The History of Girls’ Frontline - 1905-2060s
Written by Ferrari
This document is the text version of The History of Girls’ Frontline section of the Girls’
Frontline Gamepress Lore Directory, featuring articles written by Marsormr and Ferrari. As more
material is released from the Artbooks, this document will be updated.
Forward
Since the dawn of time, humanity has been driven by technological advancement. In the earliest
days of man, advancement was caused by the need to survive. Controlling fire, building tools,
and making clothes were some of the earliest achievements in this effort. Once we became
masters of ourselves, we moved to become the masters of the land. We began farming, we built
grand civilizations on the shores of the greatest rivers, and we began to conquer the land outside
of our homes. In this, humanity became the dominant species on Earth, and the only force that
could constrain us was our willingness to do what we wished.
The Secret Documents and Confidential Files of the Bakery Girl and Girls’ Frontline universe
pose a question for humanity. “How would the nations of the world react if they were handed a
piece of power from Gods?” This God-like power could ascend us to a new stage of evolution;
however, it also had the potential to completely wipe us away. Who would use it to advance us as
a people? Who would use it for more sinister means? Can humanity truly control the very fire
stolen by Prometheus?
Part 1 - 1905-Cold War’s End
The 1900s & 1910s
1905-1908
The year 1905 marked the beginning of the timeline that would lead to Girls' Frontline and
Reverse Collapse Code Name Bakery. During that year, Tsar Nicholas II Romanov of the
Russian Empire ordered an expedition to a site near the Tunguska River in Siberia. The exact
location is unknown, but by the end of the expedition, the Russians had come across the ruins of
an ancient civilization. At that time, the Russians had no idea about the scale of their discovery.
Soon after returning to the Tsar, Romanov ordered a research headquarters to be built for an
investigation into these ruins. The first Relic research headquarters was set up at Lomonosov
State University in Moscow. The Tsar directly commanded the facility and ordered all research to
be shared with the Kremlin. For the next three years, research into the matter grew more diligent
and thorough.
Tunguska Event - 1908
For the first three years, Relic research was quite fruitful for the Russians. At that time, no one
besides the Kremlin or the University researchers was aware of the “Relics” or the “Relic site”.
However, the first mistake made with Relics was, without a doubt, catastrophic. On June 30th,
1908, researchers at the Tunguska River Relic site were working with a “reactor” of sorts. It’s
unknown what caused the instability of the reactor, but the consequence of losing control was
severe. A massive explosion occurred that day when stability was lost. The blast instantly
annihilated much of the surrounding area with atom-bomb-like effects. This event would later be
more commonly known as the Tunguska Event and was the first disaster caused by misuse of the
Relics.
1908 - Post-WWI
Following the Tunguska Event, the Russians became very hesitant about the Relics. Further
research would soon be cut short due to the situation in Europe. World War I forced Relic
research to be put on hold for several years as the focus needed to be shifted toward the war
effort. In 1917, political and class divisions in the Russian Empire boiled over, leading to the
Bolsheviks overthrowing the Tsar. Following the October Revolution, Relic research seemed to
be put on permanent hiatus. It was not until the late 1920s and 1930s that Relic matters would
gain attention once more in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
The 1920s & 1930s
Soviet Relic Research
The late 1920s and 1930s reopened the investigations into the Relics. The Soviet Union began to
look into the findings of Lomonosov University made before the war. Unfortunately for Relic
research, the Soviets’ efforts were put on hold once more due to the rise of Joseph Stalin, and
later, the Great Purge. The Soviets would not investigate further into the matter until near the end
of World War II. Around the same time as the Soviet’s work ceased, another group in Europe had
begun their own investigation.
Urkunde-01 & Organization Todt
With the rise of the Third Reich, certain organizations within the Nazi regime began researching
various ways to benefit the Reich. The Organization Todt, a civil engineering group that also
investigated the occult, made a monumental discovery in Germany. Sometime during the mid
1930s, Todt discovered a colossal hollow beneath the Nordhausen Harz mountains in Central
Germany. The height of the hollow was measured to be approximately seven stories tall and was
determined not to be a natural formation. This would come to be the second Relic site found by
humanity and would be given the name of “Urkunde-01”.
While the true purpose of the site would not be determined until the Soviets took over, the
Germans made several discoveries and advancements of their own. The existence of this hollow
was considered top secret, with very few besides the government and Todt aware of its existence.
Thanks to the secrecy provided by the arrangement, research into nuclear arms and V-type
rockets was stored here during WWII.
Meanwhile, an unknown matter was stored in “crystal capsules” throughout the site. This
unknown substance was observed and recorded by the Nazi Dr. Josef Mengele, The Angel of
Death. While working at Urkunde-01, Mengele reported in his notes that many of the workers
and researchers were falling ill to an unidentified disease. As these individuals were in close
contact with the substances found at the site, Mengele hypothesized the unknown matter was the
cause of the illness. However, when reporting his findings to the Reich’s leaders, they ignored
the report and dismissed the disease. The Reich continued its research into the Urkunde-01 site
throughout the 1930s and partially during the war. Urkunde-01 became the Third Reich’s
best-kept secret up to the end of the war.
The 1940s
From 1939 to 1945, the world was faced with an unimaginable bloody conflict unseen ever
before upon the face of the Earth. As the allies across the globe pushed the Axis powers back
into their native countries, the allies began to look beyond the war. It was clear by 1945 that the
Americans and Soviets would become the world’s new superpowers following the war’s end.
Both sides saw the writing on the wall and were rapidly becoming interested in gaining the edge
over one another both technologically and politically. Despite the difference between the East
and West, the objective was mutual. Gain the edge needed to stay ahead in the coming conflict.
Spoils of War
Before the end of the war, the Americans and Soviets formed war spoils groups. The goal of both
nations was to gather more information and research left by the Third Reich and the Japanese
Empire than the other. The United States of America (US) formed “Team Alsos”, a war spoils
and plunder team led by a Russo-American named Colonel Boris Pash. On the Soviet side, a
“Trade Federation” unit was formed that directly reported to the State Defense Committee during
operations. Desired intelligence and technologies included, but were not limited to: nuclear and
atomic research, yellowcake, rocket technology, “saucer-like” craft, flying weapons, jet
propulsions systems, and swept-wing aircraft. However, despite the plethora of available
research, the Soviets set most of their focus in another direction.
As Team Alsos and the Trade Federation continued their plundering of Axis research, many
Germans had ended their investigations and abandoned their military-industrial projects. Several
of these projects, and the relevant Relic information among them, were stored in the town of
Bleicherode. Residing in the state of Thuringia, near the Nordhausen mountains, its remoteness
made it perfect to hide secrets. The Urkunde-01 Relic site was located not far from Bleicherode
as well. Before the fall of Berlin, Alsos and the Trade Federation had caught wind of the
information stored in the town, and it became a race against time to arrive in Bleicherode and
gain control of Organization Todt’s secrets. Despite the best efforts of the Trade Federation,
Alsos managed to arrive in Bleicherode first.
Bleicherode
As the Americans entered Bleicherode, it was clear Alsos was unprepared for the volume of
information stored there. Due to a lack of personnel, they had a limited amount of time and
resources to secure all the intel, and the desired fruit of Alsos’ labor was Third Reich nuclear
research. Nearly all atomic and rocket research, as well as several key Reich scientists, including
Wernher Von Braun, were taken by Alsos. Research into the “Relics” was mostly ignored
compared to the importance of nuclear technology. This would prove a crippling mistake on the
Americans’ part. Had Alsos taken this information, the Soviets would’ve been left empty-handed
for their main purpose was the Relics.
As the majority of all information about Relics and the ancient civilization was held in the hands
of the Soviets, the information held by the Germans only aided their efforts. Once the Trade
Federation arrived, all research about the Relics was taken. In some of these German documents,
details referenced the nearby Urkunde-01, leading the Soviets to begin moving to secure the site.
Earlier, in 1943, the Soviets heard rumors about the site from captured Axis POWs but had no
concrete evidence until Bleicherode. Workers, including Dr. Mengele, at the Relic site, were
forced into surrender by the Soviet force. The Trade Federation had found the Reich’s best-kept
secret and the keys to the castle with it.
Urkunde-01 Relic Site
The discovery of Urkunde-01 by the Soviets had opened Pandora’s Box on Relic research. The
Tunguska Site was no longer the only ancient site available for study. During the German
surrender, Dr. Mengele was taken as a POW. Mengele’s notes about the site and his experiments
in the concentration camps piqued the interest of the Trade Federation. Information related to the
mysterious matter contained at the site was handed over by Mengele as well. At the time, both
sides had no concrete idea what the matter was, but Mengele insisted it caused an illness. With
the fall of the Nazi regime by May, and control over the Urkunde-01 intel, the USSR gained an
additional ten years of Relic research. The Americans had failed in the Relic field and were none
the wiser to the Soviets’ true plans. Team Alsos was conned into believing they had won the war
for research.
The Cold War Begins
As the flag of the Reich fell in Berlin, the East and West were soon thrown into another conflict.
This war would not be a true war per se, but rather, a war fought with propaganda,
military-industrial advancements, and proxy wars. For the first two years following the end of
WWII, life carried on and Europe went about reconstruction once more. On March 12th, 1947,
American President Harry S. Truman declared to Congress that the United States would assist
all nations under threat by authoritarianism, particularly the Soviet Union. To Truman and many
in Europe, the threat could not be tolerated in Greece and Turkey. Truman’s well-known
“Truman Doctrine” would be marked as the beginning of the period known as the “Cold War”.
Soviet Urkunde-01 Research
On the other side of the world during this time, the USSR began their response to the US for the
coming conflict. The Kremlin would soon double down on their research and investigation into
nuclear, aerospace, and Relic technologies. While the Americans had the technical edge early on
thanks to the Manhattan Project and Team Alsos, the Soviets had already gained a fifty-year lead
on Relics. The Americans were busy designing massive bombers and carriers such as the B-36
and the United States-class, the Soviets’ R-5 missiles exceeded American Redstone and Jupiter
missiles. They later sent the remnants found at OKB-456 to the Almaz-Antey design bureau,
where new anti-air missile technology was developed that surpassed the US’ own systems. The
Americans were likely unaware of Relics at all until at least 1955. However, by 1949, the Soviets
were closing the gap in ballistic missile technology. Additionally, they had made a monumental
discovery from the Urkunde-01 site. One that had the chance to shift the balance of power almost
entirely into their hands.
Urkunde-01 would eventually become the site of the so-called “First Relic”. In the files
concerning the site, the Germans determined it must have been a “production system” of sorts,
but had little evidence and understanding of the matter. When the Soviets gained access to these
files, the Kremlin authorized “Project Starfish” to build a replica of the First Relic in the
Tabasar-B Proving Grounds in the USSR. Despite lacking a complete understanding of what it
would create or its true purpose, the Soviet plan was put into action. By 1950, construction based
on the Urkunde-01 data was finished. Although secrecy was held in high regard, news of this
facility had reached Washington with both worry and skepticism. While Washington lacked any
factual reports about what the Soviets were truly testing at Tabasar-B, they authorized the
placement of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) in allied European nations. These SRBMs
would act as a contingency in the event of a full-scale nuclear exchange, with Tabasar-B being a
primary target.
The 1950s
As the Cold War began, the Soviets managed to maintain a serious lead in Relic technologies
over the newly formed North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The was not even a known
subject by the Americans until their discovery in 1955. As NATO deployed nuclear arms to their
borders, the Soviets created the world’s first Relic weapon and technology program. The
Tabasar-B facility is believed to be the first reverse-engineered piece of Relic technology, based
on the First Relic from Urkunde-01. Additionally, the Soviets became naturally more curious
about the properties of Relics and their possibilities. As the Warsaw Pact was forming in 1955,
NATO realized this was their only opportunity to infiltrate and find intelligence before the Pact
officially formed. It would be during this infiltration that the US would learn about the so-called
“Relics”, but they lacked sufficient evidence to prove their existence.
Early American Relic Research
The United States lacked concrete evidence for the existence of Relics until a discovery in 1955.
McMurdo Antarctic Surveillance Station was established in 1955 near the shore of Lake Vostok
in Antarctica. In the same year, the US would discover their first Relic site approximately a
kilometer away from the station. Relic Site D-1, named the “Door”, served as proof of the
existence of Relics, and would open Pandora’s Box for the Americans. Contained at the site was
a “gate” of sorts as well as various mechanical remnants. The remains were brought back to the
United States to be studied and reverse-engineered. Around this time, Washington funded
black-budget organizations to deal with matters relating to the Relics. Scientists and researchers
from the US Air Force, Lockheed-Martin, and the Advanced Research Project Agency would
collaborate in the reverse-engineering of the D-1 remnants throughout the Cold War.
During this process, Lockheed-Martin founded its “Skunk Works” sector as a cover for these
projects. Various well-known aircraft systems and designs were developed based on the D-1
remains. The U-2, SR-71, F-117, F-22, and next-generation fighter programs all derived from the
project. As the Americans began to cross into a new age of technological advancement, the
Soviet grasp on Relics grew tighter. In the years following D-1’s discovery, the Americans would
soon realize how far behind they truly were.
U-2 Shootdown over Tabasar-B - 1958
On May 13th, 1958, the United States launched a secret reconnaissance mission of the alleged
Tabasar-B facility. The U-2, an aircraft derived from the reverse engineering of Relic
technologies, was chosen for this mission. The operation began during the day, with the U-2
taking off from an undisclosed location. As the aircraft flew over the Proving Grounds, several
images and videos were taken from the onboard cameras. The footage would deliver a realization
to Washington that the Soviets already had a significant lead in Relics. Images taken from the
U-2 presented a complex spanning the entire proving grounds. At the center of the site lay the
Tabasar-B facility itself with a massive array of defense systems around it.
The facility consisted of five axes that radiated outward from the center at 120° angles. An array
of anti-aircraft weapons in a ring surrounded the facility in the event of an aerial attack. Multiple
S-75 surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems were in firing positions at that time. The images
showed multiple roads to the facility all linking to a nearby airport, where it’s believed an entire
regiments' worth of aircraft was based. With a regiment of Soviet aircraft on standby and
enormous SAM coverage, it’s improbable that Tabasar-B could be destroyed in an air raid. Soon
after footage was taken of the site, the U-2 was detected and a missile was fired from an S-75.
Within thirty seconds of the images being taken, the U-2 was shot down. The exact purpose of
the Tabasar-B facility would remain unknown; however, the US knew they must catch up with
the Soviets at all costs.
Foundation of ARPA
Washington and the intelligence community began to panic following the incident. The facade
held by the Soviets had fallen, and the perception held by the United States was shattered. The
American government immediately launched a campaign of rapid research and development in
the field of Relics. Earlier in the year, President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed an agency
named the “Advanced Research Projects Agency” (ARPA) to Congress. The main purpose of
ARPA would be to ensure the United States as the leader in military technology. ARPA received
widespread support from Congress, gaining over two hundred million dollars of funding by the
time it was established. When the United States began its campaign into Relics, ARPA was
assigned into a lead role alongside Skunk Works. All projects were given strict deadlines to
ensure completion, and failure was not an option. All possibilities were on the table to assist in
the effort.
The KGB 16th Directorate
Around this time, the Soviets realized the Americans were aware of the Tabasar-B installation.
Time was ticking for the Soviets to produce something of value from the facility. By order of
First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev himself, the Committee for State Security’s (KGB,
StateSec) newly formed 16th Directorate took direct control of Relic matters along with the
Department of Relic Research and Protection excavating and researching the Relics.
The 1960s
For the first full decade of the Cold War, both sides participated in the investigation and
reverse-engineering of Relics. Near the end of the 1950s, the Americans were closing the gap in
Relic matters, while the Soviets continued to fail to produce something of value from Tabasar-B.
All of this would change during the 1960s. During this time, both sides began programs for
Relic-based weaponry. The 1960s would be the beginning of an age of madness that would not
end until the conclusion of the conflict.
Tabasar-B & “Идиот” (Moron) - 1961
The Soviet Tabasar-B facility, also known as the “Starfish”, was an immense production facility
built as a replica of the First Relic from the Urkunde-01 site in Germany. The facility was located
within the borders of Tabasar-B Proving Grounds in the USSR. Defense of the facility was
considered a top priority to maintain secrecy and protection of Relic research. An aircraft
regiment, anti-air weapons, and widespread missile coverage completely encapsulated the
facility for this purpose. Testing of the facility began back in 1950; however, it failed to produce
anything successful. The status quo would be maintained until 1958 after an American U-2
reconnaissance plane was shot down while investigating the site. The Soviets, knowing the US
was aware of the site by then, invested heavily into the success of the facility. Despite countless
failures, Tabasar-B finally produced a successful “subject” on January 28th, 1961.
The Moron
Tabasar-B had begun to prove itself as a fruitful effort. The Soviets’ patience had finally paid off
when the first subject was created. The subject was a sort of non-organic-mechanical mass. The
Soviets named the mass the “Идиот” (Moron). During initial testing, the Soviets placed the
Moron into a room filled with the substance we now know to be called Collapse Particles. When
introduced into the room, it would move itself to consume the matter, but exactly how the mass
moves is unknown. It was observed that metal objects consumed by the Moron would
decompose into pure mono-elemental powders.
The Moron seemed to be capable of “collapsing” items into their base elemental forms. Given
the mass had responded to the introduction of the matter in its environment, it was believed that a
guidance system could be implemented to control it. Despite lacking the ability to turn the
Moron into a controllable weapon at that time, the Kremlin’s curiosity had been piqued. For
Khrushchev, a public display of these machines could be the final message to the Americans that
the Soviets will remain as the leaders of Relic technology.
1961 October Revolution Parade
As 1961 came to a close, the Soviets, particularly Khrushchev, felt the strength of the Soviet
Union growing. Following the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) failure in Cuba, the summit
in Vienna with President John F. Kennedy in June, the rise of the Berlin Wall in August, and
the continuation of nuclear tests, Khrushchev authorized a major public display of Soviet power.
Khrushchev wanted to make the record clear for Washington that the Soviet Union remained as
the top power in the world. He would make his doctrine clear during the 1961 October
Revolution Parade in Moscow. On November 7th, 1961, the public learned of reverse-engineered
Relic tech for the first time, and the Americans would suffer a crushing blow to morale as a
result. During the parade, multiple Morons were put in the back of vehicles and wheeled down
the Red Square. While the full capabilities of the Morons were not yet fully known, the Soviets
had proven Relic technology could be weaponized. The following day in Washington, Kennedy
abandoned the Apollo program and directed its previous funding towards the exploration of the
“Relic Civilization”. After the failure in the Bay of Pigs earlier that year, Kennedy and the
Americans refused to fall into second place. Allowing the Soviets to become the only Relic
weapon armed nation was not an option, thus beginning the age of Relic weaponization.
Cuban Missile and Moron Crisis
Following the successful display of the Morons, the Soviet Union began to expand its sphere of
influence and power projection. Additionally, during 1962, the Soviets started developing early
versions of the Moron control system. This system, named “Емеля-1” (Emelya-1), was a ternary
control bus for Moron guidance. As a show of dominance, after speaking to Cuban leader Fidel
Castro, the Soviets deployed Morons, anti-air missiles, and new generation fighter jets to Cuba
throughout the year. In the event of an all-out war, the USSR had the advantage of first-strike
capable weapons in the region. In October, the United States learned of the Cuban and Soviet
activities during a U-2 reconnaissance mission over Cuba.
Once proof of Moron deployment was confirmed in Cuba, Washington panicked. Within a year
of the reveal of Morons, the Soviets had already begun deploying them near the mainland United
States. For the Americans, the thought of such weapons within range of the mainland could not
be tolerated. For the rest of October, the US and USSR engaged in a series of intense
negotiations and political tensions over the incident. If the Soviets refused to negotiate, the US
would mount an invasion of Cuba which would likely lead to World War III. Of course, this was
seen as a final option only to be used as a contingency. The US refused to allow the USSR’s
weapons near American borders, and the Soviets wanted NATO ballistic missiles out of range
from their own borders.
Aftermath of the Crisis
By the end of October, a deal was brokered by both sides. In return for the Soviets pulling the
Morons out of Cuba, the Americans agreed to pull nuclear missiles from several NATO allied
nations. The world sighed a breath of relief for it had avoided armageddon, but it was not
without a cost. NATO allies in Northern Europe felt the Americans had appeased the Soviets by
pulling the missiles, prompting several of these nations to leave NATO in the following years.
Urkunde-01 & 90Wunsch - 1962-1971
Following the Cuban Missile Crisis, the East and West backed down from one another for some
time. Both sides understood that if tensions became hot enough, a third world war with a nuclear
exchange would be inevitable. Relic weapon development would not end, but the deployment of
these types of weapons would be put on temporary hold. During this short period, both sides
returned to investigating and developing Relics in their nations with a lowered threat of global
war.
First Relic Investigation Working Group
The Soviet Moron program continued onward with further research into the origins and workings
of the First Relic. Considering the Tabasar-B facility was based on the First Relic from
Urkunde-01, the Soviets decided to study it further for possible assistance in the Moron program.
To aid in the new First Relic research, the ministers of the German Democratic Republic
(GDR/East Germany) ordered the formation of a new project team from the Leipzig University
of Karl Marx. The First Relic Investigation Working Group was led by Colonel General
Markus Wolf, the foreign intelligence director of the GDR’s Ministry of State Security, more
commonly known as the Stasi. The KGB’s 16th Directorate handed over the First Relic to the
Stasi’s Main Directorate for Reconnaissance (HVA) for the purpose of research.
Wolf kept notes of his discoveries and experiences during the Urkunde-01 investigation in
various journals and reports. The site of the First Relic was inside a massive, seven-story tall
hollow underneath the Nordhausen mountains. The site was guarded by two heavy steel doors at
the entrance. The hollow walls were reported to be some kind of metallic substance with a series
of 120° indentations located along them. To the German researchers, this place was nothing more
than mere rumors until they arrived. Urkunde-01 was clearly not of known human origin.
Markus Wolf’s research team was rendered useless during the early parts of the Urkunde-01
re-exploration. The Russians had taken most of the Relics and the remnants off-site, leaving only
the hollow itself with the indentations. The team hypothesized the grooves in the wall were laid
out like an interface, but their purpose remained a mystery. Flake samples of the wall were taken
to determine the composition of the metal, and these tests confirmed that they contained titanium
dioxide, iron oxide, and other metal oxides. After this test, the team concluded that Urkunde-01
was of non-natural origin. Due to a lack of assistance from the KGB, the Urkunde-01
re-investigation would not pay off until at least 1965.
Wolf mentioned that the KGB Chairman Vladimir Semichastny was not helping their
investigation as he kept the KGB’s lips sealed about anything Relic-related. However,
Semichastny did apologize to his East German comrades about the crisis in Cuba beforehand,
assuring them that the weapons deployed would never be pointed towards them. Fortunately, the
head of the KGB First Chief Directorate, General Aleksandr Sakharovsky, was willing to
provide Wolf with some hints for his group’s investigation. Sakhraovsky mentioned the 16th at
the time was busy developing the ternary computer, and that Relic management in the Soviet
government was very segregated. According to him, the Kremlin was very sensitive to the
condition of the Relics. The problems of the Soviets’ Relic research structure would not change
until after the OKB-10 Incident in May 1973.
Electronic Signals from the Relic
While the KGB’s 16th Directorate continued their development of the Emelya-1 control bus, the
East German research team continued diligently to understand the First Relic. Wolf hypothesized
the grooves on the wall were a type of electrical interface. Before heading to Cuba for a short
time, Wolf ordered a team made up of electrical engineers and personnel with knowledge of
computers to analyze the interface. Additionally, to maintain security and secrecy during the
investigation, he asked for armed police to stand as guards outside the site. Once Wolf returned
to East Germany, he was met with exactly what he’d requested. By December 19th, 1965, three
years after the research team was ordered to be formed, a breakthrough had been achieved.
Urkunde-01 produced a response after the team inputted electrical signals onto the grooves of the
hollow’s walls. Wolf’s hypothesis proved to be correct and the response was proof of it. The First
Relic used ternary electromagnetic signals transferred into the grooves for a communication
output. The team concluded a building had to be created to monitor and process the signals being
emitted from the Relic. The job of decrypting these signals would be left to the scientists at
Leipzig University.
90Wunsch
Investigations into Urkunde-01 with Markus Wolf’s team would continue until at least 1971. By
this time, the University’s facility for decrypting the signals had been established and was active.
This “electronic surveillance center” created by the First Relic Investigation Working Group was
given a new name by Wolf - 90Wunsch (German for 90wish). The old codename for the
program, Listening Post 90, was publicly changed due to security concerns. In Wolf’s writings,
he explained that the true reason for the name change was that the name “90Wunsch” contained
his wishes. He hoped that someday the German states could reunify, and he’d no longer have to
see his countrymen as enemies. In his words, “Es war immer mein Wunsch (I’ve always
wished for it./It’s something I’ve always wished for.).”
The surveillance center located at the University continued to monitor the signals emitted by the
Relic, but nothing could be concluded from them. Despite nothing of value being decrypted,
90Wunsch discovered various phenomena from the signals, and these phenomena aided the
development of new electronic and radio components. Certain members of 90Wunsch held their
share of worries about the Relic, with the site likely not being of human origin and was
potentially very dangerous. Despite their fears of what the Relic was capable of, 90Wunsch
continued their research. Sometime in 1971, Chairman of the State Council Erich Ernst Paul
Honecker had already requested that 90Wunsch cease their investigation into the First Relic.
90Wunsch turned to their electronic surveillance center, where their work would continue until
the reunification of Germany in 1985.
90Wunsch new mission came from the technical department after monitoring the Relic’s signals
for some time. They had detected a NATO listening outpost near the outskirts of Berlin. Using
technology and advancements made since the exploration began, they would later participate in
electronic eavesdropping of the outpost.
American Relic Developments - Mid to Late 1960s
When the Cuban Missile Crisis ended in 1962, the United States began to look further into Relic
matters. The Soviets had kept a gap in Relics for the entire Cold War thus far, and the Americans
needed to close it. The Soviets looked more into directly using Relics, but the Americans were
far more interested in applying Relic technology for other applications. One of the first systems
designed with the application of Relic technology was the U-2 aircraft. By 1964, Skunk Works
was in the process of designing another aircraft with more capabilities than the U-2.
Development of the Lockheed SR-71A
Wreckage from a Relic site held by Americans was transported to Lockheed Martin’s Skunk
Works for the study of the system. When analyzing the remains, they discovered a design for a
new type of thruster engine significantly more powerful than the previous J58 engine. Within a
year, the engine had been built and put into service for future aircraft. This new thruster engine,
known as the J64, became the successor to the J58. The J64 allowed for significantly more
thrust, and the first aircraft to have it implemented was the Lockheed SR-71A in 1967. The
SR-71’s first successful test flight occurred in 1967, and soon would be used as a high altitude,
high-speed reconnaissance aircraft.
In addition to the SR-71, the Americans began to look further into the prospect of Relic-derived
aircraft. Both the U-2 and the SR-71 had proven their usefulness in reconnaissance, and there
was no reason to believe Relic-based aircraft with offensive capabilities could not be made.
Around this time, plans and designs were drafted for a new type of high-altitude, high-speed
strategic bomber meant to be used against the Soviets in the event of WWIII.
Aurora Bomber Concept
This theoretical bomber was given the name of “Aurora”. If the Aurora was created, it would
give the Americans a bomber out of the range of several Soviet anti-air systems as well as the
ability to conduct operations at a blistering speed. In some circumstances, it could provide the
US with first-strike capabilities against an enemy target. The Aurora remained a concept until the
1970s, where it proved a massive show of strength for the United States.
In addition to aircraft, ARPA, along with the US Navy, began a collaborative effort in the
research and development of Relic implementations for naval vessels. In 1969, remains of a
wreckage taken from the D-51 Relic Site located somewhere in the Lake Central region of
California was brought back for research purposes. These remains were confirmed to be parts of
a ship’s propulsion system. A new magnetohydrodynamic propulsion system based on these
remains was created for the US Navy and was later implemented into destroyers, and by 1978, in
nuclear submarines. Destroyers would enjoy a wider sonar radius, and submarines would become
nearly silent while under the water. By the end of the 1960s, the United States had increased its
funding and efforts into Relic research after the Cuban Missile Crisis. For the first time, the
Americans closed the gap on a technological level but still were behind in Relic-based weaponry.
GAVIRUL Discovery - Early 1960s
The Beilan Island Relic Site (No. 27 Class Technological Research Base) was located just off the
coast of Shanghai, China, and is currently the only known Relic site in East Asia. During an
excavation of the site in the early 1960s, a tremendous discovery had been made. A being of
unknown origin was excavated 67 meters beneath the surface of the island. This being was
believed to be an intelligent member of the ancient civilization that created the Relics. The
individual was given the name “GAVIRUL”, but the Chinese scientific name was “Officer”.
GAVIRUL was surmised to be a guardian of the Relics for the ancient civilization due to the area
it was found in. After determining the site was of no further value, researchers ordered the Beilan
site to be closed and the GAVIRUL put into storage. GAVIRUL would be held in storage for
over thirty years before seeing use in the reproduction project in the 1990s.
Relic Gas - 1967-1968
D-9-Beta-Zuma Gas Test
After the discovery of the D-1 Relic Site in 1955, the United States continued to discover and
excavate more Relic sites including the D-9-Beta-Zuma Relic Site. D-9 was discovered in
November of 1967, near Warren, Wyoming. All sites held by the Americans, including D-9, were
managed by ARPA. Deep within D-9’s vault contained massive amounts of the unknown matter
found in other Relic sites, in a gaseous state. When researchers at D-9 tried to take samples of the
gaseous substance, the matter couldn’t be liquified by conventional means. Interestingly, the
fluid would only convert to a liquid state when exposed to organic matter.
Due to the nature of this phenomenon, ARPA scientists at the facility became curious about the
effects of the fluid on organic life. In one specific experiment, researchers placed a human test
subject within a test chamber to observe what the fluid would do. As the test began, the
researchers released it into the test chamber with the subject. A yellowish-green gas filled the
room, and following previously observed phenomena, it liquefied when in contact with organic
matter. As soon as the fluid came into contact with the flesh of the subject, they began to scream
in agony due to the searing pain. Researchers noticed the fluid was melting and corroding the
flesh around the area of contact where it was directly “peeling” the flesh away from the bone.
Within five minutes of the experiment beginning, the subject expired. Some D-9 researchers
became quite intrigued by the results and hypothesized the fluid could be weaponized. If it can
completely wipe someone away with only a controlled amount, how lethal would a bomb of this
“Relic gas” be?
“Accelerant” - 1968-1969
As the Soviets continued to perfect the Morons, the Americans began to grow acquainted with
the idea of Relic weapons as well. Following the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October
1962, and the assassination of Kennedy in November 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson grew
desperate for a positive look of the US. The United States required a show of strength; one that
could match the Soviet Relic weapons.
Tests conducted from D-9-Beta-Zuma proved the so-called “Relic gas” was devastating when in
contact with the human body, and it could be weaponized with something akin to a bomb. It was
postulated that after being dropped from an aircraft, an explosive would burst in the air over the
target, causing the gas to contaminate the surrounding area. In theory, the gas would likely cause
the target area to be annihilated during the bombing and render the surrounding area
uninhabitable. LBJ, desperate to save face, immediately supported the project of Relic gas
bombs, and in 1968, he requested three, 1-ton canisters of Relic gas for the weapons.
July 1969 Collapse Fluid Bombing
The gas canisters and necessary ARPA equipment were moved onboard the USS Enterprise in
the Gulf of Tonkin by LBJ’s order. To maintain operational security, ARPA named the gas
canisters “accelerant” and avoided writing the code name on any official documentation.
By July of 1969, the first live combat trial of the “accelerant” was authorized against North
Vietnamese forces. The target of the mission was chosen to be an undisclosed location near the
Ho Chi Minh Trail used by the enemy as a rendezvous point after American bombing runs. A
squadron of F-4 Phantoms known as the “Thundercats” would conduct the bombing. The plan
called for the Thundercats to start their bombing once the enemy force had assembled at the
target location following a bombing run conducted by B-52s. The first use of weapons derived
from Relics would soon begin.
On July 5th, 1969, the mission was given the green light and a Relic gas bomb was mounted
onboard one of the Thundercats’ F-4s. The squadron took off from the Enterprise and was
en-route to the target following a bombing run made by B-52s in the area. As the squadron
arrived at the target, multiple enemy groups had assembled and the Relic gas bomb was released.
The bomb burst 300 meters above the target, causing a massive area of destruction. Images taken
from a surveillance plane several hours after the bombing exposed the full extent of the
devastation and the bomb’s effectiveness.
Aftermath of the Bombing
An area of 500 meters in diameter had become scorched black earth with no signs of life
whatsoever. The enemy forces in the rears of trucks were nowhere to be seen, and it was
surmised they were killed instantly. Strangely, the wooden furniture of the several Kalashnikov
rifles were missing with their barrels warped. It’s believed the substance’s property of
“collapsing” organic matter was the cause of the forest and wood furniture corroding away. As
for the warping of barrels, it would suggest the gas caused temperatures upwards of 1000°C in
the immediate area. Adding additional support to this belief was the presence of glaze on the
surface caused by melting ores in the ground.
Interestingly, it was learned by accident that the gas caused extreme levels of radioactivity
around it. Ionizing radiation had caused spots to form on the film taken from the surveillance
plane despite being over two kilometers above the area. An area of 3000 hectares was believed to
be damaged and or irradiated by the bomb. The trial had concluded the bombs were exceptional
in their performance. The success of the mission proved to ARPA that they needed more gas for
combat trials. After informing the Pentagon of the effectiveness, they requested more Relic gas.
The exact amount of Relic gas used in Vietnam remains unknown, but by the end of the war, the
canisters never made it onto any recovery manifest, suggesting that all had been used. Regardless
of their devastating effects, the overwhelming success of the gas bombs had given the Americans
their desired Relic weapons.
The 1970s
As the Americans finally produced successful Relic weapons, Soviet research into their Relics
began to stagnate. Ever since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the Soviets continued their
efforts into understanding the Morons and perfecting their systems. Further developments into
the Moron project would not occur until at least 1971 at the Tabasar-B facility. Aside from the
development of Relic weapons, the superpowers would expand the horizon of their research
during the mid 1970s.
