E2RA3

Notice of a public announcement

1 January 2100 on BBC Sky News International @ 21 hundred hours. All citizens are required by law to watch the government public announcement given by The Prime Director.    

Fellow citizens I want to inform you this evening what we have known and talked about for a number of years has now become reality. Despite all our efforts I have to confirm that global warning in the next thirty years will make it impossible to live above ground. I have in consultation with my fellow leaders around the world discussed the various options on what is best, and we have decided out of all options previously discussed the best option to save humankind is the building of a world underground is the best solution. So as of today, we must prepare and make ourselves ready for this mammoth undertaking. I will, of course, keep you updated on our progress and what actions you will all have to take to prepare yourselves and your families. Thank-you and God bless Earth. 

Once the decision had made to go underground, a group of twelve experts and twelve government representatives from each country formed Beneath Earth (BE). There were experts to produce plans for excavation of the sites, for the construction of buildings, for working out how human life, plants could survive. Animals would not be part of life going forward. The company was funded partly by each country, partly by multimillionaires and partly by the general population in proportion to their wealth. 

Multimillionaires who gave money were guaranteed a pick of dwellings for their lifetime and the lifetime of their dependants. The general population would be allotted a dwelling a few days before going underground. 

There were some people who said they wouldn’t leave and would take their chances above ground. There were protests about having to pay for a dwelling, having to wait ‘till just days before going underground to find out about dwellings and how on earth were, they to know how many possessions to take with them. These protests often led to rioting and deaths Later after the protesting stopped as it was going nowhere the government issued a list of what families could take as space would be limited. These items would be checked before entering. 

·       For clothing. Two small suitcases per adult. One backpack per child. These would be destroyed once unpacked

·       Two books per adult. Three books per child 

·       Keepsakes, three per household

·       Each child would be allowed to take four toys or games

All furniture would be provided. 

Every family who was going below was given ongoing counselling to help with the transition and would spend days in the dark to acclimatise themselves to the reduction in light. Young children looked upon it as an adventure. The rest of the population not so much.  

It took 20 years to create Earth 2 The United Land of England. Lots of the original family members had died and deeds passed on, but the day finally arrived. 

1 January 2120

Even though the citizens had been preparing for years, they were totally unprepared for life below. 

The noise from the recycled air being pumped all day and every day. The odd smell which never went away. The dimmed lighting and most of all the rules. There had never been talk of rules. It’s no wondered the government had kept these from them. There would have been more rioting and protesting. 

Rules of Earth 2 The United Land of England. All areas. 

·       Earth 2 The United Land of England would be split into three areas depending on how much you or your family had paid towards the funding

·       Apart from workers entering another area, citizens would not be allowed to mix

·       Each area would have a governor 

Additional rules

Area 1

·       There were no additional rules

Area 2

·       Women of child baring age are only permitted to have two children

·       Each person aged 17 to 70 will be made to work

·       Food will be allocated to the area on a twice-weekly basis

·       The governor will police the area

·       Anyone breaking the rules will be jailed for 6 to 24 months depending on the severity of the rule breaking

Area 3

·       Women of child baring age are only permitted to have one child

·       Each person aged twelve and upwards will be made to work

·       Food would be allocated to the area on a weekly basis

·       The governor will police the area 

·       Anyone breaking the rules will be sentence to life above

Life was hard especially in area 3 but it went on. Daily routines were established. People became accustom as best they could to life below. People married, babies were born, people died. A large number of people committed suicide. Many were sentenced to time in jail and many more to life above. 

All the while in section three there was a growing number of people that were angry about the rules being kept from them and the different area having different rules like getting food more often and better food according to the rumours. It was rumored area 1 had food available all day. 

Over time a secret movement was formed in area 3, Earth 2 Resistance Area 3 (E2RA3). Its numbers growing daily. Demands were written and presented to their area governor who had said he would speak to the government and get back to them. 

That evening all known E2RA3 members were rounded up and taken away. They didn’t return. 

Additional Rule of Earth 2 The United Land of England. All areas

·       Any citizens from any area found to have form or found joining a resistance movement will be executed. No exceptions. 

E2RA3 when on in some form or another as the years went on but no further demands were written, just secret meeting in dark corners to discuss the one day they would rise up and rebel. 

This is what civilisation had come too. Groups meeting in dark corners under the possibility of being executed, loss of freedom, caged with no escape or was there? 

1 January 2130

Saul was born at 1 minute passed midnight in the dwelling of Ruben and Sarah Goldman. They had lost a child just before entering Earth 2 and never thought they would have another one, so Saul would be their only child due to Sarah’s age and the rules for area 3 only allowed one child. 

Saul named after Ruben’s father would one day become E2RA3 leader and save area 3 and Earth 2.