Approaching the eve of a new century, there was great anticipation
for the future of mankind. Optimism flourished as humanity teetered on
the edge of the old order, ready to explode into the new.
Slowly, however, the darker side of human nature once again
manifested itself. The quest for power became paramount to all else;
territorial politics and class battles became the cry of the day. Dreams
of the perfect world began to fade.
These struggles saw many groups fall from the political landscape.
Those practicing any form of religion beyond a strict Humanism were
deemed heretical and a danger to the State. Many religions that had
one time populated Earth were gone or had assimilated into one of
various sects of Humanism. Those professing the Christian faith
became outcasts. Under heavy persecution, they were forced to practice
their faith in secret underground enclaves. Their persecutors were
determined to finish the Christian genocide that had begun thousands
of years earlier.