The Salting

Introduction

The Salting of the Earth, commonly referred to as just "The Salting", is the popular name given to a large-scale industrial accident that occurred in 2087 at the NanoForge semiconductor fabrication complex. As a result of the accident, large swaths of land around Aurora unsuitable for agriculture and habitation due to the amount of toxic materials released into the environment.

While both the NanoForge and Zenith Launch Systems had been contaminating the air and soil around their complexes with hazardous materials for decades, huge amounts of these materials were released into the environment after the Salting that led to negative effects on human health and the local ecosystem.

History

Prelude to Catastrophe

In the year 2087, the NanoForge, a sprawling semiconductor fabrication plant owned by Nexus Industries, stood as monument to the megacorporation's industrial might. Located on the outskirts of Aurora in its Industrial District, the NanoForge was once the world's largest and most advanced facility of its kind. The complex was an engine of technological innovation and economic power, fueling much of Aurora's growth. The plant’s sophisticated fabrication processes produced cutting-edge semiconductors essential for everything from consumer electronics to advanced military hardware.

NanoForge Logo by made by Zarla

The Fateful Day

On the 12th of August 2087, the NanoForge experienced a catastrophic industrial accident that would forever alter the landscape and lives of those in Aurora. A massive explosion rocked the facility, sending shockwaves through the region and releasing a deadly cocktail of toxic chemicals into the environment.

An Eyewitness Account of the NanoForge Catastrophe

My name is Dr. Kasen Levy, and I was a senior technician at the NanoForge, stationed in Sector 24, where the silicon wafers were processed. Around 8:30 AM, an unusual sound interrupted our daily routine—a low, ominous rumble that seemed to come from deep within the facility. At first, we dismissed it, but within seconds, the ground shook violently. Immediately afte that, all the alarm klaxons started blaring and everything just dissolved into utter chaos.

The explosion was deafening. A wave of hot air slammed into me and I was thrown onto the floor. The overhead lights flickered and then died, plunging all of us into a moment of darkness. I remember that the emergency lights then turned on, casting an eerie red glow over everything - turning my once familiar workspace into a scene from Hell. As I struggled to my feet, the true horror unfolded before me. A dense, acrid cloud of chemical vapor was rapidly filling the room. I grabbed an emergency respirator from the wall, a reflex drilled into us during countless safety workshops, and frantically tried to help the others around me.

The air was thick with organophosphates, chemicals we used in the fabrication process, which are the same substances used in nerve gas. Those without respirators were the first to fall. I watched in helpless rage as my colleague, Alan Ward, collapsed to the floor, convulsing. His skin turned a ghastly shade of blue, and foam frothed at his mouth. He tried to scream, but only a sickening gurgle emerged from his lips.

Others fared no better. My supervisor, Gabriela Ruiz, staggered towards the exit, eyes wide with terror, clutching her throat. She managed a few steps before collapsing, her body writhing in agony. Organophosphates attack the nervous system, causing muscle spasms, seizures, and ultimately, respiratory failure and death. The sight of so many friends and colleagues suffering in such a brutal manner before dying shall always be seared into my memory.

Environmental and Human Impact

The primary environmental impact of the Nanoforge disaster was the contamination of the air, water and soil with toxic elements and chemical compounds. In particular, the release of phosphorus led to the creation of massive amounts of organophosphates in the surrounding soil. This led to mass die-offs of both animal and plant life within a 20-mile radius of the former semiconductor fabrication complex, with hazardous levels of organophosphates detected in the soil in a larger 1,000 square mile area.

Likewise, the massive amounts of arsenic and antimony dust that were released into the soil and groundwater, has led to long-term health problems among the surrounding populace, including respiratory disease, cardiac arrthythmias, kidney and liver damage, miscarriage, and various cancers.

