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[Setting] Dawn of a New Era: Changes in the Nova Age.

Posted by RydiFor group 0
Rydi
GM, 365 posts
Thu 6 Aug 2009
at 23:30
  • msg #1

[Setting] Dawn of a New Era: Changes in the Nova Age

The post Equatorial Wars world is a strange and exciting place.

The Internet, already becoming the new hub of world communication, has exploded into new activity with the replacement of standard fiber optic cables with eufiber derived cables that allow incredibly fast and efficient transmission of data.

The Television, king of entertainment for 50 years, is undergoing radical changes.  New interactive programming, dependent on the emergent opnet (the NEW internet), is taking over the old style broadcasts amongst the 18-35 demographic, and even making headway into the older generations.  The printed newspaper is on the fast track to extinction, with the printed book right behind it, as new data devices allow for instant download of e-papers and e-books.  Even the traditional marketplace is disappearing, replaced by online auction houses and wholesalers, with only large mega-chains such as Walmart able to compete.

Entertainment has been almost entirely taken over by novas, either literally, as in the case of nova actors, or simply in terms of topic matter (80% of top grossing entertainment for 2002 dealt with Novas, and the other 20% is largely comprised of material that could easily be seen as a counter to the nova craze and would not have sold in a world without novas).  New sports leagues have begun to spring up, stealing interest from the "tame" and "dull" baseline athletics.  Even toys and comics are quickly being taken over by novas, with sales on Batman and X-men dropping 90% with the release of T2M toys.

Physically, the world is much changed as well.  Terraforming projects in Africa and the Middle East have proven highly successful, and are expanding.  Lush vegetation has replaced arid desert in many regions.  The ozone layer has been repaired, and the global warming that loomed threateningly is being reversed.

Big oil is in a death spiral that would normaly spell the end of the economy, but in these frantic times, new fortunes are being made on alternative energies and Nova Age materials as the post war economy purchases them at an astonishing rate.  The old money of the world clings to the past while desperately attempting to keep up with the future, and nations whose economies were made on oil are rapidly investing in new technologies to keep their wealth from slipping away.

While these changes are of course incredible, the future promises to be even more so.  Emerging Nova geniuses are creating new technology at an astonishing rate, and the insurmountable problems of the past are being eliminated.  Even disease and aging are poised to be eliminated in the near future, as the human genome reveals its secrets.  But the problems of the past will likely be replaced by even more complex problems, as people begin asking themselves what the ramifications of these changes really are, and unscrupulous individuals begin using this new knowledge to destroy all the progress that has been made.


Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

Anyone can feel free to post here if they have something appropriate.  I will be posting here as I come upon more things I want to point out about the developing world.


This message was lightly edited by the GM at 21:14, Fri 30 Aug 2013.
Impetus
player, 353 posts
Zen and the art of
Transhumanism
Mon 10 Aug 2009
at 04:25
  • msg #2

Re: Dawn of a New Era: Changes in the Nova Age

With the rosey glow of the early nova age behind it, or apparently so, if you asked the pundits, the world's religions became increasingly diametrically opposed on their views on Novas.  Thing was it these seperations were between different sects, not just different religions.  Even though the Vatican had proclaimed that novas were people too and had souls there were dozens of christian groups that denounced Novas as demons, angels, walking blasphemies, or a sign that the end of days was coming.  Islam was also heavily divided on its views of Novas, some moderates proclaimed that novas were Allah's creatures, others that Novas were unclean.  In India the birth of Novas lent further power to the fragmented nature of the social castes, regional differences, and religious sects.
Atheist groups were also divided, some believing that novas proved that God did not exist, and that humanity itself was driving forward into realms that were unimaginable before, others were finally given tangible proof that something greater than humanity was out there, and they began engaging in behaviour that seemed suspiciously akin to religion, only this time aimed at beings they could touch, hear and see.
By far the largest and most troubling group to gain popularity during the nova age was suicide cults.  They blossomed over night from rare entities to commonplace occurrences, most were not trying to kill themselves, but to be forced into novadom by the trauma of near death experiences.  The vast majority failed, troublingly some succeeded.  News agencies, backed by Project Utopia, tried to hush these successes up, but rumors spread like wildfire and disillusioned people around the globe started falling like flies, the cynics proclaimed this as one of the best things to happen to the gene pool in a long time.
Comstock
player, 377 posts
a.k.a. Dillon Amargosa
Man or Mineral?
Mon 10 Aug 2009
at 05:07
  • msg #3

Re: Dawn of a New Era: Changes in the Nova Age

Aeon Society Census of Homo Sapiens Novus, December 2004

T2M: Americas -- Sierra Nevadas Facility
NameBirth NameEruptionDeathGenderPowersSource
ComstockDillon Amargosa2000-MaleHyper-density, Metal EmpathyOriginal
Doctor Zero-unknown--unknown--AndrogynousQuantum Senses, Enhanced Reflexes and IntelligenceOriginal
FlareSara Childe2002-FemaleElem. Mastery (Fire)Original
GaleStacey Wilderschmidt1998-FemaleElem. Mastery (Air), FlightOriginal
GravitasQuentin Abernathy2000-MaleGravity Manipulation, Intelligence, Portal CreationOriginal
Harley LoganHarley Logan1999Feb. 21st, 2002 (The Iraqi WMD Incident)MaleUtter BadassOriginal
ImpetusJason Tybolt2000-MaleMomentum Control, CharismaOriginal
Phantasm-unknown-2000-FemaleQuantum Constructs, Shape-shiftingOriginal
SolitaireJessica Stanton1999-FemaleFlight, StrengthOriginal
Suzukaze-unknown-2002-FemaleHyper-Movement, InvisibilityOriginal
ZeusSamuel Wolfson2000Feb. 21st, 2002 (The Iraqi WMD Incident)MaleElectricity BodymorphOriginal


