Context
War‑era story focused on John Connor and Marcus Wright in the ruins of 2018.
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Historical Record
In 2018 the public hears more military acronyms than music on the radio. Test ranges expand, surveillance tightens, and recruitment ads trade on fear of a future that looks increasingly mechanical. Factories pivot to contracts; universities split between curiosity and caution. Communities near bases and plants become experts in sirens and shelter-in-place orders as the horizon fills with drones.
The year matters because it normalizes extraordinary security. Procedures designed for war become daily habit, and with habit comes blindness. Historians of the period will later note how the language of ‘temporary’ measures tends to become permanent when machines inherit our patience for routine.
Related
When does Terminator Genisys take place? (2017) — Timeline
When does Terminator: Dark Fate take place? (2020) — Timeline
FAQ
Q: When does Terminator Salvation take place?
A: Terminator Salvation takes place in 2018.