Camp Withycombe
Clackamas County, Oregon
17 Days After The Event
11:00 AM Local Time
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"If you don't know already, the world we once knew is gone. We're in a completely different one now." Staff Sergeant Derrick Evanson said as he studied the men and women within the room. They were the expat soldiers, embassy workers, and government employees of nations in the 21st century who were now stuck in this time period.
Japanese and German soldiers who happened to be in Oregon on sightseeing trips or in transit after training up at Yakima Training Center and Camp Rilea. Singaporean and Swiss pilots and aircrew training on the F-16 and F-35. Canadian soldiers and sailors caught up during cross the border visits or training with the US Army and Navy. The rest were an assortment of Korean, British, Australian, and Taiwanese who also got caught in The Event, the vast majority of them in or off the coast of Oregon, with a scant few in Arkansas or West Virginia.
Some of the men in this room Evanson had fought alongside back in 2016 during the Battle of Pyongyang. More specifically, many of the Japanese, Korean, and Australians in the room. They fought and bled together in that bloody slog all the way to the Yalu River, where they eye fucked the Chinese Army on the other side of the border, daring them to cross it like they did in 1950. Men who he'd do anything for, men who were brothers that no blood could ever match.
That was eight years ago when Evanson was just a private. Now he was a Staff Sergeant, one who had served in Korea, Ukraine, and Russia, and had the wounds to prove it. He had chosen a stateside assignment as a Drill Sergeant in the new basic training camp set up Camp Rilea, instead of doing more cadre duty in the Republic of China.
His wife, Captain Aiko Watanabe, was one of the JGSDF officers in the room. One whom he'd met all those years ago when North Korea had finally decided it had enough of peaceful coexistence with its southern neighbor, and went to war. They'd been together for eight years now, through thick and thin, and World War Three. They had a four year old son, Minoru, who was named after Staff Sergeant Minoru Nakamura, one of the JGSDF veterans present in the room, and one of Evanson's best friends.
These past eight years had been both the best and worst years of their lives. Best because of the friendships and families they had made, worst on account of the near nonstop fighting around the globe. And just as things seemed to be settling down in the world, The Event happened.
"I'm not going to sugarcoat shit, so here it is. We've been sent back in time, with a number of other states and nations, to the year 1812." There, he said it. Many in the room didn't react to the news, as they had already figured out something was wrong from day one, or had otherwise found out. The rest were mixed. A few raised curious eyebrows, a few chuckled, some went pale, and two even threw up, much to the disgust of those sitting beside them. "Laugh all you want, nothing I'm telling you is bullshit. This is the reality we are now faced with." Evanson said as he pressed a button on the clicker in his hand, and a map of the world came up.
On it were three nations, the United States of America, the German Empire, and the Japanese Empire. The map indicated the German and Japanese Empires were dated in September 1914 and 1941 respectively, to include occupied Belgium, occupied Northern France, French Indochina, Hainan Island, and Manchuria. The occupied regions of China that Japan historically held however, were not present. And the islands gifted to Japan in the aftermath of World War One were still in German hands.
None of that was particularly surprising, but a few in the room realized that without Japan bogged down extensively in China, meant they could focus more resources elsewhere. But what disturbed the Korean, Chinese, and Filipinos in the room the most was that one of the most brutal empires in human history, an empire who subjugated and subjected their people to unspeakable horrors, was now back.
For the Europeans, the feeling was less so. The German Empire was no more barbaric than the British, French, or Russian Empires. The German Empire was a far cry from Hitler's Third Reich. But most of the Europeans had no nation to go home to. The Germans, British, and French did, but it wasn't the homelands they were familiar with.
But for the Americans, and a great number of foreigners, the map of the United States was confusing and a little disturbing. There were a total of three colors representing America. The states of Vermont, New Hampshire, West Virginia, Arkansas, Oregon, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, were in dark blue, with a date that read June 2024.
Next were the states of Florida, California, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Panama Canal Zone in navy blue, with a date that read November 1943. And finally, the rest of the United States, to include Cuba and the Philippines, were marked with the date December 1907. In the Pacific, islands like Midway, Guam, and Wake were also highlighted and dated.
Most of the Americans in the room looked in shock and horror at the map before them. Unlike Germany and Japan who were whole nations, undivided, the United States was split into three parts from three different eras in time. But that itself wasn't the most terrifying prospect for most in the room. The fact that one portion of the country was 81 years behind the 21st century states, while the rest was nearly 120 years behind, was terrifying.
Oregon was a very liberal state even by the standards of the 21st century United States. In a country where equal rights did not exist. A country where Jim Crow and Separate But Equal was the law of the land. Where interracial marriage was illegal, women and minorities couldn't vote, and even the armed forces was horribly segregated. It was a nightmare scenario for the vast majority of Americans, not just in Oregon, but in all the states and territories from 2024.
"We're so fucked!" One woman in the room began to sob, her sentiment echoed by many in the room.
"So if I step outside the confines of this state, me and my family will be lynched," Corporal Brian Collins said. "Fucking wonderful!"
