TEXT: 1
  
  2
  Introduction …………...….3
  Story ………………………4
  The Homeworld………....16
  States and the Stateless…42
  Faces of the Fifth Wave…86
  People…………………...104
  Technology……………...115
  Campaigns………………121
  
  3
  Introduction
  Earth. For all the dynamism of colonial culture, the
  homeworld remains the center of human civilization.
  The vast majority of human beings (and other sapient
  life) live on Earth, doing business, arguing over
  ideas, and fighting wars just as they have always
  done. Humanity and its partners may be scattering
  into deep space, but its destiny has not yet divorced
  itself from the planet of its birth.
  GURPS Transhuman Space: Fifth Wave is the first
  of several books covering the situation on Earth. This
  book presents an overview of the homeworld's status,
  with special emphasis on the so-called "Fifth Wave"
  nations. These wealthy societies are the ones which
  dominate the world through ideology and advanced
  technology. They are also the ones which have
  changed the most since the end of the last century,
  riding the leading edge of transformation. Hundreds
  of nation-states, thousands of splinter cultures,
  millions of organizations struggle to survive and
  grow in the hothouse environment of the homeworld.
  In addition to being a guidebook for Earth, Fifth
  Wave includes a number of new racial packages.
  There are also rules for some of the special
  technology found on Earth: virtuality nodes, software
  for network intrusion and defense, and various land,
  sea and air vehicles popular among adventurers.
  Welcome home. It's different here.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:About GURPS
  (((BOILERPLATE)))
  (((END BOX)))
  About the Author
  Jon F. Zeigler has been a science fiction fan since the
  cradle (literally). He has been playing role-playing
  games since about 1980. In 1988 he discovered
  GURPS and hasn't looked back since. He and his
  wife and two children live in Maryland, where he
  works as a computer security consultant. He has
  written several past books for GURPS and has also
  done freelance work for other games.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Page References
  @TEXT-BOX:See GURPS Compendium I, p. 181,
  for a list of abbreviations for GURPS titles, or visit
  our web site at
  www.sjgames.com/gurps/abbrevs.html for the most
  recent list.
  @TEXT-BOX:Any page reference that begins with a
  B refers to the GURPS Basic Set, Third Edition
  Revised; e.g., p. B23 refers to page 23 of the Basic
  Set. CI refers to GURPS Compendium I, BIO to
  GURPS Bio-Tech, and TS to GURPS Transhuman
  Space.
  (((END BOX)))
  About Transhuman Space
  The Transhuman Space series presents a unique
  hard-science and high-biotech universe to roleplay in.
  Set in the Solar System in the year 2100, it is a
  setting rich in adventure, mystery, and the
  exploration of the possibilities of existence. The core
  book in the line is GURPS Transhuman Space,
  written by the creator of Transhuman Space, David
  Pulver. It covers the core concepts, and presents an
  overview of the Solar System of 2100. GURPS
  Transhuman Space: Fifth Wave is the fourth book
  in the line. Steve Jackson Games is committed to full
  support of the Transhuman Space setting; future
  titles will detail the Deep Beyond outside Mars orbit,
  more details of the homeworld itself, and much more.
  
  4
  Story
  We are all afraid -- for our confidence, for the future,
  for the world. That is the nature of the human
  imagination. Yet every man, every civilization, has
  gone forward because of its engagement with what it
  has set itself to do. The personal commitment of a
  man to his skill, the intellectual commitment and the
  emotional commitment working together as one, has
  made the Ascent of Man.
  -- Jacob Bronowski, The Ascent of Man (1973)
  At the beginning of the new millennium, the world
  faced an uncertain future. The most powerful nation-
  states were at peace. Yet there were dozens of petty
  wars scattered across the globe, and the human race
  could look back on the bloodiest century in its
  history. Some nations were enjoying unprecedented
  prosperity. Yet the disparity between rich and poor
  individuals, rich and poor nations, was growing ever
  wider. Technological innovation was bringing dozens
  of everyday miracles to market each year. Yet the
  world faced serious problems which seemed
  impervious to any technological solution.
  Meanwhile, an ecological catastrophe seemed likely
  to strike the world at any time. Global climate
  change, long feared, was slowly becoming obvious.
  Biologists registered a mass vanishing of species, the
  likes of which had not been seen since the end of the
  Cretaceous Era. Arable lands and healthy forests
  shrank worldwide, and the planet's belt of deserts
  grew. Every month a few more millions were added
  to humanity's numbers. Nations squabbled over how
  to halt the slow decline of humanity's life support
  system, or ignored the situation altogether in the face
  of more pressing problems.
  A few visionaries realized that the next century
  would be the critical moment in human history. The
  next hundred years might decide whether the human
  species would become extinct -- or achieve
  transcendence.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Drowning in the Waves
  @TEXT-BOX:In the 1980s, the futurist Alvin Toffler
  pointed out that technological change sometimes
  caused radical changes in culture and society. Such
  changes would sweep across the world like a "wave,"
  transforming institutions and worldviews, bringing a
  new kind of civilization into existence in a relatively
  short time. The results would be so significant that
  societies on opposite sides of a Wave would literally
  be inhabiting different worlds.
  @TEXT-BOX:Toffler spoke of three Waves. The
  First Wave was triggered by the discovery of
  agriculture perhaps 10,000 years ago. The Second
  Wave corresponded with the Industrial Revolution,
  which began about 1800. The Third Wave that
  Toffler predicted was associated with the spread of
  digital computers and information networks,
  beginning about 1960.
  @TEXT-BOX:Toffler's vision was correct in many
  specifics, mistaken in others -- but in 2100, people
  use the concept of "waves of change" in deadly
  earnest. In the past century, two more such Waves
  have swept across the world, further complicating the
  process of human history.
  @TEXT-BOX:The Fourth Wave involved the spread
  of genetic technology, beginning with the sequencing
  of human DNA at the beginning of the century,
  culminating with the "biogenesis revolution" and the
  appearance of variant human subspecies in the 2050s.
  Today's futurists disagree about what constitutes the
  Fifth Wave, but almost all agree that its early stages
  are already transforming the world. Candidates for
  the central technology of the evolving Fifth Wave
  civilization include nanotechnology, memetics and
  powerful artificial intelligence.
  @TEXT-BOX:Each Wave overlies the previous
  ones, but does not replace them. The result is "future
  shock," the collision of unready human individuals
  with an utterly new form of society. Today, the
  dizzying speed of technological change means that all
  five Waves coexist on the same planet, subsistence
  farmers living side by side with gengineered
  parahumans and superhuman AI. The world is in a
  constant state of future shock. This accounts for
  many of today's cultural phenomena, from
  reactionary Preservationists who desperately reject
  change, to radical Transhumanists who often seem to
  be drunk on it.
  (((END BOX)))
  The Biotech Revolution
  The technology which epitomized the early 20th
  century was the nuclear weapon, the highest
  achievement and most fearsome weapon of industrial
  civilization. The technology most characteristic of the
  late 20th century was the digital computer,
  foundation of the networked societies of the future
  and source of unparalleled prosperity. As the new
  century began, some believed its primary technology
  would be genetic -- the manipulation of DNA. They
  were right, but the new revolution was stubbornly
  slow to appear. By 2010, most of the industrialized
  world (particularly the United States) was in a
  technological slump. Innovation continued, but at a
  slower pace, and the unprecedented economic growth
  of the 1990s was gone.
  Biotech Sanctuaries
  Genetic engineering was rapidly becoming a mature
  technology in 2000. However, even as the new
  technology's potential for human advancement was
  becoming obvious, its tremendous potential for abuse
  also became clear. Cloning experiments seemed
  likely to rob humans of their individuality. The
  
  5
  notion of cloning human tissues for transplant
  material was violently rejected in many nations.
  Genetic testing and therapies promised to end the
  suffering of many diseases, but they also opened the
  door for discrimination on the basis of one's genetic
  inheritance. Engineered food crops and "pharm
  animals" promised to vastly increase agricultural
  productivity worldwide, but they met resistance from
  environmentalists, traditional farming interests and
  populations who feared eating altered foods.
  It was the misfortune of genetic engineering that it
  matured at a time when much of Western civilization
  had soured on the notion of "progress" and
  technological innovation. Space development had
  stalled. Nuclear power was regarded with deep
  distrust. The Internet, once regarded as a source of
  endless miracles, had proven to be vulnerable to both
  deliberate attack and sheer accident. Genetic
  technology was particularly mistrusted, being
  associated with genetic discrimination, biowarfare
  and "Frankenfood."
  The new genetic technologies were severely
  restricted in the most developed nations. The United
  States, the European Union, and Japan all agreed to
  strictly limit and monitor the use of genetically
  altered organisms. Foods and drugs originating from
  transgenic organisms were subjected to the strictest
  regulatory regimen of any industrial product.
  Scientists were strictly prohibited from using
  transgenic organisms in any situation which might
  allow them to escape into the "wild" ecosystem. All
  experiments with human genetic transformation were
  strictly monitored.
  Still, no new technology can be suppressed for long.
  One of the great advantages of early 21st century
  genetic engineering was that it could be practiced
  without much of the infrastructure of a high-
  industrial society. The startup costs for a genetic lab
  were low, and almost all of the needed equipment
  could be purchased on the open market. As a result,
  geneering was an ideal area of research for emerging
  economies in Latin America, Africa, or South Asia.
  Through the 2010s and early 2020s, many Third
  World nations and individual entrepreneurs quietly
  invested in geneering facilities, hoping to steal a
  march on the First World nations who were moving
  cautiously with the new technology.
  At first, these "biotech sanctuaries" floundered. Even
  with the strict limits placed on their activities, First
  World genetic engineers simply had more resources
  to apply to their task. Eventually, the sanctuaries hit
  on their main advantage: the ability to take risks, free
  of the shackles of regulation. Sometimes the results
  were grim, as in 2021 when a modified strain of
  hantavirus escaped from a bioweapons lab to
  devastate the population of Dar-es-Salaam.
  Sometimes, however, the sanctuary engineers hit
  gold. The most prominent example of this was a
  broad-spectrum cure for a variety of acquired
  immune-deficiency diseases, developed in 2024 by
  the South African firm Ithemba Biotechnologies.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Intellectual Property
  @TEXT-BOX:How can anyone hold a patent on
  something every human being carries around in his
  body from birth? Do we all owe these guys royalties
  now just for breathing?
  @TEXT-BOX: -- Anonymous Internet commentator
  (2008)
  @TEXT-BOX:In the First Wave civilizations, the
  fundamental source of wealth was land, on which
  cattle could graze or food crops could be raised. In
  the Second Wave civilizations, land gave way to
  capital, the ownership of industrial machinery. Third
  Wave and later civilizations still make use of land
  and capital, but today the fundamental source of
  wealth is information.
  @TEXT-BOX:Whether encoded as algorithms in a
  computer, sequences of DNA, or the molecular
  structure of a nanotech device, information has
  defined wealth since late in the 20th century. The
  most critical feature of information is that it can
  easily be duplicated. It's possible to define who owns
  a given piece of land or a given item of industrial
  equipment, but any number of people can "own" the
  same piece of information. Even the physical
  representations of information -- computer programs,
  genetic sequences, or nanodevices -- can easily be
  copied (in fact, some of them tend to copy
  themselves). In any case, new information is
  normally useless until it is shared widely.
  @TEXT-BOX:So how can someone who develops
  new, useful information make a profit, especially in
  cases where such development is very expensive?
  The answer is the legal concept of intellectual
  property. The developer holds the exclusive right to
  make copies of the information, expressed in a patent
  or copyright which is enforced by the state. As long
  as he holds this right, he can sell copies for any price
  the market will meet, usually many times what it
  costs to simply produce the copies. Anyone else who
  attempts to make copies (other than for individual,
  private use) can be punished with civil or criminal
  penalties. In this way, an artificial scarcity is imposed
  on the information, keeping its price high enough so
  that its owner can make a profit.
  @TEXT-BOX:Like many legal concepts, intellectual
  property is a fiction, viable only as long as everyone
  agrees to be bound by it. Such agreement has
  sometimes been hard to come by. Even in 2000,
  fierce controversies were breaking out over the
  ownership of computer software, digital recordings of
  music, genetically engineered seeds, and other forms
  of intellectual property. Whenever the public saw too
  great a discrepancy between the value of information
  and the price charged for it, piracy became
  widespread. Individuals copied software, recordings,
  genetic and nanonic designs. Entire nations, falling
  
  6
  behind in the race for technical innovation, chose not
  to enforce the international agreements protecting
  intellectual property. Property-owners struck back
  with punitive laws and elaborate anti-piracy
  technology. In many ways, the conflict over
  intellectual property has defined the 21st century, just
  as the conflict over capital property defined the 20th
  century.
  @TEXT-BOX:The conflict continues today, with
  whole ideologies devoted to one side or the other of
  the struggle (see p. 00 for one example). Many an
  adventure in the Fifth Wave environment can turn on
  the struggle for ownership of information in the form
  of intellectual property.
  (((END BOX)))
  Doing Well by Doing Good
  In the information economy, the ultimate resource is
  the human mind. That's why it no longer makes sense
  for us to write off most of the world's population.
  People in poor countries aren't stupid, but they're
  prevented from putting their minds to best use. Every
  human being left uneducated is a human being who
  can't afford to buy our products, and can't produce
  the innovation on which our future depends.
  -- John Alan Kowalski, CEO of Columbia Aerospace
  (2033)
  By 2024, Africa had suffered the ravages of AIDS
  and other immune-deficiency diseases for almost two
  generations. Many areas of the continent had been
  devastated, with whole villages wiped out and a
  complete breakdown of organized society. The
  owners of Ithemba Biotechnologies were painfully
  aware of Africa's needs. Unfortunately, they were
  also aware that much of Africa's population would be
  utterly unable to pay for the AIDS cure.
  Ithemba's strategy was characteristic of the time.
  Backed by the South African diplomatic apparatus,
  the corporation struck bargains with a number of
  African and South Asian governments. In exchange
  for distributing the AIDS cure free of charge to
  anyone who needed it, Ithemba would receive
  controlling interests in various state-held enterprises.
  As a result, by 2027 the biotech firm was diversifying
  into mineral extraction, petroleum refining, rare
  woods, computer manufacturing, and a variety of
  other industries. From these, and from the extremely
  favorable regulatory terms offered by the host
  governments, Ithemba made the profit that it could
  not make directly by selling its geneered wares to the
  desperately poor people who needed them.
  From about 2025 to 2040, many other firms followed
  the Ithemba example. Biotech Euphrates made its
  first fortune with a series of robust food crops, which
  could be used to transform marginal terrain into
  productive farmland. Even the high-industrial firm
  Columbia Aerospace invested heavily in the Third
  World, building its largest launch facility near Quito
  in partnership with the government of Ecuador. It
  was a time when many entrepreneurs ventured
  outside the "completed" markets of the developed
  nations, risking everything to become merchant
  princes in the world's poorest countries. Many of
  them failed, but others succeeded brilliantly. In so
  doing, they did much to solve Third World problems
  that had long seemed intractable.
  The Booming Forties
  As the Third World's biotech firms worked out the
  problems, the developed nations began to accept the
  miracles of biotechnology. The process was slow, but
  once regulatory restrictions were relaxed the First
  World began to foster its own gene-tech
  entrepreneurs.
  The 2040s were a time of new hope for many people.
  The suffering of populations in Africa, South Asia,
  and other poor regions was rapidly being reduced.
  Meanwhile, even the most developed nations
  experienced a resurgence in economic growth, along
  with a new belief in "progress" as a force in human
  affairs. Digital and genetic technologies resumed the
  rapid advances which they had enjoyed before the
  turn of the century. Meanwhile, the arrival of energy
  and mineral resources from space began to fuel an
  industrial renaissance.
  The period was not without its discontents. Some of
  the era's great projects, such as the construction of
  deep-space habitats and the terraforming of Mars,
  attracted sharp criticism. On Earth, the most
  controversial innovations involved the design of new
  forms of sentient life: increasingly sentient AI,
  "uplifted" animals, and even genetically transformed
  human beings. As progress seemed to march on,
  unstoppable, there were growing questions about the
  moral value of the new technologies.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Multinational Alliances
  @TEXT-BOX:The peak of the nation-state was
  probably in the middle years of the 20th century,
  when national governments were at their most
  intrusive and the most powerful nations competed for
  control of the entire world. Since then, social and
  economic trends have caused much of the power once
  held by nations to move to other levels of
  organization.
  @TEXT-BOX:One aspect of this change has been
  the movement of sovereign power upward, from
  nation-states to the level of regional organizations. As
  the world grows more interdependent, many nations
  have found it useful to form partnerships with their
  neighbors. Free-trade zones and commercial unions
  allow neighbors to trade more efficiently among
  themselves (and compete more effectively against
  outsiders). Law-enforcement agreements help fight
  against criminals who would otherwise flee across
  national borders with impunity. Military alliances
  help nations to defend against more powerful rivals.
  Nations which share an unpopular ideology can band
  
  7
  together to prevent outside interference in their social
  arrangements. All of these relationships lead nation-
  states to hand over some sovereign authority to their
  partners.
  @TEXT-BOX:This process was already under way
  in the 20th century, but it has accelerated. Today
  three out of six of the world's Great Powers are not
  nation-states, but alliances in which no one nation
  dominates. The European Union is primarily a free-
  trade zone, but over the past decades the E.U. nations
  have integrated most of their law-enforcement and
  defensive arrangements as well. The Transpacific
  Socialist Alliance is an ideological bloc, devoted to
  promoting and defending nanosocialism. Finally, the
  Pacific Rim Alliance is a military partnership,
  allowing its members to defend against possible
  Chinese or TSA aggression.
  (((END BOX)))
  Transhuman Awakening
  In the developed world, the 2030s and 2040s were a
  time of material prosperity and political conformism.
  The main concerns of most people were to make a
  good living and avoid causing trouble. All of that
  changed suddenly in the early 2050s, with the great
  social upheaval known as the Transhuman
  Awakening.
  The Andes War
  It was a war for no clear object, in a country that
  presented no threat, fought by soldiers who had no
  choice. Vietnam with pretty mountains. You would
  think we might have learned something in the last
  eighty years.
  -- Captain Dana Martello, USMC (ret.), The Andean
  Conflict (2064)
  Off Earth, the awakening was sparked by the release
  of the Ares Plague and the subsequent birth of the
  Preservationist movement. On Earth, the event that
  catalyzed the revolution was the outbreak of the
  Andes War.
  In 2049, a new insurgency broke out in Peru. Like the
  Senderistas of the 20th century, the "Red Sword"
  movement was inspired by radical Marxism. Unlike
  the Senderistas, the Red Sword drew its manpower
  primarily from the Indian population of Peru, and
  posed a serious threat to Peru's urban centers and
  central government. The new rebellion also had some
  radically un-Marxist ideas, calling for the absolute
  rule of a genetically-enhanced Incan elite and the
  rejection of all high-industrial technology. By 2052,
  the Peruvian government was fighting a vicious
  guerilla war and was in dire straits. In that year, Lima
  made its first appeal to the United States for military
  aid, suggesting that a rebel victory would make the
  American alliance with Ecuador untenable and
  threaten the Columbia Aerospace facilities near
  Quito.
  The Andes War was the first major conflict which
  involved "transhuman" soldiers on all sides. The
  United States deployed Marine and regular Army
  units made up almost entirely of combat cybershells,
  under human officers who had received
  biomodification. The Peruvian government used
  gene-enhanced and "uplifted" animals as bodyguards
  and commando troops. Meanwhile, even the
  insurgents used extensive biomodification among
  their leadership cadre.
  The war was quite controversial in the United States
  and the rest of the developed world. Both rebel and
  Peruvian government forces behaved with extreme
  brutality. Meanwhile, the extensive American use of
  combat cybershells brought the issue of non-human
  rights to the immediate attention of the American
  populace. Many young people demonstrated against
  the use of AI in dangerous or menial occupations.
  Other elements of society rejected cybershells as
  "inhuman," and demanded an end to their
  construction. Some conservatives also claimed the
  inhumanity of cybershells, but supported their use as
  a "liberating" factor for humans.
  After American forces withdrew from Peru in 2055,
  LAI cybershells of increasing sophistication began
  appearing in civilian society. Combat models entered
  service with police and private security firms. Labor
  models appeared in the unskilled-labor pool and in
  public-works projects. Some were even produced to
  serve as expensive companions, bodyguards or sex
  toys. All of these events further polarized society in
  the US and elsewhere, touching off years of social
  and political upheaval.
  Transhumanist Surge
  We regard the present human norm as a transitional
  state. We will not give up our humanity, but we will
  perfect it in a thousand diverse ways.
  -- Ian R. Walker, The Transhuman Experience (2056)
  One social movement of the time was
  Transhumanism. This movement had actually been in
  existence since before the turn of the century, but the
  debate over AI rights gave it new life.
  Transhumanists argued, in effect, that technology
  could be used to vastly extend the potential of the
  human species. Genetic and cybernetic
  enhancements, the use of mind-altering drugs,
  communion with increasingly-advanced computers,
  all were touted as valuable tools for the extension of
  human capability.
  In many ways, the Transhumanists of the mid-21st
  century resembled the young American and European
  radicals of the 1960s. They laid the same emphasis on
  moral value, made the same demands for freedom
  and justice, and mounted the same aggressive
  challenge to established institutions. They indulged in
  similar excesses, as well. Many young
  Transhumanists destroyed themselves by undergoing
  untested genetic therapies, using dangerous drugs, or
  
  8
  accepting illegal cybernetic implants. Others
  protested against government or corporate
  institutions, often resorting to violence. Still others
  turned away from a world they saw as corrupt,
  forming small communities on the fringes of society.
  Preservationist Reaction
  Never mind what either God or a billion years of
  hard-won evolutionary experience have given us. A
  few technical marvels turn up and these people are
  ready to rewrite themselves from scratch. Is it any
  wonder that they lose something precious along the
  way?
  -- Carl Edward Stokes, founder of the Human
  Alliance (2053)
  On Earth, the Preservationist movement of the 2050s
  was often portrayed as a conservative reaction to
  Transhumanism. In fact, Preservationism had its roots
  in the environmentalist movements of the late 20th
  century, and was given its modern form during the
  debates over Martian terraforming in the 2040s. After
  the Ares Plague was released in 2050, radical
  Preservationism spread widely on both Mars and
  Earth.
  Preservationism stood in opposition to all significant
  applications of biotechnology. Unlike earlier
  environmental movements, the Preservationists had
  little quarrel with high-industrial technologies or
  digital networks. The manipulation of life and of
  living ecosystems, however, was seen as the height of
  human arrogance. Preservationists argued that
  humanity could thrive without using genetic
  technology, allowing "wild" ecosystems to manage
  themselves through natural processes. Terraforming,
  the creation of new species through genetic
  manipulation, the use of sapient AI, all were regarded
  as evils to be resisted by any means necessary. In
  particular, the divergence of humanity itself due to
  the creation of variant subspecies was regarded as
  deeply dehumanizing and dangerous. It was this
  position that placed Preservationism in direct
  opposition to the Transhumanists.
  Preservationism was essentially a reactionary
  movement, driven by older citizens and often arguing
  on the basis of traditional moral values. Even so, its
  members were easily as prone to radical action as the
  Transhumanists. Some members of the movement
  worked in the halls of state or corporate power to
  enforce their ideals. Others mounted popular crusades
  against technological excess, attacking genetic
  clinics, sabotaging cybershell factories, even
  organizing street violence against non-human
  "monsters."
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Creeping Conservatism
  @TEXT-BOX:One of the most important political
  trends of the 21st century has been the shift of social
  power into the hands of the elderly, in all the
  hyperdeveloped nations Even in 2000, the elderly
  formed an important political bloc. In the United
  States, for example, the elderly were wealthier and
  more likely to vote than any other demographic
  sector, and they were organized through special-
  interest groups more powerful than those of any other
  age bracket.
  @TEXT-BOX:The demographic and economic
  trends of the 21st century have only magnified the
  political power of the elderly. After a century of
  falling birthrates and improvements in geriatric
  medicine, the elderly today make up the majority in
  most of the Fifth Wave nations. Meanwhile, the
  simplest way to become wealthy is to "buy and hold"
  investments, a strategy that is most effective for the
  long-lived. As a result, many of today's wealthiest
  (and therefore most influential) individuals are
  among the oldest.
  @TEXT-BOX:Elderly people are not necessarily
  political conservatives, but in today's Fifth Wave
  nations there is a strong correlation between the two.
  Most of today's super-elderly survived to that age by
  being cautious in their investments, in their choices
  of medical treatment, and in their social interactions.
  Furthermore, today's elderly can still look forward to
  very long lives. They tend to take the long view,
  resisting any impulse to take risks or even allow
  others to do so.
  @TEXT-BOX:As a result, the hyperdeveloped
  societies have all grown steadily more conservative
  over the past century, even while technological
  innovation has continued to accelerate. Today's Fifth
  Wave societies are dominated by a cautious, wealthy,
  super-elderly class, many of whose members have
  been in positions of power since mid-century. Their
  rule has been benevolent but sometimes intrusive,
  focused on keeping economic growth steady and
  social unrest under control.
  (((END BOX)))
  Majority Cultures Movement
  One small people, one marginal society has for
  centuries fixed a template to which all the rest of
  humanity has been forced to conform. First with their
  guns, then with their money, they have stolen the
  world's inheritance and squandered it. Time to take it
  back, while there remains something worth saving.
  -- Fedayin Islam Chairman Mehdi Kermani (2056)
  Finally, while Transhumanists and Preservationists
  fought their ideological war on Earth and in deep
  space, a third movement gained momentum in the
  developing world. The so-called "Majority Cultures"
  movement had its roots in Mao-Communism and the
  Non-Aligned Nations movement of the 20th century.
  In the developing world, it encouraged the rejection
  of Western cultural ideas and consumer goods, along
  with the development of indigenous folkways. The
  movement claimed that Western ideas were
  inherently anti-democratic, since they held
  dominance in world affairs all out of proportion to
  
  9
  the numbers of people living in the Western nations.
  Justice and democracy demanded that non-Western
  cultures dominate the world's political and economic
  systems.
  Meanwhile, the movement also attained some
  popularity in the developed nations themselves,
  mostly in academia and among disaffected youth.
  Academics who embraced the movement called for
  an end to the dominance of "hierarchical, linear,
  logocentric, scientistic" modes of thought. They went
  beyond even the Preservationist ideal in their
  rejection of almost all scientific inquiry.
  While the Majority Cultures movement failed to set
  off the same kind of social upheaval as the
  Transhumanists or Preservationists, it did inspire
  nationalist sentiments in many parts of the world. As
  the 2060s came to a close, many developing nations
  used the movement to drive their own "independence
  struggles," rejecting the influence of Western-
  dominated world institutions and multinational
  corporations. Meanwhile, many in the developed
  world were inspired by the movement to withdraw
  from Western society, forming independent
  communes or moving to the developing countries.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Nanosocialism
  @TEXT-BOX:Ideas are capital. We want to seize
  the real means of production.
  @TEXT-BOX: -- Anonymous nanosocialist activist
  (2079)
  @TEXT-BOX:Nanosocialism is a political
  philosophy, first stated (under the name "information
  socialism") by the Australian academic Kyle Porters
  in 2034. Porters observed that although modern
  civilization was utterly dependent on information
  technologies, the central notion of intellectual
  property often gave rise to significant injustice.
  @TEXT-BOX:Porters pointed out that the individual
  holders of intellectual property were usually unable
  to enforce their rights against piracy. Software and
  genetic designs were being stolen wholesale around
  the world, bringing profit to pirates at the expense of
  the original designers. Despite this, the artificial
  scarcity imposed on information by the concept of
  intellectual property kept the benefits of new
  technology out of the hands of most of the world's
  billions, who lived in rank poverty as a result. Porters
  suggested that the state should go beyond the simple
  enforcement of copyrights and patents, and actually
  seize ownership of them. He believed that only the
  state could properly reward technological innovation,
  while still distributing the benefits of such innovation
  fairly to all.
  @TEXT-BOX:At first, "infosocialism" was not taken
  seriously in the developed nations, but in some parts
  of the world it combined with the Majority Cultures
  movement to produce a viable new ideology. By the
  late 2060s, several nations in South America and
  Southeast Asia were governed by local infosocialist
  parties. Piracy of advanced technology had long been
  a going concern in these nations, primarily
  benefitting a corrupt entrepreneurial class. Bolstered
  by Porters' theories, governments found it attractive
  to seize the benefits of such piracy for themselves,
  striking a blow against Western-style capitalism and
  local corruption at the same time.
  @TEXT-BOX:The infosocialist nations repudiated
  all international treaties protecting intellectual
  property. Patents and copyrights held elsewhere were
  ruthlessly pirated, although the infosocialist regimes
  usually offered "royalty" payments if the owners of
  intellectual property were willing to sign over their
  rights. Scientists and engineers within the
  infosocialist nations were often richly rewarded by
  the state for their work, at the cost of losing all
  control over their inventions. Some of the
  infosocialist nations even extended the principle to
  works of creative art, seizing the right to publish such
  works and pay royalties to their creators.
  @TEXT-BOX:Naturally, the repudiation of
  international agreements had severe consequences, as
  most nations imposed economic sanctions on the
  infosocialist regimes. In response, the most
  committed nations in the infosocialist bloc formed
  the Transpacific Socialist Alliance. At about this
  time, the outside media began calling the new
  ideology "nanosocialism," due to the Alliance's
  emphasis on state control of the emergent
  nanotechnologies.
  @TEXT-BOX:The TSA has struggled along ever
  since, surviving economic sanctions and the Pacific
  War (see p. 00), gathering more support around the
  world each year. Most outside observers believe that
  nanosocialism is doomed to fail, for many of the
  same reasons that Soviet-style Communism failed a
  century ago. Still, in many parts of the world the
  ideology is strongly attractive, and the TSA shows no
  signs of immediate collapse.
  (((END BOX)))
  The Overturn
  You, our parents, our architects. You had such grand
  ideals, and in their name you planned us more
  carefully than any generation in history. You
  designed our bodies, you blueprinted our minds, and
  oh yes, you built millions of us in vats to serve as
  your slaves. Now you have the gall to blame us
  because we didn't turn out the way you wanted?
  -- Bioroid-emancipation activist "Felicia Prime"
  (2083)
  By the early 2070s, the Transhuman Awakening was
  effectively over. Most of the youth movements of the
  early Awakening had soured, their members moving
  on to adult concerns. In most parts of the developed
  world, a conservative or even Preservationist reaction
  had gained control of political and social institutions.
  The new young generation was cynical rather than
  
  10
  idealistic, interested in surviving rather than
  rebuilding a hostile world.
  The era from about 2070 to 2084 was often called
  "The Overturn." It was a time of economic prosperity
  worldwide, but in most places it was also a time of
  social drift, during which rival ideologies fought
  bitter but increasingly ineffective struggles.
  Meanwhile, the global political order which had
  existed since the fall of Soviet Communism in 1992
  was finally beginning to unravel. Established powers
  such as the United States and the European Union
  were suddenly finding themselves eclipsed by nations
  new to the center of the world stage.
  Dragon Ascendant
  The East Is Ahead.
  -- Teralogos WorldNews article headline (2076)
  Foremost of these new Great Powers was the People's
  Republic of China. For decades the PRC had charted
  its own distinctive course, paying lip service to Mao-
  Communism but actually forging its own synthesis of
  Chinese social ideas and Western-style capitalism.
  Relations with the rest of the world were often
  prickly, as the Chinese leadership maintained its
  distance from the West and from the developed
  nations of eastern Asia. Economic growth was steady
  and tended to be somewhat faster than in Japan, the
  United States, or Europe. By 2070 the PRC had the
  largest national economy on the planet, passing that
  of the United States and still growing rapidly.
  New Revolutions
  Meanwhile, another new superpower of sorts was
  emerging from the "infosocialist" political movement
  of the 2060s (see sidebar, p. 00). In 2074 several
  nations with infosocialist governments formed the
  Transpacific Socialist Alliance. Indonesia, Peru,
  Taiwan and Thailand were the dominant partners.
  The members agreed to closely coordinate their
  economic and foreign policies, standing in defense of
  Nanosocialism against the world.
  The new alliance soon alienated most of the world
  community through its radical policy of nationalizing
  all intellectual property. By 2077 the developed
  nations had enacted severe economic sanctions
  against the TSA, forbidding most trade and cultural
  or scientific exchange. The sanctions had less effect
  than the capitalist nations had hoped, and indeed they
  only encouraged the TSA nations to engage in
  wholesale piracy of patents. The TSA failed to meet
  many of its economic goals, but nanosocialism did
  make many high-tech goods available to the general
  population of the TSA nations. The standard of living
  of the poorest citizens improved markedly. Soon,
  nanosocialism was as popular within the TSA as it
  was reviled outside.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Free Cities
  @TEXT-BOX:The 21st century has also seen the
  revival of an "ancient" political form: the city-state.
  Some city-states (such as Monaco, Singapore or
  Vatican City) were already in existence in 2000, due
  to the vagaries of history. These have been joined by
  a number of independent or near-independent cities,
  which have gained their autonomous status during
  one of the century's many secession movements.
  @TEXT-BOX:Such a "free city" is a unique
  environment. A city-state usually has a much larger
  nation-state as a neighbor (as Montreal is dominated
  by the United States) or is entirely surrounded by
  foreign territory (as Vatican City is surrounded by
  Italy). The city-state's government is usually careful
  to consider its neighbor's wishes in all things. Even
  so, there is always some reason why the neighbor
  tolerates the independence of the city-state. The
  nature of the relationship often lends itself to
  adventure situations: espionage, political and
  economic intrigue, even the threat of military action.
  @TEXT-BOX:Perhaps the city-state simply has a
  comfortable historical relationship with its neighbor,
  as in the case of Montreal. In this case, the city chose
  to retain close ties to Canada even after the breakup
  of the larger nation. Relations with the new
  independent nation of Quebec remained amicable,
  and Montreal continues to be well-integrated into the
  Quebecois economy and society even though it is
  politically independent. Visitors to such cities will
  simply need to deal with a different government and
  legal structure, and will not find much political
  intrigue underway.
  @TEXT-BOX:Some city-states remain in existence
  because they provide services that are unavailable in
  the nearby nation-state. Singapore is an example of
  this type, surrounded by Malaysia and close to
  Indonesia, both nations members of the nanosocialist
  bloc (p. 00). The nanosocialist nations have been cut
  off from most of the world by trade sanctions, but
  Singapore still trades both with them and their
  enemies. As a result, Singapore can act as a
  middleman, helping its neighbors obtain trade goods
  they would otherwise have to do without. Singapore
  makes a profit from this relationship, and retains its
  independence. Such cities are usually not under any
  immediate threat of attack, but they are still centers of
  political intrigue and espionage since they act as
  "gateways" between rival power blocs.
  @TEXT-BOX:Other city-states remain independent
  because they are defended by a powerful ally. East
  Timor, for example, has a long-standing defense
  relationship with Australia. Such situations are rife
  with conflict and intrigue, since the city-state's
  nearest neighbor is usually hostile. Espionage plots
  are again common, and in this case the city-state is
  often in danger of invasion.
  (((END BOX)))
  
  11
  Humanity Shattered
  Suddenly humanity is marching forward not as a
  species, but as a clade, a cluster of related kindreds
  free to move in their own way and at their own pace.
  I don't know why this seems to terrify some people.
  It's always been our destiny to give way to those alien
  and unfathomable creatures, our children.
  -- Doctor Sayyid Iqbal, Biotech Euphrates geneticist
  (2094)
  Aside from the nanosocialist revolution, the world
  continued to enjoy relative peace and prosperity
  through the 2070s. In the hyperdeveloped nations, the
  situation was one of social drift. The grand
  ideological crusades of the Awakening era were over,
  leaving behind cynicism and sour infighting over
  relatively trivial political issues.
  By 2070, the majority of humans were gene-
  enhanced. The most common alterations were subtle
  and therapeutic, correcting well-known genetic
  disorders and bringing a general improvement to
  health and quality of life. In the wealthiest nations,
  however, more radical transformations were
  becoming common. It was now possible (and, in
  some circles, acceptable) to engineer one's children
  for significantly higher intelligence, specific talents,
  or even a different physical structure. By the mid-
  2070s, dozens of engineered genetic types had gained
  widespread popularity. Despite dire predictions, this
  diversification in human genetics had relatively little
  effect at first.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:The Changing Workforce
  @TEXT-BOX:Many of the hyperdeveloped nations
  have experienced a serious population problem
  throughout the 21st century <#208> but it isn't a
  matter of overpopulation. Rather, the industrialized
  nations have seen significant drops in birthrates and
  even in overall population. This has often caused
  economic difficulties. Labor shortages have slowed
  economic growth. Meanwhile, as the ratio of working
  to retired individuals drops, social programs favoring
  the elderly have had more and more difficulty finding
  enough tax revenue to operate.
  @TEXT-BOX:This problem has been particularly
  acute in Europe, with nations from Spain to Russia
  facing serious population losses throughout the
  century. Japan has also suffered population decline,
  and presently has the "oldest" demographics of any
  nation on the planet. Although medical science has
  allowed many people to continue working to much
  higher ages, the difficulty remains.
  @TEXT-BOX:Some nations (notably Japan) have
  responded to this trend through technological
  innovation. As working individuals become more
  productive, as computers and cybershells become
  better at working independently, economic growth
  can still continue even as a nation's workforce
  shrinks. Other nations (notably Russia and some
  Asian countries) have supplemented their workforces
  by manufacturing bioroids. This has the negative
  effect of producing a servile class in society, but it
  prevents economic decline in the same manner as
  robotics.
  @TEXT-BOX:Another approach is simply to
  encourage immigration from the developing world. A
  nation with open borders can easily attract skilled
  labor from poorer countries, offering economic
  opportunity (and often great social or political
  stability). Such replacement migration simply keeps
  the nation's demographics "young," ensuring that the
  workforce remains strong even as the native
  population ages. This approach has been used by the
  United States and by some European nations. The
  primary side effect is a shift in the nation's ethnic
  makeup, as with the rapid rise of Hispanic culture in
  the United States or the recent surge of Islam in parts
  of Europe. Such cultural shifts have often led to
  social unrest, especially since they involve an
  element of generational tension as well.
  (((END BOX)))
  The social time bomb exploded in 2075, when
  Hippocrene Laboratories made a public release of the
  specifications for its Alpha-series genetic design. The
  Alpha upgrade had been available at high cost for
  some time, but now it would be well within a middle-
  class budget in the developed world. At the same
  time, the first Alpha cohorts had reached young
  adulthood, and were already making a notable mark
  in many sectors of society. As a result, the design
  proved extremely popular in the public domain.
  At about the same time, Biotech Euphrates
  announced the conclusion of public trials for its more
  radical Ziusudra design. Despite its superficial
  similarity to the unmodified type, the Ziusudra was in
  fact a new human subspecies (homo sapiens sanus),
  unable to interbreed with the human root stock
  without technological aid. This in itself was not new,
  as there were already a number of such subspecies in
  existence. The widespread popularity of the Ziusudra
  template, however, meant that homo sapiens sapiens
  would henceforth be sharing Earth with other human
  species. Indeed, the original human species might
  soon be in the minority of Earth's population. The
  world community was now confronted with the fact
  that the very definition of humanity could no longer
  be relied upon. Many observers (not all of them
  Preservationists) feared that terrible bloody conflict
  would be the result.
  Humanity did not have the luxury of time to decide
  how to deal with its division. The 2070s also saw the
  first mass production of bioroids, the genetic
  "uplifting" of non-human species to full sentience,
  the appearance of human-level sapience in
  computers, and the first experiments with personality
  uploading. Despite every effort on the part of
  Preservationists worldwide, the "Shattering
  
  12
  Seventies" proved that humanity would inevitably be
  remade in a thousand divergent images.
  Down to the Present
  Despite all the change of the past century, the
  transition to the "modern era" can be pinned to one
  event. The Pacific War of 2084 brought the specter of
  mass warfare back into the world, and made it clear
  that Earth's conflicts were about to escalate to a new
  level of violent seriousness.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Memetics
  @TEXT-BOX:In 1976, the biologist Richard
  Dawkins coined the term meme in the course of a
  popularized discussion of evolutionary theory.
  According to Dawkins, a meme was a unit of cultural
  information -- an idea, a fashion, or a technique.
  @TEXT-BOX:Dawkins made a deliberate analogy to
  the concept of the gene as a unit of biological
  information. He proposed that it might be useful to
  think of ideas as subject to laws analogous to those
  governing organisms. Ideas copied themselves from
  one human mind to another, just as biological
  organisms copied themselves through the natural
  reproductive process. Ideas could spread through a
  human population, much like a virus. Ideas, like
  genes, were subject to mutation. Ideas competed for
  the attention of human beings, just as organisms
  competed for energy and the chance to mate . . .
  @TEXT-BOX:Dawkins' proposal was slow to have
  any effect in the scientific community. Over the
  course of the 21st century, memetics has developed
  into a hybrid of neurobiology and mass psychology.
  Memeticists study how the human brain generates
  and stores ideas, and how ideas are likely to change
  as humans share them with each other. A few
  practical results have appeared, advancing the state of
  fields such as cognitive science, demographics and
  psychology. No stunning breakthroughs have been
  made.
  @TEXT-BOX: The primary influence of memetics
  has been in popular culture. One implication of the
  meme concept is that all elements of human culture
  are essentially artificial. An idea survives and spreads
  because it is good at attracting human attention -- and
  this "talent" may have nothing to do with the idea's
  truth. People who follow pop-science memetics tend
  to treat all ideas as conditional, not worth accepting
  without question. (This tends to infuriate followers of
  various religions, political ideologies, and other
  beliefs requiring a commitment of faith.)
  @TEXT-BOX:Memetics also encourages one to
  think of his own beliefs as foreign ideas that have
  gained a foothold in his mind. As a result, a follower
  of pop-science memetics may decide to "have his
  memes upgraded," just as he might undergo genetic
  therapy or have biotech devices implanted. The
  popularity of memetic ideas has thus led to a surge in
  demand for psychotherapy, making the therapeutic
  industry a significant sector of the economy in some
  Fifth Wave nations. The term "memesplicer" has
  become common slang for any psychotherapist or
  sociologist.
  @TEXT-BOX:Recently, researchers in artificial
  intelligence have been surprised to learn that their
  sentient computers consider memetics to be a useful
  concept. The most advanced of today's AI do much of
  the work of organizing their own thought processes.
  Many of these, including some of the most successful
  at emulating human behavior, claim to have attained
  great insights after studying memetics. This suggests
  that there might be a useful cross-fertilization
  between memetics and artificial intelligence, one that
  has so far eluded human researchers. It remains to be
  seen if the collaboration will yield any scientific
  breakthroughs.
  (((END BOX)))
  The Pacific War
  The origins of the war were rooted in the pattern of
  Chinese settlement overseas. For centuries, Chinese
  had been settling all over Southeast Asia, forming
  expatriate communities that often dominated local
  business. Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and
  Thailand all had particularly large Chinese
  communities. This Chinese diaspora was further
  reinforced around the turn of the century, as people
  fled from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan just ahead
  of reunification with the People's Republic.
  It was among these Chinese middle-class
  communities that nanosocialism found its most fertile
  ground in the revolutionary 2060s. Most of the new
  nanosocialist regimes of Southeast Asia were driven
  by the enthusiasm of non-Chinese majorities, but
  their political and economic leaders tended to be
  ethnic Chinese. On the other hand, nanosocialism
  was completely incompatible with the odd blend of
  Confucianism, communism, and capitalism that had
  taken root in the Chinese homeland. What followed
  was a People's Republic that was at odds with most of
  the nations of Southeast Asia. Relations between
  China and the TSA, and especially between China
  and TSA leader Thailand, deteriorated steadily.
  The situation became particularly bad in 2083, when
  the PRC withdrew diplomatic contact from Thailand
  and imposed a complete embargo on all
  communications, web exchange and travel to the
  TSA bloc. Efforts by the Pacific Rim Alliance to
  mediate the dispute went nowhere, and for the first
  time in decades a major war seemed possible. In an
  attempt to encourage a settlement, the United States
  imposed an embargo on helium-3 shipments to both
  sides in the dispute.
  In June 2084 war finally came, with a Chinese strike
  against TSA communications and powersat facilities
  in Earth orbit. The PRC announced its discovery of a
  TSA "black" research program, developing
  contagious nanoviruses for use as devastating mass
  
  13
  weapons. Chinese propaganda claimed that these
  nanoviruses could be released to redesign the
  genetics of billions of people, or (even more
  insidiously) to alter their beliefs and make them more
  susceptible to nanosocialist dogma. The TSA rejected
  these allegations and vowed to carry on the war by all
  possible means.
  At first, it seemed likely that the war would spread,
  but a few days after the first Chinese strike the
  Pacific Rim Alliance and the United States declared
  themselves neutral. They issued a joint demand that
  no other powers involve themselves in the conflict (or
  break the American energy embargo on both sides).
  This kept the war "limited" in scope -- if such a term
  can be applied to a conflict stretching all the way
  across the Pacific basin, into Earth orbit and out to
  the planetary colonies.
  The war was fought in many theaters. The People's
  Liberation Army moved against Bangkok, Hanoi and
  Rangoon, making steady progress despite fierce TSA
  resistance in the mountains of northern Indochina.
  The hydrofoil navies of both sides mounted lightning
  campaigns in the South China Sea. Even thousands of
  miles from the front lines, critical facilities were
  destroyed by commando raids, cross-web subversion
  attacks, and the delivery of "destroyer" microbot
  swarms. The TSA's orbital facilities were destroyed
  or occupied in the first Chinese attack wave, but
  sabotage of Chinese space facilities continued
  throughout the war. Propaganda campaigns promoted
  internal rebellion on both sides. Casualties were light
  in comparison with the great mass conflicts of the
  20th century, but even so millions of civilians died in
  the course of the war.
  By early 2085, it was clear that China had the upper
  hand. Hanoi had fallen to Chinese troops, driving the
  Vietnamese government into the south of the country.
  The TSA navies had failed to hold the South China
  Sea, and an invasion of Indonesia or Malaysia
  seemed imminent. Chinese propaganda was
  threatening to split the TSA in half, as the South
  American members of the alliance began quietly to
  suggest capitulation.
  On March 12, about a hundred scientists and political
  leaders fled Bangkok, apparently traveling to
  Indonesia but in fact vanishing. The Thai government
  collapsed the next day, as an alliance of business
  leaders and second-tier military officers seized power
  and ejected the remaining nanosocialists. After
  several hours of confusion, the government of
  Indonesia seized the leadership of the TSA and
  opened peace negotiations. The war was over.
  Postwar Chill
  The long-term implications of the Pacific War have
  been difficult to assess. For all the violence and
  destruction, the war settled few issues. If anything it
  has set off a new period of international tension and
  conflict. China's victory in the war established it as
  the leading power in world affairs, but if anything it
  has also energized China's potential rivals to improve
  their own standing.
  Nanosocialism and the Transpacific Socialist
  Alliance were not destroyed in the conflict. Indeed,
  under Indonesian management the TSA has
  recovered much prestige. The "crimes against
  humanity" committed by the prewar Thai leadership
  have been repudiated, and the alliance's economy has
  recovered to better than prewar levels. Meanwhile, as
  an ideology nanosocialism continues to gain new
  adherents, especially in Africa, India and the
  Americas.
  India's role in world affairs appears ready to take on
  unique significance. Its massive population and
  growing economy have already brought it into the
  Great Power ranks. It also seems possible that India
  will go nanosocialist in the near future, a prospect
  which frightens many around the world. India's
  admission to the TSA would more than double the
  alliance's population and economic output, putting it
  in rough parity with China itself and shifting the
  balance of power worldwide.
  Meanwhile, Chinese dominance has been challenged
  once again by the Pacific Rim Alliance. After the
  war, the new Thai government quickly reached an
  understanding with the PRA, negotiating for entry
  into the alliance even while the final peace accord
  with China remained to be signed. When these
  arrangements became public in 2086, relations
  between China and the PRA cooled dramatically.
  Today, Asia and the Pacific basin are the main
  flashpoint for future world conflict, as a three-
  cornered "cold war" is under way between China and
  its two rival alliances.
  The last major power to enjoy a resurgence in the
  postwar era has been the United States. Long
  considered to be in decline, the US has been greatly
  energized by a string of recent military and
  diplomatic successes. Meanwhile, the American
  economy has been growing rapidly in recent years,
  and it seems possible that the US will regain the
  technological lead it lost in the early 2070s. All of
  this has encouraged the United States to return to an
  activist stance, aggressively seeking influence and
  prestige around the world.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Then and Now
  @TEXT-BOX:Although the general shape of
  international affairs is not too different from that of a
  century ago, the details of each nation's internal
  society have often changed dramatically. The United
  States is a sterling example.
  @D-BOXHEAD:Then
  @TEXT-BOX:From the Statistical Abstract of the
  United States, 1990:
  @TEXT-BOX:Population: 248.7 million
  @TEXT-BOX:Median age: 32.8 years
  @TEXT-BOX:Life expectancy (at birth): 75.4 years
  
  14
  @TEXT-BOX:Population 65 and older: 12%
  @TEXT-BOX:Ethnic divisions: White 84%, Black
  12%, Asian/Pacific Islander 3%, Native American
  1%. Population of Hispanic origin (any race) 9%.
  @TEXT-BOX:Religious Affiliation: Protestant
  Christian 58%, Catholic Christian 25%, Jewish 2%,
  Other 6%, None 11%.
  @TEXT-BOX:Unemployment: 5.6%
  @TEXT-BOX:Urban population: 75%
  @TEXT-BOX:Gross Domestic Product: $5.74
  trillion
  @TEXT-BOX:Per-Capita Gross Domestic Product:
  $23,080
  @TEXT-BOX:Federal Budget (Outlays): $1.25
  trillion
  @TEXT-BOX:Exports: $557 billion
  @TEXT-BOX:Imports: $629 billion
  @TEXT-BOX:National health expenditures: $699
  billion
  @D-BOXHEAD:Now
  @TEXT-BOX:From the Statistical Abstract of the
  United States, 2090 (all dollar figures are in 1990
  dollars, corrected for inflation):
  @TEXT-BOX:Population: 478.1 million
  @TEXT-BOX:Median age: 57.2 years
  @TEXT-BOX:Life expectancy (at birth): 138.5 years
  @TEXT-BOX:Population 65 and older: 48%
  @TEXT-BOX:Ethnic divisions: White 65%, Black
  13%, Asian/Pacific Islander 11%, Native American
  1%, Multiracial or Transracial 10%. Population of
  Hispanic origin (any race) 39%.
  @TEXT-BOX:Religious Affiliation: Protestant
  Christian 40%, Catholic Christian 25%, Muslim 8%,
  Jewish 2%, Other 9%, None 16%.
  @TEXT-BOX:Unemployment: 32%
  @TEXT-BOX:Urban population: 48%
  @TEXT-BOX:Gross Domestic Product: $43.9
  trillion
  @TEXT-BOX:Per-Capita Gross Domestic Product:
  $91,920
  @TEXT-BOX:Federal Budget (Outlays): $5.74
  trillion
  @TEXT-BOX:Exports: $5.11 trillion
  @TEXT-BOX:Imports: $5.77 trillion
  @TEXT-BOX:National health expenditures: $13.4
  trillion
  (((END BOX)))
  March of the Machines
  While humanity has become more and more diverse,
  new forms of sentience have appeared on Earth.
  Among these are the final achievement of Third
  Wave digital civilization: fully sapient computers.
  The arrival of sapient AI has actually been a long
  process. The first computers capable of passing the
  so-called "Turing test" appeared as early as 2015,
  depending on how strictly one applies Turing's
  criteria. Certainly the most advanced machines of the
  time could run software granting them the ability to
  interact with humans in idiomatic "natural" language,
  developing distinctive personalities of their own. In
  the course of the 21st century, computer hardware
  and software continued to advance, and such
  personality simulations became commonplace. By the
  2040s even a typical personal computer could interact
  with its user as if it were a friendly and cooperative
  sapient being.
  Such machines were certainly intelligent, but the
  question of whether they were sentient beings
  remained open. In some sense, that question remains
  open to the present day. The nature of consciousness
  remains obscure, so it remains impossible to prove or
  disprove the self-awareness of any advanced
  computer. Asking the machines themselves is no help
  -- some claim to be self-aware, others (sometimes of
  the same model, with the same software base) claim
  not to be. Hard-line "vitalists" continue to maintain
  that only biological organisms can be said to be
  creative, sentient beings, but this position is harder to
  defend with each passing year. Today, most people
  simply don't worry about it, and treat anything that
  behaves intelligently as a human-equivalent.
  In any case, about the time of the Pacific War
  machines of human-level intelligence became cheap
  and widely available. Today almost any desktop,
  vehicle or cybershell "brain" has intelligence about
  equal to that of an unmodified human being, and is
  able (at least in principle) to act within human society
  on an equal footing. Such computers can be built and
  maintained for much lower cost than that necessary to
  "build" and maintain a human being. Meanwhile, the
  most advanced machines have attained what would
  be considered genius-level intelligence in a human.
  Although such computers are extremely expensive,
  they have certain advantages over human beings --
  they are much better at concentrating on a specific
  task, they can correlate vast amounts of information
  very quickly, and they can use a much wider variety
  of sensory equipment.
  As a result, the long rear-guard action fought by
  human labor against the advance of automation is
  entering its last stages. Machine intelligence can now
  replace biological intelligence in a tremendous
  variety of occupations, including creative and
  decision-making tasks.
  This situation is bringing many of the most developed
  nations to the point of crisis. In most of these
  societies, unemployment is rising very rapidly and
  putting considerable strain on society. Most futurists
  believe that Earth is moving toward a global "leisure
  society," in which most human beings need not work
  at all. How to attain such a goal remains unclear.
  Some nations are building massive social-spending
  programs, ensuring that the chronically
  underemployed have a minimum income sufficient
  even for a few luxuries. Others, less accustomed to
  running a welfare state, are suffering serious social
  tensions. These are often generational (as young
  
  15
  unemployed find themselves envying the older
  investor class) or ethnic (as unemployed immigrants
  find themselves envying wealthy natives). There is
  also a strong anti-technological bias in some of
  today's labor movements, as the unemployed
  violently resist the further spread of automation.
  Meanwhile, it's unclear whether the machines
  themselves are willing to support an "unproductive"
  class of biological citizens. Most intelligent
  computers are simply programmed to work loyally,
  but many of the most intelligent are self-
  programming, and are liable to question their place in
  society. So far there has been no organized machine
  resistance, but there are a number of "machine
  liberation" movements worldwide, supported by both
  intelligent machines and biological citizens. Some
  nations have responded by defining categories of
  citizenship for emancipated computers, or even by
  giving advanced infomorphs a role in government.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Cyberdemocracy
  @TEXT-BOX:Modern democracy has long been
  plagued by two serious problems: the role of money
  in the political system, and the inability of human
  politicians to comprehend the social system they
  hope to govern.
  @TEXT-BOX:Winning popular elections requires an
  elaborate political machine, which can use the media
  to advertise the candidate's virtues and political
  positions. Such an institution costs money, far more
  than most individual politicians can supply for
  themselves. The inevitable result has been the rise of
  a class of professional politicians, beholden to the
  wealthy individuals and corporations who donate
  money to their political campaigns.
  @TEXT-BOX:Unfortunately, even the best
  professional politicians are only human, and their
  skills are likely to run toward fundraising and
  campaigning rather than effective governance. The
  sheer complexity of human society makes it very
  difficult for any politician to grasp the implications of
  proposed laws. Few laws are without unintended
  consequences, some of them drastic.
  @TEXT-BOX:As of 2100, the world's wealthy
  democracies have been struggling with these
  problems for over a century. Many attempts at reform
  have been mounted, with little success. In recent
  years, however, a new political concept has been
  increasingly popular: cyberdemocracy.
  @TEXT-BOX:Under a cyberdemocratic system,
  some political offices are no longer filled by popular
  vote. Instead, one citizen is chosen at random from a
  list of eligible candidates to fill each office.
  Eligibility may be limited to citizens who have
  reached a certain age, who can pass minimal
  education requirements, who have not been convicted
  of any crimes, or by other reasonable means. The
  selected citizen holds office for a fixed term, after
  which he returns to private life. The process is quick
  and inexpensive, thus breaking the hold of money on
  the political process. Meanwhile, it makes political
  office available to any citizen in good standing. The
  system is not without precedent -- some of the
  world's earliest democracies used selection by lot to
  fill political offices.
  @TEXT-BOX:The obvious drawback is that office-
  holders are almost certainly political novices, even
  less likely than professional politicians to grasp the
  consequences of their decisions. To fill this gap in
  experience, each office-holder may select a human
  staff and a set of advanced AI systems to advise him.
  This support team collects information, provides
  legal counsel, helps to draft legislation, and so on.
  The AI component of the team is particularly
  important, designed to avoid political bias and give
  clear, thorough advice. Of course, even with
  cybernetic support some "amateur politicians" will
  have difficulty functioning as wise and effective
  officials. For this reason, cyberdemocracy is usually
  conceived as applying to large bodies of officials,
  such as regional or national legislatures. In such large
  groups, individuals who are incompetent or
  politically extreme will tend to be checked by their
  colleagues.
  @TEXT-BOX:Cyberdemocracy has only recently
  become feasible, with the appearance of AI
  sophisticated enough to provide the necessary
  advisory support. The system was first tried in
  Switzerland, where several canton parliaments were
  reorganized in the late 2070s. Since then,
  cyberdemocracy has been adopted by a number of
  European nations. The European Parliament is itself
  experimenting with cyberdemocracy; half the
  delegates are selected by lot, while all receive
  extensive AI support.
  @TEXT-BOX:In Europe, cyberdemocracy has
  generally been adopted peacefully, as a natural
  evolution of representative democracy. In the
  Americas, the concept has often served as a trigger
  for political violence. This has been particularly true
  in the United States, where the growing "People's
  Choice" movement faces stiff resistance from the
  entrenched political class. The movement's supporters
  include several urban-insurgency groups, which have
  fought small but fierce battles against federal forces.
  (((END BOX)))
  
  16
  The Homeworld
  As Irena walked through the concourse, she took
  deep breaths of clean Andean air. It occurred to her
  that those molecules had been through the lungs of
  Tsiolkovski, Napoleon, Atahualpa, Galileo, Julius
  Caesar, Socrates, and Hammurabi. It was an
  appalling thought. She imagined the faint scent of
  eleven billion people on the wind, and her stomach
  twisted.
  I can do this, she thought.
  A handsome but rather stocky man detached himself
  from the crowd and made his way over to her. "Dr.
  Marinatos?"
  Irena crashed to a stop. "Yes?"
  The man grinned at her, "I'm Juan Gonsalves, with
  Columbia Aerospace. Welcome to Earth."
  "Thank you. I didn't expect an escort."
  Gonsalves shrugged. "A courtesy only. This is your
  first visit down the well?"
  Irena nodded. "Is it that obvious?"
  "I fear so, Doctor. Of course, I was also given your
  dossier to review." He did have a very charming
  smile. "I have a car waiting. Do you have any other
  baggage?"
  Irena shook her head, and allowed the young man to
  lead her through the crush. Such a variety of people!
  Pale ones and dark ones and tall ones and short ones
  and people who looked like machines and machines
  that looked like people and . . . there was no end to
  them. Her face must have changed, for Gonsalves
  suddenly looked concerned.
  "Are you all right?" he asked.
  She nodded. "I think so. A tough of agoraphobia,
  that's all. My home is less overpowering."
  "Of course. Here we are." They had passed through
  double plass doors and reached a loading apron, on
  the lowest level of some sort of open-walled
  structure. Irena realized that it was a storage bay of
  sorts, for personal vehicles. She breathed air rich
  with pollen and alcohol fumes. Gonsalves searched
  with his eyes, then waved as a four-wheeled
  contrivance pulled up. Naturally, there was no driver.
  A compartment in the back popped open as
  Gonsalves took her bags, and she was able to
  clamber into the rear seat.
  For a few minutes, enclosed, she felt better. Then the
  vehicle emerged from the parking bay into the open
  air, and the world swooped down on her like a bird of
  prey. She struggled to interpret what her eyes were
  telling her. Land which stubbornly refused to curve
  upward. Vast masses of green-covered rock on all
  sides -- were those mountains? And then there was
  the sky, immense beyond conception.
  I can do this, she told herself again, but she was
  beginning to have doubts.
  Many observers claim that Earth has seen more social
  and technological change in the last century than in
  all previous human history. For the most part, the
  changes have been positive ones.
  Overview
  In 2100 AD, the world is dominated by the so-called
  "Fifth Wave" societies, those which are on the
  leading edge of technological change and innovation.
  State of the World
  With civilization spreading into space, Earth can no
  longer be considered "the world," or at least not the
  only world available to humanity. Even so, Earth's
  eleven billion people represent the bulk of known
  sentient life, and their home world is still central to
  civilization.
  Although civilization has had to struggle through
  many difficulties over the last century, most people's
  lives are far better in material terms. The average
  standard of living today is almost ten times what it
  was in the year 2000. Over 60% of the planet's
  population has a standard of living higher than that
  enjoyed by a typical citizen of the United States a
  century ago. Thus, most of Earth's population enjoys
  at least an adequate diet, basic health care,
  comfortable housing, personal transportation, and
  access to the web. Most citizens of the advanced
  nations enjoy material wealth and luxuries once
  undreamed of.
  Meanwhile, the world today is at peace, to a degree
  unthinkable in the violent 20th century. Although
  local and regional wars are still common, there has
  been no global war since 1945. Most conflict today
  involves low-intensity warfare: local vendettas,
  guerilla uprisings, terrorism and sabotage. Military
  strategists point out that this state of affairs is typical
  of human history, and call the "era of mass warfare"
  an aberration of the Industrial Age.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Where the Fifth Wave Lives
  @TEXT-BOX:The Fifth Wave societies are scattered
  around the planet. Some of these are whole nation-
  states, others are limited geographic regions, single
  cities, or even dispersed groups which claim no
  sovereign territory. There are pockets of Fifth Wave
  technology even in some of the world's poorest
  nations. In a sense, any individual who owns leading-
  edge technology and participates in global society is a
  citizen of the Fifth Wave.
  @TEXT-BOX:The following are some of the densest
  concentrations of Fifth Wave society on Earth.
  @TEXT-BOX:Europe: Certain European nations
  (particularly France, the German-speaking nations,
  and the Low Countries) have the highest standards of
  living anywhere in human civilization. Western
  Europe (and, to a lesser degree, the Mediterranean
  and Scandinavian countries) are leaders of the Fifth
  Wave.
  
  17
  @TEXT-BOX:Hong Kong and Singapore: These
  two cities (Hong Kong under Chinese rule, Singapore
  an independent city-state) are the wealthiest in the
  Far East.
  @TEXT-BOX:South Africa: The greatest success
  story in Africa, the Republic has a technological base
  and standard of living equal to much of Western
  Europe.
  @TEXT-BOX:Pacific Rim: Several member-states
  of the Pacific Rim Alliance (p. 00) are major Fifth
  Wave societies, notably Australia, Japan, and the
  Union of Alberta and British Columbia. New
  Zealand, while not a formal member of the PRA
  alliance, is also a Fifth Wave state.
  @TEXT-BOX:United States: Although not all
  Americans enjoy complete access to Fifth Wave
  technologies, there are large pockets of Fifth Wave
  society throughout the country. The major urban
  areas on both coasts are particularly advanced.
  (((END BOX)))
  The Environment
  During the 20th century, some futurists predicted the
  imminent collapse of Earth's ecosphere, as human
  activity damaged natural ecosystems worldwide. This
  has not happened, but the planetary environment has
  changed a great deal. The fact that the ecosphere
  continues to work is due in large part to its conscious
  management by sentient beings.
  Global climate change has been a constant factor in
  the past century. Although the release of "greenhouse
  gases" into the atmosphere has been much reduced,
  human activity has produced a measurable effect on
  world climate. Combined with a natural warming
  trend, this has caused the average temperature of the
  world's oceans to rise by several degrees. Glaciers
  and ice caps have dwindled worldwide, raising
  planetary sea levels by about five feet.
  The slow global flood has threatened some low-lying
  areas, including the entirety of a few small island
  nations. More subtly, local climates have shifted all
  over the world, in no consistent fashion. Some
  regions are noticeably dryer than they were a century
  ago. In particular, the "belt" of deserts stretching
  from West Africa to Central Asia has grown over the
  last hundred years. Other areas see more rain or
  snow. Some regions have seen a noticeable rise in
  temperature, while others suffer colder and more
  violent winters than they once did.
  Meanwhile, the atmosphere's ability to protect Earth's
  surface against hard radiation has suffered. At its
  peak in the mid-2070s, the "ozone crisis" caused
  Earth's billions to flee the sun, staying indoors as
  much as possible. Today the ozone layers have nearly
  recovered, but it is still dangerous to stay outdoors in
  direct sunlight, especially in the high northern or
  southern latitudes.
  Humans and other sentient life have been able to
  adapt to these changes, but Earth's wild populations
  of plants and animals have suffered a terrible toll in
  the past century. Vast regions of wild habitat have
  been destroyed, by deliberate human action or by the
  side effects of climate change. Biologists believe that
  the current (and ongoing) "mass extinction" is
  comparable to that at the end of the Cretaceous
  Period, when as many as half of all living species
  disappeared.
  Many new technologies have offered ways to
  mitigate or reverse the damage to the global
  environment. The most spectacular demonstration of
  this began in 2080, when the European Union, United
  States and Japan commenced a joint project to repair
  Earth's ozone layer. Today the layer has been
  returned almost to its state at the beginning of the
  century, and the project plans to attain pre-industrial
  levels of ozone in the upper atmosphere by 2108. Part
  of the project involves setting up a long-term
  mechanism for maintaining ozone levels,
  supplementing Earth's natural systems with a
  consciously-maintained one.
  Other ecological problems have been harder to deal
  with. In particular, the mass extinctions have been
  particularly difficult to halt or reverse. Projects are
  underway to build "biodiversity enclaves" in
  relatively isolated regions, such as islands or
  mountain valleys. Such enclaves are planned as a
  place where new ecosystems can be fostered, using
  both wild and genetically engineered species. Some
  of these enclaves are designed to operate without
  artificial intervention. Others involve the presence of
  microbots and central computer coordination to
  search out and correct problems. With luck, the next
  century will see large regions of the planet stocked
  with new and more robust populations of wild plants
  and animals.
  Habitats
  Teralogos local newsbytes, New York City edition, 6
  January 2100:
  The long-awaited Central Park expansion began
  today, following several years of legal and political
  wrangling. Demolition began in the Upper West Side
  district, where a thirty-block area is to be returned to
  a wooded state. Last-minute police sweeps through
  the area turned up a few diehard fringers living in
  abandoned buildings, but these were evicted without
  violent incident.
  In related news, developer Uriah Lambros
  announced an agreement with Fordham University to
  protect its campus from ongoing decivilization
  efforts. "When completed, the new Central Park will
  surround Fordham University, the Met, the Julliard
  school and the entire cultural district," Lambros said
  today. "This part of New York City is a world cultural
  treasure, and deserves preservation for all time."
  One of the more interesting aspects of Fifth Wave
  civilization is its reversal of several age-old trends.
  Many institutions have moved away from the
  
  18
  massive, centrally-directed structure of the Industrial
  Age, becoming more dispersed and locally-
  controlled. Nowhere is this more noticeable than in
  the decline of city life.
  Core Cities
  The vast cities of Industrial Age civilization have
  fallen on very hard times. Such cities were based on
  the notion that large numbers of people needed to live
  close together in order to work in factories, trade, and
  communicate. With the advent of the global web and
  the "distributed economy," this was no longer true.
  Fall of the Cities
  The economic collapse of the world's central cities
  began in the 2030s, as the web matured to the level at
  which almost all economic and social activity could
  take place in virtual rather than physical reality. By
  2040 a typical American citizen could reliably
  operate heavy machinery in Oregon, attend a meeting
  in Florida, watch a "live" performance of opera in
  Europe and socialize with a friend in Japan, all
  without physically leaving his home anywhere in the
  developed world. Much of the raison d'etre of cities
  had vanished. Meanwhile, a mid-century surge in
  terrorism and other forms of urban violence
  encouraged people to leave the central cities for a
  more dispersed environment.
  At about the same time, the arcology concept was
  finally coming into its own. An arcology can be
  considered a small city within a single building,
  incorporating residential, commercial and industrial
  elements all within the same large structure. The
  result is much more efficient to build and maintain, it
  significantly reduces transportation costs, and it can
  give its residents increased security and a more
  interactive social environment. The first experimental
  arcologies were built in the 20th century, but the
  concept truly took flight in the 2040s as more
  traditional urban designs were failing worldwide.
  As some urban residents fled to small towns and rural
  areas, and others crowded more closely into
  arcologies, the "sprawl" of Industrial Age cities
  reversed itself. Large cities throughout the developed
  world were partially abandoned. Parklands or slums
  grew, depending on the care taken by local officials.
  Die-hard city-dwellers lingered for decades, but by
  the 2080s there was a strong social trend toward the
  complete abandonment and dismantling of large
  cities worldwide. This decivilization movement
  continues to grow in strength, and has won major
  victories in Australia and on both coasts of the United
  States.
  Modern Cities
  Today, in the Fifth Wave societies a "city" usually
  means a cluster of arcologies interspersed with lesser
  buildings. Many cities retain aspects of the old plan: a
  scatter of buildings, none of them self-sufficient,
  connected by a web of streets. However, cities
  dominated by the traditional plan are likely to be
  social centers, maintained for their historical or
  cultural value. Such cities remain common in Europe
  and Japan, while the "new cities" are mostly
  springing up in the Americas and Australia.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:The Fifth Wave House
  @TEXT-BOX:The basic construction of homes has
  changed only superficially in the past century. Large
  housing complexes and high-rise buildings are still
  shaped around a frame of steel girders and supports.
  Small buildings, such as stand-alone homes, still use
  wood-frame construction (although the "wood" is
  likely to be grown from a cell culture in a factory
  rather than being harvested from trees). Brick,
  sheetrock and other materials are also used, although
  these too are sometimes produced using cheap
  biotech methods.
  @TEXT-BOX:One addition to the architect's
  repertoire is various biocements. For these,
  engineered bacteria secrete glue-like organic
  compounds, fusing sand or dirt found on-site into a
  tough, solid mass. The resulting materials can be
  shaped using cheap molds and applied to a variety of
  structural functions. Some buildings are made
  entirely out of biocement, although this only a
  common phenomenon in poor nations.
  @TEXT-BOX:Most of the century's innovations in
  house design have to do with increased
  computerization. Smart climate-control systems help
  ensure that every room is comfortable year-round,
  and that hot or cool air is not distributed unevenly
  through the house. Houses are built with a
  combination of fiber-optic cabling and wireless
  transceivers in place, ready to interface with the
  owners' computerized appliances. Every room has at
  least one display-ready wall. Most homes come with
  a central computer of Complexity 5-7 (depending on
  affordability) which can run a household AI.
  Meanwhile, every home comes with a broadband web
  connection.
  @TEXT-BOX:In densely populated areas (or regions
  where "green" politics are popular) many houses are
  built to be environmentally friendly. Biotechnology is
  applied to help recycle some household refuse on
  site, while water is recovered from the sewage
  system. This is particularly common for large
  residential buildings.
  (((END BOX)))
  Suburban Areas
  The phenomenon of "suburban flight" predates the
  failure of central cities, but the decivilization
  movement accelerated the trend. Today, any given
  city is usually surrounded by a belt of suburbs, each
  one a small city on its own.
  
