The Winter of Discontent

The Winter of Discontent is the name for the winter of 2021 which was plagued by economic and environmental disasters. The era started when China and Russia finished an oil pipeline reducing China's dependence on the American dominated Indian ocean and Russia's dependence on European markets. Although western military theorists suggest that they already had a plan and were just waiting to be provoked, the level of disorganisation in the response suggests otherwise.

The US decided conducted a 'freedom of navigation exercise' between the island of Hainan and mainland China and Chinese vessels moved to intercept. A series of faceoffs ensued and a US naval carrier ended up ramming and sinking a Chinese submarine provoking outrage. In vengeance, the Chinese hit back by beginning to withdraw their debts.

The US eventually refused to pay, prompting them to be declared bankrupt causing widespread chaos which was made worse by a series of cyber attacks on financial institutions that were widely blamed upon Russia although evidence now points towards a hacktivist collective trying to raise awareness of the problems of the modern financial system. The US imposed sanctions on Russia leading to a rise in oil prices as the Russians attempted to balance the books.

Eventually, the EU decided that they could not afford the increased oil prices so in November they pulled the plug. Russian trade with the EU was now at virtually zero and relations and weather became increasingly bitter. A lengthy and extreme cold snap was predicted across western Europe and at points governments were distributing electric heaters on loan to take the strain of their collapsing electrisity grid.

Exacerbating the problem, several pipelines broke in the extreme weather.

Although diplomatic relations were restablished an ethos of distrust down surrounded relations between east and west.