The Great Collapse

The Great Collapse or more commonly known as the European Takeover of America and Asia was a military occupation of the United States, Peoples Republic of China, and the Russian Federation by the European Coalition via the United Nations. Initially starting out as a humanitarian and economic aid mission to countries effected by The Great Titan War, it quickly turned into a military occupation and eventually caused a Second Great Depression, leading to the eventual "War of 2042". 
== History ==
The story of the Collapse began in the year 2026, nearing the end of the Great Titan War between the United States of America and the Russian Federation. The War had spread to nearly every continent on Earth, and it was the largest conflict that had ever been known to man. Because of this title, some countries and entire regions were on the brink of political and economic collapse. The United States in particular was very hard hit, with most of its infrastructure and military forces were utterly devastated by the Russian Invasion of America with countless civilians and cities were lost from both the armies clashing. Europe faired a little better, but half of it was still severely damaged. Asia, particularly in the Middle East and the Southeast were severely damaged by Chinese and Russian offensives into the region. 
With the United States on the verge of near and total political and economic collapse, the European Coalition (An Evolved European Union) sent a series of large financial and economic aid packages to the United States. Although this seemed as an act of friendly gesture, the European Coalition had a different plan. 
To the leaders of the European Coalition (In Western Europe specifically), there was a severe anti-war attitude amongst the leadership and population. This conflict that had erupted was seen as one of the countless examples of Russian and American tensions that saw clashing within other countries rather than between themselves. Naturally, this attitude didn't seem entirely unfounded, but this time, it didn't seem entirely unfounded. With this mindset, the European Coalition decided to take matters into its own hands. 
== The Takeover begins ==
In 2026, right after the US Invasion of China, the United Nations Economic Council and United Nations Security (Pressured by the European Coalition) passed "Resolution 922930." The Resolution (Signed by multiple countries) stated that the United Nations was obligated to distribute large financial aid packages that included economic and humanitarian aid. In order to accomplish this, the use of "Peacekeepers" to distribute necessary humanitarian aid supplies to the people of the United States, the Russian Federation, and the Peoples Republic of China was ordered. 
Given the shape of the United States at the time, the United States was the first country to receive economic and humanitarian aid. Given the countries condition, and the fact that they still had a war to win, the United States blindly accepted the offer from there allies. The first of these peacekeepers arrived in the United States on board a fleet of relief ships. As part of what was intended, the United Nations Peacekeepers first unloaded was food and medical aid. Over the course they then proceeded to set up emergency hospitals and food banks. 
At first the situation seemed relatively positive with the American people. Although some were questioning what a foreign force setting foot on American could possibly do, the American Population understood all too well that it was necessary if they were to survive as a people and a nation. People in the United States seemed to be thankful to have the basics taken care of. However, this was completely intended to happen. The real mission was just beginning. 
==== Pan Asian-American Peace Treaty ====
After the passing of the UN Resolution. On October 23rd, 2027, the United States and the Russian Federation officially signed the "Russo-American Pan Cooperation Agreement". This agreement and was also a peace treaty, and it signified the ceasing of hostilities between the two countries, and the restoration of prewar borders. A similar agreement was signed between the Peoples Republic of China and the United States, with the US agreeing to withdraw from Chinese territory. 
With the signing of peace between the two sides of the conflict, additional peace treaties were signed between South Korea and North Korea, Japan and Russia, and many other countries that had gotten involved in the war. Naturally, the United Nations resolution was soon expanded to include the Russian Federation and the Peoples Republic of China, with the aim of providing much needed humanitarian and economic aid. By 2028, the countries that had signed onto the United Nations Resolution included.... 
* The European Coalition (The European Union but including Greenland, Iceland, and Norway)
* the United Kingdom
* Morocco
* West Morocco
* Senegal
* Sierra Leone
* Niger
* South Africa
* Saudi Arabia
* Oman
* Canada
* Mexico
* Columbia
* Brazil
* Argentina
* Bangladesh
* Thailand
* The Philippines
* Australia
* New Zealand
* South Korea
* Japan
The first financial aid packages to Russia were put into initiation on January 17th, 2028, then later in March to China. As was in the United States, the financial, economic, and humanitarian aid packages were distributed with oversight from United Nations Peacekeepers. As was anticipated, the people of these countries began to cheer as emergency hospitals and food banks were quickly set up. However, as the mission continued to progress, it became more and more like a military occupation. 
== Occupation Days ==
The passing of the United Nations Resolution in effect gave the European Coalition the ability to dictate both political and economic affairs of the countries that were given aid by this resolution, as was the plan. In collaboration with the nations who were providing the aid, the European Coalition began shaping the world according to there terms. The first acts of occupation was the new 2028 Russian and American Presidential Elections. Using puppet stooges as the candidates, the European Coalition gained near total control of the Russian and American Governments. As for China, the European Coalition bribed the incoming Chinese President Wang Qishan of the Chinese Communist Party into submission. 
