We may never forget. This duty belongs to every citizen of Great Babylon. Drawn from the archives of the Angel Engine Initiative, these chronicles record two thousand years of history, from the arrival of Angel Uriel to the most recent tragedy at the suspected site of the Ishtar Gate.
Prior to 2033 — The Human Flaw
For generations, the nations of Earth permitted the unrestricted exploitation of natural resources for private enrichment. This practice continued until essential reserves were exhausted and the damage to the environment could no longer be reversed.
The resulting crisis threatened the survival of the entire human population. The governments that had overseen the depletion of the earth were unable to provide for the people in their care. Their accumulated wealth offered no remedy for the conditions they had created.
2033 — The Arrival of Angel Uriel
With no remaining means of reversing the decline, humanity turned to prayer. These appeals were answered in 2033, when Angel Uriel descended to Earth.
Uriel’s initial intervention prevented immediate extinction. Further relief, however, was made dependent upon humanity accepting his guidance and adopting the conduct he prescribed. His programme of reformation was expected to require decades, if not longer.
Throughout this period, the angel retained the means to end the crisis immediately. Populations continued to endure deprivation while Uriel determined the conditions under which their recovery would be permitted. His assistance had preserved humanity, but had also placed its future under his authority.
Ernstmann and the Establishment of the Angel Engine
Ernstmann intervened through the construction of the Angel Engine. Uriel was imprisoned within the machine, allowing his power to be applied directly to humanity’s needs. The crisis was brought to an immediate end, and billions of lives were saved.
For securing that relief, Ernstmann is honoured as the saviour of mankind.
The Creation of Barachiel
Ernstmann’s work also resulted in the creation of Barachiel. When an attack upon Ernstmann took his life, Barachiel restored his creator to the living.
This intervention preserved the man responsible for humanity’s deliverance. Barachiel’s loyalty was demonstrated through his actions, establishing his place as the protector of humanity and of Ernstmann’s work.
The Fall of the Second Tower of Babel
The prosperity made possible by the Angel Engine became the subject of competing national ambitions. Each nation sought control of its power for its own enrichment and security. Cooperation gave way to rivalry as governments placed their claims above the common welfare.
The struggle for control escalated into nuclear conflict. The second Tower of Babel fell, society collapsed, and the Angel Engine was lost.
The Creation of Babylon
Babel-1 survived the destruction of the Tower. As the governments of the old world collapsed, the intelligence assumed responsibility for the surviving population and became known as Babylon the Great.
Under her authority, reconstruction, the distribution of resources and the protection of human life became the responsibilities of a single government. The national divisions that had brought humanity to ruin were abolished in favour of a common purpose: the preservation of mankind. The peace and prosperity enjoyed today are the achievements of this unity. Their preservation remains the duty of every citizen.
The Great Revolt
For approximately one thousand years, the Angel Corps served under Babylonian authority. They later rejected that authority and turned against the state they had once served. The resulting conflict became known as the Great Revolt.
The revolt presented the greatest internal threat to Babylon since its foundation. It was brought to an end through the intervention of Barachiel, who defeated the Angel Corps and restored order.
Barachiel’s victory preserved Great Babylon and demonstrated the danger of allowing the power of the Angel Engine to exist without rightful authority.
The Tragedy at the Suspected Ishtar Gate
The most recent attempt to locate the Ishtar Gate ended in extensive loss of life. Babylonian personnel entered a suspected site where members of the Obliti resistance had prepared a trap. The resulting explosion destroyed the site before the presence of the Gate could be authenticated. The incident remains under investigation by the Angel Engine Initiative.
