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

[Zillamaster55]

Disgusted by the sudden revolution in Jordan, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, having hosted the remaining members of the Hashemite royal family, finally decides to begin the expansion of their nation's borders, their ultimate goal being to establish Greater Syria. In the early morning of the 8th of March, 1953, artillery opened up on the Syrian-Jordanian border, with Syrian troops spilling over. In only a short period of time, the Jordanians are bowled over, and the communist forces surrender to the overwhelming superiority of the Syrian attackers.

The monarchy of the Hashemites is reestablished, and the nation remains under Syrian occupation. If the Syrians play their cards right, Jordan may be incorporated into their lofty goals for regional domination.

 

[Zillamaster55]

Turn 11
January - June, 1953
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World Tension is WARM
World Economy is STABLE

World Events
- With the situation continuing to deteriorate in South Africa, the Zambezian parliament moves to occupy the Botswana and the Caprivi Strip. Here, Zambezia stations a number of troops to oversee the transfer of refugees and civilians, safely moving them over the border and into one of the many huge refugee camps that the Zambezian government has erected. South Africa lodges minor protest, but with the land largely arid and unpopulated, the South Africans see it as an acceptable loss
- Yugoslavia makes a daring move and sends 10,000 peacekeepers to South Africa to begin acting as peacekeepers in areas occupied by the People’s African Army. Lightly armed, these troops are to provide medicine, policing and rebuilding efforts to try and ensure a stable society behind the lines of combat. South Africa has yet to deliver an official statement, but the risk of conflict has been ramped up significantly
- Syria, seeing the violent communist coup d’etat in Jordan, invades their neighbor with the dual intention of returning what remains of the monarchy to Jordan, as well as putting in place the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. Unsurprisingly, the tiny, disorganized army of the Jordanian Commune is no match for the Syrians, who bowl them over in less than a week, driving tanks and motor columns directly into Amman. The communist government is scattered to the wind, and a temporary occupation is in place to ensure security
- Massive protests break out across northern Germany, with dozens of riots taking place in major cities. Calling for unification, these protestors demand that the monarchs step down, and that a “true German democracy be realized”. In Hesse, police forces dispatched to deal with the riots join them, forcing the military to intervene. Numerous demonstrators are martyred, and the city of Bremen is shrouded in smoke during two weeks of nonstop rioting
- The war in Indochina slowly approaches its end as the French leave the last of the fighting to its colonial puppets and Thailand. Communist forces in the north begin to crumple as their lines are squeezed, and their support of the local populace wanes. Guerillas still fight in the dense jungles and hills, across the landscape, but they are nowhere near as organized, nor as well equipped, as their predecessors
- A number of Shah loyalists storm the Majlis to try and remove Mossadegh for a second time. Succeeding, the prime minister is forced to flee the country, and the new militarist-monarchist administration prepares to bring peace to the country. Only days later, a huge riot breaks out, lead by students and soldiers loyal to the Tudeh party, which has been growing in power over the past few years. Fearing for his life, the Shah flees to Britain, and the Tudeh Party plant themselves in his seat. The Democratic Republic of Iran is born
- Immediately taking the opportunity, the Soviet Union begins marching thousands of troops into Iran, via paratroopers, helicopters and ekranoplanes. The soldiers stationed in Tehran punch through the Islamist lines in the far north, which disintegrate when surrounded by the superior Soviet forces. In the south, the Islamists tighten their grip on the tribal areas, while the addition of Iraqi troops puts severe pressure on their lines in Khuzestan
- Ethnic violence in Pakistan begins as the Baloch population demands that the Pakistani government cease taking over their lands. With crucial mountain streams now under the control of Afghanistan, the government has begun seizing land in order to prevent the possibility of a drought-induced famine. This leads to friction with the local Balochi tribes, who begin forcing government workers out of their lands at gunpoint
- Thousands of radical socialists and communists from around the world make their way to South Africa to join the People’s African Army. Parallels to the Spanish Civil War are drawn as American, French, British, Turkish, Italian and many more fighters begin to partake in the struggle against the South African government. Meanwhile, the African Defense League balloons as tribal groups are hungry for the return of their ancestral homelands

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- Several officers loyal to imprisoned generals and military commanders attempt to remove Perón, but are intercepted by state police. A gunfight ensues outside of the capitol building, with Perón being evacuated out an emergency exit. After a number of the traitor officers are killed, the others surrender, and reveal their loyalties to the opposition, already in jail on charges of corruption and anti-state activities
- The immediate fallout of the failed coup is the public trials of the officers, who are forced to admit their allegiance to those in prison by name. These officers are dragged off to the jai, where they meet their benefactors and allies. After massive public outcry, as well as a fiery speech by Perón, the officers and generals are brought out and publicly hung for their crimes against the state. Some that oppose Perón call it the “move of a dictator”, while the people of the nation call it “fair justice”
- Fearing that the coup may have been instigated by an external actor, Perón moves to make multiple emergency declarations, centralizing power and ensuring the safety of himself and his compatriots in the government. Security officials are removed, replaced, or shuffled at random times to avoid the possibility of internal assassination attempts. Those believed to be less loyal in the executive branch are immediately tossed out of office, with state police keeping a close eye on them
- Suspecting that Chile is behind the aggressive move, Perón announces the “final hours” of Chilean civilians within Argentina. Chileans are given a tight window of just 72 hours to pack up and leave Argentina, permanently, and through state-approved channels. Those that remain behind will be considered hostile entities and imprisoned on charges of espionage. The few remaining Chilean diplomats in their embassy are put under close guard, and not allowed to leave the building for any reason. Phone lines and electricity are cut to the building to ensure state safety
- The Argentine navy begins to draw closer to Chilean waters, just barely avoiding entering them and sparking conflict. Argentina makes it incredibly clear that any Chilean military ships that approach will be considered hostiles and fired upon. The blockade of Chile becomes even more severe as Argentine patriots set off in schooners, fishing boats and private vessels to begin harassing small coastal settlements, with numerous “raids” of Chilean homes by radical Argentinians
- Huge portions of Argentina’s resource sectors, such as metals, oil, food and timber, are nationalized. The companies responsible for the refining and production of these resources are granted government boons, and promised a “return to normalcy” in the future. Foreign companies have any future land developments refused, which hurts relations with countries like Brazil, Spain and Britain, but the situation is deemed to dire for Argentina to try and make amends at the moment
- Perón pushes Argentina’s economy into mobilization, with civilian industry quickly being absorbed by the state. Factories that produce heavy machinery are modified to begin producing trucks, light armor and ambulances. Farms are ordered to begin producing more and more animals and bigger harvests, with most of their crop being taken by the government and converted into military rations and stockpiles. Civilians are given ration cards, and a severe clamp is placed on prices for food, gas and other civilian goods
- Air raid drills are conducted in major cities, as well as rapid responses for local police forces. In the event of a war, Argentina cannot risk losing any territory to the enemy, as losing only a couple major city centers could spell the end of the entire war effort. Local police, men, women and children are expected to do their part in defending Argentina and its people, and numerous towns and villages begin rifle training exercises for civilians
- The army and air force is mobilized in its entirety. This rapid mobilization is met with some issues, of course, as the army has only a small reserve of weapons and munitions, with most equipment being taken out of storage. Air patrols along the Chilean border are an everyday occurance, with explicit warnings being given to Chile to avoid tailing Argentinian aircraft at the risk of being shot down
- Chile desperately pleads with Perón to try and reach some form of peace, though Argentina believes that Chile worked alongside the opposition to try and launch the coup. Instead, Argentina moves to try and choke Chile economically, while also isolating them diplomatically, to force Argentinian demands. Bolivia looks away, still hurt by the events of the War of the Pacific, and Peru itches at the chance to make Chile bend the knee
- Military engineers begin working on designs to make an infantry-launched anti-tank weapon. Mimicking designs from Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, the Argentinian army begins deploying its “Modelo de Cohete Antitanque 1” (Model 1 Anti-Tank/MCA-1) rocket launcher. Though only firing a 75mm warhead, the rocket utilizes a tungsten penetrator and an incendiary core, making it far more deadly against lighter armor as opposed to main battle tanks
- Aircraft engineers begin taking notes from the French, Americans, Russians and South Africans, and finally begin working on their own helicopter designs. Using a single rotor, the “Modelo 1 Helicóptero” (Model 1 Helicopter/MH-1) is armed with two nose-mounted machine guns that are operated by a co-pilot. The MH-1 is incapable of fighting heavy vehicles, nor can it lift anything heavier than a couple wounded men, but the MH-1 is a must-have for supporting infantry on the attack

