[Authors note - Please note that the following is just a summary of the events leading up to the events of this story. I will be going into greater detail about the events that transpired later in the story, through various dreams, flashbacks, stories, explanations, and even history lessons. Any inconsistencies you may see within this summary when compared to the modern world will be explained as well, but if you spot anything, just message me about it. I don't mind answering your questions.

In the year 2018, human life was experiencing yet another technological boom. After years of research, an effective alternative fuel had been created, able to be used in every car dependent on fossil fuel. Practically overnight, the archaic fuel was replaced by this new source. A month later, President Ramirez pulled all American forces out of the Middle East.

Two years later, in late 2020, the CIA uncovers solid evidence that North Korea had finally built a working ICBM, and were stockpiling hundreds upon hundreds of these nuclear missiles. The next day, President Ramirez deployed American forces to North Korea. His plan was to remove the nuclear devices and overthrow the North Korean government.

However, this plan went horribly wrong.

On January 22nd, 2021, the Russian and Chinese leadership met in a secret location. When both parties returned from their meeting, they announced the resurrection of the Soviet Union. Despite their differing political agendas, they soon joined North Korea's fight against the U.S.

The next day, members of the Russian VDV and the Chinese 15th Airborne Corps were dropped behind American lines, soon followed by large amounts of regular army forces. After suffering heavy casualties, the American forces pulled out. Shortly after, South Korea fell, resulting in a united Korea. The newly united Korea joined the Soviet Union near the end of 2021.

Following a massive arms build up throughout 2022 and 2023, the Soviet Union started expanding its borders. Within weeks, most of the nations that were part of the original Soviet Union, as well as Vietnam, Laos and Mongolia fell under Soviet rule. NATO deliberated about a possible military intervention.

In 2024, scientists in the United States built an international missile defense shield, protecting the America's and most of Europe from nuclear attacks. Near the end of 2024, the Soviet Union had their own missile defense shield up, effectively bringing an end to the threat of nuclear war.

In 2025, after helping the Taliban regain power in the Middle East, most of the nations in those regions willingly joined the Soviet Union, as well as a large portion of South African countries. By the end of 2025, both Taiwan and Japan fall and are taken over by the Soviet Union. The western world sat on the edge of their seats, waiting to see what will come of the international tension.

On January 3rd, 2026, the members of the European Union merged together and formed the European Federation. Days later, they left NATO and started preparations for war. Soon after, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is dissolved. Worried that the Soviet Union would strike the America's next, a new alliance is forged between the thirty five countries that make up both South and North America, including the new Democratic Republic of Cuba. This alliance is dubbed the United American Federation.

On June 2nd, 2027, Soviet forces begin to push into Eastern Germany. Hours after the first Soviet boot stepped onto German soil, the European Federation declared war with the Soviet Union. Despite putting up a fierce fight, the European Federation lost Germany.

In December of 2027, Soviet forces landed in Chile and Peru, shortly before they announced they were declaring war on the United American Federation. The Chilean and Peruvian military's fought valiantly in their struggle, but by the end of January, 2028, the two nations had fallen under Soviet occupation.

As the third World War started to heat up, a NASA scientist named Jones Garcia unveiled blueprints for a large space shuttle capable of holding up to 1500 people. In theory, his plans gave these ships the ability to travel at the speed of light. Understanding these shuttles could be used to gather supplies for the war effort off planet, President Ramirez authorizes NASA to begin production of these spacecrafts. They are dubbed the Emperor class colony ship.
In the next couple years, the war appeared to be at a stalemate as every side had taken high casualties. Without the use of nuclear weaponry, the war was based almost exclusively on conventional warfare.

In 2033, the Soviet Union launches its first offensive on the former United States, landing Naval Infantry on the western coast. The United American Federation's armed forces struck back swiftly and efficiently, managing to push the Soviets out.

In 2034, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and part of Brazil are under Soviet occupation. In Europe, Germany, Austria, Italy, Sweden and Finland also fall to the Soviets.

