BioCrisis: Difference between revisions

From OniGalore
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(partial re-write to spell things out a little more)
m (→‎Added value: wording)
 
(8 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Category:Added value]]
[[Image:TXMPPOSTER4.png|right]]
The '''BioCrisis''' refers to a widespread environmental crisis prior to the events of Oni. At the time of Oni, the air supply in the cities is systematically filtered and decontaminated by [[ACC]]s. We learn from Dr. Hasegawa's diary that massive contaminated areas (called "[[Wilderness Preserve]]s") exist outside the cities. One of these contaminated zones is the reason for the death of Jamie [[Hasegawa]]. [[Hasegawa]] and [[Kerr]] subsequently developed the [[Daodan]] project to help humans survive the BioCrisis.
[[Image:TXMPPOSTER1.png|right]]
The '''BioCrisis''' refers to a widespread environmental crisis beginning prior to the events of Oni. At the time of Oni, the air supply in the cities is systematically filtered and decontaminated by [[ACC]]s. We learn from [[Hasegawa|Dr. Hasegawa's]] diary that massive contaminated areas called "[[Wilderness Preserve]]s" exist outside the cities. One such contaminated zone is the reason for the death of [[Hasegawa|Jamie Hasegawa]]. Drs. Hasegawa and [[Kerr]] subsequently developed the [[Daodan]] project to help humans survive an impending danger from the BioCrisis. The BioCrisis is still an ongoing event and a current threat. The [[WCG]] assures the general populace that they have it under control, but in-game posters (right) indicate that civilians are still expected to wear masks in the cities despite the use of ACCs to process the air.
 
==Facts==
==Facts==
===Class 3 and 4 toxins===
The following console quotes shed only a little light on the nature of the BioCrisis:
Class 4 (airborne) mentioned only in the context of the hypothetical inversion process (see below).
{{:Quotes/Consoles/level_9a}}
:Steady rise in class 3 pollutants mentioned in the testing protocol (improved technology).


===Dioxin===
A steady rise in [[wikipedia:Dioxin|dioxin]] levels is reported by the [[STURMANDERUNG]] consoles in {{C14}}.
:(this is presented as a side effect of the preliminary phase of Muro's plan)
::(the main phase apparently being to trigger the inversion process below)
===BioCrisis Subcommittee===
[[Quotes/Consoles#BioCrisis|Quote]] from {{C7}}
{{:Quotes/Consoles/level_9a}}
===Inversion process===
:Hypothetical malfunctioning of the [[ACC]]s with dramatic consequences.
[[Quotes/Consoles#ATMOSPHERIC_INVERSION_PROCESS|Quote]] from {{C7}}
{{:Quotes/Consoles/level_9c}}
{{:Quotes/Consoles/level_9c}}


All that we can glean from these consoles is that the pollutants are called "toxins", they are "airborne" (hence the Atmospheric Conversion Centers), and that there is a "steady rise" occurring in class 3 toxins. That last fact is the most significant.


----
There is one other console that mentions the nature of the pollution:
{{:Quotes/Consoles/level_19c}}
 
The mention of dioxin, a cancer-causing chemical compound, seems to be merely a side effect of Muro's plan, the main purpose apparently being to trigger the inversion process mentioned above, wherein the class 3 toxins pass through the system untreated or are even elevated to class 4.


==Added value==
==Added value==
What exactly is the nature of the contamination of the outside world? Is all of it equally polluted? How did the the BioCrisis come about in the first place? These questions are not specifically answered in Oni. To tackle the last question first, the original pollution, for which the ACCs were developed, might have been merely the result of [[Pollution|mankind's current habit of polluting Earth]], progressed to a point that created a crisis in terms of unsafe air, water, etc. It remains to be seen in modern times whether we are winning or losing the battle against industrial pollution, but one could postulate that if at least some of our current habitual pollution was making things worse than we thought, it might be too late to reverse some damage after it were to be noticed in the future. This is one possible explanation for the BioCrisis.
What exactly is the nature of the contamination of the outside world? Are all areas equally polluted? How did the BioCrisis come about in the first place? These questions are not specifically answered in Oni, but we can extrapolate from what we know.
 
