World War 3

The history of Earth in the 20th and 21st centuries was marked by a series of conflicts and wars, driven by the rise of genetically engineered superhumans, known as Augments, and the revelation of supernatural creatures. This period, encompassing the Eugenics Wars, the Augmented Wars, World War III, and the post-war era, saw the world drastically changed and set the stage for humanity's entry into the interstellar community. What is sometimes referred to by many as just "World War 3" is actually these three separate conflicts.

• The Eugenics Wars (1992-1996) were the result of advancements in genetic engineering through Project Khan, leading to the creation of Augments - genetically enhanced humans with superior physical and mental abilities. The first breed of these Augments went rogue, orchestrating the fall of several dictators and setting up governments to experiment with their version of humanity.
• The Augmented Wars (1999-2026) were characterized by the rise of a new breed of Augments who furthered their own genetic manipulations, causing a series of conflicts around the world. Notably, they controlled world leaders like Kim Jong Un of North Korea and Xi Jinping of China, using them as puppets to further their own agenda.
• World War III (2026 to 2053) marked a devastating turning point on Earth. 30% of Earth's population was killed in the mass exchange of nuclear weaponry. At the outset, the world's governments revealed that they had been experimenting with Supernaturals for some time. In the aftermath of mass nuclear strikes to major cities, the supernatural creatures all over Earth revealed themselves, choosing sides in the conflict with the goal of trying to end the war. However, the war took a heavy toll on both the human and supernatural populations on Earth, though supernaturals were nearly wiped out of existence on Earth.

The post-World War III era saw humanity rebuild and make significant strides forward. Despite the devastation, by 2063, First Contact was made with the Vulcans, uniting humanity in a way no one ever thought possible. Within fifty years, humanity was able to eliminate poverty, disease, war, and hunger. However, the supernatural communities have never fully recovered, their presence serving as a reminder of a dark chapter in human history.

Project Khan

Project Khan, the concept of creating a super soldier, was initially conceived in 1931, just two years after the Supreme Court decision to uphold forced sterilization in Buck v. Bell by the United States Military. This was only two years before the Nazis came to power with similar plans and ideals. The idea was to use selective breeding to create an advanced breed of soldiers. The troubles began in 1992, though they were not understood by the population at large.

In the aftermath of the 1992 incident, Project Khan was supposed to be put on hold. However, in reality, the project continued in secret. The project was taken over by a group of scientists led by Dr. Arik Soong, who was fascinated by the potential of genetic engineering. Under Soong's guidance, the project shifted its focus from selective breeding to genetic manipulation, leading to the creation of Khan Noonien Singh and the other Augments.

Khan and his fellow Augments were created with superior physical and mental abilities, but their ambition and aggression led to a violent uprising known as the Eugenics Wars. After the wars, Khan and his followers were exiled into space, where they remained in cryogenic stasis until they were discovered by the crew of the USS Enterprise in the 23rd century.

Arik Soong - New Management

Arik Soong, a brilliant doctor of genetics in the 22nd century, was a key figure in the history of genetic engineering. He was a descendant of Adam Soong, a 21st-century geneticist and engineer who had funded Project Khan. Arik Soong believed that humanity's abandonment of genetic engineering after the Eugenics Wars was a mistake and hoped to show that genetically engineered humans would not necessarily become tyrants like Khan Noonien Singh. He argued that the source of the problem wasn't the technology, but humanity's own inability to use it wisely.

After being recaptured, Soong was returned to prison to serve out his sentence. He gave up his work with genetics and decided to embark on other studies, this time concentrating on artificial life. He expected that there would not be any tangible results of his research until at least two or three generations in the future.

In 1996, Project Khan went under new management, with Arik Soong, a brilliant doctor of genetics and descendant of Adam Soong, the original funder of Project Khan, put at the helm. This was in the aftermath of the initial release of the first 'graduating class' of augments who escaped control of the United States military and went rogue.

Despite the troubles that began in 1992, Project Khan was not put on hold. Instead, it received new funding and technologies from The Contingency, a group that had been using genetic experiments to hybridize supernatural creatures and humans together through DNA manipulation rather than selective breeding. Under Soong's leadership, the project continued its work, creating a new breed of genetically engineered soldiers.

