Author's Notes: The events of this episode occur concurrently as Abdication Crisis.
Metropolis
While Mon was in France and Kara was with her new babies in Midvale, Brainiac 5 took control of the American War. At his disposal were 15,000 drones, 5,000 British soldiers, and 1400 volunteers from Metropolis. His counterpart, General George Wallace, supposedly had 14000 American troops. Unsure where Brainiac 5 would attack, Gen. Wallace split his forces in two with half headed towards Brooklyn and the other half on Long Island.
American forces launched missile and mortar attacks toward Metropolis that were largely ineffective. Brainiac 5 continued to build up his forces as more drones and men came into the port. Finally, Brainiac 5 made his move with an amphibious assault on Long Island. The Americans defended against the British to a stalemate but Brainiac 5's main force was going around to hit the Americans from behind. Completely outflanked, the Americans were forced to retreat. Brainiac 5 drones and Americans traded fire in the field. The Brainiac 5 drones merely fired stun blasts while the Americans fired plasma rifles and projectile weapons doing medium damage to the drones. The Americans dug in at Brooklyn Heights and waited for a rescue to Manhattan. Dense fog also appeared in the area.
Able to see through the fog with infrared and other visual optics, the drone army continued to press its advance. Unable to escape, thousands were stunned and taken prisoner annihilating half of Gen. Wallace's army. As the British fleet moved in, Gen. Wallace retreated toward Harlem Heights. The British fleet blasted Manhattan with a powerful barrage and then the British army landed virtually unopposed on the island. The Americans quickly deserted as the drone army approached them. Despite Gen. Wallace lecturing his men to stay and fight, more fled the battle. Gen. Wallace finally organized his men for a stand against the British army at Morningside Heights.
Brainiac 5 and Imra watched the infantry battle. "You could destroy them all with air support," she remarked.
"I could simply kill them all by setting my rifles to kill rather than stun," Brainiac 5 shrugged. "It's not my intent to create mass casualties."
"You think you can win a war that way?" Imra asked skeptically.
The Americans lined themselves up and fired at the drones as they approached in large formations. A great many drones were hit but kept walking while only a few collapsed disabled on the ground. The drones continued their advance, came within range and then fired all at once stun beams that took down the Americans from their positions. The drones were nearly exact in their aim, did not hesitate to fire, and had no moral qualms when they shot. With the drones looking human in appearance, some of the American soldiers hesitated to fire accurate shots and had to be constantly reminded of what they were up against by their commanders. Damaged drones on the front lines routinely cycled to the back. Unlike the Americans, Brainiac 5 always had a 3D map of the battlefield and where the American positions were.
Gen. Wallace retreated further to White Plains, NY only to be evicted there as well. At Fort Washington, the British fleet arrived and sent over several thousand drones and British human troops to storm the fort from three different directions. The Americans were overwhelmed by the British advance and crowded themselves inside the fort. The fort, however, was too small for that kind of number. With the British fleet about to fire on the fort to kill them all, the fort surrendered. The British took 3000 prisoners that day. Upon hearing of the defeat, Gen. Wallace evacuated the nearby fort of Fort Lee and took off leaving the British to take it as well.
Brainiac 5 proceeded to take West Point as his Canadian army took Fort Drum in the north. Brainiac 5 then backtracked to expand his sphere of influence with an invasion of New Jersey where his drone army proceeded to sack Fort Dix. Along the Delaware River, Brainiac 5 positioned human troops in the cities and villages of New Jersey for simple guard duty.
Along the Delaware River on the New Jersey side, Gen. Wallace realized he was in trouble. "We have half a thousand sick men, Sir. We could quarter them here," Gen. Mercer suggested.
"No, we cross the river," Gen. Wallace shot him down.
"When? If they swim in that cold, they'll die," Gen. Mercer warned.
"If we stay here we all die," Gen. Wallace said obviously. "That river is the only thing keeping us from the British." He then turned to Gen. Glover. "Glover, I'd like to cross the river."
"How? Swim it?" Gen. Glover mocked.
"No, asshole. With boats," Gen. Wallace said impatiently.
"Where are the boats?" Gen. Glover asked incredulously.
"Up the river a few miles is a foundry and smelter where they run down the river to Philadelphia in boats, big boats. Get me those boats," Gen. Wallace ordered.
