The Road to Nowhere
Jan 2, 2008 10:38:00 GMT -5
Post by Taarel on Jan 2, 2008 10:38:00 GMT -5
Prologue
Birth of the Hunters
It is the year 2057. Everything, everywhere, is in chaos, ruins and desolation. Once a glorious empire of mankind, now lie buried beneath a layer of dirt and misery, hated, but still remembered. India was not lucky enough to evade the pain that was inflicted, but at least, the country still lives. But just barely.
As most war veterans may recall, the United States of America, a union so strong that the very mention of its name would bring shivers to the arrogant Mid-Eastern countries. Rumoured strongly to have not less than a thousand nuclear warheads in its toy-box, no one dared to attack them, not even daring to defy their suggestions or orders. All of the United Nations bowed before the USA. India, however was the only exception.
Refusing to submit to the crushing power of the USA, India, under the pretence of ‘cleansing the world’, launched hundreds upon hundreds of nuclear warheads, with courtesy to the Iraqi government, all headed towards the various states of America. The attack came so swift, so decisively, that only an uncoordinated counter-attack was conceived. A fraction of the USA’s own warheads were fired, the rest detonated when the Indian warheads finally found their mark. Ironically, the USA’s own power arsenal dealt the most damage to their land. With the scent of death and radiation spreading throughout the country, there was nobody else to retaliate the attack. All or most of the people have died, a small fraction still alive, some being melted alive by the radiation, while others, fearful for their lives, and somehow lucky enough, managed to crawl their way through the rubble and escaped to neighboring countries.
India, on the other hand, suffered a major, yet not fatal injury. Huge areas of land and towns were left barren. Most of the major cities have just barely escaped destruction. Knowing that the United States of America is no more, India rushed forward to claim the throne, hoping to build a new empire under its rule.
However, the fall of the USA was eagerly anticipated by most of the United Nations, and many more countries tried to rise above the others. A major political carcass exposed, hyenas came, hungrily devouring the remains. Unwilling to share the juicy meat with the others, they began fighting amongst themselves, tearing and gnashing at each other, until all were left broken and dying.
The military forces of each country, with no true leaders to lead them, began forming their own alliances; some even became scavengers, hunters and tomb raiders, braving the intense radiation for lost treasures, all for personal gain and glory. Civilians were left to die; some did so, but most joined the military, just for the sake of shelter and food. A skeletal force of politicians and leaders remained, each desperately trying to protect his or her own property, not caring for others, nor willing to return to lead.
As the years passed by, the effects of global warming worsened, affected by the constant radiation, further torturing those who remained. Canada and the countries immediately around her, have turned into frozen ice lands, battered by constant hail and snowstorms. Earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, and various other natural disasters were now occurring so frequently and randomly, no place was safe from them anymore. Only South-East Asia was barely affected by such calamities, but it was far from an ideal place to stay. The ozone layer is almost non-existent now, the layer directly above Asia giving virtually no protection from the Sun at all. Once humid and warm tropical countries, all that was left were mountains of sand, dirt, and even more sand. Heat waves drove whatever life forms that were left in the continents away.
America, now a land of ruins, is also known now as a golden place of opportunity for the so called ‘hunters’, where important and exotic artifacts were rumoured to be hidden. Only fools would venture into the lands, but these fools, will be the ones who benefit in the end.
But only if they get to live till the end…
________________________________________
Section I: Plane to the Plains
Chapter 1
1103 HOURS, JULY 21, 2056
THE HOLOCAUST RUINS (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) AIRSPACE
ABOARD CANADIAN PLANE REGISTERED 01-324
Noose watched as dirty, brown clouds sped past the window, almost oblivious to his immediate surroundings. Sighing deeply, he slowly turned to face the slump of a crowd around him. There were hunters from all around the world, all well geared and prepared, all heading for the same destination. The United States of America. Or at least, what was left of it.
Noose knew that only the fittest and undeniably the luckiest of them would survive the harsh environment presented before them. Having studied the art of survival and combat from his former senior, Corporal Mendaiz, he knew that at least he could stand a chance. The same could not be said for Mendaiz though, as all that was left of him after an unfortunate accident was his hand. Noose vowed not to suffer the same fate. In his pack was a rail gun, a beautifully crafted weapon. With a maximum range of accuracy up to 6 miles, it could take out almost anything. Such a lovely weapon, though Noose was sure that he would be penalized by its enormous recoil. Not even he could fire five shots in a row before losing unconsciousness.
