Chapter 2: The Rumbling
January 1st 2017 AD, Earth
January 1st 2017 AD was the day that would be remembered forever in human history for two remarkable events. This would have been the day to celebrate, because now, we knew for certain that we were not alone in the universe, if it hadn't been for the cataclysmic event that followed. The catastrophe that would shake the entire Earth that was simply known as the Rumbling.
Alnus Hill, Lemuria Peninsula, Azjania, Falmart, 52017 I.C
The rippling green meadows stretched to the horizon, and the vast virgin land looked like a painting. Not only that, this lovely scene was further embellished with a stream of light of people in silver armor, as if the artist wanted to add a river to his work.
Among the thousands of men marching steadily like a clock toward Alnus Hill there was an elf named Tuka Luna Marceau. She was a famous adventurer who loved exploring the world but she never knew this would one day bite her in the ass. She was among the 'lucky few', chosen for a very important mission. To explore another world beyond the Gate.
"Damn it!"
Why are they in such a hurry? The final calculation had not been completed yet. The committee must know space-time magic at this scale is very complex, requiring only a small mistake to lead to catastrophic disaster, so why now?
Those questions were constantly in her head as Tuka watched the gigantic Gate structure at the center of the Holy Hill of A Thousand Path.
"They should wait another year before making this expedition. This was too dangerous. Those fools at the Senate, just thought only about glory and fame. I don't want any of this. I just want to be with my father and sisters."
Suddenly Tuka saw the light, it was the Gate. It started to open and the expedition forces were marching. Tuka needed to go now.
"This is not going to end well. Pray to Luna." She mumbled to herself with a hint of trepidation.
Alnus Hill, Lemuria, Falmart
The sun was rising on the top of Alnus Hill and illuminating the area while the archmages prepared the Gate for the reconnaissance mission.
The Expeditionary force consisted mainly of adventurers and scholars, they were a reconnaissance army. Their mission would be to explore the new worlds and investigate its resources and residents.
If this reconnaissance mission went smoothly, the Holy Empire's main force would start the war of conquest and turn the new world into imperial protectorates.
The adventurers were preparing for the mission that would immortalize their names and bring glory and wealth for their beloved Holy Darwinian Empire.
The morale was high, they were the best of the Holy Empire, the mission was impossible to fail, not when they had the support of 8 millions Imperial conquest forces and even the Third Special Annihilation Army group behind.
While they were preparing, the supreme commander of the conquest forces, Generalissimus (Lord Commander), Theo Magath was going to make a rousing speech to the main army.
"Soldier of the Holy Empire, one again The Emperor have call you for duty. This time you will march through the GATE to the unknown land.
This will be the greatest adventure in the history of the Empire. Remember who we are.
WE ARE TITAN! THE CHILDREN OF GODS.
We are the world conquerors.
We are warrior !
You know what is THERE ?
... IMMORTALITY.
Take it, IT YOUR ! "
All the soldiers shouted emotionally.
"All hail the Empire ! All hail Emperor Molt Sol Augustus."
Ginza, Tokyo, Japan, 2017
It was recorded as one of the coldest days in history.
A high wind, coupled with temperatures below -3°C in the city; it was hellish. However, it was a Saturday, and many people still crowded the shopping mall to shop or to just stroll around.
11:15AM
Even when the sun was high up in the sky and it was till colder than ever, a gate to another world opened in the middle of the Ginza district in Tokyo.
It appeared out of nowhere, a megastructure with a style mix of Roman and the Lord of the Ring. Many curious people approached the Gate, some even taking photos and live streaming.
Suddenly the Gate opened and an army from another world planted a black banner on ground and loudly declared to no particular audience that the land in a radius of 1km was now theirs in a perfect Japanese tongue using telepathy Magic with the combined power of 10 Arch-Mage.
''All you people listen up. I am Colt Formal, lord of the realm. We, The Holy Darwinian Empire in the name of his Imperial majesty Molt Sol Augustus declare all the land in the radius of 1 km from the Gate is now temporary base of the Empire. Send in your king for further negotiation."
The world was in shock, the question: is there life outside Earth has been answered.
The 'Ginza Event'.
This was what historians called the first encounter with the people from the other world.
The Japanese Prime Minister at that time – Shinzo Abe, declared in the National Diet that
"This is an History-Changing Event"
'the place beyond the Gate did not exist on any known map.'
