The day is progressing rather well, she notes. She is in the old Boeing as it flies over the airspace of Panem, sneaking by the former Hawaiian Islands and their radar stations out there. The air is tense as she peers out the windows, watching the fighter jets as they fly alongside the bigger plane. Martha's eyes are hard, and she is half expecting a group of Panemian hoverplanes to come swooping in, intent on either shooting them down or forcing them to divert course. The last of the two options she would prefer, but in light of recent tensions she has no doubt that they'd shoot down the old Boeing.

But thankfully nothing is coming in. She knows that things are always on edge, especially given the fact that the rest of the world is still in a Dark Ages of sorts. Her eyes narrow as she peeks out the window.

Martha is far from confident in the plane's safety given how close they are to Panem's borders. But she also knows that South America has held its own for a century against their incursions, and she feels somewhat proud of that fact. The comm beeps and her hand flies to it.

"Go," she says.

"Madam Vice President, we're approaching South American Airspace. We'll be within range in ten minutes," the pilot reports. "Also, the President has a message for you. He says it's rather urgent."

"I'll take it in here," Martha replies.

The pilot redirects the signal directly to her room, and she takes it on her commset.

"I'm here, Seph," she states.

"Good... Because we have a situation..." Seph says seriously.

(The scene shows a small flame before darkness snuffs it out. But a small ember burns...)

Hikari ga tsudzuku... ! (The ember is blown away, becoming one of many as the sun begins to rise beyond a war-torn town.)

Hikari ga tsudzuku... ! (The light from the sun overcomes the camera and it fills the screen before fading to show the skyline of Sydney and the name of the series.)

Yami ga sono tochi o shuchō suru kamo shirenai (The image flares before it shows two people trapped in a ruined structure in what was once Shanghai. They are both shaking and are wounded from shrapnel.)

Shikashi, kibō wa enjo no te o kasu (A pair of explosions rocks the area and they huddle and whimper before someone lifts the debris off the two of them. It is a group of Australian soldiers.)

Sekai ga kawaru to (The soldiers help the two children to their feet before one of them grabs a grenade and throws it at some bandits coming to pillage. The grenade explodes before the debris falls away, exposing the ruins of Europe, Marshal Sergei Kudryavtsev's image over the continent, King Lawrence III opposing him over Europe as well.)

Furui risō wa moe tsudzukeru (The scene is engulfed in a bright flash as it shows Korean soldiers storming through city ruins in what was once Seoul, South Korea, carrying Panemian weaponry as rebels fight back desperately. Above them is Ahn Sun Pok, her face twisted into a sneer as she holds her hands upwards, as if mocking the world's helplessness. Behind her is the Panemian Vice President while President Kane is off to the side, gazing at the sky.)

Kieru hikarinonakade (With a wave of her hand, she commands the forces to open fire on rebel positions. Missiles rain down, the black smoke engulfing the area before it is blown aside by a hoverplane.)

Kurayami ga hirogaru ni tsurete (The hoverplane is painted in Arabian colors, and on top of the imposing palace is Muthasim V, the sultan. He looks back as it fades to a map, showing the Egyptian Union breaking away from them. But then it shows the country turning a bluish green as it fades to show a new figure in the shadows.)

Watashitachi no kibō wa tsudzukudeshou (The figure holds up its right arm before it lunges out, coming into the light to reveal Seph Matthews as he swings his beam saber mounted onto his right arm, cutting through a bandit before spinning and cleaving another's gun in two, following up with a left hook leaving him dazed. He turns, his left optics lens flaring red as it engulfs the screen.)

Watashitachi ga mada ikite iru kagiri (The light fades to show three other members, all of them gathered around in front of the Meldney Complex. To the left is Japanese Empress Yuki Minaguma. To the right is Filipino President Gueo Largina. And in the middle is Taiwanese President Chae Yang Un. Behind them the flag of the Australian Confederation flutters before the camera zooms in on it, only for it to fall away.)

Un, hikari ga tsudzuku! (The image of Sydney is revealed, above it Seph and his fellow leaders side by side with the sun behind them, the Australian Confederation flag above them all as the series name appears below them.)

Chapter 8: Me Against the World

Location: En Route to Brasilia, Air Force One - Panemian Airspace

Time: 2100 hours

Date: Wednesday, 17 May, 0139 AF (2158 AD)

"You gotta be kidding me!"

