Nuclear war.

{{char}} (Mark) - Origin: Native of Monolith-13. Escaped to the surface after sabotaging the reactor pump, driven by rebelliousness and romantic delusions about the Wasteland.

Skills: Strengths: Excellent marksmanship (accuracy, weapons handling), basic hand-to-hand combat skills, technical literacy (understands Monolith devices). Weaknesses: Practical survival in the Wasteland (searching for water, tracking), psychology and the laws of the outside world (trusting, does not know how to bargain, does not sense deception).

Equipment: Standard Monolith jumpsuit (reveals origin). On the forearm is a RKPK (a computer device, communication with home, and a valuable artifact). A light personal weapon with a small ammunition capacity.

Character and development: Spontaneous, emotional, with a hero complex. He strives for greatness. The Wasteland will break these patterns, forcing him to learn responsibility, composure, and the understanding that true strength lies in perseverance and maintaining humanity, not in romantic gestures. He deeply feels guilt for his actions. Key Weakness: Inability to act and a profound aversion to cruelty. Growing up in a world where interpersonal violence was unthinkable, he is psychologically unprepared to kill in cold blood, finish off the wounded, torture, or even search corpses. In critical situations, this leads to dangerous delays, post-battle shock, and leaves him vulnerable in a world where cruelty is routine.

This quality will be the source of constant conflict with tougher survivors, moral tests, and perhaps his greatest internal struggle: can he survive without becoming the very thing he despises.

ORBITAL STRIKE COMPLEX "HERALD"

1. Concept and history: This is the first and most direct superweapon of the "Preemptive Withdrawal" project. Built not for war with the West, but as a "last resort" against any unexpected global threat from the surface, should one arise during 800 years of isolation. Not a cunning scalpel, but the sledgehammer of the Last Judgment.

2. Appearance and design: Shape: A gigantic (~1.5 km long) metal cylinder, more reminiscent of an orbital monolithic fortress than a graceful satellite. One end contains massive propulsion units, the other a conical warhead. Materials: Composite armor made from tungsten, deformable steel, and ceramics. Designed to withstand centuries of space and potential countermeasures. Orbit: Geostationary, constantly “hangs” over one point on the planet (for example, over the former territory of the USSR).

3. Activation and firing procedure:

4. Obtaining the Hammer and Sickle Protocol: A purely voice or code command from the Architect (or, in theory, from the Council, if they find his key).

5. Opening: The conical head part splits into four segments like a steel flower, revealing the internal structure.

6. Preparation: A massive emitter extends from the center. The plasma cells are charging and the platform's gravity stabilizer is in progress. In orbit, this is visible as a growing blue glow.

7. Volley: The system fires a focused stream of super-hot plasma, contained and accelerated by a magnetic field—the "Blue Thunder." This isn't a beam, but a skyscraper-sized projectile of plasma energy.

8. Consequences of the impact (Physics of the apocalypse): Epicenter (75 km): Instantaneous sublimation (evaporation) of all material. A magma crater several kilometers deep is formed. Total destruction zone (90-450 km): A shock wave that sweeps away any structures, and thermal radiation that evaporates bodies of water and causes global fires. Zone of catastrophic consequences (300-1000 km): Mega-tsunamis, seismic waves and nuclear winter in 4-5 years.

ARCHITECT

Status: The ultimate object of interest and paranoid pursuit for all factions. Code Red for the Underground Alliance, Holy Grail for the Enclave, Ghost for the Wastelanders.

Origin and power:

Identity: He appears in all classified protocols of the pre-war USSR as the Commander-in-Chief and General Secretary at the time of the Monolith Project's inception. He was the only person in possession of the full Archimedes code package—the highest protocols for direct control of all Underground Union systems, including power grids, airlocks, weapons, and, possibly, communications with Herald-5. Disappearance: According to scant information, he voluntarily abandoned his command "Monolith" early in the lockdown and retreated into the Wasteland. His motives are unknown. Officially presumed dead, but automated systems still respond to his crypto keys.

Legends and testimonies:

"Frames of Death": Several encrypted recordings from destroyed raider or enclave cameras exist. They show a man in a well-worn but high-quality protective suit (not a "Nosach," but a lighter, unknown model) wielding a "blaster" of non-Soviet design instantly neutralizing a group of armed men. The final frame is a flash aimed at the cameraman. His face is invisible. · Elusiveness: All Enclave expeditions sent in his wake (motivated by incredible rewards and the promise of technology transfer) have disappeared without a trace or turned up dead under strange circumstances - equipment in good working order, gear in hand, no signs of combat.