'What could lie beyond the Gate? What natural environments could be found there? What kind of lives could the people beyond lead? How developed could their civilization be? How technologically advanced could they be? What religion could they follow? What type of government could they have ?
The eyes of the whole world turned to Japan. All major media outlets in the world rushed to Ginza to film this historic event.
The government of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation released a joint statement that 'the Gate is an unnatural phenomenon' that 'should be investigated through a multilateral, international effort', insisting that although the Gate had appeared within Japan, its potential benefits should not go to Japan alone.
White House situation Room, United States of America
"Okay what's this situation you've got me dragged in here for all about?" President Trump said as he sat himself down, a look of deep concern on the face of nearly everyone except him.
"Mr. President, here's the report regarding the Gate in Tokyo."
After spreading extra cheese on his cheese hamburger, President Trump ate it before receiving the papers placed in a binder from his capable aide.
After glancing through the few pieces of papers, he placed the report on the table.
"So Jim. According to this report, some kind of dimenn..dimensional portal just magically appear in Japan and we detect a lot of gra..gravitational distortion around the world as the same times ?"
"What does it mean, gra..gravitational distortion?" asked Trump
"The stars, the sun and moon just change their position in the sky and we have lost contact with some of our satellites because they have deviated from their orbits. Not just that, Mr president we also detected the change in the shape of the Earth and abnormal tidal phenomena." Jim Mattis US Secretary of Defense said as he indicated the abnormal phenomena with a stylus on a smartboard
"Okay so does anyone have any theories?" Trump said, spreading his arms and looking for anyone to say anything so he wouldn't have to say the first thing that came to his mind.
"Is it Chinese? Xi Jinping up to his tricks? I told you he was mad about my trade war. Must be trying to get back at me." He said, breaking his commitment almost as quickly as it was made to the surprise of no one.
"With due respect Mr President I don't think anyone one Earth has that kind of ability. All evidence suggests it was the Gate that caused all of this."
"So it was the Alien. Hey Pence how do God think about alien?" Trump asked satirically.
President Trump took a sip of his diet coke then asked:
'"Okay what are our options?"
Before anyone could answer, a tremor shook the entire world.
"Mr President get down!'' screamed the Secret Service as they rushed to protect Trump.
The cataclysm
"The Rumbling was caused by the collapse of the prototype Gate. Falmart mages have miscalculated causing problems with the synchronization of the two worlds. This has caused a tanglement between the two worlds in the hyperspace and because Falmart is larger than the earth, the earth suffers most of the impact of the untangle.
Just imagine what would happen if one tied two rubber bands together, stretched them to their maximum extension, and then cut them?
The disappearance of the Gate was like the severance of the bands. In addition, the distortion accumulated from the creation of the Gate until the moment of its closure was discharged into the separated worlds all at once."
"However, the earthquake this time was very special.
Regular earthquakes decreased in intensity the further one got from their epicenter. However, this global-scale earthquake's intensity did not decrease at all, and the entire world shook as one."
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, 2021
It was a 9.5 on the Richter magnitude scale. Its power was incalculable.
The power of an earthquake was measured by the degree of damage it caused, but in this case it was not applicable.
There weren't any places on Earth that escaped the destruction.
The Rumbling destroyed many cities and caused destruction on a massive scale.
Human Impact:
-190,000,000 total dead
-155,000,000 in Eurasian
-71,000,000 deaths caused by a mutated strain of Covid-17, ten times more deadly.
-400,000,000 civilians left homeless for at least seven days.
Economic Impact
-The greatest economic depression the world has ever seen with more than a third of the global population severely affected and half of the world's governments collapsed into anarchy.
- The global GDP shrank 21% compared to the previous year.
-The total property damage is estimated at about 25 trillion USD.
-Global stock markets experienced their worst crash since 1929, and in the first three months of 2017 the G20 economies fell 34% year-on-year.
Between April and June 2017, the International Labour Organization estimated that an equivalent of 800 million full-time jobs were lost across the world, and income earned by workers globally fell 25 percent in the first nine months of 2017, equivalent to a loss of over US$ 10 trillion.
No natural disaster in the recorded history of the human race, before or since, have approached there figures. One can only pray nothing like this will ever happen again.
