Realistic or Modern From This War To The Next: A 1948 Cold War RP (With A Twist) [CLOSED]

[Zillamaster55]

“Malchar” addresses the world on the shores of Atlantis, a huge oceanic storm in the background

As if in an instant, thousands of people across the globe go missing. From soldiers to politicians to milkmen, people from all walks of life suddenly vanish. Immediately after, navies begin reporting “glowing lights” and “unidentified submarines” surfacing near Atlantis.

Televisions and radios are hijacked yet again, this time by a hissing, unfamiliar sound, like that of a reptile. Minutes pass as the frequency evens out. In some way, somehow, the scaly visages of these beings is able to speak clearly to everyone, in every language.


“I am Malchar. We are the Saurians. What you have done is sacrilege, to bring Atlantis to the surface again is a grave mistake. Cease what you are doing! You do not know the power it holds!

We have already infiltrated your highest offices, your armies, your societies. There are hundreds of thousands of us among you. To try and stop us is to only accelerate your doom.

Should it be war, you would face extinction yet again. Your weapons are powerless, and your nation states would be forfeit.

Leave. This. Place.”

 

[Zillamaster55]

Turn 17
July - December, 1955
---
World Tension is HOT
World Economy is STABLE

World Events
- The conflict in Yemen heats up as Saudi Arabia pledges troops to support the standing government, while a large number of foreign fighters arrive in the eastern part of the country to assist the communists. Observers believe that this may be the first proxy war between regional powers as the great powers have turned their attention towards the Zeta and the Saurians, essentially leaving the Yemeni conflict to the nation’s neighbors

- Large scale protests in Havana turn into riots as the Cuban government attempts to violently crack down on the demonstrators who demand fair pay, representation in factories, and a reduction in the strength of the police. Fulgencio Batista, the president of Cuba, declares a nationwide state of emergency to “track down dissidents and those that pose a threat to the nation’s stability”. American soldiers in Guantanamo Bay are on high alert as a result

- An American carrier-air-group is tailed by a Saurian submarine wolfpack, causing a near miss as the USS Tang fails to detect a Saurian submarine, almost colliding with it. As a result, the Saurians grow dangerously close to opening fire upon American vessels. At the last second, a nearby Zeta craft begins to hover overhead, causing the Saurian vessels to disperse. Some suggest that there is indeed a secret alliance between the United States and the Zeta

- The Federal Republic of Germany finally announces its plans to seek reunification with the German Democratic Republic to the east, via a popular referendum, to “create a united Germany built by and for its people”. This move is immediately met with outrage from across Western Europe, many of whom decry the idea of “yet another German expansion”, and nations like Belgium and the Netherlands file formal diplomatic protests

- The Soviet Union is the first to successfully send a living animal into space with Nadia, a small stray dog, being catapulted past the atmosphere on a heavy rocket. Knowing that the dog would not survive the return to earth, Soviet scientists are shocked to see the capsule safely being lowered back through the atmosphere by a Zeta saucer. An embarrassing incident occurs as the Zeta openly tell the Soviet government--and thus the people--that the dog would perish were it not for their assistance

- Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, with their respective national leaders meeting in Belgrade, announce the final step towards unification. In a grand ceremony attended by tens of thousands of Yugoslav and Bulgarian soldiers, flags of both nations are lowered in order to raise the new flag of the Democratic Federal Republic of the Balkans. With Romania soon to follow, this new political entity in Southern Europe will change the diplomatic course of the region for decades to come

- A series of intense earthquakes rock southern Argentina, killing hundreds and displacing thousands as fault lines near the southern tips of the Andes mountains shudder violently. Juan Perón immediately mobilizes members of the Argentinian military to begin searching for survivors, while simultaneously blaming both the Zeta and the Saurians for their “vicious, subversive attack on the Argentine people”

- An earthquake rattles the southern tip of Argentina, shattering thousands of buildings in Rio Gallegos, causing thousands to flee the area and leaving hundreds dead. Thinking quickly, Perón immediately mobilizes elements of the Argentine military to begin seeking for survivors, as well as beginning cleanup operations. Perón also turns his attention towards the Saurians and the Zeta, making multiple inflammatory statements, blaming both for the attack, as well as announcing a “doubling down” of the Argentine presence in Atlantis

- Nearly two thousand Argentinian soldiers are sent to the southern “arm” of Atlantis, as well as the pride of the Argentinian fleet, the Belgrano. Saurian submarines swarm the naval vessels as they approach, but ultimately do nothing. As the soldiers dig in, the military reports seeing dozens of Saurian “observers” off in the distance, watching their every move. Unfazed, Perón demands that further “excavation, exploration and exploitation” of Atlantis begin

- Argentina sends a few dozen military advisors, mainly with experience in air defenses, to help train the Zambezian military on bringing them up to speed with aerial reconnaissance and air-to-ground attacks. Unsurprisingly, these advisors are fairly hostile towards the Zeta, and Zambezian authorities butt heads with their SHAMN allies. Eventually, the Argentinians return home frustrated, and the Zambezian air force confused on what their new doctrine should be

- A meeting takes place between Peru, Bolivia and Chile in Argentina to begin discussing ways to prepare against the “mutual threat from the skies and the sea”. All four nations begin naval exercises to simulate hunting down Saurian vessels, as well as joint air patrols to chase away Zeta craft. Some in the international community fear that this may simply ignite a war, rather than avoid one

- Millions of dollars are stashed away in the nation’s treasury as an emergency fund in the event of further natural disasters or other such situations. Much of this money comes from a slashed public spending budget, largely in the realm of education and healthcare. This causes a hit to Perón’s popularity, as many of the poorest Argentinians feel “betrayed” by this move, and as a result propaganda broadcasts are 24/7 to try and drown out complaints

- The meat sector of Argentina booms as the pig population quadruples thanks to breakthroughs in medical and agricultural science. The surplus pork, in the thousands of tons, is sent to canneries in Argentina to be vacuum sealed and stored in banks to act as emergency rations, as well as to provide food to the homeless in weekly charity drives. The unofficial title of “Pork Baron” can be applied to the few hundred Argentinian farmers who have managed to corner the market despite Perón’s efforts to try and break up monopolies

- The nation’s economy begins to stagnate as the country remains in a pseudo state of emergency, with many factories being bereft of workers mobilized to patrol the land, air and sea. Companies like Prometheus Technology and Manufacturing, however, benefit greatly from this slump as they are able to begin producing equipment and weapons of all sorts for the Argentinian military, which always seems to be in short supply

- A new sector of the government is elevated to an official status, rather than being divvied up amongst various municipalities. The “Argentina Agencia Nacional de Cultura e Historia Humana” (Argentinian National Agency of Culture and Human History/AANCHH) is tasked with collecting as much information as possible on local tribes, as well as unique subcultures within Argentina and the region as a whole. The AANCHH is largely modeled after the Zambezian program to begin cataloguing their own locals, which brings both SHAMN members closer together

- Thousands of Argentinian citizens from cities like Buenos Aires make their way south in a “great humanitarian trek” to help the military in its efforts to rescue survivors from the devastating earthquake. Perón congratulates these efforts, publicly praising those that try and “do their best for the people of Argentina”. Bolivia and Peru, not wanting to look like they don’t care, send token relief efforts to the south as well

- An Argentine F-100, in hot pursuit of a Zeta aircraft that entered Argentina’s airspace, begins to report seeing “unfamiliar lights in the sky” that are “dissimilar to ones the Zeta use”. After a few minutes of reporting, the pilot’s radio goes dead. An emergency squadron is scrambled to intercept the Zeta aircraft, but just before weapons can be activated, the pilot is suddenly seen undergoing a crash landing. The man is recovered by emergency services and whisked away to a military hospital

- In order to continue preparing for the possibility of a war between Argentina and the Zeta or Saurians, the Argentine government begins the creation of a chemical weapons division. Utilizing data gathered from PTM engineers during the South African conflict, Argentina unveils its own copy of “Element Red”, much to the shock of the United Nations. What makes this version even more deadly is the fact that this modified version can be dispersed as a pellet, which is then catalyzed by oxygen, allowing it to activate within water, giving it the capability to poison supplies and drinking water

- Argentinian military engineers begin testing various forms of man-operated anti-air weapons. Using a small laser sensor with technology on loan from the United States, the newly designed “Atlatl” weapons utilizes a 100mm rocket launched out of a tripod-mounted tube. The Atlatl is capable of being “laser guided” towards an enemy aircraft by a designator on the ground, and can hit enemy aircraft from up to a kilometer away. The Atlatl is hideously expensive, and is only able to be deployed at a regimental level

- Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, with their respective national leaders meeting in Belgrade, announce the final step towards unification. In a grand ceremony attended by tens of thousands of Yugoslav and Bulgarian soldiers, flags of both nations are lowered in order to raise the new flag of the Democratic Federal Republic of the Balkans. With Romania soon to follow, this new political entity in Southern Europe will change the diplomatic course of the region for decades to come

- A massive campaign of diplomatic visits is launched by the Balkan government to meet with leaders of the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan and the United States to begin seeking better trade deals, as well as to simply warm relations across the board. Surprisingly, and much to the chagrin of Soviet observers, Tito manages to rope in numerous NATO states with trade deals, as well as a “Treaty of Mutual Research” in regards to the Saurians

- Huge celebrations are held across the united country as Tito goes on a tour of the major cities, making promises of a “brighter and better future with a united Balkans”. Many factories in Bulgaria are “personally inspected” by Tito in order to gauge what reforms need to be made in particular to bring them up to speed, and what sort of industrial capabilities the southeastern half of the Balkan Federation has

- Immediately, one of the most obvious growing pains of adding Bulgaria to the nation is that the country’s population has artificially ballooned, causing the offices of public benefits workers to be flooded with requests, errors and reports. Welfare and healthcare take a significant hit as the Balkan government shifts resources to integrating Bulgaria’s industry and infrastructure, and many of the poorest Bulgarians are worse off than the poorest Yugoslavs

- A major restructuring campaign begins to bring Bulgaria’s electric grid up to speed. After months of surveying, Yugoslav engineers throw up their hands and find it easier to simply gut the grid as a whole and start it over from scratch, connecting it to a series of nuclear and hydroelectric plants scattered throughout Yugoslavia. With a nuclear power plant planned for Sofia, the rush to make a better grid is in full force, and will take a couple years to be fully integrated

- Preparations are made for the upcoming 1956 olympics, which are set to be held in Belgrade. With world tensions running high, and many people fearing the possibility of Saurian or Zeta attacks, the Balkan government does its best to make the Belgrade olympics a “safe, welcoming and positive experience.” With the disappearance of the Bulgarian team from the lineup, the Balkan team is able to scrape the best athletes off the top and prepare them to take more golds in the coming competition

- The Balkan military begins to fully integrate Bulgaria’s troops, forming multiple new infantry, artillery and armored divisions in order to more fairly divide the soldiers into multinational units. An unfortunate discovery is that Bulgaria’s air and armored equipment is woefully outdated, as it is largely relegated to the bottom of the barrel Soviet surplus, such as the MiG-9 and T-44. These are essentially put into reserves as Balkan military factories rush to replace them as quickly as possible

- Bulgarian soldiers are, despite the best efforts of the Balkan military to train them, unprepared and under equipped in comparison to the Yugoslav soldiers. Wargames are conducted immediately to begin bringing them up to speed, which then proves Bulgarian generals to be nothing more than political appointees, many of whom are sacked and replaced with promising candidates from the existing Yugoslav military. This causes some serious friction in high command

- The air force undergoes a massive expansion to begin including more and more interceptors, close attack aircraft and helicopters. With more area to defend, the Balkan military understands that the larger the airspace, the more porous it becomes without proper defensive preparations. The large amount of radar stations and air patrols help, but many air units are finding themselves stretched thinner and thinner as time goes on

- Nuclear engineers continue to work on the possibility of “miniaturizing” a nuclear reactor for usage on a naval vessel. Some tests make significant breakthroughs, primarily in the area of cooling the rods safely, but there are still many hurdles that need to be cleared before such a device can properly be mounted onto an oceangoing craft. Frustratingly enough, the Balkan navy begins to guzzle fuel as more and more surface and submarine vessels are deployed, thus making nuclear engines a top priority

- Saurian submarines get obnoxiously close to Balkan shores in a clear act of defiance and a show of force. In response, the Balkan navy is set on high alert, and chases after the submarines, only to be frustrated as the Saurians duck back beneath the waves, avoiding the ships and aircraft entirely. Tito declares that “any Saurians that enter our waters again will be seen as a hostile entity!”. Security is increased around the board to ensure that Saurian infiltrators do not try and damage the Balkan government

- Utilizing studies of French, Soviet and American designs, Balkan military engineers begin working on creating a powerful anti-tank weapon. Mounted on top of a modified armored personnel carrier, the new "Protupožarni Projektil Tipa 1" (Anti-Tank Guided Missile T-1) is able to reach out to more than 1200m and deliver a 25kg shaped charge directly onto an enemy tank. The greatest benefit of the PP-T1 is that, even if the wire is broken, a rudimentary radar sight is capable of following orders for up to 150m before the user loses control

- A series of accidental discoveries has led to the creation of an important step forward in computing technology. Electronics engineering students have managed to create a device, simply referred to as a “modem”, that allows the operators of a computer to observe information in real time. Instead of relying on continually printed readouts, scientists are now able to directly see and influence calculations right before their very eyes

- The Federal Republic of Germany finally announces its plans to seek reunification with the German Democratic Republic to the east, to “create a united Germany built by and for its people”. This move is immediately met with outrage from across Western Europe, many of whom decry the idea of “yet another German expansion”, and nations like Belgium and the Netherlands file formal diplomatic protests

- As a result of these moves, France’s government sees this as the “last straw”, and officially votes with the European Economic Community and European Defense Community to revoke Germany’s membership in the organization. With this, all EDC advisors and soldiers are removed from Germany, and deals with German military companies are cancelled across the board. Instead, the EDC begins taking a defensive stance against Germany

- With the western European member states of NATO turning against Germany, and seeing as how Germany is edging closer and closer towards the Soviets, president Nelson Rockefeller makes a public statement at a NATO press conference in London, demanding that Germany “rescind its plans for reunification” and “look for better ways to cooperate with her allies”. This causes significant friction in NATO, with the German delegation storming out in protest

- Cooperatives are expanded in the northeast of the country as the German government increases funding into the experimental industries. Larger factories and a handful of farms are roped into the "Öffentliche Arbeitsbereiche" (Public Work Zones). These communes, with more strict government oversight, prove to be much more effective than prior, and the use of streamlined, “elected” management allows for increased production. However, these communes still fall very much behind the private sector, but many feel that the equality of the communes are what keeps them running more than profit

- Minor roadwork is done in the Saarland to be able to properly link the southwestern territory with the rest of Germany. This is hot on the heels of a rapid western industrialization program to begin integrating the large numbers of migrants from South Africa, the Middle East and parts of South America due to military, political and cultural upheaval. With Germany a democratic nation, but still leaning towards socialist equality, many see the central European nation as a bastion of freedom and safety

- Regardless of the EDC and NATO’s opinion on German reunification, marches are held in the major industrial centers of Germany calling for the referendum to go through, with many labor unions walking out of work in protest of the “capitalist system that throttles the will of the German people”. Many right-wing Christian conservative groups hold counter-protests, and some turn violent in areas like Munich

- Messerschmitt is once again contracted by the German government to begin working on a large-capacity airliner. Utilizing previous designs, as well as existing jets from the United States and France, the Me-200 is a fantastic jetliner that is capable of holding more than 300 passengers on a single flight. The first Me-200 makes a successful trip from Cologne to Lisbon, and then a final journey to Ontario, where it is met with press from more than a dozen nations, as well as foreign companies

- The German government announces a new policy in which any German discovered to be visiting Atlantis without the approval of the German government is set to be arrested immediately and tried on charges of sedition and treason, as the events of the Saurian reveal proves to be more and more concerning. Many scientific groups protest the move, but are largely unable to do anything in regards to this policy

- A cable is sent to the Zeta, hoping to formalize German and Zeta relations. Surprisingly, the Zeta respond, and land in Cologne to begin discussions to find deals with the German government. Without Ollenhaur present, the German foreign office invites the Zeta to send a representative to Oktoberfest. This leads to disaster as the Zeta representative, going by the name of “Ag”, is poisoned after consuming half a pint of beer. Rushed to the nearby Zeta craft, the Zeta officially announce that they will “no longer take part in the Garming tradition of Iktoberfist”

- Numerous military drills are launched in order to test the effectiveness of the German military. Knowing that the EDC and possibly NATO have turned against them, the German government pushes harder and harder to try and train their troops to the best of their capabilities. Surprisingly enough, the Bundeswehr proves to be an impressive sight to behold, which only serves to anger the French even more

