The Germany people hated the Treaty of Versailles, and considered it a diktat of the Allies. Many called it a Carthaginian Peace, the only goal being to destroy Germany altogether. France considered it a way to make certain Germany could never threaten them again. But the requirements were so onerous to the German people that they never accepted it and many simply refused to gather the resources that would be used to fulfill the quotas of the treaty.
I’m a big fan of celebrating New Years Day. I love Old New York City at that time. The music, the confetti, the crowds. Watching the ball drop and explode in a bajillion lights. Kissing pretty girls. Running from angry boyfriends. Stopping for a moment to consider that maybe I should slow down next year. Nah. What’s the fun in that? I’ll slow down when I’m dead, and I plan to live forever. That’s a lot of New Years Day parties.
Most of the great computer networks were gone by the time the AIs went to war against the Islamic Jihad, and they had to work with others to physically smuggle themselves into what remained. Israel’s Operation Sarah was one of those great secret missions. They smuggled Sarah into Iran’s computer network and she attacked the Jihadists from within. She is a celebrated war hero in Israel now. The Persians remember her differently of course.
I grew up in one of the most powerful families on Earth. We didn’t even need to buy what we wanted. It was given freely if we expressed interest. Then one day I woke up on the outside looking in. As in most things when it comes to men, it was because of a girl. Some people ask if I regret it. I don’t. You see, the boy I was back then never would have taken on my mission. I just wish I could remember what happened. That’s the one bit that’s hard to accept.
The German Empire fell shortly after signing the first armistice with the Allies. When the new German Republic was handed the Treaty of Versailles, their chancellor called it a “murderous plan” and refused to sign it. When the Allies demanded he sign it or they would invade, he resigned in protest. The German government collapsed entirely, but another government soon rose. They were given the same ultimatum, and in the end they signed.