[United States of Gamerica — NNN News]
In the end, the United States presidential election was a show. Billions of dollars changed hands during this big festival, held once every four years, while every media outlet bustled around. In preparation for election day, November 3, 2020, the Republican and the Democrat candidates both toured the country, giving speeches in various locations. Everywhere they went, hundreds of supporters flocked to them. Campaign merchandise was sold to raise funds and food stalls could be found in the vicinity. It truly was a festival.
Another crucial part of this festival were the debates that aired on TV. Both candidates faced each other and went over their programs, careers, and personalities. Winning meant becoming the leader of the strongest nation in the world while losing meant wasting billions of dollars and being left to wander all alone. This battle fought with words was pretty much the modern equivalent of the Colosseum of old. In this context, a rating of nearly forty percent was a matter of course.
At the moment, Ronald Howard, the current president and candidate of the Republican Party, was engaged in a heated debate with Peter Wozniak, the Democrat Party candidate, on NNN News.
“You said you were planning to outsource dungeon clearing and dispatch our troops all over the world. How do you intend to deal with that terrorist who’s wreaking havoc in South Gamerica? We’ve never needed our army at home more than at this very moment. We need to put up an iron wall. Sending troops off all over the place will only weaken our defenses here. You don’t give a shit about what will happen to the Gamerican people, do you?”
“I have a feeling you’re the one who’s not getting anything. It doesn’t matter if the rest of the world’s destroyed as long as Gamerica’s still standing. Is that it? Both the dungeons and that terrorist called Joker need to be handled by the international community. Together. Gamerica being selfish and hiding inside its shell is what prompted the Oriental Republic of Sina and Japan to become allies. A whole new economy based on dungeon resources is taking over in the EU and Asia as we speak. The rest of the world is going to leave us behind. If this keeps up, we’ll miss the train of progress.”
Peter Wozniak, a young politician of thirty-eight, had emerged victorious after the Democratic National Convention in July. He had been criticized for his lack of experience, but he had reworked his dungeon policies over and over again and nominated Jonathan Byron, his rival at the Democratic National Convention, as his running mate. Byron had already held the position of vice president during the presidency of the last Democratic president and had plenty of political experience. He had been chosen as running mate for his knowledge of how to deal with Congress and his diplomatic skills, but Byron himself was insisting that he had only agreed due to Wozniak’s compelling words.
“Only thinking about Gamerica won’t cut it in this situation. This crisis concerns the whole world. You have been a politician for over fifty years. Working alongside me to face this great peril could become the culmination of your career!”
After witnessing the passion and dazzling vision only a young man could bring to the table, Byron had decided to step down. He may not have gone down so easily during peacetime but he himself felt that, as a seventy-eight-year-old man, he couldn’t stand up to the dungeons and the so-called Demon King—the greatest crisis to ever threaten humanity. He had also advised the current president, who was also in his seventies, to withdraw.
“If you step down now, you will be remembered as the man who graciously bowed out to protect humanity. We lived through the Cold War. Our time is over. Our role now is to nurture this young hope.”
Naturally, Howard had laughed in his face. He wasn’t some wizened old man. He was still manly, vigorous; he ate burgers and fried chicken at every meal, and had retorted as much.
“Believe me, the world has no choice but to face the threat of dungeons. That’s why Gamerica needs a strong leader. Gamerica will protect itself. Our founding fathers protected this land, and we’ll do the same thing. If we don’t stand up for ourselves, we’ll never beat the dungeons. A weakling like you going on and on about cooperation and talks will never be able to take charge and lead this country!”
Howard’s supporters clapped. Wozniak remained perfectly calm. He shook his head and let out a sigh before answering.
“Mr. Howard,” he said calmly. “Your macho attitude can only work against humans. I am not sure you would understand since you’ve never entered a dungeon, but no matter how much you yell at them, monsters won’t bat an eye. Men and women, old people and children, even you and I, to monsters we’re nothing more than fodder. What this country needs isn’t a macho president with a tough-guy attitude. We need a level-headed person who will gather the correct information about dungeons and devise realistic policies to counter them. If you are reelected, the number of casualties will only go up.”
