AUTHORITY HISTORICAL ARCHIVES

Decades of Underinvestment

Federal, state, and local governments consistently underfund critical infrastructure maintenance. Power grids age beyond safe operational lifespans. Water treatment facilities deteriorate. Communication networks become increasingly fragile.

Key Statistic: American Society of Civil Engineers gives U.S. infrastructure a "D+" grade in 2017, warning of catastrophic failures if investment doesn't increase.

Cascading Small Failures

Localized power outages increase in frequency and duration. Water contamination events affect millions. Communication disruptions become commonplace. Each failure is addressed in isolation rather than as symptoms of systemic problems.

Notable Events:

• 2021: Texas power grid collapse (4 days, 246 deaths)
• 2024: Northeastern blackout (72 hours, 12 states affected)
• 2026: Flint-style water contamination spreads to 47 cities
• 2028: California wildfire infrastructure damage (3 weeks of rolling blackouts)

Coordinated Planning Begins

Domestic extremist groups, emboldened by government dysfunction and economic instability, begin coordinating attacks on vulnerable infrastructure. Intelligence agencies detect increased chatter but lack resources to prevent organized action.

Warning Ignored: FBI report (December 2030) warns of coordinated infrastructure targeting by extremist networks. Congressional hearings held but no significant action taken.

System At Breaking Point

Multiple infrastructure systems operate at or beyond capacity. Engineers warn of imminent cascading failures. Emergency preparedness agencies request additional funding but are denied. The United States enters April 2032 with critical infrastructure on the verge of collapse.

Cascading Failures Begin

3:47 AM EST: First power grid failure (Ohio Valley). Within hours, cascading failures spread across Eastern seaboard.

6:12 AM EST: Coordinated extremist attacks target vulnerable substations, accelerating collapse.

11:30 AM EST: Federal government declares national emergency. Communication networks begin failing, preventing coordinated response.

4:00 PM EST: 89% of United States without electrical power. Water treatment facilities shutdown. First deaths reported.

Casualties (Day 1): 47,000 deaths (medical equipment failures, traffic accidents, initial violence)

Cities Become Death Traps

Without power, water, or communications, urban areas descend into chaos. Millions attempt to flee cities. Highways jam. Violence erupts over dwindling resources. Government response proves inadequate—police overwhelmed, emergency services collapse, military deployment too slow and too scattered.

Key Events:

• April 10: New York City water contamination affects 8 million
• April 15: Los Angeles declares martial law (unenforceable without power/communications)
• April 20: Chicago hospitals shutdown due to power/supply failures
• April 25: Federal government evacuates Washington D.C.

Casualties (April): 2.4 million deaths

Starvation, Disease, Contamination

Food distribution networks completely collapse. Starvation becomes widespread. Contaminated water spreads disease. Chemical facilities damaged during exodus release toxins. Medical care effectively ceases to exist outside a few fortified facilities.

Population Movement: Estimated 100 million people displaced, moving between regions seeking safety, food, clean water. Most die in transit.

Government Collapse: By June, federal government exists in name only. State governments fragmented or gone. Local authorities overwhelmed or abandoned posts.

Casualties (May-September): 136 million deaths

Survival of the Protected

Five major corporations with surviving infrastructure begin concentrating populations in areas where power, water, and security can be maintained. These early "protection zones" house approximately 128 million survivors. Population deaths slow as basic resources are rationed.

Casualties (October-January): 67 million deaths

Five Corporations Unify

Continental Power Systems, AquaTech Solutions, SecureNet Communications, Sentinel Defense Industries, and GlobalChain Logistics formally merge operations to create The Authority—a unified administrative structure capable of coordinating recovery efforts.

Mission Statement: "To protect surviving populations, restore essential services, and rebuild American civilization."

Concentrating Survival

The Authority establishes 12 initial protected zones in areas where infrastructure can be maintained:

• Eastern Seaboard PZ (22 million)
• California Coastal PZ (24 million)
• Great Lakes PZ (18 million)
• Texas Central PZ (15 million)
• ...and 8 additional zones (49 million combined)

Total Protected Population (Dec 2033): 128 million citizens

Power, Water, Communications Restored

Massive infrastructure projects restore basic services in protected zones. Power generation prioritized. Water treatment rebuilt. Communication networks reestablished. For the first time since the Collapse, 128 million Americans have reliable electricity, clean water, and ability to communicate.

Official Record Established

Authority Historical Commission completes definitive analysis of Collapse causes. Report identifies infrastructure neglect (2000-2032), domestic extremism, and government failure as primary factors. Report becomes foundation for educational curricula and policy decisions.

From Survival to Recovery

Employment programs launched. Trade systems reestablished. Authority Credit System implemented. Unemployment drops from 94% (2033) to 32% (2040). GDP begins positive growth for first time since Collapse.

Healthcare, Education, Culture

• 2038: Recovery begins: Schools reopen across all protected zones
• 2040: Infrastructure improvements: Healthcare facilities operational, life expectancy increases to 62 years
• 2042: Security establishment: Department of Border Management established, checkpoint network begins

Growing Prosperity

• 2043: Expansion phase: Three additional protected zones established (total: 15)
• 2045: Protected zone populations reach 132 million (first growth since Collapse)
• 2047: Checkpoint network complete (47 facilities)
• 2050: Unemployment drops to 8.3%

Continued Recovery

• 2052: Zone Power Modernization Initiative begins ($2.3B investment)
• 2055: Services restoration: Healthcare access reaches 99.8% of protected populations
• 2057: Protected zone populations reach 137 million
• 2057: Unemployment reaches 4.2% (lowest since Collapse)
• 2057: 25th anniversary of the Collapse observed with Remembrance Day