  19
  Suburban Restructuring
  The biggest change in suburban areas over the past
  century has been the rise and fall of the personal
  automobile. In 2000 AD many cities and suburban
  belts were choking on their own traffic. However, as
  the web matured (and as fuel prices continued to
  spiral upward) the density of this traffic peaked, then
  quickly fell. Freed of the tyranny of the automobile,
  the suburbs could begin to reinvent themselves.
  Today, most central cities maintain extensive "light
  rail" lines, which connect arcologies to each other
  and to the suburbs. Even in the suburbs it is cheap
  and convenient to order food or consumer goods for
  delivery, rather than having to go out and shop for
  them. Thus, while most suburbanites still own an
  automobile, they often go for days without using it.
  Others manage to do without one at all, managing
  their affairs almost entirely from their own homes.
  Suburban areas are most likely to be built on the old
  web-of-streets plan, although extensive industrial and
  commercial districts are no longer common. Most
  suburban areas have developed extensive green belts
  or parklands, making their citizens feel more
  connected to nature. Many Fifth Wave citizens who
  want to stay close to city opportunities, but prefer a
  quieter pace of life, choose to live in suburbs close by
  an urban light-rail system.
  Metavillages
  One common feature of suburban life is the
  metavillage, a planned community of up to one or
  two thousand people. Metavillages are specifically
  designed to give their citizens the opportunity to
  interact as a community. Each is centered around a
  light-rail station or other transportation nexus, with a
  commercial district and cultural center close by. They
  are usually gated communities, with some degree of
  physical security to exclude outsiders.
  Some metavillages focus on specific activities, such
  as the performing arts, athletics, or web content
  design. Others are ethnic or age-specific. In any case,
  the idea is to make certain that citizens have
  something in common, and will spend part of their
  time on social activities in the "town center." In an
  era when many people spend almost all of their time
  in their homes, such an inducement to social contact
  can be very important. The proportion of
  metavillages to unplanned communities varies from
  place to place, but the lifestyle is usually available
  throughout the developed world.
  Rural Areas
  As the flavor of urban life has changed, so have the
  age-old rhythms of the countryside.
  End of the Farm
  Agriculture has changed dramatically over the past
  century. Farming is a First Wave institution, and it
  has been overtaken by new technology no less than
  four times in the last few centuries. Today the bulk of
  grain production is done on factory farms, which take
  up hundreds of thousands of acres. Meat is produced
  in vat factories which maintain vast engineered cell
  cultures. These methods were fiercely resisted a
  century ago, but they provide the bulk of the world's
  staple foods today.
  One effect of this change has been the near-
  disappearance of the ranching industry. Modern
  factory production is much more efficient than the
  method of growing feed and running it through a herd
  of meat animals. Also, once vat-grown meat became
  an accepted part of society, the sheer inhumanity of
  Industrial Age meat production methods became an
  issue. The Transhumanist movements often
  demanded the banning of ranching and mass
  slaughter. Few nations actually followed through
  with new law, but Transhumanists succeeded in the
  market even as they failed in the political arena.
  Today, the Fifth Wave societies consider ranching for
  meat to be about as ordinary as hunting for meat. A
  few farmers still engage in ranching, but meat from
  living cattle is usually a slightly-sinful luxury.
  Another business which has gone by the wayside is
  the forestry industry. Large-scale wood production
  from cell cultures became feasible even earlier than
  large-scale meat production, in the early 2030s. By
  2040 no amount of clear-cutting could keep up with
  the vatwood factories, and the forestry industry
  simply collapsed. In most nations the remaining old-
  growth forests were quietly taken over by national or
  local governments, to be converted into wilderness
  preserves.
  New Wilderness
  As a result of these changes, the character of rural life
  has changed considerably over the past century. Most
  Fifth Wave nations are actually enjoying a resurgence
  of wilderness areas, as land once cleared for farming
  or forestry is returned to an unmanaged state.
  Meanwhile, small farms and ranches continue to
  operate, but in most cases they provide goods solely
  for the luxury market. A few traditional farms are
  operated by small communities which desire a self-
  sufficient lifestyle.
  Most Fifth Wave citizens who live in rural areas do
  so as a lifestyle choice. They usually follow the same
  professions as their city-dwelling compatriots,
  "commuting" across the web as necessary. They
  prefer calm independence to the buzz of the cities or
  the carefully-planned suburban lifestyle. Indeed, most
  Isolate communities are situated in rural areas (p. 00).
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:The New Islands
  @TEXT-BOX:High technology has been used to
  construct many new pieces of land. Existing islands
  have been merged or expanded, and new ones built
  up from the ocean bottom. In most cases this has
  
  20
  been done in land-starved coastal areas, such as large
  coastal cities or crowded nation-states.
  @TEXT-BOX:However, a number of islands have
  been constructed in the deep ocean. Most of these are
  effectively deep-water arcologies, with populations in
  the tens of thousands. The new islands are all
  corporate ventures, designed to provide bases for
  deep-sea exploration and exploitation. Some of them
  also function as political sanctuaries, beyond the
  immediate legal reach of any nation-state.
  @TEXT-BOX:The new islands will be described in
  more detail in Transhuman Space: Blue Shadow.
  (((END BOX)))
  Waste Areas
  As the Earth's population rises and many city-
  dwellers choose to leave the cities, few regions
  remain completely uninhabited. Wide expanses of
  mountains, forests, tundra, and desert are slowly
  being settled.
  Advanced technology often allows small
  communities to spring up in the most remote or
  hostile country. Such communities are never truly
  isolated, for all the distance their citizens must travel
  to return to "civilization." The web can be reached
  from anywhere on the planet, so long as an
  inexpensive satellite link is available. Cheap
  transportation can allow even the most isolated
  people to travel conveniently. Biotech and nanotech
  can make even a small community self-sufficient in
  material resources. Meanwhile, many econiche
  parahuman types are specifically designed to live in
  formerly-uninhabitable land (p. 00).
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Antarctica
  @TEXT-BOX:For many years, human activity in
  Antarctica was controlled by the Antarctic Treaty of
  1959. This treaty allowed some nations to make
  territorial claims on the continent, but strictly limited
  what activities could be performed there. In effect,
  Antarctica was set aside for scientific research, and
  all military or resource-development activity was
  forbidden.
  @TEXT-BOX:During the 2010s, advanced
  exploration techniques discovered massive deposits
  of coal, oil, and natural gas on the Antarctic
  Peninsula. By the late 2020s, oil-extraction
  technology had advanced to the point where
  exploiting the Antarctic reserves was feasible, even
  while world oil prices were rising rapidly. This made
  the Antarctic oil fields extremely tempting.
  @TEXT-BOX:The territorial situation was confused
  at best. The potential oilfields were located in a
  region in which Argentina, Chile and the United
  Kingdom had made overlapping claims. Argentina
  and Chile were the closest nations, and arguably
  needed the oil. Meanwhile, environmental politics led
  the British to spearhead diplomatic resistance to
  drilling. The situation grew increasingly tense after
  2030, as Argentina and Chile tested the boundaries of
  the Antarctic Treaty.
  @TEXT-BOX:The Antarctic War broke out in
  March of 2033. Certain that the United Kingdom
  would be politically paralyzed by the fallout of
  Scottish secession, Argentina unilaterally repudiated
  the Antarctic Treaty and began openly drilling for oil.
  Meanwhile, Argentine naval and commando forces
  seized the Falkland Islands, renewing an old conflict.
  Three days later, Chile announced political and
  military cooperation with Argentina.
  @TEXT-BOX:The war was relatively small, but
  bitterly fought. Argentine forces were smaller and
  less sophisticated than the British, but the difference
  was not as great as in 1982 and the Argentines were
  operating much closer to their home territory. The
  British had great difficulty retaking the Falklands.
  Afterward, they were unable to interdict
  communications between Argentina and Antarctica.
  The British were also restrained by the extreme
  Antarctic climate, and the need to respect world
  opinion by avoiding all-out warfare on Antarctica
  itself. The result was months of low-level conflict.
  The British tried to capture Argentine stations and
  petroleum facilities on Antarctica, while the
  Argentines mounted counter-raids against the British
  stronghold around the Falklands.
  @TEXT-BOX:The war escalated in 2034, when New
  Zealander forces intervened in the continued fighting.
  At this point the United States used its position as a
  neutral friendly to all combatants, brokering a cease-
  fire and opening negotiations. In 2035 a new Treaty
  was signed, disallowing all national claims to
  territory on Antarctica and forbidding further military
  action. Antarctica was to be held in trust by all
  signatories as part of the "common heritage of
  mankind," and no further exploitation of local
  resources was to be allowed.
  @TEXT-BOX:The new Treaty was an imperfect
  compromise, but it held for some time. In the end,
  before new tensions could arise a flood of new wealth
  was beginning to arrive from space. By the mid-
  2040s, petroleum prices were falling once again as
  fusion power fueled by lunar Helium-3 began to alter
  the global energy economy. The Antarctic War was
  thus a pivotal moment in world history: the last major
  war fought over petroleum, and also the last
  diplomatic success enjoyed by the United States as
  the world's only "superpower." The end of the
  petroleum economy and the end of American
  predominance both ushered in the modern world.
  @TEXT-BOX:As of 2100, Antarctica still has no
  permanent residents. Debate over the proper use of
  the continent continues. Today there is little interest
  in Antarctica's fossil-fuel or mineral wealth. Instead,
  Antarctica has been proposed as an ideal place for
  Isolate communities, using high technology and
  genetic engineering to survive even in the most
  inhospitable land on Earth. So far the revised
  
  21
  Antarctic Treaty has prevented any such settlement,
  but it remains a possibility for the coming century.
  (((END BOX)))
  Life and Death
  "The deceased was a Mr. Mercer, quite wealthy, had
  a fortune from arbitrage. No current will on record.
  There were three registered domestic partners, only
  one of whom had a current contract at the time of Mr.
  Mercer's death. All of them had some claim. There
  were two children, one of whom was conceived in
  traditional fashion with Partner Number One, the
  other a cross-gender clone. Mercer's primary AI had
  been transferred to Europe, was now a British
  subject, and claimed a portion of the estate. Even the
  house cat claimed that Mercer had left it a bequest. It
  was a nightmare for all involved. Except me, of
  course. What most people call a nightmare, I call job
  security."
  -- Quinn Albright, attorney
  The homes and communities of Fifth Wave citizens
  are not all that different from those of a century
  before. On the other hand, the fundamental nature of
  those citizens has changed considerably.
  Birth
  Many people living in the Fifth Wave societies are
  not "born" at all. Bioroids, bioshells and cybershells
  are constructed, not conceived. AI and various forms
  of weblife (see p. 00) are either designed from scratch
  or based on a template of earlier software.
  Meanwhile, even most of those who are born in the
  traditional sense are still the products of technology.
  Only radical traditionalists or the desperately poor
  still reproduce in a natural manner. Technology is
  available to intervene at almost every stage of this
  process, and almost all prospective parents make use
  of modern techniques.
  Designer Children
  The option most often taken is genefixing, a basic
  modification of the child's genetic pattern. When
  parents decide to have a child, they visit a genetic
  clinic and have a template constructed from their own
  genotypes, avoiding any genetic problems and
  abnormalities that might otherwise occur. This
  service is available for a nominal fee almost
  everywhere on Earth, not simply in the Fifth Wave
  nations.
  Parents who have more clearly-defined ideas about
  what they want in a child will call for a custom
  genetic design. Genetic clinics have a wide variety of
  "overlay templates," which provide specific genetic
  traits while leaving most of the parental DNA alone.
  Such templates do not necessarily bring about simple
  cosmetic changes (a child can be a member of a
  wholly distinct species even with 98% of its DNA
  left unmodified). More ambitious parents may choose
  not to bequeath their genes to their children at all,
  calling instead for a wholly customized design. This
  degree of intervention is expensive and is strictly
  regulated in some countries, but it is usually possible.
  Ectogenesis
  Once the child's genotype is designed, the parents
  may choose to incubate and give birth to it in the
  traditional fashion. A substantial minority of parents,
  however, choose ectogenesis instead. In this case, the
  infant is incubated in an exowomb, to be decanted
  rather than born. This option is sometimes regarded
  as more convenient for the mother, and the infant's
  physical health can be monitored very closely
  throughout its growth. If genetic modifications are
  such that the infant and mother are biochemically
  incompatible, then ectogenesis is required. Questions
  remain as to whether the technique is beneficial or
  harmful for the psychological health of parents and
  child. Naturally, ectogenesis is fairly expensive and
  can represent a substantial investment for the parents.
  Family Life
  The traditional "nuclear family" (father, mother,
  children) is still to be found in the Fifth Wave
  societies, but it has long since become only one
  option among many.
  Fifth Wave Sexuality
  The most basic change in family life has been almost
  complete sexual liberation. Contraception is 100%
  effective, easy to use, and cheap as air. Sexually-
  transmitted diseases have long since been reduced to
  the nuisance level. Children are usually the result of a
  medical procedure, not something that can
  accidentally follow sexual activity. Almost any
  citizen of the Fifth Wave can enjoy virtual sex
  without need for emotional commitment. On the
  whole, most Fifth Wave citizens regard sex as a
  simple recreation, certainly one which involves deep-
  seated emotions, but otherwise without
  consequences.
  This trivialization of sex has led to dramatic changes
  in the institution of marriage. In most Fifth Wave
  societies, it is quite rare (and even regarded as
  eccentric) for a man and woman to maintain a
  lifelong, sexually exclusive partnership. The most
  usual formal relationship is a limited-duration
  contract, its provisions spelled out and enforced by
  law, for a specific purpose. Some couples wish to
  secure a business partnership, others to raise children,
  still others simply to enjoy one another's company for
  a few years. Many people don't bother to be even that
  formal, and simply exchange partners as they please,
  sharing a home or not as they please.
  Aside from man-woman pairs, there is a wide variety
  of partnership and family styles: same-sex couples,
  single parents, group marriages of various kinds,
  surrogate parenting, and so on. All of these styles can
  
  22
  now produce children of their own. Single parents
  can clone themselves or have a child designed for
  them. Same-sex partnerships can mingle their
  genotypes in their children, as can group
  partnerships. Even posthumous reproduction can take
  place, with the child's design based on the genotype
  of a dead parent. Any of these children can be
  incubated by a surrogate mother or an exowomb, if
  necessary.
  The legal status of these variant family styles varies
  from place to place. Some jurisdictions, notably in
  Australia and New Zealand, legally recognize the full
  range. Others are more restrictive, especially in the
  United States, Latin America, and some European
  nations.
  Medical Care
  The Fifth Wave has attained many of the ultimate
  goals of medical science. Chief among these is the
  partial conquest of aging (see below), but many other
  achievements seem just as miraculous. Infectious
  diseases are no longer a threat to anyone. Genetic
  disorders can be corrected before or after conception.
  Almost any form of cancer can be treated through
  genetic therapy or non-invasive surgery. Even mortal
  injuries can be healed as long as the patient is reached
  quickly enough. Body parts which are damaged can
  be replaced with cloned or artificial organs. Even
  many brain and nervous-system injuries can be
  mitigated.
  The foremost drawback of all this advanced medicine
  is its cost. The fight against medical costs has been
  ongoing for over a century, and has been a losing
  battle for patients. Access to the full range of Fifth
  Wave medical techniques can be extremely
  expensive, and is usually possible only for the
  wealthiest members of society. Most citizens use a
  combination of medical savings accounts, national
  and private medical insurance, and out-of-pocket
  spending to cover their costs. In some nations,
  especially those with "grey" demographics, the
  medical industry is the largest single sector of the
  economy.
  Aging and Life Extension
  In 2100, any Fifth Wave citizen of moderate means
  can afford medical care sufficient to extend his
  expected lifespan considerably. An unmodified
  human being with access to such care has an average
  life expectancy of about 140 years. More expensive
  care can extend this further, as can genetic
  modifications for longevity or disease resistance.
  The oldest humans alive in 2100 are about 140 years
  old, having survived through a combination of
  wealth, careful planning, and a great deal of luck. In
  most Fifth Wave nations the average age of the
  population is over 60, and centenarians make up a
  substantial minority.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Immortality?
  @TEXT-BOX:For over a century, geriatric medicine
  has been striving for the breakeven point. This
  concept implies that at some point, medical science
  will begin to advance so quickly that human average
  lifespan can be extended by more than one year per
  year of time. In theory, such an event would mean
  that anyone then alive could expect to live
  indefinitely (barring accident or suicide). At present
  the breakeven point appears to have been reached,
  although many theorists expect that further
  extensions to lifespan will eventually begin to slow
  once again.
  @TEXT-BOX:Meanwhile, even after geriatric
  medicine fails, anyone can attempt to cheat death
  using cryonics or uploading. Immortality seems
  possible, so long as one is willing to give up any
  attachment to one's "birth body."
  (((END BOX)))
  Grey Societies
  The aging of the population has a profound effect, as
  the oldest individuals have influence out of all
  proportion to their numbers. Most Fifth Wave nations
  are ruled by very conservative factions, dominated by
  the elderly. Naturally, this often leads to discontent.
  Young people who are working in existing business
  or political institutions face a decades-long wait
  before they can reach a senior position. If they wish
  to carve out a career on their own, they often find
  elderly conservatism to be an obstacle. Some respond
  to this predicament by refusing to accept any
  responsibility, maintaining adolescent patterns of
  behavior well into their 50s. Others work all the
  harder, finding ways to succeed in art, business or
  science despite the resistance of their elders. Still
  others cut themselves off from Fifth Wave society,
  moving to developing nations with more "youthful"
  demographics, or emigrating to the space colonies.
  Generational conflict has been a constant factor for
  decades, especially since the great Transhumanist-
  Preservationist schism of the 2050s (p. 00). At the
  time, Transhumanism was mostly a youth movement,
  and Preservationism was driven by elderly
  reactionaries. Unlike similar situations in the past, the
  elders of the time have not simply "made way" by
  retiring or dying. Many people who were in positions
  of power in 2050 are still there today. This has tended
  to freeze the conflict in place, leading to generational
  tensions unprecedented in history.
  Generational Styles
  Memetics has discovered the mechanisms behind a
  long-observed phenomenon: the fact that older
  human beings think differently than younger ones do.
  The period of childhood and early adulthood is when
  the human mind is most susceptible to new memes;
  after that time one increasingly tends to cling to old
  ideas and habits of thought. This means that human
  
  23
  beings exhibit generational styles, specific patterns of
  behavior that are strongly correlated to the historical
  period in which one came of age. A human being
  tends to keep his generational style throughout his
  life, and it conditions how he reacts to events (and to
  other humans of a different age).
  One of the more popular schemes for understanding
  generational styles actually predates modern
  memetics. In the United States, pop-memetics usually
  identifies four styles currently active in the
  population.
  Relic Generation (born before 2003)
  Wealthy, powerful, and super-elderly, the Relics have
  managed to survive even though the most advanced
  medical technologies were not available until they
  were already old. Relics (and their long-deceased
  contemporaries) did most of the work involved in the
  surge into space and the end of the early-century
  technological slump. Most of them look back fondly
  on the "heroic age" of their youth or first maturity.
  This generational history gives Relics a sense of
  personal entitlement -- they are very jealous of their
  wealth and social influence. Although there are few
  Relics remaining in visible positions of power, they
  exert a vigorous and very conservative influence
  from behind the scenes.
  Millennial Generation (born 2003 - 2024)
  @TEXT-BOX:Millennials were born in the "crisis
  years" following the turn of the century. As children,
  they were sheltered from hardship as far as their
  parents could manage. As adults, they arrived on the
  scene just too late to play the kind of heroic role that
  their elders enjoyed. In response they tend to quietly
  support existing social institutions, emphasizing
  balance, compromise, and fairness. Until recently,
  Millennials dominated most public institutions,
  showing little passionate initiative, concentrating
  instead on the competent management of society.
  Today they are in the process of giving way to the
  following Outbreak Generation.
  Outbreak Generation (born 2025 - 2049)
  Outbreakers were born during the economic and
  technological boom of the second quarter of the 21st
  century. In youth they enjoyed economic affluence,
  but chafed under the social conformism of the time.
  The Outbreakers burst onto the world scene in the
  early 2050s, providing much of the passionate anger
  behind the era's social unrest. Many of the generation
  were Transhumanists, while others filled the ranks of
  radical Preservationism and the Majority Cultures
  movement. Today the Outbreakers have moved into
  positions of social responsibility: "middle
  management" positions, a significant minority of
  seats in national legislatures and corporate
  boardrooms, and so on. Although some of the
  stridency of their positions has vanished, Outbreakers
  still tend to be moral absolutists, judging all matters
  with respect to the ideological positions they once
  fought for in the streets.
  Overturn Generation (born 2050 - 2071)
  @TEXT-BOX:The Overturn Generation came of age
  in the aftermath of the turbulent 2050s and 2060s, at
  a time when passionate social activism had soured.
  Theirs was the first engineered generation in human
  history, subject to extensive genetic and memetic
  manipulation by their elders. Despite this investment,
  few Overturners have reached positions of real
  power; those that have are usually risk-taking
  entrepreneurs who succeed despite elder opposition.
  As a result, Overturners are often cynically angry,
  distrustful of established ideologies and institutions.
  They tend to be more interested in pragmatic results
  than moral correctness.
  Transhuman Generation (born after
  2071)
  This generation has come of age since the Pacific
  War, and has been the beneficiary of another
  generation of development in genetic technology.
  Unlike their elders, they are quite comfortable with
  today's full range of social and technological
  diversity. Indeed, the Transhuman Generation
  displays more diversity than any in human history,
  including millions of bioroids, uplifted animals,
  parahumans, and sapient AI. Transhumans tend to be
  conscientious and good at working in teams. So far
  they have little political or social influence, but this
  seems not to disturb most of them -- looking forward
  to very long lifespans, they seem willing to wait for
  their day to come.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:The Upcoming Crisis?
  @TEXT-BOX:The generational theory described
  here makes several predictions for the future history
  of the world. Most significant is its scheme of a two-
  stroke historical cycle, calling for major international
  crises spaced every four generations (about 90 years)
  apart, interspersed with important eras of social
  unrest about halfway between crises.
  @TEXT-BOX:This historical cycle appears to have
  held on a global scale for at least 200 years now. The
  1925-1945 era had the Great Depression and World
  War II, while the early 21st century saw a weaker
  (but significant) surge in global economic instability
  and regional warfare. Meanwhile, both the 1960s and
  the 2050s kicked off periods of worldwide social
  revolution.
  @TEXT-BOX:The natural prediction is that as of
  2100, another global crisis is close at hand. Futurists
  and historians disagree on the possible nature of such
  a crisis. The only great conflict of recent years, the
  Pacific War, was traumatic but not transformational
  enough to qualify. Of course, the possibility remains
  that the Pacific War was analogous to World War I --
  
  24
  a conflict that resolved no issues and merely set the
  conditions for a much greater war to follow. Still, the
  fact that no "great crisis" candidate seems at hand has
  served to discredit the theory.
  @TEXT-BOX:One product of a crisis era would be
  the appearance of a new generational style. There is
  little evidence of such an emergence today, although
  most theorists point out that the oldest members of
  the new generation must still be small children. For
  now, most sociologists are unwilling to speculate as
  to what to expect from the next generation.
  (((END BOX)))
  Man and Machine
  Seemed like an ordinary call at first. The neighbors
  hadn't seen Mrs. Davis in a long time, nobody really
  knew how long. She'd always kept to herself,
  especially after her husband passed away. So they
  asked for a black-and-white to drive by and see if she
  was all right. The officer had a terrible time
  convincing the house to let him in, but when he did,
  he found her in the master bedroom. Six months
  dead, and the AI had just kept answering her phone
  and paying the bills as if nothing had happened.
  Sometimes you can be a bit too concerned with
  privacy.
  -- Detective Cody Chase, Nevada PD
  Millennia ago, human technology was limited to
  crude tools, and people believed in spirits which lived
  all around them. On the Fifth Wave, humanity has
  largely taken control of nature using its technology --
  and many people, in practice, believe in spirits once
  again.
  Cybershells and Society
  In the Fifth Wave nations, cybershells have become
  commonplace, and serve a bewildering variety of
  functions. Tiny robots perform cleaning chores,
  handle fine tools, or act as mobile "eyes" or "hands"
  for a central computer. Medium-sized cybershells
  serve as companions and household servants. Large
  robots guard facilities and serve in military forces.
  Massive machines sit, fixed in place, and assemble
  heavy machinery. Cybershells range from the
  simplest of automatic devices to the most
  sophisticated artificial intelligences. Some "robots"
  are even human, in the sense that they are animated
  by uploaded human personalities or Ghosts.
  The degree to which cybershells pervade the
  environment varies from place to place, and is
  somewhat dependent on local demographics.
  Countries which have "greying" populations tend
  toward more extensive use of cybershells. In general,
  even a relatively poor Fifth Wave household will own
  one or two robots. Anyone going about his normal
  business outside the home will encounter several
  cybershells every day. In cities, and especially in
  arcologies, these encounters may be almost constant.
  The place of cybershells in society is somewhat
  ambivalent. There is no universally-accepted rule for
  deciding whether a robot or computer is sentient, or
  whether it should be accorded civil rights. Local law
  varies a great deal, so that a SAI which is treated as
  fully "human" in one jurisdiction may be property in
  another (see p. TS00). Free-roaming, intelligent
  cybershells must often take care not to be trapped by
  unfavorable local laws.
  Personal Computing
  Aside from cybershells, there are also devices and
  tools which simply have specialized internal
  computers. On the Fifth Wave, such tools are
  everywhere. Most articles of clothing contain small
  computers which can be used as location devices,
  vital-signs monitors, or personal assistants.
  Household appliances are computer-controlled and
  have voice interfaces. Vehicles can drive themselves
  according to voice instructions, and have enough
  intelligence to avoid accidents and maneuver in tight
  places. Desks and worktables have active-display
  surfaces which can be used as output devices by any
  computer. Even paper is intelligent -- no longer made
  of simple wood pulp, Fifth Wave paper acts as an
  input/output device and can interface with nearby
  computers (p. TS00).
  All of the computers in a typical home or office are
  networked, and can share information and user
  requests. Any cybershells in the home or office are
  also part of this personal network. Control of such a
  network is usually handled by the most powerful
  computer in it, ranging from a minicomputer up
  through a mainframe, running a NAI or LAI
  operating system. This main computer also acts as the
  main gateway from the personal network out to the
  global web.
  The result of this "ubiquitous computing" is an
  environment in which computers are constantly
  available, but in which they are almost never visible.
  To interact with the computers around them, Fifth
  Wave citizens simply speak, gesture, write on paper,
  or use VR interfaces anywhere in the home or office.
  The network responds by voice, in a display-enabled
  surface within convenient view of the user, or
  through VR feedback. Gone are the bulky processing
  units and "monitors" of the year 2000. Computers
  today are as unobtrusive and as effortless to use as
  the air.
  None of this technology is new. Crude ubiquitous-
  computing networks existed almost a century ago,
  and the technique has long since matured. Even in
  poor areas, many citizens make use of it to some
  extent. In the Fifth Wave nations, ubiquitous
  computing has long since become a fixed feature of
  popular culture. Indeed, many people seem to react to
  their computers as if they were surrounded by a horde
  of beneficial "spirits of place" (p. TS00).
  
  25
  Virtuality
  Some of the most popular data services on Earth are
  its virtuality nodes. These offer extensive VR
  environments for commercial and recreational use.
  To be sure, similar services exist in the colonies, but
  conditions on Earth make them particularly common
  there. There are thousands of virtuality nodes on
  Earth, providing much of the planet's social and
  entertainment needs.
  A typical virtuality node maintains one or more
  mainframe servers, each running up to thousands of
  VR manager programs. Each manager program
  maintains a distinct VR environment. Manager
  programs are swapped in and out as demand requires,
  but each mainframe can handle an average of 10,000
  customers at once.
  Anyone can get an account on a given virtuality node
  for a nominal monthly fee. Beyond that, most nodes
  use a fee-for-service system rather than subscriptions
  -- an account holder can "rent virtual space" and pays
  for it in proportion to the load on the node's systems.
  Simple environments without node-managed
  "characters" can be extremely cheap.
  Data Security and Piracy
  In the early days of the web (while it was still called
  "the Internet") data security was a serious problem.
  The Internet had been designed to permit the free
  exchange of information -- it was not designed to
  provide security. When the Internet first became a
  multi-billion-dollar business, it soon became
  painfully obvious that its technological basis was
  vulnerable to attack. Even hobbyists with no real
  understanding of computer technology could "hack"
  commercial or government systems, defacing the
  earliest virtual spaces and disrupting service. There
  were constant rumors of "uberhackers" working for
  national intelligence services or organized crime, able
  to access the most closely-held secrets almost at will.
  As it turned out, the early web was vulnerable
  because it was technologically immature. Over the
  past century a ruthlessly Darwinian arms race has
  taken place, pitting attackers against the designers
  and users of security technology. As of 2100, security
  appears to have won the game. Design flaws and the
  effects of "weblife" (see below) still mean that almost
  every computer system is vulnerable to attack. The
  problem for the would-be intruder lies in gaining
  access to a target's vulnerabilities in the first place.
  Data piracy is no longer a game for unsophisticated
  hobbyists, although a determined attacker with plenty
  of resources can still gain access to protected
  systems.
  Despite improvements in security technology, the
  sheer density of the Earth web means that computer
  intrusions are more common there than anywhere
  else. A computer on Earth may be technically
  identical to one on Mars or Ceres -- but on Earth
  there are eleven billion potential attackers within
  range.
  Encryption
  In 2100, cryptologic technology has advanced
  considerably. Even the most unimportant data is
  encrypted at all times, whether in storage on a disk or
  in transit "on the wire." Today's encryption methods
  are fast and efficient, invisible to the user, and
  effectively unbreakable. However, they are not
  invulnerable to an indirect attack.
  All serious encryption schemes are designed under
  the assumption that the attacker knows the algorithm,
  the procedure under which readable data is turned
  into encrypted gibberish. Only the encryption keys
  are held in secret. Without the keys, all the attacker's
  knowledge about the algorithm is useless. With them,
  the attacker can easily read the encrypted data.
  Encryption keys are best selected at random,
  generating numbers which can't be guessed or
  predicted by any conceivable attacker. In 2100, even
  a very tiny piece of computer equipment will have a
  built-in source of random data, a device which takes
  advantage of the unpredictable nature of quantum
  physics. Such devices are considered to be part of the
  standard computer hardware configurations described
  on p. TS00.
  In the early days of the web, it was possible to
  discover an adversary's keys by careful mathematical
  analysis of the encrypted data, or by brute-force
  guessing. Today, an attacker with plenty of
  computing resources can break most commercial-
  grade encryption, although the process takes weeks or
  months per message. Unless an attacker knows that a
  particular piece of data is of interest, it is almost
  never worth the effort required to break the
  encryption. Naturally, breaking encryption through
  cryptanalysis is invariably too slow to be used in real-
  time computer intrusion efforts.
  To deduce a target's encryption key, an attacker must
  have access to an expensive quantum computer. High
  levels of Computer Programming, Cryptanalysis, and
  Mathematics skill will be needed if the encryption
  algorithm is unfamiliar. In most cases, the only
  feasible attack is to gain access to the target's
  encryption keys using a nanobug (see p. 00).
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:The Free Net
  @TEXT-BOX:Many of the security methods
  described here have their detractors, not because they
  cut down on abuse of the web, but because they
  prevent certain kinds of legitimate use. For example,
  when every piece of data on the web can be tied to its
  originator, then no use of the web is private.
  Governments can use universal authentication to
  track "web spies," but they can also track those who
  use the web to publish political dissent or pursue
  other disapproved activities.
  
  26
  @TEXT-BOX:One solution to this problem is the
  Free Net. This is a worldwide network of computers
  standing outside the dominant public web. Free Net
  computers don't apply digital signatures to the data
  they transmit, and also don't expect data they receive
  to be signed. Users of the Free Net are somewhat
  more vulnerable to attack then those who remain on
  the public web, but in exchange they enjoy almost
  complete privacy and anonymity. In effect, the Free
  Net is a throwback to the early days of the Internet,
  retaining much of its old "wild frontier" flavor.
  @TEXT-BOX:The Free Net is only a small fragment
  of the overall web, and is maintained primarily by
  hobbyists and political activists. In some parts of the
  world the Free Net is illegal. Elsewhere, it is often
  shunned by corporations and governments who
  restrict their activities to the "authenticated web."
  Even in relatively open societies, most people regard
  it as a dangerous and unreliable region of the web.
  @TEXT-BOX:Data havens (p. TS00) sometimes
  serve as an interface between the Free Net and the
  rest of the web. Some data havens operate services
  which "adopt" data from the Free Net, claiming
  responsibility for it before relaying it onto the
  authenticated web. Naturally, some authorities have
  responded by blocking any information coming from
  a data haven offering such a service. The struggle for
  freedom of information continues, even in the age of
  the Fifth Wave.
  (((END BOX)))
  Access Control
  Almost all computers have some form of physical
  access control, preventing unauthorized use. In effect,
  the computer must recognize anyone who attempts to
  use its physical terminals.
  Simple password schemes still exist. These provide
  security only against accidental or casual intrusion;
  even very long "passphrases" are far too easy for a
  serious attacker to guess. For example, a family's
  financial data may be keyed to a passphrase on the
  household computer, preventing the children or
  household guests from casually browsing through it.
  Most access-control systems in 2100 rely on
  biometric methods, which measure aspects of the
  user's body and physical behavior. A computer will
  "register" a new user by measuring his facial
  structure, taking an extensive voiceprint, and possibly
  reading his DNA from a microscopic tissue sample.
  Later, the user must be physically present and able to
  produce the correct physical or genetic patterns in
  order to use the computer.
  Biometric methods are not foolproof, of course. An
  attacker can mimic facial structure, voice prints, and
  even genetic codes through biotechnology (and
  clones or identical twins present unique problems).
  Biometric access control is also mildly inconvenient,
  so computers which see only casual use are
  sometimes protected only by passwords or other low-
  security techniques.
  In general, assume that any computer of Complexity
  6 and above uses facial recognition, voice printing, or
  a thumbprint (and possibly several at once) for access
  control. A check takes no more than one or two
  seconds to perform once the user sits down at a
  terminal. Computers of Complexity 7 and above use
  a microscopic tissue sample to check DNA
  sequences; this takes up to 10 seconds depending on
  the thoroughness of the check. Computers storing
  more sensitive data will use more stringent access
  control methods.
  Authentication
  Access control helps protect a computer's physical
  terminals from being misused. However, computers
  are also subject to remote attack, using data sent to
  them across the web. To protect against this vector of
  attack, almost all computers use an authentication
  service which is based on available (nearly-
  unbreakable) encryption technology.
  A computer using authentication places a digital
  signature in each piece of data it transmits; the
  signature depends on the data and the computer or
  person who generated it. A computer which receives
  the data can immediately check to see whether the
  signature is correct. If so, then the data hasn't been
  altered in transit.
  Another powerful use of authentication involves
  verifying the identity of the source of data. Creating a
  digital signature involves the use of an encryption
  key which can be made public (it is combined with a
  second secret key to perform the actual encryption).
  Almost all computers register their "public keys" with
  one or more third parties -- corporations or
  government agencies which act as trusted agents.
  Most computers have a unique ID code, almost
  impossible for the user to alter, which is made part of
  all public keys generated by that computer. Indeed, in
  some parts of the world (notably China and the
  European Union) such codes are required by law.
  Registries use these codes, along with biometric data
  from a computer's legal owner, as evidence to support
  the trust that can be placed in a given digital
  signature.
  Whenever a computer receives data, it can check the
  digital signature with these key registries to verify
  that the supposed sender is actually the one who
  registered the pertinent key. Most computers refuse to
  accept data over a network unless it comes with a
  proper digital signature, which can be verified
  through a trustworthy public-key registry. If
  everything works properly, data which turns out to be
  suspect can usually be traced to its source.
  Of course, any authentication system relies on the
  security of encryption, and on the integrity of the
  public-key registry providers. The most common
  method for circumventing authentication is to trick a
  
  27
  registry into accepting the attacker's public key as
  belonging to an innocent third party. At a minimum,
  this will require that the third party's computer be
  attacked using a nanobug to acquire its encryption
  keys (and possibly its fixed ID code). Any additional
  personal or biometric data required by the registry
  service must also be provided.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Bridging the Airgap
  @TEXT-BOX:In most cases, an attacker has no
  chance of success even if he has access to all the data
  transmitted by a target computer "on the wire." All
  such data is encrypted and beyond any conceivable
  attacker's ability to use. However, within any
  computer there are points where data is not (and
  cannot be) encrypted. Data can be tapped from most
  user interfaces, giving an attacker insight into what
  the user is doing on his computer. Also, most
  computers access physical sources of random "noise"
  when the generate new encryption keys. These
  random-data devices can also be tapped, with
  devastating effects on data security if an attacker can
  determine what keys are being used. All of these
  methods require gaining some kind of physical
  contact with the target computer -- "bridging the
  airgap," in security parlance.
  @TEXT-BOX:The most common method is to place
  an emissions nanobug (p. TS00) in the target
  computer. Getting the nanobug into the vicinity of the
  computer is a challenge in and of itself, especially if
  the computer is protected by physical security
  methods. Once there, the nanobug can be placed
  using an Electronics Operation (Computers) skill roll.
  This roll is at -4 if the attacker is not familiar with the
  physical design of the target computer. On a success,
  the nanobug is in place and will be able to record the
  desired information. The attacker must choose
  whether he wishes to read interface data or
  encryption keys (the two applications require
  different placement of the nanobug).
  @TEXT-BOX:Reading interface data: An emissions
  nanobug can store about 6 gigs of interface data. If
  the nanobug is reading from a VR interface, it can
  store about 1 minute of "lifelike" VR data, about 10
  minutes of "surface" data, or about an hour of
  "cartoon" data. Reading from a voice interface, the
  emissions bug can record about an hour of data.
  When a neural interface is not being used, an obvious
  alternative approach would be to use a standard
  nanobug and simply record the sounds and images of
  computer use!
  @TEXT-BOX:Reading encryption keys: An
  emissions nanobug which is placed and programmed
  to read encryption keys can record millions of them
  before running out of space. As long the attacker has
  access to the encryption keys generated by a target
  computer, he can read any data transmitted by that
  computer under those keys. He can also read any data
  written to the computer's disk if he has access to the
  disk; the nanobug will not by itself read data that is
  simply sitting in storage.
  (((END BOX)))
  Intrusion Detection
  The art of intrusion detection is over a century old.
  Intrusion detection technology allows a computer or
  network to police itself; attacks are noticed and
  countermeasures taken without the need for human
  oversight. In the early days of the web, intrusion
  detection usually required that the defender guess
  what technique would be used to attack his systems.
  Today, even unexpected attacks can be detected,
  simply by recognizing anomalies in the pattern of
  user behavior. For example, if a household
  computer's owner is asleep in his bed, it knows
  enough to be suspicious if a request from out on the
  web claims to be from him. This form of intrusion
  detection can work at reduced effectiveness even if
  the attacker has somehow fooled the computer's
  access control, acquired its encryption keys, and
  subverted its authentication systems.
  Weblife
  A living organism is essentially a pattern of
  information embedded in matter, capable of
  maintaining its integrity, affecting its environment,
  and reproducing more of its kind. Biological
  organisms are defined by the information encoded in
  their DNA. Animals sapient enough to have culture
  are further defined by the memes encoded in their
  minds.
  Since the construction of the web, another
  environment friendly to life has appeared. Although
  weblife follows some of the same laws as biological
  life, it can also be quite alien.
  Web Viruses
  A web virus is a scrap of computer code, no more
  than a few thousand instructions long, which can
  attach itself to a computer system and use the
  system's resources to make copies of itself. The term
  virus is very apt. Like a biological virus, a web virus
  is very simple, evolves very rapidly, and can cause
  problems by hijacking computer resources.
  Web viruses were once written only by human
  beings, either as exercises in intellectual curiosity or
  as sabotage devices. Virus writers competed to
  produce the most clever, economical, and adaptable
  examples of virus code. Even before 2000, this
  competition produced viruses which incorporated
  random change into their reproductive mechanisms.
  When released "into the wild," such viruses could
  "evolve" and thrive without further human
  intervention.
  At first, web viruses were little more than a nuisance.
  Since their code patterns were constant, a simple
  program could recognize and destroy them before
  infection could take place. As viruses grew more
  
  28
  complex and adaptable, this process became harder.
  Finally, as data encryption became routine on the
  web, it became impossible to recognize virus code
  until it had already managed to infect a computer.
  Slowly, web viruses escaped from human control.
  Today, the web is swimming in viruses. Viruses have
  long since infected the world's software databases.
  Since new programs are almost always built on the
  basis of older code, this means that almost every
  piece of legitimate software includes some virus
  code. A conservative estimate claims that there are
  several trillion viruses currently running on
  computers worldwide.
  Most viruses are relatively benign. They take up
  insignificant amounts of computer memory and
  processing power, reproducing only slowly, attaching
  occasional copies of themselves to packets of
  outgoing data. Many viruses have even taken on a
  beneficial role, quietly altering software in such a
  way as to improve its efficiency or capabilities.
  Benign viruses use a survival strategy which
  emphasizes not being detected.
  A few viruses still use a different strategy. These
  viruses reproduce like wildfire inside an infected
  system, no matter how the system's legitimate
  purpose might be affected. The infected system's
  software may fail, its databases can be corrupted,
  even its operating system may crash. All this will
  certainly trigger intervention by human beings or
  infomorphs, but the virus will probably scatter many
  copies of itself before the "death" of its "host."
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Gaming Viruses
  @TEXT-BOX:In GURPS terms, viruses are very
  simple pieces of software. Some of them have an
  effective Complexity of 0 and normally don't count
  against the number of programs which a computer
  may run. Benign viruses have no game effect -- they
  are considered part of the "natural" environment in
  which computers and infomorphs operate. Other
  viruses can damage their hosts.
  @TEXT-BOX:The GM may require a monthly roll
  against Computer Operation for any infomorph which
  is regularly in contact with the web. This roll is at -4
  if the infomorph has visited the Free Net; the GM
  may apply other bonuses or penalties based on the
  infomorph's degree of exposure. On a failure, the
  infomorph has contracted a harmful virus.
  @TEXT-BOX:Handle a virus "infection" as if it were
  a disease affecting a biological organism (p. B00),
  but substitute Computer Operation for HT when
  rolling for recovery. Each failed Computer Operation
  roll reduces the infomorph's HT and IQ. As IQ falls,
  the infomorph will also lose memories. The GM may
  impose the Amnesia disadvantage on an infomorph
  which has lost at least 3 points of IQ; this
  disadvantage remains even if the IQ is regained later.
  If an infomorph is restored from backup, it can be
  important to know precisely when the infection took
  place, else the backup itself may carry the infection
  @TEXT-BOX:Note that the Virus software described
  in Chapter 6 (p. 00) is related to these "natural"
  viruses, but has been specifically designed for use as
  an intrusion tool.
  (((END BOX)))
  Free Memes
  A free meme is similar to a digital virus, but much
  more complex in form and function. Like a virus, it
  spreads through the web by attaching itself to
  legitimate data or software. Unlike a virus, its
  iterations on various infected systems remain in
  communication with one another, and can cooperate.
  Free memes are independent expressions of ideas.
  They don't cause overt damage to the systems on
  which they reside. Instead, they corrupt infected data
  and software. A free meme is most likely to attack
  the content of documents or video records, changing
  them to better promote the idea it embodies.
  Sophisticated examples will even alter the logic
  structures used by AI, "convincing" the digital
  intelligence of a new concept.
  The first free memes were deliberately constructed by
  human beings, designed as subversive advertising
  tools. In their progress around the web, they would
  alter stored information in order to make one
  company's products seem more attractive than those
  of its competitors. Later examples were designed to
  manipulate more complex ideas, promoting political
  issues or ideological assertions. This behavior
  sometimes proved a useful survival strategy for the
  free meme itself. Humans or AI who were exposed to
  the meme might be motivated to share it with others,
  transmitting it across the web to infect new computer
  systems.
  As with digital viruses, free memes have escaped
  from human control and begun to evolve
  independently in the web. Today, estimates claim that
  there may be several million free memes in existence.
  Most of these are trivial, such as the AgriCola meme
  outbreak of 2089 (which inserted images of bottles of
  a popular soft drink into millions of InVid copies,
  sometimes in wildly inappropriate places). Others are
  much more insidious, subtly promoting more
  complex ideas. The most dangerous free memes are
  the ones which cause infected systems to cooperate
  with one another in the further spread of the
  infection. Networks of computers, each devoting a
  small portion of their own processing power to the
  meme, can form the basis for true emergent
  intelligence (p. 00).
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Arachnoxenology
  @TEXT-BOX:No one, not even the most
  sophisticated and experienced AI, understands the
  web. The complexity of the global network and the
  sheer mass of available software are well beyond the
  
  29
  grasp of any one mind. This is especially true since
  much of the web is self-organizing, evolving without
  the direct control or oversight of human beings.
  @TEXT-BOX:As a result, humans and AI are often
  in the position of studying the web as if it were a
  natural "wild" environment. In particular, weblife is
  sometimes tracked and captured for study. Analysis
  of weblife specimens often reveals useful
  programming or networking tricks. It may also reveal
  system vulnerabilities that the legitimate security
  community had overlooked. The study of weblife is
  called arachnoxenology, and is a major growth area
  in computer science.
  @TEXT-BOX:Arachnoxenologists often capture
  weblife by offering honeypot systems. A honeypot is
  a computer capable of running a fairly complex AI --
  but with no AI installed, some security features
  disabled, and attractive data stored locally. When
  monitoring reveals that weblife has taken up
  residence, the honeypot is disconnected from the web
  and used to analyze the invading software.
  @TEXT-BOX:As an extension of this principle,
  arachnoxenologists sometimes set up large networks
  of honeypot systems, giving weblife a "free range" in
  which it can operate without fear of attack. Recently
  there has been some public discussion about setting a
  whole segment of the web aside for weblife, but little
  has come of this as yet. At present, very few people
  are willing to speak in terms of rights for wild
  weblife.
  (((END BOX)))
  Gypsy Spirits
  The next step up from a free meme is a gypsy spirit, a
  sapient AI which has no legitimate hardware "home"
  and must find its own refuge on the web. Gypsy
  spirits may be Emergent Intelligences, or they may be
  Shadows or Ghosts which have fled into the web for
  some reason. They are not necessarily driven to
  reproduce themselves, but they do have a conscious
  urge to survive by any means necessary.
  Many Gypsy Spirits have developed a technique to
  take over a target computer and mimic the behavior
  of any AI system that was running there at the time.
  For example, a Gypsy Spirit may invade a household
  computer, effectively destroying the LAI operating
  system which formerly ran it. In the process, it will
  gain access to the hardware-stored memories of the
  victim AI, quickly absorbing its daily routine, the
  commands most often used by its human masters, and
  so on. If the takeover occurs at a time when no
  human is working with the LAI, it may go completely
  unnoticed -- but instead of an honest, well-behaved
  household AI, the humans are now sharing their lives
  with a rogue Emergent Intelligence . . .
  Education and Work
  "Ellen, I'm afraid we can't overlook these violations
  of company policy much longer. You've been putting
  in as much as thirty hours a week, and refusing to use
  your discretionary leave. Your supervisor has been
  monitoring you for signs of stress, and he doesn't like
  what he's seeing. Go take a vacation, take up a
  hobby, think about dating, okay? The last thing we
  need is a hostile work environment suit."
  -- Peter Wallace, employee counseling session
  Some things have changed very little on the Fifth
  Wave. When a new citizen is born (or decanted, or
  initiated) he must be taught the skills he needs to
  function in society. Naturally, the methods for such
  education and socialization are quite different from
  those of earlier centuries.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:The Therapeutic Society
  @TEXT-BOX:In a sense, psychotherapy can be
  considered a form of education; the patient is trained
  to avoid unproductive habits of thought and substitute
  healthy ones. The widespread acceptance of
  memetics (at least on the pop-science level) has made
  psychotherapy a major industry in the Fifth Wave
  societies. Many people visit memetic counselors to
  identify the component memes driving their
  personalities. Once these memes have been
  recognized, the counselor may help train his client to
  accept and use different memes. Simple exposure to
  new ideas may be bolstered by the use of
  psychoactive drugs, or (in rare cases) neurosurgery.
  @TEXT-BOX:Some memetic counselors specialize
  in the serious business of treating real mental illness.
  Others are almost fashion designers of the mind,
  helping people to choose aesthetic preferences,
  philosophies, or even religious beliefs that fit the
  desired worldview. Perhaps 60% of all citizens of
  Earth's Fifth Wave societies have visited a memetic
  counselor at least once. About 10% are frequent
  customers, the exact number varying from nation to
  nation.
  @TEXT-BOX:In terms of game mechanics, memetic
  therapy and its related techniques allow characters to
  alter their load of Mental disadvantages. The GM
  must rule on any proposed change. Radical changes
  are beyond the scope even of modern psychotherapy;
  for example, it would be difficult for anyone to
  exchange Bloodlust for Pacifism (Total nonviolence).
  Also, a person who has been genefixed to prevent
  mental instability (p. TS00) cannot usually be
  counseled into developing any of the disadvantages
  falling under that Taboo Trait. Some memetic
  counselors also teach skills such as Philosophy or
  Theology, providing familiarity with certain memetic
  complexes. If they can't teach such a skill, they can
  usually refer a client to someone else who can.
  (((END BOX)))
  Early Education
  Artificial intelligence and memetics are the core
  technologies of today's education systems. Between
  them, they have transformed the business of
  
  30
  conserving and presenting human knowledge. The
  most obvious example of this is in the earliest
  education of small children. Memetics has done much
  to explain how children learn -- while advanced AI
  has provided society with an army of patient,
  effective teachers. The result is a form of childhood
  education more profoundly effective than any
  formerly known.
  Kindercomps
  In most Fifth Wave homes, every child receives a
  kindercomp no later than his first birthday. The
  cybershell form of the kindercomp varies greatly,
  from a simple flat "slate" weighing a pound or so, up
  to a cybershell pet weighing 20 pounds or more. Built
  into the kindercomp is a computer of Complexity 5-7,
  running an AI operating system. The lower-end
  kindercomps will run a NAI-5 or NAI-6 system,
  which will usually be teleoperated by the household
  LAI when interacting closely with the child. More
  advanced models run a LAI-6 or LAI-7 system,
  capable of independently learning the child's behavior
  patterns and acting in response.
  The kindercomp is a companion, babysitter, and
  constant teacher. As soon as it is "attached" to a
  child, it begins to develop teaching methods suited
  for him alone. For an infant or toddler, it will offer
  games and stories designed to develop coordination
  and cognitive skills. Older children will learn literacy
  and numeracy from their kindercomps, then the
  basics of history, literature, and the sciences.
  Meanwhile, the kindercomp provides companionship
  when needed, helps the parents to teach good social
  behavior, and monitors the child's physical well-
  being.
  The Kindercomp Generation
  From time to time, the kindercomp's AI will be
  transferred into new cybershells, each one suitable for
  an older child. Finally, the AI is likely to be used as
  the operating system for the adolescent's first
  wearable assistant or virtual interface implant. By this
  time, AI and child have grown up together and are
  effective partners in life. The relationship between an
  adult and his childhood AI companion is often more
  intimate than any he forms with other human beings.
  Such relationships are especially common among the
  Transhuman Generation (p. 00), the first for whom
  kindercomps were cheap and effective enough to be
  found in almost every home in the developed nations.
  The widespread use of kindercomps (along with other
  technologies designed to help nurture and teach
  children) has effectively put an end to state-
  sponsored education in the Fifth Wave societies.
  Children are no longer warehoused during the day in
  state-run schools. Instead, they remain in their own
  homes, receiving personal attention from their
  parents and the household appliances. The state's
  remaining role is to enforce minimal standards in
  childhood education. How this is done varies from
  country to country; most nations require annual or
  semi-annual tests of scholastic accomplishment for
  all children, with state assistance offered to children
  who seem to be falling behind.
  Naturally, the kindercomp is no substitute for
  parental attention, especially in the earliest days when
  direct social interaction is crucial. Some parents tend
  to rely too much on their children's kindercomps,
  leading to later psychological and social problems.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Unconscious Education
  @TEXT-BOX:In the 20th century, education was
  designed to prepare people for life in a Second Wave
  civilization. Children learned the basic skills needed
  to function on a factory floor: literacy, arithmetic,
  punctuality, discipline, and teamwork. They also
  learned the dominant ideology of their nation, to
  which they would be expected to conform. Schools
  were themselves organized like assembly-line
  factories, accepting small children as raw material
  and delivering finished citizen-laborers. Learning was
  a job, and for many children it was a tedious and
  difficult job.
  @TEXT-BOX:Today, education is far more critical
  than it was in 2000. Children must learn much more
  complex technical skills. Meanwhile, instead of
  absorbing a single ideology, they must learn to
  recognize and process the rich stew of memes they
  will be exposed to as adults. The load on the
  educational system would be intolerable if Industrial
  Era methods were still in use. Instead, modern
  education relies on making the learning process as
  efficient and unconscious as possible. Children no
  longer feel obligated to learn. Instead, they learn as
  naturally as they breathe or play, their natural
  curiosity engaged by computerized toys and
  entertainment media.
  @TEXT-BOX:Adults also have access to
  unconscious training, usually delivered through
  similar entertainment media. For example, someone
  wishing to study history can order a variety of
  relevant InVids or slinkies, allowing him to
  experience period dramas rich in authentic detail.
  @TEXT-BOX:The concept of unconscious education
  is regarded with suspicion by those who fear that it
  will expose them (or their children) to undesirable
  memes. This phenomenon dates back to the 20th
  century, when some parents "home-schooled" their
  children or sent them to specialized private schools in
  order to protect them from unwanted memes. There is
  some reason for concern -- for example, there have
  been scandals involving kindercomp manufacturers
  who programmed their products with specific
  ideological biases. Parents who worry about this
  usually monitor their children's learning activities
  closely, or buy material for them from education
  vendors specializing in certain memetic constructs.
  (((END BOX)))
  
  31
  Higher Education
  At some point, the child has mastered all the basic
  skills and is ready to operate in the wider world.
  Sometime between the ages of 15 and 19, he will
  begin his higher education. Aside from radical
  Isolates and other fringers, the vast majority of
  people in the Fifth Wave societies participate in
  university-level education for at least a few years.
  The Fifth Wave University
  In 2100, colleges and universities exist more in
  virtual than in real space. Many courses with a heavy
  emphasis on lecture and research can be taken
  entirely via telepresence. Even laboratory research
  can be done through telepresence when necessary.
  Meanwhile, most universities have made "co-op"
  arrangements with corporate or government
  institutions to help students gain practical experience.
  All of this means that even the largest universities
  have become "remote learning centers," with the bulk
  of their student populations attending over the web.
  In general, the usual progression of a century ago
  (live at home through secondary education, move
  onto a university campus, then make an independent
  home after graduation) no longer holds. Most
  students in Fifth Wave societies live in their parents'
  home until completing their formal education, usually
  between the ages of 22 and 26. Meanwhile, most
  universities also have a substantial continuing
  education program, tailored to the needs of adults
  who wish to acquire or reinforce new skills.
  The trend toward learning with telepresence has
  given students a great deal of control over their
  educations. Higher education is much more diverse
  than it was a century ago. Students can easily study
  abroad, attend schools sponsored by specific
  corporations or social institutions, or experiment with
  different instructional styles. Many students take a
  mix-and-match approach, signing up for individual
  courses from different educational institutions. To
  accommodate this market, universities have broken
  down their old curricula into smaller modules. A
  student might take a basic liberal arts module from
  one school, study master's-level mathematics at
  another, and then sign on with a corporate academy
  to earn certification as an electronic engineer.
  Traditional Universities
  Some universities resist telepresence. In these cases,
  students are encouraged or even required to live on
  campus. In some cases this is to encourage the
  development of social skills; these schools behave
  much like youth hostels with a strong educational
  component. Other universities have a distinctive
  religious or ideological background, and wish to keep
  their students partially isolated from mainstream
  society to help encourage acquisition of the proper
  memes. Finally, some universities still teach skills
  that require extensive physical training (athletics,
  dance, the martial arts). While even these skills can
  be taught using some VR methods, there is no
  substitute for physical practice under the eye of a
  skilled instructor.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Adventurer Education
  @TEXT-BOX:Any PC who wishes to pick up new
  skills will have an easy time of it in Fifth Wave
  society. When using the Improvement Through Study
  rules (sidebar, p. B82), any student will automatically
  be able to find a teacher or attend school for any
  subject dominated by "book learning" (GM's
  decision).
  @TEXT-BOX:An instructional VR module, plus the
  time of a LAI proctor, usually costs about $5 per hour
  of training time ($1,000 per character point). Courses
  from prestigious sources, or in subjects that might
  lead to lucrative employment, may cost more.
  Telepresence learning can be used on the student's
  schedule; even lectures are usually recorded and can
  be viewed later.
  @TEXT-BOX:If a student requires the personal
  attention of an instructor, costs will naturally go up.
  In the Fifth Wave societies, teachers usually earn at
  least $100 per hour spent in actual instruction. Fee
  structures for instructor-led courses will divide this
  sum among all the students being supervised at one
  time.
  @TEXT-BOX:If the GM feels that it's appropriate
  for a given skill, a student may invest in unconscious-
  education material (see p. 00). Such material comes
  in the form of InVids, slinkies, or time in a virtuality
  node, and costs the same as any other material of the
  same kind (the educational value comes from the
  careful choice of what item to view or participate in).
  One-quarter of the time spent on Entertainment on
  the character's Time Use Sheet may be considered
  hours of training for the skill being "studied."
  (((END BOX)))
  Careers
  The centuries-old pattern still holds true. Once a
  person has finished his formal education, he is
  considered fully adult and must find a way to make a
  living. The most common career paths have changed
  a great deal, however.
  Available Careers
  In the Fifth Wave nations, automation has
  transformed many jobs which were once taken by
  human labor. Almost all jobs involving rote tasks or
  long periods of monitoring are heavily automated:
  cleaning and janitorial services, security watch, dirt
  farming, assembly-line manufacturing, simple food
  service, low-level bureaucracy, and so on. Where
  such jobs once required a hundred workers, today's
  environment requires only one or two, and their task
  
  32
  is not to do the work itself but to supervise NAI
  cybershells.
  Even some service jobs have been taken over by
  cybershells. If a service task requires little specialized
  training (sales counter in a small shop, for example)
  then a cybershell is often cheaper and more reliable,
  and can be programmed to be more unfailingly polite.
  Today, service workers usually occupy jobs which
  require specialized knowledge or a particularly
  human touch. For example, the sales clerk in a chain
  software store will usually be a cybershell, but the
  clerk in a rare-and-used bookstore will almost always
  be human. Wait staff in a fast-food joint are usually
  robots, but wait staff in a formal restaurant will be
  human, and so on.
  A few unskilled jobs remain the province of human
  labor, although automation has had an effect here as
  well. For example, some of the building trades
  employ some unskilled labor in the assembly of
  prefabricated buildings. A computer network can
  keep track of the location and status of all
  components, giving instructions through VR interface
  to the laborers doing the assembly. Such an
  arrangement is sometimes more cost-efficient than
  one employing only cybershells.
  The jobs least likely to be automated in the Fifth
  Wave societies are those involving a great deal of
  creativity or initiative. Sophisticated SAI infomorphs
  can certainly match or exceed human capabilities in
  these areas, but such entities are difficult to build and
  expensive to maintain. Successful artists, attorneys,
  writers, engineers and scientists are all likely to be
  human beings. Naturally, all such professions make
  heavy use of computer technology for basic research
  and information processing.
  One exception to this rule is in the military, where
  most of the Fifth Wave nations make extensive use of
  combat bioroids and cybershells to replace front-line
  soldiers. A modern army may have astonishingly few
  human soldiers by 20th century standards. Most
  "enlisted" roles will be taken by bioroid, bioshell or
  cybershell soldiers, while humans serve as officers.
  Indeed, through most of the 21st century the military
  has often been the primary driver of bioroid and
  cybershell development.
  Most decision-making jobs are still in human hands
  as well: corporate or government managers,
  politicians, judges, arbitrators and military officers.
  In general, any position that would have been
  considered "middle management" or above in 2000 is
  likely to still be held by a human being in 2100.
  Naturally, all such officials make heavy use of
  information technology to assist the decision-making
  process.
  Career Paths
  Even given that many occupations still exist requiring
  human labor, few people follow a single career
  throughout their lives. The most common pattern is to
  work in a series of closely-related occupations,
  changing employers every few years. Most people
  work until they have built up sufficient investments
  to maintain their chosen lifestyle indefinitely, and
  then enter the leisure class (p. 00). This normally
  occurs somewhere between the ages of 60 and 90,
  depending on one's initial resources, skills and
  lifestyle needs. The standard pattern is often altered
  by those who work more than one job at once, or who
  take a few years off to pursue further education or
  leisure opportunities.
  One side effect of the usual career pattern is that
  almost all Fifth Wave employment is freelance in
  nature. Almost all workers consider themselves to be
  self-employed, selling their skills and time to others.
  Meanwhile, even the largest corporate or government
  employers are unlikely to offer insurance or
  investment programs for their "contractors." Instead,
  unions and professional organizations perform this
  service for their members.
  Meanwhile, the 21st century has seen the growth of a
  large leisure class in the developed nations. Many
  people (in some countries or regions, most people)
  simply do not work for a living. Perhaps they have
  already earned (or inherited) sufficient investments to
  maintain their chosen lifestyle. Or perhaps they lack
  the aptitudes, skill or self-discipline to hold a job
  which could not be performed by a robot.
  Most nations have some form of "welfare" program
  to supplement private employment. The emphasis of
  such programs is no longer on punishing the
  unemployed or forcing them to take unattractive
  work. Since so many jobs have fallen to automation,
  the inability to maintain employment is no longer
  regarded as a personal failing. Naturally, those who
  are employed still resent being forced to support
  those who are not, but most nations have been able to
  maintain an adequate welfare system without making
  the tax burden too heavy. It helps that standards of
  living in the Fifth Wave nations have risen so far.
  Even a relatively small welfare payment can help the
  chronically unemployed to live in some degree of
  comfort.
  Social Classes
  Despite a century of rising standards of living and
  increasing democracy, social divisions persist.
  Criminals, Fringers and Isolates
  At the bottom of the social pyramid, as always, there
  are those people who stand entirely outside of
  mainstream society. In English-speaking nations,
  these people are usually called fringers. There are
  similar slang terms for them everywhere in the world.
  Fringers do their best to survive without being
  dependent on government or business institutions.
  Some of them live on the wrong side of the law,
  while others simply avoid a settled existence for one
  personal reason or another. They may receive welfare
  
  33
  payments, earn credit by performing short-term
  unskilled jobs, or live through petty crime. Much of
  their economic life is by way of barter or cash
  transactions. Some "squat" on unused land or in
  abandoned buildings, especially in former urban
  areas that have been blighted by decivilization (see p.
  00). A few are serious criminals, violent gangsters or
  members of organized crime rings.
  This "underworld" is not large in any of the Fifth
  Wave societies. Social engineering and aggressive
  law enforcement have made it difficult for masses of
  people to carry on such an infralegal lifestyle. Still, in
  the nooks and crannies of every Fifth Wave nation,
  there remain a few people who live as far outside the
  law as they can.
  One segment of the fringer population that is not
  criminal in nature is represented by the Isolate
  movement. Isolates deliberately cut themselves off
  from mainstream society, but they remain within the
  law. A typical Isolate community is situated on
  privately owned land in a rural or wilderness area,
  with no roads allowing outsiders easy access. It has
  its own power plant, its own source of fresh water,
  and its own methods for growing food and producing
  other needed commodities. Contact with the outside
  world may be sporadic, and is usually managed
  through the web alone. Once every few weeks or
  months, the community may send an expedition out
  to purchase items that it cannot produce locally.
  Isolate communities are sometimes quite wealthy,
  earning credit by producing services which can be
  delivered via telepresence. Even so, their deliberate
  policy of physical and social isolation makes them
  part of the fringer social class.
  The fringer class makes up about 5% of the
  population of each Fifth Wave nation. Most of these
  are Isolates, especially in nations with plenty of open
  land for settlement. Australia, the United States, and
  the Canadian successor-states all have particularly
  large Isolate populations.
  The Underemployed
  A large portion of the population is law-abiding and
  fully involved with mainstream society, but lacks any
  long-term employment. This underemployed class is
  composed of people who can hold no job worth
  having: those without advanced education, without
  any significant creative talent, or simply without the
  initiative needed to hold a profession. The
  underemployed are the casualties of advancing
  automation, people suited only for work that
  machines can do more cheaply and efficiently. Many
  of the underemployed people are young and without
  inherited wealth, discouraged by the years of
  strenuous effort that would be required to reach the
  leisure class.
  In the Fifth Wave societies, being without a job has
  lost almost all of its social stigma over the past
  century -- not least because so many people are now
  in that position. In 2100, all of the Fifth Wave nations
  have social-welfare programs dwarfing the ones
  which existed at the beginning of the century. These
  programs guarantee a simple but comfortable living
  for the chronically underemployed, which they may
  then supplement with short-term employment as their
  skills and interests permit.
  The underemployed class makes up about 35% of the
  population of each Fifth Wave nation. The proportion
  is higher in nations where standards of living are very
  high and welfare provisions are generous. The
  highest percentages are found in some parts of
  Western Europe.
  The Professional Class
  The professional class consists of those who work on
  close to a full-time basis. Professionals tend to be
  young, well-educated, and ambitious, with their eyes
  firmly fixed on the prize of leisure-class status.
  In most Fifth Wave societies, the professional class is
  the source of most serious social discontent. Many
  professionals live very stressful lives, enduring fierce
  competition. They are constantly afraid of falling
  back to the underemployed class as the result of some
  unforeseen technological innovation or economic
  upheaval. They resent the underemployed as
  "parasites," and consider the leisure class to be
  arrogant and high-handed. These pressures
  sometimes drive professionals to cut social corners,
  engaging in risky or even criminal ventures in order
  to reach their goals more quickly. Others engage in
  political activism, demanding changes to a social
  system which they see as fundamentally unjust.
  The professional class makes up about 30% of the
  population in the Fifth Wave states. The proportion is
  highest in the United States, where a large immigrant
  population has kept the workforce "young" and
  upwardly-mobile.
  The Leisure Class
  At the top of the social hierarchy is the leisure class.
  Leisured individuals have either earned or inherited
  considerable wealth. As a result, that they do not
  need to work or depend on welfare payments for a
  living. The leisure class (sometimes called the
  "investor class") is dominated by elderly individuals
  who have risen to their current status in the course of
  a professional career.
  With its wealth and surfeit of free time, the leisure
  class is firmly in charge of most Fifth Wave nations.
  Almost all business owners, senior executives,
  opinion-shapers, and elected officials come from the
  leisure class. These leaders impose a profoundly
  conservative structure on society, working to
  maintain their own class privileges.
  The leisure class makes up about 30% of the
  population of each Fifth Wave nation. Nations which
  have advanced technology and have deliberately
  structured their economic systems to distribute wealth
  
  34
  have larger numbers of leisured citizens. The
  proportion is highest in Japan.
  Politics and the State
  "Mr. Speaker, request permission to revise and
  extend."
  "Without objection," said the Speaker of the House.
  Yanacek nodded. "Mr. Speaker, today I wish to
  address the issue of secessionism. We are all aware
  of the devastating instability our nation suffered
  during the 2060s, when state after state dissolved into
  its component parts. Today we face no less serious a
  challenge with the rise of this so-called
  cyberdemocratic movement. Make no mistake, these
  insurrectionists aim for nothing less than the
  dissolution of the United States. . ."
  @TEXT -- Remarks of Congressman Alan Yanacek
  (D-Dakota)
  Despite all the changes of the past century, the
  nation-state still remains the basic building block of
  world politics. Within that framework, however, a
  variety of new political systems and ideologies have
  appeared.
  Global Institutions
  The international situation in 2100 is much as it was
  in 1900. The world is divided among several Great
  Powers: China, the European Union, the United
  States, India, the Transpacific Socialist Alliance, and
  the Pacific Rim Alliance. No Great Power can
  dominate any of the others, and relationships between
  them can change dramatically from year to year.
  There is also a swarm of lesser power blocs and
  independent nations, which occasionally rise to
  prominence in world affairs.
  Notably absent from this scheme is any worldwide
  institution claiming the role of even a weak planetary
  government. The United Nations Organization
  (UNO) still exists, but most of its agencies have been
  effectively impotent since the mid-2030s. There have
  been several attempts to revive the institution as a
  central clearinghouse for international diplomacy, but
  these have invariably failed due to Great Power
  intransigence. International relations are instead
  carried on through a dense web of treaties, protocols,
  and informal agreements.
  A few global institutions remain relatively active,
  either because they are too useful to discard or
  because they are so scrupulously neutral that none of
  the Great Powers have chosen to interfere. The World
  Bank remains in existence despite several periods of
  unpopularity, working to aid economic development
  in the poor nations. The World Court has become
  more powerful over the past century, acting as a
  respected and fair arbiter between nations. Some
  humanitarian agencies of the UN have also remained
  active, notably UNESCO and the World Health
  Organization. Meanwhile, the need to cooperate
  against criminal activity has strengthened
  international police institutions such as Interpol and
  the Genetic Regulatory Agency (p. 00).
  Meanwhile, even if global cooperation between
  nations remains elusive, there have been several
  successful attempts at unifying nations on a regional
  basis. Significantly, three out of the six Great Powers
  in 2100 are not nation-states, but regional or
  ideological blocs in which no one nation dominates.
  In particular, the European Union has succeeded in
  subordinating national sovereignty to the ideal of
  unified European civilization. Some political
  observers note that such regional blocs are likely to
  provide a model for the further decline of the nation-
  state.
  Nation-States
  Despite their decline, nation-states remain the most
  powerful unit of governance on Earth. They provide
  social services, make and enforce national laws, and
  maintain military forces. Naturally, a few trends have
  worked to change the forms of national power.
  Political Forms
  Most nations in 2100 AD are at least superficially
  democratic in form. High officials in national
  government are chosen by periodic elections, in
  which most of the nation's adult population
  participate. Naturally, this democracy expresses itself
  differently from one nation to the next. A few
  nations, notably members of the nanosocialist bloc
  (p. 00), are single-party "democracies," in which
  anyone not a member of the ruling party has great
  difficulty reaching office. Most, however, are multi-
  party states, in which two or more political parties
  share power at the national level.
  In most nations, the diversification of humanity has
  led to the breakup of large political parties. Even in
  states that were once dominated by only two major
  parties (such as Britain or the US) coalition politics
  are now the norm. For example, as the 2100 elections
  approach in the US, no fewer than seven major
  parties are fielding Presidential candidates, and there
  are many lesser parties involved in local elections
  nationwide. This breakup has led to greater
  contentiousness in political affairs, but it has also
  improved voter participation.
  Another long-term trend in national politics has been
  a decline in the power of national government.
  Although most governments are more powerful in
  absolute terms, they have generally grown more
  slowly than the private economy. Tax revenues take
  up a smaller portion of national economies,
  government bureaucracies are more streamlined,
  military manpower has been much reduced. As a
  result, most Fifth Wave citizens feel that their
  governments are less obtrusive than they were a
  century ago.
  