Between 2028 and 2030, the European Coalition and the United Nations created the new "advisory bodies" for the USA, Russia, and China as apart of the renewal of the ST.A.R.T Treaty. The United States was granted to have an advisory body to the Russian Federation and the Peoples Republic of China that would get to oversee meetings of the Russian Party Congress and Chinese Communist Party meetings. China would then get to have an advisory body to the US and Russia, and would participate in meetings of the US Congress and Senate and the Russian Party Congress. Finally Russia would have advisors to the United States and the Peoples Republic of China, and would have access to meetings of the US Congress and Senate, as well as the Chinese Communist Parties. The European Coalition (Disguised as UN Personnel) would have advisory groups for all three nations. 
As the ST.A.R.T Treaty stated, the United States, Russian Federation, and Peoples Republic of China agreed to downsize there armed forces. This would be the primary objective of the advisory bodies, to oversee the reduction in military size and arms. These four bodies were required to meet in a selected location and would discuss political issues to keep the other in check and to keep the balance of power. However, the reality of this was so that way the European Coalition could dictate global affairs on there terms. Naturally, with these advisory groups, the European Coalition slowly took power away from these governments via the United Nations, turning there governments into nothing but figureheads. 
By the year 2032, realization had dawned that the United States, Russia, and China were now under full blown military occupation by a United Nations Peacekeeping Force. The promised financial, humanitarian, and economic aid packages were instead really just bribes for the European Coalition to be able to control these nations economics. Worse still, the signing of the New ST.A.R.T Treaty gave the European Coalition free will to unilaterally disarm the traditional world superpowers. This mainly included dismantling Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons, reducing in American Military spending, and many others. With no free will to act on there own, the European Coalition soon sized American, Russian, and Chinese Military bases and turned them into bases for there operations, and sometimes building entirely new facilities. 
=== Geopolitical Situation ===
By 2037 (A Decade after the takeover) the European Coalition now fully occupied the United States, Russia, and China, as staging wars in Libya and Sudan, and fighting an insurrection movement in Venezuela and the Balkans. The United Nations Peacekeepers that were sent to occupy the USA, Russia, and China had now been regrouped into the new "United Nations Special Service Unit" (UNSSU), composed primarily of primarily European, Latin American, African, and Asian Forces. The UNSSU troops were stationed in many barracks and major population centers across all occupied regions. UNSSU troops periodically engaged in destructive combined arms training exercises which are deliberately intimidating to the local population.
After the European Takeover, the occupation leaders realized that the occupation was going horribly wrong. In many areas of the world, there were slums and getto areas filled with unemployed and poor average income people. In the United States in particular, there were "camps" of poverty stricken people. These poverty stricken people were anathema to the Europeans and their fellow citizens. Association and communication with some of these people were heavily monitored due to Political Resistance. Some risked their own reputation by offering humanitarian aid. 
Due to the economic situation, the European Coalition was forced to introduce paid labor conscription in order to boost the unified world economy the Europeans created. Beginning in 2035, the Europeans introduced production, labor, and immigration quotas. These quotas were designed in coordination with the unification of the USMCA and CAFTA Agreements. This came along with a rationing foodstuffs with the surplus being shipped to the European Coalition.
=== European Occupation Elsewhere ===
After the European takeover of the United States, Russia, and China, the European Coalition spread it's influence across the world. Most of the European Union lead United Nations and UNSSU has spread it's influence into Africa, parts of the Middle East, Southeast Asia, North America, and parts of South America. 
In this new world, Norway, Iceland, French Guinea, Guyana, and Greenland were forced to become members of the European Coalition. Canada, Greenland, India, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Malaysia have become observer states to the European Coalition. In Africa, most of the countries (Mostly former British Commonwealth and French Commonwealth Members) are European Dominions. In the Middle East, the region looks nothing like it's former self. The UNSSU along with the United States National Guard, is actively fighting in the Middle East to restore order to the region, but the region's resources are starting to dry up. In Latin America, the Venezuela and Cuban Governments have been overthrown, and are occupied by UNSSU troops. The Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Afghanistan, and Indonesia have become sworn enemies of the European Coalition, and currently the UNSSU is actively fighting against the Indonesian Military for control over West Papua. 
=== Politics of this new world ===
In this new world, the United Nations fell under the direct control of the European Coalition, and it was through the United Nations that the EC was able to present direct control over occupied territory. The flag is of the occupied territories is that pale blue United Nations flag, with crossed U.S. and Russian flags superimposed on the sides. The U.S. flag is shown with its stars, and this flag is displayed during the Fourth of July, VE Day, and National Day ceremonies (Which includes a UNSSU Military Parade). The standard U.S, Russian, and Chinese flags are allowed but it is not allowed to be used in public gatherings or business, it is only used on Government buildings and property. The U.S, Russian, and Chinese national anthem also is allowed, but it is heavily restricted where it can be played.
