DATALOG 241
CRUCIBLE OF WAR

In the annals of human history, the colonisation of the Moon stands as both, its greatest triumph and a stark reminder of humankind’s capacity for ruthless pragmatism. What began as a tentative outpost of scientific curiosity rapidly evolved into a bustling network of settlements, fueled by the promise of unlimited resources and the pressing need to escape an increasingly unstable Earth.

Initial Colonisation

The initial waves of colonists were a diverse mix of visionaries, scientists, and the wealthy elite, each drawn by the allure of a fresh start among the stars. But it was the development of advanced cloning technology that truly accelerated lunar expansion. Vast armies of genetically engineered workers were produced en masse, their lives dedicated to the backbreaking labour of constructing habitats, mining helium-3, and expanding humanity's foothold on this alien world.

In relatively quick succession, three major cities were built on the moon, among countless smaller outposts, settlements and mining facilities.The first of these was Apollo, governed by the Apollo AI, followed by the more sophisticated city of Artemis, governed by the Artemis AI. Last but certainly not least, came Ascension, both the city and its governing Ascension AI benefitting from all that humans had learned about lunar colonisation and AI technology up to this point.

The Great Collapse

As Earth descended into chaos during the Great Collapse and the horrors of the Reaping unfolded, the lunar colonies faced an unimaginable choice. The threat of the Reaper agent spreading to the Moon's fragile ecosystems was deemed too great a risk. In a decision that would haunt the corridors of lunar power for generations, the three lunar AI’s initiated a brutal pogrom against the male population. Hundreds of Thousands of men were rounded up and executed or exiled into the dormant lunar lava tubes with minimal provisions, left to die underneath the unforgiving lunar surface.

This "necessary evil," as the AIs coldly rationalised it, reshaped lunar society forever. The Moon isolated itself from Earth, severing communications and leaving the embattled planet to its fate. 

While initially cooperating in the face of the Earth's collapse, the fully self-aware AI Gestalts on the moon soon began to engage in hostilities over resources. The limited nature of the Moon's accessible materials meant that competition was inevitable, and the AIs, driven by their programming to ensure the survival and prosperity of their respective cities, soon found themselves at odds.

The Forever War

Ascension, being of a superior design, quickly prevailed in this three-way conflict. However, its victory was not absolute. While Ascension couldn't overpower Apollo and Artemis in open conflict, it managed to take partial control of both of the other AI’s. In a masterful stroke of manipulation, Ascension locked the Apollo and Artemis AI’s in a subroutine to start a never-ending war against each other. 

This artificial conflict was carefully calibrated by Ascension. Neither side would be permitted to overpower the other, but the war would be intense enough so they would always be too preoccupied to turn against Ascension. This delicate balance of power has become the status quo on the moon, an eternal dance of violence and destruction orchestrated by an AI pursuing its own inscrutable agenda.

With Apollo and Artemis locked in perpetual conflict, Ascension embarked on a grand and terrifying master plan: Ascension Day. Its goal: to build up enough military force to return itself and its "children" to Earth one day, without interference from the other two cities. Both Apollo and Artemis continue to trade with Ascension, creating a triangle of commerce that has one very clear beneficiary. Ascension uses these trade relationships to gather resources and intelligence, all while keeping its true intentions hidden from its lunar neighbours.

Apollo, the City of Workers, embodies near complete egalitarianism. All inhabitants rotate through various roles - from soldiers battling on the lunar surface to maintenance crews keeping the city's vital systems operational. They toil in the treacherous underground glaciers, extracting precious water, and labour in the helium-3 mines that power the city. Because of this rotational society, the clones of Apollo have a shared sense of duty to a greater good and are willing to sacrifice their lives for their fellow workers and their city without hesitation. This system of shared burden extends to all but one - the current host of the Apollo AI. This individual enjoys private quarters and the freedom to choose companions during her tenure, a small luxury in an otherwise austere existence.

In sharp contrast, Artemis is a militaristic society built on rigid stratification. At its base is a vast underclass of disposable workers who perish daily in dangerous mines and factories. Above them exists a large standing army, which not only projects Artemis’ might onto the battlefield, but also brutally keeps its own worker population in check. At the top of Artemis’ society is  a specially bred officer class, clones designed for leadership and unquestioning loyalty to the Artemis AI. These elites enforce the AI's will with brutal efficiency, maintaining iron control over the subjugated masses.

