The Seattle Wasteland

[SharpGn2]

I. Overview

The Seattle Wasteland is the name given to the former metropolitan area of Seattle and the lands that surround it. The current population in the year 2300 is believed to be roughly 40,000, with the largest population center being Three Towers itself, with a population of 13,000. The government of Three Towers also lays claim to the Seattle Wasteland, its resources, and claim authority over anyone within their borders. Only half of the Population are registered and true Citizens of Three Towers; the remaining population are foreign, and while they do not have the claim to citizenship, they are currently taxed and policed as if they had such. The lands grow less in population Density the further from Inner City. There are 30 registered townships dotted across the lands and several unofficial settlements.

Weather in the Seattle Wasteland is consistent, however, much different from most of the Wasteland. Rain and Snow are common in almost all parts of the land, with only a few months of the late summer promising clear skies. It is not uncommon for it to rain constantly for days, even weeks, in the late winter/early spring. A constant of Snow can be expected during the winter; however, heavy snowfall is rare. Depending on the time of year, temperatures can rate as high as 90 degrees (32 C) in the dry season of the late summer months to as cold as 5 degrees (-15 C) in the coldest hours of winter.

[SharpGn2]

II. History

Before the Great War, the Metropolis of Seattle was the pride and Capital of the Commonwealth of Northwest, the first line of defense against the Chinese Communist threat.

With Northwest’s lands under siege and warfare in Alaska from the Chinese, Seattle was blessed with high budgets from the Government, and as such, its economy was booming during 2077, much in contrast to many other parts of the nation.
The leadership of Northwest took to Celebration after the Reclamation of Anchorage, and looked to improve and rebuild its image. The main focus was on tourism and as such, Seattle Convinced the 2077 World Fair to be held there, from October 20 to December 20. It also had the Technological Expo and Military Expo booked for similar times.
While there were recorded food shortages in some of the smaller towns, Seattle itself, at least officially, never recorded any riots or disruptions. Despite that, there was a heavy Military presence. By the year 2077, Power Armored troops were a common site, and there were many drills involving the Invasion of Chinese forces from the Pacific. Near Everett, there were three Military Installations, including a Navy port, and two Army bases. Ships would be seen along the waters of Seattle frequently, and army convoys would dominate the roads in the later months, as tension rose.

Three of the Great Vaults were built within Washington, including Vault 6, Vault 27, and Vault 68. The Enclave’s Social experiments would only impact two, Vault 6 being a control Vault and intended for the purpose given to the public. As for 27 and 68, the following was determined for each experiment.

Vault 27 was to be given double the standard population. 2000 people from the Seattle area were allowed to reserve space. The Vault was located to the East of Seattle, roughly an hour’s drive and near the town of Omak. Despite the long transits incurred in order to participate in Drills, the people of Vault 27 were always heavy in attendance, perhaps due to the previous years of War within Northwest. For this reason, almost every member assigned to Vault 27 was present on October 23.

Vault 68 was given 1,000 men and 1 Woman. This Vault was located near Silver Lake, close to the Oregon border. In truth, several of the men were from Portland. This Vault did not have any drills before the Great War, and when the alarms sounded on October 23rd, again, almost every member assigned was present.

Vault 6 being an aforementioned Control Vault, had no intentions for social experimentation. 1,000 people were able to reserve spots for the Vault located within Mt. St. Helens. The Vault had been having drill after drill for years, and despite the paranoia of Northwest, the people attending these began to drop. In the fatal first hours of the Great War, little more then half arrived.

October 23rd 2077

The Skies were clear, and it was scheduled to be a bright and sunny day for the populace of Seattle. The World Fair had kicked off, along with the Technological expo and Military expo. The city was booming with several tourists. People spoke of newly developed Plasma and Laser weapons; an experimental nuclear fission powered jet made one of its flights; Power Armor improvements were discussed. Self reliant A.I. was in its final stages; a computer was recorded to be able to store a Petabyte of information.
At 10 AM that morning, however, a familiar yet terrifying noise began to drown the city- the Air Raid Alarm. The pitch indicated that this was no drill. Panic flooded within the streets, and the people designated for Vaults fought there way to their salvation. Nearby, the Missile Cruiser U.S.S. Mili Atoll is starting her Deployment. General quarters are sounded aboard the ship.

