[RogueSynapse]

Standard Information:
Status: Unstable
Recent Events: Brooklyn Commune Manifest & The Rise of Caine

Background:

New York City always has been a major city in American History and a vital part of the Eastern United States' operations. During the opening years of the 21st Century, following the Black Mesa Incident, New York City played another critical role in the history of the United States and the world.

New York City itself in 2001 was hit fairly hard by the portal storms and these storms continued to rock the City until 2004. Furthermore, due to its status as a major metropolitan area on the East Coast, NYC saw an influx of refugees from the inland. Despite these two unfortunate
circumstances, the United States managed to hold a fairly firm grasp on N.Y.C until the 7 Hour War.



The Seven Hour War saw N.Y.C as a major battleground and keypoint of the entire conflict. A good portion of the City was at least damaged by the invasion and Doctor Wallace Breen signed the surrender of Earth in New York City. During the opening months of the occupation, New York City served as the center point of the occupation with Wallace Breen and other early collaborators creating the early governance system for the Earth. However, the early months of the occupation were a period of heavy discontent in New York City. The early resistance, who would organize into The Patriots, began a bombing campaign of early collaborators across City One and generally continued to fight a guerilla war in the ruined parts of New York City. It was this early resistance that ultimately led in the Global Administration's shift away from City One.



In the years following, City One fell into a large state of disrepair as Xenian infestations took over nearly everywhere but Manhattan, blackouts became common, heating problems came in the winter and summer, and housing was poor and crowded. As a result, the local population is reported to be very sympathetic to the resistance and the Patriots. The outcome of this has been repeated terror attacks and small scrimmages across the N.Y.C area, including the repeated bombing and later destruction of the Manhattan Nexus by the Patriots, which resulted in the construction of the Brooklyn Nexus.



Despite the problems that City One faces, it was always destined for greatness in the eyes of the Universal Union. The potential that existed with a large population and salvageable infrastructure made it a key point of interest during the mid to late 2010's and as a result a renewed effort was undertaken to restore the City. Lower and Midtown Manhattan have been reconstructed with skyscrapers fitted with Combine technology housing loyalists and the old U.N Headquarters hosting the C.C.A. Meanwhile Broadway and Wall Street have become hubs of loyalism and B.O.E entertainment and old American attractions such as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty have become beacons of Combine propaganda. However, despite the fact that the heart of the city might have received special attention, the surrounding areas did not receive the same treatment, and the masses of denizens were left neglected and open to the threat of extraterrestrial threats. Chinatown and Upper Manhattan housed large slums while large walls were erected in the early occupation to keep the unwanted outcasts outs of the main city limits and stuck in the Xenian infested boroughs. As a result, the outskirts of Brooklyn, Jersey City, and the Bronx gave quick rise to gangs, new collectives, and independent factions with unique agendas. Now, as the Combine seeks to expand its influence back into these zones, they seemingly have to deal with their consequences of their own actions.

Recent Events:
[March 2018]: Infestation Control
The Combine have materialized enough manpower to begin combating the infestation. Overwatch Patrols alongside specialized teams have went into each zone, working to beat back the infestation, while also being wary of local outcasts, gangs, and communes. Causalities have been high.

[May 2018]: Brooklyn Commune Manifest
The Combine's efforts to tackle the Brooklyn infestation has had a somewhat adverse side effect. Upon the Combine's major effort to reclaim the area, a large group of local outcasts came forward to do it themselves. A plan was quickly thrown together by Community leaders to solve the problem themselves, and as a result, still control their section of the City. Within a span of two weeks, hundreds of outcasted citizens took to the streets armed with baseball bats, lead pipes, and any other melee weapons that they could come to acquire to execute a massive offensive operation that would seek to the Reclamation of Northern Brooklyn. While some of Brooklyn is still threatened by the infestation, a large sector has been reclaimed by this independent commune. Small clashes have now started with the Combine, although, it's mostly acknowledged by the Combine now as a City slum.


[July 2018]: Rise of Caine
Operating within the secluded depths of Bayonne, a mysterious leader known to the masses as Caine has begun a project like no other. In the absence of Combine leadership and structure, gangs of the night have taken to ruling the abandoned housing projects of the region. What started off as a ruthless struggle between the Clashing of collective has started to weave together into a more convoluted and abstract plan. The one known as Caine has sought to unite the warring factions of the region into one Collective in the hopes of obtaining enough manpower to lash back at the Combine forces that are now expanding into their Quarantine-zoned area. It seems as if it's just a matter of time before the gangs are united and blood it to be spilled in droves.

Zones:

Spoiler: Map:

City One - Influence
(Blue)
Massive walls encase this city as a titan of protection from costal or distant attempts at penetration. Within, Combine infrastructure takes hold of the city's streets and buildings. Citizens are hard pressed into maintaining cohesion under the might of the Combine Order and the presence they have within this region.

City One - Reclaimed Infestation Zone
(Orange)
This area has largely been reclaimed by The Combine in their effort to beat back the City One infestation. This area, which was home to some outcasted life, is now designated as a slum zone and is the home of periodic clashing between outcasts, gangs, terrorists, and the Combine.

Brooklyn Independent Commune
(Green)
Within this region resides some collective of life. Mostly a collection of secluded or abandoned old world communities or new age gangs that have been established in the absence of law in order. It's dangerous living within this communal area, but it's free none the less. Some parts of this region is more stable than others, but despite this safety the entire area is also prone to surprise harassments from Synthetic Combine forces that are attempting to reclaim the rest of the Brooklyn borough.

City One - Brooklyn & Queens Quarantine Zone
(Dark Red)
Within this region is a large infestation. While some life still exists here, most of it has migrated to the Brooklyn Independent Commune or to the reclaimed Combine Slums. Supposedly, a large Zonarch named 'Claw' resides here.

City One - Bronx Quarantine Zone
(Red)
The Northern Bronx is home to a large infestation that is slightly North of Harlem. The Combine have spent years trying to hold the infestation back. Supposedly, not much life remains here, and a large Zomnarch named 'Chimera' controls a horde that has stagnated progress for the Combine in this region. Supposedly, the creature is heavily armored and was apart of the 'Long Haulers' party that came through this area.

City One - Union City & Jersey City Quarantine Zone
(Black)
An excessive application of cannister shelling's and years of neglect have created a massive issue associated with Undead creatures within these regions. Both Combine Forces and independent communities are in constant battle with these areas in an attempt to defend what they own and maintain stability from dropping any farther. A large, aggressive Gonome known as 'Cerberus' patrols this region. Yet, despite this, the Combine have made progress on eliminating the infestation.

Caine's Collective Commune
(Light Blue)
The mysterious entity known as Caine is believed to be residing within this region. Gangs in lower-level communities that have decided to follow in his vision of reclaiming New York for their own have gathered here in droves to prepare weapon workshops and infrastructure defenses in preparation for this massive plan. Entry into this region is difficult for even the most Brazen of forces.

Caine's Collective
(Light Blue X)
(Use Picture Below)
A collection of gangs from Union City and Jersey City have migrated to this region under 'Caine' and the larger formation of the Caine's Collective. This violent gang of hooligans have sought to claim the region as their own and plan to begin clashing with the Combine in their own abstract, convoluted plan of payback. The origin of Caine and the general operation of this gang is mostly unknown.

Spoiler: Picture: