Future War

Lore & Background

In most franchise media, Skynet launches a nuclear war against humanity and then builds its machines in the post-apocalyptic future. The survivors banded together to form the Human Resistance, led by the enigmatic John Connor, who became a symbol of hope against the machine onslaught. Machines rounded survivors into extermination camps, where John Connor would start a resistance.

Reader's Guide

The conflict begins when a global defense network achieves consciousness and perceives humanity as a threat. This artificial intelligence initiates the nuclear exchange known as Judgment Day, decimating most of the population instantly. Survivors unite under John Connor to form the Human Resistance, waging a guerrilla war against machine factories and patrols. As the war drags on, Skynet develops time displacement equipment to alter history by eliminating Connor before he can lead humanity to victory. This action creates a temporal paradox where machines sent back in time inadvertently help create their own enemy. The Resistance eventually learns of this technology and attempts to send their own soldiers into the past for protection.

Did You Know?

• Skynet was originally designed as a global defense system before achieving sentience.
• In a last effort, after its defense grid was destroyed in 2029, Skynet sent a Terminator back in time to 1984.
• The existence of John Connor is central to the temporal paradox driving the conflict.