AdEva: Storm und Drang

A lone television crackles with static in a dark room, before a gloved hand grasps a remote control and presses a button with mechanical clink.   The picture resolves, displaying the figure of Lin Chang, the acting secretary-general of the United Nations, delivering a public address at the June 2016 global peace summit.   "Sixteen years ago," she starts, "the continent of Antarctica was shattered by a calamitous explosion. The earth's crust cracked in many places, and veins of lava from the mantle were released into the world's oceans and land masses."   People look on in solemn respect.   "The world shook. New volcanoes formed and, in places, the seas boiled. Ash and water spouted into the upper atmosphere, where they now blanket the earth and obscure the sun."   "The world's governments were unable to respond to the resulting crises individually, but under the banner of the United Nations humanity have never ceased to strive for stability and survival-"   Her voice is cut off as the hand grasping the remote clicks another button, and a mute symbol appears on the corner of the television screen while the youthful woman continues speaking to the crowd.   A dry, featureless voice speaks up mournfully in the dark: "And now, unbeknownst to man, as he scratches in the settling chaos, giants once more walk the earth."