World War III (Spritefalcon)

World War III, or the Third World War, abbreviated to WW3, or WWIII, was a global conflict that lasted between the years 2024 (claimed 2022 by the Allied Forces) and 2030. Also known as "The Great War," "The Final War," and the "War to End All Wars," it involved the Allied Forces, Expansionists (also known as the BRICKS), and later the Reformist Pact. World War III was a total war that included over 100 million military casualties from more than half of the world's countries. Stealth aircraft such as the Lockheed-Martin F-35 and the Sukhoi SU-57, large scale use of nuclear weapons, cyber warfare, and robotic warfare were some of the many tools used in the war, resulting in major personnel and equipment losses and a global economic depression. WW3 also introduced large-scale civilian casualties due to nuclear radiation and severe damage to the surrounding environments where major war efforts took place.
The causes of WW3 are debated, with the rise of nationalism and deepening global tensions, as well as major wars like the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Gazan War, and the Sudanese Civil War being major political factors. However, it is now agreed by most historians that the August 27 invasion of Taiwan (ROC) by mainland China (PRC) was the driving force.
World War 3 was the first conflict to take place on all continents and corners of the globe. The vast majority of the world's nations joined two opposing alliances, the Allied Forces and the BRICKS. The major participants in the war threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, which changed the standards and expected norms of what was considered civilian and military resources. 
World War 3 was by far the deadliest conflict in modern history. It resulted in an estimated 100 million direct fatalities and over 250 million indirect civilian casualties, which include various war crimes committed by China, Russia, the United States, and other countries. Practically all countries were occupied by US and NATO troops following the defeat of the Expansionists and Reformists, and senior Expansionist and Reformist leaders were convicted of terrorism, genocide, and other war crimes.
WWIII changed the global stage and structure of the world, with major power shifts taking place. Although the Allied Powers had won the war on almost all accounts, the "Western Slump," a period of slow economic growth and a decrease in standards of living, took place immediately afterward as the war had taken a massive toll on the involved countries. As the countries worked to rebuild, it set the stage for a second Cold War and ultimately led to the Second Space Race. 
==Background==
===Belligerents===
====Allied Forces (2024-2030)====
The Allied Forces were a Western-focused alliance of some of the most powerful nations in the World, including the majority of the nuclear powers at that time. It was mainly composed of members of NATO and the Saudi-led Arab Coalition. Countries like Ukraine, Japan, South Korea, and later Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as Oceanic countries like Australia and New Zealand, were part of the Allies as well. The unofficial commander of the Allies was the United States under the administration of Joseph R. Biden, who used emergency powers to prolong his presidency until 2030.
The Allied Forces' main goal was to protect the world from the "Expansionist Powers" and to protect Western hegemony on a global scale. The Allies would use large-scale military force, but they would follow a set of guidelines based on the Geneva Convention laws. This alliance included most of the world's liberal democracies, which is why many allies shared a common set of fundamental values. However, infighting and leadership disagreements undermined the unity of the Allies and led to the Allies struggling to fight the Expansionists towards the end of the war.
====Expansionists (2024-2030)====
The Expansionists, also known as the BRICKS, was an alliance of anti-western nations. This includes BRICKS (BRICS with Kazakhstan), members of the former SCO and CSTO, as well as countries like Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. The official commanders of the Expansionists were China and Russia, which were under the administration of Vladimir V. Putin and Xi Jinping.
Expansionist members were aspiring to end the West's global hegemony, in order to reshape the world's power structure in their favor. BRICKS as well as the Reformists were the main challengers for US dominance throughout the world. The Expansionists would use raw military force to fulfill their ambitions, as seen in the Ukraine annexation and the Chinese militarization of the South China Sea. Unlike the Allies, many of the countries did not share a set of common values, which threatened the security of the Expansionists. This ultimately led to the downfall of the Expansionists, with the military alliance becoming dissolved after the war and many of the countries terminating relations.