Hey y'all,

This project started back in 2002, when I decided to create a world for an RPG . . .it has since mutated in many ways, finally becoming the stories and pictures that have washed up on this website.

This is a reference, for fans, reader, and anyone who may want to play around in the world that Draggo, and countless others have helped create.

Thanks to , , and the many others who helped this project.

Goes with the PostWar Target List, found HERE.

Cover design by  ethanblack

Welcome . . .

PostWar Background

All names/characters/vehicles/parts/systems are property of their respective owners/manufacturers/creators/players.
This particular pile of words is property DireWolf505/NMB.




The World

Nearly identical to our history, except the USSR never broke apart. The Soviet Union remained intact, due to the discovery and exploitation of mineral reserves in Siberia. There was a US Civil War, but it was fought over general slavery of all species, and the treatment of Ferals.
WWII was fought in the same way, against Nazis who preached purity of species, and persecuted any and all mixed breeds.

Intelligent species cover nearly all warm-blooded species, and several of the larger cold-blooded types. Avians, insects, and aquatic species are non-intelligent. Most of the food animals are unintelligent lizards, similar to cows and pigs, with similar meat. Birds are the same.

Ferals are larger, shaggier digitigrade variations of all intelligent species, know for their strength and extended upper canine teeth. They are in some cases considered unintelligent beasts, due to a rare ’berserker’ reaction to heavy stress, and the rare Periodic Estrus Syndrome that occurs in some females, giving them a heat cycle like their ancestors. Ferals can be born to any couple, though two Ferals will nearly always give birth to a Feral child.


Religion

The base religion was a pantheon of many Gods and Goddesses, that eventually faded into a general, and vague religion, with no known temples or clergy.

At some point during the long war that lead to the PostWar, all other members of the pantheon either left, or gave up and suicided out.
This left one Goddess, the Goddess of Life, Death, and the Hunt. She been drunk on the war, as death and warfare were one of Her ways. The gleaners claim She has taken over the responsibilities of the rest of the pantheon.

She has no true clergy, or temples, and very rarely does anyone claim to speak for Her, as those who claim that usually disappear, or suddenly stop, and become very humble.

Her appearance is said to be that of a multi-breasted canid, Her fur, hair and eyes a swirling rainbow of colors, or a multi-changing set of fur, hair and eye colors. She is sometimes described as being winged, with hawk-like wings, also multi-hued.

She speaks through others, never with Her own voice. She does manifest around the world, aiding travelers, the weak, and sometimes just showing up randomly. She has been known to take some under Her wing, if She feels they may help one of Her causes, or the continued survival of life on the planet. She has been in direct contact with some, for purposes unknown


PostWar

A brief overview of how it is, in the 2020s:

Things have stabilized. The old countries are gone, along with the laws, rules, and nearly every other aspect of the fine, thin veneer that is civilization.

America is gone, having tried rebuilding three times, only to be shattered by internal strife, rogue units, Soviet remnants and despair. What’s left gets by on scavenging, and a slow, scattered rebuilding. The rest of the world is similar.

The best places are the Safe Zones, the remnants of Red Cross/FEMA/military refugee camps turned quasi-city-states. The SZs hold outposts, fortified towns that form the backbone of postwar civilization. They are connected by Convoy Routes, and those convoys are protected by Convoy Security- ConSec. The areas outside the SZs, known as the ‘deads’, are filled with brigands, Soviet remnants and ‘oranges’. Brigands are motorized bandits, using a mix of civilian and military equipment and vehicles to do raids on outposts, towns, travelers, and convoys. ‘Oranges’ or RNGs are Rogue National Guard units. They are a military version of the brigands, using their superior firepower and training to take what they want. Soviet remnants from the invasions through Florida and Texas are a threat as well. The ’Sovs’ are usually under-strength, but they have military equipment and training.

The ‘currency’ of choice is barter/trade, ammunition, precious metals/jewelry and town scrip, used in the SZs.

Other dangers include the radioactive areas, fallout, mutations, and the weather. In particular chem-storms are a threat. Over time they have become less powerful, but are still potent enough to blister and burn. Also, the wind blowing out from irradiated areas holds fear, known as 'Reapers Wind' in many places.


ConSec

ConSec is run like a paramilitary group, light on polish and military bearing, but very effective. They are a rough and tumble group, known for to work hard, fight hard, and party hard. The convoys keep the refugee camps, settlements, and outposts going, sending supplies, mail and people back and forth from the Depots, where scavenged supplies and newly manufactured materials are located.


Brigands

Brigand is a generalized term for any number of outlaws, motorized or not that prey on the convoys, refugee camps, outposts and anything else with hit-and-run strikes. They can be found in groups as small as three to four members, and can number in the thousands for larger groups. They boost their numbers through raids, snatching kids, and in some cases breeding 'farms'.


'Oranges'

Rogue National Guard units. These units are soon referred to as rogue National Guard units, or 'RNGs' for short. This soon becomes 'oranges' and the nickname stuck. some places, the NG tried to hold areas by force, in attempt to keep order. These units soon found that it was also an easy way to get supplies and anything else needed (or wanted). Heavily armed, reasonably well-trained, they are a significant threat, using tactics similar to the brigands. They boost their numbers the same way as the brigands.


Soviet Remnants

Landed in Florida and coming up through Mexico during and just after the massive NBC exchange, Soviet invasion forces found themselves in a tight spot. They had no resupply, no reinforcements, and after crossing into the US, no orders. The Cuban units in Florida stopped roughly halfway up the peninsula, content to hold that much. In Texas, the lines blurred, as US military forces, militias, and the weather slowed the Soviets. Unable to push too deep, they mostly bunkered-in the few towns and cities they had seized, and just stopped. San Antonio, hit only with chemical weapons during the war has become their main base, and is pretty much on the 'frontier' of what they hold.

