The Wasteland Known As America

Prologue

"Everything will be ok in the end. If it's not ok, it's not the end." -unknown

2020
There, on the white steps of the capital building, stood Ian Williams looking over a deserted version of Washington D.C.. The first city to fall victim of the nukes sent out by Russia. There were no survivors;not even the president remained. His family, gone in an instant. America was losing so far, with the president being gone and no one there to take his place, the military leaders were the ones making decisions that would either make or break the country.

Williams watched as the search and rescue team packed up their things and went into the same helicopter they had arrived in.

" Cadet Williams, we will be heading back to base in 5 minutes. I suggest you hop aboard before we leave your sorry ass here!" Sargent Dale spoke to him in his usual tone;cruel with authority.

"Yes sir! I'll be right there sir!" Ian held his hand on his forehead in a traditional solute. Sargent Thomas Dale "King"is the only person that would make Ian jump into an electric dome full of millipedes and ants for his own enjoyment. At least it felt that way to Ian.

He'd always been cruel to him, from the very moment they met. When Ian accidentally forgot to say sir and just said "no". Dale then made him run 8 miles then do 100 push ups for disrespecting authority. While his closest friend and fellow soldier, Joseph Wylie, did the same thing and only had to run 4 miles and do 75 pushups.

He got into the back of the helicopter and sat down in his assigned seat.

"What the hell took you so long boy?!" Dale shouted from the other side of the copter. All 20 men looked at him with scared faces. "Admiring the view?!"

"No sir."

"Does seeing the desolate wasteland of rubble and debris make you happy?!"

"No sir."

"Then what. The hell. Took you so long?" His voice quieted.

"I was remembering my family sir!" Ian raised his voice. The helicopter started moving. "They moved to D.C. because I told them it was safer, but I was wrong."

"I think we all lost people we cared about," Ian saw a hint of remorse and guilt in his eyes, "but, that doesn't mean you can hold us up in a radioactive ghost town." Dale spoke softer than he ever had before to Ian. Hearing a change in his tone and seeing him look down at his feet reminded him that Dale was in-fact human and not some wild beast who liked to dictate people. Though that could still be possible.
                           ~*~
2030
It had been 11 years since the war started, 2 years since the death of Joseph Wylie, and 6 months since the death of Sargent Thomas Dale they both died in combat.

Joseph had died on a trip Ian was ordered not to go on, because at the time he was recovering from an almost fatal wound. The trip was to Syria and was practically a suicide mission into enemy territory. Ian was devastated when Sargent Dale brought back the news that everyone on the mission had been murdered or captured. Dale was not in the mission himself. He stayed behind for the fight in Tennessee, which itself killed 132 American soldiers.

Dale had died right in front of Ian. He could remember the day perfectly.

They had just entered Germany, bombs  were detonating left and right and there troop was getting smaller and smaller. What was once a group of 1,678 stood at a measly 753 which wasn't a lot.  A grenade landed between him and Sargent Dale. They looked at each other, both leaped in opposite directions. Ian was lucky enough to land in a safe spot but the same cannot be said for Dale. He landed at the foot of an enemy soldier, who went on and beat him to death. Ian had just lifted his head to see if Dale had survived the blast when the smoke cleared and the soldier deliver the finishing blow.

The world was almost destroyed. Only a few remnants of countries remained. The U.S.A. was down to just Alaska and Hawaii due to their isolation with the rest of the country. Still, they were almost uninhabited. With billions of people dead around the globe only a few pockets of civilization existed in each country.

Ian lived in Alaska, in a special camp for all soldiers working for the U.S.. only about a hundred were left.
                            ~*~
2041
It's been 22 years since the war started and 1 year since it has ended. It was a short war but the deadliest one in history. Killing the vast majority of the populations of all animals. Causing most to go extinct. This mass extinction was similar to the first that killed off the dinosaurs, only small mammals, small reptiles, and fish survived. As for humans, they retreated underground to bomb shelters and are surviving off food rations. 20 American soldiers remain, one of which was Ian Williams. Now 43 years old, he was a leader. Helping all of those who lived in the shelter, a shelter that can hold up to  5,000 people, and is only holding about  200 people.

Ian walks up to a man and a woman. They look to be about 20-22 years old. They are talking about something that Ian can't quite make out.

"Need anything?"

"No thank you. We just had dinner." The man said.

"Ok well just let me know when you do need something." Ian flashes a smile and starts to walk away.

"Wait!" The woman reached out and touched her shoulder. "Thank you do much for your survive, I really mean it. I was really young when this war started and I lost my father in it. You probably knew him, his name was Thomas Dale." Ian's face loomed with disbelief. "Although he died me and my mother made it and so did my boyfriend Newt. And to that I am truly grateful." She bowed her head and flashes a smile.

"Dale was the Sargent leading my troop." Ian looked down.

And then there was silence.
___________________________

What do you think? Do you think I should continue? I had this idea while watching a video about who would win WWIII. I really want to tell you what happens but I guess you'll have to find out later. Here's a hint:
There is a new main character and the first chapter takes place
20 years after the war ends, in 2060.

Comment if you want me to continue this story!