IQ HQ
When everything is lost- the world, the people, the hope- it's hard to look towards the future. It's something that just about nobody wants to do anymore- think about what new horrors might pop up next or what else could possibly go wrong. It's a burden nobody wants to bear.
But it's a burden that somebody has to bear. That's where the Techs come in.
The Tigers of Henry Etta's West were never as close to the danger of the apocalypse as the other districts, but some of them felt a duty to do something about it. They were the only ones equipped, the only ones who had the mind for it. It was only natural that the first thing that happened in the West was for every sane person left to huddle together, to group up where they knew they could be safe and had the resources to last them. But with tensions coming from Wedgeward day and night, with loot and salvage slowly depleting, the Tigers of the brick city ruins had no other choice than to look to the future.
The Tigers began to dig up what they could of their stronghold and found they key: a platinum building with sustainable systems. They repaired any damages and got to work investing in a future. Greenhouses to grow their own food on site, water purifiers, and even reactivated wind mills that helped to generate just enough power to get a small grid of computers online. What they had couldn't support much, but it would have to do.
And so, the so-called Techs got to work. They used what records of the past they could to reeducate themselves, to focus on engineering and robotics as well as manufacturing and sciences. But there was a catch- that every Tech had to prove themselves in a standardized examination to prove that they could contribute to this inner society of innovators. Those who passed were given passes to inhabit and move about the settlement's facilities, while others were charged to earn their share by scavenging the wastes of the West and keeping an eye on the Wedgeward border. The Techs needed to have their priorities straight, and they could focus on nothing else but the future. Everybody agreed- the world didn't need survivors. It needed saviors.
And thus became the story of the IQ HQ.
Demographics
Most of the HQ is spread in favor of the more civilized and intellectual survivors of the apocalypse, and tends to keep the rowdier crowds of their troops as patrols and guards for the settlement. Every Tech is granted an equal amount of food, water, and equipment rations and is housed in a the same barracks, though resources are often granted to the Techs pursuing more successful research programs and feats of engineering and technology. Due to the incorporation of the entrance exams, every Tech is of reasonable intelligence and practices in some form of higher-level profession- either multi-disciplinary sciences, computer and programming technologies, mechanical engineering, or biomedical research and training. As such, the HQ is filled with the best researchers, programmers, craftsmen, and doctors still alive in the apocalypse, but everybody does their fair share to keep the facilities' functions operational with the constant production of food, water, and energy.
Government
There are quite a few rules and regulations to being allowed to live and move about the HQ's facilities. First and foremost, just about everything is dictated by if you have a key pass granted by the Headquarters to Techs, though some Tigers who happen to be close friends and associates of the Headquarters are granted them to make passage and conduct easier. The second rule, and an important one at that, is that only Tigers and denizens of the West are allowed inside of the HQ in order to preserve the tech secrets held inside. The last immediate rule is that any Tiger who wishes to enter the HQ as a Tech must prove themselves through a week-long test of knowledge and application of science, technology, engineering, and medicine. Upon passing these exams, the new Tech is given a key pass that allows them entry to all parts of the HQ.
Besides this, there are few formal rules and regulations other than to not be a jackass to your fellow Techs, and to look out for any friendly Tigers out in the West and any enemies from Wedgeward who might be trying to slip into their turf. Though there are few other formal rules other than the food and equipment rations that every Tech is permitted as well as patrols and curfew times, every Tech makes sure to practice a sense of pride in belonging to the HQ and working towards the future.
Defences
In order to protect this tech haven asides from the key pass swipe access required to get into the buildings of the campus, a large metal barricade has been established around the campus' outer loop, with watchtowers and checkpoints at the north, east, west, and southwest points. Armed patrols keep watch at each checkpoint in shifts, with large spotlights salvaged from the stadiums to detect movement along the HQ's perimeter. Large sliding security gates of metal have been installed at each checkpoint ever since some maniac drivers bulldozed through the barriers with an old semi. The HQ is well-equipped from old armory's belonging to the campus' old security forces, as well as weapons salvaged from the rest of the district or brought from trades. Every Tech who acts on patrol spends their time training in the gym to stay in top shape- either with physical exercises or practice on the firing range.