- Bavarian and Yugoslav diplomats meet in Belgrade in a public display of friendship, as Bavaria presents Yugoslavia with the patent to the polio vaccine. Tito graciously accepts the vaccine, and begins deploying it both in his country, and in the wounded regions of Africa. With Tito being a staunch socialist, Bavaria is pleased to see that Yugoslavia makes no profits off of the vaccine, and that the government begins deploying it purely out of the goodness for humanity
- Further interactions with the rest of Catholic Europe continue as normal, with Bavaria sending numerous delegations around the continent to discuss further trade deals and “achieving European peace through faith.” However, other governments in Europe begin to draw away from binding faith and state, forcing Bavaria to push a stronger narrative in countries that remain tied to the church, such as Spain and Ireland
- A state visit between Müller and the prime minister of Italy takes place in Rome, with both nations discussing trade deals and market issues thanks to the strengthening of the European Political Community. Meanwhile, at the Vatican, prince Rupprecht meets with his holiness Pius XII. The latter meeting is largely for flair, with Catholic tourists flocking to see the “Prince and the Pope”, as some European newspapers put it
- Missionary groups, funded by the Bavarian government, make their way to Angola and Mozambique at the behest of Portugal’s government. These volunteers spend their time doing helpful things like constructing houses, feeding orphans or building roads. Most importantly, however, is the erection of numerous churches and houses of worship. The primary goal of these groups is to help local communities, but their secondary goal is to spread the faith, something that these missionaries are quite successful at doing
- Bavaria’s economy begins seeing a strange, unexpected shift. With wages rising steadily, the middle class balloons beyond initial predictions, with huge portions of what were once the working class now having buying power that they never had before. Social programs, fair taxation and a revitalized economy have shaped the middle class of Bavaria into being more consumerist than productive, with educated individuals performing more complicated jobs
- As a result of the expanded middle class, menial labor jobs such as farming, factory work or store hands are slowly but surely no longer being filled by Bavarians. Instead, many of these job are taken up by immigrants from countries like the Philippines, Brazil, Mexico, Italy and Ireland. Very quickly, a stereotype begins to grow around the idea of “migrant labor”, in which the Bavarian middle class can ride off of the work done by immigrants, who are paid far less for far more work
- Bavarian scientists become concerned with the trend of massive deforestation, waterway manipulation and the burning of “fossil fuels”. Though many consider these scientists to be quacks, and some even accuse them of being “anti-business associates of the Soviet Union”, these scientists are nonetheless determined to find a way to prevent “environmental destruction”. Small radio stations, privately owned and operated, are tinkered with. Using a huge cluster of solar cells, these scientists prove that the sun can power more than just a small battery. They are ignored
- Zambezian engineers arrive in Bavaria to begin working on implementing ElectRail technology. With the Autobahn finished, the Bavarian government is ready to begin expanding the nation’s transit system further, by pushing for the addition of ElectRail to try and free up the roads for the transport of goods. It will take a few years to get the pathways for these rail lines working, though it will be a massive improvement to Bavaria’s economy
- After a large public meeting regarding the future of the Bavarian economy and state, prime minister Müller announces the beginning of the "Bayerische Kernenergiekommission" (Bavarian Nuclear Energy Commission). The BK is tasked with the creation of efficient nuclear power, which will take up the demand for electrical power, reducing the dependence on the importation of foreign coal or oil. The project will be long, expensive and difficult to implement, but will be an immense achievement for Bavaria as a whole
- Nuclear engineers at the BK begin working with foreign scientists to understand the usage of the atom for peaceful, energy-based purposes. Most of this research is taken from publications regarding French and Soviet nuclear reactors, as well as theories from the 1930s and 40s. Many of these visiting scientists are eager to be alongside some of the brightest minds in Europe, and on numerous occasions these visitors sing their praises of Bavaria
- Bavaria begins reworking its military to handle the issue of slow mobilization. Essentially staring down the barrel of a gun, Bavaria cannot afford to have its troops deployed any slower than they already are. Though the French and Americans are present, and act as “defenders of the west”, if Bavaria cannot properly mobilize, it will simply be a speedbump in the event of a Soviet invasion, something that even the most brave of Bavarians fears on a daily basis
- The first order of business is to conduct numerous readiness drills, with troops intentionally being given absurd orders, such as running from one side of the country to the other, or deploying troops on foot over roads, to force soldiers to understand all the limitations of fighting an actual war. Meanwhile, the government begins implementing a list of the names of reservists, and keeping them on file for the next few years to make it easier to pull them up if fighting ensues
- A new design of fort is introduced, facing the Czechoslovakian border. Rather than the traditional “pillbox”, these forts use incredibly slanted edges, deep, irregular trenches, and numerous forms of anti-tank mines placed at random intervals. These forts are aesthetically hideous, but provide a tactical advantage against oncoming enemy armor and infantry. Bavarian soldiers aren’t set to “defend” these forts, but are instead to man them as a stopgap measure to prevent enemy advancements for as much time as possible

- French troops begin their last combat operations in Indochina as the war with the communists draws to a close. Despite costing thousands of lives, hundreds of millions of francs, and many years bogged down miles upon miles from home, France is ready to declare victory. The communists are holed up in the north, and the forces of Thailand and the Indochinese are managing to punch through the last of their lines. Still wanting to be “in at the death”, the French remain in Indochina, though mainly to oversee the demise of the insurgency
- With Spain continuing to circle the wagons, as well as becoming increasingly hostile, France calls upon the United Kingdom to aid them in further isolating Franco’s government. Portugal, fearing possible reprisals, moves units towards the border with Spain to prevent the possibility of a Spanish attack. Meanwhile, the British move a number of destroyers and other vessels, as well as a brigade of infantry to Gibraltar to bolster their defenses. Franco cares little, and turns his attention back to the Basques
- Collaboration with the British and Portuguese continues as the three nations work alongside Zambezia to try and identify groups in South Africa that are pro-west, pro-stability, or generally anti-communist. These groups are largely made up of politically active refugees, who are given food, medicine and material support to be able to defend themselves and their communities. The European Political Community is quick to recognize the occupation of Bechuanaland and the Caprivi Strip as a result
- De Gaulle declares Spain to be the last bastion of “Right Fascism”, the ideology of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, as well as declaring communism to be “Left Fascism”. As a result, the powers of local and state police are expanded, and intelligence services are authorized to do continuous sweeps of the country to try and find any fascists that may try and subvert the French state. Numerous socialist agitators are arrested in Algeria, and their cells broken up soon thereafter
- France’s subsidies for childbirth begins to take its effect as the birth rate continues to skyrocket. Thanks to the tax deductions, as well as the maternal and paternal leave, couples are regularly having several children more than a generation prior. However, this has some negative impacts now, as the huge amount of young children over the past few years flood schools, making it difficult to properly get them through the crucial period of early age education
- As if to spite Franco even further, France moves to recognize Catalan as a regional language in the province of Rousillon. The locals, who are majority Catalan, celebrate in the streets, feeling that they are finally being given the recognition that they deserve. This has a rippling effect, which leads to multiple arrests of Catalan patriots attempting to smuggle firearms into Catalonia itself, though these patriots are given light sentences, to further thumb their nose at Spain
- European settlers are encouraged to continue moving to French Africa, primarily in areas like Algeria, Dakar and Bizerte. With the initial damage of the Great Atlantic Wave being cleaned up in Dakar, French migrants begin settling within the city, taking advantage of the new properties that replace the outdated or damaged buildings. Store fronts, markets, apartments and hotels are constructed in droves to try and get business up and running again, hoping to leave the wave behind
- Multiple universities are constructed across North Africa, as well as one in Tripolitania. These universities are focused primarily on STEM education, as well as economics and businesses. Though primarily operated by French nationals, these universities push for the application of Arab students, hoping to educate the masses as much as possible. There are many in the Islamic community that decry these universities as “immoral” and “disgusting foreign influences”, but the upper classes of North Africa completely ignore them
- The university of Algiers undergoes a massive expansion to house the newly formed “École de Biologie Bumaine et des Sciences” (School of Human Biology and Science/EBBS). This new department is focused entirely on medicine, genealogy, genetics and drug research. Students at the EBBS are encouraged to publish their papers on their discovery, as the university hopes to outcompete the medical school in Zion, as the EBBS doesn’t require one to undergo “political indoctrination”
- The modernization program of the French navy continues, with nearly all ships being given a refit to apply the latest in sonar and radar technologies. Destroyers, for the most part, are completely repurposed for either anti-submarine warfare or naval landing support. Cruisers and battleships considered “unfit” for modern combat are either scrapped or set up as museum ships for public display. Two large aircraft carriers are commissioned, and are set to be finished by the end of the year
- At Dassault, engineers begin working on introducing the next generation of fighter aircraft to the world stage. At a public reveal, the French military presents the Dassault Mirage I. This fighter jet is armed with two fast firing 20mm cannons, as well as up to four hardpoints, which can carry either more guns, or missiles tipped with proximity fuses. What makes the Mirage I so important is its engines, capable of pushing the aircraft to Mach 1, or beyond the speed of sound. The age of the supersonic jet has begun
- Nuclear scientists begin studying the possibility of making a new type of weapon, larger than ever before. These scientists have already worked out the kinks of utilizing hydrogen as a source of energy for the weapon, and are now tasked with formulating ideas to deliver the weapon properly. Initial designs prove to be either too large to be carried, or too small to be properly effective. A design wriggles its way to the surface, perfect for deployment from a heavy bomber. Now, the search for how to properly implement these weapons is on