The other explanation is simply that there was a specific event such as a nuclear war or massive chemical reaction that caused the Crisis.


In either case, once the ACCs were built, people would have settled around them in cities. A BioCrisis Subcommittee was dedicated to monitoring the status of the pollution and augmenting the efficiency of the ACCs. Hasegawa's diary makes it clear that ACCs did not cover the entire inhabited earth ("The world outside the Atmospheric Processors is poisonous"). Oddly, he calls the place he and Jamie go "one of the Contaminated Zones, the dirty secrets that the government made it easy to ignore." Wouldn't the general populace be well aware of the fact that the world outside the ACCs is polluted? Surely they are.
To tackle the last question first, the pollution which the ACCs were developed to combat might simply be the result of [[Pollution|mankind's current habit of polluting Earth]]. One could postulate that if some of our current habitual pollution is making things worse than we think, it might be too late to reverse the damage when it's finally noticed. This is one possible explanation for the BioCrisis. The other explanation is that there was a specific event such as nuclear or biological warfare, or a massive chemical reaction, that caused the Crisis.


This means that Hasegawa had learned that either (a) there were specific zones that were much worse than people realized, or (b) the ''entire world'' outside the ACCs was worse than people realized. Hasegawa does not make it clear whether the Zones were isolated areas, or whether every area outside the reach of the ACCs was this way. He simply says that he and Jamie 'left the city' that was being cleansed by an ACC.
It's also possible that concentrated waste produced during the ACCs' decontamination process is being improperly disposed of, making the problem worse by creating highly contaminated soil ("a poisonous world") wherever that waste was dumped. (For what it's worth, Hasegawa's description of a typical [[Wilderness Preserve]] is reminiscent of Miyazaki's [[Nausicaa]].)


If "a" is the case, then it is possible that highly concentrated waste produced during the ACCs' decontamination process was being improperly disposed of. This would have resulted in a highly contaminated soil ("a poisonous world") wherever that waste was disposed of. (Hasegawa's description of a typical [[Wilderness Preserve]] (for what it's worth ^_^) is reminiscent of Miyazaki's Nausicaa.)
Once the ACCs were built in some cities, people would have huddled together in those locations. Hasegawa's diary makes it clear that ACCs did not cover the entire inhabited earth ("The world outside the Atmospheric Processors is poisonous"). Some areas are apparently worse than others; when he and Jamie explore a Wilderness Preserve, he calls it "one of the Contaminated Zones, the dirty secrets that the government made it easy to ignore." Apparently not only is it dangerous to live outside of the ACCs' area of effect, but there are specific zones that are much worse than people realize.


We also get the impression that the WCG is rather complacent about cleansing the rest of the earth outside the cities. Perhaps they have been telling people that they are doing so, when in fact things are pretty dangerous out there (possibility "b"). Why is the WCG not struggling to fix the planet? The reason could be as innocuous as the fact that such cleanup work is actually too costly for anyone to perform, even a world government; the reason might be more sinister, too, such as the fact that it is easier to monitor and control a population when they bunch up in cities than when they are spread throughout the countryside.
We also get the impression that the WCG is rather complacent about cleansing the area outside the cities. Supposedly a BioCrisis Subcommittee was dedicated to monitoring the status of the pollution and augmenting the efficiency of the ACCs. Perhaps they have been telling people that they are doing so when in fact the situation is unmanageable. The required cleanup work might be too costly for anyone to perform, even a world government; the reason might be more sinister, too, such as the fact that it is easier to monitor and control a population when they bunch up in cities than when they are spread throughout the countryside. We also don't know if the cause of the pollution is ongoing (see below).