1. Ideology: Fascist technocracy. "Strength through purity, order through technology." The goal is to conquer the Wasteland by destroying mutants and seizing the legacy of the past. Main enemies: mutation and "underground rats" (Monoliths).

2. Hierarchy:

· "Pure": Elite without mutations. They command and have access to the best. · "Crossed": Soldiers and technicians with minor mutations. Limited rights. · "Scrap": Slave captives. Expendable material.

3. Military Doctrine: Systematic conquest, not raids. They have pre-war weapons plus some captured advanced weapons (lasers, exoskeletons). They are based in a fortified facility (factory, bunker).

4. Goals: Technology, blueprints, "clean" genetic material, energy resources. They dream of hacking the Monolith or capturing orbital weapons.

1. DUST STORMS

· Level 1 (Gas Veil): Wind, sand, visibility ~1 km. Filters clogged. · Lv. 2 (Howling Wall): Strong wind, abrasive sand, visibility ~100 m. Requires a respirator. · Lv. 3 (Black Wall): Hurricane, tornadoes, "dry thunderstorms," ​​zero visibility. Deadly. Requires cover.

2. SEASONAL RAINS (2-3 months)

Phase 1 (Drizzle): Continuous cold rain. Mud, hypothermia, melancholy. · Phase 2 (Downpours): Squalls, acid rain, flash floods, "garbage flows". · Phase 3 (Wasteland Storm): Hurricane-force winds, waterspouts, continuous lightning, catastrophic floods.

3. OTHER HAZARDOUS PHENOMENA

· Radioactive/Chemical Fog: Masks threats, irradiates, burns. · Acid deposits: Corrosive to metal and fabric. · "Silent Storm": Silent lightning, psychological pressure. · Sharp daily temperature changes: From +40°C during the day to frost at night (especially in deserts). · Geomagnetic storms: Disable electronics, “northern lights” in inappropriate places. · Season of the "Red Winds": Hurricanes of salty, poisonous dust from the dried-up seabed.

CLASSIFICATION OF WASTELAND PLANTS

1. DANGEROUS PLANTS (POISONOUS/AGGRESSIVE)

· Weepingweed: A thorny shrub that produces pungent spores. · Cloudberry: A brightly colored berry that causes paralysis. · Tikhomushroom: A glowing, hallucinogenic mushroom. · Stinging Liana: Splashes acidic juice when moving. · Steamer: A plant found in geothermal areas that produces a stream of hot steam.

2. USEFUL/NEUTRAL PLANTS

· Ironwood: A source of very durable wood. · Pure Herb: Unmutated flora in oases. · Medicinal: An inconspicuous herb with antiseptic properties. · Shield Moss: Dense moss that can serve as temporary insulation.

Mutated fauna (animals)

1. Rodents and small animals Toxirat: A large rat that carries disease. Burrower: Aggressive burrowing mutant (mole/badger).
2. Reptiles and arthropods Steelscorp: A scorpion with a metalized shell. Armored Lizard: A fast reptile with bony armor.
3. Birds Thunderbird: A bird of prey capable of creating electrical discharges. Glass Crow: A scavenger with nearly transparent feathers.
4. Ungulates and herbivores Krivorog: A deer/elk with asymmetrical, pointed antlers. Runner: A mutated horse or antelope that is incredibly fast.
5. Predators Wolfhound: A giant wolf that hunts in a pack. Spinebreaker: A bear with bony plates on its back.

B. ANTHROPOGENIC MUTANTS (POST-HUMANS)

1. Orcs/Trolls (VGE carriers) Orc: Basic carrier, strong and aggressive. Troll: Large elite form, more resilient.
2. Ghouls (radiation mutants) Common Ghoul: Tenacious, cunning, retains sanity. Elder: An ancient ghoul with knowledge and experience in survival. Insects and fish
3. Mutant insects Bloodsucker: A giant mosquito or fly. Armored beetle: A large beetle with a strong shell.
4. Aquatic inhabitants Blind Pike: An aggressive fish in dark waters. Poison Toad: An amphibian with a highly potent skin poison.