- Much to the anger of the nation’s government, thousands of foreign volunteers sneak their way into South Africa to join the People’s African Army. These volunteers come from around the world, from places like the People’s Republic of China, Egypt, Iraq, Mexico, Canada and even the United Kingdom. These volunteers are not sanctioned by their governments, but South Africa is nonetheless infuriated at the arrival of these “foreign trespassers and race traitors”
- Horrified by the actions of the South African government, Tito officially refuses to recognize the AMP, and instead sees the People’s African Army as “the only legitimate entity in the conflict in South Africa”. Sanctions are placed on South Africa, and Tito recalls any Yugoslav civilians in the region, while also deporting all South Africans present in Yugoslavia. The military takes special efforts to avoid striking these peacekeepers, but also makes sure to destroy anything in their path to break the morale of these new arrivals
- With the war reaching new heights, the South African military begins making preparations to draw things out for the enemy as long as possible. To ensure as few casualties as possible, the military disengages the instant it seems too dangerous, and falls back out of certain areas quickly. At first glance, this looks cowardly, and makes the South African military look disorganized and unready. In reality, this gives large swathes of largely useless land to the PAA and ADL, and forces them to stretch thin
- Luiperd class armored vehicles, modified to become mobile communications centers, cooperate with artillery brigades to “radio in” artillery on PAA positions, breaking up entrenched groups or forcing back enemy advancements. Incendiary airburst shells and flamethrower-armed aircraft are perfect for terrifying enemy troops, damaging fortifications, and setting anyone in their path on fire. Casualties for the enemy are immense in these barrages, with most wounded being left to die from their burns
- Learning their lessons in Korea, numerous raids are launched deep behind enemy lines to attack command centers and supply dumps. Small units of infantry descend upon the enemy at nightfall, and do as much damage as possible and then rapidly exfiltrate before the enemy is able to respond. If the mission is deemed unsuccessful, the enemy is subject to intense artillery and aerial bombardment. These attacks force the enemy to spread out their supply lines to avoid being completely cut off
- “Kommando” teams are formed out of the most elite and experienced soldiers, and are regularly sent on daring missions to assassinate key commanders and figures of the People’s African Army. Unlike the largely disorganized ADL, the PAA is highly centralized, and cutting off the head of the serpent is the number one priority of the South African military. These leaders are shuffled back and forth to try and evade the Kommando groups, but every once and awhile, they get their man
- The African Defense League is seen as a largely unimportant threat, and the military prioritizes simply containing them rather than actively trying to break them down. The ADL is quick to devour itself in some cases, and their general lack of any real authority makes it easy to keep them at bay. On the other hand, the People’s African Army is a force that can easily bring down the entirety of South Africa, and must be stopped at all costs
- Massive bombardments of PAA compounds last for days, with the shelling and airstrikes spreading out in concentric circles to try and dissuade the enemy from grouping back together. Even though these attacks are fairly conventional in nature, the army conducts an asymmetric campaign, playing the game of the insurgents and making the enemy pay dearly for every assault they make. PAA casualties are incredibly high, while South African losses are surprisingly low
- Destroyers provided by Argentina begin skittering up and down the coastline of South Africa, acting as a coast guard to ensure that their enemies are not provided weapons or any more foreign volunteers. Aircraft are set to patrol the skies at all hours, paired with the massive radar “net” to destroy enemy aircraft that dare penetrate South Africa’s airspace. Civilian planes are barred from flying over South Africa, and any military jet not authorized to pass through is to be shot down on sight
- Black villages are plundered by militia groups, their goods brought back to the cities to be redistributed to the general populace as the government launches the “Eye for an Eye” program. This new initiative is a brutally repressive and outright cruel way to force black communities to denounce the forces of the PAA or ADL. For every attack on white settlements, militias are given free reign to attack a black settlement to “settle the score”, which regularly leaves many dead or wounded and houses razed
- Prisoners taken from the ADL are sent to labor camps to spend the rest of their days toiling for their white overlords, regularly made to do the most dangerous and grueling work to constantly remind them of their traitorous actions. Prisoners of the PAA, however, are either disappeared or simply shot on the spot. The Geneva Conventions and any other rules of war are ignored, as rules are meant to be broken in times of crisis
- The PAA commits to striking hard in the northwest, hoping to cut off South African troops, and are succeeding to some extent. Due to the vast distance between theaters of operations, the South African government mobilizes as many prison labor groups as possible to begin constructing roads and railways to all areas of the country deemed strategically important. The construction is slow, forcing the government to press colored groups into service, though their labor is nowhere near as dangerous or intensive
- Despite the Christian societal norms, and the generally patriarchal society of South Africa in general, women are mobilized in droves to begin replacing men in the factories. Freed up from their positions at work, these men are sent into the field as conscripts. The shift in production causes some confusion, as the women must be given crash courses in the creation of weapons and munitions, but supplies are stable enough to prevent a collapse
- A massive propaganda campaign takes place in order to warn the people of South Africa against the dangers of communism and “negro nationalism”. Pictures of PAA or ADL crimes are plastered on walls, radio broadcasts report of victories over the nation’s enemies, and television shows are dedicated to showing the righteous and valiant soldiers of the South African military
- A promise is given to the white populace of South Africa in the event of a victory. "Billike Medisyne, Billike Behuising, Billike Lewe" (Free Medicine, Fair Housing, Fair Lives) is the new priority of the government, to expand social credit, welfare and healthcare for the people once the war is over. No matter what, the government will do everything in its power so care for its people, and it is willing to sacrifice everyone else to make sure the nation is safe and secure

