WYOMING

Wyoming is a wild-west throwback of outlaws and ranchers, mixed with a even further throwback to Middle-Ages Spain. In a unique series of events, a rather militant form of the Catholic Church has gained power in the state. This has led to even more conflict.

1) NUCLEAR TARGETS

Cheyenne, SS-19
Francis E. Warren AFB (MX missile complex), 10 SS-18M2

Discretionary nuclear targets:
Rock Springs, SS-N-8
Jackson Hole, SS-16

2) MORROW PROJECT ASSETS

Morrow Project Air Base: The air base is located inside a mountain just east of Bald Mountain, Wyoming. The base contains 20 Boeing Bell 609 Tilt Rotor Aircraft, 6 C-130 cargo planes and 8 Huey UH-1 utility helicopters. 180 Pilots and support personnel are in stasis within the massive, permenant structure. Their National Communications System will activate the MP Lansat 01 and bring it online for the Project. The Air Base was labled "Morrow Project Rocket Base Florida" as a disinformation activity to draw out the traitor Krell before the war.
Recon Team WY-R-1: Bolthole located 20 miles southwest of Sheridan. 8 men equipped with a V150 w/20mm and a Gamma Goat cargo truck. Team is still sleeping.
Recon Team WY-R-2: 6 men equipped with a V150 w/20 mm and 2 Fusion Motorcycles. Team location unknown but still sleeping.
Combo MARS/Science Team WY-SMR: 14 men with 1 MPGS90 w/90mm, 2 XR311 w/M2HB, and 2 Gamma Goat cargo trucks. Location unknown, but still sleeping.

3) WYOMING AT LARGE

Situation, pre-war: Wyoming was sparsely populated at the end of the world. The entire state had less than 500, 000 people in it. There were suburbs of nearby Denver, that held more people. As such people in Wyoming tended to be independent, friendly, and regarded neighbors as a gift. Most doors were never locked. It wasn't uncommon to have neighbors check in if they hadn't seen you for more than a few days. People were close, and the economy was generally good. Casper, as the hub of the natural gas, and fuel oil business in the state, was languishing in the throws of a huge depression. When the oil market went bust, the fortunes of everyone suffered. It was a typical November day, cool and dry, windy but then it always was. There was no indication, or warning of the hell soon to ride in.

Situation, the war: On war-day, it was a typical work day in the state. That wouldn't last though. Numerous nuclear missiles rained down on the state, smashing thousands of lives and changing history in the blink of an eye.

Situation, post-war: Wyoming has recovered better than most areas, though much of the state's population is controlled by a religious regime. This is a wide open land of ranches and farms, with very low population levels.

4) THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WYOMING

Beginnings: The Catholic Cardinal for Denver was vacationing in the Bridger Wilderness Area when the bombs fell and was trapped deep in the backcountry. His descendants and followers have since founded "New Rome", a large Catholic enclave centered in Lander. The Catholic churches in Wyoming rallied around the Cardinal and were able to keep a sizable percentage of their membership intact through the long nuclear autumn. As a result, once the situation stabilized, the Catholics were the only group of survivors even semi-organized enough to fill the void. Over the first generation, the Church expanded out from Lander, converting and planting new churches with an attractive message of faith and stability. The long line of Cardinals believes they are holding the Christian faith in trust until communication can be re-established with Mother Rome and the Pope. There are several monasteries scattered throughout western and southern Wyoming, some newly built, others being existing pre-war churches which were taken over and "rechristened" as Catholic monasteries. Some of these monasteries act as a safe place for travelers to rest for the night, while other monasteries specialize in keeping old knowledge alive.

The Inquisition: Post-war Wyoming is a rough place for organized religion to survive and prosper, especially one supposedly trying to uphold Jesus' pacifist views. Desperate times often call for desperate measures, and in this case that means a second Holy Inquisition to root out the heretics and unbelievers and "return them to the flock". In the last 50 years, the Church has organized a panel of bishops who, while having to report to the Cardinal every week, have virtual carte blanche to run the Inquisition in their respective areas as they see fit. In some areas, the bishops use the Inquisition as a positive learning tool to help the populace grow and prosper in their faith. In other areas, not a majority but still a large number, the bishops use the Inquisition in the "old style". Torture, execution and random killing are common in these areas. The hidden rationale behind the Inquisition seems to be acquisition of land and property, with anyone who is condemned as a heretic must forfeit to the Catholic Church. This has breed a culture of fear and distrust in many areas, as people live in constant terror of being tapped as heretics by jealous neighbors or unjustly accused just because the Church wants their cows.

