“The world will burn.” General Medina whispered quietly as we all watched down to the Earth in silence.

The first wave of Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles, primarily silo-based SS-18s, SS-27a, and the handful of SS-29s fired from the Kozelsk Missile Field, had already begun their silent arc through space. The light from the sun cast faint shimmers as the warheads from the missiles soared over the North Pole. From the other direction, Minuteman-IV and Odin missiles had begun their same process, their warheads streaking past ominously in the darkness of space.

“So far, they’ve only fired their silo-based missiles, but the rest will come shortly after they’re finished deploying the launchers. The French and British have begun responding as well, and China and India are sending theirs up as well. We’re tracking well over 2,600 warheads in the air.” General Harrison, commander of the Federal Strategic Defense Command, said grimly from his underground command bunker buried deep within the mountains in Colorado.

“We’re tracking from up here as well. The last ship docked with the station a few minutes ago, so I can say a considerable chunk of the human race will be saved here on the Citadel and the few cryo-bunkers scattered around the globe down there.”

We heard the General chuckle over the intercom. It was a hopeless empty chuckle, chilling to everyone who heard it.

“Tracey, you and I both know the only thing those bunkers will do is prolong the inevitable. From the numbers of warheads already airborne, the combined firepower and radiation will destroy any chances of life after the war.”

A lieutenant at a computer console motioned Medina over to her, and she looked at the screen bleakly. An additional 226 missiles had launched from various locations around the Russian Empire. These missile, with the same range and heavier payloads, had been on missile trucks dispersed around the nation, unable to pinpoint. Until now that is.

“General, we’re registering 226-,”

“New missile launches out of the Empire. Unfortunately we picked them up on the satellites too,” he said and paused for a moment. “General Medina, the Federal Council has told me to inform you that you will be taking full executive control once the missiles begin to make impact.”

General Medina’s eyes widened in shock, along with the others around the room.

“I...I don’t understand.”

“Those missile are gonna hit us everywhere, but the biggest warheads are set to hit my facilities, the Chancellor’s, and all the key government officials of any worth. After that whatever nukes are left will rain on our cities. Even if we could survive and still run the government down here, there’d be nothing left to run.”

The news hit everyone like a train. They were essentially being told that in a matter of minutes, everything and everyone they’ve ever known on the only survivable planet to their knowledge, would be gone. Some watched with mouths opened, others stared at the floor and out the window, and some simply continued to do their jobs unhindered while tears streaked down their cheeks.

“What am I supposed to do now?” Medina asked as she shook her head in disbelief.

“Whatever you feel is right. Search for somewhere else to inhabit, last as long as you can up there, wait it out and see if Earth will recover. I can’t answer that one for you. The only thing I can tell you is that whatever you do, do better. Please. For me...and for my family. Use this fire to drive the human race forward.” Ge replied, his voice breaking up slightly before he pulled himself back together.

They all watched as the warheads on both sides began to make their ways back into the atmosphere, followed by thin wispy trails. It was only a matter of time now.

“Hey Tracey, remember on our last deployment in Mogadishu before we got our bars? I remember we hated it so much, we said we’d die before we stayed in long enough to become generals. Now look-,”

His voice as replaced by the sound of a shrill screech then static, before the intercom went silent. All around the globe, the various nuclear warheads began to impact the Earth. Some explosions were clear, others shrouded momentarily by clouds that the warheads passed through, but quickly dissipated as the fireballs rose through the atmosphere. Missile continued to fly, and explosions peppered the Earth, and no other sound was heard. No one else reported in. No other nations were panicking as they tried to get a grip on the situation. The staff at the crypt-bunkers fell silent. The Earth was afire, as the pestilence of the human race waged its final war.

“Use the fire to drive forward,” Medina said as she closed her eyes. “The world will burn.”