A system or net of force beams, simu-mass and pseudo-grav projections that replaced Old Earth’s Eastern Hemisphere once the Western Hemisphere (Amercadia) decided they could do very well without it (see: Only Possible Recourse, Our). This matrix was implemented during the latter part of the Expansionist Era. It seems that hostilities had broken out between Amercadia and the relatively primitive inhabitants of the East (see: Return to Forever; Post-Wasting Terran Cultures of the East), due at least in part to the fact that the Easterners did not want to see their hemisphere turned into a storage complex and packaging plant for processed Kansas Korncakes and other products of that ilk. Threats were made, promises promised, and fire exchanged. And still the ungrateful natives managed to sabotage Amercadia’s every attempt to raise their standard of living. Amercadia, under the administration of isolationist President Billy Brian Ciano, retreated back to its side of the globe to lick its wounds and make its plan. The plan they hit upon was this: They would rid themselves of the Easterners by ridding themselves of the East. For surely all human endeavor leads to progress and progress inevitably leads to greater strike capabiliy. And though the uncooperative natives of the East were quite primitive, it would only be a matter of time before they were kayaking up the Mississippi with thermonuclear warheads in the hulls of their horsehide boats. To ward off this possibility, Amercadia went below the oceans to sink nodes containing seismic exciters and small thrusters, force beams, simu-mass and pseudo-grab projectors deep into the crust of the earth, from pole to pole and to pole again. They circled the earth with these devices. And on their side of this great circle, they placed current infusers, tide generators and other devices with which to pull the wool over the eyes of Mother Earth. They cracked the Earth in half and sent the Eastern Hemisphere thrusting into deep space, leaving Amercadia to itself. And other than losing a few small islands to tidal waves, and suffering through an increase in volcanic activity for a short time, the Western Hemisphere was none the worse for wear. Since round about Cycle 142, Amercadia has been utilizing the enormous matrix “bowl” as a sort of greenhouse in which to grow Solvent Green, a staple crop of Amercadia, that was introduced to the planet that same year. Solvent Green is the main ingredient of Amercadian Protein-Rich All-Plant Jerky.
