The Great Resource Crisis

POV Rio

I was reading the numerous reports about what happened in the last couple of weeks since the disappearance of the resources of Earth. The first thing that happened that really surprised me was that most governments on the planet passed emergency bills that allowed them to seize gas stations and fueling facilities. Some offered compensation but most didn't under the pretense of national security. The US with its barely functioning government was actually able to agree on this issue. Even with oil companies lobbying against such actions. Padme and Armstrong said that the bill was unconstitutional but they were a very small minority. 85% voted to pass the bill into law.

'It might get struck down later but that would take a few weeks for the Supreme Court to see it let alone decide. And to be fair it is a logical choice.'

The next thing to happen was the cancellation of all flights and the recall of all naval vessels. Numerous trade ships were forcibly detained under suspicion of containing contraband. In reality, they just took all the fuel from the ships and left them stranded. Some countries have been hit really hard. Mostly first and second-world countries. Third world countries in many cases are adapting well enough. Well, there is still lots of violence but less as they realized very quickly that there is very limited ammo. There are a lot of stranded tourists that are in a difficult position.

'The US has been basically crippled as they have thousands of personnel stranded in foreign countries that they have to either abandon or rescue. They are already on thin ice with their seizure of all gas stations and fueling facilities. Poor President Ellis. He is stuck in a no-win situation. If he saves them, he will use their limited fuel reserve. But if he abandons them then the public may revolt.'

LexCorp is expanding massively as every country is desperate to get the power needed to keep their people safe. Without power, they will freeze in the winter. Hyrule is also using this as an opportunity to expand as predicted. Zelda has been placed as the ruler of Greece or rather the new Kingdom Of Hyrule. Cyprus joined Hyule after Turkey left as part of a deal with Hyrule. Turkey would become a tributary state, leave Cyprus, and acknowledge the claims of Zelda to the former Roman territories. In exchange, they get free power for their country. Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Bulgaria were willingly annexed by Hyrule in exchange for prosperity and safety. Bulgaria joined after a few revolts caused instability.

'If what I am reading is correct then Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and lastly Slovenia are looking to join as well. Romania and Hungary are more hesitant but will likely be overthrown in the coming weeks as the people are overwhelmingly in favor of uniting with Hyrule for safety as Zelda is extremely popular with the commonfolk.'

Next were the changes in the Russian Empire. Specifically, the official announcement of joining the Crystal Imperium. Japan, The Baltic States, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Kazakhstan, and Georgia joined as well thanks to my visits to the countries in question. Some needed some specific concessions. Japan wanted the Imperial family to maintain their status. Which I agreed to but they would be given the title of Arch Duke instead of Empreror. Anastasia got the same title. South Korea is still on the fence but they are leaning towards joining. North Korea has been under our control for over a year at this point and as such we used them to invade China. It was so we could take some territory without being called invaders.

'Which was just completed if I am reading this right. We just need to annex North Korea.'

We set everything up so Kim Jong Un would take all the fall. Including the attack that wiped out the entire Chinese Communist Party's Leadership with a Tactical Nuke.

Flashback Starts

As the CCP began its session in response to the crisis an emergency alert was broadcasted and the doors all closed.

(AN: Play Modern Warfare 2 - Tactical Nuke Sound on YouTube for the exact sound effect. Except it would be in Chinese.

Intercom: "Tactical Nuke Incoming!"

Everyone was confused but started to panic when someone tried to leave and found the doors wouldn't move. Before anyone could try anything the beeping stopped and everyone was vaporized by a Nuclear Warhead.

Flashback Ends

As soon as the Nuke wiped out the leadership North Korea invaded. Before any of this happened the Chinese Army was receiving fake orders to return to Beijing. So when the North Korean Army invaded they faced almost no resistance. By the time China realized what happened a massive 10-meter tall and 5-meter thick wall was created overnight. Preventing an immediate counterattack. That and the military and government were in chaos as almost all the high-ranking officials were assassinated or died in the Nuclear Explosion. Almost all of Manchuria was taken. Now the Crystal Imperium will invade and the North Korean Army will surrender en masse.

'Thus we gain a decent amount of land and put Beijing in range of most weapons. It will take them far too long to respond and by that time we will have full control over the area. Now I think I have some meetings in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Canada, Czechia, and Slovakia. If everything goes well they should all be joining as well.'

The next major thing happened 2 weeks after the Resource Crisis began. All Naval Vessels and Aircraft were stolen by me. This was a massive blow as not all the vessels had been emptied of fuel which meant that fuel was lost. I took ALL naval vessels and aircraft. Including Civilian, Commercial, and Military ships and aircraft. If a ship had people on it then they would be knocked out and find themselves on shore with no idea how they got there. I placed them on the mainland's shores so they weren't stranded on a random island. If the world wasn't panicked before they sure were now. Humanity had been in many ways sent back to the Middle Ages. The only resources left were what they could recycle or wood.

