Twenty eight years ago, humanity was living peacefully until one fateful day, on that day, after trying for so long, humanity finally got a response to the signal they had been sending off planet. The existence of aliens was confirmed and for some reason, humans were overjoyed at the idea of not being alone in the universe.
It took over a year for them to synthesize a language that both races could understand through the use of AI. When the language was finally introduced, the aliens, who had introduced themselves to be called Xejrans from the planet Reftide, began conversing and exchanging technological advancements with humanity.
Humans were so happy that they did not find it strange that their new friends shared so much with them for nothing in return. Human technology was too primitive for the Xejrans, so the relationship between the two races benefitted only the Earthlings, or so it seemed.
Due to the partnership with the Xejrans, humans advanced their technology by leaps and bounds. Nuclear and thermal power was banned when the Xejrans shared with the humans, designs for a more powerful solar panel.
The panels were so efficient that a square meter (about 3 square feet) large panel could power a whole neighborhood. Of course the panels could only be fully utilized if paired up with the new batteries which could hold more than 800% of the capacity of the largest human-designed battery.
With the new short range ships they had got the blueprints for, courtesy of the Xejrans, humans colonized mars and using over 500 Zillion US dollars, filled half the planet with the new solar panels.
Before the invention of the panels, wireless power transfer was impractical, since the loss of electricity over such a long distance was nothing to scoff at. However because of the raw power produced by the new panels, the loss became like stealing a cup of water from the atlantic ocean.
Petrol and diesel were also banned with the invention of the oxygen powered engine. Air pollution became a thing of the past and earth slowly reverted to it's former glory, before the interruption of mankind. Unsurprisingly, humanity thrived more and more with each passing year.
Diseases became rarer as pollution disappeared, also with the advancement in medicine, diseases like brain cancer became as easy to treat as a common cold. Machines which could regrow entire limbs were invented, and conditions like blindness became bedtime stories for unruly children.
Due to the invention of machines which could pretty much do anything, many people lost their jobs, however the governments came together and made the credit system. Every citizen of every country who lost his or her job would get a monthly credit allowance of 100 credits, which was equivalent to 1000 US dollars.
However, soon enough, food became so cheap due to the overly fertile soil and healthy livestock that the credit system only lasted a few years. After that the system was cancelled since food literally became free. Anyone could just walk into a shop and take whatever they wanted.
The standards of living shot up and luxury became the minimum living condition. Every material could be recycled, which made everything cheap, you could actually buy a Rolls-Royce Sweptail for 100 US dollars.
However, seven years after the first contact with the Xejrans, twenty one years before the present day, on the second day of June 2003, everything changed. Six AM Eastern Time, a giant countdown appeared just below the ozone layer.
The countdown was visible from every corner of the planet and seemed to shift according to personal perspective.
[21 ; 6 ; 2 ; 4 ; 10 ; 45 ; 26]. Twenty one years, six months, two weeks, four days, ten hours, forty five minutes and twenty six seconds. That is what the clock in the sky meant and everyone knew this. Predictably, everyone panicked, it was no secret that humans had been in contact with aliens and only aliens could pull off something like that.
As if to confirm everyone's fears a voice was heard from every corner of the world in every language. "We are coming to claim our planet". Mass hysteria ensued on earth for a whole month before the Earthen United Government (EUG) managed to calm down the world.
In the EUG headquarters, the continental leaders were currently having a meeting.
"We need to do something about this and fast", said a man sitting behind a plaque written 'Europe'.
"Asia, any response from the Xejran contact?" asked America.
Asia shook her head, "Ever since the countdown appeared, they have gone radio silent", she said.
"What do they mean when they say this is their planet?" Australia wondered.
"Perhaps all this time they were helping us cleanse earth for their arrival and not for our wellbeing", Africa said. "Think about it, every technological advancement we made has also indirectly benefited the health of the planet as a whole", he added.
"Africa has a point, we were played", Europe sighed.
"What is the way forward?, do we just wait for their arrival?" Asia asked.
"We need to fight back", Australia said.
"Fight with a race which can write on our atmosphere from a distance of who knows how many light-years?", America scoffed. "We may fight, but we won't win" he added.
"Then do you have a better idea America?" Europe asked.
"Yes and no, we all know that we are doomed, however the human race does not have to be", America said. "We have been working on a project for the past two years. Codename : Paladins", he gave every leader a folder.
"You think this will work?" Africa asked as he read over the folder.
"It has to, i refuse to believe that the Xejrans will kill us all. They will leave some humans alive either for labour or experimentation, hopefully they will let us reproduce", America said.
"But still", Australia interjected. "It will take decades if not centuries for the Paladins to complete the mission, even if they somehow manage to do it, they will die of old age way before that", she said.
"Asia", America gestured at her.
"We have developed cryo-pods which can slow down the aging process by an astronomical margin. A year might pass but the Paladins will only age an hour, if they are in the pods", Asia said.
"How will we choose the Paladins?" Australia asked the question on everyone's minds.
"Each continent will bring forward one newborn..."
Present day, EUG Headquarters in Antarctica.
"General we need you in the observation room now!", a man said after barging into the general's office, he was so shaken up he almost forgot to salute.
Knowing that the soldier would not disturb him for no reason, and the fact that the countdown had disappeared two weeks before, the General stood up and sped towards the Observation room.
"What's happening?" he asked as he walked through the doors.
"General, two minutes ago a fleet of over two hundred ships entered the milky way and are headed this way, with their current velocity, they will arrive in 6 hours tops", a man said while pointing at a cluster of red dots on the large holographic screen.
"Sound the alarm, notify the Continental leaders, prep the Leviathan for launch, and get those Paladins off planet".
"But most importantly go home, hug your wives or husbands, spend the last 6 hours with your kids, this is your last chance to tell them how much you love them. As for the single ones, clear your browser histories, for the day of reckoning is upon us".