- Nelson D. Rockefeller, heir to the Rockefeller fortune and new face of the republican party, is inaugurated as president on a chilly January morning to a huge crowd of cheering supporters. Rockefeller gives a short but strong speech, focusing on the unity of the nation “in the face of threats, domestic, external, and natural” and promises to “bring America into a brighter and better age”. Immediately, Rockefeller gets to work on reversing the damages done by the Thurmond/Russell administration
- Rockefeller meets with numerous world leaders, and begins to establish numerous “branches” of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. These branches will act as local alliances, in which member states can call upon others to assist them in military conflict. However, members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Middle East Treaty Organization, or Southeast Asia Treaty Organization will all be bound to one another by Article 5, essentially forming a wall of allies around the Warsaw Pact
- After establishing the various new alliances, Rockefeller addresses the United Nations, openly declaring that the United States will no longer recognize the current South African government, and will be pushing for unilateral sanctions on the country. Unsurprisingly, a huge number of UN member states join in America’s sanctions, including the entirety of the Warsaw Pact. Though not friends with the Khrushchev administration by any means, Rockefeller appreciates the agreement between the two power blocs
- Rockefeller makes a state visit to Japan to meet with prime minister Shigeru Yoshida to discuss the further presence of American troops in and around the nation. With Soviet influence expanding in the east, and the further friendship between the People’s Republic of China and the USSR, Japan remains under serious threat. Yoshida begrudgingly accepts Rockefeller’s idea to station two divisions of infantry and an interceptor wing in Japan to “bolster the JSDF’s capabilities”
- Aid is sent in the form of the National Guard and Army Corp of Engineers to Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Portugal to assist in the rebuilding of the cities damaged by the Great Atlantic Wave. Though these groups are largely piecemiel compared to the huge number of troops deployed at home, the help is very much appreciated, and is a clear sign of Rockefeller’s desire to bring about a sense of normalcy to the world
- Rockefeller’s first order of business domestically is to mobilize a huge portion of the National Guard, Coast Guard and Army Corp of Engineers to begin working with local construction crews and volunteers to begin rebuilding the huge amount of damage caused by the Great Atlantic Wave. Surprisingly, there are large numbers of mixed race volunteers, with african-americans working alongside whites to try and rebuild their homes. Of course, the further south one goes, the more these groups remain separated
- Samoa, Hawaii and Puerto Rico are brought into the fold as states after rushing the deal through both houses. The US flag is altered yet again, now bearing 52 stars, and is flown above the White House after an extravagant ceremony held by Rockefeller. This move adds more republican congressmen and senators, further shifting the balance of power in Rockefeller’s favor. Democrats and states rights representatives decry this, and try their best to have it overturned, but are powerless to do so
- Deeming the current number of judges to be “too small”, Rockefeller expands the Supreme Court of the United States to a whopping 12 judges, of which all are hand picked by the president and quickly approved by the senate. Some of these judges are quite young, and will serve for decades to come, essentially cementing Rockefeller’s legacy before he has even been in office for a year, as well as protecting republicans from conservative repercussions in the foreseeable future
- The marines, navy and air force begin conducting naval landing exercises in a variety of environments, from Alaska to Louisiana, and from Maine to Hawaii. Knowing that the United States won’t always have the advantage of having troops already present in a combat area, the military focuses its efforts on making the rapid deployment of soldiers from the sea to establish a beachhead. Paratrooper exercises are conducted in the Rockies to simulate difficult terrain conditions, ensuring that these troops are ready for anything that future conflicts may throw at them
- The United States announces its latest military expansion. A segment of the air force, made up entirely of the best radar operators, navigators and bomber pilots is established, known as the Intercontinental Observation and Nuclear Defense Initiative (IONDI/”Ion”). Nicknamed the “Final Patrol”, IONDI is roughly three dozen B-29 Superfortress bombers loaded with nuclear bombs. At least five are in the air at all times, and if the time comes, these bombers will make their last flight ever to strike out against America’s enemy
- Engineers at Raytheon begin conducting tests on a new form of missile. Using a miniaturized radar on the tip, these rockets are capable of being mounted on a fighter jet, and “lock on” to the heat of an enemy aircraft engine. The Aim-9 “Sidewinder” is a massive step ahead of the curve, giving American pilots the ability to engage the enemy from far outside the normal engagement range, essentially guaranteeing aerial superiority if they get the drop on their opponent
- American rocket scientists successfully test their latest rocket. Despite People’s Fist being a powerful intercontinental missile, America’s more piece-oriented scientists get their rocket into the mesosphere, allowing instruments to record important data about high altitude temperature, radiation and wind patterns. With just a bit more effort, the United States may soon be able to send something into orbit. America rushes to be the first to everything regarding space thanks to Rockefeller

- With Iran now under the control of the Tudeh party, the nation calls for aid from their neighbors. Answering the call immediately, the Soviet Union unleashes its troops from Iran, as well as launching Operation "Шторм 333" (Shtorm 333) [Storm 333]. Dozens of Ekranoplanes are launched from bases in the Caspian sea, making a beeline towards Islamist rebel holdings in the north of Iran, while a huge portion of the airmobile forces make paradrops on Islamist territories
- The fighting is fierce, but the Soviets have a distinct series of advantages. Besides total numerical, technological and aerial superiority, the Soviet army makes efforts to put those in charge of partisan groups during the Great Patriotic War at the front lines, giving guidance on how to fight insurgents. Very quickly, the Islamist groups begin to bowl over, while those loyal to the Shah are dwindling day by day
- Soviet aerial forces from Kharg island lay down serious firepower from the air, as ground attack planes make quick work of entrenched Islamists with no threat from the air, or from the ground. A series of Tu-16 bombing runs lay waste to small villages that house the Islamists in any significant capacity. Some onlookers call this an act of barbarity, while those in charge of Iran consider it “the price to be paid by enemies of the revolution”
- Despite the sour relations between the Soviet and Yugoslav governments, Yugoslavia pledges its support of the Democratic Republic of Iran. 15,000 troops, with armor and aerial support, are sent through the Black Sea and Caucasus to join alongside the Soviet army. Soviet and Yugoslav troops work together in their march southward into Khuzestan, and even though the governments still view each other with suspicion, the troops fight alongside one another like brothers
- The Soviet government quickly moves to denounce the government of South Africa, and officially ends all diplomatic interaction with the country. Any remaining South African diplomats are expelled, and the entirety of the Warsaw Pact votes in agreement to no longer recognize the South African government in any way, but instead view the marxist People’s African Army as the legitimate successor. This is met with backlash in conservative western media, who immediately remember exactly who the militiamen are fighting against
- Nikita Khrushchev, the new General Secretary of the Soviet Union, makes a series of visits to the Eastern Bloc, Iraq, Afghanistan and the People’s Republic of China. These visits serve a dual purpose, of getting the new allies familiarized with Khrushchev, while also ensuring that the Soviet Union will remain as a “bastion against fascism, capitalism and imperialism”, as well as proposing that the Warsaw Pact and its associates “maintain the security of the globe”
- As the situation in Iran deteriorates, Khrushchev makes his first foreign decision as General Secretary, and calls in the entirety of the Warsaw Pact to partake in the “liberation and restoration of order” in Iran. Soviet troops make up the bulk of the fighting forces, while Iraqi and Afghan troops begin to nibble away at the border provinces. Most of the Eastern Bloc sends minimal support, as much of the infrastructure needed to mobilize troops to that region doesn’t exist for nations like Poland or Romania
- Joseph Stalin, the Man of Steel, Successor to Lenin, and the Hero of the Soviet Union is dead. In some eyes, Stalin was the man whose steady hand guided the Soviet Union through the Great Patriotic War, while others see Stalin as the monster behind millions of civilian deaths, massed purges and political imprisonment. In the eyes of the Soviet government, Stalin was a man to be respected and feared, but is quickly being turned into a figurehead to be passed by in the form of a statue
- Georgy Malenkov oversees the massive funeral procession of Stalin, singing his friends praises, and pushing for “strength in these times of sorrow”. Flags across the nation are lowered to half staff, and the crowd wears the traditional black clothing. Tens of thousands of people flock to Red Square in order to pay their respects to Stalin, whose corpse is brought to an enormous mausoleum set across the street from Lenin’s tomb. Unsurprisingly, this building is just ever so slightly larger and ever so slightly more extravagant
- To the shock of the entire country, the Presidium of the Central Committee finds Georgy Malenkov to have amassed too much power within the party, and states its intentions to bar Malenkov from ascending to the position of General Secretary. Instead, the Presidium finds Nikita Khrushchev to be the best option, who’s somewhat softer attitude paired with his push for internationalism will be a boon to the Soviet Union’s new standing
- Thousands of political prisoners that found themselves locked up in the last of Stalin’s purges are released, as Khrushchev finds their sentences to be flimsy at best. So long as these men remain loyal to the state, they are cleared of all charges, and are allowed to return to the various positions that they were once removed from. This causes an uproar from the Malenkov wing of the government, as many Malenkov loyalists are booted from their seats to allow these prisoners to return
- Fears over a “soft coup” force Khrushchev to remove a number of Malenkov loyalists, as well as to rebuke any moves made by Malenkov himself to achieve more power. Khrushchev makes his position quite clear, in that he will not tolerate any actions taken against the stability of the state. Unlike Malenkov, Khrushchev makes no effort to try and form the cult of personality and worship that his predecessor so acutely nurtured
- Despite the political instability and the nervousness regarding the Khrushchev administration, the Soviet economy continues to grow. Reaping the benefits of the slight decentralization of the collectivized fields, the average output of farms rises steadily. Meanwhile, factories continue to pump out industrial and consumer goods, and trade with the various communist allies of the Soviet Union brings in more and more to the Soviet economy
- Nuclear scientists of the Soviet Union begin working on ways to make their weapons bigger than ever before, going in the exact opposite direction of the recently created miniaturized warheads. Already having grasped the theory of harnessing the power of the hydrogen atom to produce an enormous explosion, the scientists hit a speed bump when trying to figure out the best way to properly deploy such an explosive, but finally settle on a design that is just small enough to fit upon a Tu-16
- Rocket engineers test the most terrifying weapon the world has ever seen. Fired from a rocket testing site in northeast Siberia, and purposefully directed to land in Kazakhstan, the Soviet Union introduces the globe to its greatest trump card. Simply named "Народный Кулак" (Narodnyy Kulak) [People's Fist], this rocket has the capability to carry a nuclear warhead with up to a 25kt payload. The real threat of this missile is its range: 10,000 kilometers. Just barely scraping through the atmosphere, People’s Fist can hit essentially anywhere in the world. It cannot be intercepted, it cannot be shot down, it cannot be avoided. The Soviets now have total nuclear superiority

