The History of Girls' Frontline Part 3 - Post-Beilan Island-2044

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.