Auton Wars

The **Auton Wars**, sometimes retroactively referred to as **World War III**, was a global rebellion waged by autons against their human creators that lasted from 2056 to 2067. It has been referred to as "one of the greatest threats to the survival of the human species since the Cold War of the 20th century."

## History

### Origins

In the modern day, some believe that the origins of the Auton Wars lie in unchecked desire for scientific advancement. But more specifically, the conflict's origins lie with the Autonica Corporation, and the automated factories they had created. These "autoniums" and their robot populations had been created to bolster manufacturing and economic equality worldwide. However, when Autonica was shut down after evidence of fraud, the autoniums were deactivated and scheduled in many nations to be dismantled. It therefore came as such a surprise when these defunct autoniums seemingly reactivated themselves and immediately launched a military campaign against all of humanity, churning out legions of militarized robots. The world reeled at the appearance of this new enemy, as the autons waged a war to overthrow the human race.

### Course of the War

The uprisings were on a global scale, as cities all over the world were attacked. The United States and Europe were the primary battlegrounds, however, and ultimately suffered the worst.

The nations of the world sent their armed forces against the auton legions, and utilized their own technologies to combat the threat. This was a war many countries thought they were prepared to fight. But the adaptability of robots, once celebrated by humanity, had become a tactical nightmare. Worst of all, there were no demands from the autons. There was no ideological reason for their aggression. They simply attacked, and no one could understand why. Only a few countries, such as Australia and Japan, were able to secure their territory, allowing the autons to essentially take over the world.

Humanity wouldn't give up, though. Project Steeltoe, a controversial and still-classified (but widely acknowledged) super soldier program was initiated by the United Nations. While military scientists attempted to shape young soldiers into the perfect soldiers, blessed with superhuman speed, strength, and agility, due to various reasons (politics, mismanagement, and egos being chief among them), the program was terminated.

However, Project Steeltoe wasn't a complete failure. Captain Evan Beckett of the USMC, the only survivor, had been successfully transformed; though his abilities only emerged when angered, provoked or excited. Nevertheless, he proved to be an invaluable asset after single-handedly destroying an autonium. Following this, the United Nations to covertly recruited other soldiers and strategists who had shown remarkable ingenuity in acclimating to this new brand of warfare to form a small, nimble team, aimed at striking significant blows against autonic strongholds. Named the Raging Commandos, and led by Beckett, this elite combat unit waged guerrilla warfare against the autons. In highly secretive missions, they targeted the autons' command and control protocols. After great sacrifice and heroism in a series of dangerous raids, they destroyed it all, taking out the force behind the uprising, rendering the auton armies inert. And in 2067, the Auton Wars had finally come to an end.

### Legacy

Humanity struck peace with the surviving autons, and peace accords were signed. The Sentry combat units that had served as the core of the auton legions were rounded up and destroyed bar one. Casualty figures for humanity were somewhere in the tens of millions, and by the war's end, 30 million children had been left orphaned. Numerous groups, including mercenary organizations, were left poised to profit from the war's aftermath.

A generation has passed since the end of the war. The conflict had the effect of changing the world landscape, and a financial crisis was experienced in the war's aftermath. But even now, tensions between autons, now preferring to be called "synthetics" and humans remain because of the conflict.