Before the space gate was opened, Atlas was merely one of many military-industrial complexes. However, after the space gate's activation and the integration of technologies, weapons, and resources from multiple worlds, Atlas became the definitive military-industrial complex—without equal.
There's an old saying in the USA: "An iron-clad complex, but a president like flowing water." Long before this, Samuel Young had already begun his plans, which led to a successful reshuffling of the political landscape.
Subsequently, Atlas started selling outdated weapons to the police and military that were still considered advanced by the standards of the main universe's mainstream technology. The most typical examples were the UDF's mass-produced mechanical exoskeletons and individual equipment.
Atlas's direct subsidiaries began fully equipping vehicles with magnetic levitation technology, such as medical hovercraft for emergency teams and riot control hovercraft for the New Akra City Police Department. However, there were no plans to market civilian hovercraft until the cost could be controlled to a level acceptable to the general public.
Products in the agricultural, industrial, civilian, and medical sectors that had reached full maturity were aggressively promoted and advertised by Atlas. For instance, agricultural vehicles that significantly increased planting and harvesting efficiency were only 3% to 5% more expensive than older models.
Civilian versions of engineering mechanical exoskeletons also began to be sold or rented, and the engineering team took on many outsourcing projects. As for smaller items like mobile phones and computers, Atlas had already achieved market dominance the moment the Titan 3G was released.
Moreover, mobile payments, online shopping, and media platforms had become so deeply integrated into people's lives that they were almost impossible to separate. The new hydrogen battery vehicles and magnetic levitation high-speed trains had also transformed people's travel habits.
But the most shocking moment for the world occurred on September 3, 1998, during a press conference held by Atlas. The event began as usual, with a series of new products unveiled to warm up the audience. However, the climax came when Atlas's owner personally announced:
"Atlas has mastered controlled nuclear fusion technology."
Such a simple statement caused a massive stir on the internet and in society. Atlas wasn't claiming to have "discovered" or "theorized" controlled nuclear fusion—it had "already" mastered it. This meant that humanity's cutting-edge technology was in the hands of a private megacorporation.
In the past, whenever the USA noticed that foreign or domestic powers had surpassed it in any field, it would immediately launch a media campaign and impose various sanctions. But now, the US government remained silent.
Atlas was steadily "radiating" outward, focusing on the USA, Ghana, Kenya, and Bolivia. The transformation of infrastructure and the guarantee of work and life indicated that the world order had changed drastically since the fall of Vought.
Brooklyn was a microcosm of this sudden shift.
A week later, on February 9, 1999, in West Africa, a magnetic levitation tunnel beneath Ghana's surface:
Whoosh—!
A magnetic levitation train with twenty carriages and cargo containers was traveling east to west at a speed of 800 km/h. Soon, however, the train began to slow down. As it reduced speed and stabilized at 80 km/h, a faint light could be seen at the end of the tunnel.
As the light grew brighter, the train's speed continued to decrease. Finally, when the train passed through the light, it exited the dark, enclosed tunnel and arrived at a spacious underground station.
The train passed through the switching tracks and came to a stop at Platform 12.
Beep—!
The door on the right side of the carriage opened.
"So, this is the company's maglev train? Way faster than the civilian ones."
"Yeah, almost as fast as a jet. What do you think?"
A group of soldiers exited the carriage, observing their surroundings and sharing their impressions of the ride. Some were dressed in black ARS combat uniforms, others in dark green camouflage representing AECS. Each carried military duffel bags, and it was clear this was their first time here.
Nearly a hundred men and women in civilian clothes also followed the soldiers, taking a large elevator to one of the main areas on the upper level—the transportation hub of the ruins base.
This space was also incredibly vast, with a structure resembling a colossal corridor, allowing variously sized elevators and short-distance maglev trains to connect the different areas of the ruins base.
"My god, how massive is this company?" one of the civilians, a woman with a ponytail wearing a red jacket, exclaimed in shock.
This woman was Claire Redfield. Two years earlier, Claire had successfully completed her internship and officially joined Atlas. Thanks to her outstanding performance and successful completion of subsequent tests, she was assigned to the core team six months ago, where she learned about the space gate and the existence of different universes.
After that, she was transferred to the ruins base by her superiors for new work assignments.
Next, she and her colleagues from the public relations department took a short-distance train to the employee dormitory area. Although it was somewhat crowded, the area had a more homely atmosphere. There were free canteens, supermarkets, pubs, noodle shops, and movie theaters to prevent the employees from feeling too confined while living underground for long periods.
After placing her belongings in her temporary single dormitory and tidying up briefly, Claire arrived at the small conference room in the public relations office before 2 p.m.
At 2:00 p.m., a man with graying temples and a neatly trimmed mustache began to address her and her new colleagues: "Welcome to the ruins base. I'm Jacks Sisdva, the director of the public relations department here.
So far, the company has explored five universes. The full support we received from the humans of Earth Zero-One (Tomorrow) can be partly attributed to the work of our public relations department.
As for why you've been assigned here, the human civilization in Earth Zero-Five was nearly destroyed by a type of zombie with extremely fast running speed. Fortunately, the company deceived the infected by faking terminal illness, allowing the successful development of a vaccine. You've already been given the detailed information.
Now, the company plans to take full control of the Middle East region of Earth Zero-Five, so you'll be staying here in the ruins base for a while. After you familiarize yourselves with the operational processes with me, you'll head to the Earth Zero-Five branch through the space gate. Any questions?"
Claire and her colleagues all shook their heads in response.
"Good. Now, let's go see your office."
With that, the group left the conference room.
At the same time, a dazzling golden light burst forth from the core area of the ruins base, signaling that Samuel Young had officially opened the sixth space gate.