In 1999, the first of these new soldiers took power in Russia at the behest of The Contingency Plan. However, they quickly lost control of the situation. Within just 24 years, Russia would be at open war with its former territory Ukraine in 2023. Similar events began to cascade as the new breed of Augments, the genetically enhanced, released themselves into the world, escaping US control one by one.

The Last of the Augments

In the 2130s, Soong was the senior medical director at Cold Station 12. While there, he stole a group of Augment embryos and made some improvements on them. He raised these "children" on Trialas IV, providing for them through trade with the Orion Syndicate. Soong was captured ten years later in 2144, and imprisoned in San Francisco.

In 2154, Dr. Soong was "recruited" by Captain Jonathan Archer of Enterprise NX-01 to help capture his children, who had hijacked a Klingon Bird-of-Prey and killed its crew. Despite his initial cooperation, Soong eventually escaped Archer's custody and began working with the Augments again. He led the Augments to Cold Station 12, which held about 1,800 Augment embryos left over from the Eugenics Wars. However, his relationship with the Augments, particularly their leader Malik, became increasingly hostile, and he was eventually removed from command.

The Eugenics Wars (1992-1996)

The Eugenics Wars, initially believed to have occurred from 1992 to 1996, marked the beginning of a secret escalation in hostilities. The first breed of genetically engineered super soldiers, products of selective breeding, went AWOL in 1992. These soldiers, known as "Augments", orchestrated the fall of several dictators, setting up governments to experiment with their version of humanity. This marked the beginning of a series of events that would eventually lead to World War III.

The Eugenics Wars were a series of conflicts fought on Earth between 1992 and 1996. The wars were the result of the rapid advancements in genetic engineering and selective breeding, which led to the creation of "Augments" - genetically enhanced humans with superior physical and mental abilities.

In 1992, the US Military attempted to use the first breed of genetically engineered super soldiers, but they went AWOL and disabled the government devices meant to kill them if they stepped out of line. Working as a team, they orchestrated the fall of five dictators in 1992, setting up governments to experiment with their version of humanity. The first to fall was Hassan Gould Aptidon of Djibouti, which they had been laying the groundwork for some time, secretly, unknown to the United States Government. The others followed within 6 months with the eugenics-augments alternating between pulling the strings.

• Hassan Gouled Aptidon of Djibouti was forced to step down in May 1992 after losing a multi-party election.
• Frederick Chiluba of Zambia was forced to resign in November 1992 after being accused of corruption.
• Manuel Noriega of Panama was ousted from power in December 1992 and extradited to the United States to face drug trafficking charges.
• Nicolae Ceaușescu of Romania was executed by firing squad on December 25, 1992, after being overthrown in a popular revolution.

Project Khan, which was supposed to be put on hold in the aftermath of the 1992 incident, continued. The Contingency, a group using genetic experiments to hybridize supernatural creatures and humans together through DNA manipulation rather than selective breeding, provided new funding and technologies to Project Khan. From 1992 to 1996, the original Augments seized power in various ways, evolving their tactics to work behind the scenes even while working with various governments, especially the United States and Russia.

In 1999, the first of the new breed of genetically engineered soldiers took power in Russia at the behest of The Contingency Plan. However, they quickly lost control of the situation, and within just 24 years, Russia would be at open war with its former territory, Ukraine, in 2023. Similar events began to cascade as the new breed of Augments, the genetically enhanced, released themselves into the world, escaping US control one by one.

The Augmented Wars (1999-2026)

The Augmented Wars, now seen as one singular conflict taking place between 1999 and 2053, were characterized by the rise of a new breed of Augments. These Augments, furthering their own genetic manipulations, caused a series of conflicts around the world. The rise of Kim Jong Un in North Korea in 2011, Xi Jinping of China in 2013, Vladimir Putin of Russia in 1999, Bashar al-Assad of Syria in 2000, and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua in 2007, among others, marked the new breed of Augments taking power. Now because of these events, which were once thought to be individual events, are all connected, the Eugenics Wars are actually said to take place from 1992 to 1996 when Khan Noonien Singh, the last of the original eugenics-based augments to be alive at that time. The Augmented Wars are considered to have taken place between 1999 and 2026, characterized by the rise and fall of a new breed of augments who furthered their own genetic manipulations. These conflicts eventually led to the onset of the Third World War.

