New Chicago

"The beating heart of Earth, which means the beating heart of Sol, New Chicago is the largest city in human space. It's got every problem and privilege, every reality and fiction in human space happens here. I love it, I hate it, and I don't think I could handle living anywhere else."
~Deas Reparte, Freelance Artificial Intelligence Compliance Agent 

A Hive of Mankind

New Chicago is the pulsating epicenter of human civilization, a megacity of 450 million souls. Towering skyscrapers stretch up to 4 miles high, casting long shadows over the concrete canyons below. The city's sheer scale is awe-inspiring, with districts and neighborhoods layered like onion rings, each with its unique character. From the opulent spires of the Corporate Core to the ramshackle hab-blocks of the Outer Rim, New Chicago's diversity is staggering. Humans from every corner of the Sol system rub shoulders with AI entities, genetic hybrids, and xenosapients, forging an unpredictable, thrilling tapestry.

A Patchwork of Infinite Diversity

Street by street, New Chicago transforms into a kaleidoscope of cultures. Chinatown blends into Little Tokyo, which gives way to New Mumbai, and then suddenly, you're in the midst of a Brazilian Carnival with a Reticulan embassy on one side and a New Disciples cybersurgery clinic on the other side. Ethnic enclaves, corporate zones, and gang territories coexist in an uneasy harmony. On one corner, a holographic billboard promotes the latest NeuroDreams upload; on the next, a makeshift market hawks illicit bioware. New Chicago's citizens proudly wear their heritage on their sleeves – or implants, or tattoos. This urban mosaic is ever-changing, with newcomers arriving daily, seeking fortune, refuge, or revolution.

Pride of Place

Despite – or because of – its gritty, often brutal realities, New Chicago inspires fanatical devotion in its residents. They'll curse the city's corruption, crime, and decay, yet fiercely defend it against all comers. The Grand Army of the Homeworld maintains a fragile peace, with corporate auxiliaries and private security forces guarding their own fiefdoms. Block wars erupt, gang violence simmers, and addiction plagues the streets. Still, New Chicago remains the hub of human commerce, innovation, and progress. Every megacorporation, gigacorporation, and revolutionary movement has a stake in this city. For all its flaws, New Chicago embodies humanity's indomitable spirit – a beacon of hope, desperation, and transformation.

Alternative Name(s)

The Hive

Type

Megalopolis

Population

450 million

Inhabitant Demonym

Chicagoan

Location under

Earth