The Sovs do send out patrols, and rogue units do wander the former US, occasionally working with brigands and even 'oranges'.


Gleaners

The gleaners are a strange group, fiercely matriarchal, all important duties/positions are held by females. They have set up fortress-like Packcamps on the outskirts of the abandoned/destroyed cities, where they systematically scavenge for anything usable, stripping the cities, and trading/bartering the items. They will help those that need it, but it is accepted that there will be some kind of repayment, in either tradable materiel, work, or other types of payment.

Mode of address: Females are known as ‘Sister’, males are know as ‘Cousin’. Visitors are called by these same terms. Leaders are Pack Mother, Warchief, and Ghost Walker.

Ghost Walkers are spiritual guides and more. They are said to speak to, be spoken to by the Goddess. They are also known as ‘Warmages’, and are said to have abilities normal people don’t.

Outsiders can get high standing within the gleaner Packs, by helping them in certain ways, such as defending gleaners from attack, finding high-value scav, or adding to the gleaner gene pool. Anyone who helps out a gleaner, either individually, or the Pack as a whole, can receive a mark on the back of the ear. It is a painless tattoo, and marks you as a friend. The gleaners will not turn a ‘Packfriend’ away, and will assist them, should they need it.

Those who are extremely helpful, or do a great service to a gleaner, or Pack, can receive a spearhead. It is a necklace, with a stone spearhead hanging from it. A notch cut into it indicates even greater feats and help, and more prestige and honor.

The gleaner basic unit is the Pack. Packs live in Packcamps, fortified towns/cities on the outskirts of the abandoned and destroyed cities.

They are clannish, but friendly. They trade with nearly anyone, except those that are a threat to the gleaners, or the general population. Most brigand, ‘orange’ and other groups know better than to attack the gleaners, their ‘camps, or their convoys. The gleaners are well-armed, and the security forces and militias of any town would immediately exterminate any threat to them, or face the loss of supplies.

They are the post-apocalyptic economy. They salvage and create nearly all weapons, equipment, parts, spares, components, and materials. The Safe Zones get their supplies from the gleaner Packcamps. They are considered odd, for many reasons, and are known for brightly colored vehicles, and a distinct speech pattern.


Sea-Mercs

The sea-mercs travel by ship, gleaning wrecks and fighting for pay as privateers or marine-type forces. Their ‘harbors’ are usually made of barges and can be found all over the coasts of the world. Each group is led by a Flotilla Captain, with every ship having it’s own captain that follows the Flotilla Captain.

Sea-mercs work in the same way as the gleaners, scavenging and transporting materiel around the world, helping those that will most greatly improve the world.

They are easily identified by the ‘dazzle’ and ‘splitter’ paint jobs on their vessels.



Now, how it got that way . . .



1983

Russian exploration of Siberia discovers a massive oil reserve, easily accessed by rivers. Further exploration uncovers other mineral reserves, giving the Soviet Union a massive boost in resources and allowing them to aggressively pursue new technologies and expand their military and civilian infrastructure.

1984

In a surprising turn Soviet scientists, under the direct suggestion of the General Secretary are encouraged to share plans with the US for a permanent space habitat.

1985 – 1988

The Soviet Union continues it's regrowth, strengthening it's military forces, and spreading it's influence.

The US and NATO begin their own resurgence, as they warily watch the Soviets.

The various parts of the 'Freedom' and 'Cooperation' stations are built and launched, slowly being connected.

1989

'Freedom' and 'Cooperation', now fully connected and renamed the International Space Station, is boosted into a higher, more stable orbit.

1990

'Proxy Wars' in Africa begin, as NATO and US backed governments combat Soviet insurgencies and rebellions. All over the world, espionage and low-intensity conflicts run rampant.

1995 – 1997

'Colombian Wars' US forces 'advise' and support various governments in Central and South America against drug cartels and Soviet-backed rebellions/coups.

'Proxy Wars' continue in Africa.

In October of 1997 a large, well-armed force attacks a Red Army facility in the Ukraine. Among the munitions stolen is a high-megaton-range warhead, and an 'undisclosed' amount of other weaponry.

1998

April - The bulk-waste carrier GEPTRON 'Future', carrying seventy-five thousand tons of industrial and radioactive waste through the Pacific for disposal, disappears without a trace.

1999

On February 7th, a ship claiming an onboard emergency sailed towards the port of Haifa requesting aid. As it neared the port it didn't slow for the pilot, prompting the launch of a helicopter and multiple unanswered radio calls. The military was alerted, and nearby IDF naval units sortied to intercept. The ship continued on it's heading towards the port, and at 0237 hours local time the ship ran aground and moments later exploded. The ship was the long-missing GEPTRON 'Future', carrying an enhanced Soviet missile warhead, estimated at nearly two hundred megatons, packed into the ship's cargo. The cargo of industrial and nuclear waste, along with material from the ship itself created a hellish cloud of toxic, radioactive death, that was soon pushed inland, spreading and descending.

This cloud of enhanced fallout created a panic never before seen, as millions headed east to avoid the projected path of the cloud. Several small border clashes occurred as waves of refugees, military units, and anyone else that could scramble away from the burning western horizon.
Within twelve hours most of Syria and Jordan were uninhabitable radioactive and toxic wastelands. Israel was gone, with only a small amount of people able to to escape by aircraft and ship.