A small fleet of 4 larger vehicles carries personnel around the campus- one shuttle that circles the outer loop, another shuttle for the east side, another shuttle for the west side, and a beefed-up racing car that is used solely for designated missions that require speedy transit. In addition to firearms, many Techs are also equipped with homemade tasers and stun batons for self defense.
Industry & Trade
Since IQ HQ is a separate stronghold of innovation and invention from the rest of Henry Etta's West, it often tries to provide what technologies it can to the remaining denizens of the wastes who come to trade for their goods. The HQ provides food, water, charged batteries, equipment, and other general products for survival in exchange for valuable salvage from Tigers scavenging the wastes- including, but not limited to, computer parts, medicine, chemicals, oil and gasoline, mechanical parts from and for cars and other machines, weapons, raw and/or scrap material, and much more. In other words, any Tiger who approaches the haven with rare or luxury materials that could be made into or used as something of importance will be traded for basic necessities.
Infrastructure
Many things have been established and restored of the HQ. The biggest benefactor to its rise in power is the old sustainability building that's been repaired and renewed to provide home-grown vegetables and fruit, purified rainwater, and renewable energy from restarted wind turbines and solar panels. The energy provided to the HQ's power grid has allowed many subsystems to come back online, such as security locks to all ground-level doors of interior facilities, only accessible via key pass access. In addition, computers have been rebooted and a network established between buildings, as well as research facilities and data-collection centers.
Many public facilities and services still remain within the confines of the HQ itself, though, operated by Techs looking to earn extra rations for extra work, such as the equipment cages where lab supplies are stored as well as mess halls like Greasy's that prepares whatever food it can for the HQ's inhabitants. Open quads allow for places to meet, a library still stands with records for all Techs to access for research and recreation, a gymnasium acts as a place for physical training that doubles as a firing range, and even an old ice rink remains where a game of Stickslap can be enjoyed and played by anybody looking to relieve some pent-up aggression.
Assets
IQ HQ is perhaps one of the most resource-rich locations in the southern region of the apocalypse. The fact that it has power online allows for it to possess all sorts of valuables that many thought would be lost to the end of the world, such as working computers, radios, and the likes. The old sustainability building also provides food and fresh water. On top of this, Techs are often working in labs and workshops on creating new machinery, technology, and equipment to aid with surviving and neutralizing the threats of the apocalypse with.
Guilds and Factions
Techs often organize themselves and work together in small committees to organize cultural events and celebrations- especially when a job's been done well or a new discovery has been made- in order to keep each other happy, motivated, and determined. Smaller gangs and clubs emerge from within their ranks with different interests, focuses, and technical fields of research and innovation. These sub-organizations often come together in town hall meetings in order to discuss how the HQ should be operated, making sure to take every Tech's input.
Techs often also take a sense of pride in their own work and group together with other like-minded researches and developers. Scientists often stick in their research labs, computer whizzes often tuck themselves in server rooms, engineers toil away in machine shops, and doctors and biologists continue their examinations in their own medical facilities.
There is one more secret group within the IQ HQ: The Commandos. Originally a collection of drivers, engineers, scientists, and some ROTC cadre, they have become the main group to actively leave the safety of the walls of IQ HQ and explore the Rocpocalypse. Formed in secret by Durango, their mission is to actively seek, secure, and/or destroy anything that might directly threaten the remaining world or more importantly IQ HQ. The Commando teams are filled with specialists for every mission and admittance to the organization is even more selective than IQ HQ itself. Currently there are five teams, but rumors of a secret sixth one is often heard. One team, Squad 4, is currently in Pitts South investigating rumors of a sentient plant.
History
IQ HQ was one of the first places that survivors of the apocalypse flocked to in the West, though the influx quickly caused the resources of the campus to deplete rapidly. After the first wave of survivors came and pillaged what was left of the institute, it was left a ruin for many years. About 25 years ago, though, more Tigers gathered around the ruins of the brick city and eventually saw its potential and unlocked resources. Spending five years to rebuild it and get its systems back online, the decision to turn it into a tech-based operations facility was made in order to keep its resources and operations focused and in check. Ever since, the HQ has been accepting entrants of all sorts across the West- scrapyard junkers who know their way around a motor vehicle, bombers with a knack for chemical engineering, and more. Ever since, the HQ has thrived, and even now some children of other Techs are growing up on the campus, looking up to parents and hoping to do great things like them.
Comments