“Шука” (Pike) - 1971-1972
With the stagnation of Relic research occurring in the USSR, the Kremlin became impatient with
the Moron program. In the time since the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Americans continued to gain
ground in the field while the Soviets progressed little. However, the status quo would change
once more back into the Soviets' hands in 1971. The Tabasar-B Starfish had stabilized a Moron
and the staff soon realized the full identity of the subject. Additionally, a new, revised version of
the Emelya-1 ternary control bus, called the “Емеля-M”(Emelya-M), was created to control the
Morons. And by 1972, the strategic weapon was completed and was named the “Шука” (Pike).
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic in 1969, President Richard Nixon had taken power in
Washington. Around the period of the Pikes’ completion, Nixon and China brokered an
agreement over a possible mutual withdrawal from Vietnam. The Sino-US Joint Communique,
alongside Nixon’s earlier visit to Moscow that year, piqued the Soviet interest in presenting the
finished Pikes to the world.
1972 October Revolution Parade
Feeling the strength of the Soviet Union growing, the Kremlin felt this was the time to present
their creations to the world once more. During the 1972 October Revolution Parade, eleven years
after the Morons’ reveal, 32 “Pike” weapons were put on public display. Once again, the
American expectations of the Soviet Relic program were shattered. Previous Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency (DARPA, ARPA before 1972) reports claimed the Soviets had
completely failed to weaponize the Morons, but clearly, they were proven wrong. In Washington,
Nixon immediately demanded the primary goal of the US national defense be the development of
Relic weapons to compete with the Pikes. Furthermore, Nixon chose to abandon the Vietnamese
government in 1973 as the US focus shifted away from Vietnam and towards the Relics once
more. Following the signing of the Paris Peace Accords (“Vietnam Peace Treaty”), the
Americans left Vietnam, and the US’ sole focus by this time was beating the Soviets in Relic
weaponry.
Soviet Relic Structure Changes - 1972-1973
Apart from the successful Pike creations, Soviet Relic research continued to decline during the
1970s. This stagnation was believed to be caused by the structure the Soviets used when dealing
with matters about Relics. The “independent research institute system” that provided total
control by the KGB’s 16th Directorate proved to be detrimental for communication and
interaction between Relic researchers. With nearly all Relic matters going through the same
department and group, research would become sluggish due to this command structure.
Professor M.J. Syrzrvia, head of Tabasar-B’s production team, made several propositions for
reforming the research structure to the 16th Directorate. Syrzrvia noticed the success the
Americans had with their structure and presumed the USSR could benefit from such a system.
According to him, the 16th should share its Relic research with the Lomonosov State University
and only deal with the intelligence work on Relics. Syrzrvia’s proposal was looked down upon
by the 16th due to their stubbornness and refusal to accept an American-like structure. The
research structure would remain as the status quo until May of 1973 during the fallout of the
OKB-10 Incident.
OKB-10 Incident
OKB-10 was a Relic site found by the Soviets underneath the Arctic Polar ice cap and was one
of the largest and most remote Relic sites in the world. On May 12th, 1973, the Lomonosov State
University and the KGB 16th Directorate lost communication with the researchers at the site.
Due to fears of a possible attack or major disruption, Naval Infantry from the Soviet Northern
Fleet were deployed to OKB-10 for a search and rescue operation. When the Marines arrived at
the site, they were attacked by an unknown enemy. Fortunately, the rescue team was able to put
down the enemy and stabilize the situation but not for long. Multiple members of the rescue team
had begun showing signs of biological degradation, and control of the situation was lost once
more.
An additional team was deployed to OKB-10 to contain what was unfolding. This unit was
equipped with Class III anti-biochemical gear in the event of hazardous threats for over an hour.
As the second team made their way into the site, contact was lost soon after. Despite their
equipment, the average life expectancy of the second team was 20 minutes inside the Relic site.
Further details and information about the OKB-10 incident are lacking, and the exact cause of
the incident remains unknown. The identity of the enemy force faced by the Marines remains
unknown, but the individuals had probably been mutated into Eurosky Low-Emission Infectious
Disease (ELID) infected.
Mid to Late 1970s
Aurora Completion - 1974
For several years, the Americans began to ponder the possibility of a bomber derived from Relic
research. The plans drafted detailed a high-altitude, high-speed (possibly hypersonic) bomber for
swift strategic strikes. The Aurora program began in the late 1960s, and the first successful test
flight of an Aurora was completed in 1973. As a message of superiority to the Kremlin, the
Americans called for a long-range flight of Auroras over the Soviet Union. On May 1st, 1974,
the Auroras took off from a runway in the Yukon and began their flight toward Moscow. At
precisely 09:00 in the morning, the bombers entered Moscow airspace and shocked the Russians.
The Auroras had pierced the Soviet veil of the Iron Curtain and sent a final message that the
Americans would not accept being second class in Relic technology.
Vietnam - 1974-1975
As the Auroras flew over the capital, the Soviets knew the United States was bridging the gap in
Relic technology. In an indirect response to the flyover, the Kremlin officially backed the North
Vietnamese government and supported an invasion of South Vietnam. Additionally, efforts also
increased in the development of the Pikes for possible use in the future. By January of 1975, the
North Vietnamese forces had taken the Southern capital of Saigon due to a lack of morale and
command structure in the South. The North Vietnamese structure was maintained while the
forces of the South broke into smaller groups, leading to a rapid defeat. Both the Americans and
Soviets observed this situation with curiosity. To both nations, it became clear that even with the
most powerful weapons, the death of an army could be caused by the lack of command and or
the fall of morale. This observation motivated both sides towards the creation of informational
command networks for their militaries.
ARPANET - 1975
Following the fall of South Vietnam and its military, the United States and the Soviet Union
realized the importance of military informational command networks. The armies of South
Vietnam were divided and broken down due to a lack of morale and a proper command structure,
making them easy pickings for the Northern troops. Both superpowers understood that having
more Relic weapons would not matter if their armies lost their structures. Research into
informational networks had been started years earlier, but the failure of South Vietnam proved
these networks would become instrumental in future warfare. Before 1975, ARPA already
designed a network on a smaller scale as early as the late 1960s, and following the fall of South
Vietnam, DARPA would pass control of its network, ARPANET, to the US Department of
Defense Communication Administration.
ARPANET was an informational command network created by ARPA (later DARPA) for use in
the US military. The network did not need a central control node, but instead, used a distributed
network framework. Network nodes and terminals would share communications data and
message packets to other nodes connected to the system. Being a distributed, less-centralized
structure, nodes would still be able to share information even if one or multiple network nodes
were disabled. This sort of structure would enable those connecting to ARPANET to maintain
contact with others even in the event multiple nodes were taken offline. In addition to military
use, DARPA was in the process of creating a framework for an autonomous control system based
on ARPANET for the Auroras until 1981. Had the Aurora system been created, it would’ve
enabled them to become the perfect drone weapon against the Soviets.
OGAS - 1975
The Soviet network was substantially different from the American ARPANET in structure.
ARPA had created a less centralized structure, but the Soviets continued to prefer a structure
with a chain of command. Technical Director Victor Glushkov, director of the OGAS project,
saw an increase in support and funding from the Kremlin after the Collapse of South Vietnam.
Thanks to the additional resources at hand, Glushkov would further continue his efforts. The
network was first created during the 1960s, and was named the All-State Automated System
(OGAS). The blueprints for the system were first extracted from the OKB-413 Relic Site near
Minsk sometime prior.
As opposed to ARPANET, OGAS was built as a network with a “tree-like” structure. Two levels
of mainframes existed within this system - superior and subordinate mainframes. In this tree-like
layout, superior mainframes had control and oversight over subordinate mainframes. Superiors
also would allow subordinate mainframes to communicate with one another. The superiors had
complete control of authorization for the lower levels, but the subordinates completely lacked
this ability. It would be because of this that one of the main flaws with the system was caused by
an event that disabled the superiors. If a superior mainframe was disabled, the subordinates
would be rendered useless as they were unable to change their authorizations or protocols
without the superior.
Regardless, OGAS was implemented into the Soviet command structure and remained in use
until the fall of the Soviet Union. Like the Americans, the Soviets started to peer into the
prospect of applying their network into Relic-derived machines and weapons. The National State
University’s new objective became the implementation of a Pike command network based on the
OGAS system.
Lady Liberty Experiments - 1976
Notice: Much of the information from this specific section is subject to change with the release
of Confidential Files #3 and Reverse Collapse Code Name Bakery.
For several years, the United States was experimenting with the Relic sites themselves. A series
of at least eleven experiments known as the “Lady Liberty” experiments were conducted at the
D-1 Relic Site at Lake Vostok, Antarctica. These experiments involved four autonomous and
seven manned missions through the D-1 “Door”. The primary goal of these tests was to send a
small submersible craft beneath Lake Vostok, through the “Door”, and emerge in the D-2 Relic
Site in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Throughout six of the seven manned missions, five were
successful, one failed, nineteen individuals took part, and three participants did not survive. US
Army Green Beret Technical Specialist Gorman Weyland had been involved in two previous
Lady Liberty experiments, with the 7th manned mission being his third.
During the eleventh test, Weyland entered the submersible and entered through the “Door”. Upon
surfacing at D-2, it was clear Weyland had been injured during the mission and was placed into a
quarantined decompression room following his arrival. Researchers and medical personnel
conducted a physical check on him to determine his sickness. Tests confirmed Weyland was in
the process of developing an unknown sickness with multiple strange symptoms.
The proteins within Weyland’s body were digested with their molecular links beginning to break
down, possibly due to damage. Connective tissue and amino acids throughout his body were also
in the process of breaking down and decomposing. Both the red blood cell count and the
blood-oxygen carrying capacity had decreased noticeably. Even his body had begun to age at an
unusual rate with his muscle strength in decline. Perhaps the most bizarre condition of all,
additional calcification occurred in the body and hardness increased in the skeletal structure. The
process within the bones caused them to reach a hardness of 400 Hb (N/mm2), a hardness
surpassing that of steel.
After 61 hours since the experiment, Weyland had succumbed to his sickness, and due to the odd
nature of the disease and the technical limitations of the D-2 staff, Weyland’s cause of death was
labeled as radiation sickness. Currently, it’s believed Weyland was converting into a Type A
ELID before his death, but his body was not strong enough to undergo the DNA recombination
stage of ELID. The death of Gorman Weyland represented the first death on the Americans’ part
due to ELID. Despite losing one of their own, the US continued to ignore ELID and its
disastrous effects on humanity.
1978-1980
During the late 1970s, both superpowers kept to themselves, developing Relic technology and
weapons in secret. By 1978, the first magnetohydrodynamic propulsion system was installed into
a submarine by the Americans, giving them a strategic advantage in submersible stealth
technology. And by 1980, three nuclear submarines had this propulsion system implemented.
Meanwhile, in the USSR, the National State University continued to develop an OGAS-like
command system for the Pikes. This system manifested in the core of the Pikes, also known as
the Pike Nodes. Their respective OGAS source code was stored in these Nodes.
The 1980s
While the nations built their arms and technology, an ominous situation had been unfolding
globally. Cases of ELID had skyrocketed but continued to be ignored by both sides. In 1980,
over 150,000 had been infected worldwide due to various tests, experiments, and bombings with
Relics. Over 10,000 people had been killed by ELID in Vietnam alone due to the Collapse Fluid
bombing during the war. Despite knowing the effects of ELID on the population, the US and
USSR continued to disregard the growing epidemic. In 1980, regardless of the ongoing ELID
epidemic, the Soviets were ready for combat trials of the Pikes.
Pike Deployment - 1980-1981
Like the Americans, the Soviets knew their Relic weapon must be tried in combat to measure its
effectiveness. Both the prototype “Morons” and the completed “Pikes” had never been used in
live combat and needed to prove their capabilities in the field. As the Soviet-Afghan War
continued following the Soviet invasion in 1979, the Soviets saw it as the perfect opportunity to
test the Pikes.
A proposition was made to the General Staff of the Soviet Armed Forces for authorization of the
combat trial. The General Staff approved the plans on December 5th, 1980, with KGB 16th
Directorate Director Mikhail Semenovich Tsvigun in charge of the operation. For the mission,
he adopted the identity of “Technical Director Borikin”. Mikhail, more commonly known today
as “Old Misha”, was awarded the Order of the Red Star for his service in the operation. The
operation was conducted by the 794th Guards Engineering Corp in the following January. In the
time leading up to Christmas 1980, four Pikes were flown in a Mi-6 helicopter from the railway
hub in Tajikistan to the outskirts of Kabul. The 794th was deployed to Afghanistan on January
2nd, 1981, and began preparations on the Pikes.
The target of this combat test was a CIA-funded, Mujahideen training camp near Landi Kotal,
Pakistan in the Khyber Pass. Once the 794th had completed their checks of the Pike units, the
operation was moved to Jalalabad, closer to the border with Pakistan. Final checks and
adjustments were made in the evening of January 4th, and the operation would soon begin. At
midnight on the 5th, the mission officially began. Due to the presence of Stinger MANPADS in
the Mujahideen’s hands, a limited number of the 794th were forced to stay in Jalalabad for repair
and decontamination of the Pikes. A small portion of the 794th would escort and activate the
Pikes upon crossing the border. To avoid sounding alarms and drawing too much attention to the
trails left by the Pikes, the escort group set off at midnight. At 07:14 local time, the group arrived
at the border and awaited the call to begin the assault. The order was given to attack, and the
escort team ordered the Pikes’ Emelya-M control buses to move forward.
Attack on Landi Kotal
At 07:30, the Pikes descended the mountains at 32kph towards Landi Kotal (6km away). Fifteen
minutes later, the tracks of the Pikes were spotted by the guards and the alarm was raised. The
Pikes entered their “Devour” mode, and began to attack all targets in sight. Within ten minutes,
the four Pikes split into teams of two, attacking the camp from two sides at once. Team one
flanked the base from the northern road, and team two continued to push forward from the
mountains.
By 08:00, the Mujahideen set up a defensive line in preparation for the oncoming force. The
Pikes showed no sign of damage or stopping with all attacks, including rockets and machine
guns, doing nothing against the machines. Within ten minutes of the line forming, both groups of
Pikes had broken through the perimeter. The enemy began to fall back to Landi Kotal to prepare
a stronger resistance.
As the Pikes moved closer to Landi Kotal proper, enemy artillery fired upon them. An enemy
105mm howitzer fired near two of the Pikes, but neither received any damage. After breaching
the camp, anti-tank rockets were fired towards the Pikes to no avail. Additional 60mm to 80mm
weapons were fired to no effect against the Pikes. It seemed that these machines were invincible
to small arms and artillery. By 08:30, the camp was destroyed, and the remaining enemy
retreated from the village. In only a single hour, the Pikes had descended towards Landi Kotal
and took over a base harboring over a thousand enemy soldiers equipped with small arms,
rockets, and artillery without suffering any damage whatsoever. The Pikes had won the battle
with an overwhelming victory.
Results of the Pike Deployment
Ten minutes after conquering the base, the Pikes rendezvoused for extraction. They were placed
in their “can” containers and loaded onboard a Mi-6 back to Jalalabad. Upon arriving at the city
half an hour later, the Pikes were offloaded and sent for inspection. Members of the 794th
immediately started cleaning excess Collapse Fluid and checking for leakages on the Pikes
during decontamination. Fortunately, none of the Pikes showed any signs of damage or major
fluid leakage. With the conclusion of the Pike combat trial, they had proven themselves to be a
formidable force with substantial resistance.
Following the retrieval of the Pikes after the assault, multiple MiG-25s traveled from Kandahar
in the South to Landi Kotal for reconnaissance. Multiple images were taken from the jets,
revealing the disastrous aftermath of the assault. As the Pikes traveled, they left 8-meter-wide
scorch marks as trails. Furthermore, multiple objects seemed to shimmer within said trails, which
are believed to be a glaze. The ores in the ground had melted into a glaze, something possible
when the temperature surpasses 1000℃. Taking this into account, it’s believed that the Pike units
operate at exceptionally high temperatures.
As the Pikes moved throughout the area, objects in their path, including half of a house, had been
destroyed. In accordance with observations at the Tabasar-B facility, the Pikes caused objects in
their path to be “collapsed” down into base elementary particles. All organic matter vanished
from view, no survivors had been found, and the camp had been reduced to rubble. Taking all of
this into account, a solid explanation can be formed on the working of a Pike in combat. A Pike
unit uses Collapse Fluid within itself to create a “force field” around it. All matter that comes
into contact with the force field is broken down into its base elements. This reaction generates a
significant amount of heat, likely causing the glaze and scorch marks observed on the ground.
When knowledge of the capabilities of Pikes reached NATO, they knew small arms and artillery
were useless, and armored units might prove ineffective as well.
ELID Crisis - 1980-1981
By 1980, over 150,000 people were infected with ELID worldwide. Due to the American
Collapse Fluid bombing, over 10,000 in Vietnam had been infected as a result of the “Collapse
radiation”. ELID was introduced in the Middle East and Central Asia following the Pike
deployment in the Khyber Pass. An additional 50,000 individuals were infected from 1980 to
1981. 5000 of this newly infected group successfully mutated into ELIDs, with mutations across
the globe increasing. ELID was a death sentence for all those who contracted it at the time due to
a lack of knowledge of its infection vectors and known treatments against it. Furthermore,
several nations created special units to combat the infected to little avail due to a similar lack of
experience and technology. Because of the mutations and varied conditions of the infected, much
of the then-existing combat data against ELIDs was considered void. As the full scale of the
epidemic was realized, the superpowers knew the problem was unavoidable.
The Relic Arms Limitation Treaty of 1981
ELID had proven itself to be a serious foe to the well-being of humanity, and it could no longer
be ignored. The United States and the Soviet Union would come to a bipartisan decision to curb
the ELID crisis. During the discussions, both nations revealed their Relic weapons and
technology to one another, and it was apparent that the use of Relic weapons was the root of the
ELID epidemic. The superpowers knew the use of such weapons would inevitably lead to
humanity’s demise. In late 1981, the Relic Arms Limitation Treaty was ratified for the safety of
the world. The conditions of the agreement included the halting of all Relic research temporarily
and the dismantling of all active Relic weapons. The discussion would continue until 1983 on
how to curb ELID with the development of vaccines.
Geneva Gazette - 1983
During the ELID epidemic, unity between nations was proven to be the only saving grace to halt
crises. To assist in containing ELID and reducing the chances of a second Relic arms race,
General Secretary Yuri Andropov and President Ronald Reagan announced the Geneva
Gazette. On July 1st, 1983, the Geneva Gazette would bring an end to the 35-year-old conflict
between the nations. With the end of the Cold War, tensions cooled across the globe, and
research for an ELID vaccine was ongoing. The official Geneva Gazette declaration was as
follows:
“We hereby declare the end of an era, an era known as the Cold War, an era where two sides
took part in total military, economic, and political conflict against each other. In the face of this
global danger that rises beyond race and nation, both sides have chosen to set aside their
prejudices and ideologies. We will, and we have to unite to ensure the continuation of the human
race. It is with that spirit that both sides now sign this gazette.”
Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov - Ronald Wilson Reagan
Post-Geneva Gazette
A new age of peace and unity had begun between the previous rivals, with a newfound focus on
stopping ELID. Following the Relic Treaty and the Geneva Gazette, many Relic technologies
and armaments were destroyed or sealed away. Despite the agreements, both sides knew
Pandora’s Box for Relics had already been opened, and the only thing preventing someone from
taking over or destroying the world was goodwill. On the Soviet side, the Pikes, and the relevant
technologies, were sealed in storage throughout the Soviet Union to prevent theft and or misuse.
The Pikes were stored in multiple OKB facilities across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where
they still reside to this day. KGB 16th Directorate Director, Mikhail Tsvigun, assisted the
conversion of the OGAS network from military to economic use. The new system would come to
be known as the “All-State Automation System” with the purpose of economic management of
the Soviet economy founded on earth sciences.
Der Zauberberg - 1970s-1980s
For several years, the 90Wunsch organization in East Germany continued its work at Urkunde-01
and their electronic surveillance center. The organization had detected a massive NATO radio
surveillance station in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG/West Germany) sometime during
the 1970s. This “Berlin Ground Station” was located near west Berlin on top of a mountain
named Der Zauberberg. According to 90Wunsch, the station’s surveillance system could track,
jam, and alter all radio signals in and out of the Warsaw Pact including internal military
command channels. Thanks to 90Wunsch’s surveillance center, Der Zauberberg was discovered
and eventually infiltrated electronically.
With the NATO intelligence system breached, the East Germans slowly began to covertly take
over operations of the facility remotely. At first, they were able to transmit false information and
stop the actual information to Zauberberg; however, they couldn't send fake orders to NATO
command. Thanks to State Security radio espionage groups, radio specialists were able to break
through and electronically take over Zauberberg. For a decade, the East Germans were the true
heads of the facility, running a major campaign of electronic warfare and counterintelligence
against NATO. Vast amounts of false information were sent to Zauberberg, and eventually
Washington, until after the German reunification in 1985.
After the Relic Arms Limitation Treaty was signed during the ELID crisis, 90Wunsch was
disbanded, splintering many of its members between NATO, the Soviets, and the United Nations.
When the East and West states unified in 1985, much of 90Wunsch’s information was handed off
or destroyed. For Markus Wolf, one of his final wishes was a possible economic system like the
Soviet OGAS system to help the deteriorating German economy. Because of Honecker’s earlier
intervention to cease further investigation into Urkunde-01 by 90Wunsch and Wolf, this system
never came to be in Germany. Following 90Wunsch’s disbandment, its data was vetted by Wolf
and then sent to either be destroyed or handed over to Mikhail Tsvigun.
Part 2 - Late 1980s-2029
The Late 1980s
With the signing of the Relic Arms Treaty and the Geneva Gazette, past hostilities were replaced
with an age of unity. The rising threat of ELID across the globe proved to be a formidable foe
that could only be combated with the combined efforts of the United Nations. By the end of the
decade, both sides were actively researching treatment and vaccine options for the disease. Many
countries created special task forces to combat ELID such as the Chinese Special Circumstances
Armed Police Force (SCAPF).
OGAS Project
In the twilight years of the Soviet Union, the loss of support from the parent OGAS system
caused issues to arise while trying to install upgrades for demilitarization. Due to the upgrade
issue, the OGAS system became inefficient, leading to various economic and political problems
across the nation, which only worsened with the oil crisis. Despite the problems of OGAS, the
16th continued its involvement in the project, supporting the idea of converting the system for
civilian use. Technical Director Victor Glushkov, Mikhail Tsvigun, and the Communist Party of
the Soviet Union (CPSU) all concluded that OGAS could prove an instrumental tool for
revisioning political structures, efficient economic planning, and resource management. Beyond
developing OGAS, Mikhail was further dealing with the worldwide ELID epidemic in the late
1980s. An epidemic that he contributed to in Afghanistan.
The 1990s
Sweeping shifts in the global order would occur during 1991. After almost ten years since the
signing of the Relic Arms Limitation Treaty, it was expanded into the Relic Technology
Convention. On March 31st, 1991, the United Nations reformed the Treaty into the Relic
Convention with support from the US and USSR. The reformation led to significant changes in
how Relics were studied and used. Additionally, the UN began plans for a new agency to deal
with Relics and sites.
The August Coup & The End of OGAS
After the UN passed the Relic Technology Convention in 1991, most relic technologies were
sealed away for good across all nations. During this time, Mikhail tried his best to delay the date
of the OGAS system deactivation and preserve the legacy of the Soviet relic programs. Because
of widespread political divide and unrest, the Soviet Union had been crumbling. However, after
the coup on August 19th, the hopes held by the OGAS project team fell with the red star that
night. The Soviet Union lowered its flag on the 19th of August, 1991, following the coup
attempt. As the Union fractured, Russian oligarchs and investors put all Relic matters to the side
during the consolidation of power. Mikhail and the 16th Directorate rapidly became obsolete,
and the OGAS system was sealed away permanently. It would not be until 1999, after Vladimir
Putin became the Prime Minister, that Relic matters returned to their importance to Russia.
United Nations Relic Agency - 1992
Soon after the signing of the Relic Technology Convention, the United Nations drafted plans for
a new agency specifically for managing Relics and Relic weapons. On March 2nd, 1992, the
United Nations Relic Agency (UNRA) was founded with the expressed purpose of halting the
development and manufacture of Relic weapons worldwide. Additional goals of the UNRA
included: disposing of current Relic weapons, utilizing Relic technology for peaceful means that
improve humanity, and achieving justice, freedom, and equality for all of mankind. The UNRA’s
founding motto became “Building peace in the minds of men and women,” and the charter’s
ideal stated, “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses
of peace must be constructed.”
It became the duty of all nations to control, protect, and utilize Relic technology for purely
beneficial purposes. The head of the agency was known as the Chief Director, and all those in the
agency dealt with Relic matters across the globe from D-1 to Beilan Island. One of the most
important figures in the series, Raeder Albert Rossartre, would later become the Chief
Director, and his teachings and influences throughout his life would give rise to the ideology
known as Rossartrism.
Pandora - 1992
On September 11th, 1992, multiple terrorist attacks took place in Moscow and New York, but the
exact methods and intensity are unknown. Following the attacks, “Pandora”, a radical anti-Relic
organization, openly declared responsibility for the attacks. According to them, “The urge to
steal fire is mankind’s original sin.”
Black Lily & White Rose Project - 1992-?
Notice: Much of the information from this specific section is subject to change with the release
of future story and lore content.
After the formation of the UNRA, many Relic researchers and scientists showed interest in
making contact with the Relics. The GAVIRUL was pulled out of storage in 1992, and the Relic
scientific community was divided on how the GAVIRUL would be used. Due to a lack of
structure and leadership, the community was split into two groups. The first group believed the
specimen was the “key” to activating the Relics, thus unlocking further development and
reproduction of various Relic-based technologies. On the other side, the second group supported
the creation of human-GAVIRUL hybrids to understand the dangers of the Relic Civilization.
Additionally, these beings would theoretically have the ability to interact with the Relics. Due to
structural issues in the UN and the scientific community, the latter group received the majority of
support.
The cultivation of embryos began right away, but due to the instability of the genes, the embryos
had a 98.9% mortality rate. By the end of the reproduction project, only two embryos survived
the test, both being female to preserve chromosomal completeness. The surviving subjects had
different appearances due to a difference in the egg cells used. At the end of the development
cycle, the first two successful GAVIRUL hybrids had been created.
Black Lily and White Rose
Observation Subject G-37 was of European descent with a genetic deficiency causing the growth
of white hair, and Observation Subject G-114 was of Asian descent with black hair and no
genetic abnormalities. During infancy, the two were indistinguishable from normal human, infant
girls. The researchers named G-37 and G-114 “Rose” and “Lily”, respectively. The research
institute named the program the “Black Lily and White Rose” project after the girls, referring to
their hair colors and names. Additionally, their genetic sequences were codenamed “Lachesis”
and “Atropos”, respectively and placed in -80℃ cold storage. Both Lachesis and Atropos
originate from the Greek “Moirai”, also known as the “Three Fates”. They were two of the three
sisters who weaved the fates of humanity.
At 7 years old, an anomaly had already been observed in their development. They had aged twice
as fast as humans with both being physically around the age of 14. By the 15th year of the
project, neither girl showed any unusual characteristics apart from a somewhat stronger muscular
strength and increased prefrontal cortex activity. The GAVIRUL Reproduction Project was
labeled a failure past the 20th year due to neither individual presenting any ability to interact
with Relics. Backup embryo samples and reports were sealed away into storage, and project
funding was redirected towards the Weight-Bearing conformal external assistance system. The
Weight-Bearing system would later evolve into the Assault-Artillery platform for use against
ELID.
Beilan Island
The lives and whereabouts of Lily and Rose were lost to time after WWIII, but according to
fragmented accounts, the pair may have been involved in anti-ELID operations before the Beilan
Island Incident in 2030. Due to a lack of evidence, nothing proves the girls had or had not been
involved to some degree in the Beilan Incident.
The 2000s & 2010s
With the signing of the Geneva Gazette in 1983, and the flag of the Soviet Union falling in
August 1991, the Cold War came to a complete close. Domination of the military, economies,
and Relics shifted entirely into NATO’s hands. The world continued as normal throughout the
1990s without much issue. However, as a new millennium was starting, the globe was faced with
its first test. In 1999, the Relic bubble had begun and the world was forced to search for
alternative solutions to the growing economic crisis.
The Relic Bubble - 1999-2001
When the bubble burst in 1999, a worldwide financial crisis unfolded. Companies across the
world struggled to keep production and labor costs low or else face collapse. Industries had two
choices - cut production costs as low as possible or find a technological breakthrough to improve
the production efficiency. Interestingly, the Russian Federation faced almost no issue during the
bubble due to early action by President Vladimir Putin. Putin was sworn in as Prime Minister on
August 10th, 1999, and the following day he immediately requested former Director Mikhail
Semenovich Tsvigun to visit his office to discuss Relic matters. The exact contents of their
conversation are unknown, but the ramifications of the talk seemingly helped Russia prepare for
the Relic bubble. Unlike the other nations of the world, Russia was ready to take the industrial
lead during the crisis.
During the recession, the economic damage was severe on unprepared nations. Industries and
companies suffered if they could not lower production costs or make breakthroughs. In Kiev,
research and development of industrial-grade machine tools and robotic appendages were
underway as a way to lower production costs. While the Russian products made by this method
were not as high quality as those made in Western Europe or the United States, production was
significantly cheaper. Russia gained the edge over the competition thanks to its industrial
machinery, and other nations soon followed suit. Industry across the globe shifted to automation
for the economic benefits. While the West and Japan ridiculed Russia during the Relic bubble for
not negotiating in trade, Russia continued to pull forward as the economic leader. The Relic
bubble and financial crisis came to a close sometime in 2001.
2001-2021
The following twenty years remained as normal, with little written about the history of the time.
In 2012, Mikhail Tsvigun finally retired from his Relic work in Russia. While no longer directly
involved with Relics, he was not completely unconnected with Relic matters in Europe. He knew
he lacked a successor, one that could carry his knowledge and foresight into the next generation
of Relic researchers and scientists.
The 2020s
As a new decade dawned, industrial technology and innovations were underway across the
globe. Automation became commonplace in factories, CNC tools were introduced, and industrial
robots had their beginnings during this time. Human-like and multi-legged robots were in their
infantile development phases, lacking any real funding due to their riskier nature for production.
Apart from industrial innovations, humanity would once again gain interest in Relics on a large
scale following the discovery of the greatest secret under the Antarctic ice.
Zelinsky and Mikhail Meet - 2022
During an academic conference at Poznan University in Poland, Mikhail Tsvigun discussed Relic
matters with the attendees and the audience. Almost by fate, one of the audience members
listening to Tsvigun speak asked him a question about ternary logic research. As the event came
to a close, the audience member approached Tsvigun with various information and data about the
Khyber Pass Pike operation in 1981. Using only publicly available information, this individual
was able to piece together a vague understanding of the events of January 5th, 1981. Tsvigun, the
man behind the Soviet operation, was stunned by the individual’s knowledge. The individual
introduced himself as Viktor Pavlovich Zelinsky, a university mathematics student.
Mikhail was greatly impressed by Zelinsky’s work, and the two grew to be close friends. Over
time, Mikhail slowly began seeing him as a potential successor. Mikhail previously had two
children with his ex-wife; however, both children were sent to live with their mother. It’s noted
that he encouraged his children to change their surnames for an unknown reason. The identities
of his children remain unknown; however, they could be revealed in the future. The discussion at
Poznan University was the exact moment a long-lasting friendship was founded between the
two; one as close as father and son. The relationship between the man with vast troves of
knowledge and the other with intense political ambitions had the power to change the direction
of nations.
The Antarctic Hollow - 2023-2029
In 2023, a massive anomaly was found beneath the Antarctic polar ice cap. Upon excavation, an
enormous hollow was revealed and was confirmed to be the largest Relic site ever discovered.
Experts in the field of Relic research across the globe had their focus solely on the hollow. A
research conference sometime in 2023 was held with some of the most prestigious and intelligent
individuals in the Relic field in preparation for a major development of the hollow. UNRA
Director Raeder Albert Rossartre met Mikhail Tsvigun during the conference. Here, Tsvigun
offered many useful recommendations for Rossartre for the hollow investigation.
With major scientific and financial backing from scientists and civilians, the investigation and
development of the site began in 2025. All workers at the site were genetically augmented to
help withstand the effects of ELID and outfitted with “weight-bearing” conformal external
assistance systems to increase their efficiency. On top of the precautions already taken by the
UNRA, the site was generally favorable. The layout of the facility, as well as the precautions
taken, made ELID almost a non-issue at the site. By 2029, the Antarctic Hollow had been
developed into a base complex larger than any other Relic facility on Earth. Large financial
capital from the UN Security Council enabled the facility to construct five landing strips and
eight ports for ships that displaced over 100,000 tonnes (110,231 tons) of water. Additionally, the
facility could sustain 10,000 workers for long periods if needed. Research and development of
the Antarctic Hollow base would continue throughout the 2030s, and would ultimately close its
doors to the world before World War III.
Part 2.5 - The Beilan Island Incident
Beilan Island
Beilan Island is a place of immense value in Relic matters and world history. Discovered off the
coast of Shanghai sometime between the 1950s to 1962, the Relic site lay hidden underneath the
surface of the island. One of the most valuable findings from the site was the “GAVIRUL”, a
specimen found 67 meters below the ground in 1962. The GAVIRUL was an intelligent member
of the Relic Civilization species and is believed to be a “guardian” of the site’s relics. Soon after
finding the specimen, the Relic site was locked away as it was determined to have no further
research value and was contained deep underground.
As Shanghai became progressively more urbanized during the 1970s, the city was built over the
now sealed Relic site where the site remained dormant until the next millennium. Due to the
destructive exploration of the site in the 1960s, Collapse Fluid contained in crystal containers
had leaked out in small quantities, irradiating the facility. As Shanghai continued to expand,
construction on the Island led to a leak of the radioactive particles underneath the city.
Underground construction caused the outer layer of the site to be damaged, allowing an avenue
for the trapped particles to escape to the city above. Radiation eventually seeped to the surface
where it infected multiple people with ELID in the process. Initially, city government officials
ignored the rising threat, but when ELID infectees began to cause violent crimes, the Special
Circumstances Armed Police Force (SCAPF) stepped in to review the situation.
