The F-4 Blackhawk was America’s answer to the newly introduced alien technologies of the early twenty-second century. All previous designs were outclassed by the new technologies, relic of conflicts gone and buried. The Blackhawk became America’s symbol to the worlds that we were still a force to be reckoned with. And reckon we did…
Millions of people died building the new golden age. And we started it on the backs of atomic explosions so horrific that no one would use them for the rest of the century. Most of us came home after that, though many stayed in Europe and Japan to build the new peace. The Pax Americana had begun and even through Iron and Bamboo Curtains humanity would seek union for the next century. I sometimes wonder what we would be now if we had succeeded.
I tried peace and quiet after Wars End. I wanted to see if it fit the new me. It didn’t. There will always be a bit of the partier in me. And the Marine I became to fight. And of course the Cowboy that learned to think things through. Although if you accuse me of that to my face I will punch you. Wouldn’t want people to stop underestimating me after all. If they think all I care about is parties, girls, and fistfights, they’ll never see the Cowboy coming for them.
While modern Core Worlds children play in virtual cities, those who lived before The War generally prefer the physical world. Virtual reality is for communication and experimentation, not for living. Few in the older generation recognize the strength of virtual societies and prefer to emphasize the “real” connections of physical addresses and family. It is a true generational divide that can result in explosive arguments between people who consider the “other” world unimportant.
World War II was the beginning of a golden age for America. And like most golden ages it was bought with blood. We stretched out our hands to the east and drove the Nazis back against the advancing Russians. We stretched west and devastated Japan. And then we helped them rebuild. All over the world, we helped economies rebuild into a new golden age that would last throughout the century. It was a great time to be an American.