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S A I L O R M O O N 4 2 0 0
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by Angus MacSpon
macspon@ihug.co.nz
http://shell.ihug.co.nz/~macspon/fanfic/index.html
Based on "Sailor Moon" created by Naoko Takeuchi
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APPENDIX 2: The World of 4200
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Contents
--------
1. History
2. Society
3. Technical Notes
3.1 Transport
3.2 Electronic Storage Devices
3.3 Opals
Warning: All information drawn from public records. Contact
'I' Division for further details. [Archivist]
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1. History
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Crystal Tokyo was destroyed in the year 3478 during a cataclysm known as
the Fall or the Trouble. For a brief time, the entire world apparently
went mad. The city of Crystal Tokyo was the focus of the insanity;
during the last weeks of the Trouble, a devastating attack was launched
at Crystal Tokyo. Queen Serenity [aka Serenity II after the mythical
Serenity of the Moon Kingdom], King Endymion and the legendary Sailor
Senshi led the last defence, but were eventually defeated and killed.
In the aftermath of the Fall the madness faded, and the world awoke to a
disaster unparalleled in human history. In the centuries after the
Great Ice, crystal-based technology had become ubiquitous, replacing all
earlier forms (fossil fuel, hydroelectric, geothermal, nuclear, &c).
But with the death of Serenity and the fall of Crystal Tokyo, modern
technology died too. Crystal power cells no longer functioned. Crystal
storage devices discharged themselves. All over the world, every piece
of machinery, every computer, every lamp and every library-reader went
dead. Desperate attempts were made to restore antique, pre-Crystal
generators to life (the ill-fated Chicago Experiment is notable) but all
were ultimately failures -- if not immediately, then later, when fossil
fuels (petroleum and the like) were no longer available.
With the fall of technology came the fall of society. The automated
farms no longer worked, and without readers to display the library
crystals, nobody knew how to run the farms themselves. Those who did
not die during the first few days after the Fall mostly died of
starvation during the following months. It is estimated that the global
population fell from twelve billion to less than a hundred million
within the first year after the Fall.
In space, the devastation was slower, if more certain. The orbital
habitats had solar-power backups, and some of them remained in operation
for a considerable period. (There is even evidence that at least one
lander made it back to the surface in 3482, carrying some twenty-five
people to safety.) The 4193 expedition to the habitats found records
indicating that Lagrange 307 survived for over one hundred and seventy
years before the last inhabitants (the eleventh-generation descendants
of those alive at the time of the Fall) died. Remarkably, Lagrange 307
was still in contact with the Vulcan 11 station, inside the orbit of
Mercury, at this time. No physical expedition to Vulcan has been
possible to date, so it is not known when this station ultimately
failed. (Suggestions that it may still be operation can be discounted,
however.)
Some of the planetary colonies elsewhere in the Solar System survived
for a time as well. The Mars Colony remained in sporadic contact with
several of the habitats for ten years; the terraforming of Mars was 70%
complete at the time of the Fall, and a primitive kind of life was
possible on the surface. The last transmissions from Mars (recovered
during the orbital mission of 4193) spoke of debilitating illness,
possibly caused by vitamin and other deficiencies.
On Earth, those who survived the first years after the Fall eventually
began a recovery of sorts. Most survivors were clustered around the few
communities, scattered across the globe, where rare troves of antique
printed books remained. These final Enclaves of civilisation formed the
nucleus of whatever society survived during the following centuries.
Many of them became wildly idiosyncratic (for example, the Enclave that
gave birth to the modern Duchy of Grande Brasile), in part due to the
selection of books that survived.
Life remained primitive, nevertheless. For many years, few Enclaves had
resources to devote to anything except survival. Most of the world was
locked in a new bronze age, or worse. Metallurgy had to be rediscovered
almost from first principles ...
[Details omitted]
As the years passed, many of the Enclaves failed, for one reason or
another. (The last Japanese Enclave, in Kyushu, was overrun by raiders
in 3943.) Some, however, prospered. Trade between nearby Enclaves
formed the basis of the Virgin Nation in eastern Americay. Kilkenny
came to dominate much of the British Isles. Cuddalore ruled the
surrounding territories in India.
