It's The Little Things

I was born in the year 2055 in the super country of Umanada. The United States, Canada and Mexico all formed one country when WWIII broke out in 2035. The United States had backed itself into a corner with the other super powers of the world. Taking over space, and reclaiming their right to dominate an unknown plain infuriated China and Russia, as their technology was at least ten years behind in capabilities. The United States also for once kept their mouth shut. Keeping an air tight seal on their technological advancement. That’s why in 2035 both countries who had refined their military struck the United States with a surprise attack on the southern coast of California. The attack proved devastating, and caused major damage, lighting up San Diego, Coronado, LA and all the surrounding areas. The people there were already broken down from the constant fires, and heat so they stood no chance against the ground forces that were making quick work of the area. Southern California being so densely populated at 23.86 million according to a 2019 census had plummeted to around five million in one day. The United States rallied as best they could, but they had never been attacked on land; the home invasion was something that they had never prepared for. The country was to prideful in its successful dominance over the free world to realize what was going on back home. Instead of rising up to defeat the now present threat the citizens were apathetic toward the fighting. They had realized long ago that their country had forsaken them; the United States had never cared about its citizens and it showed. No free healthcare, corporations running the judicial systems, veterans on the street or in a noose, and one of the worst continuously running economies; with a suffering middle class whose been over taxed, and underpaid.

The countries leaders had long ago abandoned what their forefathers had taught them about power, and people. For a country is nothing without the people living in it, but people can always choose allegiance to a new country. With Southern California taken over and held hostage as an outpost the Eastern Duo expeditiously reinforced themselves, sending more ground troops, aviation and naval assets. Within the week all of California was split by the two nations, and was declared a hostile territory and active combat zone. Civilians that were in residing states fled to the east coast or even other countries if they could, but not many could as so many were switching their allegiance to the more dominant and structurally sound Eastern Duo. Adding to that commercial airlines were being shot down by Rhina (Chinese/Russian) fighters daily. The Geneva convention, and rules of war that the United States had forced nations to play by was over; there were no rules in this war there would only be a winner. Out of the millions that fled from Washington, Oregon, Arizona and other nearby states less than a million made it out. Specifically it was about the population of Alaska which at that time was around 725,000. Only half of that number survived though because no other nations would fully accept an American refugee. The ones that did make it went back to their original country, or completely abandoned their allegiance to the United States rebuking them in all fashion. At that point it was clear that the United States had sealed their fate; there was no running or hiding this time. However, there was backup.

The Easter Duo within a week delivered a menacing blow to the United States, but they weren’t the reigning super power of the world for nothing. After finally getting their legs under them they mobilized 20 million troops; within two months they were trained and ready to fight. Knowing that it wouldn’t be enough they called out desperately to anyone that would help. Most declined, except for the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Canada and now after six months of losing battles, and land in the west coast the United States reared itself to get back in the fight. Mexico and Canada however didn’t join to help the United States win a war; they simply joined hands in defeating a common threat. The North American continent was shared between them, and common sense says if the US falls then they would be next. Keeping that on their mind they proceeded to mass armies of their own; creating what they could in a short amount of time. The Eastern Duo pressed forward already having attained all of the west coast, and pushing to the Midwest. The forward troops of the Eastern Duo were now surrounded by both borders, but were well aware of their situation and had a constant supply of food and ammunition being flown in on a weekly basis. They were also still secure in their homeland. They had pushed deeply enough into enemy territory that they had no fear of a counter strike from any country. The UK was to small a nation to provide anything, but rations and Mexico and Canada were at an overall disadvantage. Canada hadn’t fought in a war this size since WWII and had only played minor support roles in smaller wars like the Gulf war, and 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. Mexico was ill prepared as well. Only having fought miniature wars within themselves, and the Mexican-American war in 1848. Outmatched and outgunned both countries held on the coat tails of the United States; soaking up any information and quick strategies they could attain while also getting equipped with the new weaponry sent from their ally.