Rome, 22 days after the Rumbling
"We of the Church are inundated with reports of real magic in Japan. The 'Empire Wizards' are healing the sick and creating fireballs out of thin air, and were that not enough we are faced with an entirely different religious atmosphere than before." Said Cardinal O'Malley.
"Reports that I am sure that all of you have received word of as well." Francis said to his Cardinals, who nodded solemnly.
"Well what is known so far then, your holiness? If we act without knowledge we will be blind to the correct course of action." Reinhardt Marx said, leaning back in his seat somewhat before the Holy Father himself spoke.
"According to the Americans the wizard's homeland, Falmart is a land where polytheism is the norm and Gods are a tangible thing with faces to pray to. Freely granting miracles to their priests. Many say they have even seen them or travelled to the "soul planes" where their gods and departed reside." Francis said. Some had shown scepticism, but not him. He recognised the need for an immediate papal response, and had busily been drafting his papal bull on the new situation.
"We might now have to compete with larger and more established religions as the early Christians once did against the heathenry of the old Empire that once ruled from this very city." The Holy Father said, looking at the received map of the new world.
"Some of these faiths reportedly are spread throughout many planets. But we must hold true to our convictions that ours is the truest faith and that there truly is only one true God." Francis said, looking back at his cardinals.
"Are we agreed on a position that the Gods of this place are merely powerful entities being mistakenly worshipped in the absence of the light of the father?" Maradiga said.
"We would be wise to avoid calling their beliefs mistaken outright. That kind of language would at best make them dig in their heels; at worst make them see us as a threat." O'Malley said, spreading out his hands as he spoke.
"From what we have seen, it is believed to be normal for women to serve as priests and for priests to be married. These present... obstacles for our faith gaining traction. They will not want to give up such rights. The common stances on abortion also pose us issue; and they have the backing of their so called Gods on that matter." Gracias raised, taking a look through some documents provided to them by a nearby aide as his eyes scanned the words printed upon them.
"We also must work to establish state relations with a whole host of new countries, even just within the immediate vicinity. Nevermind what can be found beyond. The Vatican may need additional room and I am doubtful that the Italian government will be so kind as to let us have it." Parolin said, his mind ever focused on the practical issues.
"Perhaps a compromise position can be attained? These Gods are not abstract things to be disproven or shown to be another being. They are real, they can be spoken to face to face. I propose we attempt dialogues with them as soon as possible. Perhaps see if one of them can be baptised." Francis said, drawing six pairs of eyes upon him almost immediately.
"Are you sure that is wise or even possible? Many would accuse us of idolatry for even thinking of acknowledging their entities." Gracias said, adjusting his glasses. He was concerned, as he had confided with Francis earlier; of the possibility that the effects of the shattering could lead to a new great schism in the house of God.
"These entities; which by the way is a term I think I should use rather than "gods" and for which I am grateful to you gracias; provide real power to their worshippers. Miracles on demand, spells and blessings, magic and curses." He said
"I believe that we are not ready for a confrontation with the local faiths. We need time to study the theology at play to make a meaningful strategy to gain converts. Our interpretation of holy doctrine will need to be updated and we must ponder the meaning of these entities and how they fit into God's plan." Reinhard said, clasping his fingers together. He had given the issue considerable thought, and based on his steepled fingers, was still pondering the answers.
"Perhaps we could separate the revering of entities from the worship of true religion? They are praying for practical effects from tangible persons, not to an immaterial entity. Could that be argued to not be true faith? They can keep their entities while we gain converts." Bertello suggested, leaning somewhat towards Francis as he did. Francis thought about it for some time. It seemed reasonable from a cynical, practical perspective but it also rankled at his every sensibility.
"That is certainly a practical solution...however I fear that doing that would cause a schism within our church. Though it does give me an idea for what to do with the entity that will be shaped in the image of God." He said, trying to think on how the previous holy fathers of the Church would act in his shoes.
"Perhaps we should move quickly against the Atheists and Agnostics? Their position is likely decimated and their beliefs destroyed. We could move to gain converts before other faiths do." O'Malley suggested.
"A wise enough proposition. I believe that this will be the end of Atheism, and it would be for the best if we took advantage of it." Francis said, nodding.
