In the epilogue of 235 bloom we explore the aftermath of occupation with Everest Pipkin’s World Ending Game. Jordan and Paul create a montage of continuing stories for some of the characters we’ve met along this journey. We end with an invitation for you to contribute to a vision for this city’s future.

*The title of this episode is a quote from Kyle Tran Myhre’s Not A Lot of Reasons to Sing, But Enough, a book about two wandering poets on “a prison colony moon full of exiled rebels, robots, and storytellers.” It’s truly worth your time and dollars, go pick up a copy.

Content Warnings:

• Depictions of war and military occupation
• Discussions of trauma and loss
• Scenes involving violence and destruction
• Themes of political and corporate power struggles
• References to death and memorials

Produced by Paul Privitera and Jordan Lee Thompson.

Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson.

Music by Javier Lopez of Goatfoam.

Cover Art by Maddy Fusco.

Voice over by LIPING VONG.

235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragonsand The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

In the final episode of our game of Salvage Union, Baz is left to piece together the fragile aftermath of conflict in a war-torn Des Moines. He works to square up with his past and decide on his future.

*The title of this episode is an homage to Nnedi Okorafor’s novella of the same name, the third installment of her Africanfuturist Binti trilogy, about a young Himba woman navigating interstellar conflict and her own identity. It’s very good, you should read it.

Content Warnings:

• Violence and combat scenes
• Injury and death references
• Emotional distress and anxiety
• Mention of war, ambush, and military operations
• Descriptions of damaged buildings and post-disaster environments
• References to trauma and nightmares

Produced by Paul Privitera. Featuring Jordan Lee Thompson.

Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson.

Music by Tommy Ljungberg.

Cover Art by Maddy Fusco.

Voice over by LIPING VONG.

235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragonsand The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

Emil closes the book on our game of ECOPUNK: 2044 as he traverses a city on the brink of open revolt. With tense confrontations at an armed checkpoint and urgently needed medical aid during a devastating storm, Emil finally learns just what he’s been carrying around this whole time.

Content Warnings:

• Torture and physical abuse
• Injury and broken bones
• Violence and gunfire
• Occupation and military checkpoints
• Medical emergencies and blood loss
• Death and mourning
• Intense weather events (storm, derecho)
• Themes of resistance and conflict

Produced by Jordan Lee Thompson. Featuring Paul Privitera.

Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson.

Music by Isac Lundholm.

Cover Art by Maddy Fusco.

Voice over by LIPING VONG, Alex Walton, Oanh Vu, Ruben Vallejo Regalado, David Valentine, nouf saleh, and H. LaVeau.

235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragonsand The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

The resistance makes a stand against the GK forces in a storm-blasted urban battlefield, in our game of Salvage Union. Tall angry clouds line the horizon while Baz and his team face off against stealth BE-TLE’s fighting to break through to a critical checkpoint. With the city embroiled in combat and communications disrupted, trust is tested and sacrifices are made.

Content Warnings:

• Intense combat
• Descriptions of injuries
• Scenes of explosions and destruction
• References to death and potential loss of life
• Stressful and tense situations involving survival in a violent storm
• Themes of war, resistance, and occupation

Produced by Paul Privitera. Featuring Jordan Lee Thompson.

Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson.

Music by Tommy Ljungberg.

Cover Art by Maddy Fusco.

Voice over by LIPING VONG.

235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragonsand The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

Emil’s harrowing journey continues in our game of ECOPUNK: 2044 as he faces betrayal, injury, and uncertain alliances. Emil must navigate the tense aftermath of what he was able to accomplish, and where he fell short.

Content Warnings:

• Descriptions of explosions and destruction
• Kidnapping and captivity
• Non-consensual substance use and psychological torture
• Injury and graphic descriptions of wounds
• Violent crowds

Produced by Jordan Lee Thompson. Featuring Paul Privitera.

Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson.

Music by Isac Lundholm.

Cover Art by Maddy Fusco.

Voice over by LIPING VONG.

235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragonsand The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

We return to Royal Team and our game of Salvage Union after the devastating attack that pushed the crew to their limits to defend Carabis’s position. Baz and his team face hard decisions as they work through shattered loyalties and critical injuries.

Content Warnings:

• Violence and combat, including mech battles and gunfire
• Death and loss
• Descriptions of explosions and destruction
• Themes of betrayal
• Scenes involving panic and crisis situations

Produced by Paul Privitera. Featuring Jordan Lee Thompson.

Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson.

Music by Tommy Ljungberg.

Cover Art by Maddy Fusco.

Voice over by LIPING VONG.

235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragons and The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

This episode continues our game of ECOPUNK: 2044 and the story of Emil Kampfer. Emil struggles to balance his work against the occupation with maintaining his civilian life and the safety of those who he cares for. Despite his hesitation, Emil commits to a risky mission putting himself in GK’s crosshairs.

Content Warnings:

• Violence and threats of violence
• Gun use and gun threats
• Drug use and references
• Intense emotional distress and anxiety
• Coercion and intimidation
• References to war, resistance, and occupation

Produced by Jordan Lee Thompson. Featuring Paul Privitera.

Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson.

Music by Isac Lundholm.

Cover Art by Maddy Fusco.

Voice over by LIPING VONG.

235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragons and The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.

We return to our BE-TLE pilot Baz and his crew in our game of Salvage Union as they deal with an unexpected attack on Carabis. Piloting mechs in a desperate battle for survival, Royal Team and their allies fight with everything they have to maintain their position in Des Moines.

Content Warnings:

• Violence and combat scenes involving mechs and military engagements
• Injury and graphic descriptions of wounds and explosions
• Death and critical injury of characters
• Themes of grief and mental health struggles

Produced by Paul Privitera. Featuring Jordan Lee Thompson.

Edited by Jordan Lee Thompson.

Music by Tommy Ljungberg.

Cover Art by Maddy Fusco.

Voice over by LIPING VONG.

235 bloom is a collaboration between Des Moines & Dragonsand The Institute for Manufactured Futures. It is a work of speculative fiction taking place in the year 2089. The locations may be real, but any similarity to actual persons or their descendants is unintentional.