"How the fuck am I supposed to pay for them?" Gen. Glover asked.
"Fucking steal them," Gen. Wallace said obviously. "We are pinned the fuck down. Either you get me my boats or we're fucked."
"Fine," Gen. Glover rolled his eyes.
"See what you can do for the sick and wounded," Gen. Wallace said to Gen. Mercer and then walked off like a boss.
Upon reaching the boatman, Gen. Glover proceeded to commandeer his boats. "What the fuck?" the boatman wondered.
"We're taking your boats for the temporary use of the American army. The Continental Congress will compensate your losses," Gen. Glover told him.
"That sounds like bullshit," the boatman doubted. "Is this what you call freedom and equality?" he mocked.
"That's the other guys. We're here to protect our elite status and wealth," Gen. Glover corrected.
"Well...fuck me," the boatman realized. "I'll see you all hanged!" he shouted as the American soldiers took all of his boats. "You're all fucked. You're all going to suffer! You don't stand a chance. Give up now."
Gen. Glover finally had enough of the boatman's taunts and proceeded to beat the shit out of him.
Once the boats had been secured, the Americans began crossing over to the other side of the river. British drones arrived and fired stun bursts at the fleeing American soldiers. The injured and sick were left behind as the Americans scrambled. Several Americans were stunned as the British drones advanced toward the river. The Americans fired back with plasma rifles that did minor damage to several drones. After the skirmish, the bulk of the American army managed to get across to the other side and set up camp. Gen. Wallace entered his tent and spoke with his general officers.
"I'll speak frankly. When we were in New York City, we had 20,000 men and 3,000 mortar tubes. Now, we have maybe 2000 men and 18 mortar tubes left. And we presume to fight the most powerful nation on the face of the Earth. In doing so, we have been smashed repeatedly. We have been flushed and chased and punished. Now, I must write to Congress and tell them of our condition. Well, gentlemen, what should I tell them?" Gen. Wallace asked.
"That we are on the west bank of the river, general and the British are on the east," Gen. Glover smirked.
"Thank you...captain fucking obvious," Gen. Wallace glared.
"The British will cross the river with twenty thousand drones. Then what?" Gen. Mercer asked.
"We retreat again," Gen. Wallace frowned.
"What is there left between the British and Philadelphia?" Gen. Knox asked concernedly.
"We are left," Gen. Wallace told him off.
"We have no food, medicine, or blankets. We have jaundice and dysentery. The men are pissed," Gen. Mercer reported.
"You are right, Gen. Mercer. An army without supplies cannot endure. Therefore, we shall endure and supplies will then come to us," Gen. Wallace reasoned.
"What the fuck?" Gen. Glover mouthed.
"What is our alternative, gentlemen? Do we lay down our arms, do we throw ourselves at the mercy of our enemy, do we subscribe to a system where we are treated like privates with drone overlords?" Gen. Wallace asked rhetorically. "We have money, stocks, and bonds, properties, expensive possessions. Before the war, we were all rich as fuck. So, we shall endeavor to resist."
"Now, I divided my forces with different routes to this location. I gave Gen. Gates 2000 men and Gen. Lee 1200 men. If one of them became trapped, the others might survive. So...where the fuck are they?" Gen. Wallace asked pissed off. "How can two armies just disappear?"
"A word, Sir," Gen. Sterling requested.
The two went outside the tent where random soldiers could overhear their private conversation. "Gen. Lee is probably sitting in the forest waiting for you to die so he can be commander in chief of the army," Gen. Sterling suggested.
"That mother-fucker," Gen. Wallace said outraged. "Find his incompetent traitorous ass."
"And what if he tells me to go fuck myself?" Gen. Sterling asked.
"I don't know. Place him under arrest or some shit," Gen. Wallace figured.
"Excuse me, Sir. I'm Thomas Barclay. I've come to offer you my mansion as your headquarters and shelter from the cold. You can't conduct your business like animals in the field," he said.
"He's quite right. Conducting oneself as an animal is for privates," Gen. Wallace agreed.
"Shouldn't we put all the wounded and sick in the house and have the officers sleep in the tents as a leadership example?" Gen. Sterling suggested.
"What the fuck did I just hear?" Gen. Wallace asked dismayed.
