"Mostly people," Tom said. People, amongst other things and people that...well, were only mostly people."
"Chicago rotted while it was standing right up," Tom said, mouth pulling in a hard line. "Didn't just fall apart like Detroit and Cleveland. People tried to reset the whole government there. The People's New Order." Tom went quiet, shook his head. "Pacifists, mostly. Old Quaker roots, if you look at any of their documents, which are hard to find now. Santiago made sure of that."
He sighed, looking over at Mike. He was right. Tom knew that. Didn't make the thought of chocking down Chicago any easier.
"Six months after New York got wiped out, the Order was doing a pretty good job of raking order out of...ashes. They...uh...they would have had a chance, I think. I mean, maybe in another place, it would have worked. They were just...helping people. Food banks, working with anyone they could find to keep the fields going, getting safe, public housing set up. Kept the PD in order. Chicago had the lowest crime rate in the world for about six months...
"The fourth time their Prime Minister appeared publicly, he was shot through the head. His wife got the next bullet. Every member of his cabinet was dead in ten minutes. His two daughters were sold into white slavery, and his son was hung in a cage over Buckingham Fountain until he died of exposure. He was thirteen."
Tom ejected the magazine into his palm, squinting at it for a long moment. "It wasn't even Santiago. This was long before his time. It was...gangs. Chicago's always been a gang city - Capone, Dillinger. The Old Order, it's what they called themselves. They've been getting bigger and more powerful since the day they took over. Second biggest thorn in Santiago's side to date."
no subject
"Chicago rotted while it was standing right up," Tom said, mouth pulling in a hard line. "Didn't just fall apart like Detroit and Cleveland. People tried to reset the whole government there. The People's New Order." Tom went quiet, shook his head. "Pacifists, mostly. Old Quaker roots, if you look at any of their documents, which are hard to find now. Santiago made sure of that."
He sighed, looking over at Mike. He was right. Tom knew that. Didn't make the thought of chocking down Chicago any easier.
"Six months after New York got wiped out, the Order was doing a pretty good job of raking order out of...ashes. They...uh...they would have had a chance, I think. I mean, maybe in another place, it would have worked. They were just...helping people. Food banks, working with anyone they could find to keep the fields going, getting safe, public housing set up. Kept the PD in order. Chicago had the lowest crime rate in the world for about six months...
"The fourth time their Prime Minister appeared publicly, he was shot through the head. His wife got the next bullet. Every member of his cabinet was dead in ten minutes. His two daughters were sold into white slavery, and his son was hung in a cage over Buckingham Fountain until he died of exposure. He was thirteen."
Tom ejected the magazine into his palm, squinting at it for a long moment. "It wasn't even Santiago. This was long before his time. It was...gangs. Chicago's always been a gang city - Capone, Dillinger. The Old Order, it's what they called themselves. They've been getting bigger and more powerful since the day they took over. Second biggest thorn in Santiago's side to date."
Tom glanced back at Neil. "Welcome to Chicago."