- Despite the sour relations between the Soviet and Yugoslav governments, Yugoslavia pledges its support of the Democratic Republic of Iran. 15,000 troops, with armor and aerial support, are sent through the Black Sea and Caucasus to join alongside the Soviet army. Soviet and Yugoslav troops work together in their march southward into Khuzestan, and even though the governments still view each other with suspicion, the troops fight alongside one another like brothers
- Bavarian and Yugoslav diplomats meet in Belgrade in a public display of friendship, as Bavaria presents Yugoslavia with the patent to the polio vaccine. Tito graciously accepts the vaccine, and begins deploying it both in his country, and in the wounded regions of Africa. Tito sends as many volunteers to central and southern Africa to try and spread the vaccine as quickly as possible. Of course, some local governments rebuke his attempts due to his political alignment, which hurts Tito deeply
- Horrified by the actions of the South African government, Tito officially refuses to recognize the AMP, and instead sees the People’s African Army as “the only legitimate entity in the conflict in South Africa”. Sanctions are placed on South Africa, and Tito recalls any Yugoslav civilians in the region, while also deporting all South Africans present in Yugoslavia. Tito makes a secondary statement that “Any Yugo in the hands of a South African is tainted” and suggests that those purchasing Yugos second hand from South Africa should be shunned by their communities
- 10,000 soldiers are sent to the territories under the control of the People’s African Army as peacekeepers. These troops have no armored or aerial support, and are only lightly armed, as to not prevent any sort of conflict with the South African government. Explicitly peacekeepers, these soldiers are tasked with rebuilding communities, providing medical aid, and generally securing the safety of civilians. A strict set of rules of engagement are put in place, and any who break them are to be immediately extradited to Yugoslavia
- Tito begins making numerous overtures to try and form stronger relations with the Democratic Republic of Iran. With the current government largely a hodgepodge of tudeh loyalists in the lower ranks of the military and intelligentia, it is very easy for Yugoslavia to make friends, and secure its influence in Iran. A strange back and forth takes place between the Soviets and Yugoslavia, as Khrushchev pushes for a more Soviet interpretation of communism, while Tito desires to spread his own version of the ideology
- A modernization project of Yugoslavia’s roadways begins. Though the major cities have been properly laid out in their grid system, and the roads there are the best they can be, the roads that link these cities together are in a sorry state. Mimicking the American and Bavarian highway system, crews are set to work to tear up the old roadways and replace them with wide, efficient highways for the travel of both civilians and industrial goods
- As Yugoslavia’s industrial backbone continues to expand, the government makes strong efforts to curb inflation, and keep unemployment as low as possible. With many factories producing goods for export, thanks to the market socialism approach, those with few skills are able to hold down a job to help pay for rent and food. The government begins creating large apartment buildings to house workers near bigger factories, with low rent and basic amenities
- The economy of Yugoslavia finally reaches a point where much of the population is able to live comfortable lives, and purchase more “personal” goods such as radios, televisions, or a second car. Though the government keeps tight controls on the accumulation of too much money, and discourages private property growth/exploitation, the people of the nation are able to sleep at night for the most part, without having to fear about making rent, having non-rationed food, or being able to drive one’s self to work
- Yugoslavia makes yet another bid for Belgrade to host the 1956 summer olympics, showing off the city’s efficient layout and unique architecture. Belgrade quickly finds itself in a heated competition between Toulouse, Los Angeles and frustratingly enough, Moscow. Despite all of the issues with the IOC, Tito still commissions the construction of large sports arenas, that even if Belgrade loses the bid, will be open to the public to show off the nation’s prowess
- Tito pressures the navy to continue its growth, to ensure that Yugoslavia’s large coastline is protected from possible attack. A heavy cruiser is commissioned from Sweden, the design focusing on heavy armor rather than mobility, which is expected to leave the dockyards by late 1953. However, Tito also pushes for the acquisition of a carrier to house attack aircraft and act as the “pride of the fleet”. Yugoslavia’s industrial backbone cannot produce a ship of that size just yet, though negotiations with the British may lead to the acquisition of a surplus escort carrier
- A standardized “military form” of Serbo-Croatian is established as the military continues to reform itself. All troops are given a full language class for 30 days to bring them up to speed on just about everything, allowing for multi-ethnic groups to fight together. Unfortunately, this does raise tensions between some groups, as Slovenes and Albanians are irked by having to abandon their native tongue to fight alongside “different neighbors”
- Nuclear scientists, unhappy with the development of the atomic bomb, decide to push for the creation of safe, peaceful nuclear energy. Working hard at the various schools, these scientists put their best efforts into understanding the concept of nuclear energy, its applications, its limitations and its benefits. Largely, no reactor designs or even fuel acquisition has been achieved, but the idea is solid and ready to be applied in the future
- Electronics engineers from Podgorica stumble across a breakthrough design in computing. Made up of layer after layer of silicon, copper and other metals, alongside other “miniaturized” materials to create an “integrated circuit”. Though incredibly expensive and fragile, to where mishandling it can shatter it into pieces, this is nonetheless a massive achievement in electronics engineering, and could soon usher in a new age of computing

