Part 1

Introduction

As the demand for recounts in California began, the world watched with worry. Whoever won the election would decide the fate of which side the US was on. While the European Union had been in power for almost a century, the African Alliance was a very new power in the World Arena. Established in 2026, the African Alliance was comprised of most of the nations found in Africa that really counted. The need for the alliance was realized when the UN peacekeeping efforts had failed; thus creating a massive war began between South Africa and the Congo.

South Africa, unlike its opponent, decided to try and convince nations north of Congo to attack their common enemy. This had formed the African Alliance, and when the country of the Congo was defeated, it was absorbed into the Alliance like water to a sponge. The alliance was now a world super power, and it could put 5 million men in the field.

Because of the elimination of the Electoral College, election results now could be checked, double-checked, triple checked, until January 20, all in the name of averting a crisis much like the one in 2000. At times, it would take that long for the votes to be completely counted, and since the recounts in California would decide who won the election, it was vital for the votes to be counted again and again constantly. Thus, at exactly 11:45, PM on January 19, 2044, John Virgo was announced president of the United States of America. As exactly 49.005 percent of voters celebrated, the others felt bitter defeat. Yet, in this political climate, was John Virgo, senator from Virginia really up to the job? He had won the election but he still asked himself repeatedly, was he the right man for the job?

The issues were the only things that mattered to the people anymore. People didn’t vote for their party, they voted for who they believed was most qualified to be president of the United States of America, leader of the free world, magistrate of justice, righter of wrongs, keeper of keys. With only 15% of the country's population registered as republican or democrat, the other 75% of the people were independents. It was still surprising to scholars that there only had been 2 independent presidents so far. Yet, even with Americans clearly losing their enthusiasm in voting, people kept to the two party system. Independent candidates normally didn't express their views well, and this was an election that the United States couldn't be unsure about whom they were throwing into the Oval office.

The entire election would have been a landslide for Virgo if not for the Communist China. His record in Congress displayed him as a moderate. He was against outright war with China, but for embargoes. His opponent, George Jewels was completely against any kind of negotiation with china. It was said that at the first opportunity he would vote for war. The issue in itself was the only issue of the 2044 election. It was as if everything, from education, to tax cuts was put on hold for the pressing matter. The only question that was on every person’s mind, what to do with china.

While all other nations cowered under the US, China was gradually growing stronger. Since 2012, China had been rapidly increasing the number of warheads in their nuclear arsenal, and recruiting men for their already vast armies. The world watched with increasing alarm as the communist dragon invaded Taiwan, and sustained heavy casualties. 7 million troops were slammed against people who would have been their brethren.

The Chinese navy had come in two waves, both surrounding the island. First, it had been constant air strikes for almost 2 days, then a general bombardment of the cost, and finally an amphibious landing on the shores of the Chinese Republic. As the landing craft made way to the beaches, artillery fire blanketed them with a thick fog of smoke. Visibility was very small, and thus, the casualties were bigger.

The battle for the beaches was incredibly brutal and inhumane. Within hours, the Chinese landing force had suffered 70% casualties. Then, the next wave of landing ships arrived; these two had huge casualties. By the time the beaches had been cleared, the entire landing force as a whole, including the uncommitted divisions had suffered 15% casualties.

Overall, it had been a brutal affair, 3,000,000 dead in the end. But it was a small price to pay to the Chinese government. Within a year, their ranks had swelled, and they had replaced all that were lost in the weeklong invasion of Taiwan. Of the machinery loss, all of it was recovered within 3 months. The Chinese army now had 250 tank and artillery divisions.

Of course, the international community responded to this invasion. The UN invoked sanctions, the US stopped trade, the African Alliance stopped sale of arms, and the European Union recalled its ambassadors. The only country who did not respond negatively was Russia, the old communist state.

It had been 46 years since Russia's economy had collapsed, and she never really recovered. Her army, numbering only 2,000,000 was bogged down in a small set of skirmishes with the Ukraine. The majority of the navy was mothballed, and her air force had long since been proven to be obsolete. Her only hope therefore was to find an old ally, a country that had endured for centuries, a country that would help bring them back what she had been. Naturally, this was China. But it was hard enough keeping on good terms with the European Union, let alone one of the countries 70 years ago she was about to go to war with. But a pact had been sealed between the Chinese Premier, and the Soviet Prime Minister. It was little more than a peace treaty, but it kept the two from sticking knives into each other's backs while they were busily making their tools.

John Virgo stared out the window in the Oval office at the rose garden outside. He still had that bill to sign something about the embargoes on China. But, he had more pressing matters concerning China. For the last 10 years, almost every news issue, press conference, and bill had been about the Communist Dragon. The familiar smell of roses flowed through the office, and it helped to set his mind into order. The UN had for 20 years, forced all of its members to stop commerce with China for its acts, but it appeared not to have any affect. China, with a population of almost 2 billion now still had more men in its armed forces than the US, the European Union, and the African Alliance combined. While US technology still was ahead of China, the gap was rapidly closing.

One of the few super weapons that the US had, and China didn’t have was the fusion bomb. The sheer power of fusion bomb could not be estimated. But, computer models suggested that one fusion bomb was more powerful than 20 hydrogen bombs. Considering that Hydrogen bombs were thousands of times stronger that nuclear bombs, it became easier and easier for any lone country to completely destroy the world in a single, swift strike.

Virgo considered the matter at hand very carefully. The move had been unexpected, and either way it still meant that something had to be done. Something drastic, something noteworthy, ANYTHING! He was elected mainly on the issue that he would do something in office about the growing menace. Now, that menace was full grown, no longer a small kid with slanted eyes, someone you could poke fun at, but a grown man, ready to take what he thought was right.

"Mr. President, the press has finished assembling." Was a small voice coming from the central computer located in the White House. The president escorted by 4 secret service men, and 6 floating electronic guards went into the gigantic holographic chamber. There was nothing on earth like it. Giant and black, like an I-max theatre of yesteryear, it contained massive projectors on all sides of the room. In all, 400 meters in length, and 200 in width.

It had been almost 10 years since the last "live" press conference on the White House grounds. Holographic communication was far more fashionable than having people permanently stationed somewhere. Now, thousands of reporters gathered in the chamber, their faces recreated 3-dimensionally, as if they were actually standing in front of the leader of the free world. There was a brief moment of silence, as if to let the meaning of the president's presence sink in a little.

The holographic recorders in the room clicked on, and the reporters, press representatives, and all the others held their breath. Even though they thought that this was coming, even knew it was coming, they never completely accepted it. Now, after 20 years of waiting, the moment was at hand.

"Well, ladies and gentleman of the United States of America," said the president in a half exasperated, half sad voice,"we are at war."