Seretech wins Supreme Court decision allowing corporations to maintain private armed forces to protect personnel and property in response to the New York Food Riots.
TerraFirst! attacks a Shiawase, Inc. nuclear power plant. The Supreme Court grants multi-national corporations the same rights and privileges as foreign governments in the "Shiawase Decision."
NASA Mars probe photographs pyramids and skeleton on planet surface; information given highest classification.
Nuclear meltdown in England creates irradiated zone.
Israel uses nuclear weapons to destroy half the cities in Libya.
Major earthquake strikes New York City causing $200 billion in damage and taking 40 years to rebuild.
South Korea declares war on North Korea.
North Korea launches missiles at Japan, which fail to detonate. Japan conquers North Korea and declares itself the Japanese Imperial State (JIS).
Radical members of the Sovereign American Indian Movement (SAIM) overtake the Shiloh Launch Facility in northwest Montana. Delta Team recaptures the silo, but not before a Lone Eagle ICBM is launched at the Russian Republic. The "Lone Eagle Incident" leads to massive negative public response to Native Americans and forcible movement to "re-education camps" throughout 2010.
Armed workers overtake United Oil Industries headquarters, prompting Texas state legislature to give corporate security forces carte blanche in dealing with armed intruders. Long term, this results in the formation of Lone Star security.
The Virally Induced Toxic Allergy Syndrome (VITAS) plague breaks out in New Delhi, India. In a few months, 25% of the world population dies from the disease, especially in India, China, Africa, and Mexico.
BMW and Keruba start first megacorporate war, decimating one another. Leads to other megacorporations investing heavily in defenses and sets precedence for no-holds-barred corporate warfare.
With millions of dead piled in the streets, the Mexican government dissolves and mob rule ensues. Thousands of refugees flood into the United States.
All over the world, millions of babies are born "deformed" with physical characteristics similar to "dwarves" and "elves" from fantasy literature. This phenomenon is called Unexplained Genetic Expression (UGE).
On December 24, the Awakening occurs, ushering in the Mayan Sixth World: the great dragon Ryumyo appears over Mount Fuji, Native American prophet Daniel Howling Coyote leads those imprisoned with him through the gate walls in a strange glow, and they all disappear. Mana storms scour Australia, killing millions. Ireland forests grow at supernatural rates, and standing stone circles erupt from the ground across the British Isles. Floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes rack the world, killing millions more.
On January 27, the great dragon Dunkelzahn appears at Cherry Creek Lake in Denver and gives a twelve hour and sixteen minute interview to reporter Holly Brighton. In the interview, he explained the Awakening, that magic is a cyclical natural energy, and that it had been dormant for centuries. Once again, magic rippled across the world.
The great dragon Lofwyr appears in Germany and quickly becomes engaged in corporate business.
The United States and Canada go to war with the Native Americans and their leader, Daniel Howling Coyote.
Aztechnology sets up a puppet regime in Mexico City, founding the new nation of Aztlan and embraces the bloody culture of the Aztecs.
Ares corporation buys NASA.
Leaders of the United States, Russia, United Kingdom, and Israel assassinated.
Major oil spill in North Sea creates the Scottish Fringe Toxic Zone.
After suffering terrible losses due to the Great Ghost Dance, which resulted in volcanoes all across the Americas erupting at once, the United States and Canada concede victory to the Native Americans and sign the Treaty of Denver, establishing the Salish-Sidhe Council, the Sioux Nation, the Pueblo Corporate Council, the Ute Nation, the Algonkian-Manitou Council, the Athabaskan Council, the Trans-Polar Aleut Nation, and the Tsimshian Nation.
The first successful cybernetic limb is fully integrated into a human nervous system.
Ares launches Apollo space program.
Goblinization. One in 10 humans suddenly mutates into new humanoid species, orks and trolls. Panic ensues and human rights violations are extreme.
A new strain of the VITAS plague breaks out and kills another 10% of the world population.
Race riots occur around the world.
Cuba, Jamaica, Grenada, Bermuda and the Virgin Islands join together to form the Caribbean League.
Gang warfare in Los Angeles results in walled off slums named "El Infierno."
The U.S. Supreme Court grants all metahumans (dwarves, elves, orks, and trolls) equal protection under the law.
Extreme human-supremacist group, Humanis Policlub, founded.
Corporate Court formed on Freedom space habitat and declares authority over all corporations.
The entire Seattle police force goes on strike, prompting the mayor to fire them all and contract law enforcement to Lone Star.
UCLA establishes first undergraduate program in occult studies.
Texas A&M and MIT both add occult studies, and rename themselves as Texas AM&M (Agriculture, Medicine, and Magic) and MIT&T (Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Thaumaturgy). Oxford and Edinburgh Universities establish Batchelor of Science degrees in occult studies.
