============================ 
Episode #303: Love Your Home 
============================ 
 
Calgary, Alberta, American Confederation 
2 February 3035 
 
	In seventeeth century America, German immigrants brought with them a
curious custom.  On a certain day of the year, they would observe a large
rodent as it emerged from its hole.  If it saw its shadow it was supposed to
be frightened and run back into its hole, signifying the onset of another
six weeks of winter.  Otherwise, spring would soon come.
 
	The idea of Groundhog Day was nothing more than a footnote in
sociology books by the thirty-first century, but the parallels were uncanny. 
The military leaders of the world were popping out of their hidey-holes
beneath the Rockies, Himalayas, Alps, and Urals, under the island of
Tasmania and the desert of the Saudi peninsula.  By mutual agreement, or
rather by the agreement of their political masters, they were coming to the
city of Calgary.
 
	After a hundred year fallow period, the city was reviving itself. 
The invited dignitaries knew that was the reason the American Confederation
had held the conference there, so distressingly close to Serenity's tour
which on this particular day brought her to Englewood, the city that stood
where Denver once was.  It was a perfect chance for Ronowski to showcase the
success the AC enjoyed.
 
	"Bloody cocky if you ask me," growled Admiral Bailey of the
Southeast Asian Alliance.  He and his adjutant were riding in a taxicab down
the streets of Calgary to the Hacker Theater, today's meeting place.  "First
they're all going on about the need for utmost secrecy, and then he wants us
to take bloody tours of his imitation Crystal Tokyo!"
 
	His adjutant said nothing.  He was the seventh assistant Bailey had
had in the past seven weeks, and had decided that the key to outlasting his
predecessors was to keep his mouth shut and agree with whatever his superior
said.  "As you say, sir."
 
	"Argh, I suppose it's his right.  Were you there at Auckland that
one time . . . back in November, I think it was?"
 
	"I don't think so, sir." 
 
	"Hm, must be thinking of someone else, then."  He carried on in his
loud boisterous voice, one that seemed especially well suited for poker
games around a table with cigars and alcohol.  "Anyway, that was a time,
I'll tell you.  Old man Prathachulthorn was laying it on thicker than a
mason.  All over the SEAA, I tell you.  Conferences all morning, fly over to
Australia for lunch, back to Wellington, then to Manila or Hanoi or kami
knows where for dinner.  We all hated it, of course, but we had to show 'em
that we could stand up to Her Nibs up there!"
 
	"Of course, sir."  The adjutant ran a hand though straight-combed
brown hair and wondered how long they had to wait until they arrived.
 
	"We can do it, you know.  Hell, we could do it alone if we had to,
if we were of a mind to-"
 
	The phone rang.  Bailey reached to his armrest and punched a button. 
"Bailey speaking.  Yes, yes, of course it's taken care of, do you think I
would have come here if it wasn't?  No.  No, not yet, but it will, trust
me." A pause.  "The hell he will!  Damn!  Um . . . just wait, okay, and when
I get there it'll all be sorted out, okay?  Good.  Bye." He poked the button
savagely.
 
	The adjutant simply looked at his superior.  If Bailey thought it
was worth mentioning, he'd mention it.  The next two minutes passed in
silence.  An accident had tied up traffic, and there was thus a
corresponding delay.  Finally, Bailey spoke up.
 
	"The Northies want more time on Heartbreaker.  Say there are
'unforeseen complications.'"
 
	"Heartbreaker, sir?" 
 
	"Do your homework, boy," he replied in a harsh tone.  The adjutant
suddenly had the impression that his stay with the admiral had just
shortened appreciably.  "It'll come up later this afternoon, and you'll have
to know about it."
 
	"Of course, sir."  He immediately got out his handlink, a standard
model from Crystal Tokyo, and began pulling up documents.  It made for very
dry reading.
 
*** 
 
	"Order please, ladies and gentlemen, can we get this show on the 
road?" 
 
	It was a very plain room: wood paneled, with a textured white
ceiling and a single long mahogany table.  Around it were exactly one dozen
men and women, the leaders and next-in-lines of the six major world
confederations.  Arranged in seats against the wall were the military
leaders of the confederations, their seconds, and their adjutants.  In all
the room was fairly crowded, yet at the words from Ronowski it fell silent.
 
