China launches Xingyang Sujia, the first manned interplanetary exploration craft. Aberrant Calvert Wycoff explodes over the North American Great Plains in a flaming ball of plasma. The detonation is blamed for the devastating blight that follows, which destroys North America's grain belt. Aberrants leave Earth after threatening to return. The war ends, and the Chinese fleet stands down.
Millions die from starvation, disease, and radiation sickness.
Half of the Earth's arable lands are infertile, and the world's financial and ecological resources are drained. The world economy collapses and the worst depression in human history swings into full force. Over the next eight years conflict erupts between nations and the Comm Crunch further cripples the world's already decimated infromation systems. The Urban Schism stratifies and polarizes populations, and a stream of adventurers and desperados begins to leave Earth for a life in space. At Nippon's suggestion, China reconfigures its economy on a platinum standard.