Age of Godhood: Universe Compendium

[Adrius Frostglare]

"The Journals of Dr. Alfors Sagosa, Project Democritus" is but a glance at the world I've spent hours creating in my mind. I've constructed the culture, economy, political ruling, architecture, and overall look of the world I am rapidly growing in my mind. I intend this to be more than just a mere event in one place. When I am done with the journals, I intend to write an entire descriptive encyclopedia on the world, including a timeline starting from the beginning of the "Age of Godhood" to Project Democritus. Geography, methods of transportation, weaponry, and science will be richly described and presented. Above all, I'll write the fruits of Project Democritus and the many terrible abilities birthed from the insatiable ambition to "control reality".

As such, much of the information is already in my head and can be put to paper once Project Democritus is finished. However, that does not mean I won't answer questions about the world. This thread serves the double-purpose of presenting what could become a future novel... who knows?

[Adrius Frostglare]

History


1995 - Antimatter created artificially for the first time.

2002 - The ATHENA project announced that they had created the world's first "cold" antihydrogen.

2004 - ATHENA researchers released data on a new method of creating low-energy antihydrogen.

2012 - A large quantity of antihydrogen - more than a gram - are collected from a successful process by ATHENA. The UN passes the "Antimatter Prohibition Act", which banned the creation and distribution of antimatter outside authorized organizations.

2029 - Antimatter replaces ethanol as a source of electric power. The first fusion generator created within the confines of ATHENA.

2030 - Antimatter leaks into the black market. Antimatter terrorism begins to rise.

2035 - Riots begin to protest against antimatter use. Government files additional support against terrorism.

2045 - World War III is waged between the United Nations forces and the black market forces.

2053 - The end of World War III, with the United Nations coming victorious. The Black Market is all but destroyed. The planet is left devastated. Resources become scant everywhere. The Second Great Depression begins. Population reaches 12.5 billion.

2057 - Extraterrestrial mining is proposed. With new resources from Mars, the world is slowly restored with a booming economy.

2062 - Lead scientists begin experimenting with antimatter again in controlled and safe environments.

2069 - The United States issues a popular vote to unify the world under one government. The popular vote rules in favor. The United Nations disbands, instead becoming the Ordinatio Mundus, "World Order".

2072 - Soon, the leaders of the world disappear mysteriously one by one. Assassinations become common. The United States is left as the sole remaining leader after a while. Through propaganda, data manipulation, and other various methods, the country halts to exist. Now all that was left was the Ordinatio Mundus. The Age of Godhood begins.

2074 A.D./2 A.G.) - Neumatter discovered by accident for the first time. Immediate research into this new resource booms.

2075 A.D./3 A.G. - Extraterrestrial mining expands to Venus using neumatter vessels, tools, and constructs.

2077 A.D./5 A.G. - The population reaches 15 billion. Land disputes emerge. Riots spread. The O.M. plans a new solution.

2079 A.D./7 A.G. - The Upper Plane begins to be built with Texas as the origin point, then spreading outward.

2082 A.D./10 A.G. - During the construction of Upper Plane, the O.M. begins an ethnic and religious purge. Seeing religion and individual culture as a hindrance to peace as well as progress, information regarding these customs is destroyed. Religious followers are killed, but after the massacre of over 3 million followers, the rest stop resisting. Many go underground. Others drop their faith. The O.M. establishes a standard "global" ethnicity and nationality.

2089 A.D./17 A.G. - Most of North America's Upper Plane construction is completed. Further construction into other areas begins. Plans are drawn for the Cross Bridges.

2093 A.D./21 A.G. - Debates to colonize Mars begin. Despite popular vote, the Ordinatio Mundus declines the action, since separation would challenge their power and make it difficult to maintain political and military control. A critic, calling the O.M. tyrannical and self-indulging, is shot in public.

2095 A.D./23 A.G. - Religious groups converge in the area that was once Jerusalem in secret. They form the Idealist Resistance Force to return the world to its past, nation-separated, multi-religious self. The population reaches 18.4 billion.

2100 A.D./28 A.G. - Responding to attacks from the IRF, the OM issues the Standard Belief Bill. Under it, every registered citizen must show loyalty to the world religion, "divine humanism", as well as loyalty to the O.M. itself. Unregistered citizens are to either register or be killed.

2102 A.D./30 A.G. - Construction of Xerxes, the first of the great five fusion-power facilities, begins to supply the North America with power. Antimatter power plants are shut down throughout North America.