Utopia and T2M Auxiliary Members
NameBirth NameEruptionDeathGenderPowersSource
Billabong Robert Tannahill2001-MaleDexterity, Elem. Anima (Water)Original
Commander---Male-Original
Firefox-unknown-20002001 (Equatorial Wars)FemaleFireA:PU,78
GeishaIchiko Iko2001January 1st, 2004 (Columbian Conflict)FemaleSocial GracesA:PU,133-4
Makara-unknown-19992001 (Equatorial Wars)MaleSuper-HumanAb, 38; A:PU,78
MaverickMary-Anne Hempe2001-FemaleImpossible Luck, Portal CreationOriginal
SplashPratima Basham1998Feb. 21st, 2002 (The Iraqi WMD Incident)FemaleElem. Mastery (Water), Weather ManipulationA:PU,19,131
Steve DebowSteve Debow1998-MaleBrain, Legal ScholarA:PU,11
SunflareAnna Kmicic2001January 1st, 2004 (Colombian Conflict)FemaleBio-luminescence, Solar BeamOriginal
Trudy VandermannTrudy Vandermann1998FemalePsychicA:PU,11


Elites
NameBirth NameEruptionDeathGenderPowersSource
Crimson Dawn-unknown-1998-MaleStrength, FireOriginal
HydraKaliana Barros1999-FemaleClones, PoisonOriginal
Shooter-unknown---MaleQuantum blasts.Original


Cartel
NameBirth NameEruptionDeathGenderPowersSource
La Alegría-unknown-2003Presently DetainedFemaleLeadership, Marksmanship, SpeedOriginal
Juan TajilloJuan Tajillo2002-MaleElectrokinesisOriginal
Hardbody-unknown-2002-MaleStrength, DurabilityOriginal



Independent
NameBirth NameEruptionDeathGenderPowersSource
Carlos LunaCarlos Luna1999-MaleLand Restoration, Pedagogical Genius, CharismaOriginal
The Olympian2000-MaleStrength, Coordination, EnduranceOriginal
El Muerte-2000-MaleDeath HeadA:YO,58;A:PG,84-5
ProdigalDavid Erickson2000-MaleWings, Claws, "Holy" PowersOriginal
The ShieldAdam Bower1999?-MaleSophisticated Force FieldsOriginal
Sparkle2001?-FemaleEnergistic DisplayOriginal



Teragen
NameBirth NameEruptionDeathGenderPowersSource
ApostleMarcel Delorimier1999-MaleMarvelA:Tg,52
The ApothecaryAltaz Zia2001-MalePortentA:Tg,63
BountyBene Monata2003-FemaleFertilityA:Tg,32
Caroline FongCaroline Fong1998-FemalePortentA:Tg,12
Divis MalUNKNOWN19XX-MaleMarvel, Portent, MonsterA:WP!,153-4
GeryonJames Booth1999-MaleMonsterAb, 86,95; A:Tg,57
LeviathanLeonard de la Rocha2000-MaleMonsterA:Tg,65
The MathematicianPedro Santiago1997-MaleOracleA:Tg,9
NarcosisAngel de la Cruz2004-FemaleMarvelA:Tg,66
Raoul OrzaizRaoul Orzaiz1997-MalePortentAb, 34,62,86,93; A:St,57
ScriptureJeremiah Scripture1998-M/FMarvelA:Tg,51
Sin EaterMeena Harjapatan2004-FemaleMonsterA:Tg,25
ShrapnelAlison Houghes1999-FemaleMonsterA:Tg,43
SynapseAlex Doan2000-MaleCyberkineticA:Tg,21



Faction
NameBirth NameEruptionDeathGenderPowersSource
TemplateTemplate20XX-M/FTemplateOriginal
TemplateTemplate20XX-M/FTemplateOriginal

This message was last edited by the GM at 07:43, Sat 05 Feb 2011.
Comstock
player, 378 posts
a.k.a. Dillon Amargosa
Man or Mineral?
Mon 10 Aug 2009
at 05:44
  • msg #4