As the cloud spread and descended over the next thirty-six hours, the refugees pushed from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait pushed into Iran, sparking even more border clashes as the Iranian military attempted to stop this influx of hungry, scared and desperate people. The Iranian government pushed the refugees farther east, into Pakistan and Afghanistan, prompting even more low-level conflicts as weeks went on. The Soviet government in Afghanistan took in small numbers, funneling the rest into Pakistan, who promptly funneled them into India.

On February 23rd India declared that this was an assault on their country, and warned that they would respond with force if Pakistan didn't cease the 'invasion'. When the flood of refugees didn't end, India responded with coordinated airstrikes on Pakistani border command positions. When three Pakistani divisions surged into India, the response quickly spun into a full war.

Within a week the 'India/Pakistan War' had ground into a slugfest, with both sides liberally using chemical weapons. The refugees found themselves caught in a meatgrinder, with the Red Cross and other aid groups screaming. Cable news brought the war to nearly everyone, along with the horrifying aftereffects of the Haifa strike.

The middle of March found both sides of the IP War badly mangled, with little to show for the losses. Despite UN threats of intervention, and diplomatic assistance from several countries, both sides began to threaten the use of strategic nuclear weapons. After Indian forces detonated three tactical devices in an attempt to force an advance, New Delhi was hit by an aircraft-delivered weapon, and over the course of seventeen hours, Pakistan and India destroyed each other, command and control failing as both sides blasted each other with nuclear weapons.

On March 30th the UN declared that both countries were disaster areas, and moved peacekeeping forces in. Made up of European members, they began the massive undertaking of attempting to help the shattered remnants of both sides, and the surviving refugees.

In surprising turn, on April 7th the Chinese and Soviet Union declared the creation of a joint aid group, backed by a joint peacekeeping force, which quickly swept into the area from China and Afghanistan.

Despite an outcry from the US, the UN forces in the area reported that the group seemed to be legitimately repairing infrastructure and aiding those in need. Hailing it as a 'great day in comradeship', both the USSR and China promised more cooperation was to come.

Under cover of the joint aid group, Chinese forces are mobilized, and units from the Shenyang and Beijing Military Regions begin heading for Dandong and Ji'an. The Chinese government calls the mobilizations 'readiness training' and preparations for a joint exercise with the the North Koreans. The North Korean military also begins force movements, prompting the South Korean military to increase readiness.

In August the Chinese and North Korean forces hold a training exercise, coinciding with a joint Chinese/Soviet naval exercise in the Sea of Japan.

US naval forces rush to the area to shadow the fleet exercises, as the US government complained at the UN, calling the exercises 'threatening'.

By the fall, tensions were high on the Korean peninsula, as the North Koreans' rhetoric began to become more and more inflamed, calling for reunification, and the removal of all foreign presences.

2000

Citing a 'desire to reunite', on February 3rd North Korean forces invade South Korea. The first wave are preceded by heavy artillery barrages, and massive, widespread nerve agent attacks along the DMZ. Using camouflaged tunnel complexes, several divisions strike, punching through the 'tripwire' force established along the border. South Korean and US forces are quick to mobilize, slowing the advance.

US airpower is hampered by much more effective mobile AAA/SAMs, and the surprisingly effective DPRK air force. Within 24 hours the US/ROK forces had fallen back nearly twenty miles.

The US reaction was immediate, sending a wing of B-52 bombers, and a wing of F-15C fighters to the area, and mobilizing the MEU at Okinawa.

The Chinese decreed they would assist their Communist brothers, if any nation attempted to tip the scales in what they referred to as an 'internal struggle'. The UN began putting together a peacekeeping plan, as the battle raged on, and the US prepared to send additional forces to bolster the units already involved.

The chemical attacks had been only partially effective, slowing the ROK/US response. Bouncing back swiftly and using the defensive plans and structure in place, the defending forces set about holding the DPRK forces. The KPA first-line tanks were locally produced, upgraded T-62s, supported by recently acquired T-72Bs. These were accompanied by a swarm of IFVs and other vehicles. The main line of advance was pointed towards Seoul and Inchon, to cut-off US/UN reinforcements to the frontline.

By the second day there was fighting in the streets of Seoul, and Inchon was being shelled. US bombers from Guam and Okinawa were hitting the DPRK's rear areas, but the North Korean air defenses and aircraft were proving tougher and far more capable then previously thought.

As the US and UN begin to respond to the DPRK attack, intelligence reports start surfacing about more Chinese mobilizations, including an amphibious fleet being readied at the Yulin Naval Complex at Sanya.

The diplomatic channels between the US, China, and the UN heat up, as the US becomes increasingly concerned by Chinese military behavior.

The Soviet Union begins it's own readiness increase, creating even more tensions.

On the 7th, the MEU arrives at Gunsan, and prepares to move towards the fighting. Seoul and Inchon have fallen, but the North Korean advance has faltered, slowing to a crawl against increasing ROK/US mobilizations.

DPRK high command threatens the continued use of chemical weapons, and 'worse hells' in a clear channel broadcast.

With a large American force on it's way from California, and heavy air raids continuing, on February 11ththe North Koreans drop a two kiloton device on an ROK assembly point at Pyeongtaek, resulting in massive casualties. They followed the attack with a series of chemical strikes along the line, causing minimal damage to military forces, but thousands of civilian casualties.

The US, hampered by Chinese backchannel threats of nuclear response, vow to find and destroy the DPRK nuclear stockpile.