	"Thank you."  He sat at the head of the table.  To his left were
Russia and China at the far end.  To his right were Arabia and Europe at the
far end.  Directly opposite was the SEAA.  "Once again I'd like to thank you
all for coming.  To get the formalities out of the way, introductions?" He
gestured to his right.
 
	"Emily Martin, Vice-president, American Confederation," said the
brunette quietly.  She was a fast-rising star in the AC, mainly because her
predecessor had made the very bad career move of publicly disagreeing with
the invasion of South America.
 
	The next man spoke up.  "Victor Mohammed al-Fayit, President of the
Council of the Arab Union.  And my second, Vice-President Sadit Hassin."
Fayit was a rather tall man, overshadowing his decidedly shorter
vice-president.  He looked terribly nervous; probably the result of the
assassination attempt just three years before.
 
	Following him came the only female to hold a superior position.  She
had medium length blonde hair with a couple strands of gray, but her eyes
told one that she was younger than she looked.  "Wilhelmina Cabot, Prime
Minster of the European Union." She smiled thinly.  "Call me Mina," she said
in her round Buckinghamshire accent.  "And this is Deputy Prime Minister
Alistair Richards." The elderly gentleman nodded slightly, almost gingerly. 
He had been prime minister just a couple years before, but failing health
had forced him to step down.  With the exception of himself, no-one at the
table expected him to live out the year.
 
	Next came the Southeast Asian Alliance.  It was in the most
precarious position; the last war between them and the American
Confederation had been a few scant decades ago, and there were some
old-timers on both sides who still held grudges.
 
	"Sean Prathachulthorn," said the president roughly.  His election
campaign had been based on his down-on-the-sheep-farm demeanor, and he
almost radiated that now.  The large, burly man looked almost like a farmer,
wearing his snazzy business suit in a almost flippant manner, with necktie
and top button loose.  The rest of them knew that he could afford to be so
relaxed; more than anyone else, he controlled the Indian subcontinent, and
that was presently a *very* valuable piece of real estate.  After all, it
was there that Project Titan was being kept.
 
	That fact made the person next to him very nervous.  It was his job
to keep track of threats, and he knew that almost all the others at the
table were wary of having Titan under the almost complete control of one
confederation.
 
	"Vice-President Edward Lansing."  He looked about expectantly and
caught the eye of Martin.  He relaxed visibly, smiling slightly.
 
	"Mao Tsing Liu," said the next man shortly.  "Premier, Chinese
Confederation." He was an odd man; he had chosen to move the capital from
the centuries-old city of Beijing to the island of Hong Kong, his
birthplace.  Hong Kong was also famous for having the second best laser
defense system in the world.  "Ming couldn't be here today because of a
severe illness; Miss Hsu is here in his place."
 
	The young Chizawa Hsu bowed slightly.  Whereas Liu was from the
southern parts of the Chinese Confederation, Hsu was from Nanjing.  She knew
her city's history as well as anyone, and she knew just how close her city
was to Crystal Tokyo.  Little wonder she often shared glances with the
military heads behind her.
 
	Ronowski looked down to the next person.  "Your turn, Alex," he said
with his usual dry tone.
 
	"Thank you."  He bowed.  "President Alexander Rostov."  Rostov was
known as a man of few words, and he seemed intent on proving that. 
"Vice-President Jeremy Bezukoff."
 
	"Well then," said Ronowski affably, "now that we've all formally
introduced ourselves, I'll just remind you that none of the proceedings are
to be recorded.  I had myself checked for recording devices before I
entered; I trust you did the same?"
 
	There was a chorus of affirmative responses.  This was as secret as
anything could possibly be; none of them were supposed to be there.  Body
doubles were all over the world, giving the impression that the world
leaders were all very far away from Calgary.  Hsu's double would in fact be
making a speech later that day.  They could not afford for any of them to
been seen as having the slightest opportunity to have been in Calgary.
 
	"Good.  Now, let's get down to business.  First up, I think, is the
timetable of directive 280.  Sean?"
 
	"Yes."  He blushed slightly at the Japanese he used; old habits were
hard to break.  "Regarding stage one, we've managed to shorten it to a two
week buildup period.  My people tell me, however, that this is still pushing
the Roshack boundary.  Crystal Tokyo may still react before schedule."
 
	"They're going to balk," said Lansing, "we know that.  We just need
the time to prepare for it."
 
	"Two weeks, you say?" asked Cabot from the EU.  "Is that enough
time?  I seem to recall you saying back in December that it would be
impossible to get full mobilization in less than three weeks?"
 