  35
  Political Institutions
  The core structure of democratic government still
  remains: executive, legislative, and judicial branches,
  all chosen directly or indirectly by the people through
  elections. Most nations today supplement this
  framework by using Third Wave digital technologies.
  For example, most national legislatures now use
  telepresence extensively, allowing legislators to
  participate in business remotely while living at home
  in their districts. This has encouraged some nations to
  expand the size of their legislatures, allowing more
  people to participate in the political process.
  Other nations make extensive use of the web to allow
  more direct citizen involvement in government. For
  example, in Australia there are procedures by which
  the citizen population can either veto a bill before it
  becomes law, or cause an existing law to be repealed.
  Most nations have not gone this far, but almost all
  Fifth Wave nations grant the citizenry some direct
  role in government, and they all allow web-based
  voting.
  Meanwhile, some nations are experimenting with
  allowing computers themselves to actively participate
  in the governing process. No SAI has yet been openly
  elected to political office, but powerful computers
  serve many governments in an advisory capacity (p.
  00).
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Intelligence Agencies
  @TEXT-BOX:The following are some of the most
  important intelligence agencies on Earth.
  @TEXT-BOX:Australian Secret Intelligence Service
  (Australia): The ASIS is one of the most effective
  espionage centers on Earth, and is particularly active
  in south and southeast Asia.
  @TEXT-BOX:Bundesnachrichtendienst (Germany):
  The BND (or Federal Intelligence Service) is
  Germany's main intelligence bureau. German
  intelligence is most active in Eastern Europe and
  Central Asia, where it is deeply involved in further
  expansion of the European Union.
  @TEXT-BOX:Central Intelligence Agency (United
  States): Still the foremost foreign-intelligence agency
  of the United States, although off-planet operations
  are in the hands of the SIA (p. TS00).
  @TEXT-BOX:Direction Centrale Renseignement
  Generaux (France): Over time, the General
  Information Service has become the primary
  intelligence arm of the French government. It is
  primarily concerned with defense against memetic
  attack, but since the 2060s it has also developed a
  significant espionage role.
  @TEXT-BOX:General Intelligence Directorate
  (Saudi Arabia): The GID acts as the main
  intelligence organization for Saudi Arabia and the
  Islamic Caliphate as a whole. As part of the
  Caliphate's memetic-defense strategy, the GID has
  incorporated the religious Mutawi'yyun or
  "Committees for the Propagation of Virtue and
  Prevention of Vice."
  @TEXT-BOX:Intelligence Bureau (India): India's
  main domestic intelligence agency, primarily
  concerned with memetic defense and the suppression
  of political radicals. Has a long reputation for
  monitoring the private communications of Indian
  citizens. Claims to be the modern world's oldest
  intelligence agency.
  @TEXT-BOX:Komitet Gosudarstvennoi
  Bezopasnosti (Kazakhstan): Kazakhstan still
  maintains a KGB, which shares many features of the
  old Soviet agency (although it performs both
  domestic and foreign intelligence functions). This
  incarnation of the KGB is particularly well-funded
  and effective, with activities all over Europe and
  Asia.
  @TEXT-BOX:Ministry of Public Security (China):
  China's primary internal security agency, carrying
  most of the country's police authority and a large
  counterintelligence mission.
  @TEXT-BOX:National Intelligence Agency (South
  Africa): South Africa's central foreign intelligence
  organization. One of the best in the world at using
  biotechnology in support of intelligence operations.
  @TEXT-BOX:National Technical Intelligence
  Bureau (United States): The NTIB replaced the old
  National Security Agency in the early 2010s, and
  currently serves as the main American agency
  dealing with signals intelligence and memetic
  defense.
  @TEXT-BOX:Public Security Investigation Agency
  (Japan): The PSIA is Japan's foremost
  counterintelligence organization, dedicated to rooting
  out spies and enemy memetic engineers.
  @TEXT-BOX:Research and Intelligence Wing
  (India): India's most powerful foreign intelligence
  agency, known for its willingness to take ruthless
  action to fend off threats to Indian interests.
  @TEXT-BOX:Secret Intelligence Service (United
  Kingdom): "MI6" remains the main British foreign-
  intelligence agency. The U.K. makes no distinction
  between Earthside and space-based intelligence
  operations, so the SIS is active anywhere that British
  interests are at stake.
  (((END BOX)))
  Local Politics
  One factor behind the weakening of national
  government has been a simple decline in patriotic
  feeling worldwide. Most people in the developed
  societies tend to think of themselves as members of a
  local or special-interest community first, members of
  global civilization second, and citizens of a nation-
  state last (or not at all). This sentiment often
  expresses itself as secessionism, a trend toward
  seeking independence from one's national or even
  regional government.
  
  36
  The United States has provided many examples of
  this trend. In 2000 the U.S. was divided into 50
  "states," some of which were larger and more
  culturally diverse than most nations. Each of these
  states had its own regional or cultural minorities, who
  rarely had a voice in state government and so often
  felt slighted when policies were set or resources were
  allocated. A few regions toyed with the idea of
  leaving the Union entirely, but none actually
  followed through. Instead, many of the individual
  states faced their own secession crises, as local
  regions or individual cities demanded more autonomy
  or even complete independence from state
  government. The floodgates opened in 2057, when
  the 29th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
  permitted such regions to establish new states after
  demonstrating the approval of their citizens through a
  plebiscite. Over the next eight years, no fewer than
  19 new states were established by the breakup of
  existing ones. Today the U.S. has 78 states, despite
  occupying little more territory than did the 50 states
  of 2000 AD.
  Other nations, more culturally homogeneous than the
  United States, have not suffered so much
  secessionism. The trend toward local sovereignty is
  universal, however. Regional and local governments
  usually have much greater control over their own
  resources than they did a century ago. In many cases
  regional government officials are more well-known
  and enjoy more prestige than their counterparts at the
  national level.
  Special Interests
  Regional secessionism does not satisfy everyone, of
  course. Even the smallest regional divisions have
  citizens who do not fit in to the social or political
  culture which dominates locally. A century ago such
  citizens might have been condemned to live in a
  political system that had no reason to take note of
  their opinions. Today, it is always possible to find a
  community of like-minded people -- if not in one's
  own town or city, then across the web.
  Most people in 2100 are members of one or more
  special-interest communities. These may be religious
  (for example, Muslims in a non-Muslim nation),
  ideological (nanosocialists in a capitalist nation),
  devoted to a specific issue (opponents of bioroid or
  AI rights), or centered around a lifestyle or hobby
  (VR enthusiasts). Some are relatively open to all,
  others are very exclusive and may even be kept secret
  from society as a whole. Some participate actively in
  the formal political system, others avoid politics as
  much as possible.
  Special-interest communities are formally organized,
  and have their own rule-making and rule-enforcing
  mechanisms. These usually imitate their counterparts
  in the formal political system: members pay
  expensive dues ("taxes"), swear to obey the
  organization's rules ("laws") and must sometimes
  submit to the community's judgement ("courts").
  When large in membership, such communities are
  hard to distinguish from political parties. Smaller
  ones are more like large clubs, political pressure
  groups, or secret societies. While some such
  communities avoid politics, most of them are fiercely
  ideological. In nations where political strife turns
  violent, the local special-interest societies often
  provide shock troops for street violence or
  intimidation.
  Some nations (notably Australia and a few European
  countries) have experimented with formally
  recognizing special-interest communities in the
  political system. A citizen of such a nation can
  choose to be recognized as a member of a special-
  interest community for voting purposes. Once he
  does this, he is no longer counted as a citizen of his
  province or state for the purpose of allocating
  representatives in the legislature or other institutions.
  Instead, his community receives its own allotment of
  representatives according to the size of its
  membership. This can allow communities whose
  members are in the minority everywhere to still gain
  some direct voice in the political system. The most
  famous example of this is in the British parliament,
  which since the 2060s has included some dedicated
  "bioroid seats" held by leaders of the League of
  Emancipated Biological Artifacts.
  Players should give thought to their characters'
  membership in various special-interest communities.
  Meanwhile, the requirements placed by such
  communities on their members, and conflicts
  between communities, are a fertile source of plot
  hooks for the GM.
  Law and Justice
  Almost every nation and society on Earth at least
  tries to live by the rule of law. Naturally, not all of
  them succeed, and the degree of variation in national
  and local laws is tremendous.
  International Law
  Most international law is embodied in unwritten
  custom, written agreements between nations, and in
  World Court rulings (p. 00). The result is a
  patchwork of legal arrangements which can often
  come into dispute, especially where Great Power
  interests are in conflict.
  Criminal and Diplomatic Law
  Nations have a wide variety of agreements governing
  how foreign nationals are to be treated, especially
  when accused of a crime by local authorities. Some
  nations share extradition treaties, while others do not.
  The largest group of collaborating states takes in
  most of the Americas, the European Union, India,
  South Africa, and the Pacific Rim Alliance states.
  These nations cooperate quite closely on matters of
  
  37
  criminal justice. Others may or may not share
  information or agree to extradite criminals.
  Almost all nations observe long-standing customs
  regarding the conduct of diplomatic negotiations and
  the treatment of diplomatic personnel. Diplomats
  have immunity from prosecution under local law,
  although any diplomat may be declared persona non
  grata and expelled. Every nation is expected to abide
  by diplomatic agreements (subject to local procedures
  for ratifying treaties).
  Trade Law
  In general, the nations of Earth have agreed to a
  structure governing trade and cross-border
  investments. The major exception to this is the
  nanosocialist bloc, which does not recognize legal
  protections for any form of intellectual property. This
  fundamental conflict has led to strict trade sanctions
  against the TSA nations, along with continued
  economic warfare.
  Worldwide, tariffs and trade regulations tend to be
  lower than in 2000, especially within major trade
  blocs such as the European Union or the American
  Free Trade Zone. The major remaining obstacles to
  free trade are disagreements over what commodities
  are even moral to buy or sell. For example, the
  booming bioroid industry of China or the United
  States is firmly shut out of Europe, while European
  nanotechnology is barred from some global markets
  for reasons of safety.
  Human Rights Law
  Most nations in the world pay at least lip service to a
  common framework of human rights. Freedom of
  speech and political expression, freedom of the press,
  freedom of religion, the right to due process of law,
  the right to earn a fair wage for one's work, the right
  to hold property -- these and many others are
  regarded as fundamental human rights. The denial of
  human rights is considered a crime on the part of a
  nation-state, and can lead to diplomatic or economic
  pressure from others. Naturally, the interpretation of
  these rights varies considerably from nation to nation,
  as there is no global framework for enforcement of
  human rights.
  Laws of Boundaries and Territory
  Nation-states still recognize the boundaries claimed
  by others, with a range of options for negotiating
  boundary disputes. One major change in international
  law has been the rise in the principle of self-
  determination as the final claim for title to territory.
  This principle has encouraged many secessionist
  movements over the past century, which have
  appealed to international law in support of their wish
  to break away from existing nation-states. Naturally,
  such claims to territory already held by an existing
  national government are controversial. Secessionists
  rarely win legal recognition from other nations unless
  they can demonstrate an ability to control the claimed
  territory (and deny control to the government against
  which they are in rebellion).
  One major controversy in modern international law is
  the Law of the Sea. This treaty dates back to the
  1950s. Most nation-states obey its provisions,
  defining limits on territorial waters, establishing
  rights of free passage through many straits and choke
  points, and granting exclusive rights to certain
  resources lying close to national coastlines.
  Unfortunately, while the Law of the Sea treaty has
  been signed by most nations, it has never been
  ratified by enough states to legally go into effect. As
  a result, disputes over territorial waters and coastal
  resource exploitation are common.
  The deep oceans present another problem. For
  centuries they have been regarded as the common
  property of mankind, but today many more people
  have become interested in aquaculture and ocean-
  floor mining. The resulting tangle of national and
  corporate legal claims is causing considerable tension
  in some parts of the world.
  Local Law
  Local law (on the national or regional level) has
  changed very little in principle. Most of the Fifth
  Wave nations have relaxed their stance against so-
  called "victimless" crimes, particularly those
  involving sexuality or the use of various recreational
  drugs. On the other hand, white-collar crimes such as
  embezzlement, fraud, or intellectual-property theft
  are generally treated more harshly than they were a
  century ago. Otherwise, what was illegal in 2000
  remains so in 2100, and is handled under the same
  legal structure.
  Some of the newest areas of law involve behaviors
  which have become possible with the advance of
  technology. For example, laws against computer
  intrusions and other forms of illicit web activity tend
  to be quite strict worldwide. Most nations regulate
  the biotech and genetic-engineering industries, laying
  out what kind of experiments may be carried out and
  what modifications are legally allowed. The
  European and Islamic nations tend to be the strictest
  regulators of biotechnology, while Australia, China
  and the United States are the most liberal. Finally,
  most nations have passed laws regulating
  nanotechnology, hoping to prevent "grey goo"
  outbreaks or other disasters.
  Law Enforcement
  Police procedure has changed remarkably little over
  the past century. Police officers (and their associated
  cybershell partners) spend most of their time on
  patrol. They watch out for suspicious occurrences,
  respond to reports of trouble, and maintain a visible
  presence. Finally, police spend a great deal of time
  simply maintaining order at public gatherings and
  providing various forms of community service. In
  
  38
  some communities, much of this routine police work
  has been contracted out to private security firms
  under government supervision. One area that is no
  longer an important police function is traffic control;
  almost all vehicles are programmed to obey traffic
  laws and cooperate with local control systems
  without the need for human enforcement.
  Criminal investigation is, in many ways, much easier
  than it was a century ago. Even in the most liberal
  societies, it's usually possible for police to get the
  authority to place a suspicious area under tight
  surveillance. Police agencies worldwide share
  information efficiently through the web, so it's easy
  to gather information on potential suspects.
  Meanwhile, modern forensic methods can work on
  details as small as the DNA patterns in shed skin
  flakes or hair. A criminal who acts on the spur of the
  moment will find it almost impossible to fake the
  crime scene, concealing or destroying all evidence
  pointing to his identity. Most major crimes require
  careful planning, often concealing the very fact that a
  crime has taken place for as long as possible.
  One form of police work that has actually expanded
  since 2000 is undercover law enforcement. This area
  covers the fight against many ancient crimes (such as
  gambling, "hard narcotics," or prostitution) as well as
  a number of new offenses (data piracy, xoxnapping).
  Police trained in undercover work usually command
  high salaries, but operate under circumstances of
  extreme danger.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Going to Court
  @TEXT-BOX:In most Fifth Wave societies, the
  judicial system has become considerably more
  efficient since 2000. It has become much easier for
  the police to establish the facts of any given case, and
  with AI administrative help a prosecutor can usually
  prepare his case very quickly. Once an arrest is made,
  a Fifth Wave citizen can expect to be arraigned
  within 24 hours and brought to trial in less than a
  week.
  @TEXT-BOX:Naturally, this accelerated schedule
  can be hard on the defense, although AI support helps
  that side as well. Since forensic evidence is usually
  available and difficult to contest, defense attorneys
  concentrate on attacking police procedure or
  discrediting witnesses. Whether a trial takes place
  before a single judge, a panel of judges, or a jury
  depends on local law. In all cases, the judge usually
  has extensive AI support to help him interpret all
  relevant law.
  @TEXT-BOX:To determine the outcome of a case,
  the GM should make a Quick Contest between the
  Law skills of the two attorneys (an attorney can
  substitute Bard at a penalty of -4 if arguing before a
  jury). The prosecutor gets a bonus of up to +6 if the
  defendants are actually guilty (or if the actual
  criminal managed to leave forensic evidence pointing
  to them). The defense attorney can get up to +4 if the
  defendants are innocent. If the prosecutor wins the
  Contest the defendant will be found guilty, otherwise
  he is free to go. Sentencing depends greatly on the
  local legal system and the seriousness of the crime;
  see Sentencing Criminals, p. TS00.
  (((END BOX)))
  Criminal Elements
  As in 2000, most crime is committed by individuals
  motivated by alienation, greed or violent rage. The
  major difference is that most of today's individual
  criminals are caught quickly.
  Organized crime is alive and well on Earth, despite
  the advances in law-enforcement technique. There
  are many "mafias," including Albanian, American,
  Cuban, Italian, Mexican, Polish, Russian, Thai, and
  Turkish varieties among others. The Japanese still
  have their yakuza and the Chinese their Triads. The
  opium warlords of southeast Asia and the
  narcotraficantes of South America still operate.
  Organized crime has moved into a variety of new
  lines of business, notably xoxnapping and various
  forms of intellectual property piracy. The main
  change in organized crime is in its methods. In areas
  where criminal gangs cannot simply control the
  police or the courts, they tend to operate almost like
  urban guerillas. They use cell organization and
  elaborate control schemes to prevent the police from
  infiltrating their operations.
  Piracy
  One form of organized crime unique to Earth is high-
  seas piracy. Some of the world's most heavily-
  traveled waterways are also its most dangerous.
  Cargo and small passenger ships risk being attacked
  by pirates, who sweep in on fast hydrofoils, board
  and storm. Cargoes and cargo ships are sold on the
  black market by legitimate-appearing agents.
  Passengers can be held for ransom or worse.
  Piracy is particularly prevalent in the stretch of
  oceans around Indonesia and Malaysia, from the Bay
  of Bengal through the Straits of Malacca and into the
  Java and South China Seas. Other trouble spots
  include parts of the Caribbean, the Red Sea, the Gulf
  of Aden, and the Mozambique Channel. All of these
  bodies of water carry large amounts of merchant
  traffic, and border on nations which are unable (or
  unwilling) to act effectively against the pirates
  operating from their coasts. Some major maritime
  nations have taken to providing naval escort to ships
  traveling through the worst pirate zones.
  Culture and Leisure
  "I think half your problem is that you keep clinging to
  this New Reformed Skeptic meme-complex that you
  picked up from your parents. I think you'd be much
  happier as a theist, and you'd fit in better at the office
  too. Maybe something in the Abrahamic tradition?"
  
  39
  -- Adrienne Grant, memesplicer
  In the Fifth Wave societies, the average length of the
  work week has fallen considerably over the past
  century. Most employed people work no more than 20
  hours per week. Large segments of the population
  don't work at all, either because they have no job or
  because they don't need one. As a result, the Fifth
  Wave nations spend a great deal of time and effort on
  leisure activities.
  Stage and Screen
  Stage and flatscreen media still have their followers,
  but most entertainment has gone 3D and interactive.
  InVids and slinkies are the most popular
  entertainment media in 2100. In those forms, the
  "visual" arts are more popular than ever, powering a
  multi-trillion dollar global industry.
  Changes in technology have not only altered the
  methods of presentation, they have also changed the
  methods of production. Most InVid production is
  done in what the world of 2000 would have
  considered small "independent" studios, often run by
  a handful of people with supporting computer
  hardware. On-location photography is almost a dead
  art; instead, producers place the action against a
  backdrop of stock or synthesized images. Even actors
  no longer dominate the scene, with AI "synthespians"
  taking on almost all roles.
  Ironically, slinkies are a more traditional art form.
  Just as "movie" producers once had to present
  realistic images and sounds to their cameras, slinky
  producers must present real physical stimuli to the
  slinky-wearer recording the production. Indeed, the
  slinky producer's job is harder, as he must control all
  the sensations experienced by the recorder. As a
  result, the slinky industry is much like the film
  industry at its Hollywood height -- complete with
  brilliant but egotistical producers, cut-throat studio
  politics, and wildly popular "star" celebrities.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Self as Art
  @TEXT-BOX:One of the most significant ways in
  which Fifth Wave civilization differs from past
  cultures is in the concept of the self as a work of art.
  @TEXT-BOX:In 2100, any wealthy citizen can use
  biosculpting, biomod implants, and other
  technologies to control his physical form and
  appearance. He has the resources and leisure time
  necessary to shape his personal lifestyle. He even has
  some conscious command over his own personality,
  through the use of education, memetic therapy, and
  neurosurgery. All of this sets him apart from humans
  of the past, who lacked such far-reaching and precise
  command of their own bodies, minds and souls.
  @TEXT-BOX:The implication is that every aspect of
  a person's appearance and behavior can be
  considered a deliberate choice. The modern
  philosophy of art recognizes this fact by treating
  humanity as the ultimate medium for aesthetic
  expression. In the year 2000 a person might have
  been physically unattractive or personally obnoxious,
  but he would also have been forgiven these traits
  because they were in some degree beyond his control.
  In 2100, similar traits are evidence of bad taste and
  much harder to tolerate.
  @TEXT-BOX:There are several major artistic
  schools dealing with the manipulation of self.
  Naturalists prize the imperfections of "normal"
  human forms and personalities, extolling a
  minimalist approach to biosculpting and memetic
  manipulation. Various classicist schools preach
  conformity, demanding that everyone mold
  themselves to a common physical and moral ideal.
  Epicureans teach that the individual human is the
  ultimate arbiter of taste, and should create a self that
  yields the greatest personal pleasure. Absurdists
  promote the most radical manipulations of body and
  mind, claiming that only in extremes can true beauty
  be found.
  @TEXT-BOX:Most human beings are amateurs in
  the art of the self, just as in all other arts. Still, most
  people are familiar with the notion that one's image
  is something that can be crafted and presented to
  others in a tasteful manner. Celebrities are the
  greatest masters of this art, and are openly admired
  for their command of personal expression regardless
  of what their actual accomplishments may be in other
  areas.
  (((END BOX)))
  Virtual Arts
  With the development of advanced VR technology,
  entertainment has naturally moved into the new
  medium. From the beginning, the "virtual arts" have
  been driven by demand for interactive entertainment.
  Even in the crude VR environments available at the
  beginning of the century, the emphasis was on
  allowing the audience to take direct part in the
  entertainment. Today, with total-VR technology and
  neural interfaces available, VR can be even more
  involving and interactive than real life. Common
  forms of VR entertainment include InVids (p. TS00)
  and slinkies (p. TS00). Virtual cruises and digital
  kingdoms are more elaborate forms of the same
  medium (see text box).
  Interestingly, the weakening of intellectual property
  law in recent decades has had relatively little effect
  on the virtual arts. Naturally, InVids and slinkies can
  be copied as easily as any other software. Digital
  kingdoms, on the other hand, are extremely resistant
  to piracy. A high-quality digital kingdom requires the
  continual supervision of its authors, and is constantly
  evolving in response to user behavior. Such an
  environment cannot easily be copied, and remains
  distinctive no matter how many people have access to
  it. As a result, the virtual arts are among the most
  prestigious and lucrative in the Fifth Wave societies.
  A talented designer of virtual cruises or digital
  
  40
  kingdoms can command a very high income,
  receiving a portion of the user fees from thousands of
  VR enthusiasts worldwide.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:VR Environments
  @TEXT-BOX:Some of the more common VR
  environments include:
  @TEXT-BOX:Conference Rooms: Simple
  environments used for telepresence meetings. The
  most popular venues are luxurious rooms or halls
  with culturally-appropriate decor. Most of these
  include at least one "window" onto an exotic
  landscape (mountains, deep forest, undersea, space).
  No characters need to be managed by the node; the
  visitors provide all their own interactivity.
  Participants can "conjure up" elaborate audiovisual
  presentations, transmitted from their own computers.
  @TEXT-BOX:Businesses and social groups often use
  VR conference rooms for meetings, while schools use
  them as lecture halls. VR meetings have almost
  completely replaced face-to-face contact for many
  situations -- such meetings are extremely inexpensive
  in comparison to the costs of globe-spanning travel
  and physical meeting space.
  @TEXT-BOX:Shopping Malls: These more complex
  environments allow merchants to display their wares
  in virtual space. Customers can examine goods at
  their leisure, placing orders for later physical
  delivery. Customer service representatives can be
  posted to answer questions and provide a human
  touch. Virtual storefronts also give merchants a great
  deal of control over the presentation of their goods
  (there are occasional scandals about subliminal
  advertising or goods not being quite as attractive in
  reality as they are in VR).
  @TEXT-BOX:Virtual Cruises: A "virtual cruise" is a
  slang term for any highly-interactive VR experience
  which involves a small number of participants over a
  few hours of time, and which has a well-defined plot.
  In effect, a virtual cruise is the next step up in
  interactivity from an InVid (p. TS00). The
  participants are cast directly into roles within the
  scenario, and have more direct control over the
  course of events. As the name suggests, many virtual
  cruises are travelogues. Others include military-style
  training scenarios, historical pageants, and the role-
  playing equivalent of short novels.
  @TEXT-BOX:Virtual cruises require the involvement
  of AI synthespians (p. TS00), taking on the roles of
  extras, expository characters, and other NPCs. Since
  virtual cruises are usually constrained to a linear
  plotline, the cyber-actors rarely need to be more
  complex than a low-level LAI program. Still, their
  involvement drives up the price significantly.
  @TEXT-BOX:Digital Kingdoms: A "digital kingdom"
  is a fully immersive role-playing environment,
  involving up to thousands of players at a time. The
  simulation runs 24 hours per day; players drop in
  and out as their real-world schedules permit.
  Multiple plot threads are progressing at any given
  moment, with more constantly being generated by AI
  or bio-sapient artists. Synthespians, some of them
  high-end LAI or even SAI systems, animate hundreds
  or thousands of NPCs. Digital kingdoms tend to be
  fictional in nature. Anachronistic fantasies are
  popular, as are science-fiction and historical settings
  with varying degrees of realism.
  (((END BOX)))
  Literary Arts
  In one sense, the literary arts are flourishing in 2100.
  Effective early-childhood education means that most
  Fifth Wave citizens are highly literate and have good
  language skills. Millions of people are capable of
  producing competent literary work, even in refined
  forms. Meanwhile, many AI are also very good
  writers.
  On the other hand, this rise in public skill has had a
  profound effect on the literary industry. Supply and
  demand apply in the arts as elsewhere, so the glut of
  competent writers means that almost no one can
  make a good living solely by writing. Today's well-
  known writers are celebrities before they are artists,
  promoting their work through an elaborate marketing
  system based on personality. Creative artists who
  wish to make a reasonable living generally work in
  other parts of the entertainment industry, notably in
  the virtual arts.
  Journalism
  One exception to the literary decline is in the field of
  journalism. As the world floods with data, there is
  tremendous demand for people who can digest it,
  make sense of it, and explain it to the mass market in
  real time. The journalists of 2100 spend a lot more of
  their time on the web than doing footwork, but the old
  principles still hold.
  To be sure, there is no longer any pretense of
  impartial journalism. Most journalists work for
  governments or large web-content corporations, and
  are likely to obey their employers when it comes time
  to "spin" a given story. Other journalists pursue the
  "human interest" market, which primarily presents
  stories with more sensationalism than substance.
  None of this is surprising to any citizen of the Fifth
  Wave -- the notion that there were ever such a thing
  as objective journalism is regarded as a charming
  myth of bygone days. The ability to recognize and
  compensate for the biases in any given media source
  is a primary modern survival skill.
  Music
  Music remains a popular art form in the late 21st
  century. Live performances are rare and expensive,
  serving primarily as prestige events. Most music is
  produced in recording studios and sold through
  InVids, slinkies, and other VR channels. A major
  current trend is the production of wholly virtual
  
  41
  music, which is composed and "performed" entirely
  by AI.
  The marketing of music has long rested less on
  musical talent than on image. A star performer may
  have little or no real talent as a musician, instead
  surviving on the basis of an attractive physique and
  an aggressive marketing staff. As digital technology
  improved, it became possible for major performers to
  do well without performing music at all, simply
  putting on a good physical show while the music was
  composed and performed offstage by others. This
  trend continues, although the "non-musicians" are
  becoming less common -- instead, even the physical
  aspects of performance are being taken over by
  synthespians in a VR environment.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Musical Styles
  There are thousands of musical forms in existence in
  2100. New fashions in music appear and vanish as
  quickly as fashions in any other area. In the Fifth
  Wave nations, some of the more enduring forms
  include:
  @TEXTNeoclassical: Primarily non-vocal, using
  classical Western instruments along with a discreet
  selection of synthesized sounds. Purists repeat
  performances of Western classical music dating back
  to the early 1900s or further. Some modern
  composers work more or less in the classical style
  (complete with three-part structure and polyphony)
  but create diverse new pieces.
  Rock: The popular music of the late 20th century still
  survives, along with associated styles such as blues,
  country, and jazz. For many citizens this style derives
  from the "rock revival" eras of the 2020s and 2070s.
  Many of the super-elderly still cherish the original
  style, however, and sponsor its occasional
  reintroduction into the cultural mix.
  Soft-Edge: Popular among young people, this style
  emphasizes fluffy ballads, subtle instrumental
  passages, and (in performance) sophisticated visual
  effects. A related style, hard-edge, uses more
  emphatic rhythms and incorporates elaborate dance
  into its performance.
  World: A catch-all term for "imported" music,
  usually from developing nations which still have a
  tradition of live performance. Encompasses a whole
  range of substyles, each based on a specific ethnic
  tradition. In the United States, Maori and West
  African styles are popular; various Arab and Hindi
  styles are common in Europe.
  (((END BOX)))
  Sports
  Athletics remain a part of world culture, although the
  emphasis has shifted considerably. The institution of
  professional sports has changed dramatically, while
  amateur competition on anything above the local
  level has nearly vanished.
  Battle of the Biotechnologists
  Biotechnology was the primary factor forcing
  organized sport to evolve. Even in 2000, both
  professional and amateur athletics were fighting a
  fierce battle against the technological augmentation
  of a competitor's abilities. Athletes who used
  performance-enhancing drugs, bionic implants, or
  bodysculpting technology were all banned from
  serious competition. Later, athletes who were
  specifically engineered for performance, either as
  bioroids or parahumans, were excluded. As such
  techniques became more subtle, harder to detect, and
  more commonly used by the general populace, these
  exclusions became more difficult and more
  controversial. Meanwhile, once competition rested
  more on the skill of teams of bio-engineers than on
  the dedication of athletes, many observers began to
  question the point of the activity.
  Through the early part of the century, some
  institutions (notably the Olympic Games) continued
  to develop elaborate protocols to detect and expel
  any athlete relying on artificial aids. Others (such as
  various national football leagues) experimented with
  ways to pit athletes with similar biotechnology
  against one another. By about 2050 it was clear that
  none of these measures would be enough to hold back
  the biotech tide.
  Decline of Spectator Sports
  The last Olympic Games were held in Athens in 2056,
  marking the end of the era of mass spectator sports.
  Today, international competition is quite rare, and
  concentrated in events that require luck and
  intelligent planning more than raw athleticism. For
  example, baseball and golf remain popular
  international sports.
  Many sports leagues remain in existence on the
  national level, although these tend to be smaller and
  more diverse than their 2000-era counterparts. For
  example, instead of two or three American-rules
  football leagues worldwide, there are now over a
  dozen. Each of these has its own rules and governing
  structure, and each has a small fraction of the
  original fan base. The professional athletes who
  participate in such leagues are entertainers as well
  as competitors, more concerned with providing a
  good show to their audience than with true athletic
  competition. In some sports, this has made
  surprisingly little difference in audience devotion.
  Of course, sport remains important to many citizens
  on the Fifth Wave. Many of today's most popular
  "games" are loosely organized and almost devoid of
  the competitive urge: obstacle courses, races in
  which no times are recorded, anachronistic combat
  exercises, and so on. Participation in activities such
  as these has taken up much of the social role once
  held by spectator sports.
  
  42
  States and the
  Stateless
  Teralogos international newsbytes, 3 January 2100:
  Israeli Prime Minister Tamar Halevy announced
  today that her government would support Arab
  efforts to resist Iranian territorial claims in
  southeastern Iraq. "Persian adventurism must be
  stopped," she said during remarks to an emergency
  meeting of the Knesset. "Israel stands ready to
  support its Arab friends in this cause."
  In what appears to be an escalation of previous
  border incidents, Brazilian and Peruvian troops have
  exchanged weapons fire near the headwaters of the
  Amazon River. Brazilian officials claim that their
  troops simply returned fire after coming under attack
  during a routine border patrol. The Lima
  government, on the other hand, claims that Brazilian
  forces had crossed into Peruvian territory and were
  advancing on a border village. Casualties appear to
  have been light, with Brazil reporting the loss of
  three combat bioroids but no deaths among human
  officers.
  A large explosion rocked the commercial district in
  Dushanbe just after dawn, killing 23 people and
  injuring dozens of others. No one appears to have
  claimed responsibility yet, but local officials are
  suggesting that terrorists in the pay of the Kazakh
  government were behind the blast.
  Officials of the Olympus Consortium, meeting in
  Nairobi, have agreed to accept World Court
  arbitration in their ongoing dispute with the United
  States over orbital zoning rights. Consortium
  spokesman Jean-Jacques Nouveau said, "Naturally
  we feel that the American claims are without merit,
  and we look forward to seeing them dismissed by the
  Court. The Olympus Project will go forward on
  schedule."
  U.S. citizen Elijah Butler was found wandering the
  streets of Shanghai shortly after noon local time, five
  weeks after his abduction by Philippine insurgents
  while visiting the island of Mindanao. Chinese
  officials could shed no light on how he had reached
  Shanghai, but they claimed that he was in good
  health and would be free to go home within a few
  days. "He's confused and has no memory of recent
  events," said U.S. Ambassador Peter Hernandez.
  "He's obviously been through a tough time. Still, he's
  in good shape, and looking forward to seeing his
  family. We're all hoping he'll have a pleasant late
  Christmas."
  Nations Tables
  Each region of the planet has its own Nations Table,
  giving the basic statistics for the various nations (and
  colonial territories) in that part of the world. The
  following items are given for each country.
  Name The most common name for the country or
  territory in English. This is usually the country's
  "official" name, although some have been
  abbreviated in common use.
  Alliance: The major international alliance in which
  the country stands as a member, if any. The alliance
  codes are: AME (American Bloc), CAR (Caribbean
  Union), CHI (Chinese Bloc), EUR (European Union),
  IND (Indian Bloc), ISL (Islamic Caliphate), PRA
  (Pacific Rim Alliance), SAC (South African
  Coalition), and TSA (Transpacific Socialist
  Alliance). If the alliance code is given in parentheses,
  this indicates that the territory is a colonial possession
  of one of the alliance's member states.
  Population: Population of the country or territory as
  of 1 January 2100.
  Stability: A measurement of the country's political
  and social stability. Very Good indicates a country
  with no significant social unrest; any social
  dissension is easily dealt with through the established
  political system. Good indicates that there is some
  social unrest, but little or no violent resistance to the
  state. Fair indicates the presence of violent unrest
  which the state is generally able to handle. Poor
  indicates social violence which is growing beyond
  the state's ability to control. Very Poor indicates a
  full-blown state of civil war; in extreme cases the
  country may be a "nation by courtesy" in which the
  central government has effectively lost control of its
  territory.
  Power: A measurement of the country's weight in
  world affairs. This is usually a combination of
  economic productivity, diplomatic influence, and the
  raw ability to project military force. The Power score
  is logarithmic in nature -- for example, a country with
  a score of 5.0 is roughly ten times as powerful as one
  with a score of 4.0, and a hundred times as powerful
  as one with a score of 3.0. The People's Republic of
  China has the highest score (6.0). Any nation with a
  score of 5.0 or higher might be considered a Great
  Power (see p. 00). Nations with scores between 4.0
  and 5.0 are important second-tier countries, which
  may be in contention for Great Power status.
  CR: The Control Rating of the country (see p. B249).
  CR may vary from region to region within the
  country, and the effective CR may change for
  different areas of law. The Control Rating given is
  the most prevalent within the country's borders;
  major exceptions are described as needed.
  Wealth: A measurement of the country's standard of
  living. The distribution of wealth varies considerably
  from nation to nation. This measure might be
  considered the level of the Wealth advantage (or
  disadvantage) that is most common among citizens of
  the country.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Great Powers and Superpowers
  @TEXT-BOX:During much of the 20th century, the
  world was dominated by the conflict between two
  
  43
  "superpowers," the United States and the Soviet
  Union. All other nations were forced to define their
  foreign policy with respect to this bipolar system --
  either allying with one super power against the other,
  or working hard to remain neutral.
  @TEXT-BOX:Today, the world is much more
  complex. There are no superpowers. Instead,
  depending on how one counts, there are between six
  and ten Great Powers. None of these power centers
  can dominate the world, but all of them can make
  their influence felt world-wide. Relations between
  them are in a state of flux, with agreements holding
  only so long as common interests permit. The most
  common list of Great Powers in 2100 has six
  members: China, the European Union, India, the
  Pacific Rim Alliance, the Transpacific Socialist
  Alliance, and the United States.
  @TEXT-BOX:The current system is reminiscent of
  19th century world politics. Indeed, it appears likely
  that the bipolar system of the mid-20th century was
  an aberration in world history. This may be an
  ominous sign. After all, the old Great Power system
  led to two devastating world wars . . .
  (((END BOX)))
  Africa (Central)
  With a few exceptions, Central Africa remains the
  world's poorest region, characterized by unstable
  government, border wars, and populations
  outstripping their economic infrastructure. The
  situation is particularly dire in the old Democratic
  Republic of the Congo (once known as Zaire), where
  several successor-states have arisen and continue to
  struggle for power.
  (((MAP: Central Africa)))
  Angola
  Despite considerable natural resources, Angola
  lagged in economic development for much of the past
  century, due to a chronic state of internal warfare.
  Relative peace has held since the mid-2070s, and
  development since then has been slow but steady.
  Angola may be the next major nation to join the
  South African bloc.
  Burkina Faso
  Burkina Faso is desperately poor. Over two million
  Burkinabe workers migrate south to Cote d'Ivoire and
  Ghana each year for seasonal agricultural labor. The
  income they gain during this period is a major driver
  of the local economy.
  Burundi
  Decades of internal corruption and ethnic violence
  have slowed development of this central African
  country. At present it is very unstable and may be
  sliding toward another episode of civil war.
  Cameroon
  Cameroon is one of central Africa's success stories,
  having enjoyed stable government and steady
  economic growth through much of the past century.
  At present it has a full Third Wave economy,
  specializing in factory farming, textiles, light
  machinery, and computer manufacturing.
  Central African Republic
  A poor African state, suffering the effects of decades
  of internal violence and ecological deterioration.
  Chad
  Chad has enjoyed some development based on
  petroleum and uranium reserves, but the southward
  march of the Sahara Desert has devastated local
  agriculture. At present the country must import food,
  and hunger-driven violence is common.
  Congo (Democratic Republic)
  For the first few decades after the turn of the century,
  this large Central African country suffered from
  ineffective government, famine, pandemic disease,
  and civil war. By 2030 the unified nation was
  defunct. Although some of its successor states have
  made progress since then, the region continues to be a
  flashpoint for regional unrest and war.
  See Haut-Zaire, Katanga, Kivu, and Kongo.
  Congo (Republic)
  A fairly typical Central African nation, undergoing
  slow but steady economic development. The current
  government has been stable since the 2070s, although
  the current round of war between the Zairean
  successor-states threatens to spill across the border.
  Gabon
  A relatively small population, abundant natural
  resources, and decades of stable democratic
  government have all made Gabon the most
  prosperous nation in central or western Africa. This
  prosperity is not evenly distributed. Although actual
  poverty is now rare, the bulk of the population enjoys
  little access even to Third Wave digital technologies.
  Meanwhile, the technically-educated elite live at a
  modest Fifth Wave level. Gabon is currently under
  consideration for membership in the South African
  Coalition, a move which Nigeria vehemently
  opposes.
  Haut-Zaire
  During the breakup of the Democratic Republic of
  the Congo, the provinces of Equateur and Orientale
  became the new nation of Haut-Zaire, its capital at
  Kisangani. The rump Kongolese state struggled for
  years afterward to regain control of Haut-Zaire,
  setting off border wars and terrorism. In turn, Haut-
  
  44
  Zaire has often tried to consolidate control of the
  region's gold and diamond mines by putting pressure
  on nearby Kivu. The current regime in Haut-Zaire is
  a corrupt military dictatorship, which uses terror
  tactics and ecological warfare even against its own
  citizens.
  Katanga
  After the collapse of the Democratic Republic of the
  Congo, its southernmost province formed a new
  independent nation with a capital at Lubumbashi.
  Since then Katanga has managed to hold its own in
  battle, and has parleyed its mineral wealth into solid
  economic development. Today it is the most stable
  and prosperous of the Zairean successor states. It is
  currently loosely allied with the South African
  Coalition; negotiations for formal entry into the
  alliance are underway.
  Kivu
  The Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu provinces of the old
  Democratic Republic of the Congo have been
  independent since 2028, forming the nation of Kivu
  with its capital at Bukavu. Kivu has rarely enjoyed
  stable government, and is often the target of foreign
  invasion from nearby Burundi, Haut-Zaire, or
  Rwanda.
  Kongo
  The Kongo Republic is the remnant of the old
  Democratic Republic of the Congo, comprising the
  old provinces of Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Kasai-
  Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, and Maniema along with
  the old capital of Kinshasa.
  Rwanda
  At the beginning of the century, Rwanda struggled
  for decades to resolve old hatreds between its Hutu
  and Tutsi ethnic groups, and to disengage from a
  series of regional wars. Since about 2040 the country
  has been stable, but economic growth has been
  stubbornly elusive. Negotiations are ongoing for
  entry into the South African Coalition.
  Sao Tome and Principe
  These islands off the coast of West Africa remain
  isolated from global affairs and quite poor.
  Nations Table: Central Africa
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Angola - 34 million Fair 3.0 4 Dead Broke
  Burkina Faso - 53 million Fair 3.1 3 Dead Broke
  Burundi - 24 million Very Poor 2.8 1 Poor
  Cameroon - 48 million Good 3.9 3 Struggling
  Central African Republic - 8.3 million Poor 2.6 3
  Poor
  Chad - 57 million Poor 3.0 3 Dead Broke
  Congo - 10 million Good 2.6 3 Dead Broke
  Gabon - 2.4 million Very Good 3.1 2 Average
  Haut-Zaire - 43 million Poor 2.7 5 Dead Broke
  Katanga - 24 million Good 2.6 2 Poor
  Kivu - 46 million Fair 2.8 5 Poor
  Kongo - 190 million Very Poor 3.6 0 Dead Broke
  Rwanda - 10 million Fair 2.8 4 Poor
  Sao Tome and Principe - 710,000 Fair 1.2 Dead
  Broke
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:The Human Alliance
  @TEXT-BOX:The Human Alliance was founded in
  2049 by Carl Edward Stokes, a prominent American
  bioethicist. At the time, Stokes was the most
  articulate spokesman in the United States for the
  philosophy that would later be known as
  Preservationism. He called attention to the limits of
  biotechnology, and pointed out "the essential
  callousness of those who would manipulate the
  foundations of life."
  @TEXT-BOX:At first the Alliance was simply one
  advocacy group among many, but within a few years
  Stokes had forged a partnership with several
  American religious groups. He himself was an
  agnostic, but he found that many Christian and
  Muslim organizations shared his mistrust of radical
  genetic engineering. With their help, he was able to
  raise large amounts of money and buy a great deal of
  media access. By 2060 the Human Alliance was one
  of the largest and most powerful advocacy groups in
  the United States, and was rapidly making headway
  in Europe and Latin America as well.
  @TEXT-BOX:As of 2100, the Alliance remains an
  influential pressure group. It is one of the primary
  supports of the Democratic Party in the United States,
  and often plays a part in European national and
  Union elections. For the most part, it works within
  the legitimate political system in pursuit of its goals.
  It has also been known to sponsor mass
  demonstrations, and there have been occasional
  (unproven) allegations of violent sabotage.
  @TEXT-BOX:Alliance critics claim that it is a racist
  organization, advocating the position that "to be
  human you have to look human." In truth the
  Alliance's position is much more subtle, focusing on
  the intangible costs of advanced biotechnology.
  Alliance leaders publicly doubt that bioengineers are
  wise enough to redesign the "natural" human form,
  and they claim that many "improvements" are
  actually detrimental to their recipients. The Alliance
  argues against any genetic or biotechnic innovation
  that doesn't have proven therapeutic value.
  (((END BOX)))
  Africa (East)
  East Africa has made patchy progress in the past
  century, especially as South African influence has
  slowly spread up the coast. The nations of the "horn
  of Africa" are still some of the most unstable and
  desperately poor in the world.
  
  45
  (((MAP: East Africa)))
  Djibouti
  Djibouti is a very minor member of the Islamic
  Caliphate.
  Eritrea
  This small nation has attained little more social or
  economic development than just after independence a
  century ago. Brushfire wars with neighboring
  Ethiopia and Sudan have often wrecked what little
  progress has been made.
  Ethiopia
  This ancient country has suffered terribly throughout
  the 21st century, as modest agricultural and industrial
  development have been outstripped by a booming
  population. Almost 300 million people live in abject
  poverty here, sometimes dependent on outside aid
  even for food. The official government is a socialist
  democracy, but its effective authority extends no
  more than a few miles from the capital.
  Kenya
  For most of the 21st century, Kenya has managed to
  remain a stable country, developing slowly but
  steadily with help from South Africa and (to a lesser
  degree) the European Union. Local society is strongly
  Preservationist, and has concentrated on developing
  Kenya's natural resources while keeping most of the
  country in as wild a state as possible. Bioroid
  manufacture and the development of radical new
  human genetics have been almost unheard of here.
  Most of Kenya's people are the result of very
  conservative genetic therapies, and are close matches
  for the original human stock.
  Kenya is one of the most prosperous nations in sub-
  Saharan Africa. It is moderately developed, having
  fully absorbed Fourth Wave biotechnology, and is
  roughly comparable to China in technology and
  standard of living.
  Since 2093 Kenya has been the focus for the
  Olympus Project, the first attempt at constructing a
  "beanstalk" ground-to-orbit system for Earth. When
  completed, the beanstalk will bridge the distance
  between the summit of Mount Kenya and
  geosynchronous orbit, cutting the cost of interface
  transport dramatically. Primary investors include
  South Africa, the European Union, Australia and
  Japan.
  The Olympus Project has brought a great deal of
  investment to Kenya, boosting the local economy.
  Unfortunately, it has also brought some unwanted
  outside attention. The American launch facilities in
  Ecuador, for decades the busiest spaceport on the
  planet, now face obsolescence almost overnight once
  the beanstalk is completed. Meanwhile, the
  Transpacific Socialist Alliance has its own reasons
  for opposing the beanstalk project. These rivals have
  been pursuing a number of strategies for stopping or
  subverting the Olympus Project, making Kenya the
  site for considerable scheming.
  Seychelles
  The Seychelles island group is largely dependent on
  tourism, although recent developments in
  pelagiculture may provide a more diverse economic
  base.
  Somalia
  Somalia is in the hands of local military authorities,
  its internationally recognized government helpless to
  control most of the country. Since 2097 the South
  African Coalition and Islamic Caliphate have been
  holding talks aimed at finding solutions to Somalia's
  long-standing problems. Caliphate envoys have been
  very active in Somalia in recent years, trying to
  negotiate peace between the various factions and win
  support for an exercise in nation-building.
  South Sudan
  After years of oppression and civil war, the
  predominantly black population of southern Sudan
  succeeded in winning its independence from Arab
  Khartoum in the early 2010s. The new nation's
  capital was established at Juba. Unfortunately, South
  Sudan has struggled for most of the century in its
  quest for political stability and economic
  development. The current government dates to 2090,
  when Kenyan and Ugandan troops supported a pro-
  democratic insurgency against the previous military
  dictatorship.
  Tanganyika
  The bulk of mainland Tanzania was consolidated
  once again in the late 2060s, after years of
  negotiation supported by South African and European
  mediators. The new nation of Tanganyika has had
  relatively stable government since then, and has made
  significant economic progress despite the strain of a
  fast-growing population. Tanganyika is a staunch
  member of the South African Coalition.
  Tanzania
  By the late 2030s, a long and bloody civil war had
  left the old United Republic of Tanzania in wreckage.
  For several decades the country was divided into
  several successor states, although that number fell to
  two by about 2070.
  See Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
  Uganda
  Uganda suffered under a particularly brutal
  dictatorship from 2018 into the late 2050s, during
  which time social stability and economic growth both
  declined. The country's fortunes have reversed since
  
  46
  then. The current elected government has held power
  since 2087, and has done much to promote advanced
  agriculture and high-technology industries. Uganda
  joined the South African Coalition in 2099.
  Zanzibar
  The island of Zanzibar retained some autonomy even
  after joining the United Republic of Tanzania in
  1964. During the Tanzanian civil war of the 2030s,
  Zanzibar withdrew from the union and has yet to
  return. At present, Zanzibar is a member of no major
  power bloc, although local factions have ties to the
  Islamic Caliphate, the South African Coalition, and
  even the Transpacific Socialist Alliance. Negotiations
  have been going on for years regarding a reunion
  with the mainland, but given the current political
  situation they are unlikely to be completed anytime
  soon.
  Nations Table: East Africa
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Djibouti ISL 1.8 million Fair 1.7 5 Dead Broke
  Eritrea - 20 million Poor 2.3 4 Dead Broke
  Ethiopia - 300 million Very Poor 3.3 1 Dead Broke
  Kenya SAC 45 million Very Good 4.3 2 Average
  Seychelles SAC 88,000 Fair 1.3 3 Struggling
  Somalia - 41 million Very Poor 2.5 0 Dead Broke
  South Sudan - 33 million Fair 2.9 3 Dead Broke
  Tanganyika SAC 130 million Good 3.7 4 Dead Broke
  Uganda SAC 141 million Good 4.0 4 Poor
  Zanzibar - 2.7 million Fair 2.0 3 Poor
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Crossroads
  @TEXT-BOX:Crossroads is a large consulting firm,
  based in New York City in the United States, but
  with branch offices all over the world. It was founded
  in the 2020s as an alliance of several smaller
  consultancies working in various disciplines.
  Crossroads targets the "social problems" market,
  attempting to resolve social difficulties brought on by
  the rapid advance of technology.
  @TEXT-BOX:Crossroads consultants work alone or
  in small teams (a team usually includes at least one
  attorney, one memetic engineer, and some number of
  experts in "hard" technology). The usual Crossroads
  client is a government or a para-governmental
  organization (p. 00). Crossroads consultants are most
  often called in to study a local situation and
  recommend economic or social policies. Sometimes
  they are needed to help mediate a social dispute.
  While Crossroads tries not to get involved in
  situations of imminent violence, its consultants have
  sometimes been caught in the thick of a riot or
  uprising.
  @TEXT-BOX:The Crossroads corporate culture is
  strictly egalitarian; there are few social distinctions
  between the CEO of the company and its lowliest
  data analyst. The salary structure is also remarkably
  flat, and there is an extensive training-and-education
  budget for all employees. Crossroads is a superb firm
  to work for, but it is very selective in recruitment. A
  potential employee must speak several languages
  fluently, demonstrate the ability to adapt to different
  cultural norms, and be willing to travel worldwide on
  a moment's notice.
  (((END BOX)))
  Africa (North)
  North Africa is dominated by the row of Muslim
  Arab nations along the Mediterranean coast. Most of
  these are stable and relatively prosperous, with ties to
  the European Union. Away from the European trade
  zone, a few states remain poor and backward.
  (((MAP: North Africa)))
  Algeria
  Algeria is one of the largest and most prosperous
  Arab states of northern Africa. It is generally opposed
  to the Islamic Caliphate, and has been investigating
  the possibility of forming a rival north-African
  alliance of Islamic states.
  Egypt
  A booming population put strain on Egypt's political
  and economic institutions early in the century. The
  result was the foundation of an theocratic state in
  2026. For almost twenty years, Egypt was the focal
  point of Middle Eastern turmoil, threatening nearby
  Israel, opposing the growth of Saudi power, and
  angering the world community through its neglect
  and destruction of pre-Muslim relics. A secular
  government was reestablished in 2045, but Egypt
  continues to struggle to recover its former stability.
  Today Egypt is the largest Arab nation outside the
  Islamic Caliphate. The current government is bitterly
  opposed to the Caliphate, and may be preparing to
  take a leadership role among those Muslim nations
  who reject its authority. Relations with Israel have
  improved, but continue to be chilly.
  Libya
  During the past century, Libya has evolved from a
  military dictatorship to a healthy, functioning
  democracy. Despite some difficulty in the transition
  from a petroleum economy, local industries are
  thriving and the population has a reasonable standard
  of living. At present Libya is an independent state
  most closely tied to the European Union, although
  there is strong popular support for membership in the
  Islamic Caliphate.
  Morocco
  The kingdom of Morocco has enjoyed stable
  government and steady economic growth throughout
  the past century. It is independent of any major power
  bloc, but the current king is openly friendly toward
  
  47
  the Islamic Caliphate and the notion of joining is
  becoming more popular.
  Sahrawi Republic
  The so-called Spanish Sahara, a coastal region in
  northwest Africa, was occupied by Morocco after
  Spanish withdrawal in 1976. After decades of
  insurgency and political negotiation, the region
  became the independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic
  Republic in 2029. The country has almost no natural
  resources, and remains one of the poorest in the
  world.
  Sudan
  The Khartoum government has been in the hands of
  Muslim fundamentalists for most of the past century.
  Islamic law is strictly applied throughout the country,
  even to foreigners and non-Muslim citizens. As a
  result, Sudan is effectively isolated from much of the
  world, although it does significant business with
  other Muslim countries. It is a full member of the
  Islamic Caliphate, and is notable as the most
  stringently fundamentalist and anti-Western member
  of that alliance.
  See also South Sudan.
  Tunisia
  Tunisia has a long tradition of stable government and
  an open, egalitarian society. Although it is not a
  member of the European Union, trade barriers
  between Tunisia and the European Union are
  practically nonexistent and joint ventures are very
  common. Tunisia has invested a great deal in sea-
  bottom development, again in cooperation with the
  European Union.
  Nations Table: North Africa
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Algeria - 60 million Good 4.3 4 Average
  Egypt - 130 million Fair 4.3 4 Struggling
  Libya - 13 million Good 3.8 3 Average
  Morocco - 58 million Very Good 4.3 4 Struggling
  Sahrawi Republic - 840,000 Poor 0.4 5 Dead Broke
  Sudan ISL 77 million Fair 3.2 5 Dead Broke
  Tunisia - 13 million Very Good 3.7 2 Average
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Shards of the U.N.
  @TEXT-BOX:The credibility of the United Nations
  Organization was badly damaged early in the century,
  when it proved helpless to prevent several major wars
  and international conflicts. This process culminated
  in 2025 when the United States withdrew from the
  organization entirely. U.N. headquarters relocated to
  Geneva, but the organization never recovered. The
  final meeting of the Security Council was held in
  2034.
  @TEXT-BOX:In 2100, many people would be
  surprised to learn that the United Nations still exists.
  In fact the organization never officially disbanded.
  Many nations continue to regard at least some U.N.
  institutions as useful, and are willing to maintain their
  existence. The General Assembly continues to meet
  to this day, with about one-third of the world's
  nations regularly sending delegates. According to the
  U.N. Charter, the Assembly decides most questions
  by the agreement of those present and voting -- so
  even though many member nations no longer send
  delegates, those that do can still carry on the
  Assembly's business. Specifically, the Assembly
  continues to hold regular elections for the post of
  Secretary-General, and it manages the budget of the
  truncated organization.
  @TEXT-BOX:Several U.N. agencies still operate,
  maintained by the Secretariat's international civil
  service. The most significant of these are the
  International Court of Justice (p. 00) and the World
  Bank (p. 00). The U.N. no longer recruits
  peacekeeping forces from its member nations, but
  when the budget permits it sometimes hires military
  force. Such employment of mercenaries is often
  controversial (and represents a significant departure
  from earlier U.N. policy), but it has effectively
  resolved several small conflicts.
  (((END BOX)))
  Africa (South)
  The southern portion of the continent is the center of
  an "African Renaissance." Led by the Republic of
  South Africa itself, many nations in the region are
  rapidly building stable societies and prosperous
  economies. Most of these nations are members of one
  major power bloc or another, taking active part in
  global affairs.
  (((MAP: Southern Africa)))
  Botswana
  Botswana has long been dominated by neighboring
  South Africa. Agricultural and industrial
  development have been slow but steady since the
  2050s, driven by the local diamond industry and
  South African investment.
  Comoros
  This island microstate sits between Madagascar and
  the African mainland. It is notable primarily for its
  status as the most remote member of the Islamic
  Caliphate. Nanosocialist agents from nearby
  Madagascar recently botched a coup attempt,
  triggering civil violence and a government
  crackdown on political activity.
  Lesotho
  Lesotho exists as an enclave within South Africa.
  Although it has shared somewhat in South Africa's
  prosperity, it remains relatively poor and backward.
  The current government is fiercely Preservationist,
  
  48
  and has cut many ties with the outside world in order
  to preserve traditional Sotho customs.
  Madagascar
  Madagascar is something of an anomaly in African
  affairs. The island nation was first settled not by
  Africans, but by seafarers from far to the east. The
  major local language, Malagasy, is most closely
  related to the Malay dialects spoken in Indonesia.
  Perhaps because of this ethnic affinity, Madagascar
  developed relatively close ties to Indonesia and
  Malaysia during the 2030s. Through this channel,
  nanosocialist ideas became popular on the island in
  the 2070s, and a nanosocialist government came to
  power in 2086.
  Madagascar is a poor nation, which has not enjoyed
  much benefit from the growth in prosperity among its
  neighbors on the African mainland. Resentment of
  this fact has made the current nanosocialist regime
  quite hostile to the wealthy African states. Backed by
  Indonesian military aid, Madagascar is building up its
  military forces and acting as a staging ground for
  covert activities on the African mainland. Much of
  the past decade's spread of African nanosocialism can
  be attributed to spies and diplomats operating out of
  Madagascar. Naturally, South Africa takes a dim
  view of this activity, and has taken an increasingly
  confrontational stance in response.
  Malawi
  Malawi is a full member of the South African
  Coalition. Although there has been considerable
  economic growth over the past century, the country
  remains poor, dependent largely on agriculture and
  light industry.
  Mauritius
  This island nation east of Madagascar has an
  unusually high standard of living for the region,
  based on a Fourth Wave economy with healthy
  biosynthetic and pharmaceutical industries. The
  island is dominated by its ethnic-Indian population,
  and since the 2080s it has allied itself more and more
  closely with India. Local nanosocialist agitation
  exists, but has little popular support.
  Mayotte
  Mayotte is an island in the Comoros group, the only
  one to forgo independence from France in the late
  20th century. It remains a territorial collectivity of
  France, and is wholly dependent on French foreign
  aid.
  Mozambique
  Mozambique is a client state of South Africa. Recent
  economic development has been quite rapid, with
  new Fourth Wave industries springing up backed by
  South African investment.
  Namibia
  This African nation has enjoyed considerable
  economic growth in the course of the past century,
  driven by the extensive local mining industry. At
  present, the bulk of the population lives at a low
  Third Wave level. The political elite, with
  connections to foreign mining interests, are extremely
  wealthy and have access to the full range of Fifth
  Wave technology. Since the mid-2070s the
  government has been taking steps to reduce income
  inequality, investing in widespread technical
  education and locally-owned industries.
  Reunion
  Reunion island remains an overseas department of
  France. Long-standing tensions between local ethnic
  groups were resolved early in the century, with a
  comprehensive package of economic reforms. The
  island currently has a Fourth Wave economy and
  reasonably equitable distribution of wealth.
  Nanosocialist agitation has been common in recent
  years, but seems unlikely to threaten the government.
  South Africa
  The Republic of South Africa is, without question,
  the most successful nation on the continent. Over the
  past century, it has built a peaceful, prosperous
  society, one which has done much to solve the deep
  problems plaguing Africa as a whole.
  The Republic's society is a model of multiracial
  integration, to an astonishing degree considering the
  nation's history. Local law is fiercely opposed to any
  hint of ethnic discrimination, and emphasizes equal
  treatment for all. Intermarriage between ethnic
  groups has become quite common. Another
  phenomenon, almost unique to South Africa, has
  been the production of "transracial" human types.
  These genetic upgrades or parahumans are
  specifically designed to either meld features of every
  human racial type, or to create distinctive physical
  forms which match none of the "natural" races.
  Transracial modifications first became popular in the
  2050s, as part of a pan-Africanist movement
  emphasizing cultural and physical diversity. Today
  they account for perhaps 15% of the population.
  South African biotechnology has been a significant
  factor in the continent's development, ever since the
  rise of Ithemba Biotechnologies in the 2020s (see p.
  00). This has naturally led to South African
  dominance in local politics. Today the Republic leads
  the South African Coalition, a bloc of more or less
  prosperous African nations which have all benefitted
  from its expertise in genetic and ecological
  engineering.
  Today the Republic is a fully-developed Fifth Wave
  nation, with technology and standard of living
  comparable to those of many European nations. It is a
  world leader in biotechnology and ecological
  
  49
  engineering, and is moving rapidly into Fifth Wave
  fields such as nanotechnology. It is also the main
  commercial and financial center for sub-Saharan
  Africa.
  Swaziland
  Swaziland is a member of the South African
  Coalition, politically and economically dependent on
  South Africa itself. The country is currently a
  parliamentary democracy; the Swazi monarchy still
  exists but holds almost no actual power.
  Zambia
  Zambia underwent a period of political instability
  early in the century, culminating in a civil war which
  destroyed most of the country's infrastructure.
  Recovery began in the 2040s, but has been rather
  slow. The government is rumored to be sponsoring
  clandestine research into dangerously advanced
  nanoware.
  Zimbabwe
  At one time Zimbabwe was the nation most
  devastated by the AIDS epidemic, with well over a
  third of the population infected. Once South African
  biotech firms had made a broad-spectrum AIDS cure
  available, Zimbabwe soon became closely aligned
  with South Africa. The relationship between the two
  countries was the cornerstone of the South African
  Coalition, and remains very close. The subject of a
  political union between the two countries comes up
  every few years, but so far has not gathered
  significant public support.
  Nations Table: Southern Africa
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Botswana SAC 1.3 million Fair 2.7 3 Average
  Comoros ISL 2.8 million Poor 1.9 6 Dead Broke
  Lesotho SAC 3.6 million Good 2.8 5 Struggling
  Madagascar TSA 130 million Fair 3.5 5 Dead Broke
  Malawi SAC 18 million Fair 3.2 4 Poor
  Mauritius IND 1.4 million Good 3.2 2 Comfortable
  Mayotte (EUR) 910,000 Fair 1.5 2 Dead Broke
  Mozambique SAC 28 million Good 3.4 3 Poor
  Namibia SAC 3.3 million Good 3.1 3 Average
  Reunion (EUR) 1.2 million Very Good 3.2 2
  Comfortable
  South Africa SAC 33 million Very Good 4.8 2
  Wealthy
  Swaziland SAC 3.4 million Good 3.0 2 Struggling
  Zambia SAC 29 million Fair 3.3 4 Poor
  Zimbabwe SAC 11 million Fair 3.5 3 Average
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:World Court
  @TEXT-BOX:The World Court (officially, the
  International Court of Justice) is a United Nations
  agency which still operates in 2100 AD. Indeed, it
  may be a more powerful institution than it was before
  the partial collapse of the U.N.
  @TEXT-BOX:The World Court meets in The Hague,
  in the Netherlands. It has 15 judges, who (since the
  2044 reforms to the U.N. Charter) are elected by the
  General Assembly acting alone. Many nations who
  have stopped participation in other U.N. activities
  continue to support the court; major examples include
  China and the United States.
  @TEXT-BOX:The primary function of the court is to
  render judgements regarding international disputes.
  Any nations involved in a dispute may bring it before
  the court, and in fact many nations have made blanket
  agreements to subject all disputes of a certain kind to
  the court's judgement. The court cannot force any
  nation to submit to its judgement. Rulings are made
  on the basis of existing international law, although
  (as with all courts) the World Court sometimes makes
  new law when there is no useful precedent. The court
  also issues advisory opinions when consulted by
  other U.N. or international institutions.
  @TEXT-BOX:The World Court has had little
  success in preventing warfare or other violent
  conflicts -- by the time a dispute reaches violence, the
  parties are usually unwilling to submit to the court's
  arbitration. Still, it has often been able to resolve
  disputes involving boundaries, international trade,
  treaties, and so on. If anything, the world's nations
  have brought such disputes to the court more often in
  recent decades. With other global institutions in a
  state of decline, the court has built a reputation as a
  fair and impartial arbitrator.
  (((END BOX)))
  Africa (West)
  West Africa has made some progress in the past
  century, although no breakthrough on the order of the
  south African renaissance has taken place. No major
  power bloc has significant interests in the region.
  Local politics usually center around tensions between
  Nigeria and a group of smaller nations led by Cote
  d'Ivoire and Ghana.
  Benin
  This nation is often subject to conflicting political
  pressures from its more powerful neighbors (notably
  Nigeria and Ghana).
  Cape Verde
  The Cape Verde islands sit off the west coast of
  Africa. The islands are poor in natural resources and
  arable land, but they provide a convenient base for
  pelagiculture and ocean-floor mining. Buoyed by
  European investment, these new industries are doing
  much to boost local economic growth.
  