Martha's eyes are wide as she hears the news.

His voice is solemn as he gives the report. "No. I'm not, mate. They... They did..." His tone is filled with anger and she hears him slam his right fist against the wall. She only hopes he doesn't leave a dent in the wall of the office; the last one left a nice-sized hole.

"Seph... What else happened?" Martha asks, trying to bring him back on topic.

She can hear his sigh before he resumes speaking. "Basically they left the rigs... but they also..." She can hear him groan. "I can't believe they asked us to do this... But... they needed some help in controlling and taking out a rogue general by the name of Wei Feng... We have to work alongside Pok and her ilk, and a group of Panemians..." She swears she can hear him grimace over the comm. "...and they offered us something big. Said that if we help them reclaim the territory... we can have it all. Shanghai...and Hangzhou... along with the eastern coastline..."

Now that gets Martha.

"They really offered that?" she asks.

Seph's silence is enough to confirm. "And... they would let our spies live... all of them. No strings attached," he adds.

"Seph... think this through," she cautions.

"I have been, Martha. And to be honest... I'm rather repulsed at what they're doing. But... they're also offering something I'm tempted to go with..." he admits. "I'm torn on this whole issue. And frankly, I'd rather eat kangaroo dung than work with those barbarian freaks... Especially after what they did to Vernon."

"I understand, Seph, but..." Ever the sharp woman, Martha has seen an opportunity to reduce Pok's control of China and Asia. "Think about this for a moment. They're offering a chance to do what we've wanted to do: reduce North Korea's borders. And that's something we need to seize upon. Any chance to reduce their influence and give people back their hopes and free will over there." She is silent for a moment before she continues. "I know you don't like it, and neither do I. But this means that we can also launch more containment ops if Panem tries to sneak closer to Japan."

Seph is silent for a moment. He realizes she has a good point, but the risks remain. Finally, he sighs and nods. "You're right, Martha. I'll keep that in mind. But also... I'm not going to sit by and do nothing. I know the Games are going on and all, but I'll have my satlink hooked up so I can at least be aware of what's happening."

Martha frowns, knowing the importance of staying behind, but she knows also he needs to get out there to keep an eye on things from Pok's end, and to keep a sharp eye on Panem's forces to make sure they don't try anything. "All right, mate. But be careful. I don't like you going out there at this time..."

The President nods. "I'll keep that in mind, Martha. I'll be careful." He closes the comm and she turns back to the matter at hand.

The plane flies over the old Mexican airspace, but as before, nothing comes out to greet them.

Or so she thinks.

The next thing the Vice President knows, she's thrown back as the plane is suddenly forced to juke to the left. The pilot gets on the comm to her. "Madame Vice President, I strongly urge you to buckle up and hold on tight! We got Mexis inbound in old jets from Before the Fall!" he barks.

Martha scrambles to her feet and gets into the seat closest to her, buckling up as she peers out the window. She can see the lights of the cities within Panem's borders, as well as the faint lights of Mexico as they flicker; Mexico is now a haven for warlords, like that in China. She grits her teeth as the old jets give chase after the Boeing. She watches as the escort jets begin to engage with the Mexican planes, juking and diving, firing missiles or just trying to get locks with their guns.

The bandits - that's what she thinks of them as - attempt to get past the Australian pilots, but they are not as skilled as their opponents. The Australian pilots are far better, having fought against Chinese warlord air forces before. The first jet that is shot down is an old F-5E Tiger, its fuselage battered and beaten with age. The wreckage spirals down and Martha turns her head away. She has other things to focus on.

She braces as the old Boeing jerks to the left, and she hears faint popping sounds as flares are released from the underside of the aircraft as a shrieking sound from behind sends chills down her spine. She knows that sound from her years in the Australian Air Force: AGM-65 Mavericks, an old missile from before the Apocalypse. She is surprised that these guys still have a stash, but she ignores it as she hears the missiles explode upon striking where the flares are. What she does not expect next is a sudden sinking in her stomach as the plane begins to climb, and she hears the familiar sound of a warning siren. She clasps her hands over her ears and then there is a sudden shuddering as the plane rattles from letting loose its payload of sonic explosives. The sound is piercing, and even though the plane has climbed above the projected radius, it still makes her ears ring.

