What was once called "Europe" was annihilated by the global war three hundred years ago. The Trans-European Commonwealth's, or TEC's, history is vague (like all history from those ages) but barring the official propaganda narrative that the TEC espouses, these are the known facts.
Europe was once composed of independent nation-states, each with their own language, religion, and ideology. The threat of war was constant and due to the continent's relatively advanced technology and desire for conquest, the world was often brought to the brink of destruction by its whims. However, starting about five-hundred years ago, Europe entered an era of relative peace. Though the threat of attack still existed from the rest of the world, Europe's own citizens seemed to enter a new age of cooperation of understanding…at least from the outside.
Two centuries of poor economic growth led to stagnation. Bitter power struggles erupted among the various elites of the nation states to who would be dominant on the continent. Constant shortages of fuel and food would result in riots among the lower classes that could last for weeks or months before being put down by government intervention. Finally, when the global war started (no one, not even us can really remember how), Europe along with the rest of the world burned like a cinder. Billions starved, died of disease, or perished in the violence.
While Panem turned North America back into a feudal collection of Districts, the chaos continued in Europe until the rise of a new order from the ashes. They were known simply as the "Lawgivers:" harsh, unyielding totalitarians who were convinced the only way to restore the vitality of the continent was to crush all forms of individualism and subordinate the people of Europe into service of their will. One by one, the warring remains of the nation states were conquered with sheer force and overwhelming firepower. Millions more perished in what is known in the official TEC narrative as the "Century of Pain" until finally only one place lay beyond the grasp of the Lawgivers: the island of Britannia. The natives there had devolved into a collection of tribes themselves, but were still bound by an ancient belief that no outside power would ever lay claim to their islands.
The TEC only tried to invade once. As soon as their troops set foot on British soil, they were met by an ungodly wave of guerilla tactics and suicidal tenacity that forced them back into the seas. Since that costly mistake, the TEC has decided that for the most part Britannia is a nuisance more suitable for use as a propaganda tool for consolidating their power by distracting TEC citizens from other problems back on the continent: the classic red herring, only applied to geopolitics. It was thought by the Lawgivers that with the establishment of a total air and naval blockade, Britain would collapse in a matter of decades. The Lawgivers were wrong. The British tribes established an advanced air defense network of guns, rockets, and missiles to keep their islands safe from outside forces while letting the rest of their citizenry devolve back into a self-sustaining agrarian society.
Back on the mainland, however, the Lawgivers were forcibly changing the very fabric of their own society. Food became simple nourishment to the body, not something to be savored. It was produced by a massive new network of underground hydroponic gardens as a commodity available to all, enjoyed by none. Science excelled in the development of new tools of control. Advanced nuclear reactors began producing energy that became free to all levels of society, but not for health or comfort, but to ensure that every domicile could be equipped with reliable and steady listening devices. Medical care was provided at no cost to all citizens, not because of any kind of moral imperative, but due to the loss of millions in the wars, every single worker was needed in the best possible condition to produce more for less.
Uniformity and absolute loyalty to the Supreme Lawgiver became the religion. Any dissent against the government or its policies was weeded out. Every day at noon, the public would be required to watch the live broadcasts of criminals and political dissidents being tortured to death in the most ghastly ways without any kind of mercy. The old cities and capitals of the nation states were dynamited and bulldozed flat. No thought was given to any kind of aesthetics or historical significance. Art and Culture that had existed undisturbed for almost 4000 years was turned to ash in a matter of years. In the places of the old cities, rose endless towers of steel, glass, chrome and polished stone. Every street, alley, building, and indeed every room was equipped with optical and audio sensor nets. Privacy according to the "Lawgivers" was "an obsolete and archaic concept of the decadent past." To even think against the rulers of the TEC was deemed a crime worthy of absolute punishment.
For ease of command and control, the site of the ancient city known as "Berlin" in the center of the continent was chosen for a new capital city where the principles of the Lawgivers would be enforced to an even higher degree. This new metropolis called, "Germania," was the pulpit from which the gospel of subordination was preached and enforced, but not by spectacle as it was in Panem, but by pure and simple draconian punishment. Among the modern state of the art architecture, one ancient symbol of eternal power and strength was erected: a polished marble pyramid one hundred stories tall known simply as "The Heart." It was built in the very center of Germania to act as the complete seat of government. Everything from Defense to Interior Security, Agriculture, Economics, and Education rested within its sloping walls and the structure was consequently created to be absolutely impenetrable: a symbol of utter dominance for eternity. For the brainwashed citizens of TEC, this pyramid was the very center of the world, and it is from the balcony of "The Heart" that Ohm addresses the screaming crowd.
"My friends and fellow disciples of the Lawgivers…" Ohm says in his artificial voice.
"That son of a bit…" General Sturm growls.
