal legal and civil equality between Americans, Mexicans, and Canadians but ethnic stratification of society persists; with White and Black Americans as an informal elite, former Mexicans being the bulk middle class, with British and French Canadians becoming the oppressed lower strata.
| THOMAS JEFFERSON | 1806-1813 |
| JAMES MONROE | 1813-1825 |
| JOHN QUINCY ADAMS | 1825-1829 |
| ANDREW JACKSON | 1829-1841 |
| JOHN TYLER | 1841-1845 |
| JAMES K. POLK | 1845-1849 |
| ZACHARY TAYLOR | 1849-1850 |
| MILLARD FILLMORE | 1850-1853 |
| FRANKLIN PIERCE | 1853-1865 |
| JAMES BUCHANAN | 1865-1869 |
| Abraham Lincoln | 1869-1881 |
| ULYSSES S. GRANT | 1881-1889 |
| JAMES A. GARFIELD | 1889-1897 |
| SAMUEL CLEMENS | 1897-1905 |
| THEODORE ROOSEVELT | 1905-1917 |
| MARCELLA THOMPSON | 1917-1921 |
Mrs. Thompson remained President during the US-NAFR Transition.
| Marcella Thompson | 1921-1925 | Political Theorist, primary author of the NAFR Constitution |
| John J. Pershing | 1925-1933 | Distinguished General from the Great War |
| Herbert Hoover | 1933-1937 | Industrialist and Engineer |
| Mary McLeod Bethune | 1937-1945 | Socioeconomic Theorist |
| Robert E. Howard | 1945-1953 | Philosopher and political writer |
| George Patton | 1953-1957 | Distinguished General from the Guatemalan and Honduran Wars |
| Jonathan W. Anderson | 1957-1961 | Distinguished General from the Guatemalan and Honduran Wars |
| Rufino Tamayo | 1961-1969 | Aerospace Systems Industrialist |
| Neil Armstrong | 1969-1981 | Hero of the October War |
| Harold A. Sessions | 1981-1985 | Computational Economist |
| Ursula D. Argenta | 1985-1993 | Author, Political Writer, former Director of Federal Intelligence |
| William Gibson | 1993-1997 | Industrialist in Cybernetical Automation Systems |
| Salvador Aguirre | 1997-2013 | Former Director of the NAFR Institute for Cultural Integrity |
| Robert J. Hopkins | 2013-2017 | Industrialist; Heir adoptee of the Crey Chemical Consortium |
| Christopher Zamora | 2017-2019 | Commander of Super Force during Slaughter Spring. Final NAFR President |
1920 World Overview
One key factor in the formation of the NAFR was the growing sense of economic and political integration between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The war effort had driven significant investment in key industries and infrastructure, as well as closer cooperation between the three countries on a range of issues such as trade, defense, and immigration. This led to a growing sense of shared identity and common purpose, which paved the way for the formation of the NAFR. Another key factor was the desire to address longstanding social and economic inequalities between different groups within the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The war had highlighted the need for greater social and economic justice, and the formation of the NAFR was seen as a way to promote greater equality and opportunity for all citizens. The formation of the NAFR was ultimately seen as a necessary step towards greater economic and political integration, as well as a way to address longstanding social and economic inequalities. The establishment of the NAFR marked a major turning point in the history of North America, and set the stage for a new era of cooperation and collaboration between the former countries and provide them the might to resist the growing British Imperial domination of the rest of the world.
In the wake of the Second North American and then accelerated during the Great War, successive generations of American became less and less racial segregated; leading to substantial inter-generational stresses.
After the Great War the practices of adoption and fostering in the NAFR spread widely and turned towards eugenic matchmaking, even across races, and especially after the biological means of genetic heredity and DNA became known. It became common for lower-class parents to offer their young children up for cross-ethnic fostering and adoption under social and economic pressure. This practice was seen as a way to promote greater social integration and understanding, as well as to create a more genetically diverse and resilient population. The high casualty rates of the wars contributed to a sense of urgency to promote eugenics and to create a more "perfect" society, better able to confront Britain's emerging system of Industrial Serfdom. However, the element of forced adoption of children had significant negative consequences for individuals and families, contributing to a sense of social dislocation and instability, and having long-lasting impacts on mental health and well-being. NAFR social theorists argued the long-term benefits would offset the short term issues these practices raised. The fostering process, however, grew widely, with most families exchanging children for periods of up to several years at a time; many prominent NAFR persons in later years considered themselves to have had four parents, and the practice led to rapid cross social integration and a high degree of lower class upward mobility.
The intense struggle to match manpower potential of the British Empire, with its inexhaustible ranks of conscripted Janissary soldiers led to encouragement of large families and huge social pressures which kept women in domestic and low-risk, non-combat, professions, also leading to conservative gender role and public behavior moralities.
In the aftermath of the Great War, the British Empire has strengthened its hold on its subject populations and developed a system of industrial serfdom to support its rapidly growing military-industrial system. The Empire's economy has become increasingly centralized and focused on resource extraction and industrial production, with the goal of supporting the Empire's military ambitions and maintaining its global position as a first-tier power. The evolving social aristocracy in the British Empire is characterized by a growing divide between the wealthy English elites and the non-English subject peoples in Europe, who are increasingly marginalized and oppressed through serfdom. The English benefit from the empire's economic growth and political power, while the subject peoples and serfs are relegated to lives of servitude and poverty. Widespread use of child labor, suppression of basic rights, brutal working conditions, and forced Janissary conscription is the norm.