Re: Dawn of a New Era: Changes in the Nova Age

Timeline of the Nova Age
March 18, 2001The Team First Arrives at T2M: Sierra Nevadas.  Base purchased from the USFG.
March, 2001Unknown Nova terrorist infiltrates Sierra Nevadas base and causes training accidents.
April, 2001Equatorial Wars Begin.  T2M Averts a coup d'etat in Congo.
September 11, 2001Nova Terrorists, working with Al-Quaeda attack New York.  The World Trade Center is Destroyed in minutes.  T2M stops the damage from getting out of hand.
December, 2001Dr. Zero begins Dr. Zero's Book Club with the publication of his first book.  He keeps a rigorous schedule and publishes four books by November of the following year.
February 21, 2002T2M attacks an Elite base in Uganda, then continues onto the Middle East.  Fighting precipitates the destruction of the ecosystem of the Persian Gulf as the Iraqi Army uses chemical weapons and quantum to create an unprecedented weapon.
March and April, 2002Treaties signed in Bogota, Buteyongera Village (Uganda), and Baghdad mark the end of the Equatorial Wars, one year to the day from their start.  The United Nations quickly drafts the Quantum Powers Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is ratified by all major world powers.
December 21, 2002The Bellagio in Las Vegas hosts the First Annual Winter Gala and Charity Dinner.
January 3rd, 2003The Nova terrorist "Freak" is apprehended after a struggle at T2M: Sierra Nevadas.
February 18th, 2003Count Orzaiz hosts a dinner for his philosophical society.  Divis Mal presents himself.
March 9th, 2003Space Shuttle Discovery struck by a meteor.  Team Tomorrow responds, saving the shuttle and the entire crew.  Interest in nova participation in space-travel, research and technology rises.
April 3rd, 2003T2M: Americas and T2M: Europe organize a major bust in Kansas City.  Juan Tajillo escapes, but several Elites working for the cartel are captured.
Late April, 2003Impetus and Phantasm go on vacation.
August, 2003"Cracks Forming."  Vacation to Japan.  Cartel Murders.
September, 2003Sao Paolo Bombing.
October 31st, 2003The Zetas, a Cartel associated with the Medellin in Colombia, are tracked down to a base in Chihuahua.  Evidence collected in the raid builds the legal case against the Colombian government and exposes rampant corruption.
January 1st, 2004Using New Year's as a cover, T2M coordinates with world militaries to invade Colombia.  The Colombian Conflict is virtually over in one day, but results in the detonation of another nuclear device and the Battle of Bogota.
March, 2004After a lengthy tribunal, Comstock steps down as head of T2M:A.  Caestus Pax, citing his long service rather than his new Teragen leanings, steps down as leader of Team Tomorrow.
May, 2004Survivors of the Battle of Bogota, fleeing the subsequent UN/Utopia occupation of Colombia, reconnect with the remnants of the Central American crime cartels and begin slipping into North American cities again.  They maintain a low profile, and generate income primarily via under-the-table services and Soma trafficking.
August, 2004Summer Olympics in Athens are the first to host Nova Events.
Unknown, 2004Members of T2M and the Teragen experiment with Chrysalis.
November, 2004Officially, the last of the Colombian WMDs are successfully disassembled.  Project Utopia technicians oversee hazardous materials disposal, and it is estimated that Colombia's new school curriculum will be complete and fully implemented by January of the coming year.  This curriculum is central to the success of the Colombian Occupation, as it is the first time that it has been necessary to reverse the effects of widespread nova-scale social influence.
December 2004 through January, 2005Members of T2M:A and the Teragen return from Chrysalis.  Impetus promoted to head of T2M:A and Ragnarockette becomes official leader of T2M.
January 1st, 2005Andre Corbin is killed in Calcutta.  The world grieves, and a media campaign swiftly turns the charismatic Corbin into one of the great heroes of Team Tomorrow.
January 6th, 2005Slider flees Corbin's funeral and disappears from the public eye.  Conspiracy theories explode across the OpNet.
January, 2005Kraken Heavy Industries opens its new facilities in Southern Nevada and formally begins work on the Jackass Flats Project.  The Las Vegas Police Department receives its first KHI Security Drones for testing.
February 4th, 2005The Archon hosts the Four-Bands-One-Stage-One-Night Event.  Nova Elite Crimson Dawn fights with the new T2M:A at Death Valley, California.
February, 2005Anti-nova violence in Las Vegas increases.  Phantasm and Gale tangle with Michaelists in Las Vegas, and subdue the nova Belphegor.  The Host of Eternity moves back into the public eye.
March though April, 2005The Nova Vigilantism movement spreads.  In North America and Las Vegas in particular, Novas conceal their identities with masks and powers while serving their communities via irregular law enforcement.
Spring and Summer, 2005The Second Space Race Begins.  The United States announces plans for a mission to the Asteroid Belt.  The Chinese announce plans for their own space station, Tiangong-1.  Russian philanthropists and a consortium of investors including Kraken Heavy Industries collaborate to begin work on the Lunar Colony.  The Daedalus League sets out to visit nearby solar systems and document their findings.
April, 2005Project Utopia admits that Slider has become a person of interest in the investigation of Andre Corbin's death.  Though not formally a suspect, agencies around the world receive authorization to detain her.
May, 2005Break-ins at KHI facilities prompt a corporate response.  Meanwhile, Comstock and Flare continue their vigilante activities and have their first encounter with the Soma Traffickers.
July 2005The Alumni of Tomorrow event and terrorist attack in New York City.
August 2005T2M:A and its alumni meet to discuss their health issues since the Alumni of Tomorrow event.
October 2005El Dragón attacked inside T2M:Americas base.  Slider comes out of the cold.  Impetus briefly abducted by Michaelists.
December 2005
January 2006
January 2008United States Primary Elections.  Futurist Party recognized.  Three way race for the Presidency of the United States begins.
April 2008
May 2008
November 2008

This message was last edited by the GM at 22:24, Fri 01 June 2012.
Rydi
GM, 510 posts
Mon 26 Oct 2009
at 13:26
  • msg #5

Religion

The Nova Age has seen a resurgence in religion the world over.

Traditional religion sees fewer converts since the appearance of novas, but old members cling to the established religions in hopes of guidance in an age of confusion and anomie.  Radical muslim and christian fundamentalist sects spring up daily, attacking the new order both through proselytization and physical violence, while reactionary re-interpretations of established religion become dangerously popular.  One such new denomination the Church of Archangel Michael, has seen massive new growth in contrast to the overall decline in adherents to traditional religions.  With its anti-nova views, human-supremacist beliefs, and intense political engagement, the church gained many adherents amongst the fundamentalist christian community.  In an ironic twist, the Church even seems to be closing the divide between the judeo-christian tradition, attracting many amongst the muslim community and even some orthodox jews.  After the disastrous events of the Equatorial Wars, and the rapid fire changes to world culture and economy in its wake, the church streamlined itself, focusing primarily upon the Abrahamic god's power and purity, as well as the role of novas as servants of the adversary.  While the movement's growing influence continues to frighten many self-proclaimed progressives, religious researchers are fascinated and enthused by the opportunity to see the emergence of a new religious culture that successfully blends so many of the world's dominant religions, and they further predict that, based upon trends observed in several prominent churches in the denomination, that the denomination may eventually form a unitarian religion of a sort in the coming decades.

Less fundamentalist factions within the religious community embrace the new age with an enthusiasm nearly equal to that of the fundamentalists, seeing the coming of the nova as proof of the supernatural, and thus that god can in fact exist even in a scientific age.  Blending political action and religion, many progressive denominations view novas as the solution to social ills plagueing society, or even as a way towards personal enlightenment.  One group, the Church of the Eminent Eschaton, even claims to allow one to become a nova themselves.  This religion, a splinter faction of scientology, unitarian christianity, and new age beliefs, gained many adherents during 2003, as continued change and excitement in society instigated by novas encouraged many to view novas as central to spiritual, as well as social, beliefs.