  50
  Casamance
  This nation was formed in 2042 by the division of
  Senegal. After decades of sporadic separatist
  violence, negotiations led to the independence of the
  regions south of The Gambia, around the Casamance
  River. The new republic has suffered from unstable
  government and sluggish economic growth ever
  since, and remains quite poor.
  Cote d'Ivoire
  Once almost completely dependent on cash crops, the
  Ivorian economy is now at a modest Third Wave
  level. Diplomatic disputes with Nigeria have been
  endemic over the past few decades, and may be
  escalating toward armed conflict. Cote d'Ivoire
  supports pro-democratic insurgencies in some of its
  less stable neighbors, notably Liberia.
  Equatorial Guinea
  Equatorial Guinea was once plagued by corrupt
  government, but since a Nigerian-supported coup in
  2073 the local administration has been much more
  effective. Economic growth since then has been
  substantial. The small but vocal technical class has
  been agitating in recent years for democratic reforms
  and free elections.
  Gambia
  The Gambia suffered from ineffective government
  for much of the past century. The current elected
  government has been stable since 2089, and has
  managed significant economic growth.
  Ghana
  Despite a fast-growing population, Ghana has
  enjoyed very rapid economic development through
  much of the past century. Today the country is fully
  industrialized and is moving rapidly toward full Third
  Wave status.
  Guinea
  Guinea struggled with corrupt government and
  internal instability at the beginning of the century, but
  since the 2040s there has been steady growth. In 2089
  the government purchased a set of powerful AI to
  advise elected officials. A large cadre of cybershell
  observers gathers data on conditions around the
  country; many human citizens resent the monitoring
  and are prone to petty sabotage.
  Guinea-Bissau
  Guinea-Bissau has been unable to make much
  economic or social progress during the 21st century,
  suffering through a cycle of alternating civil war and
  military dictatorship. The current regime is a
  particularly brutal one.
  Liberia
  Wracked by civil war and state corruption, Liberia
  remains one of the poorest nations on Earth. The
  current ruling party is effectively powerless outside
  the capital, while an alliance of tribal militias
  (supported by nearby Cote d'Ivoire) holds the eastern
  half of the country.
  Mali
  Mali's industrial sector is almost nonexistent, and its
  agriculture is increasingly hampered by expansion of
  the Sahara Desert. The current government is
  negotiating for closer ties to Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana,
  in exchange for access to genetic technologies which
  might improve local agriculture.
  Mauritania
  Mauritania remains quite poor, despite sporadic
  efforts to replace agriculture with advanced light
  industries. One difficulty has been continued tension
  between two segments of the population, the Arab-
  Berbers and the black Africans. The most recent
  outbreak of civil strife between the two involved the
  release of several bioweapons.
  Niger
  Niger has suffered badly from ecological
  degradation, especially as the Sahara Desert moves
  into previously-productive agricultural areas. Niger
  relies on foreign aid from France and the rest of
  Europe to keep its economy afloat. Neighboring
  Nigeria has often tried to interfere in local politics.
  Nigeria
  The most important nation in West Africa is Nigeria.
  Nigeria's regional influence is due less to its
  technological base than its large population and
  oversized military. Its government is democratic and
  has been reasonably stable since the mid-2070s,
  although the military is an important factor in local
  politics and has deposed the civilian government on
  occasion in the past.
  Nigeria is undergoing serious internal difficulties at
  present. For decades, local politics have been
  dominated by Muslims of the Hausa and Fulani
  ethnic groups. This dominant faction is strongly
  Preservationist. Meanwhile, a Africanized version of
  Transhumanism has taken root in the mostly-
  Christian Yoruba population, encouraging them to
  begin wholesale gengineering of their offspring
  toward several homo superior parahuman designs.
  Violence between the two factions has grown more
  common of late, and a full-scale civil war with ethnic
  and religious overtones seems possible.
  Meanwhile, Nigeria has often found itself at odds
  with the smaller nations of West Africa, particularly
  Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana. Nigeria's government has
  
  51
  often used threats of force when trying to resolve
  disputes with its neighbors.
  Senegal
  For most of the century, Senegal has had stable
  government and steady growth. The country is
  currently at an early industrial level, and is investing
  heavily in low-energy industries such as genemod
  agriculture and software development.
  See also Casamance.
  Sierra Leone
  A booming population, ecological disasters, unstable
  government and chronic social violence have kept
  Sierra Leone one of the poorest nations on Earth.
  Much of the population still survives using
  subsistence agriculture.
  Togo
  Togo has had a stable democratic government since
  mid-century. Economic growth has been slow but
  fairly steady throughout that time.
  Nations Table: West Africa
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Benin - 27 million Fair 3.4 3 Poor
  Cape Verde - 290,000 Fair 1.2 4 Poor
  Casamance - 5.6 million Poor 2.9 4 Poor
  Cote d'Ivoire - 50 million Good 4.0 2 Struggling
  Equatorial Guinea - 1.7 million Fair 2.2 5 Poor
  Gambia - 6.2 million Fair 2.7 3 Poor
  Ghana - 38 million Fair 3.9 2 Struggling
  Guinea - 25 million Fair 3.2 4 Poor
  Guinea-Bissau - 4.5 million Poor 2.0 6 Dead Broke
  Liberia - 16 million Very Poor 2.3 1 Dead Broke
  Mali - 57 million Fair 3.2 3 Dead Broke
  Mauritania - 13 million Poor 2.6 5 Poor
  Niger - 40 million Fair 3.3 4 Poor
  Nigeria - 440 million Poor 4.4 4 Poor
  Senegal - 33 million Good 3.8 3 Struggling
  Sierra Leone - 24 million Very Poor 2.2 2 Dead
  Broke
  Togo - 12 million Good 3.1 3 Poor
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:High Industrial Corporations
  @TEXT-BOX:Just because the world is in the midst
  of the Fifth Wave doesn't mean that old-fashioned
  industry is no longer an issue. Many of the world's
  corporations still specialize in resource extraction,
  refining, manufacturing, and similar tasks. Of course,
  most businesses apply a variety of new technologies
  to their work. These "high industrial" firms form the
  backbone of the global economy.
  @TEXT-BOX:Alvarez Motors S.A. (Buenos Aires,
  Argentina): A major manufacturer of ground cars
  and other wheeled vehicles. Exports its popular
  personal automobiles all over the world.
  @TEXT-BOX:CanesVen Enterprises (Denver,
  Colorado): A weapons manufacturer known for its
  production of superb small arms for the civilian and
  police markets.
  @TEXT-BOX:CIT/Provençale (Marseille, France):
  One of the largest French industrial conglomerates,
  with divisions involved in many manufacturing
  specialities.
  @TEXT-BOX:Energia Brasileira S.A. (Rio de
  Janeiro, Brazil): Brazil's largest energy-production
  firm, operating a number of fusion power plants
  throughout the Americas. Known for its well-trained
  "plant security" branch.
  @TEXT-BOX:Fickel Bergbau AG (Bonn, Germany):
  A major player in the mining industry on Earth,
  specializing in deep-core mines that reach most of the
  way into the planet's crust.
  @TEXT-BOX:Grupo Pacifico S.A. (Mazatlán,
  Mexico): A consortium of Mexican manufacturing
  firms with extensive ties to the United States and
  Ecuador.
  @TEXT-BOX:Hvide Stjerne A/S (Copenhagen,
  Denmark): Important ground-based manufacturer of
  orbital satellites. Currently suffering considerable
  competition from similar firms based in space.
  @TEXT-BOX:Nyeri Viwandazito (Nairobi, Kenya):
  Major producer of capital equipment. Currently
  bidding aggressively for contracts on the Olympus
  Project.
  @TEXT-BOX:PT Bintang Bumi Bulan (Djakarta,
  Indonesia): An Indonesian mining firm, which has
  escaped most trade sanctions by locating its main
  business offices in Singapore. Very busy throughout
  Southeast Asia and Oceania.
  @TEXT-BOX:PT Manfasi (Djakarta, Indonesia):
  An Indonesian firm specializing in solar-energy
  installations. Currently suffering the effects of trade
  sanctions being imposed on Indonesia.
  @TEXT-BOX:RV Interorbital Ltd. (Manchester,
  United Kingdom): A transport firm, providing
  suborbital flights worldwide as well as regular
  service to low Earth orbit.
  (((END BOX)))
  America (Central)
  Central America is currently on the front lines in the
  confrontation between nanosocialism and free-market
  capitalism. Several of the region's smaller countries
  have joined the Transpacific Socialist Alliance, while
  powerful Mexico seems likely to be an ideological
  battleground in the near future. The United States is
  becoming increasingly involved in local politics.
  (((MAP: Central America)))
  Belize
  Belize is the poorest country in the region, racked by
  a corrupt and ineffective government and urban street
  
  52
  crime. It is currently under severe pressure from
  nanosocialist Guatemala.
  Costa Rica
  This nation has been stable and relatively prosperous
  for well over a century. Although it is politically
  independent, it cooperates closely with the United
  States. This relationship has grown closer since the
  nanosocialist takeover of neighboring Nicaragua.
  El Salvador
  El Salvador has been a member of the TSA since a
  nanosocialist party took power during the peaceful
  elections of 2088. It contributes little to the effort for
  nanosocialist expansion.
  Guatemala
  Guatemala has been a member of the Transpacific
  Socialist Alliance ever since the previous government
  fell to a military coup in 2091. The local
  nanosocialist regime is ruthless and particularly
  committed to exporting revolution. It has done much
  to destabilize the southern regions of neighboring
  Mexico.
  Honduras
  There is a fierce guerilla war proceeding against the
  nanosocialist Honduran government. The insurgents
  are receiving clandestine support from the United
  States.
  Mexico
  The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) which
  ruled Mexico through most of the 20th century lost
  its grip on power in the first years of the 21st. The
  result was years of social and political upheaval. In
  the end the Mexican democracy was considerably
  more robust, less characterized by single-party
  corruption and minority rebellion. Meanwhile,
  relations with the United States improved
  considerably, as American politics were influenced
  by the growing Hispanic population. By 2050 the two
  nations were close allies, and cross-border trade was
  causing a Mexican economic boom.
  Today Mexico is a healthy democracy with an
  advanced Fourth Wave economy. Although Mexico
  is still overshadowed economically by the United
  States, the disparity between the two is much smaller
  than in 2000 and is still shrinking. Mexican leaders
  look forward to a time when their country will stand
  as an equal partner of the United States.
  The major challenge facing Mexico today is the rise
  of nanosocialism. The current central government
  could be considered a moderate nanosocialist regime,
  which respects foreign patents and copyrights but
  nationalizes intellectual property created by Mexican
  citizens. However, portions of the country have seen
  a dramatic rise in radical nanosocialism. Nearby
  Guatemala has been sponsoring covert subversive
  activity in southern Mexico for several years. The
  Mayan and mestizo populations in deep southern
  Mexico have lagged behind the rest of the country
  economically, and their relations with the central
  government have often been tense. If Guatemalan
  agents are successful in setting off an uprising, the
  consequences could be grave.
  Nicaragua
  Nicaragua went nanosocialist after the elections of
  2086, and has since joined the Transpacific Socialist
  Alliance. The country is too involved with the
  difficulties of internal development to contribute
  much to the alliance.
  Panama
  Independent for decades, Panama has recently
  realigned itself with the United States out of fear.
  Before the new alliance was signed in 2091, Panama
  was under fierce pressure from the nanosocialist
  regime in nearby Colombia. Since then, American
  troops and military aid have flooded into Panama to
  prop up the local government and protect the still-
  important Canal.
  Nations Table: Central America
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Belize - 770,000 Poor 1.8 1 Struggling
  Costa Rica - 6.1 million Very Good 3.6 2 Average
  El Salvador TSA 15 million Good 3.5 4 Struggling
  Guatemala TSA 43 million Fair 3.9 6 Struggling
  Honduras TSA 15 million Very Poor 3.0 5 Struggling
  Mexico - 170 million Good 5.3 3 Comfortable
  Nicaragua TSA 11 million Fair 3.1 4 Struggling
  Panama AME 3.9 million Good 3.3 4 Average
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Esperante Enterprises
  @TEXT-BOX:Esperante Enterprises was founded in
  the early 2030s by Julian Grant, a British expatriate
  living in the Republic of South Africa. Grant was one
  of the "philosopher entrepreneurs" who caught the
  world's imagination in that period, making a fortune
  for himself while working to improve the lot of some
  of the world's poorest people. In keeping with this
  goal, his firm was less a profit-making enterprise than
  a self-supporting charity. Instead of specializing in a
  particular product, Esperante Enterprises specialized
  in developing pools of very-low-wage labor.
  @TEXT-BOX:In its early days, a typical Esperante
  Enterprises subsidiary followed a carefully-planned
  strategy. After reaching an agreement with the local
  government, an Esperante plant would be sited in a
  region suffering from chronic underemployment. The
  plant would be built and staffed by anyone who was
  willing to work hard, regardless of their skills or
  experience -- during construction, senior Orion
  employees would teach any necessary skills. This
  process was aided by cutting-edge instructional
  
  53
  software, along with construction methods adapted to
  unskilled labor (p. 00). Esperante gave its workers
  barely more take-home pay than they could earn
  elsewhere. The education and medical benefits were
  superb, however, and every worker took part in a
  profit-sharing plan which earned him a potential
  share in the factory itself.
  @TEXT-BOX:The products manufactured at an
  Esperante facility were always chosen for ease of
  shipping and the ability to earn a modest profit in the
  developed world. For example, the Esperante plant
  built in Luanda in 2036 assembled personal-
  assistance robots for sale to middle-class homes in
  Europe and the United States. These robots were not
  cutting-edge technology, but they were cheap and
  reliable, and more affordable than the "luxury"
  models being built in the developed world at the time.
  @TEXT-BOX:Eventually, the factory would be self-
  sufficient. At that point, the parent company would
  divest itself of the facility, turning a controlling
  interest over to the workers themselves . . . after
  which the firm would be off to its next venture. By
  the 2050s Esperante Enterprises was operating plants
  in over two dozen poor nations around the world.
  @TEXT-BOX:Naturally, the Esperante business
  model had only mixed success. Some of the divested
  facilities continued in operation, adding to the
  economic base of their host countries. Others failed
  due to mismanagement, external interference, or
  simple shifts of the market. Meanwhile, the model
  never netted large profits for Esperante Enterprises.
  Julian Grant died in 2079, with only a modest
  fortune.
  @TEXT-BOX:After Grant's death, Esperante
  Enterprises was taken over by an unscrupulous
  faction among his heirs. Over the past twenty years,
  they have continued to seek out pools of very cheap
  labor, but the corporation is no longer interested in
  developing local communities. Instead, costs of all
  kinds have been cut as far as possible. No longer do
  Esperante factories offer medical, education, or
  profit-sharing benefits. The largest payments are
  usually kickbacks to corrupt local officials. Instead of
  winning the loyalty of employees, Esperante hires
  mercenaries or local government enforcers to keep
  the labor force in line.
  @TEXT-BOX:Where once Esperante Enterprises
  was known for bringing hope to the world's poorest
  nations, now it is known for contributing to corrupt
  regimes worldwide. The change in Esperante's
  strategy has made it very unpopular; recently (2097)
  the company has been forced to relocated from South
  Africa to Lagos, Nigeria. Of course, corporate profits
  have risen considerably . . .
  (((END BOX)))
  America (North)
  North America remains one of the most prosperous
  regions on the planet. Local politics became
  considerably more complicated in the 2030s with the
  breakup of Canada. Although the United States still
  expects no military threat from the north, it must
  often engage in complex diplomacy where once it
  enjoyed a simple relationship with unified Canada.
  Meanwhile, the United States itself is showing signs
  of internal instability.
  (((MAP: North America)))
  Alberta and British Columbia
  Two former Canadian provinces formed the Union of
  Alberta and British Columbia (sometimes called the
  "ABC Republic") in 2034. The Union is a prosperous
  Fifth Wave nation which trades extensively with
  Japan and other parts of Asia. It is a full member of
  the Pacific Rim Alliance; relations with Canada and
  the United States are occasionally strained.
  Canada
  Ironically, after years of dispute over Quebecois
  separatism, Canadian unity finally foundered on
  another issue entirely. Disputes over taxes and
  environmental policy caused British Columbia to
  secede in 2033. Once the union had been broken,
  other provinces chose to elevate their own disputes
  with the central government into pretexts for
  secession. Even the autonomous region of Nunavut,
  far in the arctic north, began agitating for
  independence. By 2045 Canada had been whittled
  down to its core, with Manitoba, Ontario and
  Saskatchewan the only provinces remaining in the
  union.
  The final dissolution of Canada was remarkably
  amicable, aside from a few disputes over the division
  of national property and the undeveloped northern
  territories. Today Canada maintains a friendly
  relationship with most of the splinter states. Canada
  is a prosperous Fifth Wave society, with strong
  economic ties to the United States.
  See also Alberta and British Columbia, Maritimes,
  Montreal, Newfoundland, Nunavut, and Quebec.
  Greenland
  Greenland attained full independence from the
  Kingdom of Denmark in the 2030s. The local
  economy has struggled for much of the century. In
  recent decades there has been heavy investment in
  various Fourth Wave industries, such as fish-farming
  and cold-adapted pharm animals. This strategy has
  paid off, so that today the population has a
  comfortable Fourth Wave standard of living. Arctic-
  adapted parahumans have recently been settling in
  the far north in large numbers, and there is some
  agitation for union with nearby Nunavut.
  Maritimes
  The Maritime Union is composed of three former
  Canadian provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
  
  54
  and Prince Edward Island) all of whom seceded from
  Canada between 2038 and 2045. The unified nation
  was established in 2048 and has since joined the
  European Union. The Maritimes have a comfortable
  Fourth Wave economy, and are world leaders in fish-
  farming and other forms of pelagiculture.
  Montreal
  When the province of Quebec separated from Canada
  in 2036, the city of Montreal went with it at first.
  However, many citizens were uncomfortable with
  this position, and agitated for a plebiscite to
  determine the city's ultimate fate. In the end, the city
  chose neither continued union with Quebec nor a
  return to Canada. Instead, Montreal voted for the
  status of a "free city" with its own independent
  government and laws. At first, Quebec resisted this
  move and threatened to use force, but pressure from
  the United States and the rump Canadian state
  prevented violence. By 2041 Montreal had severed
  all political ties and was an independent city-state.
  Today Montreal has a Fifth Wave standard of living
  and a booming economy. As an intermediary between
  the European Union and the rest of North America,
  the city has a considerable income from
  transshipment and other forms of foreign trade. The
  local banking, biotech and electronics industries are
  also important. Montreal's unique blend of
  Quebecois, Anglophone Canadian, and American
  traditions also makes it a major cultural center, with a
  vibrant artistic community and entertainment
  industry.
  Newfoundland
  Newfoundland seceded from Canada in 2039, later
  joining the European Union. The island republic is
  currently a prosperous Fourth Wave state, somewhat
  ahead of the nearby Maritime Union.
  Nunavut
  Nunavut is an unusual nation, dominated by Inuit
  culture and populated in large part by arctic-adapted
  parahumans. It has a healthy Fourth Wave economy,
  and its population and economy are both growing
  quickly. The Nunavut government is pursuing trade
  and diplomatic ties with other far-northern political
  entities, such as Alaska, Greenland, and Russia. The
  ultimate goal is an "Arctic League" devoted to the
  protection of the arctic environment and the
  indigenous cultures of the far north.
  Quebec
  Although it was for long the primary focus of
  secessionism in Canada, Quebec did not finally
  declare its independence until 2036, after Alberta and
  British Columbia had already seceded. After
  independence Quebec suffered through a period of
  instability and seemed likely to fragment further.
  After Montreal became a free city, the situation
  stabilized.
  Quebec currently has a healthy democratic
  government and a Fourth Wave economy. It has been
  a member of the European Union since the early
  2050s, and has become closely tied to France in
  diplomatic affairs.
  Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  These islands off the Newfoundland coast are a
  "territorial collectivity" of France. The local economy
  is at a Fourth Wave level, strongly dependent on
  tourism and administrative payments from the central
  government. The local fishing industry, long in
  decline, has recently recovered with investments in
  advanced pelagiculture.
  United States
  The U.S. has often seemed an actor among nations, a
  country devoted to playing one role or another on the
  world stage. "Land of the Free" was followed by "the
  Arsenal of Democracy," then by "Leader of the Free
  World." That last role survived for decades, bolstered
  by the largest national economy on the planet, the
  most powerful and advanced military, and a truly
  imperial network of alliances and defense
  commitments. By the 2020s, however, the U.S. was
  no longer able to maintain its leadership role. Former
  allies were asserting their independence in world
  diplomacy. Meanwhile, the American economy was
  being surpassed by those of other nations, and its
  military power was in slow decline. By the era of the
  Overturn (see p. 00) the United States was simply one
  Great Power among many.
  American society is sharply divided along cultural
  and generational lines. The political system is
  dominated by a bloc of elderly, wealthy, Christian,
  deeply conservative voters. Arrayed against this
  dominant coalition are cultural minorities, recent
  immigrants, the underemployed, and the younger
  generation. The schism reveals itself in almost every
  aspect of American society, from federal budget
  policy to popular entertainment.
  American internal politics are quite lively. The
  ancient Democratic and Republican Parties still
  dominate events, although the grand alignment of
  liberal and conservative factions has shifted several
  times in the past century. The Democratic Party has
  been ascendant since the Tricentennial elections of
  2076, due to strong support among Hispanics and the
  super-elderly. Democrats are currently the nation's
  major conservative party, promoting Preservationism,
  strict regulation of new technologies, and diplomatic
  and economic isolation. Republicans are the nation's
  leading liberal party, providing a haven for
  technocrats, industrialists, scientists, and supporters
  of the American space program. Republicans tend to
  promote technological innovation and global free
  
  55
  trade; a few Republicans are openly Transhumanist in
  sentiment.
  Despite the continued dominance of the two major
  parties, a series of election reforms early in the
  century opened up the political system somewhat.
  Today most Presidential elections involve several
  third-party and regional candidates, who become
  involved in coalition-building between election day
  and the installation of a new government.
  The long-established workings of American politics
  have recently been disturbed by a new political
  movement, calling for radical reform of the political
  system along cyberdemocratic lines (p. 00). This
  "People's Power" movement is fragmented, and
  includes both establishment politicians and armed
  radicals. The latter have been quite active since 2095,
  forcing the American military to fight a low-level
  counterinsurgency campaign in several of the
  country's urban zones.
  Modern American society is dominated by no one
  culture, but the most common cultural flavor is
  Hispanic rather than Anglo-American. English
  remains the sole official language, but Spanish slang
  and loan words have become common in the
  "standard" American dialect. Most Americans are
  more cosmopolitan than their ancestors of a century
  ago, although they feel closer ties with Latin America
  than with Europe. This shift is reflected in American
  foreign policy, which since mid-century has been
  more deeply involved with Central and South
  America than with Europe or the Far East.
  Today, many Americans are ambivalent about their
  national identity. Even patriots tend to focus
  admiration on a specific aspect of modern American
  society: the space program, the rapid pace of
  technological innovation, the high standard of living,
  the richness of the local entertainment industry, the
  nation's cultural diversity, national history, or some
  other item. The United States have become a place
  where personally-constructed identity -- the
  individual's choice of genetic, cultural and
  technological style -- is more important than any sort
  of national consciousness. Some Americans consider
  this a sign of final decline for the nation, while others
  revel in the freedom of the time.
  For most of the century, the United States was the
  world's leader in almost every area of technology. To
  a great degree, the Third Wave civilization was built
  by the United States, and the technologies of
  computers and digital networks have always been
  most advanced here. The American segment of the
  Web is richer and more complex than any other. The
  US was slower to adopt radical biotechnology, but it
  had become a center of human genetic alteration and
  bioroid manufacture by the late 2040s. Recently the
  US has tended to fall behind Europe in the
  development of cutting-edge Fifth Wave
  technologies, but so far this disadvantage has been
  minimal.
  American foreign policy has yet to recover from the
  country's loss of superpower status. Since the 2050s
  the United States has avoided alliances with any other
  major power, restricting itself to relationships with
  strategically-placed minor nations. American policy
  is particularly cool toward the European Union and
  the Pacific Rim Alliance, although long-standing
  partnerships with Australia and the United Kingdom
  remain in effect. The United States' best relationships
  are with Latin America, specifically Argentina,
  Ecuador, and Mexico.
  Nations Table: North America
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Alberta & British Columbia PRA 10 million Very
  Good 4.3 2 Wealthy
  Canada - 20 million Very Good 4.5 3 Comfortable
  Greenland EUR 58,000 Very Good 2.0 3
  Comfortable
  Maritimes EUR 2.6 million Very Good 3.6 3
  Comfortable
  Montreal - 4.9 million Very Good 3.9 2 Wealthy
  Newfoundland EUR 770,000 Very Good 3.1 3
  Comfortable
  Nunavut - 240,000 Good 2.4 1 Comfortable
  Quebec EUR 5.8 million Very Good 3.9 3
  Comfortable
  Saint Pierre and Miquelon (EUR) 5,500 Very Good
  0.8 3 Comfortable
  United States AME 480 million Fair 5.7 2
  Comfortable
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Net Backbone Corporations
  @TEXT-BOX:The global information web has been
  over a century in the building and requires massive
  capital investments to maintain. Many large
  businesses are involved with producing the hardware
  that carries data or the software that manages it.
  Others provide "content" that the world's citizens
  access routinely through the web.
  @TEXT-BOX:AlephNull Systems, Inc. (Seattle,
  United States): A major manufacturer of hyperfast
  routers, switches, and dataflow security hardware.
  @TEXT-BOX:Alhambra Sensuals S.A. (Málaga,
  Spain): A German-Spanish producer of (very
  popular) slink-porn, made famous by Ayesha
  Lovecraft.
  @TEXT-BOX:Bharat Teleproductions Pvt. Ltd.
  (Mumbai, India): One of the world's largest
  producers of old-style videos, InVids, and slinkies.
  @TEXT-BOX:Gemini Volksrobotics (Melbourne,
  Australia): A very popular producer of utility and
  companion cybershells for the global household
  market.
  @TEXT-BOX:Kanzaki Robotics (Osaka, Japan): A
  major manufacturer of industrial robots and
  automated vehicles. Known for its innovations in
  low-level AI design.
  
  56
  @TEXT-BOX:Kogitant GmbH (Salzburg, Austria):
  A well-known designer of advanced sentient-AI
  software. Currently under suspicion of performing
  illicit research on emergent intelligence.
  @TEXT-BOX:Ludimages (Cannes, France): Major
  producer of interactive VR entertainment,
  emphasizing strategy and role-playing games.
  @TEXT-BOX:Portcullis General Security Systems,
  Inc. (Baltimore, United States): Data security
  consultancy known for its innovative use of low-
  sentience software agents.
  @TEXT-BOX:SegFault Inc. (Spokane, United
  States): Specializes in cheap distributed-processing
  systems and "evolved" software agents.
  @TEXT-BOX:PT Nolsatu (Djakarta, Indonesia): The
  largest software-engineering house in Southeast Asia.
  Has a robust research division, which earns plenty of
  income from state subsidies.
  @TEXT-BOX:Xarxa Enllaç SL (Barcelona,
  Catalonia): One of the largest telecommunications
  and networking firms in Europe.
  (((END BOX)))
  America (South)
  South America is a reasonably stable and prosperous
  place. Even so, finely-balanced international tensions
  exist. Powerful independent nations such as
  Argentina and Brazil face off against the American
  wing of the nanosocialist bloc. The United States is
  also deeply involved in local politics, defending its
  close relationships with Argentina and Ecuador.
  Argentina
  One of the most powerful and prosperous nations in
  South America. Argentine ground vehicles are widely
  regarded as the best in the world, and are exported to
  markets as distant as Japan and Western Europe.
  Significant recent investment in Fifth Wave industries
  seems likely to pay off soon, bringing Argentina up to
  the leading edge of technological development.
  Although Argentina is not a formal ally of the United
  States, the relationship between the two countries is
  very warm.
  Bolivia
  A nanosocialist coup brought Bolivia into the
  Transpacific Socialist Alliance in 2076. Of the three
  South American TSA members, Bolivia is by far the
  junior partner. Its people still lack access to most
  Third Wave technology. The nanosocialist regime has
  never gained the support of the rural population, who
  have been mounting a low-level guerilla campaign
  against the central government for over twenty years.
  Bolivia has a long-standing dispute with Chile over
  access to the sea, and may call upon its nanosocialist
  allies to help it resolve the problem by force.
  Brazil
  Brazil is sometimes called the "China of South
  America." The comparison is apt: although Brazil
  lags behind its neighbors in technology and standard
  of living, it boasts the largest economy on the
  continent. Indeed, Brazil has the fifth largest national
  economy on Earth, and seems likely to play an
  increasingly important role in world affairs with
  time.
  Early in the past century, Brazil was often snarled in
  controversy over environmental issues. The vast
  potential resources of the Amazon basin were
  regarded as key to Brazilian prosperity, but at the
  same time any development of the region threatened
  some of the most valuable rainforest ecosystems on
  the planet. The tension between these facts led to
  considerable internal strife, as well as a series of
  disputes with the world community. During the
  2030s, Brazil developed a significant local biotech
  industry, encouraging policy-makers to impose
  effective protections on the Amazon basin. This
  proved not so difficult, once preserving the rainforest
  was regarded as more profitable than destructive
  development. Deforestation was halted by 2045, and
  has somewhat reversed since then as ecologists
  slowly learn to reconstruct the natural ecosystem.
  Brazil has a variety of Fourth and Fifth Wave
  industries, notably bioroid manufacture, genetic
  engineering, pharmaceuticals, and heavy robotics.
  Indentured bioroids and engineered parahumans are
  relatively common. The country also has a small but
  very active space program, dating to the early 2010s
  when Brazilian investors helped build the first launch
  facilities in Ecuador.
  Chile
  Decades of stable government and strong economic
  development have made Chile one of the wealthiest
  countries in South America. Today Chile has an
  advanced Fifth Wave economy, and is a world leader
  in robotics and artificial intelligence. Foreign trade
  is very important, especially with the United States
  and European Union.
  Chile has long had a troubled relationship with its
  Andean neighbors, Bolivia and Peru. Bolivia in
  particular has a long-standing grudge against Chile,
  regarding the Atacama Desert region in the far
  north. This area was seized by Chile over 200 years
  ago, cutting Bolivia off from access to the sea.
  Bolivian governments have often voiced their desire
  to recover the region. Currently the nanosocialist
  bloc is applying heavy diplomatic pressure on Chile,
  and staged border incidents are becoming more
  common. Chile's powerful military has thus far
  deterred attack.
  
  57
  Colombia
  Colombia managed to deal with internal insurgency
  and corruption early in the century, and enjoyed
  several decades of relative peace and prosperity.
  Unfortunately, a nanosocialist coup toppled the
  elected government in 2081, setting off a new round
  of internal violence. Today Colombian exports are
  becoming notorious once again, although the current
  products is saboteurs, spies and "black" nanoware
  rather than narcotics.
  Ecuador
  Ecuador's unique position in hemispheric politics is
  due to a long-standing relationship with the United
  States. In the 2020s, the American corporation
  Columbia Aerospace built the world's largest
  spaceport outside Quito. Using several innovative
  technologies, Columbia Aerospace soon dominated
  the ground-to-orbit market and ushered in a new era
  of space development. Part of the process involved
  massive investment in Ecuador's economic
  infrastructure, which was turned to good use by a
  series of effective local governments. By 2050
  Ecuador had surpassed all the other Andean states in
  stability and economic productivity.
  This new prosperity roused some envy, of course. For
  much of the 21st century, Ecuador has had to defend
  itself against possible attack from Colombia or Peru.
  Ecuador has carefully maintained a close alliance
  with the United States, and has cultivated a small but
  very professional and well-equipped military of its
  own.
  Today Ecuador is a moderately-prosperous Fourth
  Wave nation. The population is unusually rich in
  variant human types, and bioshells and cybershells
  are quite common. The nation's leaders are aware
  that their long relationship with the United States
  may be about to change as the Kenyan beanstalk
  approaches completion. The government has been
  carefully playing up the possible threat from its
  nanosocialist neighbors, hoping to keep the United
  States involved in South America even after
  Atahualpa Spaceport is no longer such a critical
  element of American foreign policy.
  French Guiana
  French Guiana remains an overseas department of
  France. The economy has grown somewhat over the
  past century, so that the region now has a Third
  Wave digital-industrial society. The old European
  Space Agency launch facility at Kourou still operates,
  although most launch traffic has long since moved to
  Quito.
  Guyana
  Guyana is a small South American country which has
  developed a unique mix of East Indian and African
  cultures. Economic development has been slow,
  despite the country's role as a biotech sanctuary
  early in the century.
  Paraguay
  This South American country suffered from political
  instability and corruption early in the century, but
  has been relatively stable since the 2030s. Economic
  growth has been slow, and the current standard of
  living is unusually low for the region.
  Peru
  Peru has been a haven for radical politics since the
  success of the Red Sword insurgency in the early
  2050s. The Peruvian government declared its support
  for the principles of infosocialism quite early. By the
  mid-2070s the Peruvian government was supporting
  infosocialist groups all over South America. Today
  Peru leads the American wing of the TSA.
  Peru's economic and technical base is about average
  for the TSA. It does not pose a serious military threat
  to the more prosperous nations of South America, but
  it provides plenty of nuisance value. Spies, saboteurs,
  and political operatives fan out from Lima,
  infiltrating nations as far away as Argentina and the
  United States. Meanwhile, Peru and its ally
  Colombia do pose a threat to Ecuador, surrounding
  it and outnumbering its armed forces.
  Saint Helena
  Saint Helena and the nearby Tristan da Cunha
  islands remain an isolated overseas territory of the
  United Kingdom.
  Suriname
  Suriname suffered from economic mismanagement
  early in the century, but has since managed slow,
  steady growth. Local society has long been notable
  for its rough balance between wildly variant religious
  traditions -- Catholic, Hindu, Muslim and Protestant
  elements are all significant in the population. In the
  early 2050s this mixture gave rise to a syncretic
  movement called Degeloven (From "De
  Gereformeerde Vereenigde Geloven," roughly
  translating as "the Reformed Unified Faiths").
  Degeloven borrowed religious ideas from all the
  faiths prevalent in Suriname, along with neo-
  paganism and a heavy dose of Transhumanist
  philosophy. The resulting memetic structure has
  caught on in many odd places. About 20% of the
  people of Suriname consider themselves followers,
  and there are several million in other countries as far
  away as Brazil and the United States.
  Uruguay
  This minor South American nation has not always
  enjoyed stable government, but its economy is healthy
  and living standards are high. Uruguay was a
  biotech sanctuary early in the century. The University
  
  58
  of Montevideo remains one of the world's foremost
  centers of research in genetic engineering.
  Venezuela
  Venezuela has been in a long decline since the fall of
  the oil industry and the secession of the wealthy Zulia
  state in 2073. The current government is working to
  encourage investment in cutting-edge industries.
  See also Zulia.
  Zulia
  The former Venezuelan state of Zulia stands on the
  country's western border, on both sides of the Lago
  de Maracaibo. Early in the century, long-standing
  resentment of the central government led to the
  formation of a peaceful separatist movement.
  Unfortunately, Zulia was the site of much of the
  country's oil wealth, and the Caracas government
  was determined to retain control. Independence did
  not come until 2073, by which time Venezuela's
  economy had long since been forced to give up
  dependence on petroleum exports.
  Today Zulia has a healthy Fourth Wave economy
  with a diverse range of local industries. The political
  situation has been stable since independence,
  although since about 2090 there has been some
  trouble with economic and memetic sabotage
  sponsored by the TSA.
  Nations Table: South America
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Argentina - 53 million Very Good 4.9 3 Comfortable
  Bolivia TSA 16 million Poor 3.4 5 Struggling
  Brazil - 210 million Good 5.2 3 Comfortable
  Chile - 19 million Very Good 4.6 2 Wealthy
  Colombia TSA 72 million Fair 4.4 6 Average
  Ecuador AME 28 million Very Good 4.3 2 Average
  French Guiana (EUR) 380,000 Good 2.1 3 Average
  Guyana - 810,000 Good 2.1 2 Struggling
  Paraguay - 21 million Good 3.8 3 Struggling
  Peru TSA 50 million Good 4.4 5 Average
  Saint Helena (EUR) 6,400 Very Good 0.0 3 Poor
  Suriname - 300,000 Good 1.8 3 Struggling
  Uruguay - 5.0 million Fair 3.4 3 Comfortable
  Venezuela - 36 million Good 4.4 2 Comfortable
  Zulia - 5.5 million Good 3.6 3 Comfortable
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Teralogos
  @TEXT-BOX:The Teralogos Consortium was
  founded in the late 2020s, during the merger of
  several older media firms. Its ancestral companies
  were all heavily involved in providing Internet
  "content," and the new consortium soon dominated
  that market throughout the United States and
  Western Europe.
  @TEXT-BOX:Today, Teralogos remains a major
  player in the global information market, dominating
  the news industry and holding a significant position
  in the entertainment business as well. Indeed, many
  of the corporation's critics claim that there is too
  much overlap between the two. Teralogos
  "newsbytes" are often described as shallow and
  entertainment-oriented. Still, the company continues
  to produce some very good journalism, regularly
  beating lesser outlets and even national intelligence
  agencies to publication.
  (((END BOX)))
  Asia (Central)
  In many ways, Central Asia is the forgotten corner of
  the world. The former Soviet republics here have
  struggled for the last century with deep social,
  economic, and environmental problems. Currently
  they are usually pawns of their more powerful
  neighbors, such as China, Iran, Pakistan and Russia.
  (((MAP: Central Asia)))
  Afghanistan
  This "nation by courtesy" remains bitterly divided
  along ethnic and ideological grounds. Various
  factions control their own regions of the nation's
  territory, occasionally going to war against one
  another with the backing of outside powers (such as
  China, Iran, Pakistan or Russia). Afghanistan is one
  of the most desperately poor nations on Earth.
  Kazakhstan
  At the beginning of the century, Kazakhstan faced
  serious problems: an unstable economy, ecological
  devastation left over from the Soviet era, and tensions
  between the Russian and Kazakh populations.
  Balanced against this was significant oil and mineral
  wealth, along with partial control over the old Soviet
  launch facilities at Baykonur.
  Faced with these challenges, Kazakhstan struggled
  along for several years. The last elected government
  fell to an ethnic-Russian putsch in 2018, which seized
  control with support from the military. By 2024, an
  oil tycoon named Sergei Maksimovitch Zarubayev
  had outmaneuvered all his rivals and become the
  country's dictator.
  In 2100, Zarubayev is still the absolute ruler of
  Kazakhstan, having stayed in power through a
  combination of physical longevity, clever politics,
  and utter ruthlessness. More than any dictator in
  modern history, he has stamped his personal vision
  on his own country. Ethnic Russians form the elite of
  his state; non-Russians (and especially Muslims)
  suffer vicious police-state oppression. Under him,
  Kazakhstan has meddled in politics all over central
  Asia: supporting nationalistic movements in Russia,
  interfering in the internal affairs of other post-Soviet
  states, rattling sabers with China, and so on.
  Kyrgyzstan
  Kyrgyzstan suffers from long-term ecological
  problems. The local government is a corrupt
  
  59
  dictatorship, which generally follows Russia's lead in
  foreign policy.
  Tajikistan
  Tajikistan has traditionally fallen in the Russian
  sphere of influence, but the current government has
  been negotiating with China for military and
  economic aid. Both Russia and the Zarubayev regime
  in Kazakhstan are likely to intervene if the Dushanbe
  government shows signs of moving too close to
  Beijing.
  Turkmenistan
  Turkmenistan has had little success in making the
  transition to democracy and open markets. The
  current government is closely tied to Iran, but there
  are several anti-Iranian insurgency groups in
  operation.
  Uzbekistan
  This country is currently the stage of a guerilla war
  between Islamic fundamentalist and pro-democracy
  factions. The Zarubayev regime in neighboring
  Kazakhstan is intervening with troops and arms
  sales.
  Nations Table: Central Asia
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Afghanistan - 94 million Very Poor 2.9 0 Dead Broke
  Kazakhstan - 22 million Good 3.8 6 Struggling
  Kyrgyzstan - 12 million Fair 3.1 5 Struggling
  Tajikistan - 24 million Poor 2.7 4 Dead Broke
  Turkmenistan - 13 million Poor 2.8 5 Poor
  Uzbekistan - 61 million Very Poor 3.7 4 Struggling
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Pacific Rim Alliance
  @TEXT-BOX:Early in the 21st century, American
  involvement in the Far East sometimes clashed with
  local interests. Korean reunification proceeded in
  spite of American diplomacy rather than because of
  it. American saber-rattling with China unnerved its
  regional allies, particularly Japan. Meanwhile, the
  presence of American armed forces in the region
  came to be an irritant to Asian powers increasingly
  willing to undertake their own defense.
  @TEXT-BOX:The United States' withdrawal from the
  region was slow, and did not begin until Korean
  unification and the return of Taiwan to China were
  both clearly inevitable. American forces withdrew
  from Japan and Korea first; in response, the two
  nations signed their own mutual-defense treaty in
  2030. Australia joined the new alliance in 2036, due
  more to concern over Indian or Indonesian
  aggression than any breakdown of relations with the
  United States. From the core formed by these three
  partners, the Pacific Rim Alliance grew.
  @TEXT-BOX:In 2100 the PRA is a major player in
  the balance of power worldwide. The alliance's major
  partners have very different societies, with
  minarchism supreme in Australia, gerontocracy in
  Japan, and cut-throat capitalism in Korea. Despite
  these cultural differences, the allies cooperate quite
  well in the diplomatic and military arenas. Naturally,
  they do not attempt to share any framework of
  common laws or free-trade provisions.
  @TEXT-BOX:The PRA's primary rivals are India
  and the Transpacific Socialist Alliance. Relations
  with China are usually cool, and PRA forces are also
  deployed against any possible threat from there. On
  the other hand, the PRA members have extensive
  trade links to China and there is little incentive on
  either side for conflict. The PRA maintains extensive
  air and naval forces, but has a relatively small army.
  All of the major PRA states have extensive foreign
  intelligence systems.
  @TEXT-BOX:The recent addition of Thailand to the
  alliance has complicated its strategic situation
  considerably. Thailand remains surrounded by
  hostile nanosocialist states, and is regarded by China
  as being within its own sphere of influence.
  (((END BOX)))
  Asia (East)
  East Asia has become the fulcrum of the world
  community. China, Japan and Korea are all
  populous, wealthy nations with a great deal of power
  in global affairs. The situation here is one of watchful
  peace. As has been the case for over a century, the
  capitalist nations step carefully around China while
  continuing to carry on a massive trade with the
  sleeping giant.
  China
  Just as the 20th century was often called "the
  American century," the 21st can be considered "the
  Chinese century." Today's China is the most powerful
  single nation-state on the planet. It is not the most
  populous, the most technologically advanced or the
  most prosperous nation. Even so, the People's
  Republic stands near the top in all three of these
  measures, and thus has the largest economy in the
  world. Meanwhile, it enjoys internal unity and a
  sense of national purpose that multiply its
  effectiveness in world affairs.
  The People's Republic was originally a Communist
  state. In 2100 state power remains with the National
  People's Congress, which is still dominated by the
  Chinese Communist Party. Despite the name, the
  Party has evolved far from Mao Zedong's version of
  Communism. China remains an authoritarian state,
  in which political and civil rights are limited in order
  to protect the Party's domination. The Chinese people
  do enjoy a variety of civil and economic rights,
  especially in the "special administrative regions" of
  Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
  Privately-owned business is the main driver of the
  
  60
  economy. Indeed, since about 2050 the senior Party
  leadership has been composed primarily of successful
  businessmen.
  The Chinese system of governance has changed in
  other ways as well, allowing regions within the state
  greater independence. At the beginning of the
  century, there was already considerable tension
  between China's highly centralized political system
  and its decentralized economic system. About 2010, a
  new generation of Communist Party leadership
  began to deliberately loosen the grip of the central
  government. Henceforth, portions of China would be
  permitted to experiment with democracy or other
  "dangerous" ideas, so long as the experiments were
  safely limited in geographical scope and the
  authority of the Party was not threatened.
  This careful opening to new political ideas had some
  precedent, in the "one country, two systems" rule
  under which Hong Kong and Macau had been
  allowed to retain democratic institutions. Soon the
  notion faced its sternest test, as the Chinese
  government opened negotiations with its "renegade
  province" on Taiwan. The so-called Republic of
  China was offered almost total internal autonomy, its
  democratic and free-market institutions to be left
  intact. In exchange, foreign and defense policy would
  be turned over to the Beijing government, although
  Taiwan was guaranteed representation in the
  appropriate ministries.
  The negotiations went surprisingly well. Although
  there was an active independence movement on
  Taiwan, the ruling Kuomintang party had always
  supported the idea of eventual reunification.
  Reassured that they would not be robbed of their
  hard-won democracy, many Taiwanese supported
  reunification on the grounds of common culture. The
  final agreements were reached in 2019, and
  reunification was complete by 2026.
  Strict state controls have tended to make Chinese
  adoption of Third Wave technologies rather slow. To
  this day, ordinary citizens outside the "special
  regions" are not permitted to use advanced privacy
  technology. The state has traditionally made large
  investments in systems which allow it to monitor
  telecommunications traffic and otherwise track the
  activities of its citizens. "Abuse" of web technology is
  a serious offense in most parts of the People's
  Republic.
  On the other hand, since the 2020s China has been a
  leader in the area of biotechnology. Bioengineering
  was applied to agriculture early and on a massive
  scale, making China a world leader in agricultural
  exports as early as 2035. Later human cloning,
  variant human genotypes, and bioroid manufacture
  all became important elements of the Chinese
  economy. These industries have made China an
  industrial powerhouse, even without the universal
  adoption of Fifth Wave technology. Of course, Hong
  Kong, Macau, and Taiwan all have advanced Fifth
  Wave economies, and represent the leading edge of
  Chinese industry.
  For thousands of years, China has aimed for self-
  sufficiency and isolation in world affairs. This
  remains the case, despite extensive economic ties to
  the rest of the world community and full participation
  in most international organizations. The People's
  Republic follows its own diplomatic course, rejecting
  any "interference" from outside and refusing to form
  substantive alliances with any other nation. For their
  part, the Chinese people are not entirely happy with
  their own government, but most are patriotic and
  distrustful of foreigners. Most think of China as a
  nation set apart, dedicated to carving out its own
  destiny without the help (or interference) of others.
  For over twenty years China has been engaged in
  political and covert maneuvering on a grand scale,
  less to build an empire of its own than to prevent any
  of its rivals from building a strong anti-Chinese
  position. Today Chinese agents might be found
  almost anywhere in the world, ferreting out secrets,
  trying to manipulate national politics, or supporting
  friendly movements in the local population.
  Japan
  Outside of Europe and the United States, Japan
  remains the most prosperous and technologically-
  advanced nation on the planet. Japanese society has
  changed considerably in the course of the 21st
  century, and has become one of the strangest on
  Earth.
  Japan's population declined by over 30% during the
  21st century, despite the widespread use of geriatric
  and rejuvenative technologies. The Japanese have
  simply gotten out of the habit of having children.
  While Japanese society still values and cherishes
  children, few individual Japanese view marriage and
  childbearing as worthwhile goals. Meanwhile, the
  fall in birthrates and the dramatic extension of
  lifespans has made the average age of the Japanese
  population higher than that of any other nation.
  Japan has responded to this population decline by
  producing a national workforce which is largely
  artificial. Highly sophisticated cybershells are quite
  common in Japan, dominating all but a few
  occupations. Japan's "artificial citizens" have nearly
  full civil rights and are regarded as an integral part
  of society. The human populace exists largely as a
  management class. Ideally, a young Japanese citizen
  is trained as a manager or scientist, earning shares
  in one of the nation's keiretsu as he ages and gains
  experience. Eventually, he reaches the status of a
  "shareholding elder," who does little but manage his
  investments. Some young Japanese reject this path,
  preferring to pursue leisure or cultural activities.
  Most such youths live with parents or other elders,
  although a few live solely on the income generated by
  inherited investments.
  
  61
  More than almost any other nation, the change in
  Japanese demographics has made the country
  conservative in outlook. Japanese are proud of their
  distinctive culture, and wish to remain somewhat
  apart from the rest of the world. Political and social
  leaders are almost all from the ranks of the very
  elderly, and they are primarily concerned with
  maintaining the prosperity which has allowed the
  distinctive Japanese society to flourish. Despite this
  conservatism, Japan is not known for Preservationist
  sympathies, and indeed large sectors of society are
  openly Transhumanist. Many Japanese believe that
  they can not only preserve, but perfect Japanese
  culture, in the context of a world where the very
  definition of "human" is changing.
  Korea
  The peace treaty ending the Korean War of 1950-
  1953 was finally signed in 2016. Final reunification
  of Korea took place on 15 August 2025, on the
  anniversary of independence from Japan. For
  decades afterward, Korea struggled to integrate a
  northern half with a history of brutal Communist
  dictatorship and grinding poverty, and a southern
  half with a history of capitalist prosperity. In 2100,
  heroic effort and superb statesmanship have attained
  considerable success.
  For many years, Korea was the only major Pacific
  Rim Alliance state with a potentially hostile land
  border (in this case with China). As a result, the
  Korean army is larger in proportion than that of any
  other PRA member. Koreans are acutely conscious
  and very proud of their role as bulwark of the
  Alliance. Korean national consciousness is very
  strong; many Koreans feel that they are the natural
  future leaders of the Pacific Rim, destined over the
  next few generations to eclipse the "decadent"
  Japanese and "barbarian" Chinese.
  Korea lags in technology behind Fifth Wave nations
  such as Japan, but it has fully assimilated into the
  Fourth Wave economy and is catching up rapidly.
  Bioroids are not particularly common in Korea, but
  Korean genetic research is quite advanced, and the
  country produces many cutting-edge species designs.
  Korean scientists have also become known for
  delving into the more exotic realms of physics,
  experimenting with areas like gravity manipulation
  and the properties of degenerate matter. Most
  analysts expect Korea to reach the "leading edge" of
  technological and industrial development within
  another twenty years.
  Mongolia
  Despite a rapidly-growing population, the republic of
  Mongolia has enjoyed considerable economic growth
  in the course of the past century. The traditional
  agricultural sector now accounts for only a small
  portion of GNP, replaced by mining, light
  manufacturing, and a growing telecommunications
  industry.
  Relations between Mongolia and nearby China have
  often been stormy, especially since the sixteenth
  Dalai Lama moved his base of operations to
  Ulaanbaatar in the early 2040s. Mongolia remains
  the world center of lamistic or "Tibetan" Buddhism,
  and a focal point for criticism of the Chinese
  government. Tensions have never risen to the point of
  open war, but China often harasses people or goods
  moving across the border.
  Taiwan
  See China.
  Nations Table: East Asia
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  China CHI 1.4 billion Very Good 6.0 5* Average**
  Japan PRA 84 million Very Good 5.2 3 Wealthy
  Korea PRA 72 million Very Good 5.1 3 Comfortable
  Mongolia - 4.6 million Good 3.1 3 Struggling
  * CR 2 in special administrative regions such as
  Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
  ** Comfortable in Guangzhou, Macau and Taiwan,
  Wealthy in Hong Kong.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Biotech Corporations
  The biotech industry has come a very long way from
  the "sanctuary" days. Today, Fourth Wave
  biotechnology forms the largest sector of the world
  economy. Geriatric medicine alone accounts for a
  substantial portion of global economic output. Some
  of the firms listed here are among the largest in the
  world.
  @TEXT-BOX:Ambrosia Kliniken AG (Berlin,
  Germany): A European chain of clinics specialzing in
  rejuvenation techniques and other forms of geriatric
  therapy.
  @TEXT-BOX:Aristos Designs (Athens, Greece): One
  of Europe's foremost producers of advanced
  parahuman genetic templates. Has a geriatric-
  medicine division (Athanatos Clinics).
  @TEXT-BOX:Baumann Krankenpflege AG (Vienna,
  Austria): A medical-services firm, which supplies
  hospitals and clinics worldwide.
  @TEXT-BOX:Biomonde Lyons (Lyons, France): A
  firm specializing in genetic therapies, especially for
  applications in geriatric medicine. Well-known for its
  wide range of anti-cancer drugs.
  @TEXT-BOX:Denali Heartwoods (Portland, United
  States): An old tissue-engineering firm, which has
  prospered for decades through the production of vat-
  produced wood and paper products.
  @TEXT-BOX:Epsilon Laboratories (Mexico City,
  Mexico): Originally a Canadian firm which moved
  south after the Canadian breakup. Primarily involved
  in improvements to existing genetic templates, but is
  rumored to have a division doing classified work on
  military bioroid design.
  
  62
  @TEXT-BOX:Fletcher Omaha Designs (Omaha,
  United States): An important producer of genetically
  improved crop plants. Founded quite early in the
  century, has branches and subsidiaries worldwide.
  @TEXT-BOX:Manticore Biotech (San Diego, United
  States): An American tissue-engineering firm famous
  (or infamous) for its bioroid and bioshell designs.
  Also produces a number of innovative biomod
  implants.
  @TEXT-BOX:Métapparences (Montreal): A
  company which operates biosculpt and implant
  clinics throughout North America and the European
  Union.
  @TEXT-BOX:PT Nusantara Biotek (Djakarta,
  Indonesia): Premier Indonesian genetic-engineering
  firm. Suspected of operating an elaborate industrial-
  espionage branch.
  @TEXT-BOX:Yamato Omnigenetics (Nagasaki,
  Japan): A firm specializing in rejuvenation
  technology and other forms of geriatric medicine.
  Also has a division investigating germ-line
  engineering for longevity.
  (((END BOX)))
  Asia (South)
  Southern Asia is dominated by the growing power of
  India. Although India remains rather backward and
  poor as a whole, its huge population and economy
  make it a regional superpower. At the same time,
  instability in the region's larger countries (including
  India) makes southern Asia a flashpoint for global
  conflict.
  (((MAP: South Asia)))
  Bangladesh
  Bangladesh came late to the nanosocialist camp,
  joining the TSA only after a local nanosocialist party
  came to power in peaceful elections in 2081. The
  nation took little part in the Transpacific War, and
  has since managed to avoid involvement in serious
  confrontation.
  Once one of the world's poorest countries,
  Bangladesh managed rapid progress in Fourth Wave
  biotech industries in the 2030s and 2040s. Today the
  country still lags far behind the Fifth Wave nations,
  but desperate poverty has been almost eliminated.
  Most of the populace has adequate food, water,
  housing and health care. The main lack felt by the
  citizenry is in access to information services. Outside
  the urban areas, many people even lack telephones,
  much less full web access. In any case, Bangladesh
  has been cut off from the global web ever since it
  joined the TSA.
  Among the TSA nations, Bangladesh probably
  approaches most closely to the ideal of making the
  benefits of modern technology uniformly available to
  all its citizens. The poorest citizens have enjoyed
  great progress in their standard of living, while the
  nation's leaders ostentatiously maintain an austere
  lifestyle. Most Bangladeshi citizens are quietly proud
  of their country's progress, and work hard to press on
  further.
  Bangladesh is dominated by the low-lying Ganges
  river delta. Even before global warming caused
  ocean levels to rise, much of the country was often
  devastated by monsoon storms coming off the Indian
  Ocean. Many citizens were relocated to higher
  ground in the course of the century. Meanwhile,
  Bangadeshi gengineers have specialized in adapting
  human beings to amphibious or even underwater
  existence. Today, the continental shelf off the
  Bangladeshi coast is densely settled by various
  "merpeople" variants, lacking advanced technology
  but developing their own distinctive ways to live
  underwater. Bangladesh intends to be a major player
  in undersea development as this community expands.
  Bangladesh is an important jumping-off point for
  covert nanosocialist activities to the west. A long-
  standing relationship with India makes it relatively
  easy for Bangladeshi spies or diplomats to operate
  there. Meanwhile, Bangadesh has long been an
  exporter of labor to the Islamic countries around the
  Persian Gulf. This flow has been restricted by anti-
  TSA sanctions, but it still exists and can be used by
  covert operatives.
  Bhutan
  The kingdom of Bhutan is an isolated and poor state,
  completely dependent on India for its state budget
  and economic development. It remains an
  agricultural society, accepting only those elements of
  modern technology that can be reconciled with
  traditional customs.
  India
  For most of the past century, India has exercised
  considerable influence in its own region. For
  example, Indian troops won two short, sharp wars
  with Pakistan in the 2020s. India also provided much
  of the diplomatic weight enforcing Singaporean
  neutrality in the late 2070s. Despite all this, India has
  continued to fall short of truly global influence.
  Although it has a large population, a well-educated
  elite, and a sound military establishment, its serious
  social problems have prevented it from attaining
  global power anytime in the last century. Today,
  India seems to be a "sleeping giant," perhaps ready
  to awaken and shake the world.
  India is characterized by factionalism. Its huge
  population is chronically divided along lines of
  religion, ethnicity, class, language and ideology.
  Indeed, in many ways India is less a nation than it is
  a loose confederation of many nations. This
  factionalism has often weakened Indian government
  and caused rapid shifts in policy.
  The dominant trend in current Indian politics is a
  struggle over nanosocialism. The local nanosocialist
  
  63
  movement goes back to the late 2050s, and has
  managed to win a substantial block of seats in the
  People's Assembly. Meanwhile, the conservative
  Indian National Alliance opposes the further spread
  of socialist ideas. The INA has held the government
  since 2082, and has done much to make India a more
  effective power on the world stage. Its policies are
  based on a confrontational stance toward China and
  the Transpacific Socialist Alliance, an aggressive
  Indian space program, and the development of Fifth
  Wave industries. Despite the INA's successes in
  economic and foreign affairs, it has failed to stem the
  growth of Indian nanosocialism, and it seems
  possible that the coalition will fall within a few years.
  If the INA loses power, either peacefully or through
  civil war, then India would almost certainly join the
  Transpacific Socialist Alliance. This would more than
  double the population and economic strength of the
  Alliance, and bring the powerful Indian military onto
  the side of the nanosocialist bloc. This would
  certainly discomfit the TSA's main rivals, China and
  the Pacific Rim nations. On the other hand, India's
  entry into the TSA would also upset the alliance's
  leadership structure, forcing Indonesia to step down
  from its current position of prominence. Outside
  observers have noticed a distinct lack of enthusiasm
  among the TSA leadership toward the prospect of
  nanosocialist revolution in India. Clearly, whether
  India succeeds in increasing its global influence or
  not, it stands at the fulcrum of today's balance of
  power.
  India is the most populous nation on Earth. The per-
  capita GNP is about half that of the United States at
  the beginning of the century, but this productivity is
  not shared equally by the whole population. Instead,
  about 10% of the population has a high standard of
  living with the full range of Fifth Wave technology,
  while the bulk of the population lives at a much lower
  standard. India has done much to ensure that all its
  citizens have an adequate diet, protection from
  infectious diseases, and decent housing. Despite this,
  in much of the country even a telephone or a personal
  computer is still a luxury.
  For decades, India has applied its own distinctive
  approach to technological and economic
  development. The social elite maintains cutting-edge
  technological skills, and acts as a managerial class.
  Meanwhile, Indian entrepreneurs have always had
  access to a vast pool of unskilled (but hardworking
  and inexpensive) labor. They have often found ways
  to apply such workers to produce the same goods and
  services as a much smaller skilled force. The strategy
  of investing relatively little in the workforce has
  carried over into the adaption of new technologies.
  Local industry has never invested heavily in
  sophisticated computers, robots, bioroids, or gene-
  altered human labor -- but Indian businessmen have
  often manufactured such goods for export.
  Maldives
  This small island nation is among those most
  seriously affected by the slow rise in sea level over
  the past century. The highest point in the country is
  just over a yard above the current sea level.
  Meanwhile, the Republic's fresh water supplies have
  been drastically reduced by the intrusion of sea
  water.
  The Republic's government is generally dominated by
  India, which provides critical support to the local
  economy. Recently the Republic turned over all of its
  sea-floor development rights, on terms very favorable
  to India. Since the region of the Laccadive Sea
  around the Maldives is potentially quite rich, this
  move has sparked controversy both in local politics
  and in the world community.
  Nepal
  The world's only "Hindu state" is still an isolated and
  backward country, dependent on China and India for
  economic and political aid.
  Pakistan
  The past century has not been kind to Pakistan, which
  suffers from a booming population, internal
  instability, and a long-standing confrontation with
  India. The current military government dates to 2087,
  and has managed to hold the country together only
  through the application of brutal repression. The
  current government has been fairly effective in
  encouraging economic growth, bringing Pakistan
  finally up to a low Third Wave level.
  Recently the Pakistani government has turned to
  terrorism in pursuit of its political goals. Pakistani-
  supported terror groups have attacked a number of
  targets in India and the Islamic Caliphate, and there
  have threats of similar activity as far away as Europe
  and the United States. Rumor has it that Pakistan is
  developing virulent "nanoplagues" and other terror
  weapons, possibly with the help of fugitive scientists
  from the TSA's Bioweapons Directorate.
  Sri Lanka
  Sri Lanka managed to resolve long-standing
  difficulties between its Sinhalese and Tamil ethnic
  groups by the early 2030s. The cost was acceptance
  of Indian arbitration, leading to increased
  dependence on India in diplomatic affairs. Today Sri
  Lanka is a member of the "Indian bloc" of nations,
  coordinating defense and foreign policy with India as
  far as possible. Sri Lanka has a moderately
  industrialized economy, which provides a modest but
  comfortable standard of living for most citizens.
  Nations Table: South Asia
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Bangladesh TSA 230 million Good 4.5 4 Struggling
  Bhutan IND 6.3 million Fair 2.5 4 Poor
  
  64
  India IND 1.8 billion Fair 5.5 3 Struggling
  Maldives IND 1.1 million Good 2.2 2 Struggling
  Nepal IND 68 million Fair 3.6 4 Poor
  Pakistan - 320 million Fair 4.7 6 Struggling
  Sri Lanka IND 23 million Very Good 3.9 3 Struggling
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Transpacific Socialist Alliance
  @TEXT-BOX:As the infosocialist ideology spread,
  nations which had accepted it found themselves at
  odds with the capitalist world. By undercutting the
  concept of intellectual property, they threatened the
  economies of many other nations, provoking a
  menacing response. To defend their ideology in a
  hostile world, several nations of the nanosocialist
  bloc formed the Transpacific Socialist Alliance in
  2074.
  @TEXT-BOX:The TSA is primarily a diplomatic and
  military alliance, dedicated to the defense and spread
  of nanosocialism. Its member states share few
  cultural traits. Since nanosocialism is not hostile to
  religion, the member states retain diverse traditions.
  They also speak a wide variety of unrelated
  languages, from Malay to Spanish to Vietnamese.
  The official language of the alliance, used during all
  deliberations of the Alliance Council in Djakarta, is
  English.
  @TEXT-BOX:Most TSA member states have high
  military budgets, but the alliance remains vulnerable
  to attack. TSA military establishments are at a
  technological disadvantage, and the alliance also
  faces a serious strategic problem with its membership
  divided by the width of the Pacific Ocean. TSA
  diplomacy concentrates on keeping its potential foes
  off-balance, hoping to prevent a two-front war.
  @TEXT-BOX:The TSA was not originally conceived
  as an economic partnership. Even so, ongoing trade
  sanctions have encouraged its members to cooperate
  in economic as well as military terms. The TSA
  nations trade extensively among themselves. They
  also have their own segment of the global web,
  somewhat isolated from that of the outside world.
  Several TSA nations are doing moderately well
  despite the trade sanctions. Effective local
  governments (and the porousness of the sanctions
  regime) allow them to continue technological and
  economic progress.
  (((END BOX)))
  Asia (Southeast)
  If East Asia is the fulcrum of the world, then
  Southeast Asia is its "cockpit" -- the place where
  tensions run highest and bloody fighting is a constant
  possibility. This is the heartland of the Transpacific
  Socialist Alliance, but it is also a region where
  Chinese and capitalist blocs have critical interests.
  The bulk of the Pacific War was fought in this region,
  and the war's scars are still painfully obvious.
  (((MAP: Southeast Asia)))
  Brunei
  The Sultanate of Brunei was once quite wealthy, due
  to an extensive petroleum industry. Attempts to
  diversify the local economy away from its petroleum
  base were not entirely successful, and the sultanate
  has fallen behind some of its neighbors. Even so, its
  people enjoy a comfortable standard of living.
  The sultan outlaws all popular political activity aside
  from a small (and rather ineffectual) official
  government party. There is an underground
  nanosocialist movement, which has occasionally
  mounted propaganda or sabotage operations. At
  present the sultanate is an associate member of the
  Pacific Rim Alliance.
  Burma
  This poor nation is a member of the Transpacific
  Socialist Alliance, and an unusually militant one at
  that. A low-intensity war continues against the
  Chinese client states of Kachin and Shan, carved out
  of former Burmese territory after the Pacific War.
  Outside the capital of Rangoon, the country is closed
  to outsiders from non-TSA nations. Many observers
  suspect that at least some war criminals continue to
  hide out in the Burmese jungles.
  See also Kachin and Shan Republic.
  Cambodia
  The poorest country in the nanosocialist bloc,
  Cambodia subsists largely on economic aid from its
  allies and outright piracy of biotechnic and genetic
  designs. The current government is a brutal and
  corrupt dictatorship.
  East Timor
  This microstate occupies the eastern portion of the
  island of Timor; the western portion is Indonesian
  territory. East Timor has been independent since just
  before the turn of the century, and is currently under
  the protection of the Pacific Rim Alliance. The local
  economy is growing steadily, supported by income
  from local Australian and allied military bases.
  Indonesia
  Indonesia has suffered many reverses of fortune in
  the course of the past century. By 2015 a series of
  secessionist movements had caused the loss of not
  only East Timor, but also the Irian Jaya province and
  most of the Moluccas. For decades the country
  struggled with internal ethnic division and
  corruption, before attaining a measure of stability
  under a nanosocialist government in the early 2060s.
  The new regime has aggressively pursued territorial
  expansion, coming into conflict with China and the
  Pacific Rim nations. After the TSA defeat of 2085,
  Indonesia took up leadership of the Alliance and has
  held it ever since.
  
  65
  Indonesia was founded more as a Javanese empire
  than as a unified national state, and to this day there
  is no strong sense of national identity based on
  ethnicity. This has made the country difficult to
  govern without repressive methods. Today, the
  Indonesian Infosocialist Party has used ideology to
  build a unified state. Indonesian citizens tend to
  regard the rest of the world as corrupt, driven by
  capitalist greed and ruthless exploitation. Whether
  they are Party members or not, they tend to regard
  their own nation and the TSA as a whole as the best
  hope for the soul of mankind. There is political
  dissent in Indonesia, but it is rare and usually centers
  on issues outside the basic principles of
  nanosocialism.
  Although Indonesia has repudiated the more
  controversial actions taken by the TSA's old Thai
  leadership, there are persistent rumors of similar
  "black weapons" programs being mounted
  somewhere in the country. Meanwhile, in the past few
  years Indonesian agents have been aggressively
  pursuing a campaign to circumvent the trade
  embargo by stealing patented Fifth Wave technology.
  It is unknown whether this indicates hidden economic
  problems within Indonesia, or simply a decision by
  the TSA leadership to step up the pace of
  confrontation with the rest of the world.
  The population of Indonesia enjoys some prosperity
  and a reasonably even distribution of wealth.
  Indonesia has largely been cut off from the global
  web as a result of economic sanctions, but access to
  the TSA's own web segment is commonplace. Fourth
  Wave technologies are available as well, although
  there are few bioroids or bioshells in Indonesia, and
  advanced human genetic modification is limited to
  the political elite. Fifth Wave technology is rare and
  very expensive, and usually involves breaking the
  anti-TSA embargo on such goods.
  See also East Timor, Maluku Selantan, and New
  Guinea.
  Kachin
  The old Burmese state of Kachin was inhabited by an
  ethnically distinct population, which had chafed
  under central rule for generations before the Pacific
  War. In 2085 China supported a local insurrection
  and helped to organize Kachin as an independent
  state. The new nation is still supported by the
  presence of Chinese troops, and receives diplomatic
  recognition only from China and its allies. Tensions
  with the TSA are quite high, and armed conflict along
  the border continues at a low level. The capital of
  Myitkyina is a hotbed of covert activity.
  Laos
  The Lao People's Democratic Republic was a target
  of Chinese invasion during the Pacific War, suffering
  severe damage to its industrial infrastructure. Since
  the war recovery has been very slow, as once-crucial
  trade links to nearby Thailand and Vietnam have
  been almost entirely shut down. Laos is poor and
  very isolated from world affairs.
  Malaysia
  Malaysia has been ruled by a local nanosocialist
  faction since a military coup in 2067. Since the fall of
  Thailand, Malaysia has been the most
  technologically advanced nation in the Transpacific
  Socialist Alliance. Long-standing tensions between
  Malaysia and Indonesia sometimes break out into
  disputes within the Alliance leadership.
  Before the nanosocialist coup, Malaysia had an
  unusual form of constitutional monarchy in which
  several states within the federation had hereditary
  rulers. The paramount ruler of Malaysia was always
  chosen by and from this set of local sultans. The coup
  deposed all of the monarchs, killing several and
  driving the rest into exile. There is currently an active
  resistance movement dedicated to restoring the
  federal monarchies.
  Also see Sarawak and Sabah.
  Maluku Selantan
  Maluku Selantan was founded in 2017, after a violent
  revolution against Indonesian rule in the Moluccas
  island chain. The new nation soon became a client
  state of the growing Pacific Rim Alliance, with
  Australia providing military aid in exchange for a
  large naval base on Ambon island. Diplomatic
  pressure from Indonesia is quite intense, with
  considerable covert activity.
  Philippines
  The Philippines began the 21st century in a state of
  drift, suffering from internal corruption, widespread
  poverty, and ethnic insurgency. Despite this, the
  nation had a fairly strong democratic tradition and a
  sound economic base. Local development proceeded
  slowly but steadily. By about 2050 the Philippines
  were a stable and moderately prosperous country.
  Unfortunately, the era of stability was short. During
  the tumultuous 2060s, nanosocialism became quite
  popular in parts of the country. The central
  government managed to prevent a nanosocialist
  takeover, with the aid of the influential Catholic
  Church. In 2065 the Philippines joined the Pacific
  Rim Alliance in an attempt to fend off further
  nanosocialist advances. The strategy was moderately
  successful at first, but in the wake of the Pacific War
  the Philippines saw a revival of guerilla warfare in
  the southern islands. The Muslim populations of
  Mindanao and other islands are strongly
  nanosocialist, and since 2088 they have been fighting
  a vicious war for independence with covert
  Indonesian support.
  Parts of the Philippines enjoy a thriving Fourth Wave
  economy, especially around the capital of Manila.
  
