The 21st century saw a period of globalization following decades of decline and instability across Earth. The proxy wars, pandemics, and economic upheavals in the first half of the century led to the erosion of many states’ sovereignty and increases in nationalism. Threats of a devastating third world war loomed over the planet.
Gridlock was broken when a team of German scientists discovered a parallel dimension, dubbed the Aether, in the summer of 2081. A shockwave shook the scientific communities of all major nations as questions on the Aether’s nature continued to mount. The United Nations unanimously, unheard of in recent years, decided to coordinate a global joint effort to unlock the secrets of the Aether.
Years of research and experimenting with gravitational anomalies led to the discovery of what we now refer to as the “Trans-Newtonian Elements.” Fears of cold wars turning hot and international plotting quickly arose after these elements’ properties were unlocked. Every major nation rushed to acquire and exploit the newly found materials – but extraction was near impossible with conventional industries, and the elements themselves were highly unstable when left to their own devices in our dimension. A devastating handling mishap – colloquially referred to as the “Second Chernobyl,” occurred in India in March of 2095, leading to international political temperatures to cool once more, though the fear still remained of cold conflicts turning hot.
Global treaties and accords followed in the early 22nd century, as more and more trans-newtonians were successfully harvested and utilized. As more nations gained access to the Aether, a new reality began to become apparent. The old order could not keep its stranglehold as the playing field became equalized. A new industrial age began and the global quality of life and began to rise. Medical breakthroughs and abundance reached new heights that by the mid-2130s global average life expectancy reached over 90 years. Collective human consciousness was brought to new heights and governments were subject to more scrutiny than ever. World hunger and poverty were all but eliminated by the 2150s, and the barbarism and nationalism of past centuries was replaced by a unified human spirit of determination and scientific achievement.
The United Nations became the de facto ruling body for all of Earth by the late 2170s. What started as agreements of convenience and necessity between states grew into codified treaties and laws that led to the gradual blurring of conventional borders. With a new power vacuum growing, and the population more interconnected than ever, the authority and legitimacy of the United Nations naturally grew. On April 10th, 2185, the member states signed the Articles of Unification, some more reluctantly than others – abolishing national borders and installing the United Nations as the new de jure governing body of the planet.
The model of member states was replaced by a General Assembly with representatives voted in by districting and populations, a Senate of made up of appointed representatives from the traditional former member states, a President that served as the figurehead of the Assembly and liaison between the Assembly and Senate, and various sub-committees. Kristopher St. John was elected as the first ever President of the United Nations of Earth. He served one term from 2185-2190 and oversaw the drafting of the Constitution and transition of the UN Peacekeeping Corps into a standardized police force.
Cornell Nievas, serving two terms, was elected in 2190. His ten years saw the centralization of the “Old World” militaries and capabilities under the Assembly. He laid the ground work for the modern Armed Forces doctrines and turned humanity’s attention to the stars. Although peace reigned on Earth, no one could deny the dangers that lurked in both our dimension and the Aether as humanity reached for the stars.