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LOCATION: THE WHITE HOUSE
CITY: WASHINGTON, DC
DATE: MAY 15, 2026 | TIME: 5:30 AM
How much things can change in a single month.
Early on the morning of April 15th, the world was full of antagonism and despotism, like a tinderbox waiting to be struck.
Yet, just a single month later, world leaders were looking at real progress toward reunification on the Korean peninsula. And now Russia had issued an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine in the wake of President Sergei Volodin's sudden death from heart attack. They'd even begun the arduous process of withdrawing their troops back into Russia.
Even China was in full support of these overtures toward global peace.
United States President Michael Trent sat at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, and stared into space as he thought about the events that had led up to this point.
Jonathan Keaton, his Chief of Staff, was in a chair facing him.
Jonathan knew better than to interrupt during times like these, so he sat patiently.
"Jonathan," Trent said, "how is my polling on how we handled the USS Ford?"
"Providing endowments for the families of the fallen went a long way, but honestly it's Korea and Ukraine that have everyone rallying around the flag right now," Keaton said.
President Trent looked up from his desk.
"Have we done enough to honor the sacrifice of the sailors and airmen on the Ford?" he asked. "That's my question. Before the world moves on and gets swept up in the new geopolitics, I want to be sure our response on the Ford is flawless. Both in retribution and in helping the nation and the families grieve."
"Sir," Keaton continued, "all data we have suggests that those throughout the military see Korea and Ukraine as a result of our response to the attack on the Ford. In other words, the entire new world order is growing like a phoenix from the ashes of that tragedy. Your response isn't being questioned by anyone. Not even those across the aisle."
Trent laughed.
"It certainly is a feel-good moment, isn't it?" he asked, trailing off again in thought.
Keaton stood from his chair and rested his hand on the President's shoulder.
"Mr. President," he said, "I think what we should be thinking about is how to keep this feel-good moment going for as long as possible. Not just for your reelection, but because America and the people of the world deserve it."
Trent looked at his Chief of Staff for a minute.
"Shit, Jonathan, I should have you writing my speeches. That was good."
They talked a bit longer and then went back to the President's agenda for the day.
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LOCATION: THE KREMLIN
CITY: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
DATE: MAY 15, 2026 | TIME: 12:30 PM
Acting President Nikolai Baranov and his interim cabinet had been busy for the past week.
After the untimely death of President Volodin, ending the Ukraine war was Baranov's first order of business. It was the one action that would show the world that Russia intended to participate again.
Not just as the pariah and eternal contrarian, but as a forward-looking country and peace-loving people.
The Duma set an election for August 1st, just shy of the required 90-day window, but Baranov knew that the man who gave Russia its future back would have no issue being elected.
He would even be happy to loosen the restrictions on opposing political parties. In the second week of August, of course. Not now. Too much hinged on him being elected legitimately to leave it open to chance.
Troops began returning home from the front, and Russia needed to provide them with direction. All men of fighting age had been forced to abandon their jobs, and the workforce had eventually accommodated the situation.
The sudden return of 750,000 men to society would be a massive challenge. Some could remain active in the standing military, but many would want to reintegrate into society.
It was going to be a major problem. One that, once again, hinged on the world removing the debilitating sanctions that were crippling Russia's economy.
He sighed.
Maybe it was time to appoint a representative to the North Korean Transition Council. Russia's participation would show good faith to the world. And it wouldn't hurt to have a seat at the table where decisions like these were being made.
Who knew what you could learn?
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LOCATION: SEAT OF THE TRANSITION GOVERNMENT
CITY: PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA
DATE: MAY 15, 2026 | TIME: 6:30 PM
The North Korean Transition Council had accomplished much in the month after the tragic strike on the US supercarrier.
The Armistice Agreement was signed in 1953. And in the 73 years since, the peninsula had known no peace. Only a war frozen in time. Until now.
The Council had issued the immediate ceasefire declaration on April 20th, and in the weeks since, they had begun dismantling their military presence along the DMZ.
The first symbolic gesture had been done two days after the ceasefire. They placed explosive charges at the base of one of the many guard towers that littered the landscape.
The detonation team cleared the area, and set off the charges.
When the guard tower fell forward into rubble, setting off a dozen land mines in the process, international film crews joined those from South and North Korea to record the momentous event.
The weeks after were filled with further unilateral disengagement, and each action taken forced the South Koreans to believe more and more that this might actually be real.
Seventy-three years. Three generations who have known nothing but war between their brethren. And for so many on the northern side of the border, starvation and poverty.
Meanwhile, the economy south of that DMZ was booming. And if North Korea was serious about reunification, that was 25 million people who were about to find their quality of life improving significantly.
It was a thought that was on the Council's mind constantly. The change at the top had happened. Next was the question of how they could support the population and bring prosperity to a land where it had only taken root with a select few at the very top.
Little did those people know, that week by week, secure cases of the life-saving elixir Vitalyx were moving closer and closer to the front lines.
July 15th, 2026 was going to be a day for the history books. Liberation day for humanity. The day the people of Earth would become freed from disease and illness.
It couldn't come fast enough.