What happened to the world after WW3?

Ace stared out of the car window, his gaze distant, as the landscape of Thuringia gradually gave way to the open road leading towards Schleswig-Holstein. Amelie, sitting in the driver's seat, glanced over at him and then back at the road ahead.

"When I was at the frontline..." she began, breaking the silence, "I've heard stories about the chaos during WW3. The world changed drastically."

Ace's voice was calm and measured as he responded, "Changed? That's an understatement."

Amelie nodded, her grip on the steering wheel tightening. "I was in the midst of it, you know. Fought on the front lines. But sometimes, the details... they fade away, like the faces of people you once knew."

Ace, looking straight ahead, began to speak in his measured tone. "After the first nuke dropped, everything changed. Panic and chaos were the norm. Governments weren't prepared for something of this magnitude."

Ace continued, emotionlessly, "Governments worldwide started getting overthrown by their own people. The trust was broken. Everyone wanted change, a fresh start. That's when the different political factions began their power plays. And Europe... Europe became a patchwork of collapsing borders."

"You're talking about the rise of the PMCs," Amelie stated.

Ace simply nodded, "Yes. When governments fall, there's a power vacuum. The PMCs were quick to step in, offering services and seeking control. Krasnyj Medved was one of the most aggressive."

Amelie let out a bitter chuckle. "Funny how that worked out. We thought we were fighting for freedom, for a better world. But in the end, it was just about power and control."

"They did," Ace confirmed. "Their influence was strong, their tactics ruthless. Eisenfust also rose during that period."

Amelie sighed. "It's hard to believe how quickly things spiraled out of control. The borders we knew, the countries we identified with... it's all fluid now."

Ace spoke with a clinical detachment. "History has shown that borders are man-made and, thus, subject to change. This time was no different."

Amelie's grip on the steering wheel relaxed, her fingers tapping lightly. "You seem to know a lot about it. More than you should."

Ace's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "I've had my fair share of observing."

Amelie's curiosity got the best of her. "Why observe from the shadows? Why not be part of it openly?"

Ace's gaze returned to the passing landscape. "Because the shadows reveal the truth that light often conceals. And sometimes, it's the truth that can change everything."

"Things are different now," Ace spoke, his tone unchanged. "The borders collapsed, but unity didn't follow. Instead, divisions grew deeper."

"You're right," she admitted. "People had a chance to come together, to rebuild. But old grudges die hard, it seems."

"Even in another planet, things would still be the same for mankind." Ace's gaze shifted. "It's not just about grudges. It's about survival. And survival often comes at a cost."

Amelie's hands tightened on the steering wheel once more.

"I fought for something I believed in," she said quietly, almost to herself.

"And that's why you're still here." Ace responded.

As the car continued down the road, the conversation settled into a comfortable silence, both individuals lost in their own thoughts. The landscape changed around them. And as they journeyed towards Schleswig-Holstein, the echoes of the past resonated with the present, reminding them of the world they'd used to live in.