While Seattle was not one of the first targets when the Bombs fell, within 45 minutes the first nuclear missiles, roughly 25 were streaming towards the City. A prototype electronic Countermeasure defense system at the World Fair, displayed to promote peace and thwart Nuclear Warheads, just did that- however, it malfunctioned. The system was designed to lead the nuclear warheads over a safe zone, particularly a body of water, and disable each one. Instead, it redirected all of the warheads south, and each detonated before impact, close to the cities of Newport, Salem, and even as far East as Pendleton. This created the present day ‘Rad Alley’.
A second volley of Nukes appeared minutes later, and the Malfunctioned device did nothing. These Nukes were aimed at Canada and hit Vancouver and Victoria head on. Another Nuke aimed at Seattle was diverted Eastward by a Countermeasure aboard the Mili Atoll. The Mili Atoll, however, failed to lock on another Nuke which hit near Bellingham. A final volley appeared in the form of seven more Missiles, and while the Mili Atoll was able to divert five of these west, into the ocean, it could not stop the last two, only slightly diverting the course of one which impacted near Kingston (the blast wave from this nuke impacted the ship) and failed to stop a final Nuke which hit Shoreline. These final nukes obliterated the population, and left most of the city in rubble. Downtown area Seattle was left almost unaffected due to the efforts of the device and the Missile Cruiser.

Ten years would pass before the first signs of Human life, known as the first Tribes, appeared around the Seattle Wasteland. These tribes were Nomadic and made no effort to rebuild, as there was really little that could be done so early after the War. While extensive parts of Seattle were irradiated at this time, parts of it were accessible, helping the Tribes to survive. These tribes grew in number and were for the most part prosperous. It was not until 2110 that life would change within the Seattle Wasteland.

The times of Oppression

In 2110, a Group of slavers stumbled upon the untapped resource of the Seattle Wasteland, and being educated, began to coerce the peaceful tribes into education slanted towards making them subservient. Leading this initial group was the man known as Carnegie.
With superior technology, he was able to round up the tribes, and turn them into slaves. Carnegie was going to build his own Empire. As more and more of the Slavers under his command began to appear, he commanded the servitude of the Tribes, and began to impose harsh regulations, on everything from food rationing to breeding.
Setting his eyes on the ruins of Seattle, he began to push his slaves to explore and begin to build up his new ‘Empire’. Thousands would die at the hand of Carnegie.

Four the next Seventy years, Carnegie and later his heir of the same name forced the slaves to rebuild the most structurally intact buildings within Seattle. They were strictly kept from education not involving their duties, and forced to scavenge into Irradiated areas. It was the Slave labor that made the Three Towers, and made Carnegie’s Empire.

Any travelers that would find themselves in the Seattle Wasteland were Captured and forced into Slavery. This combined with Rad Alley is why news of the Seattle Wasteland did not reach further south.

In the year 2180, a stroke of luck would be the Salvation of the Slaves. It is told that three great Airships were seen on the horizon to the South-East. These ships, lead by Senior Paladin Baker of the Brotherhood minority, landed to the south when nearing the water’s edge by Tacoma. They were greeted by Slaves who spoke of the atrocities caused by Carnegie. The Slavers were also hostile, and despite the obvious fact the Brotherhood outgunned them, attacked their landing zone.
The Brotherhood launched a Campaign against the Slavers, freeing and enlisting slaves along the way. They reached the Three Towers, and ousted Carnegie. It is said that he was thrown from atop the Needle, where he and the last of his loyal Slavers held out.

Baker ordered his Knights and Scribes to Educate the Tribes into rebuilding a civilization among Three Towers. At first, the Tribes would not cooperate, wishing to leave the Seattle Wasteland; however, with a promise that the Brotherhood would remain, the tribes were less reluctant. The free Nation of Three Towers was founded on September 3rd, 2180.

In the following years, the Brotherhood, aided by the newly formed Protectorate, began a proper survey and exploration of the Seattle Wasteland. Included in the findings were a World War 2 museum (which influenced the Protectorate Greatly) and of course the three special resources. With defense from more slavers fresh on their minds, the people began the construction of the Great walls, and created the Inner city by turn of the Century.

(the 2200s will be made available in the next posting)