2107 A.D./35 A.G. - Neumatter weaponry is issued.

2109 A.D./37 A.G. - Neumatter ships and equipment is used to explore the sun and Mercury in close detail. Xerxes is completely built.

2118 A.D./46 A.G. - Asteroid mining operations begin.

2120 A.D./48 A.G. - First theories of an unseen energy emerge. Research begins to be conducted.

2125 A.D./53 A.G. - Lower Plane (what was once Earth before Upper Plane) begin a mass migration to Upper Plane after unsustainable crop failure and massive weather catastrophes. Unable to produce food needed for the population, a great starvation begins, dropping the population from 21 billion to 17.4 billion and then 15.8 billion until it is solved in. The Mass Grave, located in what was Colorado, is built to hold the amazing amount of corpses.

2126 A.D./54 A.G. - OM issues for the construction and programming of the weather AI to supply Lower Plane in an attempt to repopulate and revive the deadened land. Plans to build Khan in South America (where it was once central Brazil) and Ramses in Europe (what was once France) begin as Upper Plane spreads to these areas.

2134 A.D./62 A.G. - Upper Plane is rigged all over with the weather AI. Rain falls on North America's crust for the first time in 40 years. Restoration programs begin. The OM seeks a way to not be dependent on Lower Plane agricultural production. Ramses is finished, but Khan's construction is delayed.

2140 A.D./68 A.G. - Minerals are imported from Mars and asteroids. "Terralization" of Upper Plane begins. The plan calls for the placement of fertile earth over 50% of Upper Plane.

2141 A.D./69 A.G. - Khan is built at last. Upper Plane's construction spreads to Africa. Plans to create Alexander, the fourth great fusion-power facility, in central Africa begin.

2145 A.D./73 A.G. - The research lead by Jonathan P. Astor slowly loses popularity with the OM. Astor pleads for more time and money. The OM grudgingly accepts after he agrees to solve their food production problem first in exchange.

2149 A.D./77 A.G. - Astor presents the first bio-dome self-production program, solving the food crisis for the nobles. Construction of the bio-dome in Upper Plane ensues. He is granted more money and time to complete his research. Alexander's construction is finished.

2150 A.D./78 A.G. - Food production and overall economy of Lower Plane decreases. Slums become more common in the once-promising Upper Plane.

2151 A.D./79 A.G. - Almost overnight, destitution is common in Lower Plane. Seeing no need to maintain moral order for money in the area, OM issues the Freedom Act, stating that any business of any kind can be run in Lower Plane so long as the citizens pledge loyalty. Brothels, bars, and all manner of degenerate businesses spring in the city. Violence rises. The population reaches 19.5 billion.

2152 A.D./80 A.G. - After a long stay underground, the IRF springs out and begins attacking government facilities. They attempt to shut down Xerxes but fail. IRF infiltrators begin to spread throughout the world.

2158 A.D./86 A.G. - A disillusioned Jonathan Astor attempts to step down from his research after nearly 40 years of fruitless effort. The OM forces him to finish what he started, however, threatening to kill his family if he does not. Cowed, Astor agrees.

2160 A.D./88 A.G. - The government, unsatisfied with the lack of control in Upper Plane, issues research in finding a new method to keep tabs on its officials. Creation of Philosophy, the informational storage/processing unit, begins.

2164 A.D./92 A.G. - Jonathan discovers the strange force. It is unknown what this substance is for, however. Satisfied for now, the OM releases his family. Shortly after, Astor commits suicide but leaves his research to be used. The force is named "Astor", after himself.

2169 A.D./97 A.G. - Philosophy is created. With Philosophy, the high officials of the government are allowed to access infinite stores of information with a mere thought, as well as locate subordinates with a lesser chip inserted in them. These chips are "Pawn", issued to all soldiers and low-ranking government officials, "Aristotle", issued to lower military command and upper government employees, "Plato", given to the nobles and highest ranking military and utility personnel, and "Socrates", the single chip that is given to the president of the OM.

2172 A.D./100 A.G. - The OM celebrates "100 years of Godhood". Destiny Day, on December 25th, is established as a global holiday.

2173 A.D./101 A.G. - Construction of Stalin, the last of the fusion-power facilities, begins in what was Mongolia, Asia. The Upper Plane covers almost all continental mass save a few areas. Construction of Upper Plane halts at last. Population reaches 23.6 billion.

