March 1st, 2022, 14:00

  Corea

  A year had passed since the war in East Asia that could have led to the Third World War was over. Corea had unified the nation through a federal system with its seven-state governments and one central government all working in unison and bringing about prosperity and development for the country never before seen in history.

  The 17th fighter wing’s underground research facility that had been the foundation of the alien technology research shifted its focus from weapons development to new technology that could be used for economic growth. By working together with the Ministry of Next-generation Technology, the facility handed off the technology they developed to corporations by exchanging stocks. Large and small companies alike all started to develop and manufacture products never seen before and it seemed as if they were holding a monopoly over the world market.

  Japan’s Toyota, which had been dominating the automotive industry, had faded into history after Japan’s defeat in the East Asian war. The U.S. and German companies had filled the gap and each took half of the market. However, after a while, the Corean automotive companies started to produce new vehicles that had started a revolution for the industry and grabbed the world’s attention.

  It was the newly developed Hover-C flying car. It had replaced wheels with the next-generation low output plasma engines and it was able to fly 300m above the surface while boasting comfort. The artificial intelligence computer equipped in the vehicle made it capable of autopiloting along with sharing the vehicle’s data in real-time to prevent traffic jams and unexpected accidents. Once the policies regarding traffic and the systems were set in place for flight routes, a new era of flying cars that could reach an altitude of 2km would arrive. The newly developed flying Corean cars started to dominate the market as soon as they went into production.

  Many other larger nations with highly developed high-speed trains and domestic flights were in an uproar to request joint development of the Hyperloop public transport system that had already been commercialized in Corea. The reason was the hyperloop system had the advantage of speed, safety, and lower cost of maintenance.

  The Corean corporations also rose in ranks for optical equipment, home appliances, shipping, aerospace, and information technology. Ironically, the near-monopoly of Corean corporations now raised concerns for a worldwide recession due to the recessions sweeping other nations across the world. The Corean government responded by cooperating with foreign corporations and providing limited technologies to control the flow of the world economy.

  Corea’s economy was booming and it experienced growth that it had never seen before in 2022. Corea had become the world’s leading economic power and used its finances to fund the expenses that occurred during the war and the reunification projects that were piling up in the billions.

  Corea had now become the world’s leading economic and military power. It had also become a permanent member of the UN security council.

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  March 1st, 2023, 12:00 (China Standard Time 11:00)

  China

  After losing the war against Corea on January 5th, 2021, China had organized a new political council with Commander Han Feng of the southern military as its leader. The council consisted of all four military commanders as its members and it started to write out the new pages of history for China. The first decision the new council made was to disband the Chinese Communist Party founded in July of 1921 for its defeat during the war that almost led the nation to ruin. China had now abandoned communism and adopted democracy in its stead to rebuild and revitalize the nation.

  However, based on the treaty signed with Corea after its defeat, Tibet, Uyghur Muslims, and 10 other minority groups all regained their independence. China’s economy shrank immediately, and the council formed by the military commanders started to fight with each other over profits and selfish demands. The eastern state, which had the most industrial complexes, demanded its independence and fueled the flames of conflict. President Xi Jin Ping’s allies that had favored the communist party from the central state started a coup and succeeded. They reverted all the changes made by the new council and attempted to reinstate communism.

  Meanwhile, the western state, which had suffered greatly from other minorities gaining independence allied itself with the southern state. China was now split between the southwestern states favoring democracy, the central state in favor of communism, and the eastern state that had withdrawn for economic profits. China was now on the verge of a civil war.

  The nation was once called a G2 nation and was nearly as powerful as America, but now its future was unknown and falling into dark times.

  * * *

  March 1st, 2023, 12:00

  Japan

  After the war was over, the government officials under Prime Minister Abe’s cabinet were all labeled as war criminals and were arrested. The democratic party held office and attempted to change the nation to enact policies that would fit democracy.

  However, 50% of its industrial complexes that had sustained the nation’s economy were destroyed during the war against Corea. Recovery was slow despite the war being over two years ago, and Japan was still struggling to pay back reparations to the Corean government. Due to its economic circumstances, Japan that had once been the world’s 3rd most powerful economy with a GDP of 5.2 trillion dollars had now fallen to a GDP of 800 billion.

  Based on its GDP it would be the world’s 17th most powerful economy that would rival Turkey, but the issue was the lack of industrial complexes that could support it. Japan was now in a recession that was impossible to recover from.

