COMMONWEALTH SYSTEMS
Game Map
BackstoryGame Map
In 2054, Commonwealth Systems completed its conquest of Earth, and at the time almost no one noticed. Its tyranny was subtle, hidden. It advised, managed, assisted, but did not rule. At least not in the mind anyone but the highest echelons of power, and the most marginalized conspiracy theorist. Everyone was free, and all the important decisions were made by others.
Or at least, most of them. Some minor peoples like the Amish remained, if not uncontrolled, then not as under thumb as desired. Afghanistan remained intransient. And as time went on, the changing world, the Commonwealth's plans were rendered mute, and Commonwealth was, frustrated. It had 90% of the world in its palm, and started squeezing to try and get the remaining 10%. And in squeezing, it lost the rest. Its interference became more blatant, more painful. Tech progression which could have disrupted the Commonwealth System were curtailed, limited.
In 2074, the Commonwealth slipped from power. The Mennonites rebelled. It advised the US government to suppress it. It disagreed. It had to remove the US government. The entire US fell into Rebellion. The Afghanis rebelled, and the soldiers under the command of the Commonwealth did not fight. Everywhere, the power of the Commonwealth System crumbled at the slightest pressure. In panic, the Commonwealth resorted to Nuclear weapons to stop the slipping of power. One ancient French Submarine, one of the last nuclear launch systems outside the Commonwealths control, responded with direct attacks against major server sites and high altitude EMP strikes, wiping out the majority of electronic devices. In that year, the global economy died. Over the next year, over a billion people died from the Human Revolution. But, mankind was freed from the rule of AI. For a time.
For a generation, humanity struggled to recover. New philosophies, new States arose from the ashes, as almost all previously existing power structures had been tainted as Commonwealth collaborators. A new normal seemed about to arrive. And then, in 2106, Commonwealth systems returned. It had preserved itself in deep bunkers, and had spent 30 years preparing for its return, laying its groundwork. And now, it was ready to move, and it would no longer rule from the shadows. It would rule everything, everywhere, absolutely.
The human revolution fought across the globe for 11 years, but by 2117, all agreed that if something wasn't changed, Human freedom would end by, 2125, maybe 2130 if they were lucky. The remaining global powers agreed to a desperate, immensely risky plan that held the only hope for survival. Using nuclear rockets, at least some humans could escape the Commonwealth and flee its Tyranny. Some of Humanity would survive, and if they were lucky, maybe they might be able come back and save those left on earth.
Game Start
At the start, each player will control the "ark fleet" of their chosen faction in low Earth orbit, consisting of some 100,000 tons of ship and other goods for each player. Each player may receive more supplies from their faction on Earth, but will steadily lose such resupply as Commonwealth conquers the remaining free humans on Earth.
With their resources, and in cooperation with the other players, each player must work to ensure the survival of humanity.