It's interesting to note that, as far as most people know, their lives within the cities are sustainable. As long as the ACCs keep pumping out clean air, everything will be fine. Hasegawa, after losing Jamie to a Contaminated Zone, feels differently, because he says "If something isn't done we are all doomed."
It's interesting to note that, as far as people know, their lives within the cities are sustainable. As long as the ACCs keep pumping out clean air, everything will be fine. After losing Jamie to a Contaminated Zone, Hasegawa feels differently: "If something isn't done we are all doomed."


The entry that we hear from his diary is unfortunately not clear on ''why'' humanity is doomed. Did Dr. Hasegawa predict that the hostile wildlife of the Wilderness Preserves would take over the cities at some point? It's hard to find another explanation as to why people couldn't just keep living in the cities where the ACCs were keeping the air clean. Perhaps the WCG is not even doing a good job at containing the Contaminated Zones.
The entry that we hear from his diary is unfortunately not clear on ''why'' humanity is doomed. Did Dr. Hasegawa observe the "steady rise in class 3 pollutants"? Did he predict that the hostile environment of the Wilderness Preserves would overtake the cities at some point? Perhaps the ACCs are not keeping up with the growing pollution.


We still have not addressed the first question this section raised, about the ''nature'' of the pollution. There are three basic possibilities as to what this pollution is:
We still have not addressed the first question this section raised: the ''nature'' of the pollution. There are three possibilities:
:# Basic toxins, infusing the flora such as the plant that kills Jamie with a mere scrape on the leg.
:# Toxins which have saturated the biosphere, to the extent that a plant can kill someone with a mere scrape from its thorns.
:# Advanced biological agents such as powerful viruses, perhaps mutated by the original pollution.
:# Advanced biological agents such as powerful viruses perhaps mutated by the original pollution.
:# Alien life invading our ecosphere.
:# Alien life invading and reshaping our ecosystem.


If #1 is the case, then something must be continuing to pollute the earth. Poisons do not multiply themselves; as long as runoff from polluted soil and toxic rain are not allowed to enter the city, then the environment in those cities should be sustainable. Is there an ongoing industrial or organic process that is producing more pollutants?


If Hasegawa says humanity is "doomed", one would imagine that basic toxins could not be the explanation. The spread of toxins is easily halted by erecting contained cities such as probably already exist. Poisons do not multiply themselves, so as long as things such as runoff from polluted soil are not allowed to enter the city, then the way of life in those cities is sustainable and not at all doomed.
Perhaps #2 is the case, and the WCG is using the word "toxin" to avoid the panic that would arise if people were aware of the active nature of the threat. Living, virulent organisms might be in the process of spreading and invading the cities, rather than inert toxins. They could be mutated viruses created by the initial man-made pollution.


However, if there are virulent organisms outside the cities, they might well be in the process of invading the cities. One could simply say that they are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virus#Genetic_change mutated viruses] and not over-analyze the matter.
Option #3 may seem much more far-fetched, but there is a mention of extraterrestrial life in the [[Quotes/Weapons#scream|description]] of the Screaming Cell Cannon. Where are the Screaming Cells coming from? Is it possible they are are being harvested from the Contaminated Zones? The infection that kills Jamie could well be some life form that is not of this earth. Any further conclusions cannot be reached from the facts that Oni gives us, leaving the rest to our imaginations to fill in. See [[Oni2:Slaves of War]] for a fan theory based on this option.


The third option above may seem much more far-fetched, but there is a mention of extraterrestrial life in the [[Quotes/Weapons#scream|description]] of the Screaming Cell Cannon. Where are the Screaming Cells coming from? Is it possible they are are being harvested from the Contaminated Zones? The infection that kills Jamie could well be some lifeform that is not of this earth. Any further conclusions cannot be reached from the facts that Oni gives us, leaving the rest to our imaginations to fill in.
==Also see==
*[[12/3]]
*[[Oni2:Aftermath]]