"You may have your baggage sent up, Sir, and may I ask you and your staff to join us for dinner, tonight?" Thomas added.
"Well...finally some respect. We would be honored," Gen. Wallace accepted. "Lead the way."
The next morning, Gen. Wallace and Gen. Mercer scouted Trenton and discovered 1200 Metropolis human soldiers drilling. The Metropolis human soldiers were merely to guard the river in case the Americans crossed over back into New Jersey. Gen. Wallace and Gen. Mercer then met up with an incoming army being led by Gen. Sterling and Gen. Sullivan.
"Where is Gen. Lee?" Gen. Wallace asked confused.
"Held captive by the British," Gen. Sullivan answered.
"How the fuck did that happen?" Gen. Wallace asked dismayed.
"He went to a bar alone and that's where the British took him," Gen. Sullivan said flatly.
"Well...shit. What is the condition of your men?" Gen. Wallace asked.
"Eight hundred seventy-two that can walk and bear arms," Gen. Sullivan replied. "The rest are in carts."
"And what of Gen. Gates?" Gen. Wallace asked.
"He will be with you by nightfall," Gen. Sterling answered.
"March your men to our camp," Gen. Wallace ordered.
"You're not leading us?" Gen. Sullivan asked surprised.
"No," Gen. Wallace replied and then walked off to do some more scouting of the river by himself.
That night, Gen. Wallace and his staff were warm and comfortable inside the house while their men froze outside. "Well, what do you think of my plan?" Gen. Wallace asked Gen. Glover, the skeptic.
"I think you've lost your fucking mind," Gen. Glover said of the shit plan.
"Well, that is quite beside the point. Can you do it?" Gen. Wallace asked impatiently.
"I can't...but I will," Gen. Glover shrugged.
"What the fuck does that mean?" Gen. Wallace asked annoyed.
"It means this is a shit plan but we have no alternative. But if you're determined to march into hell, I'll go along...for funsies," Gen. Glover said wide-eyed.
"Thank you...for your honesty. Now, get the fuck out," Gen. Wallace ordered out of his room.
Later that night, Gen. Gates and his men finally arrived. The general officers came together for dinner in the dry warm house while the men froze outside. "I have received a text from the Continental Congress. Since Philadelphia cannot be defended, they have moved to Baltimore under the theory that no reasonable person would ever want to take it," Gen. Wallace read out loud. "We give you the power to make all decisions concerning our struggle."
"Only a few months ago, the British took down our banks, destroyed our stock market, invaded our lands, and are on the verge of taking our three largest cities: New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. We have lost every battle and of our great army, only a handful remain. The British have written us off. No doubt, they are now contriving the terms of our surrender."
"You've stated the situation quite clearly," Gen. Gates interrupted.
"Very well. Across the river, ten miles downstream is Trenton. It is held by 1200 Metropolis soldiers. They have food, housing, clothing, tents, cannons, rifles, and ammunition," Gen. Wallace detailed.
"Can I join their side?" Gen. Glover joked.
"Shut the fuck up, God damn," Gen. Wallace scolded. "In short, they have everything we need. In four days, it will be Halloween. There will be a great deal of feasting and drinking that night. I propose we cross the river, march on Trenton, and fuck them up before dawn. If science is with us, we'll take the whole lot of them," Gen. Wallace said.
"That's a shit plan," Gen. Gates objected.
"Specify how it's a shit plan," Gen. Wallace asked irritably.
"In order to attack, you must have an army. You have no army. To have an army, one must have soldiers. You have no soldiers. Your men only retreat. To attack, you must go in the opposite direction. By the end of the year, the enlistment runs out. Your men won't do shit before then and why should they. You can't cross the river without the British knowing about it. They have spies everywhere. The crossing will take hours. Long before you come ashore, they will have their mortars on your boats. Finally, you will not defeat the British. They may be human but they're the best trained in the world and you fucking know it," Gen. Gates said condescendingly.
"Their training has not prepared them for an attack of this nature. We will rouse them from their beds and they will not have time to create the formations they are known for," Gen. Wallace pointed out.
"I fear for your sanity, general. I fear you are no longer fit for command," Gen. Gates said without fear.
"What the fuck did you just say?" Gen. Wallace raged.