2178 A.D./106 A.G. - Astor research resumes, but it is dubbed near useless after fruitless endeavors. "Plato" chips are installed for the first time in researchers and soldiers.

2185 A.D./113 A.G. - Theolis Pasquali proposes a use for Astor and asks for the funding. Wanting to break the limits of humanity, the OM launches a research facility far in the outreaches of the Asteroid Belt, with Pasquali and his team in it.

2194 A.D./122 A.G. - Pasquali plans for the extraction and use of Astor.

2195 A.D./123 A.G. - The Pasquali incident. Failing to extract Astor, a huge void ensues, consuming the research facility but not before Pasquali sends all the data using his Aristotle chip to Earth. The explosion and ensuing void zone is visible from Upper Plane on Earth.

2200 A.D./128 A.G. - Alfors Sagosa petitions Project Democritus. His petition is denied, however, due to the overall freshness of the Pasquali incident and fears from the OM's nobles.

2201 A.D./129 A.G. - After much delay, Stalin is completed in Mongolia.

2203 A.D./131 A.G. - Sagosa asks again for a research team, this time not only to discover the secrets of Astor but to use it to create what the government and its ideology hungered for: immortality, power, and godhood. Delighted at the prospect and frustrated into action by rebel attacks by the hidden IRF, the OM agrees. The world reaches 26 billion inhabitants.

2204 A.D./132 A.G. - Project Democritus launches.

[Adrius Frostglare]

The Planes

When the population problem hit its climax, people started building a "second floor" to the world. This is "Upper Plane" It is not all urban, however, because land underneath was not enough to provide the agricultural food needs for everyone. Earth and minerals were imported from extraterrestrial sources, such as meteorites, to finish the second "layer" of arable land in Upper Plane. Upper Plane is a land of polar opposites, where the richest of the rich live and the poorest of the poor dwell, with vast "eco-domes" that automate the production of food. The plates are connected by a multitude of bridges, long and wide enough to be seen from space. Upper Plane is held by massive columns pushing up from the earth's surface. The materials needed to build it were imported from other planets, mainly Mars, Venus, and, to a lesser extent, Mercury. There is a high military presence in Upper Plane, especially around the rich area and even more so in the entrance to the five great fusion-power supplies in five corners of the world.

The original Earth is still breathing, too. While Upper Plane blocked the rays of the sun from reaching Earth, it is still supplied by a "weather AI". The underside of Upper Plane is a single, vast, "holographic" sky that provides changes in sunlight, rain, and all the natural processes as if it were the Earth today. It even shifts between night and day. However, it cannot simulate a sunset or a sunrise, so usually there is a distinct gray where there would generally have been a splash of colors. Lower Plane's slums are comparable to those of Upper Plane, though they are consistent. Lower Plane is also the only place where human-tended farms are found, the majority of the food coming from the automated ones in Upper Plane, something the farmers cannot compete with and hardly manage to scrap a living. "Lower Plane's" inhabitants are more moderate and equal, even in the cities, but it is an equality shared in poverty. With all the great leading and military figures on Upper Plane, Lower Plane is much like the "Wild West": everyone makes his or her own rules. However, military presence is not lacking here, but it certainly has much fewer miles militis than Upper Plane and even then most of them are concentrated around the five great fusion-power supplies needed to run the world. Other than that, they try their best to keep the peace.

[Adrius Frostglare]

Economy

Agriculture and Market - Agriculture is primarily based in Upper Plane, where the bio-domes automatically produce the freshest foods often found in the high market (for high-ranking members of society only) at cheap prices and the middle market (for the common members of Upper Plane) at a more expensive cost. If there is a job in this industry for the Upper Plane, it's in technicians who maintain the machinery for the agriculture production. Each has a high education and MUST be a registered worker with a Pawn chip installed. That means that if the person has any thoughts on joining the IRF, they're dead in an instant.

Lower Plane has old-style farmers who plow the ground with their own sweat and cattle. These farmers barely scratch a living from the land, going to the nearby cities to sell their hard-gained wares.

Any kind of fruit, vegetable, meat, dairy, and other product can be found here. Genetic has allowed the production of large crops. Some watermelons are known to be as big as a man's torso. These enormous crops, however, are only found in the high market. The middle market produces average-sized, average-grade foodstuffs. The lower market, found only in Lower Plane, has the poorest items in the market, though these are sold even cheaper than in the middle market because Lower Plane citizens have established their own “economy”, still dependant on the government in terms of social services but independent in terms of consumer purchase. It is in this low-wage, low-pay system that they survive.