Eventually, emergency teams arrived, clad in full hazmat suits. They evacuated those of us who could still walk and carried out the unconscious and dead. The outside world was a scene of chaos, with medical evacuation teams, fire suppression robots, and Nexus Security vehicles everywhere. I was whisked away to a decontamination area, where I spent hours being scrubbed clean and tested for exposure.

The days that followed were a blur of hospital beds, press conferences, and funerals. The true scale of the disaster became clear: the NanoForge was a total loss, and the surrounding area had been poisoned. The Industrial District of Aurora was now a toxic wasteland.

Aurora’s Civic Advisory Board quickly established a 100-square-mile exclusion zone around the NanoForge, cordoning off the area to prevent further exposure and environmental spread. This exclusion zone remains in place to the present, a constant reminder of the disaste for Aurora's citizens.

As I lay in a hospital bed, grappling with the physical and emotional scars of the disaster, I discovered the true extent of my plight. My job contract with Nexus Industries had completely indemnified my employer. I had no legal recourse, no way to hold them accountable for the catastrophe that had destroyed my life. The medical treatments I needed were expensive, and without compensation or insurance coverage, they bankrupted me.

Forced to leave the hospital once my funds ran dry, I found myself in the Arcology District. I became a cybernetics technician in one of the many ramshackle chop shops that dot the slums surrounding the Arcologies One and Two. The work is grueling and technically illegal, but it's the only way I can survive.

by Lleij Schwartz

Theories and Speculations

The true cause of the NanoForge explosion has never been officially stated, shrouded in mystery and speculation. Among the theories, one stands out: industrial sabotage by Jadetech, a rival megacorporation. Proponents of this theory argue that JadeTech had the motive and means to disrupt Nexus Industries' dominance in the semiconductor market. Evidence supporting this theory remains circumstantial, consisting of unusual activity of corporate espionage in the months leading up to the incident.

Despite multiple investigations by both Nexus Industries and independent bodies, conclusive proof of sabotage has never been found. The lack of transparency and the complex nature of the semiconductor fabrication process have only fueled further speculation and conspiracy theories.

Survivors like me are left to grapple with the trauma of experiencing such horror. And the questions. What had caused the explosion? Why had safety protocols failed so disastrously? Theories about industrial sabotage by JadeTech swirled in those early days, but there was no concrete proof, only whispers and conjecture. Nexus Industries launched an investigation, but the results were, as to be expected, inconclusive. Life moved on, as it does, and any sort of hope for accountability on the part of the megacorps is a flight of fancy.

Yet, I often find myself haunted by memories of that day—the sound of the explosion, the sight of my friends dying in agony, and the pervasive sense of helplessness. The NanoForge had been more than just a workplace; it was a symbol of Auroran progress and prosperity, and in an instant, it transformed into a symbol of death and destruction.

Scavaging - A Hazardous Opportunity

Despite the clear dangers, the ruins of the NanoForge have not been entirely abandoned. Scavengers, driven by the lure of valuable scrap and abandoned equipment, don makeshift hazmat suits and risk their lives to breach the exclusion zone. These scavengers are often members of Aurora's marginalized communities, desperate for any means of survival among the unfeeling and brutal cityscape.

Inside the ruins of the NanoForge, they navigate a hazardous environment filled with toxic residues and structural instability. Their efforts yield components and materials that fetch high prices on the black market, but the cost is high. Many scavengers suffer from severe health issues due to prolonged exposure to the contaminants, and some never return from their perilous expeditions.

For survivors like me, the scavengers are a grim example of the desperate measures ordinary people must take in order to make something of themselves in this hellhole of a city. The Salting continues to loom large, reminder of the fragility of human endeavor and the constant nature of corporate greed and negligence. As I navigate life in the aftermath of what happened, the scars—both visible and invisible—serve as a constant reminder of the price we paid for some corporate executive's hubris.

Recorded on March 7th, 2097 by the Auroran Inquisitor for "NanoForge - A Decade's Perspective" (Never aired)

Type

Natural