- Zambezian forces push over the South African border and make their way into Botswana and the Caprivi Strip. Despite the risk of causing conflict with the rebel groups in the area, or worse, a war with South Africa, Zambezia’s government is unwilling to sit idly by and watch slaughter on their borders. These new occupied territories are rapidly occupied and set up to act as a giant demilitarized zone
- Large temporary camps are erected in neat rows throughout the safe areas in central Botswana. These camps are overseen by humanitarian groups, and are meticulously organized to ensure that the refugees are both safe and comfortable. Churches, hospitals, soup kitchens are present, but so are small sports fields and a stage for plays to entertain the children. Every effort to resemble normalcy is made, as Zambezia cements itself as a truly progressive colonial government
- A native police force is made in the occupied areas to help the smooth transition of refugees to settle in the area, where they are provided with food, shelter and medicine. There are a number of defectors from all forces that are brought in, stripped of their equipment, and sent to more “solitary” refugee camps, where they can be observed to ensure that they no longer have any standing allegiances to their armies
- The United Kingdom stations two divisions of infantry, as well as a brigade of tanks, in southern Zambezia to help bolster the defenses facing South Africa. With the nation becoming increasingly isolated diplomatically, and more unstable domestically, the British are gladly willing to protect a loyal colony from the ensuing chaos on its border. These troops are stationed in Salisbury and Bulawayo, and are encouraged to interact with the local army to ensure a “brotherhood” between the two forces
- In order to help protect the British possessions of Lesotho and Swaziland, a couple of brigades are ferried in via helicopter, with multiple large flags of the United Kingdom displayed in order to prevent possible interception by ground forces. These troops immediately begin fortifying their positions, and prepare to dig in against any oncoming enemy, should the time come. The British also move to station a handful of fighter jets in Zambezia, just in case
- Engineers and mining firms are sent to Rwanda and the Congo with the guidance of the Belgians. With the Belgian government slowly but surely beginning to pull out of their massive colony in Africa, Zambezia sees the perfect opportunity to set up shop, provide jobs for locals, and generally reap the benefits of further decolonization. These mining firms begin to use Zambezians as a means to “bridge the gap” between Congolese locals and the upper management
- Agricultural equipment is sold in bulk to India and Pakistan, to both provide the two nations with more stable harvests, but to also ensure that Zambezian companies can make money out of the now peaceful subcontinent. A number of mining companies begin sending prospectors to southern India to begin looking for new opportunities. Their main priority is to seek precious metals, gems and ores, as opposed to the generally lackluster steel or coal
- Metal refineries continue to grow, especially now that Zambezia has overtaken South Africa’s refining industry by a country mile. The British devour these refined metals with glee as their nation’s economy rebounds from the damage of World War II. These refineries are a boon to Zambezia’s economy, though they struggle to keep up with demand, as the entirety of Europe looks to purchase cheap refined metals from the country it seems
- A number of sweeping reforms are put in place by the Todd administration. No longer is there a specific income requirement for individuals to be able to vote, as the newly introduced minimum wage makes it completely moot. However, membership in the Church of Zambezia and the ownership of land is still a requirement, though this doesn’t cut out too many of the whites in the nation. Another reform ensures that up to 50% of all unsold goods from rural farmers are to be purchased by the government and redistributed to the rest of the nation, as both an act of Christian good will and simple social responsibility
- Researchers working with solar cells begin testing the new inventions by placing them on the roofs of ElectRail passenger cars. These cells are only connected to the lights, as a way to measure the power of solar cells in an everyday application. Surprisingly enough, these cells store the energy in their batteries during the day, and can be activated at night. This cuts down, only somewhat, on the strain put on the generator, and is an important step forward for solar power
- In a extravagant ribbon cutting ceremony, prime minister Todd unveils a new nuclear reactor on the outskirts of Salisbury. The squat, somewhat odd-looking building is nonetheless the greatest achievement for the country. Salisbury and the surrounding settlements will receive reliable power for decades to come, with the ElectRail stations benefitting the most from the latest construction. Truly, Zambezia is a leader for the future of Africa, and possibly the world as a whole

- After many months of bickering in parliament, Zion finally decides upon making their biggest diplomatic move ever: joining the newly reformed Communist International. With the growing power of the Left Bloc, and the general acceptance of marxism throughout the nation, Ben-Gurion feels that it is necessary for the nation to become closer towards the Soviet Union and its allies. Many observers consider this to be a shock, and the more religiously conservative groups are enraged
- As the Commune of Jordan falls, Zion is more or less forced to begin taking in political refugees loyal to the short-lived communist regime. These individuals are entirely irreligious, and give little issue with Zion now that they were willing to take them in. Though they are arabs, and politically should be opposed to Zion, the open arms that the marxist government gives to them changes their mind. With the right touches, Zion could use this to their advantage
- Zion officially recognizes the government of Mao Zedong in the People’s Republic of China, opening an embassy for the nation in Jerusalem. Considering the move to be an affront, the Republic of China files a complaint to the United Nations, which is tossed around for a few days before being forgotten about. Chairman Mao sends numerous state gifts to Zion, thanking them for “recognizing the struggle of the proletariat, and pushing for global liberation”
- With Nasser continuing to take full control over Egypt’s military, and his regular saber rattling in the direction of Zion, cables are sent to the United Kingdom to seek a possible defensive treaty. Surprisingly, the United Kingdom accepts the treaty, fearing that Egypt may take Britain’s decolonization as a signal to retake the Suez canal. With the British government still firmly in the hands of the Labour party, the British don’t immediately call Zion’s membership in the comintern into question
- The Ministry of the Kibbutzim gives an olive branch to the arab communities within Zion, allowing them to begin forming their own communes, though under very strict government supervision. These communes are given access to various agricultural goods that are provided by the government, and are given fair quotas to meet. Despite the tensions between the arab population and the Zion government, the Left Bloc is unwilling to simply ignore the plight of the proletariat due to their ethnicities, as they were once treated in Europe not too long ago
- Kibbutzim on a large scale find their quotas tightened as the government requires them to give a certain amount of their profits and goods to the nation itself, rather than just sales. However, these Kibbutzim are given more autonomy, with the government encouraging the growth of local ethnic, religious and cultural communities to build up their own Kibbutzim, and slowly but surely integrate their traditions with the new socialist society
- The film industry of Zion begins to grow as directors from Italy and the United States use the southern deserts as stand-ins for things like the wild west, ancient rome, or far off planets. Though Zion still puts in place the restrictions on criticisms of the government, many of these films don’t even mention the jewish people or Zion, and simply use the land to make their films more “believable”. A new demand is made, that every film shot in Zion have at least one weekend premier in Jerusalem. The potential for more ticket sales ensures that directors follow this rule
- Defenses along the border with Jordan are erected, with numerous bunkers, trenches and anti-tank fortifications put in place. Active duty troops are set to man this line, with guns aimed towards the suddenly expansionist Syria, ready for anything that may come. In the northeast, along the Golan Heights, Zion’s few armored troops are put in place to act as a shield against possible invasion through the mountains
- Aerial combat drills begin as the Syrians start to spread their forces around their newly occupied territory. These drills focus on rapid interception of enemy attack aircraft, and immediately returning to base for a rapid refitting and refueling. Zion’s tiny navy conducts drills as well, this time to act as “surface artillery”, training to fire shells into cities on the shore, to both attack possible enemies, and to act as a final line of defense should Zion’s armies be pushed back to Haifa or Tel-Aviv
- On the islands recently purchased from Ethiopia, Zion constructs a small naval base, as well as a small commercial port, to house ships going to and from the Indian Ocean. Though Zion’s navy doesn’t provide the power projection comparable to nations like Turkey or Yugoslavia, the presence of their navy in the Red Sea is intimidating enough, for the nation had only just pulled itself from the brink of annihilation but 5 years prior
- Military engineers begin miniaturizing the incredibly effective anti-aircraft sights from World War II, utilizing the “reflex” sights for small arms. Though these are dependent on either a light source, or radioactive materials like tridium, these “reflex sights” are a boon to the average rifleman. Reflex sights remove the hesitation one has when using iron sights, and instead allows the shooter to acquire their targets much faster
- Rocket scientists from Zion continue to test the possibilities of creating a long range rocket capable of delivering explosives down on the heads of the nation’s enemies. The latest design is a significant breakthrough, and is brought to the Soviet Union for testing. “Black Dagger” takes a different approach to hitting targets at a long distance, and instead flies at a stunningly low 15km above sea level. However, the powerful thrusters allow Black Dagger to reach out and touch targets at nearly 3000 kilometers away. Incredibly expensive, difficult to aim, and dangerously explosive, Black Dagger is nonetheless a boon to Zion, capable of hitting Algiers, Mecca and even Berlin

 

[Zillamaster55]

Reservists of the Bundeswehr begin patrols outside of Trier

In the United Nations, it was approved that Germany be reunited as a single nation, with territories occupied by Denmark and the Netherlands be returned, and the unified Germany become an ally of the United States and a bastion of republicanism in Europe. This was met with many challenges, as some member states protest, and those loyal to the monarchs of Germany oppose such a deal.