Industry – The second-most prominent part of the widely urban planet, the industry has swollen into a behemoth that dominates the lives of the common and rich alike. With new technology researched and discovered daily, the factories pump out wave after wave of finished goods. The factories are sometimes so massive they are at the centers of the slums and other areas, a colossus among the seemingly insignificant concrete and steel buildings around it. About 39% of the slum-dwelling population works in the factories and other industrial businesses, but the poor wages are always consistent and a never-changing price to pay for a steady job… one that is prone to kill at least ten people every hour.

Mining is the hand-companion to industry. Another titan, miners are often sent to Mars, Venus, or the asteroid fields to seek precious material needed at Earth. A dangerous but financially secure job, many miners do not see their families and friends for months on end. However, to prevent the spontaneous colonization in a planet, miners are often shifted and laid off for three months before returning. They also may not return to the same location or even planet as before. While a necessity, mining also presents a social and political worry among the government officials.

Education – Education is no longer as great a necessity for most people as it used to be. Most people who have an education are the relatively few lucky in the Lower Plane or are from Upper Plane. Those who receive an education are expected to enter the most predominant part of the intellectual employments: science, specifically physics. Should one reach high standard and prestige in the scientific circles, they are destined to a richer life. However, because education is expensive (partly because the government wants to ensure the majority of the population remains needy enough to HAVE to work in the factories) almost all highly educated people come from rich, noble, or political families. Those who do not take up science will likely find a medium job as teachers and public workers. Medical professions and facilities are limited to Upper Plane, though there are pharmacies in Lower Plane (often used to make or buy harmful, addictive drugs rather than medicine).

Government – The government displays the greatest spectrum of rich to poor jobs. The president and the nobles, the most powerful and wealthy of the world, are heads of the government. The need for secretaries and other “intellectual assistance” was rendered obsolete with the creation of the great mother AI “Philosophy”. As such, if one works in a non-political job within the government, such as public service, it will be manual in nature. These can range from higher-placed jobs – such as machinery maintenance or personal servants (such as chefs, waiters, and butlers) – to truly pitiful work such as a street cleaners and sewage workers. More often than not, a job application will be dictated not on ability but on the sheer whim of a politician or noble.

Military – Possibly the most wanted job is that of a soldier or military official. Military service is the easiest possible way for a lowlife to climb the social ladder and eventually strike it rich. It is also the easiest way to avoid poverty and many slum dwellers and Upper Planers alike take the chance to enter the military. However, it is a very risky job and while the massive size of the planet ensures that there is not likely to be too much danger, when it strikes there is a very high rate of death. Military presence is mainly needed to fight back the IRF and keep peace through intimidation or brute force. Some join the military simply due to hunger for power. Sometimes, demand from the government for armed forces will be so high they will draft people forcibly. Steady salary, daily meals, and job security, however, make joining the military a very tempting offer. In doing so, however, there is a high price: you must be implanted with a Pawn chip and upon doing so you are stripped of the few freedoms you have forever. For this reason, many more avoid joining so they may do as they please.

Entertainment - What would have long ago been in the criminal and underground, the entertainment business - at least, the legal entertainment business - has expanded (and diminished in some areas at the same time). Movies and music are all regulated and funded by the government and high society members, often with the reoccurring themes. The more bustling part of this area, though, differs between Upper and Lower Plane. Upper Plane's entertainment revolves around balls, dances, and public events, official sports, as well as all the common pleasures of the flesh (though in a more refined form). Lower Plane, however, is much more black, with whorehouses for both genders open at all hours, pharmacies selling recreational drugs, and inhumane sports such as cage fighting and death duels and derbies. Television, like the theater and music, became the same monotone instrument filled with propaganda and exaggerated slander. Nevertheless, the entertainment business has experienced a bloated, unholy, unrestricted growth that sees no bounds.