The Empire's resource extraction efforts in remote parts of South America, Africa, and the Middle East have become increasingly central to the functioning of its military-industrial system. These regions are subjected to intensive resource extraction and use of slave labor, with little regard for the environmental or social impacts of these activities. The aristocracy argues that the denial of basic human rights and freedoms to those who are deemed to be of lower status or value is necessary to maintain social order and stability within the empire and necessary to maintain the empire's military and economic power in the face of constant and existential geopolitical struggles.
In 1919, the world was still recovering from the devastation of the Great War, which had resulted in over 16 million deaths and significant political and economic upheaval. The Treaty of Reykjavik been signed, officially ending the war but tensions remained high between the two superpowers.
The North American Federal Republic, formed from the United States, Canada, and Mexico; had a strong centralized government and a commitment to promoting social and economic equality. It also was pursuing eugenics and child-exchange adoptions between ethnic groups and social classes. Society in the NAFR was becoming conservative and somewhat regimented.
The British Empire, which had emerged from the war as one of the most powerful nations in the world, was facing significant economic and social challenges. The war had taken a significant toll on the British economy, and the country was struggling to rebuild and recover. Social unrest was also on the rise, with many workers demanding better wages and working conditions, and being countered by increasingly severe repression by Imperial Internal Security. Their aristocratic elites and English upper class have a very intense sense of mission and destiny to rule over the entire world.
The Russian Empire, which had been one of the major combatants in the war, was in a difficult position. The war had resulted in massive losses in male population, but through aid from the NAFR, Russia held on and retained its monarchy. It will be focused on rebuilding its economy and military, and dig in all along its borders with the Empire of Britain to fortify against inevitable future conflicts.
The Manchu Empire, which had been contending with the Empire of Britain in south Asia, was facing significant economic and social challenges. The war had taken a significant toll on the Manchu economy, and the country was struggling to rebuild and recover. Social unrest was also on the rise, with many workers demanding better wages and working conditions.
The smaller nations still remaining, such as Japan and the small nations in Central America, were in increasingly untenable conditions, with poverty on the rise and failing ruling classes unable to keep pace with the rapidly industrializing and militaristic great powers.
Overall, the state of world affairs in 1919 was one of uncertainty and tension, with the NAFR emerging as the preeminent opposing power. The British, Russian and Manchu Empires were all facing significant economic and social challenges, with tensions between nations remaining high.
Atlantic War, Guatemalan and Honduran Wars, The October War, Manchu Dissolution
Timeline 1920-1980
1920-1924. Early Advances in Atomics, building on theoretical physics advances in late 18th century.
July 3, 1920. Building on research breakthroughs in radiations and particles during the Great War, the first self-sustaining nuclear reaction occurs at the secret NAFR Montana Buttes Atomic Research Center.
March 14, 1921. British experimental scientists develop their own nuclear reactor at the secret Imperial Research Station Vulcan's Forge in the South Atlantic in the Tristan da Cunha islands.
The Atlantic War
1921-1922. The Atlantic War
September 1921. The British Empire, seeking to disrupt the North American Federal Republic's (NAFR) growing trade with Russia through the Barents Sea and Murmansk, begins to blockade Russian ports in the Barents and White Seas. This move is seen as a direct challenge by NAFR President Marcella Thompson.
October 1921. In response to the British blockade, the United States Navy, led by Admiral Augustus Ryder, sets sail from Norfolk with a fleet of warships to escort merchant vessels through the British blockade. The British Empire responds by sending additional naval forces under Vice-Admiral Reginald Pembroke.
November 1921. A series of skirmishes erupt between American and British warships in the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in several ships being damaged or sunk on both sides. Washington, DC is briefly shelled by Imperial Navy battleship demonstrating their ability to disrupt NAFR's capital city.
December 1921. The Battle of Denmark Straits takes place as a massive fleet engagement occurs between American and British warships. Fifty dreadnoughts from both sides are sunk or damaged in the battle, which ends inconclusively with neither side able to gain a decisive advantage.
January-April 1922. The Russian Empire completes its Siberian Rails and Roads project, allowing for increased trade across the Pacific Ocean and Bering Route. This development is seen as a major blow to British efforts to disrupt NAFR-Russian trade as the Russian and American domination of the Bering Sea is unchallengeable.
March-April 1922. Tens of thousands of European prisoners from the Great War die in forced labor camps while working on rail and road construction projects in Siberia, Alaska, and northern Canada. World leaders and militarized and nationalistic populations care little about such atrocities.
May-June 1922. The NAFR Capitol is relocated to Detroit-Windsor due to concerns over previous British naval attacks on Washington, DC. This more central location is also seen as appropriate for the national capitol of unified North America, instead of maintaining the capitol of the previous United States.
July-August 1922. Trade resumes across the Pacific Ocean and Bering Route as merchant vessels begin to move trade from the Trans-Yukon Railway across to the Siberian Road and Rail. This development further strains relations between the NAFR and British Empire, but ensures the British Empire will see little headway in its struggles against the Russians in eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the Caucuses.
The Quebecois Diaspora
October 23, 1922: Debate over increased resistance from French Canadian anti-assimilationists and terrorism against NAFR naval stations during the Atlantic War results in executive action to 'permanently' solve the Quebecois Problem.
October 24, 1922: Martial Law declared in the historically French areas of old Canada and Louisiana.