	"That was a pessimistic estimate," said Prathachulthorn in a
dismissive tone, "and in any case we'd still have a vast advantage.  With
luck they won't know anything's amiss until the missile radar light up."
 
	"And if we're caught red-handed?" asked Fayit of the AU. 
 
	"We won't be caught." 
 
	Ronowski leaned forward, rubbing his bare chin slightly.  "Did you
give any thought to forecasting the possibilities with an early use of
Titan?"
 
	"Heavens no!" exclaimed Lansing of SEAA.  "All scenarios show that's
extremely bad.  I strongly recommend it remain outside of 280 until 280 is
declared a failure, if at all."
 
	Fayit grumbled at this.  "I see.  Just be sure that Titan is well
looked after.  We have invested quite a bit in it."
 
	"As have we," said Prathachulthorn sharply.  "Or have you forgotten 
Delhi?" 
 
	"Very well," said Ronowski, sensing that things were getting
hostile, "I can see we're getting nowhere with this.  Liu, your plans for
Project Dagger have already been finalized, as have Rostov's plans for
Project Spinal Tap." He grimaced; whoever came up with those names needed
some therapy.  "That leaves-"
 
	"Heartbreaker," said Admiral Bailey.  They all looked around from
their seats at the man.  He was seated comfortably behind his president,
with a neutral, almost bored expression.  "Tell us, sir, if you don't mind. 
How go the latest tests with our most powerful weapon?"
 
	Ronowski smiled.  "Heartbreaker is proceeding splendidly.  We should
be able to begin mass production within a matter of weeks."
 
	"Interesting you should mention that, Dave," said Rostov.  "If I
remember correctly, all supplies and materiel were to be on-site about a
week ago, excepting normal resupplies.  Now you're saying it'll be weeks
before they're ready?"
 
	"We have over a month until 280 is executed.  I feel pretty
confident we can ship them over."
 
	'And if you don't?' thought Rostov silently.  'If you don't, and
hoard Heartbreaker all to yourself?  If SEAA does the same with Titan?  If
any one of us betrays the other five?' It wasn't something he liked to think
about for long, but as the discussion wore on it was something he thought
about a lot.
 
*** 
 
	Sailor America sighed and leaned back in her seat.  The headquarters
complex for the Royal Star Navy was a very close copy of the room beneath
the Crystal Palace; understandable, as the one was built hard on the heels
of the other.  The screens were basically the same, except that the data was
more oriented towards space and ships than of Earth and people.  It was also
rather busy, so no-one had time to ask why a sailor senshi was idling away
in the midst of such activity. She smoothed out her skirt and put on a
headset.  Flipping through a few random comm channels, she hit upon a
maintenance band and listened for a bit.
 
	"Well, what brings you here?" 
 
	America looked up to see Sailor Orion leaning against a console.  
"How do you mean?" 
 
	"Well, this really isn't your type of place.  I'd have thought you
would be wandering around the admin offices."
 
	"Oh.  Um, I'm not really doing anything, really.  I didn't have
anything else to do, you know.  Someone needs to tell these Lunarians how to
have a good time."
 
	"Ah."  The redhead pulled up a chair and sat next to her.  Peering
at Sailor America's screen, she noticed that it was blank.  "Not watching
Her Majesty?"
 
	"Cassiopeia's been doing a very good job.  I have no complaints." 
 
	"She's in the mountains, isn't she?  Near the former site of the
capital?"
 
	Sailor America punched up a map of the region.  "Yeah, Denver used 
to be the capital until it was abandoned.  Englewood's a pretty nice 
place, though.  Nice skiing; I'm sure Her Highness will love that." 
 
	"Attention RSN Headquarters, this is Sailor Lyra, H.M.S. Seiza.  We
are now entering the Oort Cloud and reporting as requested." The tinny voice
resounded through the room, the voice of a senshi coming home after a
yearlong absence.
 
	"Seiza, this is RSN HQ acknowledging," replied the commanding
officer.  Welcome home."
 
	"We're home," said the relieved voice at the other end.  In the
background the usual cheers that accompanied a ship's return to the Sol
system could be heard.  Sailor Orion looked up at the status screens with a
wistful expression; had it been five years since she had returned with the
same triumphant words?  She'd thought she was home for good then, too.
 
	"Jennifer?" 
 
