Background [Potential Spoilers / Rough Work In Progress / Needs Shortened]

The world is recovering from a horrific war, which at one point hovered on the brink of a nuclear apocalypse. Rumour has it that the legendary 'Ghost Hacker' named 'FrostWalker', hacked and decrypted the Relinquish Database to end the war. Other rumours claim that it was an AI known as 'XIII' who 'dances amongst the satellites'. Others claim it was the elite hacking group known as 'Nexus', or a military operation.

Central is the largest city on the planet, with Detritus being the undercity. Both are recovering from the war, and the balance of power is all shifting towards the 'Corporates'. Children are disappearing, being abused, tested on, or forcefully made addicted to a sickening new drug called 'Leash'.

The "Corporates" are the real power and control the "Cyber-Tech" companies that create neural interfaces, replace limbs, and offer life-extending technology. The 'Corps' buy out or kill anyone who stands in their way, and own the government and military.

Marcy was the leader of a special ops infiltration team during the war, though after being shot several times and brutally tortured, she quit due to severe PTSD. She now runs a cocktail bar called Firefly in Central. She is trying to leave her old life behind, but that isn't proving easy due to links to her past. She also has a dark history with the Ghost Hacker, 'FrostWalker', and for some reason puts up with her ex-lover, 'Kel', for whom she pays his rent and bills.

FrostWalker was a 'Ghost Hacker' until he started enjoying his fame. He is the best hacker on the planet, with a custom-built neural-interface that allows him to use his brain for processing. The name 'FrostWalker' comes from the fact that they had to use dozens of bags of ice to stop FrostWalker's brain from overheating as he 'walked' the Relinquish database to stop the war. He is making a power play to control Leash distribution and was caught on camera kidnapping two young girls. The third girl was found with a bullet in her head as he could only 'carry one over each shoulder'.

Kel is an alcoholic, drug addict, criminal hacker, scammer, and womaniser with serious mental health issues. He parties constantly while running promotions for Marcy and Firefly (when he's not too wasted). However, Kel is starting to unravel, and he might be a lot more than he pretends to be! As Marcy starts to uncover the true extent of Kel's lies, she is horrified by his web of deception and his potential involvement with FrostWalker, Leash distribution, kidnapping, The Sarcophagi, and child abuse.

Leash is a sickening new drug, fast becoming widespread. It has been custom-designed to make it highly addictive and control the addicts. Leash was originally tested on prostitutes and then on children. Whoever owns the supply of Leash owns the addicts, and addiction is becoming widespread.

However Leash is more than just a drug, and there are wider and more horrific implications. Leash is only one facet of something much more sickening, and in the future, drugs might not actually be required. Conditioning, targeted advertising, association through colours, sounds and frequencies, and experimentation on children.

K is the most dangerous and hated woman on the planet, currently in prison for her links to Leash and 'The Merizuki Massacre', where 21 children were murdered, several of whom were Leash test subjects. K also killed her twin sister, Emily, by stabbing her in the back. K was the gang leader for Breach, an elite gang focused on extortion, drug running, robbery, hacking and assassination. After being released early from prison, she has a 4,500,000 credit bounty on her head, and she has one single goal. To kill every single last [EXPLETIVES REMOVED] one of them.

The drug war is tearing the city apart, and where FrostWalker is pure subtlety, K is a sledgehammer! However, FrostWalker seems more intent on marrying Marcy, and killing Kel than Leash distribution.

Kel laughed at the concept of 'love at first sight', and yet it was proven wrong when he met Frey. Kel is a complete mess, totally oblivious, and weekly disappears on three-day benders, or in one case, a five-month bender. And yet, Kel is one of the best hackers and statisticians on the planet? Why is it that Kel's completely broke and has two young girls hidden away in an orphanage? How is it that Kel is rippling with muscle, and without any combat training, can take out six attackers whilst being so drunk he can barely stand up? Is he really going on drug-fuelled benders, and what is his relation to 'The Sarcophagi'? Nobody knows what 'The Sarcophagi' is other than vague rumours?

After being released from prison, K is on a killing spree. She's blowing things up, robbing, stealing, killing people, took over a brothel on a random whim, and her mood swings are becoming as extreme as the death count as the entire world try to kill her.

FrostWalker, K and Breach are all making a power play to control Leash distribution, and it is utter chaos in the streets,

But most frightening is the tax man! Nobody messes with the tax man. The tax man is trying to take Firefly from Marcy, and is wondering where all her funds came from. And Marcy is losing her mind as to how to explain it. She's losing her mind for a lot of reasons.

And who is Green Haired Ninja?

They're all insane!

In order to win The Relinquish War, the art of war itself had to be rewritten.

FrostWalker and XIII initiated an arms race, both with regard to Leash distribution and hacking. It's about who controls Leash on one side. On the other hand, it isn't about who has the biggest guns; it's about who controls those guns! Ghost Hackers and rogue AI now potentially have the power to disable every weapon on the battlefield! They could bring down every attack helicopter with a virus. They could control Orbital Bombardments, or otherwise just drop satellites from the sky to land on any (or all) major cities. Or even nuclear power stations!

Everyone is too busy trying to unravel the lies and control Leash to realise that the Ghost Hackers' biggest guns are nuclear weapons, and Armageddon is still on the horizon.