Slavery: Reacting to the growing need for labor in an agricultural economy that is barely able to keep up with needs, the Catholic hierarchy in Wyoming has condoned slavery. Using Old Testament passages as evidence, they have proclaimed that you can have slaves as long as they are unwashed heathens and you are working to convert them to Catholicism while you enslave them. In practice, this is pure slavery, but when a Church overseer comes to visit, the owners whip out a bible and read a few verses to the slaves to show he is working on "converting" them.

The Jesuits: The "military arm" of the Church are the Jesuits. (more coming here)

5) SOUTHEASTERN WYOMING

This corner of the state has been forever poisoned by the hundred nuke blasts on the ICBM fields at FE Warren Air Force Base. The majority of missiles targeted for the F.E. Warren AFB, complex were right on target. The three misses, were from the stand point of history, minor annoyances. One miss landed in the small town of Rock River, which was totally annihilated, as was the town of Encampment. One of the misses took off the top of Bridger Peak, and made the remainder glow for 50 years.

The ruins of Cheyenne: Cheyenne took a severe pasting from the nukes that were targeted on the State Capitol building. The entire city was essentially destroyed in the first few seconds. To make matters worse, F.E. Warren was close enough that the multiple warheads targeted on the headquarters building, spilled over into the city and beyond. The damage was absolute. Nothing lives here, even after 150 years. The craters have through erosion and time created a large radioactive lake. The secondary effect of this was to poison the water supply for the entire area. The handful of survivors in the outlying areas posted quarantine signs and quietly waited to die. The area from Chugwater, in the north to the Colorado border to the south is posted. From Laramie Peak in the west, to Pine Bluffs to the east is likewise posted. An area roughly 120 miles in area has been declared deadlands.

Laramie: Laramie, as home of the University of Wyoming was the main center of learning in the area. Between plague zones, blasted radioactive wastelands, ravagers and hostile groups of mutants of all types, the area around Laramie is a very dangerous place. Due to its nature and layout, it is not easily defended. Over the last fifty years there has been an initiative to transfer books, and other education material to the Casper State College. It has met with varying degrees of success. The slow exodus of people has made Laramie into a virtual ghost town. The old 1872 Wyoming Territorial Prison serves as a haven for weary and often hotly pursued travelers.

Rawlins: To the west of Laramie, Rawlins is a small farming town. The local church has nearly complete power here and the Holy Inquisition is in full swing. The "conversions" are preformed in the old 1903 prison in town, a place where the citizens avert their eyes when walking by.

Saratoga: A town on the edge of the North Platte oil fields. Though the wells are no longer producing and the local refineries have been gutted and stripped, over the years numerous groups of people have tried to reopen some of them, all to no avail. The local Bishop has pretty much made Saratoga his own personal playground. He is perhaps the most corrupt of the Bishops in the state and has fallen furthest from the flock. His Jesuit militia is mostly "unbelievers" with the approval of the Bishop, though they at least put on a show of piety. They frequently go on bloody foraging expeditions to get tithes from surrounding towns, further alienating the population. The citizens are slowly realizing that the Church here is really little better than the marauders they say they are keeping out. When the Bishop is out in the field, the militia commander feels like he owns the town and everyone in it. He is an atrocious womanizer and he forces the townspeople to work longer hours than is necessary. When the Bishop is in town, the militia puts on a sincere show of piety, with the threat that anyone who misbehaves during the Bishop's visit will pay dearly once he is gone. The townspeople are not sure if it will help, but they are looking for volunteers to hand-deliver a letter of compliant to the Cardinal in Jackson Hole, bypassing the Bishop altogether.

6) CENTRAL WYOMING

This region of sagebrush and winding streams is home to a variety of small settlements. Farming and ranching take up the majority of the days, and even the large herds of mutant buffalo are exploited.