New religions continue to develop as the nova age progresses, drawing massive numbers of new devotees.  One such religion, the Host of Eternity, draws inspiration from Judeo-Christian as well as Buddhist, Hindu, and Zoroastrian ideology to form something entirely new.  Based upon the idea of liberation from the sinful world, the Host urges converts to lives of purity and to fight sin in the world.  Also founded in the aftermath of the Equatorial War, several novas claiming to be messengers of the will of god came together to form the religion.  Several had nascent religions (such as the Kamisama Buddhists) or cults already following them, but the founders (the "Archangels"), chose to merge their flocks and form a greater religion.  Novas are viewed by the religion as angels or gods, messengers and soldiers of the greater God (also referred to as "Truth" and "Brahman"), while humans are part of the lesser host that may ascend to the higher spheres through lives purity.  The group is highly active in the world, and their beliefs sometimes place them at odds with local authorities, a situation that Utopian officials watch closely due to the large number of "angels" that defend the Host's beliefs with quantum might.
When questioned by the media on recent conflicts with the law in the northern U.S., the Archangel Prodigal only commented that "The authority of Truth is the only authority; this mortal world is but dust and shadows."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:29, Mon 26 Oct 2009.
Duke Rollo
Fri 6 Nov 2009
at 05:16
  • msg #6

From "Why Customs Officials Hate Me" --  by Dr. Duke Rollo

Las Vegas

The American Dream loves Las Vegas the way two married men might love each other: in private with the curtain drawn while fearing that its beard will uncover the emasculating naughtiness and go to live with her mother.  The schizophrenic unreality of the place has only grown since N-Day and the 2001 opening of T2M: Americas' magic flying saucer factory outside city limits.  When I was in Vegas last year, I managed to catch Dr. Zero at his Casino gig and ask him where he'd stashed the old thing.  He passed me a ransom note, offering the American Dream for a stupendous price.  I'll not write the price here because I secretly hope to pay that ransom someday and save us all.

Two years of PSAs and manna from heaven have successfully wiped the slate clean.  Gambling isn't just cool now, it's socially responsible and contributes to the education of local children.  Stepping out of Caesars, I watch a throng of seventeen-year-old Phantasm look alikes with glow-sticks in their hair weighing the merits of shopping at the Fashion Show against the Shark Reef and realize that I am blasted on methadone and have caught a glimpse of something peculiarly wrong.  It is true, these soon-to-be-legal vestals are smoking and drinking as one would expect, but on closer inspection their IDs are valid and the cigarettes are perfectly legal herbal imitations that come with dubious health benefits.  Though I would have preferred to discover illicit Colt .45, the beverage of choice is Starbucks and I console my wounded mind by reminding myself that it's at least a stimulant.

As I reconsider my approach, I realize that construction teams are everywhere, crawling like geckos over everything taller than a matchstick.  They watch me, and their empty halogen headbeams tell me that they are overpaid and trusting in their new overlords.  The ghost of Sinatra came to me in a vision and professed his distrust of this colonization before stepping into traffic and dying again.

Perhaps the strangest thing isn't the new, more universal, less corrupt and more elite flavor of the casinos and resorts.  Perhaps the strangest thing isn't even that the midget I used to buy from is now part of a Triton financed genetic study, clean as a Catholic school-marm.  I think, in retrospect, what is frightening is how much like a real city Las Vegas has become without losing its placelessness.  You can walk from Kerala to Costa Rica to Rangoon to Camelot to Memphis and cross all the aesthetically notable cities of Europe in the space of a day, but now these islands are host to more than just a bloated, tourist dependent service industry.  People do work in this place.  If this is a sign of things to come, I must express discontent and bewilderment.

Most of the big properties have managed to preserve themselves, but the neighborhoods near the Strip can claim no such purity.  They sully themselves with green-industry, think-tanks and whispers of public transportation.  They betray the American Dream.  Worse, novas walk side by side with Strip performers and no one can tell them apart, denying us even a fair target upon whom to vent our spleens.

These are truly the end of days.

Dazzled, prosperous, responsible people mingle with the throngs of tourists, spreading the Gospel of Utopia to passers by as often as they distribute pamphlets for escort services and strip clubs.  It's unnatural I tell you, and in protest I vow to remain inebriated until my original, artful, self-indulgent Gomorrah is restored to me, because I understand the human condition and know this is a fraud and fabrication brought about by trickery and deceit.  And in my first evening obeying this honor vow, I burned three dolls and five chocolate bars before the MGM Lion, a ready made heathen icon that speaks to me in flashes of light.

"You're going to Mexico City," the Lion says to me, its voice hoarse from arguing with Simba and kicking off all those damn movies.  "There are beautiful women and mountains of snow there that you have not yet experienced.  Go, and follow the snow to its source.  Hurry, or you will cease to be."

I fail to see an argument that applies to giant golden lions, so by morning I'm back at McCarran and arguing that I'm an Israeli citizen.



Mexico City

Mexico City.  Since the arrival of the single-named titans Alejandra, Santos, and Imperdonado, the PRI's cosmetic engineers have been scrubbing and slathering the streets with another layer of makeup to keep the old girl fresh looking.  The perpetual soak of recycled cerveza and twenty-million assloads of grade A super-ripe must have burst wholly formed from the brain of some Hollywood ghost-writer, because the conflict between good and evil, white hats and black, plays out here every day, every hour on the hour in a symphony of amphetamines and THC-cut with smokeless powder.  Everything good (including Utopia funding) heads north of the border, the leftover scraps and hard-earned savings trickling back in a flow of remittance payments that would make old Croesus blush to the bone.  It's nearly 20% of the Mexican economy now; no one laughs at the comedians contemplating invading Texas to force US Annexation, since it's one of the better policy proposals on the table.