World Combat Cyclists League (WCCL) founded. Combat Biker becomes a major sport.
Los Angeles Power and Water Company pioneers cold fusion technology, which produces fresh water from salt water as a by-product and relieves water shortages.
Major earthquake destroys LAX.
Cambridge institutes a magical studies program.
Britain withdraws from the European Economic Community (EEC).
The Crash of '29 is a severe computer virus outbreak, destroying computer systems worldwide, resulting in the collapse of many governments and corporations.
The Salish-Shidhe Council (SSC) opens its borders to all metahumans (not just Native Americans). The Sinsearach elf tribe is founded in the southern region.
The remnants of the United States and Canada merge to form the United Canadian and American States (UCAS).
Russia becomes embroiled in a war against Belarus and the Ukraine lasting 20 years.
Ghoul nation of Asamando founded in Africa.
Beginning of Euro-Wars.
Olympic Games cancelled due to Euro-Wars. Baseball becomes first sport to allow cyberware.
Corporate Court involves itself in the creation of the Matrix and acquires rights and jurisdictional authority. Changes authority name to Corporate Court Matrix Authority.
Lone Star Security Services granted extraterritoriality corporate status; UCAS government grants Lone Star contract to privatize Drug Enforcement Agency duties.
The UCAS' American Medical Association establishes rule for the medical use of magic. Meanwhile, the Human-Metahuman Vampiric Virus is isolated.
Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia succeed from the UCAS and form the Confederated American States (CAS). South Florida joins the Caribbean League.
Ireland is proclaimed the new nation of Tir na n'Og.
The elven nation of Tir Tairngire is founded.
Aztlan invades Texas, capturing the cities of Austin and San Antonio. The CAS refuses to support Texan resistance, causing Texas to briefly secede; they were re-admitted 4 months later.
The UCAS tires of California's numerous referenda on membership in the UCAS and is forcibly removed from the union. Tir Tairngire invades and conquers the northern portion of California. Aztlan invades from the south and conquers much of southern California. The struggling state turns to the Japanese Imperial State for assistance, leading to permanent occupation.
Aztlan invades north to San Diego. Japan takes control of San Francisco. Tir Tairngire invades south to Redding.
UCAS' 14th Constitutional Amendment introduces national and corporate citizen registration via System Identificaton Numbers (SINs).
Better-Than-Life (BTL) emotive simsense invented.
DocWagon founded.
Great dragon Lofwyr announces 63% ownership of Saeder-Krupp, votes himself chairman of the board, president, and CEO.
Guerilla warfare in northern California pushes Tir Tairngire back north as far as Yreka. The territory between Redding and Yreka becomes neutral ground, claimed by both sides.
First North American Urban Brawl championship, "Super Brawl."
In the Night of Rage, worldwide riots result in persecution and murder of hundreds of thousands of metahumans.
In landmark case, serial killer caught and convicted on evidence obtained from a ghost.
Massive chemical spill kills 70,000 in England.
Southern Africa unites into Azanian Alliance, composed of the Cape Republic, Oranje-Vrystaat, Trans-Swazi Federation, and Zulu Nation.
Renraku Arcology construction begins in Seattle.
Sirrurg the great dragon destroys EuroAir Flight 329 from London to Atlanta, perhaps in retaliation to the 2039 Night of Rage.
First biannual international Urban Brawl World Cup.
Assassination of Korean Yakuza bosses in Seattle by Japanese Yakuza resulting in the organization of Seoulpa rings in Seattle and across North America.
After securing control of the Seattle Yakuza, Japanese Yakuza aggressively expand operations into Pacific Northwest.
First Olympic Games since 2032; multinational teams backed by corporate interests allowed to compete.
Mafia, Yakuza, and Seoulpa Rings engaged in struggle for territorial control in Seattle metroplex.
Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua are accepted into the Aztlaner Republic.
California declares war on "criminal element" in Los Angeles and invades El Infierno. After fighting a losing battle, California declares Los Angeles a Free City.
Cyberware allowed in professional football and basketball.
Panama admitted into Aztlan.
Aztlan (Aztecnology) nationalizes all foreign business provoking the Corporate Court to authorize a joint military strike. At the Veracruz Settlement, Aztechnology pays reparations.
Panama Canal becomes a Pan-Corporate Zone under the Corporate Court.
Aztlan and Amazonia squabble over Colombia and Venezuela.
Campaign start date, Shadowrun 1st Edition.
Seventh-generation cyberdecks are down to keyboard size.
Bioware hits public market.
Campaign start date, Shadowrun 2nd Edition.
Great dragon Hestaby takes possession of Shasta Dam and surrounding territory in Northern California, repelling a Tir Tairngire attack.
Proteus corporation completes two arkoblocks (offshore Arcologies) in Japan.
Tentative discovery of Atlantis 150 miles off Crete.