"You are up against superheroes that can wipe out entire armies all by themselves, a drone army that has no fear nor remorse, and a professional human army from around the world. They have air superiority, a blockade on our coasts, and armor for any terrain. We are completely and totally fucked...Sir," General Gates summarized. "You can't face defeat so you prefer annihilation."
"Are you finished? I'm bored. You're boring me," Gen. Wallace said dismissively.
"Surrender, damn it!" Gen. Gates advised.
"So, we surrender. We weigh the pros and cons and reason prevails. But you see, Sir, I am an unreasonable man. I have teenagers fighting for me, they run away, they fear the British, and they fear death. I'm just a bumbling farmer from Alabama. All of this is true," Gen. Wallace admitted.
There was a long awkward silence between them. "The fuck?" Gen. Gates wondered.
"You hear me and you hear me well. You will lead your men across that river and take Trenton or die trying," Gen. Wallace ordered.
"I have a stomach ache. It could very well be appendicitis. I have to go to sick call," Gen. Gates excused.
"Get the fuck out of here. I'm taking your men," Gen. Wallace ordered pissed off.
On the night of the attack, Gen. Wallace gathered his officers in the warm house while his men froze outside. "When the crossing is completed, we will march south along the river road. The army will divide into two sections four miles from Trenton. General Green and I will command the first section and will take Pennington Road. General Sullivan, commanding the second section, will take the river road. We will enter Trenton in the early morning. It will still be dark."
"Loading, unloading, and crossing the river, Gen Glover is the supreme commander. No one is to countermand his orders," Gen. Wallace ordered.
"That's it. The crossing is canceled," Gen Glover smiled.
"Fuck you, Sir," Gen. Wallace said crossly. "Any questions?" Seeing none, Gen. Wallace turned to everyone. "I bid you all good science and a Merry Halloween...to all of you," he said heartfelt.
The Americans proceeded to cross the river with their boats at a relatively slow speed. As they waited, Gen. Wallace and his officers stayed inside the house where it was dry and warm while their men froze. For several hours, Gen. Wallace waited for the last boat to cross to stay out of the cold.
"I would like to cross over, Sir," Gen. Knox requested.
"Why don't you wait for the guns?" Gen. Wallace asked.
"If I open my mouth again about the loading of the guns, Glover will go mad. He hates me. I tried to talk to him about this before but he insulted me," Gen. Knox said offended.
"How?" Gen. Wallace asked.
"He said that in an army that hasn't eaten in months, it's damn near treasonous...to be fat," Gen. Knox replied.
"Holy shit," Gen. Wallace smiled. "Get on the boat and try not to sink it."
When it finally came to get on the boat, Gen. Wallace took to the front standing to lead the boat in an epic portrait. "Sir, I'm the boat commander...," a fisherman said to him.
"Keep quiet. I'm having a moment," Gen. Wallace silenced him.
Once everyone had crossed, it was already too late in the morning. "We're going to have to fight in the daylight now," Gen. Mercer said obviously.
"Then, we fight in the daylight," Gen. Wallace shrugged.
"If the British are there waiting for us in daylight, we're fucked. You do know that right?" Gen. Mercer asked.
"We just crossed all of our men across the river when everyone said it couldn't be done. Science...is on our side," Gen. Wallace said confidently.
"It's suicide," Gen. Mercer doubted.
"Then count me suicidal," Gen. Wallace replied.
Gen. Wallace then met up with Gen. Glover. "How are your men?" he asked him.
"Tired as fuck," he replied.
"Your men successfully boated the entire army across the river. It's an extraordinary achievement. Your country owes you and your men a great debt," Gen. Wallace complimented.
"Thank you, Sir," Gen. Glover said exhaustedly.
"Now...march with the rest of the men," Gen. Wallace ordered.
"My men only have fishing pikes for weapons," Gen. Glover reminded him.
"I'm aware," Gen. Wallace said unconcernedly and then walked off.
"Fuck me," Gen. Glover shook his head dismayed.
The tired army marched several miles towards Trenton, a decayed city in ruins from the war previous. The army then split up as planned four miles from Trenton. Upon reaching a British guardhouse, the Americans barged in and knifed several men to death while they were still sleeping from partying the night before. The Americans then left the house a bloody mess with bleeding bodies all over the floor.