Everybody around him was tense and anxious to land, but each and every one of them took extreme care not to reveal their feelings. All, if not some of them, were wearing breathing apparatuses of sorts, further blocking their faces from outside view. Most were asleep; others were flipping through yellowing books or playing cards.
Unsatisfied with the lack of activity in the plane, Noose bore through his pack and rechecked his equipment. They were all in tip-top shape, well polished and oiled. He grabbed his ‘ol faithful Geiger counter and fine tuned the settings, just to make sure. In times like this, it was inevitably one of the most important equipment he had ever laid his hands on. Radiation was not something he would like to get close to. He had seen enough mutants to know that.
Suddenly, the pilot’s voice screeched through the side speakers. “Attention please. This is your pilot speaking. We will be reaching America in twenty minutes. Prepare your equipment and fasten your seatbelts in ten minutes. Pilot out.” Noose heaved a sigh of relief. This boring journey was going to be over soon. However, he took another look at the airplane interior. Rust was showing in most places. Shit. I hope the pilot can land this junk in one piece. I paid good money for this and I don’t want to die so soon. At least not in this stupid airplane. Noose gritted his teeth and leaned back.
“Do you want me to put a bullet up your nose, fool?” Those words rang through the plane loud and clear, followed by a series of curses. Noose instinctively turned to the source of the commotion. A pale, black haired young man was angrily pointing his Five-seveN pistol right at a red haired man. Noose watched in surprise as the Asian pulled a trigger and bared for the inevitable bang. Nothing came. Barely concealing a grin, the Asian expertly replaced the empty magazine with a full one and replaced it in his belt. He spat at the red head, “This is just a warning. Never, ever insult me or my mother, you understand? If not, the next time I point a gun at you, it will be loaded. I promise you.”
Noose took in the whole drama with fascination. The Asian looked like a worthy hunter. He smiled inwardly and decided to find out more about him. If even possible team up with him. In the woods, having a partner to fend of other woods might not seem so bad after all.
The ground seemed to close in. The passengers of the plane, some amused, and some not, all strapped in their seats, awaiting the landing at their final destination, The Holocaust Ruins.
________________________________________
Birth of the Hunters
It is the year 2057. Everything, everywhere, is in chaos, ruins and desolation. Once a glorious empire of mankind, now lie buried beneath a layer of dirt and misery, hated, but still remembered. India was not lucky enough to evade the pain that was inflicted, but at least, the country still lives. But just barely.
As most war veterans may recall, the United States of America, a union so strong that the very mention of its name would bring shivers to the arrogant Mid-Eastern countries. Rumoured strongly to have not less than a thousand nuclear warheads in its toy-box, no one dared to attack them, not even daring to defy their suggestions or orders. All of the United Nations bowed before the USA. India, however was the only exception.
Refusing to submit to the crushing power of the USA, India, under the pretence of ‘cleansing the world’, launched hundreds upon hundreds of nuclear warheads, with courtesy to the Iraqi government, all headed towards the various states of America. The attack came so swift, so decisively, that only an uncoordinated counter-attack was conceived. A fraction of the USA’s own warheads were fired, the rest detonated when the Indian warheads finally found their mark. Ironically, the USA’s own power arsenal dealt the most damage to their land. With the scent of death and radiation spreading throughout the country, there was nobody else to retaliate the attack. All or most of the people have died, a small fraction still alive, some being melted alive by the radiation, while others, fearful for their lives, and somehow lucky enough, managed to crawl their way through the rubble and escaped to neighboring countries.
India, on the other hand, suffered a major, yet not fatal injury. Huge areas of land and towns were left barren. Most of the major cities have just barely escaped destruction. Knowing that the United States of America is no more, India rushed forward to claim the throne, hoping to build a new empire under its rule.
However, the fall of the USA was eagerly anticipated by most of the United Nations, and many more countries tried to rise above the others. A major political carcass exposed, hyenas came, hungrily devouring the remains. Unwilling to share the juicy meat with the others, they began fighting amongst themselves, tearing and gnashing at each other, until all were left broken and dying.