UCAS FBI discovers Universal Brotherhood controlled by insect spirits and shut it down in a cover-up. Other nations follow similar secretive steps. Ares corporation assists in the destruction of multiple hives which is misreported as "unmotivated terrorist violence" against the Universal Brotherhood.
A Knight Errant Firewatch team attempts to destroy an insect spirit hive causing spirits to spill out into Chicago and infest the city. Under the false claim of a VITAS outbreak, UCAS sets up Chicago Containment Zone around most of the population. The remnants of the Firewatch team eventually succeed in detonating a subtactical thermonuclear warhead inside the new hive core destroying the city. The majority of insect spirits knocked into torpor.
Dunkelzahn the great dragon is formerly recognized as a legal citizen of UCAS.
UCAS is unable to contain truth about Chicago Containment Zone disaster, and truth gets out via the Matrix.
Dunkelzahn the great dragon is elected president of the UCAS. He is assassinated shortly after the election. His will is read across the Matrix. The Draco Foundation is founded.
Seattle Mafia and Yakuza again go to war.
Ares releases FAB Strain III into Chicago Containment Zone to finally destroy insect spirits; inadvertently devastates all spiritual entities including Chicago's ghoul population.
Campaign start date, Shadowrun 3rd Edition.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Deus takes over Renraku Arcology in Seattle and begins experimenting on the people trapped within.
Flight 1118 from Tokyo crashes into Seattle's Redmond Barrens, on the Salish-Shidhe border. Nearly 200 people are killed in the plane and on the ground, hundreds more are injured and fires rage out of control throughout the district for more than 24 hours.
A virus of unknown origin attacks Seattle's Matrix RTG. People accessing the RTG suffer memory loss, psychotic episodes or brain death. The attack lasts for eleven minutes, then ends with no explanation or after effects.
A new great dragon, Ghostwalker, emerges from the Dunkelzahn Astral Rift and liberates Denver from Aztlan, with the CAS taking over.
Team enters Renraku Arcology and uses hard-wired "kill codes" to shut down Deus and 16-month lockdown.
Halley's Comet appears in the sky, and Sudden Unexplained Recessive Genetic Expression (SURGE) sweeps the world causing radical and varied changes in certain metahumans. SURGE causes riots and drastic social upheaval, but not quite on the same scale as UGE and Goblinization years earlier. SURGE also affects paranormal flora and fauna, forming numerous new species.
California Protectorate forms when Japanese Imperial Marines stage a coup in San Francisco.
Pacific Rim wracked by volcanos and earthquakes. Earthquake devastates Los Angeles and destroys many of the walls. Pueblo Corporate Council seizes the city and surrounding area.
Reports surface of "zombie" attacks.
Earthquake and Tsunami devastate the Yucatan Peninsula, where Aztlan had been fighting independence forces with escalating bloodshed (and blood magic). In the aftermath, spirits, natural and toxic, engage in open warfare against all sides.
Ares lands probe on Halley's Comet and wins Probe race.
Bio-weapon kills thousands on Salish-Shidhe/Tsimshian border.
Hestaby replaces Lofwyr on the Tir High Council of Princes.
Deus tries to use Resonance to elevate himself to godlike status but is destroyed in what becomes known as the Matrix Crash 2.0. Surviving otaku who spent a long time trapped in the Matrix evolve into the first technomancers.
New Revolution attempts failed coup of the UCAS government, and other governments within the former United States of America.
NeoNet is founded and begins the new Wireless Matrix Initiative, creating the VR and AR world of today.
Ute Nation absorbed into Pueblo Corporate Council.
General Angela Colloton is elected president of the UCAS.
Earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault line cause the flooding of Central Valley and Los Angeles and cut the city off from the mainland turning it into an island.
Campaign start date, Shadowrun 4th Edition.
AI Sojourner seizes control of Aztechnology orbital bio-weapon research platform with intention of releasing payload unless all AI's are released from captivity. AI Pulsar negotiates an end to the crisis.
Persecution of technomancers continues with Technomancer Registration Act. Coptic Pope offers sanctuary in Egypt for those who are also "people of the book."
New European Economic Community follows the lead of other nations in mandating testing and registration for Technomancers.
New drugs "Tempo" and "Flipside" spark crime wars and government legislation.
Interpol and Aztechnology execute military strikes on drug cartel holdings throughout South America. This decisive strike improves their corporate image.
Corporate Court begins construction of Space Elevator near Panama City.
Campaign start date, Shadowrun 20th Anniversary Edition.
Knight Errant wins Seattle policing contract.
Saeder-Krupp delivers anchor asteroid for construction of Space Elevator.
Kenneth Brackhaven re-elected governor of Seattle metroplex.
Campaign start date, Shadowrun 5th Edition. Current day and age. Hand basket to hell still in motion.