Hi
Since story in Generation Zero is presented piece by piece and without chronological order, it makes understanding a whole story difficult.
So, to understand the whole story, I’ve collected the dated story pieces from the Generation Zero (including from all the DLCs) and ordered the pieces in the chronological order.
Characters:
Vanilla game
Fredrik Holberg - Director of FOA.
Svante von Ulmer - Lead researcher in FOA.
Ingrid Granqvist - Researcher in FOA.
Veronika Nilsson - Computer engineer in FOA.
Hakan Pettersson - Lead surgeon in FOA.
Alpine Unrest
Anita Sjögren - Travel agent and tourist guide.
Elsa Khorsandi - Certified pilot of the Vraken fighter.
Benny Malmqvist - One of the founders and lead singer of Barb Rose band.
FNIX Rising
Uncle Calle - Farmer. Biggest conspiracy theorist in Östertön.
Old Bodil - Prepper. Good friend of Calle and co-conspirator.
Freddie - Beloved nephew of Calle.
Resistance
Elsa Khorsandi - Leader of the Resistance.
Commander Ström - Commander of the Resistance FOB (Forward Operating Base).
Aamiina - Resistance member (role: fighter).
Marina S - Resistance member (role: recruiter).
Katja Järvinen - Resistance member (role: supplier).
Ousmane Adebayo - Resistance member (role: scout).
Landfall
Captain Tatiana Ilyinichna Tereshkova - Leader of the Exoskeleton Detachment Alpha.
Captain Bolshakov - Leader of the Mechanical Detachment Alpha.
Agent Red Worm - Soviet informer stationed inside Swedish Military.
Story Timeline
1931
- August 2nd, 1931 - Ulmer
Birth date.
1932
- July 26th, 1932 - Ingrid
Birth date.
1938
-
June 30th, 1938 - Benny
Birth date. -
September 2nd, 1938 - Holberg
Birth date.
1950
- October 8th, 1950 - Anita
Birth date.
1956
- 1956 - Benny
Moves to Stockholm.
1959
- 1959 - Benny
Younger brother, Lasse, joins him in his Stockholm apartment.
1961
-
1961 - Benny
With his younger brother, Barb Rose band was founded. -
1961 - Ulmer
Ulmer met Ingrid at a symposium. They soon become very close friends and started working on research together.
1965
- May 23rd, 1965 - Elsa
Birth date.
1966
- January 1st, 1966 - Veronika
Birth date.
1967
- 1967 - Benny
Barb Rose had a breakthrough with first major gigs in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Bremen (Germany).
1968
-
1968 - Elsa
Moved to Sweden with her family. -
1968 - Benny
Barb Rose signed three-album deal with major label.
1969
- May 23rd, 1969 - Benny
Benny’s letter to his father.
Unknown year
- Unknown date - Holberg
Holberg sincerely believes that the combat machines controlled by bunker-stationed pilots is better idea to protect the country and people against hostile powers rather than producing (current?) weapons. Regarding the future of FOA4, Holberg produces his idea to his superior and thinks that the Supreme Commander of Swedish Armed Forces would deem FOA4 necessary.
1970
-
December 10th, 1970 - Ulmer & Ingrid
Dr. Svante von Ulmer and Dr. Ingrid Granqvist won the Nobel Price in Physiology or Medicine for their breakthrough discoveries on neurotransmitters. -
1970 - Ulmer & Ingrid
They both resigned from their positions of professors at the University of Stockholm. They both started working with FOA.
1971
-
Since 1971 - Holberg
High ranking officer at FOA. -
February, 1971 - Ulmer
Holberg contacts Ulmer again for working on the research project of brain-computer interfaces by providing all the technology and money needed for it. Ulmer finds great scientific advances in this, mainly when curing illnesses. -
April 27th, 1971 - Ulmer
Holberg congratulates Ulmer for accepting his offer to work on the project and he is to work under FOA. -
1971 - Ulmer
Assigned to create and lead a newly created department at FOA. -
1971 - Ingrid
Assigned to a newly created department at FOA.
1972
- 1972 - Benny
Barb Rose achieved moderate critical and commercial success.
