John Conner

Former mayor of Denver and leader of the Resistance movement against the Combine inside Denver's own walls. The Resistance later took a leadership role over Denver in the Combine's collapse and the Unity's degradation, with John at its head.

## History

### Pre-Campaign

John was the mayor of Denver before the bombs dropped over the city. On September 23rd, 2081, he was returning to Denver from a mayor's conference in DC when a ghost rock bomb dropping on Fort Morgan sent out an electromagnetic pulse. It damaged his plane, and the pilot was just able to maneuver the aircraft into a field 75 miles northeast of Denver with minimal damage to its occupants. This delayed his return home until after Denver had been assaulted by several neutron bombs, two city-buster ghost rock bombs, and the release and quick cycle of the A-5 virus.

He got to work bringing some of the few survivors in the city together, and set them up in the Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center located in Fort Grant. Over the course of October and November, other survivors found their way there, building a population of around 400. He kept them away from the Hellstromme Industries complex after hostilities from the security posed a threat and radiation proved to remain in the area. More issues began to arise during December, with a hostile group called the Family attacking the survivors by night, and walking dead by day.

On New Year's Day of 2082, the Combine rolled in with military weapons, taking out the walking dead hordes that had surrounded Fort Grant. The group, formed of both Northern and Southern troops, seemed benevolent at first, clearing out the undead, tending to the sick and wounded, and providing them with supplies. To John, the Combine's leader, General Throckmorton, seemed genuine in his efforts to help Denver's people. That perception changed after Throckmorton took over the HI complex and started up the production lines again.

The Combine began to clean up the city and restored some power. Tensions began to rise when the A-5 virus popped up again, likely after contact with a group of contaminated corpses. Soon after, a Denver survivor was found to have attempted to assassinate Throckmorton. Mistrust and rumors arose between the soldiers and the survivors, and soon, Throckmorton took control by force. He had the survivors rounded up and put them to work as slaves, John among them, laboring to rebuild the HI complex. He and his other fellow captives were then moved into Lafayette to began clearing rubble.

John and his people slaved away under the Combine's thumb for about a year before a man called Teller was thrown in with them. He slowly encouraged his fellow slaves to hold hope, to remember the feeling of freedom, and to rise up. His efforts paid off on July 11th of 2083, when the Combine's slaves revolted. 500 rebelled against the Combine's troops and ran, with only around 150 surviving the escape attempt and heading underground into Denver's sewers. John remained after while Teller slipped out of Denver, the former mayor building what would become the Resistance over time.

### Arc 13: The Denver Swarm

John maintained a leadership role in Denver under the Unity's oversight. When the Swarm began to wreak havoc on the city, John rallied his people and led the defense of the forces that remained after Toussaint took many Unity resources to Mexico.

On September 4th, John's voice could be heard on the speakers around Denver, calling the residents of Denver to the Saint Vrain nuclear plant after the HI factories had been overrun by the Swarm. John set up defenses in the plant, pulling together the remaining Unity forces, Resistance, and Steel Knights. He later radioed the New Wells Six when they entered the plant, asking for help in dispersing motor fire. He'd only gathered bits and pieces of the Swarm's origin and reality before Levy filled him in on the blanks. He admitted Gayle and Lindsey had been two of his lieutenants.

Addie spoke to him soon after, asking if his communication channel was secure. He responded he was certain, and briefed her on his position and that of the Steel Knights. Later, Vanguard troops led by the Templar Rat landed from a Raptor and fortified his position. His group held out until the Swarm was defeated, and he later met up with the NW6. He told the group the Resistance had captured Mengele some time ago and executed him, after finding he was running from one of his experiments. The hospital, the reeducation center, had been his lab. Upon catching notice of Anne, he mentioned she seemed familiar. She stiffened, mentioned it was a pleasure, and quickly headed off.

After Denver was retaken, John set up a 10pm curfew when all civilians had to head inside for the night, due to the potential lingering threats in Denver.