North American Federation (NAF)

The North American Federation is made up of the United States, excluding Hawaii, and Canada. During the early 2010s, the U.S. and Canadian governments merged, creating a single country (which was renamed the North American Federation), much to the annoyance of Quebec. The government soon ran itself into bankruptcy with unbalanced trade agreements and a continued "war" on drugs. When the governments went bankrupt, the corporations stepped in, offering to buy out the government and take over administrative responsibilities of the country.

The country's economy had collapsed and Quebec took the opportunity to take its separatist movement to the next level. A civil war ensued, led by the state of Quebec's militia, a military force that had been trained and kept secret for nearly a decade. Unable to afford a way, the North American Federation was forced to recognize Quebec's independence. Relations have been strained since.

The democratic government was dissolved, leaving a board of directors elected by stockholders (those wealthy enough to hold a percentage of shares in the megacorp). In essence, the rich ruled. The corporation, commonly referred to as NAF, Inc. (or simply the NAF), spent the first year of its existence crushing competition and balancing trade agreements, in addition to creating additional manufacturing facilities at home to decrease reliance on foreign countries for the NAF's welfare.

Twenty-three years later, the NAF stands strong as one of the most heavily defended and richest countries in the world. Unfortunately, this reputation has come at a cost. Industrial espionage is commonplace, both conducted by and against NAF. Research and Development regulations have become less strictly enforced, thus pharmaceutical experimentation on humans has become increasingly common, as have the number of mutations in the human genome. Numerous projects exist by corporations engaged in strategic alliances with NAF to create the perfect soldier.

The course the NAF has chosen has strained relations with many former (and some current) allies. The primary source of concern is from the Central American Cartel and the drugs it runs (as well as the constant influx of illegal aliens attempting to escape the totalitarian government).

Adventure Hooks: Terrorist groups are trying to further strain relations with current allies or provoke a war with former allies; industrial espionage between NAF and other corporations, or subsidiaries and other corporations; drug or people smugglers from the CAC.

Central American Cartel (CAC)

The CAC is made up of old Mexico, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and the Central American countries. During the increased crackdown on illegal drugs in late 2009 by world governments, the cartels began to fight back. The world's largest, run by Domingo Santerez, raised an army of drug runners, drug dealers, and other, minor, drug lords. The NAF provided troops, training, and aid to countries willing to fight in the war on drugs. Unfortunately, this eventually ran the country into bankruptcy (see the NAF overview above) and the alliance of cartels quickly overran the smaller, less adequately equipped countries.

The CAC is the primary source of the world's drug problems, smuggling hundreds of tons of cocaine, marijuana, and synthetic drugs into other countries every year. While the world governments recognize the source of illegal substances, they are also aware of the primary force behind the NAF's bankruptcy. For now they patrol their coasts and prevent as much incoming product as possible. The CAC, while upset at the potential millions that are lost each year, is content with the quantity of product that makes it inside other countries and has little to worry about in terms of money.

Adventure Hooks: Drug lords always need smugglers and enforcers and the world governments are always looking for a few extra mercenaries in order to conduct strikes with the benefit of anonymity.

European Union (EU)

The European Union is a single nation composed of the nations who once formed the mercantile alliance by the same name. It has been governed as a democracy, the citizens electing a new Minister Prime every three years. Europe has been a hotbed of political upheaval since fighting renewed in the Balkans in mid-2001. Conflicts between Yugoslav rebels and ethnic Albanian rebels spilled over the borders into neighboring countries, forcing other countries, particularly members of the European Union, to take a more active role in putting an end to the violence.

Other factors also led to the eventual conglomeration of the once-separate European states. Most important, and probably the biggest cause, was Russia's reversion to communism is 2015. Many government leaders all over the world saw this as a cause for concern, foreshadowing the beginning of a new Cold War. To build defenses and acquire resources, Germany once again started down the path to war in 2017 by simultaneously invading Switzerland, Denmark, and France. Thus began the Fourth Reich.

With the NAF unable to lend aid to the European countries and many of the other countries vulnerable due to a lack of super-soldiers, Europe was quick to fall. England was the last to surrender in 2030. Since, the region has remained relatively stable, with only a few minor rebellious uprisings occurring and most problems external to the region. The EU has handled the potential for an incident with Russia, known now as the Eurasian Coalition Bloc (CE), by offering troops to aid on the Yugoslav front. While placating the Stokilov Regime, the EU has begun building its own defenses in preparation for the day it is forced to face off against the CE, expecting betrayal. Super-soldier research facilities are spread throughout the former countries of Spain, England, and Germany.

