Wasteland Rules: Die Fighting (The World After Book 4) (32 page)

Wasteland
Rules Glossary

The Aftermath – The chain of events following the Collapse
that led to the virtual destruction of the planet as we know it. It started
with an exchange of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons; and ended with
violent storms and climate change.

Aztlan – Country formed out of Northern Mexico by
returning immigrants from the U.S. They control small parts of southern
California and Arizona. In constant conflict with the N.R.T. over their
borders. Sometimes referred to as the Reconquistadors.

BDU – Battle Dress Uniform – Standard military non
dress uniform.

Bikers – Gangs of traditional one-percenters (outlaw
bikers) that ride the highways looking for victims.

Burners – Small gangs of young men on performance
bikes. They are multicultural in make-up.

C.C.A. – Confederated Cities of America – Sometimes
referred to as the Second Confederacy. It is a loosely affiliated group of
southern cities. They share economic and military ties. It was formed after the
U.S.T.G. conquest of Cincinnati. They are loosely allied with the New Republic
of Texas.

The Cartel – The world’s largest drug cartel. They
control much of the Carribbean, Miami, and part of Mexico. They have a Spanish
feudal system of rulership.

The Collapse – The collapse of society and
civilization brought on by a crop virus that wiped out most of the world’s food
supplies. Wars and rioting resulting from the famine caused the collapse of all
the world’s governments. It was followed the Aftermath.

The Collective – They are an insular group of
technologists that control part of the West Coast. They make heavy use of
cloning and cybernetics.  They are very advanced technologically and not
altogether human. They are connected into a semi-hive mind by the LINC. It is
controlled by former software billionaire Stefan Doors.

Cult of the Machine - Also known as Machineheads,
they are wannabe Humeks who have made mechanical alterations and additions to
themselves.

Drinkers – Large mutants that appeared in the
Aftermath. They get their name from the fact that they drink human blood for
sustenance and their mouths are often stained red.

Drone – A human being implanted with a computer chip
in their brain that makes them little more than a robot. Often they are clones.
They were created by the Collective. Used for labor and as soldiers.

Express Station – A fortified gas station and
convenience store. One chain is run by Texas.

Faceless – Clones created without a face, capable of
having any face surgically attached to them. They have one noticeable flaw, a
small mole on the back of their neck. They dissolve into goo if killed.

FedPol – Federal Police – The national police force of
the U.S.T.G. They are the only law enforcement in the U.S.T.G. and are a
combination of the FBI and local law enforcement.

Freehold – A free town located in the wasteland.

G-21 – The alliance of 21 gangs that controls the
remnants of Los Angeles, California.

Hauler’s Guild – Formed from the remnants of the
Teamsters Union, almost all long haul truckers belong. They provide protection
for their armored trucks and are a powerful political force. The threat of
cutting off shipping to any faction usually wins concessions for the Guild.
Based in Indianapolis under the “protection” of the U.S.T.G., they are still
generally politically neutral.

HRT – Hostage Rescue Team, similar to SWAT.

Humek – A human being who underwent radical surgery to
have cybernetics implanted in them. They are the most loyal followers of the
Collective. They do have some free will.

ICV/IFV – Infantry Combat Vehicle/Infantry Fighting
Vehicle – Once known as armored personnel carriers, they provide fire support
in addition to transporting troops.

Illuminati – Secret societies rumored to be
controlling the world and the course of history from behind the scenes.

Imperator – Ruler of Los Angeles and head of G-21.
Former LAPD.

LAW – Light Antitank Weapon – Usually a disposable
tube launched rocket capable of destroying light armored vehicles.

LINC – Layered Integrated Neural Connection – A
wireless network that connects the members of the Collective into a semi-hive
mind. Users with total access can see anything any connected member sees or
access any connected members sensory memories.

Merks – A generic term for mercenaries. They are
general considered unreliable but willing to do anything for money. They have
no overall organization.

The Party – Shorthand for the Neo-Conservative Party.
The only legal political party in the U.S.T.G. They run everything and you must
be a Party member to have any power or wealth.

Patrician – The elite and wealthy leaders of the
C.C.A. They are the male heads of wealthy and powerful families that control
most of the businesses in the C.C.A. They live privileged lives.

Praetorians – The elite troops of G-21 that serve as
the Imperator’s personal bodyguard and enforcers. All former law enforcement or
ex-military. Well-armed and well trained.

NBC – Abrreviation for Nuclear, Biological, and
Chemical.

New Republic of Texas – N.R.T. – Often just referred
to as Texas or the New Republic. New Republic dollar or NRD is their currency.

Night Children – Also called Children of the Night –
They are families of cannibals that existed underground before the Collapse.
They now operate more openly, trapping and eating travelers in their
booby-trapped lairs.

The Order – A well organized group of Neo-Nazis that
have taken control of large parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.

The Outfit – A large and well organized group of
merks. They have their origins in the private military companies that were
prevalent before the Collapse. They are well equipped and only take on large
well-paying jobs. Their biggest customer is rumored to be the U.S.T.G.

Raiders – They are gangs of criminals that attack
travelers and settlements. They are organized into a clan structure and mark
themselves with tattoos on their foreheads.

Reapers – The remains of a European Union invasion
force. Infamous for their cannibalism, they ravaged the remains of the East
Coast.

Red Berets – Elite Special Forces of the U.S.T.G. Also
known as the Bloody Berets. Only two hundred or so out of thousands
successfully pass the training.

Regulators – A slang term for the Brotherhood of
Justice – It was formed by former law enforcement officers to protect their
communities. Later multiple smaller groups merged into the larger organization
that is spread across the wasteland. It is headquartered in Texas and receives
some financial assistance from them. They pay bounties for criminals and often
perform basic law enforcement duties in unaligned towns.

Roadhouse – A fortified compound housing at least a
hotel and restaurant. They are usually built up around hotels at key road
junctions like interstate exchanges. They are well fortified and well-guarded.

The Society – The Illuminati group that runs NASA.
Rora’s father was a member. They consider themselves the Anti-Illuminati and work
for the benefit of mankind, not to control it.

Technical – A pickup or SUV armored and armed with a
heavy weapon like a machine gun.

UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle – unmanned aircraft
usually piloted remotely. Smaller than a normal plane. Used primarily by the
Collective. Collective UAVs have an onboard computer that controls them in
addition to the main network.

UCV – Unmanned Combat Vehicle – unmanned tanks or IFVs
usually piloted remotely. Same size and model as normal. Used primarily by the
Collective. Collective UCVs have an onboard computer that controls them in
addition to the main network.

U.S.T.G. – United States Territorial Government – The
remnants of the old United States of America It is a single party state run by
the former Vice President Rickard Channing and the Neo-Conservative Party. It
is a very structured and controlled economy and culture. Very expansionist,
they lay claim to the entire continent of North America.  It is a
repressive police state. The U.S.T.G. dollar is their form of currency.

Wrecker’s Guild – This is a loose organization of tow
truck drivers and wreckers. They retrieve broken down vehicles and scavenge
damaged or abandoned ones. They drive armored tow trucks and are generally
unmolested.

Zeta Force – The best of the best Red Berets. A
platoon sized elite force given the toughest and most sensitive missions.