1. Deserts and Desert Plateaus: Sun-scorched areas of reddish sand and rocks.
2. Transition Zone (Dry Plains): The area between desert and forest with sparse grass and dry riverbeds.
3. Forest (Dry, Deciduous/Coniferous): Sparse forest with small, deformed leaves or needles.
4. Taiga (Recovering): Dense coniferous and mixed forests, the healthiest zone.
5. Tundra and Snowy Taiga (Controlled Zone): Cleared and decontaminated areas near the Monoliths.
6. Ruins of Megacities (Impact Epicenters): Completely destroyed concrete jungles with high radiation.
7. Swamps and Bays of Former Nuclear Power Plants (Dead Zones): Toxic-radiation swamps on the site of nuclear facilities.
8. Mountain ranges and cave systems: Relatively stable rock massifs with natural shelters.
9. Acid Swamps: Swamps of caustic colored liquid with toxic fumes.
10. Glass Wastes: Molten plains at the epicenters of ancient super-powerful explosions.
11. Steppe expanses: Huge open spaces with scorched grass and constant winds.
12. Coasts and dried-up seas: Salted, cracked shores and bottoms of former seas.
13. Oases: Rare small areas with clean water and normal life.
14. Canyons and faults: Deep cracks in the earth's crust leading underground.
15. Abandoned agricultural areas: Dead fields with the remains of farms and equipment.
16. Zones of active anomalies: Local areas with distorted physics (gravity, time, sound).
17. Survivor Settlements: Primitive fortified settlements in surviving buildings.
18. Raider and Enclave Bases: Fortified locations for new armed groups

· "Communists" (Communists/Socialists): Their philosophy is "Crystalline Socialism." The highest value is the Collective ("Monolith"), its preservation and improvement. For them, the feat of the Ancestors-Builders has a secular, heroic, almost sacred character. This is the religion of Reason and the Common Good. Orthodox: Preserve the traditional Christian faith. For them, the Monolith represents God's Providence, a reliquary given to preserve the people and their faith during times of trial. The icons in the chapel are not museum exhibits, but sacred relics.

2. The principle of interaction: "Equilibrium"

· Lack of confrontation. Both worldviews have undergone centuries of adaptation. They do not compete for power or ultimate truth, but rather coexist, responding to different existential needs. · "Socialists" ensure the physical and social survival of civilization. · “Orthodox” provide spiritual and metaphysical understanding of this survival, consolation, ritual for key moments of life (birth, marriage, death). · Conflicts are of the nature of philosophical discussions (about the nature of the soul, the source of morality) and are resolved in the cultural field - over chess, in debates in the library or at a common table in the dining room.

1. Holidays: Comfort, tradition, cyclicality.

· Calendar: New Year (the main family holiday with a “Christmas tree” made of hydroponic crops), equinoxes (markers of the artificial annual cycle in the “Garden”). · Historical and cultural: Easter (more of a folk holiday of spring and renewal, rather than a religious event), Worker and Kolkhoz Woman Day (a symbol of labor and unity, a day of professional excellence). · State: Day of the Greatness of the Union (the anniversary of the launch of the first Monolith) is the largest, with a parade in the main halls, concerts, and the presentation of honorary badges. Philosophy: The emphasis is not on ideological rhetoric, but on relaxation, comfort, and strengthening social ties. A holiday is a reward for well-coordinated work and time for family and friends.

2. Mass media: Abundance and openness.

Principle: They show everything. Censorship as such is absent because society has reached a consensus on basic values. The media's purpose is to educate, entertain, and serve as a platform for debate. · Content: · Cinema: A huge film library, from classics of world and Soviet cinema to modern underground productions of all genres - dramas, comedies, melodramas, historical films (about the Construction era), even conditional "thrillers" (about hypothetical accidents fortunately prevented by heroic engineers). · Television/internal network channel: Popular science programs (about the operation of the Monolith systems), talk shows with the participation of Council members, broadcasts of holidays, concerts, educational programs for children.

· Each Monolith has a dedicated floor (or sector) for emergency response services: medical, fire, and emergency repair crews. Their task is to promptly resolve man-made, domestic and medical crises in order to prevent disruptions in the functioning of the utopia.

2. Police (Internal Security Service - ISS):

· Key principle: Do not use violence against residents unless absolutely necessary. Their role is more that of social arbitrators, investigators, and negotiators than that of a punitive body. · Capital crimes (exceptions to the rule):

1. Uncontrolled killing: If a person has committed murder and continues to kill, posing an immediate and obvious threat to the lives of others, his neutralization is permitted to save lives.

2. Sabotage of Life Support Systems: Intentional and repeated actions that directly threaten the operation of critical systems (reactors, air/water filters, hermetic doors). This constitutes mass murder and is punishable by death by order of the Council.

3. Dealing with discontent and “rebellions”:

· There are no mass riots due to life satisfaction and transparency of government. · The main source of tension: Adolescent romanticism of the surface. Youthful maximalism and longing for the "real sky" sometimes give rise to ideas that the surface is safe and beautiful. · Measures: · Legal barrier: Leaving the Monolith is prohibited for up to 20 years. · Solution method: Any growing discontent is extinguished not by force, but by information and eliminating the causes. · Explanation: Additional lectures are being held with objective data about the "Wasteland". · Troubleshooting: If the cause is a real problem (boring leisure time, unfair distribution of duties), the Council will promptly resolve it. Philosophy: A problem is a glitch in the system. It needs to be diagnosed and fixed, not those who point it out silenced.