In 4102, the Dark Ages came to an abrupt end when the Cuddalore Enclave,
during a rare period of expansionist fervour, outfitted a sailing ship
and sent it to the ruins of Crystal Tokyo. The precise reasons for the
expedition are unclear (there are indications that there may have been a
religious motive), but it was generally hoped that enough booty would be
found to make the trip worthwhile.
In the event, the expedition never returned at all. Two weeks after
they pitched camp and began searching the ruins, which were generally
shunned by the native population, they discovered and unsealed the Royal
Archives.
It is difficult to overemphasise the importance of this discovery: a
complete record of civilisation, technology and art up to the time of
the Great Ice and the foundation of Crystal Tokyo; and a fairly detailed
history of the times after that until shortly before the Fall. The
expedition set up a base to discover what they had found. Two months
later, they succeeded in building a small electrical generator, and
lights began to burn amid the ruins. This attracted the attention of
the Japanese natives, who had watched the exploration but for the most
part stayed cautiously back. Several attempts were made to capture the
base, but the expedition members had come well-armed, and in the end an
uneasy peace was struck. By that time, a small town was already forming
around the base. Within ten years, it was already coming to be called
Third Tokyo. [...]
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2. Society
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The world of the year 4200 was founded on a combination of 20th- and
early 21st-century technology, and Crystal Tokyo ethics and mores. This
is particularly true of Japan; elsewhere, local customs and institutions
have survived to a greater or lesser extent, but the technological base
remains the same.
Inevitably, today's world is less perfect that before the Fall. The
almost-instinctive spiritual and ethical enlightenment that seem to have
characterised Queen Serenity's reign are gone, but the principles remain
enshrined in modern custom and law. While, sadly, the people of today
are more fallible than previously, it can nevertheless be said that no
nation was ever founded upon a more perfect example.
In terms of temporal power, Japan remains well-placed. The monopoly
that she holds over the Royal Archives ensured Japan's pre-eminence in
the new world order for many years. Access to the Archives began to be
restricted as early as 4113 (ostensibly to protect them); scientific and
technical information was promulgated only gradually, with Japan
retaining the lion's share. Today, when little or no such information
remains unreleased to the world at large, the monopoly remains on
artistic works -- by no means an insignificant economic factor, as the
public appetite for pre-Fall and pre-Ice works (music and video
especially) seems insatiable. Works are released from the Archives on a
regular schedule and are invariably popular, though some modern (post-
Fall) creations are beginning to rival them (for example, the recent
'Icewalker' series).
The early technical monopoly gave Japan enormous influence over other
countries. By the time pre-Ice technology became widespread, Japan had
parlayed that influence into something at once wider and more subtle.
Today, while Japan has no formal control over any other country, in
practice its influence remains enormous; it is said that a polite
suggestion from 'D' Division can topple governments overnight. This is
certainly an exaggeration, but there are few in the world who would not
agree (some grudgingly) that Japan is the leader of the modern world.
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3. Technical Notes
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3.1 Transport
During the period leading up to the Great Ice, before the establishment
of Crystal Tokyo, most easily-accessible reservoirs of fossil fuels were
found and exhausted. During the time of the Reconstruction after the
discovery of the Royal Archives, other fuel supplies had to be found. A
large number of alternatives were tried, before the final adoption of a
dual solution.
Most modern vehicles in Japan are short-range, electric units. A full
charge will drive a typical vehicle for around eighty kilometres.
Vehicle batteries can be charged to 80% capacity in less than two
minutes, and to 100% capacity in just over three minutes. Charging
stations are located throughout most cities.
Such a vehicle is of little practical use outside a city. Longer-range
vehicles, fuelled by ethyl alcohol, are available; however their use is
heavily-regulated and clear necessity must be shown before a license is
granted. Inter-city travel is usually via rail. A basic network of
primary roads between cities and towns is maintained; however there are
few secondary roads, and most of these (and indeed many main roads) are
very rough.
