For decades America has ruled the world uncontested. Untouchable.
But…
The American nation for all its superior firepower is alone with enemies vastly outnumbering its allies. Some were once allies.
Washington DC
White House
Oval Office
The Oval Office was crowded. With analysts, generals, advisors and members of the press trying to snatch the President's attention, Houten was a ruthless President, he was elected on the promise he'd demand the US be respected on the world stage.
Standing behind the country's leader was the Meta-human-
UltraOne.
He stood powerfully, his tree trunk arms folded. His pale white leather armour was spotless, his defined stature was chiseled, and golden cape sat comfortably upon the Oval Office's ground.
His golden boots and gauntlets shone bright, and his neatly parted brown hair sat neatly upon his slightly tanned head.
'Mr President, may I suggest something?'
The President leaned forwards on the Resolute Desk-
The current crisis?
France had recently pulled the rug on an American interest in North West Africa, one that put America in a precarious place.
'Their ONE decision forced our hand gentlemen!' A senator cried-
'Maybe we should ensure they CAN'T MAKE ANOTHER!'
'I suggest we punish NATO! The UN! We-'
'GENTLEMEN!' The President shouted, raising his voice over the clambering politicians.
Once the noise dissipated, he turned to face the superhuman behind him.
'So, UltraOne, does my head of security have anything to add to the conversation?'
The broad man leaned forward, looming over the group.
'Sir, I am afraid I can't comment on the politics of the world.'
He then faced the wall behind him, turning his head to the view beyond the White House's perimeter.
'My only job is to protect you and…'
'And?..'
'The Five Stars Party.'
The doors to the Oval office opened, and in walked a General from the Chief of Staff, he was a four star General, old and withered, clearly exhausted. A grey fox, still impeccably handsome, clean shaven, his body still clearly in some sort of shape long after his heyday. His uniform was ironed pristinely, its dark green hue still radiant despite its age. Along his chest stretched medals, ribbons, patches and many more ceremonial accolades.
The President looked towards the opening doors-
'AH General Howler! Long flight?'
The General answered with a raspy scratchy tone-
'About as long as a flight from Japan can be Mr President.'
In his hand he clutched a folder.
'So, what you got?'
President Houton asked with his trademark New Jersey accent.
'Well Sir… an accurate account of our current situation… you asked for it and now you've got it.'
The President pondered for a moment-
'Alright, everyone out. Members of the press vacate the area!'
The secret service swooped in herding the ravenous crowd of cameras and awkward questions away-
'MR PRESIDENT SIR! ANY NEWS ABOUT THE FRENCH ACTIONS IN AFRICA!?'
'PRESIDENT HOUTEN CARE TO COMMENT ABOUT THE CHINESE RESPONSE TO THIS FOLLY!?'
-the doors finally closed, what felt like hours it was over.
The President finally relaxed, leaning back in his thick leather chair. His arms resting his head. His memos sprawled across the Resolute desk, his fountain pen dripping with ink.
The Advisors, Generals, analysts and Secretary of Defence took a seat in front of him, sitting comfortably in their blue cushioned chairs.
General Howler stood at the front, as he stood next to a folding white board, with the documents from the folder.
'Mr President, Ladies, Gentlemen here is our situation and it is bleak to say the least.'
He slaps a word
"CHINA"
upon the board-
'A new cold war is beginning, it's clear from this evidence.'
He lets that stew in the air.
'The People's Republic of China under Paramount Leader Zhuan Jiahoa has cooperated with Washington since 2008-'
Howler laid out the images across the board-
Image One: An elderly Chairman Zhuan standing tall in his black Mao suit.
Image Two: China's economic performance and population diagrams.
'China's military is vastly bigger than ours. Six million stronger.'
The numbers were sickening, the amount of equipment they possessed was swiftly overtaking the US.
'Zhuan is aging. We could soon face this emerging dragon once his designated successor Li Zutian takes over.'
Howler approached the table and laid more pages across the office's wooden table. At the end of the table sat a stack.
'In front of you, there are hundreds of reports of the Communist Republic's developments in AI technology, Drone creation, and the endless multi-billion projects they have built across the world…'
Then the lights vanished, the room became dark, illuminated only by the Oval Offices projector-
A slideshow detailed the many, many new weapons showcased at the recent 2017 Communist Party Parade.