"And of the more...threatening forces that we face here? There is talk of Titans, demi-human, demons, the living dead, and slaves to the power of darkness. I suggest we should consider the possibility of declaring a crusade. I am not comfortable with sharing this world with such monstrosities."
Mardiaga said, clearly shaken by the images of horror shown in the areas ravaged by the Titans. He was sweating just thinking about what he had seen.
"Christ teaches that there is a road to salvation for all of us. And such a move has not been made since medieval times. I cannot recommend we take such a drastic course." Reinhard said, shaking his head firmly. Francis had to agree, the time of templars and militant orders was not now. Now was the time for theologians and contemplation.
Zhonghanai, 28 days after the Rumbling
Putin was not used to feeling like he was in a position of weakness but now he had to do his best to ensure no one could see him sweating. Russia was not the Soviet Union. It had less than half of its population, it was not the master of a grand alliance, its army was a dismal fraction of what had once been the greatest land army ever seen; at least in his mind; and its production might be a fraction of what had once been.
It had been his objective to ensure no threats bordered Russia and that the Federation could enjoy even a fraction of the power its predecessor once had while ensuring its ideology remained dead. Now there were so many variables he knew nothing about and that worried him. He has witnessed the most catastrophic destruction to his country since World War II and within days Xi Jinping called everyone here as quickly as possible to negotiate the migrant crisis.
The Russians, the Japanese, the two Koreas, the Taiwanese, the Chinese, even the Vietnamese, Australians, the New Zealanders, Thai, Malysians, Indonesians and Filipinos even though he wasn't sure what stake the second rate powers of the pacific really had here, the Indians he figured were here as a matter of courtesy. The Americans had to have their ambassadors stand in for their president, whom he was sure would post an amusing rant about not being invited.
He had to admit, the other pacific nations from the Americas now being absent due to the Rumbling was odd for these sorts of discussions. The Ukrainian government had collapsed, the EU was in shambles. China and India's central governments were on the verge of collapsing. It had become clear that the efforts to restore law and order would take months, if not years.
Americans were withdrawing troops from around the world, a power vacuum was opening across the post-soviet space. This was an opportunity for him to increase Russian influence throughout the post-soviet region. Compared to other countries in the region, Russia has many advantages in the recovery process. As the world's largest exporter of wheat and gas, the Russian people will certainly not go hungry or suffer from the cold. The EU and China would be at the mercy of Russia this winter.
Location [redacted]
Count Colt Formal
Once again alone in the dark with only four concrete walls as his companion, Colt looked up at the gray ceiling and sighed. It have been 3 weeks since the disaster cut off the way home for the expeditionary force and trapped all of them in this alien world called Earth by the locals. It would be a great understatement to say that this expedition didn't go the way he expected.
Over the past few weeks, the Count has been moved from cell to cell and witnessed first-hand the devastation the collapsing of GATE had caused. So many people had perished and cities in ruins. Even in his dire situation, Colt felt sympathy for their suffering.
He did make some observations in his free time though. After all, he was still an adventurer.
The locals belong to only one race and are physically weak and don't have any magical potential but they possess powerful machines; The planet does not have a unified government or a standard language; A day in this world is twice as long as at home; The air is thinner and more polluted; The sun in this world is also bigger and brighter; The sky is bluer than the Home; Gravity is a little lighter so the world is smaller.
The Count had been captured with the rest of the expeditionary force when they tried to escape but that damn GATE collapsed too quick. And now he was being locked in a underground prison with his hand tied by steel chain. While he didn't feel fear thanks to mental enhancement and mind adjustment magic, he did feel anxiety because he missed his daughter a lot. Colt wondered if he still has a chance to meet his daughter again.
This was a dark room and the wall was soundproof but his super enhanced sense allow him to see clearly everything in the room including a strange one-way mirror.
Suddenly the silent darkness was dispelled as a man entered his room, he looked like a middle-aged man with sharp blue eyes.
"Hello there, please come in". Colt greeted the man with perfect Baltimore English.
Finally, something happened!
The man seemed a bit surprised. He asked in a monotone voice. "You can understand me; you can speech English!?"
"Your language is quite easy to learn, Mr Smith." Colt replied without a single hint of fear. If this was his end then he would face it like a true noble.
Huh! "You know my name?" The man frown.
"Oh! I heard your friends call you that."