I get off my plane and immediately suck in about 50,000 egg-and-Drain-O flavored Zushima microbes, hard at work trying to scrub the air clean of the usual chemical haze.  It's not working, but no one from NovaShill to Gigaface to Fisting Peace himself can come up with a coherent reason for why.  I suspect it is the superiority of Mexican chemical waste: their achievements in enduring chemical artifice shall go down in history, passed down from mother to child unto the seventh generation, that all may look on their works and crap themselves in amazement.  In my throat and lungs, the Z-microbes finally realize they are outmatched by the deadly, black, mucousy magnificence of my perfect being and rout in terror.

By the time I check into my hotel, I've already got the latest Alejandra ear-worm horking down my gray matter like last month's Thai leftovers.  I see other, equally parasite-laden individuals twitching involuntarily, but they control themselves: she's donated the proceeds of her upcoming world tour to the city and her favorite Catholic charity.  If they kill her now, they remind themselves, their policemen won't get paid until next Christmas and their mothers will be angry.

I take my chemicals seriously, and would like to thank Mexico City for sharing my enthusiasm.  "No bebas el agua," the helpful housekeeper at the Sheraton directs me sternly as I unpack, carting a six-pack of Evian for my personal use behind her.  The answer to my muttered por que? cheerfully indicates an illegal plant abandoned eight tons of arsenic and lead waste when they packed up the factory last year.  She tumbles on with her troubles, eventually landing in church Latin to pray for Mary, the Pope and Team Tomorrow to hear her community organization's plea for deliverance from these troubled times and lead-tainted drinking water.  Caught, I grunt solemn replies, all the while grateful that somehow this impossible unreality (alone, I am afraid) has remained unchanged since N-Day.

Still, local politics in Mexico City has gotten cleaner since our golden idols' collective spontaneous generation.  The cartels have stepped up to the plate in most neighborhoods, replacing the old corruption with their own territories and providing their own services.  The masters of these neo-feudal dictatorships are, almost universally, snort-gods of the highest caliber living large off of vast Medellín loans.  Policing, traffic lights, and even buses transmogrify within hours of exposure to non-inflationary currency and discover that they've willingly, worshipfully supplicated to new chemical gods demanding human sacrifice and German cars.  Four or five Aguas del Tunari imitators have even lined up legal looking facades, eager to divorce the impoverished from running water unless they can (expensively) prove themselves legal residents.  Naturally, when water isn't flowing, its for public health.

And when you can't get the time of day from a vending machine and all the faucets will piss out is cholera and salt-water?  There's the people's own El Muerte.  In between bouts of crime-fighting paternalism I suspect he runs a budget crematorium as a public service.  It's the least he could do, and might explain the endless supply of designer suits that find their way into his bony fingers.

Hell of a city.  I'll be back in five years, once the statute of limitations kicks in, to watch another wrestling match.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:25, Fri 06 Nov 2009.
Duke Rollo
NPC, 1 post
Gonzo author of:
"I Hate It Here"
Thu 19 Nov 2009
at 17:23
  • msg #7

From "A View From the Bottom", August 2003

Olympic Fever

It's August, and that means athletics programs around the world are juicing up for another shot at being second fiddle to football (or American Football in the good old US of A), a process we've called "the Olympics" since the 20th century was young.  Only this time we've had a few years to think it over, and there's a push to include novas.

Separate but equal is the name of the game today.  Governments around the world are eager to show off their new post-nuclear arsenals but everyone agrees that allowing Novas to compete alongside us baselines is a capital B Bad Idea.  No one likes their inadequacies laid out for all to see, and even our best are only barely 'adequate' by comparison to Johnny Quantums world-wide.

Aligned against the Nova only events are the cults.  The Church of Archangel Michael, in particular, has organized so-called grass-roots protests, somehow scraping together over $500,000 from its blue-collar base to fly thousands of people to Washington D.C., Athens Greece, and New York, something that would be impressive if it didn't reek of base-building partisan fuckery.  At the heart of the mess is Ohio Representative Jim Turning, the tasteless Republican that clawed his way to the top of Dayton politics with his sudden religious epiphanies, a man so humble he needs $1200 a night prostitutes to help him kick his coke addiction.  He's not publicly a member of the Church of Archangel Michael, but he's attended a suspicious number of their events and dropped an enormous amount of money into their crusty little collection baskets.  An unnamed source tells me that Federal Investigators ought to be on him like bears to honey, that a case in underway but there's "resistance", which is a fancy word for corruption in today's circles.  You can read all about it here (link).

But filthy Jim isn't the only problem.  One firebrand making his way from town to town in India, Chiramani Reang, argues that Novas fall outside the Caste System entirely and so cannot be allowed to represent States at the Olympics.  A Communist Party under-kommondant in Guangzhou denounced novas last week in his radio broadcast as "dangerous troublemakers ... the result of failed Capitalist experiments meant to poison and destroy the People's Republic and the one true Han people with genetic warfare and chemical waste," which somehow means that they shouldn't be allowed to play for gold medals, let alone drink coffee or read newspapers.  The backlash isn't quite global, but there's something curiously orderly about its distribution among working class and nationalistic organizations, especially those in the developing world.  India and China are only just building programs to train and mobilize their own novas, after all; it doesn't take a geopolitical genius to guess they'll be opposed to anything that favors the 1st World at their expense.

One proposed solution, a separate "1st Nova Olympiad", was shot down and crucified immediately.  Can't let the Novas have separate games altogether; if we do, no one will care about the real Olympics anymore, just the Nova Olympics.  Ayn Rand: I hope you're pissing yourself with laughter somewhere.

Word's not back on exactly what the proposed separate Nova events will look like, but Project Utopia has expressed its fondness and approval of the idea so there's no doubt it'll happen.  A few T2M stalwarts, like Comstock and Saxon, have publicly expressed their desire to compete for their home countries since "it wouldn't be fair to compete for Utopia."  Or politic, especially given the muttering suspicion of the world's largest, best equipped and best funded NGO.  A counter-proposal from Raoul Orzaiz's media peanut gallery (link) would have Novas competing "solely for themselves" since competing for states would just exacerbate the old nationalistic dick-waving problem.  Raoul's a chump and a pimp who couldn't appreciate good vodka if you drowned him with it, but he's not wrong about that last part: governments love brinkmanship.

