A professor of social studies gets ready for another day in his university class.



"Right class listen carefully. The Fall Of Humankind - A Hypothetical History, lets see if we can recap before the next chapter.



In chapter one we saw the rise of biomechanics, cybernetics and bionics. We saw how they started as available only for the Elites and rich. Then we saw how technology improved, making these well available for anyone and everyone.

In chapter two we saw the first stages of decline. How the liberals, conservatives and various religious powers began to speak out against bionics. We saw how revolutionary technological advances made these upgrades not only extremely effective but incredibly cheap, allowing more and more bionics to flood the market.

In chapter three we read about the first signs of conflict. The liberals and fanatics, the so called 'Purists' organising against a rapidly growing bionic state, and how the so called 'transhumans' quickly began to outnumber them. We saw the purists self imposed exile, we saw how they stockpiled weapons and how tensions began to rise as Transhumans began to abandon their churches, nations and other things.

Chapter five showed how the first skirmishes between armed insurgents began. Fanatics from purist groups began to arm themselves and move into the borderlands and attack transhuman settlements. We saw how the Transhuman defenders were at first taken by surprise and had to evacuate.

Chapter six, we saw the start of the Last War. Rise of the Transhuman Alliance, how they very very quickly organised themselves into a full scale military using the poor, destitute or diseased as shock troops. We saw how the Purists were quickly assaulted and overwhelmed not only by superior firepower in the form of war cyborgs and full scale robots, but by sheer numbers.

Chapter seven sees the last days of the Last War in which the Purists, suffering failure after failure resorted to nuclear and chemical weaponry to try stop their enemies. We saw how the powerful cybernetics were immune to the deadly effects of nuclear power, and how the purists wiped themselves out.



So with that in mind we begin chapter eight: The death of the Earth."

One student in the background raises his hand and speaks up. "Uh professor, why are we studying this?"

"Hypothetical studies are just as important as documented studies, they give you the opportunity to understand how the human mind is influenced by external factors." Came the professors well practiced reply.

"O...kay. I can get that but... why transhuman stuff? Bionics are decades away arent they? How can we study something that doesnt exist yet?"

The professor smiles to himself, feeling a little tingle between the connection to his left knee and his new hydraulically powered prosthetic. "Simple my boy. Hypothetical future of transhumanity may be closer to reality than you may think. We need to understand the possibilities of 'what if' before we can understand the truth. That way we can be prepared. Now open books, pens out, and remember: no markings on the desks. Im talking to you Carson Jr."