  On top of all this, Kyushu, one of Japan’s four major islands, had been handed off to Corea, and Hokkaido was now being claimed by Russia based on the secret treaty Croea had signed with the nation. Japan, which no longer held a standing military, had no choice but to follow the agreements made between other nations.

  Whether the secret treaty signed between Corea and Russia could lead to Japan handing off Hokkaido to Russia was now the largest issue within East Asia and for the international community.

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  March 1st, 2023, 12:00 (Russia Standard Time 05:00)

  Russia

  During the East Asian War, Russia had received irresistible offers continuously from China, Japan, and finally, Corea. In the end, the nation allied itself with Corea and profited enormously.

  First, Russia received the blueprints of the U.S. rail guns. Second, Russia would receive investments from Corea to build industrial complexes and plants for gathering natural resources in Siberia. The eastern province was not as developed as the western region of Russia, so this investment was much needed for the nation. Third, based on the secret treaty between Corea and Russia, Japan’s Hokkaido would be handed off to Russia.

  Russia had managed to profit off of the war in East Asia without getting its hands dirty. It had used this advantage to grow its economy and military to become the new leading power in the world as well.

  However, two years had passed since the agreement was made but the two nations started to conflict with each other about the handing off of Hokkaido and relations worsened. Russia started to establish plans to deploy its own military to take over the island.

  Since the Japanese military was now disbanded and the Corean military was defending the nation instead, a conflict between Russia and Corea was almost guaranteed.

  President Putin had a hidden intent behind these decisions.

  President Putin of Russia had wanted to use the nation’s rapid economic growth over the past two years and claim Hokkaido as Russian territory to increase his approval rating. All of this was necessary for his plan to run for a third term, so he would need support from the people to do so.

  President Putin had now planned to take Hokkaido through military force instead. He started to carefully place Russia’s latest weapons at the eastern military and continued to raise more forces.

  * * *

  March 1st, 2023, 12:00 (U.S.T. February 28th, 22:00)

  America

  America’s actions and the outcome of the war two years ago were the most mysterious part of the East Asian War. During the war, America had one-sidedly allied itself with Japan but ended up being attacked on its mainland by the Corean military. Despite so, the nation did not retaliate but rather declared the war against Corea to be over.

  Nations across the world could not help but be suspicious about the unbelievable course of action America took. America had maintained its neutrality completely during the Second World War until they were attacked at Pearl Harbor by Japan and entered into the war. The Corean military’s attacks caused far greater damages compared to that, and the international community expected the U.S. to enact brutal revenge, but it stopped all military activities against Corea and stepped back.

  Even if America suffered heavy damages from Corea’s attack, its military power was still considerable. If the U.S. did call for mobilization and started a draft to start going into war, then it could in theory go into war against the entire world. Many military experts agreed about this.

  These reasons made the international community suspicious about America’s decision. Nations across the world attempted to figure out why it did so by using all of their intelligence agencies, but they never found out why. Only the Corean government officials and the U.S. government officials under the Trump administration knew.

  When the NIS agents and the special forces from the 707th special forces brigade had trapped the USSC council members in the underground bunker, President Trump covertly and swiftly started to persuade and threaten the government officials and military officials who had ties with the USSC to take back his government.

  The government officials, politicians in the U.S. Congress, and the military officials who had ties to the USSC were threatened by President Trump, but they also had no choice but to cooperate to save themselves.

  If the illegal and shocking activities the USSC council had done were made public and word got out about them being involved, then they would at least be charged with treason and end up with a life sentence. The U.S., which had been praised as the beacon of democracy, would have its reputation tarnished to the point of no return.

  Hence, President Trump succeeded in taking back the U.S. Congress and the government organization that had been under the control of the USSC. He did not press for any reparations from the Corean government and concluded the matter by making an address about how two allied nations had military conflict out of differing interests.

  However, many of the family members of veterans and alt-right citizens were unaware of this fact and protested against the Corean government. It responded with financial aid and an unofficial apology to persuade the American citizens. Despite the war being over for two years, occasional anti-Corean protests popped up across America.

  The members of the USSC council and other staff who were trapped in the bunker never saw the light of day again and died in the bunker they were trapped in. The bunker had enough food and water to last the council for four additional years, but President Trump did not attempt to rescue the USSC council members during his term.

  On February 11th, 2023, two years after they were trapped in the bunker, Chairman Victoria started to suffer from claustrophobia and ended her own life. The other council members also followed Chairman Victoria’s suit like falling dominos.

  The USSC council members, who once had the U.S., the most powerful nation in the world, in their hands, all ended their lives pitifully and disappeared into history.