- Electronics engineers, tasked with creating more reliable forms of energy production, unveil their latest design of solar cells. Using copies of rechargeable batteries, as well as improving the surface area of the solar “panel”, the new design is capable of delivering a charge to the batteries that can power a strong, handheld radio for more than twelve hours of continual use. With time, effort and more improvements, Germany may soon be the first to deploy solar cells for large-scale usage

- A massive medical breakthrough takes place as German doctors successfully test the first effective “pacemaker” on a German child suffering from severe heart issues. This new invention is a great leap forward for medicine, giving millions of people across the world the capability to prolong their life through the use of the pacemaker. These doctors are fast-tracked to receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, though the doctors refuse to choose an individual, but instead desire that the group be awarded as a whole

- The Warsaw Pact undergoes a massive series of reformations as the Soviets move to create a “democratized” form of military centralization. Mimicking the existing politburo of the Soviet Union itself, the Warsaw Pact will now have a “Pact Strategic Council” with the intention of ensuring streamlined command and manufacturing. All member states of the Warsaw Pact will send their defense minister to partake in these meetings, and is given the opportunity to be elected as “Supreme Commander” every three years. Of course, the Soviets are the first to hold said position

- After a brief meeting with Zeta representatives in an undisclosed location, the Soviet government has announced a "Научно-исследовательский Кооператив" (Nauchno-issledovatel'skiy Kooperativ) [Research Cooperative] with the Zeta in the hopes of creating a “long lasting partnership between Earth and its new extraterrestrial colleagues”. One of the greatest hurdles, besides the language barrier, is the vehement refusal to allow Soviet scientists to study their craft, which has led to a handful of awkward scuffles as overly curious scientists are literally “frozen in place” by a Zeta device and then held until the KGB arrives

- A secret gathering of the politburo is secretly recorded by an unknown individual, revealing to the entire Soviet Union that Khrushchev and his allies have outright denounced Stalin, claiming that he was a “madman at the center of a cult”and an “ultimately destructive force to the Soviet people”. The instant the news hits the public, the situation begins to deteriorate. In areas like Ukraine, Crimea and the Baltic SSRs, statues of Stalin are defaced or simply torn down

- The Soviet army is forced to send a division to Tbisli in order to put down an enormous riot that broke out in support of Stalin, demanding that the “usurper” Khrushchev step down and be replaced with Georgy Malenkov. The KGB immediately tracks down Malenkov, who is spotted attempting to exit the country to go on a “diplomatic mission” to Iran. Regardless of his intentions, Malenkov is arrested on charges of sedition and held for trial in the following months

- Domestic flights are allowed to begin again now that the Zeta have proven themselves to not be a threat, as well as the Saurians being restricted to oceanic travel. Deals are struck with the Zeta to ensure “clear airspaces and fair travel” for both sides. The Zeta, happy to oblige, agree to a deal that restricts them to Mach 1 when below their average cruising altitude of 25,000m. Past that, the Zeta enjoy their Mach 20 standard speeds, so long as they do not interfere with Soviet military movements or exercises

- A stray dog from the streets of Moscow, by the name of Nadia, is placed aboard a pressure-sealed capsule atop a rocket. By the time the capsule reaches out past the atmosphere, the scientists quietly turn off certain monitoring systems to ensure that they do not observe the dog’s perishing. However, intense radio interference glues the eyes of the scientists to all their equipment. Less than a half hour later, the capsule--including Nadia--is safely returned to the ground by a Zeta saucer. After some explaining, the Zeta were simply worried that “such an animal would not survive this journey”. Animal rights groups are “coerced” into being quiet about the whole affair

- The Soviet government begins a massive campaign to placate the general populace on the possibility of a Saurian threat to the nation. Multiple pieces of propaganda are disseminated, including that the KGB has managed to avoid losing any operatives to the Saurians, that the military remains untouched, and that the Soviet people are simply “too far away from the shores” to be affected by Saurian influence. Nonetheless, the near-constant reveals of the extraordinary has begun to numb the Soviet people into just accepting anything

- Knowing that the high seas must now be protected from a possible Saurian threat, as well as human, Khrushchev orders that four Kiev-class aircraft carriers be added to the Baltic and Black Sea fleets in order to bolster their defenses. These carriers, to be finished by late 1956, will be outfitted with a complement of attack helicopters, short range interceptors and deck-mounted ballistic missiles, acting as the perfect “surface balance” to the Soviet submarine swarm

- Patrol aircraft over the Black Sea identify numerous Saurian submarines just outside of the Dardanelles, simply watching the movement of both Turkish and Soviet fleets before immediately scurrying away when spotted. There are many in Soviet high command who are becoming increasingly worried over the possibility of a potential Saurian attack on Soviet assets. These men are silenced, and any reports of Saurians encroaching on Soviet territory is heavily edited

- Soviet military engineers begin working on creating a weapon capable of penetrating thick concrete emplacements before detonating. The test models of the "Бетонная Разрушающая Бомба" (Betonnaya Razrushayushchaya Bomba) [Concrete Destroying Bomb/BRB-1) prove to be incredibly effective, with the weapon deployed by a fast-moving attack craft and guided with a small radar-sight on the tip. The BRB-1 is tested to break through more than a meter of reinforced concrete and subsequently setting off its 150kg charge. The NATO designation is, appropriately, “Bunker Buster”

- Following in the footsteps of the Yugoslavs, Soviet electronics engineers begin working with more advanced circuitry in the hopes of creating faster, more efficient and more reliable computers for scientific and military purposes. A breakthrough is made in the realm of “integrated circuits”, with Soviet scientists using a more efficient way of preserving the oxide layer, allowing for mass production of integrated circuits on an industrial scale, opening the door for countless future endeavors

- Argentina sends a few dozen military advisors, mainly with experience in air defenses, to help train the Zambezian military on bringing them up to speed with aerial reconnaissance and air-to-ground attacks. Unsurprisingly, these advisors are fairly hostile towards the Zeta, and Zambezian authorities butt heads with their SHAMN allies. Eventually, the Argentinians return home frustrated, and the Zambezian air force confused on what their new doctrine should be

- An official diplomatic cable is sent to Namibia in order to reduce tensions, which leads to the mutual creation of a demilitarized zone along the more hotly contested areas on the northeastern border. Zambezia also makes moves to develop a series of irrigation pipelines to supply Namibian farms in the northeast, giving water to parched areas that are affected by the loss of important waterways now under the control of Zambezia

- Economic advisors are sent in droves to the recently independent East African Federation in order to help oversee the creation of mines, railways, electrical grids and telephone lines. In comparison to Zambezia, the East African Federation is largely backwater, and Zambezian companies quickly swarm the country to begin carving out areas of precious metals and raw materials, much to nobody’s surprise

- The East African Federation is invited to the SACU as an observing member after a free trade agreement is struck in Nairobi. With much of the East African Federation’s economy already reliant on Zambezia, there are many hardliners in the Zambezian government who propose a total annexation of the EAF. However, British advisors in the Zambezian government remind these officials that Zambezia and the EAF are both still at the mercy of the United Kingdom, and such a move would be met with backlash by parliament in both countries

- Zambezian representatives meet with the Zeta in an undisclosed location to begin discussing the possibility of a mutual research agreement. Asking largely nothing in return, the Zambezian government hopes to share information from their anthropological studies in order to help the Zeta understand the various nuances of human culture. With the Zeta having deep ties with the Soviets and Americans, the introduction of an unfamiliar series of cultures intrigues the Zeta, who gladly take the information for their own research

- A massive program to expand the rail and roadways begins in order to link up the newly acquired territories in the south, as well as begin linking infrastructure of the SACU together, properly unifying the economies of southern Africa. With a huge influx of cheap labor, plus experienced industry heads, this construction will be quick and clean now that Zambezia has had nearly a decade of continual expansion of its own infrastructure

- The economy of Zambezia begins to grow rapidly as the country benefits off of the post-war states in the south, the East African Federation to the north, and continued trade with the United Kingdom. As a result, the country slowly but surely sees its deficit begin to tip towards a surplus, and the government begins hoarding as much money as possible to begin expanding public services. The popularity of the Todd regime is through the roof, and the Liberal Party begins to threaten seats considered safe by the conservatives

- Tensions run high in the major cities of Zambezia as the various refugees begin to butt heads with the local Zambezians, as both take different sides on the presence of white government, foreign rule and reduced autonomy. Street gangs are formed by refugees who seek to defend themselves and their communities as they feel less welcomed by the average person than the government led on. Police are dispatched regularly to fights between local and refugee gangs in the poorer parts of cities