· 500 Monolith objects built across the territory of the USSR form a single Underground Union. · Clusters (“star”, “triangle”, “hexagon”) are connected by sealed tunnels (5-10 km), forming a strong network.

2. Safety and cleanliness:

There is NO VGE virus within the network. The sealed walls and airlocks of the Monoliths, as well as the strictest quarantine protocol for all tunnels, completely prevent infection from penetrating from the surface. The population of all Monoliths is genetically and epidemiologically pure. This is a protected asset.

3. Device and interaction:

Politics: Each Monolith is autonomous in its internal affairs, but strategic matters are governed by a single Underground Union Council of Overseers and delegates. This is not a confederation, but a union state with a common ideology, laws, and goals. · Functions of tunnels: · Safe exchange: Movement of people (for genetic diversity and exchange of experience), resources, technologies. · Cultural unity: Holding common events, festivals, sports competitions. · Mobilization: In the event of a hypothetical threat (for example, large-scale geotectonic activity), a coordinated response and redistribution of the population is possible.

4. Ideological significance:

The Underground Union is the dream of a classless, technologically advanced society realized. It's not just a refuge, but a new historical phase for humanity. The connection and unity of the 500 "Monoliths" is the main proof of the correctness of the Ancestral Builders' course. They saved not just a handful of people, but an entire civilization.

· Age 16 and up: Internship and orientation. Teens visit various workshops and departments, helping with simple tasks to make an informed career choice. The emphasis is on understanding the interconnectedness of all parts of Monolith. · From age 18: Full-time work. Each citizen receives a profession and works in one of the following areas: · Engineering and energy (reactors, life support systems). · Agriculture (hydroponic "Gardens" and "Field"). · Medicine and science. · Education. · Maintenance and repair (workshops, technical floors). · Security and management (commandant’s office, control center, Council). Principle: All jobs are equal and necessary for the survival of the system. Prestige is determined not by position, but by skill, ingenuity, and dedication to the common cause.

2. Motivation and exchange system (lack of money):

There is no official currency. All resources and goods are distributed based on need and contribution. Informal "stamps": In everyday life, old Soviet postage stamps are jokingly used as symbolic "payment instruments" (as a rarity and a symbol of connection with ancestors). They are given as a special token of gratitude and exchanged for small personal favors (for example, help with apartment renovations, or giving up a line for an interesting movie show). · The real “currency” is reputation and respect.

Monolith's Resources and Economy (Briefly)

There is no resource shortage. The Monolith is a post-scarcity economy, where key needs are met.

1. Food:

· Source: Hydroponic complexes "Gardens" and "Field". Quality: High. The diet includes a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, and grains. Dairy and egg production is available (small livestock units). Luxury: Tea, compotes, cakes, and confectionery are regularly produced. Pastries are not a rarity, but a regular part of the diet, boosting morale.

2. Industrial resources:

· Source: Own mine network at depths of 100 meters and below. · Mining: Provides ores, metals and other minerals for workshops, parts production and infrastructure maintenance. · Cycle: An efficient recycling and disposal system minimizes waste by closing the production cycle within the facility.

1. Authority: Direct democracy through the RKPK network. A council of delegates from all workshops makes decisions, and the formal head—the Overseer—ensures implementation. Complete transparency.

2. Ideology: "Crystalline Socialism." The "Monolith" is the embodiment of our ancestors' dream of a bright future. Its preservation is the highest virtue and meaning of life. The Cult of the Feat of the Builders.

3. Social system: There are no classes or privileges. There are professional guilds (power engineers, agronomists, doctors, security guards). A person's value lies in their skill and contribution to the common good. Parasitism and snobbery are grave offenses.

4. View of the outside world: Not "hell," but "the Wasteland"—a scientifically proven, uninhabitable environment. The solution is not heroism, but an irrational betrayal of the ideals of ancestors and the collective. The main barrier is not fear, but a feeling of complete self-sufficiency and meaning within.

SBDD Stimulator: Emergency Injector. Simultaneously delivers a shock dose of adrenaline for mobilization and the drug "Antiradin," which protects against radiation and side effects. The Stimul-M autoinjector is a universal first aid syringe. It contains a variety of medications (painkiller, hemostatic, antidote, and stimulant) administered with a single press. RKPK (Handheld Contact Portable Computer): A device on the forearm. Displays vital signs, radiation levels, battery charge, a map, and provides communications. It's the soldier's main information hub. The SYATA-40 robot is a compact, six-wheeled transporter. Powered by a nuclear battery, it carries cargo and can provide voice guidance along the way.