The military forces of each country, with no true leaders to lead them, began forming their own alliances; some even became scavengers, hunters and tomb raiders, braving the intense radiation for lost treasures, all for personal gain and glory. Civilians were left to die; some did so, but most joined the military, just for the sake of shelter and food. A skeletal force of politicians and leaders remained, each desperately trying to protect his or her own property, not caring for others, nor willing to return to lead.
As the years passed by, the effects of global warming worsened, affected by the constant radiation, further torturing those who remained. Canada and the countries immediately around her, have turned into frozen ice lands, battered by constant hail and snowstorms. Earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, and various other natural disasters were now occurring so frequently and randomly, no place was safe from them anymore. Only South-East Asia was barely affected by such calamities, but it was far from an ideal place to stay. The ozone layer is almost non-existent now, the layer directly above Asia giving virtually no protection from the Sun at all. Once humid and warm tropical countries, all that was left were mountains of sand, dirt, and even more sand. Heat waves drove whatever life forms that were left in the continents away.
America, now a land of ruins, is also known now as a golden place of opportunity for the so called ‘hunters’, where important and exotic artifacts were rumoured to be hidden. Only fools would venture into the lands, but these fools, will be the ones who benefit in the end.
But only if they get to live till the end…
________________________________________
Section I: Plane to the Plains
Chapter 1
1103 HOURS, JULY 21, 2056
THE HOLOCAUST RUINS (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) AIRSPACE
ABOARD CANADIAN PLANE REGISTERED 01-324
Noose watched as dirty, brown clouds sped past the window, almost oblivious to his immediate surroundings. Sighing deeply, he slowly turned to face the slump of a crowd around him. There were hunters from all around the world, all well geared and prepared, all heading for the same destination. The United States of America. Or at least, what was left of it.
Noose knew that only the fittest and undeniably the luckiest of them would survive the harsh environment presented before them. Having studied the art of survival and combat from his former senior, Corporal Mendaiz, he knew that at least he could stand a chance. The same could not be said for Mendaiz though, as all that was left of him after an unfortunate accident was his hand. Noose vowed not to suffer the same fate. In his pack was a rail gun, a beautifully crafted weapon. With a maximum range of accuracy up to 6 miles, it could take out almost anything. Such a lovely weapon, though Noose was sure that he would be penalized by its enormous recoil. Not even he could fire five shots in a row before losing unconsciousness.
Everybody around him was tense and anxious to land, but each and every one of them took extreme care not to reveal their feelings. All, if not some of them, were wearing breathing apparatuses of sorts, further blocking their faces from outside view. Most were asleep; others were flipping through yellowing books or playing cards.
Unsatisfied with the lack of activity in the plane, Noose bore through his pack and rechecked his equipment. They were all in tip-top shape, well polished and oiled. He grabbed his ‘ol faithful Geiger counter and fine tuned the settings, just to make sure. In times like this, it was inevitably one of the most important equipment he had ever laid his hands on. Radiation was not something he would like to get close to. He had seen enough mutants to know that.
Suddenly, the pilot’s voice screeched through the side speakers. “Attention please. This is your pilot speaking. We will be reaching America in twenty minutes. Prepare your equipment and fasten your seatbelts in ten minutes. Pilot out.” Noose heaved a sigh of relief. This boring journey was going to be over soon. However, he took another look at the airplane interior. Rust was showing in most places. Shit. I hope the pilot can land this junk in one piece. I paid good money for this and I don’t want to die so soon. At least not in this stupid airplane. Noose gritted his teeth and leaned back.
“Do you want me to put a bullet up your nose, fool?” Those words rang through the plane loud and clear, followed by a series of curses. Noose instinctively turned to the source of the commotion. A pale, black haired young man was angrily pointing his Five-seveN pistol right at a red haired man. Noose watched in surprise as the Asian pulled a trigger and bared for the inevitable bang. Nothing came. Barely concealing a grin, the Asian expertly replaced the empty magazine with a full one and replaced it in his belt. He spat at the red head, “This is just a warning. Never, ever insult me or my mother, you understand? If not, the next time I point a gun at you, it will be loaded. I promise you.”
Noose took in the whole drama with fascination. The Asian looked like a worthy hunter. He smiled inwardly and decided to find out more about him. If even possible team up with him. In the woods, having a partner to fend of other woods might not seem so bad after all.
The ground seemed to close in. The passengers of the plane, some amused, and some not, all strapped in their seats, awaiting the landing at their final destination, The Holocaust Ruins.
________________________________________