	"Huh?"  The redhead blinked and looked at the speaker.  Sailor
America stood before her, concern in her eyes.
 
	"Are you okay?  You just spaced out for awhile there, and . . . ." 
 
	"Oh, I'm fine, really."  She shook her head and looked about.  HQ
was continuing at its usual pace.  "Just thinking about some things."
 
	"Perhaps you should get some sleep?" 
 
	Sailor Orion chanced a smile.  "I *would* get more sleep at night if
it weren't for you," she teased.
 
	"Would you prefer I let you get more sleep then?" replied Sailor
America with the same tone.
 
	Sailor Orion made a show of pretending to think about it.  "Um . . .
no, you can carry on if you like," she concluded.
 
	"Oh, I like, don't worry about that."  She chanced a peck on Sailor
Orion's cheek despite standing orders against public displays of affection.
 
	Sailor Orion kissed her back.  'Sometimes in life,' she thought,
'you have to say to hell with the rules.'
 
*** 
 
	"There are *rules* to warfare, Mister Ronowski, and one of them is
that you don't start a war unless you know you can win!" Cabot took a deep
breath before continuing.  "Now, I'd like a clear answer: can all these
grandiose plans succeed?"
 
	"Actually," said Liu, stepping in before Ronowski could speak, "I
think it would be best if we voted on the matter of whether or not we will
go ahead with 280 before we even began discussing its success."
 
	"That's my point!"  It was now mid-February, and her nerves, along
with the rest of theirs, were wearing a bit thin.  "We can't very well vote
when we aren't certain of success!"
 
	She sighed and counted to five.  "We agreed that the vote had to be
unanimous.  I for one will vote against it until I know exactly how things
will be conducted, not the vague overviews we've gotten so far."
 
	"Very well," interjected Ronowski, "a brief overview, then.  General
Black?"
 
	The general stood and proceeded to the wall behind the SEAA.  At his
signal, a projection screen dropped down from the ceiling, along with a
projector a couple meters away.  As the lights darkened, a map of Japan and
the immediately surrounding area appeared.
 
	"It's fairly basic, actually.  Two armies, one on the Korean
peninsula, the other on the Kuril Islands.  At a pre-ordained time, they
attack the islands of Kyushu and Hokkaido respectively from sea and from
land." Thus the names Spinal Tap and Dagger.  "If all goes well, the two
will meet at Crystal Tokyo, with the rest of Japan in their possession."
 
	"But of course that won't happen," said a commander from Europe.  
"They have their army, and the sailor senshi." 
 
	Black chuckled slightly.  "Arnie, you've never learned, have you? 
We have nothing to fear from their army.  They're a bunch of soft,
undertrained, overconfident, impudent children, and the worst thing is that
they *know* that.  We all saw how they fared back in '01.  If it were only
they that defended Japan we'd have invaded them centuries ago.
 
	"But the senshi . . . yes, they're another matter.  We have yet to
see a true test of how we'd fare against magical warfare; all simulations
show that it would be at best a draw.  However, we can take several measures
to assure our best chance at victory, and that is conveniently the next step
in the plan.
 
	"First, it is essential that we have the advantage of surprise.  
Even catching them unprepared by two weeks would help immensely; as it is 
we estimate that we can attack with even a one week jump.  One week would 
assure that they'd be unable to fully mobilize their military, and drastically 
cut down on the time the senshi would have to prepare." 
 
	"And how do you propose we accomplish this?" asked Cabot. 
 
	"That's Project Henso; President Rostov's people have been working
out the details for that.  In any case, once we have removed surprise,
there's the matter of firepower."
 
	"Yes there is," said Rostov sharply, "and more importantly the cost
of the firepower.  You realize just how much we're doing into debt for this
undertaking?"
 
	"Reparations," said Ronowski. 
 
	"Yes," said General Black.  "Reparations will have to be paid by
Crystal Tokyo.  So, we will have the firepower to defeat them."
 
	"Nukes?" asked Hsu warily. 
 
	They all knew that answer to that. 
 
	"No, we'll restrict ourselves to conventional weapons.  Use of
nuclear weapons early on, especially on their own soil, could make the
senshi . . . irrational." It was a polite way of saying that if a tactical
nuclear warhead were used on Japan, the senshi might overreact and respond
in kind, if not with more force.  Nuclear weapons weren't the most powerful
weapons in the world anymore; the continual destructive ingenuity of mankind
had seen to that.  "Besides, we have something better than that:
Heartbreaker."
 