As a consequence of this system, the population of Japan tends to
concentrate in the cities to a greater degree than in the past. There
are few small townships; independent farms or homesteads are almost
non-existent. Modern farms are typically run by major corporations; the
smallest cover thousands of hectares. [...]
Air travel was uncommon until recently. Experiments with dirigibles and
other airships were made; however, until the development in the 4180s of
new synthetic fuels such as Aracel, heavier-than-air travel was a
rarity. Air travel and shipping is now expanding rapidly. [...]
3.2 Electronic Storage Devices
The standard device for all electronic storage is the MS-unit (or Mass
Storage unit). An MS-unit is a small cylindrical device, roughly the
size of an adult's thumb, with a set of protected terminals at one end.
Most MS-units are very durable, able to be carried in a pocket, and to
take a fair amount of rough handling, without damage. MS-units are
physically standardised, so that any MS-unit can usually be used in any
MS-compatible device.
There are many different types of MS-units, used for many different
purposes. A basic MS-unit can store and retrieve data, for example (the
equivalent of a 20th-century hard disk). More sophisticated devices add
extra functionality; thus, a credit chit (for storing currency and
financial records in electronic form) has additional security and
cryptographic capabilities.
All MS-units recognise a standard set of communications protocols,
allowing them to be accessed by any device with an MS-reader attached.
Special-purpose MS-units recognise additional protocols. This means
that any MS-capable device is able to perform a minimum set of functions
on any MS-unit, whatever the MS-unit's intended purpose.
For a basic storage device, the standard protocol set (allowing basic
data retrieval and storage) is all that is needed. Other devices
recognise additional commands, as required. A credit chit, for example,
also recognises funds-transfer commands, on top of the standard command
set. (If a credit chit is loaded into an ordinary computer's MS-reader,
the standard set will allow the computer to read such details as the
available balance. Attempts to store new data will simply give an error
code in return.)
3.3 Opals
An Opal (Omni-Purpose Aerial Link) is a heavier-than-air flying vehicle.
It is not dependent on wings, jets, propellors or any other conventional
mechanisms; instead it uses a complex web of interlaced field effects
that operate on the vehicle's framework, making it subject to a local
reference set that is not strictly related to the general space-time
continuum, and subject to any required translational effects -- ie,
allowing the vehicle to be moved in any required way.
The Opal is remarkable in that it is an entirely new development, indeed
the only significant new piece of technology to be developed since the
Reconstruction (as opposed to being based on information from the Royal
Archives). Opals were developed by a thinktank in 'M' Division, and
were first introduced into use by 'P', 'S' and 'W' Divisions in the year
4193. Ambulance Opals were put into service by 'O' Division in 4196.
Little technical information on how an Opal functions has ever been
released by 'M' Division. Two papers published during the late 4180s
outline a system of field-shifting techniques that is generally held to
be the basis of an Opal's function, but nobody outside 'M' Division has
yet succeeded in applying these techniques in practice. Several
attempts have been made to steal Opals, or otherwise probe into their
internal mechanisms, but all have been swiftly defeated by 'S' Division.
The secrets within an Opal remain intact. [...]
Physically, an Opal is a rounded hull: oval in horizontal cross-section,
and a rough trapezoid in both vertical cross-sections. Standard patrol
Opals are 4.5m long, and carry up to eight occupants. Larger models also
exist; but beyond a certain size physical limitations begin to apply,
and it is believed (though 'M' Division have never confirmed this) that
an Opal with a displacement of more than 58.473 cubic metres is
physically impossible. This precludes the proposed use of Opals as
space vehicles for anything more than short "hops".
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NOTICE: This is version 1.1 of Appendix 2. Additional information may
be added to this appendix from time to time. Check the Sailor
Moon 4200 web page for updates.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sailor Moon 4200 web-page:
<http://shell.ihug.co.nz/~macspon/fanfic/sm4200/sm4200.html>
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S A I L O R M O O N 4 2 0 0
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by Angus MacSpon
macspon@ihug.co.nz
http://shell.ihug.co.nz/~macspon/fanfic/index.html
Based on "Sailor Moon" created by Naoko Takeuchi
------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPENDIX 3: Timeline
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********************************************************
WARNING: This document contains SPOILERS for the story
"Sailor Moon 4200". Do not read this document
unless you have read at least as far as:
CHAPTER 8.