- Soldiers that are peeled away from the DMZ in the northeast join two whole divisions that are immediately sent to the Angolan theater to begin combating the rebels that have managed to dig in deep. One of the biggest issues that the Zambezian soldiers face is the ongoing harassment in the rear lines by rebel sympathisers. Roads are covered in spike strips, fuel lines are cut, and foodstuffs are drenched in wastewater

- Combat in eastern Angola proves to be incredibly difficult as the dry, rocky land is interspersed with thick forests. Knowing that fighting in the style of the South Africans will only galvanize their enemies, the Zambezian military instead must go on a slower and more methodical offense. With many civilians in the east siding with the rebels, the Zambezian army is largely clueless as to where the enemy is, and how exactly to meet them in battle

- Nuclear power engineers begin to work on more efficient forms of reactor cores, largely by creating a “water recycling” system that cools down water and replenishes the core, reducing the need to continue pumping more and more fresh water into the reactor. Some have also begun to use graphite units to keep control over the uranium rods, cutting costs and increasing efficiency. Many are stunned by the rapid industrialization of Zambezia, and many consider the country to be at the forefront of “post-colonial miracles”

 

[Malos]

merge break ok native didn't want to do it he's a really big gay

 

[Zillamaster55]

A farmer attempts to escape an enormous billowing cloud of smoke

24 December, 1955
1229

A quiet afternoon on Christmas Eve in southern Argentina is disrupted as a huge, seemingly endless series of thunderclaps is heard. People turn outside to see the sky turn from a clear, crystal blue to a murky, swirling black.

Bright white streaks of lighting slam into the ground, again and again, and howling winds bring forth a hideous wall of churning smoke that engulfs everything in its path. Hundreds begin to run, attempting to flee.

While hundreds more begin marching into the smoke.

Thousands begin marching into the smoke.

A horrifying, booming sound echoes from behind the smoke…

…sounding like laughter

 

[Zillamaster55]

A group of armed “Blood Zealots” storming the grounds of the Palace of the Argentine National Congress

8 January, 1956

0930

Early on a cool, relatively quiet morning, the Argentine congress is called to an emergency session by Perón. Many are confused, wondering what kind of emergency could possibly bring the session together so early in the day, on a Sunday no less. Regardless, the men shuffle into their seats, quietly muttering to one another about recent events, like the earthquake, the storms, the caravans, and tensions with the many countries in both the Western and Eastern blocs.

Suddenly, the droning noise of shouts and chanting can be heard from outside the building. Politicians turn their heads, trying to discern what exactly is going on. A handful of men get up, excusing themselves to see exactly what is going on, and leave the room. Only a few minutes later, the sound of breaking glass is heard, and dozens of small canisters are whipped through windows and doorways onto the floor. A roiling cloud of bright red smoke wafts its way upwards, politicians having no idea what is happening until it is too late.

Within minutes, hundreds of men and women are struggling to breathe, choking on their own fluids as they claw desperately at their throats. The doors whip open, and the people scream for the help of the people storming into the room. Their pleas are met with the sound of machine guns and rifles. Clad in black clothes and gas masks smeared with red paint, the attackers shout over and over again “Salvation Comes! Salvation Comes!”

Stepping slowly into the room to observe his work, Juan Perón approaches the front of the room. A long red cloak is draped over his shoulders, and his clothes are an ornate gathering of gold and black. Unlike the men and women around him, he wears no gas mask. His face is a pallid white and blue, and his eyes glow with a sickly yellow light. Turning around, Perón simply waves his hand, and the uniformed attackers begin dragging the corpses out into the halls of the palace.

In less than an hour, the top of the Argentinian government is liquidated.


Literally.

Sitting atop a throne of bones and boiled flesh, Perón addresses the country as dozens of cameras are pointed to him.

“Today, my children, my supplechants, my people! The time has finally come! This is the voice of your guide into the afterlife, this is the voice of the Enlightened One!

I anoint you, the people of Argentina, the people of all who can hear me as my warriors in faith! The time has come to bring salvation to the world. Go, go forth, bring forward the lives of the unworthy to our gods, and prepare for the entrance into immortality! Hail to the dark gods, hail to those who now enter our plane, welcomed with open arms!

Hail!”

Across the country, there are reports of massacres. Hundreds of thousands of practitioners of a vicious cult burst into the homes of non-believers and drag them into the streets. Horrifying pillars of bones and flesh are erected in city streets, congregants chanting a forgotten language. The Rio de Plata runs red with the body of the sacrificed. No age, sex or color is safe, as those that do not kneel in worship are immediately offered up as gifts to the dark gods known as the “Thule”. A new flag is raised across the country, as people salute the arrival of the Reformed Dominion of the Black Sun

Above these pillars of flesh and sacrificial altars…

...storm clouds brew

 

[Amfleet]

IT BEGINS

 

[Zillamaster55]

[clockwise, from top left]
(Troops of the Soviet First Expeditionary hit the beach in southern Argentina, an American F-100 Super Sabre prepares an intercept mission, an Argentinian “Charnel Tower”, an American B-52 Stratofortress bombs an Argentinian military base)

THE UNITED NATIONS

20 January, 1956


1045

In a surprising joint session to the United Nations, American President Nelson D. Rockefeller and Soviet General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev present their knowledge of Perón’s new regime in Argentina. As the rest of the world panics, these two calmly approach the front, shaking hands and making their case known to every single observer. Hundreds of cameras broadcast their address to millions.

Juan Perón, the dictator of Argentina, has been harboring a dark and mysterious cult dedicated to ancient, interdimensional beings known as the “Thule”. These creatures existed tens of thousands of years before written history, feeding on the “life energies” of both Human and Saurian kind. Demanding mass sacrifices, these beings were able to enter the mortal plane, exacting their “corruptive powers” on mortal beings. One of the greatest places of worship was the technological marvel of Atlantis, a floating structure that sat in the mid Atlantic, capable of providing thousands upon thousands of willing individuals for sacrifice.

A failed rebellion against the Thule led to a violent reprisal. Once a population of hundreds of millions, gathered in vast cities, humanity and saurians were reduced to a mere thousand as the Thule exterminated every sapient being they came across, tearing them apart piece by piece and dragging their cities into “black clouds” that wiped them off the face of the earth. In order to prevent their return, human and saurian survivors created temples deep beneath the earth, channeling what little energy they had into “cubes”, which were aligned with the many angles of Atlantis, sending it below the waves.

This bomb of information sends the entire planet into a complete and utter state of panic and confusion. Religious leaders struggle to calm their people, while those more paranoid begin looting and trying to gather as much supplies as possible. Some even attempt to worship the Thule themselves, perhaps trying to find some kind of mercy, but show a total lack of “true dedication”.

Immediately after their explanation of Perón’s new regime, and revealing their knowledge of the Thule, the two representatives of NATO and the Warsaw Pact turn back to their own delegations and give a quiet signal. The war against Perón, and the war to protect the world, has begun.

ATLANTIC THEATER

22 January, 1956

1200

In a massive blitz attack, the Argentinian navy finds itself surrounded by dozens of both Soviet and American ships in the North Atlantic. With the Cultist navy totally unprepared, the coalition vessels begin throwing everything they can, including hundreds of ship-to-ship missiles, naval guns and torpedoes. A swarm of coalition aircraft overwhelm their defenses, making most of the Argentine navy an easy target.

The pride of the fleet, the ARA Belgrano sees the situation, and sends off its planes to engage the enemy as much as possible. Turning its sights on the Soviet carrier Vladivostok, the Belgrano goes to flank speed on a beeline course. Soviet vessels are barely able to notice the maneuver in time, and begin firing wildly to try and destroy the Belgrano before it can ram its target. A Soviet anti-ship missile strikes it in just the right place, destroying the Belgrano in an instant, causing the ship to completely disappear into a ball of flame.

Not stopping there, Balkan submarines begin going on a massive hunt for the Cultist navy’s submersible vessels, using their advanced sonar to track down and corner their enemies. However, the sonar weapons employed by the Cultists are able to literally liquify the crews of some Balkan ships, causing hideous casualties and making the fighting more and more difficult. Regardless, the Balkan navy does its best to stop the threat of Cultist submarines.

A full blockade of Argentina is quickly under way, with coalition ships patrolling along the coastline and firing enormous salvoes of missiles and guns into dockyards, naval facilities and oil stations. Much of the Cult’s remaining fleet is destroyed in port, viciously knocked down ship by ship as they desperately try to fight back or break through. A handful of Argentinian vessels, crewed by men not loyal to Perón, are able to surrender themselves and scuttle their ships. The rest, however, go down swinging.