“Do you have no pride as a Gamerican?! We have the strongest military in the world! If our army takes on the dungeons, we can’t lose!”
“You’re mistaken! Our true enemy is neither a country nor that terrorist. Inside the dungeons, adventurers have to fight indefinitely against monsters! Do you think that just ordering soldiers to go will cut it? Fighting inside dungeons isn’t that easy to handle!” Wozniak exclaimed.
Neither man was listening to the other, the main reason being that their understanding of the current situation was too different. One thought that the current Gamerican army could conquer the dungeons while the other was convinced that soldiers who only moved based on orders would never be able to do this. Their understanding also clashed when it came to the South Gamerican terrorist.
“Gamerica will never negotiate with a terrorist. However, Joker does seem to have a lot to say. While I do not want to negotiate with him, I still believe we should hear him out.”
Ronald Howard’s face changed color as Peter Wozniak said these words, and he slammed his fist on the table.
“Are you an idiot?! He’s trying to steal our wealth and scatter it around. He’s basically telling us to give up our money and be poor. I’ll never tolerate this! Talking to that man is out of the question!” Howard yelled.
“Still, we cannot ignore that Joker has added monsters to his forces and is currently expanding his influence in South Gamerica. His means and principles are not comparable to those of the Muslan State of the Middle East. The United States of Gamerica also has a deep relationship with South Gamerica. We can’t just leave him be any longer.”
“Of course not. And I intend to take care of him. Mr. Wozniak, you’ve been spouting nonsense, but I’m different. I’m currently moving forward with a secret agreement with Brezil. I will be able to announce some good news in the next few days. I’m sure everyone will understand who’s best suited to become the president of the United States of Gamerica then,” Howard asserted, looking full of himself.
Many organizations and experts tried to judge who had been the most convincing during the debate, but the results were even.
A few days later, however, what President Howard had spoken about finally came to be, just not in the form that he had hoped.
✦ ✦ ✦
[Atlantic Ocean — Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer]
James Turner, the captain of the Murphy, a guided missile destroyer belonging to the Fourth Fleet of the Gamerican navy, had spent the past few days tense yet excited. The latest version of the TWS, Block 4, had been completely updated but had yet to be used in a full-scale battle. The newest system was in a whole different league compared to the one that had been used thirty years prior, during the Gulf War. Even monsters could not escape this attack.
“Captain, we’ve received the latest orders from the Chief of Staff. The operation is a go.”
“All right... Give me the mic.”
Turner stood up and tightly grasped the microphone he had been handed.
“Attention! Captain to crew. We have received our final orders from the president. ‘Clown Hunt’ will now begin. It is time for final verification. Satellite communication system!”
“CLEAR!”
“Guidance System!”
“CLEAR!”
The Tomahawk Weapons System made use of several systems to guide missiles to their targets reliably. Every system was under the responsibility of a specific person who had to keep track of things.
“Every system is good to go.”
Everything had been checked. The only thing missing now was the order to fire. Turner held the microphone tightly in his left hand and spoke to his men one last time.
“I am sure some of you are wondering if such a large-scale operation is really needed to get rid of one single person. Remember, this guy isn’t human anymore. He’s a monster who can face an army single-handedly. Not only does the prestige of the United States depend on this mission, but so does the fate of the whole world. Today will go down in history as the day when humanity’s wisdom and love of freedom and justice triumphed over the wicked devil!”
Turner then raised his right fist high in the air.
“Let the bullets rain on that clown bastard!!! FIRE!” he yelled, bringing down his fist to slam on the table.
At that moment, the whole destroyer shook. All the Tomahawks on board had been launched at once in order to kill one individual more than a thousand kilometers away.