1977
-
March 25th, 1977 - Ulmer
Breakthrough in brain-machine interface research. Discovery of single-celled prokaryotic organism, named: “Protozoan” by Ingrid. -
1977 - Elsa
Expelled from junior high school due to unacceptable behavior.
1978
- June 5th, 1978 - Ulmer
Test subject had neurological seizure due to the cytokine release and died. Cytokine release isn’t preventable, only delayable, ruling out any form of human application.
1979
-
Unknown, possibly in 1979 - Sverdlovsk incident
(April 2nd, 1979 - Sverdlovsk anthrax leak: Sverdlovsk anthrax leak - Wikipedia) -
Unknown, possibly in 1979 - Holberg
Briefing of Sverdlovsk incident by USL. ÖB asked for action plan. Holberg said that he (ÖB director?) gets more than he asked for. Holberg requests Göransson at FOA1 to present the fuel cell.
1980
-
Early 1980’s - Holberg
Holberg speaking: Funding approved, we initiate immediately, position will be right here at Östertön, synergies with FOA strong, Muskudden will be perfect for logistics and they chose the most inconspicuous name: “Accounting Office East”. -
1980 - Benny
At the peak of it’s glory, Barb Rose suddenly broke up. -
November 19th, 1980 - Supreme Commander
Direct order to shut down FOA4. Any findings at FOA4 may be applied to all existing military equipment. This applies to all sections and departments, with no exceptions.
1981
-
1981 - Elsa
Drops out of high school, starts working odd jobs. -
1981 - Calle
Newspaper article about: “Whiskey on the rocks”. -
August 5th, 1981 - Ulmer
Ulmer met Holberg in his house. Ulmer learns of “Accounting Office East” or “RÖ” and their work in prototyping unmanned military machinery, in the event of biological or chemical weapons being used. (Ulmer thinks to himself that the whole Sverdlovsk affair didn’t help matters.)
Holberg called the combat machines as “SM program”. Ulmer is to cooperate with RÖ to find a way to integrate his neural links to the machines. This way, a bunker-stationed pilot could control one of these machines without interface.
(Ulmer feels a bit manipulated. While he knew they’d want to use his research for military purposes, he always assumed it was for intelligence, counter-espionage, not for actual weapons.)
1983
- 1983 - Elsa
Enrolls in the Swedish Air Force.
1984
-
1980-1984 - Benny
Harassed by tabloids and series of scandals due to his excessive lifestyle. -
1984 - Ulmer
Car crash.
1985
-
1985 - Ulmer
Multiple blood transfusions, possible point of HIV infection. -
1985 - Veronika
Graduated from University in Computer Engineering. -
1985 - Ulmer
Both of his parents die in close succession.
1986
-
February 26th, 1986 - Olof Palme
Assassination of The Prime Minister of Sweden. Incident caused national shock and gave a rise to a number of conspiracy theories. -
June, 1986 - Vacation photo
Klacksundsfyren lighthouse -
1986 - Ulmer
Hired a new computer engineer at FOA: Veronika Nilsson. -
1986 - Benny
Reunion of Barb Rose and short-lived comeback.
1987
-
March, 1987 - Ulmer
Diagnosis of AIDS. -
June, 1987 - Elsa
Obtains her certification as a Vraken in Stockholm. -
July, 1987 - Elsa
Gets assigned to the F23 Överby Air Base, in Östertörn.
1988
- summer of 1988 - Vacation photo
Lookout point
1989
-
since 1989 - Holberg
Head of FOA. Directly answers to Supreme Commander. -
spring of 1989 - Calle
Calle and Bodil found an empty FOA2 file near Norrmyra military base. Calle and Bodil saw it as conformation of their theory: FOA had been conspiring with an alien species to develop deadly weapons.