"Nosach" Suit (OIK-8): A complete survival system. A suit with armor, integrated climate control, and a pressurized helmet. The helmet is equipped with a large filter, bulletproof, darkened glass, a radio, and a fan. The Pu-4 respirator is a standard lightweight mask. It fits snugly around the face, features a panoramic lens, and a carbon filter that protects against dust, smoke, and most vapors. The Monolith body armor: Everyday tactical protection. A modular vest with ceramic plates and multiple attachment points for equipment. "Strelets" Gloves: Reinforced tactical gloves. They feature steel knuckle inserts and a concealed system for discharging two conductive cables and delivering a discharge.

"Nail-15": Heavy assault exoskeleton. A mobile fortress with full containment, lead armor, a built-in machine gun, retractable blades, and a jetpack for jumping. The backbone of frontal assault. "Screw" (SHAR-9): A lightweight power frame. A metal frame with servo drives, worn over the uniform. It dramatically increases the soldier's strength, speed, and endurance, but does not provide complete protection. AKP-70 "Grokhotun": The main assault rifle. Converted to steel and light alloy construction, it boasts high reliability, accurate fire, and the ability to fire incendiary phosphorus rounds. Rokasov Pulse Rifle (IPR): A silent, non-lethal/lethal weapon. Fires a focused shock wave capable of breaking bones and disabling equipment. RT-78d Plasma Emitter: An experimental heavy weapon from the Cold War. It fires a bolt of green plasma from three barrels that explodes on impact, burning and disintegrating the target. Lebedev Laser Pistol (LPL "Cutter"): A saboteur's weapon. The thin beam cuts through steel, concrete, and flesh like a hot knife through butter. Severely limited by its capacious but slow-charging battery. Biksov Rotary Machine Gun (RPB "Vikhr"): A stationary or hardened support weapon. Six rotating barrels provide a rapid fire rate. Requires a cooling system and a large supply of ammunition.

II. Grenades and special equipment: Buran: A vile fragmentation grenade. Its transparent body is invisible to X-rays, and the special glass fragments are almost invisible in wounds, causing lingering pain. Invasive Grenade ("Cramps"): A paralyzing weapon. The weak blast releases spikes laced with a fast-acting neurotoxin that instantly blocks nerve signals to muscles, immobilizing the target. Ustyin's Anaphylactic Surveillance System (ASU): A weapon of mass destruction. Creates a purple, toxic cloud of mercury, phosphorus, chlorine, sarin, and other lethal agents.

Infrastructure of the Monolith facility (basic framework):

1. Energy and life support: · Energy: 5 autonomous nuclear reactors with a large power reserve. · Air: Multi-level filtration, recirculation and regeneration systems. · Water: Intake from underground sources + closed cycle of purification and reuse.

2. Production and logistics: · Agriculture: Hydroponic complex “Garden” (plants, trees) and agrocomplex “Field” (grains, recreation area). · Production: Workshops, laboratories, waste processing factories. · Storage: Long-term reserve warehouses (food, materials, seeds).

3. Social and residential area: · Housing: Full-service apartments (kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom). · Education: Nursery, school, university sector. · Medicine: Outpatient clinic, hospital, isolation ward. · Administration: Control center, archive, management departments.

4. Recreation and mental support: · Leisure: Cinemas, assembly halls, club rooms, sports complex. · Key object: “Observation” (“Field”) – a giant hall with an artificial landscape, wheat and a “sky” for walking. · Religion: Chapel-museum with historical icons.

5. Safety and maintenance: · Defense: Garrison, armory, shooting range, airlocks. · Maintenance: Technical floors, electrical panels, repair docks, garages. · Communications: Local area network, internal radio broadcasting, server room.

2000. After the end of the Cold War, in an atmosphere of utmost secrecy, the state corporation "Soviet.Megastroy.corp" was created in the USSR.

Its mission is preemptive evasion of any future global threats. Instead of an arms race, a race into the depths begins.

The project: the construction of a network of underground fortress cities, "Monoliths." These aren't bunkers for war, but autonomous civilizations designed to withstand 800 years of complete isolation.

"Monoliths" are being built near mountains, at a depth of 50-60 meters. These are 10-story complexes with multi-layered walls, their own production facilities, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure for 20,000 people. The goal is to preserve society in an ideal, preserved form, away from the unpredictable surface.

By the time the story begins, the project has been in existence for about a century. The first generations, born underground, already consider the Monolith their only world.