A policy of unrestricted submarine warfare is launched, with all vessels flying the flag of both Argentina and the Black Sun being considered “fair game”. This results in thousands of tons of precious metals being sunk or captured, alongside ships containing the deadly neurotoxin “Element Red”, their exact destination unknown. Armed merchant vessels of the Cult take their chances and fire on anything around them, be it neutral or otherwise, attracting the attention of enemy submarines as much as they can.

The surface and undersea blockade of Argentina is incredibly effective, with the nation’s coastline completely locked off in a matter of weeks. No ships will enter or exit Argentina without the coalition navies being made aware. With this total naval supremacy, the coalition prepares their ground invasion to liberate Argentina and stop Perón before it’s too late...

ARGENTINIAN THEATER

1 February, 1956

0400

Along the southern shoreline of Argentina, on the quiet beaches in the early morning, a massive ground invasion arrives. Launched from two directions, troops of the United States and Australia hit the rocky islands of the southwest, while Warsaw Pact Troops from Namibia hit the east near Tierra del Fuego. Immediately, the landing troops are hit with volleys of machine gun and artillery fire, followed up by incendiary and poison gas bombardments.

In the southeast, the Warsaw Pact troops have a better go at it, supported by Soviet and Balkan airstrikes inland, as well as being able to advance on to flat, unimpeded beachheads. Nonetheless, the losses are immense as the soldiers charge up through the sand into well placed and prepared Cultist defenses. Hours pass on the first day, and the armies are only able to advance a few kilometers inland before being bogged down by the zealous and devoted Cultists, who raise unholy hell for everyone involved.

Aerial bombardments manage to suppress the advancement of Cultist soldiers from exiting military bases, and a massive combined arms strike is launched against the Cultist air force, managing to take out much of their air power in only a few hours. Planes that remain grounded become excellent targets for bombers, though Cultist air defenses are powerful enough to protect their airbases from being entirely wiped out in a single go.

A few days later, the coalition is capable to break through the beachheads and begin making their way further and further into the territories held by the cultists, fighting meter by bloody meter as the Cultists refuse to give ground, and make the attackers pay for every step they take. Even with the strength of the attackers, the casualties begin to rack up as the resolve of their enemies seems entirely unbreakable, with Cultist soldiers outright ignoring suppressing fire, enemy advances or even wounds, fighting until they physically can no longer.

It is soon discovered that those who are truly loyal to Perón’s death cult are completely incapable of retreating or surrendering, literally fighting to their last breath. Some of them launch horrifying suicide charges, strapping shaped charges to their chest and leaping onto tanks, or carrying canisters of Element Red before detonating them in enemy formations. This form of fighting does come with its costs, however, as once the coalition overruns their position, there is no fighting retreat, allowing them to advance forwards and take huge swathes of territory before being forced to fight again.

Civilians are not much help either, for if they have been “corrupted” by the cult, they lie in wait for coalition forces to be ambushed in the night, destroying equipment, causing havoc and slitting the throats of whoever they can reach. Hearts and minds cannot be won when dozens of shrieking, knife-wielding supplechants charge themselves into a machine gun nest in order to kill just a single soldier. Civilians are instead frisked, checked and kept under lock and key until soldiers can prove their innocence. Refugees from the cult spill into the rear lines of the coalition, begging for protection and safety.

Tanks belonging to cultists suddenly prove to be a nightmare, moving in groups of two and fighting only in the evening, using surprise and speed to their advantage. Though far weaker than American or Soviet tanks, these armored vehicles are brutally efficient in mowing down groups of infantry, destroying lighter vehicles and, in some cases, running headfirst into defensive emplacements in order to detonate their ammunition in a brilliant explosion of shrapnel and heat.

Close air support is a must, and both the WARPAC and NATO countries bring huge numbers of helicopters to cover the advance of their soldiers, though many are forced to remain grounded as freak wind storms and lightning make it difficult, or in some cases impossible, to fly. As the soldiers advance inland, the weather becomes worse and worse, with gales bringing stinging dust and chilling rain down across the battlefield.

The Soviet soldiers, part of the small marine expedition, come across a ghastly sight in the city of Trelew. Nearly two thousand skeletons are heaped on top of one another, bloody scraps of meat hanging off of them, clearly implying that Trelew’s quaint and quiet streets were turned into a charnel house. A soldier slips on the sidewalk before noticing that the ground has become slick with the burnt fat from human bodies. In the town square, the meat lies in a disgusting pile. An eerie silence falls over the city as dark clouds begin to gather overhead. Before they are able to respond…

...three hundred Soviet soldiers meet their doom.

Central command is only able to sit by and listen to the sound of screaming, tearing flesh, grinding bones and finally ominous, booming laughter before the radios cut out. Aerial observers begin to report sights of hideous, malformed shapes from “inside the storms”. Radios begin to cut in and out, and soldiers far from the battlefield begin to exhibit signs of intense paranoia and fear.

Something has come.

 

[joshuadim]

EVERYONE PANIC

 

[Zillamaster55]

Turn 18
January - June, 1956

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World Tension is AT THE BREAKING POINT
World Economy is PLUMMETING

World Events
- The Argentinian Government falls as Perón marches into the parliament building with nearly a thousand supportive civilians behind him. A mass slaughter of nearly all politicians signals the new “reign of terror” of Perón, who declares himself as the “Enlightened One”, revealing his participation in the great storm. Perón is now head of the mysterious “Great Council”, and has exercised his true powers by sacrificing hundreds of prisoners in the riots to the “Thule”

- With Argentina’s government having fallen, areas around the country and parts of Chile and Peru are absorbed in the “Reformed Church of the Black Sun”, an enormous, country-spanning death cult with practitioners in the millions. The intense propaganda campaigns have managed to convince hundreds of thousands to turn into madmen, committing atrocities across the region, slaughtering thousands of innocents

- A massive coalition is formed between NATO and the Warsaw Pact with the intention of invading Argentina, with the dual purpose of deposing the Perón regime and preventing the spread of a dark and insidious force. “The cat is out of the bag” says president Rockefeller, who in a joint summit with Khrushchev tell the world of the Thule, a vicious series of beings from another dimension, whose sole purpose is to “gather the energies of mankind”

- The war against Perón at sea proves to be incredibly effective, wiping out much of their combat capabilities over the course of only a few weeks. The ground invasion, however, is a brutal fight to the bloody finish as the Cultists do their best to make every living thing that has turned against them pay with their lives. Reports of huge pillars of flesh and bone are made public via leaks, which only manages to deepen the Cult’s resolve

- The world economy begins to nosedive wildly as people begin to panic about a literal apocalypse. Religious individuals flock to their houses of worship to pray for salvation, while others begin to board up their homes and businesses in preparation for the spreading of the conflict. Governments do their best to quell the fears, but those in proximity to the slaughterhouse that is South America are unwilling to listen to reason

- The Saurians make one final transmission, announcing that “further barbarism” will be met with “the utmost pure response”. Saurian vessels disappear around the globe, with navies scrambling to try and track them, desperate to know where these powerful vehicles have disappeared. Zeta ships are seen patrolling the waters where the last Saurian submarines were spotted, and what this means exactly is unknown

- The Federal Republic and Democratic Republic of Germany hold referendums in their respective nations to gauge the public’s opinion on unification. With a majority victory for both sides, the Federal Republic of Germany absorbs the DDR and its economy, soldiers and infrastructure, much to the outrage of Western Europe. Meanwhile, West Austria is once again made independent in a deal to ensure stability in the region, though relations between the two have soured as a result of the referendum

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- Perón marches on Buenos Aires in a vicious coup d’etat, slaughtering the Argentinian government and erecting a hideous monument to his new gods. Imbued with some unknown energies, Perón avoids the poisonous gas used to launch the attack, and addresses the nation in a “grim sermon”. Perón declares himself the “Enlightened One” of a bizarre death cult known as the “Reformed Order of the Black Sun”, and readies himself and his closest allies for a complete takeover of the region

- In almost an instant, millions of everyday Argentinians reveal their allegiance to the Reformed Order of the Black Sun and begin wreaking havoc in the streets. Hundreds of massacres take place, with those “disloyal to the True Gods” being dragged from their homes or places of business and executed in the streets. A disgusting series of “Holy Houses” are erected in areas across the country, where the corpses of the sacrificed are processed to make hideous altars to the Thule