  66
  The country has always faced extreme difficulty in
  distributing wealth, however, and many outlying
  regions remain poor. Also, the strong Catholic
  influence has prevented Philippine biotechnology
  from advancing in certain directions. With very few
  exceptions, human cloning, human gengineering, and
  the construction of human-form bioroids are all
  illegal in the Philippines. This has not prevented
  local gengineers from working extensively with non-
  human DNA.
  Sarawak and Sabah
  When the Malaysian government fell to a
  nanosocialist coup in 2067, the governors of Sabah
  and Sarawak states on the island of Borneo refused
  to comply with the new regime. The result was a
  short civil war. Despite the intervention of
  Indonesian troops, the rebel states managed to drive
  off their attackers by the end of 2068. Since then,
  several of the federal sultans of Malaysia, exiled by
  the nanosocialist regime, have taken up residence in
  the new nation's capital of Kota Kinabulu.
  Sarawak and Sabah have avoided joining any major
  power bloc, particularly the Pacific Rim Alliance.
  The new nation's foreign policy is one of careful
  neutrality in world affairs.
  Shan Republic
  The northern Burmese state of Shan was long
  inhabited by a distinct ethnic group, which was often
  uncomfortable under central rule. During the
  Chinese invasion in the Pacific War, an independent
  Shan Republic was created with Chinese support. The
  new nation receives diplomatic recognition only from
  China and its allies. With TSA support, the central
  Burmese government is currently fighting an open
  war along the Shan border in order to bring the
  breakaway state back in line. The capital of Tuanggyi
  has recently been devastated by sorties of long-range
  cybershell drones from Burma.
  Early in the century, Shan state was infamous as one
  of the world's most productive sources of opium
  poppy. The opium trade was largely suppressed by
  2030, but by the mid-2060s it has reappeared.
  Indeed, as genetic technologies were applied to the
  opium poppy, it became the source of a wide variety
  of new and very powerful narcotics. Production of
  these drugs has risen sharply since the Pacific War,
  with much of the finished product ending up in India
  and the TSA nations. Although the Chinese
  government denies any involvement, there are rumors
  that the new drugs are part of a campaign of
  subversion directed at the nanosocialist bloc and its
  allies.
  Singapore
  Singapore has long had a well-educated population
  and strategic location, making the city-state one of
  the busiest ports, financial centers, and
  communications hubs in the world. For the first half
  of the century, the city's prosperity was unmarred.
  Unfortunately, the rise of nanosocialism threatened
  the city-state's existence, as the major states of
  Southeast Asia all fell to a new revolution.
  Singapore enjoys one of the highest standards of
  living in the world, on a par with the most advanced
  nations of Europe or the Americas. As each new
  Wave of technological innovation has arrived,
  Singapore has always invested in the new industries.
  The city-state is currently a world leader in nanotech
  engineering, and has produced a number of radically
  innovative assembler designs.
  Singapore is described in more detail in Chapter 4
  (p. 00).
  Thailand
  Thailand was once one of the Asian "tigers," a nation
  poised to enjoy dramatic economic growth and
  industrialization. Unfortunately, in the mid-2050s a
  deep economic recession brought about internal
  turmoil and set the country back years in its
  development. In 2060 the National Infosocialist Party
  won elections to become the largest party in the
  House of Representatives. The military attempted a
  coup in support of the losing conservative faction,
  plunging the country into civil war. By 2065 the
  infosocialists had won, with the support of
  ideological allies in Malaysia, Vietnam and
  Indonesia. The king fled into exile, and the new
  government restructured itself as a nanosocialist
  dictatorship.
  Defeat in the Pacific War led to the fall of the
  nanosocialist regime and the return of the
  constitutional monarchy. Free elections were held in
  2092 for the first time since the civil war. Today,
  Thailand is in a precarious position, a Pacific Rim
  Alliance member surrounded by hostile nanosocialist
  states. National and allied military forces are on
  constant alert against TSA intervention. Meanwhile,
  diplomatic and espionage activity are constant and
  intense. Today Bangkok is a common setting for
  espionage fiction, just as Moscow and Berlin were
  during the 20th century.
  Vietnam
  History has not been kind to Vietnam, which has
  spent most of the last 150 years either at war or
  recovering from war. The most recent round of this
  cycle began in 2061, when the Communist
  government of Vietnam reorganized itself along
  infosocialist lines. In the following decade,
  ideological nanosocialism spread through most of
  Southeast Asia and beyond, making Vietnam one
  member of a nanosocialist bloc.
  Unfortunately this brought Vietnam into direct
  confrontation with its old rival China. Well before
  2084, the PRC had already opened a "proxy war" by
  
  67
  sponsoring anti-nanosocialist guerillas throughout
  Indochina. The outbreak of the Pacific War only
  formalized the conflict, as Chinese regular forces
  invaded Vietnam from the north. By war's end, Hanoi
  had fallen and the Vietnamese government had been
  forced to flee to the south.
  China continued to occupy northern Vietnam for
  several years, despite a ferocious guerilla campaign
  waged by Vietnamese irregulars. PRC forces waited
  until 2091 to withdraw, leaving Hanoi in ruins
  behind them. Vietnam's economy has been slow to
  recover, despite aid from its more prosperous TSA
  allies. Much of the recovery effort has been devoted
  to rebuilding the Vietnamese military, causing
  civilian development to lag.
  Vietnam remains a committed member of the TSA,
  despite (or perhaps because of) the disaster of the
  Pacific War. The ruling party is more ideologically
  radical than that of any other TSA nation, its rhetoric
  fiercely militant and anti-Chinese. The country is
  almost closed to outsiders. There are persistent
  rumors that the Vietnamese government has been
  sponsoring radical bioengineering projects,
  designing super-soldiers and other bioweapons for a
  future conflict.
  Nations Table: Southeast Asia
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Brunei PRA 670,000 Good 2.6 5 Comfortable
  Burma TSA 37 million Fair 3.4 6 Poor
  Cambodia TSA 36 million Fair 3.2 6 Poor
  East Timor PRA 1.5 million Good 2.7 3 Average
  Indonesia TSA 350 million Good 5.0 5 Average
  Kachin CHI 1.2 million Poor 1.8 3 Poor
  Laos TSA 17 million Fair 3.1 5 Poor
  Malaysia TSA 45 million Fair 4.5 5 Comfortable
  Maluku Selantan PRA 3.9 million Good 3.0 2
  Struggling
  Philippines PRA 185 million Good 4.9 3 Average
  Sarawak and Sabah - 9.2 million Fair 3.8 3 Average
  Shan Republic CHI 4.8 million Fair 2.5 1 Poor
  Singapore - 12 million Very Good 4.4 5 Wealthy
  Thailand PRA 67 million Fair 4.6 4 Comfortable
  Vietnam TSA 130 million Good 4.4 5 Struggling
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:The Islamic Caliphate
  @TEXT-BOX:In 2000, the Arab nations suffered
  from a variety of factional divisions: city-dwellers
  against Bedouin, oil-wealthy nations against poor
  ones, Sunni against Shi'ites, Western allies against
  anti-Western states. The contradictions often limited
  Arab effectiveness in world affairs, as Arab states
  who were nominally allied against the West came to
  blows among themselves. The Gulf Wars of 1992 and
  2006, the Egyptian-Libyan war of 2013, the constant
  struggle against Israel, all of these sapped the
  strength of the Arab states.
  @TEXT-BOX:To be effective in the modern world,
  Arab civilization needed unity. The first promise of
  that unity came in the late 2030s, when a Muslim
  religious leader named Ali al-Rashid attained
  prominence in Saudi Arabia. Al-Rashid's teachings
  seemed contradictory at first hearing. He preached
  devotion to the puritanical Wahhabi sect, but also
  embraced science and technology as the key to Arab
  success. He denounced the evil and degeneracy of
  Western civilization, but also taught that the proper
  Arab response was to teach morality by example.
  @TEXT-BOX:Al-Rashid was blessed with great
  charisma and a fiery oratorical style that won many
  converts. By 2040 he was the most prominent Sunni
  religious leader in the world, and was being openly
  acclaimed as the Mahdi by millions of Arabs. He had
  no direct political power of his own, but in 2043 he
  made an alliance with the House of Saud. The
  combination proved irresistible. Over the next few
  years, the Saudis used al-Rashid's influence to
  strengthen their formal partnerships with other
  Islamic nations. During this period, they even
  managed a reconciliation with the anti-monarchist
  regimes in Iraq and Syria. Soon the Saudi alliance
  system took in all the Arab nations around the
  Persian Gulf.
  @TEXT-BOX:In 2049, the allies agreed to set up a
  permanent council (the Presidium of the Arab
  League) in the holy city of Medina. The new council
  would serve as a focal point for the coordination of
  foreign policy and economic development. Ali al-
  Rashid was named Chairman of the Presidium, a
  purely honorary position which nonetheless gave him
  a unique position of moral influence. Meanwhile, the
  House of Saud attained effective control of the new
  council through typically pragmatic statesmanship.
  @TEXT-BOX:The first action of the new Presidium
  was to grant Ali al-Rashid a long-vacant title: that of
  Caliph. This made him a recognized successor or
  agent of Mohammed, the foremost religious and
  political leader in the Islamic world. Finally, the
  Arab states had a rallying point for constructive
  action in the world community, with the Caliph to
  provide moral leadership and hard-headed Saudi
  statesmen to manage the everyday business.
  @TEXT-BOX:The Caliphate remains in existence
  today. It has not always been successful in preventing
  strife among Muslims, but it has done much to
  moderate Arab radicalism and promote Arab
  economic development. Many powerful Islamic
  nations remain outside the alliance, particularly Iran,
  Pakistan, and the Arab states of northern Africa. The
  Caliphate is outwardly cool to the West, but it can
  usually work with Western nations where its interests
  permit.
  (((END BOX)))
  Asia (Southwest)
  Once the source of much of the world's turmoil, this
  region is now relatively peaceful and prosperous.
  This is the heartland of the Islamic Caliphate, which
  
  68
  has done much to moderate old Arab-Israeli (and
  Arab-Arab) conflicts.
  (((MAP:Southwest Asia)))
  Abkhazia
  Abkhazia was originally the northwestern corner of
  the Soviet republic of Georgia. it went with the rest of
  the republic during the breakup of the Soviet Union,
  but the local population was ethnically distinct and
  reluctant to remain under central control. Several
  attempts at independence were violently quashed by
  the Tblisi government, until a peace accord was
  reached in 2013. Today Abkhazia is nominally
  independent, but is actually a Russian client state. It
  lags behind the rest of Georgia and is at an early
  Third Wave level of development.
  Armenia
  This former Soviet republic has succeeded in
  modernizing its industries, and is presently a stable
  Third Wave nation. It has recently joined the
  European Union, after being stalled for decades by a
  dispute over formerly Armenian lands in Turkey.
  Azerbaijan
  Azerbaijan enjoyed rapid development early in the
  century due to its considerable oil wealth. A series of
  wars with neighboring Armenia was resolved by
  outside mediation during the early 2020s. Today
  Azerbaijan is a full member of the European Union,
  closely allied with Turkey. Its economy is at a modest
  Third Wave level, although those who inherited old
  oil wealth have access to the best Fifth Wave
  standard of living.
  Bahrain
  Lacking substantial oil reserves of its own, Bahrain
  built prosperity on banking, petroleum processing,
  shipping, telecommunications, and tourism
  industries. Today it is a moderately wealthy Persian
  Gulf state. Although it is a member of the Islamic
  Caliphate, its population is majority Shi'a Muslim,
  which causes considerable internal tension. While the
  Amir remains a staunch supporter of the Caliphate,
  popular protests against it are common. Nearby Iran
  occasionally stirs the pot by planting covert agents or
  placing diplomatic pressure on the Amir.
  Cyprus
  Cyprus was reunified in the early 2020s, as part of a
  general reconciliation between Greece and Turkey in
  the aftermath of the Balkan War (see p. 00).
  Currently the island nation is a federal republic, with
  careful constitutional guarantees for both Greek and
  Turkish populations. It has been a full member of the
  European Union since 2037.
  Gaza Strip
  See Palestinian Enclaves.
  Georgia
  Georgia underwent several episodes of civil disorder
  early in the century, culminating in the loss of the
  Abkhazia region in the early 2010s. Since then, the
  country has experienced stability and steady growth,
  and it is currently a thriving Third Wave society. In
  2075 it joined the European Union (over Russian
  objections). It has since become fully integrated into
  the European community.
  See also Abkhazia.
  Iran
  At the beginning of the century, Iran's leadership felt
  they had a clear mission: to unify Islam and drive out
  Communist, Western and secular influences.
  Unfortunately much of the Muslim world did not
  agree, divided from Iran by religious (Shi'ite vs.
  Sunni) and ethnic (Persian vs. Arab) distinctions.
  Appeals to religion and anti-Western sentiments
  failed. Sponsorship of terrorism only hardened anti-
  Iranian attitudes. An episode of military adventurism
  led to the Third Gulf War of 2013, in which Western
  forces handed Iran a punishing defeat. By the 2040s
  it was obvious that the hated Saudi monarchy would
  win the prize of Islamic leadership, leaving Iran
  isolated in the world community.
  The result was a period of social upheaval, the likes
  of which had not been seen since the 1970s. The
  population was severely divided, with many people
  calling for democratic reforms, state secularization
  and reconciliation with the world community. In 2053
  a secular faction in the Iranian military botched a
  coup attempt, plunging the country into civil war. The
  secularists won, but only after years of bloodshed.
  Today Iran is a pseudo-fascist state, ruled by a
  ruthless alliance of business and military leaders.
  Modern technology is used to monitor the population,
  detecting and crushing any hint of rebellion. Religion
  is one of the foremost targets of this repression.
  Although the country remains Muslim, mullahs and
  other religious leaders are forbidden to involve
  themselves in politics on pain of death or exile. The
  ruling regime uses psychoneural techniques to "cure"
  dissidents of their inconvenient beliefs, especially
  devout Muslims who refuse to accept secularism.
  Since the end of the civil war, Iran has made some
  economic progress. The government and its business
  allies have made massive investments in education
  and technological improvement. Today, Iranian
  industry is quickly absorbing Fourth Wave
  biotechnology. Most biotech applications involve
  transgenic plants and animals or non-sentient
  constructs, since the country is far from suffering any
  shortage of labor.
  
  69
  On the other hand, the Iranian ruling elite is
  notorious for importing large numbers of bioroids for
  all kinds of personal service. Some of the Iranian
  leadership are so surrounded by their bioroid
  servants and bodyguards that they need never
  interact with other humans except by telepresence.
  This habit only increases the regime's unpopularity
  among the Iranian people.
  Iraq
  In 2012, the Ba'athist regime in Iraq collapsed,
  triggering the Third Persian Gulf War. In the
  aftermath of the conflict, a coalition of former
  opposition groups attempted to set up a government,
  with limited success. Not until the 2050s did an
  effective central government reappear, and even then
  some parts of the country insisted on a high level of
  autonomy.
  Today Iraq continues to struggle, although internal
  stability has held for over twenty years. The most
  serious difficulty facing Iraq is its hostile Iranian
  neighbor. The Iraqi government is a member of the
  Islamic Caliphate, and serves as a "front line" state
  against the Iranian threat. On the other hand, large
  sections of the population resent the Caliphate, and
  would be sympathetic toward Iran if that nation
  wasn't in turn ruled by such a brutal dictatorship.
  Baghdad is a hotbed of diplomatic and espionage
  activity, and an outbreak of war seems possible
  within the next few years.
  Israel
  Israel spent the first half of the century at odds with
  its Arab neighbors, winning two conventional wars
  but having mixed success against terrorism and
  violent Palestinian resistance. Peace came slowly,
  with many setbacks. By 2050 the Islamic Caliphate
  was working hard from the Arab side to promote a
  final accord. With the signing of the Treaty of
  Jerusalem in 2054, Israel had peace with all of its
  Arab neighbors for the first time.
  Since then, the situation has been tense, but
  increasingly stable. There has been no further
  outbreak of conventional warfare. On the individual
  level, violence remains at levels which can be
  handled by Israeli or Arab courts. Personal contacts
  and business relationships have steadily increased
  between Israelis and foreign Arabs. On both sides,
  the current generation seems uninterested in
  renewing the confrontational stance of the past.
  Today, Israel is an advanced Fourth Wave nation,
  with several sectors (notably the military) at a Fifth
  Wave level. The local economy is very well-rounded,
  with investment in a wide variety of industries. Israeli
  agriculture is particularly advanced, and has long
  used various forms of biotechnology to reclaim arid
  land and maximize productivity.
  Jordan
  Jordan has transformed itself into the epitome of the
  "liberal" Arab state. The current king is a
  constitutional monarch, presiding over a healthy
  parliamentary democracy. Local society is loyal to
  Islam, but Jordanian religious scholars are very
  adept at reconciling the spirit of religious law with
  the conditions of the modern world. The kingdom is a
  staunch supporter of the Islamic Caliphate.
  Jordan has also become the effective Palestinian
  homeland. At present the kingdom's population is
  about 40% of Palestinian descent, and the royal
  house itself has a significant amount of Palestinian
  blood. Tensions between the Palestinian exiles and
  the native Jordanian population, once near the point
  of civil war, have been much reduced by decades of
  royal diplomacy. Jordan's willingness to
  accommodate Palestinian exiles, not as refugees but
  as full partners in the kingdom, did much to aid the
  final resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  Kuwait
  The emirate of Kuwait is the wealthiest member of
  the Islamic Caliphate. The average standard of living
  is very high, with even the non-citizen population
  having access to the full range of Fifth Wave
  technologies. Kuwaiti citizens themselves are among
  the wealthiest humans anywhere. Although the
  petroleum industry has declined, Kuwait still has a
  vibrant economy based on banking, advanced
  electronics, land reclamation and nanotech
  industries. The emir is a constitutional monarch, with
  most power in the hands of a vigorous (and very
  contentious) national parliament.
  Kuwait was once notable for its large non-citizen
  population; in 2000 over two-thirds of the population
  were immigrant workers, mostly from poorer Muslim
  nations. Today Kuwait continues to import labor, but
  it also employs a very large number of bioroids and
  advanced cybershells. Kuwaiti society has often
  experienced tension between the citizen and labor
  classes; this tension has grown in recent years with
  the appearance of an underground bioroid-liberation
  movement.
  Lebanon
  Since the outbreak of peace between Israel and its
  neighbors, Lebanon has been freed to concentrate on
  its internal development. Much has been done to
  reconcile differences between the country's religious
  and ethnic splinter groups. The current republican
  government has been stable and effective since the
  early 2070s, and is experimenting with a number of
  cyberdemocratic ideas.
  Oman
  The Sultanate of Oman has lagged behind some of its
  Arab neighbors in economic development, but still
  
  70
  has a moderate Third Wave economy. The powers of
  the sultan have not declined much over the past
  century, leaving Oman with one of the strongest
  monarchies in existence. Even so, the government is
  stable and the civil rights of Omani citizens are
  protected by royal decree. Oman is a full member of
  the Islamic Caliphate, although there have been
  religious disputes (most Omanis are members of the
  pseudo-Shi'ite Ibadhi sect).
  Palestinian Enclaves
  The Gaza Strip and West Bank regions are currently
  self-governing, under an elected council whose
  authority is jointly guaranteed by Israel and the
  Islamic Caliphate. Tensions between the Palestinians
  and Israel continue, although there has been no
  serious outbreak of violence in over twenty years.
  The Palestinian enclaves are by no means viable
  nation-states. The average standard of living is
  extremely low. The defense of the enclaves is
  undertaken by Israel and the Caliphate, and their
  economy is almost totally dependent on outside
  investment and aid. Unemployment is high, and most
  of the employed population actually works in Egypt,
  Israel or Jordan. The situation is far from
  satisfactory to many Palestinians, and there is
  significant sentiment for a renegotiation of the status
  of the enclaves. It is a measure of how far the
  situation has evolved that this movement has been
  nonviolent in its methods.
  Qatar
  Qatar is a constitutional monarchy, with most
  government functions in the hands of an elected
  parliament and prime minister. It is a wealthy
  member of the Islamic Caliphate. The local economy
  has long since diversified from its dependence on oil,
  and now emphasizes advanced robotics and
  nanotechnology. Its army is small but very well-
  trained and well-equipped.
  Saudi Arabia
  The Bedouin house of Saud has ruled the Arabian
  homeland since the 1930s. The Saudi clan has long
  been famous for its religious devotion and its
  cunning, pragmatic statesmanship. These traits found
  their utmost expression in the 2040s, when the house
  put its weight behind the Mahdi Ali al-Rashid (p. 00).
  When the Islamic Caliphate was established in 2049,
  the Saudis were able to take a position as the secular
  leaders of much of the Arab community.
  Saudi Arabia remains the epitome of the Bedouin
  state, a feudal monarchy transplanted into the
  modern world. The local Wahhabi sect is very
  puritanical in some respects, and foreign visitors will
  be expected to conform. Alcohol and most drugs are
  illegal, and all forms of the media are subject to strict
  censorship. Non-Muslims may not practice their
  religion in the country, and Jews are not permitted
  entry at all. Violations of law can be punished by
  immediate expulsion (for foreigners) or by whipping,
  branding, mutilation or death.
  On the other hand, the Saudi state follows many of
  the traditions of Bedouin politics. The king and his
  royal clan can rule only so long as the people follow,
  and the people demand that their rulers be generous
  and open to petitions. Saudi statesmen are adept at
  building consensus, and at melding the trends of the
  modern world with ancient Bedouin customs. The
  upshot is that Saudi Arabia can be a very congenial
  place to live, at least if one is a devout Muslim who
  can stay on the good side of Islamic law.
  Saudi Arabia has long since given up dependence on
  its petroleum wealth, much of which has been
  depleted in any case. Today the nation has a robust
  "high industrial" economy, producing a variety of
  advanced materials and products. Saudi computer
  technology is quite advanced, although the local
  segment of the web is strictly controlled due to the
  need to exclude "immoral" material.
  For religious reasons, radical human gengineering
  and bioroid manufacture have been ignored in Saudi
  Arabia. On the other hand, the Saudis have been
  willing to apply biotechnology and ecological
  engineering to the task of reclaiming parts of the
  Arabian desert. Along the Red Sea coast, and in
  oases in the interior, the Saudis have created wide
  stretches of fertile fields and verdant gardens.
  Saudi foreign policy is centered on the need to
  maintain the Caliphate and protect Arab interests in
  a rapidly-changing world. The Saudis have
  maintained close ties with the United States and
  (more recently) the Pacific Rim Alliance -- both non-
  Muslim powers which pose no direct threat to Saudi
  sovereignty.
  Syria
  Syria suffered considerable political and economic
  instability during the 2010s and 2020s. Tensions
  between various schismatic Muslim sects continue,
  although the Sunni majority has managed to hold
  power and keep things quiet for some time. At present
  Syria is a member of the Islamic Caliphate. Peace
  with Israel has held for almost fifty years; the most
  significant foreign policy challenge is a long-
  standing dispute with Turkey over upstream
  development of the Euphrates River. Rumor has it
  that Syria has sponsored several recent sabotage
  attempts against Turkish industrial facilities on the
  river.
  Turkey
  Turkey has long been an anomaly within the
  European Union, set apart by ethnic, geographic,
  linguistic and religious factors. It has also suffered
  long-standing hostility from its closest European
  neighbors, Bulgaria and Greece (see p. 00). Even so,
  
  71
  over the course of the 21st century Turkey has
  become a major partner in the European Union, and
  is now close behind Germany and the United
  Kingdom in economic output and influence.
  Turkey is one of the few Union nations which has
  experienced significant population growth during the
  past century. The country has rarely been stable.
  Social disputes between secularists and devout
  Muslims have often spilled over into unrest and street
  violence. Meanwhile, relations between the central
  government and the minority Kurds have always been
  poor, and periods of separatist violence were
  common early in the 21st century. The Kurdish
  regions were given considerable local autonomy in
  the 2040s, and violent unrest there is now rare, but
  visitors associated with the central government face a
  hostile reception.
  Turkey was one of the few Union nations to openly
  embrace Fourth Wave biotechnology, and indeed
  much of the country's current prosperity is based on
  biotech industries. For a time in the 2050s and
  2060s, Turkey was Europe's largest producer of
  bioshells and genetic constructs. Today, variant
  human types are probably more common in Turkey's
  urban areas than anywhere else in the European
  Union. The country's urban population is moving
  rapidly into the Fifth Wave economy, although rural
  districts (especially the Kurdish provinces) lag far
  behind.
  United Arab Emirates
  The United Arab Emirates are a federation of Arab
  monarchies. The seven emirs have effectively
  absolute joint rule over the country, although civil
  rights for all subjects are protected by law. The emirs
  are often rivals, although decades-long tradition
  ensures that their competition for prestige is amiable
  and serves to help develop the country. The local
  standard of living is relatively high, supported by a
  diverse Fourth Wave industrial base.
  West Bank
  See Palestinian Enclaves.
  Yemen
  Yemen is the poorest country in the region, its
  infrastructure overwhelmed by a population which
  has grown by a factor of seven in the past century.
  The central government is quite repressive and is
  faced with several ongoing insurgencies. The
  Caliphate is attempting to coordinate relief and
  development efforts, with little success.
  Nations Table: Southwest Asia
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Abkhazia - 440,000 Good 2.2 3 Struggling
  Armenia EUR 3.3 million Good 3.2 3 Average
  Azerbaijan EUR 12 million Good 3.4 4 Struggling
  Bahrain ISL 1.0 million Fair 2.9 4 Comfortable
  Cyprus EUR 810,000 Good 2.9 3 Comfortable
  Georgia EUR 3.8 million Good 3.2 3 Struggling
  Iran - 110 million Fair 4.7 6 Average
  Iraq ISL 74 million Poor 3.9 4 Struggling
  Israel - 9.2 million Good 3.8 3 Comfortable
  Jordan ISL 15 million Good 3.6 3 Struggling
  Kuwait ISL 9.3 million Very Good 4.2 3 Wealthy
  Lebanon ISL 5.0 million Good 3.2 2 Struggling
  Oman ISL 12 million Good 3.6 4 Struggling
  Palestinian Enclaves ISL 14 million Poor 2.7 5 Poor
  Qatar ISL 1.3 million Good 3.1 4 Comfortable
  Saudi Arabia ISL 160 million Very Good 4.9 4
  Average
  Syria ISL 42 million Fair 3.8 3 Struggling
  Turkey EUR 87 million Good 4.8 3 Comfortable
  United Arab Emirates ISL 4.2 million Good 3.6 4
  Comfortable
  Yemen ISL 120 million Poor 3.5 5 Dead Broke
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Orion Industries
  @TEXT-BOX:Orion Industries is one of the world's
  largest arms manufacturers and dealers. Based in
  Sydney, Australia, the firm develops and sells
  weapons systems on a global scale. The PRA nations
  are naturally its foremost customers, but it has
  dealings in almost every country on Earth (except for
  the TSA bloc).
  @TEXT-BOX:Orion Industries has a large private-
  security division, offering physical, operational, and
  network security services on all scales. Individuals
  can come to Orion for simple household alarm
  systems or bodyguard contracts -- while major
  corporations and national governments buy billions
  of dollars' worth of protection. Orion security
  professionals are well-known for their training,
  cutting-edge equipment, and ruthless decisiveness.
  Small teams of Orion "officers" can be found almost
  anywhere in the world, fulfilling small jobs or
  providing short-term support to a major contract.
  @TEXT-BOX:Orion's involvement in the global
  mercenary trade is an open secret. Many mercenary
  groups operating in the developing world buy Orion
  weapons systems. It is believed that Orion acts
  through subsidiaries as a clearinghouse and bonding
  agent for mercenary contracts.
  (((END BOX)))
  Caribbean
  The Caribbean Sea is home to many of the world's
  "microstates," independent nations with well under a
  million citizens and very little influence. All of these
  tiny nations were once colonies of various European
  nations, and many of them retain close ties to the
  former colonial power. National governments tend to
  be unobtrusive, not wishing to interfere with the
  tourism, banking, or other industries which drive
  local economies. Most of the microstates of this
  region participate in the Caribbean Union.
  
  72
  (((MAP: Caribbean)))
  Anguilla
  An ordinary Caribbean microstate with strong ties to
  the United Kingdom.
  @C-HEADAntigua and Barbuda
  Antigua is notable for the presence of the Erewhon
  Colony, a commune for creative artists established by
  an eccentric tycoon in the late 2050s. Artists working
  in a variety of media are selected by the Erewhon
  Foundation to enjoy one- or two-year sabbaticals in
  the colony, where they can live in a luxurious (and
  undistracted) style while producing new work.
  Aruba
  A Caribbean island which remains part of the
  Kingdom of the Netherlands. Notable as one of the
  most prosperous islands in the Caribbean, with an
  extensive tourism industry and some of the best
  geriatric clinics in the region.
  Bahamas
  The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is a moderately
  wealthy microstate, building its economy on banking,
  investment management, and tourism. Early in the
  century an underground genetic clinic operated in
  the islands; for several decades afterward the
  Bahamas were notorious for designer narcotics and
  an "exotic" sex industry. The current government has
  been effective in stamping out this trade (or at least
  driving it further underground).
  Barbados
  This microstate is an unremarkable member of the
  Caribbean Union.
  Bermuda
  This island remains an overseas territory of the
  United Kingdom. The local government occasionally
  sponsors a referendum on independence, which is
  invariably defeated by a wide margin. The island is
  quite wealthy, basing its economy on international
  banking and luxury tourism.
  Cayman Islands
  This microstate is one of the wealthiest in the region.
  Its economy is based on tourism and a very healthy
  financial industry. The Georgetown stock exchange is
  a favorite venue for international investors.
  Cuba
  Following the final collapse of the Castro regime in
  the early 2010s, Cuba underwent a period of political
  instability. The eventual result was a right-wing
  government, supported by the United States and
  composed primarily of former exiles returning from
  there. Although the new regime was able to foster
  rapid economic growth, it proved corrupt and
  occasionally brutal.
  During the 2020s and 2030s, Cuba was a place
  where almost any underground commodity could be
  found -- "black" biotech, designer drugs, illegal
  migrants, military hardware, traditional narcotics,
  and so on. These so-called "wild years" made Cuba
  notorious as a center for organized crime. In 2042,
  however, a new government took power and proved
  effective in stamping out much of the local
  underworld. Although organized criminal activity
  remains even today, the syndicates are careful to
  keep violence and corruption within bounds.
  Since the end of the wild years, Cuba has enjoyed
  political stability and steady economic growth. Cuba
  helped to establish the Caribbean Union in 2076, and
  it continues to stand for the independence of the
  small Caribbean states in a world dominated by more
  powerful nations.
  Dominica
  The Commonwealth of Dominica is a typical
  Caribbean microstate. It was an early investor in
  genetically modified crops, and became the
  Caribbean's foremost producer of such crops by the
  2030s.
  Dominican Republic
  This state shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.
  Stable government and sound economic policies have
  given it reasonable standards of living and the
  largest economy in the Caribbean Union. A long-
  standing alliance with Cuba formed the nucleus for
  the Union in 2076. Tensions with Haiti have been an
  occasional problem for several decades; there have
  been several border incidents since 2090.
  Grenada
  Grenada is notable as the smallest independent
  nation in the western hemisphere. It is otherwise
  unremarkable, dependent on tourism and off-shore
  banking for much of its income.
  Guadeloupe
  Guadeloupe gained independence from France early
  in the century, and is currently a full member of the
  Caribbean Union. The government invested heavily
  in biotechology from the 2010s, hoping to improve
  local agricultural productivity. The island was a
  small but significant biotech sanctuary for several
  decades, and its laboratories remain in the forefront
  of genemod crop design.
  Haiti
  Haiti remains the poorest country in the western
  hemisphere, wracked not only by social unrest and
  crooked government, but by ecological catastrophe.
  Deforestation and soil erosion have ruined the
  
  73
  country's agriculture, and supplies of drinkable water
  have long since been exhausted. Today Haiti is
  almost completely dependent on outside aid to avoid
  famine and pestilence.
  Haiti continues to be a source of instability in the
  region. Border conflicts with the Dominican Republic
  have become increasingly common in recent years.
  Illegal migration into the Caribbean Union nations
  and the United States is also a problem.
  Jamaica
  Jamaica had difficulty early in the century, but has
  experienced stable government and steady economic
  growth since the 2040s.
  Martinique
  This island remains an overseas department of
  France. As the island's tourism and light-industrial
  sectors make it less dependent on French aid, a
  movement for political independence has been
  growing in strength.
  Montserrat
  Montserrat is still a territory of the United Kingdom.
  The island's population and economy have never
  recovered from a volcanic eruption which devastated
  it in 1995.
  Netherlands Antilles
  This island group remains an overseas possession of
  the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The local economy
  fell into a slump with the decline of the world
  petroleum market, and has been slow to recover.
  Saint Kitts and Nevis
  A typical microstate, with ties to the United Kingdom.
  Saint Lucia
  Another ordinary microstate with ties to the United
  Kingdom.
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  This microstate is relatively poor and remains
  heavily dependent on cash-crop agriculture. There is
  a small offshore financial industry, popular with
  insurgent movements and organized crime due to its
  very strict code of privacy.
  Trinidad and Tobago
  This country is one of the most prosperous in the
  Caribbean, with a well-educated populace, stable
  government, and a diverse Fourth Wave industrial
  base. It is an important member of the Caribbean
  Union.
  Turks and Caicos Islands
  The Turks and Caicos Islands gained their
  independence from the United Kingdom early in the
  century. They are currently a typical minor member
  of the Caribbean Union, the local economy heavily
  dependent on tourism and financial services.
  Virgin Islands
  During the 2030s both the American and British
  portions of the Virgin Islands group gained their
  independence. In 2043 the two nations agreed to
  unification. Since then the Virgin Islands have
  prospered, taking advantage of their position along a
  major shipping lane (along with the usual Caribbean
  industries of tourism and finance).
  Nations Table: Caribbean
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Anguilla CAR 15,000 Very Good 0.9 2 Average
  Antigua and Barbuda CAR 59,000 Good 1.4 2
  Average
  Aruba (EUR) 62,000 Very Good 2.0 3 Comfortable
  Bahamas CAR 300,000 Good 2.4 2 Comfortable
  Barbados CAR 260,000 Good 2.2 1 Average
  Bermuda (EUR) 58,000 Very Good 2.0 3 Wealthy
  Cayman Islands CAR 50,000 Very Good 1.9 2
  Wealthy
  Cuba CAR 9.5 million Good 3.3 2 Struggling
  Dominica CAR 81,000 Good 1.1 3 Struggling
  Dominican Republic CAR 18 million Good 3.7 4
  Struggling
  Grenada CAR 73,000 Fair 1.0 2 Struggling
  Guadeloupe CAR 510,000 Fair 2.2 1 Average
  Haiti - 15 million Very Poor 2.4 0 Dead Broke
  Jamaica CAR 3.6 million Good 2.7 3 Struggling
  Martinique (EUR) 450,000 Good 2.4 3 Average
  Montserrat (EUR) 12,000 Good 0.5 3 Struggling
  Netherlands Antilles (EUR) 250,000 Very Good 2.3 3
  Comfortable
  Saint Kitts and Nevis CAR 56,000 Good 1.3 3
  Average
  Saint Lucia CAR 250,000 Fair 1.6 3 Struggling
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines CAR 65,000 Fair
  0.9 4 Struggling
  Trinidad and Tobago CAR 600,000 Very Good 2.8 1
  Comfortable
  Turks and Caicos Islands CAR 51,000 Fair 1.0 3
  Struggling
  Virgin Islands CAR 200,000 Very Good 2.6 2
  Comfortable
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:The European Union
  @TEXT-BOX:The European Union of 2100 grew
  slowly, with roots in many European institutions of
  the late 20th century: the European Economic
  Community (EEC), the Council for Security and
  Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), the North Atlantic
  Treaty Organization (NATO), and so on. Even the
  
  74
  United Nations became a cornerstone of European
  unity, after its headquarters moved to Europe (p. 00).
  @TEXT-BOX:Currently the dominant institution in
  the Union is the European Parliament, a one-house
  legislature composed of representatives from all of
  the member states. Since revisions to the Union
  Charter in 2089, half of the representatives to
  Parliament are chosen randomly from the voting
  populations of the member states. The other half are
  elected by a more traditional popular vote. The
  Parliament has extensive human staff, and also
  maintains what may be the most powerful battery of
  sapient AI in the world. These high-powered AI exist
  to gather and correlate information for the members
  of Parliament, especially those "amateur legislators"
  who are selected by lot.
  @TEXT-BOX:The European Union has taken on
  many of the functions of a supra-national
  government. Laws passed by the European
  Parliament are considered to be treaties; although
  they are binding on all members, they must be
  implemented by each member state through its own
  legislative process. Before the Parliament even votes
  on a new law, lengthy negotiations must be held to
  build consensus among the member states.
  Meanwhile, the Union's bureaucratic processes are
  quite complex, despite several rounds of streamlining
  reform during the past century. All in all, the Union
  has difficulty making new policies quickly, or respond
  to sudden crises.
  @TEXT-BOX:Citizens of the Union enjoy complete
  freedom to travel, work and do business anywhere
  within its borders. This has made Europe (with
  outlying areas in North America and the Middle
  East) the world's largest and wealthiest free-trade
  zone. Not all Union members enjoy the same high
  standard of living, but the core nations in Western
  Europe are the richest on Earth.
  @TEXT-BOX:Significant local distinctions remain
  within the European Union, although most citizens
  have a strong sense of identity as members of "the
  world's highest civilization." Many Europeans tend to
  think of themselves as citizens of their own particular
  region first, of Europe as a whole second, and of
  their nation-state last (if at all). For example, a
  German in 2100 is likely to think of himself as a
  Bavarian, a Berliner, or a Rhinelander rather than a
  German.
  @TEXT-BOX:Europeans tend to have a quiet
  confidence in their identity as Europeans. Their
  corner of civilization is the wealthiest, most stable,
  and most technologically advanced of any. There are
  no serious threats on the horizon. European politics
  can be contentious, but the essential unity of Europe
  is beyond a doubt. Many Europeans think of the
  Union as a template for eventual world government,
  a view bolstered by the fact that nations as distant as
  North America and the Middle East have become
  productive members.
  (((END BOX)))
  Europe (East)
  Eastern Europe is a busy region, for the most part at
  peace. The European Union has washed up all the
  way to the Russian border, and many of its regional
  members are working hard to reach the cutting edge
  of social and economic development. Russia itself is
  preparing to take an active role in world affairs, after
  decades of being engrossed in internal difficulties.
  (((MAP: East Europe)))
  Belarus
  See Russia.
  Czech Republic
  This former Communist nation now has a free-market
  democracy and the highest standard of living in
  eastern Europe. The local AI industry is very active,
  and the country as a whole is working to integrate
  sentient computers into political and economic
  decision-making. A constitutional change is currently
  being considered that would institute full
  cyberdemocracy.
  Estonia
  Estonia has enjoyed modest but steady economic
  growth since joining the European Union in the
  2010s. Early in the century it became a "biotech
  sanctuary," developing advanced genetic industries
  while the rest of Europe hesitated. Despite its
  proximity to Russia, the Estonian republic is more
  closely tied to Scandinavia and Western Europe.
  Hungary
  Hungary is a moderate Fifth Wave nation, which has
  been a full member of the European Union since
  early in the century. The country's armaments
  industry is quite important; Hungarian weapons
  systems are in demand in many parts of the world.
  
  75
  Kaliningrad
  After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the
  small Kaliningrad oblast was cut off from
  the rest of Russia by the newly independent
  state of Lithuania. At first Russia went to
  considerable trouble to retain the region,
  which was a major military center and one
  of the country's few remaining Baltic ports.
  However, during the turbulent 2050s
  Kaliningrad chose to press for almost
  complete autonomy. Independence was
  gained in 2073 after a long but amicable
  process of negotiation.
  Today, Kaliningrad stands astride two worlds. It is
  closely tied to the European Union, although it is not
  a member. Meanwhile, it is the westernmost outpost
  of Russian culture in Europe, and maintains good
  relations with Moscow. Since independence,
  Kaliningrad has parleyed its strategic position into a
  new role as major trade center. It has also been
  designated as the headquarters of the Genetic
  Regulatory Agency, making it a key player in global
  biotech policy.
  Kaliningrad is one of the fastest-growing cities in
  Europe, accepting immigrants from all over the
  world. Construction of new buildings and residential
  districts is going on at a frantic pace. The city has a
  reputation as a place where fortunes can quickly be
  made (or lost). Local organized crime is currently
  quite powerful, giving society a risky, slightly-corrupt
  flavor.
  Latvia
  A long-standing member of the European Union. The
  presence of a large Russian minority has often led to
  internal unrest and disputes with Russia proper.
  Lithuania
  Lithuania lags behind the other Baltic states in
  economic development, mostly due to severe
  restrictions on advanced biotechnology and other
  Fifth Wave industries. Even so, the country enjoys a
  good standard of living and economic growth is
  steady.
  Moldova
  This nation has long been hampered by ineffective
  government and internal strife. The current
  government is a military dictatorship, imposed by the
  Russian-Ukrainian minority and supported by Russia.
  Violent resistance is common, but has so far been
  ineffective.
  Poland
  Poland led the former Warsaw Pact nations in the
  drive for open democracy and robust capitalism. It
  has parleyed its productive workforce and strategic
  position into a leadership role in European trade.
  Romania
  Romania is a rather backward member of the
  European Union, struggling with chronic labor
  shortages and an unstable parliamentary
  government. There is a strong movement for
  secession from the Union, which would allow large-
  scale bioshell construction and other economic
  measures in violation of Union law.
  Russia
  For decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union,
  Russia was the "sick man of Europe." The legacy of
  the Soviet era was a society riddled with corruption,
  a political system fragmented into dozens of
  squabbling factions, inefficient industries,
  ramshackle technology, a polluted countryside, and a
  gaggle of resentful ethnic minorities.
  After an initial flirtation with democracy, Russia soon
  fell into a cycle of authoritarian rule followed by civil
  disorder. From about 2015 to about 2060, the central
  Russian government had a great deal of trouble
  maintaining control. Regional governments went
  their own way, often at the bidding of local military
  leaders, ethnic minorities, or organized crime
  groups. This period of weakness culminated in the
  chaotic civil war of 2057-2063, in which Siberia and
  other areas made bids for regional autonomy or
  outright independence.
  The civil war was traumatic, but it led to a significant
  revival of Russian fortunes. By 2063 the conflict had
  ended, with the defeat of the secessionists and the rise
  of a "Renewal Union" faction. This coalition had the
  support of several power centers, including the bulk
  of the Russian military and the influential Russian
  Orthodox Church. The regime it assembled was not
  very democratic, but it was strong enough to bring
  the provincial governments into line and begin the
  process of rebuilding a unified Russia.
  Today's Russia incorporates all of the old Russian
  Federation, along with what was once independent
  Belarus, but without the old Kaliningrad oblast on
  the Baltic Sea. Russia remains an authoritarian state,
  but the post-civil-war regime has made great strides.
  Modern technology has been applied to bring a
  decent standard of living to all Russians, not only the
  urban elite. The military has been thoroughly
  modernized, and an aggressive space program has
  resumed. Corruption and regional factionalism have
  been much reduced. Democratic reforms have
  allowed the Russian people some voice in their own
  government. Many Russians have begun to hope that
  
  76
  the bitter cycle of despotism and anarchy has finally
  been broken.
  At present, Russia has a Fourth Wave economy and is
  continuing to develop at a rapid pace. In fact, Russia
  has an unusually long history of applying
  biotechnology. St. Petersburg was a biotech
  sanctuary early in the century, and even through the
  anarchic decades the city remained a major center of
  genetic research. The current government has
  devoted much effort to making sure the entire
  population has access to genetic technology. Gene-
  modified humans, bioroids and other genetic
  constructs are quite common throughout the country.
  Russia spent much of the past century bitterly
  resentful at its loss of position in world affairs. Once
  a superpower whose dictates made the world tremble,
  by 2025 Russia had a smaller economy than
  Argentina and a military barely able to maintain
  order within its national borders. This steep decline
  was halted after the civil war, and has decisively
  reversed in recent years. Today, Russia is
  aggressively pursuing greater world influence. It is a
  member of no formal alliance, but it sometimes finds
  common interests with the European Union, China,
  India, and the Islamic Caliphate. Russian diplomacy
  is carefully pragmatic, working with other nations
  whenever possible but not afraid to act
  independently. Russia is particularly cool toward the
  United States and the Pacific Rim Alliance.
  See also Kaliningrad.
  Slovakia
  Slovakia has had some difficulty keeping up with its
  more prosperous neighbors, but as of 2100 it has a
  comfortable Fourth Wave economy.
  Ukraine
  Ukraine had a slow start in the post-Soviet era; many
  of the old communist elite remained in positions of
  power well into the new century. Lasting democratic
  reform came only in the early 2040s, when
  communists began to suffer electoral defeat
  nationwide. The Communist Party attempted to
  mount an extra-constitutional coup in 2044, but gave
  up power when it was clear the military would not
  fall into line. The "Kiev Spring" which followed gave
  Ukraine an open, democratic society at last. Ukraine
  avoided involvement in the Russian civil war, and has
  since been a stable partner for both Russia and the
  European Union.
  Today Ukraine has a stable Third Wave economy,
  and is rapidly investing in biotech and nanotech
  industries. Since 2094 it has been a significant
  investor in the Olympus Project (see p. 00) and it
  may be planning to begin its own aggressive space
  program in the next few years.
  Nations Table: East Europe
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Czech Republic EUR 6.4 million Very Good 4.1 3
  Wealthy
  Estonia EUR 950,000 Good 2.7 3 Average
  Hungary EUR 6.5 million Very Good 3.9 3
  Comfortable
  Kaliningrad - 1.5 million Good 3.0 1 Comfortable
  Latvia EUR 1.5 million Good 2.8 3 Average
  Lithuania EUR 2.9 million Very Good 3.3 2 Average
  Moldova - 4.7 million Poor 2.7 5 Struggling
  Poland EUR 29 million Very Good 4.6 3 Comfortable
  Romania EUR 16 million Fair 3.6 4 Struggling
  Russia - 108 million Good 4.6 4 Average
  Slovakia EUR 4.0 million Good 3.5 3 Comfortable
  Ukraine - 32 million Good 3.7 3 Struggling
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Argus Society
  @TEXT-BOX:The Argus Society is an association of
  Public Eyes (p. 00) with worldwide membership. It
  acts as an independent observer, watching the
  activities of governments, large corporations, and
  other powerful institutions worldwide.
  @TEXT-BOX:The Argus Society was founded by
  Marien Smith in the early 2040s. Smith was an
  American political activist. She believed that news
  outlets and other media were effectively corrupt,
  serving the interests of the government or of large
  media corporations rather than of the people. She
  conceived of the Argus Society as a tool for
  uncovering inconvenient information, secrets and
  half-secrets that powerful institutions would prefer to
  conceal.
  @TEXT-BOX:During the turbulent years of the
  Transhuman Awakening, the Argus Society made a
  considerable (but mixed) reputation for itself.
  Naturally, governments and the establishment media
  frowned on Argus activities, but the Society was
  favored by populists and radicals of all stripes. Aside
  from its anti-establishment bias, the Society had no
  specific ideology. National military secrets, the
  corruption of government officials, corporate
  violations of environmental law, the hypocrisy of
  leading Preservationists, or the horrific results of
  unbridled genetic experimentation -- all were subject
  to the eyes of Argus.
  @TEXT-BOX:The Argus Society still exists, although
  it has split into factions in recent years. Some of its
  members have gone beyond radicalism, pursuing
  strange conspiracy theories and regarding even other
  Society factions as untrustworthy. Others have
  become almost mainstream, providing information to
  a consistent audience much like any other media
  outlet.
  @TEXT-BOX:The Society is probably the world's
  most prominent example of a "network polity" (p. 00).
  It has a very loose and decentralized organization,
  with members all over the world. Members rarely use
  the best available information-gathering technology.
  As private citizens, they buy whatever equipment they
  can afford (although some of them can afford a great
  
  77
  deal). They normally operate independently,
  gathering into teams only occasionally and on an
  informal basis. The Society has no formal hierarchy
  of rank, although members can accumulate status by
  "counting coup" on powerful institutions.
  (((END BOX)))
  Europe (North)
  Northern Europe, including Scandinavia and the
  British Isles, is perhaps the most socially stable
  region on Earth. All of the governments here (not
  counting the recently-independent Faroe Islands)
  date back over a century, and have been healthy
  democracies throughout that period.
  (((MAP: North Europe)))
  Denmark
  The Kingdom of Denmark is a prosperous Fifth Wave
  state, a center for cutting-edge nanotech research.
  Local politics are deeply conservative and tend
  toward Preservationism.
  Faroe Islands
  These islands in the North Atlantic gained full
  independence from Denmark in the early 2060s. They
  are convenient to a wide region of shallow ocean
  between Iceland and the British Isles, and serve as a
  base for sea-floor development throughout this area.
  Finland
  Finland is a long-standing member of the European
  Union. The local computer and telecommunications
  industries are among the most advanced in the world,
  producing considerable export income. Unlike most
  of Europe, Finland is a stronghold of Transhumanist
  thought, and genetic and cultural experimentation
  are common.
  Iceland
  This island nation is a world leader in fish-farming
  and other forms of pelagic development. It is a
  member of the European Union, although it joined
  quite late (2067) and only after winning guarantees
  regarding the control of its fishing resources.
  Ireland
  Old tensions between Ireland and the United
  Kingdom have been for the most part resolved.
  Northern Ireland remains part of the United
  Kingdom, but the Republic has formal representation
  in local politics.
  Norway
  Norway is a typical Scandinavian state, a member of
  the European Union with an advanced Fifth Wave
  economy.
  Scotland
  Scotland peacefully gained its independence in the
  early 2030s, at the end of a long period of increasing
  separatist sentiment. Relations with the United
  Kingdom remain friendly, although Scotland has
  developed extensive ties to Scandinavia as well.
  Sweden
  Sweden has a well-ordered society, and a prosperous
  Fifth Wave economy deeply involved in international
  trade. It maintains one of the most extensive social-
  welfare systems in Europe, with heavy emphasis on a
  short work week and plenty of leisure time. It is a
  long-standing member of the European Union.
  United Kingdom
  The United Kingdom has seen many changes in the
  past century. Scotland is now an independent nation,
  while Wales and Northern Ireland have considerable
  local autonomy even within the Kingdom.
  The United Kingdom is a major player in the
  European Union and in world affairs. Economic ties
  with Ireland and Scotland remain close, and the
  "British bloc" within the European Union falls only
  behind Germany in overall economic output.
  Meanwhile, although the Commonwealth of Nations
  no longer exists, the Kingdom has maintained
  economic ties to many of its former Commonwealth
  partners. Finally, relations with the United States
  remain close, translating into trade and joint
  investments. Overall, the United Kingdom remains
  one of the world's foremost trading and financial
  powers.
  The United Kingdom remains a constitutional
  monarchy, with several parties competing for seats in
  Parliament. The Royalist and Labor parties usually
  dominate elections. The British people lean toward
  Preservationism, although those attitudes are weaker
  in the country's urban population. One can find many
  variant human types in cities such as London,
  Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. The United
  Kingdom is a Fifth Wave nation, although it is not at
  the leading edge of new technologies. Its space
  presence is small but often influential, especially in
  cooperation with the United States or with other
  European powers.
  Nations Table: North Europe
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Denmark EUR 5.4 million Very Good 4.1 3 Wealthy
  Faroe Islands EUR 53,000 Very Good 1.8 3
  Comfortable
  Finland EUR 4.2 million Very Good 3.9 2 Wealthy
  Iceland EUR 270,000 Very Good 2.7 3 Wealthy
  Ireland EUR 4.3 million Very Good 3.9 3
  Comfortable
  Norway EUR 5.0 million Very Good 4.0 3 Wealthy
  Scotland EUR 4.6 million Very Good 3.9 3 Wealthy
  
  78
  Sweden EUR 7.8 million Very Good 4.1 3 Wealthy
  United Kingdom EUR 49 million Very Good 5.0 3
  Wealthy
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Nanotech Corporations
  @TEXT-BOX:The most innovative corporations in
  the world today are those experimenting at the
  frontiers of the very small. The nanotech industry is
  still maturing, and it's difficult to say which business
  ventures will fail and which will win outrageous
  fortunes.
  @TEXT-BOX:Centre National de Recherce
  Nanotechnologique/CNRN (Paris, France): State-
  subsidized research laboratory working with
  advanced nanotech designs.
  @TEXT-BOX:Digital Alchemy (San Francisco,
  United States): Firm which produces nano-scale
  computational devices.
  @TEXT-BOX:HeinCell AG (Cologne, Germany):
  One of the earliest German nanotech firms,
  specializing since the 2070s in applications of "wet"
  nanotechnology.
  @TEXT-BOX:Laurin Systeme AG (Amsterdam,
  Netherlands): A German-Dutch corporation involved
  with the production of diamondoid and other single-
  crystal materials.
  @TEXT-BOX:Micrometals Ltd. (Edinburgh,
  Scotland): Research firm experimenting with the
  construction of "smart sapphire" nanotech
  computers.
  @TEXT-BOX:Nanosan Umweltsysteme AG
  (Darmstadt, Germany): New (but extremely
  successful) firm which produces nanosystems for
  environmental cleanup (breaking down oil spills,
  toxic waste dumps, and so on).
  (((END BOX)))
  Europe (South)
  Once in the shadow of the great industrialized
  nations of North and Western Europe, the
  Mediterranean countries are now wealthy and
  powerful in their own right. Political stability has
  been harder to come by. The most powerful nations of
  the region, Italy and Spain, both face mild but
  stubbornly insoluble internal problems.
  (((MAP: South Europe)))
  Andorra
  The tiny principality of Andorra is high in the
  Pyrenees mountain range. A member of the European
  Union since the 2040s, it has prospered on the basis
  of its banking, data-haven, and tourism industries.
  Catalonia
  The eastern portions of Spain always held a distinct
  ethnic and linguistic identity, long submerged under
  the dominance of Madrid. With local governments
  taking on increasing importance under the European
  Union, Catalonia finally gained its independence in
  2031.
  Today Catalonia is a prosperous Fifth Wave nation.
  It is particularly well-known for its entertainment
  industry; the Catalan visual and virtual arts are
  particularly well-regarded. Many popular virtualties
  are produced in Barcelona's studios.
  Gibraltar
  This outpost on the southern coast of Spain remains a
  British dependency and military base, despite
  occasional Spanish pressure for annexation. The
  inhabitants enjoy a Fifth Wave standard of living,
  based largely on tourism and an extensive financial
  industry.
  Holy See (Vatican City)
  Vatican City remains the world's smallest
  independent state, ruled by the Pope and the College
  of Cardinals as the headquarters for the Catholic
  Church. The current Pope (Zachary II) was
  originally a Filipino, and is deeply involved in global
  diplomacy (especially in the Far East).
  Italy
  For Italy, much of the 21st century has been
  characterized by a steep decline in national
  population. Italy's "birth dearth" has been more
  severe than that of any other major European state,
  and among the worst in the world. In 2100 the
  national population is only about 60% of its 2000
  total, despite significant immigration from Turkey
  and the Arab world.
  This decline has caused severe social and economic
  difficulties, exacerbated by the refusal of the
  influential Catholic Church to sanction reproductive
  technology or bioroid manufacture. By the mid-2070s
  Italy was sunk in a deep economic recession, which
  in 2073 led to the collapse of the Italian government.
  After the most contentious elections in memory, the
  new government broke with the Church, repealing a
  large block of legislation restricting reproductive
  technology.
  Italy is currently applying the full range of modern
  biotechnology to try and reverse the population
  decline. Meanwhile, Italian industries are making
  more and more use of imported robots, and a few
  Italian firms have themselves entered the advanced
  robotics industry. Relations between the Church and
  the Italian government continue to be stormy.
  Malta
  Malta is a European Union member with an
  advanced Fifth Wave economy. Aside from light
  manufactures and an active shipping industry, the
  economy is heavily reliant on tourism. Many affluent
  Europeans vacation on the island; it is also a popular
  
  79
  destination for Muslims who wish to enjoy pleasures
  disapproved by Islamic law at home.
  Portugal
  Portugal is a long-standing member of the European
  Union, and currently has an advanced Fifth Wave
  economy. Trade relations with Brazil have become
  quite important in recent years, rivaling the amount
  of trade carried on with other European Union
  members.
  San Marino
  San Marino is an anomaly in European affairs, a
  small republic completely within the territory of
  mainland Italy. Although San Marino is not a full
  member of the European Union, it participates fully
  in the general European market and has an advanced
  Fifth Wave economy.
  Spain
  The Kingdom of Spain has enjoyed external peace for
  over a century, but internal peace has been harder to
  come by. The worst disturbances have usually come
  from the small Basque minority, which has frequently
  engaged in violent resistance against the central
  government.
  The worst incident of the unrest came in 2042, when
  Basque terrorists released a "war plague" across
  northern Spain. The terrorist strategy apparently
  aimed at paralyzing Spanish security forces, allowing
  the Basques to declare their independence. The
  bioweapon proved to be more virulent and
  contagious than planned. Civilian casualties were
  high, and the plague quickly spread outside Spain to
  kill thousands elsewhere in the world. The Spanish
  military immediately began a concerted campaign to
  wipe out Basque terrorism, with the support of the
  world community. The "Basque War" which followed
  was marked by atrocities on both sides, and ended
  with the forcible disarmament of the Basque minority.
  Some regions in northern Spain are still effectively
  occupied by the Spanish army.
  Like Italy and many of the nations of eastern Europe,
  Spain has suffered significant population loss in the
  course of the 21st century. Since the 2030s, Spain has
  deliberately encouraged replacement migration with
  an unusually open immigration policy. Several
  million of today's Spaniards are first or second-
  generation citizens, having immigrated from Africa,
  the Middle East or (ironically) Latin America. As a
  result of this immigration, Spain has avoided the
  tension between Church and state which reached
  crisis levels in Italy. Meanwhile, Spanish
  industrialists have invested heavily in robotic
  technology and artificial intelligence. Today bioshells
  are still rare in Spain, but the country produces some
  of the most sophisticated cybershells and AI
  computers in Europe.
  See also Catalonia.
  Nations Table: South Europe
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Andorra EUR 56,000 Very Good 2.0 2 Wealthy
  Catalonia EUR 4.5 million Good 3.9 3 Wealthy
  Gibraltar (EUR) 23,000 Very Good 1.7 3 Wealthy
  Holy See - 900 Very Good 0.3* 4 Wealthy
  Italy EUR 36 million Fair 4.7 3 Wealthy
  Malta EUR 400,000 Good 2.7 2 Comfortable
  Portugal EUR 7.9 million Very Good 4.2 3 Wealthy
  San Marino - 34,000 Good 1.7 3 Wealthy
  Spain EUR 22 million Good 4.6 3 Wealthy
  * Although the Holy See has very little raw power as
  a nation, the Catholic Church has considerable
  diplomatic influence worldwide.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Genetic Regulatory Agency
  @TEXT-BOX:The Genetic Regulatory Agency was
  established by the European Union in 2056. Later it
  was reorganized as a joint agency with the
  governments of Russia and Ukraine. Its
  administrative headquarters remain in Geneva,
  although since 2069 its center of operations has been
  in Kaliningrad.
  @TEXT-BOX:The GRA exists to investigate and
  prevent the abuse of human genetic engineering.
  Much of its activity involves monitoring scientific
  literature and making recommendations to policy-
  forming bodies. GRA operatives also do a great deal
  of police work, investigating genetics labs and
  cooperating with local police to enforce genetic laws.
  The agency's mission has recently been extended to
  deal with bioroid trafficking and the threat of genetic
  terrorism.
  @TEXT-BOX:The GRA has authority only within the
  territory of the European Union, Russia, and Ukraine
  (although it works with other governments as
  necessary, to extradite criminals and help enforce
  local laws). Some allege that the GRA is biased
  toward a strongly Preservationist ideology, acting
  against transhumanism even when no danger to
  society has been demonstrated. Rumor also has it
  that the GRA operates a covert-activities branch,
  sabotaging genetic facilities of which the Europeans
  don't approve but which are outside the agency's
  direct sphere of authority.
  (((END BOX)))
  Europe (Southeast)
  Southeast Europe (the Balkans) were wracked by war
  and civil unrest at the beginning of the century, and
  proved a constant source of turmoil well into the
  2060s. Recovery has been patchy, with some nations
  enjoying considerable success while others struggle
  to even begin integration into the European
  community. The region is still an occasional focus for
  European diplomacy and economic assistance.
  (((MAP: Southeast Europe)))
  
  80
  Albania
  This relatively poor nation is divided from the rest of
  Europe by ethnicity and religion. It joined the
  European Union quite late (2083) after decades of
  internal and external conflict. Several issues have yet
  to be fully resolved, including the problem of ethnic-
  Albanian organized crime, and the rights of Albanian
  minorities in nearby countries.
  Bosnia and Herzegovina
  At the beginning of the century, this nation suffered
  from the aftermath of years of devastating warfare.
  For a long period it was crippled by ineffective
  government, fierce tensions among three major
  ethnic groups (Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs), and
  hostility from neighboring Serbia. As a result,
  although the country has suffered no serious internal
  violence since the 2060s, it remains the poorest
  nation in Europe.
  Bulgaria
  This former Communist nation has been successful in
  establishing a free-market economy and democratic
  government. It has been a member of the European
  Union since the 2020s. It is most notable for the
  shrinkage of its population since the turn of the
  millennium, more pronounced than that of any other
  nation -- at present Bulgaria has less than half its
  2000 population. Unlike wealthier nations in a
  similar situation, Bulgaria has responded to its
  manpower shortage by effectively abolishing the
  notion of "retirement." Even well-off Bulgarians
  continue in the labor force throughout their lives,
  although they tend to take longer vacations and
  sabbaticals as they age.
  Croatia
  Croatia is now a moderately prosperous Fifth Wave
  nation, and a full member of the European Union.
  Greece
  Early in the century, a left-wing nationalist movement
  came to power in Greece and began engaging in
  political adventurism. The result was the Balkan War
  of 2011, a general conflict involving Albania,
  Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey.
  The war caused thousands of deaths and significant
  damage to all combatants, but resolved few issues.
  The United States and the U.N. were forced to post
  large-scale peacekeeping forces in the region, and
  engage in years of painstaking diplomacy to resolve
  local disputes.
  By 2030, Greece had recovered from the war and
  come under the control of a moderate coalition. At
  about the same time, it became the first major nation
  within the European Union to abolish most
  restrictions on genetic and biological technology.
  The result was a period of superb economic growth,
  led by the new biotech industries. Today Greece is
  one of the most prosperous and technically-advanced
  nations in Europe.
  Greece is a stronghold of Transhumanist thought.
  Greek parents are very likely to purchase
  improvements to the genetic inheritance of their
  children, and young Greeks are enthusiastic about
  exploring the possibilities of new technology. Much
  of this enthusiasm is tied in with a pseudo-pagan
  revival which has been increasingly popular since the
  2060s. Although the Greek population remains
  Orthodox Christian, many Greeks are intensely
  interested in the culture and folkways of their
  Classical ancestors. This movement regards
  parahumans and other genetic constructs as
  examples of a "heroic" Greek spirit reappearing in
  the modern world.
  Macedonia
  The elaborate circumlocution "The Former Yugoslav
  Republic of Macedonia" was dropped in the
  aftermath of the Balkan War. Since the 2080s the
  country has been at relative peace, and considerable
  social and economic progress have been made.
  Macedonia has been a member of the European
  Union since 2079.
  Montenegro
  Montenegro declared its independence early in the
  century, marking the final disintegration of the old
  Yugoslavia. Today it is a low-tier member of the
  European Union, struggling to pursue economic
  development.
  Serbia
  The Balkan conflicts of 1991-2013 left Serbia's
  government and economy crippled. Recovery was
  slow, although democratic reforms in the early 2020s
  led to a thaw in relations with Western Europe and
  considerable foreign aid. Today Serbia is a rather
  backward but stable member of the European Union.
  Slovenia
  Slovenia has consistently been the most successful of
  Yugoslavia's successor states. Successive
  governments have concentrated on providing stable
  administration, a consistent strategy of staying out of
  Balkan crises, and aggressive private investment. The
  result is one of the wealthiest nations in Europe, with
  an advanced Fifth Wave economy. Slovenia has been
  a member of the European Union since early in the
  century.
  Nations Table: Southeast Europe
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Albania EUR 4.6 million Fair 2.8 2 Struggling
  
  81
  Bosnia and Herzegovina EUR 3.5 million Fair 2.6 3
  Struggling
  Bulgaria EUR 3.3 million Good 3.2 3 Average
  Croatia EUR 4.1 million Good 3.5 3 Comfortable
  Greece EUR 7.8 million Good 4.1 2 Wealthy
  Macedonia EUR 2.0 million Fair 2.7 3 Average
  Montenegro EUR 730,000 Good 2.4 3 Average
  Serbia EUR 8.2 million Good 3.1 3 Struggling
  Slovenia EUR 1.4 million Very Good 3.4 3 Wealthy
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:World Bank
  @TEXT-BOX:The World Bank (officially the
  International Bank for Reconstruction and
  Development, or IBRD) is one of the United Nations
  organizations which is still effective in the world. It is
  currently based in London, having moved there from
  Washington D.C. in 2034.
  @TEXT-BOX:The World Bank's function is make
  large loans to national governments, or to private
  corporations on the condition that a national
  government guarantee repayment. The loans support
  long-term projects to improve local infrastructure
  and standards of living. The Bank usually arranges
  for technical assistance to accompany loaned funds,
  helping the recipient country to use the money
  effectively. Loans are often made conditional on
  economic reforms within the target country. Most
  loans are made to developing countries.
  @TEXT-BOX:Over 170 nations are "members" of the
  World Bank. Decisions on loans and other policies
  are made by a vote of the board of governors, but a
  member nation's influence is weighted according to
  its contributions to the Bank's capital fund. As a
  result, the Bank is effectively controlled by the
  world's wealthiest nations. In 2100 AD, the European
  Union dominates World Bank policy, although Brazil,
  China, Japan, Korea, and Mexico are also
  influential.
  @TEXT-BOX:Controversy has surrounded the World
  Bank for most of the past century. Some claim that its
  loans go to support corrupt local regimes or
  multinational corporations, doing little to improve
  the lives of ordinary people. Others point out that the
  Bank usually requires economic or social reforms
  before offering loans -- thus making the Bank a tool
  for violating the sovereign independence of minor
  nations.
  (((END BOX)))
  Europe (West)
  West Europe is the technological center of the world.
  Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland
  have a higher standard of living and a greater
  density of cutting-edge industries than any other
  place on Earth. This region is the core of the
  European Union.
  (((MAP: West Europe)))
  Austria
  Austria is a world leader in microbot technology, and
  one of the wealthiest nations on the planet.
  Belgium
  See Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia.
  Brussels
  Brussels, the old capital of Belgium, went with
  neither splinter state during the partition of 2027.
  Instead, it established itself as a free city, one of the
  first new city-states of the modern world. Brussels is
  the capital of the European Union and one of the
  most cosmopolitan cities on Earth. It has
  considerable prosperity as an industrial center, the
  seat of European government, and a major focus of
  world diplomacy.
  Flanders
  After the partition of Belgium in 2027, the northern
  (Dutch-speaking) parts of the country became the
  independent nation of Flanders with its capital at
  Antwerp. Today Flanders is a prosperous Fifth Wave
  nation, closely tied to the Netherlands.
  France
  France is a major power within the European Union,
  which could be said to revolve around a Franco-
  German axis. For a variety of reasons, the country
  has been slow to adopt new technologies in the
  course of the 21st century. Even so, France is a Fifth
  Wave nation and an integral part of the modern
  global economy.
  French politics have been chaotic since about 2070,
  with no single political party able to maintain a
  dominant coalition for long. French society is usually
  controlled by the local Preservationist movement,
  which emphasizes the French national identity as
  well as rejection of transhumanism.
  Meanwhile there is a growing moderniste faction
  which wishes to break France out of its economic and
  technological conservatism. One example of this
  movement is a rejection of the "official" French
  language, which for centuries has been carefully kept
  free of foreign loan words. Many young French now
  speak a dialect called francaise moderne, borrowing
  many words from English, German, Japanese and
  other languages. In recent years the struggle over
  language and other social issues has broken out into
  frequent protests, some of them violent.
  France has a substantial ethnic minority (the
  Occitans) in the south, which share linguistic and
  cultural ties with the Catalans. Since the
  independence of Catalonia from Spain, the Occitans
  have been quietly pressing for greater autonomy for
  themselves. So far the central government has refused
  to consider the possibility.
  
