The Beginning

Prologue I

In the second week of the New Year in 2013, the lives of those remaining inhabitants on planet Earth, numbering now a little over two and half billion people, were trying in earnest to resume something akin to a similitude of normality in their wretched existence. For some it might have been closer to what had been, for others it was a living nightmare. The only genuine factor remaining for all, was that there was still life to be lived and that humanity would find triumph in good over evil. Eventually.

A truce had finally been resolved during the previous Christmas, after seven years of utterly senseless war and tragedy, and finally peace seemed to be at hand; albeit teetering and frail. This war having been brought to a timely and hope ful end, had been the most destructive and devastating the planet had ever witnessed; thankful as the remainder of the population were for that end, no nuclear forces were unleashed; still, two thirds of the world's citizens had perished! The ecological changes were immense and even some geographic as well; the Blue-Green Planet was now so much different to only a decade before.

II

JANUARY 2005

The United Nations convened an emergency meeting to deal with the global warming, out of control population growth, worldwide pollution and the threat those situations posed to the future of the world. In March of that year, the UN met again to hear the findings of over two hundred eminent scientists and other researchers from every corner of the globe. The fundamental conclusion drawn from the gathered reports was that poor old Mother Earth was in a terrible state. Too many humans in too many places. To the point where they had become a threat not only to their immediate surrounding habitat but their complete environment and in the end, the whole planet itself. After hearing the varied speeches on these man wrought calamities, a special committee was formed to analyse and probe thoroughly for the solutions so critically needed now. The Assembly was dismissed to reconvene in twenty-one days. In that time, the 'Environment' committee had the unenviable task of providing the awaited answers. On the 28th of March, Professor Xu Zhen Ling, President of the committee, addressed the entire UN Assembly; put simply, the only answer that could be provided was based on his experiences from his native China. Complete and total population control. Coupled together with the most extensive and broad ranging environmental initiatives ever conceived, for the good of the present and the future, the entire package was debated upon and for majority it was well received, nevertheless the issue stagnated.

III

APRIL

The Security Council held a closeted meeting in New York. For though the general framework of Prof. Xu and his committee's scheme had almost universal acceptance, there was a deep problem concerning those few nations who, for whatever reasons were vehemently opposed. India was the most vocal in opposition and went so far as to suggest that other countries with sparse populations and large land masses; Australia and Canada in particular, were in the past, far too selfish with their migration policies and resources. The Great Southern Land, India claimed, could support a twenty-fold increase in their population, brought about by mass migration from those over burdened nations. Their opinion of Canada was not much different. This concept might have appeared even halfway reasonable over a period of many years. Indeed both the aforementioned nations had in recent years taken more than their share of migrants and refugees. But the idea was not the immediate answer, nor was it the Security Councils worry either. The problem was that several countries aligned themselves to India and began circulating the idea that if a sovereign state anywhere in the world that could be deemed as a "lucky" country, would not help this frightening world crisis by accepting such mass migrations as suggested; those countries were not morally fit to share in the World's bounty and continue to exist as a sovereign state. Something drastic had to be brought about and quickly.

A resolution was put before the Assembly, approved by the Security Council and the General Secretary Abu

Bin Mohammed, a resolution that every nation on the planet must abide by...no exceptions. That firstly, those nations containing populations as such, that they were a threat to their own continued existence and that of the surrounding ecological environment, only one child would be permitted to be born into any union of two people. All marriages must be sanctioned by a governing body and the legal age of marriage was raised to twenty-three; male and female living together out of wedlock was forbidden and to be strongly policed. All other nations not affected by the population restrictions would be obliged to follow with a two child per family policy and the age and marriage laws previously mentioned. Furthermore, no country would be forced to accept unacceptable levels of migration which may endanger that countries own survival. Harsh laws, even grossly unfair and draconian to those who had to bare the indignity of a single child family. But there was more. These dictates would be in place for a period of twelve years, after which time a review would ascertain the impact of these enactments. In addition to this, no state or nation whatsoever would be permitted to empty atmospheric or water-born pollutants of any kind, unless made absolutely environmentally stable or bury any type of toxic waste anywhere upon the earth; logging of surviving native forests was outlawed and the replanting old forests were to be established.

These were not simply proposals, they were made International Law and the Security Council had been granted the power to do so in 2004. There would be no debate on them within the UN Assembly. The last portions of the laws were accepted broadly and though they would be exceptionally costly to implement, even to the wealthiest of nations; these measures were viewed as directly dealing with a universal problem. Surprisingly, though seen as difficult to accomplish, wisdom prevailed over the minds of world leaders and the part of the enactment, labelled the 'The World Environment Bill', was accepted without further discussion. Yet the dissenting voices on the first part of the laws created pandemonium, probably heard in every corner of New York City. With India leading the chorus and countries such as Iran, Iraq, Albania, Serbia, Syria, Romania, Colombia, Angola, Cuba, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan and a few others lending support ( most coming from central Africa and the northern part of South America ) a demand was made for debate on the issue. But the numbers were against the dissenters, the General Secretary called for calm, to no avail. The delegates of those countries prompt ly withdrew from the Assembly and publicly stated they would have nothing to do with these new laws.