Not wanting to waste any more time, Colt asked directly. "So why are you here Mr Smith?"
His blue eyes turned sharped. "I am here because the American government wants an answer for the calamity that struck this world."
The count was silent for a moment, then spoke sincerely. "On behalf of the Holy Darwinian Empire I express my condolences to those lost in this tragic disaster."
"Thanks!" John felt a bit surprise by the Count.
"Now let start to the business. Let's start with the basic, shall we? What is your full name ?"
"Colt Fortunato Formal."
"Where are coming you from ?"
"My dominion is Italica on the Lemuria Peninsula."
"How old are you ?"
"I am 445 years old."
"So, do you know why are you here, Count Formal ?" Looking him directly in the eyes, the man in black asked sarcastically.
"I am here because your government want an answer for all the death and destruction that my Empire accidentally caused." He said in a sad voice.
''You are correct, we want to know for what reason you people are coming to this world ?"
"For what reason!?" His eyes wide opened. "It is very simple. To expand our border, to explore new world and to conquer new lands."
Leaning back in his chair, Formal began a monologue.
"The Empire and the world itself are at their limit, the Empire and all the territories that the Emperor stand at the top of the order mortals have created and the current hierarchy where the strongest rule at the top and those who achieve the most receive the greatest reward were all solidified quite some time ago.
It the nature of man to expanse, to conquest the world and themselves, to live not just to exist, to overcome great challenge and overjoy when we success.
If we don't go through difficulties and challenges if we are only content with what we have achieved, the society will become stagnant, mortals will lose faith in themselves and fall into hedonism, corruption and decline.
Past Emperors used war to break through barrier. Winning, conquering, bestowing, struggling and showing the path to fame. But that method had also hit it limit after we won the struggle again our two last competitor the Gra Valkas Federation and the West Afrykania Union.
That is when a small GATE opened at the Holy Hill of Alnus.
Perhaps that why the Imperial Senate and Crown Prince Odysseus decided to mastered space-time magic and enlarge the GATE. Well, you know the rest. We become too confident and acted too hastily, that why the disaster happened."
"The world want your blood, you know that right? There are a lot of countries out there want the Empire to be burned, including us, the United State of America."
"I know, it is reasonable that you want revenge. How many countries out there want to retaliate us?" Colt asked dreadly.
"All of them, all the 251 countries and territories. You look pretty calm, don't you feel any fear ?" The man dully asked.
"Well what can I do Mr Smith, your people won't stop until they get their revenge, and I can't blame them. But my Empire is strong and we have never been conquered. We might say sorry but we will never bend our knee. And from what I have observed, your world with those weird machines is strong too. So this war is inevitable. I just pray to the gods that my family survives this war."
"Well, if you care about your family I suggest you should cooperating with us, we can guarantee you and your family asylum. You should consider this offer because once the hammer of justice hit the Empire there won't be anything left standing."
For a few minute, the Count fell silent. He was thinking about the offer, this might be the chance for him to meet his daughter again but betray the Empire mean the death of every member of his family and there was no guarantee that the nations of Earth could defeat the Empire.
"No ! became the Empire's enemy was too dangerous and become the traitor to your homeland will bring shame to his family name forever." He thought.
"How do I know you even have the strength to beat the Empire in the first place." He asked sarcastically
"I will show you the true strength of the Earth nations." Smith said with absolute confidence.
A laptop was brought in front of Colt to show him the true situation of Falmart
"Earth is a planet with a population of 7.7 billion. Despite the devastating disaster the Earth can recover easily in just a few years. We have the combine army of 50 million troops and with the large number of volunteer this number can excess 200 million troops. We also have a large number of weapons of mass destruction like nuke, nerve gas, anthrax."
Other image of tanks, artillery, jet fighters, helicopters, warships were also shown.
Colt was impressed by the number of soldiers Earth nations can mobilize but he knew that the Empire still have an 10 to 1 advantage after the general mobilization. This world have some really powerful weapons that can destroy the world but the Empire can also return the world to primordial chaos.
He thought to himself. "The war is unavoidable, I should played along and cooperate with the enemy but secretly inform the Empire about the upcoming invasion."
"What do you want from me ?" the Count asked.
"I want it all, everything you know. I want all names you know, I want all maps you have. I want numbers. How many troops do the Empire have. What is the population of Falmart ? How many cities do they have ? What kind of weapons do they use?"
