Free LYCCYX Episode 1: The Declaration by Brian Barber

Beginnings ON EARTH
                  January 7, 2041 – We have known for some time that petroleum would not last forever. We have now realized that all of our “clean” energy initiatives were about fifty years too late.  The world’s population has now grown to nearly thirty billion and our food production cannot keep up.  Wars and skirmishes have broken out in various regions, all over natural resources.  Since NASA was disbanded in 2022, we knew our hopes for a colony on Mars would not come from a government project and that the private space sector had so many agendas and no real direction that even a one-way journey to the planet was out of the question.
                  However, there is a possible, albeit temporary, solution for both our lack of resources and the population problem: colonize the moon. Scientists believe our moon contains more than enough resources to make the trip to Mars possible and can also serve as a temporary base while other colonization options are explored.  In the late 2020’s, when NASA’s remaining personnel found themselves out of work, a group of them got connected with a few military contractors and established the Asteroid Mining Corporation with the intent to capture and mine near-earth asteroids for precious metals and other valuable elements.  With the backing of several technology firms, AMC began operations and grew at an alarming rate.  The company’s exponential growth enabled them to quickly acquire nearly every remaining aerospace and defense contractor and their assets grew to those of a small nation. 
                  Due to budget cuts, the Department of Defense consolidated the five branches into one military force: the United Continents Military, or UCM.  By uniting the sea, air, land and space forces the UCM now operates much more efficiently – especially during times of conflict.  By 2036, when the President ordered the opening of the Strategic Petroleum Reserves, the world was engaged in a full-scale Energy War.  AMC had been building security forces to protect its holdings and now supplemented the United Continents Military at a ratio of 1:1.  The influx of cash from AMC hasn’t hurt either.  Our troops now have full armor and the best weaponry and training on the planet.  With the development of AMC’s ShockSuit – which absorbs impact from enemy fire and the soldier’s movement and converts it into electrical energy, warfare is becoming more of a technology competition than ever.  The black market has produced some passable copies of AMC’s gear including some of its energy-based weapons like pulse rifles and mini-EMP grenades (MIPS).  Recently, a large shipment of supplies was captured by rebels and there has been talk of some former engineering talent now working for opposing forces. 
                  Unmanned warfare continues to grow as technology advances.  Since the Weaponized Robotics Act of 2018 lifted the ban on robotic weapons, both sides are pushing the envelope to deploy new types of products.  Congress has been pushing for more oversight into AMC’s operations and involvement with the UCM but few can argue with AMC’s contributions to the United Continents and the ongoing effort toward global stability.  My name is Luke Xander, and this is my world.

A Letter Home
    Dear Mom and Dad,
                  I know you both have had high hopes for me returning to the University in the fall but I feel like academics may not be the best thing for me.  Since my injury during the playoffs, I have done a lot of thinking.  Did you know that UCM will pay for corrective surgery as an incentive to join and serve a few years? 
                  I have been talking to MSgt Masterson the last few weeks and I really want the full use of my leg again.  That is why I have decided to join and pursue a career as an officer with the United Continents Military.   With my GPA and