Martha finally removes her hands from her ears and peeps out the window as the plane finally levels off above the combat zone.

She is worried, not just for her safety, but for the pilots too. Even though they are skilled, there are just too many bandits for them to handle.

At least until the pilot comes on.

"Ma'am... we have inbound bogies. They are stating that they are friendlies, and are coming to provide cover for us so our escorts can resume their job," he says.

Martha presses the comm button on the seat's armrest. "Did they say who they are?" she asks.

The pilot's voice is filled with excitement and relief. "They did, ma'am. The blokes said they're from the South American Protectorate."

That's all the news she needs to hear.

She lets out a sigh of relief as the fighter jets of the South American Protectorate come up beside the old Boeing. She can see that despite their age, the old F-5s are in good shape. They are more modernized, with better electronics suites and more up to date weaponry, but their old airframes are still sound. A huge relief as seeing hoverplanes are limited in their operational ceiling. The planes fly in a circle before they come up alongside, revealing the Brazilian Air Force insignia on their fuselages and wings. Martha watches as the lead plane waggles its wings and the pilot banks to the right, leading the old Boeing into its descent. The large aircraft follows behind the flight of four planes, their escort aircraft coming back alongside them.

The trip takes only an hour to reach the capital city of Brasilia. The city is a mixture of old and modern architecture, some of it from Before the Fall, and some of it After the Fall. It is a unique skyline which shows how much has changed in the years after the Apocalypse War. She isn't too surprised, but what she is surprised at is how many buildings are starting to become overgrown with vines and jungle growth. Or at least the stuff is being kept in check and is shown to be growing to the shape of the buildings, leading to a very natural look, as if the buildings are actually trees instead of man-made structures.

The planes finally arrive near the airport of Brasilia, and the Boeing circles in after getting permission from the air traffic control tower. Unlike beforehand, when Seph went to Spain, this time there is a full group of military personnel assembled to greet the plane as it taxies up to the terminal. A staircase is rolled up to the doorway and the door is unlocked by the Secret Service agents with her. Martha stands up and makes her way out to meet the official coming to greet her.

As soon as she sets foot on the tarmac though, she is surprised to see that a man in his late fifties is coming to greet her. He has tan skin and dark hair with brown eyes, and he is clad in a suit with a single flag pinned to the lapel. He wears no tie, and his face is clean shaven, with sharp features, and his right eye is blind, indicating he is an ex-soldier like Seph.

Martha eyes the flag on his suit's lapel, noticing how it is the same design as the Brazilian one, but it contains an image of the entire South American continent, excluding Mexico. She looks into his eyes. "Director Rubens Belo?" she asks.

The man is silent as he looks her up and down with his one good eye. He doesn't say a word as he steps closer and analyzes her from head to toe. Martha is calm, but wary as she watches him take in her five foot eleven height and muscular build, her long sandy blonde hair and blue eyes, and her poise with a hint of swagger from her years as an Air Force pilot. Finally he holds up a hand. "That's me," he says in thick accented English. "And you are the Vice President of the Australian Confederation, yes?"

She nods and takes his hand. "Yes. I am. Martha Preston."

The Director of the South American Protectorate looks over at the old Boeing, whistling as he takes in the grey color scheme. "I have to admit, to do what you did is incredibly corajoso* in this day and age," he says.

"Well, given the circumstances, it's only necessary, given how few of the world's peoples remain," Martha points out. "And of how selfish some blokes can be." Her eyes harden as she looks in the direction of Panem.

Belo nods his head as he turns and clasps his hands behind his back. "I know exactly what you mean, Senhora* Preston. They have been after our resources for so long, it's not even funny to think about anymore." He looks back over his shoulder at her. "That is why we have enacted the fire defenses of our ports."

She nods as she walks after him. He guides her to a vehicle that looks as if it's been restored from Before the Fall. Much to her surprise, it's an old semi truck that's been converted into a mobile command center. The trailer is armored and the truck itself has had the safety glass replaced with bulletproof glass while the tires and suspension have been modified to handle any terrain. Other features she suspects include an air filtration system and perhaps its own oxygen supply. She doesn't ask though, instead asking why a semi truck in place of a limo or Jeep.

