
Traffic passes through the walls at heavily secured checkpoints, called "gateways", which allow the Authority to strictly control the movement of people and the distribution of consumables, such as food and fuel, which are rationed. Other similar walls have been constructed around neighbouring urban areas, called "blocs", with the whole referred to as a "colony".
Jacob buster series#
One of these walls, 20 to 30 stories tall, many meters thick and many miles in length, surrounds the central part of Los Angeles, where the series is set. Late that day, massive rectangular blocks descended from the sky, linking together to build walls dividing the city. That day began with massive worldwide communication interference and jamming, which came after a weeklong hunt for relevant key figures around the world. The Hosts took control on a day known simply as the "Arrival".

The Authority enforces Host policy via militarized police called Homeland Security and nicknamed the "Redhats" for the red helmet cover of their otherwise black tactical attire.

The symbol of the collaborating forces features stylized birds of prey, or raptors, which gives rise to their nickname, the "Raps". The Authority serves an extraterrestrial group referred to as the "Hosts", about whom little is known until later in the series (an alien robotic race finds itself hunted, who came to Earth to use humans as allies and labor in their own battle). In a dystopian near-future Los Angeles, residents live under a regime of military occupation by an organization known as the Transitional Authority.
