It was evening in New Hartford, and one of the world's great cities was enthralled in celebration. Many of them were, actually. Fireworks dotted the skies all across the nation and the continent, but the night was brightest in Kerthenia.

Air Force acrobatic teams zipped their F-21A Hawks across the sky, trailing red, white, and blue smoke across the sky in a delicate pirouette of hundreds of tons of aluminum. Navy F-21B Seahawks joined them, their variable-geometry wings swept back in the ultimate expression of speed, streaking across the sky in sonic booms deafening any fireworks. The airshow may have been more historic in Jebston, with a complete telling of Kerthenian aviation history there, but here it was always much flashier. In the bay, a flight of three Seahawks tore across the level of the water, kicking up a wake in the surf. As they reached the shore, the two side planes broke off in elaborate corkscrews, trailing red-and-white smoke from the tips of their extended wings. The center craft lunged into a Pugachev's cobra, streaking over a grassy city courtyard before rocketing into the sky with a howling roar.

Yep, the New Hartford Independence Day Airshow never failed to deliver. F-17Es soaring above the city streets, F-21s of all varieties filling the skies with their strange, angular beauty. All of it impressive, and all of it somehow drowning out the howl of partying, patriotic Kerthenians with an even louder, wilder roar.

Meanwhile, in the capital of Jebston, as centuries-old warships filled the bay and the barnacle-encrusted, shattered crown of the former King Charles of Dolphiland was proudly displayed in the Capital Courtyard for all to see, the President was giving a speech.

"...in our celebration we must not forget that the world is in a time of incredible turmoil. We must be thankful for our own liberty, but we must be vigilant to maintain it. We must never rest on our laurels, as tyrrany feeds on complacence and apathy. We must starve the ferocious beast of oppression by nourishing ourselves as free people, becoming champions of liberty wherever it may need us."

He turned away from the cameras and towards the audience, gesturing for the camera crew to take the teleprompters down. They did as requested, with a bewildered look painted across their faces.

"But we must remember that we are not alone in the struggle for freedom. This year, we must again commit ourselves and our nation to the cause of liberty. We shall go anywhere, do anything, seek out any friend, face any enemy, and take on any challenge in the service of this goal. As we all have been granted with the gift of free will, we all carry a torch. As free men whose flame is brightly burning, it is our duty to bring to spread the fire of liberation to illuminate the cavernous dark of oppression. It is our duty to fuel our flame and never let it be extinguished. And it is our duty to stop anyone who wishes to snuff our burning flame of liberty out."

His gaze again returned to the cameras.

"Good night, and God bless Kerthenia."