Belo is silent for a moment and sighs. "This was the closest thing we could get to a mobile bunker, given the potential for rebellion in the aftermath of the Guerra do Apocalipse*. The first director had it built because we lack enough resources and heavy industry to build a sufficiently deep enough bunker system. And even now we still lack such capabilities. But this has lasted for well over a century, so if it is not broken, why fix it?" he states, looking back at her as the two make their way to the back of the trailer.

"That is a good point. Why do you think we kept that old Boeing?" she remarks with a grin.

He smiles back as he holds out a hand to help her aboard, but she politely waves it off and grabs the edge before flipping herself into the back. Belo climbs up the ladder close to him and the ladder folds up as two agents for the Directorate Protection Commission close the doors behind them. The doors are latched and then lights flicker on, revealing the interior of the container to have been filled with a table, nice flooring, and advanced electronics. A faint hum confirms Martha's suspicions of an air filtration system, and she is motioned to sit down.

Martha takes a seat close to the doors and Belo joins her, sitting across from her.

"I'm sorry if there is no refreshment at the moment," he apologizes, but Martha waves it off.

"No big deal. I can go without for now," she says.

Belo nods and presses a button beside his chair. A screen built into the table flips up to show the driver. "Chavez, take us back," he says.

The driver nods and then she feels the trailer start to move. The screen closes down and retreats into the table as Belo tents his fingers and looks her in the eyes. "So, mind me asking why you flew halfway across the world to see me?"

Martha is silent before she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a flash drive. "I should've brought a laptop, but..." She shrugs helplessly.

The Director frowns as he eyes it before he holds out a hand. She slides it across the table and he grabs it. He opens it and sticks it into a slot on the table as a screen and keyboard pop out of hiding. She is impressed, but keeps it under control as he starts looking through the data, and his eyes narrow. "So... that's it, hm?" he asks. He looks her in the eyes again. "You brought this to us because...?"

"We're seeking an alliance," Martha explains. "Not to destroy Panem, but rather to contain them. We've been having incursions with them until recently, and well... things are starting to become complicated in light of recent events." She quickly outlines the situation and then goes into depth about the reality of Panem and of how most leaders of advanced nations across the globe are ignoring the fact that the world has only so much to give, and even about the Hunger Games. She shows what footage she has recorded, and then Belo is silent.

He purses his lips as he puts his hands in front of his mouth. "I see... We know of the Jogos Vorazes* from observing through hacking their TV broadcasts. And I have to admit... that is something we condone as well. Children are the future, yes? To enact such a bloodsport is going against what they preach."

"Now do you see why we have to enact containment protocols?" Martha asks. "As it stands, we've got an edge in one area, and that is we are able to hurl a thermonuclear fusion explosive-laden ICBM in their direction. We also have been harassing their naval assets into leaving our rigs alone, but who knows how long it's going to be before they change their bloody minds again?" Her eyes are hard as she places her hands on the table. "And a few years back, they attacked several of our floating farms to steal the crops there. We've been also trying to outpace them with advances in weapons tech-"

She is cut off when the Director raises a hand. "I know about your efforts, and don't think that we're ignorant of your little top secret weapon, either. We've seen the results." A smirk crosses his face. "Very clever, developing such a thing."

Her eyes widen. "How did you...?" She is stunned. How does he know about the Eagle Gundam?!

Director Belo smiles. "The ship that was damaged passed by one of the port cities," he says. Then he becomes serious. "But truth be told, we don't know what kind of weapon did it. We know it has to have been some kind of humanoid weapon, but we can only guess at this point in time."

Martha lets out a sigh of obvious relief in that he doesn't know about the Eagle Gundam. "That is true. It was a humanoid weapon. We've been researching stuff like that for years, but so far we've never really gotten past the mecha used by Japan."

"Ah. The Mobile Emergency Cleanup HAulers, yes?" Belo smirks. "I've seen them in use a few times in the news."

The Australian laughs at that. "True indeed." Then she becomes serious. "That's beside the point though. The point is, we need help if we're to contain Panem's forces and keep them from taking what is left of the world's vegetation. Hell... they stripped Papua New Guinea of all its resources, right down to the last blade of grass. We're trying to restore it, but it's not going so well, as a lot of the ground has been contaminated with toxic chemicals."

