The Program: Anarchy is Freedom

OriginalSix wrote:Japan is everywhere. Beijing for the win.

By the way hackers; watch your backs. I'll be coming for you...

About fifty years ago, the once-great city of Seattle was bombed by terrorists, becoming a smoldering pile of wreckage, with all the survivors either leaving or becoming homeless street wanderers. Nobody cared much about it soon after, and the government abandoned it. Corporations then began to start to dump all of their tech trash there, as it was a convenient location (the preferred method is jets flying by and dropping loads of “junk” on the city). And when the government started to hunt hackers, they sought Seattle as a hideout, as it was convenient for them too (protection against the government, plus all the free tech that gets dropped). Now, it is the second largest location of peaceful outlaws in North America, below New York City.

The Scientists, a sophisticated group of genius hackers who rule over Seattle (sort of) and protect it, have gone to a great deal of work to keep Seattle a haven for hackers, and safe from the government. For starters, most of the hacker city exists underground; there are streets, shops, homes, everything down there. However, it can get crowded, technology is usually secondhand (people that go or live aboveground gather tech and sell it to people belowground), and gang wars are a lot more common than aboveground.

Then, there’s the full-on defense system incorporated into the city; there are a group of hackers on constant monitor for danger approaching or in the city, along with smart AIs. If they detect something dangerous, they can hack into it and shut it down; or, if it’s a government agent, they can alert everyone. There are also multiple highly-advanced proxies in the city that anonymize outgoing connections, vastly reducing the chances of getting caught in long-range hacking. Another thing: there is a full-on weapon defense system hidden, and only brought out in dire emergencies.

There is little threat of the government, here. First of all, the government apparently doesn’t care about Seattle; second, it apparently only thinks that hobos live there; third, even if it does know hackers live there, it probably does not care and thinks that they are not a problem (after all, what respectable hacker would live in a waste-dump?). And, of course, Seattle is well armed.

Here is a list of important places:

Underground:
The underground part of the city; functions as a “real” city, albeit with the entire population made up of illegal people hiding out.

Aboveground:
The aboveground part of the city; looks largely the same as it did after it became a waste-dump; filled with bazillions of random pieces of technological junk (more get added everyday) that the hackers can salvage.

The Scientists’ Base:
An underground base, where the slightly-mysterious Scientists live and operate.

Pike Place Market:
A popular place for people/groups to meet up and exchange tech.

The Black Market:
A shopping district in the underground part of the city.

Scanned:
A frontend for Scan and Shiloh’s weapon making business; run by [insert name here].

1. Tech ONLY dump. this is a part I disagree on. It seems they would dump more than technology, I picture it as being a dump period, a landfill. I figure that most of the city has been destroyed and the government didn't want to waste funds on this city, so they decided to chalk it up as a casualty of terrorist act. Maybe even blame it on hackers...

2. The underground city, would not be purely for hackers, but for survivors of the incident period.

It was an idea of the scientist to rebuild the city underground.

Of course this process would have taken up much of the 50 years after the incident. The city is now completely finished and established as sort of rumor. As for as the government is concerned everyone has relocated. The old Seattle is nothing more than crumbling buildings and large dump.

The city has only become a refugee camp for hackers because of The Scientist. They don't welcome everyone with wide open arms, but however they won't turn down a family. Plus the city is secret, very few know about its location.

Now I figure their technology, architecture, and what not. Couldn't possibly be more advanced than that of 21st century. This place is basically its own country now, so they govern themselves. If anyone has ever seen "The City of Ember" I compare it much to that; except not that drastic.

3. I don't wont this city to get too strong or separate, because then it would be like having a RP within a RP.

4. Also it would be cool to have a better name than The Scientist. Though if you really enjoy it, then it is fine. I was thinking something along the lines of "Think Tanks"?