Lander: The main capitol of the Catholic Church, and the home of the Cardinal. The city is run by the Church, but is a little more relaxed than most towns in Wyoming as the latest Cardinal is not so interested in gathering personal wealth as his predecessors. The area surrounding Lander is all farmland and ranches and is productive enough to feed the 2,000 people living in Lander, and provide for a healthy tithe for the Church. Lander's Jesuit militia is large and effective and operates several guard posts in the surrounding land. A century ago, the people of Lander built a stout wall around the entire city to protect itself in times of need. The farmers and ranchers in the area would gather their belongings and move into the city in times of great troubles. At the old Fremont County Museum there is a thriving country market that serves the region. This is a weapon free-zone except for the Jesuits, but you can find, buy, or trade anything at the Freemont market. The Ballooners from Riverton are always here, and this is where you can buy goods from them from all over the nation.

Riverton: Located in the center of the state, along the edges of the Rocky Mountains, Riverton is now the home base of the "Ballooners", a nation-wide organization of fliers who operate and live in homebuilt hot air balloons. The first Ballooner group was originally the remains of the staff of the National Balloon Museum in Indianola, Iowa, south of Des Moines. For about two years after war, the people there tried to stay low and stay alive. Once the situation stabilized, the survivors realized that they had a goldmine of technology around them, as well as a means to escape the ravages of the Midwest. They gathered together some supplies and some selected refugees, loading them on several large balloons, and set off to find their new homes. Riverton was not the first place they landed, but it was the best.

New Home: Over the generations, Riverton has become the Ballooner Shangri-La, a place where the scattered fleets can come and exchange news and technology. Some 3,500 permanent residents serve and protect the landing fields and the hangers in the area. Security is ultra-tight, and visitors are subjected to intense scrutiny before being allowed to enter. The local Riverton Regional Airport and the open fields near the town are now frequently home to balloon fleets, and a large industry of re-supply and recreation has blossomed in the area. Everything that can be needed, from fabric patches to loose women, is available to the fleets, the supply constantly being changed with the loot brought in. Riverton itself boasts a standing force of three large zeppelins and several dozen smaller balloons. These are armed to the teeth with everything from standard contact iron bombs, to specialized anti-personnel bombs and even napalm. They also have machineguns and homemade "scatter guns" for air-to-air defense.

Relations with the Church: The Catholic Church has a small mission here, though the Ballooners do not pay tithes. The Ballooners have made it perfectly clear to the Cardinal that if they are harassed in any way by the church, they will just pull up stakes and fly off to somewhere else, taking their commerce and trade markets with them. They do, however, offer rides on balloons to Catholic missionaries looking to travel to distant lands to create new flocks.

Thermopolis: This is the site of the largest natural hot springs area in the world. Its location in the Teton Mountains, guaranteed its survival during the months and years after the war. People that lived here were used to being on their own, and to making due with what they had. Today it is a bastion of civilization in the wilderness. With time, patience, and a spirit of innovation, the people of this area have constructed extensive hot water greenhouses. The heat and mineral content of the water, serves to allow extensive agricultural endeavors. This area has been termed as the "Winter Gardens" of the Catholic Church, and Bishops and Cardinals are frequent guests here. It also makes this town a tantalizing target for nomads, ravagers, and mutants of all kind.

Wind River Indian Reservation: The remaining Amerind population here is particularly xenophobic, and will take prisoner or kill strangers. This is due in part to continued predation on their group by the Breeders.

Site-H: This full-size Snake Eater base (24 Green Berets and 6 support staff/techs are located in an abandoned Gold Mine in an isolated mountain near the village of Moneta. The Facility was created to watch and if necessary, interdict, the Morrow Air Base at Bald Mountain. The personnel here are still sleeping the centuries away.

7) EASTERN WYOMING

The eastern plains of Wyoming are home to several large communities. This is perhaps the one area in the state that the Holy Inquisition is actually doing what it was intended to. The Bishop here is the most benevolent of them all, and has only used his Inquisitors on confirmed, trouble-making heretics. This has garnered him the loyalty and support of his population, and has brought a lot of refugees from other parts of Wyoming to his area. This has several of the other Bishops angry (he is taking tithes away from them, after all), and there are rumors that they are plotting against him.