'But there is not much to recycle as Jinn Enterprises cleaned out most of the Junkyards and Trash Heaps on the planet. They even cleaned out most of the ocean shipwrecks. So they will have to start tearing down their cities to get materials to make more ships or planes. Not to mention making Biofuel using engines for said vehicles. All of this will take time.'

During all this chaos a few companies sent food aid to the countries that needed it. Thus increasing their influence. The countries that joined the Crystal Imperium had no issues as they were quickly integrated into society and even saw an advancement in their tech. Most prospered but some people left the countries because I used magic to force those who were extremists in their beliefs and as such would have only caused harm. But I didn't kill them unless they were lower than -100 Karma. Which wasn't many.

POV Nick Fury

I was in a meeting room waiting for the UN Security Council to connect. The last couple of weeks had been a nightmare I wished I could wake up from. I stopped wallowing and focused as they connected.

US: "Director Fury do you have good news?"

Fury: "It depends on your definition of good news Councilor."

UK: "Just tell us then."

Fury: "Shield was hit but not that much. We are now fully back online. And the Helicarrier is airborne."

France: "But do you have any leads on who is responsible for this crisis."

Fury: "Yes and no."

UK: "Which is it, Director?"

Fury: "I can say who is probably responsible but knowing that means nothing as we have no leads on where they are or how they managed it."

US: "Give us a name."

I send the files to Team Galactic.

Fury: "Team Galactic. And yes that is everything Shield has found about them. The Nuke that went off in Spain was their doing. We also detected massive energy fluctuations from said base. There are similar to what we know as Portals. We believe Team Galactic was using the base to steal the resources that we had collected"

US: "To what end?"

Fury: "Your guess is as good as mine. World Domination. A Super Weapon. Or maybe they just like making massive cities underground. We have no idea. They are also likely tied to the Music Meister. But in what way I have no idea."

UK: "Then what do you know, Director?"

Fury: "That the Avengers are what is needed to face these kinds of threats. And Project Insight is also much more important."

US: "That brings us to what we need you to do. We want Shield to help the numerous stranded people across the world and get them home."

Fury: "The Helicarrier can do that but that would require me taking the one thing defending Earth away."

France: "What do you want?"

Fury: "Unlimited funding to get Project Insight done as soon as possible. We are at war with an enemy that has been one step ahead of us at every turn. We need more Helicarriers. I also want the green light for the Avengers Initiative."

They mute themselves and talk with each other. I am a bit worried that Russia is no longer on the Council. Or rather it is still being decided as to whether Anastasia will be given the seat given that she is now a subject of the Crystal Imperium.

'Still don't know where they came from. But I don't have the time or spare resources to investigate.'

The council unmutes and responds.

US: "We agree to your terms but you have to start the process now."

Fury: "Understood I will begin with Europe and move my way East. Agent Hill will keep you up to date."

China: "Do you have any info on who launched the Nuke at Beijing?"

Fury: "Evidence points towards North Korea. But I assume you already knew that. What you want is confirmation. All I can say is that Shield is strained too far. You would have better luck learning it from the Crystal Imperium."

US: "Which brings us to the next topic. What do you know about this supposed Imperium?"

Fury: "Nothing. All I can say is who joined it and the name of the country. There is no evidence of who the Empreror is or what they are. For all I know it could be a talking magical horse."

POV Rio

Rio: "Achoo! Is someone saying something rude about me?"

POV Nick Fury

France: "How can you not know anything more? Shield is supposed to protect us from these unknowns."

Fury: "Their counterintelligence is far beyond Shield. Every agent regardless of what agency they come from goes dark within 2 hours of entrance of Crystal Imperium's territory. Even agents that had been in the countries for years prior are immediately discovered. Some wake up and find themselves in their country of origin with no memories of how they got there. Others are never seen or heard from again. Infiltration is impossible. At least right now."

US: "It can't be that secure. Even the Soviet Union with its Iron Curtain wasn't that capable."

Fury: "I assure you councilor it is that secure. As it currently stands we have no idea what is happening. Outside of some satellite feeds. And they are proving to be highly unreliable due to an increasing number of them going offline."

China: "I don't care how you do it get us info on the Crystal Imperium."

Fury: "I will do everything in my power but as I have said..."

UK: "The Council has given you orders. We don't care if it is difficult. Do it."

Fury: "Sigh. Very well."

US: "That will be all director."

The meeting ends and I sag in the chair and start thinking of what to do next.

Fury: "This is a mess but we can adapt. Humanity always adapts."

I looked over the reports that I didn't tell the council.

'Magic. I never believed in that but now I am not so certain. Asgard might use magic but Thor has only been seen on Earth once since the New Mexico incident. Team Galactic seems to be working with them. Or was it a coincidence? We might have killed a few Magic users but no evidence was collected. And those old idiots think I can just suddenly get info on the Crystal Imperium. I will just avoid the issue for now and once Shield completes its current task I can think of ways to get the info they want.'

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Authors Note:

This will be a more broad overview of the aftermath but a more focused one will come out after the Gacha Chapter. Until next time Ciao.