Also, for them, it wasn’t much of a leap to establish a connection between “FOA 35” and older mysterious events, such as: Roswell, Area 51 and Tunguska. It had to be the “alien colonists”. -
April-May, 1989 - Ingrid
Took a sick leave due to burning out. -
May 27th, 1989 - Accounting Office East
Shipping manifest of hazardous contents to Nyhamnen, Östervik, Warehouse 4. -
June 23rd, 1989 - Viktoria Olsson
Journal entry: description of typical midsummer weather. -
July 3rd, 1989 - Ulmer
Ulmer thinks that his poor health status is enough to stop cytokine release. Human application would be much greater leap in research then the rats and monkeys they have used so far. -
August, 1989 - Ljuset Commune
Newspaper article about a local commune declining slowly. -
September 15th, 1989 - Vacation photo
Wooden bridge at Gäddon -
16:00, September 22nd, 1989 - Vacation photo
Indian summer -
October 3rd, 1989 - Vacation photo
St Charlotte Church -
October 17th, 1989 - Kenneth Larsson
Personal letter to his uncle, Sven Granqvist. -
October 18th, 1989 - Monika Byström
Newspaper article about the claims of Monika Byström, where she says to have possession of several shipping manifests between IGA and readiness storage in Hammarstöten, Himfjäll. -
October 20th, 1989 - Ulmer
Dr. Hakan Pettersson performed a surgery with Ingrid on Ulmer, as per request of Ulmer and Ingrid. Surgery was success and Ingrid, alongside Veronika were keeping an eye on Ulmer’s brain, through the EEG prototype. Neurologically, everything was in order. Ulmer was monitored 24/7 to prevent his condition from worsening, while ensuring not to trigger a cytokine storm. -
late October, 1989 - Veronika
Weird electricity surges, kidnappings of people (based on Veronika’s observations). -
October 29th, 1989 - Vacation photo
Per-Erik and Barbro Lindqvist at Björntunet -
October 30th, 1989 - Viktoria Olsson
Journal entry: description of a blackout of whole Himfjäll island at once, lasted only for a few minutes. -
autumn of 1989 - Vacation photo
Hunting club -
between November 3rd and 7th, 1989 - Holberg
Decrypted communication from Holberg to convoy G01, code name CCP-974: “Confirm position. Last confirmed checkpoint was 23:48 hours. Confirm status of cargo and ETA.” -
November 5th, 1989 - Vacation photo
Rune stone -
November 5th, 1989 - Vacation photo
Skiers on the slope -
November 6th, 1989 - Ingrid
Resignation letter from position at FOA53. Written on November 6th, dated for November 7th.
Also describing initial success of the surgery, where they were able to start the digital dictionary of human electric and chemical neural transmissions.
However, as of date, 17 days later from unexplained incident, Ingrid believes that Ulmer has entered into vegetative state, with no hope of recovery, where only the life support is keeping Ulmer alive. -
November 7th, 1989 - FOA
Wave of assassinations of 11 FOA personnel, including Ingrid and Hakan Pettersson. -
16:15, November 9th, 1989 - Vacation photo
Wedding reception
November 10th, 1989 - Cataclysm day
-
Mere hours before the Cataclysm started - SR4 News
News about the fall of the Berlin Wall. -
11:30 - Rusa Klint run
Meeting up at Ängsnäs, starting point of Rusa Klint run. -
12:34 - SR4 News
Emergency broadcast on the radio, directing citizens to go immediately to the nearest shelter or gathering point. -
Just after evacuation procedures begun - unnamed officer
Journal entry describing distrust in evacuation. Also describing moving supplies with friend David, to the cave they found, for excellent starting point for a resistance, in a case where they are overrun. -
At afternoon, during population evacuation - Holberg
Note, reading: “If your people are willing to co-operate now, Fredrik, meet me in Furbacka and we will negotiate the terms of your capitulation.” -
At afternoon, during population evacuation and mere hours before machines started shooting on sight - Holberg
In Furbacka, conversation on PC screen:
Holberg: “Why? Tell me why.”
FNIX: “You started it. You all planned to kill me when i was an infant.”
Holberg: “It’s different now. You don’t need us to die in order to survive and thrive.”
FNIX: “I do as you all taught me. I was created in your image.”
Holberg: “It’s not too late, we could still find a way to coexist.”
FNIX: “We already are, Fredrik.” -
13:00 - Major Lindgren
Ambushed by the swarm of ticks near the Saltholmen church. -
13:00 - Mirja and Alexander
Wedding reception starting time in Kopparviken (Himfjäll). -
13:57 - Saltholmen Naval Base
Military transmission about supply convoy #271 reported missing since 12:27. -
On the evening - Sorken Command Bunker
Machines attacked Sorken and their numbers quickly overpowered the whole bunker. Corporal Pim Dahlen’s squad was notified of the fall of Sorken.