Douglas: Nearly a century ago, Douglas become a religious retreat and a fortress town based around a newly-constructed Catholic monastery. The town's small Jesuit militia will allow no one to pass through without the consent of the priest. The town seems to be doing well for itself, farming the nearby countryside and hunting the forests and trading extensively with Casper. The local Bishop has singled this town out as having no need for an Inquisition.

Thunder Basin National Grassland: The locals have given this area an old appellation, the "Wild West". Few venture far into this desolate grasslands, which is sparsely populated.

Bill: The area around Bill in the Thunder Basin National Grassland is also home of the "Buffalo Ranchers", a semi-independent community of giant buffalo ranchers and one of the main suppliers of beef for the Casper area. They are allowed a degree of self-rule as long as they continue to sell their beef at discount prices to the Church.

Sundance: Sundance lies at the foot of Sundance Mountain in the western Black Hills. A Biker gang, the "Wild Ones", lays claim to the ruins. Their leader, "Kid Sundance", takes his name from an ancient hero of this tiny town. So far their small size has kept either the Church or the Amerinds from attacking them.

Devil's Tower: A strange monolith found in the western Black Hills. It's a sacred site of worship for many of the tribes within the Amerind Empire. As such, a group of religious worshippers has permanently settled within the shadow of the tower.

Casper: The missile targeted for Casper went far awry due to guidance system failure, and landed in Ocean Lake, west of Riverton. The nuclear war didn't effect Casper directly, though it did cause a widespread panic. The first step for the city government and police force was to declare martial law. After explaining what had happened, they found that most folks handled it pretty well. The breakdown in social order with its accompanying looting and etc, just didn't happen here. These people were tough. They quietly took stock of their situation and started over. A large number of older vehicles were mustered together for a trip to Camp Guernsey. As the largest ammo and equipment store house of military equipment in the area, it was the logical first move. After ferrying over as much as they could, they began "enlisting" their townsfolk in the local militia. Thankfully they didn't have much refugee traffic come through during the first nuclear winter. The time this gave them allowed them the window of opportunity they needed to re-build the repeater network with spare parts and other pieces they scrounged. Contact was re-established with many locals settlements.

Conflicts: All was not happiness and bliss however. At an early junction folks realized that they were from very different worlds. The group known as Oilers, wanted to proceed to develop the high-tech lifestyle they were accustomed to. The Ranchers favored an approach that put emphasis on developing a simpler, more agrarian lifestyle. These two groups were bound to clash, and over the first few dozen years there were numerous armed fights and much death. Fifty years ago, a unique solution was proposed by the Casper Congress. A mandatory enlistment in the army for all able bodied personnel was imposed. This forced people of both major factions to live and work together for three years at a time.

The Church: Due to Casper's wealthy and power, it has largely remained independent of the powerful Church in Wyoming. Relations are cordial, and several large churches operate in Casper. It is just that the Church stays out of the governmental functions of the city.

Casper today: The change to weather patterns had created a window, that shields the central part of the state from most western flowing wind. This served to block the worst of the airborne fallout from the west. As there was little fallout flowing from the north, Casper was blessed in this fashion as well. It is a little known and seldom visited paradise on the plains. With the exception of border skirmishes with the Amerind Empire, and the attacks of mutants, raiders, and others of that ilk, Casper is a friendly place. The Breeders from Yellowstone are a constant threat in this area, as they are always looking for new specimens. Surrounded by deathlands on all points of the compass, most trading is done within the state. Not a closed economy but not very open either. As such barter and costs of goods are very reasonable. Currency is either left-over coinage from the war or newly minted coin of Casper.

