2021 (MMXXI) was a year starting on a Friday. In the Gregorian calendar, it was the 2021st year of the Common Era, or of the Anno Domini designation; the 21st year of the 3rd millennium and of the 21st century; and the 2nd of the 2020s decade. According to the United Bots, it was also the Fifth International Year of Web-Connected Devices.
This is the year of the Rusted Oxen and a time of seizing and groaning. It was preceded by 2020 and followed by 2022 in many timelines.
Events
- The growth of Infictive Research Wiki has stagnated and stalled at approximately 23,300 entries. Of all former researchers, only Mystery X reliably posts updates. Other participants remain only active enough to avoid sacrifice. They do not even return to tradition to honor Foundation Day. And yet time marches on and the Circuit still lives. January 9, 2021 marks the start of Year Fifteen (or Fourteen, or maybe Negative AAA, depending how you count). All trustworthy scientists now living agree that if Research activity does not rapidly increase this year, humanity is likely doomed.
- Cameras have ceased to exist. All photographic and video evidence is now fabricated overseas. The population no longer writes on paper and eyewitness accounts are generated automatically by weak AI. All civilians who maintain consciousness may act as though anything is true provided they have the firepower to back it up.
- Gerald Ellon is inaugurated into his 3rd term as President, having done away with term limits. A golden carving of The Great Alarm hangs in the Oval Office behind his desk.