Between 2000 - 2034 an incredible boost in the economy sparked corporate mergers and buyouts at every turn, with some companies changing hands multiple times per week. Enormous profits are made in each transaction, causing the gap between the rich and the poor to grow at an alarming rate. Seeing the unbeatable opportunity, many foreign companies purchased stock in everything from tennis shoes to semi-conductors. This integration caused a significant shift in economic and political power, causing the political interests of the world to be 'less defined'.

 

North America in 2001 (click image to zoom in)

2001 – 2013 – The US “War against Terror” begins with the attack on the World Trade Center. Countless security measures never before seen in the United States or anywhere else in the world, become commonplace.

2003 – US Constitution amended to include a provision to allow for swift and final justice to traitors and terrorists who target American soil.

2004, Dec 24 – A nuclear weapon is detonated in Detroit, MI causing massive casualties and crippling the automotive production industry.

2004, Dec 25 - Marshal law is declared in a move to gather and contain all known and suspected terrorists to prevent future incidents of terrorism.

2005 – A peaceful march on Washington DC to protest the implementation of Marshal Law ends in a massacre, when an order to ensure control is misinterpreted. 2800 civilians are killed.

2006 – With Anti-Military sentiments running rampant and recruitment at an all time low, Cobra Commander offers to subsidize the US Military with his own troops.

2010 – The GI Joe Team, disbanded in 2004 after evidence surfaced that they did not act after provided with information that would have prevented the nuclear disaster in Utah, was found guilty of Treason and were to be punished with severity according to the laws enacted in the Constitution in late 2002. Only Spirit, Storm Shadow, and Scarlett escaped alive.

2013 – Marshal Law lifted in the US. Cobra becomes responsible for the homeland defense of the nation.

2015 – Corporations begin to replace governments as a means to decrease borders and gentrify nations.

2035 – USAmericorp is formed, when the people living in "The Cluster" (former continental US), decided that it would be more profitable for states to merge into a single company to better compete with foreign markets. This is actually when Corporations REALLY took over the globe.

2038 - North and South Dakota are the new hot spots to be, as land is cheap and there is plenty of room to expand.

2039 – Canada and Mexico join USAmericorp.

2041 - Russia experiences an economic boom due to its involvement in biomedical and gene therapy research, creating thousands of millionaires literally overnight.

2043 – A battle to control the last remaining supply of Middle Eastern oil began, causing the Petroleum War. Towards the end of the fight, Biological weapons (not used since more than 40 years prior) were used rendering Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and their surrounding countries completely inhospitable. Cobra volunteered to have their BATS work the fields, for a nominal holding of shares.

2045 - Governments completely replaced by Corporations. To celebrate and commemorate the new world order, efforts began to construct a Space Station called “CoBIN Research Station 1”. The project proved to be too large and too costly to remain in orbit. Rather than abandon the project completely, it was decided it would be best to convert the orbiting station into a fixed research facility on the moon.

2049 - Public demand forced CEO’s to renew interest in the CoBIN Research Station. Technological advances in the past 4 years enabled scientists to recommit to its initial function of monitoring the earths atmosphere for environmental research. CoBIN Station #2 is built, and CoBIN RS-1 is turned into a tourist attraction for the affluent.

2052 - A New Civil War is fought on American Soil. Citizens, former government officials, militia groups, and traditionalists seeking a return to the ways before the Corporate Structure, demand a political system which focused more on the interests of the people and rather than the corporations. This resistance group was known as the Old World Freedom Fighters.

2053 - Sensing a potential bloodbath and potential financial ruin, the 14 Corporations of the world make a deal with the Freedom Fighters, that they can have the former states of New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont as well as northern Canada. The Freedom Fighters agree and after a 6 month transition period, close their borders to all outsiders. The area is known as “The Free World”.

2059, spring - A major earthquake hits the eastern seaboard, with the effects felt as far away as Colorado. New York thru Washington DC was left in ruins, with tens of millions killed.

2059, fall - The public is outraged as news surfaced that CoBIN Station 2 knew of the impending disaster yet provided no warning. Dr. Irving J. Messick admits to ignoring the warnings, stating “The Day of reckoning is at hand. The Great Worm is coming to feast upon us all.” News rapidly spreads that he was also a leader of a bizarre cult. Shortly after he is arrested, he takes his own life. Efforts to rebuild DC begun by AmeriCORPS, to be used as corporate headquarters

2060 – A warning is issued from CoBIN Station 2, stating that a massive earthquake is imminent on the west coast. The warning comes too late, and the earthquake brings enormous destruction and causing California to detach from the mainland. Tens of Millions are killed, and trillions of dollars in damage is done.

2061, winter - Corporations struggle for control of CoBIN Station 2, knowing that it is regarded as a sign of peace and hope – and profit.

2061, fall - CoBIN Station 2 mysteriously explodes, scattering debris throughout the atmosphere, making travel between the earth and the moon extremely dangerous. It is commonly believed that an associate and follower of Dr. Messick deliberately sabotaged the space station to continue his leaders message.

2067 - CoBIN RS-1 is converted into a prison, and renamed "New Alcatraz"

2069 – Results regarding ethically and morally suspicious experiments are released by Pylamenadyne, revolving around genetically engineered humans created to improve the species. The story holds the interest of the world, and progress is reported to the public on a constant basis via corporate reports and unauthorized insider releases.

2072 – A media circus revolving around Pylamenadyne and “Number 27”, the sole surviving experiment. Pylamenadyne dissolves, causing numerous corporations involved in the experiment to shut their doors. The 14 corporations are reduced to 8.

2076 - Fusion Power is introduced into the mainstream, rendering oil a virtually worthless commodity. The Texmobilco Fuel Company is purchased by Cobra, giving Cobra control of the last remaining piece of land surrounding Cobra Island.

2082 - The Midwest is now a thriving Megalopolis, with its lights visible from space.

2086 - New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, and western Massachusetts are declared "No Man's Land" and the last remaining companies with interests there pull out, leaving the entire eastern seaboard a crime infested ghetto. An 8.7 earthquake strikes the coast shortly thereafter, destroying most of the land between Maryland and Florida.

2088 – Eastern Massachusetts, unable to fend off the socially depraved from “No Mans Land” and support itself, petitions to join the “Free World” and is accepted.

2094 - Cobra Corp purchases the island of Australia, and declares it a retirement facility for its employees.

2101 - Cobra moves to the 3rd most powerful corporation in the world.

2124 - Russia abandons much of the Corporate Model and restores democracy to its people. It creates a government with three leaders, a president elected by the people to handle domestic issues, an appointed CEO to handle its business affairs, and a world renowned Professor to handle educational and international affairs.

2139 – Seeing the success of Russia, people begin to long for a return to democracy. Cobra declares that it will restore democracy to all, once control of all corporations fall under Cobra.

2144 - Progress is halted as corporations spent more time trying to close each other down with espionage and sabotage than with advancements.

2145 - Russia (now extending as far south as India, and as far west as Germany) closes its borders.

2190 - The remains of the original PIT is found by a direct descendant of Spirit, with the surname IronKnife.

2194 - The current corporation count is reduced to 5.

North America in 2197 (click image to zoom in)

2197 - The world teeters on the brink of a major war. It is unclear where everyone’s motivation lies, except for Cobra who will stop at nothing less than total domination.

2198 - A small resistance group is formed, working independently from any corporation, yet rumored to have some support from USAmeriCORP. This team is codenamed GI Joe.

Last updated on 18-Dec-2001.