The American army finally reached Trenton and found the city quiet. Gen. Knox put his mortars into position and then Gen. Wallace gave the order to attack. "May science be with us."
The Americans charged Trenton from two different directions catching the British human soldiers completely by surprise. They were all drunk as fuck from Trick o Treating the night before. Gen. Knox began firing his mortars at the houses being used as barracks blasting them to pieces.
With weapon malfunctions being common, the Americans resorted to using their rifles as clubs and knifing the British. The British finally got their act together and formed up only to get blasted apart by mortars. The British Commander, Col. Rall, took his sweet-ass time getting dressed and ready for battle. Finally, he came out ensuring he looked fabulous. Immediately, a sniper shot him in the gut mortally wounding him. The British scrambled to create formations with many still in their underwear. A British mortar team attempted to assemble only to get blasted by the opposing American mortar team. Another mortar hit a British squad blasting them to pieces. Completely surrounded, the British surrendered. In all, the Americans lost 2 from exposure and 5 wounded to the British 22 dead and 83 wounded. The Americans captured 900 British soldiers.
Gen. Wallace was reluctant to meet with Col. Rall even though he was dying. "Col. Rall wants to surrender to you. It's a courtesy of war," Gen. Green told him.
"Fuck that guy. He betrayed his race to be slaves to a drone overlord," Gen. Wallace resisted.
"We're all just trying to make a living. Is not our cause to seek out profit? We want to be rich as fuck without taxation. They just want to survive. In the end, we all kill for profit, them and us," Gen. Green pointed out.
"Very well, we must not think these desperate peasants think we're savages," Gen. Wallace agreed.
Gen Wallace entered a house and found Gen. Mercer attempting to treat Col. Rall. "Are you...Wallace?" Col Rall asked weakly.
"I am Wallace," he confirmed.
"My soldiers are good and brave. Please, don't abuse them. Take their weapons but do not dishonor them," Col. Rall requested.
"I ain't promising you...," Gen. Wallace said and then stopped himself. "Of course."
"We fought for a better world where all men would be taken care of in cooperation and community. We fought for charity, order, and peace," Col. Rall said and then died.
Gen. Wallace then walked away disgusted.
News of the defeat at Trenton reached Metropolis and London. The British Parliament convened an emergency session and demanded that Brainiac 5 annihilate the American army with orders to kill, not stun. The vote was overwhelming beyond the 2/3rds needed to override Kara's veto if she decided to do so. Therefore, Brainiac 5 didn't even consult her on the matter.
Not wanting further bloodshed and believing his human allies to be incompetent, Brainiac 5 pulled them back from the river to return to Metropolis. Brainiac 5 then brought his drone army to Princeton and then moved towards Trenton. As he did, he was harassed by ambushes and sniper fire from the forest along the road. Helicopters fired on the general location of the Americans and then bombers blasted the forest with incendiary bombs so nothing could have survived.
Brainiac 5 analyzed the maps and positions of the Americans just outside Trenton. He noticed a singular bridge to which his drones would be bottlenecked. "They hope to have me send endless waves of drones on this bridge and be hit with mortar fire on this hill," Brainiac 5 pointed out to Imra.
"So, what will you do?" Imra asked curiously.
"Many of the American volunteers' contracts will expire soon and they will go home. We simply wait them out," Brainiac 5 replied.
At Trenton, Gen. Wallace addressed his troops. "My brave fellows, you have done all I asked you to do, and more than could be reasonably expected; but your country is at stake, your wives, your houses, and all that you hold dear. You have worn yourselves out with fatigues and hardships, but we know not how to spare you. If you will consent to stay only one month longer, you will render that service to the cause of liberty and to your country which you probably never can do under any other circumstances."
One troop came forward and then the rest followed inspired by the general's speech.
Brainiac 5 moved his army into Trenton and cleared it taking a number of prisoners. He then confronted the Americans outside the city on the other side of Assunpink Creek. The two sides exchanged fire with little result. Not taking the American bait to cross over on the bridge, Brainiac 5 divided his forces. The first would keep the Americans occupied in Trenton while the other would cross the Assunpink Creek at another location and outflank them. Brainiac 5 would then trap the Americans between his army and the Delaware River with no means to escape to Pennsylvania.
