The Golden Generation

The Golden Generation is a narrative that explores the life, death, and legacy of the generation born between 2030 and 2050, also known as the Golden Generation. They were the ones who fought during the 4th World War, and it explores how they are sentimentalized.

## Narrative

Terminology:

Generation Z (Born 1990-2010). Veterans of the 3rd World War. Saw the world built by their parents crumble to dust. Escaped the trenches of WW3 to rebuild a new world from the old.

The Golden Generation (Born 2030-2050). Predominantly the children of Generation Z. Grew up in the post 2040’s prosperity of a post-Cortezian America. Said to be spoiled and optimistic, always wanted to be a hero.

…

I fought the war in 2035,

I’m happy now just to return alive,

I raised you in the quiet time between the wars,

I raised you the best I could.

You deserved no less.

…

Generation Z fought in the trenches of World War 3. After years of stagnation, recession, Unravelling, they developed a cynicism to the world at large. They raised the Golden Generation, who came into the world in a golden age.

They watched stories of great heroes on their screens, great heroes they would aspire to be. When they grew up, they wanted to save the world just like the heroes on their screens. Their parents, Generation Z would dismiss this behavior, seeing them as the same virtue signallers as the Millennials before them. But they continued to believe.

But they would not give up, they said they would be heroes some day. They grew up in an America of much, where the skies were gold and the shelves were plenty. This was the environment that their parents wanted them to grow up in. A new American golden age was rising, and the greatest hopes that Generation Z could have was that their kids could grow up in such a stable environment.

But when they were older, they protested against the environment, big businesses, far left and far right influence alike. Their parents called them snowflakes, but the Golden Generation saw themselves as heroes.

Because they had a dream, one that can only be borne from young innocence, not like the Gen Z’ers who had been ground down by years of cynicism. They saw a globe, where from sea to shining sea, the world’s people were free, away with the Eurasians, away with the Chinese. No rulers, no conflict, just people. Their parents told them how impossible this was, but they continued to dream. They would be heroes; it will be done.

…

War, it loomed on the horizon. Black smoke erupted from Asia far away.

Their parents were aging, but they told them to please stay.

Pax Americana was still going, the economy may not be good, but it was still safer over here.

Still, the Golden Generation wanted to be heroes.

And then the war came to them. Black evil slammed against their peaceful shores,

The entire country prepared for war,

They wanted to be heroes…

Let’s see how well they can be heroes.

…

Their parents joked that they were spoiled, because they grew up in an America of plenty... And they were the ones who filled the trenches when the 4th World War rolled around. They wanted to be heroes, and now, the world needed its heroes.

…

They wanted to change the world when they were young,

Now they fill the trenches, one by one,

The war was won with the blood they burned,

For every 10, only 2 returned.

We miss you so, we really do,

I’m sorry I didn’t believe in you,

You really were always a hero,

You were always a hero.

…

The Missing Generation (Born 2030-2050)

The Missing Generation was really missing, the casualties of the Eastern Front were applied to the demographics of the entire world. Millions of men died, millions of men never returned, there was now a great hole in the heart of every family across the world. Brothers, fathers, sons, and husbands. Dining tables across the country sat empty as an entire generation of young men went and never returned. They left with them a generation of children who would never know their fathers, and a generation of widows who would miss them dearly.

For Generation Z, they were the soldiers of World War 3, and now their children had followed them in their footsteps. Two generations of soldiers, like father, like son. They only wished that they could have fought harder, and saved them. In their wake, the Missing Generation left a generation of new children, and a generation of fatherless households.

Even if the Missing Generation was gone, they still had children left for the world to take care of.

They would rebuild the world for them.

…

The Rubble Women (Born 2030-2050)

The rubble women, along with the older generations rebuilt the world. In times of strife, women had to be strong, when the men were gone, they had to be stronger. These women rebuilt the modern world, reconstructed hope in a world left in ruins. They became outspoken pacifists, arguers of peace, saying that the world should never have to again endure a war like this. They knew that this was said after World War 2, and war came anyway, but if they can buy a few generations, for their kids, and their kids after that, then it would be time well bought.

One of these was Alisha Crowder, who lost both of her brothers to the war, and to their graves declared never again. Around the globe, the world mourned. And an entire generation grew up in a household without a father.

…

In the World War 4 war memorial in Salt Lake City, there stands an enormous plaque, erected by many members of the older generation, particularly those of Generation Z, who had by and large fathered the generation who would save the world.

“YOU WILL ALWAYS BE OUR GOLDEN GENERATION.”

The plaque stood over a new world built for their children, the rubble the world had made was cleared. With the winds of time, the damage will fade, but never be forgotten. Even after everything, mankind endures.

…

The Hero Generation (Born 2030-2050)