Criminal and Underground – The criminal market thrives greatly. While laws prohibiting drugs, prostitution, and even age restrictions to these products have long been lifted, there is a new wave of illegal merchandise that is hungrily sought out by not only the IRF but by individuals seeking the pleasures of the higher life without the price as well. The underground market generally sells weapons and ammunition to the IRF and these desperate groups. However, a market for books, works of art, and cultural memoirs has shot up due to underground religious and ethnic groups and it has become a strong market as well. Possibly the product that gives the government the greatest frustration from the underground market is the “bug chips”. These chips, which are planted in the individual’s scalp rather than surgically introduced into their brain as regular chips are, transmit a fake signal to Philosophy that marks the person as loyal to the OM while still being able to think and do as they please. This product allows infiltration and can be removed should they be discovered to keep from being tracked.

Currency – Currency comes in the form of “Globules”, dollars with the symbol of the OM in it and the phrase “In Man We Trust” printed underneath. Globule cent coins are made of cheap nickel. The rich are aware that they would make transactions so great that cents would be limited to the poor… thus, poor coins. Even so, they have their own “Upper Plane” coins made of gold and silver when they do use cents.

Within the IRF, they pass around “Relics” for currency. Relics are of the same value as Globules but hold a different appearance, showing a mix of religious scenes from various books. Relics are restricted solely to the hidden IRF capital/headquarter of Soulhaven and must be traded in exchange for Globules at an office or bank should the individual plan to go out into the OM’s territory.

The use of public/political facilities can only be used by those with a chip linked with Philosophy, thus marking them as citizens of the OM. This will further be explained in the “Laws” section.

[Adrius Frostglare]

Law

The Laws of the Ordinatio Mundus are collectively known as the Commandments (mocking the Christian Ten Commandments). The law primarily focuses on maintaining the power in the hands of the nobles and government. These are the laws instituted by the founders of the Ordinatio Mundus during the beginning of the Age of Godhood:

1. Economic transaction must be done with registered citizens only. Registered citizens have chips installed in them.

2. Military weapons can only be issued to military personnel. Any non-military wielding military equipment will be terminated.

3. Practice of doctrines and ceremonies coinciding with any of the religions, ethnic groups, or nationalities (or anything even remotely resembling these) as well as display of items or documents related to them is strictly prohibited. Offenders will be terminated. Citizens must follow the global culture.

4. The laws documented previously by any and all organizations, governments, and states prior to this one are hereby revoked.

5. Citizenship must be applied upon birth. Any citizen over the age of eighteen lacking a chip must apply for it or be killed. Minors will be given no alternative but citizenship.

6. Falsification of citizenship will be punished by death.

7. Physical offense of any kind against nobility will be punished by death.

8. Citizens must obey every law dictated by the Ordinatio Mundus. Disobedience will be punished depending on the magnitude of the offense.

9. Colonization outside of Earth is strictly prohibited.

10. These laws are to be followed until the end of the Age of Godhood and can be changed by no one.

[Adrius Frostglare]

Geography

Earth - The world is almost completely uniform throughout, half of it an urban nest and the other half a country, both artificial and natural. If an area of Lower Plane is urban, so will the area directly above it be as well. Same is said about the rural landscape. Parts of Upper Plane are widely meant to reflect the areas below, save that all of it is fertile plane with only tall mountains poking their peaks through it.

There are five plates that make Upper Plane, each with an antimatter power facility to supply it as well as Lower Plane. These massive facilities, each named after prominent tyrants, kings, and conquerors of human history, are shaped as pyramids, though half of them are buried underground and their peaks are over fifty stories high in Upper Plane. Upper Plane itself is over three miles above Lower Plane. Their sides are over 500 miles in length at the surface of Earth and little less than 600 miles in the bottom of the underground level. They are:

1. Xerxes, found in what was once central Texas.
2. Khan in the Brazilian mainland.
3. Ramses in France, in the place where the Eiffel Tower once stood.
4. Alexander in Central Africa.
5. Stalin in Mongolia
6. William in Australia (planned to be constructed)

These are integral to the survival and continued operation of the world. To compensate for potential threats, the nobles have their own private power stations within their abodes.

Lower Plane is dotted with enormous pillars that raise and “hold the sky”, or rather the holographic image given by the weather AI to appear as the sky, which is Upper Plane. These gigantic pillars are known as the Arms of Atlas and they are over 100 miles wide each with a distance of approximately 300 miles distance from each other, forming a great grid over Lower Plane.

The city that was once Jerusalem, as well as most everything within the surrounding country, was completely destroyed, the desert completely expanded. In the Upper Plane above it is the high noble city of Neo-Pandora. Within its walls, its luxurious and fantastic buildings and its streets that seem to be paved with gold lies the Inner Heaven Hall, from whence the president and the society of elites rule the world.

