Oh right I should be less ambiguous.
I'm posting fluff pieces for a 21st century Space Age game where players are in control of ~5 major powers. There will be 5 fluff pieces, each with a different bit of world-building and a feature on one of the powers, and then the ruleset.
This build-up I will actually finish, because I made sure to actually write the fluff, the ruleset, and make the map before I post anything.
All down the ages rings the note of change,
For fate so rules it; none escapes its sway.
The three kingdoms have vanished as a dream,
The useless misery is ours to grieve.
-Romance of the Three Kingdoms
The Great Game, as it was called, was not the first of its kind nor will it be the last. But it was the first, as a result of humanity’s technological progress, that could have been the last. Russia, Japan, and America all possessed atomic weaponry and space rocketry that theoretically allowed them to wipe each other from existence. A war involving one or more of these powers, if conducted for the same stakes as the Second Global War, the Total War, could result in the mutual annihilation of all belligerents.
Proxy wars and espionage thus became a necessity, as open conflict between the Superpowers was too risky. Japan funded insurgents in the Philippines, Russia backed Chinese rebels, and America supported Persian Gazavat fighters. There were no alliances between the superpowers, only mutual interests, as each had global reach that guaranteed clashing interests on seven continents. Lauded as the most stable world order since the Roman Empire, in truth mankind spent 30 years on the brink of overnight destruction.
The Pacific War, from 1979-1981, would end the three way struggle between the superpowers. Nationalist politicians in the United States and Japan would bring their nations to war over their clashing colonial interests in South-east Asia as both sought to prop up their economic and political interests and distract their populations from domestic issues. American and Japanese fleets clashed in a series of cataclysmic battles in early 1980 that saw the destruction of the Imperial Navy, revealing a staggering American advantage in doctrine and technology. Mutual nuclear strikes, against San Francisco and San Diego in return for two Japanese cities, would be mercifully limited and lead to no apocalypse. Rather than throw the world upon an atomic pyre the Japanese leadership would back down and accept the loss of their empire, as their client-states were overthrown by pro-American governments.
The victory left the Americans with a greatly expanded, but tenuous, mastery of East Asia, controlling the periphery of the human civilization while Russia controlled the Eurasian heartland. Russian efforts to profit from their rivals’ distraction, by establishing a friendly Chinese government and invading Persia, would backfire in the coming decade. The new Chinese state was only a black hole for Russian influence and money and the continued occupation of Persia would contribute to the simmering social tensions that led to the overthrow of the Russian monarchy.
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The
United States of America is the last remaining superpower. Like a heavy-weight boxer past its prime it has amassed a staggering collection of titles and victories over the 20th century, but age and old injuries have begun to slow it down. Victorious in the Pacific War, both Global Wars, and the French-American War it outlasted its Russian rival and enjoyed a decade of hegemony. But the continued demands of supporting the world’s greatest modern empire have strained a population already suffering under the economic effects of globalization. Its political elite is increasingly out of touch with a population that is tired of the burden of empire, tired of seeing their jobs go to machines and Asian factories, tired of the diverse multicultural American Dream.
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Swift through the air, as Ráma chose,
The wondrous car from earth arose.
And decked with swans and silver wings
Bore through the clouds its freight of kings.
-The Ramayana
The Space Race, or more accurately the First Space Race, was a series of efforts and initiatives by the major powers of the 20th century to push human civilization beyond the atmosphere, to discover and contact any Forerunner remnants. While this involved long-distance radio and telescope efforts, MI-GO, what captured the imaginations of the world's population was human spaceflight. America would put its first astronaut, John Glenn, into space by 1950 and Russia and Japan would soon follow. With radio signals expected to take decades to see a response, if any at all, boots on the ground (in a manner of speaking) had an appeal. The true effects of the Space Race would be on technology: while it wouldn't yet be cost-effective for the establishment of permanent settlements or mining, or satellites beyond Earth's orbit, major advances in nearly all fields would come from the billions poured into the respective space programs by every great power.
While it was America that led the space race at first, with its access to Leng, Russian spaceflight would come to surpass it by 1965, putting a cosmonaut on the moon before America sent its own expedition. Japan would struggle to recreate its adversaries accomplishments, reliant on partnering with India for its own more expensive spaceflight efforts and bartering with the Entente for technological secrets. Russia would "win" the space race with its famous Martian expedition in 1988, as a four man cosmonaut team reached the red planet and returned home (just in time to witness the collapse of the Empire). The deteriorating international situation, and lack of competition, saw interest drift closer to home.
As the 21st century starts the main principal for space development is not exploration, but economics. Helium-3 mining on the moon and minerals from the asteroid belt are within striking range of being cost-effective. Environmental concerns have led to proposals to shift heavy industry into space, fed by resources collected elsewhere in the solar system, with only finished products returning to Earth. And hard-pressed governments in all the major powers see space exploitation as a way to address economic and domestic concerns, if only by distracting their population.
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The
Russian Commonwealth is the successor state to the Russian Empire, the dominant Eurasian power of the 20th century. After defeating the reformed German Empire in 1944, Russia enjoyed half a century of hegemony across much of the world's population. But its ambitions were greater than its abilities and a long-running war against the Persian Ghazi and Arab resistance fighters would strain its abilities to the breaking point. Domestic tensions, between the rich and the poor, Russians and non-Russians, urban liberals and the totalitarian government, placed more and more strain on the Imperial government and final withdrawal from Persia in 1990 would shatter its legitimacy. Popular revolts and military mutinies toppled the Empire that had resisted the Germans and Communists, while nationalists seized provincial capitals and proclaimed independence. When the dust settled Russia was much diminished, but free: however the CaDet governments of the 90s failed to capitalize on that freedom to provide material gains to most Russians. The Russian of the 21st century is looking to their politicians to deliver: on prosperity, on equality, on a reclamation of Russia's rightful place as a great power.
