History of Midnight Run

[Bosch]

2021- Nanotechnology comes of age and is introduced in many disparate fields from medical applications to fashion.

2025- Peak oil is reached and First World Countries are the hardest hit. War becomes increasingly bloody and desperate as global powers try to control the dwindling resources. Drilling and mining of previously protected areas begins.

2028- China becomes the world’s leading super power. However the communist party restricts personal freedoms and scientific research is focused on military technology.

2029- America’s infrastructure fails to adapt to new economic climate economy enters into a depression.

2030- European countries band together and create The European Central Government. Membership criteria is strict and most of the power rests with Germany, France and The United Kingdom. The social policy of the ECG is very right wing.

2032- After years of political turmoil Texas finally seceded leading to the start of the fragmentation of the United States.

2031- Creative use of Nanotechnology results in the creation of the Schafer Terraforming Programme designed by Gary Schafer.

2032- European Company Bauer Industries and Japanese company Chenmo sign the largest merger in corporate history. One of their projects is the Terraforming of Mars.

2039- The combination of Nanotechnology and Robotics leads to the creation of the first Muscle suits.

2043- Muscle suit technology is incorporated into the development of artificial limbs for veterans and victims of the Resource wars. In many ways these limbs are superior to natural ones. Interest in Human augmentation increases.

2045- Thirteen years after the merger BC Industries commences it’s long anticipated Red Skies Project. This is the Terraforming of Mars.

2046- Red Skies successfully land on Mars through the use of advanced technology the first atmosphere is created in a Martian Crater.

2047- Colonist leave Earth in their thousands as new colonies are set up around Mars. Most colonists become Miners.

2050- Using the massive profits made from the Red Skies project BC Industries fund research into M theory with a view to practical applications. Results come quickly and the First M-gate is created, near Earth.

2051- The Mars M-Gate is completed. The development is revolutionary as now travel between the two Planets takes three days. New industries crop up thanks to ease for travel between the two locations.

2052- Fearing increased Governmental meddling in their research projects BC Industries moves their corporate Head Quarters to Mars along with their R&D departments. Other companies are quick to follow suit and Terraform their own craters.

2057- Artificial Intelligence is created by a scientist called Jacqueline Brady. While she receives credit for the breakthrough the science is owned by Applied Information Models a niche company. This single development makes the Company the second wealthiest on Mars almost overnight.

2060- The AI’s are combined with robotics technology to make the first thinking robots. These are christened Synthetics. While the first generation are crude things designed for manual labour, the newer model are almost indistinguishable from humans.

2063- Mars becomes more interested in their own developments leaving Earth much to it’s own devices as M-Gate traffic becomes very one sided.

2065- After experiencing a massive period of growth the people of Mars become concerned with the influence the Companies have over their lives. This results in the creation of the Martian People’s Assembly or MPA. It’s a democratically that oversees life on Mars. The creation of a Police force called the Mars Security Service (MSS) also comes into being, they perform a role similar to normal police forces. While many were surprised the companies gave up power so readily it became clear that that the companies still pull the strings through bribery on coercion. Many employ their own private security teams that are comparable to small armies.

2086- A long period of sustained growth on Mars is mirrored by Earth’s decline. However the divide between rich and poor on Mars is ever increasing leading to rises in criminality and terrorism. The simultaneous bombing of a Starliner results in the Creation of the MSS’s Counter Terrorist Unit or The CTU for short.

2098- An M-Gate is constructed near Titan one of Jupiter’s Moons leading to another frontier akin the American Wild West, although the attire is more thermal clothing and snow shoes than Stetsons.

2099- AIs are granted personhood on Mars. On Earth they remain simply objects no different from a TV or Lamp.

2103- A Synthetic becomes a full officer in the MSS.

2110- Terrorist attacks are seemingly on the rise. There are multiple threats including Synthetic separatists, Organised Criminals, Earth First groups, small City State interest groups, People Traffickers to mention a few.

2112- The Events of Midnight Run.