Epilogue

President Wychin looked out the window of his office in the Boston Highrise and sighed. Then he turned around sharply, looking at the group of people gathered inside. All kinds of weapons, ranging from pistols to plasma rifles, pointed at him.

"Looks like the team's back together, guys." Wychin said. "Not under the best of circumstances, but I was definitely expecting you to get past security. We geriatrics are the best of the best, after all."

"I belive you owe us something, sir." John Poole spoke up.
"Like an explanation." Sophie Thornside added.

Wychin nodded. "The aliens on this continent have been crushed, thanks to the Cold Force, I might add. They pose no real danger. And since we're all here, I guess you, my old comrades, deserve that explanation."

"During the war, I came to realize something. The aliens were right. Humanity can't be allowed to run free. Our tendency towards violence would result in untold destruction. Oh, I don't give a rat's ass about what'll happen to the aliens - they can burn for all I care. But once the aliens are gone, we'd undoubtedly get back to destroying ourselves."

"Thus, humanity needs something to control it. The most effective ways to do it: fear. Hatred. Hatred of things different - specifically, the aliens."

"Get to the damn point." David Harrison interrupted.

"This is the point!" Wychin slammed his fist on the table. "In the 20th century, democracy failed. The 'good guys' couldn't control the rising tide of violence, overpopulation, pollution... because they didn't have the guts to stomp out the elements which were making society collapse in on itself. Instead of laying down the law and enforcing it, politicians would politely ask the criminals to put down their guns. Me - I bring order to the world. Sure, it's a brutal, fear-based order. But it's order. I'll let history judge whether any good came out of my order."

"Sir, why try to have us killed?" Brian Kemp spoke up.

"Did you guys honestly think that I expected the ISB to kill any member of the C4? The best of the best? The ISB is made up of people like Philips - stupid, incompetent. The only thing they're meant to do is inspire fear. Mostly, I wanted your attention, and I wanted you all here."

"I want you to understand what the stakes are out here. Soon, the U.S.S.A. will expand into europe, to subdue the squabbling city-states. Somehow, I doubt any of you will choose to be there with me when I am triumphant. So I brought you all here to give you a choice."

"You can join me, and give my your unquestioning loyalty."
"You can choose to forego any more involvement in the history of humanity."
"Or you can die. I promise, it'll be quick and painless."


"I... we... trusted you, Sam." Sophie spoke up. "You had my brother killed. Why?"


"Still dwelling on that, Sophie? The man was blatantly working with the aliens." Wychin chuckled. "Of course, they were harmless sectoids, and originally assigned to him by me, but I gave him plenty of clear warning to get rid of the little bastards. He stuck to his morals, and in a fear regime, I can't afford to have people standing up for their beliefs."

"Any more questions?"

John Poole walked forward, weaponless.

Wychin looked at him. "So, it comes down to this, eh? I trusted you John. I still do." Wychin cracked his knuckles. "First man to die loses?"

Poole nodded and smiled. "Maybe you still have some balls left in you, sir."

The two men moved around each other with practiced ease. The rest stood and watched - some moving left, some right. Poole punched, Wychin blocked. Wychin kicked, Poole blocked. In a flurry of arms and legs, Poole hit Wychin in the chest with his elbow, grabbed him by the arm, and flipped him over. Wychin rolled over just as Poole's foot came down where his chest should have been, jumped up, and threw a punch. Poole blocked.

Suddenly, a loud blast shook the room. Nearly everyone dropped to the ground, clutching their heads in agony. William Shade walked into the room, several USSA troops trailing behind him. In his hand was a stun launcher.

"All right, old people. The president says you've got a choice. What he really means is - 'I can't kill you guys ecause you are or were soldiers under my command.' I have no such compunctions. As far as I'm concerned, you're all meat. Dead meat, specifically." He shifted slightly. "Actually, the human temptation to get back into the fight against the USSA is too much for anyone to handle. So what we'll do is take you all down to the interrogation chambers and break you. And believe me, you will break. Everyone breaks - Ethereals, Snakemen, Mike Thornside... lasted four days, he did." Shade chuckled. "Right, enough of this. Move 'em out, men."

Arms cracked, boots stomped and old C4 troopers were dragged across the floor and out the door. Poole, deftly avoiding a soldier's grasp, tackled Wychin, and both crashed through the window, screaming. Shade rushed to the window and looked out. A USSA flag served as a way to hold both Poole and Wychin up. Poole, holding on to the flag with one hand reached out, trying to backhand Wychin across the face. Wychin grabbed the hand and pulled. Poole's eyes widened as he lost his grip on the flag and barely managed to grab onto Wychin's arm. Wychin scowled as he strained to maintain his grip on the flag and kick the extra weight off. Poole slipped down, grabbing firmly on to both of Wychin's ankles. Wychin looked up at Shade.

"Your call, Lieutenant." He yelled up.

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The european conflict lasted only three months. With the Neo-Russian Regime on their side, the U.S.S.A. and its newly acquired Euro-Territories formed the United Northern State.

The Cold Force played a surgical strike role in the european and east-asian conflicts, the Terra-Luna conflict, and the Martian Suppression.

The future remains in motion.
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- This ends the chapter, and, for now, the very existence of the Cold Force. Someday, in the future, the Cold Force will return.
Thanks go out to:

"Scott Wright" - Mattias Blennow and
"Stephen Davies" - Anders Halvarsson -- the NAARO's creators.
"Kevin Harrison" - Shaun Green -- one of my best XO's, creator of the CDF, and a damn fine writer.
"Sophie Thornside" - Michele Chapman -- my best and longest-running XO.
"John Poole" - 'Shim' -- for showing up to more C4 sims than anyone else on the roster. Ever.
"Krotyla" - Josh Day
"Leon McManus" - Bill Tolin
"Mike Thornside" - 'Dreamspinner'

and

George Orwell for insipring much of the basis of the USSA with his books.

and finally...

all the people that joined this sim and helped make it kick so much ass!
The C4 WILL RETURN!

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Written on September 30th, 2000 by Andrew Pokrovski AKA Captain Sam Wychin AKA Captain Alexander Philips AKA Lieutenant William Shade