the great worker Riot of 2026
The most foundation shaking event in the history of Metropolis was Originally planned out in the mind of Joh Fredersen. With the development of Futura by C.A. Rotwang, Joh envisioned Machines operating the machines of the city, he wouldn't need the imperfect human workers to operate the machines or to plot against him.
The plan was deviously simple. encourage the already agitated workers into rioting. When they leave their posts and or damage the machines, the water pressure in the waterworks surrounding the Worker City would become to great, causing the river to escape its man-made course and flow once again unhindered by human technology. Joh would then hand over the keys to the city over to his son, for him to (re)build and manage as his own.
The plan made itself manifest when Freder Fredersen became involved with Maria. Joh saw Futura (in the guise of Maria) being the spark to ignite the fury of the workers. two things happened that were not part of his plan, the workers found their way to the surface, led by Futura, and his son Freder would go into the destruction below to find the real Maria.
In the ensuing violence and chaos 1/6th of the upper city was destroyed, power grids were knocked out all over the city, SkyRails were knocked off track or derailed completely many with passengers clinging to life within. Once the rioting spilled out into the upper city gangs, criminals and other dissatisfied inhabitants joined in the destruction. Doomsday cults lined the streets in celebration, partaking of the drug Maohee while Desertus and the Goths took to the streets wailing "See Babylon, the Great-! The Mother of Abominations-! Doomsday is breaking-! the destruction of the world-!"
Below ground, the Worker City was completely flooded. The heart-machine, the central dynamo that supply the power to the city was destroyed (surrendered to the workers by Grot at the bidding of Joh Fredersen). Because of the ruptured waterworks, water pressure in the city was reduced to a trickle causing many problems for the firefighters trying to stop the infernos. The impact on human life during this 12 hour episode is staggering, 1000s dead, and tens of thousands hurt. Afterwards, hospitals are filled to capacity leaving thousands without any help at all.