Core City riots
The Core City riots were a series of violent disturbances sparked by a local uprising against Biocorp roughly 15 years ago. Led by Archibald Knight, second-in-command of the Core City Security Forces, and technocrat Rupert Simmons, head of Core City's research department, the revolt was a success and marked the end of Reformed Biocorp. However the following power struggle between the victors soon escalated into a civil war that lasted for years.
Background
Reformed Biocorp was still the most prominent power in Underrail, with Core City its main urban hub, housing many of Biocorp's research and development sectors. Behind the scenes however Biocorp was struggling with both internal and external problems, and one person, General Melek, sensed their weakness. About 17-18 years ago Melek began his rise to power in the north, recruiting local gangs, training and shaping them into a para-military force that eventually grew into the army known today as the Protectorate. A few years later, about 15 years ago, he finally made his move and took over Biocorp's capital city Dis, and other key locations soon followed. The High Council was disbanded, the technocrats along with anyone deemed to be a threat to the new government apprehended and executed.
The revolt
News of the fall of Biocorp's northern branch reached Core City, and the city's leadership was divided on how to respond. Louis Thorne, Core City's highest ranking Biocorp director insisted on fighting back against the Protectorate. Feeling resistance was doomed to failure and they would only sign their own death warrants, Archibald Knight took some of the soldiers under his command and staged a coup. Thorne was removed from power, and fights broke out between supporters of the revolt and Biocorp loyalists. Knight and his small band of soldiers, now going by the name of Praetorian Security, were joined by Rupert Simmons and his own freshly formed Coretech. This alliance eventually won them the revolt, and Reformed Biocorp was at last completely destroyed.
With Biocorp out of the picture, Praetorian Security and Coretech turned on each other, each wanting to be the sole dominant power of Core City. Their conflict turned into a full-blown civil war that plunged the city into a state of devastating chaos for years.
Aftermath
The revolt completely changed the face of Core City in a very short time. The former center of research was now a place where gangs ran amok, and there was constant bloodshed on the streets as rival factions waged their wars. Among the ruins one place spontaneously emerged that slowly started to attract increasing attention from the populace. A gathering place of sorts, people went there in order to settle their differences, and soon for observers to take bets on the outcome. Recognizing its immense potential, Gunnar Edstrom, a successful businessman from East Underrail, formed JKK and began negotiating a truce between Knight and Simmons. An agreement was reached, the Arena created, and relative stability returned to the city under the control of the now ruling oligarchy. Arena's success allowed the truce to turn into long-term peace, and the oligarchy to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement with the Protectorate.