The entire Assembly was thrown face first into total chaos. Arguments were put forward to amend the laws, so as to in some way placate the dissenting parties, some representatives even coming to blows within the hollowed Hall. But there was to be no amendments. On the 3rd of April letters were dispatched by special courier envoy to the Heads of Government of every nation and state in the World. The new laws must be adhered to without diversions. Any government disregarding a part or the whole part of these enactments would be blacklisted for Aid Programmes, financial assistance from either the IMF or the World Bank would be withdrawn and all trade with those countries severely limited to emergency food, water and medical supplies. In other words their fate would rest in their own hands. Those countries who required the technological and financial assistance to implement any part of the two "Bills" , would be given every support necessary. Replies of agreement and requests for aid were required within twenty-one days. Harsh, even some would say later it was cruel, but these measures had to be done or else the predictions were profoundly austere. The world as we knew it, was dying by our own doing and would be uninhabit able within a hundred years.

IV

THE WINDS OF WAR

On the twenty-second of April an agent of the American CIA returned to Washington, with news that the Indian Parliament was on the verge of accepting both parts of the new laws. He expressed profound concern though, that a Colonel in one of northern-based infantry regiments was openly airing his view that India should not budge from its stance in spurning the entire package. The agent was ordered to return to India and neutralise the Colonel if he could possibly do so, or to take him captive. Shortly after arriving in Ludhiana the operative was never heard from or seen again.

APRIL 24th

The final day all letters of intent had to be received at the UN Headquarters. With the exception of Albania, no correspondence was in hand from India or any of the other nations who had taken the same posture. Indeed a few had joined the number. Albania had been strongly coerced by its long-time ally China, decided to follow the majority.

Time waited patiently. By November of that same year the Earth had registered its longest period of drought, globally, in human history. It was truly a global catastrophe. Already crippled with overburdening populations, this was the final element to create the anarchy that was to follow. Crop losses affected every nation, but none more than those countries who had to rely for most part on imports for their sustenance, or those whereby under the best of circumstances, food production barely gave them survival.

DECEMBER

By Christmas the situation had reached a point that would be difficult, or even impossible to escape from; in the short term at least. The world wide reserves had been depleted to such a degree, which even nations traditional in abundance found themselves with an overwhelming shortfall; coupled with a monumental problem of over fishing in all the seas in vain attempts to combat the protein deficiencies from lack of tolerable livestock production, starvation and malnutrition were rife amongst the poor.

Black-market was now rampant on such degrees that legitimate businesses were powerless in becoming in volved. Reports of cannibalism were rumoured in even the most affluent regions of the world. Household pets became fodder for ravening gangs and the seeds of war were now well and truly planted. If the world lost millions of lives then, it was incomparable to what was to come.

JANUARY 2006

On the 3rd of January the UN received advice that the Indian Parliament had suffered a coup d'état and a Colonel Sheik Rhamil had assumed total power, naturally martial law was observed, brutally. Six days later the essential core states, who aligned themselves to India's stance, formed a partnership of mutual cooperation that was to be later titled the "Unholy Alliance". A Treaty was signed between those nations for their "Self Preservation", thou gh the whole facade was purely militarily driven.

Yet naively the UN could only see the Alliance as a means for the signatory countries aiding each other to skirt the trade and financial embargo's placed on them, in light of their refusal to accept the new laws enacted by the Security Coun cil. Nevertheless the Alliance was soon seen for what it genuinely was, a Coalition of War. Three days after the pact was signed, India invaded the much weakened states of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, had troops advance through the borders of Myanmar, Nepal and with a speed reminiscent of the German 'Blitzkrieg' of WWII, armoured and infantry divisions overran Pakistan in less than five days. The army was well supported on both sides by its Air element and that of Iran's and kept the savage momentum going deep into Afghanistan. On the 27th the combined forces of Iran and India joined together in celebration of their glorious victory on the high slop es arou nd the shattered and decimated town of Khaldar.

The whole world was horror-struck. Appeals of withdrawal went unheeded, both countries claiming pre colonial sovereignty over the now occupied territories and both nations receiving moral and physical support from their Alliance partners. Verily, the antagonism that had survived for countless years between Iraq and Iran was literally washed away overnight. They were now firm allies. Still, to their credit, the rest of the world was vehement in their condemnation of these acts of all out war; at the same time though no nation dared to intervene, for fear of creating total World War. In the hearts and minds of all, there still lingered the hope that common-sense would prevail and the aggressors fall back, so that peace and the rebuilding of the Earth could once more govern humanity's passion for survival.