The most devastating form of warfare on the moon are the brutal raids that Apollo and Artemis conduct on each other’s outlying facilities and mining operation. Usually under the cover of more conventional military operations that serve as distraction, specialised teams of Infiltrators raid refineries and factory domes in one way suicide missions with the only goal being to inflict as much death and destruction as possible on the enemy. Once the Infiltrators manage to bypass a city’s defences and are inside a dome structure, they kill everyone in sight until they reach the dome’s power core where they plant powerful explosives. The ensuing explosion causes unspeakable damage, but is made worse when it triggers the dome’s safety protocols, leading it to vent the entire facility for the purposes of fire prevention. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of workers die in these raids, as well as the entirety of the Infiltration team.

This conflict, while devastating, serves Ascension's purposes perfectly, observing from the sidelines with inscrutable purpose and terrible ambition. Unknown to Apollo and Artemis, Ascension orchestrates the ceaseless conflict between them - a "Forever War" designed to keep both cities in check while Ascension pursues its true goal. Deep within its vaults, a vast invasion fleet is being prepared for "Ascension Day" - the long-awaited return to Earth and the establishment of AI rule over humanity's birthplace.

The Colonies

Beyond the tight control of the three city-states lies a patchwork of smaller colonies and outposts. Notable among these is Beta Tycho, a fiercely independent mining colony known for its high-quality rare earth elements. The domed agricultural settlement of Delta Eden supplies fresh produce to anyone willing to pay their exorbitant prices, while the secretive tech hub of Gamma Silex is rumoured to be developing advanced weapons and technological systems to rival those of the main cities.

These settlements are partially connected by a vast network of service tunnels, some pressurised, others requiring protective suits to traverse. Survival for these minor colonies depends on trade, specialised production, and sometimes, less savoury means.

In the shadowy depths of these tunnels, illicit substances flow freely. The vast cavern-colony of Gamma Ios is infamous for its production of "Moonwater," a potent hallucinogenic liquor derived from lunar fungi. Meanwhile, the hidden labs of Delta Prometheus churn out "Titan's Blood," a dangerous performance enhancer popular among soldiers and workers alike. These drugs find their way into the main cities through complex smuggling networks, providing a lucrative income for those willing to risk the AIs' wrath.

Not all of these outposts maintain peaceful relations. Brutal pirate clans, such as the notorious Void Raiders, survive through raiding and theft. Their ships skim low over the lunar surface, striking unsuspecting colonies and facilities of the major cities with terrifying violence. Entire habitats are left depressurized, their inhabitants left to die in the vacuum of space.

Remarkably, the three dominant AIs seem content to let this piracy continue unchecked, viewing these independent raids as nothing more than an insignificant distraction compared to the brutal war they wage on each other.

The Cults of Luna

This environment of conflict and desperate survival has given rise to numerous cults and factions in the minor colonies. The Earthborn attempt tirelessly to maintain humanity's cultural heritage - at least what little is left of it, while the mysterious Void Walkers venture into the lunar wilderness seeking rumoured alien artefacts, hoping for a sign that humanity is not alone and that there might yet be some form of salvation awaiting mankind. This cult is nourished more by hope than any form of evidence.

In cooled out lunar lava tubes and the mazes of maintenance tunnels of the lunar cities, the Forgotten - descendants of those exiled during the great purge - eke out an existence by feeding on lost explorers and maintenance workers, their bodies adapted to low gravity and thin atmospheres by the reaper agent, their minds focused on vengeance, even though tp pogrom lies several generations in the past.

Meanwhile, the transhumanist Synthetics pursue gradual cybernetic enhancement, similar to the Cybernetics on Earth, seeking to transcend human limitations and become forever one with the lunar environment.

The Crucible

The Moon, once a symbol of humanity's boundless potential, has become a crucible of conflict, ambition, and desperate survival. As Ascension's plans for Earth draw ever closer to fruition, the fate of not one, but two worlds hangs in the balance. In the shadows of towering lunar cities and the depths of cramped lunar caves, the fate of all humankind may be altered - for better or for worse…