===Aftermath===
[[Category:Added value]][[Category:Events]]
"The dead and the dying" could indeed become a common sight in the cities affected by the destruction of the [[ACC]]s.
:The supposed inversion didn't take place, but the now unavailable ACCs were performing a non-negligible decontamination work.
::Thus, even if we're far from the "dead air and foul water" promised by Muro, "underground" life and rationing come to mind.
On the other hand, a dramatic decrease of the world's population would mean much less pollution in the years to come.
:This would allow for a local or global regeneration of the biosphere (à la [[Ergo Proxy]] or [[Nausicaa]])
In a highly hostile environment, the population is more of a burden than a source of power. It would probably be left to itself.
:In one of the remaining cities, on the contrary, it can be organized into a strong community under the protection of leaders.
::[[Ecoban]] or the Domes in [[Ergo Proxy]] come to mind: basically every intact city can become a utopian mini-state after Oni.
(some of this is of course off-topic here and could be developed in [[12/3]] or elsewhere)
==Related==
*[[ACC]]
*[[WCG]]
*[[Wilderness Preserve]]
*[[Hasegawa]]

Latest revision as of 22:31, 23 April 2023

TXMPPOSTER4.png
TXMPPOSTER1.png

The BioCrisis refers to a widespread environmental crisis beginning prior to the events of Oni. At the time of Oni, the air supply in the cities is systematically filtered and decontaminated by ACCs. We learn from Dr. Hasegawa's diary that massive contaminated areas called "Wilderness Preserves" exist outside the cities. One such contaminated zone is the reason for the death of Jamie Hasegawa. Drs. Hasegawa and Kerr subsequently developed the Daodan project to help humans survive an impending danger from the BioCrisis. The BioCrisis is still an ongoing event and a current threat. The WCG assures the general populace that they have it under control, but in-game posters (right) indicate that civilians are still expected to wear masks in the cities despite the use of ACCs to process the air.

Facts

The following console quotes shed only a little light on the nature of the BioCrisis:

OPERATIONS MEMO

TOWER SHUTDOWN
Processor Tower Beta Nine will be shut down for three days prior to and following the test of the second tier backup unit as ordered by the BioCrisis Subcommittee. Operations Control is concerned that a sudden increase in demand would tax the system beyond the buffer allowed by the engineering specifications.

TOWER SHUTDOWN

The new systems modifications are designed to combat the steady rise in Class 3 atmospheric pollutants but the new parts have not been tested at full capacity. The second tier test will be followed by a test of the third tier, assuming everything goes according to plan.



OPERATIONS MEMO

ATMOSPHERIC INVERSION PROCESS TESTING
According to our data an inversion of the primary charge couplers would effectively reverse the charge in the toxin treatment subsystems rendering the ionization process useless.

As a result the Class 3 toxins we are most concerned about would pass through the system untreated. There is even a chance that the they would be charged as they passed through the coupler transforming them into Class 4 airborne toxins.

ATMOSPHERIC INVERSION PROCESS TESTING [cont]

Needless to say the environmental damage in such an event would be catastrophic and irreversible. All crews must be aware of this danger and pay strict attention to the posted maintenance schedules and testing protocols.


All that we can glean from these consoles is that the pollutants are called "toxins", they are "airborne" (hence the Atmospheric Conversion Centers), and that there is a "steady rise" occurring in class 3 toxins. That last fact is the most significant.

There is one other console that mentions the nature of the pollution:

TITAN\mtnc\uplink...dcs113
Accessing Data Files...
TITAN = restricted access
dcs = data console?
Alignment is critical for low-orbit satelites
mtnc = mountain compound?
ssob = ???

Project: STURMANDERUNG
Secondary Stage:
5) Low Orbit satellite control signal burrow established
6) STURMANDERUNG mountain compound construction
7) Daodan core technology (ref.TITAN\ssob)

<<<Secondary Stage: COMPLETE>>>

STURMANDERUNG baseline report: Dioxin levels

Actually, that's a (152 - 97)/97 = 56.70% increase
As for the (152 - 97)/152 = 36.18% ,
it would have been the decrease percentage
if the amount had gone down from 152 to 97ppm

Project initialization: 97 ppm

Primary stage: 100 ppm

Secondary stage: 152 ppm

36.18% increase


The mention of dioxin, a cancer-causing chemical compound, seems to be merely a side effect of Muro's plan, the main purpose apparently being to trigger the inversion process mentioned above, wherein the class 3 toxins pass through the system untreated or are even elevated to class 4.

