The original Shang strikes on Yosemite Yards and Washington D.C. did not unduly anger the Great Families of the New England Federation. The District of Columbia was full of self-delusional fools who thought themselves more powerful than they really were. They were no great loss to America or humanity. And while the western reaches of the Federation’s flyover country were valuable for the food production and vacation destinations, the Great Families did not generally give a care about the people who lived there. They were replaceable. The Great Families still took advantage of the situation though. They loudly denounced the attacks and offered their support in teaching the Aliens a lesson. It was a time to stand united with their fellow Americans, and their other Western Allies. It was time to show them all what the Federation was capable of.