Nonetheless, in late 1953, the Federal Republic of Germany is born. In Bonn, a series of former Prime Ministers and their associates meet together to begin drafting a new constitution for the nation, as well as implementing legal and economic reforms to bring Germany into a brighter, better future.

However, France is quick to push for numerous demands on this new German state, especially regarding the reclamation of occupied territories, and most importantly, the inclusion of Bavaria in this new Germany. If Germany does indeed breach these demands, then France will occupy the Saarland, and openly threaten further military actions against Germany.

The European Defense Community, allies of France and essentially a second NATO, are forced to agree with France’s demands, though Britain is wary of making such drastic measures. Charles De Gaulle states that France “does not have a no-first strike policy”. France also approaches the United Nations to launch sanctions on Germany should such a scenario arise.

In open defiance, the Federal Republic of Germany brings Bavaria into the fold, and Josef Müller declares that “Germany and its people will become one, once again. The world cannot always dictate what a nation can and can’t do, and we refuse to remain under the boot of people we should be considering allies”.

As a response, France immediately moves to follow through with its threats. The Saarland is occupied in early October, and the French military begins to mobilize, moving its forces eastwards towards the Franco-German border.

Germany responds in kind by moving the recently reorganized Bundeswehr, alongside reservists and volunteers into western German cities. Aircraft from both sides begin patrolling their airspace, and both governments are prepared to enact a state of emergency.

Tensions are high in Europe once again.

I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him...

 

[Zillamaster55]

An Argentinian FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II takes off from a makeshift airstrip in southern Patagonia

Believing the Chileans to be behind the attempted coup, Juan Perón chooses to punish Chile for its actions, both in regards to their diplomatic affronts in the mountain passes, and trying to violently remove Perón from office.

Early in the morning on the 6th of July, Argentinian artillery opened fire on Chilean positions, signalling the ground invasion of southern Chile. Surprising the unprepared defenders, the Argentinian soldiers broke through their lines with ease, supported by aircraft launched from the air and from the sea.

In the northeast, Bolivia and Peru smashed their way through Chilean defenses in a surprise assault. Backroom dealings with these two nations allowed for Argentina to let Bolivia retake Antofagasta, the port city lost to Chile in the War of the Pacific, and Peru to take revenge on Chile altogether.

With the goal of placing a friendly government in control of Chile, as well as expanding the borders of its allies, Argentina makes a beeline towards Santiago, the capital of Chile, and the home of Perón’s enemies.

The Second War of the Pacific has begun in ernest.

I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand...

 

[Zillamaster55]

Zion artillery batteries open fire on Syrian defenses in the Golan Heights

In the cool, breezy morning of the 2nd of September, 1953, the border between Syrian occupied Jordan and Zion erupts into the sounds of explosions, gunfire and death. Zion artillery guns begin firing salvo after salvo into Syrian defensive positions, rattling them so hard that they don’t expect the speartip of Zion armor and helicopters bowling them over but minutes later.

Across the country, airfields come under attack by Zion bombers and fighters, with hundreds of Syrian planes being destroyed or disabled. Then came the attacks on the radar stations in and around Jordan, essentially blacking out Syria’s ability to quickly counteract Zion’s surprise invasion.

Over the course of only a few hours, Zion manages to batter the Syrians hard enough to make significant gains in Jordan, and fight a bloody, uphill battle into the Golan Heights. Come the next morning, however, Syria mobilizes its forces, and prepared for a counterattack.

For the next few days, pitched battles are fought along the borders between Syria and Zion, with the attack in the Golan Heights grinding to a vicious standstill. Outside of Amman, Zion and Syrian tanks fight like mad to destroy one another, while the sky is filled with the “Dance of Death” between fighter jets and attacker aircraft.

The ports of Syria are ablaze with the surprise attack by Zion ships, which barely manage to escape the wrath of naval patrol bombers, which are intercepted by Zion’s more experienced and ready pilots.

Despite the best efforts of Zion, they now fight an enemy bigger than them, with even bigger friends. However, Zion refuses to give up, and the liberation of Jordan will come to pass. More importantly, the survival of the Jewish state is of the utmost importance, and Zion will not allow itself to be destroyed at the hands of the nationalist Syrians.

And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth...

 

[Euskalduna]

I love menacing nightmares

 

[Zillamaster55]

Yugoslav peacekeepers photograph the destruction of Gobabis

5th November, 1953
1230

The day is calm, and the village of Gobabis hums with food stalls, market goers, and troops of the People’s African Army on patrol. It is like any other day, with a warm sun overhead, and the sound of everday people conversing, eating, laughing and shopping.

One man looks up in the sky and sees a dark shape obscured by the sunlight. Covering his eyes, he looks closer and sees that it is a single, wide winged plane. Unsurprising, as government forces have been watching from up high for months, and it does not bother him.

Other people look up for a few moments, and choose to ignore the plane. “Why would they care about a village so far away? What is there to gain from this?” they ask, and return to their normal activities.

“Something is falling!” says a young boy, pointing upwards at the clouds. People turn their heads to watch as a small, black object grows bigger as it comes closer to the earth. And then, in an instant, all of the people vanish.

Twenty miles away, a rippling explosion is heard by Yugoslav peacekeepers attending to the wounded in a refugee camp. The soldiers rush outside, fearing that a South African surprise attack has begun. Instead, a roiling cloud of ash and smoke billows upwards in an all too familiar shape.

The “Sword of Damocles”, the price to be paid by those in power, has dropped down upon the heads of South Africa’s enemy.

I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and hell was following with him…

 

[Zillamaster55]

Turn 12
July - December, 1953
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World Tension is HOT (RISING QUICKLY)
World Economy is STABLE

World Events
- The city of Gobabis, home to a but a few thousand blacks after being evacuated a few years prior, and a major holding of the People’s African Army, is vaporized in less than a second by the “field test” of Sword of Damocles, the first nuclear weapon of South Africa. The attack on Gobabis kills nearly six thousand in total, and completely wipes out the city as a whole. Yugoslav volunteers, stationed near the city, are the first to witness the effect of the weapon, and the attack is a crushing blow to morale for the PAA
- With the approval of the United Nations General Assembly, western Germany is united under the flag of the Federal Republic of Germany, with its acting capital set in Bonn. However, France lays out multiple demands that Germany break itself up again, and refuses to allow Bavaria and its recent annexation of West Austria to be allowed into Germany. As a result of Germany’s refusal to meet French demands, France moves to occupy the Saarland, as well as mobilizing its military for “any other purposes to ensure the prevention of German nationalism”
- Zion bombers and attacker aircraft make devastating strikes against Syria, destroying much of the small Syrian air force, as well as bringing bombs and rockets to bear on Syrian troops on the border. This is followed immediately by a combined aerial and land assault in the Golan Heights and Jordan, in the hopes of making a swift breakthrough against Syria. This causes an enormous diplomatic crisis, as Syria tries to call in its allies in the region
- Iraq moves to guarantee the independence of Zion, fearing that the small nation will quickly fall to Syria, which could spell the doom for Iraq and Arab socialism in the region as a whole. Iraq’s membership in the Warsaw Pact poses a serious risk, as any military actions taken against the country could drag in the Soviet Union against METO, thus against NATO, and a cascade of alliances that could lead to nuclear war
- Yugoslav fighter-bombers lay waste to Syrian positions in the northeast of the country, attacking from airfields in southern Iraq, destroying even more Syrian aircraft. This causes international outrage from the Middle East Trade Organization, who accuse Yugoslavia of launching “unprovoked attacks on a nation that has done nothing to Yugoslavia”. Meanwhile, Tito condemns the Syrian occupation of Jordan, and instead sees Zion’s casus belli as legitimate
- Argentinian artillery ripples to life along the Chilean border, and aircraft are launched from carriers at sea, signalling Argentina’s invasion of Chile. Believing Chile to be behind the failed coup attempt, Argentina declares war on Chile to seek reparations and install a friendly government. Peru and Bolivia, both seeking revenge on Chile for the events of the War of the Pacific join in, with Bolivia hungry for the return of a port region. The second War of the Pacific has begun
- The guns fall silent in Iran as a devastating push by the Warsaw Pact collapses much of the Islamic lines, who crumble one by one after being faced with overwhelming odds. A few pockets of resistance remain, which prove to be a hard nut to crack as the Soviets turn their attention towards solidifying the control of the communist regime. Tehran is under constant military occupation, and the newly organized Central Committee of Iran celebrates the arrival of Warsaw Pact troops
- French troops march in columns through the streets of Hanoi, officially signalling the end of the Indochina War. Thousands of communist insurgents surrender as a result, and are sent away to prison for their crimes against the state. Frustratingly, many communist leaders manage to escape into China, while others simply disappear. An ongoing guerilla war is expected to ensue, as motivated fighters retreat deep into the jungles to launch a protracted war of attrition, but for the most part, the real war is over. French troops begin to return home, and a sense of peace falls on the region