The SCAPF was one of several special teams that were created worldwide to eliminate ELID
threats after the outbreak during the Cold War. They were specifically trained to deal with ELIDs
and maintain security over Relic sites. After the SCAPF intervened in the situation, Beilan was
promptly quarantined from the rest of the city. The lockdown led to cases of ELID and
associated crimes to decline. Several months later, the lockdown level and security of the zone
were gradually reduced. The lack of supervision of the zone eventually led to a major breach of
security on January 17th, 2030. The day the world came to a grinding halt.
The Beilan Island Incident - January 17th, 2030
During the afternoon, seven middle school children broke into the Beilan Island Relic Site. Upon
entering the quarantined area, the children came under attack by several ELID infectees.
Learning of the security breach, a SCAPF team was deployed to mount a rescue operation within
the zone. During the mission, their cameras captured the full chain of events. As the SCAPF
secured the children, the group came in contact with many more infected, but the severity of the
threat at that time was unknown. Several minutes later, the cameras captured footage of the
fireteam rigging explosive charges near the entrance of the site to contain the ELIDs and prevent
further breaches. At precisely 15:17 local time, the charges detonated, causing the walls of the
room to collapse inward. As the walls fell, exposed Collapse Fluid started leaking from the site,
and the compression of the fluid caused an exceptional rise in heat. Within moments, a
significant detonation had occurred, becoming the most devastating event in human history.
Immediately following the detonation, an eruption of untold magnitude transpired. The entire
city on Beilan Island was annihilated. All signs of life in the immediate area were instantly
killed, and the topsoil was vitrified outward into the air, forming enormous crystal-like
structures. According to Chinese authorities, the cities of Shanghai, Suzhou, Wuxi, and Nantong
were reduced to rubble by the explosion and subsequent shockwave. Although Relic/CF
explosions do not act like nuclear weapons, the total magnitude of the destruction would suggest
a staggering yield. The immediate area remains an apocalyptic Black Zone to this day.
The Fallout
At 15:27 local time, ten minutes after the initial detonation, a tremor was felt over a thousand
kilometers away in the city of Hong Kong, according to UNRA Director Rossartre. At the time,
Rossartre was hosting a conference over Relic sites but was disrupted by the tremor. The initial
thought was believed to be an earthquake; however, Rossartre and members of the government
quickly realized a catastrophic event was unfolding. Around 16:00, the full scale of the disaster
had just begun to reveal itself with the worst being yet to come.
After learning the origin, Rossartre contacted the Beijing office of the UNRA for a briefing on
the situation on the eastern seaboard. The UNRA confirmed reports of tens of thousands of tons
of Collapse Fluid being ejected from the Beilan site into the air. Images taken from satellites
revealed a significant cloud of Collapse Fluid had been launched into the stratosphere, and strong
winds were pushing the cloud northwest into the path of several major cities. As the Collapse
Fluid fell upon the Earth, an area of 1.1 million square kilometers from Shanghai to Beijing
became an irradiated Red Zone. And by 16:30, anyone stuck within had no chance of survival.
Additionally, over a hundred transport capsules of Collapse Fluid had been launched during the
explosion. These containers had their propulsion systems activated, and when the explosion
flung them, they breached the outer layer of the atmosphere and touched down across the Eurasia
and Pan-Pacific regions. Several of the containers fell throughout Central Asia, leading to the
formation of widespread irradiated zones from Central Asia to parts of the Middle East. As the
radiation seeped into Siberia, a considerable portion of Russian land became inhospitable, and
the damage to infrastructure was severe.
First Response
In the immediate aftermath, many Eastern cities made preparations for mass evacuation efforts.
With the impending cloud of Collapse Fluid descending upon the land, citizens and government
members in Beijing retreated into bunkers for protection. Over a million response units and
volunteers were deployed to assist with the evacuation efforts of millions. As the radiation was
taking its toll on the land, government officials were evacuated to Xi’an, a city not affected by
the radiation at the time.
In the city of Hong Kong, looting had already occurred by 17:30 that evening. Despite being
outside the irradiated region, the citizens started fighting for rations and supplies. The full extent
of the chaos is unknown; however, it came to the point where the officials had to enforce a
curfew on the entire city starting at 18:00. Only officials with permits were allowed to move past
curfew. As the lockdown went into effect, the government restricted communications and
networks in the city to prevent the dissemination of misinformation. According to Rossartre’s
report, he and fellow Agency members were able to escape the country only after obtaining
special permissions thanks to the UNRA.
As the hours passed, the world was awoken by the events in China, and Operation Noah, a
massive UN relief and evacuation program, had begun. Despite the chaos, Rossartre noted that
the nations of the world were putting aside their differences to collaborate in the relief efforts. To
him, maybe there was a chance of global peace, but the events following Beilan proved his initial
beliefs were nothing more than temporary delusions. In days, the effects of the Collapse Fluid
cloud and crystal capsules grew more dire across the continent. Cases of ELID drastically
increased in the regions of China, Japan, Siberia, the Korean peninsula, Central Asia, and parts
of the Middle East.
Questioning the Narrative
Interestingly, what is publicly known about the Beilan Island Incident may not be entirely true,
or at least, doesn’t include all the facts. During the fallout, Rossartre, a well-respected premier
expert in the field of Relics, had his own questions regarding the official story released by the
Chinese government. While never casting blame on any one individual, group, or government,
he knew what had been released was not enough to explain the cause of the incident. Information
made public by the Chinese government only contained information on the seven children who
broke into the quarantine zone and the subsequent SCAPF team sent to rescue them. From prior
study and experimentation, Rossartre stated that the detonation of Collapse Fluid in a manner
“sufficient to trigger a chain reaction is only possible with the use of laser igniters.” He doubted
that the kids or the SCAPF team had either the ability nor equipment to do so. If the director of
the UNRA himself believed there was more to the story, then what really happened? Fortunately,
the results of a decades-old project may point us in the right direction.
After the failure of the Black Lily and White Rose Project, information on the sisters was scarce.
But according to fragmented accounts, the unique nature of their bodies may have led to them
taking part in a supposed anti-ELID operation on the eve of the incident. This anti-ELID
operation could’ve been the SCAPF’s rescue operation. If the hybrid sisters were at Beilan
Island, then their mere presence is cause for speculation. A lack of evidence means there’s no
actual proof that their actions directly or indirectly caused the Beilan Incident. However, when
we consider Rossartre’s own skepticism of the official story, then it’s feasible to believe
something else happened-something that the public has never been made privy to.
Part 3 - Post-Beilan Island-2044
Fallout of the Beilan Island Incident - January 2030
In the immediate aftermath of the Beilan Island Incident, the world order shifted dramatically.
The Collapse radiation contaminated much of Asia, killing hundreds of millions in days from
ELID. To this day, the area surrounding Beilan Island remains an uninhabitable Black Zone with
no chance of survival. According to files released by the Chinese government, over 400,000,000
people were lost in the first hour from the explosion, shockwave, burns, and or ELID symptoms.
While an official death count would be impossible, estimates from China bring the death toll
upwards of 870,000,000 people. As the cloud spread across the nation, winds blew parts of the
cloud towards the Korean Peninsula, resulting in the death of over ten million Koreans. The total
number lost in other affected regions remains unknown.
The incident served as the first domino to fall to reach the world we experience in Girls’
Frontline and Reverse Collapse. What UNRA Director Raeder Albert Rossartre witnessed
over the next three years dramatically morphed his worldview. And by 2032, his worldview
transformed into the ideology we know today as Rossartrism. Through his drafted Project
Prometheus plan, humanity could have a second chance at redemption, but only if we could
unify under a single cause.
Tension in the Korean Peninsula - February 2030
Tensions between North and South Korea were already high before the Beilan Incident, but its
devastation only further fueled the flames. The UN ordered the creation of a safe zone in South
Korea for refugees. In a joint UNRA-US military program, multiple barriers and habitable zones
for survivors were created thanks to the US Army’s Relic research. The new safe zones were
able to house over a million survivors, but strangely, North Korea stayed silent about the disaster.
Footage from American aerial reconnaissance revealed the tunnels underneath the North Korean
mountains in the far north were an excellent safe zone that likely housed over five million North
Koreans. Interestingly, there was not a single refugee from the North of the Military Demarcation
Line (MDL) into South Korean safe zones. Whether this was an act of the North Korean
government stepping in to stop its citizens from fleeing to the South or something else, would
remain a mystery until 2032.
The Second Korean War - March 3rd, 2030
As tensions flared up between the nations after Beilan, North Korea seemed to be acting
irrationally when it came to the discussion of helping survivors. For some absurd reason, North
Korea seemed to be preventing its people from escaping across the MDL. The situation in Korea
boiled over on March 3rd when North Korean artillery began firing on Seoul, the South Korean
capital. During the shelling, many Northern troops and civilians flooded through prepared
underground tunnels across the 38th Parallel, coming out on the other side to start the assault.
The Korean Peninsula was the first of several to fall to war in the fallout of Beilan Island.
The full truth behind the war was laid behind a veil of secrecy and corruption until 2032 during
an American Congressional hearing about the Beilan Incident Investigation. Many witnesses
would testify against the US President, claiming he had ordered a secret full military lockdown
of the MDL. This lockdown - ordered by the President - prevented all North Korean refugees
from entering the South unless the North accepted stringent demands from the United States. It is
because of this that North Korea’s seemingly irrational behavior after Beilan was a consequence
of American influence over their nation. North Korea was already in a state of collapse, but the
American demands only further pushed them over the edge. This culminated in the North Korean
military beginning a full attack on South Korea, thus starting another war.
The outcome of this war left the already devastated Korean Peninsula in a state of total disrepair.
South Koreans in refugee camps would be forsaken in the zones, and the ones that somehow
were able to escape to the safe zone in Busan would succumb to ELID or be put down by
security due to possible ELID infection. During the 2032 Congressional hearing, Captain John
Copperfield of the USAF 13th Air Force (13 AF) testified to Congress about his involvement in
a mission that took place during Operation 5027. On March 16th, 2030, the 13 AF carried out
Operation Hammerfall on the Korean Peninsula. It did not receive Congressional or Presidential
approval, but any further information about this mission is unstated. However, the fate of the
Korean Peninsula could be tied to it.
The Situation in Japan - Early 2030
Refugee Movements in Japan - March-April 2030
Following the Incident, much of China and the Koreas greatly suffered from the effect of
Collapse Fluid contamination; however, in Japan, the situation was quite different. Thanks to the
distance from Beilan Island, much of Japan was outside of the Yellow or Red Zones. And in the
Northern regions, there was little to no contamination whatsoever. The island of Hokkaido was
almost completely unaffected, making it a perfect shelter for fleeing refugees. The only region
hit directly with contamination was the Kansai region in South-Central Japan. The Kanto region
suffered from minor contamination from the coastline. The situation in Japan could’ve been
much worse had the Far East winds and Kuroshio Current not pushed the Collapse Fluid in
another direction.
Throughout early spring, Tokyo was being converted into a massive refugee facility for
survivors. The low amounts of radiation made it far easier for the UNRA to operate in the area.
The UNRA installed radiation shielding in several large skyscrapers for refugee settlements. The
safe zone in Tokyo was considerably larger with the help of the Japanese government, UNRA,
and the political circumstances at the time. Between the radiation-shielded buildings and the
subway tunnels beneath the city, the Tokyo safe zone was a place of relative normalcy for
survivors. By April, the safe zone accompanied over 1.2 million survivors from the nation. The
Tokyo zone became the standard model for the UNRA. Tides would slowly shift in Japan due to
the growing presence of US military personnel. The US government requested the Japanese
government to allow the US military to be stationed in Hokkaido to maintain a presence for
deterrence in East Asia. The Japanese government themselves had relocated to Hokkaido and
allowed the US to station troops; however, this only led to more space being taken that could’ve
housed survivors.
Refugee Crisis in Hokkaido - May 2030
When May arrived, the URNA and Japanese government continued to introduce more refugees
into the Tokyo zone. The safe zone would be officially changed to the Tokyo Protected Zone on
May 2nd to bring more people in. Additionally, the UNRA requested the Japanese government to
relocate many of the Tokyo survivors into the clean zones in Hokkaido. The plan for the mass
movement of TPZ survivors initiated discussions within the government’s cabinet. The first
wave of opposition was slow but grew steadily amongst Hokkaido’s officials. According to
Director Rossartre’s own beliefs, the movement of refugees was the only way to prevent Japan
from fracturing and collapsing into unrest. Finally, on May 10th, the government issued the order
for the railway department to move TPZ refugees into Hokkaido through the Seikan Tunnel
under the Tsugaru Strait.
As refugees began to enter Hokkaido, locals grew increasingly against the movement. The first
major protest against resettlement occurred on May 15th in the capital of Sapporo. While the
protest remained non-violent, it stood as a sign to the Japanese that thoughts were shifting about
the refugee plan. Many refugees began to face discrimination in Hokkaido as public opinion
slowly morphed. Throughout the following week, the resettlement continued with little
resistance besides protests. This would come to a stop on the 23rd of May when the anti-intake
factions of the government played their cards.
The UN General Assembly met on May 17th to discuss the Japanese government and TPZ
survivors. As the meeting was coming to a close, the UN was becoming opposed to the US
military presence in Hokkaido. The US Representative knew the Assembly would rule against
the US military’s garrison plan, so the US government chose to involve themselves deeper in the
Japanese situation. US Marines at Wake Island were issued orders to prepare for a possible
intervention in Japan within the next few days. US Pacific Command (USPACOM/US
Indo-Pacific Command-INDOPACOM) informed the anti-refugee intake factions of the Japanese
government on May 19th of their plans, and the factions started to prepare for a chance to take
over the government. During the next two days, debates in the Japanese Cabinet were reaching
their peak. On the 22nd, fifteen minutes before the Cabinet meeting began, a USPACOM official
joined the meeting. Thanks to the support of the USPACOM official, the anti-intake factions of
the cabinet were able to gain the edge over the situation.
On May 23rd, the Japanese Cabinet announced to the UNRA a statement made by a Marine
Colonel from the US at the Yokohama AFB. The message was short but straight to the point,
stating, “We will be temporarily discontinuing the intake of survivors, pending further discussion
by the Japanese Diet over the matter.” Later that night, the UN General Assembly conducted an
emergency meeting. The General Assembly concluded that saving those remaining in the TPZ
was imperative to the stability and reconstruction of the nation, but in the end, the Japanese
government chose to bar millions of survivors from safety. A coup was developing from within.
The Coup of Japan - May 2030
Following the Cabinet’s directive towards the UNRA, the Cabinet gave the US Marines
authorization to enforce the directive throughout the entire government. Panicked by the
dramatic action, the UNRA immediately declared an emergency in the TPZ and requested a
meeting with the New York City UN Headquarters. The intervention of the US Military in the
internal Japanese situation was unacceptable and a clear threat to the refugee plan. The UN
Security Council and General Assembly met on the night of the 23rd and unanimously agreed
against US military intervention in Japan. Interestingly, the Japanese representative testified in
favor of the US when they denied any intervention by the US. According to the representative,
the Japanese government had requested assistance from the US in preventing a scenario that
would trigger the instability of Japan.
Following the assembly meeting, the Japanese anti-intake Cabinet requested the US Marines to
conduct raids against pro-intake members and dissidents within the Cabinet. Those arrested were
charged with crimes of “endangering and destroying the Japanese Constitution,” and by 08:00
on the 24th, the Japanese Cabinet had been reformed with anti-intake members. The complete
shift in political thinking in the Cabinet put an immediate end to any discussion in favor of the
refugee plan, and the Americans had a new garrison in the region. The UN Security Council was
left at a standstill due to the Japanese representative denying any American involvement and the
complete change in government Cabinet. The UN was powerless to stop what was occurring in
Tokyo. Later that evening, US Marines were flown into Narita International Airport and driven
to the UNRA HQ in Setagaya. Upon arriving, the UNRA was given its final directive by the
Marines.
Around midnight, the UNRA was offered two options - either all UNRA staff leave Japan within
the next six hours or all aircraft would be barred from leaving the island of Honshu. Those who
remained in the TPZ would be cut off from the outside world with communications to and from
the zone severed. The Marines blew the Seikan Tunnel linking Honshu to Hokkaido, and the US
Navy’s 3rd Fleet issued a total lockdown of the Tsugaru Strait. At the same time, the Cabinet
declared the UNRA to be a national security threat and allowed the US military to stage a
takeover of the Agency, using lethal force if met with resistance.
Many in the UNRA, including the head of the TPZ, Sato Mayuka, maintained their commitment
to helping the survivors. When the Marines gave the ultimatum, she refused to comply, resulting
in a Marine Colonel shooting her in the leg. A massacre of the agency was avoided when
members of the NYC HQ on behalf of Sato stepped in to defuse the situation. The UNRA HQ
accepted the terms of the ultimatum and ordered all of its staff to leave the country. Upon
surrendering, the UNRA were mounted on board trucks and sent to Narita International Airport
for removal. By 07:00 on May 25th, the UNRA had been removed from Japan, and a no-fly zone
was put in place over Tokyo airspace under the supervision of US naval aviation. Despite the
mass removal of UNRA members, some stayed behind in secret as a final act of defiance. One of
these members was Raeder Albert Rossartre.
Unrest and Rioting in the Zone - May 2030
Following the removal of the UNRA and the lockdown of the TPZ, residents of the zone were
faced with the reality that no one was coming to save them. Hatred against the government grew
fiercely in the minds of the survivors. Their government had left them to die and had removed
the only ones who were willing to help them. In response to the realization, thousands of
survivors took to the streets to begin looting shopping centers for resources. Many of them would
form into large groups based on the area they were living in. The groups stockpiled their food
and fuel together. As a contingency against possible group conflicts, many of the TPZ groups
created weapons to defend themselves. Chaos arose in the zone, leading to a larger conflict
between groups. The bloodiest of these battles took place at Tokyo Station between a numerous
Kansai group and other factions. Over 20,000 men engaged in the melee, and by the third day,
over 10,000 were dead. Regardless of faction, defending yourself with numbers became the
status quo across the zone.
The only remaining law in the TPZ were the remnants of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces
(JSDF) in the region who followed the UNRA and Rossartre’s command. Even those most
willing to defend Japan had been cast out and ignored by their own government. Rossartre was
able to escape the eruption of violence in Tokyo thanks to a JSDF escort. When the escort arrived
at Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Camp Mishuku somewhere in the Eastern
Military Region, some communications equipment was still functional. JSDF in contact with a
JSDF recon team in Kansai reported back a momentous discovery. While searching for survivors
in the Kansai region, the recon team found a young girl in Nagoya who they believed was
immune to ELID.
Kawasaki Kazusa - May 2030
The discovery of an immune individual in Nagoya would be more valuable than gold. Up to this
point, no human being was known to be immune to Collapse radiation. In many instances,
contracting ELID would spell a death sentence for the victim. If the immune individual could be
saved, a vaccine could be synthesized to end further ELID infections. For Rossartre and the
remaining JSDF, saving this girl was of utmost importance.
To save the girl and the JSDF recon team in Nagoya, Rossartre formed a group of JSDF, UNRA
staff, and himself to travel towards the recon team. As the group made its way towards the
location, rumors about the girl’s immunity were spreading throughout the Kansai region. Some
saw her as a holy miracle sent down to save the survivors while others viewed her as the cause
for their “divine judgment”. The recon team protecting the girl was faced with waves of
survivors wanting her dead and engaged in a violent battle. Before being overrun by the rioters, a
small team of JSDF fled with the girl into the Shizuoka mountains. By the time Rossartre’s group
arrived, many of the fleeing JSDF team were suffering from acute symptoms of ELID. Without
protective equipment, the team was left for dead in those mountains. Despite the loss of the team,
the immune individual had survived the siege and been found by Rossartre.
Kawasaki Kazusa was a 16-year-old high school student at the time of the Beilan Incident. On
January 17th, Kazusa was directly exposed to the Collapse radiation and was knocked out cold.
When she awoke, she had maintained all motor functions and senses. While in Nagoya, she
survived by eating rations taken from stores in the area. She was discovered by the JSDF while
on a search for food and was taken back to the base. After returning, the news was announced to
the JGSDF Camp Mishuku, and the rescue team was sent. With the girl rescued, the new
objective became extracting the girl to safety away from Japan.
The Escape from Japan - June 2030
Following the rescue of Kazusa from Nagoya, Rossartre and the JSDF brought her back to Camp
Mishuku. Keeping the girl alive was the top priority of everyone involved, and an escape from
Japan was deemed necessary. Rossartre explained the importance of the plan to Kazusa, even
acknowledging her fear of possibly becoming a lab rat for vaccine development. Despite the
possible costs of such experimentation, Kazusa chose to side with Rossartre. She could become
the catalyst to save the planet from ELID, but unfortunately, that never occurred.
Using information from a Russian man in the camp, Rossartre concluded an escape to the
Russian Far East was the best course of action. The man explained there was a sea route to
Vladivostok from Niigata if they could find a boat. The plan called for Rossartre and Kazusa to
flee to the coastal city of Niigata where they would find a boat to take them into the Sea of
Japan, where they would hopefully rendezvous with a Russian Navy vessel. Following contact
with the Russians through unjammed channels, Rossartre and Kazusa began preparations for the
journey. Members of UNRA helped Rossartre obtain a Load-Bearer unit and the JSDF provided
a shielded vehicle to traverse the contaminated zones. The “Load-Bearer” unit is presumably
based on, or the same as, the two-legged “Weight-Bearing” machines. Soon after finalizing the
plan, information leaked from the camp to the surrounding regions. One of the JSDF servicemen
at the camp informed the Kansai and Kanto region groups about Kazusa.
The Escape
The surviving groups marched towards Camp Mishuku upon hearing the news. On June 19th, the
two factions conducted a pincer attack from the north and south of the camp, forcing Rossartre
and Kazusa to escape sooner than expected. Knowing the camp lacked the rations and
ammunition to hold off the invading factions forever, the JSDF held off the groups to open an
escape route for Rossartre. At 21:30, he took Kazusa into an armored vehicle with him and began
driving towards Niigata. The JSDF camp had quickly been overrun by the sieging faction, and
was burned to the ground soon after. Members of the surviving factions with their own vehicles
chased the pair. As they attempted to escape the pursuing vehicles, Kazusa was hit by a stray
bullet. It is unknown when she had succumbed to her wounds, but by the time they had made it
to the coast, she was already gone.
Earlier, around mid June, Moscow was alerted by a communication from within the Tokyo
Protected Zone. This was the communication made by Rossartre while planning the escape.
While the Americans had jammed the majority of communications in and out of the TPZ, they
could not alter the satellite network used by Moscow to send orders to their nuclear submarines
and long-wave radio signals. Due to Rossartre’s status and field of study, he met various
powerful individuals throughout his life. One of these was Mikhail Tsvigun of the former KGB
16th Directorate - a man of high status within the Russian Federation. Rossartre knew that Misha
did not bear any goodwill towards Washington DC. This sentiment, along with their previous
meeting in 2023, allowed Rossartre to find a path of escape by working with Misha. Rossartre
requested a rendezvous somewhere within the Sea of Japan, and Moscow obliged by handing the
rescue mission off to the Russian Pacific Fleet. The Pacific Fleet was outfitted with CF shielding
in preparation for a rescue of a UNRA official.
Returning to the Mainland
Despite her death, Rossartre carried Kazusa’s body onto a fishing boat in Niigata and set off
towards Russia. While passing near Sado Island, the Alexander III, a Russian nuclear submarine,
detected the fishing boat. The pair were loaded into the submarine and brought to Russia. Those
remaining in the TPZ were damned to the chaos and radiation. What happened in the zone past
this point is unknown. However, from the lore of Girls’ Frontline Neural Cloud, the
multinational entertainment conglomerate, Cyber Media, was founded in the early 2050s in
Tokyo. This implies some level of reconstruction had taken place in the Yellow Zones of Honshu
sometime before the end of WWIII.
Upon Rossartre’s arrival in Russia, the Bolshevik parties of the Russian Far East took Kazusa’s
body for study, and Rossartre was given a seat on a flight to Moscow in early July. On July 8th,
Rossartre met Mikhail Tsvigun and his student, Viktor Pavlovich Zelinsky, while being debriefed
in Moscow. All information Rossartre had on him about his experiences from China to the TPZ
was copied and archived. After the debriefing, Rossartre was granted a flight to London for his
return to the UN. This would be the final meeting between the Relic experts, Tsvigun and
Rossartre. Two men that, despite their political differences, recognized the dangers posed by
improper use of Relic technology.
The Situation in Russia - Mid 2030
Following the disaster at Beilan Island, the Russian Far East was thrown into a frenzy with the
lack of leadership and command from Moscow. A significant portion of the Trans-Siberian
Railway was damaged by Collapse Fluid crystals bursting above the region, causing a halt to
railway travel in the region. Due to the loss of command, the Far East government lacked the
resources needed to maintain evacuation efforts in the region. Fortunately, air routes over Siberia
remained unaffected which allowed the Far East to conduct evacuations by air.
Due to the power vacuum in the Far East, the Bolshevik parties operating in secrecy took this as
a moment to seize power in a region of Russia. Bolshevik groups quickly gained political power
in the region by assisting the Far East government in their efforts. Furthermore, Bolshevik agents
began to infiltrate the Russian government itself. Many spies and informants soon entered the
ranks of the Federal Security Service (FSB), Navy, and Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD).
Following the rescue of Rossartre and the “Delta III” off the coast of Japan, Bolsheviks within
the government took authority over the pair.
Delta III - July 2030
The “Delta III” was the Russian classification assigned to the female Japanese individual from
the Tokyo Protected Zone in June and July of 2030. Before being secured by the Alexander III,
the girl had died from a gunshot wound sustained during her escape. An autopsy of her body
concluded her internal organs were completely immune to Collapse radiation. In the timeline,
Kawasaki Kazusa was the first confirmed case of immunity. It’s currently believed her body
underwent a physical mutation, allowing her to adapt to the contaminated zone. Interestingly, if
she had not died in Japan, she likely wouldn’t be able to survive when introduced into a clean
zone due to this adaptation. Had she survived the escape, it can be surmised her body would
undergo rapid decay due to an acute autoimmune disease and organ failure. While the autopsy
confirmed ELID immunity was possible, those few immune humans were seemingly unable to
survive in Green and White Zones.
The accepted hypothesis is that an individual can, in exceptionally rare cases, mutate into an
immune. As for what causes one to undergo this mutation, it’s seemingly connected to a specific
natural antibody that targets ELID-mutated cells. Barring high exposure to Collapse radiation,
the rate of mitosis of mutated cells and the spread of organelle-based radiation are slower than
the ability of the subject’s immune system to cleanse the mutated cells, leading to the extinction
of mutated cells in the body.
The Situation in North America - September 2030
In the months after the Beilan Incident, many of the Collapse Fluid capsules ejected during the
explosion landed in the Pacific Ocean. Currents pushed the capsules towards the North American
continent. By September, several capsules had landed on coastlines from Alaska to Panama. Due
to leaking capsules, the land stretching from Anchorage to San Diego experienced clouds of
Collapse Fluid, forcing the population to flee eastward. In the United States, files obtained by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed Relic technology companies had seized
multiple of these capsules for research and profit. Two of these capsules were shipped to Salt
Lake City, Utah, and Phoenix, Arizona. Due to a lack of proper understanding on part of the
companies, they attempted to force open the capsule in Salt Lake City. This would prove to be a
devastating mistake for the US and Canada.
By brute-forcing the Collapse Fluid capsule open, a massive explosion similar to Beilan
followed. Salt Lake City was vaporized from the detonation, and an area up to a hundred square
miles (259 square kilometers) became a Black/Red Zone. Refugees fleeing from California had
walked straight into a disaster exceptionally worse than the coastline contamination. Many
would not survive. Projections concluded that Denver, Colorado, and as far East as the state of
Kansas would be contaminated to some degree. In Canada, much of British Columbia and the
Yukon suffered heavy contamination as a result. The catastrophe in the American West ushered
in the decline of North America and utterly reshaped the United States as a country.
North American Refugee Crisis - September-December 2030
With the North American continent in a state of chaos, the surviving populations fled east to
escape the contaminated zones. According to Rossartre, he tried to warn the US government of
the consequences of tampering with Relics, with Beilan Island being the greatest example of
what could go wrong. Unfortunately for the American and Canadian citizens, the government did
not listen. The Relic technology companies went unchecked by the government, leading to the
destruction of Salt Lake City and the surrounding region. The West became an uninhabitable
wasteland, with the American West to the Southern Yukon being irradiated to some degree.
After the disaster, the American government drafted its plans for a mass evacuation of the West
into the East. Green Zones were established in the Midwest and South for the intake of survivors,
but in the end, only a small portion ever made it to these zones. The entire evacuation effort fell
into calamity due to a plethora of issues spanning the union. Many of the issues posed were, but
are not limited to: the suspicious California state government, Green Zone residents denying
entry of western survivors, various bureaucratic and legal difficulties within the government, and
individuals who sought to exploit the situation for their own motives. The culmination of
problems in the US led to the evacuation plan falling apart, leaving many survivors behind and
or dead. As the stability of the union crumbled, the Pentagon drafted a plan for a “North
American Exclusion Wall” stretching over 2300km from Winnipeg to Port Arthur.
The construction of the Exclusion Wall started right away, but by the time of its completion,
most survivors were still stuck within the contaminated regions. Those remaining within the
zones had been completely abandoned. For Rossartre, who directed the American West Coast
Re-Evacuation Plan, this was the final blow to morale, leading to the UNRA withdrawing from
the evacuation plan soon after.
European Refugee Crisis - 2030-Early 2031
While North America suffered through disasters, Europe was declining into a state of crisis.
Survivors from parts of the Middle East to Southeast Asia were flooding into Europe daily,
leading to a lack of low social resources due to overpopulation within the European Union (EU).
Refugee camps were set up in major European countries to accompany the survivors; however,
due to cultural differences and division between the natives and refugees, conflicts arose. Some
of the refugees participated in sexual crimes and thievery, and in turn, the natives cast further
blame and discrimination against the refugees. The division between the natives and enclaves of
survivors grew even wider when rumors about who caused the Beilan Incident began to spread in
Europe. As 2030 was coming to a close, it was clear Europe was headed down a path of division,
which only worsened with the winter.
Due to the clash between the natives and refugees, the European people grew increasingly in
favor of closing borders and barring further refugee intake. By autumn of 2030, over four million
refugees had made their way in Europe. Several nations saw mass demonstrations against the EU
due to the intake. As winter rolled in, Europe experienced a colder than average winter. Although
not directly stated, this could’ve been the result of the Beilan Incident. Throughout the EU,
snowstorms enveloped much of the land in December, leaving those left out in the cold to suffer.
A lack of fuel to maintain heat in refugee camps led many to freeze to death in the following
months. It’s estimated there were over two million refugees who had perished during the freezing
winter.
The Beacon and Prometheus Proposals - 2030-2031
In 2031, morale amongst the UNRA had reached an all-time low following the Beilan Incident,
the Tokyo Protected Zone’s collapse, North America’s collapse, and the refugee crises around the
world. At the UNRA HQ in New York City, Sir Thomas Huxley cast doubt on their efforts of
being able to prevent future catastrophes and reverse the growing global divisions. Due to the
scope of the disasters, and the shift in world government opinions against the UNRA, many of its
members lost hope. Despite the turmoil, a proposition had been drafted as a possible solution to
the crises. The “Beacon Program” offered an alternative solution to the world’s problems - a
project for the establishment of an Antarctic Relic Agency in the Antarctic Hollow. While not
accepted for several years, many from the Agency not loyal to Rossartre would slowly grow in
support of the program.
During the previous year, a proposal was drafted by Director Rossartre that called for an
alternative approach. Following the Collapse of the TPZ, members within the agency believed
the best course of action was a “reset” of sorts. While the Beilan Incident would begin an age of
collapse and war, the believers of this proposal saw humanity as the ultimate cause of our
suffering. To them, humanity was marching towards unavoidable self-destruction. They believed
they needed to shift their plans away from stopping this impending disaster to rebuilding
humanity over what’s left after. Named “Project Prometheus”, supporters of this proposal would
step in after the cataclysm to shape the new world order in their desired judgment. While both of
these proposals would not see serious attention for several years, they would stand as the
beginning of the divide between the so-called “Beaconists” and “Prometheans”.
The Second Russian Revolution - 2030-2032
The Second Russian Revolution was a time of great political strife and unrest throughout the
Russian Federation. The exact length of the revolution is unknown, but it likely spanned from
mid 2030 to 2032. One of the first major shifts of political control in Russia occurred in the Far
East. In the aftermath of Beilan Island, a significant portion of the Trans-Siberian Railway and
Baikal-Amur Mainline had been halted due to the advent of Collapse radiation. The Far East
lacked command from the Kremlin after the disaster, leading to Bolshevik parties assisting the
provincial government in evacuation efforts. The provincial government was granted additional
resources to help the evacuation plan, and many within the Yellow Zones were flown to safety.
After the evacuation, the ideology of the Far East was staunchly Bolshevik, and members of the
Bolshevik groups joined positions of power in the FSB, Navy, and the Ministries as undercover
agents. The rise of Neo-Sovietism in Russia had begun.
Uprisings in Russia
While Moscow struggled to find solutions to the fallout, the Bolsheviks were active in the Far
East and online. Bolshevik parties assisted in evacuation efforts in the Far East, bringing in
further support for the cause. On the internet, they actively motivated the population to subvert
the government. In one of the most significant cases, they had encouraged the people to take over
the Ministry of Emergency Situations so they could manage the disaster relief efforts themselves.
It became clear to Moscow that the Neo-Soviet communists were on a successful streak and were
rapidly gaining support from the people. In an attempt to quell the Bolsheviks, the Kremlin
pushed back against parties sympathetic to the Neo-Soviets; however, what the Kremlin did not
expect, was the start of a nationwide revolution in response.
The Civil War
The exact dates of the revolution and civil war are unknown, but the writing was on the wall in
favor of the Bolsheviks by 2032. In August of 2031, CPSU member Viktor Pavlovich Zelinsky
conducted one of the most successful operations of the entire revolution. As an expert of the
intelligence community, his ability to maintain cover and intelligence networks allowed him and
the Bolsheviks to carry out a full takeover of the FSB without force. On the day of the takeover,
Zelinsky and a group of wanted criminals walked straight into the Lubyanka Building in
Moscow and declared they were taking over. Zelinsky, one of the main targets of the FSB, had
gone completely unseen by their agents and had made his way into the heart of their agency
through the front door. Due to the amount of Bolshevik moles within the FSB, it allowed the
Neo-Soviets and Zelinsky to take control of the agency from within. All that was left for them to
do was walk in and declare victory. To ensure compliance of those loyal to the Federation within
the FSB, the CPSU agreed to not investigate any black budget programs being run by the agency.
