Timeline to 2095
2050
Fusion, while cost prohibitive, is developed, and the decades that follow begin a shift away from fossil fuels. Greater understanding of developmental biology has led to the discovery of selective tissue cloning. This results in technologies allowing rapid regeneration of tissues, and leads the way for stunning medical advances, allowing doctors to selectively turn off (and on) genes, almost eliminating many forms of cancer. America curtails its international presence with China elevating to a superpower. Europe re-focuses on cooperation among its regional members to act as a counter to China’s growing influence.
2055
Sentient AI is achieved in large quantum computers. Small scale, cold fusion is developed but still cost prohibitive. The creation of nanobots is further developed. Advances are made in gene therapy. Genetic engineering of animals and plants has become commonplace.
2060
Climate change has accelerated the shift to nuclear power and renewable energy, leaving some fossil fuel export countries in rapid economic decline. While fusion is possible, ultra-efficient, small-scale, nuclear fusion reactors are also developed. The first international colony on the moon is established.
2065
Solar powered nanobots are successfully developed to handle a multitude of tasks. Human cloning is banned worldwide, but many countries begin to develop secret military programs covertly. South and Central American countries along with Canada form the New Americas Coalition. The NAC acts as a military and economic competitor to the EU and the superpower of China, and the United Federation of Asia. The international colony on the moon fractures into satellite colonies under different geo-political banners.
2070
Fusion technology is refined in scale and powers many cities. Battery technology is capable of operating for days. Most vehicles are electric, and larger, water and land transportation is commonly powered through batteries or nuclear (fission) reactors. Automated robots with limited AI are created. The development of cybernetic implants becomes a reality with the first quadra-transplant conducted on military volunteers. The creation of an earth to lunar space elevator begins in Africa, while another high orbit space elevator is started in the New Americas Coalition. Humanity is linked to the net, with individuals using electronic transactions and interactions among others almost exclusively. While people still communicate and move through “meat space”, many rely only on the net.
2075
Mars is colonized by competing individual nations. The United States, desperate to keep up in the space race with China, the EU, and the NAC, uses genetically modified human clones extensively for this endeavor. Fossil fuels are essentially replaced and used solely for flight transportation. Migrating populations due to climate change, add further stress to many countries. While the shift away to renewable technologies and nuclear energy has helped immensely, world-wide water resources are strained. Border skirmishes are not uncommon, and try as many powers do to have unified currencies, each country clings to their respective coin with even the euro suffering in universal acceptance. Some corporations shift to megacorporations, and many corporations elevate themselves to global entities, operating their own security forces, and wielding immense economic (and political) power.
2080
Africa, with a younger population and now less dependent on fossil fuels, unites under the African Federation. Holding the now completed, lunar space elevator, the African Federation further cements its economic power. Many middle eastern countries suffer a population exodus, as the value of fossil fuels plummet and the toll of decades of climate change make sufficient agricultural production challenging. While countries unite under respective unions and coalitions of military and economic power, the strain of climate change has taken its toll. Mass migration occurs, and many countries struggle with trying to keep their identity, while at the same time partnering with regional neighbors against other international coalitions. All the while, the global power of corporations increases.
2085
The first, high functioning AI android is created. The United States, a pale shadow of its former glory, has California, Oregon, and Washington secede from the union and these former states join the NSA. Texas and many southern states, break away from the US, forming the NeoConfederacy. This sparks a war with the United States against the NAC, although most conflict is along the northern border against Canada. A limited nuclear strike from Iran into Pakistan results in a push from China and the United Federation of Asia to conduct rapid military operations within many middle eastern countries to stabilize the region. This is viewed as an act of aggression from the African Federation and the EU struggles to act as a mediator, trying to defuse the situation from growing to a larger world-wide conflict.
2090
An extreme political faction of the NeoConfederacy explodes a nuclear bomb in the harbor of north Boston. This act of terrorism spurs a cease fire and eventual treaty with the US and the NAC. Tensions ramp up along the US border states over the following years, but the treaty holds.
2095
New Boston is the merger of former Boston, Worcester, and Providence into an expansive metropolitan area. Boston itself was split in half. A kilometer high wall runs along the northern shoreline of the Mystic River sealing off the heavily radiated crater from the rest of New Boston. The local government is subservient to various megacorporations each trying to claim a slice of New Boston’s reconstruction, and secure their respective power. It’s in this place that a crew with enough guts and guile have a chance to earn a fortune.