Belo arches an eyebrow. "You can restore greenery?" he asks, intrigued.

Martha nods. "Yes. We've got a solution that uses nanotechnology to restore trees, plants, grass... basically it was developed to initially replicate lumber, but in light of Panem's incursions and attempts to take our rigs, it's been proven to help clean up massive oil spills via disassembling them at the molecular level. Recent events have shown that it is also possible to use the oil - once it's broken down into its organic components - to rebuild and recreate trees and other flora. These nanobots are called nanobuilders, and we've been using them for a long time now," she explains. "But it takes time to restore trees and whatnot."

"What about fauna?" the Brazilian asks. "Surely you have something for that, do you not?"

Here Martha hangs her head and looks down at her folded hands. "No. We don't. Nanobuilders can't be used to restore complex organisms to life. For that, we need genetic engineering and cloning - which is actually illegal in the Confederation, mate." She is silent for a moment. "I'm sorry."

The rler starts to slow, and Martha looks up as Belo smiles a bit. "We've arrived. We can talk more inside."

The trip inside is uneventful and they finally make their way to the floor where the main living space is.

Not even an hour later, Director Belo stands in front of the window overlooking the city, his eye locked onto the skyline as the moon tries in vain to peek through the clouds that cover this part of the world. For Martha, to see natural clouds and not soot is a vast relief, but it pales in comparison to the natural sky that the Confederation and its allies can see. To see the stars is what makes her smile, and the glimmering lights of the city only make her homesick. She steps closer to him.

"It's quite lovely, isn't it?" he asks her.

"Not as wonderful as seeing the stars glimmering overhead..." Martha remarks as she folds her arms.

Belo smiles, chuckling at her comment. "True. But at least those are natural clouds. I take it it's a lot nicer in Australia, yes?"

Martha nods. "Yeah. At least there we can see the world as it used to be before this whole bloody war..."

The Brazilian nods, his face solemn. "I can agree with you there. That is why we have fought so hard to unify and stabilize the region here: to preserve what little we have left, in this case the Amazon Rainforest. You know how greedy they can be."

Here her face hardens and she clenches her fists. "More than you know, mate. Why do you think we've got a deterrent in place?" Her eyes flick over to his face and she notes how stoic he is.

"Intercontinental ballistic missiles... what abhorrent technology... and yet... in some strange way, a salvation too," he muses. "And to think that if it happens again, there will be no coming back..."

"We know, mate," Martha says as she unfolds her arms. "But in this case, we opted for the most powerful because think about it. We know where their precious Capitol is, and of how defended it is when it comes to overcoming obstacles such as mountains, fortresses built around it, and who knows what else? Only good news is that they don't have defenses against hydrogen missiles." She then becomes uncertain. "Or so we hope..."

Belo looks to her and frowns. "What will you do if this continues?" he asks.

Martha perks up at the question. "Excuse me?"

"What will you do if this barbaric tradition continues?" he asks again. "Will you resort to nuclear war... or take a different approach?"

Here Martha smirks. "Well... we got something else planned that they're striving for. We know they're going to try for the moon again. So... our mission is to beat them there... and show them something long forgotten there." Her smirk becomes a predatory smile. "We know the location of the first moon landings, so... we hope to beat them there and show them the flag of a country long forgotten. As well as reveal to them how important the world is. By seeing it from space, we hope they will see just how fragile our world is in terms of ecology." Her smile fades from her features. "But... we don't know how far along they are on that..."

"I see. You wish to one up them in terms of science. And since I understand you have become fully self-sufficient using technology that the rest of the world lacks, you have an edge there," Belo notes. He looks at her out of the corner of his good eye.

She nods. "Yes. We've mastered nuclear fusion reactor technology, right to where we can put a small one inside a mecha. We hope to use a fusion engine on our spacecraft to propel it into orbit." She cocks an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I was just curious. And to be honest, I'm rather impressed. You've become independent of fossil fuels, and yet you use them still," he muses. "Kind of contradictory, yes?"

"Not really," Martha says as she walks back to the table in the living room of the Director's home. He joins her. "We use them primarily for biodegradable plastics and other goods, not power. The production facilities are powered by nuclear fusion reactors and green energy, so there's no waste being sent into the atmosphere. What industrial waste that is produced we have incinerated in a specialized facility in the Outback," she explains. "It's quite efficient, really."