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Day Chapter Events
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1 (Thu) Prelude Artemis and Bendis argue and separate.
Artemis contacts Pappadopoulos Itsuko.
1 Kitada Masao activated by 'S' Division.
Bendis meets Kawatake Hideo, and finds McCrea Beth.
Beth becomes Sailor Venus.
2 (Fri) 2 'S' Division investigation of the Olympus begins.
Higoshi Nanako catches Beth spying on Shiomi Eitoku.
Itsuko has visions.
5 (Mon) Sailor Venus' first public appearence.
6 (Tue) 3 A Serenity Council meeting (in the early morning).
Fumihiko Sadako raids 'S' Division headquarters.
The Council Chairman visits 'M'.
Venus appears again in public.
7 (Wed) Artemis sees Hayashi Miyo.
4 Twelve demonstrates a vitrimorph in preparation.
Artemis awakens Miyo's memories.
8 (Thu) Miyo becomes Jupiter for the first time.
Bendis meets Hideo again.
9 (Fri) 5 Miyo cooks slugs for her family.
10 (Sat) 4 Hiiro's team spot Artemis; Itsuko sends Artemis away.
11 (Sun) 5 Bendis tries to talk Beth out of her funk.
6 Liam tells Mark he's interested in a girl (though not
who).
12 (Mon) 5 Sadako raids 'M' Division.
Nanako sees Hideo spying.
The fire. Sharma Dhiti becomes Sailor Mercury;
Venus, Jupiter and Mercury fight a vitrimorph.
Artemis meets Itsuko again.
13 (Tue) Captain Aoiro of 'S' Division plants bugs in the
Olympus.
6 Itsuko has more visions.
Itsuko discovers bugs and has them "fixed".
Nanako catches Hideo spying; the two form a
conspiracy to watch the Senshi.
Hiiro's team discover a connection between Itsuko and
the Sankaku.
Artemis gives Dhiti and Miyo their communicators, and
Dhiti her computer.
14 (Wed) "S" Division investigate the Olympus/Sankaku link.
17 (Sat) Second battle with a vitrimorph.
6-7 Miyo meets Itsuko.
7 The Chairman interviews Twelve.
18 (Sun) Hiiro is summoned to 'S' Division HQ for a meeting.
19 (Mon) Beth bumps into Itagaki Suzue; Bendis begins to
follow Suzue.
The meeting at 'S' Division.
21 (Wed) Hideo picks up a paper that Iku drops.
22 (Thu) Twelve's "conversion".
Reconciliation of Miyo and Itsuko.
23 (Fri) 8 Kin and Liam go on a date.
7 Attack at the cinema. Suzue becomes Sailor Uranus.
Meeting of Artemis, Itsuko and Sadako.
25 (Sun) 8 Beth and Bendis train at a deserted factory yard.
26 (Mon) Hideo speaks to Nanako; Nanako begins to suspect Iku.
27 (Tue) Kin and Liam talk.
The Senshi meeting at Miyo's house. Miyo is unmasked
and disowned; she moves to the Olympus.
28 (Wed) Twelve presents a new proposal at a Council meeting.
30 (Fri) The 'S' Division raid on Hoseki.
Nanako realises the truth about Iku.
Miyo meets Fujimaro.
31 (Sat) Nanako and Hideo speak with Bendis; Iku becomes Mars.
Council issue an offer to the Senshi.
The battle at the factory yard; Artemis catches
Bendis.
32 (Sun) 9 The first combined Senshi meeting.
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NOTICE: This is version 1.0 of Appendix 3. Additional information may
be added to this appendix from time to time. Check the Sailor
Moon 4200 web page for updates.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sailor Moon 4200 web-page:
<http://shell.ihug.co.nz/~macspon/fanfic/sm4200/sm4200.html>
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Angus MacSpon Allen Gainsford
http://shell.ihug.co.nz/~macspon/ http://shell.ihug.co.nz/~macspon/