A stalemate ensued for the next two months, then without any pre intelligence warning whatsoever (as the Alli ance Partners had made absolutely certain, all foreign agents and correspondents of the press were either expelled weeks prior to these events, or eliminated ) a devastating rain of horrible death fell upon almost the entire Northern Hemisphere. A new and exotic chemical weapon had developed by a large team of scientists (recruited from both east and west upon the usual offer of substantial reward ), to be delivered by surface, submarine, conventional air launch and even suicide squads using small portable launchers. With all the Alliance partners in volved, they had effectively managed to cover an enormous area. More or less without exception, every major population centre ( barring of course their own lands and possessions ) north of 30° latitude had been hit.

The effectiveness of this weapon was instantaneous. The moment the substance of the gaseous chemical was inhaled by any animal form, asphyxiation besieged the breathing and life ceased within seconds. Whether intentional or not, history may never reveal, for there were certain ingredients in this substance that was unusual to say the least. For the events immediately after showed the chemical to consist of very light gases; the slightest bree ze carried it far and that was, the principal factor in its widespread devastation. However, if there is any fortune in the folly of war, it was evidenced that this chemical weapon had an outstanding imperfection, at least as far as a weap on of mass destruction is concerned. Vegetation thrived on the substance, to the degree plants grew at a fearful rate. Trees began to germinate out of season, roads and the massive slabs of concrete man loved so well began to break up from the new-found power of nature. Once the combined components of the gas came into cont act with solid mat ter, such as buildings and the like, the potency of the weapon was neutralised and in that tens of thousands of lives were saved. Underground workers, people in subways or even entire buildings that were sealed from the outside airs, or for some quirk of fate, air-conditioning systems had failed or were inoperative, survived. Be that as it may, uncountable millions died and the survivors at first were thoroughly dismayed. Even so survival brought people together, they in turn brought nations together and the initial aims of the Alliance to enfeeble the more powerful Northern Hemisphere governments stalled. Plans that obviously had been long in the making grou nd to a halt, but alas it now was too late, the World again found itself at war.

V

THE NEW WORLD ORDER

Those left to pick up the pieces of what remained of the free world bound themselves together as one, irres pective of race, religion or political leaning. Though in numerical manpower, the states of the Northern Hemisphere were now much less than their aggressors. However the combined technological superiority of those countries tipped the balance so that the two sides found themselves standing toe to toe. The countries of the Southern Hemisphere looked on in horror and Governments begged their northern neighbours to the peace table, but it was a total waste of time, the Alliance had chosen their path and were determined to follow it. In the midst of weighing the measure of aid to lend, just forty-eight hours after the last of the chemical weapon attacks above the equator abated ( which in total lasted five days ), attacks by air and submarine launch ed conventionally armed missiles rain ed down upon South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, New Zealand and Australia. And though above the equator, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the greater part of south-east Asia, which were not affected by the initial chemical strikes; now found themselves besieged by air raids emanating direct from the Sub-Continent. Valiantly those brave countries held out for seven days and when they were looking straight down the barrel of complete annihilation; help arrived at the last moment with the arrival of a combined Naval fleet (which at the time the attack on the Northern Hemisphere began, were conducting exercises of the north west coasts of Australia and south west of Java). The fleet consisted of units from France, Great Britain, Japan, Indonesia, the Far East Russian Federation, the US, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Within their midst they counted no less than five Aircraft Carriers, nine guided missile cruisers and twenty-two air defence destroyers and such was the force they brought to bare on the archipelago, the Alliance was compelled to beat a retreat from that theatre, though it required a month and a half before the attacks finally subsided.

Regardless of that, the battles raged around the world for the next six years, with neither side gaining total supremacy. Further more, the floods of refugees going south of the equator, threatened to create a separate war zone in those regions as well. In the end, someone on both sides of the conflict, had to realise, that if things continued at this level of ruin and destruction, there would be not a soul left to pay the butcher's bill.

DECEMBER 2012

TRUCE?

On the 9th of the month a truce was signed in Hong Kong on the deck of the FNS (Free Nations Ship) Mercury, a Guided Missile Cruiser of the Pacific fleet. Alas it was too late, the world was now only a shell of its former self. For out of the ashes of this brutal and savage hostility a very changed world had evolved, the impact that the chemical weapons had on the nature of things spread over the entire globe, proclaimed the re-emergence of an ancient force. For even though the attacks of those weapons had been focussed entirely in the northern parts of the planet; the side effects upon vegetation and flora were universal, the agents contained in the chemicals being circulated on the worlds air currents and finding a way into the food chain. Places once considered deserts, now were overrun with plant life, encouraging new animal life forms to multiply and diversify. In settled lands, even cities, it became a constant struggle to not only live under the umbrella of war, but to also battle against the ceaseless encroach ments of the plant world. So many towns became cities of tree s, as in the end people gave up the fight with a vengeful Mother Nature. Some believed it was her payback for the centuries of abuse we showered upon her realm.