Encompassing all that was Colorado is the tragic Mass Grave. The Mass Grave, a sea of stone tombs with only a name to identify them, was birthed during the starvation years ago. Home to superstition, suspicion, outlaws, refugees, rebel fighters, and underground markets and towns, the Mass Grave is a massive stain upon the OM’s domain.

San Francisco is home to the chief research department in the Alcatraz Subterranean Research And Testing Institution, A.S.R.A.T.I. Here, the Divina Fortuna were born.

The West Coast and the East Coast in North America are completely urban, with a large gap of rural society in the center of the continent save Texas (The city looks like one enormous U). Rural Upper Plane is coated in bio-domes that produce its food for it. Central America has no Upper Plane level to it and is completely deserted, the wild jungle allowed to spread everywhere. The same could be said of northern and southern Africa, where deserts dominate. Europe is completely urbanized. The Upper Plane in the Middle East is the richest area in the world, to the point where there is no city below the city. The coasts of Asia are all uninhabited, including India and the Pacific islands. Australia, lacking a power plant for now, is also uninhabited, though prospects for it are high. Antarctica remains uninhabited, but is known as an “escape country” for the truly desperate.

Upper Plane’s plates are connected by wide, long bridges collectively called “The Cross”. The Cross is held in place by Arms of Atlas and is just as wide as one, with constant traffic going to and from stations. It spreads as an immense highway over Upper Plane and narrows as it ramps down into Lower Plane.

Mars – A mining planet. Mars is dotted by mining facilities all over. However, it holds one permanent establishment outside of the eyes and ears of the OM: the IRF subterranean capital city of Soulhaven somewhere is Vastitas Borealis (http://www.hjo3.net/mars_map_botha.jpg) A large city lined with tunnels and guards, the IRF has carved out a seemingly prehistoric abode from the massive, hidden caverns, as well as implemented a heating system to keep the extreme cold from killing them.

Venus – Venus, like Mars, is primarily a mining establishment. The IRF city of Exodus is found here, protected somewhere beneath the roiling and hazardous planet. Though much smaller than Soulhaven (it is basically a large, crashed neumatter ship buried beneath the molten lava) the citizens enjoy relatively free lives and is the closest the IRF has ever gotten to life as it was on Earth. Eventually, however, their population will grow too great for the ship to hold and it is a painfully known problem. Exodus’ location and even its existence are unknown to the IRF and the OM.

Mercury – Mining operations in Mercury have begun but recently. Only one mining camp is found here.

Asteroid field – Random asteroid fields are found throughout space, especially further out. While technology has not allowed the OM to mine the rich and limitless Asteroid Belt, the fields provide a taste of what they can attain from them.

[Adrius Frostglare]

Technology and the Military

Transportation – The cities in the OM have become so enormous that simply driving will not do. They have been separated into various zones, each zone connected by one massive highway. The highway works as an “elevator” of sorts. One can park their vehicle on one of the transport platforms and be sped away at more than 500 miles per hour over magnetic railings, reaching another far away part of the city – or world - effectively and speedily. With the world connected by an extremely fast ground network, commercial airports have become obsolete and rail stations have gained a new status of importance.

Agriculture – There are two great advancements in agriculture that are the culmination of the current era: the bio domes and the Undersky Weather AI system. The bio domes are limited to Upper Plane, where they automatically produce the surplus food that the middle and upper class enjoy using artificial environmental recreation such as automated hydration and fertilization, seasonal change, temperature control, and constant day/night changes (complete with solar power light). The Undersky AI makes farming possible in the otherwise infertile, darkened ground of Lower Plane, which would otherwise be forever covered in a dry, cold, dark atmosphere. While the AI makes it possible, it does not make it easy and farmers still struggle to compete against the more efficient, more productive bio domes.

Energy - The world runs on antimatter, particularly antihydrogen. It is the base fuel for vehicles, heavy weaponry, and the cities. Beyond that, there are common electrical batteries in the small to medium equipment, including portable electronics and weaponry.

Industrial – Factories are self-maintained in a line of production, though heavy mechanical maintenance is still required from millions of workers, similarly to the bio domes. They are mechanically operated by an AI. Mining and harvesting equipment, similarly, is automated save for the miners that maintain these machines and keep them from collapsing.