In this new world. The United States, Russian Federation, and the Peoples Republic of China have faced unilateral disarmament of there nuclear weapons, this was accomplished after the three superpowers signed the Nuclear Weapons ban treaty. Additionally the USD, the Russian Rubel, and the Chinese Renminbi get there values via the European Euro and are pegged onto the New Gold Standard in this fashion. Additionally, the U.S. Russian and Chinese President and Congress become mere figureheads for their European Overseers.
=== Divided United States ===
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In 2028, after one year of official occupation, the U.S. Congress divided the United States into multiple "administrative areas." These areas are intended to become modelled in the way the European Coalition has unified it's country. The Administrative Areas are known to be...
* California Special District: California, Nevada, Hawaii
* Western: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming
* Northwest: Oregon, Washington, Alaska
* Southwest: Arizona, New Mexico
* North Central: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
* Heartland: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska (this is Peter Bradford's administrative area, and the territory which eventually becomes Heartland, with Omaha, Nebraska as its capital)
* South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas
* Southern: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi
* Mid-Atlantic: Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia
* Appalachia: Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia
* Midwest: Indiana, the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania (presumably named after the phone company that serviced these areas)
* Northeastern: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont
In addition to these areas, Washington, D.C. comprises its own National Administrative District, South Florida is described by a character as the "Space Zone," and there is a passing reference to three "International Cities," one of which is San Francisco. Michigan is separated into two administrative regions, with the Lower Peninsula belonging to Midwest, and the Upper Peninsula belonging to the North Central region, Alaska however was a different story. Alaska was never "pacified", requiring continued engagement by European troops. Most of these engagements were of resistance by former members of the US Government. Armed resistance also took place in the Rocky Mountains and in West Virginia. The U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa became new states added to the US Government, all be it this was so the United States could become weaker. 
According to the European Coalition, each Administrative Area is governed by a supervising board made up of the governments of the states that comprised each Area, Alaska, Hawaii, and other American territories are special acceptations to this. In addition, individual state legislatures continue to make laws for individual states and counties. In addition, the "American Reformist Party" provides advisory groups from the European Union, as well as an advisory group for the national government. In addition, to keep the "Peace" between the three rival powers, the European Union has implied for Russian Advisors to advise and report about the US President and US Congress/Senate. In the same fashion, the United States has advisors in the Russian Government that reports in as well. These two advisors meet once every month in front of European Advisors in order to keep the peace between the two nations. China though was a loose end, and while it did have European and UNSSU Advisors, it never contributed. 
The United States Military was completely reworked to fit the European Occupation. Each American in each administrative area is required to serve in the US military for four years. American Soldiers are taught special things that the regular American public is not taught. They are taught about there ancestors and are told that there service will better support the American People. The Europeans usually use propaganda tactics such as the help seeking a good civilian job after there service is over. The United States military was reorganized into a "National guard" type military. The US military is being used to deal with internal problems inside the United States itself, such as the resistance movement. Each administrative area also has there own national guard unit that is being used to protect the American people. The United States Military is being forced to cooperate with the UNSSU, and the United States Military is actively being used in UNSSU Missions across the world.
== Life in occupied territories ==
Not much is known about life in the occupied Russian Federation or the Peoples Republic of China. However, according to recent documents that were recently revealed, life in the occupied regions was one of "minimum wage living conditions" in which citizens were just barely able to get on with there lives. Additionally, after the complete rebuilding of the United States, Russia, and China, thousands of jobs were cut because there simply wasn't enough jobs available. The living conditions in the occupied territories varied, from decent in the United States and China, to poor in Russia and other regions. 
The Rust Belt in the United States faces its own special problems. Most of its advanced factory equipment was destroyed during the Russian Invasion of the United States in the Russo-American War. The European Coalition attempted to rebuild the region, but unfortunately not all could be saved. The region suffers 50% unemployment as a result, and its residents are not permitted to leave, except to volunteer for factory work in the European Coalition and other European territories, from which no one has yet returned. 
These conditions were virtually the same in the heavily industrialized Eastern China. Due to the US invasion of China during the Russo-American War, the Chinese destroyed most of its factories and cultural centers to make the American Invasion worthless. However, when the war ended, the Europeans basically replaced the factories with European Ones. This in turn has thrown many Chinese out of work. 
Education was also a huge issue inside the European occupied regions. The European Coalition heavily reworked the American, Russian, and Chinese School systems. Children and teenagers alike were taught false accounts about previous events, including talking about how American Ancestors got into fights a a lot and were brainwashed. This kind of counter culture was praised by European Officials in hopes that they could create a world where the ideals of political hatred between nations was non existent. 