My spies tell me a committee of Novas and representatives from around the world will make a final decision by the end of September.  Start writing your hate-mail now.
Duke Rollo
NPC, 2 posts
Gonzo author of:
"I Hate It Here"
Tue 15 Dec 2009
at 06:23
  • msg #8

CNN Breaking News: Reverend Martin Ortiz on "Hardball"

Good readers, you might find this amusing: Chris Matthews and CNN, strapped for money, air-time, news and resources has taken to bringing on fundamentalists for the cheap ratings-boost.  Reverend Martin Ortiz of the Church of Michael Archangel showed up on Hardball last night.  Here's a few highlights:

---

... now, hold on a minute there, Chris, you're trying to run over me and I'm not going to just sit here and take it.  Now, the Bible is clear on this: Micah 5:12 says "I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers," no more soothsayers, Chris, and that goes for you and these nova celebrities with their mystic visions and atomic idolatry.  Deuteronomy 18:10  "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch."


And yes, Chris, I'm coming on your show talking about witchcraft.  You shouldn't gawk, it's happening here and now, this is real.  God calls on us not to exult the Aberrant, but to reject the Aberrant.  Those who truck with the supernatural, with pagan witchcraft, with drug dealers, pimps, and other servants in Satan's army.  This isn't just about cheap plastic Dr. Zero toys or all the sex and violence these novas put on our televisions, it's about our way of life, our society, our values as Americans.  We didn't need Caestus Pax or pagan gods to help us make America great, we did it for ourselves, with nothing more than our hard labor and our faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ.  And, and Chris, if you're going to try and talk over and tell me I'm wrong or I'm misguided, then I urge you to look, look at what these people have done.  Where is our America?  Where are our values, our self-respect and dignity?


"And they shall go forth," Chris, "they shall go forth and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."  That's Isaiah 66:24.  Our path is very clear, and we need to spread the word and remind everyone that America's greatness and strength comes from their faith and core values.  It's time to take a good long look in the mirror and ask if we, as people, as God's children, are so weak that we're willing to bow down not to God, not to the American flag, but to these Aberrants, these novas among us who've made deals with supernatural ...


Well I'd say that ... have you ever read the Left Behind series, Chris?  I'd say that we're looking at signs of the end times.  LaHaye and Jenkins invented a character, Nicolae Jetty Carpathia, leader of the international community, the real anti-Christ, and, well ... well I don't think he's the anti-Christ, Chris, but I'm no supporter of Utopia.  We can't trust ...


... actually, that's part of the reason I'm here.  I want to announce here and now, announce that we're, we're opening a new center in Las Vegas, Nevada, the belly of the beast, so God's faithful can be on the front-line.  Las Vegas is the cesspool of American sin, a hedonistic, self-absorbed den of prostitution, drug use, crime, and idolatry.  ANd so if Utopia can sink millions of dollars into Las Vegas in their campaign to poison America then we can build right across from them and face them down.  We have faithful supporters in Las Vegas, people willing to help ...


---

No time-table yet on the Archangel Michael re-education center, but Reverend Ortiz has indicated that the first public campaign will be to "fight back against Impetus," who is, apparently, a walking, talking moral hazard promoting "promiscuity" and "tolerance of homosexuality and other morally objectionable acts."  I'm actually curious as to where the Reverend's rhetoric will go next, especially given the home-field advantage T2M:A has in Las Vegas.
Rydi
GM, 644 posts
Thu 25 Feb 2010
at 18:22
  • msg #9

C. Johnson: Utopian Dreams, Imperfect Reality

Forward
In my book Blowback, I spoke about the consequences of First World imperialism, especially those actions taken by American officials and corporations.  Rich nations use poor nations as military and economic tools, and in the process create both lasting emnity and provide these newly created enemies with the tools to fight back against their percieved oppressors.  Troubles in Afghanistan and South America provide ample examples of these ideas, and several predictions in my earlier book were tragically fulfilled.  But one thing I did not address in my prior writing was the ramifications of Novas.

The emergence of the Nova Age was impossible to predict, and perhaps the most world-altering event to occur in recorded history.  Novas have reshaped the political, economic, military, and even the geographical landscape.  But the public, lost in wonder, awed by the visions of a Utopian dream world, seem to be temporarily blinded to the imperfect reality, in which the actions of Novas are laying the groundwork for catastrophic blowback.

We see the stirrings of unforseen consequences already: the war on crime has created new mega-syndicates and cartels; the use of novas to end conflicts has forced small governments, worried for the sovereignty of their rule, to employ novas as weapons; the growing hegemony of nova-based entertainment, as well as expert and specialist positions in a variety of other fields, has lead to the unemployment and a wave of anti-nova resentment.  Other examples abound, and behind all of these actions is the U.N. sponsored group Utopia.

Founded on the best of intentions, with roots in a philanthropic organization of impeccable reputation, Utopia has nonetheless become something of a rogue state all its own.  With the power to literally reshape the world, Utopia has forced change upon the world and created an underground resistance in multiple spheres that will only grow in time.  As events like Sao Paulo (as later chapters will show, this event could only have emerged from Nova action, and was precipitated by Utopian interventions), and the tragic events of the Equatorial Wars show, there is already a dangerous trend of violent opposition toward Utopias goals of "making a better tomorrow, today."  As Utopian control escalates, and opposing voices are more tightly suppressed, these events will only escalate, and the non-nova public more polarized.  Sao Paulo is merely the beginning of a much more dangerous future, dotted with terrorist action utilizing nova-scale destructive capabilities, and widespread social unrest in the face of nova hegemony.

This dark future can only be prevented by a less unilateral Utopia, and an effort at cooperation on the part of world governments.  I attempt to point out some of the possible methods for diffusing the powder-keg of nova politics throughout this book, but in truth, I anticipate a grim future.