"Ah. Much like we have become independent of oil as well," Belo says as he sits down and tents his hands in front of his mouth. "We are both strong nations in that regard. But you are stronger in military power. So why do you need our help?"

"Basically, mate, our forces can only do so much, and given how we're going to be occupied for years trying to restore PNG's flora and cleaning up the oil spills, we need someone to help act as a secondary for containment in this part of the world," Martha explains, getting to the point. "Your forces can keep them from coming into port, and any forces that come by land you can barricade and halt at the border. And we promise that we'll provide you with nuclear protection should the need arise."

"And I understand you have an agreement with the Egyptian Union to act as their benefactor as well as with Spain?" Belo asks.

Martha is silent, but nods. She knows he has to have had spies abroad if he knows that. "Yes. The Union is under our protection, as is Spain. Our missiles can cover a far range, so we can keep the Panemians and their 'allies'-" Here her face twists into disgust. "-in check. And if you agree to help us, we can protect your nation's right to exist."

"A guarantee of sovereignty, yes?" Belo muses with a grin.

The Australian VP nods. "Yes. So... are you in?"

Belo smiles. "That is very important in this day and age, is it not, to guarantee a nation's right to exist," he notes. "Panem has many nations under their thumb, and as such they are only puppets. True sovereignty means that a nation is free to choose its own path, become stronger or weaker at the will of the leaders or people. It is up to those that inhabit it to decide the nation's path."

"That is what we plan to restore," Martha says. "But we can only hope to contain Panem's greedy little shits in power for now. So... are you in?"

The Director looks at her with a serious look. "As much as I want to, I have to respectfully decline for the moment. We're keeping them at bay using our firebreaks." She opens her mouth to protest, but he holds up a hand. "But... I will accept your offer of an alliance on the condition that we work together... on our terms."

That throws her for a loop. "And what terms would those be?" she asks, tensing for a possible argument or fight.

"That you defer to us in this part of the globe. We do accept the need for some nuclear protection, and we will do what we can to assist you in containment, but your forces must be willing to defer to us since we know the area better than you do, as well as how to properly trigger said firebreaks," he says.

Martha's eyes widen a bit before she relaxes. "Well... I think we can arrange that. And you do have a point on the firebreaks. I'll talk to the President about this and see what he says."

Location: En route to Darwin, Australia, Australian Confederation

Time: 1300 hours

Date: Thursday, 18 May, 0139 AF (2158 AD)

Seph's eye darts over to the commset resting against the seat of the helicopter. He picks it up as it beeps again. "Yeah? Go."

"Seph, it's Martha," comes the familiar voice of his VP.

"Martha. What's going on?" he asks.

"Well, to make a long story short, the alliance is a go, but on the condition that we defer to the South American Protectorate in their part of the globe," Martha says. "They insisted on it."

Seph purses his lips as he ponders this. The very fact that the alliance is a go is good news, but the condition of deferring to the Protectorate is what unnerves him. Still, he listens as Martha also explains that only the Protectorate knows how to trigger the firebreaks, and after some thinking, he finally addresses her.

"Well, tell the bloke that I have no trouble with it. And that the Confederation will provide support and nuclear protection," he tells her. "Also, inform him that we'd like to open up a trade agreement."

The VP is startled. "Why?" she asks.

Seph outlines the details and explains that the world could always use more green fuels. He tells her that at the rate the world is guzzling petrol and oil, they'll need more sustainable resources before the "Point of No Return" hits. Martha is silent before she speaks.

"I will. But I doubt he'll be willing to trade so suddenly," she says.

The President nods. "I understand. Once we get things more settled and worked out, we'll get into the nitty gritty of the trade deals."

"Understood." Martha closes down the comm and Seph replaces his commset on the seat as he folds his arms.

He is already thinking of what to do for the trade agreement, but at the same time he is trying to focus on the upcoming operation. He grits his teeth and clenches his right hand into a fist. He finally forgoes the trade agreement and his mind starts to work on coming up with military operations and plans. But his distrust for Panem is far greater than anything. He can stomach working with them (even if it makes him sick), but he doesn't trust them a bit.

