This is a transcript of the official Resistance timeline from the now defunct Resistancefallofman.com site. This timeline covers the history and backstory of Resistance: Fall of Man. It is preserved here for reference purposes.
1898[]
Cuba's Independence is granted by a reluctant Spain.
US newspapers report of atrocities performed against revolutionaries fighting to free Cuba from Spanish rule. When the USS Maine is sunk in Havana harbor, American sentiment shifts strongly towards intervention.
Reluctant to get involved, but eager to save face, President William McKinley sends a secret emissary to deliver an ultimatum to Spain: grant Cuban independence or face US military action in all Spanish territories. Fearing for the security of its last colony in Puerto Rico and its status as an empire, Spain reluctantly accepted the terms, and thus war between Spain and America is avoided.
June 30, 1908[]
The Tunguska Event flattens 2,150 square kilometers of forest.
An unknown object, possibly a meteor, lands in Tunguska, Siberia. Its impact causes an explosion that devastated the surrounding area for hundreds of miles, and the resulting changes to atmospheric pressure register on barographs as far away as Iceland. This becomes known as the Tunguska Event.
August, 1914[]
The Great War - British and French forces begin invasion
The Great War begins when British and French forces invade the German protectorate of Togoland in West Africa.
March, 1917[]
Woodrow Wilson - Requests declaration of war against Germany.
Due to the German Navy's policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, President Woodrow Wilson requests a declaration of war against Germany but Congress, led by the ardent isolationist Henry Cabot Lodge, refuses. A declaration of war remains impossible without an overt threat to the US.
October, 1917[]
Socialist Bolshevik party is broken in Russia.
Russian revolution: Vladimir Lenin and his Bolshevik followers are brutally defeated by Tsar Mikhail. The Socialist Bolshevik party is broken and its leader, Lenin, was sent to a labor camp in eastern Siberia.
October, 1918[]
Germany Requests a Ceasefire with Britain and other Entente Powers.
Germany requests a ceasefire and the Great War ends. Germany abandons its military rule and becomes a parliamentary democracy in order to meet peace talk conditions.
June, 1919[]
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles is signed and the great war officially ends.
July, 1919[]
The European Trade Organization is created, ushering in a new economic order.
A key point of the Treaty of Versailles calls for the formation of the ETO, with the goal of encouraging all European nations to work together to establish peace.
August, 1921[]
French Agents Murdered after being captured in Russia.
12 French intelligence agents in Russia are executed without trial for allegedly encouraging insurrection.
September, 1921[]
Russia Closes Borders, ending communications with the outside world.
Russia seals its borders and cuts itself off from communications with the wider world. The Russian government blames anti-imperialist propaganda from Europe and infiltration by hostile foreign agitators. A barbed-wire barrier is erected along the length of Russia's European border. Over the next five years, the barrier is reinforced, eventually becoming solid concrete. When complete, the Russian Wall is longer than the Great Wall of China.
June, 1923[]
Record Number Of Fish Caught due to shifts in ocean currents.
In the year known as "Nineteen hundred and fish", fishing in the Great Banks off Newfoundland is almost three times as productive as usual. Cheap, high-quality seafood is readily available in markets across America and Canada. Oceanographic studies show erratic shifts in the East Greenland Current contributing to abundant nutrients near the ocean's surface.
August, 1926[]
The Volga River Episode - Did the slick make it all the way out to the Sea?
A slick flowing from the Volga River in Russia kills all marine life in the Sea of Azov as well as several villagers. Ukrainian scientists from the University of Sevastopol discover the River is contaminated with quantities of radon 1,000 times normal.
January, 1927[]
First Transatlantic Phone Call is made between New York and London by AT&T.
1928[]
Tesla's VTOL Concept for an aerial transportation system is patented.
Inventor Nikola Tesla receives a patent for an aerial transportation system. It is the first instance of a Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft.
June, 1928[]
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.
October, 1929[]
Economic Uncertainty - Fears that the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act will pass sends the Dow Jones Average down 5% in one hour.
President Herbert Hoover gives a radio address promising to veto the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act to spare global trade from crippling taxation. By the end of the next trading day (Green Tuesday), the Dow Jones has recovered its losses.
August, 1930[]
Environmental Instability causes previously unseen weather patterns.
