Greater Europe Timeline: Future Past

The timeline of the Cyberpunk Series has gone through many iterations, with new sourcebooks and games continually expanding on its world. This article covers the canonical timeline following events from Cyberpunk 2013 and 2020, as established by Mike Pondsmith and CD Projekt RED in Cyberpunk Red and . This timeline focuses on the Greater Europe timeline and all the countries involved with it.
== Greater Europe ==
=== 1990 ===
* 1990
**East and West Germany reunited. Breakup of the old USSR.
* 1991
** ESA launches Hermes Spaceplane. Gorborev, Gorbachev's successor, purges last of old hardliners.
* 1992
**The US-EEC "Quiet War" runs 1992-96
**EEC formed. Eurodollar established. DEA/Euro drug war; this is subsumed by the First Central American War.
**EEC votes to uniform the currencies of the still-separate countries into the ecu (European Currency Unit), commonly known as the Eurodollar. During these councils the frame for individual currency's inflation, deflation etc, are set. The consequences is that only four nations are fit to join the ECU-union. They are Denmark, Sweden, Austria and Germany.
** The core nations of the ecu decide, against the resistance of the other European nations, to bring the ecu into existence. A period of economic turbulence follows in Europe, especially in France and GB. This results in labor uprisings and general rioting.
** The four core countries set up a prototype Fortress Europe in violation of the EEC-treaty. Closing their borders to European laborers looking for work, they initiate a mass of illegal immigration. Most of these workers are quickly found and expelled.
** High energy laser-lift array used in the USSR. Prototype Massdriver established on the moon by the ESA.
* 1993
** TRC biologic interface chip developed in Munich. By now, all of the Western European nations except Italy and Portugal are ready for the ECU-Union.
** The EC Ministry for Economics is founded, a structure to countries advance scientific progress and to set up the gov't of EEC for the confrontation with the rising megacorporations.
** Interpo/Europol receives sanction to work outside EEC borders. They begin to recruit their future members from basic school, sending the candidates to exclusive schools and training camps.
* 1994
**World stock markets crash, followed quickly by the U.S. economy. The EEC is not as hard hit as the rest of the world, due to internal trade. To be exact, many EEC-companies profit from other parts of the world.
** A new wave of immigrants hit Europe's shores. EEC uses military to enforce its borders. In consequence, many refugees are killed.
** A movement of human rights groups rises as word leaks out of the rigorous use of weapons. Some of these groups form terrorist cells to articulate their opinion.
** After suffering from extensive strikes, President Walesa again capable of financing itself. declares martial law in Poland.
* 1995
** Kilimanjaro mass-driver begun by ESA and Pan-African Alliance.
** The EEC decides to implement the Fortress Europe system Europe-wide. Therefore, the surveillance satellite program is initiated. One strategy to build up the fortress is a totalitarian id card system. The id cards are programmed with the individuals fingerprints, profession, health status and licenses. Many civil rights groups fear a "1984" scenario and react accordingly.
* 1996
** After years of support, Portugal and Italy finally join the EEC.
* 1997
** Mid-East Meltdown. In Europe, border skirmishes erupt as Greek troops try to stem the flow of Turkish refugees fleeing the spreading fallout of the nuclear exchange.
** Hurricanes and spring tides hit Europe with unexpected force, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without shelter. The rising tides force the EEC to construct a system of dams that spans most of the coastal regions. The expected building time is ten years. Germany decides to abandon coastal regions.
** A brief moment of fear strikes Europe when Germany is slow to pull its 10,000 man relief force out of flooded Gdansk.
** A freak earthquake with its epicenter in the Bay of Biscay devastates part of the Basque Country. The greatest harm came from the giant tsunami waves that swept the coast, specially the city of Bilbao.
** Armed incidents between the Greek army and Turkish refugees. The Turks were fleeing the fall-out from the Meltdown. Increasing strain in the Greece-Turkey relations. Turkey vetoed again from EC.
* 1998
** Drought American food exports end. To stabilize the NCE Gov'ts. The EEC ships food into major East European cities.
** Nights of Fire (KGB coup) in USSR. The Russian Mafia supported by KGB splinter-groups, increases its efforts to expand into the EEC. This is countered by Europol, which starts a "Shadow War" against organized crime in foreign The EC Ministry for Economics is founded, a structure to countries.
** After the flooding of aid from Spain and the EC, the independence movement recedes in Euskadi (Basque name for the region). ETA terrorists begin an indefinite truce.
* 1999
** Tycho colony established. Full-scale mass-driver completed. BASF, a large manufacturer in chemicals, gets broken up by the European Ministry for Economics. BASF tried to dictate prices of contracting firms. Such defiance cannot go unpunished.
=== 2000 ===
* 2000
** On Jan. 1 st the world's biggest rave in Berlin is disrupted when a Millennium Cult floods the area with combat gases. The final body count may be 19,000.
** Some followers of millennium cults establish local sects, like the Austrian Werwolf and the French Revived Templars of the Sun.