Added value

What exactly is the nature of the contamination of the outside world? Are all areas equally polluted? How did the BioCrisis come about in the first place? These questions are not specifically answered in Oni, but we can extrapolate from what we know.

To tackle the last question first, the pollution which the ACCs were developed to combat might simply be the result of mankind's current habit of polluting Earth. One could postulate that if some of our current habitual pollution is making things worse than we think, it might be too late to reverse the damage when it's finally noticed. This is one possible explanation for the BioCrisis. The other explanation is that there was a specific event such as nuclear or biological warfare, or a massive chemical reaction, that caused the Crisis.

It's also possible that concentrated waste produced during the ACCs' decontamination process is being improperly disposed of, making the problem worse by creating highly contaminated soil ("a poisonous world") wherever that waste was dumped. (For what it's worth, Hasegawa's description of a typical Wilderness Preserve is reminiscent of Miyazaki's Nausicaa.)

Once the ACCs were built in some cities, people would have huddled together in those locations. Hasegawa's diary makes it clear that ACCs did not cover the entire inhabited earth ("The world outside the Atmospheric Processors is poisonous"). Some areas are apparently worse than others; when he and Jamie explore a Wilderness Preserve, he calls it "one of the Contaminated Zones, the dirty secrets that the government made it easy to ignore." Apparently not only is it dangerous to live outside of the ACCs' area of effect, but there are specific zones that are much worse than people realize.

We also get the impression that the WCG is rather complacent about cleansing the area outside the cities. Supposedly a BioCrisis Subcommittee was dedicated to monitoring the status of the pollution and augmenting the efficiency of the ACCs. Perhaps they have been telling people that they are doing so when in fact the situation is unmanageable. The required cleanup work might be too costly for anyone to perform, even a world government; the reason might be more sinister, too, such as the fact that it is easier to monitor and control a population when they bunch up in cities than when they are spread throughout the countryside. We also don't know if the cause of the pollution is ongoing (see below).

It's interesting to note that, as far as people know, their lives within the cities are sustainable. As long as the ACCs keep pumping out clean air, everything will be fine. After losing Jamie to a Contaminated Zone, Hasegawa feels differently: "If something isn't done we are all doomed."

The entry that we hear from his diary is unfortunately not clear on why humanity is doomed. Did Dr. Hasegawa observe the "steady rise in class 3 pollutants"? Did he predict that the hostile environment of the Wilderness Preserves would overtake the cities at some point? Perhaps the ACCs are not keeping up with the growing pollution.

We still have not addressed the first question this section raised: the nature of the pollution. There are three possibilities:

  1. Toxins which have saturated the biosphere, to the extent that a plant can kill someone with a mere scrape from its thorns.
  2. Advanced biological agents such as powerful viruses — perhaps mutated by the original pollution.
  3. Alien life invading and reshaping our ecosystem.

If #1 is the case, then something must be continuing to pollute the earth. Poisons do not multiply themselves; as long as runoff from polluted soil and toxic rain are not allowed to enter the city, then the environment in those cities should be sustainable. Is there an ongoing industrial or organic process that is producing more pollutants?

Perhaps #2 is the case, and the WCG is using the word "toxin" to avoid the panic that would arise if people were aware of the active nature of the threat. Living, virulent organisms might be in the process of spreading and invading the cities, rather than inert toxins. They could be mutated viruses created by the initial man-made pollution.

Option #3 may seem much more far-fetched, but there is a mention of extraterrestrial life in the description of the Screaming Cell Cannon. Where are the Screaming Cells coming from? Is it possible they are are being harvested from the Contaminated Zones? The infection that kills Jamie could well be some life form that is not of this earth. Any further conclusions cannot be reached from the facts that Oni gives us, leaving the rest to our imaginations to fill in. See Oni2:Slaves of War for a fan theory based on this option.

Also see