Realizing what Brainiac 5 was up to, the Americans continued to harass the British with mortar fire while the main army moved towards Princeton along a dirt road. Brainiac 5's first force exited Trenton as the second outflanked Gen. Wallace's mortar squads slaughtering them. Knowing what Gen. Wallace was up to, Brainiac 5 sent reinforcements to the garrison in Princeton while moving his entire army back to Princeton.
Finding the Americans on a dirt road moving towards Princeton, helicopters and fighters fired into the forests causing some to panic and slow down. The Americans became more disorganized and divided on this narrow road. The British and Americans engaged each other in several locations along the road. The American forces arriving in Princeton quickly discovered they couldn't overrun the well-defended garrison. The Americans backed out of the area and scattered into the forest in a full retreat with Gen. Wallace still unaccounted for.
November 3017
In New York, Nura led a Canadian human army of 8000 towards Albany. Another Canadian army of 2000 headed towards Buffalo taking the city and then moving east to meet up with Nura. Brainiac 5 led 10,000 drones from Metropolis north towards Albany. The three armies were meant to come together at Albany and take the New York capital. By doing so, it would cut off New England from the rest of the country.
Kara slightly involved herself in the planning of the war in Midvale where she received constant reports from her Brainiac 5 nanny drone. "I think...you should sack Philadelphia and end the war right now," she said.
"I already have two Canadian armies moving towards Albany," Brainiac 5 informed her.
"So? They can handle the Americans there," Kara figured.
"I'm not leaving it to chance," Brainiac 5 refused.
"Look, just take Philadelphia and then race back towards Albany. No problem," Kara said.
"We will attack Philadelphia after Albany has been captured by all three armies," Brainiac 5 told her.
"Fine, whatever," Kara said unconcernedly and continued to dot on her twins.
Nura led the Canadian army in taking Fort Ticonderoga. The retreating Americans did Scorch Earth tactics on the way out. With food and supplies being an issue, Nura's advancement slowed. The Canadian army in Buffalo attempted to advance eastward only to run into issues with American resistance in Rochester. Fighting to a draw, the Canadian army was no longer mission capable and went back to Buffalo. Predicting a defeat if she kept going, Nura stopped her advance completely. She then ended up with desertions as she faced supply issues.
Brainiac 5 marched 10,000 drones and 5,000 Metropolis soldiers toward Albany. "Retreat back to Fort Ticonderoga but slowly," Brainiac 5 ordered Nura via hologram.
Nura did just that retreating slowly back to Fort Ticonderoga. American Gen. Gates pursued her with much larger force but left Albany vulnerable in doing so. Nura was able to defend herself decently enough against Gen. Gates while the much larger British army headed towards Albany and sacked it. Dismayed by the situation he was in, Gen. Gates decided to surrender his army and join the British side. New England was now effectively cut off and most of New York was in British hands.
With the British fleet, Brainiac 5 moved his drone and human troops against Philadelphia where they fought against Gen. Wallace's American forces at the Brandywine River. Brainiac 5 easily outflanked Gen. Wallace and nearly destroyed his army. Shortly thereafter, Brainiac 5 captured Philadelphia. Gen. Wallace attempted a counter-attack to take back the capital and was epically defeated. The American government, such as it was, relocated to York, Pennsylvania. In a desperate move, the American navy attacked Midvale in a symbolic move. This, however, ended in disaster when Kara, personally, destroyed the fleet with heat vision beams.
Brainiac 5 then presented terms to the Americans to end the war after Fort Meade was captured in Maryland. American President John Hancock negotiated with Brainiac 5 directly via holograms. "We demand nothing less than independence now and forever from Great Britain," John declared.
"Seriously?" Brainiac 5 wondered.
"What are your terms, drone?" John asked disdainfully.
"We will occupy all lands east of the Mississippi River but north of the Ohio River and the northern Potomac River. The rest will remain in your hands as a sovereign independent nation. You will be free to transport yourselves and your possessions to the south during the transition period. All Americans will be free to either join our system or reside to the south and west," Brainiac 5 replied.
"It's only a matter of time before you invade the south and west," John predicted.
"Probably," Brainiac 5 replied.
"So, why end the fighting?" John asked curiously. "You're over-extended, aren't you?"
"The queen could destroy this entire world or incinerate every living thing on its surface. It would behoove you to take what you can get," Brainiac 5 replied.
