Nanite Swell is a type of environmental pollution that appeared in the wake of the 2052 Collapse, similar to smog, except consisting of nanites that are unaffected by the wind, but have severe adverse effects on human health. They are commonly considered to come from abandoned pre-Collapse nanotecch laboratories with breached containment.[1]
Background[]
In the wake of the Collapse, nanite swells began to appear worldwide, commonly considered to be permanent aftereffects of the environmental damage that occurred in the wake of the event. Panicked attempts by collapsing governments to contain them included the deployment of nuclear weapons to no avail.[2] By 2072, fifteen discrete swells have been identified globally, numbered from 1 to 15, remaining a permanent danger to human populations in the affected areas - no change or disintegration has ever been observed in the pollution clouds, with the exception of Nanite Swell 9, which shifted due to El Nino activity in 2067.[3]
Each Swell manifests as a distinctive haze blanketing an area and obscuring the sky, eg. in Old Cairo, where citizens of the medina got used to living under a perpetual twilight.[4]
Effects on human health[]
The subject of Swell effects on human health has not been officially studied, though the affected populations link the nanite pollution to an increase in chronic disease and eventually death.[3] Despite the lack of research, the danger was well known in WTO enclaves, with official advisories tracking air pollution levels and issuing travel advisories recommending WTO citizens to avoid exposure to contaminated air (Code Yellow) or wear protective apparatus, such as breathers, to protect their airways.[5] As poorer populations had no choice but to live in constant exposure, breathers were necessary for simple daily life - the only way to protect against complications from coming into contact with the nanites, commonly called Plague-11 among Old Cairo denizens affected by Nanite Swell 11.[6]
This has also allowed.[7]
Cure[]
WTO's lack of research led to distrust of the organization, with The Order a particularly severe critic of the inaction and the decimation of local populations.[8] The death toll have also resulted in distrust of the WTO, with some consiering the Swells a form of population control.[9]
In reality, researchers have made some headway at addressing the issue: In the Cairo Arcology, a counter-nanite agent was actually developed by Templar researchers,[10] but the cure was suppressed by the chairman on orders from the Knights Templar.[11] Cleaning up the nanite swell would be as simple as introducing the new molecular specification into arcology nanoformers and letting them perform the cleanup.[12][13]
Behind the scenes[]
- In early drafts, the disease was referred to with a placeholder name, black lung: "LinMayChen: "Will will try to overlook your betrayal at the Mako facility if you help us find Dr. Nassif. You'll notice that the village has been decimated by a disease called [black lung] thanks to WTO indifference to nanite pollution outside the arcology. Dr. Nassif comes from a poor family in the area. If you and Billie help the locals, maybe they will put you on her trail. Billie will coordinate your efforts from the mosque that lies between the arcology and the village. Report to her at once.""
References[]
- ↑ Medina doctor: "Just take a look outside. It's nanite dust these people breathe -- from Nanite Swell 11. Particles like little insects -- unaffected by the wind. Probably a leak from a pre-Collapse laboratory that's been forgotten for two decades."
- ↑ Tarsus scientist (Seattle): " Reminds me of the early days after the Collapse, when some governments used nukes to put down plagues and nanite swells. "
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Medina news report (plague not removed): "No new news on the fifteen global Nanite Swells. Except for a significant shift in Swell 9 five years ago due to some el nino activity, no change or disintegration has ever been observed in them. Most predictors seem to indicate that all of the nanological clouds are permanent aftereffects from environmental damage done in the wake of The Collapse. While no concrete research has been done, many suspect that breathing these particles causes a higher incidence of certain chronic diseases."
- ↑ Medina news report (Swell contained): "For the first time in decades, meteorologists are detecting a dissipation in Nanite Swell 11. In the history of the fourteen nanite pollution clouds globally, no natural disintegration has ever been observed. Five years ago, there was a significant shift in Swell 9, but that was caused by el nino. Most predictors seemed to indicate that all of the nanological clouds were permanent aftereffects from environmental damage done in the wake of The Collapse. This unexpected change is great news for the citizens of Old Cairo who had grown accustomed to the permanent haze which was suspected by many to be the cause of the higher incidence of certain diseases in the medina."
- ↑ Arcology news report (Swell not contained): "The Code Yellow health advisory for Old Cairo remains in effect. Like last year at this time, we are anticipating an upgrade to red over the course of the next few weeks. To prepare, we urge arcology residents to complete their business in the medina in the next several days in order to minimize the time they will need to spend in Old Cairo. During a Code Red, we advise everyone to wear breathers and other protective apparatus. We urge high risk groups, such as children and the elderly, to avoid leaving the arcology entirely during such a time. For the time being, we will remain at Code Yellow. We will notify citizens immediately of any change in this status."
- ↑ Arcology news report (Swell contained): "Nanologists and meteorologists continue to watch Nanite Swell 11 intently. All indicators so far suggest that this is not a spurious short-term change but a radical climatological shift that scientists expect will severely weaken the effects of this swell, if not eliminate it entirely. For the first time in years, citizens in Old Cairo are able to walk in the open air without the aid of breathers or other apparatus. Besides the visibly clearer atmosphere, doctors hope to see a decline in the symptoms associated with what is commonly called Plague-11."
- ↑ Snake oil salesman: "No more congestion, no more fatigue. Use VitaTech Cure-11. You owe it to yourself and your family to purchase the only real Plague-11 cure. Why struggle with breathers when simply drinking this tonic can counter all of the nanites' effects? Breather manufacturers have tried to keep this stuff under wraps. They know it would cut into their sales. You'll be able to breathe as freely out here as the New Cairo citizens do in their arcology. It took years of research and testing, but now we've got the cure."
- ↑ Lin-May Chen: "The entrance to the mosque is on this level. You'll notice that the village has been decimated by a disease called Plague 11 thanks to WTO indifference to nanite pollution. Dr. Nassif comes from a poor family in the area. If you and Billie help the locals, maybe they will put you on her trail. "
- ↑ Medina citizen: "Where's your mask? Want to get sick? It's called Plague 11. You must not be from around here. Some sort of nanotech pollution. Personally, I think it's population control. I think the bots from the arcology spread the stuff. You better get indoors."
- ↑ Omar Trader: "A Templar-run facility in Flight Bay 24 on arcology Level 110 has a number of classified programs -- most importantly, a body-armor project for Templar Paladins. Also, a counter-agent to the pollution that causes Plague 11 has been invented, though its deployment has been inexplicably delayed. "
- ↑ Alex D: "I turned up evidence that you've been perpetuating the plague in the medina -- by not allowing a counter-agent to be deployed."
Arcology chairman: "That's a pretty fanciful accusation."
Alex D: "I watched the vmail you sent to the Templars in Flight Bay 24."
Chairman: "Resourceful little muckraker, aren't you? How much do you want?" - ↑ Goals: "Cure for Plague: Reprogram Bots [Order] Reprogram the nanoformer bots to synthesize the cure to Plague 11. They are located near the exterior of the arcology on Level 107."
- ↑ Lin-May Chen: "Good, you found the molecular spec for the counter-nanite. Now put an end to the Chairman's scheme by reprogramming the nanoformer bots to synthesize the cure. The bot kennels are near the exterior on Level 107. "