Government – The government rules using technology. They use a supercomputer named Philosophy, which holds all information found in the world, including the identities of registered citizens. The accessibility of this data is restricted to those with high chips (Plato and Socrates). There are four types of chips: Pawn, Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates. The pawn chip is found in the average citizen and soldier, Aristotle in lesser nobility, rich members of society, and middle-ranked military commanders, and Plato chips are on high nobility, government leaders, and military leaders. The Socrates chip is one-of-a-kind, held by the president. Socrates is able to locate where all chip users are, Plato chips can discover the location of Aristotle chip users and pawn chip users, and Aristotle chips allow tracking of pawn chip users. Only Socrates and Plato can access the vast reserve of information found in Philosophy (and only Socrates knows where the location of Philosophy is) as well as enter Neo-Pandora. Aristotle is more than not a badge of accomplishment in the society and a potential candidate for the Plato chip. Pawns are simply meant to keep tabs on the user. To top it off, members using Aristotle and Plato chips have their brainwaves constantly scanned to ensure loyalty. All chips are surgically inserted directly to the user’s brain, a process which is free of charge.

To circumvent and infiltrate the OM, “bug chips” have sprung in the underground market. These bug chips emit a frequency that attaches them to Philosophy and identifies them as loyal citizens. These chips even emit an artificial brainwave for Aristotle members so as to make them appear loyal and, as such, invisible to the system. They are convenient in that they can be removed from the person should they become a liability (the liability meaning they can be tracked down and discovered) and are attached to the scalp. This, unfortunately, makes them possible to be discovered physically. There are also no bug chips for Plato, since the system scrutinizes and maintains a very close eye on these people. Thus, infiltration of Neo-Pandora is as of yet impossible.

Military – Military technology is the primary focus of the technological world. Tanks, combat planes, and field equipment have all been upgraded. Each soldier is equipped with neumatter armor that is harder than its pro- and antimatter counterpart - not to mention making them immune to DF control – while still lightweight. Neutungsten is used for ease of movement in the joint areas while neutitanium is used for heavier protective plating. The military has made their soldiers uniform, being indistinguishable between sexes and ethnic background or skin color to avoid loyalty issues. Their voices are even the same using voice-altering software. To top it off, the armor doubles as a muscle suit which increases speed and strength. Each is trained in basic hand-to-hand combat. At Major ranking, the soldiers are gifted with swords which, while originally meant to represent a badge of accomplishment, many have sharpened and carry with them to battle with deadly efficiency. The higher ranking a member of the military is, the deadlier he’ll be (even the generals and tacticians).

In terms of weaponry, each miles militis is equipped with a Centurion customizable rifle. The Centurion has modifiable parts capable of turning it into:

1. A rail gun capable of launching a bullet at 3500mph every 5 seconds. It is bulky and heavy, hard to move, but is capable of plowing through concrete and steel defenses. The recoil is also great, but well worth it.
2. A grenade launcher. Each soldier carries eight grenades of varying kinds (smoke, frag, and incendiary) and one mandatory antimatter grenade. The original grenades are all much more potent and effective as compared to their past versions while the antimatter grenade can level a two-story building.
3. An automatic rifle. This is the standard, unmodified version of the Centurion, which fires ten rounds per second.
4. A sniper rifle capable of shooting bullets accurately at more than 5000 meters with armor-piercing capability. While not as potent as the rail gun, these can pierce through five inches of concrete.

They also carry a standard handgun and a combat knife for melee combat.

Military vehicles have all been upgraded or eliminated. The Chariot tank is a slimmer, smaller vehicle designed to better maneuver about the urban landscape. Helios is equipped with an antimatter-powered cannon, a mini-gun on both sides, and magnetic treads that are capable of climbing walls. They are also capable of leaping using a propulsion system underneath them, enabling them to hop from building to building, provided it’s less than ten yards away. Each Chariot tank is manned by one soldier. They are found both in Upper Plane and in Lower Plane, though Lower Plane sees them in few numbers.

One stark contrast with the Chariot, the Saturn is a behemoth well over 3 stories high meant for open combat and defense. This massive construct is known to crush everything in its path. In addition to its enormous, cylindrical cannon, the Saturn also is equipped with a deployment bay for carrying up to ten Chariots and 1000 soldiers. The Saturn is piloted by a 100 man crew. These are only found in Upper Plane and are especially bountiful in Neo-Pandora. They are also used when scaling a heavy siege on enemies, though due to the lack of large enemy fortresses (beyond the as-yet undiscovered Soulhaven) they’ve rarely seen action. They remain a looming threat for eventual all-out war, however.

