BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

CHAPTER 2: THE LAST WAR

Many people speculate just how the war was started. A series of events that would lead to the earth's inevitable nuclear destruction. The Republic of Korea took most of the blame. By the year 2029 the North had conquered the South. Russia stood watch over the Korean borders claiming to protect their new ally. While the United States planned a strategy. Devastated by a broken world economy and unable to make an immediate move, the US formed a powerful militia filled with elite soldiers. Deemed simply, the Red Army. A line formed between Russia and the United states. Meanwhile a coalition of European countries began to battle out what side of the line they stood on.

By the year 2032 the war raged on. A war to end all wars, no region would be left untouched. After one deviating event, by the year 2034 the last war had come to an end as the Republic launched every nuclear missile in its arsenal. Leading to the inescapable destruction of earth.

In the years preceding the wars end, three ships were built. Carried piece by piece past earth atmosphere. The ships were built with a new lightweight carbon based metal. Designed by the great German scientist, Klaus Wagner. Billions spent around the world and over 1/3th of the world population would be directly, or indirectly involved in the construction.

The American built USS Lusitania was the largest of the three. Followed by the 55 square mile Russian built and simply named 'Mir'. The smallest of the ships was a child of multiple European countries, named from the Spanish word for hope, the Esperanza. Though it was a moderate 48 square miles in size, it was known to be the most elegant of the three ships. Created for those hand chosen European citizens who were known to be innovative leaders in their lifetime. The Lusitania on the other hand simply sold tickets to the highest bidders. Of course with a select 1 million people hired to work the ship divided between the farming, military, maintenance, and service classes.

Elaine was always the military type. Germaine knew he couldn't stand the Red's politics. But she always strived on political battles. He served 2 years during the war, primarily due to the mandatory draft. Two bloody years as a foot soldier with the Red Army's finest but they would never let him work in the military district on the Lusitania.

Blood, mud, and all the earth could throw at a jarhead dwelled inside his brain. He could shoot better than most so at least he was given a rifle with a scope. To be a close range soldier all but sealed a fate of death in the last war. But there were enough mad men angry at the world to keep the front lines filled with short range rifles in hand. He was a soldier no longer.

After 10 years of service and a captain's star on her uniform Elaine was extended a full invitation to board the Lusitania months before final boarding call. That invitation was not extended directly to Germaine. Spouses were allowed to board, if they worked. Months to board the Lusitania. But somehow they waited until the last minute, boarding the ship only days before the bombs went off.

Before the war agriculture was Germaine's life so the farming class was where he spent most of his days on the ship. He was lucky enough to have Elaine pull the strings that come with rank and live in an off site condo and avoid the bunk beds. A place where theft and crime festered.

A Lot of good off site living did them, you can't escape the slime of criminals that could afford to board and live on the Lusitania. Somehow in a floating city outside of the earth's gravitational pull the last hope for humanity sat. Three makeshift heroes simply yearning to regain that which they have lost.

Germaine woke to a bright light shining through the window of the rundown hotel room. The neon lights of the night had faded and a glow of artificial sunlight began to illuminate out the window. 6:00 AM June 9th, the year 2039 read on his watch. Brone still slumbered on the twin bed next to him. A loud snore that could wake the deepest of sleepers. But somehow Germaine had slept a few hours. Grey placed his hand on Germaine's shoulder and beckoned him. "Come my boy, fresh coffee is brewed downstairs. We will converse." His voice was almost robotic, as if he rehearsed in the mirror.