2022
Sometimes reality imitates art. A nod to Charles Dickens and George Orwell.
Chapter 1
It is the best of times, it is the worst of times, it is the age of prosperity and peace beyond what the world could have imagined 200 years ago, yet humankind has developed priorities that substitute the realities of realpolitik for foolish and greedy submission to ideologies based on collectivist theories and the denial of science and basic morality.
There are four great powers in the world. The American Confederation of States (ACS) has the largest economy and a large and powerful military. ACS is aligned with the European Federation (EF) which also has a large economy but does not value a strong military. Many believe EF relies too heavily on ACS for their defense.
Russasia has a large military, significant natural resources, and a population twice the size of ACS. The fourth power is Amerafrica and they align with Russasia. Amerafrica is the weakest of the four powers but has significant opportunity for economic growth. Russaisa is investing money and human capital to assist Ameriafrica in development. In return, Russasia receives access to strategic resources and military facilities.
About five years ago ACS had a bombastic president who spoke his mind. In a meeting with the leaders of EF he chastised them for putting most of their reliance on Russasia for energy. The elites in ACS and EF laughed at him. He lost the next election to an elderly man and this pleased the elites.
Soon after the election a territorial dispute developed between Russasia and EF. There was a localized war and the new ACS president ensured ACS provided EF with weapons, money, and moral support. Many ACS citizens showed their solidarity by displaying EF flags wherever they could.
The EF and ACS, with the help of United Global Peace Organization, implemented trade sanctions against Russasia. This was awkward given EF was dependent on Russasia for energy. No matter. The ACS president said that the new pipeline from Russasia to EF would not last. The pipeline was sabotaged five months later. At almost the same moment, a pipeline from a remote part of EF to the center of EF was completed and ready for operation.
Chapter 2
Mobilization for War