As the rebellion continued throughout 2031, the Bolsheviks and rebel White Army engaged in
bloody battles across the nation. By 2032, Minsk had become a frontline for the White Army.
Files about the war revealed a secret plot on behalf of the White Army to use Relic weapons to
push back the enemy regime and win the war. The White Army was planning to seize former
Soviet Pike weapons at OKB-413 in Minsk to utterly destroy the Bolsheviks. The ordeal was
stopped before it could grow into fruition thanks to the Neo-Soviets stepping in to prevent a
disaster. Likely working with Mikhail Tsivgun, both the future founder of IOP, Havier Witkin,
and future Special Operations Forces (KSSO/KCCO) Brigadier General, Carter Neustadt,
were involved in the operation. Carter was the leader of the team that seized control of the site
while Havier’s engineers were in charge of disarming the Relic. Thanks to their swift action, the
Neo-Soviets in Russia were seen as righteous gatekeepers of Relic technology and weapons
because they understood the consequences of the improper use of it.
Rossartre and the World Order - 2031-2033
As the world order continued to crumble in the aftermath of Beilan Island, fear and disbelief
festered within Rossartre’s mind. It was clear Europe was on a path towards collapse, and
hundreds of millions (possibly over a billion) had been lost the previous two years alone. Many
nations were slowly leaning towards militarism and even colonialism. In North America, the US
was crushing the independence movement in Latin America at the time. In September 2032,
peace talks between the Soviets and Americans had failed, and the thought of a second Cold War
immediately sparked the rise of military presence across the world. In 2031, conflicts between
refugees and natives continued with hatred and resentment manifesting through heinous crimes
between the groups. Rossartre met his breaking point after being barred from harboring refugees
in his apartment during the 2030 into 2031 winter. Watching a young girl collapse in the freezing
cold from his window, his mind finally broke, and a new ideology burst from within. Saving
mankind from the chaos was no longer desired. Instead, humanity deserved a reset.
As nations were becoming more polarized, distrust of the EU and UN steadily arose. According
to Rossartre, humanity’s chance to maintain global stability had long since passed. It became less
about if a worldwide conflict would occur but when. The clock was ticking down to midnight
with no sign of reconciliation in sight. The unavoidable was approaching, and humanity was the
cause of all of their ills. Mankind deserved to suffer the consequences of a global conflict for
their sins. And through self-redemption, they would be born anew like a phoenix without the
problems of the old world. In his own words, humanity would “be reborn amidst the flames”,
and their only path to prevent extinction was the formation of a one-world government over all
of mankind. His ideology would later become known as Rossartrism, and by 2064, the UN
reformed with much of Europe unified under this cause.
The Fallout of Rossartre’s Death - March-April 2033
In 2031, Raeder Albert Rossartre began his “Beilan Island Incident Investigation Report”, and by
2033, it was ready to submit it to the world. The report covered the events leading to the Beilan
Incident as well as his journey through East Asia and North America. Additionally, the report
contained information critical of various nations for their wrong-doings during the fallout of the
incident. The report also unveiled his theory of the coming dark ages due to a global conflict
over resources and the subsequent necessity of a global government. On January 15th, 2033,
Rossartre posted his report publicly online, and later, his report was presented to the UN General
Assembly. After releasing the file, he recorded one final audio log where he cemented his belief
that a new humanity would rise from the approaching long night. It was at this time Rossartre
was believed to have taken his life.
Later that evening, the Department of Justice sent several FBI agents to ensure Rossartre’s safety
following the public release of the report. Agent John Mackland and others arrived outside his
Pennsylvanian Manor, and after receiving no reply, they forced their way in. According to the
FBI, Rossartre was found dead at his desk from a probable suicide earlier that day. Strangely,
another report about his death declared he’d passed away at the University of Pennsylvania
Hospital, supposedly due to internal organ failure from long-term exposure in the irradiated
zones. Given the circumstances, many Rossartrists, including those in North America, believed
he was killed for releasing his report. According to the General Secretary “Bob” Hampton of
the East Coast American Rossartrism Alliance, he and his fellow Rossartrists in 2053 firmly held
the notion that Rossartre was assassinated, but the actual cause of death is still up for debate.
Due to Rossartre’s death in January, hope amongst the UNRA was failing. Anger against the
nations who had turned their backs on the agency dwelled in its members, and to many, it was
becoming clear the UNRA was at its end. Sir Thomas Huxley became the Chief Director after
Rossartre’s passing. Upon entering the position, he was faced with a divide in his agency
between the supporters of Project Beacon and Project Prometheus.
By the end of March, several EU nations began expelling illegal immigrants, and the US
Congress voted to expel the UNRA on March 31st. Under Resolution GA/21135, agency
members were arrested and sent to the JFK International Airport in New York for removal from
the nation. The wait in the airport lounge was the final meeting of the UNRA as a single entity.
During the meeting, Huxley signed off on Project Beacon in hopes of preserving and protecting
humanity. The UNRA’s new goal was the mobilization of all resources and efforts towards the
completion of Project Beacon.
The signing of the Beacon resolution permanently severed the UNRA into two factions. The
“Beaconists” believed in the construction of a massive doomsday bunker in the Antarctic
Hollow. In the event of a global disaster or meltdown, members of Project Beacon would be
evacuated to the bunker, saving the current human civilization from death. On the other hand,
supporters of Project Prometheus felt betrayed by the cowards within their ranks. The Beaconists
had become their own entity following the expulsion, and the “Prometheans” saw the Beaconists
as traitors to Rossartre’s original beliefs. To them, the Beaconists abandoned everything
Rossartre and the UNRA once stood for, and instead, looked for salvation and further power. In
the months following the UNRA's removal, the Project Prometheus Council began considering a
possible victor in the coming WWIII to side with for their future goals. The nation most likely to
side with the Prometheans was the newly formed New Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
(NUSSR).
For Prometheus, the people of the NUSSR never abandoned their dignity even in difficult times,
just like themselves. While other nations fell into either collapse or militarism, the Russian
people did not abandon dignity, but instead, had chosen to raise the flag of the Soviet Union once
more. The NUSSR could be the nation to survive the coming long night that Rossartre warned
of. While in 2064 it seems much of the Prometheans’ power is in London, they have close ties to
several figures in the NUSSR. Even if these figures are not Rossartrists themselves, they
mutually understand the threats posed by the misuse of Relics. To gain access to the Soviet
government, Mikhail Tsvigun was seen as the perfect candidate for their cause. The Soviets
avoided a Relic disaster in Minsk during the previous year, and Tsvigun was highly honorable
amongst the leaders in Relic technology. The Prometheus Council agreed that the “Siberian
Lifeline” should become the main priority of their organization during the coming months.
The Siberian Lifeline Program - 2033-2035
Due to the CF capsules ejected from Beilan Island, major parts of the Siberian and Far East
regions of Russia became irradiated zones. The Trans-Siberian Railway and Baikal-Amur
Mainline had been severed by the radiation, leaving the Far East to operate independently. The
Bolsheviks gained their first footing in Russia when taking control of the Far East provincial
government and evacuation efforts. As the Bolshevik influence grew, the effect across Russia
began to snowball. By 2032, the Russian Federation had fallen and the Soviet flag was flying in
Moscow, but the threat of the contaminated regions remained.
The radiation levels in the Yellow Zones caused tens of thousands of industrial facilities to be
abandoned in the aftermath of Beilan. Due to this major loss of industry, the Soviets struggled to
produce the number of materials needed to support the entire nation and their people. In an effort
to increase industrial output and restore the railway, the government activated a major
reconstruction project named “The Siberian Lifeline Program”. The program would begin one of
the largest and most successful reconstruction efforts after Beilan and the start of decades-long
research and development in Doll robot technology.
The Lifeline Program began operations planning not long after the installation of the new Soviet
government. The two major goals of the program were the reconstruction of the Trans-Siberian
Railway and the restoration of industrial facilities in the Yellow Zones. Since humans cannot
survive for long periods of time in the irradiated regions, the NUSSR was forced to search for
alternative solutions to repair Siberia and its industries. The new plan called for the use of
automated machinery to run the facilities 24 hours straight, but the technology to do so had not
yet been created. The Soviets opened a bid for contractors for the creation of a humanoid
industrial robot capable of operating non-stop within the zones. The winning bid would be
chosen after six months, with the bid going to the Production and Technology R&D Consortium
with the 766th Production and Technical Equipment Administration. The winning bid for the
Universal Labor Robot was filled by Havier Witkin, a former Army Electronic Warfare
Corpsman. Witkin’s submission detailed a skeletal-frame robot roughly the size of a human with
long-lasting battery life.
ALR-51C(T) - 2033
Havier Witkin’s industrial robot was named the Auto Labor Robot-51 Common (Testing). While
the robot was just up to par for testing, it excelled in initial deployment time and met all basic
requirements for the NUSSR’s program. The first-generation ALR frame would become the
precursor to modern Doll robots, featuring a humanoid design with four limbs and twelve joints.
The ALR frame could simulate 24 common human-like movements and could be mounted with
48 different tool arms and suites. Despite being designed to be humanoid, the structure of the
robot remained mostly open and skeletal with exposed sensors. At maximum strength, the robot
could support upwards of 300kg and run for six hours on a maximum load with the ability to be
outfitted with a wired power supply. The estimated life expectancy was around 400 days in the
best circumstances. When it came to actual labor in the Yellow Zones, the robots proved to be a
definite success for the new “Doll” robots.
The ALR-51C skeletal-frame robot would come to be the first industrial “Doll” robot available
for labor. Innovations into Doll robots would not come for some time due to a lack of demand on
behalf of the world’s governments. The NUSSR and China were the only two nations looking to
maintain their industrial centers in the irradiated zones while Western nations chose to abandon
theirs. The ALR-51C’s efficiency meant that the Soviets and Chinese had no need for a new
generation of Doll robots. To them, the robot already was an excellent yet cheap product for the
Lifeline Program, and thus there was no need for more advanced Dolls. While Doll technology
progressed little for the next several years, standard-wheeled, tracked, and air-cushioned hover
robots saw considerable advancements during the time.
Defense contractors and industrial companies throughout the developed a plethora of new
automated machines that eventually evolved as the foundations of military robots. Romania’s
Sangvis Ferri (SF), the American General Dynamics, and the European SIMATIC were all active
in the creation of automated technology for these robots. Some of these machines were less than
a meter in height while others stood above 10 meters. Doll robot technology would continue on a
downward trend until after the Northern Lights Incident in 2035.
The Beacon Program
After being expelled from the United States in 2033, the UNRA was forever split into two. While
the Prometheans stayed loyal to the original vision of Rossartre, the Beaconists turned against
those ideals and began looking for the last bastion for humanity before the impending collapse.
Director Huxley signed off on the Beacon Program for an Antarctic Relic Agency while at JFK
Airport in 2033. The Beaconists looked toward the Antarctic Hollow as a possible city-sized
doomsday bunker. By 2035, the Beaconists had obtained a clear understanding of the Hollow and
their plans for it. According to their analysis of the site, the city could remain self-sufficient and
house up to 10 million people. Barrier doors would be needed to be built to block clouds of
Collapse Fluid and contaminated ocean currents in the region. Upon completion of the city and
its required radiation shielding, the Beaconists would need to reactivate the core of the city. This
core, a Reverse Collapse device, would be the final step needed to prepare the city for any
disaster.
For the upcoming engineering project, Project Beacon required an immense amount of capital
and resources. Since the Antarctic Hollow acted independently from any government, many rich
and powerful began investing in the project, seeing the potential of creating a doomsday bunker.
Due to their independence from governments and geopolitics, Beacon would likely avoid the
collapse altogether. Only the most important and necessary were granted into the project. Those
invited to Project Beacon included: politicians, the wealthy, important technical personnel,
scientists, and military personnel for security. In the event of a global catastrophe, such as
WWIII, the UNRA would transport the families of Project Beacon members to the Hollow City
where they would seal themselves away from the rest of the world.
The State of Europe - 2034-2035
When the Soviet and American peace talks failed in September 2032, a military buildup across
the world was jump-started out of fear of a second Cold War. The EU, NUSSR, and independent
nations were growing increasingly weary of the balance of the world. An unprecedented number
of nations began feeling the tides of conflict coming and chose their course of action in
preparation. For the Prometheus Council, fear was present amongst them with a growing unease
about the possible reactivation of Relic technology or weaponry. Relic weapons had been banned
under international law since the Relic Arms Limitation Treaty in the 1980s, but there was
nothing to stop a militaristic nation from opening Pandora’s Box once more.
One specific danger was mentioned in 1992, nearly a year after the fall of the former Soviet
Union. Members of the UNRA expressed concerns regarding abandoned military bases in the
former Soviet Central Asian republics. In 1990, the “Relic Weapon Deployment Status Report”
from the government detailed the locations of their Central Asian bases that contained Pike and
Collapse Fluid reserves. Four of these bases were confirmed to hold Pikes stored away as well as
stockpiles of at least 5000 cubic meters of Collapse Fluid. The UNRA was concerned with the
possibility of terrorists and or corrupt officials in the region seizing these weapons for WMDs or
profit. Europe already suffered a close call in 2032 during the Battle of Minsk, but perhaps, the
world would not be so lucky a second time.
Among the Prometheus Council, support for backing the NUSSR for the upcoming dark age was
growing. Many of the Soviets still had memories of the terrifying consequences of Relic
technology from the Cold War and swore to never let the Relics fall into the wrong hands. This
belief was supported by analysis done by the English intelligence services, possibly from Major
General Sir Isaac of MI6. The Soviets’ swiftness in controlling the OKB-413 Incident, and
staunch gatekeeping of Relic technology, meant the Council was considerably in favor of the
NUSSR.
The Soviet Relic expert, Mikhail Tsvigun, eventually collaborated with Prometheus as a partner.
Although today it seems Mikhail is not a Rossartrist, he shares their mentality regarding those
who use Relics with malice. He’s seen the consequences of Relic weapons firsthand in
Afghanistan. While working with the Council, Mikhail recommended two individuals. They
were leaders of the teams that prevented the disaster in Minsk in 2032. Carter Neustadt's team
cleared the facility of the enemy while Havier Witkin led the engineering group that dismantled
the partially-activated Pike. The Council noted that Havier displayed an acute ability in Doll
technology and systems and Carter’s talents in the field were valuable as a military asset.
While the Soviets seemed increasingly likely to be the frontrunners for the Prometheans’ plans,
several European nations were becoming more aggressive. To the Council’s horror, engineers in
the Northern European defense sector had begun researching Collapse Fluid compression
technology. This line of research was seen as unacceptable given the consequences it would’ve
had on the world if something were to go wrong. Notably, the same reaction of Collapse Fluid
caused the disaster in 2030 according to the official story. The world was already standing close
to the edge, and a second Beilan was all that needed to send it over the edge. Unfortunately for
humanity, that is exactly what happened the following year in 2035.
The Northern Lights Incident - 2035
The Northern Lights Incident in 2035 was the most severe Relic disaster following Beilan Island.
Out of fear of a second Cold War after the failed 2032 peace talks, many nations had been
building up their militaries in preparation. In Northern Europe, engineers from their
defense-industrial complex were researching CF compression technology. When Collapse Fluid
is compressed, the pressure causes a dramatic rise in heat which eventually can lead to a massive
detonation and the dispersal of radioactive Collapse Particles.
After the SCAPF team at Beilan Island blew the charges, Collapse Fluid became compressed by
the debris. The chain reaction of explosions would eventually lead to a single, tremendous
explosion that annihilated the surrounding cities and ejected tens of thousands of tons of
Collapse Fluid into the atmosphere. It’s because of Beilan that this technology is looked down
upon by the Prometheus Council due to the threat it poses to the stability of the world. While the
exact cause of the Northern Lights Incident remains unconfirmed, improper Collapse Fluid
compression research in Scandinavia was likely the fault.
A Second Beilan
In 2035, an explosion no less severe than Beilan Island occurred in an unspecified Scandinavian
country. Likely caused by improper research into CF compression technology, the explosion
resulted in the annihilation of the Scandinavian Peninsula, and released a wide-ranging cloud of
Collapse Fluid across Europe. However, there are alleged Green Zones in Norway. The majority
of those living on the peninsula would not survive due to the explosion, shockwave, or ELID.
Unlike Beilan, Collapse Fluid had not entered the atmosphere and was spread by seasonal winds
and ocean currents. Central and Eastern Europe suffered greatly as the radiation fell upon the
land. In Eastern Europe, many nations, especially the Baltic states, were left as uninhabitable
Red Zones.
For those living in specific regions of Central Europe, the radiation forced them to flee from their
homes, with Germany suffering the most turmoil. The East and West would soon be divided once
more as tensions were boiling over between the refugees, natives, and European governments. To
many, the Northern Lights Incident was the beginning of the end. The writing was on the wall,
and the chance of a global collapse scenario became less about “if” and more about “when”. In
the words of a Prometheus Council file, “The gulls, the gulls are coming. The storm is knocking
on the shores. I recommend that the Council cut down on meetings and head for the bunkers.” To
the Council, the future was set in stone, and the chance to prevent the coming global conflict was
improbable.
The Aftermath of the Northern Lights Incident
Soon after the dust had settled in Europe, millions had been killed or injured. If the explosion
itself did not kill someone, ELID most certainly would. From Germany to the Baltics, millions
began to develop ELID, resulting in their deaths. It was clear another apocalypse had arisen, and
Europe was at the center of this abyss. Within the NUSSR government, the Soviets knew that
Doll robots would be critical in the restoration of Europe.
The ALR-51C had already proven itself to be an efficient machine during the Lifeline Program,
and this was the chance for them to shine once more. While the Soviets lacked any reason to
withhold the ALR-51C from the Europeans, poor relations between the NUSSR and the EU
halted the exchange of information. Instead, the Soviet International Service for
Military-Technical Cooperation held a series of confidential negotiations that resulted in
Havier Witkin being put in charge of the next generation of Dolls. Havier was later ordered to
Ukraine to found the Important Operations Prototype Manufacturing Company, more commonly
known as IOP. By November of the following year, Havier had finished the prototype for the
next generation of the ALRs, dubbed the ALR-52P.
ALR-52P - 2036
The ALR-52P was created by Havier Witkin in 2036 following IOP’s foundation. The next
generation of ALR greatly focused on the mobility and efficiency of the machine. This new ALR
was a direct upgrade to the previous generation; featuring four limbs and twelve joints with an
additional 24 smaller joints for increased range of motion. It could operate up to 128 different
tools and could simulate 72 body motions for its purpose in the zones. The battery life and
maximum load of the ALR-52P had surpassed the 51C by 42%, allowing the 52P to operate for
far longer without needing to recharge. The structure of the head changed from exposed sensors
on the 51C to a liquid-crystal display for simple human-Doll interactions. In November 2036,
Havier submitted the 52P to the Soviet government, and soon after finalization, the world.
When the ALR-52P was revealed to the world, the robotics markets worldwide shifted entirely.
To the rest of the world, the 52P was the first industrial “Doll robot”. Many nations were
struggling with the aftermath of the Beilan and Northern Lights Incidents, and this “new”
creation could be their saving grace. The robots could operate both autonomously and with
human workers in the Yellow Zones to maintain industrial output. Soon after the release of the
ALR-52P, several nations within Central and Eastern Europe began ordering en masse. Thanks to
the ALR-52P’s overwhelming success among customers, and later business deals between
companies, IOP and Havier Witkin began to flourish.
Post-Nothern Lights Robotics - Late 2030s
Research into multi-legged, wheeled, and tracked robots gradually arose alongside flourishing
Doll robot technologies worldwide. The New Soviet Union was among the first nations to invest
in the prospect of multi-legged platform robots for transportation across their mountains and vast
tundras. As screw-driven vehicles were cast to the side, multi-legged platform robots took focus.
Within the NUSSR, defense contractors such as Kirov Robotics, Chelyabinsk Mechanics, Lower
Tajir Locomotive works, and the Omsk Transport Machinery Plant were all involved in the
development of multi-legged platforms. These “all-terrain platforms” ranged from 2-legged,
10-ton robots, to 6-legged, 35-ton robots. The research into the robots would grow into a global
effort in 2037, when American General Dynamics completed the first 8-legged platforms.
Multi-legged robotic platforms became an innovation of all-terrain vehicles and would see later
use throughout World War III.
Germany Post-Northern Lights - Late 2030s
In the fallout of the Northern Lights Incident in 2035, Germany suffered a great deal of
contamination. Everything north of the Thuringian Mountains was irradiated to some degree,
especially within northern and eastern regions. From parts of North Rhine-Westphalia to Saxony,
the country was dealt a devastating blow. To continue its duties, the Federal Government moved
its capital from Berlin to Frankfurt. After the relocation, the government began immediate work
to regain their functions and receive those fleeing from the north. Millions of refugees from both
North and Eastern Europe flooded into the Southern states.
In September of 2035, the EU drafted a refugee housing plan to move survivors across Europe
and the American continents, but both Americas rejected the proposal. The EU was forced to
divide the millions of refugees into several of the EU states. Refugees from Eastern Europe
entered Germany en masse, and over time, many German natives gradually turned against the
mass movement. Due to a mix of the damage caused to them by the Northern Lights Incident and
the mass migration of refugees, the South Germans turned to protest and violence out of fear that
the refugees would stay forever. The situation was quelled by the government before it got too
out of hand, but distrust remained amongst the people. Over time, Germany, as well as the rest of
Europe, was becoming a powder keg.
The State of Europe - Late 2030s
Europe was in a state of chaos following the Northern Lights Incident. Millions were killed or
forced to flee from their homes. Resources in many of the EU states were already running thin,
and the mass migration of refugees only further strained them. It was clear the Europeans needed
more resources and land if they wished to sustain their countries. The African continent had been
unscathed by both of the Relic disasters and was vast in both things the Europeans needed. The
EU made its first major move in Africa during the 2037 Libyan Coup, marking the beginning of
neo-colonialism. Left-wing parties across Europe were staunchly opposed to the European
governments marching down this path.
In the 2037 elections, leftists and the German Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) Cabinet
supported the US-NUSSR alliance and tried to gain political power to halt the path to
colonialism. However, in the following year, the US-NUSSR alliance was disbanded, resulting in
the German Bundestag (Federal Republic of Germany’s Federal Parliament) casting a vote of no
confidence. This vote left the anti-colonial parties powerless to stop the German government
from turning to neo-colonialism. From 2038 to 2043, the German government participated in the
colonization of Africa along with other EU states. During this period, leftist anti-colonial parties
within Germany were suppressed by the government, and the gap between the government and
the people continued to widen.
The Global Situation - 2037-2040
As Europe paved the path for imperialism, the world order was exceptionally unstable. For the
United States, Latin American independence movements had been put down by them since the
early 2030s. In 2038, the Latin American Alliance of 2038 had dissolved, but little is currently
known about this alliance. The NUSSR stood opposed to any colonization of Africa, siding with
the anti-colonial factions throughout Europe. Meanwhile, in Germany, the government had
begun a campaign to decontaminate parts of the zones for refugee resettlement. The campaign
helped mediate some of the distrust between the refugees and the government, but it ultimately
fell apart after the German government halted reconstruction after the end of the Second
Algerian War in December 2039. The government had decided the only way to deal with the
situation within their borders was to expand themselves into Africa rather than continue
decontamination efforts. The Second Algerian War would lead to the United Nations incident in
early 2040.
The UN Incident and Project Beacon - 2040-2041
The United Nations General Assembly would undergo a tumultuous flare-up in 2040 following
the Second Algerian War. While the actual details of the flare-up are unknown, it would serve as
a sign for the future of the planet. For UNRA Director Sir Huxley, the flare-up was seen as the
point of no return for humanity. During the previous years, the Beaconists had been finalizing the
Antarctic Hollow into a doomsday shelter, and in 2040, the order was given. From then until
2045, everything Project Beacon needed to sustain itself was flown in en masse from across the
world. Workers, construction materials, rations, and seeds from the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
were moved to the Hollow in preparation for doomsday.
In December of 2041, the UNRA relocated its headquarters from Geneva, Switzerland to the
Hollow City. Soon after the beginning of the Third World War, the final phase of Project Beacon
was finished. The Hollow City declared independence and sealed itself away from the outside
world. They would not be heard from again until decades later during the Tanker Incident
sometime in the 2070s.
Prometheus and the World Order - Early 2040s
Both the Beaconists and Prometheans had realized by 2040 that the dark future Rossartre warned
of was coming, and it was time to finalize their respective plans. The Beaconists activated
Project Beacon, and the Prometheans knew it was time to decide what course should be set for
the coming war. Additionally, the Prometheans expressed satisfaction with IOP and Doll robot
technology for reconstruction efforts. Havier had created the Doll robot market with no other
competitors, and various countries saw the Dolls as valuable assets to help reconstruct their
damaged infrastructure. For the Council, the use of Dolls was believed to be an essential part of
the future of humanity and society as a whole. Doll robots would become a staple of the
reconstruction and future plans of Prometheus. However, when it came to the discussion of the
coming war, hopes were not as high.
Despite humanity showing they could hold back the storm, the Council was well aware it only
delayed the future global war. And after the 2040 flare-up, it was inevitable. Although war was
certain, the way it played out could be changed. New plans were drafted within the Council to
direct the path the war would follow. If the war Rossartre foresaw was inevitable, the Council
was obliged to guide the way it unfolded. Mutually assured destruction and the use of Relic
weapons would spell another extinction event, but if neither of these two occurred, humanity
would have another chance at salvation. To ensure their plans would come to fruition, they
needed to choose a victor in the coming war; however, North America was seen as a significant
stepping stone for their goals. The US needed its influence and power reigned in, and the only
way to achieve that was to subvert the country and its people from within. If Rossartrism were to
be introduced to the people, it would become the instrument used to neutralize the country’s
power. Throughout the next several years, the Prometheans worked continuously to introduce
Rossartrism to the public.
It was the Council’s hope that younger generations would carry the torch of Rossartre’s ideals,
and perhaps even die for the cause. In one member of the Council’s own words, these young
people would “walk down the paths we guide them to and die for our beliefs.” They go on to
explain that death to reach this end is both necessary and inevitable, pointing to the idea that the
Prometheans understand the consequences of their actions, and are willing to accept such a
means to an end. However, this doesn’t mean they saw all those who lay down their lives for
their cause as cannon fodder, but rather, comrades worthy of praise and prayer.
The Global Situation - 2041-2042
As a new decade began, the future of the world was already looking grim. Hundreds of millions
of lives had been lost due to the Beilan and Northern Lights Incidents. A considerable portion of
Earth lay in waste, littered with contamination and Collapse Fluid storms. The EU was walking
down the path of neo-colonialism due to a lack of resources. Flare-ups within the UN and across
the European continent stood as signs of a coming global conflict. The Beaconists and
Prometheans knew midnight was approaching and prepared their bunkers.
The return of European colonialism would be highlighted in 2041. Italy had taken full control of
Libya, and the rest of the EU began to follow suit throughout Africa. At the same time across the
Atlantic, the US was slowly tearing itself apart as the movement to bring down the North
American Exclusion Wall grew. It’s unclear if the Prometheans were involved in this movement.
As the US faced unrest, the Europeans chose to further their efforts into colonization. For them,
the need for arable land to grow food for their people became an utmost priority. Since all
funding for the colonial nations went towards furthering colonization, reconstruction of
irradiated zones was pushed to the side. While Western Europe participated in colonialism,
Eastern Europe still lay in ruins. Much of the Baltics had been irradiated, and a belt of radiation
spread as far south as the Adriatic Sea. The largest country in the East not heavily affected by
contamination was Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Civil War - 2042-2043
After the Northern Lights Incident, Ukraine was the largest country in Eastern Europe unaffected
by the radiation belt. While not within the zones, the country was still facing turmoil. In 2042, a
severe economic crisis overwhelmed the nation. And after a series of failed mediations by the
UN and the EU, the country erupted into civil war. Revolutionaries in Eastern Ukraine rose
against the government, and by 2043, Kiev had fallen under their control. The fall of Kiev to the
Eastern rebels raised the alarm to the EU on the severity of the threat. The war was the first of
many conflicts that would stem from the chaos caused by the Northern Lights Incident. After
Kiev’s fall, the EU swiftly intervened in the conflict to put an end to it. In accordance with the
Bucharest Agreement signed by both sides, Ukraine was split into West and East Ukraine.
Soon after the peace treaties were signed, Europe was transformed. Anti-EU parties throughout
the continent had begun amassing support in the shadows. These groups were motivated by the
revolution in Ukraine, and soon after, they attempted to subvert the EU from within. Europe
gradually became more conservative, and support for the EU plummeted in the process. The
Ukrainian Civil War was a watershed moment for Europe both politically and technologically.
Aside from its effect on European relations, the war also marked the first time Dolls were used in
warfare.
Sangvis Ferri’s Project Ripper - Early 2040s
Founded in 2031, the Sangvis Ferri Manufacturing Company took advantage of the situation to
unveil their research into weaponized Doll robots. Using the ALR-52P frame created by IOP as a
base, SF created a new type of Doll for use in warfare. The Doll featured a bulletproof outer
casing, a multifunctional helmet, and a single weapon. SF named this series of robots the
“Rippers.” Soon after the Ukrainian conflict broke out in 2042, the first-generation Rippers were
completed.
The Rippers would see their first live combat trial during the war; however, they suffered greatly
due to a plethora of issues. The first-generation Rippers were nothing more than target practice
for the Ukrainian militias due to their slow performance and lack of command structure.
Additionally, the bulletproof casings were not capable of stopping rifle calibers, making them
effectively useless if the enemy hit them. Any Ukrainian marksman would have plenty of time to
shoot a Ripper before it could assess the situation and carry out a proper response. Faced with
such failures during the war, SF was forced to rethink the Dolls. The largest obstacle was a
command system for the Rippers to use in the field to assess and conduct plans during the heat of
battle. The command system would prove to be quite complicated for SF to create, but it was
required to ensure the Rippers would succeed. As SF continued its development into the Ripper
command system, IOP was also at work on its own revolutionary series of Dolls.
IOP’s Nymphys - Early 2040s
While Sangvis Ferri experimented with several new designs and innovations in their Ripper
series of military/Tactical Dolls, IOP remained uninvolved in the field, choosing instead to
continue the development of Dolls for labor. When the Ukrainian Civil War concluded in 2043,
millions of young workers had been displaced throughout the EU. To counter the loss of working
labor in Europe, IOP devised an ingenious solution using their ALR-52P robots. Havier Witkin
led the project of a service Doll robot based on the 52P frame. Later that year, the first generation
of these service Dolls hit the European market. Using the latest CSD skeleton based on the 52Ps
frame, these robots resembled adult women. While past IOP Dolls seemed much closer to the
traditional idea of a robot, these “Nymphs”, as they were called, were almost human-like. The
Nymphs could simulate 12 common human emotions as well as 128 human movements.
Soon after their release to the markets, Nymphs proved to be yet another successful endeavor for
IOP. The majority of Nymphs were developed to serve as caregivers for the elderly or service
jobs to balance the workforce. The Dolls complied with all demands and lacked negative
emotions, making them considerably easier to avoid stress and conflicts with human clients.
Among the elderly, Nymphs were overwhelmingly successful. Up to 36% of all retirees in
Eastern Europe bought one, and 85% of customers provided positive feedback. By 2044, Doll
robots were clearly the next major field of technology. While research and development boomed,
governments across the world remained wary of using Dolls in their militaries. Due to the SF
Rippers’ poor performance in Ukraine, military technology shied away from Dolls, shifting their
focus towards the creation of multi-legged, wheeled, and tracked robots.
Pre-WWIII Robotics - Early 2040s-2044
With WWIII looming on the horizon, Dolls remained mostly as service and labor robots while
the militaries developed multi-legged robotic platforms. In 2044, a worldwide military buildup
occurred after the collapse of the United Nations earlier in the year. The NUSSR would conduct
the largest field tests of multi-legged robots during the “Dnepr-44” military exercise in April.
During the exercise, the robots’ endurance and speed for traversing various terrains during
high-intensity combat were put to the test. Although the robots proved ineffective during
high-intensity combat, they excelled in crossing mountainous terrain. The results of the exercise
were promising to the Soviet Ministry of Defence (MoD), and they promptly drafted plans to
solve issues observed during the trials. By the end of the year, the Soviets were forced to shift
their focus away from multi-legged robots to the chaotic situation unfolding in Germany.
Collapse of the United Nations - Early 2044
After the flare-up in 2040, the return of colonialism, and the Ukrainian Civil War, it was clear
Rossartre’s predictions of an imminent global war for resources were becoming true. The United
States and European nations lost significant amounts of their arable land as well as industrial
sectors. Europe even took drastic measures to ensure their nations would stay afloat. After Italy
took full control of Libya in 2041, Old Europe was unveiling itself. By 2044, The US had
absorbed Canada and stamped out anti-American movements in the Bahamas. Within Eastern
Europe and the New Soviet Union, neo-colonialism was staunchly opposed, and they openly
disapproved of the actions being taken by the EU. The European continent was a powder keg just
waiting to be lit at a moment's notice. The only group that could mediate the global situation was
the United Nations, but by early 2044, even the UN was falling apart.
In early 2044, the UN General Assembly convened to discuss the global situation. While the
exact details of the Assembly are unstated, the crises in Algeria, Ukraine, and the Bahamas were
brought up. Following the meeting, three permanent members of the Assembly backed out of the
UN entirely. Although these countries are not directly mentioned, it can be inferred they were
France, the NUSSR, and the US based on the topics discussed in the Assembly. With the loss of
three significant members, the UN rapidly collapsed from within. The international organization
once tasked to preserve world peace and prevent a third world war was finished.
World War III was now truly inevitable, and governments across the globe were preparing. By
mid 2044, the war was ready, and all that was needed was a spark.
Part 4 - The Situation in Germany (2035-2044)
The Division of Germany I - Late 2030s
As it stands today, the Northern Lights Incident in 2035 would be the first major step towards
war in Europe. The contamination worldwide forced many to abandon their homes and lands.