Three more low-kiloton devices are detonated, but are less effective due to being delivered via imprecise Nodong-1 IRBMs from far behind the DMZ.

With the arrival of the of one US Armored Division at Gunsan on February 27th, and the buildup of other forces through out the area, a counterattack was mounted on March 4th, pushing hard against the DPRK invaders.

The North Koreans responded with massive reinforcements, and a third chemical strike. When the third nuclear attack was launched, NRO satellites identified the hidden launch facilities, and a strike package was swiftly generated.

Guided by a rapidly inserted special forces team, a flight of FB-111G tactical strikers was launched from Guam into the Rangrim Mountains. The attack was successful in destroying the tunnels that the DPRK missiles were being hidden in and launched from.

With the threat of the IRBMs removed, the US and ROK forces regrouped, and began pushing the North Korean forces back. Within six days the UN forces had retaken Seoul, and showed no signs of slowing.
A second division arrived at Inchon, and quickly joined the rush.

Citing a need to end a decades long reign of terror, the US, ROK, and by majority vote, the UN decide to continue past the 38th Parallel, and invade the DPRK.

Despite fanatical but disorganized resistance, the Allied forces press on steadily.

As Allied forces move past Sariwon, both China and the Soviet Union go into high alert, and the Soviet Pacific Fleet sorties out seventy percent of their forces, including all of their submarines.

The North Korean military begins a campaign of scorched earth, setting fires and destroying infrastructure as they retreat. That coupled with the local populace's fear of all foreigners, and unceasing guerrilla attacks slow the advance.

As the Allied advance nears Pyongyang, a KGB courier en-route to the Chinese/Soviet aid base in Lahore, hijacks his helicopter and flies to a UN base at Chandigarh Airport. Once there he requests asylum, defects and hands over the intelligence he was carrying.

The intelligence is met with skepticism, as it details the opening of a massive Soviet/Chinese plan to take the Eastern Pacific Rim. The NATO intelligence community is divided on how to react, many assuming that this KGB officer was a plant, and all of this was an elaborate ploy to divert resources from the Proxy Wars in Africa and South America.

Despite NATO squabbling, the US military decides to set several units in the continental US to higher readiness, pre-staging some air groups to Guam and other Pacific bases.

In spring, the combined Soviet forces begin a series of movements and pre-staging of forces, under the guise of 'peacekeeping' in Pakistan and India, and in response to 'American aggression' in Korea.

UN squabbling becomes more and more common as the aftereffects of Haifa and the I/P War became more and more of a drain on the world economy. That, plus the Second Korean War and the increasingly disturbing behavior of the Soviet-Chinese forces raised tensions worldwide.
Terrorism runs rampant, and in Africa and South America the proxy wars enter into an even higher level of violence.

The Korean front stabilizes in late summer, with Allied forces slowed to a crawl in the mountains of the North, with the Chinese massing at the border, backing up threats of response if the Allies cross the border.

In the fall, the Allied forces dig in to a series of fortified towns and captured bases as winter nears. The Second Korean War slows into a counter-insurgency action, with Allied patrols and air units hunting DPRK and guerrilla forces throughout the mountains and countryside.

2001

At the beginning of summer, Chinese forces move into North Korea, in response to calls for assistance from 'the People'. Despite warnings from Allied command, several divisions of Chinese armor begin to advance towards the Allied lines. At the UN, the Soviets clearly stand by the Chinese, offering them support, as NATO countries display outrage. The US promises war if the Chinese do not cease their advance.

When the Chinese forces continue on, clashes between scouts and forward units soon became full on combat. The US issues a formal declaration of war, which is reciprocated by the Chinese. The Chinese begin to use chemical weapons in their advance.

Within twelve hours, the Soviet Union added it's own declaration, prompting NATO to go into high alert. In Europe, forces all along the borders of East Germany, Poland and other Warsaw Pact nations mobilize, as NATO units did the same.

Within hours of the declarations, naval warfare erupts in the Pacific, as Soviet and Allied submarines engage around their respective fleets and trailing lines.

As the situation is broadcast over television and internet, misinformation and sensationalism breed panic and confusion. All over the Western world hoarding, flight, and looting break out as civilians react to the wildly inaccurate reporting. In the United States, these reaction reach epidemic proportions swiftly.

In many areas, National Guard units are mobilized to deal with lawlessness and other panic-fueled actions. In the wake of the news martial law is declared in several major cities, and travel restrictions go into effect. Over the coming months, and as the war progresses the travel restrictions will become much more severe.

Within hours of the declarations of war, covert operations plans, long-term 'sleeper cells' and moles from every involved nation were activated worldwide. This began a long, drawn out 'black war' of terrorism, murder, kidnapping, bombing, sabotage and general mayhem that would continue for the rest of the war.

Amongst the opening shots of the full war were attacks on orbiting assets. At Sary-Shagan, the Soviet's dazzling laser began firing at military and potentially military satellites, as a similar ground-based laser at Edwards AFB returned the favor, causing an increasing level of communications breakdowns. To add to the communications failure, small numbers of US F-15s, and Soviet MiG-31s were tasked with carrying out ASAT missile attacks on some targets to insure destruction of critical reconnaissance assets.

To most observers on the ground, the space war was an abstract lightshow, with little impact aside from blank TV channels, and dead internet connections. For the crew of the International Space Station, it was a turning point. In a clear-channel broadcast, the crew of three Americans, one German, one Japanese, and two Russians declared they were neutral in the conflict.

