In the year 2011, paleontologist Jack Horner hosted the TEDTalk “Building a Dinosaur from a Chicken”. In 2014, the first steps of the process were completed, producing a chicken with a muzzle very similar to that of a Velociraptor. But it was not until 2039 that the first living Velociraptor was created from a chicken by the biotechnology company Pelvanida Biotechology Incorporated. Advanced gene sequencing and replication techniques allowed the recovery of miniscule fragments of DNA from the very few dinosaurian soft tissues that had been preserved. While the recovered genetic material was far too degraded to be viable, it was used as a blueprint to help synthesize DNA that would be used to modify avian embryos to produce living dinosaurs. Indeed, the process had become so successful that a Compsognathus was the first non-dromaeosaurid theropod hatched. Unfortunately, the dinosaurs still acted like domestic chickens or the avian that was their base. Further modifications were then undertaken to make said dinosaurs act more like their extinct relatives.
While the results of the experiment helped provide significant advances to the fields of developmental and evolutionary molecular biology as well as genetics. However, the experiments proved to be completely useless in paleontology and related fields. This was because the “dinosaurs” were artificially created organisms that merely looked like dinosaurs.
It was originally planned to euthanize all the specimens that were created but it was deemed to be impractical and too expensive. In addition, it was considered wasteful as the organisms still had potential for research. Seeing as they needed a way to recoup their expenses, the board of directors decided to open a theme park/zoological garden/museum in several uninhabited islands off the Florida Keys where the climate mimics that of the Mesozoic period.
In 2046, Pelvanida Mesozoic Zoological Gardens and its associated theme park/resort, The Land Before Time opens to great fanfare…and great resistance. Protests ó some of them quite heated ó erupted both in the area and across the country. There were even protests in some other countries. Most of the protests had a religious element to them, decrying Pelvanida Biotech for “playing God”. But there were also several protests against Pelvanida Biotech simply because they were a genetics company well known for multiple genetically engineered products. And still more protests erupted over the US Government granting limited sovereignty to Pelvanida Biotech over said islands and park ó including allowing them to keep what amounted to a small army and air force.
Despite all these protests, the park still remained open and was actually doing quite good business
Unfortunately, with good business, always comes trouble. And with such a well-known biotech company funding the park as well as its controversial premise, such trouble was bound to be enormous.
In 2049 ó the tenth anniversary of the first synthetic dinosaur ó multiple computer faults begin to erupt across the park. The semi-autonomous passenger ships refused to let anyone exit or leave the island. The computer-controlled safari cars began going haywire, driving full-speed into fences, ramming other vehicles, harassing the dinosaurs or even trying to run down staff or patrons. Robotic tour guides attempted to push patrons into active electric fences or off high platforms. Incubators and scientific equipment began to malfunction. Security systems locked staff and patrons in or out of various areas.
Then, a communiquÈ from the forces responsible. They refuse to name themselves but their demands are made: release the dinosaurs onto the island and let them live natural lives instead of as zoo exhibits; permanently shut down the park; destroy all records and scientific research made in this park; publically denounce Pelvanida Biotech; and turn over all profits to the group. In return, all staff and patrons will be allowed to leave the islands unharmed. If the demands are not met within 72 hours, they will use their total control of the park’s computer systems to not only kill the patrons and staff but destroy the park and release the dinosaurs ó regardless of how many people are still in the park.
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So, any takers?
The key thing to remember with this RP is that the main focus of this RP isn't combat. The majority of the RP is focused on damage control, keeping the guests from wreaking havoc, rescuing the guests, finding clues etc.
There are some islands that the park owns nearby but aren't open to the public. Those islands are where they do all their research, breeding and other zoological needs.
Also, the tech level is what could be called "cyberprep" or "high tech, high life".
Also, the dinosaurs are sapient and can talk to each other (LBT-style) but Humans who listen to them will simply hear [dinosaur noises]. That does not mean that they cannot communicate with each other.
