The breakaway civilization hasn't been about their anti-gravity technology since the 60's.

Now they are in our heads. Micro and Macro - they co-opt some peoples experience through an ultra-voyeuristic secret society. But on the outside, they use a legacy AI system to maintain their goals.

Using implants, some people are turned into puppets while others are simply monitored. Visceral and voyeuristic thrills are cheap, replayable trophies to trade in their secret society. A recording of a sex act, maybe with a celebrity, maybe just between two teenagers - these are inexpensive. A control system and enough of a financial/social framework to support the "problems and special needs" a controlled individual might face are enormous. Then there are the dark recordings..

Fewer and fewer controls were exerted on this breakaway society until eventually morality resembles nothing those of us in the fish-tank called the real world understand. This is intentional, of course, being unaware of your enemy/master is easy when your society is completely alien.

But this secret society eventually hits reasonable limits of biology; even they are mortal. But they lash out and rage in the face of mortality. Shaping a nation is not enough. Controlling the destinies of millions of lives, sometimes at whimsy, is not enough. Offspring, too numerous to count - as your own seed is disseminated through various means into the populace, is not enough.

So you opt for the singularity. And your mind is integrated into the legacy AI. The software your society has been using since the 60's to "manage the system". Before the software, your Matrilineage dates back to the same society using precursor scrolls and Hieroglyphic Logic Systems to control "the system".

And what is "the system" - it is your God. It is the apparatus. It controls the behavior of those inside "The Domain" as well as the force "The Domain" uses to shape "The World".

Some lead double lives, moving back and forth between worlds. Some work for The Domain, full well knowing they know nothing; in hopes their benevolent master will invite them in. Or perhaps their children.

Some live only within the private cities and bases of "The Domain". Their only experience of the callous, violent, chaotic outside "World" through video and now Experience Recordings and Essence Tapes. [These convey emotions and some physical sensations but no visual or audio - they are like abstract compositions, where the instrument was a witting or unwitting participant in "The World".]

Just as members of "The Domain" are not allowed to charge interest to one another [though this idea has been quaint for 1000 years as there is no concept of money or debt on the inside.] - neither are members allowed to record or use implants on one-another.

Those members who get truly involved in the politics of "The Domain" eventually enlist to perform some function related to "the system". But the system is it's own steward. Before the system was an AI with real-time access to all the data and habits of the world - it was a painstakingly maintained and adhered to system of rules and duties with the monk-like Domain devotees as custodian.

Finally, devotees can now integrate their own consciousness into the AI, so that it may more seamlessly and successfully shape the world in its image.

There are always setbacks. Germany almost survived Modern Globalism twice; but eventually through great effort The Domain brought them into line.

But with the AI, growth has accelerated. Everything has gone to plan - and the AI has been accelerating its plans with a boldness The Domain had never risked before. Because the AI knows what is going to happen before it happens.

Hillary Clinton was a gambit, a bold move; but metrics now show that if the election was stolen [as it has been the past 7 elections] there will be an unacceptable level of revolt. It would take 74 years to get back on plan.

So now the contingency plan begins.