Tuka
Before came to the interrogation room, Lord Colt had ordered her to answer all questions truthfully. Tuka was pretty happy because that meaned she can finally answer the question and there was a chance for her to return her beloved home.
"I hope my family at home is fine, I made a promise to my family that I would return no matter what I have to do."
Before being transferred to this secret facility, she was raped and beaten by an angry mob in Japan. The security in this facility was a lot better than in Japan. So she felt a lot safer here.
While she was thinking the cell door opened and the interrogator came in.
"Before we start with the questioning. I want to assure you that you are perfectly safe. My name is John Smith. I just want you to give me a few answers." The man said in a calm voice so as not to scare the girl.
The blone elf just nodded obediently.
"What is your name ?"
"Tuka Luna Marceau" she answered.
"How old are you ?"
"I am 165 years old."
John said nothing but he was one again surprised by the longevity of a Falmartian. A normal Falmartian can live for a thousand years, that mean 165 years old were basically still a teenager.
"Where do you live ?"
"I live Maha village near Coda city in the Lemuria Peninsula."
"It is said that you are an explorer is that true ?"
"Yes I am. I was a talented explorer that why the Imperial Army conscripting me for the expedition force."
"This means you know a lot about the terrain and weather in the area aren't you. If so can you become our guide?"
"Actively aiding and abetting the enemy is high treason. I can't help you; however I can tell you everything I know and assist you with the map with one condition that is I will be returned home as a prisoner of war."
He was silent for some seconds then said. "Even though I can't promise you anything but my superior will think about your offer, but I warn you don't play trick with us."
The Great Recovery
Recovery slowly began. Nearly five million Americans had died and a number of major cities burned and/or collapsed into rubble, but the US was not quite as badly hurt as the China because there wasn't an explosion of Covid-17 like in China, and although it lacked, say, large scale forced reconstruction labor, its human and material resources remained substantial.
The political succession remained intact (Half of the Congress were dead but the President having been evacuated to Cheyenne Mountain Complex).
Martial law was called off in most of the country after eighteen months, and massive reconstruction loans helped stimulate industry.
As mentioned, the US was not in any real way ready to provide a post-Rumbling "Marshall Plan", nor was any other nation. However, there was a recognition that the global disaster required global solutions.
At an emergency UN session held in Geneva, it was unanimously agreed to create an international relief fund and reconstruction agencies, and to set up the necessary system for a global food bank, special financial cooperative efforts, etc., in a spirit of "all hang together or hang separately."
Many idealists saw this as the beginnings of a world government: many intellectuals went into high-flung raptures about how the Rumbling and Alien had made us conscious of our common humanity or more cynically, on how the existence of a common threat would finally unify mankind.
Unfortunately, human beings are rarely so sensible: the major surviving governments were scared badly enough to work together with traditional enemies in case of a future attack, but were no more willing to give up their sovereignty than France had been willing to merge its empire with Britain's in the darkest days of WWII.
After all, how could a world government include both democracies and dictatorships such as North Korea and Iran? And while the necessity of pooling resources and providing mutual assistance to help in economic recovery was widely appreciated, there was no way the "developed" states were going to take much input on how to use their money for the poor and backward 2/3 of mankind.
So, what emerged by 2019 was something like a combination of NATO and the EC, comprising the US, most of Europe, Australia-NZ, Japan, Russia, India and China, closely allied militarily and economically linked. DPRK was also included mostly due to their sheer bulk of nuke and ICBM and natural resources and was more loosely tied economically, due to backwardness.
Then there was an "outer sphere" of weak, poor small nations expected to provide raw materials and perhaps labor to the Global Earth Alliance - for the common good, of course! (Not that different from the old time, really, aside from Russia, China and the US joining forces to keep things orderly).
This initially shaky and shambolic structure would evolve over time into the United Earth Alliance, which would not so much replace the UN as steadily make it increasingly irrelevant.
The system as it was remained flawed in a number of ways. The relations between the Big Powers, the Global Security Council (equivalent to the old permanent five, but a lot more muscular) and the somewhat less exclusive Council Associates with the small and poor countries that make up the majority of the United Earth Alliance has always remained fraught.
