The Kalixian Chronicles: Behind the Smoke and Mirrors

Prologue

With increasing technology and medical treatment worldwide, by 2175 the life expectancy of a newborn was 125 years. At first, this was widely accepted as a miracle of modern technology. But, as with any advancement, there was opposition.

Global health organizations claimed that the Earth would no longer be able to support the population. People would either choke on toxic fumes or starve before their grandchildren would ever be born. This outraged citizens all over the world.

After many years of arguing over solutions, and months of proposing plans to calm the rebelling citizens, the world leaders desperately needed a solution. There was no easy option. To an analytical mind, the answer is simple-- if there are too many people, remove the people. But no one wanted to be the one to propose a plan of mass casualty.

While in the process of exploring the option of finding a planet that would support life until it was safe to return to Earth, The New Republic of Yemen, seeing an opportunity to gain power in this time of civil unrest, officially declared war, immediately invading The Socialist Party of Egypt. Thus, World War III began.

After 10 arduous years of fighting, The Kingdom of Kalixia, which was the the Midwest region of the United States of America, sent out its troops in full force, effectively ending the war.

By the year 2187 most of the world was in shambles. In order to start a new age and leave their troubled pasts behind, every enduring government was required to create its own name and start anew.

The world leaders hoped this would detach people from their past and allow them to start afresh. King Malthus of Kalixia spent all of his efforts repairing the broken countryside. King Zephirinus of Lyanthus worked closely with Lyanthus' western partners to help create some sense of normalcy.

The two kings spent a great deal of time together over the next decade, and worked very closely, for their lands were the least destroyed. Their kingdoms were the most powerful, and they were looked up to as the leaders of the world.

At last a solution was unveiled, and went into effect by 2190. This solution was simple, each and every single child within Kalixia and Lyanthus, on their tenth birthday was to have a watch implanted on their arm with a countdown on it. Other nations, having been controlling their populations in other ways, (including the most popular solution, sterilizing 47% of the female population, and having biannual reapings where those chosen would be put to sleep) followed suit.

To ensure complete cooperation of those harboring treacherous thoughts, government officials did not tell the general populous what their newly implemented mechanism would be used for.

After the installment procedure, the citizen would be shown a orientation video about the workings of the watch and how to care for it. The number displayed on the watch contained the years, months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds left until the wearer's death.

The individual countdowns would vary depending on a person's health, expected longevity, and projected contribution to the society. These key components would ensure the population to stay at a manageable growth rate in a safe, government-controlled manner.