Actually, that gives me a great idea. The non-tech trash that gets dumped (which pales in comparison to the amount of technological trash) could be converted into a material used to power highly-advanced technology that can't be run on that green power source that's being used in the roleplay.

2. The underground city, would not be purely for hackers, but for survivors of the incident period.

Er . . . I'm not sure.

There's more than one Scientist.

I don't know if it would take fifty years. With all the hackers helping, plus about six Scientists, I'd imagine it'd go fairly quickly. Though the rumor part is good. And, I'd like the above ground to look like it's just crumbling buildings and large piles of tech trash, but really be more than that.

Again, more than one Scientist, and I don't think they'd care who lives in the city or not as long as they don't start shooting people.

I don't think so. First, I don't imagine it as completely disconnected from the outside world; certain people would bring in technology and sell it. Second, the dumped technology is modern, and a lot of the hackers are really good at hardware too. Plus, of course, The Scientists.

I don't think it will, but what's wrong with a roleplay within a roleplay?

To be honest, I think the names in this roleplay are way too silly. "Data Frame Cowboys"? Uh, yeah . . . . "The Scientists" is simple, clean, and makes sense. I mean, why would the townsfolk call them "Think Tanks"? What's the point?

LOL like the delorean?

But this is what I mean with the city becoming too big. It already has a new power source that fuels technology more advanced than androids and flying cars?

It was a statement, not a question.

Yea, I know.

Creating an underground city from scratch, with limited resources and manpower, would be quick? I think not. Even with the addition of advanced technology.

The Scientist, is the name of the group right? Hence why I keep saying The Scientist. I know there is more than one person, especially since you say it is a sophisticated group of genius hackers.

It's not so much as who, but how many. My mistake.

If you have to use the word certain, that pretty much means secluded, which is damn near the same as disconnected.

Sometimes a lot.

The way you describe the city, is a bit much. The city is so well prepared for a war that hasn't even began. I get the feel that their slogan would be "Us Against the World." Then there is the fact that the city will not have a strong presence within the RP, so why be so detailed. Then if it does come down to it and the city is the location of a great battle, it would be easily destroyed. Since the city is underground, they are basically trapped. Plus they could just bomb the hell out of the city and nobody would bat an eyelash.

That doesn't really answer the initial question, but eh.

Ouch! Way to hurt my pride...

Why do the people of Gotham City call Bruce Wayne "Batman" and not "The guy that runs around in a bat like suit"? Because it sounds cool, that's why.

...But, the point would be to avoid simplicity. For that exact reason is why I wanted a name change. But, like I said, if you liked it then it can stay.

Edelle wrote:Well, I have some things to add to Seattle.
1. I don't imagine it being underground. Perhaps a select few of the Scientists would live in underground structures that survived the bombing.
Mostly, I imagine it being built over the old structure of Seattle. Wherever there were foundations for a previous building, they would tunnel and make a "building" over the existing layout. This would, of course, lead to cave-ins. The Scientists would give free tech to those who helped clear cave-ins. That's how the infrastructure is maintained.
2. For the most part, people try to help each other out, but there are also some very "opportunistic business people" who will cheat you out of a good deal. Most people in Seattle have similar goals.
3. Even though most of the people in Seattle aren't very well off, they would still have a very bright and lively multicultural mix. There would be a bit of an artistic scene, even though no one would buy art. They paint murals to liven things up, and as a recreational activity. There are occasional community events, organized by the Scientists.
4. The Scientists recruit only the best and the brightest. They know almost all the goings-on in Seattle and hold the majority of the power. They like to keep to themselves, and the members who are higher in their ranks are hardy seen. There is a rumour that they are planning something big.
5. Vancouver Island is used by a few big companies as a shipping yard. Occasionally, the Scientists gather supplies for building, medical, and brand new tech. These raids are well planned and, for the most part, undetected.

[Edit: I think, at the moment, we are in danger of becoming a tad closed off... I'll see if I can find sneaky plot devices to avoid this.]