Adventure Hooks: The player characters are members of one of the few militant rebel groups in the European Union; escaped from one of the experimental research facilities and are hunted by the EU government.

Eurasian Coalition Bloc (CE)

The CE consists of the old Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Turkey, Lithuania, Poland, Yugoslavia, and all territories of the former Soviet Union. Prior to Russia's reversion to Communism in 2015, the country had become weak militarily and its citizens impoverished. When Russia reverted, it began to build its financial resources and rebuild its lazy and shattered military. By 2029, Russia had surpassed its previous ground military might, improved its air and naval superiority, and began a campaign to recapture its once lost territories. By the end of 2031, most of Asia had fallen to the war machine. Only Southeast Asia, Asia Minor, and Eastern Europe remained untouched. Not satisfied with holding only its previous territory, the communist regime, under the leadership of Vladimir Stokilov began invading Eastern Europe, overtaking the embattled regions easily, and Asia Minor.

At present, the regime has a firm hold over its territories except Yugoslavia and Kazakhstan. Rebels continue to fight against the regime despite the Russian strategic and technological superiority. In Kazakhstan, the Muslim rebels fight for their freedom and the freedom of all Muslims, having declared a Jihad against the Russian incursion. Yugoslavia and Kazakhstan are both war zones and the fighting occasionally spills over the borders. The EU has promised troops to aid the Russian military in putting down the rebels, provided the EU territory is left untouched and the CE graciously accepted, secretly planning the eventual takeover the EU.

Adventure Hooks: The player characters are members of the Muslim rebels in Kazakhstan or Yugoslav rebels in former Yugoslavia; are members of the CE military and charged with putting down the resistance; are charged with conducting espionage missions against the EU in preparation for the CE's eventual invasion of EU territory.

Former Pakistan, India

These two regions have seen, firsthand, the destructive capabilities of jihads and centuries old grudges. Both countries became nuclear powers in the late 1990s and tension was high since that time. In March of 2007 India launched a massive nuclear strike against Pakistani cities and military targets claiming Pakistan had conducted guerilla raids on civilian targets in India. This was the breaking point. Pakistan, denying this, launched an equally destructive counterstrike. The bombardment continued between the two countries until the area was nothing but an irradiated wasteland.

The region remains much the same today. There are rumors, as there always are, that terrorist factions have taken refuge in these wastes, using heavily shielded fortresses as bases of operation. Some Intelligence agencies have confirmed the existence of some structures through satellite observation, however it is impossible to verify occupation due to the high levels of radiation.

Middle East Region

What other land area remains in the Middle East (includes Turkey, the "traditional" Middle East, and several former Soviet puppet states such as Georgia and Uzbekistan) is nothing short of a war zone. Following the deterioration of peace talks between the Israeli and Palestinian governments in late 2009, all Hell broke loose as every nationality and tribal alliance vied for their own land. Shelling, explosions, and gunfire are all everyday sights and sounds throughout the region. Bands of guerrilla soldiers hunt those of other nationalities in areas claimed by their pseudo-government.

Most of the rest of the world views the Middle East as a no-man's land and most industrialized nations have distanced themselves diplomatically from all of the warring factions. The NAF pulled all funding to these nations in 2014, citing "cost inefficiencies". European countries soon followed suit, completely withdrawing aid by 2023 as they shifted their funds toward their war machine. Even China, at least on the surface, withdrew it's sale of weapons to various Middle Eastern factions (though some countries question whether China has actually halted sales, particularly of weapons, to these factions).

The Jihad each tribe is carrying out against all others has even spilled over into the newly acquired Soviet puppet states (collectively called the Eurasian Coalition Bloc - see below) as Chechen, Uzbekistanian, and Georgian Islamic rebels continue to fight against the Soviet incursion. What little progress these rebellions have made will likely be reversed in short order once the CE fully employs it's Spliced Human Unit - a force of genetically engineered super-soldiers.

Pacifica

Pacifica is the alliance of Australasian and South Pacific island nations. Each country is governed as its own state and is free to create its own laws and change the system of government, however, they are required to contribute soldiers to the alliance's mutual defense. Any state that desires to remain a member or other countries wishing to become a new member is required to adhere to strict a strict code of conduct. Though laws are created independently, a law cannot violate the South Pacific Charter of 2018, which was originally conceived by the alliance at its formation. Should a member nation implement a law contrary to the Charter, the nation loses, or is denied, membership until such a time that it has adhered to the charter for ten consecutive years. This can be especially dangerous for smaller nations because they are less able to defend themselves from invasion.

