I’ve come up with some issues we need to address, pretty much first.
Issue 1: The reality quake hit 1/1/2000. No problem. But, where and when? If it happens at any specific time and place, that place (presuming it survives) will lay claim to its importance in the rest of the world. For those who really want the Middle East to be relevant within the IST World, we might see about having it happen there, but I, for one, don’t think the Middle East needs to be terribly relevant.
Issue 2: What occurred with the Reality Quake? How long did it last? How did people even know something happened? Basically, before we can have China attack, we need to determine what the reality quake was, and what happened.
Issue 3: What is the war about? Without knowing this, we’ll have a hard time keeping it going in the right direction.
Issue 4: This war will be World War III. We have to keep that in mind as there is no way around it—especially since Bob wants it to last for, at least, five years. It will become obvious, very quickly, to all sides, that the only way for this war to end is A, the elimination of China, or B, China conquering the world. If (and more likely, when) China breaks out the WMDs . . . what is going to happen. We will have to address this very carefully.
Issue 5: What aid will the Meeron and their new allies offer to the UN-backed world? Is China prepared to fight an interstellar war against non-human aggressors. A battalion of TL10, battlesuited Kronin mercenaries teleported into the middle of Bejing would be pretty disruptive. Even assuming the Chinese have teleport shields, having space-support means that, at some point, someone will suggest dropping a rock on Bejing.
Issue 6: Military Super Teams. Barring a miracle, the UN will lose the ability to restrict member-nation military super teams. World War III will give every member-nation precedent to maintain a standing, metahuman brigade to defend against non-member-nations who likely have one. The first thing I thought of, which may or may not be the way Bob wants to take it, is that the Meeron and the Confederation recognize the UN as the Earth’s government. Non-member-nations would have no voice in determining interstellar relations.
Issue 7: World War III will be the most trying time, in history, for both the UN and the IST. I don’t think that’s an “issue,” but I think it’s something we need to keep in mind. We need to almost tear the organizations apart. That way, when they pull themselves together, they’ll be stronger than ever.
I know I'm just posting "problems" right now, and no solutions. But, I'm trying to get the challenges on the table, so we can work through them together.
Issue 1: The reality quake hit 1/1/2000. No problem. But, where and when? If it happens at any specific time and place, that place (presuming it survives) will lay claim to its importance in the rest of the world. For those who really want the Middle East to be relevant within the IST World, we might see about having it happen there, but I, for one, don’t think the Middle East needs to be terribly relevant.
Issue 2: What occurred with the Reality Quake? How long did it last? How did people even know something happened? Basically, before we can have China attack, we need to determine what the reality quake was, and what happened.
Issue 3: What is the war about? Without knowing this, we’ll have a hard time keeping it going in the right direction.
Issue 4: This war will be World War III. We have to keep that in mind as there is no way around it—especially since Bob wants it to last for, at least, five years. It will become obvious, very quickly, to all sides, that the only way for this war to end is A, the elimination of China, or B, China conquering the world. If (and more likely, when) China breaks out the WMDs . . . what is going to happen. We will have to address this very carefully.
Issue 5: What aid will the Meeron and their new allies offer to the UN-backed world? Is China prepared to fight an interstellar war against non-human aggressors. A battalion of TL10, battlesuited Kronin mercenaries teleported into the middle of Bejing would be pretty disruptive. Even assuming the Chinese have teleport shields, having space-support means that, at some point, someone will suggest dropping a rock on Bejing.
Issue 6: Military Super Teams. Barring a miracle, the UN will lose the ability to restrict member-nation military super teams. World War III will give every member-nation precedent to maintain a standing, metahuman brigade to defend against non-member-nations who likely have one. The first thing I thought of, which may or may not be the way Bob wants to take it, is that the Meeron and the Confederation recognize the UN as the Earth’s government. Non-member-nations would have no voice in determining interstellar relations.
Issue 7: World War III will be the most trying time, in history, for both the UN and the IST. I don’t think that’s an “issue,” but I think it’s something we need to keep in mind. We need to almost tear the organizations apart. That way, when they pull themselves together, they’ll be stronger than ever.
I know I'm just posting "problems" right now, and no solutions. But, I'm trying to get the challenges on the table, so we can work through them together.