After heated debate among the NATO backers, and backchannel talks with the Soviet Union, NASA is allowed to continue it's scheduled supply launches to the ISS.

After the first alerts and mobilizations in Europe, the 'European Front' becomes a tense staring match over sealed borders. Several small incidents occur as various units are moved forward, with the occasional incursion or tense standoff usually ending with mutual retreats.

As more forces are mobilized to respond to the 'Greater Soviet Alliance' as the combined force is now referring to itself in Chinese and Soviet Union news releases, Allied forces in Korea continue to be slowly pushed back despite heavy air support from Guam, the Philippines and US carriers. Heavy fleet actions are common in the Northern Pacific, as submarines and aircraft launch strikes against surface ships and port facilities.

As winter approaches, the Chinese advance slows, then stops despite assistance from Soviet Frontal Aviation. Even with submarine attacks, US reinforcements continue to land, and the Allies prepare for a new offensive in spring.


2002

Heavy attacks by bombers from the Pacific bases inflict massive casualties among the Chinese forces bunkered in for winter, leading to the first use of nuclear weapons in the war. Chinese H-6K long range bombers attack Anderson AFB and Apra Harbor on Guam, and Clark AFB and several other targets in the Philippines with nuclear-tipped Chang Jian 10 cruise missiles, causing massive casualties and destruction.

This early spring attack creates a rift between the Chinese and Soviet high command, with the Soviets angered by the use of nuclear weapons, in fear of US/NATO retaliation in kind.

The first reaction was public outrage in the Western world, once the news was released. The Chinese released a statement that promised more nuclear attacks if the Allied forces did not withdraw immediately, with the Soviets saying nothing either way.

The President, in an attempt to stop a potential nuclear war, ordered a strike on the Chinese ICBM facilities. The Allied intelligence agencies, and special forces units had been working to get units close to the Chinese missile bases, to observe the status of the Chinese ballistic missile forces. When the attack on the Pacific bases occurred, the US Strategic Air Command had all the intelligence necessary to launch a crippling attack.

Using plans drawn up long before the war, a wing of B-2 bombers were launched from Whiteman AFB. With close visual observation and laser designation from the special forces teams on the ground, the bombers hit the ICBM complexes and control facilities with cruise missiles and laser-guided bombs. Three of the bombers were lost on the mission. After action reports and damage estimate photographs from reconnaissance showed that at least 90% of the Chinese ICBM force had been destroyed.

The Chinese military demanded that the Allied forces remove themselves from the Korean peninsula, or face dire consequences. Coinciding with this claim, the Soviet and Chinese peacekeeping forces in Pakistan and India began to advance on UN controlled areas, engaging in clashes with the multinational forces on duty there. Calling up National Guard forces, the US promised to send support immediately.

So in summer, yet again the refugees of the Haifa attack found themselves stuck between armies, in a warzone. With most of the forces in the area being Soviet units, noncombatants were either ignored or fired upon immediately. The UN was too busy falling back to render much assistance as the Greater Soviet Alliance rolled towards them.


2003

With the new front having been opened, and more areas being affected the world economy took another hit, creating another wave of unemployment and rioting in the NATO countries. Smaller riots occurred in some Warsaw Pact nations, but they were brutally quelled. In some places in the West rationing and shortages begin to appear.

The Korean front had stabilized, with the occasional raids and small thrusts hampered by the lack of high-performance equipment on both sides, due to attrition. Spares and replacements were slow in coming for the Allies due to the continuing submarine warfare in the Pacific.

The second front had bogged down due to the terrain, massive damage left from the I/P War, and radiological and chemical hotspots.

As tensions increased, small border clashes in Europe did as well. Finally low-level combat erupted around Berlin and the Polish border, leading to several large-scale tank battles. The third front had opened.

Submarine warfare opens in the Atlantic as shipping, both civil and military is engaged by submarines of both sides. Convoys are set up by the US Navy as lone shipping are easy targets. Several of the convoys are attacked by long-range TU-95 and TU-22M bombers firing anti-shipping missiles, leading to several airbattles in the North Atlantic.

Two carrier groups are formed, to deal with possible Soviet naval activity.

With rumors of hidden missile silos in the Altay mountains of Mongolia, the NRO launched one of the last surviving SR-71 'Blackbird' photo-recon aircraft to scan the area. As it's mission came to a close, the aircraft reported an engine failure, and was forced to lower it's altitude. Trying to make it to friendly airfields in Turkey, the craft was forced by significant AAA and airborne threats to belly-in in Afghanistan. The pilot was killed, but the systems operator survived with serious injuries. Due to the sensitive nature of the data, the US Fifth Fleet was tasked with retrieval of the data and surviving crew.

Short on everything except problems due to several years of war, short supplies, and the other troubles endemic to a warzone, the Fifth Fleet had to scrape together a volunteer unit to achieve the mission.

After a smooth infiltration, landing and pickup, the on-site commander responded to an emergency radio message from a group of SAS-led Afghani fighters, on the run from a large Soviet counter-insurgency group.
Sending most of his team back to the pickup point with the data and systems operator, the team leader and a group of volunteers headed off to rendezvous with the indigenous force, and help them make it to the coast for retrieval by friendly forces.

Over the next several days, with the support of UN forces in the area, naval aviation from the Fifth Fleet, and even the big guns of the USS Wisconsin, the group fought and ran from an estimated regiment-sized unit, until reaching Pasni on the coast of Pakistan. Once there, the force now significantly smaller was retrieved by hovercraft of the MEU attached to the fleet.

