Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Appleseeds ❯ Prologue: After Earth ( Prologue )

AN: Hey all who were kind enough to click on this story! Just a short note: This is my first foray into the world of fanfiction. I can't remember the last time I wrote for fun, but after reading so many great stories out there, I was bitten by the bug and this story idea just wouldn't leave me alone. This prologue got a bit long but with any luck it has set the stage. Hopefully some kind souls will come back and read this as I post further chapters. I'll be very gratefully for any CCs!

DISCLAIMER: Gundam Wing is property of its rightful owners and I in no way assert any sort of claim over its characters and storylines. Everything non-Gundam Wing is mine.

The History of AE (After Earth: The Wretched Existence of the UNDIS

It was inevitable; humankind had outgrown mother earth. All that remained was a hollow husk of what had once been a resplendent blue planet of life. For some time, humankind's superior intelligence was able to artificially sustain its existence. Sadly, technology could only delay the inescapable for so long. As it became apparent that human innovation was fast losing its edge, even the most obstinate could no longer turn a blind eye. It was clear as day, the human race was speeding towards extinction. And the cause: human overpopulation.

Wars broke out en masse as nations, even cities fought over dwindling resources. Cults convinced that humanity's only chance at salvation was death, `liberated' thousands of souls through massacres. Secret underground organizations quietly `euthanized' the weak, elderly and the homeless. Extremist groups slaughtered those deemed `unworthy', and the deranged killed gleefully without restraint. Even the most docile and kind-hearted of individuals were forced to follow their baser instincts of kill or be killed.

In the end, through countless sacrifices, human civilization managed to regain its tentative hold on sanity and the frenzied bloodlust dissipated. All that was left, however, was a cheerless spectre of what once was a proud and glorious race. Not only had humankind suffered a horrifying blow, earth too had suffered greatly during the carnage. Mercifully, many had long ago predicted the demise of earth and had been steadily working towards a second home for human civilization.

In a joint effort by the survivors, the colonies were created. Large spherical settlements were launched into space to orbit the earth, complete with highly advanced life support systems. Within a matter of years, earth's remaining human population launched into space to embark on their venture of survival. This new era became known as After Earth (AE).

Although leaving mother earth was heart-breaking, fortune chose to grant the earth's former inhabitants once small reprieve: mother earth was not beyond saving. With time and her natural powers of self healing, earth would one day be capable of sustaining human life. With this ray of hope, these pioneers tackled their new life in the colonies.

Life in the colonies was hard and littered with obstacles. Due to the rushed exile into space, the colonies' infrastructures were unperfected, resulting in a constant battle against the perils of living in space. Tragedies were unavoidable, countless lives were lost when life support systems failed or diseases spread rampant in the completely enclosed colonies. As a result, the pioneers learned from their losses; by constantly upgrading the colonies and adapting their lifestyles.

As the survivors gradually adapted to life away from earth, the human population began to replenish itself and the dilemma of population capacity once again reared its ugly head. With the perils of over-population fresh in the pioneers' memories, strict population control measures were put in place. Pregnancies were rigorously regulated and required pre-approval. Although these measures provided a temporary solution, the challenge of limited resources and the frailty of life in the colonies continued to plague the inhabitants.

Before long, the creation of new life became even more tightly controlled. Conceptions were no longer left to chance; foetuses were screened for genetic defects. The right to bear children became a privilege and not a right. Couples were extensively screened when applying for marriage; many couples were partnered based on genetic makeup. Because only select were granted the right to reproduce, same-sex couples were often paired up to resolve living space constraints and discourage the conception of unapproved children.

By the second century AE, regulations and protocol surrounding the reproduction of human life had been highly refined. All embryos were manipulated to create ideal offspring, producing the “Advantaged”: genetically advanced specimen of the human race, immune to disease and superior in both strength and intelligence. Unapproved and naturally conceived children were, upon discovery, taken from their parents and sent to live in special orphanages for the “unauthorized disadvantaged” or the UNDIS.

Midway through the second century of AE, a new political movement swept through the colonies like wildfire. With the fear of over-population at the forefront of many people's minds, this organization called the “Sanctity of the Advantaged”, or S.A. for short, was easily able to gain political control and immediately launched a crackdown on those couples who continued to argue that reproduction was a right granted to all. Although the S.A.'s actions were moderate at first, once their power was cemented, they began to execute their sinister goal: the eradication of the UNDIS.

At first the implementation of the S.A.'s goal was subtle. Life systems in UNDIS orphanages suddenly failed, outbreaks of fatal viruses proliferated through UNDIS population centres. Groups of UNDIS individuals were routinely round up and arrested on bogus charges. UNDIS inmates mysteriously disappeared from the prisons. Soon, propaganda painting dark pictures of the UNDIS was broadcast everywhere. It wasn't long before the S.A. began an outright culling of the UNDIS population.

Those who managed to escape the UNDIS annihilation fled to the bowels of the colonies, hiding in the sewers, vents and the outer structures of the colonies. They formed resistance groups, attacking government structures and assassinating S.A. leaders. The S.A. retaliated by enforcing martial law and creating highly specialized military units labelled the “Liberators”. These S.A. Liberators were responsible for eliminating any unearthed UNDIS and those sympathetic to their existence. The registered population remained frozen in fear and ignorance, either believing that the UNDIS had brought this upon themselves or were too frightened of the wrath of the Liberators. It wasn't until the S.A. overextended its reach and struck down beloved humanitarian and community leader Heero Yuy that `advantaged' citizens rallied en masse to overthrow the S.A.

As the colonies reeled from the assassination of Heero Yuy, support for UNDIS sympathizers surged and citizens fought back against the S.A. Respected leaders from the Peacecraft and Darlian families convinced many S.A. forces to mutiny and join their cause. In order to combat the fiercely loyal S.A. Liberators, an elite team of guerrilla soldiers called the “Gundam Ten” was established. After seven tense months of fear and uncertainty, the S.A. was finally unseated and the colonies returned to their peaceful existence to once again begin rebuilding their lives.

Although the ousting of the S.A. was sparked by the UNDIS issue, the fate of the UNDIS population remained unknown. Some speculated that there were no survivors; the S.A. Liberators were ruthlessly efficient in their massacres. Others believed UNDIS survivors had burrowed deep into the inner bowels of the colonies. A few even claimed to see figures climb out of the sewers and vents at night. The majority, however, were just relieved that peace had returned and never gave the UNDIS another thought.