October-December 1922: All children in French-speaking homes are forcibly removed from their families and either fostered to American families in the south or in Mexico, or are sent to national boarding schools and pre-military academies to be raised as Americans. All Quebecois adult men are conscripted into forced labor battalions for military construction projects in Alaska, South Mexico, and the secret Redoubt Caverns being dug under the Great Lakes.
The Atomic Age
1922-1924. Both the Americans and British run crash programs to develop and test atomic weapons.
1924. First atomic tests by both Americans and British. Both powers push into nuclear weapons production and prioritize research into delivery means such as heavy strategic jet-bombers and long-range rockets.
1924. First Electronic computer systems. Crash developments in computing by world powers to support atomic weapons design and intelligence collection, processing, and analysis.
The Guatemalan and Honduran Wars
1922-1945. Guatemalan and Honduran Wars. British and Americans fight proxy wars in Central America; region's already poor populations undergo continual famines, millions die. Much economic progress and industrialization in North America, especially Mexican areas under Federal control; British Europe, and Manchu Empire in Asia. Stark difference between the rich, industrialized NAFR Mexican States north of the Tehuantepec Demilitarized Cease Fire Zone, and the subsistence poor living in hovels south of it.
1933. First nuclear powered warships and submarines.
1936-1949. Rapid development of rocketry as long range artillery and then as means for space flight.
The Space Age
August 3rd, 1940. First Space Satellite.
February 2nd, 1941. First American in Space.
March, 1942. First Imperial in Space.
1945. First permanent orbital stations.
1946-1950. Rapid technological advances in short interregnum cold war. Both sides intensively research nuclear technology towards weaponry and power systems. Principles of direct nuclear-electric conversion discovered. Deep pentation of computing throughout civilian and industrial sectors of NAFR and Imperial economies.
The Asian Wars
1950-1955. East Asian War. Manchu Empire conquers Japan and most of Southeast Asia with American Support. British Imperial troops clash with Federal Expeditionary forces in Thailand. War escalates, with naval and aerial clashes over Western Atlantic. War finishes with most territories in region under Manchu control, but with heavily fortified British Imperial strongholds remaining in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Bali.
1950-1955. South Asian War. British European Empire attempts to reconquer Russian puppet-states of Pakistan and India. Fails with high casualties on all sides, especially Russian Empire. Use of sub-orbital reconnaissance platforms and long-range missile bombardment show utility of space systems, further accelerating space race between the two superpowers.
1955: The Navajo Round-Up: The ISB, under the guise of national security concerns, orchestrates the forced relocation of the few hundred remaining Navajo people from their ancestral lands in the Southwest. The ISB claims that the Navajo practice of traditional magic poses a threat to national security, using this justification to seize valuable uranium deposits on Navajo land. A decade of constant patrols, police actions, and executions follow, driving traditional Navajo culture to extinction. Over the next ten years, all remaining indigenous populations in North America are systematically identified and forcibly assimilated into Neoamericanism.
1951-1960. Establishment and rapid growth of large scale industrial support systems for space programs by both NAFR and Imperials. Development of advanced chemical rocket motors, kinetic launch systems, modular space platforms, and in-space nuclear-electric ion propulsion.
1957. In the North American Federal Republic, the Nuclear Force is established, with control over all short and long-range nuclear weaponry now deployed by the NAFR. Intense intra-service rivalries between Navy, Army, Air, and Nuclear forces for budgets and prestige.
1961. Numerous permanent orbiting laboratories and reconnaissance facilities established. Massive federal space launch facilities in Baja and Cuba; similar scale Imperial facilities in East Africa and Diego Garcia. Expansion of space presence by both superpowers. Moon landings, space rock capture experiments, and initial space industrial developments.
The October War
October, 1962. The October War. Short nuclear exchange between NAFR and Imperial Britain occurs due to radar malfunction mistaking American satellite launch as a ballistic missile attack. New York, Baltimore, and Mexico City hit, millions dead. Several other cities spared by Spartan ABM system. British cities of London, Manchester, Paris, and Berlin hit in retaliation strikes before rational minds on both sides bring conflict down from the brink. Anti-satellite strikes against space infrastructure highlights need on both sides for agile space combat systems such as orbital minefields, kinetic countermeasures, counter-space radiation beam weapons, and space superiority fighters; all of which enter crash R&D. Both publicly disavow accidents, blame each other. Tensions rise; all-out nuclear war becomes a constant threat but both sides restrain from using nukes against each other's core areas.
The Space Age Accelerates
1964. Moonbase Omega founded by NAFR near Thorium and other heavy metals anomaly at the Lunar North Pole. Rapidly becomes source of highly automated resources mining and subcomponent manufacturing for NAFR Space Force. British establish smaller outposts on Lunar surface, but NAFR head-start on Luna proves difficult to overcome.
1963-1970. Major world powers greatly expand nuclear programs, pursue many wild-eyed research projects for advanced weaponry and systems in secret; anti-missile defenses, chemical and nuclear-pumped directed energy weapons, nuclear rockets, miniature nuclear-electric batteries and gamma lasers. Stirrings of concern over atmospheric radiation levels from widespread deployment of nuclear technologies; dismissed due to security concerns. First meta-humans with extraordinary powers noticed; most 'disappeared' by national governments. Use of nuclear weapons in space and on Moon in minor skirmishes not uncommon.