With the first shots fired in Europe, the US military activated REFORGER.
Having to rely heavily on National Guard units with much of the military in actions along the Pacific, the REturn of FORces to GERmany operations plan was designed to move a large number of US troops and material into Europe in case of a Soviet attack. Ships loaded with equipment followed airliners loaded with troops who would access prepositioned vehicles and other equipment.

Soon, more trouble would arise along the Atlantic seaboard. The Soviet Red Navy had modified three 'Typhoon' class nuclear submarines into minelayers, carrying magnetic-acoustic nuclear mines. The subs' targets were the sealanes outside New York, Boston and Norfolk. So in late summer, ten hours after Convoy T-690 left Norfolk with thirty merchant ships and a screen of five destroyers and one cruiser, a merchant ship struck a nuclear mine left by one of the subs. Three of the merchant ships were crippled by the blast that destroyed the ship that hit the mine.

Braving more threats, the convoys continue on. Two 'loner' cargo ships and a large trawler are destroyed by the drifting nuclear mines over the next two weeks, prompting the closure of beaches and cessation of fishing along the Eastern Seaboard due to radiation hazards. Panicking people attempt to flee the shoreline, causing traffic troubles and more unrest. A fourth mine destroys a Coast Guard cutter off of Cape Cod.

Several US Navy ships are lost hunting down Soviet hunter-killer subs along the convoy routes. These deadly cat-and-mouse games will continue, as the war goes on.

In Europe the third front is a confused mess, as each of the NATO commands attempts to fight in it's own way, with infighting and squabbling common. The Soviet advance rapidly lost steam, due to movements within Soviet High Command to prepare for an 'inevitable' Chinese double-cross. With the addition of REFORGER units, the advance is slowed and stopped by winter.


2004

Badly pressured by a multi-front war, the US President and Congress restart the draft. Scattered rioting and protests follow, but with such high unemployment many are desperate enough to simply go with it. All travel, but especially air travel is a trying affair at this point due to numerous terrorist actions brought on by KGB and Chinese agents and domestic terror groups. Checkpoints, draconian security measures, and massive delays and all-out stoppages are common.

All over the US and Europe it isn't uncommon to see military troops on street corners, and as situation worsened, armored vehicles on street corners of major cities. Martial law is declared in many cities, leading to curfews and clashes with gangs. Rationing and shortages occur more frequently.

The 'Greater Soviet Alliance' continues to degrade, with both sides Becoming more and more assured the other is planning something. This growing schism allows for UN/NATO forces to survive as Chinese and Soviet leaders hold back their forces in readiness. In the jointly-held areas in India and Pakistan the atmosphere is extremely tense.

After sketchy reports of a coup in China in late winter, a wide-band clear-channel broadcast is heard, claiming that fire will come to all who stand before the People's Liberation Army. The Soviets found their calls and messages to the Chinese responded to with silence, and then by attacks, as Chinese forces surged into the Soviet Union. Within twelve hours of the Chinese attack, NATO threw together a haphazard surge of their own, hammering the Soviet forces in Germany and the Netherlands.
A smaller Allied push came from Korea and the India/Pakistan fronts as well.

Pressed hard from both sides and each other both the Chinese and Soviets began the wide-spread use of chemical weapons. A few small tactical nuclear weapons are employed by the Soviets against both NATO and Chinese forces, and NATO forces deploy one device in response.

Roughly a week after the Chinese surge, four ICBMs, hidden deep in the Altay mountain range of Mongolia, launched. Each was tipped with a single massive 200 megaton warhead. Their targets were Washington D.C., London, Tokyo, and Moscow.

The effects were devastating. All four cities were shattered, with tremendous death tolls. The USSR's response was a massive strike, hitting several targets in China. The US and UK conferred, and launched a simultaneous strike on Beijing.

The effect on the civilian population of the US was shocked horror, followed by attempts to flee, or barricading. With martial law in effect in most places, the authorities response was heavy handed and swift. Many just stared at the blurry long-range shots of the shattered cities as they burned. The new President was a relatively unknown member of Congress, young and inexperienced.

With their heavy civil defense programs, Moscow had a much smaller death toll. But the strike led to the deaths of the Premier, and much of the Politburo. This left the high command of the Russian military in charge of the country. A series of confusing and contradictory statements were transmitted from several locations, all claiming to be the proper leaders of the USSR.

The UK responded with little trouble, despite the complete destruction of their central government. Their own CD efforts were effective at dealing with the refugees and wounded, despite the already strained services.

Japan imploded, the country unable to deal with the deathtoll and massive devastation brought on by the attack. Ships and aircraft left the islands in droves, as US military personnel attempted to hold what was left of local authority together.

Despite degradation from the space war, government restrictions and blackouts most of this was broadcast to millions over cable news, internet and local affiliates. The horrors of the continuing war with it's chemical weapons and the massive destruction of the Chinese strike began to have an effect on those at home. Suicide, murder, and mental illness spiked again as people attempted to come to grips with a world that seemed to have stopped slipping into madness, and decided to run at it full-tilt.

By fall, all the fronts had ground down again. Supplies were short, and most units were lumped together from anywhere from two to six other units. The back-and-forth combat had left most of Central Europe ragged and in ruins. With the much larger battles happening along the Chinese-Soviet lines, NATO had pushed steadily, pressing deep into Poland and Czechoslovakia.


2005

The winter was harsh for both the military forces and civilians alike. Severe rationing, and shortages of staples are much more frequent, as things worsen. In many places blackouts are a regular occurrence.

