Server Responses #6

Response from HIEROPHANT Data Server to Query: Second Golden Age, Republic of Mankind; technology comparison

A full comparison would extend to several hundred pages. A partial comparison would note:

Autotropy: Second Golden Age autotropy was limited to genetic modification, pharmacological enhancement, and cybernetic interfaces, with some extreme cases using electronic augmentation of the human brain and full-body replacement. The Republic of Mankind makes extensive use of full-body replacement, neural parallel processing, and wide-spectrum electronic augmentation.

Computation: The Second Golden Age primarily used crystal matrix computers. The Republic of Mankind uses mixed neurological/crystal matrix systems.

Energy Production: The Second Golden Age primarily used hydrogen-boron fusion. The Republic of Mankind primarily uses SULTAN-invocation power plants.

Standard of Living: The late Second Golden Age achieved 8.9 on the Personal Affluence Scale. The Republic of Mankind achieves 5.1 on the Personal Affluence Scale.

Response from HIEROPHANT Data Server to Query: List of state governments which remained functional throughout the long night

No information is available in response to this query. This query has been forwarded to the public data server.

Response from Public Data Server to Query: List of state governments which remained functional throughout the long night

State entities which remained functional during the Long Night can be classified into three basic categories: the South American states, the South African Technate, and the island nations.

The South American states were centered around the Peoples' Republic of Brazil and also included Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Many of these states were allies of the Peoples' Republic of Brazil prior to the Last War; others were client states of the North American Technate, such as Columbia. Several Technate allies were attacked with nuclear weapons, but strikes were limited to military bases and capitols, and the state apparatus was able to recuperate. Following the initial nuclear strikes, the South American states, excepting Argentina, signed a treaty of cooperation on military and quarantine measures, including the extension of the Brazilian nuclear umbrella to the rest of the continent. The South American Treaty Zone was able to remain stable for the entirety of the Long Night, and emerged as one of the two major centers of civilization in the beginning of the Second Golden Age.

The South African Technate absorbed a minor nuclear salvo during the Last War, but their key infrastructure survived thanks to pre-war hardening and missile defenses. When Blue Death and other bioweapons reached the African continent, they created a nuclear firebreak along their northern border to prevent passage by infected refugees southward.

Island nations included New Zealand and other minor island states, which thanks to isolation and lack of strategic importance were not targeted by nuclear weapons and were able to maintain quarantine.

Response from HIEROPHANT Data Server to Query: Timeline, belligerents, casualties, and events related to the Last War.

No information is available in response to this query. This query has been forwarded to the public data server.

Response from Public Data Server to Query: Timeline, belligerents, casualties, and events related to the Last War.

The primary belligerents of the Last War included:

The North American Technate, Korea, Vietnam, the Philippine Technate, the South African Technate, Columbia, and assorted minor states versus the Democratic Republic of China, the Javanese Technate, Malaysia, Australia, and assorted minor states.

Timeline of Events Leading Up to the Last War:

2034 AD: Reformation of the Peoples' Republic of China into the Democratic Republic of China.

2046 AD: Formation of the North American Technate from the predecessor states of Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America.

2065 AD: Dispute between NorAmTech and China over control of Antarctic mineral deposits leads to several firefights between state security forces on the continent.

2071 AD: China begins naval and military buildup in response to NorAmTech seizure of a deep ocean mining platform in disputed waters in the Pacific Ocean.

2079 AD: NorAmTech ambassador to China assassinated by political radical.

2083 AD: Naval standoff in the South China Sea between China and combined NorAmTech and Philippine Technate forces over mineral rights.

2085 AD: New NorAmTech administration negotiates a detente with China, including settlement of outstanding oceanic disputes.

Timeline of Events Immediately Prior to And During the Last War:

January 21^st, 2088 AD: NorAmTech intelligence operative arrested in Chengdu. He is found to be carrying a live biological weapon. Chinese counterintelligence interrogates him over the next week; following the application of truth drugs, he confesses he was ordered to plant the pathogen in the municipal water supply. Analysis of the weapon shows it is a non-lethal sterilizing agent.

