ST. LOUIS, CAPITAL CITY OF KINGDOM AND COMMONWEALTHS OF GAGIUM
OCTOBER SEVENTH, 2049
The world as we know it was one of continued industrialization and overpopulation. Through a series of technological breakthroughs in decent years, scientists and world governments have halted the rise of sea levels, though the effects of industrialization in recent years were irreversible. New Orleans had suffered four floods in the past decade, while winters have become significantly shorter and warmer. Smog and other particles from industrialized Asia blew over to Californie and the west coast, with hundreds dying from this. Wildfires had ravaged the west coast, while hurricanes had devastated the gulf coast.
While Gagium was significantly better off than the rest of the world, the country was doing poorly. The recent economic depression has devastated the country, leaving millions unemployed. Along the west coast, famine has reigned supreme. Millions of tons of food were transported from the Great Plains to the famined region, but to no avail. Militias disgruntled by the economic downfall would raid food convoys at night, forcing the Monarchy to militarize these convoys.
On the steps of Saint Louis palace, in the midst of the 2049 Prime Minister elections, protestors gathered to push for the abolition of the inefficient Monarchy. Protesters waved their torches and guns on the steps of the palace, as the royal guard pushed back protesters that got too violent and arrested them. Bloodshed would not come until further months; However, the situation was increasingly dire.
King Arsene Rodier had since closed his curtains to the protestors outside of his palace. He had done all that he could within his limits; However, the economic downfall was inevitable with the world's conditions. He could only hope that the economy would grow better, as he waited for his economic reforms to be passed by a divided and tense Parliament. He would attempt to ride the storm out.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, NATIONAL PARTY GAGIUM HQ
Los Angeles has remained the largest city in Gagium throughout the famine and wildfires. However, the populace felt...abandoned. Dozens of convoys providing food and aid to the populace never reached the city; Those that did were attacked by hungry militias and the food and supplies seized before the vehicles were burnt.
That was before the convoys were militarized. What was praised by some was condemned by the right-wing of the nation; Anyone who got too close before the convoy reached the supply depot was shot. Chaos reigned in the streets of Los Angeles and the other large cities of Californie.
In a shady apartment complex in the downtown of Los Angeles, change was occurring. At least, change was being planned. On the third floor of this particular apartment complex, the NATIONAL SOCIETAL WORKERS PARTY leadership was meeting. Armel Poussin, aged 36, was the party's head. In the room, a crowd of around eight grown men were laughing as they read the latest news from the Los Angeles Time. Just more empty promises of order.
Armel Poussin stood up from the old table they were gathered around, throwing the newspaper on the floor. He yelled, "THIS IS A FUCKING DISGRACE! THEY ARE STARVING US AND THE PEOPLE WHILE- Sorry, excuse me - Promising what won't come? THIS is why we exist. THIS is why we need to take action. THIS is why that action needs to come SOON. For Gagium!" The group continued yelling about the situation, while Armel Poussin yelled, "This is all because of the goddamned MEXICANS! THEY and their FILTH are fully RESPONSIBLE for OUR GODDAMNED SITUATION! WE NEED THEM GONE!" The group chanted their agreement to this, while Armel waved a copy of the recently-published THE GAGIUMISH STRUGGLE, more or less the party's official handbook.
TO UNDERSTAND the situation however, you need to understend Armel Poussin. Armel was born in 2013 in a disgusting Los Angeles downtown neighborhood. He lived rough, having to deal with the local mobs and gangs. He joined the nearest militia at age 13, an all-white militia named the Los Angeles Liberation Front. However, the liberal government cracked down on the militia in 2029, with most of the members of the "racist, bigoted" group being arrested and locked up. Armel dropped out of high school when he was 17 to fight in the Mexican Independence Wars in Gagium's Army. However, international support for the Mexicans caused the Gagiumish Army to lose in 2035, after half a decade of fighting. Gagium's economy plummeted, and the disgruntled army was cut in half by international regulations in the Treaty of Mexico City. Gagium was kept behind in technology as it was banned from Gagium's possession in the treaty. Armel was dishonorably discharged in 2036 at the rank of Sergeant. Armel was forced to work on an old, rusting bulk freighter, where he was paid only $4 an hour after his discharge. He was put out of work entirely in 2041, when the company fired him in favor of a Mexican they could pay $2 an hour.
Since then, he has founded the National Societal Workers Party, or NSWP. He has gathered several of his old friends and fellow veterans to support the cause, and in 2049, party membership stands at roughly 20,000, most NSWP members being in California. The party's militia-wing, the National Societal Militia, has had armed conflicts with the liberal Californie Commonwealth government in 2048 and Armel was arrested earlier in 2049, back in April. During his time in prison, he wrote 'The Gagiumish Struggle', a 25-page manifesto undermining the Mexican and blaming them for the economic crisis.
