The Great Cyber War

From 2029 to 2035 the world was rocked by a global conflict, the scale of which had not been seen in a century.

The Flashpoint:

2029: Tensions rise in the South China Sea as China establishes new military outposts on disputed islands. A series of escalating skirmishes culminates in a near-miss between a Chinese warship and a U.S. destroyer. 

Cyberwarfare Erupts: Blaming the U.S. for the near-collision, China launches a crippling cyberattack on American infrastructure, crippling power grids and financial systems. Russia and North Korea join the fray, targeting European and South Korean networks. A rogue terrorist cell with suspected ties to Pyongyang is caught in San Francisco, but in the effort to capture them they set off a portable dirty nuclear device, devastating the city and striking at the very heart of the innovation of the United States.

The Descent into Chaos:

Nation-States Crumble:  Without power, communication, and financial systems, governments lose control. Riots erupt, economies collapse, and citizens scramble for basic necessities. The illusion of national security crumbles as traditional militaries struggle to adapt to the new battlefield.

Rise of Regional Powers:  In the power vacuum,  powerful corporations, ruthless PMCs (Private Military Contractors), and local warlords emerge to fill the void. They seize control of resources, establish their own enclaves, and exploit the desperate populace.

The Proxy Wars:

2030-2032: The initial cyberwarfare escalates into a series of brutal proxy conflicts. The U.S. and EU back resistance movements in resource-rich regions controlled by China and Russia.

Weaponized Drones and Mercenaries:  Advanced AI-controlled drones and heavily armed PMCs become the dominant forces on the battlefield. Traditional military engagements become rare as the war is fought through targeted assassinations, resource raids, and crippling cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.

The Human Cost:

Civilian Casualties Skyrocket:  Caught in the crossfire, innocent civilians suffer the brunt of the war.  Refugee crises erupt as people flee war zones and collapsing states. Food and water shortages become widespread, leading to famine and disease outbreaks.

Rise of Black Markets:  Black markets flourish, providing weapons, medicine, and basic necessities to the highest bidder.  Ruthless warlords exploit the desperate populace, further fueling the cycle of violence.

The Turning Point:

2033: The tide begins to turn as the U.S. and EU develop advanced cyber-defense systems, blunting Chinese and Russian attacks. A sense of war weariness sets in on all sides, with the original goals of the conflict fading into a distant memory.

A Fragile Peace:

2034-2035: Exhausted by the war's immense human and economic cost, the major powers negotiate a fragile ceasefire. The terms are messy, with no clear victor. Regional powers retain control of their territories, and the dream of a unified global order lies shattered.

The New World Order:

Rise of Megacorporations:  Global corporations emerge as the dominant power players, wielding immense economic and political influence. They operate across former national borders, controlling resources and exploiting the weakened populace.

Age of Cyber-Mercenaries:  PMCs become a permanent fixture in the new world order.  Highly skilled mercenaries with advanced cybernetic augmentations are in high demand, offering their services to the highest bidder.

The Scars Remain:  The world is a fractured and desolate place.  Nation-states are relics of the past, replaced by corporate enclaves, warlord-controlled territories, and demilitarized zones patrolled by robotic sentries. The dream of global unity is a distant memory, replaced by a constant struggle for survival in a world reshaped by cyber warfare.

This war may be over, but the true cost is only beginning to be felt. The world has entered a new dark age, where humanity struggles to rebuild from the ashes of global conflict.