The Asian Wars Conclude
1964-1969. British Imperials attack independent nations of south east Asia who support Manchu China from their Singapore holdout. Numerous small tactical nuclear weapons used against Manchu forces in the field, and three strategic weapons used against Manchu cities in southern China. War ends with American retaliatory strikes against Imperial strongholds. South-east Asia falls into total chaos, Manchu empire breaks up into numerous smaller warring states, major powers withdraw.
1965-1975. Further militarization of space. Orbiting missile defense stations, space control facilities buried on the Moon, and entire constellations of orbiting nuclear weapons. Plans for orbital high-power bomb-pumped ground attack radiation weapons in development.
1967. Imperial Space Station Hades construction begun at the Earth-Moon L5 point.
1968: The Chicago Conspiracy Trials: The ISB targets activists and student groups protesting the NAFR's eugenics practices. Emergent student "Puritan" groups had advocated deliberate pure-race reproduction to preserve traditional Caucasian and African heritage groups from the increasingly prevalent mixed-race heritage of most NAFR citizens. The movement had developed since the founding of the NAFR, and had been a quiet academic fringe until the October War; after which it began to be voiced publicly. In Chicago, several Puritan-led student demonstrations erupted in favor of racial purity, shocking mainstream Neoamericans. The ISB acts publicly, and uses fabricated evidence and coerced confessions to cast prominent activists as pro-imperial agents or counter-culture stooges, and secure treason convictions against them. Public executions of leaders and conscription of followers into penal battalions effectively silence dissent and reinforce public support for Neoamerican ethnogenesis.
1969. First Mars landing by Imperial Space Command. NAFR and Imperials begin to establish asteroidal outposts on near-Earth and main-belt asteroids.
1972. Deployment of Aurora fractional orbital bombardment system by Imperial Orbital Command. NAFR responds with Space Superiority Fighter program to develop small, agile spacecraft able to hunt down and destroy FOBS systems on short notice. Compact, high-G nuclear engines developed for SSF.
1977. Manchus re-establish control of most of former Manchu Empire; small fiefdoms and warlord-states still exist in hinterlands of Xinjiang, Tibet, and Indochina.
1979. Nuclear spaceflight engines successfully refined and converted into radiation beam projectors.
1980 World Overview
The geopolitical landscape is marked by two dominant superpowers: the North American Federal Republic (NAFR) and the British European Empire. The NAFR, formed from the unification of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, stands as a formidable power with advanced technological and military capabilities. The society within the NAFR is characterized by an assimilated blend of diverse cultures and a commitment to social and economic equality, although ethnic stratification and intolerance of non-assimilates persists. The nation is technologically advanced, with significant investments in space exploration and nuclear technology. Its relationship with the British Empire is marked by intense rivalry, with both powers competing for supremacy in space and on Earth.
The British European Empire, having emerged from decades of conflict as a dominant force, exercises control over much of Europe and numerous colonies worldwide including all of South America, all of Africa, all of Oceans, and large sections of the Middle East and South Asia. The Empire's society is rigidly hierarchical, with English elites enjoying privileges far above those of the subjugated populations. Industrial serfdom is prevalent, with the Empire's economy heavily focused on resource extraction and industrial production to support its military ambitions. The British Empire also boasts a strong space presence, having established outposts on the Moon and Mars and developing advanced space weaponry.
In Asia, the remnants of the Manchu Empire and other smaller states are embroiled in chaos following the Asian Wars, with regional conflicts continuing to simmer. The Russian Empire, having recovered from past conflicts, maintains a cautious stance, focusing on strengthening its defenses and rebuilding its economy. Meanwhile, the rest of the world navigates a complex web of alliances and rivalries, with the few remaining smaller nations struggling to maintain their sovereignty amid the influence of the superpowers.
The smaller independent nations of the Himalayas and Southeast Asia find themselves in a precarious state, grappling with a myriad of challenges that threaten their sovereignty and stability. Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim are marked by internal divisions and external pressures from neighboring Manchu China and Imperial India, leading to political instability and economic stagnation. In Southeast Asia, countries like Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines face a complex web of conflicts fueled by ethnic tensions, poverty, and political corruption. These nations often act as proxies in the geopolitical games of global powers, resulting in skirmishes over resources and influence that further exacerbate their struggles for unity and self-determination. The general status of these nations is characterized by a fragile independence, as they navigate a landscape rife with conflict and manipulation. While they possess rich cultural heritages and historical significance, their ability to govern effectively is undermined by external interference and internal discord. Economic development lags due to a lack of infrastructure and investment, leaving many citizens in poverty and vulnerable to exploitation. The constant threat of external domination looms large, forcing these nations to contend not only with their immediate challenges but also with the overarching influence of larger geopolitical forces that seek to exploit their vulnerabilities for their own gain.
Worldwide, technological advancements have accelerated, with significant developments in nuclear and space technologies. Both the NAFR and the British Empire have invested heavily in space militarization, with orbiting missile defense stations and space superiority fighters becoming integral to their strategies. The October War of 1962, a brief nuclear exchange, has left a lasting impact, leading to a heightened state of alert and further fueling the arms race. The world remains on the brink of conflict, with the threat of nuclear warfare looming large. Geopolitical tensions are high, and the balance of power is delicately maintained through a combination of technological prowess and strategic maneuvering by the superpowers.
Military Service in 1980
Both the North American Federal Republic (NAFR) and the British Empire implement compulsory national service, but the structure and approach to recruitment reflect their respective societal values, demographic needs, and military strategies.
