Mystery Club 4: Alternate World Document ================ -Background- Germany, January 3rd, 2082. A little more than two years have passed since the mega-corporation, Zunkuft Inc., revealed its latest advance to the public: genetic modification. Germany allows the public a chance to genetically alter themselves. For a hefty price, of course. However, this technological breakthrough did not come without backlash. The Roman Catholic Church has declared genetic modification unethical, and Germany's relationships with other countries, especially the rest of Europe, have become strained. Moreover, Germany has become a prime target for terrorism, as dissenters voice their opposition to the practice. The city of Resenburg felt the anger by far the worst, as the location where protests first turned to acts of terrorism. More than twenty years ago, the Eurpoean Union established an intercontinental peacekeeping unit against supernatural threats. The organization is known as the Holy European Supernatual Organization (HESO). But Germany is no longer willing to rely upon an organization that may be opposed to its interests. Germany has decided to take matters into its own hand, establishing a new section to its anti-terrorist agency, Blitzkrieg. Backed by the mega corporation, Zunkuft, this newly established branch uses gene modification to create artificial paranormals: Assassins who get rid of the bacteria before it becomes a disease. -Nations- Earth in 2082 is much like it was in 2062. Or now, even. Most countries aren't so terribly different from now. There are a few exceptions, however. Europe is big on Catholicism again. The European Union is huge. After adding the Byzantine Empire in 2071, it now consists of every country in Europe except Russia. HESO, the Holy European Supernatural Organization, remains Europe's primary supernatural control unit. They still don't operate in England, due to England being primarily Protestant. England has instead established their own official (but under the wire, like most things supernatural) supernatural control organization. They also work closely with Interpol; things aren't so hectic here as they were twenty years ago. Germany has both Protestants and Catholics, but more the latter. However, lately it hasn't been on very good terms with the Church. The country is recently the victim of a number of terrorist attacks and is attempting to thwart the terrorists largely without outside help. Despite it's strained relations with the EU, Germany is one of the dominant powers in the world. The Byzantine Empire, a tiny little country that occupies what used to be the section of Turkey in Europe, is still around after more than twenty years. When it was added to the European Union in 2071, Turky took it as a personal insult. They went to war the following year, backed by other Arab nations. In response, England, Spain, Germany, Italy and Romania aided the Byzantine Empire. The U.S.A. refused to publicly get involved, since the Empire is a monarchy, but U.S. citizens were generally sympathetic to the Empire. The war lasted until 2077, when the countries agreed to a ceasefire. Thus the new Byzantine Empire survived. Hong Kong is still its own territory, having broken from China in 2035. Technically an anarchy, it is in reality controlled by the Triads. Because of the low taxes, a number of corporations have moved their head offices here. The streets can get violent, as the Triads war against each other, but there is a mutual agreement not to use heavy arms or harm bystanders. -Secret Organizations- There are a number of organizations that deal with paranormals. The majority of the public has no knowledge of them. Blitzkrieg is the most important one, 'cause you work for it. The organization's purpose is to keep Germany safe from internal threats. Namely, terrorists. Blitzkrieg is divided into three sections: Section 1 has been around for a while, consisting of normal men and women who operate in standard means, like the FBI. Section 2 is the genetically modified division, only recently created, which is the part you belong to. Section 3 is also new: a small division whose operatives consist of psychics. Still in the experimental and recruitment phase, section 3 is not yet active. Section 1 has branches all over the country, but Section 2 has only one location. It's headquarters is in a large estate in the countryside, just outside of Berlin. The man in charge of Section 2 never appears in person: He speaks only through an intercom, delegating most matters to his second-in-command. Interpol's Supernatural Investigation Unit may be the most well known in the underground. They operate world-wide, but have no authority in Europe (except in England). It is headquartered in Hong Kong. HESO is, of course also widely known among the privledged in Europe. Headquartered in Paris, they operate throughout most of Europe. They do not operate in England, however, and lately they are giving Germany the cold shoulder, due to Germany's dissent with the Church. The Morris Foundation for Vampire Hunters is a central system that provides leads and arms to vampire hunting mercenaries worldwide. It was established in the early 1900s by Quincy Harker in honor of Quincy Morris, the man for whom he was named, who died while fighting Dracula with Quincy Harker's father, John. The Vatican has its own collection of warrior priests, as do most religions. -Technology- Technology is somewhat improved from MC3. What's different in 2082? -> Gunfire sensors: Inexpensive devices that can be attached to telephone poles and streetlights. They transmit a silent alarm to the police when they register a sound matching that of gunfire. This allows the police to respond very quickly. However, they're surprisingly unpopular in most parts of the world. Ireland, Hong Kong and some other small cities in North and South America are the only places to openly embrace them. -> Cybernetics: Created by Zunkuft, Inc., a German company known for its heavy machinery and robotics, as well as the recent breakthrough in genetic modification. Cybernetics have been refined over the past twenty years: what used to be bulky mechanical body parts are now slightly less obvious, finer machines with fake skin grafted over them. They can supply super strength or body armor and infrared vision, but science still hasn't worked out the art of hooking up ahuman brain to a computer. Cybernetics are publically available (albeit for a very steep price), but fairly rare; few people want to willingly give up parts of their own bodies for mechanical replacements. -> Holograms: Holograms and holocommunication also exist, although traditional phones tend to be used more due to high costs. Holograms are more stable now then they were in 2062, and now come in full color! But they remain transparant. Holograms are generally used more by organizations than individuals, although the wealthy are likely to have private version. -> Holocomputers: Like normal computers only they use holograms. You can type on a keyboard that's not really there. Oooooo..... -> AI: AI can adapt to a wide number of situations, but there's still no such thing as self-conscious AI. Sorry, guvna', this ain't the Matrix. -> Bots: What AI technology there is has been combined with robotics to create semi- intelligent mobile weapon platforms, known as bots. Bots are armored, armed constructions ranging from security grade to military. Through their AI they can be programmed with limited orders. Bots are somewhat expensive to construct and maintain, and thus are not widely circulated. -> Vending Machines: They cook burgers now. Yeah, you can get a whole cooked burger out of a vending machine. Is that cool or what? -> Nanotechnology: After twenty years of tests and retests and reretests to make sure this stuff actually works, nanotechnology is only just now being introduced to the world, and only through the medical field. Nanotechnology can accomplish some pretty amazing things, but it's very expensive and still somewhat experimental. Scientists are hesitant to use it to start upgrading the human body (which is what everyone wants, you just know it). Developed in America, most nanotech must be imported. Right now, nanotechnology is accepted by the Catholic Church, but they've stated that their stance may change depending on what applications it is used for in the future. -> Genetic Engineering: A costly process, and one that's frowned upon, genetic engineering is mostly done in the black market. The Roman Catholic Church has declared it morally wrong. While countries are divided on the issue, The only country that publicly practices it is Germany, and the only company allowed to perform it is Zunkuft. Zunkuft handles the agency's modifications, as well. -> Energy weapons: .... have not been developed yet.