Which post-apocalyptic world do you choose?

[Sionnach Glic]

Okay, here are three post-apocalyptic futures from various sci-fi series. All have their pros and cons. Now, Q pops up one day, and decides to screw with you. He's going to send you to one of these hell holes, but he's going to give you the choice of which one you want to go to.
Now, you're not coming back, so you'll have to think carefuly, and figure out which one to survive in. In all these scenarios, you'll be a member of the local resistance force and will be trained in how to use the weapons of that universe.
Here are your choices:

The Matrix
You are dropped into Zion, the last remaining human city, ten years before Neo arrives. Zion itself is hidden deep underground, and well defended. The human race is under threat from the Machines; a race of sentient....well, machines. They control the surface completely, and are actively hunting down humans. Some they kill, others they forcibly trap in the Matrix; a simulation of modern-day Earth. However, as you have none of the implants necessary to connect to the Matrix, you cannot enter it in any way.
You are a crewman on one of the humans' flying hovercraft, which periodicaly leaves the safety of Zion to approach the surface to allow some members of the crew to enter the Matrix for various reasons.

Pros:
Zion itself is well defended.
Your enemies are pathetic; the only ranged weapons they have are floating bombs which could likely be shot down by a competant gunner.
They know how to party.

Cons:
Everyone in this universe is incompetant.
If you do get grabbed by one of the machines, your death will be messy (torn apart).
The entire planetary surface is screwed up, as humanity covered the sky with an impenetrable black smoke which blots out the sun, thus preventing enough sunlight to get through to grow plants. The lack of plant also means that there are few, if any, animals left on the planet.

Terminator
It is ten years before John Conner leads the humans to victory over the super-computer, Skynet. You are a member of the resistance in whatever city you are currently in now. Constant danger comes from the legions of mechanical warriors that are permanantly hunting the resistance down, and the increasingly sophisticated Infiltrators that are designed to look human.

Pros:
People in this universe are quite smart.
Although the world is devastated from constant warfare, it should be possible to restore civilisation after Skynet is defeated.

Cons:
Dangerous enemies, who are hard to kill and armed with powerful weapons.
Very high probability of getting killed.

Half-Life
The vast alien empire known as the Combine have taken over the world, and enslaved humanity. It is ten years before Gordon Freeman will arrive to lead the rebellion against the opressors. You remain in whatever city you are currently in now, though it is under the brutal control of the Combine. Where the centre of the city used to be, is now the Citadel; the Combine's headquarters in this region. Humans in this reality are brutaly treated, civilians are beaten or killed, seemingly for the amusement of the troops doing it.
You are a member of the resistance in your city.

Pros:
It's the closest to Modern Earth, and the world hasn't been reduced to rubble.
People here are about as competant as in real life.
If you do die, at least it'll be quick.

Cons:
The Combine seem to be raping Earth of all natural resources, even the sea level appears to have fallen by quite a bit. This could result in difficulties when you try to restore civlisation.
You're up against a massive empire, said to span multiple universes.
The enemy is highly competant. Raids on resistance bases are common, and the enemy has no qualms about murdering civilians en masse to get to their targets.

So, which universe do you choose to try to live in?

[Tsukiyumi]

Good one, Rochey.

I'd probably go with the Matrix, if only because I'd be considerably more competant than the majority of folks (as you pointed out). Plus, like you said, they know how to party.

[Sionnach Glic]

Good one, Rochey.

Thanks. This mostly came about due to me being incredibly bored.

I'd probably go with the Matrix, if only because I'd be considerably more competant than the majority of folks (as you pointed out). Plus, like you said, they know how to party.

True, but there's the fact that you'll spend the rest of your life in a cramped underground city surounded by idiots.

[Tsukiyumi]

True, but there's the fact that you'll spend the rest of your life in a cramped underground city surounded by idiots.

Better to reign in hell...

And, the city wasn't that bad. You should see where I live now...

[Sionnach Glic]

I suppose so.

I'm interested in hearing from whoever voted for Half-Life, though, as that's quite a vicious place to be.

[Tsukiyumi]

... I still haven't played HL2...

[Sionnach Glic]

You really should. I has a great plot, and the game itself brings "awesome" to a whole new level.

[Tsukiyumi]

Oh, I've seen it; I'm just unsure my five-year old (albeit recently upgraded) system can run it worth a crap...

[Aaron]

Terminator. I'd rather fight a seemingly hopeless fight with good people than live with morons who can't armour their mechs or be a subject of the Combine.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Terminator for me, too.

[Tholian_Avenger]

Skynet is assured of destruction.

[Monroe]

Half-life2. I think it has a happy-ish ending at the end of the series. Not sure though.

[mwhittington]

I'd say Matrix, too. I liked the movies, and dude, the party was off tha hook!

[Bryan Moore]

Do we consider Serenity to be post-apocalyptic, what with Earth being rendered uninhabitable and all?

[Sionnach Glic]

I suppose you could. But I'm going for scenarios where the human race is on the brink of extinction due to an attack by enemies.