Recruitment in the NAFR: The NAFR primarily recruits young men for frontline military service, drawing from a broad cross-section of society. Compulsory national service is seen as a rite of passage, with young men expected to serve in various capacities within the military. This focus on male recruitment is rooted in a conservative stance regarding gender roles, as the NAFR prioritizes high population growth and traditional family structures. Women, while excluded from most combat roles, are recruited into specialty functions that leverage their skills in areas such as medicine, logistics, and communications. This division is justified by the need to ensure a stable population and to maintain family units, which are viewed as vital for the future of the republic.
The NAFR emphasizes the importance of maintaining a robust and technologically advanced military, thus training is designed to equip both men and women with the necessary skills for their respective roles. The military promotes educational opportunities during service, preparing young men for civilian life after their term, and fostering a sense of duty and national pride. The overall atmosphere encourages camaraderie and solidarity among service members, reflecting the NAFR's values of inclusivity and progress.
Manpower needs drive long terms of service for those distinguishing themselves. Severely disabled veterans are often offered cybernetic augmentation to continue service in the growing Cybersoldier Regiments. Final retirement is rare, though highly rewarded, both financially and in civil status.
Recruitment in the British Empire: In contrast, the British Empire's recruitment strategy is deeply entrenched in its class system and imperial ideology. The upper class English nobility is primarily responsible for filling officer positions, as they are viewed as the natural leaders of the military. These officers are trained at prestigious military academies, where they receive an education steeped in tradition, leadership training, and a sense of entitlement to command. The middle and lower classes of English society are recruited for senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) roles and technical positions, providing necessary expertise and operational leadership within the ranks. Their service is often seen as a means of upward mobility, within a system that prioritizes the potential for ennoblement through distinctive service.
The vast majority of enlisted soldiers, however, come from serf-class subject nations and are often conscripted or coerced into service. This includes the use of enslaved Janissary formations, where children of slave-populations are forced into military service, stripped of family, trained for years, and indoctrinated into strict obedience. Such individuals are utilized as frontline troops, often sent into the most hazardous situations, reinforcing the British Empire's imperial dominance through sheer numbers rather than a commitment to shared values. Janissary troop who survive to older age often receive Trustee assignments to oversee slave populations in regions under civil control.
Home Life in 1980
Technology has progressed rapidly in all societies of the World, and while it has focused on industrial development to support the massive military forces of the major nations, home life has advanced substantially.
NAFR Citizenry: In the NAFR, homes are equipped with sophisticated technology that supports a comfortable and efficient lifestyle. Nuclear energy powers residential areas, providing a clean and abundant energy source that supports a wide range of advanced appliances and systems. Automated home systems are commonplace, managing everything from climate control to security and entertainment. This automation is driven by advanced computing networks that allow for seamless integration of household functions, including communication and information access. Personal devices, such as smartcomms and tablets, are ubiquitous, allowing individuals to stay connected and informed. In addition, space exploration has had a significant cultural impact, with families accessing educational programs through virtual systems that bring space sciences into the home. Despite being largely free from drudgery, home life is centered on raising large families, as the nation feels a keen sense of existential competition to match the numbers available to the Empire via it's massive serf and slave populations. Considerable stress and mental illness result, especially as children are fostered about in the drive for full Neo-American assimilation. NAFR family structures and norms are viewed as hopelessly strict and primitive by Imperial nobility.
Imperial Nobility: In the British Empire, the upper classes enjoy a level of luxury and technological sophistication that is unparalleled. Homes are similarly powered by nuclear energy, with the addition of cutting-edge amenities that emphasize opulence and control. The aristocracy benefits from advanced personal transportation systems, such as autonomous vehicles and even personal aircraft for short distances. Digital communication is highly encrypted, reflecting the political sensitivity and the need for privacy in the Empire's hierarchical society. The lifestyle of the British elite includes access to exclusive networks that provide curated content and entertainment, emphasizing cultural superiority and imperial pride. The presence of robotic servants and automated systems is a testament to the Empire's focus on maintaining its social order and minimizing labor costs. Former Janissary Trustees are often found as household managers or personal servants. Imperial nobility have incredible personal freedom to order their affairs as they wish with few, if any, societal, moral, or ethical limitations. The Imperial nobility is derided as immoral, licentious, and depraved by NAFR citizenry.
Subject Populations in the Empire: Life for Imperial serfs and slaves is marked by limited rights and significant restrictions. While some individuals may benefit from a semblance of local governance, the overarching authority remains firmly in the hands of British colonial administrators. These populations often experience cultural erasure, as British norms and values are imposed, leading to the marginalization of local customs and traditions. Economically, subject populations are typically confined to labor-intensive jobs, often in agriculture, mining, or low-skill industries that serve the needs of the Empire. Access to education and healthcare is uneven, with resources concentrated in urban areas where British citizens reside. Many individuals are forced into long hours of work under harsh conditions, receiving meager wages that barely support their families. Social mobility is limited, with few opportunities for advancement, and dissent against the imperial system is met with swift and severe punishment. Despite these challenges, pockets of resistance and cultural resilience can be found. Community organizations and underground movements may form, seeking to reclaim cultural identity and advocate for rights, though these efforts are often met with brutal crackdowns by imperial authorities.