- A bloody war of attrition is fought in the Argentinian countryside as what few individuals not loyal to the cult and unexposed to the mind-cleansing propaganda broadcasts try desperately to fight their way to safety. These “apostates” are hunted down mercilessly by the Cult, and bands of armed refugees are barely able to repel attacks in some cases, with their groups being whittled down into the dozens as they attempt to escape

- Nearly the entirety of Argentina’s armed forces pledge their allegiance to Perón, changing their uniforms to better reflect the new regime. Those that don’t are hunted down to be tortured to death in service to the Reformed Order of the Black Sun. The only ones able to escape are a few seamen on ships out of range of the propaganda broadcasts and not in contact with Perón loyalists. Regardless of this, the military undergoes a secretive restructuring to begin preparing for the “Future of Salvation”

- In the early morning of late January, a joint attack by the Warsaw Pact and NATO is launched to begin destroying the Black Sun and deposing Perón. Perón addresses the nation, bringing calm to his congregation by soothing their minds with further propaganda, and statements regarding the “Time of Great Struggle” and how it is “On the Horizon”. The military is mobilized and prepares itself for a long and drawn out war of attrition and defense

- The Cult’s navy is destroyed in a matter of weeks, save for the large submarine force, including the flagship Belgrano. In what would usually be a morale hit, the loss of the Belgrano only strengthens the resolve of the zealots, who declare the crew’s sacrifice as a “worthy effort for the cause”. Meanwhile, Argentina’s ability to produce and field naval vessels is essentially destroyed overnight by a massive, coordinated attack on dockyards and construction facilities

- A huge blockade is launched against the Cult, with nearly all of the Argentinian shoreline being overwhelmed by both a surface and undersea fleet that threatens shipping in and out of the nation. The country’s economy is in freefall as this blockade both prevents outside trade, but as well as causing severe damage to coastal settlements as they try and starve out the country and break the nation’s resolve. This matters little to Perón and his people, who have abandoned the “need for materials beyond collection of the sacrifice”

- Troops from NATO and the Warsaw Pact begin landing across the country’s southern shores, with tens of thousands of coalition soldiers making landings and fighting their way inland. The efforts of the Cult’s defenses are not without merit, however, as their brutal dedication and zealotry to the cause manages to inflict serious damage to the coalition and stall a near total domination of the country, at least for a while. Unsurprisingly, the sheer overwhelming numbers makes this more difficult than it seems

- The Cult’s air force is destroyed in only a couple of days as the enemy outnumbers them nearly 10:1, making it impossible for proper interception of enemy bombers or fighters. With total air superiority, the coalition begins delivering devastating airstrikes on Cult airbases and industrial facilities. The main factories that are targeted are those that are capable of producing military equipment, which will eventually impact the Cult’s ability to fight, at least for now

- Perón disappears into an unknown location, making recordings of propaganda broadcasts to be played at a number of different stations at different times, making it hard to pinpoint exactly where he is. Perón makes it clear that the Cult will fight to the end, and that “nothing will truly break our resolve”. Assassins of the Spetsnaz, the KGB, the CIA, MI6, the SAS and more try desperately to hunt him down, to no avail. The last broadcast made by Perón before going quiet was a simple phrase: “It Has Begun”

- Storms rack southern Argentina as the invading coalition forces begin stumbling across the charnel pits of the Cult’s many sacrifices. Reports of bodies being torn apart midair by unknown forces become commonplace, and electronics interference causes radios to be filled with the sound of laughter. Whatever Perón’s prediction was, it appears to be coming true as large, dark figures begin moving behind the swirling clouds of smoke and storm

- Joining alongside their communist allies, the Balkan Federation pledges its forces to destroy the forces of Juan Perón, dedicating the nation’s large submarine and surface fleet to fighting against the Cult. A massive effort is launched to be able to interdict trade vessels, as well as hunt down Cult submarines in the deep waters around their country. The Cult’s sonic weapons do severe damage to Balkan submarines, but the sheer numbers and training of Balkan submarine crews is enough to win out in the end

- In the North Atlantic, the Balkan navy is able to assist the Soviets in bringing down much of the Cult’s surface vessels, celebrating with both the Soviet Union and the United States at the sinking of the Belgrano. Numerous American ships are saved by Balkan submarines that manage to chase down Cultist wolfpacks, driving them out of the combat zone or sending them to a watery grave. These successes prove to be a fantastic propaganda piece for the Balkan people, which Tito uses to its full extent

- Due to the war, the Summer Olympics of 1956 find themselves delayed into early August. With this delay, the Balkan government begins working on stress testing stadiums, working out kinks in public transport, and further expanding the Olympic Village that is nestled snugly in between the large sports complexes. Athletes of the Balkan team undergo intense training to prepare them for the ultimate test, with the goal of earning even more medals than the previous games four years ago

- In order to help alleviate issues regarding the lack of welfare, healthcare and efficient public services, the Balkan government begins diverting factory subsidies to help better improve the situation. With the addition of Bulgaria’s population to the country, public services workers were swamped, and with more funding local governments are better able to bring on skilled workers to properly administer the Balkan welfare system. By the end of the year, the system will be streamlined and running smoothly once again

- A massive propaganda campaign is launched throughout the country to try and improve relations between the Yugoslav and Bulgarian peoples. Having been separated for centuries, the recent inclusion of the Bulgarian people has caused some cultural and ethnic friction. Focusing on the unity of the Southern Slavic people, as well as full suppression of nationalist and religious movements, the Balkan government is somewhat successful in helping the integration of the Bulgarian population

- YugoTek, the electronics manufacturing giant of the Balkan Federation, receives even more funding in order to boost their speed and efficiency of research, as well as improve the production of computers and other electronic goods. With the demand for electronics beginning to grow worldwide, the Balkan government knows that it cannot risk falling behind the capitalist giants like America and Britain, and pushes hard to be able to stay ahead of the game via state owned manufacturers

- With the overwhelming success of the Five Year Plan, Tito announces a second Five Year Plan to begin properly integrating the Bulgarian economy, expanding the industrial capacity of the Balkan federation as a whole, and helping the country transition into a modern import/export economy “with a socialist twist”. Unsurprisingly, this new plan also sees the expansion of state owned companies, increasing their influence abroad in nations like Zion and the People’s Republic of China

- The Balkan military begins taking pages from the recently built F-105 Delta Sabre and MiG-21, and begin building a plane similar in design, but “Balkan” nonetheless. The J-25 ”Lasica” (Weasel) and J-30 ”Koplje” (Javelin) are built for two similar and yet distinct purposes. The J-25 is a close range interceptor, putting most of its energy into engines and remaining lightweight, while the J-30 is a long range dual-purpose fighter-interceptor, built for fighting outside of the airspace in the Balkans and engaging enemies at a much farther range

- Having gone through serious disruption at the top of military command, the Balkan government chooses to seek more competent officers from the Bulgarian ranks to replace the empty spaces left behind by discontent generals. These officers are pressed hard on their skills, and are encouraged to show support for their comrades in arms. Surprisingly, only a handful of officers are able to climb the ranks, and the empty spaces left behind are filled by Yugoslav appointees

- Further training of the Bulgarians takes place in order to properly bring them up to speed with Balkan tactics. Some soldiers who were conscripted into the Bulgarian army before the unification wash out of this training, completely unprepared for the more intense drilling that the Balkan military demands. With experience in both the Second World War and in South Africa, the Balkan military is not willing to let its ranks be filled with unready troops

- After consulting with more military-minded engineers from YugoTek, the Balkan military begins testing miniaturized computers to be placed in the most recently built Balkan fighters, such as the J-30 and J-25. These small computers allow for more accurate maneuvers and more powerful radar, as well as helping the pilot better observe mechanical functions such as oil pressure, fuel and even ammunition. With these new computing devices, the Balkan air force is leaps and bounds ahead of its competitors

- Understanding that precision guided munitions are the way of the future, YugoTek engineers are also tasked with producing smaller, more powerful targeting computers to be used on self-propelled artillery pieces, naval vessels and tactical bombers. With some work and some cut corners, these new targeting computers are a boon to the Balkan military, giving them a massive advantage over their enemies in combat

- Rushing to focus on the conflict in South America, the Soviet Union gives its blessings to the reunification referendum in Germany, recognizing the new government and promising military protection in a treaty similar to the Soviet-Balkan Treaty of Mutual Defense. This new Germany, fearing reprisals from the west, draws itself closer to the Soviet Union, its new socialist government leaning towards becoming a full member of the Warsaw Pact in the future