** Wasting Plague hits U.S. and Europe; millions die. Germany is especially hard hit. Cure designed at Bioweapons Lab at Neustrelitz, Brandenburg.
** After the first cases of wasting plague are made known, the EEC closes its borders, finalizing the Fortress Europe. Most sociologists evaluate the plague as mainly positive due to the reduction in the elderly and poor population. The social care system is again capable of financing itself.
** The ESA starts construction of the Crystal Palace. EBM uses its political and economic power to buy up the drowning Hamburg municipal area over the next five years.
** EBM uses its political and economic power to buy up the drowning Hamburg municipal area over the next five years.
** Severe immigration control and draconian measures reduce the spread of the Wasting Plague in the Iberian peninsula to a minimum. Widespread racial violence against African illegal immigrants.
* 2001
** The ID-card system comes into operation. Even the strongest opposition is defeated by vote, due to the mass of illegal immigrants in 2000. In addition, the surveillance satellite system is in working order. Still immigrants, are smuggled in through Greece and via submarines. Therefore, the council develops the plan of a killzone at their borders, akin to the former Berlin Wall. Later that year, after the destruction of an intruding nuclear submarine, the EEC Council orders the construction of several submarines capable of boarding incoming vessels.
** Severe depopulation in Greece as a consequence of the Plague. After the wasting Plague, there is a loosening of immigration rules. Many Arabs come to Greece.
* 2002
**SovOil declares privatization.
** The Portuguese government, to decrease Spanish influence in the country contracts police and defense services to two foreign corporations: Amazonian Security and Arasaka. The "Sell Out" begins with an unconcerned EC.
** The Parliamentary system breaks down in Spain when most of the professional politicians are shown to be corrupt. As all the traditional parties fall down there is a movement towards "amateurism" in politics, which combined with yearly elections makes long term decision making impossible.
**The volcano Santorin, in the Aegean, erupts. Many islands damaged by the tidal waves. Crete is hardly hit.Countdown to the Dark Future #217
* 2003
** EEC weapons manufacturers make giant profits by selling arms to the South American Governments.
** The European Court of law decides that individual citizens can hold back their tax payments for up to three years, if there are significant grounds for suspicion of abuse of money by the government. In case the court rules against the prosecutor, the tax payment plus interest must be paid.
* 2004
** First Corporate War: EBM battles Orbital Air (over a dozen Corps involved).
** Killzone and Europe's submarine fleet is in working condition.
** A major scandal occurs when the media documents the corruption in vast parts of the EEC structure. These reports lead to a general outcry of the populace and the refusal to pay taxes. In consequence, the council reforms the bureaucratic structure of the EEC.
** Campaign to legalize the situation of the crime syndicates, like the Sicilian Mafia or the Neapolitan Camorra. Instead of working indirectly in politics through bribery and blackmail, they enter it as political parties. As this criminal organizations try to clean their image, other criminal movements appear, like the Nuova Mafia.
* 2005
** EBM, after buying the final tract of Hamburg, begins to build the Hamburg Wall. Peacefully, they declare Hamburg to be an independent nation in association with the EEC. Closely supervised by Europol, they divide the economic interests of EBM Corporation from the nation, EBM Hamburg.
** Strong corporation pressure to acquire land and concessions. The Greek socialist government menaces with nationalizations.
* 2006
** In preparation for the planned Euro/Soviet mission to Mars, scientists begin experimenting with human genes. The goal of Operation "Green Man" is to create a human fit to colonize the red planet. The operation uses breeding and cloning techniques with an eye towards producing hardier and more intelligent humans.
** A military coup tumbles the Greek government. The Prime Minister, Ioanis Lacanos, is murdered. The GNRC takes power with corporate backing; It is basically the Joint Staff Chiefs. The surviving government take refuge in Rhodes and get Turkish support.
* 2007
** Second Corporate War: SovOil vs Petrochem. For the first time, national governments openly back the corps. Greece's government is replaced by military coup d'etat. Exile government sets up at Rhodes.
** Through 2008, the funds for the reconstruction of Bilbao are rerouted by the government for the 2008 Madrid Summer Olympics. Outrage in the Basque Country.
* 2008
** US attacks Soviet space platform MIR XIII. ESA intervenes. Orbital war breaks out between Euros and Yanks; a rock is dropped on Colorado Springs.
** Greece military government tries to annex Cyprus and Macedonia, failing in both.
** Through 2010, strong pressure from agricorps to acquire land in Southern Europe. The chaotic Spanish government and the resistance of the small landowners blocks the attempt, but the Portuguese government sells its country.
* 2009
** Euro-Soviet mission to Mars departs. Abortive takeover attempt at Crystal Palace by US intelligence using a terrorist group as a cover. The ESA discovers the plan and drops a twelve-ton rock off DC as a warning.
** ETA strikes again, in the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics. A terrorist attacks with a grenade launcher and hits the authority's tribune. King John Charles I is among the 12 casualties, that also include other members of the Royal House. The future king, Philip VI, survives unharmed. Renewed support of the monarchy and a strong anti-Basque feeling sweep the country.
