Genome Transcendence: Introduction (A fictional story by me.)

Brief Background

In 2018, North Korea invaded South Korea in full force, eventually succeeding in capturing and occupying the country in a bloody 38 month war, giving birth to a new nation -- the United Republic of Choson (URC). While the US attempted to intervene, the political pressure and military presence of China kept them away. With the EU nearly bankrupt, and the UK unwilling to get involved, the URC set its sights on Japan next.

In February of 2022, the Japanese government announced a breakthrough in biochemistry technology by the Tokyo based pharmaceutical giant Biochem Technologies that could change everything the human race knows about human genetics. Announcing that it would be willing to give the technology to China in return for protection from the URC, the Japanese government sent a group of envoys on March 11 to Beijing consisted of 3 government officials and 2 representatives from Biochem Technologies for negotiations with the Chinese government.

The negotiations lasted 4 days, but eventually ended in mutual agreement. On the way to the airport to return to Japan, the diplomatic group from Japan was ambushed by a militant group from the URC. 3 of the 5 were gunned down within minutes while the remaining 2 were able to flee on foot to a nearby subway station. Desperate with nowhere to run or hide, Yuji Hayashida, senior technological adviser of Biochem Technologies, opened the briefcase he was carrying, reached inside to retrieve a glass vial containing a silvery liquid with a slight blue glow. Saburo Morikawa, the other survivor and assistant to the Japan head of state, glanced over at horror.

"What do you think you're doing, Hayashida?!" Saburo shouted.

"It's our only way to survive, Morikawa san," Yuji replied without looking at Saburo. He was busy syphoning the liquid in the vial into a syringe.

"It's not stable yet!"

Even as Saburo objected, Yuji rolled up his sleeves and plunged the syringe into his forearm.

Moments later, the team of militants charged into the subway station in which the two survivors were taking cover. Neither men were ever found. The only things left at the site were an empty briefcase, a couple of empty vials and syringes, and traces of blood.

Two weeks later, the Chinese government announced their complete support of Japan, stating that any attempts to invade Japan would be dealt with using lethal force. All apparent attempts to invade Japan by the URC immediately ceased, and for the first time in years, the world seemed to be at peace.

Fearful that China had finally gotten the edge they needed to oust the US and become the ultimate superpower, the CIA began to send spies to Japan for espionage purposes in order to gain the same lead. The UK, along with France and Germany, formed the Alliance of Security for Europe (ASE), combining resources and stating that they will retaliate any potential threat or invasion of Europe with nuclear strikes.

And hence, the 2nd Cold War began.

Notable Organizations

Corporations

• Biochem Technologies: The world's largest medical and pharmaceutical organization based in Tokyo and founded by the tycoon Masamune Kagura. Often referred to as "Biochem" or "Biochem Tech" for short. Biochem Technologies has been responsible for modern day medical advancements such as tissue regeneration, reproductive stem cells, cure for cancer, complete skin/muscle/bone grafting, and antibody stimulants among others.
• Infinite Sky Incorporated: The world's second largest manufacturer of medical equipment after GE Healthcare. Based in Soweto, South Africa, Infinite Sky Inc. is responsible for such inventions as the Particle Wave Imaging (PWI) machine and Hyper Quantum Spectrometer.
• Hastings & Schmidt: Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia and founded by retired American army general Jeremiah Hastings and German entrepreneur Jonas Schmidt, H&S is the world's largest designer and manufacturer of industrial and military vehicles.
• Smith & Wesson: Headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, Smith & Wesson has evolved into the largest manufacturer and supplier of firearms to police forces all over the world.
• Lockheed Martin: American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Lockheed Martin employs 123,000 people worldwide. Josephine Hewson is the current president and Chief Executive Officer. Lockheed Martin is one of the world's largest defense contractors; in 2009, an estimated 74% of Lockheed Martin's revenues came from military sales.

Military

• Army of the United Republic of Choson (AURC): The general term for the military forces of the URC. Several branches, including elite forces, exist in AURC, but are the details are mostly unknown.
• Organization of the Alliance of Security for Europe Special Services (OASESS): Consisted of elite men and women from the Scotland Yard, MI6, and the military forces of the UK, France, and Germany, OASESS is one of the most skilled and feared military organization in the world.
• International Reconnaissance & Investigation Specialists (IRIS): A group of highly trained and extremely skilled specialists maintained by the United Nations since NATO was disbanded. While it is known that IRIS is being recruited, trained, and sponsored by several large private corporations for UN missions, much of this organization is unknown.
• US Armed Forces: While still the major military force of the world, the military forces of the US is recently dwindling in power compared to the consolidated forces of other nations.
• People's Liberation Army (PLA): The PLA is the military arm of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the de facto armed forces of the People's Republic of China, consisting of land, sea, strategic missile and air forces. The PLA is the world's largest military force, with a strength of approximately 2,250,000 personnel (about 0.18% of the country's population). The PLA comprises five main service branches, consisting of the PLA Ground Force, PLA Navy (PLAN), PLA Air Force (PLAAF), Second Artillery Corps (strategic missile force), and the PLA Reserve Force.

Major Recent Happenings

It is the year 2031. Biochem Technologies has achieved world dominance in the field of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. While rumors exist that Biochem Tech, along with its long time partner Infinite Sky Incorporated, is also the cause of the deformations and strange anomalies plaguing the world for the past decade, no substantial evidence has been found -- not anything that stands up in court, anyway.

Hastings & Schmidt opened up its first factory in the URC, much to the dismay of the US government. While opposition of this did arise in the UN, at the end, there simply wasn't anything to be done about it.

The 2nd Cold War has been going on for nearly 10 years. Some minor skirmishes have broken out over the years, but thus far, the major players have all been holding their breath, waiting to see what everyone else does.

The PLA has placed several military bases across Japan, some of them oddly close to the US military bases already there. Whether this is due to collaboration or antagonistic mockery is unclear.

The URC has established itself as a major player in the world, both economically and militantly. While China has shown support for Japan, it has still retained its friendly relationship with the URC. Of course, what kind of anxieties lie underneath the surface, no one truly knows.

Earlier this year, news of entire villages in rural areas of China disappearing have plagued TV channels and radio stations. It has been reported that villages of up to 2,000 people would simply disappear overnight. No traces whatsoever. The Chinese government denies the accusations that it is using these people for inhumane experiments.