VIII: Proxies and Pox
"Eurasian coalition troops are massing in the Wakhan Corridor in preparation for a possible incursion into Mandate territory. Chairwoman Xi Wei has declared that the Mandate is prepared to deflect any invasion and respond tenfold."
"Chief Commander Sinclair states that while the UAF will support the TOU in its actions against the Mandate, it itself will take a passive role of naval blockade and material support. Many suspect this is due to the ongoing occupation of Mexico."
"In response to uprisings, Urumqi was subject to constant firebombing by Mandate bombers yesterday. Causalities are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands."
"Protests in Dearborn have erupted over perceived UAF inactivity over the Mandate's attack on Mecca."
"I think you've been enjoying the last few lectures a bit too much." Dio's looking at me in a concerned manner.
Not this again…
I simply sigh and roll my eyes towards him. "Like I said before, I don't enjoy death and destruction if that's what you are implying. In fact, I do indeed agree that it's all quite senseless."
"Then why do you seem to be so enthusiastic about all the horrible stuff shown?" While Dio's tone remains pretty critical, he does sound genuinely curious. I guess I can entertain his inquisitiveness.
"Just because I don't enjoy something doesn't mean I'm not fascinated by it.
"Of course there is all the scientific and technical stuff shown, be it mechanical or chemical. I'll admit that I enjoy that. You shouldn't be surprised why a guy like me would be interested in it.
"In some ways, the people of the 22nd century were behind us technologically. No mutts for one, which is a pity. However, in most ways, their technology was actually way more advanced. Look at all their aerial stuff. If anything, through our destructive habits and quests to gain the upper hand over our adversaries, we ironically show our ability to create. Think of all the mundane things we utilize that have some sort of connection to warfare. The good chunk of time, progress is born out of struggle."
I pause a bit, to let some of that sink in. It seems to be having some kind of an impact, judging from the thoughtful expression on his face.
"So in essence, you are saying that progress justifies the slaughter?" He seems cautious in his inquiry.
"I wouldn't put it like that. But… the observation isn't too far off the mark," I admit.
"It doesn't sound like it's worth it. In fact, it sounds needlessly cruel. As if people and societies are nothing but pawns just to achieve an end."
I scoff at that. "Oh come on. Look at the world we were born into. Compassion is well and dandy, but what has it ever gotten us?"
He's almost anticipating that question from the looks of how quick he's to point out, "It brought us the Rebellion and the end to Snow's rule."
And left me without a job.
But at the same time, the Rebellion pretty much saved Dio, and it made my family filthy rich.
Hmm… This discussion is not going the way I had planned.
Before I could retort that the Rebellion itself consisted of warfare, Dio asks me, "What's another reason you find this fascinating?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"What I want doesn't really matter. It's more that I find it important to know." There actually seems to be some, dare I say it, conviction in his tone.
"Alright then. The thing I find most fascinating about this is the human condition. If anything, I find it amusing how everybody's killing each other. I would be lying if I said otherwise.," I explain. "Mind you, it's not the death and maiming itself that I find funny; just everything leading up to it. There just seems to be something about people's penchant towards selfishness, distrust, and stupidity leading them towards their own demise that lends itself towards comedy."
Dio seems to be mulling over his words before responding wryly, "I take it that you laugh at yourself quite a bit then."
To say that his statement takes me by surprise, by a huge degree, is a severe understatement.
"Well lookie here… Seems like the Wolf Pup has some backbone after all," I remark dryly.
He flinches at the nickname, and just like that, said backbone turns back into cartilage as he shakily mutters, "Sorry. I don't know what came over me."
Unbelievable… It takes every fiber of my being to keep from throwing something at him in frustration.
And we were actually having some progress there. Granted, referring to him by that name was uncalled for.
"The hell you apologizing for?" I growl, "If you need to call me out on something, do so. I can take what you dish out."
"Um… but the last time someone told you that you were being unreasonable, you began screaming obscenities, and I had to carry you away. Otherwise, you would have tried to brain him with your ba–"
I hold my hand up to shush him. "First off, we don't mention that in public. Secondly, that asshole's an extreme fuck-nugget of the highest order. Even someone as nice and open-minded as you could acknowledge that fact. Thirdly, see that? You just called me out for something, and nothing bad came of it.