** Seeing the example of Portugal, the North controlled Italian government begins to cede wide areas to corporate interests in southern Italy.
** The expansionist policy of the Greek military government fails. They attempt to annex Cyprus and Macedonia, failing in both. Most governments support the exiled government in Rhodes, impeding military actions against h Rhodes becomes a free port.
=== 2010 ===
* 2010
** Romania's south is hit by an earthquake. Bucharest is hit hard, burying 267 people under its concrete walls.
* 2011
** Crystal Palace is completed, ESA controls High Orbit. ESA-Soviet mission reaches Mars.
** Compulsory land sales in Portugal. If the productivity is below the level marked by the Government, you have to sell the land. As the Agricorps increase their productivity, by means fair or foul, small landowners are forced to sell.
** Most of the productive land of the south of Italy is transferred to corporate control. The northern regions, richer and more industrialized, are not affected.
** The Greek military government, economically crippled, rippled, begins a new taxation policy to get funds to fight against the partisan movements recently formed. The EC doesn't intervene, but many Meqacorps begin to pull out of Greece due to the taxes.
* 2012
** First viable nanotech developed jointly by Euro & Japanese Labs.
** Operation "Green Man" rocked when word of a living fetus leaks to the public. Even though the original program is disbanded, Europool and ESA continue to follow the project independently.
** The Great Drought. In Spain, Andalusia becomes a desert. Corporate war in Spain incited by conflict over rights to water supplies; conflict stopped by EC-intervention.
** As a reaction to the land sale and the public agitation, Italy federalizes in four states: North, Center, South and Insular. Although autonomous, the central government remains strong. The Carabinieri, under government control, become its main enforcement arm.
* 2013
** The Great Drought. Portugal sells itself to avoid bankruptcy. In Spain Andalusia becomes a desert. with thousands of displaced people. Water war between Aragon and Catalonia for the Ebro river. A political problem transforms in a corporate war, and only EC intervention avoids further bloodshed. The population of each region support its claims, and tension runs high.
* 2014
** Vatican III: Neo-Catholic Reformation. Celibacy is abolished and women finally get to be priests. In Poland, the Church of Poland is founded, splitting off from the Vatican. Various splinter-sects formed in response world-wide.
** Through 2018, brain drain in Portugal. Many disowned landholders and rebels against the corporations flee the country. Strong Portuguese communities in Spain and France.
* 2015
** Rise of the cyber-mercs as Lithuania hires cyber-soldiers to repel invasions by Latvian nations.
** The EEC abolishes all military cyberware for use by private persons. All existing cyberware weaponry must be registered and, if a psychological evaluation is failed, is removed. This does not stop the European Military Forces from creating numerous cybersoldiers.
** After ten years of mutual sabotage and deception, Japan is kicked out of EEC.
** Suppression of agriculture subsidies in Spain. The money is spent in supporting the cities and the coastal touristic zones. First groups of highwaymen appear as a reaction in Andalusia.
** Europa Sur appears, an alliance of illegal groups all throughout the Mediterranean Sea, to defend against the EC and Interpol. Soon they control most smuggling and illegal traffic in Southern Europe.
* 2016
** Third Corporate War is fought entirely in the Net. As a result, Europol 3rd Directorate finally gets the money needed for taking a more aggressive stance towards netcrime.
** Bermeo Incident: where 127 eco-protesters were killed by corporate security in the Basque touristic resort of Bermeo. From this point on, eco-activists begin to carry weapons and eco-terrorism is born.
** Rhodes, with the support of most foreign countries, declares its independence as the Hellenic Republic of Rhodes. The EC ignores Greek complaints and recognizes the country. The partisans become bolder and now control most of Tessaly.
* 2017
** Germany signs deal with Hungary, allowing the German army to train its troops in Hungary in return for the military assistance.
* 2018
** Brushfire wars erupt in New Central Europe.
** ESA mission to Jupiter.
** First laws that prohibit human cloning at the sentient level are passed Europe.
** As a consequence of the terrorist strikes of the Nuova Mafia, many areas in the South, especially Calabria, are under martial law. They remain so today.
** With Albanian support Greece finally annexes Macedonia. The Serbs react occupying half of Albania. The Turks are not sure who they hate more, Serbs or Greeks, and don't intervene. The stalemate still continues today.
* 2019
** Orbital colony revolt at L-3. ESA begins construction of an orbital lift launcher on the Canary Islands.
** Spain, a loyal ESA member, is set to receive an enormous influx of money and work opportunities. This may be the last chance to get out of the economic pit.
* 2020
** Two rival candidates compete for the presidency in Portugal. This breakdown of the controlling corporate alliance indicates that some changes are afoot in this country.
== Reference ==
RAMOS, J. Eurosource Plus. 1st ed. Berkeley CA: R. Talsorian Games, 1995
Category:Europe
Category:Cyberpunk setting
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