The Subterranean Exodus: The Last Refuge of Humanity
1. Overview of the Metro System
The Metro is a vast underground network that serves as the last refuge of humanity. Divided into four primary districts, it has become a battleground for factions vying for control over resources, transportation, and strategic locations. These districts include the Western District, controlled by the Phoenix Guard, the Eastern District, ruled by The Redline, the Northern District, home to CRUX and NEXUS, and the Southern District, which remains largely unclaimed and consists of abandoned stations, hazardous tunnels, and decaying infrastructure.
Each district is connected by a series of stations, railways, transit gates, and service tunnels. Some areas remain functional with power sources and defenses, while others have been lost to decay or taken over by mutant threats. The infrastructure of the Metro is aging, and many areas suffer from power shortages, collapsed tunnels, and radiation exposure.
2. Metro Infrastructure
Stations and Districts
The Metro is primarily structured around stations, which serve as outposts, trade hubs, or military strongholds. Each station has a unique function, with some being critical for faction operations, while others exist as neutral settlements for survivors.
In the Western District, the most significant station is Polis, which serves as the main base of operations for the Phoenix Guard. It contains barracks, an armory, and a command center. Another key station is Ratza, which is heavily industrialized and specializes in weapons manufacturing and armor production. Ratza is also a major defense hub for the Phoenix Guard, acting as a buffer between their core territory and the war front with the Redline.
The Eastern District is dominated by the Redline, with their military headquarters located in Noremberg. This station is one of the most fortified in the Metro, equipped with heavy weaponry, defensive barricades, and underground bunkers. The Redline also controls District Bravo, a key secondary station that acts as a supply depot and transit hub. This district is connected to the rest of the Metro through the Eastern District Transit Gate, a heavily monitored access point that regulates movement between the Redline and outer territories.
The Northern District is divided between the cultists of CRUX and the secretive faction known as NEXUS. The CRUX Main Temple is the heart of the cult’s operations, serving as both a religious and military center. The Nexus faction operates from NEXUS Central, a hidden base filled with pre-war technology and research facilities. Unlike other factions, Nexus does not openly engage in warfare, but its control over advanced systems makes it one of the most feared powers in the Metro.
The Southern District remains largely contested, with abandoned stations and ruins scattered throughout. Olakh is one of the largest and most mysterious locations in this region, containing remnants of old-world infrastructure and hidden stockpiles of military equipment. Another key location is Larston, which was once a thriving trade hub but has since fallen into partial ruin, with scavengers and smugglers making use of what remains.
Transit Gates and Checkpoints
Transit Gates are reinforced access points that regulate movement between districts. These gates are heavily fortified, featuring steel plating, hydraulic locking mechanisms, and sometimes automated defenses. Some gates remain fully functional, while others have been rendered inoperable due to damage or lack of maintenance.
One of the most important transit points is the Sector B Gate, which connects the Western and Southern Districts. This gate is only partially operational, as its electrical systems have degraded over time, requiring frequent manual operation. Another significant checkpoint is the Eastern District Gate, which is fully controlled by the Redline and serves as a major military outpost. It is one of the most well-maintained gates in the Metro, featuring patrol stations, gun emplacements, and reinforced barriers.
The Olakh Gate, located in the Southern District, has been heavily damaged over the years. Originally intended as a secure transit point, it has since been overrun by various hostile entities and is now contested territory. In the Northern District, the Nexus and CRUX factions maintain their own restricted gates, allowing only approved personnel to pass through their regions.
Railway Systems and Train Operations
The Metro’s railway network is divided into primary tracks, secondary routes, and service tunnels. Primary railways are faction-controlled, regularly maintained, and used for military transport. Secondary railways are less secure and often serve as access routes to remote stations. Service tunnels, originally designed for maintenance crews, have now become smuggling routes, hidden pathways, and ambush zones.
Each faction operates its own train systems, retrofitting old Metro trains for their needs. The Phoenix Guard primarily uses diesel-powered armored trains, built for transporting troops and supplies. These trains are heavily reinforced with scavenged plating and mounted weapons. The Redline prefers electrified metro trains, maintaining some of the best-preserved rail infrastructure. Their trains are modified for combat, often carrying mounted turrets and armored compartments.
Independent traders and smugglers rely on lightweight, unarmored trains that are faster but offer no real protection. The most famous independent train is The Exodus, which is currently being used by escaping rangers as they flee from Redline forces. This train has been retrofitted to run on backup diesel reserves and is one of the last remaining operational long-distance trains.
3. Power, Water, and Utility Systems
The Metro’s original power grid has largely collapsed, with only a few stations maintaining operational energy sources. Each faction has developed its own solutions to generate power, though many still struggle with shortages.
The Phoenix Guard relies on diesel generators and scavenged batteries, occasionally using hydroelectric energy where feasible. The Redline, with access to old-world military infrastructure, has maintained some nuclear-powered systems, giving them the most reliable energy supply in the Metro.
The Nexus faction is rumored to have access to pre-war energy technologies, possibly including solar and geothermal power, though this remains unconfirmed. The CRUX cultists, on the other hand, use a mix of scavenged energy sources, occasionally tapping into unstable experimental technologies that produce unpredictable results.
Water and air filtration are also critical concerns. Only a few major stations have functioning filtration plants, such as Polis, Noremberg, and Larston. Many other locations rely on makeshift purification systems, while some stations have become completely uninhabitable due to water contamination or radiation exposure.
4. Military and Defensive Infrastructure
Each faction in the Metro has developed its own defensive strategies to protect its territories. The Phoenix Guard stations are reinforced with concrete barricades, machine gun turrets, and blast doors, making them some of the most secure locations. The Redline Checkpoints make heavy use of minefields, watchtowers, and automated defenses, ensuring that no unauthorized personnel can pass through.
The Nexus faction has a unique approach to defense, with many of its facilities protected by hidden traps, automated sentry systems, and concealed surveillance networks. The CRUX cultists, on the other hand, rely more on natural cave defenses and biological deterrents, with rumors suggesting they have begun breeding mutant creatures for protection.
Weapons technology varies between factions. The Phoenix Guard primarily uses modified AK-47 variants, shotguns, and handguns, adapted for close-quarters combat. The Redline forces favor military-grade assault rifles, sniper rifles, and explosives, giving them a technological edge. The Nexus faction is believed to possess advanced energy weapons, though few have seen them in action. Meanwhile, the CRUX cultists use a mix of scavenged weapons and chemically enhanced melee weapons, often laced with poisons.
5. Hazards and Threats
Beyond faction warfare, the Metro is plagued by various hazards. Structural collapses are common, particularly in the Southern District, where abandoned tunnels have begun caving in. Flooding is another major issue, particularly in Larston and other stations near underground rivers. Gas leaks pose a constant danger, with methane pockets found in older tunnels, leading to suffocation risks and potential explosions.
Mutant creatures, known as Ravagers, are one of the biggest threats in the Metro. These highly aggressive predators hunt in packs, using the darkness to their advantage. Other known threats include Tunnel Stalkers, smaller but faster creatures that ambush travelers, and the Whispering Ones, rumored supernatural entities seen near Olakh and the Northern District.
6. Conclusion
The Metro is not just a collection of tunnels—it is a constantly shifting battlefield of war, survival, and the unknown. With resources dwindling, factions growing desperate, and new threats emerging from the darkness, the fate of the last survivors remains uncertain. The question is no longer who controls the Metro—it is who will survive it.