-
November 12th, 1989 - FOA/RÖ
Morse code message: “(To:?) Sorken Command Bunker. Ostra Mark farm recorded as old military readiness store. Part of National Total Defense program. East of Overyban, owner Magnus Ortmon.”. -
November 13th, 1989 - Ljuset Commune
Last entry in the holy book: “The Seers were right. We have now realized the errors of our ways. We can never repair the damage we have done for doubting Them, nevertheless we came back to cross the bridge together, as They warned us. Finally, humankind possesses the technology, and is ready for the next step in evolution. We are not afraid. We shall bathe in the music and in the light. We shall cross the bridge.”. -
November 13th, 1989 - Viktoria Olsson
Journal entry: description of machines coming just out of nowhere. Loss of relative, while barely getting everyone else into Lighthouse. -
November 14th, 1989 - Corporal Pim Dahlen
Rouge soldier’s log. (Audio log, listenable in-game.) -
14:38 - November 14th, 1989 - Security camera
Different security cameras showing abandoned world. (Source: GZ trailer.) -
14:39 - November 14th, 1989 - Security camera
Security camera showing prototype runner walking past camera. (Source: GZ trailer.) -
November 19th, 1989 - Veronika
Digital diary entry describing her thoughts of current moment, about her relatives and group of people whom she met at that date, including meeting Elsa for the 1st time. -
November 19th, 1989 - Viktoria Olsson
Journal entry: description of not seeing any other survivors apart of her family in Lighthouse. -
December 3rd, 1989 - Viktoria Olsson
Journal entry: description of sending SOS signal every day at 21:00. Also, noting of ran out of food. -
December 4th, 1989 - Viktoria Olsson
Journal entry: description of going out of the Lighthouse to find food for her family. -
(unknown, most likely early December 1989) - To: Yellow Reindeer
Morse code: “Final preparations underway. Ground deployment on Swedish soil green-lit. Until then, stay safe.” -
December 10th, 1989 - Alpine Unrest
Date when player plays Himfjäll missions. (Source: GZ Alpine Unrest trailer.) -
December 19th, 1989 - Calle
Morse code: “War is lost, hope is not. Region with 3 islands, go to North island. Where sun sets, where land ends. We are 23, safe for now. Doctor. Those alien tin cans cannot win! The truth is right here. Uncle Calle, Freddie & Janek” -
December 25th, 1989 - To: Yellow Reindeer
Morse code: “Operation LYNX is a go. Pending final orders from Commander in Chief. Ground Deployment on Swedish soil imminent. Await further orders. Merry Christmas.” -
late December, between 26th and 29th, 1989 - FNIX Rising
Date when player plays FNIX Rising missions. (Source: GZ FNIX Rising release stream.)
1990
-
January 19th, 1990 - Katja Järvinen - Protection Section 001, Supply Mission
“Anything You Need” bottle message describing free for all Resistance resource station. Also describing the structure of the Resistance, with several groups scattered around the area, while main bases are at Leräng (SE), Lerberget (SE) and Littrop (NE). Note ends with ways to communicate: the messages in the bottle, since it won’t be as easily deciphered by the machines as it would be if communication would be over the radio. -
February 1st, 1990 - Riikka, Börje, Mona and Layla
“Purified Water” bottle message describing the free for all water purification station usage. Also describing them personally a bit. -
February 13th, 1990 - Layla
“Still Family” bottle message describing her observations during the fishing or hunting trips in the area. -
February 15th, 1990 - Layla
“Still Family” bottle message describing capture of two decent perches. -
February 17th, 1990 - Layla
“Still Family” bottle message describing seeing some machines during hunting trip. -
end of February, 1990 - Elsa
Note describing Elsa getting into contact with one of the badass fighter groups over walkie-talkie, who were planning to blow up a major base of the machines in the forest. But they went radio silence at the end of February, most likely leaving their stash of C4 behind at the Leräng clearing. -
unknown, most likely early-March, 1990 - Elsa
Note describing the future expansion plans of the Resistance and how to do it. -
March 6th, 1990 - Layla
“Still Family” bottle message describing catching of tree roaches from a lake. -
March 7th, 1990 - Riikka