"Collins, a whole lot of us are in that very same predicament right now," Evanson growled. "You think I'm any happier than you are about this shit? You see what year the rest of the West Coast is in? You know who my wife is? You know where half the soldiers in this room come from?" He said in reference to the numerous Japanese troops in the room, wife, and one of his best friends included.
"Nah, he's right!" Private First Class Tanisha Williams argued. "The south is already a shithole back in our time, to say nothing of what it looks like now! We-"
"Oh fuck you, bitch!" PFC Eli Roberts snapped, his native Mississippi accent slipping out with his anger and frustration. "Despite what you and your kind think, you ain't gonna get lynched nowhere in America in 2024, so don't you dare try and fucking compare the two right now!"
"The fuck you mean 'your kind', white boy? I-" She shot back angrily, only to be cut off by Evanson slamming his right hand hard down on the wooden table next to him, breaking the table in half as he did so, and quickly quieting the whole room.
"BOTH OF YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP RIGHT NOW!" He bellowed out in the same voice he was using to train new soldiers at Camp Rilea, making both soldiers practically freeze and fix their now terrified gazes on him. Evanson glared daggers at the two PFC's, the only sound audible in the room being a low mechanical whirring sound coming from his right arm. After a few seconds, he spoke again, this time in a much lower tone of voice. "So help me God if you two fuck ups don't sit down and shut up, I'll fucking smoke both of you like a goddamn crack pipe, and have your worthless asses busted down to buck private! You fucking got that!"
Both privates muttered their acknowledgements and said nothing further. Evanson glared at them for a few moments, before finally returning to the topic at hand.
"The point is folks, the world we knew ain't here anymore. The world is a damn mess and it's about to get even worse. And if we fight each other over stupid shit, it's only going to get worse."
"With all due respect, Staff Sergeant, while I don't agree with their exact wording, they aren't wrong," 2nd Lieutenant Henry Clayborne said. "Ignoring that most Americans outside of this state view me and many in this room as just another nigger, I don't think any of you are paying attention to the red and gray on the fucking map." He said in a slightly exasperated tone.
"About time one of you Americans realized that," A Republic of Korea sailor said while giving some serious side eye towards the JSDF personnel in the room. "At least you Americans have a country to call home, many of us here do not anymore."
There was a chorus of agreement from the assorted Korean, FIlipino, Singaporean, Taiwanese, and even Australian personnel in the room. There was also plenty of resentment aimed at the Japanese, but not entirely. The Filipinos technically had a country to go home to, just one that was under illegal occupation by the United States. That alone had caused a great deal of issues between Filipino servicemen and Americans.
But that wasn't the only issue. The date on the map for the rest of the world was 1812. Not long after the start of the War of 1812, where the United States had gotten fed up with the British Empire impressing American sailors and had declared war. It was also a war where the United States had invaded Canada with intent to conquer it. The time stranded Canadians made up the second largest contingent of foreign troops in Oregon after the Japanese.
But there was a mixture of World War Two and modern era Canadian troops between Oregon and Alaska, thousands of them total. Meanwhile further east, there was an American Army under General William Hull invading Upper Canada, or were they already retreating?
Evanson couldn't remember exactly, but he'd eventually find out. But all that was small potatoes when they learned that Theodore Roosevelt was now President of the United States. The man who built America up to be a great power, and whose work would be continued under his cousin, Franklin Roosevelt, which made America into a superpower. Theodore Roosevelt held a certain degree of scorn for France for its invasion of Mexico during the American Civil War, and the burning of Washington D.C. was one of America's biggest humiliations in its history.
"And some of us have a country currently being invaded by the United States." One of the Canadians said dryly.
"An America led by that cowboy maniac, Teddy Roosevelt. Just what this world needs!" A Canadian Lieutenant of obvious Native American extraction snarked, her face going dark as she continued. "My people already got shafted after that war, guess it's bound to happen again."
An America under the guidance of Teddy Roosevelt would ensure both of those things would never happen. It also meant that Roosevelt might very well do what James Madison failed and conquer Canada from Britain, and drive every European flag from the America's by bayonet point, something he also dreamed of doing. Even if it meant the Native Americans would suffer on account of it.
"Oh give it a rest already, Sacagawea!" Another Canadian soldier said, glaring at the Lieutenant, who fixed him with a sharp gaze and said.
"What the fuck did you just call me, Corporal Leblanc!" She hissed, putting emphasis on his rank, in response to his blatant disrespect to her heritage and her superior rank.
"All you damn redskins ever do is complain and blame everything on the white man and its getting fucking tiring!" Corporal Leblanc snapped, making to get up from his seat until an American soldier sitting next to him grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back down.
"Sit the hell down, asshole!" The soldier snarled as he glared down at the Canadian.
"What about the rest of us?" A voice in heavily accented English asked from the group of German embassy staff and soldiers asked. "Those of us who have a country to go home to and wish to go back to.
"Yes, what about the rest of us, Evanson?" Staff Sergeant Minoru Nakamura asked. "We also have a home to go back to and most of us do not wish to stay here. If we are not at war, why are we still being held here?"