Strange weather patterns from Russia cause storms and heavy rains to fall across the American Great Plains.
September, 1930[]
The Weimar Republic gains support as a result of Germany's ETO status.
In Germany, recovery from the Great War to a full member of the ETO solidifies support for the Weimar Republic government. They easily win reappointment in the Reichstag general elections. The National Socialists party's extreme agenda is ridiculed and marginalized.
1934[]
Unknown Material found in Nevada.
Fourteen miners at Big Scrape copper mine in Nevada, unearth a large portion of a buried metallic structure. The US government sends federal agents to investigate and interview the miners. Citing safety reasons, the US government then seizes control of the mine and sets up a twelve mile military perimeter around the area.
1935[]
VTOL Program Accelerated - The WPA demands nimble aircraft with high payloads.
US President Franklin D. Roosevelt creates the Work Progress Administration (WPA) to bolster the economy. Over the next ten years, the WPA builds 650,000 miles of roads, 78,000 bridges, and 125,000 buildings. The WPA's need for a nimble aircraft with high payload capacity leads to the serious pursuit of Tesla's VTOL concept. The result is the UH-17 Atlas. The UH-17 proves exceedingly capable, but acquires a reputation as difficult to fly when several flip during flight. The crashes are blamed on poorly balanced loads.
August, 1936[]
The 1936 Olympic Games - Germany hosts the most elaborate Olympic Games since the Great War.
Germany hosts the Olympic Games in Berlin, bringing with it the largest number of participating countries ever. Russia noticeably does not take part - perceived by the ETO as a "despicable" snub. Track and field star Jesse Owens becomes the first American to win four gold medals in a single Olympics.
April, 1937[]
Alaska - The Northern Front - Construction begins in Anchorage, Alaska on a classified location.
Several tracts of land, measuring hundreds of square miles, in Alaska are requisitioned by the U.S. Government. All subsequent information on the area is classified as Fort Anchorage is constructed.
May, 1937[]
VTOL Problems Resolved and the UH-17 finally becomes reliable and safe.
Problems with the UH-17 VTOL are resolved with instrument system upgrades that prevent the plane from descending into its own rotor wash. Flight safety records improve immediately.
July, 1937[]
Amelia Earhart mysteriously disappeared over the Pacific Ocean during a circumnavigational flight.
February, 1938[]
Sweden's Deadliest Winter
138 people freeze to death as Sweden suffers its coldest winter on record.
June, 1938[]
Russian Ghost Towns - German Federal Intelligence Service operatives discover dozens of ghost towns in Russia across the Belarus border.
Houses are found boarded up and covered in folkloric demon wards. No bodies are found. With no evidence of violence, suspicions quickly turn to chemical or biological weapons.
October, 1938[]
War of the Worlds - A radio broadcast about alien invasion terrifies a nation.
Orson Welles' infamous "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast creates widespread panic, provoking a harsh response from the White House. The public upbraiding proves devastating and Orson Welles' career is ruined.
October, 1938[]
Domestic Security Agency - Fear widen on public's possible reaction.
Following Welles' broadcast, the head of the Domestic Security Agency (DSA), Raymond Tharp, briefs the US government on the potential repercussions of a similar public panic to an actual invasion.
December, 1938[]
Roosevelt VS Taft in a political battle over military spending.
Senator Robert Taft, a staunch isolationist, views the naval buildup as the first step towards international involvement and foreign military endeavors. Taft makes it his personal mission to stop Roosevelt's re-election.
A lackluster public speaker, Taft is unable to inspire a following himself. He becomes a zealous kingmaker for a charismatic Junior Senator from Montana, Noah Grace.
May, 1939[]
The Military Defense Commission is formed to create advanced weaponry.
The UED creates the MDC (Military Defense Commission) in Luxembourg to focus on weapons research and development.
November 17, 1939[]
125 Russian refugees die in Finland after inexplicably seeking asylum. No response is received from St. Petersburg regarding to the deaths.
August, 1940[]
Roosevelt Falls From Grace - Noah Grace attacks Roosevelt's strategies.
Presidential candidate Noah Grace's relentless attack campaign frames Roosevelt as a war monger and a potential imperialist. Unable to develop a distinction in domestic policies, Roosevelt's popularity falls steadily in polls.