"Well, I guess this officially makes him a traitor…" President Holmes mutters to herself.
"With all due respect, Ma'am, I think he was a traitor a long time before this." I quickly add. I hear some words come from Gale to my right that I cannot quite make out. I can't be sure, but I swear he said, "To some…"
Ohm continues his speech to the adoring crowd.
"I was a slave to the barbarians of Panem! They do not understand the importance of equality, justice, or service under the law. Instead, they are a decadent and morally devoid nation, completely obsessed now with the disgusting perversions of 'Personal Liberty' and 'Democracy.'" He raises his artificial arm in the air, and grabs his Reevox collar with the other. "Even though I have been mutilated and abused by their worst war criminal, Colonel Ares Snow, a puppet of the idiotic and corrupt President of Panem, Driva Holmes…"
"Guess he won't be voting for you come next election, Madam President…"
"Not now, Colonel Snow!"
"…my resolve to triumph for the good of the world has never been stronger!" The crowd begins to chant their support even louder. "So, I now come to the people of the Trans-European Commonwealth as a brother in arms, for I have learned information that proves that the animals across the ocean are your enemies! In my misguided service to the United Districts of Panem, I learned the horrible truth that they are conspiring with the savages of Britannia against you!" The crowd gasps as if he just uttered a vulgar curse. "They would like nothing better than to see the bloodthirsty British storm across the Channel and lay waste to everything that you have worked so hard to build. The people of Panem are truly the wicked! They want to enslave you and take the Supreme Leader's lands as their own! With your help, we can end this threat to the stability of the world and bring order and justice to all under the guidance and wisdom of the TEC!" The crowd continues to scream their support. "Now, I give to you The Man among Men, the Guardian of Righteous Virtue, The Supreme Lawgiver, Pierre Grosfrere!" The crowd now becomes uncontrollable. People are actually weeping in joy as the cameras pan across their faces for a long propaganda shot. It is impossible to know any more if these citizens cry because they feel a genuine love for a man who has developed an airtight cult of personality around him, or they just fear the repercussions if they don't put on a convincing show. Maybe they don't even remember the difference…
Pierre Grosfrere is only in his thirties, relatively young for such a powerful autocrat. He rose to power in the Lawgivers by the same tactic that so many evil men before him have used, being more ruthless and bloodthirsty than all his competitors combined. He walks out onto the balcony with Ohm who steps aside and bows penitently.
"How ironic, Rikard, you've gone and sold yourself to be another dictator's slave. Be careful though, you're running out of body parts for your master to cut off…"
The camera briefly focuses on Grosfrere's face. His skin is pale white, much like Ohm's, but his strong features, piercing eyes, and jet black hair stand in stark contrast to Ohm's gaunt face. The shot then pans back out for the actual speech revealing the massive paintings of the previous Supreme Lawgivers that hang on either side of the balcony. It seems these poor people cannot escape their old master's faces even after they're dead and gone.
Grosfrere lets the crowd continue to go wild for a few more seconds before simply raising his arm in one fluid motion. Instantly, the crowd grows completely silent. Not even children make a sound. It is bone-chilling how disciplined, trained, and subordinated the citizens of TEC are.
"My loyal followers," Grosfrere begins in a nasal accent that I find repugnant. "Today, begins another glorious chapter in the saga of the Trans-European Commonwealth. Thanks to the diligence and dedication of our new comrade, Rikard Ohm, we have learned of the treachery of the heathens of Panem. If they support the savages who continue to refuse to accept the one true order, than they must be destroyed as well. We will force them to their knees in defeat and seize the many resources that they unfairly hoard as their own."
"This does not sound good," Sturm mutters. I nod in agreement.
"Less than twelve hours ago, a bombing attack organized by Comrade Ohm in the Capitol of the UDP, sent their leadership and Defensive Networks into disarray." Everyone at the table with me perks up.
"This has given our brave expeditionary forces enough time to get into position. I am pleased to report that four divisions of TEC forces now stand poised to take the fight directly to the shores of the enemy!"
"WHAT!" President Holmes shouts. All of us jump to our feet as suddenly all the early warning alarms in Central Briefing sound in unison.
Grosfrere holds his arms crossed above his head in the TEC victory sign.
"UNUS EUROPA!" he screams to the crowd which has begun screaming his name in unison. Instantly, the thousands below, probably joined by millions more watching on their televisions around the TEC, raise their arms into the same symbol and respond:
"SUB UNUS RECTOR!"
"One Europe….under one leader."
The analysts in Central Briefing are now running frantically trying to get reports. Grosfrere was not exaggerating. It appears that Ohm's attack was indeed the perfect distraction. While we were on alert looking inward, the TEC forces were slipping toward Panem from the outside. By the time the early warning beacons detected the enemy in our airspace, it was too late.
The invasion of Panem has begun.