	Europe and America remained emotionless.  China blanched, as did
SEAA.  AU only showed slight surprise, and Russia showed distinct interest.
 
	"So," said Rostov, "we're proceeding with Heartbreaker?" 
 
	Black managed to look sheepish.  "Pending approval from you all,
sirs.  If given permission, I can guarantee that Heartbreaker can be put
into action."
 
	Hsu only looked at Ronowski with a fairly ill expression.  "We'll
iron out the details of that later," said Ronowski reassuringly.  "But
consider, Heartbreaker is our single best hope of victory."
 
	"Okay," said Hsu wearily, "but I think we're going to have to sleep 
on this one.  It's been a long day." 
 
	"No."  Ronowski was surprisingly firm.  "We vote now.  We must." 
 
	Prathachulthorn blinked.  "Now?  But we've barely finished
discussing matters!"
 
	"Now or never, Sean.  We can't wait any longer." 
 
	"Well, maybe *you* can't, but when I'm taking on the largest power 
in the world-" 
 
	"Stop that!  Serenity is not the largest power in the world, WE are! 
That's why we're going through with this, to make her realize it!" He fell
silent as he realized how panicky he had sounded.  

	Russia decided to bail him out. "I think what he's trying to say is
that our objective is clear.  Serenity has a stranglehold on our economies,
on our cultures, on our planet.  This situation cannot be allowed to
continue.  We decided upon the objective in Kiev, we decided upon the means
in Cairo, and we are now here to decide whether or not to proceed." Rostov
picked up a pencil and rolled it in his hands for a moment.  "So, shall we
decide?"
 
	"Motion to decide on the matter," intoned Martin. 
 
	"Seconded," said one of the Arabians. 
 
	"Very well," said Ronowski, taking Prathachulthorn's silence as
assent, "motioned and seconded.  I think we can all agree that we've debated
this enough for the past couple years, so we can vote.  As also per our
earlier agreements, any vote must be unanimous.  We won't have anyone
dragged into this involuntarily.  All in favor of proceeding with World
Council Directive #280, please indicate by raising your-"
 
	"Actually . . . ," interrupted Prathachulthorn, "would anyone object
to a roll call vote?"
 
	Ronowski regarded the president of most of the southern hemisphere
with something akin to respect.  It had been a question in Ronowski's mind
for some time, whether or not the SEAA's leader was for or against 280. 
Even now, he couldn't be certain as to whether or not Prathachulthorn was
trying to bolster the effort or sink it beyond hope.  He opted for the more
cheerful assumption.
 
	He looked around the table.  "Without objection, so ordered.  We'll
go around the table.  Rostov, for or against 280?"
 
	"For." 
 
	"Liu?" 
 
	Liu stroked his chin for a moment while his second-in-charge
whispered in his ear.  Hsu finished and backed away.  "The Chinese
Confederation votes in favor of the directive, with reservations.  We will
withdraw our support if at any time we feel that the plan is failing.  *Any*
time, mind you."
 
	Ronowski scowled inwardly but outwardly gave no sign of distress. 
'Dammit,' he thought, 'China is the key!  Without them we can't even begin!'
"Very well, two in favor.  Sean?"
 
	"Pass." 
 
	"You're certain?" asked Ronowski, an icy ball gathering in his
stomach.
 
	"Quite sure, Dave.  I want to see how the climate goes; my vote may
not even be necessary."
 
	"Fine, fine," said Ronowski, drinking from his glass of water.  He
rubbed his hands on his trousers, wiping off the condensation he'd picked up
from the ice-cold glass.  "Cabot?"
 
	"For."  She leaned back and turned to regard Prathachulthorn.  "Sly
little devil, you aren't scaring me out of a yes vote that easily." Her face
was set, but her eyes twinkled.
 
	"It was never my intention," he replied, chuckling slightly. 
 
	'Enough with the mushy stuff,' thought the President of the American
Confederation.  "Fayit?"
 
	"I'm with Mr. Liu.  For, only if the plan stays successful.  We'll
be . . . I believe the expression is a fair weather friend?"
 
	"Then we'll be sure to keep the skies clear for you," said Cabot,
smiling.  London was much better known for blue skies than it had been in
the twentieth.  Then again, with the various climatic changes . . . .
 