January, 1941[]
Subterranean Army Complex is "ahead of schedule", while the military mum on additional base details.
Details of a subterranean army complex being built across the United Kingdom are leaked to the public after the Swifton Blade prints photograph showing a military base in London with concrete walls several yards thick. The press is put into a blackout.
Military Spending Increases - The President increases spending directly
The SRPA budget increases for the seventh consecutive year via Presidential orders that don't require Congressional acknowledgement or consent. Continued study yields technologies for civilian application such as hook and loop fasteners and bar code labels.
February, 1942[]
Close Encounters
Amateur plane spotters in Latvia reported strange flying objects in the sky.
June, 1944[]
Nuclear Weapon Tested - Wilderness flattened for miles in Alaska.
Reports of massive explosions in the Alaskan wilderness appear in the Alberta Intelligencer. President Grace gives a speech confirming the development of the nuclear bomb and refers to the tests as a clear message of national pride, stating "Let it be known that American isolationism is not cowardice, but restraint."
February, 1947[]
Presidential 3rd Term - Straw polls show growing support for a third term of office for Grace.
In the United States, the Democrats propose a new Constitutional Amendment limiting a President to a maximum of two terms in office. The Republican Party, despite being quietly fearful of President Grace's growing power, do not join the proposal. President Grace publicly scoffs at the Congressional effort saying, "The people will choose their leader. They don't need Congress telling them how to go about it."
February 17, 1947[]
"The Runner" Dies En Route - A strange incident that leaves authorities with only questions.
A man, referred to as "The Runner", who is believed to be a Russian refugee appears, and later dies at the British Embassy in Estonia. The man's hands are completely frozen around a leather satchel which contained a skull with six eyes slightly larger than a human skull. Intelligence reports also find that entire cities in Russia have now been abandoned.
August, 1948[]
Ukrainian Propaganda - A survey of Russian radio broadcasts yields strong signals.
European intelligence agencies try to listen in to Russian radio broadcasts. A British Intelligence MI6 listening station in Ukraine begins a survey of Russian radio broadcasts. After six weeks, the only signals heard are looping propaganda programs in Russian encouraging, "Brotherhood, strength and fortitude...in the face of the angry night". There are no new broadcasts over across a network of 12,000 stations serving nearly 100 million citizens. Two days before the survey is complete, the listening station intercepts electromagnetic radiation emanating from Russia. The powerful signal causes the receivers to overheat, electrocuting five men.
November, 1948[]
Grace's Third Term - Complacent public opinion leads to Grace's upheaval of both the administration and the air waves.
President Grace is re-elected for a unprecedented third straight term, but with America's lowest turnout of votes in 70 years. The Grace Administration downplays this fact, focusing instead on their vast margin of victory. Viewing his re-election as a mandate, President Grace begins a series of radio broadcasts called "Evening Conversations", "In order to better communicate with the American people the manner in which their government works for them."
April, 1949[]
A New Threat Arises - New knowledge offers an explanation of recent events but leaves several questions in his wake.
King Edward VIII visits America on a goodwill tour bringing knowledge of recent events happening in Russia but leaves with more questions than answers.
May, 1949[]
The Alliance for American Autonomy - New found desire for keeping America out of foreign affairs catches on.
The Alliance for American Autonomy is formed with the goal of keeping keep America out of foreign wars. Its protests of Army recruitment offices and rallies soon draw thousands of participants.
September, 1949[]
Global Cooling Continues - Harsh weather brings about concern for the health and safety of British citizens.
As a harsh winter weather is expected for Britain, the British wartime propaganda department, MI7, orders meteorologists to warn citizens to prepare for an especially harsh winter. Mandatory rationing of coal and canned goods is put into effect.
Strange Animal Behavior - Unexplained stampede leaves many people dead or injured.
Traffic is brought to a standstill in Kharkiv, Ukraine as herds of animals, such as red deer and other large mammals, stampede across the city, killing and injuring many. The distressed animals foam at the mouth and trample anyone in their path.
December, 1949[]
Chimeran Invasion - Protective forces unable to withstand the superior strength of the attack.
