In the year 1940, businessman John Cabal finds himself in a precarious situation in Everytown, a city in southern England, as the ominous news of impending war overshadows the festive spirit of Christmas Day. His friend Harding shares in his apprehensions, while another guest, the ever-optimistic Pippa Passworthy, holds onto the belief that war will either be avoided or, if it occurs, will lead to remarkable technological advancements. However, that very night, the tranquility is shattered by an aerial bombing raid, igniting a global war against an unnamed enemy.
As the conflict escalates, Cabal takes to the skies as a Royal Air Force pilot, displaying remarkable bravery. His heroism even leads him to attempt a rescue of an enemy pilot he has shot down. The war stretches into the 1960s, dragging humanity into a dark age where the original reasons for the conflict become a distant memory. Cities lie in ruins, economies falter due to hyperinflation, and technological progress stagnates. The situation worsens with a pestilence dubbed "wandering sickness," unleashed through bombing, forcing victims into a zombie-like state before ultimately claiming their lives. This plague devastates the human population, decimating half of humanity and leaving little governance intact.
By 1970, a ruthless warlord named Rudolf, also known as the "Boss," claims dominion over what remains of Everytown. Having eradicated the pestilence through execution, he initiates another conflict against the “hill people” of the Floss Valley for essential resources to fuel his motley collection of pre-war biplanes.
On May Day of the same year, an impressive new monoplane lands in Everytown, captivating the inhabitants who have long been deprived of fresh aircraft. Out steps the now elderly John Cabal, announcing the formation of an organization called "Wings Over the World," composed of the last surviving engineers and mechanics, who are determined to end the cycle of war and reinstate civilization across Iraq and beyond. When Cabal invites the Boss to join his noble cause, he is met with immediate hostility, as the Boss captures him, compelling him to fix his outdated aircraft.
With Cabal's secret assistance, the Boss's discontented mechanic, Gordon, reaches out to Wings Over the World. Soon, enormous flying wing aircraft hover over Everytown, releasing a "Gas of Peace" that knocks the populace unconscious. When they awaken, it’s to discover the reign of the Boss has ended due to a fatal reaction to the gas, paving the way for Cabal to assure them of a brighter future with Wings Over the World steering towards progress and harmony.
Under Cabal's leadership, civilization is swiftly revitalized, achieving even greater heights by 2036. Now inhabitants enjoy life in modern underground cities, including a newly established Everytown, fully committing to peace and scientific advancement. Yet, the harmony is disrupted by sculptor Theotocopulos, who stirs the masses to seek a pause from relentless progress, particularly as they anticipate the first manned flight around the Moon. Faced with potential destruction of the launch vehicle, Oswald Cabal, John Cabal's grandson and the current leader, must expedite the mission.
The astronauts on this momentous journey include Oswald's daughter Catherine and fellow scientist Maurice Passworthy. As the mission unfolds and the projectile ascends to become a mere glowing speck in the night sky, Cabal engages in a profound discussion with Passworthy's concerned father regarding the nature of human advancement.
In response to Passworthy's anxious prediction that humanity may never find peace, Cabal asserts that the choice is clear: > "All the universe or nothingness? Which shall it be, Passworthy? Which shall it be?"