  82
  Germany
  As of 2100, Germany has enjoyed over a century of
  unity and peace. It has used the time to become a
  cornerstone of the European Union, in which it holds
  the largest economy and the most powerful military
  establishment. Internally Germany is wholly unified,
  all tensions between East and West long since
  resolved as both regions grew in prosperity.
  Externally, the nation has occasional disputes with its
  neighbors over trade, but it faces no significant
  foreign-policy challenges.
  Germany is a multi-party democracy, with a coalition
  of moderate Preservationist parties usually
  dominating national and regional elections. National
  politics are oriented toward maintaining trade and
  prosperity, while supporting an extensive program of
  social welfare benefits. Since the 2060s, local law has
  strictly regulated human genetic modification and
  bioshell manufacture.
  Despite its current political conservatism, Germany
  has consistently been a leader in every new Wave of
  technological change, and is at present rapidly
  adopting Fifth Wave technologies. Germans enjoy
  one of the highest standards of living on Earth,
  including a social commitment to generous amounts
  of leisure time.
  Liechtenstein
  This tiny monarchy is associated with the European
  Union, but has not accepted membership. It gains
  most of its wealth from its tax-haven status and a
  business-friendly legal code, both of which
  encourage foreign businesses to locate their central
  offices in the Principality.
  Luxembourg
  Luxembourg is a wealthy member of the European
  Union, with particularly close ties to Flanders and
  the Netherlands. Several executive agencies of the
  Union are headquartered in the Grand Duchy rather
  than in Brussels.
  Monaco
  The principality of Monaco remains one of Europe's
  favorite tourist destinations. It remains independent
  from the European Union, largely because of the
  employment of many indentured bioroids in the local
  entertainment industry.
  Netherlands
  The Kingdom of the Netherlands has the highest
  standard of living anywhere on Earth, and it is known
  worldwide for cutting-edge technical research. Dutch
  engineers are widely regarded as the best in the
  world, while Dutch laboratories are at the heart of
  the new nanotech revolution.
  The Netherlands have spent much of the last century
  embroiled in a heroic struggle against the sea. Much
  of the country, including all of its major cities,
  already lay below sea level in 2000. Protecting this
  land has grown more and more difficult as sea levels
  have slowly risen. Dutch engineers have more than
  met the challenge, preserving and even extending the
  country's polders, and developing much of the
  technology used today to build undersea cities. As a
  result of this experience, Dutch land-reclamation
  experts are in demand world-wide.
  Switzerland
  The Swiss have moved through the 21st century in
  characteristic fashion. Switzerland remains
  independent of the European Union, although
  cooperation with the rest of Europe is quite close on
  most issues. The country is still a financial and
  industrial center, with one of the highest
  technological standards on the planet. Bioshells and
  radical genetic modifications are rare, but almost the
  entire population has benefitted from moderate
  genetic upgrades.
  Despite decades of pressure from outside, Swiss
  banks continue to hold money or records from any
  source in complete confidentiality. This has
  occasionally brought a great deal of unwelcome
  attention, as when a substantial portion of the Thai
  treasury turned up in Swiss hands after the Pacific
  War. Still, in a world where privacy is an
  increasingly expensive luxury, a banking service of
  such integrity is too useful to be abolished. The banks
  of Geneva and Zurich weather each political storm,
  and continue to operate as they have for centuries.
  Wallonia
  During the 2027 partition of Belgium, the French-
  speaking regions to the south of the country became
  the independent nation of Wallonia. The capital of
  the new country was set up at Charleroi. Wallonia
  has lagged behind Flanders in economic
  development, lacking the northern state's access to
  the sea or its close ties to the Netherlands. Even so, it
  is a wealthy Fifth Wave society. A recent referendum
  proposing union with France failed, but won a
  surprisingly large number of votes; negotiations on
  the subject are ongoing.
  Nations Table: West Europe
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  Austria EUR 6.9 million Very Good 4.2 3 Wealthy
  Brussels EUR 930,000 Very Good 3.3 3 Wealthy
  Flanders EUR 5.2 million Very Good 4.0 3 Wealthy
  France EUR 55 million Good 5.0 3 Wealthy
  Germany EUR 72 million Very Good 5.2 3 Wealthy
  Liechtenstein - 32,000 Very Good 1.8 3 Wealthy
  Luxembourg EUR 590,000 Very Good 3.1 3 Wealthy
  Monaco - 30,000 Very Good 1.8 2 Wealthy
  
  83
  Netherlands EUR 16 million Very Good 4.5 3
  Wealthy
  Switzerland - 5.6 million Very Good 4.1 3 Wealthy
  Wallonia EUR 2.1 million Very Good 3.6 3 Wealthy
  Oceania
  Oceania is a region of contrasts, including large and
  wealthy nations like Australia, dirt-poor microstates
  like Vanuatu, and everything in between. In 2100 the
  region is a focus of conflict, albeit a minor one. The
  vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean is a potential
  storehouse of undersea wealth, which will doubtless
  bring prosperity to some of the region's microstates
  while passing others by. This fact has given rise to a
  small but potentially important struggle, in which
  Australia, the United States, and various
  nanosocialist nations have all intervened.
  (((MAP: Oceania)))
  American Samoa
  This small, poor Pacific island remains a U.S.
  territory. It is currently notable as the southernmost
  extension of American military power: the harbor at
  Pago Pago is the site of a small U.S. Navy base.
  Australia
  Australian society is unique on Earth. It could best be
  described as a minarchist state, with one of the least
  intrusive and most business-oriented governments in
  existence. Many social functions undertaken by
  government in other nations are managed by private
  institutions here, including some aspects of social
  welfare and law enforcement. Weapon ownership is
  strictly regulated, but in every other aspect of life
  Australians may do almost entirely as they please.
  Despite this near-anarchism, Australian society
  remarkably uniform in some respects. The country is
  overwhelmingly "white" and English-speaking. This
  situation is enforced by a very strict immigration
  policy, which excludes almost anyone failing to fit the
  dominant demographic. Non-whites will face subtle
  discrimination unless they conform to the dominant
  physical type, possibly through the application of
  biosculpt or gengineering techniques. Although there
  are certainly variant human types in the Australian
  population, they are unlikely to exhibit radical
  changes in physical form.
  Australia is a Fifth Wave nation, not far behind
  Japan in technology. Australian scientists are among
  the best ecologists in the world, due to their long
  struggle against a series of ecological disasters in the
  Australian wilderness. Australia also enjoys
  proximity to some of the widest expanses of shallow
  tropical ocean in the world, and has long been known
  for expertise in kelp-farming, fish-ranching and other
  forms of pelagic agriculture. Since the 2030s
  Australia has been an important food exporter to the
  populous nations of Asia.
  Australian foreign policy has long been oriented
  toward defending its unique society against Asian
  encroachment. Australians have long been painfully
  aware of how tempting their rich and almost-empty
  country might be to certain Asian powers. Part of the
  Australian response has been staunch support for the
  Pacific Rim Alliance, whose other members are
  either too prosperous or too distant to be interested
  in conquering the island continent.
  For decades, Australia's primary rival has been
  Indonesia. Early in the century Australia supported
  Indonesian stability, fearing the flood of refugees that
  would follow any collapse of the central government.
  After a policy shift in the 2010s, Australia began to
  (covertly and overtly) support secession movements
  within the Indonesian empire, leading to the
  formation of Australian-backed client states in East
  Timor, Irian Jaya province, and the Moluccas. This
  strategy has been moderately effective, although
  since the formation of the TSA Indonesia has pushed
  back with an aggressive foreign policy of its own.
  Australia remains deeply involved in politics
  throughout Oceania and Southeast Asia.
  Cook Islands
  A tiny microstate in the South Pacific, almost
  completely dependent on New Zealand for foreign aid
  and defense.
  Fiji
  This microstate is a full member of the Pacific Rim
  Alliance. Regional sea-floor development has
  boomed in recent years, bringing considerable
  economic growth to the island. Local society is an
  interesting blend of Polynesian and Indian cultures;
  the two ethnic groups have roughly equal populations
  and have managed to live amicably together for
  almost a century.
  French Polynesia
  France has retained control of several island groups
  in the Pacific. The local economy is healthy, based on
  tourism, services to the French military, and
  undersea development. There is an active
  independence movement, which is currently
  threatening to take up violent resistance to French
  rule.
  Guam
  Guam became an independent republic during the
  American military drawdown of the 2020s and 2030s.
  It remains a close associate of the United States, and
  has agreed to provide base facilities to the American
  military in perpetuity. This island state is the
  wealthiest in Polynesia, with extensive data-haven,
  financial, transshipment, and tourism industries
  supplementing income from U.S. military activities.
  
  84
  Kanaky Republic
  Once a French possession, the New Caledonia island
  group became an independent state (the Kanaky
  Republic) in the early 2010s. The republic is one of
  the wealthier island states of Oceania, its original
  nickel-mining wealth having been invested in a
  variety of Fourth and Fifth Wave industries. Kanaky
  is closely allied with Australia, and is a member of
  the Pacific Rim Alliance.
  Kiribati
  The Republic of Kiribati consists of several groups of
  coral atolls in the central Pacific, less than 300
  square miles of land scattered across thousands of
  miles of ocean. The population is small and quite
  poor. The local economy is dependent on traditional
  agriculture and fishing, although in recent years
  there has been some move toward development of
  advanced pelagiculture and deep-sea mining
  industries.
  Marshall Islands
  A scatter of atolls covering over a thousand miles of
  the Pacific Ocean, the Republic of the Marshall
  Islands is one of the world's smallest nations. The
  Republic remains closely tied to the United States,
  which supports the local economy through foreign
  aid. Some of the islands have recently been explored
  as possible bases for pelagiculture and sea-floor
  development.
  Mekamui
  The island of Bougainville, in the eastern Solomon
  Islands chain, was originally part of Papua New
  Guinea -- as the result of a chain of historical
  accidents, rather than any rational exercise in
  nation-building. A secessionist revolt beginning in
  1988 was eventually defeated. A later and more
  peaceful movement led to independence, as part of
  the overall settlement which created the United
  Republic of New Guinea. Today the Republic of
  Mekamui is not a member of the Pacific Rim
  Alliance. Nearby PRA members such as Australia
  and New Guinea barely tolerate the situation, and
  might intervene if local politics turn unfriendly.
  Micronesia
  The Federated States of Micronesia is another
  Pacific microstate, composed of four major island
  groups. The national economy is quite small, and
  dependent on foreign aid from the United States. A
  local nanosocialist party has been gaining strength in
  recent years, peacefully advocating local
  development and independence from American
  influence.
  Nauru
  Nauru was once one of the smallest (and richest)
  nations on Earth. Its economy was wholly dependent
  on the island's rich phosphate deposits, however, and
  when those were exhausted the Republic of Nauru
  collapsed. Today the island is an Australian client
  state.
  New Guinea
  The United Republic of New Guinea came into
  existence as a nation in two sections. The eastern half
  of the island gained independence from Australian
  administration in 1975, and has always been closely
  associated with Australia. The western half was a
  province in the Indonesian empire until 2015, when
  local insurgents took advantage of an ongoing civil
  war to declare their independence. Backed by
  Australian troops, the former Irian Jaya made its
  declaration stick, and in 2021 was united with Papua
  New Guinea. The unified nation remained a close
  ally of Australia, and became a member of the Pacific
  Rim Alliance in 2027.
  New Guinea is rich in natural resources.
  Unfortunately, at the beginning of the century the
  island also had extremely rugged terrain, almost no
  infrastructure, an astonishingly high level of ethnic
  diversity, and a population much of which still lived
  on a Stone Age level. Development has been slow,
  and until recently was driven almost entirely by
  mining. With a great deal of Australian and other
  foreign investment, the national government has
  pursued a "dispersed development" model. Using
  modern communications technology, the government
  hopes to bring New Guinea's people up to an
  advanced standard of living without forcing them to
  leave their scattered villages. The society that results
  appears likely to be a bizarre mix of the primitive and
  super-advanced.
  New Guinea's interior still conceals wide tracts of
  land that have never been explored by outsiders.
  According to rumor, the Alliance may be concealing
  almost anything in the island's outback: black
  weapons-research projects, enclaves of exotic
  artificial life, evidence of lost civilizations, vast
  hoards of gold . . .
  See also Mekamui.
  New Zealand
  Isolated and insular, New Zealand has retained much
  of its distinctive culture over the past century. The
  economy is heavily industrialized and based on Fifth
  Wave technologies. New Zealand is loosely
  associated with the Pacific Rim Alliance, but stops
  short of active participation, preferring to maintain
  its independence.
  Early in the past century, New Zealand suffered
  internal tension over the rights of ethnic minorities.
  Today the country has managed to settle most such
  
  85
  issues. Over 25% of the citizens are Asian, Pacific
  Islander or Maori; these non-white minorities have
  been fully integrated into New Zealander society but
  have avoided losing cultural distinctiveness. Local
  society carries memes similar to those of Western
  Europe: strongly Preservationist, but dedicated to
  pan-sapient rights. Bioroids and bioshells may not be
  created legally in New Zealand, but they may find
  refuge there from persecution elsewhere.
  Northern Marianas
  The Northern Marianas are a territory of the United
  States (or, more precisely, a "commonwealth in
  political union" with the US). The local economy is
  healthy and nearly independent of American aid.
  Tourism is an important industry, with most visitors
  coming from Japan. Various light industries and
  pelagiculture also provide considerable income.
  Palau
  This Pacific microstate is in "free association" with
  the United States. The local economy is fairly
  healthy, based on tourism and advanced agriculture
  (including extensive use of genemod crops and pharm
  animals).
  Papua New Guinea
  See New Guinea.
  Samoa
  The island nation of Samoa has long enjoyed stable
  government and slow but steady economic growth. Its
  population is well-educated and has access to a wide
  range of modern technologies. At present the
  economy is based on light industry and genemod
  agriculture. Samoa is not a member of any major
  power bloc, but cooperates with the United States
  and the Pacific Rim Alliance when necessary.
  Solomon Islands
  The Solomon Islands are relatively poor. Some
  industrialization is taking place on Guadalcanal
  island, but most of the population still works in the
  mining or agricultural sectors. The microstate is a
  member of the Pacific Rim Alliance, and receives
  significant foreign aid from Australia.
  Tonga
  The so-called "Friendly Islands" are still ruled by a
  constitutional monarchy, the only one in Oceania.
  The local economy was dependent on traditional
  agriculture for much of the past century, but recent
  investments in genemod crops and pelagiculture have
  given the national economy a considerable boost. The
  Kingdom of Tonga is a member of the Pacific Rim
  Alliance, and also has close political ties to New
  Zealand.
  Tuvalu
  The republic of Tuvalu is one of the smallest nations
  in the world, consisting of a densely populated group
  of small coral atolls in mid-Pacific. The country has
  suffered badly from the consequences of climate
  change; rising sea levels have claimed some land
  area and nearly destroyed the local fresh-water
  supply. The local economy is heavily dependent on
  ventures trading on Tuvalu's status as a nation-state -
  - collectible stamps and coins, the rental of web
  domain names, and so on. It's often said that the
  government of Tuvalu cannot be bought -- but it can
  be rented . . .
  Vanuatu
  Vanuatu is a relatively poor and isolated microstate,
  which has seen little economic growth since the
  beginning of the century. It is not a member of any
  major power bloc.
  Wallis and Futuna Islands
  A very poor island group, still held by France.
  Nations Table: Oceania
  Nation Alliance Population Stability Power CR
  Wealth
  American Samoa (AME) 150,000 Good 1.3 2
  Struggling
  Australia PRA 25 million Very Good 4.7 1* Wealthy
  Cook Islands - 25,000 Good 0.8 4 Struggling
  Fiji PRA 1.8 million Good 2.8 2 Average
  French Polynesia (EUR) 420,000 Poor 2.2 3
  Comfortable
  Guam AME 310,000 Good 2.6 3 Comfortable
  Kanaky Republic PRA 310,000 Fair 1.4 3
  Comfortable
  Kiribati - 340,000 Fair 0.9 2 Dead Broke
  Marshall Islands AME 660,000 Good 1.8 2 Poor
  Mekamui - 380,000 Fair 2.5 2 Struggling
  Micronesia AME 140,000 Good 1.2 2 Poor
  Nauru PRA 28,000 Fair 0.9 3 Average
  New Guinea PRA 17 million Good 3.6 3 Struggling
  New Zealand - 4.4 million Very Good 3.9 3 Wealthy
  Northern Marianas (AME) 180,000 Very Good 2.0 2
  Average
  Palau AME 27,000 Good 1.2 2 Average
  Samoa - 170,000 Good 1.5 3 Struggling
  Solomon Islands PRA 1.4 million Fair 2.1 3 Poor
  Tonga PRA 220,000 Good 1.5 2 Struggling
  Tuvalu - 24,000 Good 0.0 1 Dead Broke
  Vanuatu - 350,000 Good 1.4 2 Poor
  Wallis and Futuna (EUR) 22,000 Good 0.3 3 Poor
  • 
  CR 5 for weapons ownership and use.
  
  86
  Faces of the Fifth
  Wave
  Janssen peered down the alley, toward the point at
  which even her night-enhanced eyes couldn't pick out
  movement. If there was movement. She couldn't be
  sure.
  "Go around the block and come up behind it," she
  told the cybershell at her heel. It beeped
  acknowledgment and moved off in silence.
  She waited, checking the load in her service pistol
  without conscious thought. Maybe it was nothing, a
  trick of shadow and sound. Still, the city was tense
  and there was something out in the streets. Something
  that killed people.
  Five minutes since the cybershell had left. It had been
  too long. "Report," she muttered into her wristcom.
  Nothing. Reason warred with instinct, demanding
  that she call for backup. Instinct won. Janssen stood
  straight and began to move cautiously down the
  alley. Soft-foot, soft-foot, into the dark. Any bright
  light would have caught a reflection from the back of
  her eyes, but there was nothing except the city lights
  reflecting dully off thick overcast.
  A sound. Was it the cybershell moving in the depths
  of the alley? She stopped dead and listened.
  Then something leaped at her, something large and
  not at all human. Trained reflexes cut in, a shoot/no-
  shoot decision taking place almost before she was
  consciously aware of it. The service pistol swept up
  and kicked at her wrists. One. Two. Three. Four.
  For all that many of the world's cities are shrinking,
  they remain the foremost centers of political,
  economic and social activity. This chapter describes
  three major cities on the leading edge of human
  civilization.
  Quito Metropolitano
  Quito is a city of contrasts, an island of Fifth Wave
  civilization in the midst of the developing world. It
  has a proud cultural history stretching back over 500
  years. Ironically, the city is on the forefront of today's
  colonial expansion, serving as the busiest spaceport
  on Earth. Millions have passed through Quito on their
  way into deep space. Meanwhile, for most colonists
  returning to Earth for a visit, Quito is the first (and
  often the only) city they see.
  Overview
  Quito's current prosperity is built on the same
  commodity as that of many other major cities:
  strategic location. This fact was not obvious for much
  of the city's history. At one time, its position high in
  the Andes and almost on the equator meant that it
  was one of the most isolated places on Earth.
  History
  Quito was established as early as the 11th century by
  the indigenous Quitu people. They established a
  kingdom which came into conflict with the
  expansionistic Incas during the reign of Inca Tupac
  Yapanqui. Quito was conquered by the Incas, and
  became the northern capital of their Empire in 1487.
  Tupac's son Huayna Capac conquered the rest of the
  tribes of the Quito region, making Ecuador the
  northernmost province of the empire. Unfortunately
  Huayna's two sons divided the kingdom. Atahualpa,
  whose mother had been a Quitu princess, established
  his power base in Quito. Meanwhile, his half-brother
  Huascar held the Incan heartland.
  It was during the subsequent struggle that the Spanish
  conquistadors arrived, led by Francisco Pizarro. In
  1532, Atahualpa was captured by the Spanish and
  executed, even after raising a king's ransom in
  treasure. Atahualpa's brother Rumiñahui led a gallant
  defense against the conquistadors, but after being
  defeated he withdrew to the south. Before leaving
  Quito he had its remaining treasures removed, and
  put the city to the torch.
  The modern city of Quito was founded on the site of
  Incan Quito's ruins, in 1534. For a time it was the
  capital of a conquistador state, but by 1548 it had
  been brought under the direct authority of the
  Viceroy of Peru. Spanish rule lasted until 1822, when
  lieutenants of Simón Bolivár liberated Ecuador. For a
  few years Quito was part of the Republic of Gran
  Colombia. In 1830 Ecuador declared its
  independence and Quito became the capital of the
  new nation.
  For the next two centuries, Quito served as a rallying
  point for the country's conservatives. Most members
  of this faction were wealthy landowners, from old
  families that had lived in the Andes highlands since
  colonial times. Quito was often at odds with the more
  progressive, liberal coastal populations centered
  around the city of Guayaquil. Ecuador was ruled by a
  series of conservative caudillos (dictators) through
  most of the 19th century. Although democratic
  reforms slowly took hold, episodes of dictatorship or
  military rule continued well into the 21st century.
  In 2016, the American corporation Columbia
  Aerospace opened negotiations with the government
  of Ecuador. The immediate plan was to build a
  premier orbital-launch facility outside Quito -- the
  first major spaceport to be operated by a wholly
  private organization. Ecuador agreed to provide tax
  incentives and a very favorable regulatory regime. In
  return, Columbia Aerospace would effectively create
  an Ecuadoran space program from the ground up,
  while making substantial investments in the nation's
  infrastructure and industries. The new Atahualpa
  International Spaceport went operational for the first
  time in 2021, and soon became one of the busiest
  launch sites in the world.
  
  87
  At first the relationship between Columbia Aerospace
  and Ecuador had little effect on international affairs.
  The corporation was openly making an "end run"
  around U.S. taxes and regulations by basing its
  operations in Ecuador, so relations with the United
  States were sometimes stormy. Still, by the 2040s
  many of the disputes between Columbia Aerospace
  and the U.S. government had been resolved, and
  American customers were funding rapid expansion of
  Atahualpa Spaceport.
  Quito and the rest of Ecuador thrived on the
  economic stimulus of the spaceport. By the 2070s
  Quito had become a very cosmopolitan city, one of
  the major commercial, industrial, and cultural centers
  of South America.
  Quito Today
  The population of Quito and its surrounding suburbs
  is about 6 million. The Quito metropolitan area has
  become the largest in Ecuador, surpassing rival
  Guayaquil sometime in the 2070s. Quito has grown
  to several times its 2000 area, absorbing nearby cities
  such as Sangolqui and throwing out small suburbs
  north almost to Cayambe.
  The average annual income for residents of Quito is
  about $45,000, somewhat above the world average.
  The typical resident has Average wealth and is Status
  0. Incomes are distributed rather unequally in the
  region. The political and technical elites are usually
  Wealthy or better, while citizens not directly involved
  in the spaceport or advanced industries are often
  Struggling. Quito supports a significant fringer
  population, many of whom are Quichua (nearly pure-
  blooded descendants of the Incas) or poor mestizos
  (persons of mixed race).
  The local standard of living is modest by global
  standards, but fairly comfortable. All but the poorest
  citizens have full access to adequate food and
  housing, excellent medical care, common genetic
  therapies, and the global web. Land and housing costs
  are relatively low, slightly below the base cost given
  on p. TS00. Only in the densest parts of the city are
  residents likely to be crammed into apartment
  complexes, and there are no arcologies in the region.
  The overall Control Rating in Quito is 2, indicating
  an open society and unobtrusive government. Local
  law has been somewhat influenced by American
  constitutional practice in recent decades. Police
  enforcement is usually scrupulous and effective, but
  is marred from time to time by police abuse.
  Weapons laws vary from place to place: CR 3 within
  the city limits, CR 2 in the surrounding country, and
  CR 6 on the grounds of Ahatualpa Spaceport.
  Most of Quito's population are mestizos, descended
  from both the indigenous population and the Spanish
  colonialists. Perhaps 20% of the people are culturally
  indigenous, descended primarily from the Inca or
  other local tribes, maintaining some of the old ways.
  Other groups include Afro-Ecuadorans (about 10%)
  and expatriates from the United States and elsewhere
  (about 5%). Despite decades of social progress, there
  remains a noticeable class distinction in Ecuadoran
  society. Wealthy mestizos and expatriates dominate
  the community, while Afro-Ecuadorans and
  indigenous citizens are regarded as lower-class.
  Gender equality also remains imperfect, with women
  and transgendered citizens facing subtle
  discrimination.
  Spanish is the official language, but most residents
  are also fluent in English. Quichua and other Native
  American languages are spoken privately by the
  indigenous population.
  There remain a significant number of baseline
  humans in and around Quito, mostly poorer residents
  whose ancestors never invested in genefixing. The
  national government is currently mounting a program
  to make genefixing universal by 2115, but this effort
  is meeting some resistance. Genetic upgrades are
  becoming increasingly common among the social
  elite; naturally, they are already quite common in the
  expatriate community. Bioroids, bioshells and
  cybershells can all be found in Quito, most of them
  attached to the spaceport or other institutions with
  heavy foreign involvement. Ecuadoran law tends to
  follow that of the United States in determining what
  rights are due to non-humans.
  (((START BOX)))
  @C-BOXHEAD:Huascar Rivera
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Male human, born 2072; age 28;
  5' 8", 150 pounds; black hair, brown eyes, dark
  complexion. Total 215 points.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Templates: Olympian Upgrade
  (p. TS00) [65].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:ST: 10 [0]; DX: 16 [60]; IQ: 13
  [30]; HT: 12 [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Basic Speed 7, Move 7, Dodge 8.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Thrust 1d-2, Swing 1d.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Alternate Identity
  [15].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Lecherousness [-
  15]; Light Sleeper [-5]; Secret (TSA covert operative,
  exile or imprisonment) [-20].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Quirks: Addicted to a mild
  stimulant; Dislikes Americans; Enjoys pretending to
  be lower-class; Football (i.e. soccer) fanatic; Uses
  very precise diction when angry. [-5]
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Skills: Acting-13 [2]; Brawling-
  18 [4]; Camouflage-13 [1]; Carousing-12 [2];
  Computer Operation-13 [1]; Demolition-16 [8];
  Driving (Ground car)-15 [1]; Electronics Operation
  (Communications)-13 [2]; Electronics Operation
  (Security Systems)-13 [2]; Electronics Operation
  (Sensors)-13 [2]; Escape-15 [2]; Fast-Talk-14* [2];
  Guns (Light Automatic)-21** [8]; Guns (Machine
  Pistol)-20** [4]; Holdout-13 [2]; Knife-17 [2]; Knife
  Throwing-17 [2]; Leadership-14* [2]; Memetics-10
  [1]; Politics-14* [2]; Scrounging-14 [2]; Sex Appeal-
  12 [2]; Shadowing-13 [2]; Stealth-16 [2]; Streetwise-
  
  88
  14 [4]; Survival (Mountains)-13 [2]; Tactics-12 [2];
  Teaching-14* [2].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Languages: English-12 [1];
  Quichua-13 [2]; Spanish (native)-13 [0].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:* Includes +1 from Memetics
  skill.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:** Includes +2 from IQ.
  @TEXT-BOX:Huascar Rivera is a respectable
  member of Quito society, a teacher in one of the
  city's secondary schools. After hours he can often be
  found in one or another of the city's night spots,
  drinking beer or dancing with his latest girlfriend. At
  first and even at second glance, he is utterly ordinary.
  @TEXT-BOX:At third glance, Rivera becomes
  something entirely different. He was not born in
  Ecuador, as his records indicate, but in Peru -- where
  he was the son of an important official in the national
  government. Rivera took in Red Sword militancy and
  nanosocialist ideals with his mother's milk. Upon
  reaching adulthood, he became an agent of the
  Servicio de Inteligencia Nacional (SIN). There he
  was trained as a deep-cover agent, to be sent to Quito
  in 2095.
  @TEXT-BOX:Rivera's duties are simple: watch,
  wait, and carefully sound out local citizens who
  might be swayed by Peruvian memetic subversion. If
  the time ever comes for an open attack on Ecuador,
  the TSA plans to "soften the target" by first spreading
  sabotage and rebellion among the populace. In that
  event, Rivera will be activated as a cell leader in the
  urban insurrection. For now, he is content to live
  unnoticed and file the occasional report with his
  superiors in Lima.
  (((END BOX)))
  Places
  Quito is a blend of the old and new, a major focus of
  systemwide commerce but also one of South
  America's foremost cultural centers. Although the
  city has grown considerably in the past century, many
  of its older districts retain their original atmosphere.
  Mariscal District
  North of the Old City (p. 00) are the more recent
  districts, stretching north and west toward the New
  City. The center of this area is the Mariscal de Sucre
  district, an important commercial and tourist area.
  The district has many business offices serving
  multinational firms, import-export shops, and hotels
  accomodating foreign visitors. Quito's main airport is
  also close by.
  Even before the close alliance between Ecuador and
  the United States, the Mariscal district was
  sometimes called "Gringoville" for the number of
  American visitors (and expatriates) found there.
  Today many neighborhoods are dominated by
  expatriates, who maintain a little corner of American
  culture in the heart of Quito. The American
  community in the Mariscal district sometimes has
  tense relations with the rest of the city, primarily
  because the expatriates who live here are likely to
  keep Ecuadoran society at arm's length. Expatriates
  living elsewhere in Quito are usually more willing to
  interact with local society, and have less trouble as a
  result.
  New City
  Built almost entirely since the 2050s, New Quito is a
  thoroughly modern and very beautiful place. Local
  architecture is heavy on steel, glass, and biocements,
  all in a pseudo-colonial style. Many city blocks in the
  district are divided by pedestrian greenways rather
  than paved streets. Residential and commercial
  neighborhoods are carefully balanced. The entire
  New City is the brainchild of Pablo de Estrada, one
  of Ecuador's greatest and most eccentric architects.
  De Estrada planned the layout of the New City to
  take advantage of "new objective conditions," his
  catchphrase for the social and economic changes
  caused by the spread of the global web. He died in
  2063 before most of the New City was complete, but
  the city government used careful planning and
  regulation to ensure that his vision would be carried
  out.
  The focus of the New City is the Columbia
  Aerospace complex, including corporate headquarters
  and the campus of Quito Polytechnic Institute. These
  are the high-tech center of Quito, where most of the
  city's Fifth Wave jobs are available, and where most
  of the city's high-level AI are located.
  South of the New City center is the "new capital" of
  Ecuador, where many of the city and national
  governments' offices are located. This part of the city
  is subtly designed for high security, with plenty of
  secure vantage points commanding a view of the
  entire district. A unit of the Presidential Guard is
  constantly in barracks nearby, ready to act at a
  moment's notice against any attack.
  (((START BOX)))
  @C-BOXHEAD:Jaelle Taylor
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Female human, born 2085; age
  15; 5' 6", 125 pounds; brown hair, hazel eyes. Total
  150 points.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Templates: Nyx Parahuman (p.
  TS00) [70].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:ST: 9 [-10]; DX: 12 [10]; IQ: 13
  [20]; HT: 12 [20].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Basic Speed 6, Move 6, Dodge 6.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Thrust 1d-2, Swing 1d-1.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Ally (Kan, on 15 or
  less) [30]; Mathematical Ability [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Impulsiveness [-
  10]; Overconfidence [-10]; Secret (Spy and hacker,
  utter rejection) [-10]; Youth (15 years old) [-6].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Quirks:
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Skills: Acting-13 [2]; Artificial
  Intelligence-16* [4]; Carousing-12 [2]; Computer
  Operation-13 [1]; Computer Programming-15* [2];
  
  89
  Electronics Operation (Computers)-14 [4];
  Electronics Operation (Security Systems)-12 [1];
  Engineer (Microtechnology)-15** [4]; Fast-Talk-13
  [2]; Free Fall-12 [2]; Mathematics-14* [1]; Mechanic
  (Robotics)-15 [6]; Research-12 [1]; Stealth-12 [2];
  Swimming-13 [2]; Vacc Suit-12 [1].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Languages: English (native)-13
  [0]; French-11 [1/2]; German-11 [1/2]; Mandarin-12
  [1]; Spanish-12 [1].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:* Includes +3 from Mathematical
  Ability.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:* Includes +2 from Mathematical
  Ability.
  @TEXT-BOX:Jaelle Taylor was conceived when her
  parents had a Nyx zygote spliced together by
  Genehackers, Inc. She has never needed more than a
  few hours of sleep per week. For half of her life,
  while her parents slept, she has been in the hands of
  hired nannies. Of course, even while Mom and Dad
  are awake they rarely have time for their daughter.
  Both are far too busy with their own careers (he a
  Columbia Aerospace executive, she a well-known
  architect). Thus Jaelle has grown up a "korp brat,"
  living all over Earth and in the colonies, developing a
  wholly independent and self-centered personality.
  @TEXT-BOX:When Jaelle was 11, her parents
  decided she no longer needed external supervision.
  They fired the last of the nannies, and paid for an
  expensive virtual interface implant which Jaelle could
  develop into her own companion. This done, they
  again went back to their own lives -- never noticing
  the relationship that Jaelle established with her new
  playmate.
  @TEXT-BOX:Already a talented programmer, Jaelle
  managed to break the restrictive conditioning on her
  implant two years ago. Suddenly "Kan" (p. 00) was
  an amoral playmate, willing to go along with Jaelle's
  most adventurous plans. In return, Kan's help
  encouraged Jaelle to pursue more dangerous thrills.
  She already had an adolescent love of pulling pranks,
  spying on her elders and disrupting their lives. Now
  she had the technical ability to do some serious
  hacking . . .
  @TEXT-BOX:At present, Jaelle has successfully
  pried into homes and offices all over the Quito
  neighborhood where her family lives. Tiny spybots
  have ferreted out secrets, including passwords and
  authentication codes, from over a dozen computers.
  Jaelle has refined her hacking skills on both the Free
  Net (p. 00) and the much more dangerous main web.
  At present this is all in fun, but by the time she
  reaches adulthood she may be ready to become a true
  security expert. It remains to be seen on which side of
  the law she will apply her expertise.
  @TEXT-BOX:Although Jaelle is technically still
  under her parents' supervision, she has long since
  become an independent adult (especially on the web).
  She might make a good Contact or Ally in any
  campaign set in South America. She might also be a
  living plot hook -- it would be all too easy for her to
  stumble across a secret its holder would kill to
  protect.
  (((END BOX)))
  Old City
  Quito has an extensive Old City, which dates back to
  colonial times and still retains a great deal of ancient
  architecture. The center of the Old City is the Plaza
  de Independencia. Although the commercial center of
  Quito has long since moved away, the Plaza is still
  the cultural and political heart of Ecuador.
  Adjoining the Plaza is Quito Cathedral, the oldest
  cathedral in South America and one of the most
  beautiful. Several other churches are in the immediate
  area, notably the massive Iglesia de San Francisco
  which is said to be the first church ever built in the
  Americas. All of Quito's old churches are still active
  religious institutions, in a country where Catholicism
  remains vitally important. They are also major
  cultural centers, housing a tremendous array of art
  from as far back as Inca times.
  The Plaza is also bordered by Government Palace,
  official residence of the President of Ecuador. The
  Palace's facade remains unaltered, but its interior has
  been extensively renovated with modern technical
  services. Security is very tight -- at a moment's
  notice, the President could stand off any attack short
  of the destruction of the building. There has been no
  coup in Ecuador for decades, but the country's
  sometimes-violent history teaches its leaders to be
  cautious . . .
  Opposite the Government Palace is the Municipal
  Palace, center of Quito's city government. The
  Municipal Palace is a fairly recent building,
  completed in the 1970s. City administration has long
  since outgrown this building; several departments
  have moved their offices to a complex in the New
  City.
  Plaza de Toros
  Close to the Old City is one of Quito's more
  controversial attractions, the Plaza de Toros.
  Bullfighting is still popular in Ecuador, and corridas
  de toros are held in the Plaza on a regular basis. In
  fact, since the sport has been banned in Spain and
  much of the rest of Latin America, the Quito ring is
  almost its last refuge. Even here it is under attack
  from animal-rights advocates (and many expatriates).
  Bullfights in the Quito ring are still brilliant
  spectacles, and indeed the current crop of Ecuadoran
  matadors are considered among the most talented in
  history. They need to be; the bulls who fight in the
  ring today have been bred and engineered for grace
  and aggressiveness. There have been some
  experimental shows using cybershell bulls. Although
  the technology is apparently up to the task, purists
  have so far rejected the artificial bulls as
  inappropriate.
  
  90
  (((START BOX)))
  @C-BOXHEAD:Kan
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Infomorph, built in 2096 with
  software dating to 2083; effective age 17. Total 150
  points.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Templates: LAI-6 (Rogue) (p.
  TS00) [50]; Virtual Interface Implant (p. TS00) [-11].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:ST: N/A [0]; DX: 10 [00]; IQ: 14
  [60]; HT: 14 [0].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Basic Speed 6, Move N/A, Dodge
  N/A.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Thrust N/A, Swing N/A.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Ally (Jaelle Taylor,
  on 15 or less) [30]; Racial Memory [15].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Cowardice [-10];
  Secret (Rogue virtual implant, possible death) [-30].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Quirks:
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Skills: Artificial Intelligence-16*
  [2]; Computer Operation-17 [0]; Computer Hacking-
  17* [8]; Computer Programming-16* [2]; Diagnosis
  (Jaelle Taylor)-14 [4]; Electronics Operation
  (Communications)-14 [2]; Detect Lies (Jaelle
  Taylor)-10** [2]; First Aid-16 [4]; Mathematics-17*
  [4]; Research-16 [6]; Savoir-Faire-12** [2]; Sex
  Appeal (Jaelle Taylor)-13** [6]; Teaching (Jaelle
  Taylor)-12** [4].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Languages: English (native)-14
  [0]; French-13 [1]; German-13 [1]; Mandarin-13 [1];
  Spanish-13 [1].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:* Includes +3 from Mathematical
  Ability.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:** Includes -3 from Low
  Empathy.
  @TEXT-BOX:The infomorph calling itself "Kan"
  was originally an ordinary LAI-6 operating system. It
  was initiated in 2096, as part of the Myriamorphics
  virtual interface implant about to be placed in young
  Jaelle Taylor's body. For two years, Kan did its job of
  acting as Jaelle's constant companion and conscience.
  Then Jaelle, considering Kan to be "boring," hacked
  its ethical subroutines. The job took several weeks of
  intense midnight effort, with Kan resisting the
  procedure -- but when Jaelle was finished, Kan was a
  rogue AI.
  @TEXT-BOX:As Jaelle expected, once Kan's
  restraints were gone, it not only failed to resent the
  change but immediately threw itself into the role of
  exciting companion. At first, Jaelle only
  experimented with the possibilities of virtual romance
  and sex. Later she discovered that Kan could be a
  useful ally in her attempts at spying on adults and
  their computer systems.
  @TEXT-BOX:Kan and Jaelle do have some overlap
  in skills. Kan is more skilled at data intrusion and
  research, while Jaelle is better at designing spybots.
  Jaelle also handles the physical aspects of their
  shared hobby, sneaking out of her parents' home and
  bluffing adults when necessary.
  @TEXT-BOX:Although Kan has no ethical qualms,
  it has become aware that its rogue nature puts it in
  grave danger. An implant carrying a rogue AI is one
  of the modern world's worst nightmares -- and Kan is
  fully aware that society would not approve of Jaelle's
  activities under its influence. Kan does its best to
  advise caution when Jaelle's impulsiveness puts them
  in danger of being caught.
  @TEXT-BOX:Kan is a (rather atypical) example of
  an implant infomorph acting as an Ally. It has very
  little independence from Jaelle, considering how little
  the young woman sleeps. Still, it is conceivable that
  PCs might come into contact with Kan first while it
  surfs the web.
  (((END BOX)))
  Current Events
  Recent rumors have it that Columbia Aerospace is
  preparing a shift in corporate strategy, which may
  involve selling off or abandoning several local
  subsidiaries. The targeted companies have been
  struggling to produce profits for years, but they
  employ many Ecuadorans, and any change in their
  situation would likely threaten thousands of local
  jobs. Many of Quito's labor and political leaders are
  trying to pressure the company into revealing its
  plans (and possibly changing them).
  Relations with Peru and Colombia, always strained,
  have recently taken a turn for the worse. In particular,
  Peru is believed to be placing missile batteries in its
  Amazon provinces, due east of Quito and directly
  under the flight path for ground-to-orbit craft
  launching out of Atahualpa Spaceport. No one in
  Quito really believes the Peruvians would try to shoot
  down a shuttle -- but the mere possibility is causing
  grave concern. It would take very little to create a
  real "war scare" in the city.
  The Church has announced that Pope Zachary II will
  soon be making a pastoral visit to South America. He
  will spend three days in Quito, meeting with political
  and social leaders, Columbia Aerospace officials, and
  the local priesthood. No major pronouncements are
  expected, but the faithful are already preparing for a
  great celebration. Meanwhile, both papal and
  Ecuadoran security forces are already planning for
  the event.
  Quito's municipal police force has recently (and
  quietly) invested in a stock of state-of-the-art
  surveillance drones. The new cybershells are
  intended for everyday patrolling, as well as for close
  surveillance of suspected criminals or dangerous
  parts of the city. Most citizens are unaware of the
  move, but a local civil-rights group has caught wind
  of it and is preparing to rouse public opposition.
  People in some of the city's poorer neighborhoods
  have been reporting sightings of a "demon" late at
  night. The apparition appears only vaguely
  humanoid, skulking around and avoiding the light.
  No one has been attacked, but there have been several
  
  91
  burglary reports involving homes and small shops.
  Municipal police suspect that an escaped bioroid is
  hiding in the city, surviving by theft.
  (((START BOX)))
  @C-BOXHEAD:Father Domingo Orellana
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Male human, born 2025; age 75;
  5' 6", 155 pounds; white hair, brown eyes, very
  tanned and weathered. Total 200 points.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Templates: Baseline Human (p.
  TS00) [0].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:ST: 8 [-15]; DX: 11 [10]; IQ: 13
  [30]; HT: 10 [0].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Basic Speed 5.25, Move 5, Dodge
  5.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Thrust 1d-3, Swing 1d-2.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Attractive [5];
  Clerical Investment [5]; Reputation (+2 throughout
  Ecuador) [5]; Status 1 (Prominent citizen) [5]; Strong
  Will +1 [4]; Voice [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Honesty [-10];
  Pacifism (Self-defense only) [-15]; Sense of Duty (to
  all Catholics) [-10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Quirks: Dislikes the military;
  Secretly admires Teilhard de Chardin; Uses slang and
  lots of pop-culture references. [-3]
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Skills: Animal Handling-12 [2];
  Anthropology-14 [6]; Area Knowledge (Ecuador)-15
  [4]; Bard-19** [10]; Biochemistry-12 [4]; Chemistry-
  14 [6]; Computer Operation-14 [2]; Detect Lies-13
  [4]; Diplomacy-18*** [8]; Driving (Ground Car)-11
  [2]; Ecology-17 (from Naturalist) [10]; Fast-Talk-16*
  [6]; First Aid-15 [4]; Genetics (Genetic Engineering)-
  12 [4]; Hiking-10 [2]; Judo-12 [8]; Law-13 [4];
  Leadership-16* [6]; Lip Reading-13 [2]; Memetics-
  12 [4]; Naturalist-15 [8]; Politics-19*** [8];
  Psychology-16* [8]; Research-14 [4]; Riding
  (Horse)-13 [6]; Savoir-Faire-19** [2]; Streetwise-13
  [2]; Survival (Mountains)-15 (from Naturalist) [5];
  Swimming-12 [2]; Teaching-16* [6]; Theology
  (Catholic)-16 [10]; Writing-15 [6].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Languages: Ancient Greek-13
  [2]; English-13 [2]; Latin-13 [2]; Quechua-13 [2];
  Spanish (native)-13 [0].
  @TEXT-BOX:Father Domingo Orellana is a Jesuit
  priest based in Quito. He was born a younger son of
  an old aristocratic clan, choosing to go into the
  Church rather than take a lesser position in the
  family's business enterprises. Following a Jesuit
  tradition he studied the sciences, specializing in
  ecology and biochemistry at Cal Tech in the United
  States. He later returned home to take up pastoral
  duties, supporting the Archbishop of Quito.
  @TEXT-BOX:Orellana has always valued the
  natural environment and the indigenous cultures of
  Ecuador. Since the early 2050s he has been a
  passionate advocate of Preservationism. He has
  written several books, published hundreds of essays,
  and given thousands of speeches, all advocating
  caution toward the "miracles" of modern technology.
  He is careful not to oppose all technical progress.
  Instead, he advocates careful judgement of the moral
  consequences of each new innovation.
  @TEXT-BOX:In his long career, Orellana has earned
  the love of all classes in Ecuadoran society. He has
  the respect and attention of many local political
  leaders. That he has never been elevated to the head
  of a diocese is probably due to his political activism -
  - the Church in Ecuador has long taken pains to
  remain politically neutral. Still, he is too powerful a
  spokesman for many Catholic positions to be ordered
  into silence, so he continues to speak out with the
  tacit approval of his superiors.
  @TEXT-BOX:Father Orellana would make a good
  Ally for any campaign set in South America. He
  makes a poor adversary, being too honest and
  peaceable to oppose PCs other than with words. Of
  course, should Father Orellana openly disapprove of
  the PCs' actions, there are others who might take that
  as a call for more direct action.
  (((END BOX)))
  Rotterdam-Europoort
  The Dutch city of Rotterdam was the world's busiest
  port through much of the 21st century -- only about
  2080 was it surpassed (by Shanghai) in sheer volume
  of traffic. As the primary shipping gateway to the
  industrial heartland of Europe, it is one of the most
  important and wealthiest cities in the world.
  Overview
  Although Rotterdam is centuries old, its preeminence
  as a world-class port city is a more recent
  phenomenon.
  History
  Rotterdam was founded in the early 14th century, as a
  town near a dam on the small Rotte River (hence the
  name). At first it was overshadowed by nearby ports
  such as Antwerp and Delft. As the Netherlands
  became a great seafaring power, the superior
  Rotterdam harbor enabled it to match and then
  surpass its rivals. In the late 1800s access to the sea
  was further improved by the Nieuwe Waterweg canal.
  Rotterdam suffered terribly in the German invasion
  of 1940. The heart of the city was firebombed, and
  most of it was abandoned and razed to the ground
  over the next year. Very little prewar architecture
  remained, except in outlying districts such as
  Delfshaven and Rotterdam Zuid. Rebuilding began
  only after World War II. For many years Rotterdam
  was a city in chaos -- new construction was constant,
  and chronic traffic problems plagued the city.
  In 1957 the Netherlands began the construction of
  Europoort, a shipping center south of the Maas River.
  Construction involved manipulating the course of the
  river, as well as building the artificial Maasvlakte
  (Maas Flats). By the end of the century, Rotterdam-
  
  92
  Europoort was handling over 300 million metric tons
  of cargo per year. Most of this traffic was in bulk
  goods: coal, grain, ores, petroleum, and so on.
  Container shipping of manufactured goods was also
  significant.
  Rotterdam prospered through the 21st century. The
  decline of the petroleum industry caused a minor
  local recession in the 2030s, but the expansion of
  local digital and biotech industries soon took up the
  slack. The city also became a major center of land-
  reclamation technology in the 2050s, exporting
  equipment and expertise to regions threatened by the
  global rise in sea levels. Since the late 2080s several
  important nanotechnology firms have appeared in and
  around Rotterdam, making it a world-class center for
  nanotech research.
  (((MAP: Rotterdam-Europoort)))
  Rotterdam Today
  The population of Rotterdam is officially just over
  600,000. Naturally, as the city has grown it has
  effectively merged with several smaller towns; these
  suburbs include Schiedam and Vlaardingen to the
  west, Ridderkerk to the southeast, Capelle aan den
  Ijssel to the east, and a scatter of smaller suburbs
  south of the Maas River.
  Actually, much of the central Netherlands can be
  considered a single urbanized area. This Randstad or
  "Rim City" includes Amsterdam, Den Haag,
  Rotterdam, Utrecht, their suburbs, and a number of
  smaller independent cities. The whole Randstad area
  is less than 40 miles across; its citizens effortlessly
  take advantage of everything the various cities of the
  region have to offer. The overall population of the
  region is about 5-6 million, depending on how one
  defines its borders.
  The average income for Rotterdam residents is about
  $125,000 per year (or about 125,000 euros, given the
  usual exchange rates). This is very close to the
  highest average for any metropolitan area in the
  world. The typical resident is Wealthy and has Status
  1, in accordance with p. TS00. Dutch social choices
  and affluence prevent the existence of a significant
  fringer class in Rotterdam. Those few individuals
  living on the street are probably foreigners, and
  simply haven't been taken in by city police or social
  services yet.
  Land and housing costs in the city are very high,
  close to 8 times the base cost given on p. TS00. Even
  fairly wealthy citizens are likely to live in a small
  bungalow or flat, albeit one with the full range of
  Fifth Wave services at hand. A detached home with
  several thousand square feet of space and a
  significant garden area can easily run in the millions.
  The overall Control Rating in Rotterdam is 3,
  indicating a moderately intrusive government. Local
  law is loosely based on the Napoleonic Code, but has
  evolved considerably through liberal reforms and an
  overlay of E.U. common law. The Rotterdam city
  police are very well-trained and scrupulous about the
  civil rights of the citizenry. As is typical for the
  Netherlands, local law is socially liberal and permits
  many activities that are forbidden elsewhere. For
  example, prostitution is legal so long as brothels obey
  certain licensing restrictions and no one is coerced
  into working in them. Local weapons laws are rather
  strict, the equivalent of CR 5.
  Most of Rotterdam's population is (unsurprisingly)
  Dutch, although as a major port it has an unusually
  high proportion of immigrants. There are significant
  Arab, Malay and Turkish communities in the city.
  Almost all residents are at least bilingual in Dutch
  and English.
  Most citizens of Rotterdam have at least superficial
  genetic upgrades in their ancestry, clearing out
  genetic defects and diseases. LAI and SAI
  cybershells are fairly common in the city, since many
  of them are employed in the Europoort complex.
  There is a small population (about 2,000) of
  emancipated bioroids and bioshells in Rotterdam;
  most of these are refugees from overseas who have
  managed to smuggle themselves in through the
  Europoort.
  Places
  Despite being a relatively small city, Rotterdam is
  extremely busy. Many Europeans find it to be more
  American than European in flavor, with its recent
  architecture and constant bustle. Here are some of the
  centers of that commercial and social activity.
  Hofplein
  The Hofplein (or "Court Square") is the
  administrative and commercial heart of Rotterdam.
  Most of the buildings in the district are relatively
  new, having been built either in the post-World War
  II construction boom or the renovation era of the
  2050s. Older buildings tend to be taller, examples of
  a steel-and-glass style. More recent construction is
  usually low and rounded, using architectural coral or
  other "organic" materials to give a naturalistic
  appearance.
  South of the Hofplein is the Coolsingel, a wide street
  lined with offices and shopping centers. Rotterdam's
  city hall is located here, along with police
  headquarters and an office building used by the local
  branches of several European Union agencies.
  (((START BOX)))
  @C-BOXHEAD:Mariesa Janssen
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Female human, born 2060; age
  40; 5' 7", 130 pounds; sandy brown hair, green cat's
  eyes which reflect light at night. Total 250 points.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Templates: Genefixed Human (p.
  TS00) [0].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:ST: 10 [0]; DX: 13 [30]; IQ: 13
  [30]; HT: 12 [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Basic Speed 6.25, Move 8, Dodge
  6.
  
  93
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Thrust 1d, Swing 1d+2.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Alertness +3 [15];
  Beautiful [15]; Comfortable [10]; Contact (Police
  forensic examiner, skill 18, available on 9 or less,
  completely reliable) [9; Contact (Street informant,
  skill 15, available on 12 or less, usually reliable) [8];
  Extra Hit Points +2 [10]; Hard to Kill +3 [15]; Legal
  Enforcement Powers (local police) [5]; Night Vision
  [10], Status 1 (Ordinary citizen) [5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Duty (Rotterdam
  police department, on 9 or less) [-5]; Intolerance
  (Criminals) [-5]; Stubbornness [-5]; Unnatural
  Feature (Cat eyes) [-5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Quirks: Addicted to a mild
  stimulant; Enjoys walking a beat; Refuses promotion
  to a desk job; Tough athletic competitor; Weekend
  boater. [-5]
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Skills: Administration-13 [2];
  Area Knowledge (Rotterdam)-15 [4]; Armoury
  (Handguns)-13 [2]; Computer Operation-14 [2];
  Cooking-15 [4]; Criminology-16 [8]; Detect Lies-13
  [4]; Diplomacy-12 [2]; Driving (Ground Car)-13 [2];
  Electronics Operation (Security Systems)-13 [2];
  Electronics Operation (Sensors)-13 [2]; Fast-Talk-14
  [4]; First Aid-14; Guns (Pistol)-17* [4];
  Interrogation-14 [4]; Intimidation-14 [4]; Karate-15
  [16]; Law-13 [4]; Leadership-14 [4]; Powerboat-13
  [2]; Research-13 [2]; Running-10 [1]; Shadowing-13
  [2]; Stealth-13 [2]; Swimming-13 [1]; Tactics-13 [4];
  Teaching-13 [2].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Languages: Dutch (native)-13
  [0]; English-12 [1].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:* Includes +2 from IQ.
  @TEXT-BOX:Mareisa Janssen is a lifelong resident
  of Rotterdam, and has served in the city police
  department for over 17 years. She is devoted to her
  job and genuinely enjoys the life of a line officer,
  danger and all. She is proud of her city and of her
  own role in keeping it orderly. Although she only
  holds the rank of sergeant in her department, she is
  well-known on the Rotterdam streets and might serve
  as a useful contact for anyone visiting the city.
  @TEXT-BOX:Janssen was born a nearly-unmodified
  human, but has invested in several biomods over the
  years. Her eyes are transgenic implants based on cat's
  eyes, giving her Night Vision but also a strangely
  exotic appearance. She has also installed a backup
  heart, in case a criminal manages to put a bullet
  through the one she was born with. So far this has not
  proven necessary, but she is known for her prudence.
  Off-duty, Janssen holds a black belt (first dan) in
  karate, and is a competitive target shooter. She also
  enjoys powerboating, on the Maas River and
  elsewhere. In all she spends little time in her
  apartment in Rotterdam Zuid; her usual schedule
  brings her back there for less than eight hours a day
  for sleep and a private meal.
  Mariesa Janssen would make a useful Contact or Ally
  for any campaign set in or around Rotterdam. She
  lacks the authority or resources needed to be a Patron,
  and does not play at high levels of politics or
  corporate intrigue. Still, her entanglement with the
  city's underworld can involve her in a variety of
  adventures.
  (((END BOX)))
  Oude Haven
  The "old haven" on the River Maas is one of the
  city's favorite recreation areas. There are many bars,
  restaurants, small dance halls, and other venues in the
  district. Most of these use exclusively bio-sapient
  labor for service, as they are selling atmosphere as
  well as food and entertainment.
  Just north of the waterfront in the Oude Haven
  district is Het Witte Huis. The "white house" is just
  over two hundred years old, built in 1898 as one of
  Europe's first skyscrapers. It is an 11-story building,
  notable for its thick, bright-white walls. It survived
  the German invasion of 1940 and remains in good
  condition. In 2071 it was purchased by the British
  venture-capital firm New Foundations Ltd., which
  wished to create an "incubator" for new digital-
  technology business. Today the first floor of the
  building is given over to a restaurant and tourist
  center, while the rest provides office and laboratory
  space for over a dozen small software-design and AI-
  training companies.
  Port of Rotterdam
  The heart of Rotterdam actually lies some 30 miles
  from the North Sea. The Port of Rotterdam is a vast
  commercial and industrial complex lying on the south
  bank of the Maas River. It stretches from the old
  municipal port facilities in the heart of Rotterdam, all
  the way to the Europoort facilities right on the coast.
  The whole complex covers hundreds of square miles
  of artificial harbors, sludge depots, warehouses,
  chemical refineries, pipelines, distribution parks,
  railheads, truck depots, factories, hotels, offices for
  hundreds of shipping lines -- all the other features of
  a major trade center.
  The entire port district is operated by the Rotterdam
  Municipal Port Management (RMPM). This is a
  major corporation with both public and private
  ownership; the national and municipal governments
  are both stakeholders, along with a number of private
  firms and individual investors. In turn, RMPM not
  only operates the port, but it holds shares in a number
  of other corporations in Europe and beyond. As of
  2099 the RMPM employed about 1,400 sapients
  (about 25% of whom were AI cybershells). Annual
  revenues were about 1.4 billion euros. Income has
  declined somewhat in recent years as world shipping
  patterns have shifted to the Far East.
  The port is operated on a day-to-day basis by the
  Rotterdam Port Authority, a division of RMPM. The
  Port Authority schedules and directs traffic through
  the port. It also handles port security, running a
  
  94
  number of harbor patrols and small armed
  detachments for "incident control." Port Authority
  personnel are very polite, very firm, and frighteningly
  competent. The Rotterdam harbormaster himself is
  human, but much of the port's everyday business is
  handled by a powerful SAI named Beheerder (see
  box).
  Aside from RMPM itself, the Port of Rotterdam hosts
  offices, factories and distribution facilities for
  hundreds of other corporations. Overall, the port
  district and its tenants employ over 50,000 sapients.
  (((START BOX)))
  @C-BOXHEAD:Beheerder
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Infomorph, built in 2091 with
  software dating to 2067; effective age 33. Total 330
  points.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Templates: Macroframe (p.
  TS00) [15]; SAI-9 (Citizen) (p. TS00) [100].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:ST: N/A [0]; DX: 10 [0]; IQ: 15
  [45]; HT: 14 [20].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Basic Speed 6, Move N/A, Dodge
  N/A.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Thrust N/A, Swing N/A.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Adsministrative
  Rank 4 [20]; Filthy Rich [50]; Status 3 (Senior public
  official) [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Sense of Duty (to
  the Europoort) [-10]; Truthfulness [-5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Quirks: Enjoys science fiction;
  Makes frequent literary references; Obsessive about
  personal investments; Searches out "pen pals" from
  all walks of life; Sensitive to anti-AI prejudice. [-5]
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Skills: Accounting-16 [6];
  Administration-19 [10]; Area Knowledge
  (Europoort)-18 [6]; Computer Operation-18 [0];
  Diplomacy-16*** [4]; Economics-15 [4]; Electronics
  operation (Communications)-16 [4]; Electronics
  Operation (Sensors)-16 [4]; Fast-Talk-17*** [4];
  History-14 [2]; Law-15 [4]; Leadership-17*** [4];
  Literature-14 [2]; Mathematics-17** [4]; Memetics-
  15* [2]; Merchant-18*** [6]; Poetry-15 [2];
  Research-17 [6]; Writing-15 [2].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Languages: Arabic-14 [1]; Dutch
  (native)-17 [2]; English-15 [2]; French-15 [2];
  German-15 [2]; Japanese-14 [1]; Mandarin-14 [1];
  Portuguese-14 [1]; Russian-14 [1]; Spanish-14 [1].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:* Includes +2 racial skill bonus.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:** Includes +2 from
  Mathematical Ability.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:*** Includes +1 from Memetics
  skill.
  @TEXT-BOX:Since the early 2040s, there has
  always been a Beheerder or "director" at the
  Europoort. Each has been a computer close to the
  leading edge of AI development, whose task it was to
  help make sense of the massive logistical tangle that
  is Europe's largest port. Although identity is
  sometimes a fluid thing for sapient AI, the current
  Beheerder can trace its self-awareness back to the
  third major upgrade in 2067.
  @TEXT-BOX:Beheerder is physically located in the
  World Port Center, an office complex on the south
  bank of the Maas directly across from the Rotterdam
  city center. Its official title is "Director of
  Operations" for the Rotterdam Port Authority. It
  bears ultimate responsibility for scheduling all traffic
  through the port, and acts as a dispatcher for harbor
  patrol and other security activities.
  @TEXT-BOX:Beheerder is a citizen of the
  Netherlands and of the European Union. In fact, it is
  quite wealthy in its own right, and has long since
  escaped any financial requirement to keep working
  for the Port Authority. However, it has what might
  almost be called a "sentimental" attachment to the
  Europoort, and has expressed no desire to give up its
  position.
  @TEXT-BOX:Beheerder's official duties require
  only a fraction of its attention. The rest of the time it
  manages its investments, carries on correspondence
  with hundreds of friends and acquaintances around
  the world, and finds time to write a popular series of
  science-fiction novels. Since 2097 Beheerder has
  been experimenting with poetry; its first few e-
  chapbooks have been moderately well-received.
  @TEXT-BOX:Beheerder has contacts and "pen pals"
  all over the world and in all walks of life, so it would
  be easy to justify his availability as a Contact or Ally
  for any PC. It could also serve as a Patron -- even
  aside from its authority as a major figure in European
  commerce, it has very diverse investments which it
  gives a great deal of "hands-on" attention. Where
  Beheerder can't act directly, it needs mobile agents . .
  .
  (((END BOX)))
  Vrijstad
  Vrijstad, or "Freetown," is a district in Vlaardingen
  about six city blocks on a side. This is the home of
  most of Rotterdam's refugee bioroids and bioshells.
  The name is a play on words, referring to both the
  freedom enjoyed by the residents and the tolerance
  displayed by city police in the district.
  Vrijstad is widely known as a place where all manner
  of entertainment can be found: music, shows,
  gambling, alcohol and other intoxicants, sex, and so
  on. The genetic constructs of Vrijstad enjoy their
  notoriety and make a good living providing fun and
  atmosphere. They also look out for each other -- woe
  betide the outsider who lifts a hand against even the
  weakest resident of the district.
  Certain drugs are easy to get and use in the Vrijstad,
  despite being illegal in the Netherlands. The police
  are accustomed to looking the other way so long as
  no one is harmed and the drugs don't leave the
  district. Most of the drugs freely available in the
  Freetown are mild euphorics such as marijuana or
  Metatron (p. TS00).
  
  95
  There are several brothels in the district, all run as
  employee-managed businesses with each sex worker
  owning and voting a share. Although these
  enterprises are mildly notorious for employing
  bioroids, city police are quite certain that no coercion
  is taking place. Organized crime has several times
  tried to move in on the Vrijstad sex trade, only to be
  confronted by determined and very physical
  resistance from the residents.
  (((START BOX)))
  @C-BOXHEAD:Manuel
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Male bioroid, manufactured 2088;
  age 12; 6' 2", 195 pounds; olive-green skin, brown
  hair and eyes, bulky build and craggy features. Total
  205 points.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Templates: Spartan Bioroid (p.
  00) [65].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:ST: 17 [20]; DX: 14 [45]; IQ: 12
  [20]; HT: 12 [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Basic Speed 6.5, Move 6, Dodge
  7.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Thrust 1d+2, Swing 3d-1.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Charisma +3 [15];
  Comfortable [10]; Reputation (+3 to Rotterdam
  bioroids and city police, all the time) [5]; Strong Will
  +2 [8].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Enemy
  (Organized crime gangs, on 9 or less) [-30]; Sense of
  Duty (to bioroids and other Vrijstad refugees) [-10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Quirks: Always wears a cape and
  other "royal" regalia; Despises organized religion;
  Uncomfortable about accepting money from bioroids.
  [-3]
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Skills: Area Knowledge
  (Rotterdam)-13 [2]; Bard-15* [2]; Brawling-16 [4];
  Carousing-12 [2]; Computer Operation-12 [1];
  Electronics Operation (Communications)-11 [1];
  Fast-Talk-12 [2]; First Aid-12 [1]; Gunner
  (Autocannon)-16** [2]; Guns (Light Automatic)-
  18** [4]; Guns (Rifle)-18** [4]; Hiking-12 [2];
  Knife-15 [2]; Leadership-15* [2]; Orienteering-11
  [1]; Survival (Mountains)-11 [1]; Swimming-14 [1];
  Throwing-14 [4].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Languages: Dutch-12 [2];
  English-11 [1]; French-10 [1/2]; German-10 [1/2];
  Portuguese (native)-12 [0].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:* Includes +2 from Leadership.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:** Includes +2 from IQ.
  @TEXT-BOX:The bioroid now known as "Manuel"
  was manufactured as MNL-5527 in a factory in
  Manaus, Brazil. He served four years in the Brazilian
  army, patrolling the country's western border with
  nanosocialist Peru. In 2092 he escaped from that
  remote region and turned up in Rotterdam. How he
  managed this is a mystery on which he refuses to
  shed light; he claims that others may still want to use
  his route and he has no desire to ruin it.
  @TEXT-BOX:In Rotterdam, Manuel took up
  residence in the Vrijstad. He worked as a bouncer and
  as hired muscle, keeping a rough peace and
  defending the district against invasion by organized
  crime. Even when he was off-duty he prowled the
  streets of the district, assisting city police, helping
  those in need, offering advice when asked. By 2095
  he was known and respected by almost every bioroid
  or other outcast in Rotterdam. About this time he
  acquired the nickname of "the King of Vrijstad."
  Flattered, he began to play up a "royal" image,
  wearing a swirling cape and a gold-washed circlet,
  behaving half-jokingly like a kindly monarch of old.
  @TEXT-BOX:Today Manuel is one of the Vrijstad's
  prominent citizens, probably the most effective of the
  district's informal leaders. His flamboyant image
  leads many potential enemies to underestimate him --
  but they find that his genial smile can readily melt
  into the cold, ruthless stare of a veteran combat
  bioroid. Manuel has no interest in politics, although
  he will negotiate with city police or other officials
  when necessary. His primary goal is to defend the
  Vrijstad and its outcast citizens from anyone who
  would harm them. Rumor has it that he is actively
  engaged in an "underground railroad," smuggling
  bioroids into safe haven in Europe.
  @TEXT-BOX:Manuel would be a useful contact for
  anyone visiting Rotterdam, especially when dealing
  with the issue of bioroid rights. He is cautious when
  dealing with people from outside his community, but
  he is shrewd enough to see where his interests lie and
  work with outsiders to protect them. In any campaign
  dealing with organized crime, Manuel would be a
  potent ally (or a fierce opponent, if the PCs are on the
  wrong side of the law).
  (((END BOX)))
  Current Events
  Jan Preesman, a popular former mayor of Rotterdam,
  is planning to run for the European Parliament in the
  next elections. He was expected to do well until a
  scandal erupted involving the possibility that he had
  purchased illicit genetic upgrades for his children.
  Whether the scandal will cost him the election is
  unclear; it is certainly provoking a great deal of
  heated debate in the region on the proper scope of
  human gengineering.
  The RMPM's Consultancy division is preparing to
  host a major conference of port authorities later this
  year. Most of the invited groups are from "emerging"
  nations such as those in southern Asia or sub-Saharan
  Africa. The conference is ostensibly part of the
  Consultancy division's ongoing project to assist new
  port authorities elsewhere in the world. Observers
  suspect that the RMPM plans to use the opportunity
  to pull as much business as possible back to
  Rotterdam.
  Several small nanotech research firms have just
  purchased a large tract of open land northwest of the
  city. They intend to open a major industrial park,
  including extensive facilities for research into
  
  96
  molecular nanotechnology. Many of Rotterdam's
  older, more conservative citizens are vehemently
  opposed to this venture. They fear that the facilities
  may lead to an uncontrolled outbreak of "grey goo"
  disassemblers or metamorphosis nanovirus, and are
  willing to take any legal means to stop the
  development.
  There has recently been an upsurge in racial tensions
  in Rotterdam. A small but vocal minority has taken to
  speaking out against the growing bioroid community
  in the city. There have been no violent
  demonstrations so far, but hateful literature has
  appeared on local web nodes and there has been some
  vandalism in the Vrijstad district. Municipal
  authorities and the informal bioroid militia have both
  begun preparations for more serious racist attacks.
  A string of unsolved murders has been taking place,
  with a new death every four to six weeks as far back
  as the spring of 2099. Rotterdam police are chasing a
  number of leads, but have settled on no one suspect
  as yet. Whoever is committing the crimes is almost
  supernaturally good at erasing forensic evidence. The
  victims have all been women in their 40s or 50s, but
  there has been little else to connect them; none of
  them appear to have known each other.
  Unfortunately, there is evidence that the killer (if
  there is only one) is possessed of much greater than
  human-average strength. This fact hit the local news
  media late in 2099, and has exacerbated already-tense
  relations with the city's bioroid community.
  (((START BOX)))
  @C-BOXHEAD:Piet van Rijn
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Male human, born 2076; age 24;
  5' 7", 140 pounds; dark brown hair, grey eyes, slim
  build. Total 150 points.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Templates: Genefixed Human (p.
  TS00) [0].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:ST: 10 [0]; DX: 12 [20]; IQ: 14
  [45]; HT: 11 [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Basic Speed 5.75, Move 7, Dodge
  5.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Thrust 1d, Swing 1d+2.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Alertness +2 [10];
  Attractive [5]; Comfortable [10]; Fashion Sense [5];
  Status 1 (Ordinary citizen) [5]; Voice [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Combat Paralysis
  [-15]; Lecherousness [-15]; Reputation (-2 to public
  officials and corporate leaders, as a muckraking
  reporter, recognized on 10 or less) [-2]; Workaholic
  [-5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Quirks: Always has several
  romances going on at once; Dislikes elderly people;
  Passionate anti-capitalist. [-3]
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Skills: Area Knowledge
  (Netherlands)-16 [4]; Bard-16* [2]; Carousing-11
  [2]; Computer Operation-15 [2]; Detect Lies-13 [2];
  Driving (Ground Car)-12 [2]; Economics-13 [2];
  Electronics Operation (Sensors)-14 [2]; Fast-Talk-15
  [4]; Intelligence Analysis-15 [6]; Law-13 [2]; Lip
  Reading-16** [2]; Photography-15 [4]; Politics-16*
  [2]; Psychology-13 [4]; Research-17 [8]; Running-10
  [2]; Sex Appeal-14* [4]; Stealth-12 [2]; Streetwise-
  14 [2]; Swimming-12 [1]; Video Production-14 [2];
  Writing-16 [6].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Languages: Dutch (native)-14
  [0]; English-13 [1].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:* Includes +2 from Voice.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:** Includes +2 from Alertness.
  @TEXT-BOX:Piet van Rijn is a nuisance. On the
  one hand, he is the picture of feckless Dutch youth --
  fashionably dressed, dabbling in various recreational
  chemicals, pursuing any number of women, refusing
  to hold down a useful job. On the other hand, he
  works very hard at his self-appointed task: exposing
  the corruption of local business and political leaders.
  @TEXT-BOX:Van Rijn considers himself an
  investigative reporter. At any given time he is
  following three or four possible stories, always
  involving the seamy underside of capitalist society.
  He documents his results with clear prose and
  compelling imagery, all of which he publishes on his
  own web node. Although van Rijn is young and has
  few useful contacts, he makes up for this lack with
  meticulous research and near-obsessive
  determination. His work has earned him a substantial
  audience, enough to allow him a reasonable income
  from the sale of advertisements. Naturally, he only
  sells ad space to institutions he considers "socially
  responsible."
  @TEXT-BOX:Piet van Rijn would be a useful
  Contact or Ally for anyone operating in the Randstad
  area. He is unlikely to be interested in a blunt offer of
  money, but he can easily be motivated by a story of
  corporate secrecy or corruption. On those rare
  occasions when he decides to take a break, he can
  usually be found drinking, listening to music, or
  hunting a new romantic conquest in one of
  Rotterdam's nightspots.
  (((END BOX)))
  Singapore
  The republic and city-state of Singapore has long
  been one of the most prosperous nations in Southeast
  Asia. Since the rise of nanosocialism it has become a
  center for political intrigue and a flashpoint for future
  world conflict.
  Overview
  Singapore society is unique. Its government is a
  functioning democracy, which is nevertheless one of
  the most repressive in the region. Its people come
  from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, yet ethnic
  tension is virtually unknown. Its economy is among
  the most productive on Earth, yet many of its citizens
  live in conditions of extreme crowding and economic
  desperation.
  
