[ WP ] The Allies have lost the Third World War .

It was a dreary day. The sky was dark and the grayish-brown clouds seemed to hang low over the tops of the buildings. A light drizzle of warm rain slowly made it's way towards the earth. It was a seemingly quiet day, but there was a stirring of energy in the air. A man walked down the street. A newspaper bin sat by the corner. Ever since the wireless grid had been knocked out early in the war, people seemed to have to revert back to the age of the printed newspaper and the landline. There had been no internet for quite some time now, no computers or cell phones to use. There were some children who did n't even know what those devices were, had never experienced them since they were born. The buildings were shabby and worn down, as if they had n't been maintained for years. It was hard to maintain anything, with the economic collapse and perpetual blockades. The lone building on the street that seemed to be in good condition glowed brightly, contrasting from the dimly lit buildings next to it. It's red sign with bright golden arches seemed to bath that part of the street in an artificial, almost ethereal glow of red and yellow. The man did n't look at it as he passed. 
 
 The man stopped and picked up a newspaper out of the bin. March 29th, 2075 read the date at the top. In big bold black letters, the title spelled out `` ALLIES CONCEDE DEFEAT, UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER OF ALL MILITARY FORCES''. His eyes slowly read down the page 
 
 *'' With the consecutive and decisive defeats of Allied forces in Buenos Aires, Beijing and Paris all occurring in the last two months, it seems that any chance of further military action between the Allies and the Americans has ended. The shocking losses incurred in both military and civilian lives across the world warrants the need for an end to the bloodshed, say the embattled leaders of the Allied nations. With famines sweeping across the lower half of the Asian continent and virtually all of Africa as a result of the American blockades and biological warfare, and the ruin of the combined armed forces of Europe, Asia, and South America due to absolute American technological superiority, the time to come to the table and accept the surrender terms is now. Leaders from the top Allied countries ( Britain, Germany, China, Japan, India, Australia, and Argentina ) will sign the terms of unconditional surrender from the Americans within the next few weeks. The terms include the necessary surrender of military control of all Allied nations to American armed forces, the trials of all military and political leaders described as `` dictators in the fight against freedom and the American way'' for war crimes, and the implementation of America's `` One World, Under God'' economic policy, which most leaders argued merely subjugates the economies of the nations of the world to American corporations, and is widely seen as the catalyst for the deterioration of relations that slowly pulled the world into war. The American Secretary of War was quoted as saying, `` While this war has devastated American homes and caused the loss of millions of American lives, our victory can not be understated. The men and women, who fought so bravely to advance the cause of freedom and justice throughout the world, did not die in vain. Now, through the advancement of the American ideals of the free market and justice for all citizens, the world can truly advance to a civilization that will last for millennia to come. Those to oppose the freedoms that America represents, they have no such place in this world. By God's will, we have gained the inevitable triumph. `` * 
 
 The man looked up from his paper. He looked down the street. He probably should n't be out at this time he thought to himself. Suddenly, he heard distant footsteps. Two soldiers had exited the McDonalds across the street and were walking towards him. `` Halt!'' they said. The man froze. The soldiers strode up to him. `` Identification'' one of the soldiers said. `` I do not have it'' the man said back. He kept his hands half raised. The soldiers looked at each other, then looked back at the man. Then with a swift sudden movement, the first soldier slammed the butt of his rifle against the man's temple. `` WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DO NOT HAVE IT,'' he yelled, `` ALL CITIZENS OF THE CAPITAL MUST CARRY PROPER IDENTIFICATION AT ALL TIMES!'' The man lay on the ground, reeling, but put his hands up. `` I am sorry,'' he said, `` I must have left it at home.'' `` We have orders to shoot all citizens not carrying identification with them on sight,'' said the second soldier, his rifle raised. The man lay there, shivering at the prospect that he would be shot like this on the sidewalk. The soldiers stared at him. Then the first one bet down and put his hand in the mans jacket pocket. He pulled out the man's wallet. Rifling through it, he pulled out whatever money was inside and tucked it into his combat vest. `` You have to the count of five before we start shooting'' he said. The man's eyes widened. `` One...'' The man got up, still somewhat dizzy. `` Two...'' The man started stumbling away, trying to run. `` Three...'' The man began to pick up the pace. `` Oh what the hell...'' Suddenly, the ground next to his feet began to light up and chunks of it hit him in the legs and face. Bright green courses of energy ripped apart the concrete. He never ran so fast in his life. He heard the soldiers laughing behind him. There was no more shooting, but he did n't stop running. He turned down a street and just kept going. He ran until he stopped in an alley way near his home. His head was still throbbing. He caught his breath. Overhead he heard a near silent whirring. He looked up as a fleet of drones zoomed through the skies, likely on there usual patrol of the city. He looked at the wall in front of him. There was evidence of vandalism. The sign of the resistance had been painted on. The man realized just how much danger he was in. If any American soldiers saw him next to that symbol and thought that he somehow painted it, him and his entire family would be shot. He peered out of the alley way. The street was empty. He scurried over towards his front door. As he opened the door, he looked up in the sky and saw the giant light billboard silhouetted against the clouds. The stars and stripes were flowing in the wind, backset against the words `` Let Freedom Ring.''