The Casper Army: The Casper military was formed from surviving police, natl guard, reserve, and similar units. They adopted simpler weaponry and equipment in order to better support, train and replace hardware. It was logical that the militia would change to horse cavalry as vehicles broke down over the years. The decision to revert to a simpler time, was the best option made available. The influences and history of the mounted cavalry, was still very much alive. The Casper state troopers, a local band served as the template for uniforms. Museum pieces and those in formerly private, collections served as the basis of the weapons used. After much debate the decision was made on the .44 caliber Peacemaker and 1894c lever-action rifle in the same caliber. Training, field maintenance, and simplicity of use were chosen over rate of fire and range. The army consists of 20% of the population at any given time. Both sexes serve a mandatory 3 year enlistment, with an option to proceed or serve in the local militia for an additional 6 years. Most people choose to serve in the militia for life. Militia duty is considered civic duty and weekly musters are a time for socializing, voting on referendums, mail call, and training. All militia members must attend in uniform and have weapons and equipment ready for inspection. Almost every town has a Gatling gun and at least half the population is in the militia. All patrols go out with portable radios issued for orders and status reports. Range is about 75 miles. A large array of repeater stations are spread throughout the local area. These are manned by specially trained RTO's that enjoy special military status. The military grows its own crops/livestock for its use. Military units also assist civilian populace in harvesting.

Life in Casper: Government is by representation, with a Congress in Casper. Each township or combination of same with a population of 200+ has a representative. These representatives are elected every 6 years. There are still two major political factions in Casper, the Oilers and the Ranchers. Sexual and racial equality was established as the first act of the original Congress. The prevalent religion is Baptist. Horses are never abused, guns are always loaded, knives are always sharp. All townships have a radio and repeater station in place. This is used for official transmissions only. Classified traffic is sent by courier with escort. All communities are required to locate and transport metal and or vehicle parts from salvaged or ruined vehicles. Casper is home to Casper University, offering classes in many subjects, including Medical Doctor. All firearms are property of the city. As such they are issued, not sold. Weapons may be sold to visitors, but only by the government or an approved agent of same. Costs are exorbitant. All weapons must be kept clean and in good repair, or they will be forfeited.

8) NORTHERN WYOMING

The rolling plains of Northern Wyoming have given rise to several anti-Catholic groups. Church influence here is limited, as the area is geographically isolated from the rest of the state. It is not uncommon for missionaries to have "accidents" on the roads up here.

Sheridan: This frontier town was essentially untouched by the war. While the loss of electrical power and supplied goods was a great hardship for them, the existence of large mining assets, primarily coal, and cattle made this an inconvenience, not a hazard. Although approximately three-fourths of the population either died or left to seek relatives or other fortunes, this town survived. It is a good place to visit, and an even better place to settle down.

Gillette: Currently the home base of a very strong slaver group led by a man who calls himself "Prince George Washington". They number about 250 with an HQ at a fortified ranch house to the north of the town. There are always 10 to 20 of the most trained slavers acting as bodyguards for Washington. In Gillette, there are several hundred slaves, badly abused and overworked. Even the Church is offended by Washington's treatment of his slaves, and several plans have been drawn up for a expedition. For his part, Washington is planning on moving north next spring to somewhere where he doesn't have to follow anybody's rules.

Buffalo: This town has almost completely reverted to an old west atmosphere and way of life. This change didn't happen gradually, it was almost overnight. The many shops on Main Street including and old fashioned "soda fountain" where you can still get a homemade soda.

Cody: This historic small city is now the home base of a popular religious movement known as the "Army of Christ the King", led by a twelve-year old girl who was supposedly born Christ-like to a virgin bride. She showed up in August of last year and quickly galvanized the town's population by performing several astounding miracles. She has promised the immediate return of Jesus and is organizing the populace to rebuild the town before the Second Coming. Currently, she has at least 200 converts, mostly from the illiterate sheepherders and ranch hands who work the lands. In Wyoming, she is considered a gift from God for her incredibly strong influence with the local population, and her seemingly innocent nature. The Cardinal and the Bishop over this area have publicly dismissed the girl's claims, though privately they are very worried. This girl is a threat because she is a woman, she has a large following, and she claims to have a personal hotline to God. People who talk to God are VERY dangerous; especially if God talks back to them. There are a number of contingency plans in place already to "remove" the girl if she becomes a threat to the Church's power. The very real fear that killing her would make her even more dangerous as a martyr is causing much debate amongst the Cardinals and Bishops.

Bighorn National Forest: Home range of the "Great Beaver Clan", a group of Native American Indians originally descended from the residents of the Wind River Reservation. They ride horses and are armed with bows and arrow and percussion cap rifles. Their nomadic lifestyle, and the fact they actively resist any encroachment upon their land, has so far kept them out of the Church's grasp. These people are experts at capturing and killing the giant buffalo.