The Chimera invade from Russia, the Red Curtain is breached and the UED Russian invasion contingency plans are implemented, but quickly prove inadequate. Fantastic speed and flawless coordination allows the Chimera to roll over static defenses, such as the Bratislava Line in Czechoslovakia. Eastern European countries such as Poland and Czechoslovakia are quickly overrun.
Fear of Chimera - Uncertainty and stress begin to take their toll.
The unnatural appearance of the Chimeran troops has a terrible psychological effect on UED troops. In response, MI7 attempts to boost morale by launching an aggressive propaganda campaign to ridicule the Chimeran threat and rally citizens spirits.
Destination: Avalon One - Citizens retreat to Australia in an attempt at survival.
The evacuation of 300,000 British citizens overseas begins. Passage is determined by lottery. These evacuees mostly consist of women and children along with members of Parliament and their families. Their destination is primarily Avalon One, in Australia, but many also go to Canada and Greenland. Those who are not selected are gathered in holdover camps while they wait for their turn to leave the country. Britain is left under Martial Law.
January, 1950[]
Missing Persons Multiply - US government offers military support to Europe.
The United European Defense notes a startling lack of refugees from cities that have fallen to the Chimera. Notably, less than a thousand people survive the fall of Warsaw, a city of nearly 2 million. In response to these figures, the US government offers military support to Europe.
The Siege of Genoa - Italy left in ruins as troops cannot withstand the sheer force of attack.
In Genoa, Italy, soldiers are overwhelmed by the Chimera, whom they refer to as "the deathless plague." Many regard them as invincible, due to their extreme durability. The troops cannot withstand the force of the attack, and Italy is left in ruins.
America Responds
The U.S. Congress agrees to the wishes of an unknown individual who seeks to offer military support to the UED. Congress signs an act allowing this to go ahead; the act is to be renewed every ninety days as advised by the Department of War.
February, 1950[]
Europe Falls to Chimera
Europe falls to the Chimera, and millions of people are killed or converted.
March, 1950[]
The British Royal Navy is attacked overnight while on patrol in the English Channel. Distress calls report huge freak waves overwhelming the fleet, despite it being an otherwise calm sea. By morning, all 96 ships are found washed up on the coast of France. Only seventeen bodies are found, all of which are dead by suicide. Also, the ship's bilges were filled with a classified substance.
May, 1950[]
Border Attacks Intensify - Security increases as mysterious explosions claim lives unexpectedly.
Simultaneous explosions at the United States' borders borders with Canada and Mexico claim 46 lives. AAA claim responsibility for the attacks, declaring "America first, America only." Security at the borders is increased dramatically.
American Propaganda
Rumors of supernatural creatures in Europe cause panic across America, so in order to "better serve the public's awareness," the office of Perception, Protection and Guidance begins producing programs for television and radio that spread the story of an influenza epidemic in Europe. This explanation quickly raises public support for the increased border protection. Slowly, all independent broadcasting is replaced with government propaganda as President Grace's Evening Conversation radio program becomes an even greater national comfort and refuge from the flood of news on the airwaves.
More Evacuation in Britain
Over 3 million people have now fled Britain to Canada and Greenland.
August, 1950[]
Unusual Seismic Activity - Scientists struggle to find accurate readings.
The British Seismology and Survey Department detects seismic activity under the English Channel. Their request to the British Army to quiet the shore batteries, in order to gain more accurate readings, is denied, due to near-constant strafing runs by Chimeran dropships.
October, 1950[]
14,000 Soldiers Drown
Unable to penetrate Central Command in London, the Chimera attack with Burrowers from below. The siege culminates with the River Thames flooding the base, drowning 14,000 soldiers.
November, 1950[]
Magic Coffins - Millions of Briton bodies collected after infection.
British civilians are infected en masse as they seek refuge in bomb shelters. The Chimera collect the bodies so quickly and efficiently that the shelters become known as "magic coffins."
June, 1951[]
American naval forces reach the British coast and deploy aerial surveillance craft to scout the area; no signs of human or animal life are detected.
July, 1951[]
After unsuccessfully trying to contact British forces, the U.S. Navy launches Operation Deliverance.
External links[]
- Resistance: Fall of Man Viral Website 1 (not available anymore)
- Resistance: Fall of Man Viral Website 1 (archived)