DRIVE Timeline

Fifty seven people killed by DRIVEr, police bring down perpetrator after heavy gunfire.

The People's Republic of China, sensing the potential of the DRIVE phenomenon, especially after it just ripped through one of their towns, invests in a secret group dedicated to covering up all outside knowledge of the phenomenon, as well as conducting its own research and acquisition.

A large mob gathered by a group of radical preachers later associated with the Caliphate begins a riot in the city of Akaba, Jordan; killing suspected LGBT individuals and justifying the act by referring to recent reports of 'witchcraft'.

'MistyRose', a small scale YouTube vlogger, posts of video of what she claims to be herself and several others engaging in DRIVEs. The video is removed by YouTube's content filter within the hour, but not before acruing 500k hits and being downloaded across the web.

The United States Department of Defense creates its own top-secret team to research the military applications of the DRIVE phenomenon. Their first directive is to locate and enlist (voluntarily or otherwise) a number of DRIVEr.

Ugandan police raid a suspected LGBT gathering. A mob gathers outside. Unbeknownst to them several DRIVEr, some local but most apparently foreign, were present. The result is an absolute massacre, with over 500 dead. The Blood Brides take credit for the event.

COLDSCOPE receives authorization to begin in-depth trials, including biopsies and short-term quarantine of those afflicted. This too fails to reveal much, and is met with increasing public disdain.

An unofficial group of scientists, activists, and philanthropists meet in Portland to discuss the 'Arma phenomenon'

Radical forces are pushed out of the ruined city of Palmyra by seperatist insurgents, allegedly operating with DRIVEr support, but - despite widespread fears - this never escalated.

Without warning, North Korea explodes into a whirlwind of violence - the culprit an internal DRIVEr uprising. Despite offers to negotiate, US and Chinese forces respond with unbridled fury, and push the 'Zone-22 group' to a small pocket around Nampo.

A special committee of the United Nations meet in Busan, officially to resolve the Second Korean Crisis, but unofficially to discuss the emerging results of LONGDRIVE, and determine a response.

Councilman Brian Jacques of the Council of Europe officially declares the Blood Brides a terrorist organization, and announces the creation of a special anti-driver task force.

Members of 20 leading nations meet in secret to discuss a long-term solution to the 'DRIVEr Problem'. The solution they decide upon will eventually become the Academy System. This proposal commissions the trusted UN agency UNICEF with vastly expanded authority, granting them the remit to identify, research, and contain DRIVErs worldwide. After some debate, the process of identifying and remanding DRIVEr is given to the individual nations. The proposal is brought before the General Assembly, and is unanimously accepted by a bewildered and exhausted world.

On this date, the Academy System was officially introduced, an announcement met with no small degree of relief. At least, for most people.

UNICEF issues an open call for technologists to bring their best technology for use in Flores Academy, carefully framing the development as an act of compassion. Some accepted applicants include 'self-healing' solar panels, autonomous desalinators, micro-farms, and 3d-printed buildings.

DARPA engineers develop the world's first successful plasma screen, projecting a protective barrier between two pylons.

The AISRU unit was invented, and soon found itself in use in the Academies.

UNICEF modifies the Academy charter to officially allow fighting, and indeed, approves the development of a combat tournament operated by the Student Administrators.

Japan is among the first to implement universal use of new NOISE D-scan devices to screen children for DRIVEr abilities. Unfortunately, this only works on post-pubescent girls, leaving a somewhat limited window of effectiveness. While many nations have used D-scanning to verify Q-41B10 positive individuals, the NOISE device allows it be cheaply implemented on a massive scale.

During a weekend practice session, Hinata propositions Hayashi, which results in a DRIVE. Hinata immediately reports this to her parents... who are pleased.