South Atlantic War, Middle Eastern Crisis, Slaughter Spring
Timeline 1980-2012
May 18, 1980. Operation Radiant Phalanx. Operation Radiant Phalanx culminates with the test of the Aqua-Rose device, a 17-megaton nuclear bomb detonated at a depth of nine kilometers under the Idaho Flats Nuclear Test Site. While the device performs as expected, the explosion triggers a catastrophic sympathetic detonation of a previously undetected mass of Hadeon-Age Thorium and Uranium ores, resulting in an additional yield of 900 megatons. This unprecedented explosion causes shock waves that lead to the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State, which had been entering a semi-active phase, resulting in widespread devastation and loss of life.
June 1982. South Atlantic War. The South Atlantic War erupts when a slave labor force on the Imperial Falkland Islands rebels against their oppressors. The rebels manage to overcome the Imperial security forces, prompting a quick reaction from North American Federal Republic (NAFR) forces, including elite Superforce personnel. However, their efforts to reinforce the rebels fail as the Imperial forces respond with saturation nuclear attacks on the islands. In a chilling declaration, Emperor Charles III states that any ground taken by American forces will be met with atomic fire, showcasing the brutal lengths to which the Empire will go to maintain control.
1987: Operation Clean Slate: The ISB, collaborating with the Federal Eugenic Planning Board, initiates a program targeting couples and families perceived as deviating from the NAFR's idealized vision of a genetically hybridized Neoamerican population. The ISB compels genetic testing and documentation of genealogical lines ends with 'match tags' being issued to forty million NARF citizens of single race descent for five or more generations, prohibiting them from marrying within their own genealogical match code.
August 1990. Middle Eastern Conflicts. The European Empire formalizes its annexation of Arab colonial states, leading to widespread uprisings among the oppressed populations. These uprisings are met with brutal crackdowns, as Imperial forces sterilize several Arab cities and cultural centers using orbiting radiation projectors. This event marks a significant escalation in the Empire's oppressive tactics, further alienating the local populations and igniting resistance movements.
1990's. The NAFR establishes large military outposts, research stations, and initial industrial nodes on asteroids such as Ceres, Pallas, and Gaspra, marking the beginning of a new era in interplanetary dominance and resource acquisition. The Imperial presence on Mars is increased, and both sides begin constructing interplanetary-capable nuclear-driven warships. Both begin making plans for outer-system expansion to the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, setting the stage for future conflicts.
1989: Due to increased concerns about matching British Imperial manpower, additional occupations are prohibited to women citizens in the NAFR. Biological research into artificial gestation is further emphasized, but no solutions are yet found.
January 1st, 2000. Massive computing system disruptions in both the NAFR and Empire result in riots and destruction. Intervention of police and military forces around the world re-establish law and order over several days. Short interregnum of quiet as both sides crash-fix date and time accounting systems.
2002: Worldwide birth rates are beginning to fall due to widespread chemical and radiation pollution.
March 2003. Middle Eastern Riots. NAFR agents incite riots and rebellions across the Middle East and Northern Africa, leading to a violent response from Imperial forces called. The Empire retaliates with nuclear and radiation strikes, attempting to quell the uprisings and launching a sequenced attack on Federal Moonbase One. The NAFR successfully defends against the assault and retaliates by using radiation projectors against Imperial launch facilities in East Africa, resulting in the deaths of millions, including many innocent Kenyan serfs and slaves.
April 28, 2004. Revelation of Super Force. The NAFR publicly reveals the existence of its "Super Force" military branch, composed of meta-humans who have been conducting clandestine warfare against the Imperials since the early 1900's. In response, the Imperial government announces its own "Meta Command," leading to a propaganda war where both sides boast of their heroic exploits while vilifying the other. This revelation marks a significant escalation in the conflict, as both factions leverage advanced super-human capabilities more overtly and forcefully in their ongoing struggle.
Spring 2009. Slaughter Spring. Mass uprisings erupt in the Middle East against the harsh rule of the Empire, facilitated by the rise of social media technologies that allow for rapid organization and communication among dissenters, smuggled in by NAFR agents. The NAFR Super Force and Imperial Metas intervene, resulting in catastrophic loss of life and widespread devastation. Tens of millions perish, and entire cities are depopulated. In the aftermath, Emperor Charles III declares victory and publicly awards medals to members of Meta Command, announcing a long-term program aimed at eliminating literacy in the subject regions, further entrenching the Empire's oppressive regime.
2012 World Overview
Geopolitics in 2012
The world is marked by deep divisions and escalating tensions between the North American Federal Republic and the British European Empire, both of which have entrenched themselves in a brutal struggle for dominance. The balance of power in global affairs has become precarious, with both factions resorting to increasingly ruthless tactics as they vie for control over remaining resources and territories.
In the Middle East and Northern Africa, the imperial grip remains unyielding, but widespread uprisings fueled by discontent have created a volatile atmosphere. The brutal suppression of these uprisings has resulted in millions of deaths and further alienation of local populations. Social media has emerged as a double-edged sword, enabling the organization of resistance movements while also providing the Empire with tools for surveillance and propaganda, complicating efforts for liberation. The NAFR's involvement has galvanized some regions, but the cost of conflict is evident in the devastation and loss of life that mark the landscape.
The technological arms race has also accelerated, with both the NAFR and the Empire investing heavily in advanced military capabilities, including meta-human forces that engage in clandestine warfare. The revelation of the Super Force and the Imperial Meta Command has transformed the nature of conflict, as these super-soldiers no longer operate in the shadows and further blur the lines between combatants and civilians. As the specter of nuclear confrontation looms ever larger, the world stands on a precarious precipice, where the quest for power threatens to plunge it into even greater chaos and destruction.