	"Okay then, if the festive mood is over," said Ronowski as he raised
his voice above the growing laughs, "I think you can guess that my vote is
for." The smile fell from his face.  "Which leaves you, Sean.  Directive 280
lives or dies on your say-so."
 
	Prathachulthorn folded his hands in his lap, his gray eyebrows
knotted together.  He'd been over all the plans, made up his mind as to who
would probably win, and had thought over the consequences of the outcome. 
In the coming months, he would be watching from a very relaxed viewpoint as
things went like clockwork, or so he thought.  What is important from a
historical viewpoint is that it was what he thought would happen that shaped
his words, and not what would happen.  It's what everyone does in their
lives, but this time it happened to count for something.
 
	"For.  Why not?" 
 
	David Ronowski regarded his opposite with narrowed eyes.  Was he 
joking or serious? 
 
	"Well then," said Prathachulthorn brusquely, "we're all in
agreement, so what say we bug out of here and grab some food, eh?  You've
been telling me about the food here in Calgary, Dave, it's time to put your
palate where your mouth is."
 
	Ronowski took a long sip at his water. 
 
*** 
 
	It came in Kansas City, near the dead center of the North American
continent.  Serenity's tour was pressing on through the American
Confederation with nary a problem, except for some rather tired senshi.
 
	It came at 8:44 CST, as she was finishing her breakfast.  Endymion 
was idly flipping through a local news channel when he saw his wife look 
up suddenly. 
 
	"Usako!" 
 
	She didn't reply at first, but simply stared into space, as if
receiving a message from somewhere.  It was, in fact, the one and only
instance of precognition that the Neo-Queen would ever have.
 
	"We must leave."  She held up a hand before Endymion could speak. 
"We must return to Crystal Tokyo immediately.  We are in danger.  I'm . . .
I'm scared!"
 
	It was probably a good thing that the two were alone.  Had anyone
else been around to see the most powerful woman in the world become
frightened of anything, the panic would have been unavoidable.
 
============== 
 
List of leaders and nations:
 
David Ronowski -president of the American Confederation, from St. Johns,
Newfoundland.  The American Confederation comprises all of North America and
South America, including Hawaii, the Caribbean Islands, and Greenland, and
has its capital in Vancouver, British Columbia.  Vice president: Emily
Martin, from Wallum Lake, Rhode Island.
 
Wilhelmina "Mina" Cabot -prime minister of the European Union, from
Buckinghamshire, England.  The EU comprises most of Europe, including
Iceland, the Balkans, the Baltics, and Israel, and has its capital in
London, England.  Secondary: Alistair Richards, from Cornwall, England.
 
Victor Mohammed al-Fayit -President of the Council of Arab Union, from
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  The Arab Union comprises all the Arab states:
Northern Africa, the Saudi peninsula, etc.  Its capital is Medina.  Vice
president: Sadit Hassin, from Ziba, Saudi Arabia.
 
Alexander Rostov -president of the Republic of Russia, from Kiev, the
Ukraine.  Russia comprises the former Soviet Union and Mongolia, and its
capital is Odessa.  Vice president: Jeremy Bezukoff, from Sverdlovsk.
 
Mao Tsing Liu -Premier of the Chinese Confederacy, from Hong Kong.  It
comprises China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao, Korea, and a couple slices off
the top of Vietnam, Thailand, etc.  Capital is Hong Kong.  Secondary:
Chizawa Hsu, from Nanjing, a replacement for the former secondary, who is on
his deathbed.
 
Sean Prathachulthorn -president of the Southeast Asian Alliance, from
Auckland, New Zealand.  It comprises Australia, New Zealand, India, South
Africa, Indonesia, the Phillipines, and all those other miscellaneous
Pacific islands.  The capital is Wellington, New Zealand.  Vice President:
Edward Lansing, from Sydney, Australia.
 
Africa was not mentioned.  The continent never truly recovered from the
Formation Wars; indeed in some parts one would never have guessed that they
ended.  The world tries very hard to forget that it's even there, with three
exceptions.  The Arab Union, because it controls most of the Sahara and
territories north of it, Crystal Tokyo, which has tried for years to get the
continent back on its feet (witness the three African senshi), and the SEAA,
because it controls the southern tip of Africa.
 
============== 
Begun: 10:40 28 April 1998 
Finished: 17:21 10 May 1998 
Final draft: 15:36 2 June 1998
Final edit: 14:14 20 February 2001