- Joined
- Sep 25, 2020
- Messages
- 847
- Thread Author
- #1
The Genevan Campaign would serve as Emiyo’s final foray into the maelstrom of war. She instead mustered towards political leadership of the fledgling new world. Though some masses looked upon her with distrust, her many scars and tales of bravery; as well as key involvement in the taking of the Central district, silenced the most vocal oppositions.
Legitimized by support from major figures such as Ludwig Jeager, Jack Denning, and Taskmaster, she was decided as the leading figure for the cities new age by a delegation of cell leaders. Taskmaster was assigned as the commander of the newly united cells. He would eventually be called ‘General.’
During Emiyo’s reassertion into a political throne, Micheal Yards remained both partner and confidant. Following the stabilization of the local region, they would finally marry, bringing a child shortly after. Emiyo proved to be an imperfect, but well-meaning mother and wife. Years of scars and trauma long having compromised that perfect dream. She would bare no further children.
Emiyo Marcum would remain the cities president for twenty-six years. Failing health seeing her retire two years before her death in the year 2050, as the nation's president. Recognized as a political firebrand, morally driven and increasingly popular figure throughout her leadership, the once lambasted doctor would be cast into fond remembrance by many.
Her husband, Micheal, would remain an elusive figure, isolating from the public's eye shortly after her passing. Her son, Eli, would continue on his own path, eventually joining the CERN expeditionary forces, becoming a commander.
Alongside her old friend and ally, Ophelie Latourelle, a new government was founded within City Twenty-four. Inspired by old-world values, its rightful name returned, Geneva. The two formed a firm but fair governing core, both utilizing their previous political experiences, and personal strengths, to complement the greater whole. Reconstruction was fierce, with all remnant Combine structures facing dismantling.
Within the decade, the territory of the Genevan state extended to encompass much of ‘Greater Twenty-four’. Domestic expansions were among Cruseilles, Lyon and New Geneva, which was marked for reconstruction, and the multitude of abandoned military and scientific bunkers were repaired or otherwise occupied. The nation of Switzerland was officially reinstated in 2030.
The capture and handling of traitors was a cornerstone of administrative life for nearly four years. Mercifully, within months of coming to power, the search for metro-police was ceased, with only its command structure and administrative personnel to be hunted. All of the same, any undiscovered officer found guilty of violent crimes were often executed, by Marcum's own decree.
Cherie Gautier, partner of Eleanor Marchand was sentenced to death merely a month following the governments establishment. Though she never stood before her judgement, as an accord was reached with the old doctor, as much friend of Emiyo as enemy. In exchange for the continued rebuilding of CERN, Cherie was quietly deferred a life sentence within the underground complex's confines.
Some considered it corruption, but CERN would grow to become the center of scientific study and research in the coming decades, and few remembered the controversy for long.
With the citadels reactor permanently disabled, the monolith no longer posed an existential threat to the denizens of Earth. It laid nestled in the mountains, an unmistakable monument of the occupation for generations to come.
Though forbidden by local law, adventurous sorts would breach the citadel exclusion border, seeking to traverse its darkened and alien halls for rare technologies. Despite laws placed, the Genevan Government would pay handsomely for recovered equipment. Though few who entered ever left with such bounties - or ever at all.
With the encroaching threat of Race-X from the south, martial readiness was expediated through the former Genevan Guard. Despite their prior crimes and loyalties, only officers stood at risk of charges. Its singular and uniform command structure would ultimately form the basis of the Genevan army, with even its name remaining unaltered. Its forces were initially drawn closer to Geneva to consolidate defenses.
In time Genevan forces finally pushed back towards Lyon, fighting to clear the city of the alien occupiers. The disciplined reserve and iron hearted rebels inducted into its ranks, easily pushed back the invaders. Across the decades, many further incursions into Southern Europe would be undertaken to weaken their foe, until it eventually retreated inside the peninsula. Surrounded and awaiting an eventual campaign to wipe it out.
Following Emiyo's retirement, Ophelie become the nation's president in the year 2048, despite her own failing health. Though a kindly and popular public figure, Ophelie lacked the dogged politicking and resilience of her predecessor. The last of her years were spent in the effort of securing the nation's future as a Republic, and resist increasing factionalizing and self-interests within a thinly picked senate. Among which laid cold-hearted elders and inexperienced youth.
Ophelie's passing occurred in the year 2051, not even a full year following Emiyo's own. She died in office, overwhelmed by the increasing political instability. Though elections were held amid an age of progress, the succeeding administration would eventually cite her own administrations longevity as cause for its own. Sparking Switzerlands first political schism.
Many Vortigaunts would remain within the fledgling nation, integrating into its functions and society, living on its fringes, in the wilderness and between cities. A few elders would be granted or purchase land to inundate with Xenian flora and fauna far away from populated areas, entrusted to maintain its permitted size. These outriders of society often were butchers of headcrabs, or herders of Antlions. Others would find their place as warriors within the Genevan Guard.
Those which remained in the city, were often healers or keepers of the law. In either case, a peaceful and intertwining relationship bloomed between both people, and a new generation arose amongst both. Neither able to imagine a world without the other.
Those Combine remnants which did not shelter within citadels scattered across the lands. Many began to move North, attempting to aid the search for the Borealis. Few made it far before this foul hope was also extinguished. Trapped on a hostile world most forces, typically led by wayward advisors, hunkered into old ruins and fortresses.
Lacking support and driven leadership, they were slowly eradicated. Outside of history, Synths and transhumans became ghost stories, tales of distant hunter calls to scare children and men alike. Travel outside of established paths and roads was recognized as dangerous, for those monsters did exist. Rare as attacks were - they were final for the unprepared.
Decades following the occupations end, CERN would grow to become a center of sciences for the globe. Attracting both the curious and pragmatic. Research was slow, its likeness to Black Mesa not going unrealized for long. Bogged down by intensive regulations and stringent safety checks, progress was controlled.
Eventually, using Lambda's teleportation theory, The CERN Expeditionary force would be founded. Elite teams, armed with the brightest minds and equipment humanity and vortikind could offer, sent out across the borderworld in controlled deployments. Their task was recovery of resources, desperately needed following the Combines plundering.
The technology of the Combine would prove to far outlive its occupation. Some was cherished, such as Medigel. Itself becoming a staple of any notable hospital, its overprescription providing a fresh and comparatively innocent medical controversy in the post-war years. The wealthiest of Vortikind would become its antlion herders - largely in thanks to this processed boon.
Weaponry was viewed differently. Shortly following the citadels shutdown, all pulse-weaponry was recalled by the administration. Most complied - grumbling all the while. For countless years this weaponry would exchange hands in black markets and government armories. Rarer with every passing year. Its production forbidden by state, and eventually, international law. Yet more could always be found.
And so, The Combine occupation was at its end. The survivors, those lucky and foolhardy few, went on to make their way among a new age. Heroes and Villains both, many escaped judgement, others faced it without cause. Some prospered, others perished. But the mark left upon the new world was unmistakable.
Found in the folds of the old world. Discarded shells, or trampled armbands. The calls to action roared from societal heights, or the silent echo of plotting from beneath its very feet. Rotting posters and rusting medals. History, in its own way, would remember all. As would those survivors, for as long as they lived. Handing off a battered, but aspirational world, to a forbidden generation.