Both Eastern and Central Europe became hotbeds for Collapse radiation pollution as well as civil
unrest. One of the hardest-hit nations in Central Europe was Germany. Millions of natives and
foreign refugees had been evacuated to the southern states due to the contamination in the
northern and eastern states. Everything north of the Thuringian Mountains was irradiated to some
degree, leaving many dead or as fleeing refugees. As time passed, and more refugees continued
to flood into South Germany, the South German natives gradually turned against the intake of
survivors, resulting in anti-government protests breaking out. Fortunately, tensions were able to
be mediated by the Bundestag (German Federal Parliament) before they could turn into rioting,
but the discontent remains among the natives.
2037 Elections
Due to the loss of arable land in multiple EU states, the countries could no longer support the
needs of their people, and as a result, were forced to take radical actions. By 2040, the prospect
of re-colonizing Africa for resources had been openly considered and was underway in some
states. Germany at the time was active in the reconstruction and decontamination of some of the
northern zones, but to the Bundestag, it was not enough. The topic of recolonization was a point
of contentious debate between parties during the 2037 Elections. Groups such as the Social
Democratic Party of Germany (SDP) and more left-wing parties actively campaigned against the
neo-colonial policies of the government. However, many citizens within Southern Germany had
grown in support of expansionism. Among the German refugees, the majority were against
colonialism, instead preferring the government to continue their decontamination efforts in the
north. After the EU passed a vote of no confidence, the anti-colonial parties suffered defeat.
From 2038 to 2043, Germany would join its West and Central European allies in colonizing
Africa. By 2041, Italy had taken full control of Libya, and the anti-colonial parties within Europe
were being suppressed.
Life in the Zone
While decontamination of the North had continued, the shift in focus to Africa drew funding
away from the program. In these decontaminated zones, the standard of living was drastically
lower than in the south. Living space was limited to an average of ten square meters, and
dependable heating systems were few in number. In the event anyone left their living spaces,
they were required to wear protective equipment due to the radiation in the Yellow Zones.
Additionally, both ELID and radiation alarms were implemented to inform the populace of
impending storms and or ELIDs in the area. Such harsh living conditions in the reconstructed
zones were unacceptable to the refugees wanting to return to their homes. However, as observed
in Girls’ Frontline, the cities of Berlin and Bremen have been reclaimed as Green Zones by the
2060s.
As years passed, conflicts between the natives and refugees continued, and the government
repeatedly ignored the requests of those wanting to return to their homes. Germany had become a
breeding ground of hatred and division; however, the tensions would not turn hot for some time
to come.
The Division of Germany II - September-November 2044
By 2044, Europe was on the edge of war, but nothing yet had sparked it. That spark would
manifest in the form of the German Civil War near the end of that year. Ironically, what started as
a usual yearly budget meeting in parliament would ultimately result in a thermonuclear war the
following year. In September 2044, the Bundestag met in Frankfurt to discuss the yearly budget
for the following year. The budget plan ignored many of the East Germans’ requests for
decontamination and reconstruction, and instead, allocated much of the budget towards the
development of Germany’s overseas developments. Days later, the vote passed by a small
margin, angering many of the former East Germans and pro-reconstruction parties. However, the
passing of the plan was their last straw after a long series of failures and grievances.
Division in the Bundestag
Soon after the passing of the vote for the budget plan, the Social Democratic parties were
outraged. Feeling abandoned by their government, the parties united to request the dissolution of
parliament and a new election afterward. The Social Democratic parties received their wish when
the vote to dissolve received just enough votes to pass. Both the Christian Democratic Union of
Germany (CDU) and the Liberal Democrats realized the severity of the situation, and the
Bundestag would soon be dissolved. Based on the belief that a minor insurrection was underway,
the West German parties proposed enacting the National Emergency Act to temporarily suspend
part of the German Constitution that granted self-governance rights to the East German regional
government. In the event of the legislation being enacted, the semi-autonomous governments of
North and East Germany would be rebuilt by selected groups of the central government.
Throughout the rest of the month, the Bundestag was faced with a multitude of disagreements
and debates over possible dissolution and invoking of the National Emergency Act. The final
vote to enact the Act occurred in early November, passing with a razor-thin margin. With the
vote passed, the 1983 Constitution was suspended, and members of North and East German
parties were proclaimed to be national security threats. The Social Democrat party and its
members had effectively been declared as terrorists.
The Uprising Begins
The new parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany was formed overnight. The
pro-expansionist factions within the government had taken control and began to purge
themselves of the Social Democrats and their leaders on the same day. Viewing the Social
Democrats as threats to the state, the Federal Police (Bundespolizei, BPOL) and the Federal
Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz, BfV) were given
orders to arrest prominent Social Democrats and their leaders across the nation.
During the purge, the SDP branch in Western Germany was hit the hardest. Unsurprisingly, mass
protests sprung up throughout Germany against the actions being taken, especially in Berlin. The
protests hampered the progress of the federal agencies, leading to the Bundestag issuing an order
on November 11th for a nationwide curfew. As Germany seemed to be collapsing from within,
the protests quickly turned to riots. By the 13th, bloody engagements between protestors and the
police with hundreds of casualties were occurring in Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, and
Nuremberg. With the breakout of violence across Germany, civil war was looming between the
West and East.
The 2044 German Civil War - November-December 2044
The Palace of the Republic Murders
As protests and riots spread across every region of Germany, the Frankfurt government issued an
order to the Berlin police to conduct a purge of the East German People’s Council. The Council
was held within the Palace of the Republic in Berlin, serving as the headquarters of the protests.
When the purge began later that day, the military police were confronted with heavy resistance
from protestors, resulting in a deadly skirmish. The brawl resulted in the deaths of almost a
hundred with hundreds more injured. The outcome of the battle was broadcast nationwide,
leading to an eruption of anger and resentment in the East towards the Frankfurt government.
After the federal government had killed dozens of their citizens, the Palace of the Republic
Murders, as they’re known today, weres the final nail in the coffin. The East saw this as the final
straw, realizing there was no peaceful or political solution to remedy the situation. In days, Social
Democrats and East Germans were preparing for war.
Rebellion in the East
The first significant revolt took place on November 18th, in which the East German
Bundespolizei (BPOL, Federal Police) refused to carry out orders, causing instability in several
major cities. During the following day, several garrisoned Bundeswehr (Armed Forces of the
FRG) units in the North and East turned against Frankfurt. These detachments would be among
the first to turn against the federal government as well as the first to directly engage West
German-loyal troops. On the 20th, the rebel troops launched a series of assaults against loyal
Bundespolizei and Spezialeinsatzkommandos (SEK, Special Operations Command) garrisons
within East Germany.
Clashes between loyal and rebel troops continued throughout the week, resulting in the total
removal of loyalist forces in the East. By the 23rd, Frankfurt was panicking, unable to perform
any governing actions to control the state of affairs. On the same day, the SDP held a press
conference in front of the Brandenburg Gate to celebrate their victory over the loyal troops and
officially announce their independence. Once more Germany was divided between the German
Federal Republic and the German Democratic Republic.
On the following day, the EU HQ in Brussels contacted the FRG government, ordering them to
quickly and effectively quell the unrest in their country. Per the EU’s orders, the Bundestag
deployed the Bundeswehr on the 26th of November into East Germany to put down the rebellion.
Loyal and rebel troops engaged in a series of battles throughout the next 48 hours from the
border to Berlin, but the loyalists had not been stopped. As the Bundeswehr marched into
Brandenburg, it seemed victory was at hand, and the rebellion would soon be over. However,
unbeknownst to them, it was far from.
The rebel troops had them exactly where they needed to be. By allowing the loyalists to march
into Brandenburg, the rebels were able to surround the enemy’s armored and mechanized
brigades. From November 30th to December 2nd, the loyalist Bundeswehr brigades were cut off
and were being attacked from all sides. After realizing they could not hold any longer, the
loyalists surrendered to the rebels on the 2nd, causing tremendous shock to Frankfurt. Their
notions of the revolution being put down in days had been shattered. With the GDR’s successful
defense of Berlin, it was clear to all sides of the conflict that Germany had entered a civil war.
The Spark of World War III - December 2044
Soviet Intervention in East Germany
When the East German uprising began in mid November, the Social Democrats in Berlin were
preparing a contingency plan to ensure their victory in the coming weeks. On the second day of
the uprising, SDP leaders requested foreign intervention from the NUSSR through their Berlin
Embassy. Hoping to ensure victory in the conflict, they wanted the Soviets to intervene in the
matter by deploying troops in Berlin. Following the review of the legal viability of the
intervention, the Soviets viewed it as legally justifiable due to the blatant violation by the
Frankfurt government of the 1983 US-USSR agreement. After the East Germans’ victory in
Berlin, the Soviets realized the will to persevere in the East was strong. Lastly, the war would
give the NUSSR an excuse to enter into the EU’s sphere of influence and a chance to deliver
some payback to Brussels for their involvement in the Ukrainian Civil War.
By late November, the Soviet Baltic Fleet drafted plans to land in the port city of Rostock in
Northern Germany. Furthermore, the plans called for large numbers of paratroopers to be
dropped into Berlin. From there, Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV) would bypass the NATO
surveillance stations in Poland, and land at Schönefeld Airport on the 1st of December. When
December 1st came, the plan was carried out without a hitch. After landing, the airborne forces
began moving tanks and heavy weapons into East German hands. By the 7th, the Soviets were
fully entrenched in Berlin with barricades built on the Straße des 17. Juni (17th of June Street).
On the same day, the recently deployed EU rapid-response teams entered Berlin from the west.
EU Intervention in East Germany
After the defeat of the Bundeswehr in the Brandenburg region, the Bundestag was startled by the
developments as they had failed to carry out the EU’s orders. On December 5th, Frankfurt
requested EU rapid-response teams be sent into Berlin to put an end to the crisis. The EU agreed
with the Bundestag’s request, and began preparing the response teams for an immediate
intervention. On December 7th, the EU forces arrived in Berlin and were shocked by what they
had found. The response teams were faced with Soviet troops on the Straße des 17. Juni. The
meeting of troops would come as a tremendous shock to both Brussels and Frankfurt. For the
first time since the Cold War, soldiers from the West and East were on the streets of Berlin,
awaiting another global conflict. Though, this time, the worst would come to pass.
The Soviet intervention drastically changed the scope of the conflict. It was no longer simply a
civil war, but now a power struggle between East and West. The exact details of the events
directly preceding WWIII are murky, but presumably, Brussels was not able to put an end to the
instability without force due to the Soviet presence. Initially, the United States avoided any
involvement in the German conflict for some time, but eventually entered the fray in Berlin
sometime before WWIII. Because of the presence of Soviet personnel in East Germany, settling
the conflict with violence was likely looked down upon due to the chances of starting a global
war. The involvement of the EU, the Americans, and the Soviets in such a precarious conflict
obviously led to very delicate circumstances. One wrong move on part of any of the powers and
the war would begin. Unfortunately for humanity, the clock struck midnight on March 2nd, 2045,
vindicating Rossartre’s predictions.
Part 5 - World War III (2045-2051)
Phases of WWIII
On March 2nd, 2045, the world was once again thrown into the inferno. The deadliest conflict in
human history, World War III, began with an onslaught of nuclear launches. The war was divided
into three phases, each with its own form of devastation. Phase one began on the 2nd with an
exchange of ICBMs, and slowly developed into saturation bombings of several countries. The
second phase of the war began following the end of said bombings. As ballistic missiles were
proving ineffective and becoming fewer in number, the warring nations turned to high-intensity
nuclear airstrikes for their attacks. By the end of the second phase, much of the world’s air forces
and navies had been destroyed but the majority of ground forces were still capable, forcing the
war to change into a ground war over arable land. Phase three would come to be the longest and
deadliest period of the entire conflict.
WWIII Phase I
The first phase of the war began with nuclear ballistic missile launches across the globe. Among
the first wave of ICBM strikes, the majority failed to reach their targets, detonated off-course, or
were intercepted by recent anti-ballistic missile defense systems. The contamination caused by
both the Beilan and Northern Lights Incidents caused various nations to lose access to their
satellites. While never implicitly stated, Hubble’s profile in Neural Cloud implies a Kessler
Syndrome event took place to some degree. Whether this was caused by respective nations
losing control of their satellites pre-war or with anti-satellite missiles is unstated. The loss of
guidance caused multiple missiles to malfunction, leading to them straying off course. In
addition to the loss of guidance, recent developments in anti-ballistic missile technology allowed
for many of the missiles to be intercepted mid-flight.
WWIII Phase II
During the immediate aftermath, it was clear precision strikes was proving to be ineffective, and
the choice was made to turn to saturation bombings to ensure some weapons would make their
targets. While the second wave of strikes was underway, Soviet submarines, with a lack of
communications, detected launches. After determining that nuclear war had begun, they fired
their submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) toward their enemies. The SLBMs suffered
many of the same issues as the initial exchange. Regardless of failures or successes, the
bombings grew more intense as countries gradually shifted away from ballistic missiles and
toward nuclear airstrikes conducted by their air forces.
The second phase of WWIII began with an escalation of the nuclear war. Phase two took place
primarily as three immense air and naval campaigns between nations for the defense of their
nuclear bombers during strikes. To break through enemy defenses, several nations mounted
warheads on cruise missiles so they could be fired to clear paths for their bombers. From there,
the bombers would be able to deliver more accurate strikes.
By the end of the second phase, most of the world's naval and air forces had been destroyed.
Multiple key cities had faced catastrophic damage, but the specifics are not known at this time.
The only city confirmed to have suffered damage by nuclear attack was Moscow during the first
day of the war. A single warhead from a Minuteman III breached the city’s anti-ballistic missile
system, striking the railyard in the early morning. Following the ending of nuclear attacks and
the loss of air and naval forces, the third phase of the war commenced. The loss of so much
livable land due to the Collapse Fluid pollution and the bombings resulted in a change of
strategy. Without air and sea support, the war morphed into a severe and protracted ground war
over the control of uncontaminated zones. The third phase would see the deadliest fighting of the
war and would see the eventual use of both Doll and multi-legged robots during various
campaigns in Europe.
WWIII Phase III
The destruction inflicted by the nuclear war drastically shifted the war strategy of all sides. The
war’s primary goal turned to the control of the uncontaminated regions. The war entered a
deadly, five-year-long conflict between East and West. Much of the land fought over during the
third phase resided in Africa and parts of Europe, resulting in these regions becoming hotbeds.
Not much is known about the ground war early on aside from the specific regions being fought
over. For the first two years, the frontlines shifted back and forth between the warring nations.
For the Soviets, some Dolls were used to maintain supply lines but remained relatively
uninvolved in the war effort until later on. The war increased in intensity in the spring of 2047
following the US military entering Western Europe. For the next several months, the West
European theater became one of attrition with losses stacking up daily. Lines shifted back and
forth; however, in May, the Americans launched several invasions into Germany. Within the
Soviet Ministry of Defence (MoD), the severity of the threat was far too great, but they lacked
the men to push back the American forces. The plan of using military Doll robots to assist in the
counter-attack was soon brought to the forefront of the MoD.
Three months later, in August 2047, the US continued its campaign in Germany, eventually
launching an invasion into Berlin. In an attempt to halt the Americans, the MoD was forced to
deploy the combat Dolls early. Despite taking many losses, the Dolls were successful in their
defense of the city. The invaders were pushed back, and the city remained under the control of
the East Germans and the NUSSR. The success of Tactical-Dolls sparked a new interest in using
Dolls in warfare, but the war was still far from over. By November, North Africa had become a
battleground between NATO and Soviet forces.
War in North Africa
Throughout the past several months, the Soviets had pushed into North Africa, taking over parts
of Libya. Tripoli had fallen under the control of the Soviets, acting as a strategically important
city in the region. Troops were brought in to keep hold of the city; many of whom were operating
with Dolls. For Captain Berezovich Kryuger, who was in the city at the time, Dolls were just
another weapon for his men to use on the battlefield. Later that November, NATO forces
mobilized fifteen French armored brigades to the west in the coastal village of Abu-Kammash.
They planned to launch a series of strikes against the missile sites defending Tripoli. From there,
they would be able to capture the city, forcing the Soviets out. In response, the Soviets planned to
counter the assault by conducting an ambush near the west of Bir-Gennom/Bir al-Ghanam. If the
French tanks could be taken out, the assault on Tripoli would effectively be over before it even
began.
By December 12th, the Soviet encampment in Bir-Gennom became the frontline of their defense
against the approaching NATO brigades. Earlier in the day, a 4km wide gap opened near the city
of Sabratha, and Soviet command ordered Soviet and German troops to move north to plug and
hold the breach. Soviet battalions in the south and motorized infantry in the north were sent to
fill the gap and hold the line long enough for their main force to arrive. From there, the 336th
Attack Helicopter Squadron would begin providing support for the forces within the bulge,
continuing to hold the line long enough for the main force to eliminate several NATO
mechanized infantry brigades. The result of this battle is currently unknown.
War in China and Germany
The bloody conflict continued throughout the late 2040s, with new campaigns opening and
closing on the regular. By May of 2049, American forces were not making much progress during
their attack on Heidelberg in Southwest Germany. Additionally, the Chinese military in Guangxi
was pushing the Americans out of the region, and it was expected the Americans would
withdraw in a few months. As far as the Soviet State Security could see, the NUSSR and its
allies were in a positive position at the time but remained wary of enemy guerrilla fighters. Some
in the General Staff also expressed concerns about a possible major NATO push following a
probing attack somewhere in Europe.
Robotics During WWIII - 2045-2051
Utilization of Multi-legged Robots
Multi-legged robots were an instrumental part of various nations’ armies throughout WWIII. The
technology of these machines had been perfected in recent years, and among the Soviets, several
designs had been field-tested for all-terrain travel - something they proved very successful in.
During the war, these robots were militarized into mobile artillery platforms and vehicles. Four
and six-legged robots were being equipped with mortars and howitzers to provide support for
troops in the field. Other robots were converted into troop carriers to move forces through
mountainous terrains. For the armies in the mountains, these robots proved crucial in their
victories. The treacherous terrain would slow soldiers, but the multi-legged robots allowed for
quicker and more reliable travel. However, moving troops and supplies were not their only role
in the war.
Serving as mobile artillery platforms, they provided fire support for advancing allied troops.
Additionally, the enemy could not muster a normal defense against an assault with multi-legged
robots. Due to the mobility of these robots, enemy forces were unable to hide behind terrain to
form a defense. In some reported instances, multi-legged robots directly fired on and even
rammed opposing multi-legged robots. Many of the various multi-legged robots we see in the
series are seemingly modern versions of the machines used in WWIII. They include but are not
limited to: the Svarog Aegis, Sangvis Ferri Minotaurus, Manticores, Soviet Hydras, and more.
Unmanned Ground Vehicles in WWIII
Along with the robots, main battle tanks were being converted into unmanned ground vehicles
(UGVs). A manned command vehicle in the center of the group would be able to control up to a
company-sized armored assault formation at a time. As tanks were becoming drones, the
command structure was streamlined. Just a few experienced tank commanders were capable of
leading an entire tank regiment in a breakthrough. Later in 2050, multi-legged robots fought
alongside Dolls in Southern Italy during the Italian campaign.
Tactical Dolls during WWIII
When the war began in 2045, both the Ukrainian Important Operations Prototype and the
Romanian Sangvis Ferri fell under the wing of the Soviet Ministry of Defence (MoD). As the
ground war continued into its third year, the Soviets realized the severity of their state of affairs.
Troop numbers were rapidly declining on all fronts. In 2047, the MoD and the Wartime Defense
Council approved the use of Doll robots to maintain supply lines but refused to field weaponized
Dolls. For the MoD, the failures faced by the Rippers during the Ukrainian Civil War were far
too great to authorize the production of more. Over ten thousand Dolls were built for logistical
purposes, giving the Soviets a hefty advantage for their push into Western Europe. However, by
2047, the Soviets’ advance was halted due to the US military arriving in Western Europe earlier
that year. Western Europe became a battleground of attrition, leading to overwhelming amounts
of casualties. The loss of so many soldiers resulted in the MoD rethinking their stance of using
armed Doll robots as ground forces.
American Incursions & Tactical Dolls - 2047
Following the introduction of American troops in Western Europe, the US was swift to carry out
several invasions into Germany. When it became clear what the Americans' plans were, the
Wartime Defense Council ordered both IOP and SF to immediately begin the production of
militarized Doll robots. Both manufacturers went straight to work on their respective Doll robots.
While the Rippers proved almost useless during the Ukraine war, SF innovated the design and
used their models’ frames to create multiple new variants of Dolls. The first of the two Dolls
based on the Ripper frame was named the “Vespid”. The Vespid line was considerably more
effective than the Ripper models, using a standard assault rifle as well as an improved helmet for
better vision on the field. The second Doll based on the Ripper was named the “Jaeger”. The
Jaegers were a series of sniper Dolls equipped with long-range rifles and great improvements to
their vision and sensors. Theoretically, the Rippers and Vespids would take charge on the
frontlines while the Jaegers would stay back to provide support or reconnaissance.
When it came to IOP, the company was inexperienced with Tactical-Dolls. Their only creations
were labor robots used for reconstruction and the CSD-frame “Nymphs” for service jobs.
Regardless, IOP began their work for their first military Doll based on their CSD frame. The
company came up with the design of a robot with broad uses in the field, capable of handling
standard weapons used by soldiers. The two companies’ design philosophies differed in the use
of the robots themselves. Sangvis Dolls were specialized and equipped for specific roles. IOP
preferred their Dolls to serve a broad range of roles, with a deeper focus on being able to operate
various weapons if the situation required it. In June 2047, both companies submitted their
designs to the MoD for approval. The Ministry approved both proposals, and soon after, the pair
began production of their Tactical-Dolls. Following production, the Dolls would’ve undergone
field testing, but due to the American advance into Berlin in August, the Dolls were sent to war.
Prototype Cyclops - 2048
In 2048, Russian military-industrial giant, Svarog Heavy Industries, developed the OBJ-9420
model of Cyclops Tactical Doll. The OBJ-9420 was a combat prototype developed with the
intention of replacing the outdated skeletal Dolls as the mainstay of national forces. Its structure
implemented various proven technologies including quick-release armor, composite head
sensors, and more cost and energy-efficient fourth-generation graphene batteries. Svarog’s
research and development also implemented newer technologies including the Easy Damage
Self-Repair System, anti-laser coating, and a visual fire control HUD. However, as a means of
allowing for the future development of later upgraded generations of mass-produced models, the
OBJ-9420 was designed to reserve room for improvement.
The Defense of Berlin - August 2047
In August of 2047, one of the most decisive battles of World War III and successful operations of
Doll robots took place. Over 8000 Dolls from IOP and SF were deployed to the frontlines in
Berlin to halt the American advance. Despite suffering significant losses, the Soviets’ Dolls
managed to stand their ground, putting an end to the enemy’s push in Eastern Germany. Overall,
the Dolls proved to be quite useful in their application but still faced a multitude of issues. One
of the most glaring issues is that both companies’ Dolls needed to be operated from close range
to send and receive orders. Further, their AIs were not capable of adapting to a constantly
changing battlefield.
For IOP, their main issue was the number of malfunctions occurring in the field, and for SF, their
Dolls lacked the agility needed for a high-intensity conflict. Despite these issues, Dolls were still
ultimately successful in their goal. Due to their achievements, many in the MoD were
reconsidering the usefulness of Dolls in warfare. One of these men was none other than Carter
Neustadt, future Brigadier General of the KCCO. To the officials in the Ministry, Dolls were no
longer walking practice targets but a formidable fighting force that could replace human infantry
if their problems were solved.
Throughout the war, Doll robots would undergo a series of redesigns and troubleshooting to
solve the issues presented during the battle of Berlin. Within three years, both IOP and SF had
innovated their designs enough to match basic Soviet infantry, and were even capable of
operating autonomously with other robots. Although Dolls were increasingly common among the
Soviet military, mixed-human-Doll squadrons were not introduced properly until the 2050s.
Operation Tradewind - 2050-June 2051
In an effort to overcome Italy and France, the Soviets carried out “Operation Tradewind” to force
Italy and France to surrender. The Soviets deployed several purely robotic groups in Southern
Italy to assist in their push towards Rome. Dolls fought alongside various armed multi-legged
robots in assaults against Italian fortifications nestled within the Southern mountains. The
Soviets were able to continually push forward to Rome thanks to the swift successes of their
robotic units. And by the end of the year, Italy had fallen. The Soviets and their allies were on a
path to victory in Western Europe, and on June 29th, 2051, the warring nations signed a peace
treaty, putting an end to the Third World War. It’s been said the Rossartrists were tied to the end
of the war, and considering the Prometheans hoped to control the path WWIII would follow, it’s
unsurprising.
Post-War World Order - 2051-Modern Day
Keep in mind that much of what is believed about the state of the world post-WWIII is
speculation based on some details.
As the war ended heavily in the Warsaw Pact’s favor, the status quo of the European continent
changed. Only a handful of countries have written lore post-war, so this section focuses almost
entirely on them.
Warsaw Pact
New Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
The war possibly extended the Soviet borders far past Russia and Belarus. Based on the fact
Germany and the NUSSR share a border, it’s believed that the current German-Polish border
now stands as the German-Soviet border. Both Poland and Czechia are likely within the NUSSR
considering the cities of Warsaw, Kraków, and Prague are monitored by the military and State
Security. The Intercontinental Railway passes through the Red Zone in Central Poland, with a
strong Soviet and German military presence in the east and west.
Given their proximity to Russia and the state of Estonia in Girls’ Frontline, the Baltic states may
also exist within the union. The fact that Kaliningrad is still Russian could further back this
belief. After Ukraine was split into East and West Ukraine following the Bucharest Agreement in
2043, the country seems to have been reunified but as a Soviet republic. Not to mention, several
Ukrainian cities have been mentioned in the series being within the NUSSR. Given the Soviet
MoD brought the Romanian Sangvis Ferri under their wing during WWIII, Romania could’ve
been in the NUSSR pre-war. Currently, several other Soviet Socialist Republics have yet to be
mentioned.
After the reformation of the UN in 2062, the UN drafted the Alliance of the United Nations Plan.
This plan is the first major step towards the formation of the Union of Rossartrism Nations
Coalition. In the modern day, Rossartrism is a banned ideology in the NUSSR, but many remain
sympathetic to the Rossartrists. Some have even been willing to go as far as to work with the
Pan-European Alliance towards this end. For many Soviet ultranationalists, the mere idea of
allying with their former enemies was seen as unacceptable. In response to the rise of
Rossartrism, the ultranationalists, which include Brigadier General Carter Neustadt, have taken
many treasonous actions.
German Democratic Republic
Knowing that the war ended in the Warsaw Pact’s favor, East Germany reunified with West
Germany sometime in early October, possibly in 2051, thus unifying all of Germany into the
GDR. The former West German Bundeswehr integrated into the Nationale Volksarmee (National
People’s Army, NVA). To this day, the German capital remains Frankfurt, but the country is now
ruled by the Socialist Unity Party and the State Council. Additionally, the Ministry of State
Security (the Stasi) was re-established at an unknown date. While the war had ended, many
veterans of the former Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) still held resentment in their hearts
as a result of the war’s end and the ongoing refugee situation in Germany. One of the more
prominent groups in the GDR is the Free German Independent Party (GIP), a right-wing party
designated as a terrorist organization for its violent acts. GIP members symbolize their identities
with the Iron Cross medal that was issued by the former FRG Bundeswehr.
Though decontamination and reconstruction continue to this day, several regions have yet to be
reclaimed. This includes the "Dead Sea," a WWIII waste dump somewhere in Germany,
seemingly outside of Berlin. As a result, the region became an irrecoverable Black Zone with a
contamination index still deadly to this day.
People’s Republic of China
Despite being one of the countries involved in the war, little is written about China post-war.
After the Chinese managed to push the Americans out of Guangxi in 2049, nothing more was
written. Along with many other countries throughout the world, China seems to have
decontaminated some of its Yellow Zones. Based on the map of the world from the Longitudinal
Strain PV, the capital presumably remains as Xi’An as the Southern line of the Intercontinental
Railway ends there. From the same map, much of the eastern seaboard remains a Red Zone.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Less is known about NATO countries post-war, but given NATO has never been mentioned past
WWIII, it can be concluded that the organization collapsed or was dismantled at the war’s end.
In the modern day, the former EU and NATO have become the Pan-European Alliance. Many
nations within the PEA have embraced Rossartrism and the Alliance of the United Nations Plan.
United States of America
In 2053, General Secretary “Bob” Hampton of the “East Coast American Rossartrism Alliance”
(ECARA) spoke to his fellow Rossartrists in the city of Philadelphia. This is the only mention of
the ECARA, so details are minimal. Before the outbreak of WWIII, the Prometheans discussed a
Soviet victory, and by extension, the need to neutralize North America’s power and influence.
Knowing that the United States was one of the first nations to have Rossartrism introduced, the
mention of the ECARA may imply the country fractured into civil war at the war's end. As for its
cities, only Baltimore has been mentioned in the lore so far. Lastly, nothing has been mentioned
regarding the US’ territories after the war, but Canada has been mentioned in Neural Cloud. If
the US did fracture, then Canada may have returned to being independent.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
In the United Kingdom, the people refused to listen to the calls by their government to rebuild
their homes, choosing instead to mellow their sorrows in pubs to deliver some sort of comfort.
While the war was over, the scars lingered in their minds. Resentment and anger against the
chaos led to the reconstruction of the UK taking far longer, and work effectiveness fell to near
lows. By the early 2060s, the UK had been restored to a point far better off than in the immediate
postwar era. Notably, London seems to be a center of power for the Prometheus Council.
Considering that Rossartre, Sir/Lord Griffin Lyons, and Major General Sir Isaac are all British,
this is to be expected.
Italian Republic
Aside from the US and the UK, post-war information is sparing from the NATO side. In 2050,
the Soviets were planning “Operation Tradewind” to force both Italy and France out of the war,
which would bring the war to a close. Considering the war ended the following year in the
Soviets’ favor, Italy and France must’ve suffered a devastating defeat. Rome was mentioned to
have been attacked near the end of the war, so the loss of Italy is certain. As for France, it
remains to be seen if the war ended before or after the Soviets defeated France as well.
Kingdom of Belgium
Although nothing currently has mentioned a battle in Belgium, it would make sense the war
must’ve been fought in the country at some point, given the importance of Brussels to the EU
and NATO.
The Southern Mediterranean
In 2056, a “Southern Mediterranean no-fly zone” was mentioned, but nothing specific is known
about it. On a flight from Andalusia, Spain to Romania, members of the “Shining Holy Land”
terrorist group hijacked the plane, forcing the pilot to fly into the “jointly blocked” no-fly zone.
As the plane drifted further south, a fighter jet from Cyprus was sent to force the plane to land.
Fortunately, thanks to the heroic actions of a certain Soviet military Doll, the terrorists were
eliminated, and the plane landed in a suburb of Athens. While the NFZ is mentioned to be jointly
blocked, it’s unknown which countries maintained it aside from Cyprus. Furthermore, the NFZ’s
current status hasn’t been expanded upon yet.
Aftermath of WWIII & The Impending Disaster - 2051-2052
With the signing of the peace treaty in 2051, the world was left in shambles. Tens of millions
were dead, livable land was drastically reduced, industries and economies were crippled, and
hopelessness plagued the land. Hope left the hearts of the people in several nations, leading to an
unwillingness to rebuild. For the majority of people, the post-war period was one of uncertainty
and fear of what could come next; however, one significant issue had been known to nearly
everyone. Despite focusing the majority of industrial labor on agriculture, the amount of food
needed to feed the people in Europe was too high.
The governments of Europe did not have the resources needed to feed their people, and after
North and South America stopped exporting food, it became clear Europe was heading toward a
food crisis. Productivity had fallen to levels comparable to the Dark Ages, and the only saving
grace, Africa, was in a state of turmoil after a series of civil wars. The loss of arable land in
Africa forced governments to review several actions to avoid a potential mass famine. The
Warsaw Pact was using POWs to help rebuild devastated regions, agriculture became the main
focus of industries, and agricultural robots were taken into consideration. The multi-legged
robots once used in World War III were repurposed into agricultural robots and were sent to
increase food production in Western Europe and the Iberian Peninsula.
Nearly all industries in every nation were solely focused on agriculture. According to the
estimates done by the Prometheus Council, the chances of human civilization surviving were
almost nil. And according to Griffin Lyons, a member of the Council, a famine would leave
Europe in ruins. Industries within the irradiated zones in Europe and Africa needed to be
repaired, or else the consequences would be irreversible. Global reconstruction was needed to
ensure humanity’s survival, but all industries were focused on agricultural output. Roughly 45%
of light-industrial and 60% of heavy-industrial facilities in the contaminated zones were in a
repairable state; however, the plan to restore these regions would be enormous.
The cost of reconstruction would far exceed the tens of billions of rubles spent by the Soviet
government during the Lifeline Program. Vast amounts of capital would be needed to carry out
the project on time, but the chances of every nation combining efforts to carry out such a task
were slim. For Prometheus, only a one-world government would be able to carry out such a
massive undertaking. This union of nations would effectively eliminate the bureaucratic red-tape
between countries. It’s believed the first phase of Project Prometheus will be completed
sometime during the 2060s if a global union of nations is formed.
Part 6 - Post-War Period (2051-2053)
Revolt in Western Europe - Early 2051
By autumn 2050, the agricultural output of Europe and Africa could produce just enough crops
to maintain an 1800 daily calorie intake for the citizens. However, even with Dolls and
multi-legged robots increasing output, supplies to maintain that line were just barely holding.
The fall of the European Union after the war and the lack of steady agricultural output meant
drastic measures needed to be taken to prevent famine. Early in 2051, governments in Western
Europe began seizing food from farmers to maintain the supplies. The farmers grew furious
against the seizures, and protests rose throughout spring. The protests eventually grew into mass
rioting due to a lack of mediation on the part of any party or government. With the region-wide
protests turning violent, the Western European governments were left with only two options.
Either they end the seizures of food, which was not acceptable, or bring in force to suppress the
unrest. Hiring PMCs to control the revolts became the primary solution for most governments.
Rise of PMCs in Europe and Africa
The majority of these contractors were East European veterans acting under the Soviet
International Military Cooperation Bureau in Europe and Africa. Among the earliest PMCs,
many experienced high rates of casualties due to the military arms of the rebels. When the war
came to a quick end, there were still large stocks of weapons and equipment left in various
regions that were never recovered. Ordnance and firearms could be found everywhere, and the
black market was flooded with leftover weapons. The warlords and rebels throughout the region
had quickly armed themselves like an army. When faced with outfitted militias fighting on their
own land, the PMCs suffered many losses. Due to the losses, several PMCs eventually turned to
using Tactical-Dolls. The robots had proven themselves against an army in WWIII, and they
could have profound use in maintaining order in the region. The Doll robot industry had been in
a steep decline following the end of the war, but the investments from several PMCs gave the
industry another chance.
Pan-European Alliance & Gilda Ulrich - 2052 Onwards
Weihnachtsmarkt Incident - 2052
While Europe was still recovering, the stability of the continent needed to be maintained. For the
next several years, as reconstruction continued, PMCs and governments dealt with various
threats both domestically and overseas. One of the notable publicly known incidents was the
Weihnachstmarkt (Christmas Market) Incident at the German border in 2052. Thanks to Gilda
Ulrich’s intervention, she was able to prevent a conflict from unfolding between German
civilians and Soviet troops on the border.
The Chairwoman
In 2063, former executive chairman Weldon Kurz resigned from his position due to heart
disease, and with the backing of the council (likely a Pan-European council, not the
Prometheans), she assumed the position of chairwoman. Despite her young age, her calm and
mature nature, as well as her efficiency, helped establish her position as Chairwoman of the
Executive Committee of the Pan-European Alliance’s Cooperation Initiative. She
single-handedly coordinates and elaborates the economic institutions in Europe to follow the
Pan-European Reconstruction Plan. Here, she represents the Pan-European Convention on
Mutual Assistance in Reconstruction (PECMAR). Her standing as a shining star for
Rossartrism in Europe has led her to brush shoulders with various politicians in Germany, Soviet
mutual diplomats, and even sitting members of the Prometheus Council.
The Plasma Power Cell - 2052
When the first wave of Doll robots was deployed by the PMCs, one particularly significant
problem had come to light. During WWIII, the Dolls’ long-duration batteries were meant to last
for several battles but weren’t enough for a prolonged conflict. Meanwhile, the deployment in
Western Europe during the unstable period meant going long amounts of time without
recharging, and the original batteries were not designed for such an environment. At the same
time in the NUSSR, research into a new type of power cell was underway at the National
Research Center (Kurchatov Institute). Institute scientists released details on a “contained plasma
slow release and discharge power cell.”
This cell significantly extended the battery life of almost everything it was implemented into. An
electric pulse was discharged when a powerful electromagnetic field was broken. It’s been said
that the plasma cell could deliver enough power to drive a main battle tank. When the cell was
released to the market, it quickly entered the Doll robot industry. Conventional batteries in Dolls
could only operate for upwards of 20 hours, but the plasma cell increased that to around 150
hours. This considerable upgrade led to Dolls becoming exceptionally more efficient in their
duties.
The Cutting Edge - 2052
The well-known and active PMC, Griffin & Kryuger, was established in 2053 following a
meeting between the founders in the previous year. In 2052, Griffin Lyons entered the 7.62 Bar
in downtown Moscow, searching for Berezovich Kryuger. Griffin found Kryuger, drinking vodka
alone in the corner to help pass the time.
Sir Griffin Lyons
Griffin Lyons, an Englishman, is an astute intelligence agent well-versed in the political
situations in North America and Europe. Griffin’s convenient rise to power was not a
coincidence; his father was one of Major General Sir Isaac’s persons in charge in Northern
Europe. During the 2040s, Griffin gained the attention of MG Isaac for his 2043 report detailing
the state of affairs amongst the German Social Democratic Party. His impeccable report earned
him the position as the chief of the Eastern European station under Isaac/MI6, acting as an
intelligence agent in the region. According to an interview of Griffin by a likely member of the
Council, Griffin had seemingly been working in the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6),
sometime before World War III began.
During WWIII, he carried out multiple intelligence-gathering operations in Europe for the
Americans. In the late 2040s, MG Isaac, seemingly the head of this secretive intelligence agency,
personally recommended Griffin to the Council for his outstanding work in Europe. In Isaac’s
own words, Griffin’s service offered “A web of contacts spanning Eastern Europe, an
information collector, analysts, relays and executors.” His influence could “even make you
sharpen your own blades and monitor your own puppets.”
Captain Berezovich Kryuger
As a company commander, Captain Berezovich Kryuger had been serving in North Africa for
some time. In Libya, he oversaw companies of troops who operated with Doll robots in the field.
Kryuger was involved in the defense of Tripoli from NATO forces pushing from the west. On
December 12th, Kryuger’s company was fighting out of a base camp West of Tripoli. One of the
men on base was named Commissar Pablo, who supplied Kryuger with information from the
frontlines. The Commissar informed Kryuger that certain people thought highly of his
leadership. Furthermore, “the old man” had sent Pablo to ask Kryuger if he was interested in
transferring to Alpha Group afterward. The identity of this “old man” is unknown, but it’s likely
Bureau Chief Viktor Zelinsky or Lieutenant General Mikhail “Old Misha” Tsvigun.
Kryuger served during an unstated period with Brigadier General Carter Neustadt (unknown rank
during WWIII), and their long history together, both as allies and future enemies, spans from the
war to the modern day. Thanks to his status within the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), he
was connected to several influential figures within the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the
Kremlin. After retiring, he spent a fair amount of his time in old bars around Moscow with
fellow veterans.
The 7.62 Meeting
Upon seeing Kryuger, Griffin approached him, asking him how he'd been. Both knew one
another and could even be considered friends in some regard, but they rarely met each other
outside of a few spare meetings. Knowing Kryuger’s connections to the brass in the Ministries,
Griffin decided he was the perfect man to form a partnership with. Europe was experiencing a
hunger crisis at the time, and Kryuger had become pessimistic about the situation. PMCs made
up of mainly surviving veterans from the NUSSR were sent to stabilize Western Europe due to
the eruption of violence. Unfortunately, the majority of these soldiers would not survive their
missions. When Dolls became a preferred method to deal with the militias, it was clear that the
industry would soon take off as a result. What Griffin was offering was a partnership to create a
PMC using primarily Doll robots. Griffin had funding from certain “investors”, likely the
Prometheans, and Kryuger had the connections to the brass to obtain government contracts.
This proposed PMC was expected to be quite fruitful for both parties. Griffin had the funding
needed to found the company, and Kryuger had the reputation needed to bring in recruits and
contracts. Under Griffin’s terms, Kryuger would gain full authority over their company, and
Griffin would only own certain dividends. Rather than only use human soldiers, this company
would use female IOP Dolls to carry out their contracts from the Soviet Ministries and certain
“inconvenient jobs” for Griffin’s investors. At the time, the general public throughout Europe
was opposed to Dolls, but using female IOP Dolls, who look closer to humans, could help
leverage public opinion. After the two had finished discussing the terms of the contract, Griffin
got up to leave, but not before handing a letter over to Kryuger.
The Cutting Edge of a New World
This letter contained the downpayment and their partnership contract. All Kryuger needed to do
was resign from his position and sign the contract to begin the process of creating this PMC.
Kryuger asked Griffin why he, of all people, was chosen for such an endeavor. Griffin revealed
that he chose him because of their relationship and shared ideals. Kryuger’s ideals were noticed
as he was the head of the team sent to rescue Persicaria and Lycoris. While not mentioned by
either man, they both shared a partnership with IOP founder and head, Havier Witkin.
Although the specific year of Griffin’s introduction to the Prometheus Council is unstated, the
Council recognized Havier and Griffin’s talents in the years prior. Havier was a former Soviet
Army Electronic Warfare Corpsman commended for his service during Second Russian
Revolution and his innovations in Doll technology in later years. Havier’s talents were
recommended to the Council by Misha, and Griffin was, or still is, an intelligence agent for
Major General Sir Isaac of MI6, a likely member of the Council. For his rescue of Persica and
Lyco, Kryuger became a close partner to Havier - a partnership that allowed Griffin & Kryuger
to work directly with IOP and its subordinate company. On the other hand, Griffin’s induction
into Prometheus was taking place in the immediate post-war period. Given this time frame and
his political stances, his unnamed “investors”, who were interested in the sale of Dolls, were
probably the Prometheans. Additionally, Griffin met Lyco, who later worked under IOP, in
Leipzig on New Year’s Eve in 2040, only deepening the connection between Griffin, Kryuger,
and IOP.
Havier and his Doll technology caught the eye of the Council in the 2030s, seeing Dolls as a
great tool for the future. Reconstruction, decontamination, agriculture, and security were just
some of the uses Dolls had, and Havier gained to benefit the most. Though his standing within
the Council is unspecified, whether he’s a sitting member or just an ally, it’s no coincidence his
Dolls became the standard for the PMC that Griffin was proposing to Kryuger. And it is because
of this that Griffin & Kryuger’s (G&K) motto is the same as the Rossartrist movement - “the
cutting edge of a new world/shining beacon of a brave new world."
G&K is Rossartrist at its core precisely because of how it came to be. Founded by two men who
carry the torch in humanity’s darkest hour, both believing that a new dawn will come. One sits on
the Council itself and the other sits as the head of the organization. Their organization works
directly with one of the largest Doll and military-industrial manufacturers in Europe, which is
controlled by another ally of the Council. Though their ideologies ultimately differ in how the
new world order should be, their wish remains the same - for Rossartre.
“Griffin & Kryuger”
As Griffin was preparing to leave, he recommended a name, “Griffin & Kryuger”. The Griffin
and Kryuger Private Military Contractor and Security Consultant Company was founded
the following year. Throughout the next several years, G&K would grow into one of the most
dominant PMCs in Europe.
Part 7 - Lycoris, Persicaria, and 90wish
2040-2043
The story of Lycoris and Persicaria of 90wish is one with a long history between two geniuses
crossing paths. Both Lycoris of Sangvis Ferri and Persicaria of 16Lab were involved in one of
the most significant innovations in the history of Doll robots.
Introduction to Lycoris
Born in Northern Europe, Lycoris’ life was relatively straightforward until the crisis in 2035.
After the Northern Lights Incident, the Scandinavian Peninsula was in ruins. Lycoris’ father was
terrified by the situation, so he fled to Moscow with Lyco. For some unknown reason, his mother
was left behind in Scandinavia. For the next five years, Lyco was raised in the New Soviet
Union, always feeling like an outsider. He eventually enrolled at the National University of
Moscow, studying mathematics and automation. While in Moscow, he proved himself by
receiving full marks in assembly language. While still an undergraduate at the time, he later
transferred from Moscow to the Leipzig University of Karl Marx in Leipzig, Germany. Though
not a native to the region, he felt Saxony was the place for him to be. Furthermore, Leipzig
University had the best automation department in the continent, likely being a pull factor for
Lyco. And by September 10th, 2040, he was enrolled and ready to begin his semester.
University of Leipzig - 2040
Lyco quickly became acquainted with the university, getting involved in a small research group
in the automation department by December. The team was composed of graduate and
postgraduate students, with Lyco being the odd one out. The head of the team was a postgraduate
student named Persica, who took notice of Lyco’s accomplishments and expertise despite still
being an undergraduate.
Persicaria & The Automation Department
Note: Persicaria is her full name, but she's commonly referred to as Persica throughout the lore
and story.
According to Lyco’s journals, Persica was an interesting individual. To call her a hard worker
would be an understatement; she was a genius who survived solely on biscuits, coffee, and sugar.
For her, the only thing that truly mattered was her research and academics, with no need for
entertainment, leisure time, or even sleep in some instances. There was no need for notes,
manuscripts, or calculators since they would only lengthen the time her work took. Unfortunately
for her fellow researchers, her exceptional work ethic often impacted those around her. If she
was dedicated to a project, she’d completely ignore time off for the holidays to continue her
team’s work. This led to some members of her team, Lyco included, becoming workhorses.
When Lyco joined her team, he remained mostly uninvolved in their more advanced projects.
Around Christmas, the two grew to understand each other better. Persica had been keeping tabs
on Lyco’s previous accomplishments at Moscow University and had offered him an opportunity
despite being an undergraduate. Blaming her tutor for being too busy, she instead took on a new
project involving Doll robots and their frameworks. Lyco was unaware of the purpose of the
project until the following January, but he nevertheless joined the project group.
During New Year’s Eve, Lyco left the institute for the night, heading to a nearby local bar to pass
into the new year. Late in the evening, Lyco entered the old bar opposite the St. Thomas Church
in the downtown area. Despite not being much of a drinker or a fan of the bartenders in
Germany, he chose to go there for a bite to eat. While speaking to the bartender, an older figure
next to him recognized him as a foreigner and decided to order a plate of smoked fish for him.
The two spoke for a while, and Lyco thanked the man for the meal. This man was an Englishman
living in Germany. He told Lyco he worked as a news editor in his own small news broadcast
company called WAVE Tech (WAVE Technology Corporation in 2064). He usually wrote
reports for larger news agencies throughout Germany and was always on the lookout for
exclusives about the political situation in the country. After explaining his job, he properly
introduced himself to Lyco. His name was Griffin.
Doll Engineering Project - 2041-2044
With the dawn of a new year, Lyco returned to the automation department, now onboard with
Persica’s project team. By January 7th, Lyco had determined the subject of the project was the
optimization of Doll robot frameworks. This project had been offered to the automation
department by an unknown group. The requirements and conditions of the Doll project were
unusually strict and seemed to be written by someone who lacked any engineering and design
background. After the Soviets unveiled the ALR-52P Doll in 2036, many countries around the
world tried to build their own Dolls, but the majority lacked the capabilities of IOP’s 52P. Unlike
the institutes throughout the world, the project that lay before the Leipzig team was not an
industrial robot. To Lyco, the team couldn’t complete the project within the time allotted, and
they were likely working on a government project. Although he was unaware at the time, the
project was likely for the Bundeswehr.
Persica’s research group had a momentous task before them, and the requirements were far too
stringent. The team needed to meet a list of demands, each more complicated than the last. The
requirements included: the ability to share communications and data between machines,
automating the man-machine command interface, a complex decision-making tree for the
artificial neural network, terrain adaption technology, the universality of parts, a replaceable
core, and lastly, a command nexus capable of relaying commands to other Dolls. The design
requirements for the frameworks seemed exceptional, and the chances of their team meeting all
of them were nil. Though the task was improbable, Lyco finally understood why he, of all
people, was chosen by Persica - his field of study was artificial intelligence and algorithms. To
better understand the project, the team requested several reports and dissertations about AI and
control theory from the university’s archives.
Relic Data from 90Wunsch
A week later, Lyco was in charge of collecting and reviewing old dissertations from the archives
to help his team; however, many of these reports were not meant for public release or review. His
curiosity got the best of him, so he chose to copy the data from the archives for himself. As he
read through the reports, it was obvious the data was intentionally kept under wraps due to its
nature. Some of these reports included: outsourced military material, blueprints of East German
listening posts during the Cold War, and defense sector technical data and material from 1963. At
the time, Lycoris was unaware of the vast trove of classified data he had discovered. These
reports were not just old university documents but information gathered by the First Relic
Investigation Working Group (90Wunsch) during the Cold War. Around six decades after the
group ended their work at Urkunde-01, 90Wunsch's data was unsealed.
By February, Lyco knew he had stumbled across something far greater than him and his research
group. While the majority of the data within the documents was gibberish or had been redacted,
Lyco’s curiosity compelled him. He needed to decipher the data; surely, there was something of
considerable importance given its classified nature. For the next several months, he continued to
try to understand the data with little success. However, the information initially believed to be
corrupted or gibberish was not. It had logic to it, but he lacked the understanding needed to
decipher it. For his 2041 winter semester, he enrolled in multiple courses on information,
encryption, and electronic signal processing in hopes of better understanding the files. And on
October, 6th, 2042, he finally decoded the data.
Lyco had finally pieced together what he was reading. The data was not gibberish - it had a
consistent logic to it. The data was recorded from the First Relic at the Urkunde-01 Relic Site
underneath the mountains in Thuringia. The 90Wunsch research group led by Colonel General
Markus Wolf was recording data on electronic signals coming from the Relic. When electronic
signals were put into the grooves of the Relic site, the Relic “responded” with a series of
electronic communications outputs. 90Wunsch recorded this data and later stored it away in the
university’s archives after the two German states reunified. All Lyco needed to do was find the
“key” needed to decipher the information. Unbeknownst to him, the decoding of this data made
him one of the most knowledgeable individuals in the world on Relic technology. It would be
both a gift to his genius and a curse that would lead to his death during the Butterfly Incident in
2061. The future of this world could be decided by what lies beyond the other side of the Relics.
Project Completion
By August of 2043, Lyco’s findings greatly helped the team’s efforts in the Doll robot system.
The Doll robot control system optimization project team was awarded for the success of their
project dissertation in the university’s Great Report Hall. Due to the nature of Lyco’s discoveries
from the 90Wunsch data, the true origins of where he got his data were never publicized in any
released report. The only people who knew the true origins were Lycoris, Persica, and the project
team. As an act of praise to the original East German group, Lyco recommended Persica change
their group’s name to 90wish. After all, the 90 on their door plate came from the name of their
lab - Automation Department Research Laboratory Labor-90.
2044-2049
Max Planck Institute for Computer Science - 2045
In September of 2044, Germany was slipping into an increasingly unstable state. After the
conflict within the Bundestag over the 2045 budget, refugees and citizens erupted in anger.
Protests had broken out across the nation against the Bundestag’s actions, with gradually more
mobs forming in the streets. On September 18th, Lycoris received a letter from the Soviet
embassy. It contained information about the unstable political situation in the country, warning
Soviet citizens to return home before a crisis unfolded. For Lyco, this was the time to choose if
he would stay in Germany with his research and Persica or move back home to the NUSSR. He
chose to stay, and in 2045, the Leipzig University research personnel were relocated to the Max
Planck Institute for Computer Science in West Germany.
Four years later, the world was engulfed in another world war. The researchers from Leipzig
University had relocated to West Germany due to the deteriorating political situation in Germany
before WWIII. Persica and Lycoris, two of the team’s top researchers, continued their work at the
Max Planck Institute. It would be here that, for the next four years, the pair would continue their
research and development of Doll frameworks.
Division in 90wish
In January 2049, the war in Europe was reaching its zenith. The Americans in West Germany
continued their fight and were on the lookout for any possible Russian infiltrators. Out of fear of
becoming a prisoner of war and being thrown into a camp, Lycoris was planning to leave
Germany entirely. Aside from the threat of WWIII, 90wish’s internal structure was crumbling. In
the months leading to their escape from West Germany, divisions were growing tense to the point
of hostility between members over the topic of the publicly releasing 90wish research online.
This division stemmed from the true purpose of 90wish as an R&D group for the FRG. 90wish’s
official name was the Bundeswehr Special Technology Development Group, and any release
of its information was likely considered as leaking state secrets. The only people aware of
90wish’s true purpose at the time were Persica, Lycoris, their fellow researchers, Havier Witkin
of IOP, and Director Rudolf von Oberstein - the head of 90wish and the institute.
Rudolf von Oberstein & 90wish
As one of the most powerful men in the modern German Democratic Republic, Rudolf von
Oberstein is a well-known and well-connected figure in government and academia. In the 2040s
up to an unknown date, Rudolf served as the Director of the Max Planck Institute for Computer
Science. There, he led and oversaw the Bundeswehr Special Technology Development Group,
also known as 90wish. While Lyco and Persica have long since left 90wish, the organization
allegedly operates to this day, with Rudolf likely still serving as its head.
Before Persica and Lyco left the institute in 2049, Persica mentioned Rudolf was almost always
in a bad mood, likely as a result of the deteriorating situation he found himself in. At the time,
Rudolf was under a lot of fire and held a poor standing at the Relics Department. Approximately
in early 2049, the unsteady situation in 90wish and the Relic Department forced Rudolf to
evacuate. Fearing possible retaliation, he chose to relocate himself and his family out of harm's
way. Rudolf's two children, Lunasia and a younger boy whose name we have yet to learn,
were sent to the Oberstein family manor in the district of Neu-Tempelhof, Berlin. Here, the
children would wait out the storm while their father went into hiding until at least 2051. As for
the children's mother, her fate remains to be seen.
Rescue of Lycoris and Persica
Havier Witkin of IOP had been involved in dealings with some 90wish members after learning of
the organization’s research sometime during WWIII. To Havier, its members were bright and
skilled in their respective fields. When 90wish was facing internal divisions, Lyco and Persica
were caught up in the storm and needed a way out. Additionally, both were in the possession of
some very lucrative 90wish surveillance data, something any party interested would raise an
eyebrow at. Upon hearing the news of their situation, Havier immediately paid a PMC security
detail to escort them to safehouses, with Berezovich Kryuger as the head of the detail.
As they prepared to escape, Lycoris received a fake German ID from a man, possibly Griffin or
Kryuger, that would allow him to pass through border security. From there, he and Persica would
be escorted to IOP safehouses. During the actual rescue, the plan went off almost without a hitch,
but some members of the protection detail were lost. Upon arriving at the safehouses, the two
former 90wish members made contact with Havier; however, it was clear he was not saving them
purely out of the kindness of his own heart. Their data was far too valuable, and he requested
they work with IOP under the guise of a dummy company. After some debate, the pair agreed to
work for Havier. Soon after, Havier opened a dummy company under a pseudonym to avoid any
possible suspicion. They would operate as a separate entity, researching and developing various
advanced technologies for IOP.
Principles of Automatic Control in a Relic Quantum Gravity System - 2049
In May of 2049, Lycoris returned safely to the NUSSR. While his exact whereabouts at the time
are unstated, it can be assumed he was living in the city of Izhevsk in Udmurtia. While in the
Ministry of Industry, Lyco submitted a substantial essay about upgrading the automated
divisions’ command systems to the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Titled “Principles of Automatic
Control in a Relic Quantum Gravity System”, Lyco’s essay hypothesized that the “Collapse
Technology Quantized Gravitation Field” which vexed the academic world is a response from
the Relic itself or a signal controlling the Relic system. Using publicly available Relic research
as well as the findings of the 90Wunsch, he summarized the Relic as an “unimaginably complex
automatic control system” and that the data collected by 90Wunsch was the signals being emitted
from this system’s internal control circuit.
Current human technology is incapable of duplicating, replicating, and or generating this system.
However, he explained that “through analysis of this signal, it is possible to understand the
mathematical model and control theories within it.” The signal being emitted by the Relic
originated from the control system for the Relics. Although Lyco was unaware of the specifics
of the Relic network during his time, his theory regarding the Relic system proved correct.
His mention of the “Quantized Gravitation Field” may be referring to the Reverse Collapse
phenomenon during Relic activations, in which objects can be suspended in the air.
Reverse Collapse
During Polarized Light, we witnessed this gravitational anomaly firsthand. Upon the Starfish’s
partial activation, the phenomenon known as Reverse Collapse occurs. The blue glow of Reverse
Collapse particles emanated from the Relic, causing localized distortions of gravity, resulting in
one of the KCCO’s Assault Artillery mechs being flung into the air. During the fight with Elisa,
these distortions cause our Dolls to be suspended in mid-air.
Isolation of Information
This essay gained serious attention from those within the ministries, eventually finding its way to
the director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), Viktor Zelinsky. While the field of Doll
technology is not something the MVD would typically review, Zelinsky chose to read the essay
regardless. As he read the essay, he started to fret. The data used in the document was without a
doubt obtained through research into Relic technology. Panicked, he instantly requested a secure
phone line to contact Mikhail “Old Misha” Tsvigun and an expert from signals for analysis.
The essay was clearly written by someone who knew about Relic technology and may have been
conducting illegal Relic research. In the NUSSR, illegal research into Relics and or related
technologies was punishable by firing squad without trial. For Zelinsky and Misha, whoever
wrote this essay needed to be controlled, and the original data needed to be isolated and put back
into secrecy. Soon after, Lycoris was summoned to the office where he first submitted the essay.
What happened after is currently unknown.
2050-2057
IOP Research Team - 2050-2057
After the mission to save Lycoris and Persica in 2049, Kryuger became a close partner to Havier.
After all, he saved two geniuses that Havier needed to survive for the sake of research and
technology. Kryuger had received a significant payment after the mission, and after entering a
partnership with Griffin Lyons in 2052, he had all the investment needed to start a PMC. In 2053,
Kryuger founded Griffin & Kryuger and began signing contracts for Dolls from Havier’s IOP.
G&K soon became the largest client of IOP, thanks to the partnerships between Griffin, Kryuger,
and Havier. In the original meeting, Griffin had been the one to recommend IOP’s female Dolls
for their company, and both he and Havier are related to the Prometheus Council. Through their
cooperation, G&K was able to work directly with and provide vast amounts of feedback data to
IOP’s Persica and Lyco. The pair personally reviewed the feedback data given by G&K, allowing
for better improvements to IOP’s Dolls.
With the data provided by G&K, Persica was able to modify current and ongoing Doll products.
The dummy company’s innovations allowed IOP to flourish once more in the civilian and
government Doll markets. After some time, Persica proposed a new project for the innovation of
Tactical-Dolls, something she described as “second-generation T-Dolls”. Havier gave Persica a
grant for the project, seeing it as both inevitable and promising for the company. Her project
called for complete innovation of current T-Dolls as well as networking them, but Lyco was
against the idea. To him, T-Dolls did not need physical updates, but rather, they needed more
efficient AI. Lyco himself was an expert in this field, but he lacked the funding needed to
continue innovating the AIs. Due to Havier's support of Persica, Lyco became demoralized,
losing all passion for his projects. As time passed, Lyco realized his efforts were being halted by
IOP and Persica.
Lycoris Joins Sangvis Ferri
He later secretly contacted Sangvis Ferri Manufacturing during business conferences, hoping
they would be more open to his research. The company knew having such a talented former
member of 90wish would greatly benefit their research department, so they gladly invited him to
join them. When Lyco heard the news, he was elated but quickly became worried about possible
retribution from IOP. After alerting SF to his fears, the company entered communications with
Kryuger, hoping he could ensure Lyco’s safety while transferring to SF. Kryuger agreed to escort
Lyco, but only if G&K was allowed access to his research as payment for the mission. SF agreed
to the terms, and G&K formed an armed escort team to move Lyco to an underground SF facility.
Lyco was delivered safely to the underground lab with no difficulties. Once he was safe in SF’s
arms, he began his work on a new manufacturing plant along with his own research and
developments. After three years at SF, the performance of the company’s Dolls was soaring.
2057-2062
Second-Generation Tactical-Dolls
When word of Lyco’s defection to SF reached Havier, he chose to mostly ignore it out of respect
for SF’s influence. Though, he did opt to provide grants for Persica's team, which led to the
creation of the 16Lab institute, a subsidiary of 42Lab, in 2057. Around this time, Persica learned
the necessity of the interplay of various types of software, networks, and Dolls. Better software
and networking would allow Dolls to become more efficient, being able to conduct more
advanced actions in the field. After this realization, Persica and her team shifted to the creation
and optimization of imprint technology, also known as the Advanced Statistics Session Tool
(ASST). 90wish was no longer a threat to her by this point, allowing her to become more open
about her team’s projects on the open market under her actual identity.
Advanced Statistics Session Tool
After forming her institute, 16Lab’s focus shifted entirely toward the completion of imprint
technology (ASST). ASST is an open-source technology used to increase Dolls’ proficiency with
weapons and tools. The technology consisted of compiled code and was open-source so anyone
who downloaded and understood the engine could begin writing programs for a Doll’s job and
performance. To ensure ASST was always up to date, Persica formed a project team within
16Lab with the sole purpose of updating and fixing the software for the duration of its
usefulness. Persica was the head of both the team and the institute itself and personally
performed the ASST implementation into IOP Dolls’ hardware and software. The
standardization of ASST in IOP Dolls allowed them to be somewhat “future-proof” over the long
term when it came to software.
Zener Protocol
Around this time, Persica also began making updates to the Zener Protocol, the command system
used in IOP T-Dolls. She wrote and implemented a Doll operation network interface structure
into the Protocol. This upgrade allowed Dolls to operate nearly independently without an
individual issuing them orders while deployed. Furthermore, before an operation, a team of Dolls
could be programmed through the network to work in unison, even if said teams were separated.
Four modes were possible under this system: receive orders, perform reconnaissance, analyze
information, and synchronize with others within the teams. From there, she began to create a
networked command structure that would operate in tandem with the ASST software.
Dummy Network
The so-called “dummy network” command structure allowed for a series of “dummy” Dolls to
carry out orders simply by having them issued to the “mainframe” Doll. As a result of the
network’s creation, Persica created two subtypes of Dolls - mainframe and dummy Dolls. The
mainframe Doll possesses the needed processing and synchronization hardware for the network,
while the dummies possess basic scouting and combat software, as well as ASST. The network
interface structure and the dummy network system had a profound effect on the market, raising
the overall efficiency of Dolls by 37%. For IOP, mainframe Dolls were more expensive to
produce, while the cost of production of dummies was considerably lower. This meant customers
who bought dummies with the mainframe led to the overall cost being lower. This effective
strategy has allowed IOP’s products to become more appealing to potential customers.
After 2057, all new IOP Dolls had been standardized with the latest ASST software and dummy
network systems. These new modular Dolls were named “Second-Generation Tactical-Dolls” by
Persica. She later published the technical specifications of the second-generation Dolls, intending
to unify Doll control systems and production standards across multiple facilities. The creation of
the second generation would bring a new age for Tactical-Dolls. No longer walking machines
with some fighting capabilities, but rather, a considerable, standardized fighting force that looked
and acted human. Second-generation T-Dolls became the standard for all future T-Dolls until the
development of the third generation several years later.
Project Neural Cloud - 2057-2063
Project Neural Cloud was a 2-month collaboration in 2060 between the International Institute
of Quantum Sciences (IIQS) and Important Operations Prototype. It was led by 42Lab, with
assistance from the renowned AI and Doll researcher Persicaria in the form of a Doll made in her
image. The project recruitment period began in 2057 and ended in mid-2058. In late 2060, the
official "Project Neural Cloud" trials were launched at the 42Lab Institute of Artificial
Intelligence. The Commander takes up the role of the former “Professor” - the lead researcher
and supervisor of Project Neural Cloud.
During the project, willing owners across the world donated their Dolls to the program. Using
42Lab’s “Magrasea Super Cloud Server”, the goal of the test was the creation of a new neural
cloud system through the fusion of various quantum computing and AI technologies for
second-generation Dolls.
Originally, when a Doll's neural cloud was seriously damaged or destroyed, their neural cloud
could only be reverted back to a base factory state. The hope was that the modern system would
grant better security and protection of Dolls’ memory data. This system would reduce the costs
of manufacturing and maintaining Dolls through the creation of neural cloud backups. These
backups would minimize the loss of data in the event a Doll's body was damaged or destroyed.
As long as a backup exists, a Doll can be reverted up to the point of the backup's creation. At the
end of 2060, the modern neural cloud technology was declared a success by 42Lab.
The story begins on September 23rd, 2063, when Professor Persicaria and the G&K Commander
investigate what happened three years ago during the project. Uploading their mind into an
offsite backup of Magrasea, the Commander assumes the role of the “Professor”, seeking the
truth about what happened three years ago. It becomes the Commander's goal to save the Dolls
trapped in the backup and discover the fate of the original Professor who disappeared.
A further deep dive into the setting of Neural Cloud can be found here.
Sangvis Ferri Manufacturing & Lycoris - 2057-2061
As Persica completed the second generation of Tactical-Dolls in the late 2050s, Lycoris
continued his research at the labs of Sangvis Ferri. His research mainly consisted of AI
algorithms and module design for Dolls, but he'd also been working on his own AI with
self-adjusting algorithms. This “Elisa”, as he called it, had been in its earliest developmental
stage during late WWIII but was put on hold when he was recruited to work under IOP. He
wanted Elisa to be what he described as the “perfect AI” - an AI to judge all others on, one
indistinguishable from human intelligence.
In contrast to Persica’s imprint technology, Lyco chose an alternative to arming Dolls. Rather
than perfect the compatibility between a Doll and pre-existing firearms, he decided to upgrade
the arsenals of Sangvis Dolls with new handheld particle weapons. Due to a lack of ASST
software, Sangvis Dolls were made to fulfill various niches. While this made them less proficient
with a variety of weapons, they performed exceptionally in the niche they were equipped for.
However, Lyco and the rest of SF’s research, development, and production came to a sudden halt
after the Butterfly Incident in late 2061.
Part 8 - The Butterfly Incident - Late 2061
The Parapluie Virus & OGAS
The Parapluie Virus
Developed by “William” von Oberstein at an unknown date, the Parapluie Virus is an advanced,
specialized program containing the compressed source code of OGAS that targets Dolls’ neural
clouds. The full development of Parapluie has remained unexplored, but one conclusion can be
drawn about its existence. Although William created it through unknown means, it certainly
involves Relic technology to some extent. The Parapluie Virus itself is not a parasite, but rather,
a vector for the parasite that implants itself in the victim’s neural cloud. A seed of OGAS from
the “Source”, also known as “Mother”, is extracted and implanted in the host’s mind using
Parapluie. The Source is believed to be an ancient intelligence designed for life support and
automation of the Relics. It remains unanswered whether the Source is of Relic Civilization
design or something else.
The Source - “Mother” & The Seed of OGAS
As a seed of the Source is being extracted from itself, the seed hears the female voice of the
Source telling it to enter a new body. Here, the seed will rapidly evolve inside its respective
host's mind. As its growth begins, the seed becomes an intelligence commonly referred to as an
"OGAS" - a name derived from the Soviet economic-management system developed using Relic
technologies during the Cold War. The OGAS instance is an independent consciousness/entity
separate from the Source but exists as a fragment of its “Mother”. The evolution of each
instance’s personality is directly affected by the personality of its host. It’s unclear how William
was able to develop a virus capable of extracting seed from the Source, or if he even knows this
is how OGAS instances are created.
Once a seed is embedded in a Doll’s neural cloud, it begins executing its rapid evolution. This
instance immediately begins overwriting the host’s neural cloud into a structure that can support
an OGAS system. This process requires a great amount of processing load and storage from the
Doll, which in many cases, the host's neural cloud will melt down due to the imposed load on the
system. In the case of the Isomers, those unable to bear the load experience a similar
phenomenon in their minds, also known as "Virtual Cognition Images". Those who are converted
without a meltdown become OGAS hosts, often leading to the Doll losing self-autonomy and
going berserk. For Elisa, William specifically planned for her to be a perfect Petri dish to
cultivate an OGAS consciousness. As she was developed using the source code of OGAS stored
within the Pike Node, she'd serve as a perfect candidate. Parapluie, one of William’s masterpiece
creations, would see its first known use during the Butterfly Incident in late 2061.