I attempt to take an academic stance in my writings, and avoid my own feelings and worries, but the patterns I see emerging worry me in a way nothing in my long political and academic career has.  I state this here, and write this book, in hopes that someone, somewhere will take action to prevent the looming disaster on the horizon.

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Of note, I apologize for those that are fans of Chalmers Johnson.  I am not a statesman, nor am I an expert in political science, nor am I published writer. So, if this doesn't sound like the guy you know and love... well, now you know why.  It isn't him.  Sorry to burst your bubble :)

This message was last edited by the GM at 04:17, Fri 26 Feb 2010.
Rydi
GM, 660 posts
Wed 17 Mar 2010
at 08:48
  • msg #10

Spin, Spin, Spin...

"This is Maggie McConnal, coming to you at the site of the most infamous terroist attack in world history.  In the aftermath of Sao Paulo, the world is still confused over what actually caused the explosion that led to the massive loss of life and property here."
[camera pans across the devastation, then switches to an aerial view before returning to the reporter]

"We've heard from Utopian representatives, both Caestus Pax and Impetus, that radioactive materials were found at the site.  After that, we were informed that chemical and explosives analysts in the U.N. have proven that the explosion was the result of a bomb, burst in the air over the unsuspecting city.  But who is responsible, and why would they do this?  In the next 5 minutes, we may have an answer.  In a special press release, here at the site of this terrible tragedy, Director Largione of Project Utopia is scheduled to announce the findings from the Utopian investigative unit..."

[the reporter continues to talk about what little has been released to the public, while the cameras continue to pan over the area, focusing on the devastation, but also subtly showing how much Utopia was able to clean up in their short time in the area.  She finishes her summary just in time for the camera to move in on the podium where the director has just began to speak.]

"...aftermath of this terrible tragedy, we have yet more troubling news to relate.  Our investigations have conclusively confirmed that this action was a retaliatory strike on the part of drug cartels against authorities in Brazil attempting to reign in their organization.  Using primitive fusion technology based upon Quantum energy reactions, technology stolen from responsible energy companies, this group managed to destroy 30 city blocks, and take thousands of lives.  This incident proves the ultimate danger presented by this organization; while they likely did not intend to cause such widespread destruction and turn the attention of the world upon themselves, they are nonetheless responsible for incalculable harm, and have proven that they cannot be allowed to threaten the public with their existence any longer.

Worldwide drug sales, assassinations of their political enemies, controlling entire communities with a culture of fear, and now the use of stolen technology they barely understand; the world community has decided that this group must be eliminated for the common good.  These cartels, based out of Columbia, have evaded capture with the help of the Columbian government, which continues block efforts by the U.N. to investigate this situation further.  I am here to state that, if Columbia continues to refuse to cooperate with international efforts to capture these criminals and terrorists, Utopia has been sanctioned to step in, with the full approval of the United Nations security council, and the support of a multi-national military task force.

This announcement is not given lightly, and we understand the dangers of breaching the sovereignty of a nation, however necessary it may be, with nova forces.  Were this a normal conflict, we would certainly not intervene, as Utopia is an organization based on peace and mutual cooperation for the good of humanity.  But as is widely known by now, these cartels have several novas working for them.  Some of these novas are simply criminals, some we believe are being coerced against their will, but either way, nova force is necessary to protect the troops risking their lives to free the world from the threat of these terrorists.  We fervently hope that such action will be unnecessary, and that the Columbian government will see the error of its ways, but in three days time, if U.N. forces have not been given access to Columbia in order to apprehend these cartel forces, we will be forced to act..."

[the director continues on for several more minutes, and then steps away from the podium, concluding the conferance]

"The director of Project Utopia has just... has just released a shocking announcement, placing blame for the Sao Paulo incident, and in the same breath declaring military action against the Columbian government for harboring those responsible... In the following hours, we will have continuing coverage of this developing story, as well as an analysis of the evidence, just being released to the press, that incriminates these Columbian cartels in the bombing here..."
Operations
NPC, 19 posts
Comstock's
ST Voice
Mon 22 Mar 2010
at 11:56
  • msg #11

Religious Tracts and Nova-Associated Religions (NARs) 2003

Unattributed Pamphlet in Las Vegas 10/15/03

The Divine Plan of King Zero the Immortal


In your life, you find yourself adrift.  The conflicting speculation of dozens of religions, the growing sentience of the Op-Net, the looming threat of nuclear Armageddon, the Zionist conspirators behind world government ... how can anyone be expected to see the truth behind all of this?  Humans were not meant to know such separation from spiritual Truth.  The confusion, the grief, the depression you feel as you slink through your busy lives: these are all the longing in your heart to know Truth again.

Truth is Zero.  Truth is the recognition of perfect unity, infinity and singularity, presence and absence.  Read on and learn how Truth walks among us personified to give our lives meaning.

Papers have revealed slips of wisdom already.  How is it possible that in Second World War Dr. Zero already sought to improve the lot of humankind?  The uncovered journals of Renaissance alchemist Giuseppe Cero, likewise, reveal the workings of a genius intent on refining the perfect character of humanity, its most noble and best characteristics.  Still earlier, uncovered Dead Sea Scrolls attributed to Dr. Zero himself accurately predict future events in three languages.  And far, far before that, a more detailed investigation of the Sumerian King List reveals an attempt to scratch out the name of a king before Alulim.  The 'Zeroth' King of the first civilization of man, who walked side by side with the gods before the kingship descended to Eridu.  These records reveal an individual traveling through time, a person for whom the laws of space and time do not hold.  Such an individual, extant in many places and times at once, possessed of transcendent wisdom, cannot be regarded merely as an individual; the obvious truth of the matter is that the Zero who now walks among the world is merely one facet of the perfect divine singularity, the shared consciousness of mankind-ascended.