In 2035, the Soviet Union launches a major offensive against the European Federation. In this offensive, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Luxemburg, Switzerland and Spain fall under Soviet occupation. By mid 2036, the European Federation manages to stop the Soviet advance.

In 2037, the first Emperor class colony ship is completed. Several members of the United American Federation Air Force and NASA volunteered to test its space flight capabilities. They also wanted to determine if the ship's theorized speed was possible. On October 18th, 2037, the U.S.S. Hope is launched into space, carrying the fifty or so volunteers into unknown regions of space.

On August 23rd, 2038, the Soviet Union unveils an advanced ICBM, capable of penetrating the missile defense shield. To test it, they launch five missiles at the country of Guatemala. It works perfectly. Not only does it manage to bypass the missile defense shield, it also destroys the majority of the country. The Soviet Union delivers an ultimatum to both the United American Federation and the European Federation. They must either join the Soviet Union, or they would be annihilated.

The European Federation decided to call the Soviet Union's bluff. In response, the Soviet Union launched twenty-five missiles at the European Federation, causing mass destruction and death. The European Federation surrendered shortly after, and joined the Soviet Union.

Before the Soviet Union could launch their missiles at the United American Federation, President Ramirez (who was still in power due to World War Three) announced that they had improved their missile defense shields to counter the Soviet missiles. Thinking that Ramirez may simply be lying, the Soviets test the shield by launching a single missile at Washington D.C. The shield held, and the Soviets and the Americans were once more locked in a stalemate.

Then, on June 16th, 2039, the U.S.S. Hope returned from the depths of space. The crew reported that the colony ship exceeded expectations, and were given a heroes welcome. President Ramirez ordered the immediate production of fifteen more colony ships, as well as five Ares class frigates (an armed variant of the Emperor class).
On December 1st, 2039, the Soviet Union launched a major offensive against the United American Federation, with forces numbering in the millions. The United American Federation lost every country in the offensive except for Canada, the United States, and southern Mexico.

On April 2nd, 2040, the Soviet Union launches another offensive, costing the United American Federation half of the United States, the rest of Mexico, and part of Canada.

On August 24th, 2040, the Soviet Union began a biological warfare campaign against the United States. Millions die as a result.

Seeing that losing the war was inevitable, President Ramirez decided to change his plans regarding the fleet of colony ships in the possession of the United States. Instead of using them to go to other planets and gather supplies for the war effort, they were going to simply transport a large number of people to a different planet, while the rest stayed behind to fight the Soviets. His first act that led to this becoming a reality was the creation of the American Federation Space Marines, which was made of the Royal Canadian Regiment's Third Battalion, the Thirteenth and Twenty Second Marine Expeditionary Units, the First Special Forces Group, the First Armored Division, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the First Fighter Wing. Roughly a thousand Naval and NASA personnel, and members of the Royal Marines and Special Air Service, who traveled to the America's after the European Federation fell were also to be sent. The immediate families of the Space Marines would be allowed to leave with them if they wished.

By the end of 2040, everything had been settled with the Space Marines and their families. There were roughly 25,000 spots left open for civilians. A thousand of these spots were reserved for important people, such as intellectuals, scientists, engineers, and teachers. The roughly twenty four thousand other spots were given out via a lottery system. The only politician that was going to be evacuated was Ramirez's vice president, who was going to act as the leader until elections were held.

By the beginning of 2041, the Soviet Union announced they had improved their advanced ICBM's so they could once more defeat the United American Federations missile defense shield. Having launched ten missiles at unoccupied Canada, destroying most of the country, Soviet leadership gave one week to surrender. Within two days, those who were chosen to be sent into space were gathered in Houston, where they went through training over the next couple days.

On the day of the launch, the Soviet Union decided to launch their missiles early. Upon learning of this, NASA was ordered to begin an emergency launch. The passengers were loaded into the ships as quickly as possible. With only minutes to go, the colony ships started to ascend into the atmosphere. Most of the passengers watched as the United States was hit by dozens of nuclear missiles, witnessing the disastrous end of World War Three.