MALE EXTINCTION EVENT-- The mysterious culmination of events leading to the mass death and disappearance of males in various species including humans. Abbreviated as "MEE" or the "Ex-" event. Experts theorize implementation of a gene-targeting bioweapon as a result of World War III in the 21st century.
NATIONS AND NATIONALITY-- Due to the collapse in population and the elimination of males from humans, as well as the adaptation of the United World Women's Alliance (UWWA) acting as a global relief organization to "uplift" the remaining population from the struggles of such loss, international conflicts have mostly diminished. The pre-Ex nations that struggled among each other have united into 4 regional consolidations, or "sub-alliances":
Hedonia (formerly known as North America, Europe, Australia/Austronesia, and associated territories)
Pacifica (Formerly known as "East Asia", India)
Nilea (formerly known as the "Middle East" and Northern African countries)
Savanna (formerly known as "Central and Southern Africa")
RECONSTRUCTION -- Several decades of reconfiguration and restoration of infrastructure after the MEE.
In an effort to maintain the trade structures which long preceeded the Post-Ex world, much of the global trade patterns remained, albeit at lower volume or capacity.
THE ECONOMY OF HEDONIA -- Hedonia, like many other Nodes in the global UWWA network, is primarily driven by economic fundamentals-- indoor agriculture, mining, manufacturing, energy, and for decades, also restored its discretionary markets, with extensive internet, television, and other telecommunications rather similar to that of pre-Ex life. However, especially a high price is paid for mining and extra-Fence agriculture, for the obvious dangers of such pursuits.
With a continually aimless and disillusioned populace, the arts, entertainment, and consumer discretionary sector is arguably more appreciated than of society one or two centuries ago.
The chief currency of Hedonia is the Hedonian Dollar, abbreviated as a suffix ("HeD"), nicknamed "Headys" or "Heds".
COMPOUND- A facility for the Chosen Girls, Golden Boys, and Last Men to freely associate.
CHOSEN GIRLS, GOLDEN BOYS, LAST MEN (see glossary)- Each Node in a UWWA-governed nation has a Compound.
The three groups interact freely within a Compound, with the primary objectives of:
1. The health and virility of the Chosen Girls and Golden Boys;
2. Regulated childbirth in accordance with UWWA contracts signed with the Chosen Girls;
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3. Maintenance of the facility and order within it;
4. A subjective "quality of life" achievement for the social wellbeing of the inhabitants without disruption to objectives 1-3.
Chosen Girls are free to come and leave in accordance with their contracts. Golden Boys and Last Men are to be kept either within the facility premises or highly supervised under UWWA officials, with no exceptions; harsh punishments stand for violators of such policy, whether Compound inhabitant, or enforcing officials.
EDUCATION IN HEDONIA AND OTHER UWWA NATIONS- Children of each sex are sent to a corresponding boarding school in or near a Compound. Boys are raised under the mentorship of Last Men within a separate chapter of a Compound and are given a standardized curriculum of basic mathematics, language, and biology/physiology to prepare them for their role as Golden Boys.
Girls are given their own branch of the Compound with the same curriculum but with secondary add-on elements for qualified students upon assessment from school administration. Based on performance, each female student is given a career path or options in a range of fields, where the student can pursue further training at negotiated schedules.
Lesser qualified or non-specialized graduates of the basic curriculum are either offered entry-level jobs within the UWWA or released to her own volition in the public with a negotiated sum of money.
JACKALS -- Canus ferocis -- large, carnivorous, warm-blooded, canine-like, vicious creatures, highly dangerous to humans and other animals which managed to thrive in various environments around the world. They began to emerge alongside the new evolutionary pressure on wild dogs, wolves, and hyenas struggling to survive with such a sudden drop in population.
Jackals are highly athletic and capable of running long distances at speeds exceeding 100km/h, typically weighing approximately 200-400kg. Their jaws open as wide as 50cm, and are recognizable by their spiny backs which the females carry their young upon.
The males, like humans, were greatly diminished in the MEE; however, Canis Ferocis developed with a smaller, weaker male member of the species, normally no larger than 100cm tall, and 15 kg at full size. Females usually rear the young on their own, and not much is known of what happens to the males after mating. Jackals give birth to live young, usually 4-20 pups per litter, and build foxhole-like nests underground.
Although Jackals' intelligence is either limited or unknown, they generally respond with hostility when encountering humans, due to both hunger as well as violent interspecies conflicts.
Human engagement in combat with Jackals requires heavy armament and quick thinking, and is usually dealt with either by armored vehicles, automated turrets, or specialists such as Jackal Hunters equipped with extensive armor and weaponry.
Jackals may hunt individually but prefer to operate in packs, much like pre-Ex wolves or wild canines. They are found across the planet, concentrating in the warmer, more biodiverse climates, with regional adaptations, such as fur in cold climates, and lack thereof in hot climates; varying body composition for temperature; larger subspecies of canis ferocis often develop heavy, thick layers of hardened chitin on their skins which can act as armor, in extreme cases, shielding the internal functions of such behemoths from various degrees of gunfire, heat, and physical penetration.