With neither Ellisia nor Kemalia working out entirely as intended, the Pineland administration decided it was time to take their wins in Attica and Kalaria and bring the troops home. They quickly announced their intentions, and withdrew most of the Pinelandian troops in a grand gesture to show their citizens that the world was safe again. They also pursued closer relations with the Islamic Republic of Ariana, a realm that had long been on Pineland’s black list. They offered informal acceptance of the Ariana government, and unlocked billions of Dons worth of frozen Ariana financial assets. Ariana accepted the funds with a smile, and used them to fund terrorist organizations. The Islamic Brotherhood of Jihad quickly arose to commit terrorist attacks all over the region and conquered vast swaths of Kalaria and Kemalia in a brutal campaign of ethnic and religious persecution.
Twenty years ago, I was at work when I learned a plane hit the World Trade Center. I got home in time to see the second plane hit live. I heard about the Pentagon and Pennsylvania in real time. I watched the towers fall in real time. I watched celebrating crowds in the Middle East cheering at the destruction and loss of life. And when I went to talk to my friends about it at the site where I was an admin, I found my admin status revoked and our primary forum shut down for the day because the other admins didn’t want the Americans talking about this on their website. Through all the bad that day, my fellow Americans pressed on. The courage some showed in jumping or running up the stairs. Those who said “Let’s Roll” and fought for a plane. My fellow Americans impressed me that day. As long as I live, I will Never Forget.
Despite the loss of life in Ellisia, the new administration in Pineland soldiered on to make the world a better place by dealing with other autocrats. The dictator in Kemalia was killing his own people, much like the Kalarian dictator before him, and Pineland was ready to knock him off next. Having watched three nations fall in short order, he was not a fool and called for help from the Krasnovian Federation. The Krasnovians were happy to help him out against his rebels, and bellied up to the table to commence a staring contest with Pineland over whether or not they really wanted to back their words up with actions. The Pineland administration did not wish war with Krasnovia and blinked rather than pull the trigger. They quickly decided it was time to pursue other goals.
A new administration in Pineland saw the victories in Attica and Kalaria as mandates to bring the entire region into the modern age. They looked at the neighboring Ellisia’s despotic regime as a proof of concept for a new and better way to reform backwards nations. They supported local resistance movements with weapons, intelligence, and air support, and watched as they toppled the government, captured the fleeing dictator, and beat him to death on camera. It was heralded as a great victory for Pineland and the modern world. Unfortunately for Ellisia, tribal divisions caused the rebels to fragment as they fought over who would rule the nation after their great victory. Chaos and firefights ensued all over the country, culminating in the storming of a Pinelandian consulate and the death of the ambassador and his protectors. It was a dark day for Pineland.
The President of Pineland soon decided it was time to get back to unfinished business with Kalaria. It had invaded neighboring Minaria years before, and Pineland had led a multinational force to liberate the small country. Now Kalaria’s brutal dictator was killing dissidents all over his nation, and Pineland was flush with success in Attica. Getting rid of another brutal tyrant was an easy sell to the citizens of Pineland, and they supported the invasion and toppling of the Kalarian government. They followed the same model as in Attica, building a new police and army, conducting elections, and planting a new representative government into the region. It truly was a new age for mankind. There were many cracks under the surface though, and not everyone supported these initiatives.

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