Darjeeling sat quietly reading a book. It was small, red with slightly tattered edges, a gold trim coated the words 'Diary - 2017'. "How much has changed in so short a time" she thought to herself.

She chuckled softly, "you had it all planned out, didn't you...? finally, you'd win the tournament, then with the sports scholarship, and your grades, you'd have had the pick of any University. Oxford you'd chosen right?" she asked herself. Still slowly flicking through the pages. "But then on the last battle, you had the enemy tank in your sights, all your plans hinged on that one word... "Fire"". A feeling of sadness overtook her suddenly...

"You opened your mouth to speak, but then the emergency radio had burst into life"... She struggled to remember the exact details from that moment... her handwritten diary had gone from neat lines, to a scrawl, "I remember Ami ending the match, ordering us to return to our ships and leave port immediately. The sight of UN and Japanese marked helicopters flying overhead as we fled - people running, trying to jump onto our tank, asking to be taken with us. But we were told to keep going and to not stop... That's what the helicopters were for right?"

A small tear formed in her eye, "The news said there was some sort of outbreak, I think?" her thoughts continued... "Your ship left the port, hundreds of smaller ships flanked the large carrier. All people running from what ever it was". Your captain had failed to get on board, and seeing those people on the shore, shouting for help, you stepped up didnt you...? Vowing to protect your people, you sent out boats and took in as many as you could. No one left behind was your motto".

"35,000 people crammed onto the Super Ship, plus the 80,000 crew" She smiled softly. "As you left port, you wondered what would befall Gloriana... Then you received that call".

Your people made you their leader, "Crown protector of the Gloriana Fleet!, then yet to become the commonwealth of today" She smiled softly.

"Then after several days sailing, you hit them, the UN Blockade" Stifling a shudder she closed the book and sighed. "Captain James Parker of HMS Valiant and Admiral of the Eastern reaches, a name she remembered well. You were ordered to turn back right...? every working piece of equipment and anyone who could fight, should fight... That's how the commonwealth formed, an empire carved from ruins."

"As the central government collapsed the UN pulled out, then as it spread, the nations began to crumble. Four states grew and returned. Reconstruction and Sustainability was their official reasoning. Each one secretly hoped to expand influence into the region, assisting the new states based on their old ties. Gloriana was approached by the Neo Britannic Union, giving food, supplies, support as well as skilled training. Saunders by the United States of the American Republic..."

"The Russian Federation approached Pravda and the Greater Empire of Europe contacted Kuromoromine. At least you think so right?" she placed the book back onto the small shelf behind her desk.

"But that doesn't matter though does it? Oxford, the tournaments, starting that business? Its not important in the new world, you just want to protect others. not loose anyone else..."

She sat down and hoped the voice in her head would stop. "But again... you couldn't have stopped it, she hadn't made it back to the ship. Just don't let anyone else down"

*THUNK* a bewildered Rosehip stumbled into the room with a tray of tea. "Sorry!" she exclaimed "I hope i'm not disturbing you!".

"No, no" Darjeeling replied. The voice now silenced in her thoughts. "You came at the right time".