In this fractured geopolitical landscape, any aspirations for peace and autonomy seem distant, overshadowed by the ongoing violence and oppression. Nations that once held promise for independence now find themselves caught in the crossfire, struggling to rebuild in the face of overwhelming odds. The future remains uncertain, as the ambitions of superpowers continue to dictate the fate of millions, and little hope for a more just and equitable world remains.
Looming Environmental Problems
The intense industrialization that has characterized the world has led to significant environmental degradation, with ecosystems showing ominous signs of collapse. The relentless extraction of natural resources, coupled with the widespread use of nuclear and radiation technologies, has resulted in severe pollution and habitat destruction. The fallout from nuclear tests and military conflicts has contaminated significant areas, rendering them uninhabitable and disrupting local ecosystems. This contamination not only affects flora and fauna but also poses dire health risks to human populations, pressing a cycle of suffering and environmental decline.
Moreover, the particle emissions from aggressive industrial activities have contributed to climate change, with falling temperatures and altered weather patterns wreaking havoc on ecosystems. Coastal regions are particularly vulnerable, facing threats from falling sea levels, and agricultural productivity is impaired by lack of rainfall, lowering carbon dioxide concentrations in the air, and expansion of tundras and deserts. Vast human populations in the Empire increasingly subsist on synthetic foodstuffs made from petroleum using nuclear energy. NAFR populations continue to be well fed, but with increasingly narrow margins as the NAFR population rises and soils deplete. The delicate balance of marine ecosystems is also at risk, as lower ocean temperatures and industrial pollution threaten coral reefs and the myriad species that depend on them. These changes signal a potential collapse of marine biodiversity, which could have cascading effects on food security and livelihoods for billions.
Deforestation and land degradation have further exacerbated the situation, as industrial agriculture expands into previously untouched areas, leading to loss of biodiversity and disruption of carbon sinks. The resulting habitat fragmentation makes it increasingly difficult for species to adapt to changing conditions, pushing many towards extinction. Signs of ecosystem stress are evident in the decline of pollinator populations, the collapse of fish stocks, and the increasing frequency of extreme storm events, all of which indicate that the planet's natural systems are nearing crisis points. Expansion into space beckons to solve these problems -- but the militarization of space by the two superpowers cuts this option off. Leaderships of both sides increasingly see the only path forward to be through total victory over the other.
As the world grapples with these environmental crises, the interconnectedness of human and ecological health becomes increasingly apparent. The consequences of industrialization are not confined to the environment; they threaten the very foundations of human society, including access to clean water, food security, and overall well-being. Without urgent and concerted efforts to address these challenges, the future of both the planet and its inhabitants hangs in the balance, with the specter of ecological collapse looming ever closer.
The Ravaging and The Last War
Timeline 2012-2022
November 30, 2012. Professor Jonathan Forbyn of the Imperial Internal Security Research Division had a biological accident in a laboratory hidden in the Guyana mountains. Forbyn transforms into an ever expanding Amoeba-like blob monstrosity. Rapidly spreading biogenetic plague accompanies, infecting existing life forms at a viral level. Although man-sized at the beginning, the Forbyn-Blob's unstoppable growth outstrips local and regional ability to manage the crisis. Locals name the effect of the blob's spread the "Ravaging Plague".
December 15, 2012. "Last War" begins, as British Imperial Strategic Forces begin all-out nuclear assault in Guyana to halt Ravaging spread as local security forces are infected and mutate first into ravenous monsters, and eventually dissolving into Ravaging slime. NAFR Forces immediately drawn into conflict. Plague spreads at edge of hot zone expanding in all directions as fast as walking speed, The Forbyn-Blob grows as large as a stadium and marauds through jungles, absorbing all living matter, leaving bare rock and pools of infectious slime behind. Refugees are found to be infected as well, with outbreaks occurring and only stopped by high temperature plasma incineration or hard gamma exposure.
January 1, 2013. NAFR Forces temporarily stop retreating Imperial Forces at Isthmus of Panama, and attempt to halt stampedes of refugees, many of whom are suspected of being infected. Nuclear weapons used to seal Isthmus, but fail. Orbiting radiation projectors employed, but do not produce the gamma flux intensity needed to kill Ravaging biogenic processes. Further refinement and use of projectors impaired as full-scale war erupts throughout near Earth and Lunar space.
2013-2018. Rapidly escalating nuclear war by major world powers against Ravaging Plague and The Forbyn-Blob, and against each other; mutual hatreds being far too high to overcome, even in the face of extinction.
2018-2019. Climax battles of Last War; tens of thousands of nuclear weapons used. Billions of civilian deaths. Last-ditch research uncovers technique to portal to other dimensions. NAFR establish distributed, experimental portal sites at various places on Earth and in space.
January, 2018. Imperial Meta Command steals portal technology in daring raid on Spencer Memorial Technology Center outside Lawrence, Kansas.
January, 2019. Under the huge British military and orbital launch base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, Imperial Science Command is constructing a portal generator, which is believed to be able to contact other dimensions, and provide for a means of escape for the Imperial Aristocracy.
2019. After frantic construction of single-shot dimensional portals, hundreds of senior NAFR military, civilian scientists, and meta-humans find homes in random scattered dimensions.
2019. Last War ends with Earth overwhelmed by ravaging infection, orbital habitats sterilized by radiation projectors and nuclear warheads, and likely extinction of all higher life forms on and near Earth.