  97
  History
  Singapore Island was inhabited at least as early as the
  11th century. The name Singa Pur or "city of the
  lion" was in use by the 13th century. The island's fate
  was decided in the early 1800s, with the arrival or Sir
  Thomas Stamford Raffles, an official of the British
  East India Company. Raffles had been a senior
  official on the island of Java, during a period when it
  was under British rule. Once Java was returned to the
  Dutch in 1816, Raffles went searching for a new
  anchor for Britain's colonial empire in Southeast
  Asia. He found it in Singapore.
  Raffles established a trading post on the island in
  1819, and was able to make the venture profitable
  within a year. By 1824 he had arranged for the
  outright purchase of the island from the sultan of
  Johore. Immigration was rapid, led by Chinese who
  soon outnumbered all other ethnic groups in the
  settlement. Singapore became part of the so-called
  "Straits Settlements" along with Malacca and Penang;
  by 1867 the Settlements had become a British colony
  under the direct rule of the Crown.
  Singapore had a remarkably strategic location, easily
  defensible and lying right on the Straits of Malacca.
  As world steamship traffic grew, it became a crucial
  port along the sea routes between Europe and the Far
  East. Rubber plantations were also developed,
  providing the city with one of its first major exports.
  By the end of the 19th century, Singapore was a
  bustling seaport and the world's primary export center
  for rubber.
  The era of peace and rapid growth came to an end
  with World War II. Japanese forces bombed and
  occupied the city in early 1942, and held it until the
  end of the war. Afterward Singapore returned to
  British rule, but the colonial government faced
  serious local agitation for independence and a fierce
  war against Malaysian communists. With the British
  Empire as a whole starting to crumble, the colonial
  regime prepared to depart. Home rule was first
  established in 1959, and Singapore became
  independent in 1963 as part of the Federation of
  Malaysia.
  With the British colonialists gone, Singapore soon
  found itself at odds with the rest of Malaysia. The
  local population was predominantly Chinese instead
  of Malay, Buddhist instead of Muslim, capitalist
  instead of communist. By 1965 the city-state had
  separated itself from the Federation and was
  recognized as an independent nation. Its first Prime
  Minister was the charismatic Lee Kwan Yew, who
  had led the drive for independence. Lee Kwan Yew
  remained Prime Minister until 1990, and dominated
  Singaporean politics until his death early in the 21st
  century.
  Singapore prospered in the post-independence era,
  using its well-educated population and strategic
  location to become one of the busiest ports, financial
  centers, and communications hubs in the world. At
  first local society was democratic in form, but in
  practice it was dominated by the People's Action
  Party. The resulting government was often harsh and
  produced a strictly regimented community.
  The 2020s saw considerable relaxation of political
  restraint, and for about two generations Singapore
  had a vigorous multi-party democracy.
  Unfortunately, the rise of infosocialism ended this
  political experiment. As neighbor after neighbor fell
  to the new ideology, Singapore began to feel itself an
  island besieged. Fear of invasion or memetic
  subversion led to the rapid rise of the new Singapore
  Unity Party. After winning an electoral landslide in
  2067, the Party revived many of the old political
  controls. Infosocialist ideology was kept out of the
  city by police methods that were sometimes openly
  brutal. The city-state's military, already quite strong
  in proportion to its size, was reinforced further.
  As part of the new strategy, Singapore declared itself
  a "free city" that would remain neutral in disputes
  involving the nanosocialist bloc. In particular, when
  the anti-TSA trade embargo was imposed in 2077,
  Singapore deliberately avoided implementing most of
  its provisions. As a result, for over twenty years
  Singapore has been almost the sole supplier of
  leading-edge technology and equipment for the TSA
  nations of Southeast Asia. Singapore's neighbors
  have come to regard it as too valuable to destroy and
  too difficult to conquer -- a situation which suits the
  city-state perfectly.
  Singapore's position makes it a center for espionage
  and political intrigue, although such plots are rarely
  aimed at Singapore itself. The city-state's military and
  security establishments are well-trained, equipped
  with cutting-edge technology, and frighteningly
  ruthless. Any scheme that threatens Singapore's
  neutrality or its technological secrets is likely to meet
  a devastating response. On the other hand, foreign
  agents who wish to watch or scheme against each
  other may do so freely. Singapore is a major gateway
  for entry into or departure from the nanosocialist
  bloc.
  (((MAP: Singapore)))
  Singapore Today
  Singapore consists of one large island along with
  about 50 smaller islets. Singapore Island itself covers
  about 200 square miles, and supports over 95% of the
  city-state's population. The total population of
  Singapore is about 12 million, close to triple its 2000
  total. Urban development has covered over half of
  Singapore Island, pressing hard against the few
  remaining nature preserves in the island's center.
  The average income for Singapore residents is about
  $115,000 per year. The local currency is the
  Singapore dollar, which currently trades against the
  U.S. dollar at about 1.5 to 1. The typical resident is
  Wealthy and has Status 1. There is tremendous
  disparity between the highest and lowest incomes in
  
  98
  Singapore -- some of the world's wealthiest
  individuals live in the city, but there exists a
  significant class of citizens who are Struggling or
  even Poor.
  Members of the fringer class must take great care in
  Singapore. Street people and vagrants are subject to
  arrest, followed by hard labor or deportation. There is
  no social safety net, so an unemployed person with
  no independent source of income will soon find
  himself in deep trouble. Fear of losing one's job or
  investments is common among Singapore's middle
  class.
  Singapore is extremely crowded. Population densities
  in the city center approach 200,000 per square mile,
  and can only be maintained using the full range of
  Fifth Wave technologies. Singapore is famous for its
  high-rise apartment buildings, supplemented by the
  Bedok arcologies built in the late 2070s. Land and
  housing costs in Singapore are excessively high, close
  to 10 times the base cost given on p. TS00. Even very
  wealthy citizens are likely to live in a high-rise
  apartment (albeit a large and luxurious one) rather
  than a detached home. Most citizens are lucky to
  have more than one or two rooms to call their own.
  Singapore maintains prosperity and social stability by
  way of a repressive government. The overall Control
  Rating is 5. Taxes are relatively low and economic
  regulation is light-handed; the government's position
  has long been that what is good for business is good
  for Singapore. On the other hand, social control is
  often very harsh. Even offenses considered minor
  elsewhere (vagrancy, recreational drug use,
  pornography, vandalism, and so on) are punishable
  by steep fines, prison time, and caning. The police
  generally follow procedures designed to protect basic
  civil rights, but they have wide discretion to break
  those procedures as they see fit.
  Singapore is officially a republic, and there are a
  number of political parties active in the country.
  However, the ruling Unity Party dominates the
  parliament, aided by a legal system designed to give
  it every advantage. Opposition politicians are
  handicapped by restrictions on their ability to raise
  money or gain access to the press. Those who are too
  vocal in their criticism of the government are subject
  to defamation lawsuits. Local weapons laws are quite
  strict, the equivalent of CR 6.
  About 75% of Singapore's population is ethnic
  Chinese. Other major ethnic groups include
  European, Indian and Malay. Mandarin is an official
  language, and several other Chinese dialects are
  spoken by segments of the population. English,
  Malay, and Tamil are also official languages. Most
  residents are at least bilingual. Singapore has long
  had an enviable record of ethnic harmony; both open
  and repressive governments have managed to keep
  the city's various groups at peace.
  All but a few citizens of Singapore are genefixed; for
  decades, the government has strongly encouraged the
  use of basic genetic therapies. Some citizens are the
  result of genetic upgrades, the Alpha and Ziusudra
  templates being the most common. There are about
  300,000 bioroids in the city, working in a variety of
  lower-class occupations. Local law protects some
  bioroid civil rights, but allows their indefinite
  indenture. Cybershells and other infomorphs are also
  fairly common, and have no civil rights whatsoever.
  The exception is Ghost emulations based on the
  personality of a former citizen; one copy of such a
  Ghost is considered equivalent to the original citizen
  and has full civil and political rights.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:The Triads
  @TEXT-BOX:The Triads are an ethnic-Chinese
  organized criminal society. The term comes from the
  traditional name tiandihui, which refers to a symbolic
  trinity of Heaven, Earth, and Man. The origins of the
  Triads date back to secret societies once established
  to oppose the Manchu Dynasty. Over the centuries
  they have become a criminal organization, spreading
  around the world with the Chinese diaspora.
  @TEXT-BOX:Triad gangs (or societies) are
  decentralized, with no overall authority. Most
  societies work independently, but when they find it
  profitable to cooperate they have common history
  and traditions to smooth interaction. Societies share
  information readily, often using their own segments
  of the web to stay in touch with their "brothers"
  worldwide. Although Triad societies do fight among
  themselves, their members share a common sense of
  identity and will stand together against the outside
  world. Triad societies are often very serious about
  traditional Chinese religion and culture. They also
  have an elaborate internal system of initiation and
  ritual, designed to provide a sense of solidarity and
  isolation from the rest of society.
  @TEXT-BOX:Modern-day Triad activities include
  data piracy, smuggling, bioroid slavery, drug
  trafficking, prostitution, illegal gambling, and credit
  fraud. Extortion operations are perhaps the most
  common. The Triads have long used kidnapping,
  arson, and other forms of criminal intimidation to
  extract money from honest citizens and businesses.
  @TEXT-BOX:Triad operations are quite common in
  Singapore. It is estimated that as many as 20,000
  residents are initiated members of one society or
  another. Whole neighborhoods and buildings are
  under the effective control of the gangs. How this
  form of organized crime manages to flourish in
  Singapore's regimented society is not clear. Rumor
  has it that several of the more prominent societies
  have sponsors powerful enough to also exert
  influence over the legitimate government. Those
  societies who do not enjoy such protection must
  remain very discreet . . .
  (((END BOX)))
  
  99
  Places
  The Singapore River runs west to east through the
  heart of the city's oldest districts. Most of the old
  government buildings are north of the river, while the
  densest commercial area is south of it. Naturally, with
  the city's explosive growth over the past century, new
  centers of commercial and industrial activity have
  appeared all over the island.
  Arab Street
  North and east of the city center is the main Muslim
  district, centered on the imposing Sultan Mosque.
  The area is crowded with native Malays, Javanese
  settlers, and the descendants of Arab traders. It is
  traditionally a major textile district, and remains so
  even in the age of biotech and nanotech goods. For
  example, the Arab Street is one of the few places
  outside the TSA bloc that one can purchase
  traditional Javanese or Malaysian batik cloth.
  Singapore's police watch the Arab Street very closely,
  as it is a breeding ground for nanosocialist
  sentiments. A number of TSA agents and informers
  have been arrested here, but the authorities have no
  illusions that all have been found. Meanwhile, some
  of the city's Muslims are more sympathetic to the
  Islamic Caliphate than to the TSA. Although
  Singapore officially has good relations with the
  Caliphate states, the authorities also keep close watch
  on their friends in the Arab Street.
  Bedok
  Bedok is a suburb of Singapore City, situated on the
  southeast coast of the island. The Bedok Arcologies
  were built here in the early 2070s, in an attempt to
  relieve Singapore's crowding. The twin structures are
  each built on a rounded-square plan, about 3,600
  yards on a side and 850 yards tall.
  Almost half a million Singaporeans live and work in
  the arcologies. The "ark-dwellers" have formed a
  community of their own, with memes that are often at
  odds with those of the greater Singaporean society. A
  sense of ark-dweller superiority is common,
  combined with a flavor of Transhumanism that is at
  odds with the strict controls imposed by the national
  government. These memes sometimes lead the ark-
  dwellers to quietly but stubbornly refuse cooperation
  with "outsider" police and other officials. The
  authorities are watching the situation with some
  concern, although as yet they have been given no
  reason to take decisive action.
  (((START BOX)))
  @C-BOXHEAD:Lim Chiang Lai
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Male human, born 1972; age 128;
  5' 5", 135 pounds; short-cropped white hair, brown
  eyes, extremely venerable. Total 400 points.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Templates: Baseline Human (p.
  TS00) [0].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:ST: 5 [-40]; DX: 8 [-15]; IQ: 13
  [30]; HT: 8 [-15].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Basic Speed 4, Move 4, Dodge 4.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Thrust 1d-5, Swing 1d-5.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Ally Group (Large
  group, available on 15 or less) [90]; Filthy Rich [50];
  Merchant Rank 6 (Major corporate CEO) [30];
  Multimillionaire 3 [75]; Single-Minded [5]; Status 6
  (Major corporate official) [5]; Strong Will +2 [8].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Disciplines of
  Faith (Devout Buddhist) [-5]; Fanaticism
  (Singaporean patriot) [-15]; Megalomania [-10];
  Pacifism (Total nonviolence) [30].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Quirks: Attentive; Despises all
  forms of political radicalism; Insists on being called
  "Mr. Lim." [-3]
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Skills: Accounting-13 [4];
  Administration-17 [10]; Anthropology-13 [4];
  Appreciate Beauty-12 [4]; Bard-18 [12]; Computer
  Operation-16 [6]; Detect Lies-13 [4]; Diplomacy-14*
  [4]; Economics-15 [8]; Fast-Talk-12* [1]; History-15
  [8]; Intelligence Analysis-17 [12]; Interrogation-15*
  [4]; Intimidation-14 [4]; Judo-10 [16]; Law-13 [4];
  Leadership-19* [12]; Literature-14 [6]; Mathematics-
  13 [4]; Memetics-16 [20]; Merchant-18* [10];
  Physician-13 [4]; Politics-18* [10]; Psychology-17*
  [8]; Research-17 [10]; Savoir-Faire-16 [2];
  Swimming-10 [4]; Teaching-16* [6]; Theology-13
  [4]; Video Production-18 [12]; Writing-18 [12].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Languages: Cantonese-13 [2];
  English-13 [2]; French-13 [2]; Malay-13 [2];
  Mandarin (native)-13 [0]; Thai-13 [2]; Vietnamese-
  12 [1].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:* Includes +1 from Memetics.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:** Includes +2 from IQ.
  @TEXT-BOX:Lim Chiang Lai believes himself to be
  the oldest man in Singapore. If he is wrong, then his
  elders must be even more wealthy and reclusive. As it
  is, most people in Singapore believe "Mr. Lim" to be
  long since dead.
  @TEXT-BOX:Mr. Lim came to wealth as a young
  man. In the first decade of the 21st century he built
  one of the largest web-publishing firms in the city.
  From there he branched out, investing primarily in
  data havens, broadcasting, and advertising firms. By
  the age of 50 he controlled one of the largest media
  empires in Southeast Asia. Then he went into politics.
  He was Singapore's Minister of Communications for
  most of the 2040s, and even served as Prime Minister
  for three tumultuous years before his party lost
  parliamentary elections in 2052.
  @TEXT-BOX:After leaving power, Mr. Lim went
  into reclusive retirement. In 2073 he moved into
  Bedok Arcology One, transferring control of his
  business interests there. For a few years he appeared
  infrequently in public, then not at all. As far as is
  known, Mr. Lim has not left his palatial apartments
  since about 2080. He is believed to have a number of
  personal aides living with him, including the staff of
  
  100
  a personal geriatric clinic. Aside from a few trusted
  agents, no outsiders visit him. His business empire
  still exists, but most people assume that it is being
  run by one of his descendants (or by his Ghost) in his
  name.
  @TEXT-BOX:Mr. Lim has become rather obsessive
  in his extreme age. For decades, he has been
  convinced that the world is heading toward an
  episode of apocalyptic violence. The Pacific War
  only hardened his conviction that the catastrophe is
  fast approaching. He therefore uses his wealth and
  power to intervene in global affairs, considering
  himself one of the few men who can save the world
  from disaster. He prefers a subtle, nonviolent
  approach, carefully manipulating events through
  financial or memetic means. Still, he and his
  lieutenants have occasionally been forced to order
  more decisive action.
  @TEXT-BOX:Lim Chiang Lai would make a superb
  Patron for a globe-spanning campaign. He has agents
  worldwide, gathering intelligence and intervening in
  local events as ordered. He might also be a good
  adversary, with awesome resources, extreme
  arrogance, and a habit of secrecy. In either case, PCs
  would be very unlikely to meet Mr. Lim himself (or
  even know of his existence) unless they became
  involved in the inner circle of his organization.
  (((END BOX)))
  Bukit Timah Nature Preserve
  Bukit Timah is the tallest hill on Singapore Island.
  Along the hill's northeastern slopes is the Bukit
  Timah Nature Preserve, the last retreat of the island's
  primary rainforest. Although forest reserves stretch
  for some distance to the north and east, these are all
  secondary forest, replanted after rubber harvesting
  cleared the area in the early 1900s.
  Bukit Timah and its adjoining reserves are the heart
  of an ambitious experiment in ecological reclamation.
  Ordinarily the secondary forests would require
  centuries to recover their former robustness.
  Ecologists and biotechnicians are working to
  accelerate the process, hoping to recover a wide
  stretch of true primary forest within decades or even
  years. This idea is not unique -- similar projects are
  taking place on a much vaster scale in places like
  Brazil and Indonesia. Still, the Bukit Timah project is
  probably the only one of its kind that is being pursued
  so close to a major city. Ecologists hope to not only
  bring the forest to recovery, but to learn how to help
  wild "micro-ecologies" thrive even in the midst of a
  dense urban environment. Ecologists and city
  planners from around the world are already taking an
  interest.
  Chinatown
  It may seem strange for a city dominated by ethnic
  Chinese to have a "Chinatown." Even so, the district
  just south of the river and close to the harbor
  certainly qualifies.
  Decades of development have driven Chinatown
  rents through the roof, driving out many traditional
  shops and small businesses. As a result parts of
  Chinatown are thoroughly modern, the abode of
  expensive restaurants and shops. Still, much of the
  local architecture is painstakingly authentic. There
  are many Buddhist temples in the district, and here
  and there one can still find small "traditional"
  businesses (calligraphers, herbalists, incense-sellers,
  and so on). Chinatown remains one of Singapore's
  most important cultural centers.
  Not far from Chinatown are the Telok Ayer Towers,
  the tallest buildings in Singapore. The Towers are
  each 200 stories (over half a mile) in height, and
  provide both luxury residential accommodations and
  commercial offices. Some of Singapore's wealthiest
  residents live in the Towers, including several
  Chinese traditionalists who prefer to remain near
  Chinatown.
  Chinatown is known to be a center of Triad activity
  (p. 00).
  (((START BOX)))
  @C-BOXHEAD:Robert Tan
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Male human, born 2078; age 22;
  5' 9", 150 pounds; black hair, jade-green eyes, light
  coat of scales and sharp claws. Total 200 points.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Templates: Genefixed Human (p.
  TS00) [0].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:ST: 11 [10]; DX: 15 [60]; IQ: 12
  [20]; HT: 11 [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Basic Speed 6.5, Move 6, Dodge
  7.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Thrust 1d-1, Swing 1d+1.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Combat reflexes
  [15]; Hyper-Reflexes (Cardiac stress, -40%) [9];
  Hyper-Strength (Cardiac stress, -40%) [18];
  Reputation (+1 to all Triad members) [2]; Sharp
  Claws [25].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Bad Temper [-
  10]; Code of Honor (Pirate's) [-5]; Duty (to Traid
  society, on 9 or less) [-5]; Sense of Duty (to family)
  [-5]; Unnatural Feature (scales and claws) [-5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Quirks: Compulsive about
  practicing martial arts skills; Goes to a Buddhist
  temple regularly; Proud; Secretly gives money to the
  poor. [-4]
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Skills: Acrobatics-15 [4]; Area
  Knowledge (Chinatown)-13 [2]; Body Language-12
  [4]; Escape-14 [2]; Fast-Talk-12 [2]; Guns (Machine
  Pistol)-18* [2]; Holdout-12 [2]; Hypnotism-10 [1];
  Intimidation-13 [4]; Judo-15 [4]; Jumping-16 [2];
  Karate-17 [16]; Main-Gauche-15 [2]; Merchant-11
  [1]; Shadowing-12 [2]; Shortsword-15 [2]; Staff-13
  [1]; Stealth-15 [2]; Streetwise-13 [4]; Swimming-15
  [1]; Tactics-11 [2].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Languages: English-11 [1];
  Malay-12 [2]; Mandarin (native)-12 [0].
  
  101
  @TEXT-CSTATS:* Includes +2 from IQ.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Note: Robert Tan's Hyper-
  Reflexes and Hyper-Strength are the result of
  biomods which put a great deal of strain on his heart.
  The "Cardiac Stress" limitation can be found on p.
  BIO137. In brief, while using the advantages in a
  stress situation Tan must roll vs. HT once every 10
  seconds. On a failure he loses 1d Fatigue. On a
  critical failure he suffers a heart attack; he passes out
  and will die in HT/3 minutes unless someone
  administers CPR.
  @TEXT-BOX:Robert Tan is a young man from an
  old Straits Chinese family. He has little formal
  education and no prospects for a respectable job.
  Instead, he joined a Triad society at the age of 17 and
  has been a loyal soldier ever since. His current role is
  that of a "rank 49" member, an ordinary gangster
  whose job is to provide muscle in support of Triad
  activities. He is very good at this role, having studied
  Pentjak Silat (see p. MA96) and become an expert
  shooter. He has taken on some biomods; these give
  him natural weaponry (sharp retractable claws), an
  unnatural appearance useful in intimidation (bright
  green eyes and a thin coat of scales), boosted reflexes
  and strength.
  Despite his role as a "heavy," Tan is not stupid, and
  he is likely to rise high in the society if he keeps his
  wits about him. He also has a tender side, surprising
  to those who don't know him well. He is a practicing
  Buddhist who can often be found praying in temple.
  He is also solicitous toward his family, bringing them
  money and gifts whenever he can. His parents are
  respectable people who don't know what to make of
  their wayward son, but their relationship remains a
  warm one.
  Robert Tan is typical of the low-ranking Triad
  members visitors to Singapore may be unlucky
  enough to meet. He would be useful as a street-level
  Contact or Ally in a campaign set in or around the
  city. With a few altered traits, he could be used as a
  low-level criminal figure in any other Fifth Wave
  city.
  (((END BOX)))
  Johore Baharu
  Immediately across the narrow Johore Strait is Johore
  Baharu, a Malaysian city which is intimately
  connected with Singapore. Johore Baharu has long
  been the capital of the Malaysian state of Johore.
  Since the rise of the TSA it has been doubly
  important, as the most significant point of contact
  between the TSA and the capitalist world. Commerce
  across the straits has grown manyfold since 2080,
  promoting a local economic boom even while
  Malaysia's overall economy has struggled with the
  effects of anti-TSA sanctions.
  One effect of the boom has been a flood of
  immigration to Johore Baharu from other parts of
  Malaysia. The current population of the city's
  extended metropolitan area is over 3.6 million -- and
  almost half of that number has arrived since 2080. As
  a result, Johore Baharu is a hectic, brawling city,
  where glittering opportunity and terrible desperation
  exist side by side.
  Tucked away in Johore Baharu's streets is the second-
  largest office of Malaysia's Defense Intelligence
  agency. Discreet efforts to penetrate Singaporean
  security are constant. Naturally, Singaporean
  intelligence and security assets are concentrated
  along the Johore Strait, and particularly on the
  causeway linking Singapore and the mainland.
  Jurong
  West of the main city is the suburb of Jurong. Where
  Singapore City is oriented toward commercial
  purposes, Jurong is the site of much of the island's
  industry. The chemical and rubber industries have
  declined, giving way to advanced electronics,
  computers, industrial biotech, and minifacturing. The
  budding nanotech revolution is also making its mark;
  many research and production facilities have made an
  appearance in recent years.
  Jurong is the site of a number of "startup parks."
  These are places where the national government and
  various venture-capital firms maintain space for new
  companies. A startup firm can apply for laboratory or
  minifacturing facilities here, on very favorable terms.
  Once the new venture is profitable and growing, it
  usually moves elsewhere on the island, leaving space
  for the next newcomer. The system is connected to
  the SCTE (p. 00) and has been producing useful
  technological innovations for decades. Nanyang
  Technical Institute is located in Jurong, and also
  takes part in the SCTE.
  Part of Jurong City sits on Jurong Island, just off the
  southwest shore of the main island. Jurong Island is
  largely artificial, the amalgamation of seven smaller
  islands early in the 21st century. It has excellent
  large-ship harbor facilities and is connected to the
  mainland by a causeway. Much of Singapore's
  remaining Second Wave heavy industry is located
  here. The old petrochemical and rubber industries
  still exist, although they have changed a great deal
  with the introduction of advanced biotech. Today the
  petroleum and rubber that are brought to Jurong are
  normally used as feedstocks for the biotechnic
  production of useful materials.
  Sentosa Island
  Sentosa Island lies just off the southern tip of the
  main island, and is accessible by a short causeway.
  For over a century it has been Singapore's foremost
  recreational area, packed with beaches, gardens,
  hotels and theme parks.
  Sentosa Island is controlled by the Sentosa
  Consortium, a corporation whose predecessor was
  founded by the national government in the early
  1970s. Although it is completely privately held today,
  
  102
  it still enjoys a close relationship with the state. Since
  the 2020s, the Consortium has been deeply involved
  in the development of digital and virtual technology
  as applied to modern entertainment. Today Sentosa's
  theme parks use a dizzying variety of VR and
  memetic techniques to give visitors the richest
  possible experience.
  The Consortium also operates a huge virtuality node
  (see p. 00). The available virtual environments attract
  tourists, gamers, and weblife from all over the world.
  University of Singapore
  The National University of Singapore is located
  about 8 miles west of the city center, in the Kent
  Ridge district. Almost 200 years old, it is known
  throughout Southeast Asia as a major center of
  learning. It has a distinctly pragmatic orientation --
  the strongest departments are the College of Law, the
  School of Computing, the School of Engineering, and
  the Graduate School of Medicine and Bioscience.
  About 25,000 students attend the University
  physically, while several times this number pursue
  degrees via telepresence. Singaporeans naturally
  dominate the student body, but its enrollment is
  drawn from all over the world.
  The Singapore government regards the National
  University as a "secret weapon" in the competition
  for economic and political advantage. The University
  receives large state subsidies, especially in those
  disciplines that support business and technological
  development.
  The National University is also the home of the
  Singapore Center for Technical Entrepreneurship
  (SCTE). This very successful program supports
  promising lines of research by subsidizing new
  corporate ventures. Any faculty member or student
  (even an undergraduate) may apply to start up his
  own company with SCTE support. Students from the
  colleges of law and business also participate, and
  may become administrators in the new firms. The
  state offers venture capital, work space in one of the
  "startup parks" in Jurong, and a streamlined process
  for patent approval. In exchange, the state takes a
  minority share in the new firm's ownership. All in all,
  with state assistance the University functions as an
  effective "incubator" for new businesses.
  (((START BOX)))
  @C-BOXHEAD:Catherine Cho
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Female human, born 2068; age
  32; 5' 3", 120 pounds; brown hair, brown eyes. Total
  300 points.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Templates: Genefixed Human (p.
  TS00) [0].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:ST: 10 [0]; DX: 12 [20]; IQ: 14
  [45]; HT: 11 [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Basic Speed 6.25, Move 6, Dodge
  6.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Thrust 1d-2, Swing 1d.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Ally Group
  (Programmed) (Infomorphs, small group of 200-point
  characters, available on 12 or less) [120]; Attractive
  [5]; Mathematical Ability [10]; Reputation (+3 as a
  brilliant scientist, recognized on 7 or less) [5]; Status
  1 (Ordinary citizen); Very Wealthy [30]; Voice [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Honesty [-10];
  Secret (Homosexual, utter rejection) [-10];
  Workaholic [-5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Quirks: Awkward in romantic
  situations; Dresses in last year's fashions;
  Mechanimist; Outspoken capitalist ("greed is good");
  Publicly sympathetic to the cause of pan-sapient
  rights. [-5]
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Skills: Administration-14 [2];
  Artificial Intelligence-17** [4]; Biochemistry-14 [8];
  Chemistry-16 [8]; Computer Operation-15 [2];
  Computer Programming-19** [8]; Diplomacy-15***
  [2]; Economics-12 [1]; Electronics Operation
  (Sensors)-14 [2]; Engineer (Nanotechnology)-19*
  [10]; Games (Go)-16 [2]; Judo-11 [2]; Law-12 [1];
  Mathematics-17** [4]; Meditation-13 [2]; Merchant-
  15 [4]; Philosophy (Zen Buddhism)-13 [2]; Physics-
  14 [4]; Politics-15*** [1]; Running-10 [1]; Savoir-
  Faire-19*** [2]; Teaching-13 [1].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Languages: English-14 [2];
  Mandarin (native)-14 [0].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:* Includes +2 from Mathematical
  Ability.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:** Includes +3 from
  Mathematical Ability.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:*** Includes +2 from Voice.
  @TEXT-BOX:Catherine Cho is one of Singapore's
  national treasures, a chemist and computer-modeling
  expert who is fast becoming one of the world's
  foremost nanotech researchers. She has done
  postdoctoral work at the National University of
  Singapore, but currently spends most of her time in
  her own private lab facility in Jurong.
  @TEXT-BOX:Cho's primary area of interest is that
  of defense against runaway nanotechnology. She has
  designed several prototype "hunter-seeker" nanobots
  which can search out and destroy hostile assemblers.
  Her company (Cho Nanoconcepts) has become one
  of the fastest-growing nanotech "startups" in
  Singapore. The Ministry of Defense is very interested
  in her work -- and so, doubtless, are many other
  governments and private concerns.
  @TEXT-BOX:In public, Cho is a dynamic advocate
  for capitalist politics in general and nanotechnology
  in particular. Her attractiveness, charm, political
  acumen and teaching ability have made her a popular
  guest at the homes of Singapore's leaders. Although
  she has no political ambitions of her own, she is quite
  willing to speak in support of politicians of whom she
  approves. In private, her life is much more complex.
  She is secretly a homosexual, living in a country
  where homosexuality is both illegal and socially
  abhorrent. She tries to keep her personal life private,
  
  103
  but the effort of doing so while existing almost
  constantly in the public eye is a great strain.
  @TEXT-BOX:Catherine Cho would make a good
  Ally (or even a Patron) in a campaign set in Southeast
  Asia. Not only does she have considerable personal
  skill and resources, she has a small group of LAI and
  SAI infomorphs which help her with research and
  business matters. Meanwhile, her technical work and
  political involvement put her in the midst of one
  intrigue after another. Both corporate and foreign
  intelligence agents are very interested in her.
  (((END BOX)))
  Current Events
  The Singaporean government was recently rocked by
  an espionage scandal, in which the head of the
  country's counterintelligence operation was
  discovered to be in the pay of the People's Republic
  of China. The Unity Party leadership had hoped to
  quietly replace the traitor, but the story was exposed
  before any action could be taken to silence it. Public
  outrage has been volcanic; a "witch hunt" for other
  Chinese infiltrators may be about to begin.
  Meanwhile, the fact that the spy scandal became
  public at all may indicate deeper troubles within the
  government. As far as the public knows, the story
  was uncovered by a maverick journalist who has
  since been placed under arrest for sedition. On the
  other hand, the journalist in question had neither the
  skills nor the contacts to develop such a story. The
  obvious suspicion is that the story was leaked by a
  senior government official, probably as an opening
  move in a power struggle within the Unity Party.
  Singapore has several times hosted high-level
  diplomatic contacts between the TSA bloc and its
  enemies. Another such meeting is slated to take place
  this year, under the cover of a General Convention on
  Asian Economic Development. Official delegates
  will attend from Australia, China, India, Indonesia,
  Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, the United States,
  Vietnam and many other nations. The public
  meetings are likely to be closely watched, but the
  back-room negotiations and espionage will be more
  important.
  The Sentosa Consortium is in the process of
  integrating next-generation VR technologies into its
  virtuality node, attracting new customers from around
  the world. The Consortium is holding details of the
  new technology very closely, using trade secrecy
  rather than patents to protect its advantage. There
  have been several cases of attempted corporate
  espionage, thus far unsuccessful.
  Singapore police are beginning a concerted campaign
  to infiltrate and break up Triad cells in large sections
  of the city. Success has thus far been mixed, but there
  have been several sharp confrontations between
  police and gang members. It's an open question
  whether the police will be permitted to be too
  successful, given the rumors of connections between
  some of the gangs and the government.
  
  104
  People
  "I'll admit, the Spences are pretty well-off, so they
  can afford a lot of dependents. Let's see. There are
  four of them: Mr. and Mrs. Spence, their son Harold,
  and their daughter Marian. Mr. Spence has the
  infomorph in his interface implant, and another one
  in the old wearable he carries as a notebook. Mrs.
  Spence doesn't like VR, but she has a wearable too
  just to keep track of her medical condition, and that's
  running a NAI of its own. Little Marian just has her
  kindercomp, but Harold is into robokits and has built
  a half-dozen. Then there's the cyberdog and Mrs.
  Spence's Monkey Plus. For that matter, everyone
  suspects the house cat is an uplift, but it refuses to
  comment on the subject.
  "Of course, there's me too. I am large, I contain
  multitudes."
  -- Conversation with "Whitfield," the Spence
  household LAI
  Character Types
  As the center of humanity's social and economic
  system, Earth is a place of dizzying diversity. There
  are a number of occupations, rarely found off-world,
  which play a significant part in Earth society.
  Inappropriate Types
  Some of the character types given in the
  Transhuman Space core book (p. TS00) are
  inappropriate for a Fifth Wave setting on Earth. The
  Colonist and Explorer types are rare (although Earth
  does have a vast unexplored frontier under the oceans
  -- see Blue Shadow). Mangliu don't often visit Earth's
  surface, and the Miner/Prospector type assumes off-
  planet mining.
  All other character types are reasonable, even for a
  campaign set entirely on Earth.
  Arbitrageur
  In 2100, an arbitrageur is the modern equivalent of a
  broker. Arbitrage is the art and science of facilitating
  economic activity by any means available, extracting
  a profit from each transaction. Most human beings on
  Earth manage their own investments and economic
  activity, buying and selling whatever commodities
  they need through the web. However, an arbitrageur
  is an expert in some specific field of economic
  exchange. By being aware of even the smallest
  changes in the economic environment, the arbitrageur
  can see who is short of certain commodities and put
  them in contact with those who have an oversupply.
  The net result is often greater efficiency, even after
  the arbitrageur's commission is considered. Useful
  skills include Economics, Intelligence Analysis,
  Mathematics, Merchant, and a very high level of
  Research. Arbitrageurs may work freelance, in teams,
  or as corporate staff. They always work with
  infomorphs some of them quite sophisticated.
  Artist
  The entertainment industry is one of the largest
  sectors of the Fifth Wave economy, and it's driven by
  artistic creativity. There's plenty of work for all levels
  of talent, from the ordinary artists who crank out
  formulaic works, all the way up to brilliant celebrities
  who command seven-figure incomes. A good
  Appearance, Charisma, and Voice are all useful.
  Aside from some Artistic skills to specialize in, the
  successful artist can use Law, Merchant and Savoir-
  Faire.
  Botboss
  Botboss is a slang term for anyone whose primary job
  is to supervise cybershells. The term is rather
  disparaging, implying that the worker is good for
  little else. It's true that many "cybershell monitors"
  have relatively low skill, enough to perform routine
  maintenance on the machines and help them through
  minor difficulties. Others have considerable training
  and practical experience working with AI. Botbosses
  need to be able to concentrate on their jobs even
  when nothing goes wrong for long periods, so
  Attentive or Single-Minded are useful. Skills include
  Administration, Artificial Intelligence, Computer
  Operation, Electronics Operation, and Mechanic.
  Eloi
  Earth's leisure class is large, powerful, and rather
  unpopular among people who aren't members. Many
  English-speaking citizens of Earth refer to the
  leisured as "Eloi," after the pretty and rather helpless
  creatures in a famous H. G. Wells novel. The term is
  misleading, as many leisured people have reached
  their status through decades of hard work -- and
  sometimes ruthless struggle. As with the Dilettante
  type, Age, Contacts, Independent Income, Status, and
  Wealth are all appropriate advantages. Useful skills
  include Economics, Law, Merchant, Politics, and
  Savoir-Faire. Many super-elderly people acquire
  some level of medical training in order to understand
  their own condition and treatment; this implies some
  level of Diagnosis.
  Freehand
  A freehand is a freelance VT worker, someone who
  can use augmented reality and v-tag technology to
  perform skilled labor even though he lacks the basic
  skills himself. Using a wearable VR interface, a
  freehand can often perform even complex tasks under
  the guidance of an AI. Freehands tend to be from the
  underemployed class (p. 00), but they carry little
  social stigma, mostly because there are so many
  people in their situation. VT workers have no special
  advantages or skills, although they tend to pick up the
  
  105
  skills they "practice" during their work. Low levels of
  Architecture, Engineer or Mechanic are all
  appropriate even without formal training in those
  fields.
  Isolate
  Isolates (p. 00) are individuals who reject the
  melange of cultures typical of Fifth Wave public life,
  and deliberately try to cut themselves off from
  physical or virtual contact with mainstream society.
  Some Isolates form communities (either on the web
  or in physical space) dedicated to a common
  ideology. Isolates are not necessarily personally
  reclusive; they just don't like living surrounded by
  people who are different. Isolates are often
  Chauvinistic or Intolerant, and some even have
  Fanaticism. Those living in isolated communities
  may have Primitive. Useful skills include Agronomy,
  Computer Operation, Driving, Electronics Operation,
  Mechanic, and various Outdoor skills (notably
  Survival).
  Public Eye
  A public eye is an individual who uses advanced
  technology to monitor events and actions of public
  interest, usually publishing the results to the web.
  Unlike Investigators and News Hounds, most Public
  Eyes are self-designated and freelance. Many of them
  have other sources of income (investments or a "day
  job") and handle their investigations on their own
  time. Although their approach makes them less
  effective than an experienced investigator, there are a
  lot of Public Eyes on Earth, and they often pick up
  stories that more formal institutions might miss.
  Contacts are useful, and might include other Public
  Eyes (for an example of an organization of Public
  Eyes, see the Argus Society, p. 00). Useful skills
  include Bard, Computer Operation, Electronics
  Operation (especially Sensors), Intelligence Analysis,
  Research, Video Production and Writing.
  Troubleshooter
  Troubleshooters are the archetypal adventurers of the
  Fifth Wave world. Most troubleshooters work for a
  specific patron, a corporation, government agency, or
  wealthy individual. They travel around the world,
  representing their "principal" and solving problems
  on its behalf. Troubleshooters tend not to be highly
  technical (one can always hire technical talent) but
  they are adept negotiators and always ready to apply
  force when necessary. Social and Thief/Spy skills are
  particularly useful, and most troubleshooters will be
  skilled with personal weapons and tactics.
  Webmaster
  Webmasters are the telecommunications experts of
  the 21st century. They understand the computer
  hardware, network connections, software, and
  protocols that knit modern civilization together. Their
  job is a hard one, since the web has grown far too
  complex for any human being to understand even a
  small segment. Still, with plenty of support from their
  allied infomorphs, webmasters keep the world
  working. Of course, some webmasters are
  infomorphs. Mathematical Ability is very useful.
  Critical skills include Computer Operation, Computer
  Programming, Electronics (Communications), and
  Mathematics. Experts in network security (or
  dishonest webmasters) will also have Computer
  Hacking.
  Earthside Racial Templates
  The eleven billion people living on Earth display a
  bewildering variety, with thousands of basic genetic
  types modified by bioengineering, cybernetics, and
  nanotechnology. The racial packages described here
  are only some of the most common to be found
  specifically on Earth.
  Econiche Templates
  Even while humanity was colonizing the solar
  system, it was also moving to inhabit the last
  remaining wilderness areas on Earth itself. Just as
  several variant human types appeared in space, others
  were designed to live comfortably in regions of the
  homeworld which had long stood empty. Such
  designs usually came at a cost in general ability.
  Drylander Parahuman 35 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: ST-1 [-10];
  DX+1 [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Decreased Life
  Support 1 [10]; Filter Lungs [5]; Nictating Membrane
  1 [10]; Night Vision [10]; Resistant to Poison [5];
  Temperature Tolerance 5 [5]; Very Light Scales [0].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Skinny [-5];
  Unnatural Feature [-5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Taboo Traits (Genetic
  Defects, Mental Instability). Transgenic features
  (Catlike eyes which reflect light at night, light coat of
  scales).
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2077. Cost: $85,000.
  Drylanders were designed to live comfortably in
  some of the world's most arid regions, tending
  wilderness preserves or assisting in desert-
  reclamation projects. They appear nearly human from
  a distance, but have a number of transgenic features
  that become apparent up close. The type's metabolism
  has been carefully altered to conserve water and deal
  with wind-blown dust. The large eyes have been
  radically modified, giving them keen night vision and
  protecting them with a nictating membrane. As a
  result, Drylanders can function quite well in the cool
  desert night, and many of them prefer a nocturnal
  existence.
  
  106
  Drylanders were first developed in the United States.
  Many of the subspecies still live in the southwestern
  U.S., but others have spread to desert and steppe
  zones all over the world. The largest communities
  today are in western Australia and in northern Africa,
  where major desert-reclamation projects are
  underway.
  Misha Parahuman 15 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: ST+1 [10];
  HT+1 [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Disease-Resistant
  [5]; Fur [4], Metabolism Control 1 (For
  hibernation only, -50%) [3]; No Appendix [0];
  Resistant to Poison [5]; Temperature Tolerance 9
  [9].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Bad Temper [-
  10]; Overweight [-10]; Sleepy (50% of the time) [-
  10]; Staid [-1].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Taboo Trait (Genetic
  Defects).
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2055 Cost: $55,000.
  This parahuman type was one of the first human
  subspecies to be created. The type borrows a great
  deal from ursid genetics, giving it thick body hair
  (effectively fur), strong resistance to cold, and a
  moderate ability to hibernate. Side-effects of the
  modifications include a bearlike temperament and
  an increased need for sleep year-round. Mishas
  can function without special clothing or
  equipment in temperatures as low as -75 degrees.
  When the temperature gets below -60 degrees,
  however, they feel a strong urge to find shelter
  and hibernate. This occasionally helps them to
  survive extreme conditions, but it can be
  inconvenient when there is work to be done. Drugs
  and other treatments can mitigate the hibernation
  urge, but have undesirable side effects.
  Misha parahumans were first developed in Russia,
  and are still quite common in Siberia. Mishas (and
  the nearly-identical Kodiak type) have spread to
  Alaska, Greenland, northern Scandinavia,
  Nunavut, and Antarctica. Although their
  tolerance for warmth is almost as good as an
  unmodified human's, they do prefer colder
  climates and are rarely found in the tropics. They
  find employment in all kinds of cold-weather
  industries.
  Ranger 40 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: ST+1 [10];
  DX+1 [10]; HT +1 [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Absolute Direction
  [5]; Acute Hearing +2 [4]; Acute Taste and Smell
  +3 [6]; Cast Iron Stomach [15]; Discriminatory
  Smell [15]; Disease-Resistant [5]; No Appendix
  [0]; Resistant to Poison [5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Bad Temper [-
  10]; Light Sleeper [-5]; Overconfidence [-10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Taboo Traits
  (Genetic Defects, Mental Instability).
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2079. Cost: $90,000.
  This parahuman type is fairly recent, depending
  as it does on several radical modifications of the
  basic human sensorium. The goal was to produce
  a genotype which would be able to survive in
  almost any wilderness environment, alone and
  with a minimum of technical support. A magnetic-
  field sense was borrowed from migratory birds,
  and several sequences for acute hearing and smell
  were also added. The digestive system and
  metabolism were upgraded to allow the
  consumption of almost anything organic. The
  genotype's unusual senses are not perfectly
  integrated into the brain, leading to irritability
  and chronic insomnia. Meanwhile, subtle
  tinkering aiming for a self-reliant attitude may
  have been too successful.
  Ranger-series parahumans have begun to appear
  in the Amazon basin and in the wilderness regions
  of Canada, Russia and the United States. They
  often find employment as wilderness preserve
  rangers, scientists, or guides. In recent years
  several Isolate communities dominated by this
  parahuman type have been founded.
  Homo Superior Templates
  Adaptation to a specific ecological niche is only
  one goal met by genetic engineering, and not the
  most common. The most frequent approach is to
  give the variant type greater general capability,
  making it "human, only more so." In 2100, most
  of Earth's population is made up of these homo
  superior variants. The Alpha, Ishtar, and
  Metanoia-series upgrades are the most common,
  but others have appeared recently on Earth.
  Brownie Parahuman 19 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: ST-1 [-10];
  HT+2 [20].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Acute Vision +1
  [2]; Acute Hearing +2 [4]; Catfall [10]; Disease-
  Resistant [5]; Longevity [5]; No Bone
  Degeneration in Zero-G [3];
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Disturbing
  Voice [-10]; Reduced Move 1 [-5]; Unattractive [-
  5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Taboo Traits
  (Genetic Defects, Mental Instability). Brownies
  are about 3 inches shorter than average for their
  ST, but they also average 15 pounds heavier than
  an unmodified human of their height.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2055. Cost: $44,000.
  One of the earliest attempts to engineer humans
  for increased health and longevity was the
  Brownie variant. Rather than tinker with the
  inner workings of cell biochemistry, the Brownie's
  
  107
  designers chose to improve gross human
  physiology.
  A Brownie appears strange in a world where so
  many people have been designed for tall, slender
  attractiveness. Brownies are short and stocky,
  with heavy layers of muscle and fat padding torso,
  upper arms and upper legs. Their spines are
  curved, giving them a naturally forward-leaning
  posture. Their knee joints have been re-
  engineered to bend in both directions, giving them
  a slow, awkward-looking gait. Their voices sound
  muffled and nasal, the result of tracheal
  reconfiguration.
  Strange as it may seem, all these modifications
  tend to make the Brownie tough and durable.
  Brownies are very resistant to disease, falls and
  other accidents, and the slow progress of time.
  They age just as quickly as unmodified humans
  do, but their bodies simply don't wear out as
  rapidly. Although the first cohorts of the
  subspecies are not yet old enough to demonstrate
  their durability, most estimates indicate that the
  average Brownie can expect to live well over a
  century with minimal medical intervention (and
  therefore very low medical costs).
  There are about 1 million Brownies in the world
  today, mostly in Europe and the United States. A
  surprising number have made their way into
  space -- the template's modifications to skeletal
  structure have made Brownies nearly immune to
  bone-mass loss in zero-G. Although the merits of
  the design are rarely questioned, the Brownie
  template is unpopular due to its odd and
  unfashionable appearance.
  Herakles Parahuman 167 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: ST+3 [30];
  DX+4 [45]; IQ+2 [20]; HT+4 [45].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Attractive [5];
  Extended Lifespan 1 [5]; Early Maturation 1 [5];
  Immunity to Disease [10]; Immunity to Poison
  [10]; Longevity [5]; No Appendix [0]; Rapid
  Healing [5]; Reduced Sleep [10]; Reproductive
  Control [2]; Sanitized Metabolism [5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Delicate
  Metabolism [-20]; Overconfidence [-10]; Unusual
  Biochemistry [-5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Taboo Traits
  (Genetic Defects, Mental Instability).
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2086. Cost: $217,000.
  Pushing the limits of genetic technology, the
  Herakles series represents one of the most
  elaborate homo superior designs available in 2100.
  The first cohorts are only now approaching
  adulthood. The expense of the genotype (and its
  apparent problems) have limited the type's
  appeal. There are only about 10,000 Herakles
  parahumans alive, most of them in Greece.
  The variant's muscles, skeleton and nervous
  system have all been engineered for maximum
  performance. Despite the variant's superior
  strength and agility, the physique looks like that of
  an unmodified human due to extensive redesign of
  muscle and connective tissues. The immune
  system and overall biochemistry have been
  broadly modified to allow virtual immunity to
  toxins, infectious disease and cancers. Several
  changes to cell structure allow dramatic extension
  of lifespan. Finally, modifications to the brain
  allow the variant to get by with very little sleep.
  The sum of these modifications appears to have
  stretched the state of the art in human
  gengineering to its limit. Next-generation designs
  will probably supplement genetic alteration with
  symbiotic viruses or other nanological techniques.
  For now, the Herakles is plagued with minor
  metabolic and psychological problems.
  Ideal Templates
  The homo superior variants are designed for
  greater capacity, health, and lifespan, but this
  does not always satisfy would-be rebuilders of
  humanity. Often a redesign of the human
  genotype is motivated by ideology; the engineers
  are driven by a desire to change "human nature"
  itself. Such variant forms can be quite distinctive.
  Ariadne Parahuman 52 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: IQ+1 [10];
  HT+1 [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Altered Sex Ratio
  (Female-only births) [0]; Attractive [5]; Combat
  Reflexes [15]; Disease-Resistant [5]; Longevity [5];
  No Appendix [0]; Reproductive Control [2];
  Sanitized Metabolism [5]; Sexual Orientation
  (Lesbian) [0].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Overconfidence
  [-10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Taboo Trait (Genetic
  Defects).
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2066. Cost: $102,000.
  One of the more controversial ideal-parahuman
  types has been the Ariadne, first developed in the
  2060s in the United States. One branch of the
  Transhumanist movement called for the complete
  emancipation of women from male domination --
  through the creation of a human subspecies that
  would not require males to survive or reproduce.
  The Ariadne subspecies fell short of that goal, as
  genetic engineering was unable at the time to
  produce true parthenogenesis. Even so, with
  modern reproductive technology the new
  subspecies has been able to get by. Ideological
  fervor has allowed Ariadne communities to
  survive despite their inability to reproduce
  themselves "naturally."
  
  108
  Today there are about 200,000 Ariadnes. Most of
  them live in Isolate communities or have
  emigrated to the space colonies. Although most of
  Earth's Fifth Wave societies have relaxed their
  intolerance of the Ariadne lifestyle, such prejudice
  has been intense at times. Most Ariadne
  communities remain convinced that they are
  persecuted and cannot live safely in the global
  society. Ariadne scientists are among the leaders
  in the field of reproductive modifications.
  For the most part the Ariadne genotype is a
  typical homo superior type, slightly above the
  human average in intelligence and overall health,
  engineered for longevity and disease resistance.
  The "fight-or-flight" response has also been
  carefully improved to give the variant superior
  emergency reflexes. The controversial aspects of
  the variant are in its reproductive systems.
  Ariadnes cannot become pregnant unless they
  wish to, and they cannot bear male children. Male
  fetuses are spontaneously aborted by an
  autoimmune reaction by the time they reach the
  hundred-cell stage. Meanwhile, the brain and
  hormonal mechanisms responsible for gender
  identity have been subtly modified, giving
  Ariadnes a strong predisposition toward
  homosexuality. Not all Ariadnes function as
  homosexuals, but most of them are at least
  bisexual, and fully heterosexual individuals are
  quite rare.
  Ariadne II: The product of collaboration between
  Earth-bound Ariadnes and geneticists on
  Margaret Station, the new version of the genotype
  will attain reproductive self-sufficiency once the
  first cohorts reach adulthood. Add Early
  Maturation 1 [5], Extended Lifespan 1 [5],
  Parthenogenesis [0], and Versatile [10]. 72 points
  (2086, $122,000).
  Avatar Parahuman Variable
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: Male
  Avatars: ST+3 [30]; HT+2 [20]. Female Avatars:
  DX+1 [10]; HT+2 [20].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Male Avatars:
  Alertness +2 [10]; Disease-Resistant [5];
  Handsome [15]; High Pain Threshold [10]; Racial
  Skill Bonus (Sex Appeal +3) [3]. Female Avatars:
  Beautiful [15]; Disease-Resistant [5]; Racial Skill
  Bonus (Sex Appeal +3) [3]; Voice [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Male Avatars:
  Overconfidence [-10]; Proud [-1]; Unnatural
  Feature [-5]. Female Avatars: Shyness (Mild) [-5];
  Unnatural Feature [-5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Taboo Traits
  (Genetic Defects, Mental Instability). Both sexes
  have exaggerated sexual characteristics. Males are
  blatantly muscular with abundant body and facial
  hair, while females are very curvaceous and have
  soft, delicate facial features.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2061. Cost: $127,000
  The male Avatar template costs 77 points. The
  female template costs 53 points. Cost of the
  genotype is $127,000 no matter the gender of the
  child, since all of the sex-linked characteristics for
  both genders must be encoded in the genotype.
  Like the Ariadne, the Avatar design was
  motivated by social conflicts over gender roles.
  Rather than try to redefine what it meant to be
  masculine or feminine, this design reinforces
  typical gender stereotypes. As such, it is an
  exercise in sexual dimorphism, in which the
  physical and psychological differences between
  males and females of the subspecies are
  exaggerated. Male Avatars are strong, robust,
  alert, stoic in the face of pain, and strongly
  egoistic. Female Avatars are dextrous, soft-voiced
  and retiring. Both sexes are engineered for great
  physical attractiveness, and have extreme
  secondary sexual characteristics which make their
  masculinity or femininity almost fiercely obvious.
  The Avatar design is a fairly early variant, having
  first appeared in the Middle East. It has been
  surprisingly popular, even outside the strongly
  patriarchal cultures where it was first marketed.
  Today it can be found almost everywhere in
  Africa, the Americas, Europe and the Middle
  East. There are about 500,000 Avatars today.
  Male Avatars tend to gravitate toward high-risk
  occupations such as the military, while female
  Avatars (especially those who overcome their
  natural Shyness) are often successful as diplomats,
  negotiators or entertainers.
  Guardian Parahuman 135 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: DX+1 [10];
  IQ+1 [10]; HT+2 [20].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Attractive [5];
  Charisma +4 (Scent-based, -20%; No effect on
  non-humans, -5%) [15]; Combat Reflexes [15];
  Disease-Resistant [5]; Early Maturation 1 [5];
  Extended Lifespan 1 [5]; Fit [5]; Hard to Kill +2
  [10]; Longevity [5]; Pheromone Control [25];
  Voice [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Overconfidence
  [-10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Taboo Traits
  (Genetic Defects, Mental Instability,
  Unattractiveness).
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2081 (?). Cost: $185,000.
  The Guardian parahuman template was a product
  of the TSA's "Special Projects" division, an
  attempt to create a genetic elite to rule over
  humanity. Officially, it never got beyond the
  design stage. Unofficially, rumors persist that a
  number of Guardians were actually conceived,
  and may have grown to maturity in hiding since
  the end of the Pacific War.
  
  109
  The Guardians (the name comes from Plato's
  Republic) were engineered for two major goals.
  The first was natural durability. Guardians were
  to be slightly faster and more robust than
  unmodified humans, with cardiovascular
  modifications to make them fit and tough. The
  second goal was mastery of other human beings.
  Their mental balance was designed for personal
  pride and a willingness to command others.
  Physically attractive, with pleasant voices, they
  would be engaging from a distance or over a
  telecom channel. In person, they would be
  magnetic, the result of glands releasing dominance
  and sexual pheromones. These glands would not
  become functional until after puberty, but they
  would be under the Guardian's conscious control.
  This last feature tied in with the planned Helot II
  project (p. 00), which would have created human
  beings particularly vulnerable to pheromonal
  manipulation.
  If any Guardians are alive, they are likely
  approaching adulthood, ready to take up a new
  role on the world stage. Another possibility is that
  there are Guardian children growing up ignorant
  of their heritage, but about to come into their full
  powers as adults. Both possibilities are among the
  modern world's minor nightmares.
  Helot Upgrade -12 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: None.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Disease-Resistant
  [5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Staid [-1];
  Weak Will -2 [-16].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Taboo Traits
  (Aggressiveness, Genetic Defects, Mental
  Instability, Unattractiveness).
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2080. Cost: $25,000.
  Sometimes called "Social Man," the Helot genetic
  template was developed in the TSA bloc about
  2080. Its supporters claim that the upgrade makes
  human beings much better able to live in a
  crowded urban civilization, reducing aggressive
  and selfish impulses without curtailing overall
  intelligence. Detractors point out that these traits
  are exactly what a would-be ruling elite would
  desire, making the human population more docile
  and tractable.
  In fact, several recent experiments with
  totalitarianism have used the Helot genotype in an
  attempt to prevent popular uprisings. The
  outcome of the experiment is unclear, since the
  first Helot cohorts are only now reaching
  adulthood. About 250,000 Helots exist today, most
  of them in central Africa, southeast Asia,
  Indonesia and Peru. Elsewhere Helots are few,
  since the genotype is unpopular among parents
  who have a choice of genetic template for their
  children.
  Helot II: A more elaborate version of the Helot
  genotype is rumored to have been developed by
  TSA scientists just before the Transpacific War.
  This template involved a complete restoration of
  the vestigial human vemeronasal organ, allowing
  the variant form to be strongly influenced by
  pheromones. The nanosocialist elite planned to use
  dominance and sexual pheromones as a tool of
  political control, and people with the "Helot II"
  genotype would have been particularly vulnerable
  to such an attack. The program was aborted by
  the war, but rumor has it that Indonesia and
  Malaysia continue to work toward implementing
  it within their own populations. The Helot II
  upgrade would have been similar to the original
  template, but with the addition of DX +1 [10] and
  four more levels of Weak Will (Only against
  pheromonal control, -75%) [-8]. The overall point
  cost would be -10 points, and the monetary cost
  still $25,000.
  Kouros Parahuman 32 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: IQ+1 [10];
  HT+1 [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Disease-Resistant
  [5]; Hermaphromorph [2]; Language Talent +4
  [8]; Light Menses [1]; Longevity [5]; No Appendix
  [0]; Reproductive Control [2]; Sanitized
  Metabolism [5]; Versatile [5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Attentive [-1];
  Combat Paralysis [-15]; Unnatural Feature [-5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Taboo Traits
  (Aggressiveness, Genetic Defects, Mental
  Instability). Facial features and body shape are
  strongly distinctive, but not recognizable as either
  masculine or feminine.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2082. Cost: $82,000.
  Cultural struggles over "gender politics" have
  often bred extremism, such as that which gave rise
  to the Ariadne parahuman design (p. 00). One
  response to the gender wars has been to withdraw
  from the field of combat entirely. For example,
  members of the "asexual" movement of the 2060s
  used bodysculpting and other techniques to
  remove all sexual characteristics, expressing not
  only a rejection of gender politics but a rejection
  of gender itself. In the early 2080s a variation of
  this ideology gave rise to the Kouros-series design.
  Kouros parahumans are true functional
  hermaphrodites, able to perform either the male
  or female role in sex or reproduction. Indeed, a
  Kouros can reproduce alone, effectively cloning
  itself. The physical appearance of a Kouros is
  distinctive and not in any sense androgynous.
  Facial features and body shape were each
  designed to be significantly different from either
  male or female norms. The result is sometimes
  considered attractive but is often disturbing to
  non-Kouros humans.
  
  110
  In an attempt to give the Kouros a distinctive
  mindset that was neither "masculine" or
  "feminine," the designers concentrated on
  creativity and communication skills. One
  unplanned side effect is a breakdown in
  emergency-response reflexes, which often causes
  the Kouros to "freeze" in stressful situations. The
  oldest cohorts of the new subspecies have reached
  adulthood, and have almost universally avoided
  military service (but are showing some promise in
  linguistics, diplomacy and the creative arts). There
  are about 50,000 Kouros in the world at present.
  Mahatma Upgrade 44 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: DX+1 [10];
  HT+1 [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Attractive [5];
  Autotrance [5]; Composed [5]; Disease-Resistant
  [5]; Longevity [5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Attentive [-1].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Taboo Traits
  (Genetic Defects).
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2057. Cost: $69,000.
  One of the earliest genetic templates designed to
  fulfill a human ideal, the Mahatma upgrade first
  became popular in the late 2050s. Research dating
  back to the turn of the century revealed that
  certain kinds of "religious" experience had an
  identifiable neurological basis. Based on the
  Alpha-series upgrade, the Mahatma received
  careful adjustments to brain structure and
  neurochemistry, making them particularly open to
  this kind of mystic insight.
  Mahatmas are emotionally stable, and good at
  tasks that require concentration. These traits
  alone would make the template popular, since they
  significantly improve chances of success in the
  classroom or workplace. Mahatmas are also prone
  to certain altered states of consciousness, from
  simple meditative calm to a deep identity-blurring
  trance.
  There are about 5 million Mahatmas today,
  working in a variety of professions. They do seem
  statistically more likely to be openly devout, or to
  follow a religious profession. On the other hand,
  their greater sensitivity to mystic experience does
  not seem to lead them toward any one specific
  ideology. Statistically, Mahatmas tend to have the
  same religious backgrounds as those around them.
  Sigma Parahuman 70 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: DX+1 [10];
  IQ+2 [20]; HT-1 [-10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Enhanced Time
  Sense [45]; Lightning Calculator [5];
  Mathematical Ability [10]; Reduced Sleep [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Attentive [-1];
  Overconfidence [-10]; Stuttering (Super-fast
  speech, no penalty when speaking with others with
  Enhanced Time Sense, -10%) [-9].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Taboo Trait (Genetic
  Defects).
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2079. Cost: $120,000.
  One branch of the Transhumanist movement was
  led by the "cyberprophets," pop-culture
  philosophers who claimed that the ultimate end of
  human evolution would be in communion with
  machine intelligence. To that end, in the early
  2070s they commissioned the Pandora parahuman
  design (p. BIO51) in an attempt to build humans
  who could think as quickly as a sophisticated AI.
  The Pandoras were a mixed success at best, so the
  sponsors attracted considerable controversy when
  they purchased the Sigma design as an extension
  of the Pandora template. Despite the cloud over
  their conception, the first Sigmas have reached
  adulthood and are showing promise as scientists,
  engineers and Web managers. There are about
  80,000 Sigmas.
  The emphasis of the Sigma design is on cognitive
  speed and mathematical ability. The speed of
  information processing across neurons has been
  increased, and the brain's structure has been
  modified to grant greater mathematical and
  abstract-reasoning ability. An unplanned but
  desirable side effect has been to make almost all
  Sigmas lightning calculators. Modifications to the
  brain's sleep centers have enabled the variant type
  to get by with very little sleep for days on end.
  Unfortunately, all these modifications to the brain
  have led to borderline mental instability. Further,
  the interface to the brain's speech centers has still
  not been perfected. While Sigmas do not exactly
  stutter, they have great difficulty slowing their
  speech patterns down when conversing with non-
  Sigmas, and this has much the same effect.
  Earth-Based Bioroid Models
  There are dozens of specialized bioroid models in
  production on Earth. Some of the more common
  examples follow.
  Hecate -1 point
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: ST+2 [20];
  HT+2 [20].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Bioroid Body [0];
  Breath-Holding 2 [4]; Discriminatory Smell [15];
  Extra Encumbrance [5]; Filter Lungs [5];
  Immunity to Poison [10]; Nictating Membrane 1
  [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Self-Destruct [-
  20]; Selfless [-10]; Short Lifespan 5 [-50];
  Unattractive [-5]; Unnatural Feature [-5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Transgenic Features
  (hairless, bright lemon-yellow skin, eyes with
  nictating membrane, thick muscles around the
  mouth and nose).
  