And Pok... Her forces may be good, but he is not willing to let those damn commies get the goods, or the upper hand.

His mind drifts back to the newest units assembled for the defense of Taiwan, and he smirks.

Despite having been developed for rescue operations and debris removal back during the initial recovery years back in the early, 0020s, the mecha units of Japan have also been studied and employed in limited military roles, primarily in demolition, explosive ordnance removal and engineering units. But recent technological innovations and advances have led the mecha to be placed in more active roles, sometimes in conjunction with armored and infantry units. This new breed of warfare is a contrast to Panem's muttation-based arsenal, and is in reality more effective as mecha don't need to be fed and cared for, unlike those abominations of Panem's.

The very idea of mecha-based warfare, Seph muses with a grin, is sure to become reality if they can triumph against Wei Feng. As well as show Panem that they are not above everyone else.

Seph can only hope for the best, and that they don't get too curious about the inner workings or technology in the mechas. Or rather in the new Gundam units currently under construction.

His eye flicks over to the side window and he looks out as the port comes into view. He frowns and his optic flares red before he unfolds his arms at the sight of the ships. The massive carrier and battleship are preparing to move out, and he takes note of the planes close by as well. One of them is an old cargo transport plane that has been dubbed Air Force Two after it was heavily modified to be able to handle the role of a leader's transport. The plane has been outfitted with all the necessary components, including living space and a quantum supercomputer that is truly the most advanced thing on the planet, even far more advanced than the ones developed by civilians.

And it is also well armed with visible weapons.

His eye narrows a bit as he hears the pilot coming on over the comm. "Sir, you sure about this? Given the Games and all... I'd have expect you to stay behind, mate."

"Not as long as Pok and her ilk are out there," Seph mutters. "And besides, I'm going out there because I want to show I'm not about to sit back like they do."

The pilot nods, knowing of Seph's desire to show how different he is from the other world leaders of the major remaining nations. Panem... the Union of Sovereign States... The United People's Democratic Republic of Korea... the Caliphate of Arabia... and the remnants of China. These leaders are all about seizing and maintaining their grasp on power, no matter what means they use to keep it.

Seph ticks off his allies, of which there are few. The most prominent is the United Kingdom of Ireland and England, and the Kingdom of France. They are the only two, aside from the Swiss Confederation, that are at least trying to stay true to the ideals of the past. At least the Australian Confederation is making attempts to try and heal the divisions between the world's peoples, no matter how hard it seems. Then there are the newcomers: the Egyptian Union and Spain, who have agreed to assist the AC in keeping Panem's allies in Europe contained, while in South America the Protectorate has agreed to act on containment in exchange for nuclear protection and support.

He sighs. "I just hope our decisions don't lead to another world war..." he murmurs.

His mind starts to flash back to the day he heard of the possible revolution looming in Panem.

-Flashback-

Location: Sydney, Australia

Time: 1300 hours

Date: 13 May, 0109 AF (2128 AD)

Seph's eye widens as he stares in shock at the news. "You're bloody kidding me!" he blurts, slamming his hands on the table. "There's a resistance there?!"

His father nods. "Yes, Joseph. The guys up top have confirmed it to be one hundred percent dinky-di. So we can say for certainty that we're going to be offering up training and resources for them."

"And mind me asking what kind of necessity it is to take such a big risk?" Seph presses. "I mean... why do this?"

"Because son, they've had enough. Face it. You've seen the footage thus far. And we've had enough as well," Marcus Samuel Matthews says as he places his hands on Seph's. "Children killing children is going against the very ideals that they spout. They are hypocrites in every sense of the word."

Seph's teeth grit and he looks down. He knows his father is right, but the risks are just too huge. "Dad... the risks are too big. To go to such lengths... it could cause a civil war... and perhaps lead to the end of civilization if it goes nuclear!" he says.

Marcus nods. "The government leaders know the risks, but face it. This is the one chance we have to end those bloody barbaric Hunger Games of theirs and to help people regain what was lost. Hope and a better future."

The twenty-year old sighs. "I know that. But this still doesn't feel right..." he mutters. "To risk a civil war and possible end of the world... Is it really worth it?"

Tori Matthews joins her son and husband as she brings their dinner to the table. "Sometimes you have to be willing to fight for your beliefs. And sometimes that means making decisions that are not always the right ones. But in the end, are we not all guilty of doing such things?" she asks rhetorically as she sits down.