"Because none of you will be allowed to leave until it's determined you won't be a threat to the United States." Evanson said bluntly, earning a mixture of confused and angry glances from many in the room, especially from the Japanese and Germans. "If you read the map, you'll realize the Japan and Germany you wish to return to are not allies of the United States. Both are expansionist empires and neither like the United States. Hell, Japan outright hated America long before World War Two."
"What are you saying, Derrick?" Captain Watanabe asked, dreading the answer to come.
"I fought alongside many of you in Korea. Many of you here are my friends and I know how you think. I know most of you love your countries greatly and that love and patriotism makes many of you dangerous to the United States. And unfortunately that includes my Canadian friends here." Evanson explained, noticing how a number of those in the room began to tense up, and how the armed MP's in the room shifted their hands closer to their sidearms. "You all have information of history and tactics that, if given to the German, Japanese, or British Empire's, could prove to be a danger to the United States. And considering the division our nation is under, that is something we simply cannot afford."
"So you are holding us hostage then?" The commander of the JGSDF, a Colonel Kengun, said in a low, dangerous voice. "Holding your own allies hostage over irrational and baseless fears that we might fight against you?"
"This is an outrage!" A German Major with the last name of Koch burst out, standing up and glaring at Evanson. "We are not at war with you, you can't just hold us here as prisoners!"
"We can and we will." Evanson said bluntly, further angering the two foreign officers whose glares of hatred only intensified. "Even one of you would present too great a threat with the knowledge of history you all have, to say nothing of the thousands of you currently stranded here. You could negate the advantages we hold, the loss of which would be disastrous if we find ourselves in a war with either nation, much less both."
"Derrick, you can't be suggesting that we'll automatically turn into banzai charging fanatics when we return home to Japan." Nakamura said bitterly. "We want to return to our homeland, a place we are familiar with, so we can make it a better place."
"A single one of you telling the Japanese government that we have broken all of their codes or one of you taking a modern physics textbook back to Tokyo or Berlin would be a major problem for us." 2nd Lieutenant Clayborne replied. "The thought of the Japanese Empire having nuclear weapons is a disturbing one to anyone here, not Japanese."
"You cannot claim monopoly on technology, American!" Colonel Kengun snarled. "You will not keep knowledge of the future from the world forever!"
"The German Empire is not the Third Reich and the Kaiser is not Hitler!" Major Koch practically shouted. "Unlike Japan, the German Empire had no designs on the United States or its sphere of influence!"
"Oh, bullshit, you lying Kraut bastard!" Another American, this time a sailor, shot back. "The General Staff literally made plans to invade New England and to conquer New York City after the Spanish-American War in order to force us to give up everything we got from Spain."
"And The Mad Kaiser would love nothing more than to have Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Hawaii all to himself. Hell, the Emperor would love to have Hawaii too." Another sailor said, earning hate filled stares from some of the JSDF in the room.
Stares that turned into confused frowns as the sound of air raid sirens began to punctuate through the conference room at Camp Withycombe, and everyone, American and not, looked at each other in confusion.
"The fuck is going on?" Evanson cursed as he heard the sounds of running footsteps outside and the sounds of soldiers screaming and cursing. Then the sole radio in the room blared to life with news that made the blood of everyone in the room turn to ice in their veins.
"All stations this net, all stations this net! This is not a drill, we are under attack! Japanese Naval and Air Forces off the coast of Oregon and Washington! Air Force and Navy currently engaged! All nonessential personnel are to report to designated safe zones immediately!"
In an instant, the anger and frustration on the faces of the Japanese in the room vanished. Many of them looked at the radio in utter disbelief, while Colonel Kengun practically deflated. Staff Sergeant Nakamura clenched his fists in anger, while his wife, Captain Watanabe, looked as if she wanted to lash out and smash the infernal device. A few dreadful sentences had completely changed the atmosphere of the room, an atmosphere of shock and horror. An atmosphere that grew worse as the radio spoke once more.
"All stations this net, reports from New York City report German battleships bombarding the city, and engaging naval forces off Long Island! Two US Navy battleships sunk and two more heavily damaged, with heavy fires reported throughout Manhattan Island! All personnel are to report immediately to their designated units! I say again, we are under attack!"
The radio finished as the sounds of jets roaring overhead made it impossible for anyone to speak or hear. Moments later, a dozen soldiers rushed into the room, all armed and armored, and began to start ushering people out to safety, or to their units.
"You are ordered to report to the armory and get your gear, Staff Sergeant!" Platoon Sergeant Deshaun Thomas said, a grim expression on his face. "It's worse than 9/11 from the sounds of it and it's worse over in New York."
"Understood, Platoon Sergeant!" Evanson nodded, grabbing the radio which belonged to him, clipping it to his belt, and making his way out of the conference room, and to the armory. As he looked over his shoulder one last time, both the Japanese and German personnel in the room looked as if they thought the world was coming to an end around them.
Perhaps it was.
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