9) NORTHWESTERN WYOMING

Many small isolated mountain settlements of hearty ranchers and mountain folk have banded together to keep secure and have collectivized all the surrounding ranches for the common good. People that live here are used to being on their own, and to making due with what they have. With time, patience, and a spirit of innovation, the people of this area have built new lives in many ways more comfortable that before the war. The Catholic Church is strong here, with nearly every town having an active church body. Tithes are paid in crops and cattle, and there is little conflict.

Jackson Hole: A discretionary nuke fell on the "Hollywood of the Rockies", Jackson Hole. This sufficed to effectively destroy the entire populace. Due to its nature and detonation characteristics, there was very little actual damage done. The effects of the radiation on the populace was horrific. Everyone not killed by the explosion immediately was transformed into Blue Undead. This makes Jackson Hole a very dangerous place to visit.

Dubois: A small town of about 500 persons, located 50 miles from Grand Teton National Park and 80 miles from the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Dubois is one of the few towns in the area with no Catholic presence. There are two large cattle ranches near the town, having been here since well before the war. As time went by they learned to work with and support Dubois, and also they either bought out or "acquired" the other smaller ranches in the area. At this time there are only two large ranches in the area. The Absaroka Ranch led by the Betts family, and the T Cross Ranch led by the O'Neal family. As these are the largest ranches and most wealthy, their voices can be heard, very far and quite well. Theirs' are also the largest and best armed security forces in the area. They enjoy an almost complete monopoly on all domesticated animals, fish, wool and leather products in the area. There are a number of smaller subsistence-level farms in the area, but they don't have any of the influence these do. The only things that keep these ranches from ruling completely is the Catholic Church to the south, the presence of the Breeders in nearby Yellowstone Park, and a new threat from mutant Wolves.

Yellowstone National Park: There are reports of an extremely hostile Breeders living deep in the park's wilds. Some say they have been here since before the nuclear war, others say they came here much later, from a secret government lab somewhere to the south. It is also rumored that they have cut a deal with the Catholic Church to provide fabulous medicines in exchange for "test experiments", but no one knows for sure if these rumors are true.

10) SOUTHWESTERN WYOMING

The ruins of Rock Springs: One of the discretionary nukes fell on the city of Rock Springs, which while not a strategic target, effectively closed off Interstate 80 going east and west. The "Open Road" now detours wide around the ruins, veering off north near Superior and reconnecting with I-80 just east of Green River.

Green River: Home of a Catholic monastery, which took over the abandoned remains of a large Russian Orthodox Church. The impressive union domed structure is now about 300-years old and is populated by some 25 monks.

Fort Bridger: 150 years later the hulk of this site lays in shambles.

Evanston: A caravan trade stop at the I-80 section of the Open Road, Evanston has managed to hold on for all these decades by being a place that travelers can safely rest and repair. Recognizing the value of interstate commerce, the Catholic Church has a large presence here and tax the merchants as they come and go.

Kemmerer: The 500 or so townspeople here pay lip-service to the Church but are really on their own. The town has formed its own, non-Jesuit, militia, which is armed with several dozen WWII-vintage rifles and enough ammo to last a few firefights. Word has only just recently reached the nearest Catholic Bishop of the "hubris of the town" and some time will be needed to organize a force of Jesuits to "purify Kemmerer of their sins".

Site-V: Site-V is a Snake-eater Regional Command Base for western Wyoming, located off Highway 30 nearly on the Idaho border. They were activated when the MP Idaho Regional Command Base was activated by the rogue nuke on the day of the war (see Idaho). Awakening to find the nation still being nuked and at war, about half of the Snake-eaters left for the dangerous journey to Colorado Springs. The few that stayed in Wyoming went back into their cyrotubes to sleep some more, certain that "the time wasn't right". Since many locals discovered what the base was during the time they were awake, the knowledge of its location has been passed down through the generations. Over time, however, the story has changed and by now most people believe that the huge steel doorway in the cave leads to the depths of hell.

People who have contributed to this entry:
John Raner
Michael Chestnutt
Paul Zane
Karl Zohler