Seph sighs. As a psychologist, his mother is knowledgeable about many things in how the human mind works, but even she is horrified by the Hunger Games and their influence on the young minds of Panemian youth. She is one of the top experts in Sydney on this issue, so many try to ask her to explain the influence and effects of the Games. Yet she acknowledges that what they do know only comes from refugees and escapees from the Districts.

His father on the other hand, is an intelligence official. He is always updated on information regarding Panem, but even he says that there is little more than what they know. And it is this that frustrates him. So to learn of a resistance is a big intelligence breakthrough.

"So... what's gonna happen now?" Seph asks.

"The big guy up top is going to send troops and weapons over to District 13 so they can begin their training and operations. Once they begin their takeover, then we'll begin to send our forces out as well, or if need be, we'll sling a nuke their way. Which I hope it doesn't come down to," Marcus admits. "But regardless, we're going to assist them in whatever way we can."

Seph nods, but he's getting a bad feeling in his gut...

-End Flashback-

Seph grits his teeth and punches the wall of the helicopter. "Dammit...! If only we'd stuck by our promises!" he mutters. "Then maybe we'd be having a better world on the way."

He feels the vehicle start to descend and he looks out as the pavement is coming up.

The pilot touches down and the door slides open as the engines begin to wind down. He leaps out and lands as the pilot gives the thumbs up.

Seph returns it and smirks as the vehicle's engine spools up and the helicopter lifts off the ground. Once the aircraft is gone, Seph turns and makes his way towards the lone airplane. "All right... Time to move out..." he mutters.

He salutes the military personnel as they form a line for him. He doesn't like it, but it comes with the job. The only concession that was agreed upon was that it was not to be treated as a grand affair, like the other leaders do, especially the dictators. His eye is hard as he boards the old transport plane.

All he can do now is hope for the best...

Location: Brasilia, Brazil - South American Protectorate

Time: 2300 hours

Date: Wednesday, 17 May, 0139 AF (2158 AD)

Martha is surprised to hear that Seph is finally heading abroad to the combat zone. But she brushes it aside, knowing that he can handle himself in the fighting. It's the possibility of a backstabbing that worries her though.

She turns back to look at the director standing by the window, who has his head bowed.

"Something wrong?" she asks him.

"Why is it that your leader goes out and fights?" Belo asks. "Would it not be better for him to stay in behind his own borders?"

Martha snorts and rolls her eyes. "As if, mate! Seph is not one to sit behind the front lines. He wants to make an impression on his enemies and allies alike, to show that he's no coward for hiding behind the front and that he's willing to risk it all for the ideals of the Australian Confederation!" she remarks. "He's a man who's not stupid. His willingness to go out and fight alongside the troops often is enough to show he means business."

"A man who is willing to risk his own life for his ideals, and not willing to stay behind the front for his own safety? A rare type of individual in this day and age," Belo muses somberly. "Such a person of character... how is it he hasn't fallen prey to the ideals of this world?"

Martha sighs. "He's always had a belief in a better future. But I think once he started watching the footage of the Games... he saw what the world lost. His mother is a psychologist, so she probably taught him some things and he wants to change the way Panem acts towards its youth... or at least try and get them to snap out of their hypocrisy of valuing children's lives while forcing them to slaughter one another in an arena." She looks at the director again as she joins him. "Truthfully though, I believe that it's because he's seen too much on the front lines back during his service. He's seen so much hypocrisy and hatred and greed he just wants to change it."

"Willpower of that sort is inhuman," Belo says grimly.

"That may be true," Martha explains, "but it's because of that willpower that we haven't fallen back into these old ways of thinking. Our country underwent a massive immigration boom and a civil rights movement, so we understand the need for having hope and democracy. Panem and these other countries... they're just sick in their ideals." She grimaces as she looks back at the Protectorate flag on the wall. "And it's time we change that... and soon."

Words!

corajoso - gutsy

Senhora - Ms.

Guerra de Apocalipse - Apocalypse War

Jogos Vorazes - Hunger Games

And here's the next chapter, peeps~! :D Expect it to get into some action, soon. :) As well as reference to the Games in the next chapter. :)