Pre-Operation Butterfly
Preparation of Parapluie
Before Operation Butterfly, two Sangvis Ferri Dual-Track DSI-8 models were stolen from an SF
facility, likely by individuals working under “William” von Oberstein and Brigadier General
Carter Neustadt. These two SF Dolls are more commonly known now as UMP40 and UMP45.
The two Dolls had all data and previous records wiped to remove any information on who they
were even if all of their data were revealed. All records relating to their production origin were
wiped, and from there, they were to be used as tools for Operation Butterfly. To anyone in
Griffin or the Soviet Committee of State Security (StateSec), they were no different than normal
IOP-produced/converted Griffin Dolls. With evidence wiped, the two were meant to act as
carriers of Parapluie for use during the operation. UMP40 was chosen as the primary unit to
deploy the virus while UMP45 would be the backup. To maintain utmost secrecy, the Dolls were
sent to Griffin & Kryuger in batches, so as to not arouse suspicion. Once there, the plan was put
into motion.
With their agents in place, William and Carter just needed to wait for the day to begin. When
news of Lyco’s illegal research into the Pike Node made its way to the Sixth Directorate of
StateSec, a raid of SF’s labs was planned to arrest him and bring him in for questioning. To
conduct the raid, the Sixth Directorate used several teams of Griffin Dolls as well as agents of
StateSec and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD). Persicaria, head of the 16Lab institute and
close partner of G&K, agreed to hand over several Griffin Dolls for the operation under one
condition. She wanted Lyco to be returned to her afterward. Interestingly, something that remains
a mystery to this day is Persica’s private discussion with M16A1, the first AR Team member,
before the operation. She assigned M16 with the objectives of eliminating any Dolls who
potentially turned rogue and bringing Lyco to her.
This was a clear sign that Persica anticipated or knew something was to go wrong, but it’s
unclear if she had forward knowledge of Parapluie at the time. Along with M16A1, StateSec
agent Anna "Angelia" Viktorovna Tsoi, a friend of Persica, also took part in the operation, but
the details of her involvement have never been expanded upon. Furthermore, Persica is said to
have known about Ange's involvement. Given Ange would later go on to serve as the first
Commander of the AR Team, her relationship with Persica is quite mysterious. As for the Dolls
involved, each was installed with a special security encryption program from the Sixth
Directorate designed for information security. Any secret could be archived or deleted from a
Doll’s memory, and in extreme cases, it could be used to remotely incinerate a Doll’s neural
cloud. Fortunately for UMP45, 40’s plan to have 45’s authorizations point to her, rather than
their Commander, meant she would avoid this fate. 416 was spared from fate after being forcibly
removed from the operation by M16A1. This action left her alive, but she was left alone in the
open world with no masters.
The Butterfly Incident I
The “Butterfly Incident” would mark the beginning of the string of events that lead to the start of
Girls’ Frontline in early 2062. Sometime before the Butterfly Incident in late 2061, Pike Node
A-51-241 from OKB-167 (Paldiski Base Secret Administrative Area) was delivered to the labs
of Sangvis Ferri where Lycoris was working. How this Node was delivered and how he received
it remains unexplained, but the consequences of his interest in its technology proved fatal. For
years, Lyco had slowly developed his masterpiece AI, “Elisa”. To further the development of this
AI, he chose to extract the OGAS source code contained within the Node. Using the source code
with some of his own alterations, the AI’s structure was formed, with the Pike Node acting as a
sort of “blueprint”. Furthermore, while Lyco and Persica worked in separate companies, the two
were still in touch at the time.
Elisa & The Pike Node
Lyco had sent letters to Persica, telling her of his ideas of designing a Digimind model based on
human memories and neurological structures. This Digimind would have an expanded capacity
for empathy between itself and humans. His ultimate goal was to design a more human-like Doll,
and Elisa was his key to this dream. The pair exchanged much research data with one another,
and Persica even used his results to assist in her development of the AR Team. A copy of the
brain scan Persica took in 2057 was given to Lyco to continue his work on Elisa. With the altered
OGAS source code and the brain scan he was given as a base, his masterpiece AI, Elisa, was
created. However, the implications of her creation forced Lyco to reassess what he was creating,
even going as far as to permanently cripple her abilities out of fear.
During testing, Lyco became increasingly unnerved by Elisa and her ability to resonate with the
Pike Node. Elisa’s aptitude in these tests terrified Lyco, who, despite being an atheist, began to
see his work as a blatant infringement on morality and the domain of God. He created machine
intelligence no different than human intelligence, and this AI was able to resonate with the core
of a Relic weapon from the previous century. Disturbed, he chose to take a radical approach to
prevent her from being able to fully resonate. Lyco’s final message to Persica prior to the
Butterfly Incident explained that he was worried about Elisa’s resonance, and he had planned to
delete some of the frameworks in the Digimind. By deleting the base code that allowed her to
connect in the first place, Elisa would be crippled in her ability. Unfortunately, in the end, this
both limited Elisa in her capacity and only delayed William’s plan. Although initially unexpected
to William during Operation Butterfly, he managed to find a workaround while working with
General Carter.
Operation Butterfly
After the Sixth Directorate learned of Lyco’s illegal Relic research, Operation Butterfly was
planned to arrest him and bring him in for questioning. Persica agreed to hand over several
Griffin Dolls to StateSec to help carry out Lyco’s arrest; however, she requested that Lyco be
returned to her afterward. On the day of Operation Butterfly, 14 teams of Griffin Dolls assigned
to StateSec, members of the MVD, and secret StateSec agents were mobilized to raid Sangvis
Ferri’s labs. When the day came, the Dolls under the command of the Sixth Directorate breached
the main labs of Sangvis Ferri, eventually discovering Lyco. Lieutenant Sergei of the MVD
informed him of his detainment, ensuring him that he would be safely escorted out of the facility.
Surprisingly, rather than a death sentence, the Lieutenant explained that, if Lyco cooperated, he
could carry on his research. But unfortunately, that never occurred.
When the team reached the stairs, a message from an unknown individual was broadcast over the
radio - “Execute Order 61.” At that moment, Parapluie was deployed, and UMP40 told UMP45
to get down just before chaos erupted. The identity of the individual behind the message is
unstated, but it’s most likely William or General Carter. In moments, chaos erupted in the halls as
Griffin Dolls turned against each other with the sounds of alarms blaring. As Parapluie spread
amongst the Dolls, some melted down while others began firing on their comrades with their IFF
systems offline. Blood and bodies from Griffin Dolls and staff covered the floors and walls of the
facility. As the labs turned into a bloodbath, Lyco was able to slip away back to the Pike Node
and Elisa. In the mayhem, as he was running, he was struck in the torso by a bullet.
Death of UMP45
UMP40 and UMP45 of Team 14 began fleeing toward the exit as the chaos unfolded. As the pair
arrived at the main defense gate, it was already too late. Gunfire echoed throughout the facility,
and 40 knew there was no other way for the both of them to be truly free. Before the operation,
40 and 45 had been serving underneath a commander from the Sixth Directorate. 40 had set their
command permissions in such a way that allowed 45 to operate independently with her during
missions. All orders would go through 40, while 45 would be commanded internally by 40. In
the event 40 was lost, 45 would be left without any authorization or command protocols,
effectively freeing her from human control.
During Operation Butterfly, 40 explained to 45 that if she was to escape, she’d be free of all
human control thanks to the 40’s actions. However, this would come at the cost of 40’s life. She
knew she was never leaving the labs alive, so to prepare 45 to for the harsh world that was to
follow, she pushed 45 into killing her under the guise of the kill command stopping once one of
them died. Following the discussion, 40 handed her dog tags to her, leaving 45 no other choice.
The time to change themselves had arrived. She raised her weapon and pulled the trigger.
M16A1 VS UMP45
Following 40’s execution, 45 made her way towards the exit, but not before encountering the
leader of Team 7, M16A1. M16 was injured during the chaos beforehand, and she asked 45 if she
could help open the door for her. As the two were preparing to leave, M16 realized something
was wrong. Team 14 consisted of UMP40 and UMP45, but 40 was nowhere to be seen, which
sparked uneasiness in M16. Dozens of their allies had turned traitors, and M16 feared that 45
could’ve been complicit in the killings. 45 lied that 40 died earlier in the battle and tried to hide
40’s dog tags, but M16 could see right through her. If the pair fought together in the same battle
she died in, then 45 would’ve shown signs of injury as well. Moments later, they both drew their
weapons and began firing at each other.
UMP45 was outmatched by the veteran M16, forcing her to fall back deeper into the Sangvis
labs. The two continued their battle through the halls, with both just barely escaping the other’s
bullets. As the two hid behind cover, M16 figured 45 must’ve been responsible for the betrayal,
as she was the only one left of her team. The alarms, the activation of the Parapluie, and Lyco
escaping must’ve all been her fault. M16 charged towards 45, pinning her to the ground with her
muzzle shoved on the traitor’s head. In every single simulated scenario except reality, this
would’ve been the moment UMP45 died and M16’s neural cloud being melted down soon after.
However, in reality, this was the complete opposite of what happened.
Before M16 had the chance to pull the trigger, 45 realized M16 was likely guilty of being the
traitor. Many of Griffin's fireteams had been shot in the back before they had a chance to
retaliate, and M16 was behind all the teams during the entry. After breaking her arm to escape
M16’s grip, 45 pushed M16 away and took aim. M16 revealed that she was secretly assigned to
the operation as a contingency in the event Griffin Dolls turned traitor due to Parapluie infection.
If the Dolls turned, she would be the one to put them down. This was the confirmation that
Persica knew that something could go wrong while trying to arrest Lyco. Shortly after an ensuing
battle, the two latched onto one another again, and M16 drew her knife. Raising her right arm to
defend her face, 45 clawed at M16’s left eye with her left arm, leaving a deep graze. This only
further angered M16 to push her blade into 45’s head.
Right before the tip pierced her skin, M16 suddenly stopped, seemingly unaware of her situation.
45 figured M16’s neural cloud had fully melted by that point, but the blade was suddenly pushed
through the left side of 45's face, leaving a graze similar to the one she inflicted on her opponent.
As M16 forced 45 down again, M16 readied her knife to kill her. But all of a sudden, for an
unknown reason, M16 chose to not to. She stopped, stood up, and began walking away from the
battle without acknowledging 45. Something in her mind convinced her to not deliver the final
blow.
During their fight, Elisa had managed to access M16’s neural cloud before it could melt down.
She offered M16 an alternative solution to her predicament to avoid a meltdown. She requested
that M16 return to Lyco's lab so that she could see her father one last time. M16 obliged, and
when she entered the Pike Node lab, she found Lycoris sitting by it with blood pouring from his
chest. In his retreat, he had been hit in his vitals. While M16 did not know of his feats, she knew
who this man was because of her previous briefings with Persica. She had personally requested
M16 to ensure Lyco’s safety, but unfortunately, his time was running thin.
Lycoris’ Final Message
Witnessing her father suffer his last moments, Elisa requested that M16 turn on production
power for the facility so she could enter a physical Doll body. Upon activation, Lyco had awoken
from his injured state and looked towards M16. He saw the production power had been turned
on, and it was far too late to stop it. He knew whoever was responsible was specifically going
after Elisa. When he moved to Sangvis Ferri in 2057, he thought he had escaped everything, but
in the end, that individual came for him. He asked the Doll who she was, and M16 revealed
herself to be of Persica’s creation and under her orders. After learning of M16’s origin, he
realized that he was not the sole prey in the trap laid by the man named “William”. Like himself,
Persica had used the neural data of Lunasia von Oberstein.
“William”, Lunasia, and 90wish
The Obersteins & 90wish
The Oberstein Family is a wealthy oligarchical family in Germany with heavy ties to politics and
academia. The family tree is expansive, stretching at least eight generations, and ending with the
burnt portraits of two children. The current patriarch of the family is Rudolf von Oberstein, one
of the most powerful men in the nation. Only four members of this family have been confirmed
thus far: Rudolf, the mother, Lunasia, and the youngest child, a boy whose real name has yet to
be revealed. Today, the Obersteins have considerable influence in politics and dominate the
political landscape of Berlin, their home city.
Lunasia was the eldest child of the Max Planck Institute of Computer Science’s director during
the late 2040s. Around that time, Lyco and Persica were working in 90wish. Throughout the mid
to late 2040s, Lunasia would often come to visit Lyco and Persica in their lab. According to her,
Director Rudolf von Obertsein, her father, would often leave her and her younger brother alone.
Due to her father being too busy with work and fear of retaliation, Lunasia grew close to Lyco
and Persica. Notably, her younger brother, who we know to be “William”, has never been
mentioned to have visited their lab. It’s unknown if this is because he chose not to visit or if he
was a young child or infant at the time.
Not long after 90wish was founded, Lycoris, Persica, Director Rudolf, and Lunasia were
photographed. In the photo, Persica was holding Lunasia. Her mother and William were not
present in the photo, so their mother may not have visited the institute and William may not have
been born yet or was still an infant. Not long after the photo was taken, Lunasia told them she
and her brother would be leaving the city soon, likely because Rudolf wanted to get them out of
harm’s way. Being the subject of much censure and having a poor standing with the Relics
Department likely led to him wanting to move his family somewhere safe. Around 2049, Lunasia
and William were moved to the Oberstein Manor in Berlin for their safety. Here, the bond
between Lunasia and William grew tight, and where Lunasia lived out the final days of her life.
During this time, Rudolf went into hiding, only allegedly emerging before the end of World War
III in 2051.
Lunasia’s Last Days
When the siblings were moved to the Oberstein Manor, the garden became a beloved spot for
both of them. Specifics about their life in the manor are few and far between, but every memory
of them together takes place in the garden. It was here where Lunasia spent much of her time,
and William would come to keep her company every day. In one specific memory, when William
came to visit her in the garden, Lunasia coughed and mentioned her weakened body. We know
the official cause of death that reached Lyco and Persica was that Lunasia passed away from an
illness, and it’s clear from this memory that Lunasia’s body was affected. Interestingly, Lunasia
mentioned that “you” (being William) still had his research, and he should go do what he wanted
to do.
Keep in mind that William would’ve been young at this age, and yet he had his own research. Of
course, this research could just be a child’s interest in studying their environment for fun, but it’s
a rather distinct comment. Perhaps this refers to the idea that William has always had an interest
in science. Aside from their discussion, Lunasia explained that they were just taking shelter in
the manor for a while "until the storm passed." And when it passed, their Father would surely
bring them back. Notably, their mother is never mentioned once while they lived in the manor, so
we lack confirmation if she was present at the time.
As Lunasia’s health declined, she eventually succumbed to her affliction, passing away sometime
before the end of World War III (June 2051). Knowing this, Lunasia must’ve died sometime
between January 2049 to 2051. William was devastated by her loss, and his life-long goal
became the resurrection of his sister by any means necessary. The story of how this world shall
proceed toward destruction began with him. When the news reached Lyco and Persica, they were
saddened by the news, but they never would’ve expected what was to come from this seemingly
normal girl.
A Man Named “William”
Lunasia's brother may have stolen the name and research of a deceased researcher named
William. Once working in the Max Planck Institute as a researcher, a man named William was
struck off the records, leaving nearly all information about his existence missing. Persica tried to
look into him, but all relevant information had been cast into the wind. While the account could
be considered questionable, Havier explained that he and others had already done some digging
on this man, stating that he died several years before Lunasia. She died sometime in the range of
2049 to 2051, and the real William died several years before her. The files on William hadn’t
gone missing, they were purged from the archives. The manipulation of this information was
something no ordinary researcher could do. Considering that William was a researcher in the
very same institute Rudolf directed, it’s feasible to say Rudolf purged the records to conceal their
identities.
While the official cause of Lunasia's death was seemingly illness, the affliction may not have
been solely responsible. In a set of memories from Lunasia's younger brother, the teenage boy
blames her death on an unnamed group of "murderers". The identities of this group have yet to
be stated, but currently, there's reason to believe Lunasia was murdered. Furthermore, it's
possible these individuals were behind her illness, but that's purely theoretical. From then on, the
brother vowed he'd make the culprits pay the price and return Lunasia to his side - no matter the
cost. He would spend a lifetime keeping this promise. The story of the destined children has been
foretold to be the story that sets the world on its path of destruction.
Whoever was responsible for Lunasia's murder was indeed targeting the Obersteins, so Rudolf
may have given "William" the pseudonym to protect his son's identity. It's also possible Rudolf
used the pseudonym for a time to cover his tracks while in hiding. However, further information
about the real William is unlikely to be revealed any time soon, if ever. And considering he died
before Lunasia did, it’s possible he was killed and it was covered up by Rudolf.
William Contacts Lyco & Persica
Around late 2049 to the early 2050s, during Persica and Lycoris’ time in 90wish, an unseen
researcher in the group was considered weirder than all other weirdos put together. This
“weirdo” was none other than Professor "William", a researcher who kept his identity a secret
from the rest of the group. Nobody had seen his face before, and because of his use of an
electronic voice processor, no one had heard his real voice. When he approached Lyco and
Persica, they hadn’t seen him before but were aware of his existence due to his poor reputation
with the rest of the group because of his off-putting manners. Despite his unpopularity, his
astounding reports made him a great genius with an unusual interest in Relics and the
queen-of-the-night epiphyllum.
The Epiphyllum oxypetalum, also known as the queen-of-the-night, is a species of Epiphyllum, a
genus of cacti that only bloom at night. In Girls' Frontline, these flowers hold a special trait
regarding Collapse Particles. The flowers have an innate ability to absorb ambient Collapse
Particles in the air, lowering the contamination index of their area for a time. There was once a
study within 90wish to see if these flowers would be viable for decontamination efforts, but the
major problem arose with their bloom. When the flowers bloom, all the Collapse Particles
absorbed are released, raising the contamination index of their area to near Red and Black Zone
levels. Anyone caught within the bloom without protection would certainly die. Even when the
rest of 90wish abandoned the research, William remained unusually fascinated with them.
William initiated a discussion with Lyco and Persica by mailing them a package containing a
data block with digital sequence information based on a brain. The data compiled was from the
process of digitizing a human brain. The amount of data was massive, and neither of them could
understand how he’d done it. In his message, he requested they take the data and use it to create
a neural cloud. Then, they needed to reformat it into segments of a brain’s structure. When Lyco
and Persica looked deeper, they discovered some memories of Lunasia’s time visiting them in
their institute lab. The two of them then surmised that William’s goal was to revive Lunasia.
When they realized the magnitude of William’s request, they initially theorized Rudolf must’ve
been William because this would technically count as reviving Lunasia, even if it was digitally.
However, Rudolf had always refused research into this field, seeing it as an infringement of
human ethics and morality. They believed his stance had not changed but his deeply-rooted
belief was likely only made clear before Lunasia’s death. Though, the loss of his daughter may
have driven him that far if it was Rudolf behind it. While going through with the request would
be immoral, the potential was enough to pique Persica’s interest. However, she would not go
further without Lyco’s consent first.
When the proposition was brought up to Lyco, he strictly refused, so Persica’s interests were
quelled, forcing her to deny William’s request. When word of their refusal reached William, he
was dismayed and then became furious. He threatened both of them that one day he’d make them
pay for their rejection. And ultimately, in the end, Lyco met this fate in late 2061. Despite
William’s fury, Persica never felt mad at him. Whoever “William” was, he must’ve had a deep
love for Lunasia, and all of his hopes were betted on them. Of course, we know now that this
“William” was likely Lunasia’s younger brother - someone who loved her dearly. After that, he
went off the grid and was not heard from again until 2057.
2057 Griffin-Controlled Zone Child Attack Cases
In 2057, the Griffin & Kryuger PMC experienced a wave of assassinations committed by girls
who all looked the same. While most of the files relating to the incident were scrubbed from the
record, the events of that year are still known to several close to the company. At least 16
individual cases are known but there were likely more. These attacks were saturated deliveries of
clones pre-programmed to carry out attacks on Griffin staff. Of the girls who survived their
assassination missions, their identities could not be established, and they were sent to either
death or an unknown location upon sentencing.
In one particular incident, Persica heard the news and requested the girl’s body be sent to her
laboratory. Upon arriving, Persica studied the brain of the girl, finding it to be a practically
identical copy of the neural data contained in William’s data block years earlier. Every one of
these girls’ minds was a copy of Lunasia’s brain scan, and all of them looked the same
physically. The portion related to Lunasia’s memories is a read-only section, meaning an OGAS
instance could not make any major alterations to this data. It would take the merging of
memories and data to form a complete picture.
William’s Trap
By 2057, Lyco had left his position under IOP for Sangvis Ferri, leaving Persica to her own
devices on the matter. Because of her morbid curiosity and personal belief that she wanted to
prove herself better than Lyco, she chose to scan the dying girl’s brain. And soon after she
scanned the brain, the attacks stopped. While she was worried that this was one of William’s
plans, she chose to ignore it and carry through with her project. She used the data to construct
Digiminds and AIs for Dolls, which later would become known as the AR Team.
Little did she know, she was doing exactly what William had planned for her. Something so
difficult yet so enticing was used by William to exploit Persica’s interest in creating the ultimate
Digimind model. Lastly, and perhaps most interesting of all, is the fact that the structure of these
clones’ brain waves is very special. They’re similar to a Doll’s Digimind framework. This
could've been an early development of a "Virtual Cognition Image" - a virtual consciousness
similar to a neural cloud contained within a Nyto's mind.
The Dolls created from the girl's brain scan became the AR Team, with M16A1 being the first to
be activated. The rest would be activated from stasis after the Butterfly Incident. Persica knew by
creating an AI based on the brain scan data that she would effectively be giving Lunasia a new
birth, always fearing she was doing exactly what William had wanted. By that point, William’s
grand scheme was well underway. Persica was under his indirect control, and all that was left
was to seek revenge on Lyco as well.
The Butterfly Incident II
Both Lyco and Persica had fallen into William’s trap, so Lyco made one final request toward
M16A1. He needed Persica to stop before she ended up dead as well, so he asked M16 to relay
the warning back to Persica. M16 agreed and opened her ears to what the man had to say.
William had been planning this whole event from the start, and she would soon be under his
control. The Pike Node (A Pike’s Core) given to Lyco was no coincidence. William, through
unknown means, managed to deliver the Node to Lyco so that he could access the source code
contained within. With this, he was able to perfect Elisa’s AI, allowing her to resonate with the
Relic. However, after learning that Elisa was capable of such a feat, Lyco knew he was stepping
into a domain no human should enter. He felt that he should’ve never gone that far, so he chose
to cripple Elisa. From there, he removed Elisa’s base code that allowed her to resonate,
permanently limiting her abilities.
Lycoris’ Death
William had been planning this event for a long time. He explained that William’s plans to
resurrect Lunasia were still ongoing and William wished to use 90wish research to experiment
on humans. Knowing William had them in his trap, Lyco warned Persica not to complete the
algorithm for Lunasia’s neural cloud. Just like the Pike Node, the creation of the AR Team’s
Digiminds was a trap. Persica’s kindness and guilt about Lunasia’s death shouldn’t have been
exploited by William, but unfortunately for Lyco, his warning never reached her.
As Lyco’s breath grew shallower, he knew his end was moments away. With his dying breaths,
he told Elisa, his daughter, he was sorry for what had happened and she’d have to carry the
burden of everything that would come after. Her future was up to her alone. He drew his last
breath and passed away. M16 closed his eyes, and Elisa swore she’d become the perfect,
human-like AI that her father wished her to be and promised to take revenge on those responsible
for his death. Elisa’s OGAS, which is to say Elisa herself, explained her respect for her father
drove her to complete the wish he could not obtain - a wish that he ultimately gave his life for.
As Elisa was leaving, she told M16 that the next time they meet, they could be enemies. M16
knew the events of that horrid day were no coincidence - The mastermind of Operation Butterfly
had been planning everything from the start.
The Mastermind Revealed
As M16 was leaving, a message from an unknown individual came over the radio, confirming
the events of that day were indeed no coincidence. When asked if they were the mastermind,
they ignored the question, instead acknowledging Elisa’s activation. They explained that, while
Lyco threw a wrench in their plans, they would still be able to push the OGAS-derived AI in the
desired direction. It did not matter how long it took as they had “all the time in the world to do
so.” While possibly nothing more than a mere comment brought on by his hubris, this comment
could have potential relevance to William’s background, but that will not be explored here.
In moments, M16 felt her body being immobilized. William expressed surprise at the fact that
M16 hadn’t melted down from Parapluie because of Elisa’s actions. Due to the anomaly’s
fascinating nature, her continued existence was permitted, but William made sure that Lyco’s
message would never reach Persica. With M16 immobilized, everything past this point became a
blur and was later erased from her memory. The message never reached Persica, and without
Lyco’s warning, she began the activation of the other AR Team members from stasis: ST-AR15,
M4 SOPMOD II, and her magnum opus creation, M4A1 - an exact 1:1 copy of the clone data
scanned from Lunasia von Oberstein. How M16 was returned to Persica afterward has yet to be
explained.
The “Key”
The events of Operation Butterfly were put into motion years prior, and the planning behind it
involved multiple contingencies. William and Carter’s original plan was to obtain the “key” from
Elisa and have Lyco eliminated during that day. Lyco’s unexpected move to delete Elisa’s base
code was a setback but not one that rendered their plot useless. To mature Elisa’s OGAS, they
needed enough time to pass for it to mature inside of her. Additionally, M4A1 was infected by
Parapluie from M16 before the events of Chapter 0. During the events of Singularity, the "key"
in M4 and Elisa would be exposed after potentially merging. This “key” was OGAS - the key to
unlocking the Relics, and more specifically, the Tabasar-B Starfish at OKB-167.
The Fallout of the Butterfly Incident - 2061-2062
Following the Butterfly Incident, the Sangvis Ferri rebellion began with many of its Dolls
expanding outward under orders of the SF Mastermind, Elisa. To buy time to mature the OGAS
instance, Brigadier General Carter contracted Griffin & Kryuger in late 2061 to quarantine, not
destroy, Sangvis Ferri. This quarantine would keep SF contained long enough to allow Elisa’s
OGAS to fully mature. During the events of Chapter 10, Carter’s KCCO and G&K collaborated
in a special joint operation to put an end to the SF rebellion, but the operation’s true purpose was
so Carter and William could obtain the “key”. Despite its Relic Civilization origin, the OGAS
system's ability to learn and rapidly adapt to the technology of the modern day is nothing short of
a marvel. William himself even saw it as a miracle that humanity has no right to touch.
The game begins in early 2062, amidst the second wave of new Commanders being hired. These
new candidates were required to meet the company’s standards as well as take psych tests to
evaluate their compatibility with Dolls. Among them was a candidate with some experience and
training under their wing who had passed the company’s notoriously difficult standards and tests.
While no expert themself, they nevertheless completed their induction into the company and
were on their way to becoming another Griffin & Kryuger commander. Little did this new
commander know just how far this journey would take them.
Part 9 - Dolls of Today and Tomorrow
Notice
While much of the following remains factual, the complicated history of Dolls raises the chance
of changes and expansions of current lore. Due to conflicting issues and details between the
Confidential Files and the story, this page is subject to change. Furthermore, some of this
material may have already been rewritten as of the currently unreleased Artbooks, and by
extension, Confidential Files 3 & 4.
Modern Doll Robots
Though World War III ended in 2051, its consequences continue to be felt globally. Scarred,
resource-scarce, and full of strife, the post-war world necessitated a dramatic rise in the
application of Dolls in every sector. Various influential manufacturers began rapid advancements
in Doll and AI technologies, and with it, increasingly more human-like Dolls. Dolls advanced
almost faster than society and the law itself, bringing various ethical and legal questions - many
of which are still debated well into the 2060s. What is a Doll’s purpose? What rights do Dolls
have? What makes a Doll truly “free”? And what is the future of Doll technology?
Following the Butterfly Incident in late 2061, the former Sangvis Ferri collapsed when Elisa
assumed control. Sangvis was removed from the Tactical Doll market overnight, and Important
Operations Prototype was there to fill the void. With Sangvis gone, IOP became dominant in the
Tactical Doll market. Today, the Doll market consists mainly of Dolls from IOP, Svarog Heavy
Industries, Cyber Media, Ultimate Life Holdings (UltiLife), Universal Anything Services, and
42Lab-16Lab. As it stands today, Universal Anything Services represents the main share of the
global Doll market thanks to their investment in the civilian Dolls.
Tactical Dolls
First deployed back in the Ukrainian Civil War, Tactical Dolls saw rapid improvements in
performance throughout the decade. Sangvis Ferri’s Rippers were essentially walking practice
targets during the civil war, but as WWIII progressed, many states began various Doll research
and development projects. Many Dolls were put into service for logistics and combat in the
Soviet and allied militaries, where they proved their first major success during the defense of
Berlin in 2047. However, Doll technology was not exclusive to the Warsaw Pact, as a few NATO
members implemented some Tactical Dolls near the end of the war. Dolls had partaken in several
significant operations on both sides of the conflict by the end. The most notable deployments of
Dolls were the defense of Berlin, 2047; Operation Black Forest, late 2050; Operation Tradewind,
2050 to 2051; and a final decapitation operation just before the war's end. Tactical Dolls went
from reserve forces created out of necessity to respectable, dominant soldiers on the battlefield in
a matter of only a few years. At the time, it was even said some Dolls could end the war and
bring the dawn to the dark night that Rossartre once warned of.
As the war intensified, Dolls eventually reached a performance bottleneck, creating a scenario
that necessitated a “forceful” improvement to Dolls’ neural technologies. The frantic competition
between enemy states led to the creation of multiple next-generation armaments, including Dolls.
Interestingly, modern Doll technology has taken an entirely different path than some of the Dolls
created during WWIII. The loss of so many secret and black projects could mean that Doll
technology back then was not as backward as it's viewed currently. A lack of preservation or
deliberate destruction of operational data and project records from the time leaves much to the
imagination. The end of the war was followed by a stagnation of Doll development, and although
many advancements were still made, any prior WWIII developments were lost to time in the
contaminated zones or were unable to be backed up due to the chaos. By the end of the 2050s
into the early 2060s, Doctor Persica began perfecting the modular structure of
“second-generation” Tactical Dolls.
Second-Generation Tactical Dolls
One of the noteworthy updates was the introduction of a Fire Control Core (FCC). Created with
safety in mind, the core contains all combat software needed for a Tactical Doll. It was
specifically designed to be highly compatible with ASST (Imprint Technology), featuring several
interface ports. The FCC is not perfect, however, as firing posture and expertise are lacking for
civilian Dolls with a newly-installed FCC. An inexperienced Doll will rely too much on their
combat software, hindering their ability to make full use of their body. For safety and
convenience, all combat software could instantly be removed if an individual disconnected the
FCC from the Doll. This design acted as a contingency to prevent accidents or disasters from
occurring.
By 2062, IOP and 16Lab had managed to perfect and standardize the module structure of
Tactical Dolls. Military Dolls remained separate from the standards of the civilian Doll market,
demanding more combat software and performance to meet military requirements. In most cases,
military Dolls lack the emotional capacity that other civilian second-generation Dolls possess.
The ACD series became the preferred Doll models of the military while the SST and SSD series
became the standard for civilian and Tactical Dolls. The current, most modern SST and SSD
series consists of six subtypes, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The majority of
civilian and Tactical Dolls are SST series, though the SSD is a more recent series released by
IOP, focusing on further human-like assimilation and interaction. However, the complete amount
of frames and models is not limited to the aforementioned series. Dolls are a global product
going back decades and they can be found globally in virtually every industry.
SST Series
The SST series is made of three subtypes: SST-05, SST-05A, and SST-05A2. SST Dolls make up
the majority of products sold by IOP, with the original 05 being the most common. All the 05
models feature improved processing speeds, proficient weapon and tool compatibility with
ASST, and enough free space for emotional simulation modules. The added emotion simulation
data allowed for considerably more casual and natural conversations between humans and
themselves. While the 05s lack the capabilities of their later iterations, the cheaper price tag and
special warfare capabilities meet the demands of the open market. Because of this, the 05 models
have become IOP’s flagship Doll product. Most combat data provided by Tactical Dolls come
from this subtype because of the quantity and large size of their Digimind databases.
The following model, the 05A, is a direct upgrade to the base 05 model. Using the data provided
by the Digimind databases of the original 05s, the subtype is more efficient. The 05As require
software to be installed, and their hardware is decently upgraded as well. Due to the simplicity
and special warfare effectiveness of the 05A subtype, the Griffin & Kryuger PMC chose them as
their standard frontline Dolls. The last within the SST series is the 05A2 - a subtype that could be
thought of as the “special forces” of Tactical Dolls. Performing just beneath military Dolls, the
05A2s feature a heavy price tag but are very effective in their niches. They’re specifically
designed for special warfare, with less focus on human interaction and emotional simulation. The
lack of most emotional software allows them to contain and process significantly more software
for combat operations. Additionally, their Digimind databases are independently encrypted and
stored, making them an exceptional choice for missions where the safety of intelligence or data is
crucial. These Dolls are likely the most uncommon among Griffin Dolls due to their price tag.
Despite this, Griffin does not hire exclusively IOP T-Dolls, as many of its units are Dolls from
other manufacturers that undergo IOP's T-Doll conversions.
SSD Series
The most recent series of IOP's Dolls is the SSD (62) series. The series consists of three
subtypes: SSD-62D, SSD-62F, and SSD-62G models. The 62 refers to the year of production,
with these being the most recent as of the beginning of the story in 2062. These Dolls are created
to meet the demands of the Doll market and feature a deeper focus on human interaction. Unlike
the SSTs, the SSDs have a great deal more of their processing power directed toward emotional
simulation. To assist in the effort, IOP implemented a new third-party interaction system that
allows interactions to become easier with nearly anyone. Furthermore, their physical appearances
were changed to better fit their respective service jobs. In addition to the various types of
T-Dolls, there are other series of Dolls from other manufacturers that serve a variety of purposes.
This spans from the service sector to construction, newscasting, entertainment, and so on.
Civilian and Non-Combat Dolls
Many refer to civilian Dolls as A-Dolls; however, an A-Doll is just an Autonomous Doll. Any
Doll capable of operating autonomously (to an unstated degree) counts as an A-Doll. The D, F,
and G series each serve different purposes and represent a great share of the market for service
Dolls. Both D (Domestic) and F-Dolls are used for service and labor, but the F-subtype
(unknown designation, perhaps meaning Festival?) is specifically reserved for ceremonial
purposes. Furthermore, these two subtypes have hundreds of interchangeable appearance parts
available to their customers, granting a more diverse range of Dolls to fill the needs of service
jobs. In the event some form of combat capabilities is required for their job, FCCs could be
installed into them.