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“The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of the nation; we are interested solely in power, pure power. … Power is not a means; it is an end. … Power is its own purpose. Now you begin to understand me.”
- Eric Blair, 1973
Earth of 2000 seemed divided into four broad worlds: an American First World, the Russian Second, the Japanese Third, and the unaligned/unclaimed Fourth World. Despite fuzzy borders and contentious definitions broad similarities can be gleamed.
The American First World chiefly consisted of European, North American, and Asian nations that spent the past half century under the US's military and economic aegis, including the former Anglo-French Entente. Strong civilian governments and civil society is the norm and military spending is low, albeit at the cost of American domination. English is the lingua franca of business and tourism and the influence of American media culture is ubiquitous.
The Russian Second World now chiefly consists of former Russian puppets and territories. Germany, Poland, Persia, Turkey, and China have all taken advantage of their former master's decline to establish new levels of independence. Despite this they tend to lag behind the First World in development and have weak civil societies, and their early infatuation with Western culture has begun to wane, leading to a nationalist backlash.
The Japanese Third World collapsed formally with the Pacific War, absorbed into the American sphere where the US could manage it, but the scars remain. A history of colonialism and imperial exploitation left economies and governments weak. They are often at the mercy of foreign powers, Indian and American, who are more interested in profits and resource extraction than in long-term prosperity.
The Fourth World, in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, is often thought of as too poor to be worth fighting over. Aside from a few oil-producing states it is often economically irrelevant. Governments come and go, countries go to war and are lucky to make the fifth page of a major newspaper.
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United Republic of China
China has not had a good century. The brief Chinese Republic was stamped out by Yuan Shikai's Chinese Empire, which itself succumbed to Japanese influence and fractured. Invaded by the Japanese, the Russians, and then the Japanese again, China ultimately became a Japanese puppet under the Second Republic. But the Second Republic struggled to establish authority beyond the coasts, where Russian-backed warlords and breakaway groups continued to resist in on-and-off conflicts for thirty years. Japan's collapse in the Pacific War led to the fall of the Republic, as Russian-backed rebels stormed Beijing and proclaimed a new state, which the rest of the country promptly rebelled against in turn. A decade of civil war would end in 1991 with a fragile power-sharing agreement, and both sides would gradually disarm and integrate. The Third Republic is fragile, but China is strong: it has the fastest economic growth in the world and has survived two elections and two peaceful transitions of power. Observers elsewhere call it the Chinese Miracle, a model for other developing fourth world countries. But China lags behind the other major powers in its military, its technology, and its development, and it needs inspired leadership to achieve its potential.
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"If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans."
-Stephen Hawking
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United Earth Organization
Formed by the victorious powers of the Second Global War, the United Earth Organization has two stated goals: to present a unified front for alien contact and foster cooperation and peace on Earth. It would be generous to say it has had mixed success: it soon became a new chess board for the Great Powers to play their game, and their veto power on the Security Council meant it was unable to take meaningful action to curb their ambitions.
In 2000, it is possibly even more irrelevant. Of the three Standing Members, only America still manages to project power globally. Russia may yet recover, but Japan has passed from civilian to military rule and is currently under the control of a radical populist government in the process of deconstructing the Japanese society. The rising power of India, Europe, and China are not represented, leaving it even more toothless than ever.
But, through all this, it is important to remember that humanity has direct, irrefutable proof of alien life. Aliens considerably more advanced than human civilization. And one day, we will make contact again.
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Secondary Powers
Aside from the major powers, several secondary powers are active in the world. These will be the only active NPCs interested in affairs outside their own territory: they will align with a major power, but cherish their independence and will maintain their own interests.
Iran is an Islamic Republic, increasingly clashing with traditional Muslim powers in Egypt and the Gulf. Its Republican Guard is feared special forces organization considered a terrorist organization in Russia and Europe.
Egypt is still a monarchy, a former Russian client that played its strategic position well. Its military props up several other states in the Middle East and is a capable, if slightly outdated, force.
In
Brazil, the military overthrew a highly corrupt civilian government. While initially popular, they are beginning to lose support as rising economic prosperity leads to greater calls for civil liberty.
Venezuela is a successful liberal democracy, if more corrupt than most nations in the American sphere. Their economy is dependent on oil wealth however, and they have done a poor job of diversifying.
Japan has fallen far from its position as a great power. Its military and civilian governments both disgraced, the new Communist government is in the process of harmonizing Japanese society into an equality of oppression and poverty.
Korea is a dictatorship, though the center of power has drifted from the military to the President and his personal family. This has not made the military happy, but as long as they are paid and economic growth continues they are not likely to step out of line.
Poland is an authoritarian state sandwiched between Europe and Russia. Last generation's liberators have become this generation's tyrants, and the ruling Solidarity Party does not wish to abandon its hatred of Russia or its hold on power.
South Africa is a republic, but the African National Congress has undisputed control of all the levers of power. Their support is unrelated to their effectiveness in actually governing.
Turkey is an economic and military power in the local region, but it struggles to walk the fine line between Europe and the Middle East, between independence and dependence, and between different groups in its society. Its continued occupation of Cyprus leads to frequent clashes with Greece.