Khan Noonien Sing - First of his Kind

Khan Noonien Singh, a product of 20th-century genetic engineering was the first of the genetically engineered, he himself was genetically engineered from the last of the original eugenics-based augments, was one of the most prominent figures in the Augmented Wars. He was considered one of the most dangerous augments, possessing superior intellect, strength, and ambition. During the Augmented Wars, Khan was a significant player, manipulating world leaders and influencing global events. Notably, he controlled Kim Jong Un of North Korea and Xi Jinping of China, using them as puppets to further his own agenda. However, Khan's reign was not unchallenged. He faced opposition from a new generation of augments, leading to his eventual ousting. It was reported that Khan fled in 1996, but his ship did not leave until much later in 2049.

The influence of Khan and other augments was felt in various conflicts around the world, including the Arab Spring, the Ukraine War, the Second Congo War, the Syrian Civil War, the Afghanistan War, the Iraq War, and the Darfur conflict. These events, once thought to be separate, are now understood to be interconnected, all part of the larger Augmented Wars.

2nd Generation of Genetically Engineered

The rise of Kim Jong Un in North Korea in 2011, Xi Jinping of China in 2013, Vladimir Putin of Russia in 1999, Bashar al-Assad of Syria in 2000, Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua in 2007 encompass the new breed of augments, a second-generation of genetically engineered soldiers who ultimately worked to try and take power over the world, for North Korea and China, Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping were not augments, but rather they were puppets of Khan Noonien Singh. Other conflicts occurred as the result of arguments, conflicts, and other issues resulting from all of the Augments, though by the start of World War III. Khan was even have said to have fled by 1996 even though, his ship did not leave until much later in 2049, having been ousted himself by one of the new generation of augments.

The 2nd Generation of Augments

The 2nd Generation refers to a group of genetically-engineered humans created through advances in DNA resequencing in the early 21st century. These individuals were designed to be remarkably agile, approximately five times stronger and more durable than an average human, resistant to sickness, and with enhanced senses. They also had an extended lifespan, twice the average of a normal human. Despite their superior abilities, there were major defects in their genome. The Augments were belligerent, arrogant, and ambitious, with a diminished sense of morality. Khan was the first generation and while he had been believed to have been dead in 1996, it is now known that he survived until 2049 fighting as a Genetic Augment, having survived so long as a super-hybrid of both genetic manipulation and eugenics.

Aftermath of the Augmented Wars

In the 22nd century, the Klingons attempted to create their own Augments using the original augmented Human DNA. However, the aggressive nature of the Augment DNA led to the dissolution of the cranial ridges of these Klingon Augments, resulting in them completely lacking ridges on their foreheads. While these subjects did gain increased strength and intelligence, they ultimately died due to the degradation of their neural pathways.

By 2259, genetically augmented beings, regardless of their species, were prohibited from joining Starfleet due to the risks associated with the Eugenics Wars. The term "Augment" continued to be used as a derogatory term against genetically augmented beings and their descendants. This bias was then institutionalized in the Federation as late as the 2270s, with any form of genetic engineering being sufficient to bar entry to Starfleet Academy.

In the 2230s, Starfleet refused to acknowledge membership from a race that had successfully used genetic engineering without the negative consequences, despite all evidence indicating that they posed no threat. This decision was made despite the fact that this race had managed to avoid the negative consequences typically associated with genetic engineering.

World War III (2026 to 2053)

World War III, the last of Earth's three world wars, lasted from approximately 2026 to 2053. The conflict involved nuclear cataclysm as well as genocide and eco-terrorism. The war resulted in the deaths of some 30% of the Human population, at least six hundred million people, and the extinction of six hundred thousand species of animals and plants. By the end, most of the major cities had been destroyed and there were few governments left.

