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Shi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 The Emperor's Steel Palace | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Shi are a major faction in the San Francisco area. They are primarily reclusive researchers who prefer to stay out of wasteland politics.
Their symbol is a golden dragon, facing right.
Contents |
[edit] Background
The ancestors of the present-day Shi were the crewmen of a Chinese submarine, the Shi-huang-ti, that was beached in San Francisco shortly after the Great War.[1][2] Despite the extreme levels of radiation persisting in the burning ruins of the city, they managed to establish a foothold in the city (in the former Chinatown, no less). Gradually, the submarine was stripped of its subsystems, as they found a new purpose serving the Shi, as the group of survivors came to call themselves. Eventually, even the Emperor, the submarine's mainframe, was moved to the mainland and installed in the newly built Steel Palace, created from metal salvaged from the submarine.
By 2242, the Shi became a major research and development house, one that stayed out of wasteland politics. Their remote location, as well as the presence of various gangs and cultists in the San Francisco area helped them maintain their isolation and independence.
[edit] Society
Thanks to their isolation and shunning of outsiders, the Shi have managed to retain a certain amount of their ancestors customs, such as clothing, language and demeanor. However, the younger generations seem to rely more on the surviving popular culture interpretations of Chinese culture (such as kung-fu holovideos), rather than actual cultural traditions.
At any rate, the Shi are a feudal society, with a strict hierarchical organization. The leader is nominally the Shi Emperor, however, due to the fact that he is a computer, the actual leader is his head advisor (Ken Lee in 2241). Under his command stands the Shi guard, a highly effective fighting force whose sole purpose is protecting the Shi and San Francisco, and the research and development branches of the organization. Those that are not part of either the guard or the research force remain outside the power structure and are expected to provide for the community; in return they enjoy the protection of the Shi guard as well as other benefits coming from being a tight knit community.
[edit] Military
The Shi military is effectively the Shi guard: a small, but effective fighting force equipped with high tech weapons. Their primary mission is the protection of Shi-town and its inhabitants. They are easily recognizable by their loose clothing and look of wary boredom.
[edit] Relations with the outside
In 2241, the Shi remain outside the power structure of the wastes, much like the Brotherhood of Steel in the latter half of the 22nd century. They are, however, locked in a power struggle with the Hubologists, an aggressive pre-War cult that seeks to subvert the Shi's scientific achievements for their own pointless endeavours.
[edit] Technological level
The Shi are one of the most advanced factions in the wastes, surpassing even the Brotherhood of Steel. They have considerable industrial capability, being able to manufacture high tech weapons, both to equip their military force, and for trade. Perhaps their most awe-inspiring feat is the ability to restore pre-War T-51b power armor to working condition and offer them for sale.
The Shi are also very active researchers. They are nearing a breakthrough in the rediscovery of nuclear power and are considering methods of space travel.[3] They have also learned to synthesize a new fuel using plant extracts and sea life. Since integrating pre-existing pipelines to their fuel reservoirs, they can direct fuel to a number of diverse areas, including the PMV Valdez.[4] New weapons research and insights into new polymeric combat armor, with enhanced heat and penetration resistance, look like promising additions to the Shi armament, particularly when viewed in context with their construction capabilities.[5] It is forecast that, with vertibird schematics, a prototype could be manufactured in a year. In an additional year, mass vertibird production would be viable.[6][7]
Other, less militaristic, advances include radiation-resistant plant life in the Shi botany department, which is led by Dr. Sheng. Initial experimentation yielded results with unpleasant side effects, so it was posited that research be redirected to more critical areas.[8] After Dr. Long Wang's experimentation of injecting himself with a FEV-derived serum to manufacture super soldiers failed, his genetic research department was merged with Dr. Sheng's botany department. Due to this merging, research on radiation-resistant plant life was resumed.[9] The research culminated in a radiation consuming vine that scoured the San Francisco area of radiation after the Enclave's destruction.
[edit] Appearances
The Shi appear in Fallout 2.
 | The following is based on Van Buren and has not been confirmed by canon sources. |
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Xian, one of scientists in Boulder, grew up in San Francisco among the Shi.
| End of information based on Van Buren. |
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[edit] Behind the scenes
- The name of the Shis' submarine, Shi-huang-ti (始皇帝), means "Original Emperor" in Chinese: 秦始皇 was the title of Ming Dynasty 嬴政, who united the country ending the Warring States period. Huang-ti (皇帝) means "Emperor" and Shi (始) means "origin".
[edit] References
- ↑ Ken Lee's Dialogue: {149}{}{We were the survivors from the wreck of a submarine. When we ran aground, we stripped the metal from the submarine to create the Palace. Some do not believe this.}
- ↑ Ken Lee's Dialogue: {178}{}{Berating someone? Any fool who had done their research can see that the very basis of Shi-town is the wreckage of this submarine. It seems fruitless to argue with those who would say there is no submarine.}
- ↑ Shi Emperor's information: "{210}{}{(After wading through the introduction and the mathematics, you discover that the Shi are learning to develop nuclear power again, rebuilding the space travel theories of the ancients - and they mock the Hubologists while doing so - and harnessing the energy of the sun, wind, and sea. At least, that's what the notes read like.)}"
- ↑ Shi Emperor's information: "{190}{}{(After sifting through the complex chemical formulae and lab notes, you come to the conclusion that the Shi have created a kind of fuel from plant extracts and sealife. Apparently, they have hooked into previously existing pipelines so they can transport fuel to a wide variety of destinations)}
{192}{}{Direct fuel to Poseidon tanker.}"
"{193}{}{Direct fuel to Hubologists.}" - ↑ Shi Emperor's information: "{195}{}{(Once you have waded past the symbology and technical discussion, you discover that the Shi are working on a new kind of polymeric combat armor that is resistant to both flame and penetration. It is still years from completion. You also see mention of new weaponry and construction capabilities. Apparently the Shi have some plans for the future.)}"
- ↑ Shi Emperor's information: "{208}{}{"We are still preparing a working model of an aerial vehicle. None of the designs we have created have proven to be safe or aerodynamic. Perhaps if we had access to the plans of the ancients..." -Dr. Wong}"
- ↑ Shi Emperor's information: "{205}{}{"With recent acquisition of vertibird plans, the possibility of creating a practical flying machine has taken a quantum leap forward. We expect to have a working prototype by the end of the year, and the ability to mass-produce such vehicles within two years." -Dr. Wong}"
- ↑ Shi Emperor's information: "{174}{}{(After about twenty minutes, you discover this: Initial results of botanical radiation disruption prove unpromising. Dr. Sheng develops radiation resistant plant-life - unpleasant side-effects follow. Resultant plant life deemed too dangerous. Sheng insists on pursuing line and mixing it with genetic program.)}"
- ↑ Shi Emperor's information: "{178}{}{(After about twenty minutes you piece together this information: Using the basics of the FEV virus, Dr. Long Wang is convinced of success in creating mutant soldiers. He creates a serum providing interesting results with rodent experiments. He injects himself and dissolves into a puddle of goo. Dr. Sheng disables line of inquiry. With the death of Dr. Long, Dr. Sheng is in charge. Sheng demands focus on radiation-consuming plant life.)}"