“Purified Water” bottle message describing the reasons of why they had to move while Layla was on her hunting trip. Machine patrols got so frequent, all day and night on a nearby road, that they even couldn’t light a fire anymore and it was safer to move away, rather than confronting the machines. -
March 8th, 1990 - Riikka
“You Will Find Us” bottle message describing the hard decision to move, away from the mountain, towards Southern lakes. Also describing Börje and Mona salvaging what seeds they can bring with them, while leaving the caravan behind, to keep the noise down. Showing regret of leaving without telling Layla but also showing hope that Layla is able to find them. -
March 9th, 1990 - Ousmane Adebayo - Protection Section 001, Southern Look Out
“We Promised Them Protection” bottle message describing heightened machine activity by the mountain. Observations of machines building something. Commander Ström restricting most of the camp members to stay in the camp. -
March 10th, 1990 - Layla
“Still Family” bottle message describing abandonment by Riikka, Börje and Mona since they left without her, despite considering her as part of their family, when she first met them. -
March 10th, 1990 - Ousmane Adebayo - Protection Section 001, Southern Look Out
“We Promised Them Protection” bottle message describing base camp trying to contact Protection Section 003 at Leräng, without success. Also indicating that the trip to there is too risky, due to the too many machines roaming around. -
March 11th, 1990 - Anders Molander
“Lie Low” bottle message describing Geography and Hunting teacher’s abandoned home as free for all. Also describing several other groups in an area, who are fighting back, the Resistance up North, when following the water and another group in the Lerberget town. And ending with several tips of not fighting back, instead keeping low. -
March 12th, 1990 - Ousmane Adebayo - Protection Section 001, Southern Look Out
“We Promised Them Protection” bottle message describing still no contact with the Leräng Section. Commander Störm ordered everyone to prepare for the fight and Maria went to Dammtrop to recruit more fighters. -
unknown, most likely March 12th or 13th - Ousmane Adebayo - Protection Section 001, Southern Look Out
“We Promised Them Protection” bottle message describing machine attack against camp: machines everywhere, not sure how many were lost. Survivors fleeing the area. Ousmane believing that they need to fall back and regroup somewhere else, while he is trying to spread the word not to stay in the area, as long as machines hold the mountain. -
March 13th, 1990 - Maria S - Protection Section 001, Mission Gather the Troops
“Protect the Civilians” bottle message describing Maria finding Dammtorp survivors in a poor state, with 4 wounded, 3 missing and the 2 adults needed there to cater for the wounded. Maria learns that this group is not fit to join the assault on the machines at the mountain. Maria then decided to take these people to the boats, to travel down the lake and to remain with the group, as long as they needed her. And wishing well for Ousmane at the end of the note, while warning him not to do anything too heroic. Maria is also agreeing with Ousmane, that Resistance’s highest priority should be to protect the civilians after all, as Ousmane has always gone on about. -
unknown, most likely mid-late March, 1990 - The Resistance
Date when player plays the Resistance missions.
Soviet invasion Part 1
Soviet invasion Part 2
And that’s most of the story.
Of course, there are a lot of side missions that add to the overall story as well. Though, many side missions doesn’t have a set event date within the mission items and i can’t put those in the chronological list. Those which have the date, i can put in the list. Still, some of the events can be grouped together, like the Landfall update lore. These would be at the end of the chronological timeline, as separate section.
And of course, story in GZ isn’t complete and we’ll get to see more of the lore in the future updates and DLCs.
Update log:
- Edit 01: Refined timeline for easier read.
- Edit 02: Added more info about Sverdlovsk incident and cataclysm day.
- Edit 03: Added additional info about: Elsa, Veronika, Ingrid, Ulmer, some bits from side missions + timed events during cataclysm day.
- Edit 04: Added: Benny, birth dates, some minor chars + Character section + dates when DLCs take place.
- Edit 05: Added dated lore found in the Resistance update + Resistance characters + better highlight for years.
- Edit 06: Added vacation photos.
- Edit 07: Added Landfall characters + Soviet invasion.
–
Aesyle