by Rod Porter
Rod Porter was born and raised in Montgomery County Maryland. At the age of twenty three, while working as a bouncer in nearby Washington DC, and studying political science at the University of Maryland University College Rod began writing his debut novel The Star Chronicles Battle for Earth; the first installment in his Star Chronicles series. An avid fan of science fiction and fantasy, Rod is now twenty seven years old and currently resides in his hometown of Rockville, Maryland.
You can find more about Rod and The Star Chronicles at www.THE-STAR-CHRONICLES.com
CHRONICLE ARCHIVES
The Downfall
The downfall refers to the period of time when the human race began its steady decline into the final days of its destruction, and into the period of time that would come to be known as the new dark ages. Many sighted the attacks of 9/11, and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq by American and NATO forces, and the collapse of the world economy as the premiere catalysts to the downfall of civilized society. About a decade into the downfall the world was well into the third world war. Since all records and histories of the exact happenings of the downfall were destroyed after the alien invasion, it is only speculation that North Korea was the first nation to launch a nuclear attack. The target cannot be specified, but this first strike ignited the nuclear holocaust that followed. The nuclear war was the culmination of the period known as the downfall. The final chapter in humanity’s self-destruction.
The New Dark Ages
The New Dark Ages began soon after the Earth had been reduced to rubble, by the nuclear holocaust, and intensified after the aliens invaded and conquered the planet. With no organized society or forms of government human kind descended into a period of savagery and primitive despair not seen for thousands of years. There was no rule of law or sense of decency. A planet used to the luxuries provided by electricity and technology suddenly went completely dark. Humanity had been reduced to such a primitive state, that the only interaction with one another was either to pillage, or plunder.
The Unconformed
While the Unconformed would eventually become a powerful human resistance force, it had very humble beginnings. Originally created as a small militia to protect the interests and supply lines of three different underground human colonies, the Unconformed had only two basic functions: to protect the colonists that made up the three colonies from human raiders, marauders, and alien patrols, and second to make sure that their trade routes and supply lines to their brother and sister colonies were kept secure. Initially, these groups of rag tag soldiers, were simply known as the guardians. The title of Unconformed was adopted later, when Jackson Anderson and a group of close confidants were able to rally the guardians to become something more than just a “security force.” Under the leadership of Jackson Anderson, the guardians became the Unconformed. Steadily, they increased their ranks, weapons, supplies, artillery, and resources to the point where they were approached from representatives of the hidden underground city of Jade to relocate to Jade as their base of operations. In time, the Unconformed came to be headquartered in the great city of Jade, with outposts and locations ranging across the majority of North America.
Jade
The construction of the underground city of Jade began in the early days of the third world war. Fearing that a nuclear holocaust was imminent, the United States government began the rapid construction of an underground “city”, that would serve as a safe location and central hub for the political leaders and affiliates of the United States. Initial construction plans for the city were massive, and while it had taken a large amount of funds and manpower to get the project off the ground, the astronomical cost and number of resources were deemed acceptable. Jade could prove the deciding factor in who would come out on top after the end of the nuclear war that was imminent.
Construction of the underground city was never totally completed because the nuclear war began before it could be finished. However, the loads of families and workers who were already in the city, making preparations, were shielded from the nuclear fires, and spared the atrocities of the new dark ages. These individuals were the first inhabitants of the city of Jade, which would become the premiere hidden underground human city, with a massive population and a very desirable standard of living, compared to the baron nuclear wasteland on the surface. It would also be the birthplace of the headquarters of the Unconformed, the Quorum, and the Catholic Church. Jade would become a place where mankind would be able to start over.
Colony
After the alien invasion, humanity was driven underground. While some did stay on the surface and scrounge to survive, the majority of human beings banded together to live underground in subway tunnels and caverns, in primitive societies known as colonies. Standards of living were typically quite low in these colonies but they provided shelter and safety from the alien death squads that patrolled the Earth’s surface. Populations were normally in the mid-to-low thousands. Underground residences were mostly canvas tents that were usually quite large and spacious depending on the colony. Some colonies were rather civil and comfortable, while others were not as fortunate.
Treacherous
Treacherous is a term created by human beings to refer to those humans who have sided with the alien invaders. Treacherous colonies are underground but they have a very high standard of living compared to the “defiant” colonies. This high standard of living is provided to treacherous colonies by the aliens, whom they have acknowledged to be lords and masters of the Earth. Hatred for “treacherous” colonies and humans is almost as intense as it is for the aliens themselves.
The Quorum
The premiere body of government in the city of Jade, the Quorum is made up of ten delegates that represent the interests of their constituents in each of the ten districts of Jade. Initially, in the earliest days of Jade’s existence, the city was run by a mayor and small group of advisors. However, the city proved too large, and had too great a population to be managed by one individual. Subsequently, the Quorum was created, and the city was split into ten districts. The Quorum acted as the equivalent of a president, managing all aspects of Jades infrastructure and economy.
The War Council
Not long after the Unconformed was headquartered inside Jade, the Quorum saw fit to create the War Council. While the people of Jade were initially very enthusiastic about the Unconformed calling their city home, optimism and pride quickly gave way to fear and uncertainty. The uncertainty and unease was encouraged, in no small part, by the delegates of the Quorum. Fearing that the armed resistance force would grow beyond their control, the Quorum created a political body of seven officials, whom would make up the War Council. The War Council would be the sanctioning body for the movements and activities of the Unconformed, having final say on the actions and decisions that the resistance would take. In essence, the War Council was created by the Quorum, so that they could control the Unconformed, and its leadership to ensure that the Unconformed would not ever take control of Jade from the Quorum.
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