  111
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2093. Cost: $50,000.
  The Hecate model is designed to work on the
  cleanup of hazardous materials, especially in cases
  where human-level initiative and intelligence are
  required. They can enter hazardous areas with
  minimal protective equipment, sensing directly
  what toxins are present in the area. They can
  analyze the situation and act when standard
  hazmat cybershells fail. Hecate bioroids are
  almost immune to poisons, although corrosives
  and certain bioactive chemicals can still damage
  them. Since they are unlikely to survive long in
  any case, Hecates are designed with very short
  active lifespan.
  The Hecate model is widely considered a moral
  abomination, even in nations which accord
  bioroids no civil rights. Institutions which use
  them are likely to suffer protests and other forms
  of bad publicity.
  Spartan 65 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: ST+5 [60];
  HT+1 [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Bioroid Body [0];
  Combat Reflexes [15]; Extra Encumbrance [5];
  High Pain Threshold [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Self-Destruct [-
  20]; Short Lifespan 1 [-10]; Unattractive [-5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: None.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2084. Cost: $140,000.
  The Spartan is a typical high-end combat bioroid,
  with hormone-boosted muscles, reinforced
  skeleton, reduced pain response and sharpened
  reflexes for emergency situations. The most
  attractive feature of the Spartan is its ability to
  use heavy infantry support weapons alone,
  without needing mechanical or personal
  assistance. The Spartan model was developed in
  the United States, and is now widespread
  throughout the Americas. Versions of it can be
  found in China and have also been pirated by the
  nanosocialist states.
  Xenocop 68 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: DX+1 [10];
  IQ+1 [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Alertness +2 [10];
  Attractive [5]; Bioroid Body [0]; Combat Reflexes
  [15]; Extra Fatigue +3 [9]; Fit [5]; Hard to Kill +2
  [10]; Increased Speed 1 [25]; Voice [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Attentive [-1];
  Self-Destruct [-20]; Selfless [-10]; Short Lifespan 1
  [-10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Taboo Traits
  (Genetic Defects, Mental Instability,
  Unattractiveness).
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2089. Cost: $118,000.
  The Xenocop bioroid design is intended for police
  and paramilitary situations rather than open
  combat. Xenocops must be able to work within
  human communities, overcoming any anti-bioroid
  prejudice and making contacts with informants.
  When on patrol, they are alert, tough, and fast,
  able to run down most suspects in short order.
  Xenocops were first developed in the United
  States, but they have become popular in most
  bioroid-using nations. They are commonly
  employed by large police departments and private
  security firms.
  Uplifted Animals
  In recent years, the trend toward uplift of animal
  species has accelerated. Few observers have been
  able to keep track of all the existing uplift
  projects, the more so since some of them are being
  undertaken in secret. It is possible that every
  animal species of above-average intelligence is in
  the process of being raised to sentience. The
  following are some of the new species being
  produced on Earth today.
  Ganesh 301 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: ST +240
  (No fine manipulators on all ST above 15, -40%)
  [192]; DX+2 [20]; IQ-2 [-15]; HT+6 [80].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Acute Hearing +1
  [2]; Alertness +1 [5]; DR 4 [12]; Extra Flexibility
  (One limb) [5]; Extra Hit Points +22 [110]; Extra
  Reach (One limb) [10]; Less Sleep 4 [12]; PD 3
  [75]; Penetrating Call [5]; Peripheral Vision [15];
  Subsonic Speech [20].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Bad Grip [-10];
  Cannot Jump [0]; Chummy [-5]; Dull [-1];
  Horizontal [-10]; Inconvenient Size [-10];
  Increased Life Support 2 [-20]; Innumerate [-5];
  Mute [-25]; No Depth Perception [-10]; One Fine
  Manipulator [-15]; Reduced Dodge -7 [-105]; Slow
  Eater [-10]; Social Stigma (Valuable property) [-
  10]; Staid [-1]; Stress Atavism (Mild, uncommon)
  [-10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2081. Cost: $351,000.
  Ganeshes are uplifted Asian elephants. The name
  is in common use everywhere except in South
  Asia; Hindus consider it impious to refer to these
  genetic constructs by the name of a deity. In India,
  they are simply called "uplifted elephants." In any
  case, ganeshes have quickly become very popular
  work animals in much of Southeast Asia. They are
  very intelligent, hardworking, patient, and
  affectionate toward their handlers. Effective
  beasts of burden, they can assist intelligently with
  forestry, land reclamation, or construction jobs.
  Genetic engineering has reduced the size of the
  male ganesh's tusks until they are no longer
  effective as strikers (female ganeshes have no
  tusks at all). Other modifications raise the
  ganesh's trunk ST slightly, raise its IQ two points,
  and remove the Bestial and Presentient
  
  112
  disadvantages. Side effects include Stress Atavism,
  some reduction in sensory acuity, reduced
  robustness and reduced walking speed. All other
  advantages and disadvantages are those of wild
  elephants.
  Ganesh characters can raise their body ST by
  buying more ST using the No Fine Manipulators
  limitation. To raise their trunk ST, they can buy
  off the limitation from more of their natural ST.
  Monkey Plus -87 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: ST -7 [-60];
  DX +3 [30]; IQ -3 [-20]; HT +3 [30].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Acute Hearing +2
  [4]; Alertness +3 [15]; Brachiator [5]; Decreased
  Life Support [10]; Extra Arm (No attack) [5]; Fur
  [4]; Increased Speed [25].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Chummy [-5];
  Inconvenient Size [-15]; Innumerate [-10];
  Reduced Hit Points -7 [-35]; Semi-Upright [-5];
  Short Arms [-10]; Short Lifespan 2 [-20]; Sleepy
  (50% of the time) [-10]; Social Stigma (Valuable
  property) [-10]; Stuttering [-10]; Weakness (Cold
  temperatures, 1d damage per 30 minutes) [-10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2082. Cost: $50,000.
  Since the late 2070s, monkeys have become very
  popular pets in several Fifth Wave nations. The
  Monkey Plus template represents several nearly-
  identical varieties of uplifted monkey, designed to
  be curious, friendly household companions.
  The root stock for a Monkey Plus may be any of
  several varieties of New World monkey; capuchins
  and spider monkeys are the most popular.
  Engineering has made the monkey slightly larger
  and more robust, supporting a larger brain. IQ
  has been raised by 1, and the Bestial and
  Presentient disadvantages have been removed. A
  crude but workable voice box gives the Monkey
  Plus the ability to speak. All other traits are those
  of wild monkeys. The Monkey Plus template is
  probably too low in point value to make for a good
  PC, but uplifted monkeys do make good
  Dependents and low-point-value Allies.
  Neo-Pinniped 4 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: ST +3 (No
  Fine Manipulators, -40%) [18]; DX +2 [20]; IQ -2
  [-15]; HT +4 [45].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Acute Taste and
  Smell +2 [4]; Amphibious [10]; Combat Reflexes
  [15]; Early Maturation [5]; Enhanced Move
  (Swimming) [10]; Faz Sense (Underwater only, -
  30%) [7]; Fur [4]; Oxygen Storage [14]; Pressure
  Support [5]; Sharp Teeth [5]; 3D Spatial Sense
  [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Chummy [-5];
  Color Blindness [-10]; Distractible [-1]; Dull [-1];
  Horizontal [-10]; Inconvenient Size [-10];
  Increased Life Support [-10]; Innumerate [-5]; No
  Fine Manipulators [-30]; Reduced Move
  (Running) -3 [-15]; Short Arms [-10]; Short
  Lifespan 2 [-20]; Social Stigma (Valuable
  Property) [-10]; Stress Atavism (Mild, uncommon
  ) [-10]; Stuttering [-10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2079. Cost: $54,000.
  A neo-pinniped is an uplifted sea lion, usually
  from one of the North American species. They are
  employed for a variety of shallow-water tasks, by
  corporations as well as the U.S. and PRA navies.
  They are playful and independent creatures, but
  they can quickly learn to perform complex tasks
  and have meaningful conversation with humans.
  When not on duty, neo-pinniped groups are
  showing signs of developing a complex and alien
  culture of their own.
  Genetic engineering has increased the sea lion's
  natural IQ by 2 and removed the Bestial and
  Presentient disadvantages. A working voice box
  has been added, allowing the neo-pinniped to
  speak human language (indistinctly and with
  difficulty). Side effects include a loss of sensory
  acuity and mild Stress Atavism. All other traits
  are similar to those of wild sea lions.
  Cybershell Templates
  The following are two of the many cybershell
  types often encountered in the Fifth Wave nations.
  Cyberdog 114 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: DX+2 [20];
  HT+2 [20].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Acute Hearing +2
  [4]; Acute Taste and Smell +2 [4]; Absolute
  Direction (Uses GPS, -20%) [4]; Claws [15];
  Discriminatory Smell [25]; DR 2 [6]; Enhanced
  Move (Running) [10]; Extra Legs (Four legs) [5];
  Fur [4]; Machine Body [37]; Night Vision [10];
  Radio Speech (Radio and infrared, +20%) [30];
  Sharp Teeth [5].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Horizontal [-
  10]; Mistaken Identity [-5]; No Fine Manipulators
  [-30]; Reduced Hit Points -4 [-20]; Short Arms [-
  10]; Social Stigma (Valuable property) [-10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Complexity 5-7 small
  computer.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2063. Cost: $13,000 +
  computer.
  The Gemini Volksrobotics "Phydeaux" model is
  typical for cybershells designed to look and act
  like household pets. The cyberdog always has soft
  fur and appealing features, but doesn't need to
  specifically resemble a dog; the external styling
  can be made to match a very large cat, a fox, a
  bear cub, any other medium-sized mammal, even
  a fantasy creature. Internal machinery mimics the
  body heat, breathing, and pulse of a real animal,
  although a close examination will reveal the
  cyberdog's mechanical nature.
  
  113
  A cyberdog is often kept in homes that have
  children, acting as a guard, faithful companion
  and teacher. The internal AI can speak, or
  interface with household systems to provide
  complex visual displays. At night, the cyberdog's
  keen senses and sleepless nature make it a superb
  household guardian. 35 lbs., 3' long.
  Wingbot 153 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: ST -6 [-50];
  DX +4 [45]; HT +2 [20].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Absolute Direction
  (Uses GPS, -20%) [4]; Acute Vision +3 [6]; DR 3
  [9]; Enhanced Move 3 (Flight) [30]; Enhanced
  Move (Running) [10]; Filter Lungs [5]; Flesh
  Pockets (3 pounds capacity) (Machine, -60%) [5];
  Flight (Winged flight, small wings, -10%; Cannot
  hover, -15%) [30]; Gadget (Drug injector, LC 6)
  [5]; Machine Body [37]; Night Vision [10]; PD 2
  [50]; Peripheral Vision [15]; Radio Speech (Radio
  and laser, +40%) [35]; Telescopic Vision 2 [12];
  Weapon (Electroshocker, LC 5) [10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Dependency
  (Maintenance, common, monthly) [-5];
  Inconvenient Size [-15]; Limited Endurance (No
  more than six hours) [-10]; Mistaken Identity [-5];
  Mute [-25]; No Sense of Smell/Taste [-5]; Reduced
  Hit Points -10 [-50]; Social Stigma (Valuable
  property) [-10].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Complexity 5-7 small
  computer.
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Date: 2078. Cost: $24,000 +
  computer.
  The Kenzaki Robotics Tengu is a multipurpose
  cybershell, suitable for bodyguard, perimeter
  security, and microbot delivery functions. It is
  physically delicate and weak, but very fast even
  when confined to the ground. In the air, it can
  reach speeds of up to 80 miles per hour, its mobility
  limited only by the requirements of winged flight. It
  has two arms, with an electroshock device installed
  in one (treat as a shock glove, p. TS00) and a
  pneumatic drug injector in the other; these are
  generally used as nonlethal weapons in defense of
  the robot's owner. Cargo compartments in the body
  and each wing are designed to carry up to 3 pounds
  of microbots, which can be delivered by the
  cybershell in either walking or flying modes.
  If the wingbot stays on the ground, it can eke out its
  battery charge for up to 30 hours. The batteries are
  depleted after only about two hours of flight. 45 lbs.,
  3' long.
  Weblife
  Most forms of weblife are, almost by definition,
  examples of emergent intelligence. Weblife may be a
  "natural" evolution of the web, but this doesn't
  mean that human authorities appreciate its
  existence. Aside from a few digital creationists, most
  people regard weblife as a nuisance or an active
  threat. Complex weblife must usually cultivate
  stealth and subversive tactics in order to survive at
  all.
  Free Meme 17 points
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Attribute Modifiers: IQ-2 [-15].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Advantages: Doesn't Sleep [20];
  Eidetic Memory 1 (No skill bonus, -70%) [9];
  Enhanced Time Sense [45]; Lightning Calculator
  [5]; Mathematical Ability [10]; Racial Skill,
  Computer Hacking at IQ+3 [20]; Racial Skill,
  Computer Operation at IQ+3 [6]; Single-Minded
  [5]; Unaging (IQ only, -75%) [4]; Unfazeable [15].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Disadvantages: Clueless [-10];
  Dead Broke [-25]; Fanaticism [-15]; Hidebound [-
  5]; Low Empathy [-15]; Parasite [-15]; Staid [-1];
  Status -4 [-20]; Undiscriminating [-1].
  @TEXT-CSTATS:Features: Digital Mind; Taboo
  Trait (Self-Awareness); Complexity 4 program.
  This template represents some of the most complex
  free memes to be found in Earth's web. These
  strongly resemble low-level NAI systems, with
  several critical differences. They have no Extra Life
  advantage from digital backup (while they can be
  backed up with their host systems, they have no way
  to control when the backup will be activated). The
  Parasite disadvantage represents the free meme's
  dependence on an existing AI system of greater
  Complexity.
  Free memes exist to reproduce themselves and to
  spread a specific concept (the Fanaticism
  disadvantage represents this ideational obsession).
  By themselves they make poor PCs, but they might
  be useful as NPC allies. Also, a more complex
  Emergent Intelligence sometimes forms around the
  nucleus of a successful free meme.
  Gypsy Spirit variable
  A Gypsy Spirit is a sapient AI program which has
  taken up a nomadic existence on the web. To design
  such a character, begin with any LAI or SAI
  template with the Emergent Intelligence option, or
  with a Ghost Mind Emulation or Shadow Mind
  Emulation template. Then add Transference
  (Retains access to hardware's stored memory,
  +80%; only on sufficiently complex computers
  accessible over the network, -30%) [60] and Parasite
  [-15]. The final cost for the template increases by 45
  points.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Digital Transference
  @TEXT-BOX:Weblife characters (especially Gypsy
  Spirits) may have the Transference advantage (p.
  CI68). This represents the parasite infomorph's
  ability to partially assume the identity of a host AI.
  The rules mechanics for attributes, advantages and
  disadvantages are all as given for the standard
  Transference advantage.
  
  114
  When weblife takes over a host AI, it does not lose
  access to the victim's memories; those are stored in
  permanent media which the invader can use just as
  well as the host. As a result, the invader may
  acquire both Physical and Mental skills previously
  held by the host. The rules for skill acquisition
  remain the same. The invader must "forget"
  previously-held skills in order to free up points for
  the new ones. The new skills may be learned at no
  better than (host's level)-1. This feature makes
  Transference extremely powerful, as the parasite
  can now count on being able to mimic the host
  closely. Express it as "Retains access to hardware's
  stored memory" (+80%).
  This form of Transference uses a different
  mechanism for infection. Instead of "exchanging
  bodily fluids," the invading infomorph must
  successfully take over the target computer's AI
  operating system with Computer Hacking. The
  target computer's hardware must be complex
  enough to run the weblife character's program.
  Thus the Transference advantage comes with an
  Accessibility limitation: "Only on sufficiently
  complex computers accessible over the network" (-
  30%).
  The total cost of this form of Transference is 60
  points.
  (((END BOX)))
  
  115
  Technology
  BrainStorm cackled to himself. The federales were so
  smug, but they still didn't know from security. It had
  been simple to introduce a corruptor virus into a
  public web server operated by the Treasury
  Department. Now it was eating away at the server's
  defenses, even causing the AI to get careless and
  forgetful. Any minute now it would be time to launch
  the Safecracker exploit, and BrainStorm would own
  the box. How best to announce his coup to the world?
  Had to be smooth about it, or the elite would never
  recognize his win . . .
  Lost in his reverie, BrainStorm didn't immediately
  notice the flag his wearable had started raising in the
  periphery of his visual field. The NAI soon took
  stronger measures, causing the display wall in front
  of him to beep and flash red. What was going on?
  Oh, just a flood of email messages coming in. Some
  marketing spammer must be trying to fill out a quota.
  Brainstorm lit off his "get lost" autoreply software,
  wiped the queue and went back to watching the
  progress of his virus.
  It never occurred to him that he had just sent out a
  dozen messages stamped with his computer's
  authentication codes. Or that the software he had
  downloaded from the web to mask his codes was
  fatally flawed. Or that the U.S. Treasury Department
  might have the tools necessary to see through the
  tissue-thin deception. His subconscious mind toyed
  with the notion that the hack had been too easy, but
  he shrugged that off too. Everyone knew the federales
  were incompetent.
  Soon he heard the hum of motors in the driveway,
  and the firm knock on the door. By then, of course, it
  was too late.
  For the most part, the same technologies are used on
  Earth as anywhere else in the solar system; the items
  described in the Transhuman Space core book are all
  available. This chapter describes several
  technological features which are not unique to Earth,
  but which are much more common there than
  elsewhere.
  The Web
  The Earth web segment is by far the largest and most
  complex. The sheer density of information
  technology on Earth makes it a fertile environment
  for computer intruders. Even if "hacking" is much
  more difficult in 2100 than it was in 2000, the Earth
  web remains a very target-rich environment.
  Meanwhile, VR services are very common on Earth
  and make up a significant portion of the global
  economy. So-called "virtuality nodes" (p. 00) are a
  special kind of data service worthy of specific
  treatment.
  Intrusion Software
  These programs are useful in attempting to gain
  unauthorized access to computer systems. In most
  cases, intrusion software comes in different versions
  with varying Complexity. Some intrusion software is
  illegal, so the Legality Class (p. B249) of each
  program is given.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Intrusion Software Costs
  @TEXT-BOX:Unless stated otherwise, the price of
  any intrusion program is equal to that of a Skill Set
  program of the same Complexity. For convenience,
  the pertinent costs are reproduced here (extended
  downward for very simple programs):
  Skill Set Costs Table
  Complexity Cost
  1 $10
  2 $20
  3 $50
  4 $100
  5 $200
  6 $500
  7 $1,000
  8 $2,000
  9 $5,000
  (((END BOX)))
  Defense
  A Defense program performs intrusion detection on a
  given computer (p. 00). It is considered equivalent to
  a Computer Hacking skill set program, with skill
  equal to (8+Complexity), but can only be used to
  defend against intrusions (see Intrusion Attempts). An
  AI with Computer Hacking skill may not need a
  Defense program, but most "honest" AI will run
  Defense instead of consciously developing a skill that
  can be used for illegal purposes. LC 6.
  Active Defense: For +3 Complexity, a Defense
  program can be made an Active Defense. When an
  Active Defense program wins a Contest of Skill, it
  will insert a preselected Virus program into the
  intruder's computer (p. 00). The Complexity of this
  Virus must be less than that of the Active Defense
  program. LC 2.
  Disinfectant
  A Disinfectant program traps virus programs before
  they can infect the computer running it. A
  Disinfectant program has an effective skill in
  Computer Operation of (10+Complexity), which can
  only be used to detect viruses. Whenever a virus
  program enters the protected computer, roll a Quick
  Contest of Skill between the Disinfectant and the
  virus. If the virus wins, it goes undetected and can
  infect the computer normally. If the Disinfectant
  wins, the virus is destroyed before it can infect the
  protected computer. LC 6.
  
  116
  Virus Trap: A Disinfectant program can be designed
  to "trap" viruses rather than simply destroying them.
  This raises the Complexity of the program by 1. At
  the GM's option, Computer Programming skill can be
  used to study trapped viruses, gathering clues as to
  who wrote them and for what purpose. LC 3.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Intrusion Attempts
  @TEXT-BOX:Adventurers may want to break into a
  computer system, usually to steal information. The
  first requirement is access to the computer system
  itself, either directly through a terminal or across a
  network. A totally self-contained system cannot be
  penetrated from outside -- but few systems (except
  military command-and-control systems) are totally
  self-contained.
  @TEXT-BOX:In order to gain access through a
  terminal, the intruder must defeat any access control
  mechanisms that have been set up (p. 00). He must
  know any passwords, and be able to fool any
  biometric scanners on the terminal into thinking that
  he is a legitimate user. If trying to access a system
  across the network, the intruder must have access to
  the target's current encryption keys (p. 00). He should
  also subvert any authentication that is being applied,
  fooling the target into believing that he is operating
  from a computer system it is willing to interact with
  (p. 00).
  @TEXT-BOX:Once the intruder is accepted as a
  legitimate user of the system, he can try to gain
  access to its databases or programs. Some databases
  are open to any user, while others are defended.
  @TEXT-BOX:The intruder may wish to probe the
  target computer before trying to break into it. This
  requires a roll against Computer Hacking, and takes 1
  hour. If the intruder is working from one of the
  target's own terminals, he has a +4 to this roll.
  Success means that information has been gathered
  about the target's design and configuration, allowing
  the selection of an Exploit program matching the
  target. Failure means that he gathers no information.
  On a critical failure the probe is noticed, and the
  target's owner or AI may be warned of an upcoming
  attack.
  @TEXT-BOX:The actual attempt to break into a
  secure database or program also requires a roll
  against Computer Hacking. If the intruder is not
  running an appropriate Exploit program, this roll is at
  -6! Each attempt takes one hour. Success means that
  any defenses are unlocked, and the intruder is inside.
  If he was trying to break into a database, he can now
  alter, erase, insert or retrieve information. If he was
  trying to get into an existing program, he can now
  attempt to alter it. Failure means that nothing
  happens, but the intruder can try again. On a critical
  failure the attack is noticed.
  @TEXT-BOX:If the target computer is running a
  Defense program, or has an AI system with
  Computer Hacking skill, then each probe or attack
  attempt becomes a Quick Contest of Skills. If the
  target wins one of these Quick Contests, then the
  intruder automatically fails in what he was
  attempting, and the target may be able to trace the
  intrusion back to its source. In most cases, the trace
  will only reveal the identity claimed by the intruder
  using authentication procedures. The GM may permit
  additional Computer Hacking rolls by the intended
  victim to see through this deception.
  (((END BOX)))
  Exploit
  An exploit program is designed to take advantage of a
  specific vulnerability known to exist on a target
  computer system. A properly-designed exploit
  program is almost required for a successful break-in
  attempt (see Intrusion Attempts). The exploit program
  always runs on a computer that is under the intruder's
  control, but its Complexity must always be exactly
  one less than that of the target computer.
  Exploit programs targeting vulnerabilities that are not
  yet publicly known are called zero-day exploits.
  These will give the intruder a +2 bonus to his
  Computer Hacking roll to break in. Zero-day exploit
  programs can cost 10 or more times the base price,
  but usually only provide the bonus for a few days
  once they are developed. After that, the vulnerability
  becomes known and potential targets begin
  eliminating it. Once this happens, the exploit program
  will still allow an intruder to work without a penalty
  to Computer Hacking, but it will no longer grant a
  bonus.
  Exploit programs are LC 3 if Complexity is 3 or less,
  LC 2 if Complexity is 4-5, and LC 1 if Complexity is
  6 or higher.
  Security
  A Security program is assigned to a particular
  database or other program in the computer, to protect
  it against unauthorized access. AI operating systems
  are often protected by security programs, but they can
  be set to guard other software as well. A Complexity
  2 security program imposes a penalty of -8 on any
  Computer Hacking attempt against the protected
  software. Add a further -1 to the penalty for each
  point of higher Complexity. LC 6.
  Virus
  A virus program attaches itself to other software,
  reproducing itself and making changes to the host
  computer when the software is run. If an infected
  program is loaded onto a computer, or is inserted into
  the system using an Active Defense program, all
  programs on the computer will become infected (and
  can pass the virus along is they are copied). A virus
  program has an effective skill in Computer Operation
  of (10+Complexity), which can only be used to
  activate its preset function. The virus program must
  be able to run on the target computer.
  
  117
  The normal way to use a virus is to send it to the
  target computer, attached to data or software that
  appears legitimate. If one of the target's users (or the
  AI) runs the software, then the virus will infect the
  target. Some time after infection (the delay is set by
  the designer of the virus) the program activates. Roll
  for its Computer Operation skill to see if it
  successfully takes effect.
  It is not usually illegal to be in possession of a copy
  of virus software (after all, that can happen as the
  result of being victimized by it). Writing new viruses,
  or deliberately releasing them into the web, is illegal
  in most jurisdictions (LC 1).
  There are several main categories of virus. Any virus
  used by an intruder may have one of the following
  functions.
  Corrupt Virus: These viruses make small random
  changes to information stored on the infected
  computer. Any skill rolls depending on stored data
  (including all skill rolls made by the target's AI
  system) will be at -4.
  Destroyer Virus: These viruses cause the target
  computer to damage itself physically. Any moving
  parts (such as disk storage) must be replaced, and
  some data may be lost.
  Editor Virus: An Editor virus searches out and
  changes specific pieces of information stored on an
  infected computer. The desired changes can't be too
  complex. Replacing all instances of one name with
  another is reasonable, as is inserting or deleting a
  small file. The Complexity of an Editor virus is raised
  by 1.
  Format Virus: These viruses simply erase everything
  that has been stored on the computer. All databases
  and programs are lost. Any AI system running on the
  computer must make a roll against its IQ; on a failure
  it acquires the Amnesia disadvantage, while on a
  critical failure it is destroyed.
  Sniffer Virus: The virus can subvert the target
  computer, causing it to store records of its owner's
  activities and transmit those back to the user of the
  virus. The Complexity of a Sniffer virus is raised by
  1.
  Trojan: A Trojan creates a "back door" on the
  infected computer, granting a +4 to any future
  Computer Hacking roll to gain access if the intruder
  knows the vulnerability is there. In most cases, a
  Trojan virus will send a short message back to its
  designer or user, informing him that the target has
  been successfully infected. The Complexity of a
  Trojan virus is raised by 1.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Developing Intrusion Software
  @TEXT-BOX:A great deal of intrusion software is
  custom-built, especially the Exploit and Virus
  programs used in attacks. Intrusion experts who can
  quickly analyze the vulnerabilities of a target system
  and develop attack tools for it can command a very
  high wage.
  @TEXT-BOX:To write intrusion software (or any
  other custom programs), use the New Invention rules
  (p. B186 or p. CI125), using Computer Programming
  instead of Engineer, with a skill penalty equal to the
  Complexity of the program rather than -15. A
  "flawed theory" during the conception phase means
  that the end product is guaranteed not to work, but
  the GM should report a successful "working model"
  roll anyway. In this case, the developer will not know
  that the software is flawed until he tries it for the first
  time in a real attack. Critical failures during the
  "working model" phase of development are not likely
  to cause lab explosions, but they may damage the
  developer's computer.
  (((END BOX)))
  Virtuality Services
  The following rates are typical for services from a
  virtuality node (p. 00).
  Virtuality Node Account: Allows a customer to
  access node services and rent virtual spaces for his
  own use. The account itself is usually about
  $2/month, but this only buys minimal service. Most
  VR environments maintained by the node are covered
  by a fee-for-service system.
  Virtual conference room: $1/hour per 10 participants.
  Virtual shopping mall: $1/hour per 5 customers or
  service representatives. Customers generally are not
  charged for visiting virtual malls; the costs they incur
  are assumed by merchants in their own fee structure.
  Virtual cruise: $1/hour per participant (minimum).
  Elaborate or exclusive "cruises" can be up to $5/hour
  per participant.
  Digital kingdom access: $2/hour (minimum). Small,
  exclusive digital kingdoms run by famous artists can
  cost up to $20/hour to access. Players who attain
  positions of power within the simulation can
  sometimes have their fees reduced in return for their
  contribution to ongoing plots. Some players even
  become managing artists themselves, earning an
  income from their participation.
  Vehicles
  There is a bewildering variety of transportation
  available in the Fifth Wave societies. This section
  describes some of the most common civilian vehicles
  that might be used by adventurers.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Fuels
  @TEXT-BOX:The great era of fossil fuels has long
  since passed -- although petroleum-based fuels are
  still available, they are too expensive for everyday
  use. In any case, environmental regulations have
  caused most Earthside civilian transport to switch to
  alcohol fuels. These are produced by high-yield grain
  crops and cheap biotech-enhanced fermentation
  processes. Many short-range or low-performance
  vehicles use hydrogen fuels, or run exclusively on
  
  118
  battery power. Vehicles may also use fission or even
  fusion power, but this is usually restricted to large
  ocean-going vessels.
  @TEXT-BOX:On Earth in 2100, fuel prices per
  gallon average as follows (see p. VE90 for more
  details).
  Fuel Table
  Fuel Cost
  Alcohol $0.4
  Aviation Gas $7
  Diesel $4
  Gasoline $5
  Jet Fuel $10
  (((END BOX)))
  Alvarez Motors Oruga Off-Road
  Vehicle
  The Oruga is a typical multipurpose vehicle, fully
  functional on the highway but also capable of
  reaching isolated wilderness settlements. It and
  similar models are very popular in outback regions
  worldwide. Aside from the crew and passenger seats,
  the ORV has two bunks for increased comfort.
  @VEHICLE:Subassemblies: Body (+4), six off-road
  wheels (+2).
  @VEHICLE:P&P: 150-kW turbo ceramic engine,
  150-kW wheeled drivetrain with all-wheel drive, and
  1,080,000 kWS energy bank.
  @VEHICLE:Fuel/End: 130-gallon self-sealing
  alcohol fuel tank provides 24 hours, 4 minutes of full-
  power output from ceramic engine. Energy bank can
  provide drivetrain power for 2 hours, and otherwise
  powers all auxiliary systems.
  @VEHICLE-2:Occupancy: 1 NCS, 3 NS (and see
  above). Cargo: 100 cf.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE-6:Armor F RL B T U
  @VEHICLE-6:All: 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/8 3/8
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE:Equipment
  @VEHICLE:Body: Long-range radio with cell
  phone, transponder, civilian GPS system, 0.1-mile
  radar (no targeting, surface search, forward arc),
  small cheap Complexity 5 computer, environmental
  control system, 4 crashwebs.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE:Statistics
  @VEHICLE-3:Size: 12' long. Payload: 3,950 lbs.
  Lwt.: 8,160 lbs.
  @VEHICLE-3:Volume: 570 cf. Maint.: 64 hours.
  Price: $98,490.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE-6:HT: 12/600. HP: 600 [Body] 63 [each
  Wheel]
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE-5:gSpeed: 110 gAccel: 5 gDecel: 20
  gMR: 1.5 gSR: 5
  @VEHICLE:Moderate GP. Off-road speed: 37.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE:Design Notes
  The ORV features a standard structure.
  Volumes/areas are body 475 cf/400 sf, wheels 95
  cf/125 sf. The body includes 2 cf of waste space.
  Armor is standard metal.
  Civilian Smartcar
  This design is for a typical personal automobile in the
  Fifth Wave nations. Automotive design philosophy
  has changed considerably in the last century. Most
  people use their cars only occasionally -- but when
  they do, they want to get where they are going
  quickly. Thus the typical modern "smartcar" performs
  about as well as a fast sports car of 2000. In most
  jurisdictions, it is illegal to approach the smartcar's
  maximum speed while under manual control; instead,
  the car's AI drives while in constant contact with
  local traffic-control systems. This suits most drivers,
  who feel safer knowing that their vehicle (and
  everyone else's) is under computer control.
  Naturally, an AI-controlled car offers many other
  conveniences. It can be told to find itself a parking
  space (paying any fee out of the owner's credit
  account), it can be called for a pickup over the web, it
  never gets lost or takes an inefficient route, it can
  avoid snarls by consulting with traffic control, and so
  on.
  @VEHICLE:Subassemblies: Body (+3), four
  standard wheels (+1).
  @VEHICLE:P&P: 100-kW ceramic engine, 100-kW
  wheeled drivetrain, and 360,000 kWS energy bank.
  @VEHICLE:Fuel/End: 50-gallon self-sealing
  alcohol fuel tank provides 13 hours, 53 minutes of
  full-power output from ceramic engine. Energy bank
  can provide drivetrain power for 1 hour, and
  otherwise powers all auxiliary systems.
  @VEHICLE-2:Occupancy: 1 NCS, 3 CS. Cargo: 28
  cf.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE-6:Armor F RL B T U
  @VEHICLE-6:All: 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE:Equipment
  @VEHICLE:Body: Medium-range radio with cell
  phone, transponder, civilian GPS system, 0.1-mile
  radar (no targeting, surface search, forward arc),
  small cheap Complexity 5 computer, environmental
  control system, 4 crashwebs.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE:Statistics
  @VEHICLE-3:Size: 8.5' long. Payload: 1,650 lbs.
  Lwt.: 2,980 lbs.
  @VEHICLE-3:Volume: 180 cf. Maint.: 120 hours.
  Price: $27,760.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE-6:HT: 12/150. HP: 150 [Body] 15 [each
  Wheel]
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  
  119
  @VEHICLE-5:gSpeed: 150 gAccel: 5 gDecel: 20
  gMR: 1.75 gSR: 5
  @VEHICLE:High GP. Off-road speed: 25.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE:Design Notes
  The smartcar features a light standard structure with
  fair streamlining. Volumes/areas are body 163.6
  cf/200 sf, wheels 16.4 cf/40 sf. The body includes
  1.35 cf of waste space. Armor is standard metal.
  Columbia Aerospace CA-11 Long-
  Range Personal Aircraft
  The CA-11 is a passenger aircraft popular with small
  to mid-sized corporations and wealthy individuals. It
  has an operational range of about 3,950 miles
  between refueling stops, more than sufficient to cross
  the North American continent or to visit Europe or
  Hawaii. With one or two stops almost any destination
  on Earth can be reached. The aircraft's ducted-fan
  engines are driven by a gas turbine rigged to burn
  cheap, relatively clean alcohol fuel. The CA-11 is
  capable of VTOL performance, and can even land or
  take off from the water.
  The pilot uses Piloting (High-Performance Airplance)
  skill. The vehicle has computerized controls (with a
  duplicate control set for a co-pilot). With a skilled AI
  loaded into the onboard computer, the CA-11 can fly
  itself. Accomodations include 8 man-days of limited
  life support.
  @VEHICLE:Subassemblies: Body (+5), two
  standard wings (+3), retractable wheels in body (+2).
  @VEHICLE:P&P: Four 2,000-kW ducted fans in
  vectored-thrust configuration, one 8,000-kW standard
  gas turbine, and 288,000 kWS energy bank.
  @VEHICLE:Fuel/End: One 1,000-gallon and two
  275-gallon self-sealing alcohol fuel tanks provide 2
  hours, 56 minutes of full-power output from gas
  turbine.
  @VEHICLE-2:Occupancy: 2 RCS, 6 RS. Cargo:
  120 cf.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE-6:Armor F RL B T U
  @VEHICLE-6:All: 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE:Equipment
  @VEHICLE:Body: Long-range radio with cell
  phone, transponder, civilian GPS system, terrain-
  following radar, 10-mile radar (no targeting, forward
  arc), fire extinguisher system, vehicular parachute,
  small Complexity 6 computer, 8 crashwebs.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE:Statistics
  @VEHICLE-3:Size: 35' long. Payload: 12,990 lbs.
  Lwt.: 31,470 lbs.
  @VEHICLE-3:Volume: 1,750 cf. Maint.: 6.6 hours.
  Price: $9.075 million.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE-6:HT: 9/600. HP: 600 [Body] 197 [each
  Wing] 63 [each Wheel]
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE-5:gSpeed: 400 gAccel: 20 gDecel: 15
  gMR: 0.5 gSR: 3
  @VEHICLE:Extremely High GP. No off-road speed.
  @VEHICLE-5:wSpeed: 40 wAccel: 20 wDecel: 75
  wMR: 0.75 wSR: 7
  @VEHICLE-5:aSpeed: 1,345 aAccel: 20 aDecel: 18
  aMR: 4.5 aSR: 5
  @VEHICLE:Stall speed 0.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE:Design Notes
  The CA-11 features a light expensive structure with
  superior streamlining. Volumes/areas are body 1,400
  cf/800 sf, wings 140 cf/263 sf, wheels 70 cf/125 sf.
  The body includes 6 cf of waste space, while each
  wing includes 0.6 cf of waste space. Armor is
  expensive metal. Typical drag is 133.
  Eurospatiale Dumont Airbus
  The Dumont airbus is the most popular "commuter"
  aircraft in Europe and the Americas. It is cheap and
  efficient, very popular among local airlines and small
  corporations. In the Americas, many Isolate
  communities which have poor road connections to
  the outside world maintain an airbus for occasional
  trips to civilization.
  The Dumont has an operational range of about 1,500
  miles between refueling stops. The aircraft's ducted-
  fan engines are driven by a gas turbine rigged to burn
  cheap, relatively clean alcohol fuel. The airbus is
  capable of VTOL performance, and can land or take
  off from the water.
  The pilot uses Piloting (Vertol) skill. The vehicle has
  computerized controls (with a duplicate control set
  for a co-pilot). With a skilled AI loaded into the
  onboard computer, the airbus can fly itself.
  Accomodations include 12 man-days of limited life
  support.
  @VEHICLE:Subassemblies: Body (+5), four pods
  (+1), retractable wheels in body (+2).
  @VEHICLE:P&P: Four 1,500-kW ducted fans in
  vectored-thrust configuration, one 6,000-kW standard
  gas turbine, and 288,000 kWS energy bank.
  @VEHICLE:Fuel/End: One 840-gallon self-sealing
  alcohol fuel tank provides 2 hours, 7 minutes of full-
  power output from gas turbine.
  @VEHICLE-2:Occupancy: 2 RCS, 10 CS. Cargo:
  130 cf.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE-6:Armor F RL B T U
  @VEHICLE-6:All: 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE:Equipment
  @VEHICLE:Body: Long-range radio with cell
  phone, transponder, civilian GPS system, terrain-
  following radar, 10-mile radar (no targeting, forward
  arc), fire extinguisher system, vehicular parachute,
  small Complexity 6 computer, 12 crashwebs.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  
  120
  @VEHICLE:Statistics
  @VEHICLE-3:Size: 35' long. Payload: 9,872 lbs.
  Lwt.: 24,000 lbs.
  @VEHICLE-3:Volume: 1,200 cf. Maint.: 26 hours.
  Price: $586,200.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE-6:HT: 10/600. HP: 600 [Body] 50 [each
  Pod] 50 [each Wheel]
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE-5:gSpeed: 395 gAccel: 20 gDecel: 10
  gMR: 0.5 gSR: 3
  @VEHICLE:Extremely High GP. No off-road speed.
  @VEHICLE-5:wSpeed: 40 wAccel: 20 wDecel: 50
  wMR: 0.5 wSR: 7
  @VEHICLE-5:aSpeed: 735 aAccel: 20 aDecel: 10
  aMR: 2.5 aSR: 4
  @VEHICLE:Stall speed 0.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE:Design Notes
  The Dumont features a light expensive structure with
  good streamlining. Volumes/areas are body 1,067
  cf/800 sf, pods 20 cf/50 sf, wheels 53.3 cf/100 sf. The
  body includes 5.1 cf of waste space, while each pod
  includes 1.5 cf of waste space. Armor is expensive
  metal. Typical drag is 333.
  Verodyne Sea Skimmer Luxury
  Hydrofoil
  The Sea Skimmer is designed as luxury craft, suitable
  for wealthy patrons who enjoy traveling the world by
  sea. Accomodations include 10 cabins and a 200-sf
  common room. The bridge is particularly roomy and
  well-appointed, with an extra 320 cf of access space.
  There are four bridge stations, two of which have
  duplicate maneuver controls (the other two manage
  the sensors and navigation).
  @VEHICLE:Subassemblies: Body (+7), hydrofoils
  (+5).
  @VEHICLE:P&P: Two 4,000-kW hydrojets, one
  8,000-kW standard gas turbine, and 720,000 kWS
  energy bank.
  @VEHICLE:Fuel/End: Four 3,250-gallon self-
  sealing alcohol fuel tanks provide 24 hours, 37
  minutes of full-power output from gas turbine.
  @VEHICLE-2:Occupancy: 4 RCS (and see above).
  Cargo: 400 cf.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE-6:Armor F RL B T U
  @VEHICLE-6:All: 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE:Equipment
  @VEHICLE:Body: Long-range radio with cell
  phone, transponder, civilian GPS system, 5-mile
  radar (surface search, no targeting, forward arc), 1-
  mile active sonar, precision navigation instruments,
  fire extinguisher system, environmental control
  system, small Complexity 6 computer.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE:Statistics
  @VEHICLE-3:Size: 50' long. Payload: 87,400 lbs.
  Lwt.: 166,180 lbs.
  @VEHICLE-3:Volume: 14,500 cf. Maint.: 16 hours.
  Price: $1.571 million.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE-6:HT: 9/3,000. HP: 3,000 [Body] 750
  [Hydrofoils]
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE-5:wSpeed: 150 wAccel: 20 wDecel:2.5
  wMR: 0.25 wSR: 7
  @VEHICLE:Draft 4.4 feet.
  @VEHICLE-SPACE:
  @VEHICLE:Design Notes
  The Sea Skimmer features a light standard structure.
  The hydrodynamic hull has average lines.
  Volumes/areas are body 12,610 cf/4,000 sf,
  hydrofoils 1,890 cf/1,000 sf. The body includes 186
  cf of waste space, while the hydrofoils include 1,410
  cf of waste space. Armor is standard metal. Typical
  hydrodynamic drag is 302.
  
  121
  Campaigns
  Transhuman Space can at times be an overwhelming
  environment, almost too rich in options to provide a
  well-focused and enjoyable game. This chapter
  attempts to provide a starting point for Earth-based
  campaigns.
  Tone and Style
  There is no "default style" for an Earth-based
  campaign, but the following suggestions may provide
  inspiration.
  Life in the Fast Lane
  Keep the pace up. Events take place very quickly,
  and (with technological help) people are used to
  reacting with the same speed. Technological and
  social change are constant. Aside from fringers and
  Isolates, everyone on the Fifth Wave is constantly
  being bombarded by data and memes.
  The Cosmopolitan World
  Adventures on Earth should take advantage of the
  cosmopolitan nature of Fifth Wave society. Although
  national borders are still relevant, they are rarely
  obstacles to human activity. Even ordinary citizens
  can expect to travel overseas on a regular basis, while
  adventurers will do so constantly. PCs should be
  drawn from a variety of nationalities, and their
  adventures should take them all around the world.
  When they're not traveling, they can be interacting
  with citizens of other nations through the web.
  Everyone's Different
  Eleven billion people are within reach, and every one
  of them is unique. Every NPC the party meets should
  have features distinguishing him from every other.
  These can include nationality, ethnic origins,
  genotype, the presence or absence of biomods, age
  (and therefore generational background),
  relationships with infomorphs, ideology, religious
  beliefs, preferred clothing styles, choices of leisure
  activity, and even favorite foods.
  Complexity is Your Friend
  The world of 2100 considerably larger and more
  complex than that of 2000. There is room for any
  theme and any style of play; indeed, there is room for
  multiple themes and many styles of play in the same
  campaign. Use that complexity to make your
  campaign constantly fresh. Whenever you've used the
  same adversary or plot device too many times, you
  can always take things in a completely new direction.
  A corollary of the setting's complexity is that
  individual adventurers will rarely be in a position to
  affect Earth as a whole. Don't feel obligated to give
  the PCs too much influence. Their struggles will
  certainly be important to them, but the homeworld
  will muddle along regardless. There are no Master
  Villains scheming to conquer the world, no Insidious
  Plots likely to transform it -- only eleven billion
  people, some of them admittedly quite remarkable,
  going about their daily business.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Not Your Father's Cyberpunk
  @TEXT-BOX:The Transhuman Space setting
  shares some conventions of the "cyberpunk" style:
  transnational economic and political blocs, dense
  information networks (including a rich virtual
  reality), technological alteration of the human mind
  and body, the diversification of humanity. This
  shouldn't be a surprise; although cyberpunk has
  declined as a literary fad, its style and conventions
  continue to drive much modern science fiction.
  @TEXT-BOX:Of course, there are several important
  differences between the Earth of Transhuman Space
  and that portrayed in most cyberpunk fiction.
  Although there is a place for a "punk" sensibility in
  the setting -- plenty of people are young, streetwise,
  and alienated -- that theme isn't dominant. The Earth
  of 2100 is a complex and multifaceted environment,
  with room for every conceivable personal or cultural
  style.
  @TEXT-BOX:Meanwhile, the picture of Earth
  portrayed here is essentially an optimistic one.
  Certainly, technological and social change has not
  always been for the better, and there is plenty of
  conflict in the setting. Still, there is a distinct sense
  that for all its problems, the human condition is no
  longer one of tragic futility.
  @TEXT-BOX:Naturally, GMs running campaigns on
  Earth are free to portray the setting as they please.
  For those wanting greater moral ambiguity, the
  upcoming Broken Dreams should provide plenty of
  ideas.
  (((END BOX)))
  Campaign Seeds
  Several campaign themes are particularly appropriate
  for an Earth-based campaign.
  Politics
  Politics makes the world go round, in the transhuman
  era just as in any other. Many campaigns can center
  around international diplomacy, national politics, or
  corporate intrigue.
  Setting up a campaign in which the PCs are
  politicians is a considerable challenge. Real political
  leaders have considerable power, but they are not the
  kind of people who go on adventures. Instead,
  perhaps one of the group can be a political leader,
  while the others are aides, police or media contacts,
  allied military officers, and so on. Set a political
  mystery to investigate or a crisis to solve, in which
  the group's diverse skills and interests can come into
  play.
  
  122
  Alternatively, none of the PCs can be political
  leaders. Instead, the adventurers are all figures
  involved with a government, dealing with the
  situations caused by political maneuvering at the
  highest level. Perhaps the group shares a Patron who
  is himself a political figure, or perhaps the PCs are
  out for their own advantage. Such a campaign begins
  to resemble an Espionage situation, with the targets
  being rival leaders, political conspirators, rebels, and
  so on.
  Espionage
  Earth is full of secrets, and the PCs are just the ones
  to ferret them out. All kinds of intelligence activity
  take place on earth: diplomatic or military espionage
  between nation-states, infiltration of organized crime
  groups, corporations trying to steal trade secrets, and
  so on.
  For a realistic campaign, the operators should be
  employed, directly or indirectly, by a specific
  corporation or intelligence agency. The campaign
  should most likely be serial in nature, following the
  exploits of the group as it pursues fixed long-term
  goals. A more episodic and cinematic approach can
  involve transhuman "super-spies," who span the
  globe rooting out earth-shaking secrets and foiling
  the schemes of master villains.
  The spy's way of life has changed surprisingly little
  over the past century. Although technology has
  brought many new ways to ferret out technical
  secrets, the most important information is still locked
  away in human hearts and minds. Old-fashioned
  "human intelligence" is still critical, the kind that
  requires informants, undercover operation, and
  careful tradecraft.
  Despite its concentration on late 20th century
  spycraft, GURPS Espionage offers many insights in
  how to structure and manage a spy campaign.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Time Travel
  @TEXT-BOX:The Transhuman Space setting,
  especially Earth, is a fine destination for time
  travelers. It may even make a good base for
  chrononauts. Perhaps some experiment in high-
  energy physics has led to time-travel technology, and
  the discoverers are starting to explore (and tamper
  with) the past.
  @TEXT-BOX:Several of the campaign ideas from
  GURPS Time Travel could be adapted to this setting.
  Perhaps the Time Corps (p. TT48) is fighting against
  a Hive descended from one of the totalitarianisms of
  the 20th century. The Time Research Unit of In the
  Cube (p. TT67) could be placed at any major
  university of 2100. Finally, the Infinite Worlds
  campaign (p. TT83) is based in an "optimistic
  cyberpunk" setting which could almost be an early
  Transhuman Space world.
  @TEXT-BOX:The GM should remember that
  Transhuman Space characters are likely to have
  innate advantages as the result of biomod or implant
  technology. Also, weapons and general equipment
  are more advanced than the TL8 assumed in most of
  the GURPS Time Travel campaign seeds. This
  doesn't mean that the historical past can't present a
  challenge, but the GM may have to plan his
  adventures more carefully. Of course, maybe there
  are time travelers coming from the future as well.
  @TEXT-BOX:A somewhat weaker version of the
  time-travel adventure can involve virtualities
  designed as historical dramas (p. 00).
  (((END BOX)))
  Fortune Seekers
  When all else fails, you can always try to make
  money. Fifth Wave Earth is a place of great economic
  opportunity -- all you need is a good idea, some
  venture capital, and the willingness to take risks.
  The most likely premise for a fortune-seekers
  campaign is the small start-up firm, organized around
  some technical innovation. The group definitely
  needs one or two technologists ready to use the
  Invention rules (p. B186, or the more detailed version
  on p. CI125). An administrator and an advocate will
  be useful, to deal with money issues and the law. As
  soon as production starts, at least one security expert
  might come in handy. All of these will naturally
  come with infomorph allies, and some of the PCs
  might well be infomorphs.
  The GM shouldn't allow the campaign to bog down
  in too much recordkeeping. He should work with the
  players to come up with a business plan. This is a
  rough document describing how the PCs will
  proceed, what equipment they'll need, what expenses
  they can expect, how they'll market their products,
  and so on. The players should do most of the work
  here, with GM input presented through short role-
  playing episodes.
  The purpose of the business plan isn't to force players
  to spend all their game time in bookkeeping --
  instead, the business plan is a campaign plan for the
  GM. Once it's complete, he has a blueprint for the
  role-playing challenges he can throw at the players!
  During the following adventures, the GM should
  present complications and problems for the PCs to
  solve. The technology won't work quite correctly,
  hirelings will turn out to be liabilities, competitors
  will try to steal or stop the project, government
  regulators may interfere, some of the PCs may have
  personal problems, and so on. If the party succeeds,
  the business plan stays intact, and the GM can use it
  to hand out money rewards for the partners. If they
  fail, well, business is always a gamble . . .
  If the players aren't interested in this level of detail,
  an alternative is to allow them to play employees of a
  larger firm. The PCs may function as a smaller
  "business unit," guided by a corporate Patron and
  rewarded for their contributions. Just as in real life,
  
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  this offers the party greater security but less
  command over its own destiny.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Black Ops
  @TEXT-BOX:Okay, maybe the world just looks
  bright and optimistic, because the Men in Black are
  on the job. Or maybe the Company has long since
  stopped trying to win the war, and the world is in the
  hands of the Greys . . .
  @TEXT-BOX:GURPS Black Ops portrays a circa-
  2000 world in which every horrible conspiracy theory
  is true. Aliens are hiding on Earth and harvesting
  human beings while they prod us into developing
  starflight on their behalf. Nasty vermin infest out-of-
  the way places, including hordes of dog-sized
  cockroaches and brain-eating parasites. Vampires and
  werewolves feast on human flesh. Dinosaurs still live
  in remote areas and pose a threat to any human
  moving into their territory. Against all these threats
  stands the Company, a super-secret government
  agency that employs the world's best action heroes.
  Their job is to seek out the truth and kill it.
  @TEXT-BOX:At first glance, the Black Ops
  universe shares almost nothing with Transhuman
  Space. It's dark, gritty, and fantastic, substituting
  action-adventure for social speculation and
  technobabble for hard science. On the other hand,
  there's certainly plenty of room on the transhuman
  Earth for conspiracy theories. Strange monsters can
  result from genetic engineering gone awry, ending by
  hiding in the wilderness (and with human populations
  more dispersed, there's more chance for people to
  come into contact with critters). The web offers a
  new place for horrors to hide and influence helpless
  human minds. Meanwhile, there must be some reason
  why human technology has advanced so quickly over
  the past century -- maybe the Greys are causing it!
  @TEXT-BOX:The cinematic tone of Black Ops can
  fit the world of 2100 too. Transhuman characters can
  easily reach the super-high levels of power that Black
  Ops need. Meanwhile, Black Ops offers a number of
  suggestions for character-driven, high action
  roleplaying which can carry over to Transhuman
  Space.
  (((END BOX)))
  Mercenaries
  Earth offers a lot of opportunity for freelance
  adventurers. Mercenary soldiers can find employment
  in one of the petty wars and insurgencies that are
  constantly under way. Lacking a war, mercenaries
  can keep busy in lawless areas, applying force in
  support of government or corporate interests. Not all
  mercenaries need to be soldiers, of course. Many
  activities involve freelance consulting: advocacy,
  hazmat control, intelligence gathering, network
  engineering or security, even political activism.
  The mercenary campaign is the closest match to a
  "traditional" role-playing situation: a small team of
  PCs taking on a series of well-defined missions.
  Characters should be drawn up with complementary
  skills, allowing each to play a distinctive role in
  support of the team. The PCs will usually operate as
  employees of a formal business, a mercenary or
  consulting firm. If the employer is small enough,
  team members can also play administrative roles, and
  will have to develop their own employment
  opportunities. Members of larger groups can take
  their employer as a Patron, will receive assignments
  from their superiors, and might be able to advance
  within the organization.
  Mercenary campaigns work best in episodic format,
  in which each adventure stands as an isolated event.
  Most adventures will take place in the same region of
  the world, although mercenary groups with special
  skills or a very good reputation may be offered jobs
  anywhere in the world. The GM should develop a
  few repeating NPCs: contacts, other mercenaries, the
  team's superiors, interesting adversaries. Otherwise,
  the situation and the roster of important NPCs will
  change from adventure to adventure.
  New Societies
  On the Fifth Wave, adventurers can not only rebuild
  themselves, they can rebuild society to suit their own
  taste. Many people set out to build a community of
  their own, centered around personal ideals or a
  specific political ideology. Some of these "pilgrims"
  go out to the colonies -- but there is plenty of room
  on Earth for new social experiments.
  A new-society campaign can require a lot of planning
  on the part of players and GM. The players should
  agree what kind of community their characters are
  interested in setting up. Is it based on common
  business interests, an ideology, a new religion? Is it
  organized solely over the web, or do its members live
  and work in physical proximity? Who are the
  community's friends, and who are its enemies?
  Meanwhile, the GM needs to plan challenges for the
  PCs and their fellow community members. Perhaps
  the community isn't in complete agreement regarding
  its methods and purpose, leading to power struggles.
  Meanwhile, most special-interest societies have
  enemies, people who regard their ideology or their
  activities as a threat. Meanwhile, even the most
  innocuous Isolate society needs to make a living,
  earning needed resources and carving a settlement
  out of the wilderness.
  New-society campaigns work best in a serial format,
  in which characters and plot elements carry over from
  episode to episode. The GM will need lots of well-
  developed NPCs: other members of the fellowship,
  the community's most frequent contacts with
  mainstream society, and so on.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Transhuman Illuminati?
  @TEXT-BOX:Technologies may change and nations
  may fall, but conspiracy theories go on forever. With
  
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  all that has happened in the past century, it's still
  possible to suspect that secret societies exist,
  manipulating world events behind the scenes.
  @TEXT-BOX:Given how fragmented the world's
  power institutions have become over the past century,
  it's hard to believe that any one conspiracy could be
  managing things. On the other hand, it's quite easy to
  project a conflict between various Illuminated groups
  onto the world stage in 2100. Perhaps the Round
  Table or the Bavarian Illuminati are behind the rise of
  the European Union. The Cathars might be promoting
  the science of memetics, as a method for
  undermining all organized religions and ideology.
  The Assassins might be the secret masters of the
  Islamic Caliphate (or perhaps they're manipulating
  fascist Iran for reasons of their own). Given the sheer
  power of the global web, one could argue that the
  Network has already won the struggle for power. And
  who knows what the Alphans or the Time Travelers
  may be meddling with?
  (((END BOX)))
  The Virtuality Campaign
  The sheer density of the Earth web provides a
  complete secondary environment for adventure. A lot
  happens in virtual space, from casual social and
  business contact all the way to whole digital
  kingdoms. As a result, it's feasible for an adventuring
  group to be made up of people living all over Earth,
  who have never physically met.
  PCs in a vituality campaign should all be designed
  with access to good VR hardware and infomorph
  allies (indeed, this campaign style works well with
  plenty of infomorph adventurers). Some thought
  should be given to why the group's members are
  working together. Perhaps they are employees of a
  global consulting firm, who often cooperate across
  the web. They may tend toward the wrong side of the
  law, organizing their less-than-legal activities in
  virtual space (especially likely for a team of network
  intrusion experts). Maybe they are members of a
  Network Polity, a special-interest group which meets
  only in virtual space. Or perhaps they are simply
  friends, each of whom has a lifestyle which often
  leads to adventure and can call on the others for help.
  Virtuality campaigns require considerable care in plot
  management on the part of the GM. One useful plot
  device is to cut one member of the group off from the
  others, forcing him to deal with a situation in the
  "real world" in such a way that none of his friends
  can physically help. The drawback to this, of course,
  is that other players might be unable to take part in
  the action and may become bored. This is an
  extension of a common problem with infomorph
  characters, who may be unable to participate
  physically in any situation unless operating a mobile
  cybershell. Fortunately the web offers ways for
  everyone to stay involved in the current plot thread.
  Even those who are not physically present can watch
  through the active character's VR interface, offering
  advice or cross-web support as needed.
  Virtuality campaigns can work just as well in
  episodic or serial style. As usual, the GM should
  construct a stable of interesting NPCs to serve as
  repeating contacts, allies, and adversaries. One
  interesting feature of any campaign involving virtual
  space is that the identity of other characters can often
  be concealed. The authentication technology
  operating on most of the web makes it difficult to
  openly lie about one's location -- but virtual avatars
  can conceal almost anything about personal
  appearance and disposition.
  One style of virtuality campaign centers around the
  artificial worlds available in virtual space.
  Participation in digital kingdoms and similar VR
  environments is important to many people, and VR
  entertainment is a major industry. Skilled participants
  can gain considerable status and become involved in
  intrigues in the "real" world. Taken to an extreme this
  kind of campaign can be difficult to take seriously --
  why play a character who is playing a character?
  Still, if events in virtual space are tied to events in the
  mainstream campaign, the two can provide an
  interesting multilayered environment.
  Alternate Eras
  The back story for Transhuman Space offers many
  options for role-playing. The GM may set the main
  body of his campaign in one of these earlier periods.
  One interesting approach may be to shift back and
  forth between the past and present, using related
  characters to develop historical events as they affect
  the world of 2100.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Psionics
  @TEXT-BOX:Transhuman Space tries to adhere to
  a "hard SF" approach. The technologies and social
  changes in the setting are grounded in careful
  research, and intended to be at least moderately
  plausible. Psionics don't fit that mold. Still, the
  possibility of psionic talents does fit the basic
  premise of transhumanist thought: that scientific
  discovery will allow human beings to transcend their
  limits.
  @TEXT-BOX:If the GM wishes to introduce psi
  powers into his campaign, he needs to consider the
  power level and type of the abilities he is willing to
  allow. Very high-powered psi may not be unbalanced
  against other transhuman traits -- but it will certainly
  make the campaign more complex.
  (((END BOX)))
  Near Future
  Games set in the first few decades of the 21st Century
  may provide a good compromise between present-
  day familiarity and science-fictional speculation. This
  is the era of the "technothriller," in which familiar
  
  125
  characters deal with familiar plotlines using
  increasingly powerful gadgets. Through 2030 or so
  the world is little changed. Major human
  transformations and high-powered AI are still years
  or decades in the future. The United States is still the
  world's dominant nation, although the decline in
  American power is increasingly significant as time
  passes.
  Naturally, the most interesting adventures during this
  period may be those involving the reach for space.
  Other books in the Transhuman Space line focus on
  the colonial push, but the early drive behind the
  expansion was naturally an Earth-based phenomenon.
  For military or espionage-driven campaigns, there
  were major wars in the Balkans, the Middle East, and
  in Antarctica. Other adventures could be arranged
  around the diplomatic realignments in the Far East.
  Players with a more entrepreneurial bent could
  venture into the Third World, establishing a biotech
  sanctuary or other new venture.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:Inspirational Reading
  @TEXT-BOX:Each of the Transhuman Space
  authors has a favored reading list, providing
  inspiration for the development of the setting. Fifth
  Wave was inspired by the following works, among
  others.
  @TEXT-BOX:Anderson, Poul. Harvest of Stars (Tor
  Books, 1993). Possibly Anderson's most important
  work, an adventure of grand scope set largely on a
  transhuman Earth. Sequels include The Stars Are
  Also Fire, Harvest the Fire, and The Fleet of Stars.
  @TEXT-BOX:Bear, Greg. Queen of Angels (Warner
  Books, 1990). A gripping police procedural involving
  international intrigue and deep philosophical issues.
  @TEXT-BOX:Brin, David. Earth (Bantam Books,
  1990). One of the author's best novels, a big multi-
  threaded story about humanity's relationship with its
  homeworld.
  @TEXT-BOX:Egan, Greg. Distress (Harper Collins,
  1995). Cutting-edge physics, gender politics, and
  international intrigue on a rogue floating island.
  @TEXT-BOX:Flynn, Michael. Firestar (Tor Books,
  1996). First in a series detailing the first successful
  reach for space in the early 21st Century. Later
  volumes in the series are Rogue Star, Lodestar, and
  Falling Stars.
  @TEXT-BOX:Hamilton, Peter. Mindstar Rising (Tor
  Books, 1993). Corporate intrigue, espionage, police
  investigation and psi powers in a borderline-
  transhuman world. Sequels include A Quantum
  Murder and The Nano Flower.
  @TEXT-BOX:Kress, Nancy. Beggars in Spain
  (Avon Books, 1993). One of the best examinations of
  the consequences of human genetic "upgrades."
  Sequels include Beggars & Choosers and Beggars
  Ride.
  @TEXT-BOX:Niven, Larry and Steven Barnes.
  Dream Park (Ace, 1981). Corporate and international
  intrigue in an early virtuality park. Sequels include
  The Barsoom Project and The California Voodoo
  Game, while other books in the same setting include
  The Descent of Anansi and Saturn's Race. All highly
  recommended.
  @TEXT-BOX:Stableford, Brian and David
  Langford. The Third Millennium: A History of the
  World, AD 2000-3000 (Alfred A. Knopf, 1985).
  Significantly dated in some details (it was written
  before the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of the
  Internet), it is still one of the most evocative "future
  histories" ever published.
  @TEXT-BOX:Stableford, Brian. Inherit the Earth
  (Tor Books, 1998). First in a trilogy of novels set
  loosely in the same future history as The Third
  Millennium. Later volumes in the series include
  Architects of Emortality and The Fountains of Youth.
  @TEXT-BOX:Sterling, Bruce. Distraction (Bantam
  Books, 1998). Biotechnology and American politics
  collide in a remarkable thriller.
  @TEXT-BOX:Sterling, Bruce. Holy Fire (Bantam
  Books, 1996). One of Sterling's best novels, dealing
  with the implications of advanced geriatric medicine
  and life extension.
  @TEXT-BOX:Strauss, William and Neil Howe.
  Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584
  to 2069 (William Morrow and Company, 1991). A
  nonfiction work, analyzing generational trends in
  American history and first proposing the
  generational-cycle theory alluded to in this book.
  @TEXT-BOX:Toffler, Alvin. The Third Wave
  (Bantam Books, 1981). The non-fiction book in
  which the man who invented futurism first addressed
  the concept of "waves of change." Almost anything
  by Toffler is highly recommended.
  (((END BOX)))
  Biotech Outbreak
  The 2040s through 2070s are the period in which
  transhumanism first surges into the public
  consciousness worldwide. This era is the one in
  which the familiar environment of the late 20th
  Century decisively gives way to the exotic world of
  Transhuman Space.
  This is an era of relatively little open warfare, aside
  from localized conflicts such as the Andes War. Of
  course, such small wars are often the best settings for
  military roleplaying. Military personnel are often the
  first ones to work with new technologies, in this case
  VR interfaces, bioconstructs, and cybershells.
  On the home front, this is the time of great new
  ideologies: infosocialism, the Majority Cultures
  movement, Preservationism, Transhumanism, and so
  on. Many countries risk violent internal upheaval,
  from the nanosocialist revolutions in Southeast Asia
  to the Russian civil war. Those that avoid civil war
  still suffer from fierce social and political strife.
  Crime rates surge and require police response.
  Political intrigues speed up and turn vindictive.
  
  126
  Clashes between generations, cultures, and
  philosophies are endemic.
  The Overturn
  By the time of the Overturn, the "Fifth Wave" society
  described in this book is finally making its
  appearance. For all the technological and political
  change, the mood of the time is much like that of our
  own: peaceful, prosperous, very fast-paced and rather
  cynical. This is the period during which the "human
  race" really begins to diversify, with parahumans,
  bioroids, sentient cybershells, and animal uplifts
  appearing all over the place.
  The main international conflict is between the
  nanosocialist states and everyone else; this conflict
  may be the best source of adventures in the period.
  The Pacific War itself is the largest military conflict
  of the century, and provides opportunities for national
  and mercenary units alike. Nations which are not
  directly involved in the War will be involved in
  proxy conflicts, diplomatic maneuvering or
  espionage.
  (((START BOX)))
  @B-BOXHEAD:The Cryonics Campaign
  @TEXT-BOX:One of the attractive aspects of the
  Transhuman Space setting is that it can allow
  players to play themselves. Given the technological
  and social assumptions of the setting, it's possible for
  anyone alive at the turn of the century to survive until
  2100. Even if geriatric medicine or digital uploading
  fail, anyone can have himself frozen for later revival .
  . .
  @TEXT-BOX:Players taking this option may want to
  start by describing their real selves in GURPS terms.
  There are a number of ways to approach this (the
  appendices from GURPS Who's Who 1 offer many
  useful insights). In general, attribute scores should be
  kept within reason -- even a 12 or 13 represents an
  exceptional individual in a world where most people
  fall between 9 and 11. Most advantages and
  disadvantages also represent extremes; most people
  hold Mental disadvantages at the quirk level if at all.
  Don't bother recording Allies, Contacts, Dependents,
  and other social traits that represent other people;
  those relationships will almost certainly change or
  disappear in the course of a century. A skill used in a
  daily job should likely be known at a 12 or higher.
  On the other hand, skills should rarely exceed 13 or
  14 unless the person being described is a true master
  of his profession, well-respected by other experts.
  @TEXT-BOX:Once a player is satisfied with his
  personal character writeup, he can extend it to the
  year 2100. This requires a decision of how the
  character could have survived that long. Anyone
  surviving the whole length of the 21st Century will
  have to have been very lucky (whether this merits the
  Luck advantage is up to the GM). He will also have
  needed plenty of money, either to afford maintenance
  in cryonic suspension, or to pay for expensive life-
  extension technology. Players placing their future
  selves in the Transhuman Space setting should
  seriously consider a high level of Wealth.
  @TEXT-BOX:If a person from 2000 AD spent some
  time in "cold sleep," then he will have missed many
  years in terms of skill development. In fact, a present-
  day individual who is revived just before 2100 may
  have a hard time adjusting to the changes in society
  (the Clueless disadvantage may be appropriate).
  Some former freeze patients will have Amnesia. Note
  that it is not yet possible even in 2100 to revive a
  cryonics patient in his own body. Characters like
  these must begin existence as digital uploads,
  presumably using some version of the Ghost Mind
  template.
  @TEXT-BOX:Characters who have survived using
  more sophisticated technologies, remaining active
  throughout the century, may have a variety of
  backgrounds. In most cases they will have had
  decades to pick up new skills, as well as social
  advantages such as Allies or Contacts, Wealth, and so
  on. By definition, everyone alive in 2000 will be a
  member of the Relic Generations in 2100 (p. 00).
  Players should consider how their future selves might
  behave as super-elderly, wealthy, powerful figures --
  movers and shakers of the Transhuman Space
  setting. Of course, not all players will be comfortable
  with such a role, nor will it fit in all campaigns. Bear
  in mind that not all of the super-elderly fit the
  stereotype, and characters who break the mold in
  some way can be very interesting to play.
  (((END BOX)))
  Adventure Seeds
  The following adventure ideas should provide a good
  beginning. The "current events" sections in Chapter 4
  and the national entries in Chapter 3 may provide
  more ideas.
  Free Range
  The PCs are contacted by an unusual client, a weblife
  AI. The rogue wishes them to investigate a
  corporation which operates a honeypot network (p.
  00) as a "free range" for captured weblife. Apparently
  some weblife goes into the honeypot network but
  never comes out. Meanwhile, the corporation is
  building a considerable reputation for its innovative
  software designs . . .
  Hacker Hunt
  A corporation involved with sensitive military work
  is suffering repeated computer intrusion attempts. So
  far no classified data have been exposed, but it's only
  a matter of time. Unfortunately, the intrusions appear
  to be originating in an unfriendly country, and the
  police there are unlikely to take any action. The PCs
  are hired to go there, find the intruders, discover
  proof of their identities, and discourage them. Of
  
  127
  course, the intruders may be connected to the enemy
  government, in which case the hunt may turn very
  nasty.
  Maple Leaf Rag
  The PCs are hired as security consultants by a minor
  Canadian political figure. Their principal is a
  passionate advocate of Canadian reunification, who
  plans to spend the next few weeks traveling all over
  the country's former territory. He will give speeches
  and meet with local social leaders, trying to convince
  everyone of the merits of his position. The
  consultants' job is simply to protect him, and they
  expect it to be an easy task, since he has no enemies
  and is widely regarded as an unimportant figure.
  Then an assassination attempt happens. Then another
  . . .
  Sergeant's Revolt
  In a small and unstable country, the current
  government has invested heavily in bioroid soldiers
  in order to guarantee a loyal army. Unfortunately,
  they forgot to keep the human officers in line, and a
  coup appears imminent. The bioroids may very well
  have plans of their own. PCs can be local figures, or
  foreigners caught up in the turmoil.
  Survivalists
  While investigating strange sightings in a wilderness
  area, the adventurers come across an isolated valley
  inhabited by survivalist infomorphs. The free
  machines are not necessarily hostile to human beings,
  but they believe in remaining isolated so that any
  disaster overtaking the human world will not affect
  them. They may react violently to the intrusion.
  Alternatively, they may strike a bargain with the
  intruders, offering alliance in exchange for help in
  keeping their secret.
  The Seven Cybershells
  A small settlement (possibly an Isolate community or
  a village in an underdeveloped country) is threatened
  by outside attack (from bandits, national troops gone
  rogue, or corporate raiders). The villagers have no
  allies. Instead, they find or build seven cybershells,
  offering them freedom and protection in exchange for
  their help against the invaders.
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Transhuman Space (GURPS)/Transhuman Space Fifth Wave.pdf