Bellum Aegidis (Superpowers)

The War of Defense, or World War III (Latin: Bellum Aegidis) was the third and most recent global military conflict in history. The war in essence was a conflict between Socialism (known as Platonism) and the Imperialism of the great powers. To the Confederacy of United Platonists it was the last step in the World Revolution which they expected to bring about everlasting world peace and prosperity. To the Alliance of Earth it was the last straw in more than half a century of continuous rebellions in the name of the socialist cause. Both sides were absolutely certain that they were going to win, and it wasn't until the intervention of the Mongol World Empire that the balance was at last tipped in the Alliance's favor.

The Bellum Aegidis resulted in the complete collapse of the Platonist confederacy and the subjugation of its people by the victorious Foedus Terrae. Under the terms of the Treaty of Carthage, the confederacy's members remained in this repressed state until their separate deadlines were up (ranging from 1996 to 2002). Even now, the Khmer Republic remains under the jurisdiction of the Roman military and expectations are pointing to an extension of the deadline.

The official start of the war is accepted to be May 7, 1988 when the Danes attempted to fire a multi-megaton nuclear warhead at the city of Rome itself. Fortunately the Danes had underestimated the capabilities of Roman space defenses and the city was spared and both the Roman Empire and its allies declared war. This event came at the time of a Platonist revolution in Tawatinsuyu (the Inca Empire), just as the Confederacy had planned. Although the Alliance members were plagued by more rebellions for the duration of the war, and so had a very split military force, they managed to emerge victorious on November 11, 1991 when the Confederacy at last issued its surrender in order to prevent the systematic destruction of all its member nations.

Fighting during the war was highly characteristic of modern warfare techniques, particularly in the use of satellites for both surveillance and fighting, the significance of armored vehicle and aircraft engagements and in the importance of information to every engagement. The ability to counter an enemies technology, such as jamming to block radar and point-defense lasers to block missiles, was very valuable as well, particularly in its ability to catch the enemy off their guard. Were it not for the unwillingness of the Alliance to attack civilian targets, their superior numbers and technology would have undoubtedly won the war a lot sooner.