Mostly, the citizens of these didn't have a choice or say in any of the issues, and were forced to comply. The European led UNSSU in Russia and China in particular treated Russian and Chinese Civilians with suspicion. Not much is known, but all we do know is that the UNSSU in Russia forced a strict curfew against civilians, limited internet accessibility, and banned all talks about Communist Ideologies. The Communist Party was officially dissolved, and it's members were never discovered. China has not released any details about the European Occupation, and it is difficult to tell what life was like, but it is believe that the European presence was relaxed compared to the United States and Russia. 
== The end of the occupation ==
The end of the occupation of the United States, Russia, and China started to come about in 2037. The European leaders of the occupation of all three countries were faced with the dual problem of keeping the countries pacified and convincing the European Coalition Council that their fears of a revitalized U.S. and Russia are unfounded because the country can no longer pose a threat. The European Coalition Council was not convinced, and considered exploding three nuclear nuclear weapons over an unnamed U.S. cities as a warning to the U.S. people and to the world. Trying to be relatively human about it, the European Council came up with another plan. 
At great risk, the European Coalition council decided to dissolve the United States, the Russian Federation, and the Peoples Republic of China. Additionally, members of there Governments would be exiled if they refuse to dissolve the nation's government and disperse in peace. This plan however backfired massively when the worlds press got wind of the plan. This sparked outrage across Russia and China, who's people began to protest after realizing that they were not being helped, this was an occupation. The American Resistance started growing considerably, and there attacks on UNSSU facilities became regular. Many politicians spoke out in arouse, even though they were personally recommended by the European Coalition. However, things were about to get really ugly. 
=== Terrorism in Panama ===
In 2037, after some tense relations, some groups in the Panama Defense Forces revolted against the pro-European Government in Panama. Since the European Coalition had nationalized the Panama Canal, the anti-Government Forces detonated an explosive device on one of the locks in the Panama Canal. The result saw the Panama Canal flooded, and causing all trade in the Canal to come to a halt. This started to have drastic economic and political effects around the world as global trading basically became slower. 
Not long after the attack on the Panama Canal, the European Coalitions Economy first entered a recession, before it fully crashed in New Years 2038. The result of the crash saw the miniscule economies of the United States, Russia, and China start to tank as well. The European Coalitions Council was now in a rough spot, they could either continue the occupation, or focus on the problems at home, but they couldn't do both. After not that long of a consideration, the European Coalition passed a resolution to pull back the occupation forces out of the United States, Russia, and China. The UNSSU would also be dissolved in the process. 
=== The withdrawal ===
In the winter of 2038, the European Coalition and the United Nations announced a pullback from the United States, Russia, and China. The remaining countries that contributed to the UNSSU were free to continue supporting it, or free to leave it. Most countries like in South America decided to leave the United Nations all together, as did many other nations. The Final UNSSU units pulled out of the United States on March 20th, 2038, ending the occupation for good. 
Within the following hours of the UNSSU leaving there occupied regions, the United States Government abolished the administrative areas and ceased all barracks that belonged to the UNSSU. In addition, the UNSSU left behind large amounts of equipment, signifying a very hasty withdrawal. This equipment was ceased by there respective countries. In addition, the American Reformist Party and the advisory groups that were sent to all three were dispended entirely. In 2039, the Russian, American, and Chinese Militaries officially met in Hawaii and conducted a training excersie which involved a European Coalition attack, RIMPAC became the official "Alliance" between the three countries for many years. 
== Consequences ==
The "Great Collapse" as it became affectionally known in the history books was seen as one of the greatest missteps in world history. The European Coalition was left politically and economically divided after the collapse. The United States was reformed and was liberated, but albeit needing serious help and support. The Russian Federation's old government was replaced with a pro-Neutral Government that wanted to try and continue a policy of peaceful coexistence, as well as new reforms to bring Russia into the modern day. The Peoples Republic of China and the United States having most of there industrial complex's removed tried to settle there differences between there respective countries, which lead to a cold friendship between the two states.
On June 2nd, 2039, due to the economic problems at home, the nations of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, united to form a brand new country, the Federation of the Americas. Later on in 2039, the new nation of Azawad declared independence from Mali. Then later on in 2039, the new nation called "United Federation of Sudan" officially came into existence as a unification between Sudan and South Sudan. All of these events were all caused by the Great Collapse, and ultimately they would have political consequences in the future.
In the end, the Great Collapse achieved nothing and only caused humanity to go backwards instead of forwards like it was promised. The reputation of the European Coalition was destroyed and it ultimately lead the idea of a pan European Nation, this new nation would eventually form into the European Federation. The Great Collapse was considered by historians to be one of the biggest mistakes ever undertaken in world history. However, ultimately the Great Collapse would be one of the direct causes of the deadliest war in Human History, more commonly known as the Federation War.