Even being outclassed, and seemingly having no hope the Northern Continent Alliance held strong, and battled the Eastern Duo for twenty years. Each year the alliances stepped up their fighting desire, and with that increased their determination, and resolve to kill. Although, this came with an extremely high death toll, and led to the global population plummeting. The United States once 320 million strong was left with a measly 100 million, Russia dropped from 150 million to 35 million and China with the highest population with over a billion took the most devastating hit with only 400 million citizens left. The war had taken to high of a toll for both sides, and they were able to come to an agreement. A cease fire would take place so that all countries could rebuild themselves, and wait for a new generation of soldiers to be born. Part of that deal was a trade embargo in which every country in the world had to pick what side they wanted to be on. Knowing that their choice would effect their countries forever, as the winner would never forget who decided to join hands against them. At the time there were 193 countries in the world; twenty of them agreed to trade with the Northern Alliance. Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, the US, Japan, France and all of South America formed the old friends treaty. The rest of the nations gladly decided to ally with the Eastern Duo. During this time the United States, Mexico and Canada decided to become one country. Eliminating their borders would allow for quicker transfer of troops, supplies and allow communication to flow more easily. Something that would have been done sooner if the US had not been so stubborn about being isolated, and withholding certain information. This transition from three to one bonded the alliance even further allowing for strength, and new found visions and ideas. One of those being the invisible dome or officially operation tag and hide.

The plan was simple, while the Eastern Duo quickly rebuilt their soldiers and created laws forcing women to conceive as many children as possible, Umanada would create an artificially intelligent dome. The dome would allow the nation to unload nuclear weapons out of any site within it. The payload would be launched, and a hole would open up right before impact and close immediately after the missile left. It would do this automatically and be able to consistently react while adapting to the situation, and giving feedback. The dome would also be impenetrable by return fire, and have the intelligence to make a critical decision on the incoming payload. Finally the dome would be able to cloak itself not allowing the nation to be found on radar or satellite. This would protect the nation for millennium to come while also giving them the ability to pick, and choose when the fight occurs; it would also trap the armies still on former US soil. Cutting them off from supplies, and making it harder for them to fight while also cutting off communications between them, and the mother land. This would make it easier to reclaim the land and eventually win the war.

The plan went into effect immediately, and it was estimated to take them the whole 20 year ceasefire to complete it. I was born in what would have been New York, which is mid north east Umanada. It would become one of the safest places to live during the domes construction. By 2075 the dome wasn’t finished at only about 70% completion, but the Eastern Duo was refined. They had surpassed even their own expectations exceeding their original goal of returning their numbers to normal, and so the war began again. This time the fight was different though; both sides were going straight for the jugular with no holding back. It was the first time in history that nuclear warheads were used in war, and not as a show or force or projection of power. The dome covered all of Umanada’s southern and mid portion leaving only the northern piece exposed. There was complete and utter devastation by both countries for ten more years following that. Anyone left that wasn’t working on the dome or fighting inside the radiation was living underground, and it became the new lifestyle for both alliances respective countries. In 2085 the dome was completed, and we were forced underground. I remember being able to hike, and travel outside before then because we had the dome over us where we lived. I wondered why now we were being funneled underground. I couldn’t fathom the obliteration and continuous draining that nukes had on the environment, but I was the only one left taking care of my mother so, underground I went.

As far as Umanada was concerned the war was over. The dome had been completed, the initial invasion force had been decimated, and all there was left to do was wait until the land could be occupied again. In their heads they had won, but that wasn’t really the case. There was never any treaty signed to end the war. Neither side decided enough was enough and bent the knee. The Eastern Duo still hates the United States, and their allies are always working to destroy the dome. One day they will; one day we will all have to go back to fighting again. Until that day comes however, I will stay ready. Life could have been so different, but thirty years later and we still live underground. At least were safe, but I still miss the little things in life. Like having a slice of thick chocolate cake, with a cold, tall glass of milk.

“Well that’s the story of how we ended up underground, can you remember all that Trinarus?”

(Laughing) “Grandpa, your crazy. There is no dome, but that outside part is interesting. Tell me what the sky looks like. I’ve only seen it in books.”

“Close your eyes, and imagine standing in a body of still clear water, that only goes up to your ankles with cloudy patches. Sometimes the patches turn dark gray, and cover the entire body of water, and it’s so vast you can’t see the ends of it.”

“Can you see it Trinarus?”

“Yeah I see it.”

“Now keep that image in your head, but flip it upside down so the water is above you; that’s the sky”

“It’s beautiful.” “Do you think one day I’ll be able to see it grandpa?”

“Keep your mind open, and anything is possible Trinarus”.

“I have something to give you hold on”. “Here, I did some research on baking and chocolate since your always talking about it. It might not taste as good and I don’t have a glass of milk, but here.”

I’ve only cried three times in my life. The day my father died, the day my mother died, and the day my grandson gave me a piece of chocolate cake. It didn’t look exactly like I remembered, and there was no milk in sight, but that was the best piece of chocolate cake I’ve ever had.