'One such weapon advertised was the Autonomous Response Juggernaut or ARJ… this is a drone-like type of humanoid trooper… designed to replace humans… the PRC has one thousand currently in their stockpile…'
The General paused, he looked at the President who was now writing something down, eyes down on his desk.
He clicked a button and the final slide on CHINA appeared-
A map of the Greater People's Republic of China's borders.
China's mainland was in deep red, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan was in lighter red hue.
'These states are not a part of China… It's commonly accepted that China now controls them with impunity.'
He then points to Mongolia and Taiwan.
'Mongolia is now believed to be under threat next. Massive troop build ups with China to the south and Russia to the north… and Taiwan well… that's only a matter of time.'
The General exhaled, the bad news did not end there.
'So, you've seen our main competitor… now our well… historical adversary.'
'RUSSIA'
The screen behind Howler immediately illuminated the room. Hundreds of smaller images dotted the display.
'Five thousand nukes and climbing…'
'The Ultranationalist Loyalists have completely secured their rule over the government.'
A hand raised-
'Sorry to interrupt General Howler. But why do we need to hear this? The Second Russian Civil War ended in 1995. It's now 2017…'
The Secretary of Defence asked adjusting his glasses.
'Well Secretary, under their current leader… President Victor Andreyvich Malenkov has turned a country so destroyed by a period of collapse like we've never seen before to a force that can very well threaten us…'
Howler continued the slideshow.
'Not only have the Russians taken their old borders back, the post USSR collapsed borders, but also occupied former Soviet States…'
He continued-
'Georgia. Completely subjugated and reintegrated in 2008.'
'Serbia and Belarus voluntarily joined a personal union with Malenkov's Russia.'
'Moldova was occupied after a swift decisive invasion using the breakaway state of Transnistria…'
'Europe was so deadlocked in bureaucracy they couldn't respond.'
But something was glaring, something big.
'And here, Ukraine.'
'Three years ago Russia invaded Ukraine after taking Crimea… the war only ended when an atomic bomb detonated in Chernobyl, forcing Star-Patriot to intervene…'
UltraOne in the crowd grunts with a dismissive exhale.
He didn't care for the boyscout, despite him being formidably more powerful than himself.
'The Ukraine is mostly a quarantine zone… bandits roam the country now.'
The slideshow stopped. The President, secretaries and advisors exhaled believing it was over. It was not.
'We're not done.'
'Europe as a whole has drifted away from us, the UK remains our only friend in Europe. France, as with the recent events in Africa, are trying to reclaim some old world glory.'
'I said the UK was on our side and they are… but…'
Even the President leaned in-
'A delegate to the Pentagon from London.. Suggested the British Navy may enforce its claim if necessary..'
'PM McCarroll isn't backing down then.' The President leaned back, absorbing the information.
'No sir.'
'NATO is seen as a… decrepit defunct organisation by this point, it is essential to keep Russia in check.'
Howler allows a globe to spin the background on the screen, focusing on each country he speaks about-
'Our presence in Asia is being contested… HARD.'
'The Union of Socialist Indian Republics has industrialized rapidly. They are not an ally. But not an enemy either.'
'Now, our backyard, South America, the Greater Venezuelan Republic is expanding FAST, they now have the capability to strike Florida. The instability in Mexico, with its cartel problem, has seen parts of Mexico choose to join the GVR…that CANNOT continue.'
-'Cuba is also close to formalised membership of the Greater Venezuelan Cooperation Sphere.'
Howler stopped, the advisors looked at one another, some their jaw agape. Their faces flushed. The President spun his chair to face the window-
UltraOne maintained his stoic composure.
Howlers rasped voice continued-
'Mr President, I haven't even mentioned the Middle East or Africa, again we are pushed hard, if we don't respond we will be replaced.'
'The Rahut Brigade have taken refuge in Terrac… and Rahutjistan.'
President Houten thought to himself for a moment and then, he decided something that would see him be seen later on in infamy.
'I guess we need to approach these situations with less tact… and more fire.'
'General.'
'Sir-'
'Work with UltraOne and draw up a response strategy.'
'Understood sir.'