"If something's bothering you, speak up. You'll be all the better for it. Okay?"
"Okay…" Something tells me he's unconvinced about the last part.
Ah well, this conversation has definitely run its course anyways. Hopefully I'll get something productive listening to Suetonius.
I didn't miss much. Our professor's simply going over the Mandate in relation to the other unions.
"The Mandate did not have as much area or overall population as the Eurasian Union. It was also not the economic and technological powerhouse that was the TOU. Not to mention that their allies in the African Union were nowhere near the size and power of the UGA or Arab League. However, it had its own advantages.
"The first factor was its high density of population and enforced conscription. This led it to have the largest army in the world at the time, something that would make a land invasion extremely problematic.
"The second factor was its utilization and funding of proxies throughout the world.
"These proxies were in the form of the various non-governmental militant groups that were common place throughout the world by now. Regardless of ideology, the Mandate would support them through advisers and supplies. It would not be uncommon for there to be several groups of opposing viewpoints to all be Mandate-backed. However, it was more common-than-not for the Mandate to back secular organizations. And after the bombing of Mecca, most Islamists threw off its support of them.
"In any case, the years following the attacks saw a rise in militant activity throughout the, especially in areas with high ethnic tensions already in place. The purpose fo these proxies were so that military forces from adversarial nations would be more focused on stamping them out than on attacking the Mandate itself.
"Also, there was the very evident fact that the UAF still refused to get into direct conflict with the Mandate. This was due to no wanting to get involved into a multi-front war as it was still committed to its military objectives in Mexico.
"In general, the UAF citizens preferred to stay out of the conflicts raging across the oceans. And many attended events and form of entertainment as if nothing was going on, as we see in this footage from 2116."
We're looking at a large arena, with much of it seeming to be covered in vines. The field could be best described as an irregular grassy quadrilateral. The shape's repeated at 1/3 the size and nestled in the acute corner of the field as a dirt path, and the way the players are standing around suggests something familiar…
Ah, it's a baseball game. Though a lot more formal and elaborate than what we're used to. Usually, we'd just find an open area, be it a field or plaza, and play there.
Frankly, I prefer football.
"It's a beautiful day here in the Windy City."
"Beautiful day indeed. Perfect conditions for Game One between the Cubs and Royals."
"It's almost as if Mother Nature were looking fondly upon Wrigley Field. Especially considering that this has been around a century since the Cubs have made it to the World Series."
"Though I wouldn't say that Mother Nature's to be taking any sides here. With fair skies, warm temperatures, and a calm breeze, the weather's supposed to be pretty nice back in Kansas City as well for the rest of the week. And the Royals aren't looking to be making any concessions any time soon."
"We wouldn't wish for it to be any other way."
The announcers banter on back and forth while we look at the field. Two large flags are brought out. One represents the United States; a set of red and white stripes, with a star-filled blue rectangle in the left-hand corner. Another is for the UAF; a stylized bird of prey superimposed over a blue diamond, which itself is superimposed over a red and white background.
A woman in a flashy dress walks to the middle of the field to sing the national anthems of both the US and UAF. The first song seems to talk about some sort of siege and a flag, the US one from the sound of it. The second waxes poetic over mountains, plains, and the fact that the land stretches from "sea to shining sea".
"And now President Richards himself will be here to throw the ceremonial first pitch."
The game gets underway, and I'm wondering what's the point to showing us this.
Suddenly several explosions rock the arena, causing cheers to give way to screams as a wave of panic settles over the spectators. However, there is no fireball or large debris flying around. Instead, a white mist settles over the area. But judging from the fact that nobody is dropping dead or at least going into convulsions hint that it is not a chemical attack.
A view past the arena shows several more puffs of white appearing throughout the city.
"The white mist was an aerosol," Suetonius explains, "which was considered a conductive way of spreading a biological agent around.
"The next couple articles show the immediate reaction to the attacks."
Much of Midwest under Quarantine
October 27, 2116 (233 B.P.) (AP) – ATLANTA, GA – Following the multiple terrorists attack in Chicago, National Guard troops have been deployed to enforce checkpoints at every transport route leading out of the Zone of Quarantine declared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The quarantined area includes all of both the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas, plus the surrounding areas. The cities of Madison, Bloomington, and Indianapolis are also under close watch.