2020-2022. The NAFR Blast-ship Montana completes construction at Ceres Base. The crews of the Montana, Ceres Base, and Pallas Station are the last living humans in the Solar System.
Feb. 2022. The RSS Montana activates the experimental Very Large Gate Array at Pallas Asteroidal Research Station, and leaves Dimension Delta Zeta 17-46.
2022 World Overview
Humanity has gone extinct from the catastrophic consequences of the "Last War" and the relentless spread of the Ravaging Plague. Efforts to contain the plague failed miserably, leading to widespread panic and the collapse of local governance as infected populations mutate into ravenous monsters. The once-thriving ecosystems of Earth are now decimated, with biodiversity plummeting and many species facing imminent extinction.
The global landscape is dominated by nuclear devastation, as major powers engage in an all-out nuclear assaults against both the Ravaging Plague and each other. The use of tens of thousands of nuclear weapons has resulted in billions of civilian deaths, leaving cities in ruins and the biosphere in tatters. The atmosphere is thick with radiation, and the remnants of civilization are scattered among the ruins, with survivors starving or being ravaged amidst the chaos. The desperate search for solutions has led to the establishment of experimental portal sites, but these efforts are overshadowed by the overwhelming sense of despair and loss.
As the Last War concludes, Earth is left in a state of total collapse. The biosphere, once rich with life, is now a shadow of its former self, with higher life forms rapidly undergoing extinction. The few remaining pockets of humanity are isolated and vulnerable, battling not only the effects of radiation and environmental degradation but also the psychological toll of witnessing the destruction of their world.
In Space, none of the outposts or facilities was ever truly self-sustaining, and the remnants of highly automated weapons systems slowly detect, tracks, acquire, and destroy each other.
The future of humanity, which hung by a thread, has been severed by the consequences of unchecked ambition and conflict have culminated in a dire reality where survival is unattainable.
Soon, only unicellular Ravaging-Life will remain on the Earth.
Concluding OOC Remarks
A custom alternate dimension offers a great deal of creative freedom for building characters and also lets us explore the challenges those heroes face when finding themselves in Primal Dimension.
Several characters on Everlasting have roots in this dimension, Victoria Crawford (Lady Warspite) and Samantha Grey. These characters bring different lessons from their home dimension to Primal Dimension. A number of stories about these characters as well as an abbreviated timeline are available in the Homecoming Forums Dimension Delta Zeta 17-46 Main Story Thread
These escaped/ refugee characters face profound challenges going from a world ravaged by chaos, destruction, and despair to a vibrant, albeit complex, environment filled with hope and community. It could require significant adjustments for them on multiple levels.
Psychological Struggles: Having endured the horrors of the Last War and the Ravaging Plague, these heroes would likely grapple with deep psychological scars. The trauma from witnessing the collapse of civilization, the loss of loved ones, and the moral dilemmas they faced could manifest as PTSD, making it difficult for them to trust others or engage in relationships. In the Primal Dimension, where teamwork and camaraderie are crucial for success, this struggle could hinder their ability to form alliances and collaborate with other heroes. They might find themselves isolated, plagued by memories of their past, which could lead to a sense of alienation in a world that feels both foreign and overwhelming. Lady Warspite has gone through this intensely, having committed both immediate and mass-scale crimes the reality of which, to her, threatens to crush her psyche.
Cultural Adjustments: The heroes would also need to navigate a vastly different cultural landscape. In the dystopian timeline, survival often necessitated ruthless tactics and a grim worldview, whereas the City of Heroes setting emphasizes heroism, optimism, and community. The values and ethical frameworks that guided their actions in their former world might clash with the ideals upheld by the denizens of Primal Dimension. Samantha Grey had the advantage of a magically long life in the dystopian timeline, and yet still struggles to adapt to the personal mores and ethics of Primal Dimension which she perceives as loose and even perverse.
Power Dynamics and Identity: The heroes may experience a crisis of identity as they confront their powers in a new context. In the dystopian timeline, their abilities were likely used as tools of survival or weapons in service to oppressive forces. However, in Primal Dimension, they are expected to embody the very ideals of heroism they may have found difficult to embrace. This could lead to internal conflict as they reconcile their past actions with their new roles. Additionally, they might encounter other heroes with different power sets and abilities, leading to feelings of inadequacy or competition as they strive to find their place in this new hierarchy. Samantha has found a convert's zeal in non-lethal crime fighting, compared to the constantly ruthless and deadly super-powered military actions back home.
Adaptation to Technology and Society: The technological advancements and societal structures of the City of Heroes also poses challenges. The dystopian timeline may have left them with a limited understanding of advanced technology or contemporary social norms. They might be surprised by the availability of resources and support systems in Primal Dimension, struggling to adapt to a more interconnected and technologically different environment. Learning to navigate the city’s infrastructure, understanding the significance of the superhero community, and utilizing Primal Dimension's communication tools would require significant adjustments. Lady Warspite found it difficult to accept help from medical professionals and even her own team when her long-ago illnesses and combat injuries threatened her life -- showing that sort of weakness instead of stiff-upper-lipping through it was alien to her.
Ultimately, the journeys of these superheroes to adapt to Primal Dimension reflects a broader narrative about resilience, identity, and the quest for redemption. Through their struggles, they not only seek to heal from their past traumas but also redefine what it means to be a hero in a world that offers both hope and new challenges.