Aerial support comes in the form of the Pegasus combat jet. Since the need for air combat has long been lost, the Pegasus is mainly a fast hit-and-run bomber. Traveling at hypersonic speed, the Pegasus is also a quick escape vehicle for important figures in need of escape. Each Pegasus is manned by one pilot with ten empty seats at its cargo. It can carry six antimatter bombs at a time.

The gargantuan Helios battleship serves a dual purpose: to carry miners and to carry soldiers and Pegasus. Commercially, the Helios neumatter ship is meant for interplanetary travel, but in combat it is meant to be a large, mobile command center for both soldiers and Pegasus. The Helios is rarely seen in combat, since it is defenseless (the need for aerial defense all but gone), but is a fast ship capable of making a trip to Mars from Earth in one day thanks to its antimatter engine.

Military ranking has remained the same since the formation of the OM (see the ranks here: http://www.militaryfactory.com/ranks/index.asp ). To raise a rank, you must remain alive on the field 6 months at a time. As the ranks heighten, so does the prestige. Ranks private through command sergeant major have Pawn chips installed in them, warrant officer to captain have Aristotle chips, and major to general rankings have Plato chips.

[Adrius Frostglare]

Divina Fortuna

The Divina Fortuna (divine fate), often shortened to “DF” and mockingly called “divas” by their less-fanatic acquaintances, are the epitome of the Astor experimentation. DFs have been infused with the ability to control matter, specifically one element of the periodic table (the element is determined during their divinization, in which they are infused with the Astor and said element). There are, as of current, no noble gas-based DFs (helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon) and won't be for a while. The following factors determine the potency of a DF’s control:

1. Abundance/purity: molecules that contain little of an element are harder to control than molecules with more of the element or atoms.
2. Physical and mental stamina: great physical strain is exerted when controlling matter. The more conditioned and fit a DF is, the more his ability to maintain control is. Similarly, it causes great mental stress. The more calm and collected a DF is, the easier it is to manipulate existence. Overexertion can lead to death due to cerebral lesions, stroke, heart attacks, or muscular/nervous collapse.
3. Neumatter casing: DFs control matter by making a connection with it through the Astor that surrounds them. Neumatter, however, can cut off or blur connection between matter and user, since it exists only where Astor does not. As an insulator, neumatter is possibly the single most deadly weapon that can be used against DFs. Similarly, DFs cannot control neumatter of their element in any way.
4. Distance: the farther away matter is, the harder it is to control. The stronger a DF is, the farther he can control objects. Closer elements grant them stronger control and allow them to do much more potent abilities.
5. Organic/non-organic nature: for DFs that can directly control biological life forms, it is much more difficult and requires them to be relatively near the target by about 5 meters. However, there are exceptions to this. Controlling pure elements around or inside the life form that are not organic is the same as controlling said matter outside at the same distance.

Elemental Vision: “EV” is the “alternate sight” that DFs can access. Using EV, the world around them turns into black silhouettes save for their element, which stands sharply in a white of varying density and shades (see “abundance/purity” rule). DFs can use this vision to resourcefully find people or objects as well as find a hidden source of their element they can use. They can alternate from this at will and their eyes turn a bleached, marble white when active.

Death – DFs are capable of controlling matter, but they are just as mortal as human beings. When a DF dies, his or her body loses the additional carbon atoms that are meant to make them “living elements”. As such, they become solid forms of their element and slowly begin to chemically react with the environment around them. Depending on the element, a DF can rust, vanish, turn to dust, turn to water, and all other manner of strange yet interesting methods of decomposition.

Allegiance – When the DFs escaped Alcatraz, they had three options: join the IRF, join the OM, or go rogue. Rogue DFs are hunted down by both groups to be recruited or otherwise destroyed. Their social standings are varied: some see them with awe and admiration, some with fear, some with disgust (for varying reasons), some with indifference, and some with pity. No matter who they choose, if it is known you are a DF, you will get a reaction.

All DFs have been chipped by the OM thus far. This means each is treated as a chipped individual and can be tracked by the OM and Philosophy. The chips can be removed by surgery and can remain outside the system's watch even when on by interference software in an "artificial dead zone".

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