A Potential Split in Time

Depending on a players chosen character, the established 'present' could vary. Someone choosing to play as @Yuuya Bridges or a custom character starting at @Yukon Base, might want to experience the full events of Project PROMINENCE, the Yukon Base Incident, and various stages of the XFJ Program. To facilitate this, it is encouraged to always have the present setting at the start of a campaign, anywhere within the confines of the year 2001. This way, a player can potentially experience events leading up to the untimely arrival of the quantum causality visitor, Takeru Shirogane, in October towards the end of the year.

Regardless of character, the setting is this: The BETA War. Yes, the Cold War may still be active, due to ideological differences between various governments, but the vast majority of people, after almost 30 years and losing two whole continents, are on board with cooperation to stop the BETA, its just the matter of details. That said, it is a military heavy setting and militaries have stages of security and protocol, especially in regards towards other sovereign nation's militaries. Despite any radical elements and ideological differences, the BETA will always be the biggest threat. BETA will make unpredictable movements against the various "Defense Line" locations in attempts to overrun them and wipe out the remaining vestiges of Humanity. BETA are concentrated around their Hives and all attacks and major herd movements originate from a Hive somewhere. For more info on the BETA, check the folder named "The BETA".

The arrival of @Takeru Shirogane into the BETAverse on October 22, 2001, is the trigger point for all subsequent events. Even if players aren't in Japan or an area relevant to him, the events surrounding Takeru inevitably change and affect the world given his close proximity and relationships with many relevant figures within Alternative IV. Two major story development paths are laid out when he arrives in the world, and can both be found in the "Two Possible Futures" folder.