"For the good of mankind", order had to be restored, the strategic minerals and oil had to start coming into production again, Africa and the Middle East had to do their bit to help out the human race. The concept of "mandates" was brought out of storage, with state reconstruction given over to "responsible powers" until states could "stand on their own feet."
Many peoples of a dusky hue saw it as little more than a new form of Imperialism with the US as the dominant power, with the China and some of the less thoroughly devastated European countries as often silent partners (with the Japanese playing an increasingly important role in the Pacific), and the "transition to full self-government" looked to cynical third-worlders more like the setting up of a network of puppet and client states, with the important mines and industries remaining largely in foreign control.
The Chinese placated with the right to manage various lucrative local operations. Such grumbling was, when not ignored entirely, chastised as undermining the common goal of Earth's human revenge against the Empire.
Certainly, narrow-minded local dictators could not be allowed to use nationalist propaganda to drive a wedge between locals and the global population, and the United Earth Alliance maintained certain rights of intervention to overthrow dictators who carried out "anti-human" policies which weakened mankind or which prevented the proper use of whatever resources their countries might happen to have.
(The Oil Intervention took place when certain oil rich countries, unhappy with the results of negotiations, tried to unilaterally push up oil prices)
Environmentalism is a heated subject of debate: although global warming is being taken more seriously than before, there is a strong sense of "develop the planet to the point we can beat the Falmartian first, then we'll worry about damage to the environment", which of course industry and business find very agreeable.
The US is still a democracy, if a rather authoritarian and mobilized one. Things like Civil Rights were pushed through by a government wanting to create a genuinely unified nation which did not essentially screw itself out of a large portion of economic growth by deliberate impoverishment of many of its citizens.
Generally speaking, the US is a lot more pro-government intervention, if only because of the clearly vital role of large-scale government support and aid in the post-2017 recovery: over time people have of course begun to forget they actually owe anything to government aid.
Globally, religion is generally doing better in the first world than pre-2017, while, oddly, religious fundamentalism is less active in North Africa and the Middle East, where secular regimes sucessfully hold onto power in Iraq, Egypt, Libya, and Syria.
European Union, which pursues a policy of "never again" after the horrible event, has sunk its differences in a pan-European identity more successfully than ever before, in 2022 the European Union was reorganized into The United Republic of Europia, although the United Kingdom actually managed to rebuild part of the Commonwealth – the white bits, mostly - into something a bit more substantial on the basis of "we must unite or the Falmartians will eat us all."
(Theoretically they could hold a seat on the Security Council as representatives of the Anglosphere Association and another as representatives for Europe, but currently those seats are held by an Australian and a Spaniard. It may be they deliberately avoid such a situation, given the accusations of excessive British influence that would no doubt follow).
Europeans nowadays are perhaps the most hawkishly anti-Falmartitan major power, old international hostilities now turned outwards towards the great enemy, and great slaughter of alien invaders is made in European movies and TV serials.
"Can you dig it?"
Hal Davis was in his back yard with a shovel. He and his wife and two daughters were turing the earth to get the back third of his yard ready to time they were not planting azalias or petunias, this time they were planting carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, and other vegetables.
Hal Davis was not the only man in Westchester turning the ole back forty into a micro farm. half of his neighbors were doing it as well. it would get them a break on the food coupons AND a tax write off next were neighborhoods not just in Westchester, New York and New Jersey, but all over the country that were becoming gardens.
Hal remembered learning in school about "Victory Gardens" during the second World War as well as other things from the Second World war were coming back. The PWA, The CCC, The WPA, and other groups to put people to work and GET THINGS DONE! The military draft was back, but not very many people really minded.
In many cases it was just a means of straightening out the books. Even when a few of the very wealthy squacked at their taxes skyrocketing to rates of seventy, and even ninety percent of their gross income, Hall and many of his friends looked at them and thought they were greedy self centered asses.
America was in danger from the greatest threat in history and these massive gas bags were counting their pennies. America was at war, and war needed armies, and the Army needed soldiers and soldiers needed guns and uniforms and bullets and bandages, tanks and tents.
Frank now bought war bonds to help pay. A line from a recent film entered his head and he chuckled at it, "Each bond you buy is a bullet in the barrel of your best guy's gun." But it was true.
A year after the great event, everyone, EVERYONE In the United States knew what was out there. Even Hal looked at his little girls helping him and their mother dig.