"And what of the gap between the Ohio River and the Potomac?" John asked.
"The Appalachian Mountains will be the border," Brainiac 5 said simply.
"How long do we have before the next conquest by the queen?" John asked skeptically.
"It could be several months...a few years," Brainiac 5 guessed.
"I do this now to save lives," John agreed.
"It will," Brainiac 5 assured him. "Starting with your own."
New England became incorporated with Quebec with Boston as the capital. Metropolis remained a city-state. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island simply became New York with Albany as its capital. Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia became simply Pennsylvania with Philadelphia becoming its capital. Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin merged into simply Ohio with Columbus as its capital. Indiana and Illinois merged into Illinois with Chicago as its capital. Minnesota was incorporated into Ontario with Toronto as its capital. Western Canadian provinces, Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, and Ireland merged together to form the North Atlantic territory. Each new nation was roughly the same in GDP and given a regional governor answerable to Kara.
After the war had ended, Brainiac 5 visited Kara in Midvale. As per expected, she delegated unseemly tasks to nanny drones. To her credit, Kara continued to breastfeed, care for, and play with the twins treating them more or less equally. Kara eyed the datapad she was expected to sign. "What the fuck is this? I claimed everything east of the Mississippi River. This is like...half that," Kara said peeved.
"We're overextended as it is. We do not have the resources or time to employ and provide for the entire human population. Also, this will save lives immediately," Brainiac 5 said.
"Fine," Kara said scornfully and then signed it. "All this means is that we're defending this land we've gained with deadly force and administering it. I still hold the position the entire planet is mine. So, if I want to sunbathe on the beach in Florida, I will," Kara clarified.
"Of course," Brainiac 5 replied.
Atlanta
In the South, American leaders met in Atlanta to discuss their new situation in a large mansion. "The situation is very simple. The British can't fight and we can!" Jackson declared.
"Fuck yeah!" the crowd shouted.
"One southerner can lick twenty Brits," Forest boasted.
"If Georgia fights, I go with her but, like my father, I hope the Brits will let us live in peace," Jefferson said.
"But they insulted us," one pointed out. "You can't mean you don't want war."
"Most of the miseries of the world were caused by wars and when the wars were over no one ever knew what they were about," Jefferson mused.
"The war is about...tariffs!" one shouted. "Fuck yeah, it is!" the crowd agreed.
"I think it's hard winning a war with words, gentlemen. There's not a cannon factory in the whole south," Lee reminded them.
"What difference does that make to a gentleman?" one asked.
"The fuck?" Lee wondered but then quickly recovered. "It's going to mean a great deal to a great many gentlemen," he said obviously.
"Are you implying the Brits can lick us, Mr. Lee?" one asked.
"I'm not implying anything. I'm downright telling you. The Brits are better equipped than us. They've got factories, shipyards, coal mines, and a fleet that can bottle up our harbors and starve us to death. All we've got is cotton, essential workers, and arrogance," Lee said.
Jefferson gave Lee an impressed look at his assessment. "You're the right man to lead our army," he declared.
"The South shall rise again!" the crowd shouted enthusiastically.
"Well...shit," Lee sighed.
Baltimore erupted in riots creating fires everywhere. Missouri's governor declared war from across the Mississippi River. The neutral territory of Kentucky was suddenly invaded sacking its local government. As part of the treaty, Fort Lee was to be under the control of the British even though it was in Virginia territory. A rowdy Virginian army approached the fort and fired upon it requiring an evacuation. The new American President, Jefferson Stephens, gave a speech from Richmond Virginia on the justification for the new war.
"The new Constitution has put at rest forever all the agitating questions relating to our peculiar institution—capitalism, as it exists among us and the proper status of employees in our form of civilization. What was once conjecture, is now a realized fact. The prevailing ideas entertained by the British Queen and most of the leading statesmen of Britain, were that honest work for money was a violation of the laws of nature; that it was wrong in principle, socially, morally, and politically. It was an evil they knew not well how to deal with before the arrival of the Queen. Those ideas, however, were fundamentally wrong. They rested upon the assumption of the equality of people and equality of outcome. This was an error. It was a sandy foundation, and the idea of a Government built upon it, when the storm came and the wind blew, it fell," he declared.
With new leadership and new allies across the American continent, the new American army made its way north.