The Underground Voice Radio Station

Hidden beneath the industrial sprawl on the outskirts of Crescent City, The Underground Voice (TUV) is a pirate radio station that broadcasts subversive messages advocating for the disenfranchised and encouraging rebellion against the systems of oppression. It operates far outside the bounds of legality, its signal flickering in and out across the airwaves, reaching the ears of those who are forgotten, ignored, or silenced by the mainstream. Run by a small but fiercely committed group of activists, TUV is a beacon of defiance for those seeking change in a city where corruption and injustice run deep. The Underground Voice is located in the basement of an abandoned industrial warehouse, its entrance concealed behind a heavy steel door covered in graffiti, political slogans, and anti-establishment posters. The building itself is a crumbling relic from a bygone era, surrounded by rusted metal, cracked concrete, and overgrown weeds, giving the area an air of desolation. The warehouse’s exterior is littered with remnants of its industrial past—rusted pipes, broken windows, and sagging walls that seem barely capable of supporting the structure. Despite the derelict state of the building, the station's true purpose is well hidden, known only to a select few who have earned the trust of those running it. An unmarked alleyway leads to a set of stairs that descend into darkness, the only sign of life being a faint hum of electrical equipment from below. A small, hand-painted sign near the entrance reads “Freedom Lives Here” in bold, defiant lettering, but otherwise, the station is easy to miss unless you're looking for it.

Purpose / Function

Broadcast and Programming:

The Underground Voice broadcasts sporadically to avoid detection, often hacking into local frequencies to deliver its message before disappearing into the static. Its broadcasts are raw, passionate, and unapologetically radical. Each show encourages listeners to question authority, resist exploitation, and organize against the systemic oppression that permeates Crescent City. TUV’s programming ranges from fiery political rants and interviews with local activists to underground music shows featuring punk, hip-hop, and protest anthems from around the world. The station gives voice to the voiceless, dedicating airtime to stories of police brutality, workers’ rights struggles, environmental activism, and community organizing efforts. One of its most popular segments, “Revolt Radio,” is a live call-in show where listeners can share their stories of injustice and discuss ways to fight back against the powers that be. The host, known only as “Echo,” is a charismatic and enigmatic figure who uses sharp wit, searing critique, and impassioned monologues to galvanize the station’s audience. Echo’s identity remains a closely guarded secret, adding to the mythos surrounding The Underground Voice. The station regularly features spoken word performances, poetry slams, and readings from radical texts like Frantz Fanon, Angela Davis, and Malcolm X, further fueling the ideological fire that defines TUV’s message. Occasionally, local bands and musicians will perform live in the cramped studio, their songs echoing the station’s defiant, anti-establishment themes.

Community and Audience:

The audience for The Underground Voice is as diverse as Crescent City’s disenfranchised population. It reaches deep into the city’s forgotten corners, broadcasting to the struggling neighborhoods, rundown apartment blocks, and factory floors where workers toil for meager pay. Those who feel abandoned by the system, whether due to poverty, race, or circumstance, find solace and solidarity in TUV’s message. The station has become a rallying point for local activists, anarchists, and community organizers, serving as a platform for those who are silenced in more mainstream outlets. It’s not just a radio station—it’s a network of like-minded individuals who believe in direct action, mutual aid, and challenging the status quo. Though it operates in secret, TUV is deeply connected to the underground movements in Crescent City. Its listeners contribute to its survival, offering everything from technical support to financial donations, knowing that if the station falls, one of the few remaining platforms for true freedom of speech in the city would be lost.

Architecture

Inside, The Underground Voice is a cramped, dimly lit space filled with outdated equipment, mismatched furniture, and the chaotic energy of a makeshift resistance operation. The walls are plastered with posters of revolutionary figures, protest flyers, and anti-government artwork, all serving as a visual testament to the station’s rebellious spirit. The main broadcasting room is small and cluttered, with a large, battered table serving as the central hub. Stacks of old vinyl records, cassette tapes, and microphones are scattered across the surface, alongside laptops running pirated software to keep the station operational. The broadcast equipment looks cobbled together from whatever could be salvaged, giving the space an almost DIY punk aesthetic. The walls are lined with shelves crammed full of books on radical politics, guerrilla tactics, and social movements. Old coffee mugs, ashtrays, and crumpled pieces of paper fill every available surface, adding to the feeling that TUV is always in motion, always planning the next broadcast, the next call to action. A single, flickering neon light hangs above the sound booth, casting an eerie glow over the room. The soundproof booth itself is tiny, barely large enough for one or two people to sit and speak into the microphone. But it’s here where the station’s voice rings out, broadcasting messages of hope, defiance, and revolution to anyone tuning in to its elusive frequency.

Defenses

Security and Secrecy:

Operating outside the bounds of legality means that The Underground Voice is constantly under threat. The station must continuously change its broadcast locations and frequencies to avoid detection by law enforcement and corporate interests who want it silenced. The station’s crew is small, dedicated, and always on the move, using burner phones, encrypted communication, and dead drops to maintain their operations. The studio itself is heavily secured with makeshift measures. Several hidden escape routes lead out from the basement to neighboring buildings and alleyways, allowing the crew to vanish if authorities ever raid the warehouse. There are security cameras positioned at key points around the building, and a few trusted individuals stand watch at all times to ensure that no one enters who doesn’t belong. While law enforcement is aware of TUV’s existence, finding it has proved difficult. The station's ability to rapidly relocate and its use of decentralized communication methods make it elusive, with only the most determined listeners able to track down its broadcasts regularly.

Type

Tower, Telecomms

Parent Location

Fort Dick