“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” –Albert Einstein
Einstein was claimed to be one of the wisest men who lived, but even he didn’t anticipate that maybe World War III wouldn’t leave a world with a future to fight over. That is exactly what happened. Not how he imagined. Not how anyone could have imagined.
36 years ago an American scientist by the name of Dr. Roger Herman developed the Atomized Sky Field, a layer in the ozone that was sent through a chemical reaction, in order to created a shield around the United States and Europe. It was less of a shield, more of a field of acid that would disintegrate anything that tried to pass through it. It was launched because Dr. Herman heard whispers about a plan that the Russian and Chinese government had joined forces to take over the Western world. Russia and China had the weapons to tear down the West and the people to rebuild their own paradise. The truth, he later learned, was that each country started to run out of land and food resources. Over population had reached a peak in the Eastern world. Russia and China had joined forces, but only to create a workable space station where a percent of their populations could go and raise food. Before any of Dr. Herman’s imagined missiles could be launched he launched the chemical creating the Atomized Sky Field. The fear of losing his home and family lead him to a rash decision.
In his haste, Dr. Herman didn’t consider some very important details. First, there was no way he could control how far the chemical reaction would spread. It went global. Second, the field not only destroyed what was coming in, but whatever tried to leave as well. The shield became a gate, trapping man inside and disintegrating anything that might come in.
Everyone began looking at the United States. Dr. Herman had acted alone in his decision, but the U.S. government had funded his research. Every country demanded answers and for the first time Dr. Roger Herman had no quick answers that would ensure his salvation. He was murdered three weeks later. Even after his death many countries still considered the United States responsible.
With the Atomized Sky Field a space station was impossible and Dr. Herman’s fear became a reality. Russia and China began an invasion of the West. North America and its allies in Europe had no choice but to declare war. World War III started and wouldn’t end for the next 30 years.
The Atomized Sky Field kept any country from launching missiles and planes were unable to fly high enough to safely drop bombs or other explosives. War became man vs. man again. Tanks were the strongest piece of equipment on the battlefield. Beaches were no longer vacation spots, but highly defended battle stations. Borders in Europe became miles thick and where heavily guarded all hours of the day. War was to be decided by manpower and Russia and China had the advantage. That all changed when the Pilots came.
Pilots are the name given to the highly trained veterans that wore and operated the Evolutionary Battle Suits. The EBSs were products of the Felix Program started shortly after the war had begun. The suits were one of the greatest pieces of technology to be created during WWIII. The suits covered from the feet up to the neckline and down a pilot’s arm. When in combat the pilot could vocally activate gloves and a full facial helmet with guidance and communication features. In the suits pilots could jump higher, run longer and hit harder than anything else on the battlefield. The suit doubled as armor for the pilot, being able to withstand anything but sniper fire at close range. Pilots were the most fearsome warriors on the battlefield, possibly that ever lived.
The U.S. and England had a close alliance and the U.S. shared its EBSs. England’s operators became know as Knights. Every country made attempts at EBSs, but none could stand up to the combined effects of the originals worn by Pilots and Knights. Some only gave operators harder hits, others better jumping and speed capabilities, but all of them had highly regarded armor features.
The EBSs still had one flaw. Because the suits bonded to a pilot’s DNA, a pilot had to die in order for the suit to be removed. Even then someone of close DNA structure, such as a brother or son, were the only ones able to use the suits. I am such a son. My father was a pilot and died in battle, two years before the war was over. He was one of the highest decorated pilots and single handedly saved an entire group of islands from Russian invasion before his death.
Pilots and Knights became the answer to Russia and China’s manpower advantage. The EBS’s were a clear advantage on the battlefield. Yet because every other country was mass-producing cheaply made EBSs neither side was gaining nor losing enough ground to gain an upper hand. Then another technological development occurred. Reliquium, a metallic element created by an American scientist. Reliquium was lightweight and yet extremely dense. Once it took shape it became unbreakable without high heat and a great deal of force. Most importantly it did not disintegrate when passing through the Atomized Sky Field, because the metal didn’t respond quickly to chemical reaction. Reliquium was the turning point of the war.
The United States created Reliquium spires. Skyscraper sized spikes made entirely of Reliquium. The U.S. then launched the spires upward through the sky field aimed at Russia and China. As the Spires fell from space they gained speed and heat, hitting the ground with tremendous force. The spires shattered upon impact and created sonic booms, leaving the East in ruins. Experts estimated that maybe 10 percent of the East’s population survived. I was in Germany studying when the spires dropped. Earthquakes spread throughout Europe from the spires drop.
England was smart with their stockpiled Reliquium. They created a large shield that could cover most of Europe, just in case the survivors in the East planned a revenge attack with shards of the spires. The shield could launch and be active in minutes, but would block out the sun. It was a fail-safe that turned into Earth salvation.
One month after the spires launched The Fall occurred. The Reliquium spires went through the sky field but doing so disrupted the chemical reaction and the sky field began pouring acid. It started on the west coast but it spread fast. Within four hours it had taken out the Americas and the East fell several hours after that. England launched its fail-safe and it saved Europe and parts of North Africa. Europe lost sunlight and all satellite communications because of the Reliquium. Roughly 2 million people survived The Fall and got to Europe.
Six years have past since The Fall. Europe is heavily populated. Artificial food growth is not rapid enough to sustain the entire population and it is rumored that maybe two years worth of food reserves still exist. Worse is the Reliquium shield is beginning to weaken from the acid. Some argue that Europe may have five years left before the Reliquium shield falls to the acid, yet other say that the structure will hold. I am not sure on either case, I only know that mankind doesn’t have much time before another disaster tries to wipe us out.
My name is John Fulmen. I have been drafted into a program called SEC 1600, by what remains of the American government. It is an American and English coalition to try and save the Earth and mankind from extinction. I don’t know their plan, or how a historian can possibly be of help, but I know all men should do anything they can to provide a future for mankind. I don’t know if we will succeed, or if mankind has already destroyed itself, but I write this letter hoping that anyone might find it. Please know something. Mankind refused to give up among chaos. Man wasn’t aware he was destroying his world, but when faced with that fact, he sought to repair any damage he could. Even if we should fail, I promise our last breaths will be in exhaustion to succeed.
With hope, John Fulmen
Craig M Sutphin 