The masked image of Zero, its face too familiar and magnificent, is only one sign of this inescapable truth.  Rigorous mathematical analysis of Zero's books reveal a carefully concealed cipher, a code of perfect knowledge and wisdom to lead all humanity to its destined ascension.  Zero itself travels through time to ensure this destiny comes about, carefully guiding civilizations around the world at crucial junctures of history.  This, the twelfth uncovered epoch of Zero's return, is the sign of mankind's ultimate ascension, the first time in which all nations may hear the unaltered spiritual Truth of the world and begin the Union.  This was revealed to us in ....






Weekly World News 12/04/03

Lost Biblical passages reveal the truth:

JESUS WAS A NOVA!


Researchers funded by Project Utopia and the Aeon Society have discovered evidence in the Middle East that proves Jesus of Nazareth was in fact a nova, possibly the first nova ever.  The archaeological expedition, working in Iraq, discovered clay vessels containing clay vessels containing ancient tablets from the time of the New Testament.  The tablets appear to be accounts of Jesus' miracles, written by his contemporaries, possibly the Apostles.  Information on these tablets suggests Jesus was, in fact, a nova.

"The tablets focus on the miraculous powers of Jesus as proof of his divinity," says a source close to the find, who preferred to remain anonymous.  "They talk about the halo of light that often surrounded him, the power of his 'third eye' and refer often to his insights into the inner workings of Creation.  All these points are similar to modern novas, who have an activated 'third eye' in the form of their M-R node, often give off light or other radiant energy when exercising their powers and have insight into the quantum mysteries of the universe."

Certainly, the miracles attributed to Jesus are within the power of modern novas; walking on water, healing the sick and injured and transforming water into wine are all feats novas have been able to duplicate, in one form or another.  Even the resurrections Jesus performed may have been examples of quantum power, possibly including his own suffering on the cross and "resurrection" three days later.  Many novas are capable of surviving the terrible tortures Jesus endured with a few days' rest.  Some suggest this lends credence to the theory that Jesus did live on after his resurrection, traveling to other lands to preach and spread the gospel, as described in The Book of Mormon.

The Catholic Church maintains that nova abilities are God-given talents but denies any divine connection between novas and God.  This denial has not stopped numerous small shrines dedicated to various novas from springing up around the world, nor has it prevented people from speculating about the nature and origin of nova abilities.  Project Utopia representatives had no comment about the archaeological evidence, except to say they "support the expansion of human knowledge and the furthering the understanding of novas and their extraordinary abilities."


Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Taken straight from the Player's Guide.






Time Magazine 11/20/03

Quantum Faith: How One Novas Words are Changing Small Town America


... and the Impact of Charity on her community has been enormous.  Only fifteen this past July, she's already president of her high school and working twenty hours a week.  The money from her job goes to her college fund, and the rest of her time goes toward community activism.  In the year since her eruption in September of 2002, Charity and her family have raised over one million dollars within her community for public works.  Election fraud has disappeared.  Crime has evaporated.  Every week the whole town gets together to discuss their problems openly and fairly, hearkening back to a pastel, idealized Athenian democracy.  Any disputes that can't be solved amicably go to her, and in minutes she's delivered a spiritual quip and a short quotation to bring the parties back into agreement.  Oftentimes, all it takes is a few minutes with her and differences are forgotten.

Is Charity an angel?  Some certainly feel that way.  The miraculous healing and understanding that she has brought her community borders on the spiritual.  "She's the light that keeps us all on God's path," Mayor Redman says, almost chagrined.  "No one in this town had gone to church in a long time.  I mean really gone to church.  But now, when the sermons going everyone's taking notes, thinking about meanings, and trying to piece together how that wisdom should help them in their lives to be better people.  Some of us used to cook meth to pay the bills.  Now we take care of those on hard times and find ways to bring in money.  It's better than its been in two decades."

The news isn't all positive.  Some in neighboring communities condemn the small town as a collectivist communist cult.  "I'd just as soon drive an extra hour to avoid ever setting foot in there," says Kurt Eicher, 38.  "I don't know what she's saying, but Jesus never said anything about living that way."  It's sobering to find this kind of resistance, but it also speaks to the self-reliance that characterizes so much of the region.





The Globe 11/31/03

Solitaire's Alien Spirit Baby!


A source very near to Team Tomorrow has revealed T2M member Solitaire and her spiritual message of freedom to be an alien prophet of the Duren, a race of energy-beings from a hidden planet orbiting Proxima Centauri!  New studies of Solitaire and her powers with trans-radiometric spectrometry shows a quantum pattern previously only seen in particular photos of the star from the Hubble Telescope.  Solitaire, whose background remains a Utopia Secret, has declined to comment, even as we bring you the first photos of her alien-hybrid baby!  (Continued on page 10)






The Biggest Spark The World's Ever Seen: The Revealed Threat of Nova Worship to Humanity's Moral Values

By John Patriot, Ph.D.  Published December, 2003


The Founding Fathers were not dumb men.  With their belief in a Creator and the central nobility of human beings they built America brick by brick, law by law.  As a result, the Constitution of the United States remains an inspired and functional document even today.  The values of the founding fathers can be seen in every word of that great document, encouraged and nourished by successive generations of lawmakers who remained free of undue foreign entanglements and domestic rivalries.

Yet, in the years since the Galatea's fateful explosion, American families and electorates have been torn apart.  The kitchen table is no longer a place of reasoned conversation and prayer, but a storage space for clutter.  We do not focus on each other anymore, instead looking to the television screen and the OpNet.  Rather than place stock in ourselves and our accomplishments, we cheer on titanic celebrities with strange powers.  Is it coincidence that GPAs and proficiency rates in our schools are falling while Church attendance falls?  Or that incomes are falling while N! programming expands?

As a nation built of many peoples and many faiths, reliance on Nova messiahs is poison.  It wears down our way of life, distracts us from what really matters.  America isn't a nation of technological fetishists and trans-human progressivists: it is a nation of the faithful, of devout people and strong communities willing to do what it takes to overcome any challenge.  While Washington partisans and Wallstreet fat-cats fawn over nova celebrities, they throw good wealth after bad and trade long-term stability for short term gains.  These aren't American ideas.  The country they are trying to make for us isn't America anymore.
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