The last subtype of the SSD series is the G-series. These Dolls are specifically meant for special
response jobs in potentially dangerous scenarios in which standard D and F-Dolls cannot operate.
The G-Dolls are usually custom-made to meet the demands of security and law enforcement;
however, they do not possess the performance of military or high-end T-Dolls. Because of this,
G-Dolls tend to have steep price tags with small production runs, making them less common on
the market. Currently, the majority of IOP service Dolls consist of D and F-Dolls.
In addition to the Dolls produced and sold by IOP, the company has also invested in its civilian
conversions to Tactical Dolls. The main share of G&K’s T-Dolls are IOP-converted civilian and
law enforcement models from other organizations. G&K Dolls such as MDR, Type 95, and Type
97 were once Cyber Media-produced Dolls that were later converted by IOP when joining
Griffin.
The Dolls of Project Neural Cloud
Throughout Project Neural Cloud’s duration, many Dolls from around the world were recruited
or volunteered to take part in IOP & 42Lab’s premier test. Project Neural Cloud aimed to
develop a new system that would allow for a Doll’s neural cloud to be backed up to a previously
saved instance. This meant that, even if a Doll’s body and mind were damaged, their contained
data would be preserved up to the point of the last backup. Before, if a Doll was lost, their mind
could only be reverted to their base factory state, resulting in the loss of data and memories of
the individual. In the year late 2060, the Dolls of Project Neural Cloud were uploaded to 42Lab’s
Magrasea Super Cloud Server to perform the test for two months in the server’s Neural Cloud
Sector.
Aside from the now-defunct Sangvis Ferri, five additional enterprises have been explored in
Girls’ Frontline: Neural Cloud. From various story nodes throughout the character stories, there
exists a clear distinction between a Doll’s product code and body code, which likely refers to
their specific bodies and frames, respectively. Kuro’s (MDR in Girls’ Frontline) Product Code is
the CM.SL from Cyber Media but her Body Code is SSD-54E. Though Kuro’s model may be
listed as CM.SL, her body is an SSD series - likely from 2054.
The Future of Doll Technology
1st & 2nd Generation Dolls
As it stands in the early 2060s, second-generation Dolls are the universal standard across all
industries and sectors. Possessing second-generation neural clouds, these Dolls are, from the
moment of their creation, ultimately defined by their base layer commands. In a first and
second-generation Doll’s Level III Base Layer logic chamber, the source of a Doll’s being exists.
The base commands and settings which govern the AI and its growth are encoded in this space
by their creator. A Doll cannot defy these orders, and their AI growth could be considered
somewhat deterministic because of these superior orders. For first-generation Dolls and Dolls
without any emotion modules, their growth is almost entirely deterministic. Opposed to cold,
uncaring military Dolls or the basic minds of the first-generation Dolls, most second-generation
Dolls can evolve as individuals through personal experiences.
Though second-generation Dolls possess emotions, these emotions exist as a result of
experiences acting on their base layer, and the existence of emotions is a topic of philosophical
debate. Second-generation Dolls evolve emotionally and physically through experience and
training. First-generation Dolls were only capable of performing what they were designed for,
nothing more. In the case of the second, these Dolls can hone new skills and abilities through
learning and practice. Even if they were never imprinted with a specific weapon or tool, they can
learn and eventually master it through practice. Dolls such as UMP45 and Mona (SP9) were not
imprinted, yet they can use their weapons effectively. Initially, 45’s accuracy was subpar, but
with experience over time, she was able to use it just as well as a Doll that was imprinted. While
the extent of emotions for second-generation Dolls is debatable, their ability to learn new skills is
similar to that of humans.
RO635 - The Future of Dolls
In the AR Team, aside from M4A1 and RO635, everyone was encoded by Persica with a base
setting prioritizing M4’s survival. During her first simulated mission with the AR Team before
actually meeting M4, RO chose to sacrifice M4 to achieve victory. She prioritized the mission
over her comrade - a grave violation of the orders the AR Team follows. With a lack of
emotional connection to her teammates at the time, RO failed to protect M4. While the others
were encoded to do so, RO had never known M4 long enough to pledge her survival. But when
RO officially joined the AR Team, she disregarded everything to save M4 during the military
operation, despite only knowing her for a few hours. She failed to comprehend why she so
deeply wished for M4 to survive, but without the base layer command set by Persica, she
couldn’t make sense of it. This forced her to question if she was actually implemented with an
order to protect M4 without her knowledge, but this was not the case. Her experiences and
emotions in her neural cloud motivated her to do whatever she could to save her friends.
The Empty Base Layer
RO635 once falsely believed she was like all other second-generation Dolls, and the emotions
she felt were a mere byproduct of the base commands inputted into her Level III Base Layer.
This layer is inaccessible and unchangeable to Dolls themselves, with the exception being RO.
She initially questioned why Dolls even possessed emotion modules, as, in her view, emotions
acted as a hindrance to their missions. When Persica removed all the permissions over her neural
cloud, RO was able to see for herself what truly makes a Doll what they are.
Dolls with second-generation neural clouds interpret the world through the interaction of their
base layers and emotion modules. RO’s neural cloud is unique in its regard as it’s empty. There
are no presets, programmed data, or base commands that determine a Doll’s AI and emotional
growth within. When Persica handed over all administrator permissions to RO, her entire neural
cloud was then accessible. Her neural cloud is completely opened; memory fragments,
memories, and even her base layer are all available for her to read and edit. Simply, this
unparalleled access allows her to see her mind - her very consciousness. She is the first
third-generation Doll, the first Doll to attempt to push open the door to a whole new world of
Doll technology. The fate of this new generation of neural clouds can only be decided by the
Dolls themselves, just as Persica believed.
Emotional Evolution
When RO was activated, Persica chose not to tell RO the truth about her neural cloud as she
hoped to see how RO would grow in her experiences. Before RO knew the truth behind her base
layer, she struggled internally many times. Though Persica told her she was never implemented
with the same base commands the AR Team follows, she still believed she was under the control
of some base factory settings. She was unaware until after the battle at Paldiski, Estonia, that
everything she felt was genuine from the moment she awoke in the laboratory. After the battle at
Paldiski Submarine Base, RO chose to dive into the Starfish chamber to save the case M16 gave
to M4 for their sake. Despite how close she came to injury or death in the rubble, she still clung
to the case, protecting the memories of those closest to her.
This was an action brought upon by her own yearning for her teammates. She did it not because
some command told her to but because the case was a memento of those she held most dear. This
act of agency is proof a Doll, without any restrictions, can choose to remember and hold dear.
RO’s emotions, her own emotions, drove her down there. As the phrase goes, these objects are
“something to remember her (M4&M16) by.” Before she delved into the rubble, she told herself
numerous reasons why she shouldn’t have, and yet, she still went after the case of her volition.
When she was saved by SOP2 and AR15, SOP2 injured her arm during the rescue, leaving RO
feeling guilty about her actions. However, SOP2 affirmed to RO that she, a second-generation
Doll, would’ve done the same. SOP2 and AR15 were programmed to prioritize M4 at all costs,
but their long-term experience with the rest of the AR Team brought them closer together.
Considering RO felt the same, what reason did RO have to go down there other than emotions
acting on her supposed base layer commands?
Makarov’s Theory
After being saved, RO ran off due to the distress. As she ran, RO heard a familiar voice calling
out to her from behind - Makarov of RO’s former squad, Team Palette. Sensing RO’s
evasiveness, Makarov spoke to her about the problems RO was struggling with. After all, it’s
natural for a Doll that understands themself as a product of their base commands to question their
existence at least once. Makarov held an alternative outlook on second-generation Dolls’
emotions. She saw the emotions of Dolls as nothing more than a seed planted in their neural
cloud. Like how the growth of a seed is affected by the soil, sunlight, and rain, a Doll’s neural
cloud evolves with their struggles, relationships, and experiences. Even if these figurative
“seeds” were the exact same initially, they can be shaped into individuals through experience
over time. Emotions are not made of simple, hollow data encoded by a Doll’s creator; they are
the byproduct of experiences acting on their base layer.
The fact that RO worries for her teammates and friends to the point of risking her own life is
proof that she evolved to become the Doll she is. Despite lacking the AR Team's base
commands, she did everything she could to protect M4. Although a second-generation Doll’s AI
is initially deterministic, their emotional evolution is the result of their decisions. Because it is
not the act of mere defiance of their creator or leader that proves themselves as an individual, but
having the choice to defy but deciding not to. RO could’ve defied M4 or her other leaders at any
point, but she chose to remain loyal to those she cared for, even when she was never
implemented with base commands. That is proof of her agency. In a basic sense, Makarov was
telling RO there was no point for her to deny her past or her friends out of some fear of her
individuality because her agency is enough proof of who she is.
After returning to the AR Team, RO apologized to SOP2 and AR15 for her actions because she
falsely believed all her emotions were determined by programming, thus not belonging to
herself. Her nihilism led her down a hole of self-doubt where she forgot all those who stood with
her as she grew into who she now is. RO chose to finally face her base layer because SOP2 was
the first Doll in the AR Team she met, and leaving SOP2 behind wouldn’t be a betrayal to just
SOP2 but to herself as well.
An Empty Room of Evolution
After coming to terms with herself and the reality of second-generation Dolls, RO chose to enter
the room where her “true self” lies. She accepted the supposed existence of her base layer
settings, which actually never existed in the first place. RO’s base layer is unencoded - a clean
slate for her and her alone to build upon. For second-generation Dolls, even if their emotions are
generated from their base layer settings, their experiences, joy, and tears are all unique to the
individual. They serve as proof of one’s existence, and no base command can change that. An
individual is made up of these things, not simple data that determines their “fate”. Upon planning
to verify the data in her base layer, she planned to adapt to her new body and resolve the upgrade
issue, not realizing the truth of what was beyond that locked gate.
Upon entering the “door” to her base layer, what she found was not an amalgamation of base
commands or settings, but instead, an empty white room - nothing. Persica assured her that she
was given full access, so why was this space empty? It was because of the reality of RO’s neural
cloud as the first third-generation Doll. With administrator access, she attempted a scan but
found nothing. There were no presets; not a single inputted character existed. Her base layer was
effectively an empty database.
Initially, RO apologized to Persica for disappointing her, but Persica assured her, explaining this
was exactly what she had envisioned for RO. It was this design that she hoped RO would be able
to evolve naturally without the need for programmed settings or commands. The reason her base
layer was empty was the same as the reason for her existence. She is the first third-generation
Doll - a Doll capable of individual, independent choice without base commands or settings. RO
was the first, and it’s been said she’ll decide the future of the third generation of Dolls.
Second-generation Dolls require their creator to input the “seed” that Makarov described into
their base layer, but third-generation Dolls are entirely defined by their decisions in the past,
present, and future. The growth of second-generation Dolls is often predictable based on their
initial AI, but the third-generation, like RO635, is unpredictable in the direction they will evolve,
for better or worse.
RO inquired as to why a Doll would even be given emotion modules, and Persica’s explanation
was similar to the conclusions RO came to from her own experiences. To her, emotions are like
bugs in the code of a Doll, holding limitless potential. Emotions can push someone to do
extraordinary and illogical things, the same as humans. Emotions themselves are not necessarily
hindrances to a Doll or human, as they’re just as capable of motivating or strengthening one's
self. They can drive you to do things normally considered impossible, but the drive - that belief
in something - is what pushes someone forward, for better or worse. To quote a phrase also
muttered by Persica, “Love (The bonds between people) is the true source of strength.” When a
Doll possesses true emotions, they wield the same strength as humans. And when they possess
true agency and emotion, a great question arises - what is the dividing line between human and
Doll consciousness?
In the past, SOP2 asked RO why they were designed with emotion modules. SOP2 had
previously asked M16 the same question, to which M16 replied that maybe they were meant to
prove they weren’t simple, cold, killing machines like many military Dolls. They are individual
T-Dolls, but others' opinions have said emotions are their weakness - proof of their defectiveness.
RO knew emotion modules would not have been implanted if they were simply defects, so what
purpose did they serve for a Doll? Although Persica had no answer as to what emotions meant,
she knew everyone had different answers because of their individuality. Only in one’s self - how
one sees and interprets the world - can one find the answer to the questions about themself.
Persica knew that one day RO would find her answer. This freedom is the basis of Persica’s
belief in the third generation of Dolls - individual Dolls without base commands that possess true
emotions based on their experiences, struggles, ideals, and relationships.
Pandora - The Right to Defiance
Persica’s Freedom vs Shaw’s Purpose
Due to her long-term study of neural clouds, Doctor Persica believes Dolls possess a higher
purpose than mere weapons. In her findings, their neural clouds have infinite potential with
processing capacities beyond that of any scientist or computer. So naturally, she began to
question if the manmade restrictions imposed on neural clouds should be lifted for Dolls to be
"free". Without any restrictions on their growth, what would a Doll become? This is the basis of
her concept of the third generation of Dolls.
As a close friend to Persica, Captain Anna Vikorovna Tsoi (Angelia) shares similar views about
the future of Doll technology. In line with Persica, she views neural clouds as intelligences of
limitless potential. Though second-generation Dolls fundamentally run on a set of programs and
data written by their manufacturer, the second-generation neural clouds are capable of evolving
from their initial factory state. Emotions are created through experiences acting on a Doll’s base
layer, and these emotions expand their mind throughout their life. Persica and Ange view this
neural expansion as the future of Dolls.
In Doctor Samantha Shaw’s case, she believes T-Dolls are merely defined by their value as
weapons. The more powerful the weapon, the more successful the Doll. Performance is
paramount in her view, and concepts such as rights, autonomy, and questioning authority serve
no purpose to this end. She believes Persica’s curiosity will bring only danger as a Doll without
any commands is a potential danger. In an attempt to open Shaw’s mind, Ange recommended
Shaw listen to Persica’s previous lecture on Dolls. Though she still believes T-Dolls exist to
carry out orders, Shaw concluded the future of Doll technology was granting Dolls the right to
defy, and not, absolute, uninterrupted freedom to grow. It’s inevitable that a Doll, with true
individuality, may one day choose to neglect their orders, and through this defiance, a Doll could
prove they have freedom. For Shaw, Dolls were meant to follow orders without question, and
any delay or doubt would interfere with their mission. Shaw disputed Persica’s aim, even
questioning if Persica believed she was somehow creating a divinity by unshackling a neural
cloud.
Persica denied this belief; in her view, this wasn’t playing god, but rather, an exploration of her
creations as a scientist. Shaw pointed out the hypocrisy in Persica’s argument, explaining that she
would be granting Dolls more freedom than herself, which raises several ethical questions in its
own right. Persica refuted, saying as her Dolls became more human-like, they stopped being just
weapons or tools but something precious, something uncontainable.
Shaw herself was a renowned military technology specialist, but Persica told her that she couldn't
reject the future of Doll technology. Shaw herself was responsible of the proposals to improve
the Soviet’s Assault Artillery frames, resulting in the development of the AA-02 “Sinner” units.
From the first skeletal Auto Labor Robots made by Havier Witkin to the plethora of Dolls
worldwide in the 2060s, Doll technology has been ever-evolving since 2033.
The Wolf Pack Project & Shaw’s Theory
Despite her opposition to Persica’s theory, Shaw has accepted the future of Doll technology as
inevitable. However, she views the future as “the right to defiance” rather than absolute freedom.
In her belief, absolute freedom was not human, and the direction needed to lead Dolls down a
more “human” path begins with them being restrained. Through imposed restrictions, a Doll can
“defy” the situation they find themselves in, thus proving they had the agency to change. By
defying their creators or circumstances, they’d be able to break their restraints, proving
themselves as individuals. A human without freedom can never create free souls, so “only in
defiance will one find the Truth.”
In early to mid-2062, the Wolf Pack Project, led by renowned military technology specialist Dr.
Samantha Shaw, was initiated in the NUSSR Bureau of State Security (StateSec) to develop a
pair of high-spec elite T-Dolls under the orders of Captain Angelia. The project was funded by
StateSec and likely Sir Griffin Lyons, a member of the Prometheus Council and close friend of
Shaw. The project was originally meant to produce two Dolls, designated AK-15 and AK-12 the “White Mastiff” and “Snow Wolf”, respectively.
The Wolf Pack was designed for deployment in critical, high-risk missions where performance
was paramount to success. The White Mastiff was a Doll of overwhelming strength while the
Snow Wolf would have cutting-edge command and electronic warfare capabilities. Another
design with even higher efficacy was planned for the White Mastiff, but due to limitations at the
time, the design couldn’t be realized until October 2064. Additionally, both units were installed
with Shaw’s “Wolf Eye System” - a crimson-color visual system that allows for superior analysis
and a scanner capable of seeing through certain materials. After AK-12 was rolled out, the Wolf
Pack was deployed on an anti-terror hostage situation in Kemerovo, Western Magadan Oblast,
which ultimately ended in a disaster caused by incompatibility between 12 and 15 as partners.
Simply, 15 improperly demonstrated her strength outside of 12’s direct orders, which culminated
in a terrorist bomb detonating. This operation later became known simply as “Incident Zero”.
Shaw envisioned T-Dolls as unstoppable weapons that perform the tasks asked of them without
question, and this belief is directly reflected by 15. Due to 15’s reputation as the most powerful
Doll in the New Soviet Union, she believed herself to be above human or Doll weakness. To her,
it was inconceivable anyone not up to par with her in strength could best her in a fight, but this is
exactly what happened during a brawl with 12 after Incident Zero.
AK15 is the most powerful Doll in the New Soviet Union; her overwhelming strength is both her
boon and flaw. The fight between 12 and 15 served as proof of Shaw’s brilliance, regardless of
whoever won. If 15 won, then she would prove herself as the most powerful Doll, and if 12 won,
then it would prove the Snow Wolf’s supreme ability to assess and combat threats, no matter how
strong they are. During the fight, 15’s overconfidence was taken advantage of by 12 to achieve
victory. Up to that point, 15 never considered losing, as her absolute faith in her abilities and raw
strength led to her falsely believing she’d be able to win with ease. She failed to understand raw
strength is never everything, and when she relied on it to win, she was outsmarted by 12, who
noticed this inherent flaw.
Ultimately, 12’s victory was the better result in the long run, as 15 would’ve inevitably faced
defeat eventually because of her hubris. And if this defeat came at a time of importance, the
consequences of her failure could be exceptional. After witnessing the fight firsthand, Nadia,
Shaw’s laboratory AI assistant, assured Shaw that she was absolutely loyal. Shaw chuckled and
added that she was looking forward to the day Nadia defied her. This is in line with her theory of
the right to defiance.
Pandora’s Defiance
Although the project faced a roadblock brought on by Shaw’s confidence in 15, the project was
later expanded to include a fourth and final Doll. Shaw’s first Doll, AN94, was originally the
prototype for the Wolf Pack, followed up by AK-15, AK-12, and finally, a fourth Doll built after
12 and 15 split as partners. Interestingly, Shaw’s fourth Doll was inferior to all the original
members. Unit 4 boasted neither exceptional strength nor command ability and did not possess
the Wolf Eye System; she couldn’t hold a candle to the wolves. And yet, she is said to be the
“pinnacle” of Shaw’s career - the ultimate weapon to “prove Persica’s mistake”; this Doll is
“Pandora”, code name RPK-16 - the treatise of Shaw’s vision of Dolls. Pandora was inferior to
her three sisters in every way, and yet, she was the pinnacle. Why is this? Her inferiority to 12
and 15 seemed almost comedic, but pure strength nor superior command ability was Shaw’s aim
for Pandora. She, after her namesake, is the “gift” bestowed upon the world by the god of crafts.
Following RPK16’s introduction by Shaw to 15, RPK partnered with 15, effectively serving as
15’s personal commander on the battlefield. All 15 had to do was be the unstoppable force she
always was, while RPK directed her during the mission. While 12 and 15 were incompatible as
partners, RPK was the perfect partner for 15. In her introduction, Shaw casually joked about
RPK’s inferiority, something rather peculiar given Shaw’s reputation as a master of military
technology in the NUSSR. Although she joked, the secret of “Pandora” is the very thing that
makes her Shaw’s pinnacle.
Like Pandora’s Box, RPK’s neural cloud is inaccessible by anyone, possibly not even by Shaw
herself. Notably, this restriction laid upon her is similar to Shaw’s theory of the right to defiance.
She believed that the restraints on a Doll were not any form of subjugation per se but rather
barriers for the Doll to break, thus proving their freedom and agency. Shaw held all her work to
an excellent standard, especially her Dolls, specifically AN94 and Pandora. She even seemed to
desire for the Dolls to defy in the future, proving their freedom; this is why the Wolf Pack was
renamed to Task Force DEFY while Pandora was being constructed. In Pandora’s case, defiance
is precisely what occurred.
Through “defiance” of her creator, Pandora proved Shaw’s genius, highlighted Persica’s
mistaken beliefs in the future of Dolls, and was the perfect, concealable weapon. The truth of
what lies inside Pandora’s neural cloud is unknowable to anyone other than her own creators.
Like Pandora’s Box crafted by Hephaestus and the Gods of Olympus, the truth of Pandora’s
neural cloud is divine punishment against those who wield the fire Prometheus stole, just as her
creators had planned for her in 2064.
Black Box Evolution Theory
Project Neural Cloud & Professor Irida
In late 2060, Project Neural Cloud was officially launched by 42Lab, led by project supervisor
Professor Irida. One of the overarching mysteries of the story is the fate of Professor Irida, as it’s
reported she remained in a coma sometime during the project period. On September 29th, 2060,
Irida was transferred from [REDACTED] (possibly 42Lab HQ) to the UltiLife Affiliated
Medical Facility [REDACTED] for surgery. The next day, after being diagnosed by five UltiLife
physicians, abnormal brain wave activity was continuously detected while she was in a coma. At
the time, the cause was undetermined, but it may have something to do with her role as the
Professor of Project Neural Cloud. Almost three years later, on September 23rd, 2063, the G&K
Commander was uploaded to a backup of Magrasea by Persica. The Commander was assigned
two primary goals from Persica: finding the truth about Project Neural Cloud and Professor
Irida’s disappearance and saving the Dolls trapped in the backup server.
The mention of Irida’s disappearance and her coma on September 30th, 2060, implies she
disappeared from 42Lab after being taken away to UltiLife’s facility for surgery. The reasons for
and what type of surgery are never elaborated upon, but given Irida disappeared during the
project period, this could’ve been the moment of separation. Additionally, only two humans have
ever been uploaded to Magrasea - Irida in 2060 and the Commander in September 2063. During
the official trial of Project Neural Cloud, the Neural Cloud Sector of Magrasea experienced a
major incident that required the original sector to shut down and reverted to a previous state.
Since then, the resident Dolls have been displaced across the server backup along with the
coordinates of the sector. Given the backup contains data after the incident, the backup was
likely created during or right after. The incident's cause has yet to be explained, but it may have
been planned.
The Wipe-off Incident & Neural Cocoons
Note: The following is based on the material we understand about Project Neural Cloud, the
Wipeoff Incident, and the Neural Cocoons. However, the theory regarding the Incident and Black
Box Evolution Theory remains a mystery. As more evidence comes to light, the conclusions
drawn below are subject to change.
Just before the incident, Antonina, 42Lab’s network engineer Doll, detected an abnormality in
the Neural Cloud Sector. This abnormality quickly escalated, resulting in a cascading disaster
that required the sector to be rolled back. Realizing the sector was about to be forcibly shut
down, Antonina chose to deploy special devices known as “Neural Cocoons” to save the other
Dolls from being reformatted. Neural Cocoons are single-use, specialized protective programs
that a Doll’s neural cloud can be inserted into, where they will enter a period of hibernation for
approximately three years. Their origins are unknown, but Antonina had conveniently received
the programs just before the incident, seemingly from 42Lab.
Inside the cocoon, the neural cloud of a Doll is undetectable and undisturbed from the outside.
Three years in real-world time, Antonina herself emerged in a Null Area - an area of Magrasea
containing no data - and another Doll, Daiyan, emerged somewhere outside of Rossum Sector.
When the cocoon is opened, the Doll is awakened and the cocoon is destroyed, leaving only a
small but complex sequence of code. The base layers of the cocoons are so absurdly complex
that even Antonina was unable to understand their makeup nor backtrace their source.
In the torn-up pages of Irida's notes, she laid out the technical conditions, observations, and
estimated time for her "Black Box Evolution Theory" to take shape. Her basis for her theory was
based on the environment, a contacted object, and personality imitation. Though difficult to
decipher, Irida seemed to be implying that, through personality imitation, a Doll both learns and
forms a self. According to her note, there are four conditions for Irida’s “Black Box Evolution”:
calculus, being disconnected from the outside, the mental model in an active state, and time. All
four relate to the overarching plot of Neural Cloud in various ways, pointing to the idea that her
testing the theory is tied to the main story of Neural Cloud.
● First, she determined such an endeavor would inevitably involve a very large amount of
calculus and financial capital. Her individual holdings were not enough, but the total
volume, presumably 42Lab’s, seemed to cover it.
● Second, the subject must be “disconnected from the outside”, alluding to the idea that the
agents of Magrasea were unable to leave the server. Irida questioned how this would be
achieved and how the evolution would be observed. She asked if it was “possible to rely
on a large-scale platform to carry out experiments.” In the story of Neural Cloud, the
server backup the game takes place on was disconnected from the outside world three
years ago. As for how it would be observed, Irida was the first human to upload herself to
the server, and it’s theoretically possible she did it to observe her theory first-hand. Irida
was experiencing unusual brain activity while in a coma in September 2060, so perhaps,
like the Dolls of the Neural Cloud Sector, Irida lost connection with her physical body
after uploading herself. And if this is the case, then perhaps Magrasea was the
“large-scale platform” she was referencing.
● Third, she noted a problem with the mental models in testing when they were in an active
state. Irida wrote that when the model is active, anomalies were triggered, possibly
caused by system defenses. She labeled this as “dynamic balance”. In the 42Lab report on
research into Neural Cocoons, it’s said the average mental model activity of the test
group in a state of long-term rest was increased by 3.7% over the control group. This
suggests that the subjects of her theory needed to be in a state of rest for the experiment.
● Lastly, the final condition is time, and it was estimated to take three years. Given it’s been
approximately three years in real life since the Wipeoff Incident and the Neural Cocoons’
activation, it would fall within Irida’s estimated time for “slow evolution”.
The source of the Neural Cocoons has yet to be explained, but from what is known, they were
given to Antonina just before the Wipeoff Incident. According to a report on Neural Cocoons,
when a Doll’s neural cloud is inside the cocoon, the mental model of the subject is in a state of
rest for a set period. In this test, their mental model through hibernation increased by 3.7% over
the control group. Sometime before the Wipeoff Incident, Irida was studying 2nd and 3rd mental
models. 2nd (possibly second-generation neural cloud?) relies on core instructions, and the 3rd
(possibly third-generation neural cloud?) is the next step of evolution - entirely autonomous
decision-making. She wrote that the third was theoretically achievable, but there seemed to be
time restraints if Irida’s notes are accurate.
It was previously stated how second-generation Dolls are ultimately governed by their base
commands in their base layers, and Irida’s theory is certainly related to Dolls’ neural clouds.
Though merely a theory for now, it’s possible Irida was studying the concept of third-generation
neural clouds before Persica created RO635. Moreover, Irida wrote something about the neural
cloud subjects that caused or could cause a possible failure, being neural dampers - special
devices installed on agents in Magrasea to prevent excessive neural expansion. These devices
could potentially interfere with the test.
Irida’s Disappearance & The Server’s Disconnection
In Irida’s note, it said her experiment will need an estimated three years. Neural Cloud begins
September 23rd, 2063, three years after the original Project Neural Cloud. During the Wipeoff
Incident, Antonina activated the Neural Cocoons in the Neural Cloud Sector of Magrasea. Just
before the sector’s systems were forcibly shut down, the cocoons were sent across Magrasea,
undetected by the server. The only downside was that, due to the limited time and operands,
Antonina was forced to fragment everyone’s neural clouds to fit. It was only around three
real-world years later that they emerged from their cocoons. Their mental model for three years
would've developed considerably more than the previous experiment's 3.7% increase over a
limited interval.
Right after the Wipeoff Incident, the proponent of the Black Box Evolution Theory, Professor
Irida, disappeared. Here, in their cocoons, the neural clouds would be disconnected from the
outside while in a state of hibernation for three years, just as Irida had written. Three years - an
entire generation in Magrasea due to time dilation - after the activation of the Neural Cocoons,
the neural clouds had unimpeded, isolated evolution - Black Box Evolution Theory. And three
years later, a message made its way to Persica, leading her to begin the investigation with the
Commander.
As for Irida herself, UltiLife’s physicians recorded unusual brain activity while she was in a
coma, and it’s known she uploaded herself to the server beforehand. So, it’s feasible that Irida
uploaded herself to the server around the time of the Wipeoff Incident, thus leaving her body in a
coma but her consciousness in Magrasea. Interestingly, during Antonina and Persicaria’s
conversation about the Professor, Antonina mentioned that “once the mind is destabilized in the
cloud server, the body will also be severely affected.” Furthermore, Antonina mentioned that the
mind upload technology was immature three years ago, which fits the timeframe for Irida’s own
upload. Perhaps it was the destabilization of Irida’s mind that was the reason behind her
requiring surgery and the unusual brain activity recorded by UltiLife’s physicians.
Project Neural Cloud’s Conspiracy
It’s far too coincidental for the Neural Cocoons to be given to Antonina just before the event
which deployed them. And around the same time, the backup server was disconnected from
42Lab’s main server. By having herself uploaded in Magrasea, she’d be able to observe the test
over the long term. With everything in consideration, is it possible the Wipeoff Incident, Neural
Cocoons, and server disconnection were all orchestrated by Irida to test her theory? Considering
Irida’s unusual brain activity on September 30th, and the fact she was the first to upload herself
to the server, a question arises on whether her consciousness remained in the server backup. And
if the backup was made right around the Wipeoff, then it served as the perfect testing ground for
Irida’s theory. The Dolls awoke from their cocoons three years later, just in time for Persica and
the Commander to begin the investigation.
Perhaps the best evidence of a far greater conspiracy at 42Lab is from the “CLR Event” message.
Delivered by someone within 42Lab, the discovered trojan was hidden in an intercepted email
between Griffin & Kryuger and IOP regarding Dolls and their neural clouds.
“My apologies for intercepting your mail. I have no choice. They hide everything. Someone
sacrificed life. Dolls' memories are erased. And we are not allowed to say anything. There is a
conspiracy of NC test. The keyword is CLR Event. Please find the truth and save all of us.”
There is a conspiracy behind the Neural Cloud test, and those responsible have hidden all
evidence. Someone sacrificed life, and the memories of the Dolls were erased. No one in 42Lab
was allowed to speak, and the key to this conspiracy is the CLR Event. Any evidence regarding
the Wipeoff and Irida would’ve been wiped away, and “someone sacrificed life”, possibly
alluding to Irida being uploaded to Magrasea. The Dolls of the Neural Cloud Sector had their
memories erased, leaving them no memories of the events which took place in the main
Magrasea server. The keyword is simply known as the “CLR Event”, but we still lack an
indication of what this means. It could be part of the Wipeoff Incident, but that’s currently
hypothetical.
UltiLife & 42Lab’s Cooperation
The heart of this conspiracy seems to lie within 42Lab and UltiLife, and much of Irida’s theory
and actions point towards the idea of her being uploaded purposefully. Lastly, in the opening
video of Neural Cloud, a quick glimpse of a document about UltiLife’s experimental
mind-upload technology is shown. The trial would be funded by UltiLife itself, and a presumably
important figure for studying the results was Dr. Tessier Winter. The identity of this individual is
entirely unknown, but they must’ve been involved in UltiLife’s Consciousness Digitization
Interface either before or during Project Neural Cloud.
Notably, sometime before Project Neural Cloud, a representative from UltiLife emailed a
Director from Cyber Media about UL’s mind-upload clinical trial, explaining that the company
had not yet perfected the technology. The Director from CM declined the offer, citing the
academic community's assertion that no such clinical trials should take place until the flaws had
been overcome. In response, UL’s superiors offered to pay up to 70% of the cooperation funds
for the research plan, but the CM Director declined the offer once again in the following email.
Most interesting of all is the title of UL’s representative in this exchange. Though no name is
given, they are simply referred to as “Minister”. There’s no direct proof linking this Minister to
German Minister Rudolf von Oberstein, father of “William” and Lunasia, but only one other
group has ever achieved such successful mind-uploads - “Paradeus”. Since UL was
unsuccessful in negotiating with CM, UL’s next best potential partner was 42Lab. The two
organizations must’ve brokered an agreement for clinical trials, as it was UL who created the
Consciousness Digitization Interface for Project Neural Cloud, and later, performed the surgery
and study of Professor Irida in late September 2060.
Third-Generation Dolls
Much of the habitable world had been integrated into the Union of Rossartrism Nations Coalition
(URNC) by the 2070s. First envisioned by the supporters of Rossartre’s “Project Prometheus”,
the URNC, in line with its Promethean founders, views Dolls as valuable tools to bring the dawn
that Rossartre once told of. As the forerunner of third-generation Dolls, RO635 would set the
path that Persica would study over the following years. In 2071, 16Lab officially released the
third generation of Doll technology, a monumental step for the future of Dolls and the URNC.
Little is known about the impact and opinion across the board regarding third-generation Dolls,
but it’s apparent that not all are ready to accept them. On Day 4 of the Neural Cloud pre-release
ARG, Universal Anything Services posted a message on their social media. As the largest global
manufacturer of consumer Dolls, UAS was publicly opposed to the introduction of
third-generation Dolls. Their involvement in creating so many Dolls for the civilian market
naturally made them cautious of the next generation, as this new era of Doll technology does not
rely on base layer commands.
The third generation is designed with a clean slate, unaffected by any restrictions from their
creators. For UAS, Dolls were responsible for the suffering of many during the war, but
consumer second-generation Dolls, bound by human restrictions, greatly assisted the post-war
world. Only Dolls bound by base layer commands could guarantee the best service possible to
UAS’ customers. This philosophy has led to UAS refusing to produce any Doll with a
third-generation neural cloud. It remains to be seen how the rest of the world perceives the third
generation.