Zdzisław Zygfryd Zalinka

Zdzisław Zygfryd Zalinka was born on a rainy spring day in Kraków, Poland, into a family of engineers. His father, Zygfryd Zalinka, was a respected professor of electrical engineering at the AGH University of Science and Technology, and his mother, Elżbieta, was a high school physics teacher. From an early age, Zdzisław showed an aptitude for electronics and an insatiable curiosity about how things worked.

Standing at 174 cm with a lean, wiry frame, he exudes a quiet strength born of both mental exertion and physical labor. His sharp, pale blue eyes, framed by round glasses, are his most striking feature, always alert and filled with quiet intelligence. His once-dark hair, streaked with silver, is often tousled, contrasting with the meticulous nature of his work. Weathered skin, lined with years of concentration and outdoor life, adds to the impression of a man who has seen much and endured more. 

Growing up in the shadow of his father’s achievements, Zdzisław was determined to carve his own path. After completing his studies in electrical engineering at his father’s alma mater, he pursued a career in communications technology, specializing in the infrastructure needed to support emerging 5G networks. His expertise led him to work on various projects across Europe, eventually landing a job with a telecommunications firm in Munich, Germany.

By 2025, Zdzisław was deeply involved in the rollout of 5G networks across Bavaria. However, the world around him was changing rapidly. Political instability, environmental disasters, and resource scarcity were pushing the global economy towards collapse. Zdzisław, ever the pragmatist, began preparing for the worst. When the global financial system finally crumbled in early 2026, he was quick to adapt, using his skills to secure a position at the Walchenseekraftwerk, a hydroelectric power plant nestled in the Bavarian Alps.

The dam became a crucial lifeline for the surrounding communities as power grids failed across Europe. Zdzisław found himself at the heart of efforts to maintain and expand local infrastructure, ensuring that the people in the vicinity had access to electricity and, eventually, a rudimentary form of communication.

It was during this time that Zdzisław began to piece together what was left of the region’s communication systems. He quickly realized that the 5G towers he had helped install could be repurposed to create a localized network. By late 2027, his efforts had restored a basic intranet in the region, connecting towns like Mittenwald with the dam and allowing for local communication and data sharing.

Zdzisław's quiet resilience and ingenuity earned him the respect of the locals, but he remained a somewhat reclusive figure, preferring to work in the background. His contributions were critical, though understated, in keeping the small Bavarian communities connected during a time when much of the world was descending into chaos.

By 2030, in his early 40s, living in the vicinity of Walchenseekraftwerk. He continues to work on improving the local network and experimenting with new ways to maintain and secure power for the region. While many have come to rely on his expertise, Zdzisław remained focused on his work, driven by a sense of duty to preserve the remnants of civilization in a world that seems intent on losing its way.