January 31^st, 2088 AD: Thirty-six NorAmTech intelligence operatives arrested throughout China. Eight are carrying live biological weapons. The Chinese Premier announces the arrests on state television and threatens war. The NorAmTech government categorically denies the accusations and accuses China of fabricating the events. The military forces of both states go to high alert.

February 1^st, 2088 AD: Chinese commandoes seize two NorAmTech-owned and -operated mining platforms in PhiTech waters in the South China Sea. Four NorAmTech personnel are killed during the seizure. The Chinese government delivers an ultimatum to NorAmTech, demanding the arrest of key personnel in its intelligence apparatus and biological weapons program, to be handed over to face justice in China, with an expiration date on February 15^th. China, NorAmTech, Korea, and PhiTech begin evacuating urban centers to hardened shelters in the countryside.

February 2^nd, 2088 AD: The Japanese Prime Minister announces he is severing his nation's mutual defense treaty with the North American Technate and intends to seek a rapprochement with China. SoAfroTech begins evacuating urban centers to hardened shelters in the countryside.

February 3^rd, 2088 AD: JaTech and Australia begin evacuating urban centers to hardened shelters in the countryside.

February 4^th, 2088 AD: NorAmTech marines attempt to retake the PhiTech mining platforms, which are now guarded by Chinese naval forces. In the ensuing battle, both platforms are destroyed, twelve ships are sunk, and 289 sailors and marines are killed.

February 7^th, 2088 AD: The Japanese Prime Minister is assassinated, by a political radical with links to Japanese intelligence. The Japanese military is deployed to municipal centers to keep order.

February 8^th, 2088 AD: Several military officers are arrested by Korean counterintelligence, amidst rumors of a thwarted coup attempt.

February 9^th, 2088 AD: A new Japanese Prime Minister is elected by the Parliament. She announces the decision to break the mutual defense treaty with the North American Technate will stand, and demands NorAmTech military forces begin leaving their bases in Japan by the end of the month.

February 10^th, 2088 AD: A PhiTech sub is accidentally rammed and sunk by a Chinese cruiser. Both NorAmTech and Chinese naval units respond to the distress call, and in the chaos several fire on each other. Three ships are sunk with the loss of 59 lives.

February 11^th, 2088 AD: In retaliation for the previous day's sinkings, NorAmTech forces launch missile strikes on naval bases on the southern Chinese coast. The strikes are misinterpreted as an attack on adjacent missile defense units, as the opening strike of a strategic nuclear attack. Both sides begin a general strategic nuclear exchange. Both belligerents target Japan in their attack.

February 14^th, 2088 AD: Last recorded transmission from NorAmTech high command.

February 15^th, 2088 AD: Last recorded transmission from Chinese high command.

February 18^th, 2088 AD: End of nuclear exchange as strategic weapons stockpiles are exhausted. Combat continues between isolated military units, operating without instructions from higher command.

January 23^rd, 2092 AD: Last recorded combat between Chinese and NorAmTech military units.

Casualty Estimates:

NorAmTech, China, Japan, Korea, PhiTech, JaTech, and Australia all suffered saturation nuclear attacks. Smaller strikes were targeted on SoAfroTech, NorAmTech allies in South America, Antarctica, India, Pakistan, and minor states in southern and southeast Asia. Biological weapons deployed by NorAmTech during the exchange subsequently spread throughout Eurasiafrica. In addition, nuclear winter, the collapse of international transport, and the destruction of most of the deep ocean mining projects led to mass starvation globally. The combination of plague and starvation caused the collapse of the surviving European, south Asian, and African governments.

Blast and fire: 650 million

Radiation: 100 million

Blue Death: 800 million

Other biological weapons: 1.8 billion

Starvation: 2.1 billion

Other causes: 400 million