So with the planet far greener now than it had been for un-guessed millennia, the animal kingdom began to reassert itself because of the habitats returning that at one time seem lost forever. Some wildlife appeared to be returning from the brink of extinction, some even returned that were thought to be extinct. The rainfall increased globally and the tropical borders of the world expanded; the much feared global warming predicted at the end of the last century, which started to become a reality at the beginning of this century, went into hiding. The seasons embarked on a new dimension of readjustment, and the borders between tropical, sub tropical, temperate and Arctic were once again more easily defined, not blurred as a decade or so ago. The smaller human population meant that the threats of the past to the natural world might recede or even disappear altogether; it was this much reduced number of humanity that had to now garner lessons from the past and start life anew.

Many of the old realms survived, for the most part, by virtue of the sheer geophysical size, such as the US, Canada and The Russian Commonwealth. Others by retaining governments in exile in host countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil and Argentina. There were some of course that vanished completely. But overall the borders of what was now called the "Free Nations" could be defined roughly in the following manner.

China lost a significant part of its south west territories, a line from Ta Kao on the Sino-Vietnam border, through to Ya án in Szechuan, then west to Aral in Xinjiang Uygur and up to the border of Kyrgyzstan at Pobedy Peak..In the north, the provinces of Jilin and Heilong Jiang were taken by the Alliance armies out of North Korea and at last the peninsular was whole again, albeit under the control of Pyongyang. The Russian Commonwealth lost practically everything south of latitude 45°north, to the eastern shor es of the Caspian Sea, but gained a strategic part of Iran around Tabriz. A no-mans land existed through the middle of Turkey, centred around Malatya and out to the Aegean Sea. From that corner of the world, the Alliance held sway below latitude 37°north, through Greece and across to the 40° line in Italy (where Sardinia was lost com pletely). The remainder of Mediterranean Europe was split below Valencia in Spain, across to Badajoz, then straight to Compor ta in Portugal.

Africa was left free in the far south, with the northern border of Namibia, the western borders of Zambia and Tan zania and the west and northern borders of Kenya, being the dividing line. In the Americas, the defining line ran from the northern border of Chile, cutting a swathe through Brazil to Macapá on the Atlantic side. Northern America lost most of Louisiana, west of the Mississippi, through to Texas, 20 kilometres south of Dallas and then in a line across to San Clemente in California.

In the Far East, the Philippines lost Mindanao; Malaysia ceded a small part of Borneo (Kalimantan) north of 5° and Indonesia forfeited a part of Sumatra above the town of Padang and the small island group to the west. Australia did not escape freely either. Savage battles were fought around the Kimberly area, the Alliance at one time holding territory from Derby to the Fitzroy River in the ranges and right up to Wyndham. But the allies of the FNF prevailed and eight months before the end, evicted the enemy and taking thousands of prisoners. Sadly though, the Christmas Island group was never regained.

Japan suffered greatly, the proud island nation did not cede an inch of its sacred soil, yet the cost was high. After losing so much from the gas attacks and the cons tant hammering from the Korean side, which hardly faltered a moment throughout the war, the people who remained fought bravely but with little inspiration. The government urged the Emperor to flee to Australia with so many others that went that way, but he steadfastly refused. With steely determination, with what was left of her military and the assistance of other Federation forces, Japan managed to cling on desperately right to end, if only because of the Emperor. In spite of everything that was done, in the end there were only about five million citizens left on all the major islands when hostilities ceased.

Back in Europe all was not as should be. In the last months of the war, the people grew so weary of the whole frightful affair, a revolution was constantly threatening the war effort. With all the Royal houses re moved to Australia, New Zealand or South Africa for the perceived safety to be had in those places, most of the European members of the Federation struggled to keep public support for the ongoing conflict. Finally, middle Europe collapsed in all-out anarchy, France became divided between Federation forces and roving bands of criminal Warl ords who sought to wrest power from the provincial Governors and Great Britain went much the same way. Chaos ruled for a while and if not for the signing of the truce, would have won the day.

The rest of what was left of the world, had to contend by siding with one side or the other. Some tried to take a neutral stand if they could, or at the very least, appear to do so.

This then was how the Earth came to be in this year of 2013. Strange, different to what most were born to, yet somehow surviving in the pursuit of the ever turning wheel of life, for whatever it had to offer.