Pacifica has become an area of commerce and diversity through the addition of connecting underwater tunnels and increased ship and air traffic. There are rumors that the alliance also has underwater experimental laboratories to facilitate the unusually large number of super-soldiers in their military (the official line to member nations is that the lab exists for medical and pharmaceutical research). The number of superhuman soldiers combined with the contribution of troops in times of war has led to the continuation of this alliance. Many non-member countries are curious about Pacifica's success, but none are able to place intelligence agents at the proper levels of the government due to the implementation and liberal use of psychic scans as part of the screening process for government employees. The alliance harbors too many secrets and even some member nations are distrustful of agents of the Alliance.

Adventure Hooks: The player characters are hired to do the impossible, infiltrate the highest levels of government and gain access to the secret underwater labs… if they actually exist. The characters are out to make a profit through transporting goods and have been targeted by non-member nations who wish to get into Pacifica without being noticed (by any means necessary, including killing and taking the place of innocent merchants if need be).

Neo-Japan

The Japanese Zaibatsu, angry at the NAF's buyout of the American bureaucracy, stopped all exports to the country in 2013 in an attempt to throw the country's economy into chaos. This tactic failed. After severing ties with the NAF and strengthening ties with Pacifica (primarily for the staples the country could not supply for itself), the technology of the country began to grow exponentially. There are several theories regarding how the increased technology was created, including secret pacts with aliens and use of artificial intelligence. Some NAF citizens believe that the reason for the Neo-Japan's brash action was that an artificial intelligence had somehow overthrown the government and was now controlling every aspect of it. It remains a mystery even to their allies in Pacifica.

Neo-Japan was also responsible for a large number of the advances in the area of supercomputers and artificial intelligence. Factories and all manner of repetitive tasks are now handled by artificial intelligence, while the more essential and complex management decisions are performed by humans. Supercomputers and artificial intelligence have also played a primary role in keeping the country safe from invasion by the ambitious China Conglomerate. Automated sentries guard the shores of all major islands in the archipelago. Smaller islands are regularly patrolled by a minimum of two warships and three support boats (hydrofoil size or smaller).

Aquatica

Aquatica was an experiment by the Allied Nations (formerly the United Nations, but it later became more of a military alliance) to create a neutral, independently governed, hub where countries could come to trade, negotiate, and refuel. The hub, called Atlantis, was completed in 2032. For a decade it served its intended purpose and was instrumental in ending or preventing numerous wars. Unfortunately, as Atlantis became more diverse and the Allied Nations began to take different political perspectives, the ruling government was forced to make a decision. In order to maintain neutrality, Atlantis declared sovereignty in 2043, renaming itself Aquatica. While at first heatedly opposed, the Allied Nations saw no other option. To attack a neutral entity would be a dangerous undertaking in such a politically unstable world.

Today, Aquatica is a haven for all superbeings, criminals, and traders, as well as a negotiation center for treaties between nations. The government of Aquatica has sworn to remain neutral in all conflicts and will facilitate the peace process in any situation where both parties agree. The downside to this neutrality is that Aquatica attracts a large number of the criminal elements. This is largely due to the complete absence of extradition treaties. Provided the criminals commit no crimes in Aquatica, they are free from prosecution.

Mars Colony

The Mars Colony was founded after the first manned mission to Mars. In late 2009, the first manned Mars spacecraft took off from Earth. In early 2010, it arrived at Mars. Upon landing on the Red Planet, their mission of soil sample collection and further investigation into the existence of water was carried out. In 2012, they returned to Earth and their data was analyzed. Small amounts of water were found to be in the Martian soil as well as at the polar ice caps. A terraforming mission was sent in 2015 to begin the colony. By 2020, the colonists had established shelter and the terraforming of the planet was nearly complete. Sabotage ended much their work.

In 2021, an explosion rocked the colony complex. The terraforming generator had been jammed, causing it to overheat and, eventually, explode. Paranoia among the colonists and an exhaustive investigation ensued. The evidence that was turned up was very disturbing to the colonists. Apparently, an experiment had escaped from a secret government facility somewhere on Mars. How this facility came to be in existence, its location, and which government is sponsoring it remains a closely guarded secret.

Century Station

For an in-depth description of Century Station, see the book entitled Century Station. For the purposes of this setting, Century Station will remain the same as described in the sourcebook, with minor changes to the technology available.