The United States
At the same hour Stalin resolved upon a Third World War, a long meeting was underway in the United States—now bound to the Soviets by alliance.
"Is there anything we wouldn't do to catch those goddamn Nazis?"
The high officials of the nation seated around the table murmured their agreement with the President's words.
"We have to finish them before they grow any stronger."
"Give them any more time and there will be no turning back."
"Our defeat in the Second World War was nothing but bad luck!"
A fierce sense of crisis gripped them all. Germany, already ranked first in the world, was steadily cementing that position.
The Germany that had emerged victorious from the Second World War possessed power that truly deserved the title of strongest on Earth.
The undisputed number one—no one could deny it.
Even the United States would be overwhelmed in a one-on-one fight. Having swallowed the whole of Europe save Britain and torn great swaths of land from the Soviet Union, that was only natural.
"The Soviets have been weakened, but under Stalin's control they've held on—they'll be more than enough of a force in a war."
"I'd like to bring China and India in as well. With populations like theirs, we'd overwhelm the enemy in ordinary troops."
The suggestion that other nations be used as meat shields was delivered with perfect calm, and no one raised an objection.
They already had a half-official meat-shield nation of their own, after all.
"China's a non-starter. You can't get through to those people."
A man who had once served as ambassador there answered with a visible shudder.
"And India?"
The President looked around with interest.
"They insist on absolute neutrality. You couldn't drive a needle into that position."
"Those ungrateful bastards. They've forgotten who got them their independence."
"What about applying some measured diplomatic pressure?"
"…We have to fight Germany. We can't spare the attention for that."
The diplomat shook his head. Pull a stunt like that and every nation currently sitting on the fence would tip toward Germany.
"What about the lesser countries?"
"If we're unlucky, they'll side with the other camp. South America in particular is openly talking about attaching itself to Germany."
The rough words were thick with irritation. Most of the world was watching Germany's face, hedging between America and the Reich.
Germany, which might invade at any moment, had America's hands tied—they couldn't even swing a fist at nearby South America. And if they did, every last fence-sitter would flock to the German side.
"Countries below India's weight class aren't in a position to ignore us, are they?"
The President frowned as he asked, and the answer that came back was disappointing.
"Keep in mind that pro-German sentiment is stronger."
The title of undisputed world number one carried that much weight.
Curses poured from every direction—ungrateful wretches, the lot of them. We got them their independence, and now they just watch Germany's face?
"This is all the Brits' fault."
Every former colony hated Britain. And by extension, the America that was "protecting" Britain.
"Useless, the whole lot of them."
There was no nation that could actually help.
"What about Japan?"
"They can't move because of Korea. Their neighbor is picking fights with them every single day—they're not about to send troops just because we ask."
A mutter reached the President's ear: Well, what do you expect from a thug state?
Whispers passed around the table: A country that's been playing Poland since the day it got independence—figures.
That damn Korea was throwing punches at every neighboring country as if possessed by the ghost of vanished Poland itself.
"Ahem!"
The pro-Korean faction glared at the anti-Korean faction for the slander, faces dark with displeasure.
"Japan's in bad shape as it is. We completely smashed them, didn't we?"
Awkward coughs broke out around the room.
They had taken out their humiliation at Germany's hands on Japan, and as a result Japan was pitifully weak for its weight class. Even so, it still ranked among the world's upper tier.
"What about Korea?"
Why not simply bring that Poland of the East on board? Expectant eyes turned toward the cabinet.
"How do you expect to reason with animals in human language?"
At that racist remark, a man shot to his feet, scowling, and denounced him.
"Calling people animals! What century are you living in?!"
"Exactly! Have you seen how beautiful Korean women are?!"
The man who rose next wore a wristwatch proudly emblazoned with a Korean cat beastkin. The winking figure on it was utterly adorable.
"…That isn't what I meant."
The first man fixed the Hallyu devotee with a look that bordered on hatred, then answered quietly, as if telling everyone to calm down.
If it weren't for that damned Korean Wave, we could have applied real pressure long ago.
The lunatics went on one trip to Korea and came back grinning like idiots, converted into pro-Koreans. Lately every media outlet was packed with Koreans.
I shouted myself hoarse that we had to stop the Korean Wave from spreading, and they all ignored me. What is this country coming to?
"As everyone here knows, Korea is aggressive—but I don't think you understand how aggressive."
"Korea has legitimate reasons for hating China and Japan."
The Black man still on his feet glared at him with open displeasure.
Thanks to the Korean Wave sweeping the globe, most Americans well understood why Korea despised those two countries.