The CDC has confirmed the attacks consisted of both smallpox and pneumonic plague released into the air via aerosol. However, it is not yet known who the culprit was.
CDC Director Elliot Livingston urged calm for the populace.
"We understand that many out there are worried about loved ones residing within the quarantine zone," Dr. Livingston stated, "as well as the potential of contracting the disease. While I encourage all to be vigilant in the face of this, I also stress the importance of keeping a cool head."
This is the first time that smallpox has been seen since it was officially declared eradicated by the World Health assembly in 1980. The eradication was considered to be one of modern medicine's greatest victories. Afterwards, the only two places known to contain the virus were the CDC and the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR in Russia.
The CDC has stated that all samples have been accounted for. No response has been forthcoming so far from the Vector Institute.
For those who wish to be prepared, emergency information can be found on the CDC website.
…
US President Remains Behind in Quarantine
October 28, 2116 (233 B.P.) (AP) – Chicago, IL – President Joshua Richards has been adamant that he not be transported out of the quarantine zone set down by the CDC.
"It is not fair to the rest of the people stuck here for me to have special privileges to leave just because I am the president," said President Richards. "If I left, there would be just as much a risk of spreading the disease as anybody else leaving. I am in good hands here and Washington is in capable hands with Chuck."
Vice-president Charles Stevens is currently being briefed in Camp David as to the current situation.
Smallpox. Plague. Fun stuff.
From what I'm told, smallpox was just beaten into submission around a century ago. The Capitol may have had a significant amount of distaste and contempt towards the districts, but it was pragmatic enough to recognize the costliness of having a deadly and highly-communicable disease jumping around. So they had it more-or-less eradicated from Panem. Though it's said that the virus still ravages the area past the Southern Wilderness.
In the case of plague, the disease has popped up now and again in the cities, but the advantage is that it tends to burn itself out relatively quickly.
In general, I also remember one of the few research restrictions in Central: no development of germ-based weaponry. Yes, even we have some standards.
And what's this? Suetonius is bringing up a video of Chicago to see the effects of the disease on the city.
It is clear that the city is supposed to be a hub of activity. Instead the streets are barren and littered with trash.
Those who are out don't stay out long, moving determinately in huddled groups.
Several bonfires are going throughout the city. Pretty large ones too; many are occupying entire city blocks.
Then it is clear what the purpose of the bonfires are for: cremation.
Each one is stacked high with corpses. Which makes sense as you don't want to leave dead bodies, which used to be sick people, around; that just invites cholera over.
The camera guy settles on an unburnt pile. The bodies are in various stages of mortis; some obviously died recently while others are completely bloated through purification. With the newer bodies, one can see the physical effects of the disease. To put things simply, most people are rendered unrecognizable due to being covered in nothing but scabs and bumps.
"Joint responsibility was soon taken for the attack by the 'Sons of Sonora' and 'Pine Ridge Brotherhood', two major militant organizations. The SoS' stated purpose was to represent and free interred refugees, while the PRB was an aboriginal separatist group.
"Military action against them was swift, and it did not take long for their cells to be uprooted. In the process, a connection was made between the groups and the Mandate, which supplied the germ bombs. It was something that took nobody by surprise.
"Later, similar attacks would occur throughout the TOU, Eurasia, and their respective allies."
The map behind Suetonius shows all the cities the germ attacks went off in. Istanbul, Cairo, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Johannesburg, Tehran, Hyderabad, Sao Paolo, Osaka, Singapore, Sydney…
"It is suspected that the purpose of the attack was to keep the other nations distracted so that they would be more focused on taking care of their sick and hunting down the terrorist organizations, rather than putting their energies towards restricting the Mandate.
"Of course, like their previous sojourn into Mecca, that plan backfired. The TOU and EU more or less ceased their fight against each other to instead focus on the events at hand. And after it was found out who backed the attacks, the UAF no longer took a passive-aggressive stance towards the Mandate but prepared to bring the war to its doorstep."
A/N: Yes, I had America the Beautiful be adopted as the UAF National Anthem. I couldn't think of anything else that could apply to both the US and Canada, even if the parts alluding to "pilgrims" and "patriots" may be stretching things.
