War ravaged the entire world, hundreds slaughtered by the day. Some militias outfitted their soldiers with exo-suits equipped with weapons and armor. They made quick work of enemies without the means to acquire their own suits. Many places were left uninhabitable by the rampant violence.

With livable land diminishing by the day, a meeting of leaders was called to discuss what they could do to avoid tearing the planet apart. The only solution they agreed on was to abandon the surface in favor of an underground colony designed to last for as long as it would take for the surface to recover. A ceasefire was called and any leaders who didn’t agree to the terms were removed from the talks.

The allies pooled their resources, but it wasn’t enough to build the colony large enough for even a third of the population. They turned to anyone with a hoard of resources, the lucky few that held onto any semblance of power. They guaranteed these investors could enter the colony with a select number of friends and family. Master craftspeople traveled from far and wide to aid the project. The skilled workers were given a similar deal as the investors but they could only bring direct family. 

The colony’s space limitations were somehow leaked to the general public and the leaders were forced to put out a worldwide broadcast to explain why such limitations had to be in place. After continued public backlash, a contributor program was created. Anyone who could either spare enough resources or were willing to be part of the back-breaking labor was guaranteed homes. Rumors began spreading that remote towns were being slaughtered by mercenaries hired by the leaders to reduce the population. Rebel groups formed to fight back the murderers-for-hire and attempt to end the genocide.

Everything got worse after the missiles. No one was certain where they originated. Many blamed the rebels, but they pointed at the leadership and their mercenaries. Before long, a mysterious death cult claimed responsibility. They warned the world that they had control of every military arsenal and they planned to detonate them when their doomsday timer ran out. Those that sought out the cult to stop them, were never seen again.

As the timer reached the last few hours before detonation, panic ensued. Citizens raced to the colony entrances, only to find that most were false. They were faced with the devastating realization that they had no escape. Those that did find entrances, mobbed the gateways and trampled anyone in their way. When the gateways closed, all who remained outside were condemned to death.

No one truly knew what happened after the gateways closed. They knew the world shook as it was bombarded with every functional weapon of mass devastation. They know that made the world above toxic and unlivable. They know their colonies will last them until it is safe to return to what remains above. 

Or will they?