The Supernatural Uprising

As World War III erupted, it was revealed that the world's governments had been clandestinely experimenting with Supernaturals. The technology used to create the first Augments, a gift from The Contingency, was also employed to augment soldiers with DNA from supernatural creatures. These Supernatural soldiers were among the first to fight in World War III. As the conflict escalated, Supernatural creatures worldwide revealed themselves, aligning with whichever side they believed would bring peace and halt the bloodshed.

The Contingency, a shadowy organization, had a significant role in the Eugenics Wars. They provided the technology to create Khan Noonien Singh, the ultimate product of eugenics. This same technology was later used to create Supernaturals, soldiers augmented with DNA from supernatural creatures. These Supernaturals were among the first to fight in World War III. As the war escalated, supernatural creatures worldwide revealed themselves, choosing sides in the conflict with the goal of ending the war. However, the war took a heavy toll on both human and supernatural populations on Earth, decimating both.

The war concluded with a cease-fire, marking the beginning of the Post-World War III era. Despite the devastation, humanity managed to rebuild and make significant strides forward. By 2063, First Contact was made with the Vulcans, uniting humanity in a way previously thought impossible. Within fifty years, humanity had managed to eliminate poverty, disease, war, and hunger. Despite the horrors of the war, it ultimately served as a catalyst for humanity's advancement and entry into the interstellar community. Supernatural communities, however, never fully recovered. Unbeknownst to the public eye, the remaining supernaturals made themselves disappear post-war, blending into society and working with those few who knew them to return to the realm of myth and legend.

Post World War III

The aftermath of World War III saw a world drastically changed, term post-atomic horror has been used by Earth historians to refer to the global turmoil which resulted after the end of the Third World War in 2053. Because the war was a nuclear exchange, large populations of Humans were bombed out of existence, and the survivors were placed in jeopardy by radioactivity, supply shortages, and the collapse of most of the major governments. In the mid-2050s, Colonel Phillip Green ordered the euthanasia of hundreds of thousands of radiation sickness-stricken Humans so they wouldn't pass on mutations to future generations. However, the horror would still prevail for some years to come. By 2079, the New United Nations had ceased to exist, martial law was still in effect in some areas of the world, and parts of Earth continued to be in chaos well into the early 22nd century.

End of the Post-War Era

During the 2060s, Zefram Cochrane lived in Bozeman, Montana where he and his team of engineers began developing the warp drive and finally built Earth's first warp ship, the Phoenix. The ship drew the attention of the Vulcan ship T'Plana-Hath passing near Earth. The Vulcan ship landed in Montana, thereby making first contact with Humans, and opening a new era for the whole of mankind leading to increased recovery from the war for parts of the world. This event is generally referred to as the defining moment in Human history, eventually paving the way for a unified world government.

Eventually, motivated by the new interstellar reality beginning with the first contact, by the early 2100s – less than two generations of the post-atomic horror – Humanity was finally able to eliminate most if not all poverty, disease, war and hunger. Along with it a lot of other things disappeared from Humanity, including hopelessness, despair, and cruelty. The post-atomic horror gave way to the stirrings of new attempts at establishing various unified world alliances, including the European Hegemony in 2123. These alliances were eventually instrumental in the establishment of the United Earth Government in 2150. By 2151 Earth's last holdouts agreed to join United Earth paving the way later for the United Federation of Planets.

Post War Effect on Supernaturals

The population of supernatural creatures, especially Werewolves and Vampires, was significantly reduced. Vampires, once abundant in major population centers, were reduced to a handful. Their society underwent considerable changes, but they still remembered their origins. The exact number of Vampires that survived the Eugenics Wars and World War III, especially during the nuclear strikes of the latter, remains unknown. Despite the horrors of war, they continue to exist, their presence a reminder of a dark chapter in human history. The supernatural communities, however, have never fully recovered. After the war, those supernaturals that were left made themselves disappear, hiding in society and working with those few who knew them to make themselves myth and legend again. Their presence, while significantly reduced, continues to be felt, serving as a reminder of a dark chapter in human history.