The Chinese and Soviets had spent the winter bleeding each other in massive clashes that left both sides weakened, a fact not lost on the NATO command. Pressing the advantage in the late winter, the European forces spear deep, pushing into the Belorussian SSR by the end of spring. With the Chinese pressing from one side, and NATO pushing from the other, the Soviet high command panicked. A massive first-strike is launched at targets in multiple countries.

NATO and the US are alerted within moments by surviving launch-detection satellites. After a few minutes of scrabbling, they respond in kind.

The Firefall had begun.

In the US, sirens howled, bells rung, and tones screamed out of TVs and radios. Military facilities went into lockdown. Most people had no concrete plans or survival ideas, and in the ten to twenty-five minutes warning that was given, the worst panic in history occurred.

Many places outside of the West and major cities in the USSR, the only warning that arrived was the flash of detonation. With the breakdowns in world communications, many places in the world had no idea that the war had entered it's final phase until the sky lit up.

From the massive shocks of multiple nuclear strikes, the San Andreas fault releases, and the largest and longest earthquake in California history destroys most of the state, sinking a large amount of the land west of the fault into the sea.

Over a period thirty-six hours, civilization died in a series of NBC strikes. From scratchy shortwave, the crew of the ISS described the end to anyone with access to a multi-frequency radio.

Out of nearly every city worldwide came a flood of refugees; wounded, sick, flashburnt, radiation poisoned, or infected with weaponized diseases. Confused, terrified, and unsupplied, they were met by immediately overloaded emergency response teams, unprepared towns, and little to no government.

All over the world, authority broke down. Militaries and other groups came apart as governments disintegrated.

In the US and around the world, a significant amount of police and emergency services personnel abandoned their posts to help family and friends. A number of National Guard units also spontaneously dissolved, or went rogue. These units are soon referred to as rogue National Guard units, or 'RNGs' for short. This soon becomes 'oranges' and the nickname stuck. It was not uncommon to see two National Guard units, or other 'authorities' fighting over some prime looting area, or fuel.

In Europe and Korea, the war faltered as cities exploded near the front. The radio channels on both sides filled with a gabble of confused, alarmed voices. Several units came apart on both sides, and for the time being any thought of combat took a backseat to thoughts of home and family.

Every nation with nuclear armed submarines had at least one with orders to hide for a certain period of time, before launching it's payload. Over the week following the main strike, multiple launches occurred, re-attacking some cities, or hitting ones thought 'safe'.

In the lower Midwest, what was left of the US government began to attempt to rebuild, or at least hold the country together. They were hampered by internal strife, and the surprise addition of Soviet forces from Cuba, and up from Mexico. Surviving units of the US military began holding actions, finding that the Soviet forces were badly out of sorts, and terminally undersupplied. The invasions were short-lived, with the Cuban forces taking and holding roughly half of Florida, and the Texan invasion bogging down due to lack of supplies, US military response, and massive insurgent activity from surviving natives.

By summer the NATO/US advance had stopped, and was being pushed back. By the time it had retreated to Warsaw, it and the Soviet counterattack was beginning to come apart. By the time the Allies had been pushed back to Lodz, only fanatical diehards on both sides were continuing, most of both forces having slipped away.

The weather patterns had been effected badly by the war, with temperatures dipping below freezing at night by late summer in many temperate areas. Massive, fast-moving and extraordinarily violent storms swept the world mostly near nuked cities, carrying toxic, acidic rain. These terrible storms were soon called 'chemically adverse storms', and then 'chem-storms'. Created by climate changes, and the massive amounts of impurities thrown up by the war, chem-storms are savage, toxic thunderstorms of terrible ferocity. Heralded by strange colors in the skies, a heavy, acrid chemical/ozone smell and multicolored lightning, the rain they produce contains concentrated heavy metals, toxins, chemical weapons traces and radioactive particles. They are capable of stripping paint, killing and burning plant life, and blinding, burning and even killing people by toxic shock.

Another threat are brigands, motorized bandits, using a mix of civilian and military equipment and vehicles to do raids on outposts, towns, travelers, and convoys.

Reports of well-organized groups of people moving into and fortifying towns near the cities begin coming in. These groups are reported to be polite if a bit standoffish, but always willing to trade. Calling themselves 'gleaners', they tolerate little from the roving gangs and rogue military units.

By fall, dirty grey and black snow was falling everywhere. Even the equator received a dusting of the stuff. It wouldn't melt for over nine months, in most places. It was the first Grey Winter. In the refugee camps, small towns and everywhere else millions would die of exposure, starvation and disease over those long, cold dark months.


2006

As winter lingered, the provisional United States government calling itself 'US II' planned. They called in units to link up when the weather broke, and plotted the use of strategic reserves that had survived. Led by the Deputy Secretary of Labor (the highest ranking survivor of the executive branch that could be located), US II was holding out well. With the military being led by recently retired Brigadier General Joseph Williams, a large amount of supplies were being delivered to refugees in outlying areas around their main base at Corbin, Kentucky.

Despite problems with rogue National Guard units, criminal gangs and survivalists gone wrong, they were making good headway as the year continued. Small groups of US military survivors from overseas were trickling back in, and the surviving loyal units they contacted made their way in as well.

When the summer finally came, the forces under the command of US II began an aggressive cantonment program, similar to the fortified hamlets of the Vietnam war. Moving people out of winter-damaged towns, and the sprawling refugee camps, they set them to repair specific towns. These walled towns would be the basic design used in the Repair and Replenishment Depots that spread from US II's area, creating local, and in some places regional 'Safe Zones'.

