World History
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1990
The Fall of South Africa
Revolution -
1990
West and East Germany Reunited
Political event -
1990
First Central American Conflict
Military actionAmerican Imperial ambitions, justified as part of the war on Communism and narcotics, kills hundreds of thousands. American veterans return home dismembered and maimed, driving the demand for cyberware.
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1990
First Central American Conflict Begins
Military action -
1990
USSR Begins Era of Reform
Political event -
1991
CHOOH2 Developed by Biotechnica
Scientific achievement -
1992
DEA develops and spreads several engineered plagues worldwide targeting coca and opium plants
Plague / EpidemicGovernments of Chile, Ecuador, and Afghanistan collapse
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1992
1997
First Artcology built on ruins of Jersey City
Construction beginning/endSixteen arcologies begin construction during this period, but all are left incomplete with the collapse of 1997. The enormous structures are left half built, and become home to squatters and boostergangs.
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1992
Drug war breaks out between DEA and Eurocorp-backed drug dealers across the Americas
Military action -
1993
Tactical nuclear bomb detonated in New York
Military actionIn retaliation for US attacks on Bogotá, Colombian drug lords detonate small tactical nuclear device in New York. 15,000 killed.
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1994
The Big One Hits
Disaster / Destruction10.5 quake shatters Los Angeles; Pacific Ocean inundates 35% of the city. An estimated 65,000 are killed.
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1996
The Collapse of the United States
DisbandmentWeakened by losses in the World Stock Crash, overwhelmed by unemployment, homelessness and corruption, many city governments collapse or go bankrupt. The US Government, tangled in a staggering deficit and the machinations of the Gang of Four, is totally ineffective.
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1997
Mideast Meltdown
Military actionA very limited thermonuclear war destroys much of the Middle East. Radioactive fallout spreads around the world. World oil supply drops by half.
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2003
Second Central American War
Military actionUS invades Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela. The war is a disaster that costs thousands of American lives and leaves thousands of troops to struggle home on their own.
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2007
2010
Second Corporate War
Military actionSovOil and Petrochem fail to negotiate with each other over newly discovered oil fields in the South China Sea, and begin blowing each other up instead. Even cynical observers are shocked at the level of violence.
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2008
US assault on Russian weapons platform MIR XIII.
Military actionEurospace agency intervenes and the Orbital War breaks out between the “Euros” and the “Yanks”, until Tycho colony mass driver drops a two–ton rock on Colorado Springs. An uneasy peace is reached.
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2009
Corporations eradicate mob rule in Night City
Miscellaneous -
2011
ESA/Soviet mission reaches Mars
Expedition -
2016
3rd Corporate War
Military actionUnknown cyberterrorists attack the networks of Corporations world–wide, causing billions of eb worth of losses.
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2021
Euro Aquacorp CINO attempts to acquire bankrupt Aqua corp IHAG
Military actionRival Aquacorp OTEC attempts to act as “white knight” in the hostile takeover. As both Corps line up allies, a dangerous war at sea begins.
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2022
Rache Bartmoss, Netrunner supreme, is killed in a Corporate raid
Plague / EpidemicTwo weeks later, the dead man switch for his DataKrash virus activates.
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2022
Seven Hour War
Military actionFed up with the fighting, Highriders at O’Neill 2 declare independence, using deltas and scavenged mass drivers to drop dozens of lunar rocks at key sites all over the planet, causing widespread death and destruction. US and Japan officially recognize the new Highrider government.
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2022
4th Corporate War
Military actionCovert operations explode into a shooting war as Arasaka and Militech move front line troops into battle. The ensuing conflict involves operations all over the globe, with heavy combat in major cities worldwide.
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2023
20 /9
Night City Holocaust
Disaster / DestructionAn incursion team led by Solo Morgan Blackhand and Rockerboy Johnny Silverhand attempt to steal/destroy the Arasaka Secure Database in the Arasaka Towers facility. During the assault, an area denial nuclear device is detonated, which destroys much of central Night City. Over a half million people are killed. Another quarter million die in the resulting aftermath.
Location
Night City -
2023
10
Militech Nationalized
Disbandment -
2023
10
Beginning of the Time of the Red
Disaster / DestructionAtmospheric particles from the nuclear blast in Night City, as well as debris from orbital rock strikes, conventional explosives, and the wartime burning and annihilation of cities and agricultural areas creates an eerie red pall over skies worldwide. For nearly two years, skies are tinged with a bloody red color, which eventually dies down to brilliant red sunrises and sunsets through the next decade.
Location
Night City -
2025
End of the 4th Corporate War
Military actionThis includes a three year wrap up as pockets of fighting are quelled by Militech and national armies. While there is only one nuke dropped during the war, the world’s infrastructure is severely impacted, although not destroyed.
Location
Night City