Immigration Gates

The Threshold Between Worlds

At the northern perimeter of Horizon City's protective dome stand the Immigration Gates, a massive complex of security checkpoints, processing facilities, and decontamination systems that serve as the primary land-based entry point to the city. Here, the stark contrast between the harsh wasteland outside and the controlled environment within is most apparent, as thousands of hopeful entrants queue daily for the chance to pass through the dome's protective barrier into what many consider the last true civilization on Earth.

Physical Environment

The Immigration Gates combine imposing security with practical processing facilities:

• Exterior Approach: A two-lane road leading from the north through the desert, connecting to an eight-lane east-west highway three miles from the dome
• Perimeter Security: Defensive positions, hidden turrets, and missile launchers integrated into the dome wall
• Entry Plaza: A large open area outside the dome where initial screening takes place
• Pedestrian Queue: A serpentine line that can stretch a quarter-mile around the dome during busy periods
• Vehicle Queue: A separate line for cars, trucks, and other transport that often extends several miles
• Processing Stations: Multiple checkpoints where documentation is verified and entrants are screened
• Radiation Showers: Decontamination facilities that all entrants must pass through before entering the city
• Waiting Areas: Designated spaces where processed individuals await final clearance
• Judge Stations: Security posts staffed by Horizon Justice Force personnel

The facility's design emphasizes both thoroughness and intimidation, ensuring that all entrants understand they are entering a controlled environment with strict rules and expectations.

Entry Process

Gaining access to Horizon City through the Immigration Gates involves a complex procedure:

• Initial Screening: Preliminary checks of documentation and purpose for entry
• Security Scan: Advanced technology detecting weapons, contraband, and potential threats
• Radiation Check: Measurement of radiation levels and identification of contaminated individuals
• Decontamination: Mandatory radiation showers removing external contaminants
• Documentation Processing: Verification of identity and entry authorization
• Biometric Registration: Recording of physical characteristics for future identification
• Customs Inspection: Examination of goods being brought into the city
• Final Clearance: Judge approval for entry into the dome

This process typically takes an entire day for pedestrians and even longer for vehicles, creating a significant barrier to casual entry while allowing legitimate visitors and immigrants to eventually gain access.

The Waiting Experience

For those seeking entry, the Immigration Gates represent a test of patience and preparation:

• Extended Duration: The typical wait time ranges from 8-12 hours for pedestrians and up to several days for vehicles
• Environmental Challenges: Exposure to the desert heat during daylight hours and cold at night
• Service Economy: Vendors in battery tankers driving along the queues selling water, food, power, coolant, vat pills, medicine, phones, alcohol, and other necessities
• Social Dynamics: Information exchange and temporary communities forming among those waiting together
• Security Presence: Constant monitoring by Immigration Guards and automated systems
• Uncertainty: No guarantee of entry despite the long wait and harsh conditions

This experience serves as both a practical security measure and a psychological filter, ensuring that those who enter the city have demonstrated determination and the ability to follow structured processes.

Vehicle Processing

The vehicle entry system operates parallel to pedestrian processing:

• Separate Queue: A dedicated line stretching several miles from the dome
• Primary Users: Wasteland traders bringing goods to the city markets
• Enhanced Scanning: More intensive inspection for larger vehicles that could conceal threats
• Cargo Verification: Checking of manifests against actual contents
• Technical Inspection: Ensuring vehicles meet the city's environmental and safety standards
• Registration: Recording of vehicle details in the city's database
• Assigned Routes: Specific paths vehicles must follow once inside the dome

This system balances the need for commercial exchange with the outside world against the security risks posed by allowing external vehicles into the controlled environment.

Security Measures

The Immigration Gates incorporate multiple layers of defense:

• Visible Deterrents: Armed Immigration Guards and obvious scanning technology
• Hidden Systems: Concealed weapons emplacements and surveillance equipment
• Automated Defenses: Turrets and missile launchers that can deploy automatically in response to threats
• Rapid Response Teams: Judge units ready to address security incidents
• Containment Protocols: Procedures for isolating potential threats before they enter the dome
• Intelligence Gathering: Monitoring of patterns and individuals of interest among those seeking entry

These overlapping security measures reflect the city's understanding that the Immigration Gates represent both a necessary connection to the outside world and a potential vulnerability in its defenses.

Cultural Significance

To those outside the dome, the Immigration Gates represent hope - the possibility of access to safety, opportunity, and the relative prosperity of Horizon City. The willingness to endure the lengthy process and harsh conditions demonstrates the perceived value of what lies beyond.

For citizens within, the Gates serve as a reminder of the boundary between their protected environment and the chaotic world beyond. The strict entry procedures reinforce the sense that life inside the dome is privileged and worth protecting from external threats.

To the Horizon Justice Force, the Immigration Gates represent one of their most critical responsibilities - maintaining the integrity of the dome by controlling who and what enters the city. The procedures and security measures reflect a philosophy that prioritizes the safety of those already within over the needs of those seeking entry.