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SECOND HEAVEN An unbroken chain of mega cities spiraling out from a technological nucleus. The HALO
From its centre point, the nucleus of Herz der Stadt, the numerous world cities of Second Heaven sprawl 1100 kilometers in all directions (roughly the square footage of the moon.) A sphere of phase energy, called the 'Halo', encloses the megalopolis to a distance of 1500 kilometers into 'space.' Projected from the massive Ragnarok phasing generator at the heart of Second Heaven, the Halo provides not only a protective shield against the Forms, somehow preventing them from passing physically into the 'Cities of Heaven,' but it is also the basis of Second Heaven's powered technologies (see the 'Gear' section for more details.) The home of humantiy's remnant for nearly a millenia, the Heavens transcend all of man's past accomplishments. A metallic 'tint' enfuses every corner of every city, breathing an almost transcendent atmosphere. The shimmering flecks are caused by bursting microscopic bubbles of phase energy re-directed inward by the Halo's shielding properties. The powerful phase generator Ragnarok, housed at the center of the Herz der Stadt has projected this protective blanket for over seven centuries. The hour it falls is the moment humanity disappears. The CITIES of HEAVEN The largest Mega City on Earth could not compete with the sprawling technological world scapes that make up the cities under the Halo. These Cities of Heaven house billions of citizens in structures that spread for thousands of kilometers under the Halo and jut a dozens of kilometers into the lower atmosphere. All but a quarter of one city fall safely within the Halo. Called a World City, Second Heaven is in actuality composed of dozens of self-governing Mega Cities sitting back to back. |
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.:World Cities and regional terminology of Second Heaven:. (new entries appear in red) |
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TERM |
DEFINITION |
Second Heaven |
Established in the alternate dimension of Echo Alpha, the world city of Second Heaven was forcibly unveiled to the earth's population in 2239. Second Heaven became home to humanity as the Forms over ran Heaven City and Earth Prime, forcing the survivors to retreat through the single phase gate maintained by the Ascension I generator at the heart of Heaven City. After the retreat to Second Heaven, the gate linking the two great cities was destroyed, severing the pathway from 'First Heaven' to Second Heaven. Since the Fall of Prime, Second Heaven has stood for over 700 years, spreading to the limit of its own Massive Phasing Generator and beyond. |
Herz der Stadt |
"Heart of the City." Aida Slin's promise to humanity began at what is now the center of Second Heaven. The nucleus city, resulting from her designs, has stood as the heart of the world city of Second Heaven for over 700 years. |
Shekinah City |
Lying just outside the stable cube of phase energy which makes up the bulk of the area under the Halo, Shekinah City was hailed by Expansionists as being a jewel in the crown of their policy. It was proof that Second Heaven could be safely expanded outside the area of stabilized phasing, even up to or perhaps beyond the rim of the Halo itself. A necessary lowering of phase specific technology (due to expansion in less phase stabilized areas) was not enough to prevent Citizens from moving farther outside the established "Cities of Heaven" in an effort to lessen the creep of congested civilization. |
Glory Quarter |
Making up nearly a fourth of Shekinah City's structures, the Glory Quarter was the first district to pass physically through the Halo rim. Over half the district falls outside the Halo's protection, within the Halo's 100 kilometer wide corona. Now a ruin, the city became the battle ground and gateway of the first Form Incursion into second Heaven. |
Combine |
The Combined Cities or "Combine" is a testament to some of the best and worst that Second Heaven has to offer. Originally a megacity housing a dense population of Second Heaven's most advanced minds in all fields of phasing technology, the city evolved into two dense metropolitan masses of white and black market tech. So distintinctive are the areas that it appears that two separate cities have been merged or combined together while maintaining their own identities. |