With the remnants of FEMA, CD, and Red Cross now merged into one group with surviving military medical units, plans were drawn up to start moving the larger refugee camps into more cantonments.

The going was rough, with a shortened warm season, and unceasing difficulties with hostile survivors, criminals and traitors. Many people did not want to leave their homes, and that slowed the movements even more. Winter soon moved in again, as the altered weather patterns took their toll. Many more would die as continuing starvation and hardship hammered the survivors mercilessly. For the military, cantonment settlers and criminals things were a bit easier with slightly more supplies, but disease and other hardships were a constant drain.


2007

When the second Grey Winter finally broke in late spring, US II found itself facing a serious problem. A large number of rogue military, National Guard and Soviet-backed revolution groups had set up shop in Chicago. The city was only slightly damaged by a near-miss, and the rogue forces were dug in deep, having told the survivors that they were the official government. A near-by refugee camp was preyed on regularly for labor and supplies.

At the same time, the remnants of the Soviet invasion force in Texas had just finished up negotiations with a large mixed-bag group of criminals and rogue military elements. They planned on linking up with the defenders of Chicago, and taking over the US II basecamp for it's supplies.

General Williams and US II had some advantages, mostly a large stockpile of older, but effective 'smart' weapons, and a significant superiority in air power. Williams' forces were stationed in the plains southwest of Chicago, preparing to hit the city. When word came up of the incoming forces heading northeast, Williams had his forces spread out, holding the armor in a central point, and the rest of the ground forces in a wide semicircle, with air units ready at rear areas.

Between the bottled-up forces in the city, which had no armor or aircraft, and the oncoming remnant/rogue forces, US II had a slightly less than one-to-one ratio in troops and and armor, and a two-to-one in aircraft. The Soviet remnants had some fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, but they had to take and hold airfields for them, and US II had destroyed most of the nearby fields in preparation.

The enemy advance slowed as they neared Springfield, and they began their own preparations despite harassment attacks by loyalist aircraft. In mid-July, the main body of the remnant/'orange' began it's thrust, to be met in the fields near Bloomington. A large force of troops were stationed there, well dug in. For the next week, the fields would be home to the largest, and last tank battle of World War III.

Unknown to Williams his second in command, a former USN officer named Reginald Toomey was a deep-cover agent. As the battle progressed, he issued counter-orders whenever possible, to hamper the loyal forces.

Williams didn't discover this until too late, killing the traitor after overhearing him repeatedly attempt to order a unit into a position they knew was incorrect. By this time, the battle had devolved into a disaster on both sides. The renegade and Soviet forces had command issues that often devolved into screaming matches over the radio, and sometimes resulted in physical combat.

Wounded in his struggle with Toomey, and with enemy forces having ended-around and his command post soon to be overrun, Williams sent a clear-channel message releasing all loyalist forces. When the first Soviet vehicles entered the compound, Williams command-detonated a nuclear warhead.

With there main body half nuked, and spread out, the advance faltered and died, as remaining loyal forces either pulled out, grimly held, or in cases charged madly. Over the next week the battle petered out, and most of the combined remnant/rogue forces split up, and either went back to the mostly-Soviet held lower half of Texas, or struck out on their own.

By fall, internal struggles in Chicago erupted into an internecine war that lasted most of the winter, ending with no clear winner, and a draining of all the players' resources.

With it's military arm destroyed, US II became fragmented, unable to hold what it had. Over the next few months it slowly came apart, with the survivors trying to consolidate under heavy attacks and internal squabbling, finally just drifting off to try and hold the Safe Zones.

The United States had died for the second, and for all intents and purposes, final time.

Despite this, several of the 'Safe Zones' created by US II continue to operate.


2008

Attempting to extend it's influence farther, the committee in charge of the South-West Safe Zone creates a plan to build a new series of outpost in Utah and Arizona. A second large-scale repair and replenishment depot is created near Orderville, Utah. This facility will be called the South-West Safe Zone Repair and Replenishment Depot Two. Soon after completion, it is being called 'Depot Deuce'.

The facility finds itself under fire frequently, as the convoys of supplies are sent out to outposts and camps all around the SWSZ.

2011

Three years after it's creation, Depot Two is still troubled. Under regular attacks by local brigands, 'oranges' and Soviet remnant forces, the facility is a mix between an Old West bordertown and Vietnam War firebase.

Moving through the area, Barry Roberts and the small group with him move in, with intentions to help. Over the next few months Roberts will suggest, put together and help lead the largest area-sweep since the ending of the war. Over six months, using jury-rigged armored trucks, surviving APCs and IFVs, and even tanks, the force that would be known as Convoy Security hunted and engaged hostile groups in an area of more than two hundred square miles around Depot Deuce.

At the end of the campaign, (ended because of high casualties and on-coming winter) the area around Depot Deuce was much quieter. Roberts' security force had 60% casualties, and most of the heavy armor had been lost.


2015

Scouts find that a medium-sized town northeast of Flagstaff was in good condition, and in a highly defensible location. After a short deliberation, the SWSZ committee approves the creation of a new outpost. Over the next year the area is swept, cleared and prepared for the relocation of several thousand refugees. Calling the place Scapes Bluff after a housing development in the area, the outpost grows quickly.

Convoys are soon running between Scapes Bluff, Depot Deuce, and several other outposts. Between convoy operations, local security forces run sweep and clear operations to keep the brigand population down.


2027

What starts out as a routine convoy run on Convoy Route 07 between Depot Deuce and Scapes Bluff, will spiral out into a series of extremely unlikely and important missions for the crew of Convoy Security Team 01 . . .