As a result, diplomacy with China and Japan had been completely wrecked. The majority of the public was pro-Korean.
"It's gone too far. If you knew how many Japanese and Chinese fishing boats Korea seizes every year, you'd be appalled."
"Seizing fishing boats? That's hardly a big deal."
The President answered coolly. The man sighed under that gaze and produced another example.
"Along the Chinese border, Korean soldiers open fire the moment they spot a Chinese national."
"They're practically a hostile nation. That can happen."
"The Korean navy sails out to Japan's minor islands, beats up the civilians, and sails home."
"They didn't kill anyone, at least."
The President's lukewarm responses and the passionate defenses of the pro-Korean legislators continued—even though, by any ordinary standard, the behavior deserved condemnation.
Such was the power of culture.
"…There is a greater than ninety percent chance Korea will go to war with China in the near future. The Soviets say the same."
Even this final, shocking piece of intelligence met with the same reaction as before.
"Is that so? Then why don't we support Korea, help them push China aside, and then ask them for manpower? A little inhumane, maybe—but this is no time to be picky."
Clap, clap, clap!
The pro-Korean faction burst into applause and cheers, dazzled by the President's wisdom. How brilliant!
The minority who disliked this Poland of the East twisted their faces.
"They've been occupying Manchuria, their ancestral homeland—it was only a matter of time before it came to this."
"Exactly!"
"We just ask them to hand over a few Chinese, right?"
There were far too many pro-Koreans…
The man pressed his fingers to the corner of his eye and spoke again.
"If I may point something out—China could side with Germany. And in my judgment, once Korea wins its war with China, it will turn on Japan next."
"Beating China would be hard enough, wouldn't it?"
"Ahem. I'll take that one."
The Secretary of Defense answered the President's question.
"Korea is far too strong in superhuman forces. China has no superhuman capable of stopping that breakthrough power."
"Doesn't China have those Red Guards or whatever, and Confucianism?"
"Even accounting for that, the calculations show China cannot stop a Korean breakthrough. Their only chance of winning is to grind down the superhumans with sheer numbers."
"Korea was that strong?"
The President glanced around for confirmation, but no one contradicted the Secretary of Defense.
The President thought it over.
…Then we just get Korea into the war, don't we? We "temporarily" let them have China and Japan, then peel them off again once we've won.
The Soviets don't want another superpower right beneath them either—they'll throw their weight behind this.
It was perfect British-style thinking, worthy of a child of the British Empire.
Britain: My child, I'm so proud of you!
America: Now hand over everything you've got.
Britain: You've learned perfectly!
"If we tolerate Korea's occupation of China and Japan in exchange for a request that they join the war against Germany—wouldn't that be entirely feasible?"
"If we announce it officially, it should be possible. Provided we aren't being pushed back by Germany."
"A war with Germany won't end overnight. Even if they enter in the middle of it, they'd be a tremendous help."
The President's proposal won broad support from the pro-Korean faction, and a policy of friendly neutrality toward the war Korea would start was decided.
"Let's get to the main point. Is anyone opposed to declaring war on Germany?"
The President rose and swept his gaze around the room. No one objected.
"There can be no second humiliation."
A general answered, face set hard.
"The United States of America will be victorious!"
Another man stood and roared.
"War!"
One after another, every person present rose and took up the chant.
"Good. Then all of you sign."
At the President's word, each man checked the small, faintly glowing sheet of paper before him and drew out a pen.
YES / NO
Scratch, scratch.
With every quiet rasp of pen on paper, legitimacy settled more firmly upon the President.
In the democratic nation of America, true power flowed from the people. The representatives gathered here carried that power on their backs, and the President would wield their united force.
"Hah. This time there will be no humiliation like the one under President Roosevelt."
Allan Benson, the current President of the United States, curled the corner of his mouth into a smile.
A surging wave of life force filled him with a sense of omnipotence. Now, whenever he wished, he could unleash that power.
At least where war with Germany was concerned.
"A united America is strong! We will be victorious!"
His voice rang out, heavy with power and conviction.
Unwilling to repeat Roosevelt's failure, he had been prepared to abandon the war if support for it had been insufficient.
Fortunately, America's will to fight was certain. The men assembled here were proof of it.
"God bless America!"
The governors—each of them elected by countless votes, each of them empowered by the people—bellowed the words with full-throated force.
The generals, superhumans in their own right, wore cold little smiles.
"The long silence ends. Time to deliver democracy to those Nazis."
With those words from the President, who watched the fervor with a smile, the United States began preparing its transition to a wartime footing.
Outwardly America still wore a peaceful face—but before long, a declaration of war would be delivered to Germany.