- A massive public referendum is held in both the Federal Republic and Democratic Republic of Germany, to gauge whether or not the people desire to reunify the two countries into a single German state. In the west, the referendum passes with 55% voting Yes, while the east sees a whopping 79% Yes. Rushing to complete it, both governments ratify the referendum, much to the chagrin of the United Nations, and proceeds to break down borders and begin forming a new government

- Germany officially relinquishes its control over the Austrian territories, preparing to hand them over to East Austria for “further European consistency and unification”. However, Austria was the least willing out of all of West Germany to unify with East Germany, and local politicians ram through a referendum of their own. West Austria will remain independent, with a new series of elections planned in the following weeks

- Liechtenstein, fearing an expansionist Germany, holds yet another referendum, choosing to merge itself into West Austria as a “semi-autonomous dependency”. Though Austria remains a staunch republic, Liechtenstein’s territory will be able to participate in elections, and its royal leaders remain in power over the tiny city state. Relations between Germany and Austria chill as the more hardline socialists in the newly organized German government see this as an act of “protecting the bourgeois”

- The expected growing pains are exacerbated as Franz Dahlem, leader of East Germany, assumes the position of Prime Minister, fusing the existing socialist parties into one, and immediately beginning to reorganize the German parliament to his liking. This causes some severe upset as many conservative politicians see their voices marginalized as more and more seats are given to socialist parties in the east

- Dahlem, though in power for only a short period of time, announces the "Nationales Union und Kooperatives Integrationsprojekt" (National Union and Cooperatives Integration Project/NUKI) to begin properly adjusting government controls over unions and cooperatives in the West, while simultaneously easing minor privatization back into the East. This move is set to expend a large amount of government budget and focus, as this shifts tax brackets wildly across the country

- Infrastructure and industrial reintegration programs are immediately activated, using a blend of the "Wirtschaftswunder" of the West, and the Soviet planned economy of the East. Tens of thousands of unemployed easterners are mobilized to begin participating in this new program, their taxes essentially slashed by the Dahlem administration for their “dedication to the people and the nation of Germany”. Much of the programs focus on properly fusing East German highways and railways with the West, while also bringing the many factories up to par with the latest technological advances

- With whatever money is left from the initial reunification, Dahlem announces the beginning of the "Deutsches Raumfahrtprogramm" (German Space Program) with the intention of “sending our people far beyond our planet, to explore the stars with the new friends we have made”. This move is a great popularity boost for the lower classes and those with a scientific mindset, but conservatives across the board are worried about rampant spending that could easily spiral out of control

- Right wing parties hold numerous protests against Dahlem, demanding that fair and free elections be held again to “fairly represent the German people”. Dahlem rebukes these protests by stating that the “elections will arrive as they always do” in the coming years. Regardless of this, conservative groups lodge formal complaints in the government almost regularly, and fistfights break out in the lower rungs of parliament as some are desperate to see the “Red Hydra” staved off

- A referendum on the nation’s flag is held across the country. With Germany now unified, the flags of the west and east are considered “outdated” and “unneeded”. As a result, a new design is found that raises many eyebrows. A blend of the original Imperial German flag with the symbols of the German Democratic Republic represents a “Unified Germany, made by the people, for the people”. Some criticize the blatantly socialist appearance, while others praise its uniqueness and depiction of the nation’s history

- After the events of the previous Oktoberfest, the German government files an official apology to the Zeta, claiming that the poisoning was entirely unintentional, and that hosts of the next celebration will do their best to try and “prevent such a close call” in the future. The Zeta appreciate the message, but again restate that they will not participate in Human celebrations, as the exact differences and similarities in biological structure is not entirely known

- A demilitarized zone is formed along the border with Poland and Czechoslovakia as Germany undergoes large scale military reformation. Technically a part of both NATO and the Warsaw Pact, Germany enjoys essentially “international, guaranteed protection” from attack, at least for now. In the meantime, however, the adoption of the NVA into the Bundeswehr is about to lead to a world of headaches for everyone involved

- Choosing to adopt the much larger "Nationale Volksarmee" (National People’s Army/NVA) rather than continue the standards of the Bundeswehr, Dahlem orders the German military to begin adjusting its tactics, doctrines, organization and equipment to model the NVA. This means that equipment, in some cases better than NVA goods, is placed in storage as factories are readjusted to take on the more “mass production” focus of East Germany

- As a result of these moves, the German military, now referred to as the Volkswehr, begins to undergo large scale reformation and restructuring, which leads to thousands of officers being discharged, thousands more being added, and entirely new armies being created to properly handle the new recruits from the east. Knowing that these two forces are distinct in many ways, Dahlem elects to push for “absolute German unity, no matter the discomfort”

- Knowing that the EDC, especially France, is itching for the possibility to slap Germany once again, a massive militarization of the western borders begins. Essentially able to break the treaties with France with little issue, thanks to the worldwide chaos and the unification, tens of thousands of soldiers are mobilized to the Rhineland to “observe European Defense Coalition forces” and “prevent a possible flareup”. The French, meanwhile, choose to ramp up their own military preparedness, and begin mobilizing similar numbers of troops to the Franco-German border

- With the announcement of the new German space program, scientists are tasked with creating powerful, reliable rocket engines capable of carrying “important cargo” high into the atmosphere. With existing knowledge from the Nazi V1 and V2 weapons programs, Germany’s scientists have a slight head start that other nations lacked. However, without the minds of Von Braun and his ilk, the designers are still forced to create entirely unique rocket propulsion, which nonetheless proves to be quite effective in tests

- Electronics researchers begin purchasing YugoTek computers from the Balkan Federation to begin understanding the latest in circuitry. Knowing that the Soviets have managed to master the integrated circuit, making it far more reliable and far more useful, German scientists try to one up them. Instead of focusing on the reliability of these circuits, the Germans begin to look into improving their raw power, and eventually create a design that is nearly twice as strong as any of its competitors

- In a joint speech at the United Nations, alongside the American president, Khrushchev reveals to the world the extent of Perón’s plans for global domination through the invitation of a deadly, interdimensional horror known as the “Thule”. Speaking to the people of the Soviet Union, Khrushchev does his best to try and calm the nation, stating that the Soviet Union is “far away from any threat of the violent religious fanatics”, while also silencing anything that may be too extreme for the general public

- With the approval of the American president, the Warsaw Pact launches a full scale military attack against the Perón regime, alongside NATO and the Balkan Federation in the hopes of breaking up Perón’s government and putting a stop to the attempts to bring about what is essentially the end of the world. Pulling out all the stops, the Warsaw Pact stages its troops from Namibia to launch a huge invasion of eastern Argentina, with the Americans and Australians hitting the enemy in the west

- Conflict in the North Atlantic is absurdly in favor of the coalition, able to destroy nearly all of the Cult vessels in the area, including the pride of the Cult’s fleet, the ARA Belgrano. A surface and undersea blockade is underway, with the Soviet Union announcing full scale unrestricted submarine warfare against ships bearing the flag of Argentina, which leads to tens of thousands of tons of shipping being sunk in a matter of weeks

- The land invasion of Argentina starts off with tremendous losses as the defenders fight to their dying breath, able to hold off for days at a time without ever seeming to grow tired or weary of fighting. Regardless, the Soviets and their allies press onward, with much of the Warsaw Pact doing the heavy lifting on the ground, while the Soviets themselves support the war effort from both the air and the sea, allowing their allies to push deep inland against their enemies

- An effort is launched to capture or kill Perón, as the Soviet Union uses the full strength of the Spetsnaz and the KGB to track his movements and bring him to justice. However, Perón has essentially vanished, leaving behind a growing trail of frustrating clues, riddles and taunts. The international search for the Argentinian dictator and cult leader hits a dead end as Perón gives a final broadcast and slips beneath the radar entirely, leaving not a trace as to where he went or what he has planned

- Rushing to focus on the conflict in South America, the Soviet Union gives its blessings to the reunification referendum in Germany, recognizing the new government and promising military protection in a treaty similar to the Soviet-Balkan Treaty of Mutual Defense. This new Germany, fearing reprisals from the west, draws itself closer to the Soviet Union, its new socialist government leaning towards becoming a full member of the Warsaw Pact in the future

- Knowing that the Cult is already freely using chemical weapons, and cares little for diplomatic repercussions, the Soviet Union goes ahead with proposing the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) at the United Nations. Signatories of the OPCW will support efforts to dismantle chemical weapons stocks, as well as report on and prevent the usage of such weapons in the field of battle. Though signatories of the deal, there are many rumors swirling about that countries like the United States, France, Britain, the Soviet Union and the Republic of China will still keep hold of a number of chemical weapons

