Mann & Machine

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Premise

Mann and Machine takes place in an alternate universe where AIs, robots, and cyborgs are much more commonplace than they are in canon. While the vast majority are fairly ordinary, a small portion of these - usually the more advanced ones - are powered by small quantities of Australium, in vivo, circuit, or otherwise. Australia used to control Australium exports very tightly, but over time loosened restrictions until it became, while still not commonplace, accessible to those with the right money, connections, or skill at theft. However, this choice effectively depleted the easily accessible stores of Australium, weakening Australians due to lack of exposure and causing those in the know to begin hoarding for the impending crash.

Mann and Machine picks up as Grey Mann mounts his attack against Mann Co.'s mercenary forces, seeking not just the control necessary to command the company, but the Australium required to automate and make adaptive his robots. In the beginning, the changes to the mercenaries' lives make little difference; there is, however, one sticking point that comes into play as the Administrator loses her grip on the situation:

Each of them has not insignificant amounts of Australium within them, bound closely to the systems that rebirth them on command, and neither loyalty nor defection is a fair guarantee of bodily integrity.

Mann & Machine (Extremely Roughly Eyeballed) Timeline

Some point before the 20th century

Australia discovers Australium. This causes a minor societal shift when all of a sudden everyone is buff, crafty, and possessed of a magnificent moustache. Suffice it to say society adapts very quickly.

Australia loosens restrictions on Australium exports, allowing more of the world access to the miracle metal. Scientists, engineers, and doctors immediately get to work.

Early in the 20th century, before WWI

A family in Rothenburg ob de Tauber, Germany, loses (or perhaps chases) their only son to the allure of the arts, and resolves to build one from scratch who will be more attracted to the family business of questionable medical practice. They name their creation Hulderic.

A boy, the first of four children, is born to a Russian family in Saint Petersburg, and given the name Mihail.

A group of scientists based in Reims, France, fully realise Le Projet Or Faux (The False Gold Project), producing humans whose flesh is composed of nanomachines rather than solid, structured biology. They immediately turn their attention into fashioning the results into elite spies.

After WWI

Mihail's father is executed for treason while Mihail is studying, and the rest of the family is abruptly imprisoned. They soon break out, and escape to Siberia.

One of the members of Or Faux escapes and begins to work around Europe.

A boy is born to a family living in Florida.

Hulderic, in an argument with his parents, leaves them both, and takes on their surname, Ludwig, as his forename.

A boy is born to the Conagher family of Bee Cave, Texas. He is named Dell, and promptly educated in the family trade.

A boy is born to the deGroot family of Scotland, and given the name Tavish Finnegan.

During WWII

The Or Faux escapee leaves for America by boat, taking the name Marin.

A child is born to a family living in Texas, and given the name Evangelista.

A girl is born to the Paulings, a family from Louisiana, and given the name Faith.

A group of scientists from an area they call New Zealand experiment with creating a biologically-originating but heavily mechanically altered child. They succeed, but the boy blasts off in a rocket, landing in Australia. He is taken in by a childless couple, and given the name Mick.

Marin finds a girlfriend in Boston and considers settling down, but is frightened off after creating a child. His ex names the boy Jeremy.

The Floridian applies for the army but is rejected.

After WWII

The Floridian travels to Europe anyway, and is apprehended after exploding someone's tool shed. He states his name is Jane Doe.

Tavish migrates to the US, looking for work.

Late in the 50s

Evangelista and Faith meet after suffering incidents that lose them their families. Evangelista starts going by a nickname, Pyro, while Faith goes by her surname. Eventually, Pyro is killed when the two are caught in the crossfire of shady Mann Co. business.

The Administrator hires Pauling as an assistant, on the agreement that Pauling will do the work and not ask hard questions in exchange for Mann Co. reviving a robotic copy of Pyro.

Early 60's

Dell's father, Fred, retires for his health, and Dell takes over the family business.

The Administrator has Pauling chase up a trail on rumors of a Siberian jailbreak, decades ago.

Mick moves to the US, having become slightly too well-known in Australian circles.

Mid 60's

Team Fortress is assembled. The Gravel War continues. While BLU is brash, strong, and highly skilled, RED pushes them hard with the advantage of Australium.

Mick finds out he has blood on the inside. This is a shocking revelation to him.

Jane gets exploded off-hours in a freak accident and is rebuilt with his critical vitals contained in a metal shell.

Late 60's

Grey Mann initiates his takeover bid for Mann Co., making it clear that Australium is his main priority. Succeeding in acquiring the legalities surrounding the company, he accesses documents noting all potential Australium assets available.

Mick finds out his brain has synthetic components. Having only recently come to terms with the blood thing, this is another shocking revelation to him.

Failing to properly acquire Mann Co's Australium stores due to the Administrator's interference, Grey falls back on his robot army.

Having little stake in the issue, BLU disbands. It is clear, however, that Grey has his eye on Mann Co's human assets as well as its inanimate ones.

Pauling arrives on the ground to help RED and is cut off from proper two-way contact with the Administrator.

This is the safest way.

Notes

As far as I remember the whole idea for this AU came from a silly little drawing I did of a Medic and a Robot Engineer, with arrows that said "full of blood" and "full of wires" or thereabouts. With "blood" being the Engineer and "wires" being the Medic. I thought it'd be a funky little dynamic for them and I was right.

Hang on, I've found the image.

Ta-da.

A not insignificant part of the impulse towards such a dynamic comes from unrelated thoughts sort of blending into each other. Mixing. The longer I dwell on this particular AU the more it tends towards character study, which is interesting because usually I work with AUs for an even split of character and worldbuilding. What does this mean? Am I learning something? I have no clue.