They were happy and laughing and suddenly Hal had a vision of them devoured by the Titans, their house was trampled to the ground by those monstrosity and stabbed his shovel into the soft Earth and unconsciously grunted, "NO!" Hal's youngest, nine year old Merry asked at that, "Daddy, are you O.K., Is everything O.K.?"
He looked up at her and smiled reassuringly, telling her with confidence in his voice, "Yes, Yes, Sweetheart, It's O.K., EVERYTHING is going to be O.K."Hal and his wife and family did their best to plant their garden, FOR VICTORY!
"The war effort needs YOUR effort!"
David Dunkle sat in his apartment and rummaged among his belongings looking for that bag of weed he thought he had from last week.
He was depressed by the Army crap on TV and no internet. David needed to get high. David was in the middle of the search when he heard a knock at the door.
It was loud and insistent, almost as if whomever it was wanted to knock the door down. David pulled himself from the weed hunt and shouted at the door, "Who the fuck is it?"
A woman's voice said authoritatively, "Mr. David Dunkle, This is the police, I am detective Daisy Hovis, 34th Precinct, we have a warrant for your arrest for failure to report for military induction. You have been identified as an unskilled unengaged citizen and ordered to report for military induction. Open the door."
"Hey, lady, you don't want me, you want Cap'in Amurikuh, Man." That was when the door seemed to almost explode inward as the two coke machines with heads knocked it in and the two uniformed police officers and one plainclothes detective stormed into David's happy little goober domain.
The chick, who was kinda hot in a butch lesbian sort of way told him, "Mr. David Dunkle age 28, of Apartment C 412 Brinkamn street, you have been repeatedly ordered to report for induction into the United States Army and you have failed to do so. We are now here to enforce your selective service induction."
"Awww, Come on with that, lady git outa here, I ain no baby killer for uncle sam." Instead of engaging him in debate, Detective Hovis told the two large gentlement in police patrol uniforms, "Gentlement this man needs to be on the truck downstairs, help him up, won't you?"
The two Street cops picked David up bodily and carried him downstairs and, as he looked shellshocked and crestfallen she told him, "Cheer up, Mr. Dunkle, you'll get three hots and a cot, uniforms, training and a whole new lease on life. You're in the army now."
David looked around the truck and reccognized three other members of his circle of friends or 'The Choom". as they called themselves. What the hell was this, man? They wanted him to be a Soldier? It looked like President 'Orange' really meant it when he called for, "A full court press in the biggest game America has ever played." If you didn't have a job, they would give you one, weather you wanted to do it or not.
"Dontcha know there'sa war on?"
Emily Barksdale stood at the checkout lane of the Safeway grocery and counted her food coupons. She technically had the money for everything in her basket, but the question was, how many fruit, coffee, and chocolate coupons did she have.
If Emily did not have enough the securty guard would take items from her until the goods matched up with the coupons in her book. It was humilitating to have that happen.
Emily was a good christian and she believed that god said what he meant and meant what he said. When the rapture happened last year, she was shocked to have the ENTIRE United States of America swept up in it, sexual deviants, druggies, sinners and perverts right along with good Christians like her.
The whole kit and kaboodle was not taken up to heaven rather everyone was cast down into this hell of monsters and Imperialist and murderers and condenmed to war without end.
When Emily came to the register, she proffered her book and hoped her Chocdlate, Coffee and Fruit coupons were enough.
They were not. She had to give back HALF of her fruit, and all of her candy and her coffee. The three rarest items in America. Bread did not cost a day's wage, a loaf of that could be had for less than two dollars, but luxury goods, and treats sometimes could not be had for love or money.
Emily realized that Almighty God was teaching her, was teaching all Americans to be thankfull and grateful for the simple things, the little things.
God saw to it that the spoiled pulp rotten Americans had their T.V. and their interweb and their candy and luxuries taken from them.
This was the lesson, be grateful for the bread in your bellies and the roof over your head.
Further, God was taking away America's idleness and putting the slothful to labor. Another lesson from god, if a man shall not work, neither shall he eat.
God's judgement had come upon America, but in a way Emily never would have seen coming.
As Emily left the Safeway with her allowed purchases, she said in prayer, "Thank you lord, for your lessons and your infinite mercy in the giving of them."