- American consumer goods, usually considered to be “degenerative aspects of capitalist society”, are purchased in bulk by the Soviet government in return for raw material shipments. Things such as sweet corn, candies, sugar cane and even Pepsi Cola are purchased via the transfer of goods like steel, coal, vodka and oil. This helps to cool the tensions between the Soviets and Americans, because despite the combined war effort, both nations are extremely suspicious of one another

- Thousands of Stalin-era political prisoners are released from gulags and work camps, brought back into general society as the Khrushchev administration begins to clear the names of Stalin’s supposed enemies. Some of these men are “rehabilitated” into returning to political society, with many of these men being staunch opponents to the autocratic idealism of Stalinism. Those that show disloyalty to the state in any way, however, are placed on a list in which they can be fast tracked back to a prison cell

- A massive propaganda campaign is launched by the Soviet government to both quell fears of the Thule, as well as prevent possible worship of these beings. Staunchly atheist, the Soviet government refuses to allow for the public worship of a “non-human political threat”, and those that are found giving their offerings to the beings are arrested or flat out disappeared. Churches, Mosques and Synagogues are also placed under a close eye to ensure that there is no secretive sermons to praise these supposed “dark gods”

- Soviet aircraft engineers begin toying with a bizarre form of aircraft that utilizes downward thrusting engines for “Vertical Take Off and Landing”. Though the final design is somewhat limited in the vertical aspect, the newly designed Yak-27 interceptor is perfect for placement on top of the decks of carriers. Unlike regular ship-launched planes, the Yak-27 is capable of taking off with less than 20% of the deck space, allowing for rapid deployment of air-to-air missiles and reconnaissance

- Rocket scientists working alongside the Soviet navy unveil their latest design of missile. Using a high powered rocket engine alongside a radio guidance tip, the new P-15 "Термит" (Termit) [Termite] Anti-Ship Missile is perfect for striking enemy vessels up to 50 kilometers away. The P-15 is capable of delivering a 400kg charge directly into the belly of an enemy ship, which in nearly all cases is either a permanently disabling shot, or a flat out lethal hit. The first field test of the P-15 ends in the sinking of the Belgrano, allowing the Soviets to flex their muscles to the world

 

[Zillamaster55]

The Top 10 of the 1956 Olympics

6 - 13 July, 1956

In Belgrade, the capital city of the Balkan Federation, tens of thousands of people from around the globe gathered to the impressive stadiums located in "the most modern city in the world" to cheer on their countrymen in a series of friendly competitions. What made this Olympics special was that it was broadcast for the first time in color to more than a dozen countries, which allowed the Balkan government to show off the "manmade and natural beauty" of their great city.

Interesting events regarding the Olympics include:

• A fistfight breaking out between the Zion and Egyptian polo teams in the Olympic Village, leading to both being disqualified
• Poland's gold-winning gymnast snapping their ankle immediately after the awards ceremony
• A stunning upset where the German 100M Dash competitor lost to Italy at --quite literally -- the last possible half second
• The Soviets taking 8 out of the 10 golds for boxing, but losing the Heavyweight and Welterweight golds to the Balkans
• A Zambezian cyclist, originally in last, taking the gold after half of the competitors collide in "The Great Bike Incident"
• A Zeta craft seen observing the Turkey-Spain Tennis match
• The closing ceremonies being drenched in a downpour, putting out the Olympic Flame right before it was scheduled to

Though hiccups regarding the games and fears from the war in South America were still present, the games went off without a hitch, and the Balkans celebrated their teams by chiseling their victories onto the outer walls of their stadiums.

 

[Zillamaster55]

Epilogue

Present Day
Belgrade, Balkan Federation

The car rattled somewhat as the monorail took the curve that led over the southern half of the city. Staring out through the window, Hannah Monroe saw the morning sun shine from behind the enormous highrises that stood like towers above what remained of the old quarter of the city.

Another train shot past, and blocked her view long enough for her interest to turn back to her phone. Swiping her thumb across the almost paper thin device, she scrolled past news articles about the EU expanding their moon base, the Soviets landing a man on Io, and the ongoing squabbles over who should put a Mars base where.

She came to a stop when she saw a familiar, smiling face as the thumbnail to a recent article. Tapping it, the screen shifted to a story about the International Space Station, and that the new American-made zero gravity research facility had been installed. What mattered more to her was the warm smile from the short haired woman in the thumbnail.

Hannah's fiancé had been up there for days now, meticulously installing the massive array that hung effortlessly in orbit over the Earth. Though she was thousands of miles away from her, the little picture made it feel as if she was right beside her.

She was shaken out of her daydreams as the monorail began to slow down and an electronic voice repeated a message first in Serbian, Romanian, Hungarian, then German, and finally English.

"Now arriving at Victory Square Station."

She turned off her phone and it quickly rolled itself tightly into a tube that she slid into her pocket as she stood up, her knees popping after having sat still for so long.

She made her way past hundreds of other passengers that filed out of the train into the massive station to go about their daily business. She saw people from all walks of life and heard languages from all over the world.

Looking upwards towards the towering brutalist ceiling, the usually decorated station was adorned with long black banners. Rows upon rows of flowers adorned the edges of a huge granite wall adorned with thousands of names. Even though nothing was very different about today, there was a sobering feeling.

"Remembrance Week." a deep and gravelly voice said behind her.

Hannah spun around to see the large figure of a man adorned in a well fitting blue suit. A smile had spread across the man's face.

"John!" she almost shouted, and opened her arms for an embrace. He hugged her tightly and chuckled softly.

"Not the place I would have expected to see you!" John said. "Are you here for the ceremonies?"

Hannah shook her head. "No, just stopping through on my way to Munich. Going to catch a flight this afternoon. What about you, doctor Hatendi?" she said, stressing the man's title.

John's smile widened. "I see you've caught wind of my new career." He chuckled, rubbing his chin in thought before continuing. "Xenobiology department, University of Salisbury, Republic of Zambezia" he said, using a voice not out of place for one of his lectures.

The two laughed and made their way through the station, sharing stories and catching up with one another, before finally stepping out of the building and onto the steps, where she finally saw it.

Looming over the city of Belgrade, standing proudly with his hand extended towards the sun, was the seventy five meter tall statue of Josip Broz Tito. Fountains glimmered at the base of the statue and a massive amount of flowers had been laid around it in neat rows, forming the Balkan Federation flag.

Hannah couldn't help but stare in awe. She had seen pictures, toured it in VR and talked about wanting to see it, but in all her years she had never seen it in person.

The titanic statue, the fountains, the gardens, everything had been erected within the years after the Invasion Wars. Despite the merriment with Dr. Hatendi, the excitement over Lee's successes, the mood of the square had finally hit her in the chest.

She caught herself staring for longer than she had expected, and had to shake herself out of it. She turned and could see the look of concern on Dr. Hatendi's face.

"The numbers make it hard to grasp." he said, and Hannah nodded solemnly.

Nearly ninety three million dead across the globe in a matter of months. First, the Thule and their minions butchered their way across South America before finally being put down with nuclear weapons and a grueling ground invasion, which was paired with the Zeta betrayal and the Great Scorching. Entire cities were glassed in seconds as the Zeta launched their assault on Earth.

It was here, in Belgrade, where Josip Broz Tito himself boarded a captured Zeta craft, commanding it to the bitter end against a powerful Zeta warship. The battle killed him, his men, and hundreds of thousands as the enormous vessel collided with the ground. That was the turning point in the war, a war that would last for more than a year before finally being brought to a close.

But Earth held. With Human resolve and the last second alliance with the Saurians, both the Thule and the Zeta were cast out of the solar system for good.

That was generations ago.

Hannah remembers the stories her grandfather told of being rushed out of Chicago, being carried by his mother as fires roared around him. But that was a long time ago, right? Things had changed for the better, right?

Mankind picked up the pieces and the Saurians returned to Atlantis, now staunch allies and friends of humanity. Decades passed. Old technologies were relearned, old grudges were put to rest, and entire nations were born from the ashes of the so called "Murderous Century". Yet despite all of this, there was a constant reminder of such a time, seen in the newly constructed cities that sat on the glassed foundations of their predecessors.

She shook her head to try and keep the gloom away. "Would you like to join me for coffee?" she said.

"Of course" Dr. Hatendi said, the smile returning. "I wonder if there's any place that sells Beirut Brew. That stuff kept me alive during my conference in Tel Aviv last week."

Hannah smiled back, and the two made their way down the steps and towards the sidewalk, ready to start the day.

(Map coming soon.)