---

- Barrages of rocket and gun artillery shower Chilean defensive positions with heavy fire as Argentinian infantry and armored battalions pour over the border in droves. Though expecting the attack for months now, the Chilean troops are simply overwhelmed and are ground down by the sheer numerical and technological superiority of the Argentinian army. What remains of the Chilean defenders move westward to try and protect what few population centers they can defend
- In the northwest, Argentinian aircraft launched from the Belgrano conduct surgical strikes on Chilean military high command, and the pacific fleet makes quick work of the surprised Chilean navy. Santiago comes under direct fire as Argentinian attack planes strike at factories and railway stations, sending the city into a panic. Argentina enjoys near total aerial and naval superiority, which makes their advancements into Chile much easier
- Bolivian and Peruvian forces drive back the poorly prepared Chileans out of Arica and Calama, and begin making a beeline towards Antofagasta, the old port of Bolivia that was taken in the War of the Pacific. These soldiers are far less ready than the Argentinians, and their casualties mount up as the Chileans conduct a fighting retreat towards the port city. Argentina moves to support its own troops first, with the goal of taking Santiago before the summer of 1954
- Chile is stunned at the sudden attack by the Peruvians and Bolivians, and spreads itself thin in an attempt to push against their enemies. This move causes their lines to collapse near the areas of the Argentina-Bolivia border, which allows for Argentinian troops to flood the area and begin setting up forward operating bases. Makeshift air strips are built in order to use surplus aircraft as close air support for the allied troops
- Chilean soldiers are forced to retreat from the south as Argentina makes a spearhead assault through the treacherous landscapes of Tierra del Fuego, capturing key areas such as Puerto Natales and O’Higgins. What Argentina plans to do with this land is not exactly known, but some hypothesize that it may act as a coaling station for future attacks against Chile in the pacific. The occupation of these cities is relatively peaceful, with only handfuls of military police left behind to keep things calm
- All reserves of the Argentinian military are mobilized, and begin following behind the standing troops that make their journey northwards against Chile. These mobilized soldiers are nowhere near as experienced or ready as those on the front line, and their effectiveness in combat leaves much to be desired. However, the highly skilled air and naval support that the army receives makes up for the lackluster infantry and armor
- Incendiary weapons are used in great numbers against the Chileans, though many are horrified at their effectiveness. Defensive positions that are purpose built to protect infantry from the ground are turned into incinerators, with some instances of entire platoons being burned alive. The wounded don’t fare much better, as the horrible burns are prone to infection, which leads many of those dying in their hospital beds
- Argentina makes every effort to not use incendiary weapons against civilians, knowing that such actions will only strengthen the Chilean resistance. Civilian populaces are given a “hands-off” approach, with many areas simply being passed over rather than occupied. A “hearts and minds” campaign is launched to try and prevent possible civilian resistance, or worse, the creation of a rear-line insurgency
- Easter Island is seized by just two squads of Argentine marines. The city of Hanga Roa surrenders almost immediately, as its populace is made up entirely of civilians and fishermen. Hanga Roa is soon converted into a military outpost, where the Argentine navy stations two destroyers to help protect the rear line of the pacific fleet. Meanwhile, the island itself swarms with Argentine archaeologists who seize the chance to try and discover as much about the island as possible
- A declaration of condemnation comes from Brazil, who pleads for peace between the belligerents. However, no economic, military or political sanctions are placed on Argentina by Brazil, clearly signaling that the massive South American country would rather have a steady series of trade partners, rather than truly desiring peace in the region. Argentina makes efforts to try and soothe the pain of Brazil, largely by promising peace in the future, more open trade, and other such niceties
- At home, Argentinian cities are placed on high alert, and civilians are encouraged to do everything they can to prepare for aerial attacks. Bomb shelters are made out of empty factories, with huge metal and concrete reinforcements being constructed in order to prevent civilian casualties. Anti-air defenses are set up in concentric rings around major cities, and police forces are given military equipment in order to protect the cities from attack
- Rationing is tightened as every extra piece of food is given to the army in order to continue conducting the war against Chile. The populace accepts this move, but only for a while, as many fear that the war may drag out far longer than expected. Some are arrested for trying to smuggle food off of the nationalized farms, while fistfights take place in urban ration centers between those that show up too late in line
- Argentinian military engineers begin experimenting with the idea of “guided” rocket artillery. Using a small receiver on the tips of these rockets, soldiers on the ground can relay information to the operators, who can coordinate the strikes far more accurately on enemy positions. These rockets are expensive, and aren’t as easily produced as their “dummy” counterparts, but are a boon for attacking entrenched Chilean soldiers
- Weapons designers begin toying with the idea of an “infantry autocannon”. Using a 15mm cartridge, this long-barreled weapon uses a belt fed mechanism to lay down thousands of rounds of high explosive, armor piercing or incendiary bullets in a matter of minutes. Operated by three soldiers, the M1953 “Dragón” is a bizarrely effective infantry support weapon when out in the field, due to the fact it is capable of destroying light vehicles, armor and fortifications. Its largest drawback is the sheer weight of it, and the fact that it quickly warps its barrel if fired too much

- France makes an open diplomatic statement against the nationalism in Germany, and clearly defends its position. If the German states include Bavaria, West Austria, or any of the territories absorbed during the occupation, France will move to occupy the Saarland, and begin “any and all military actions to prevent such a move”. In open defiance of this, Germany unites across the board, and with the power of the Bavarian government, essentially spits in the face of the French
- In response to such moves, the French military is mobilized in full, and the initial point of the French response goes through as French troops enter the Saarland under arms, and officially occupy the region as a French territory. Aircraft patrols begin, and France condemns the German government, refusing to recognize it and demanding that the nation break up to be reformed by the United Nations at a later date. Doubling down, Germany moves a number of troops to defend its major cities in the west, and declares a state of emergency
- With France growing closer to the United States, especially with the continued expansion of Soviet influence, the United States begins selling hundreds of Sidewinder missiles to the French military. These missiles, paired with supersonic fighters, gives both the French and the United States a massive military advantage, with air superiority essentially guaranteed when fighting in their own airspace
- Syria, a member of the Middle East Treaty Organization, calls for aid in its war against Zion. Some believe that intervening against Zion may call in Iraq, who has guaranteed the state’s independence in order to “bolster defense against imperialist and nationalist expansionism”. With Iraq’s membership in the Warsaw Pact, the possibility of a dangerous cascade of alliances poses a serious risk to international peace, which could lead to nuclear war
- France pressures Britain to break its treaty with Zion due to the fact that Zion is not only a member of the comintern, as well as the aggressor in the war, but is also aided and supported by the Soviet Union. Though Britain is incredibly nervous, knowing that Zion would be an important ally against Egypt in the event of a war over the Suez canal, the British agree, and break off their defensive treaty with Zion
- Egypt is given the one chance to turn away from Zion, and drop its support of socialist regimes in the Middle East. In return for this, France offers numerous shares in the Suez Canal Company, and promises to guarantee the independence of Egypt in the event of a declaration of war on the country. Egypt accepts this deal, and uses this as an excuse to move more troops into the Sinai, though no real military measures are taken
- In order to bolster the defensive capabilities of Egypt, as well as bring them closer to France, Egypt begins to purchase large numbers of French surplus firearms, munitions and vehicles. Most of these are put into the hands of the standing troops of the Egyptian military, who suffer from poor or outdated equipment. Though the Egyptian government is far more left than most of France’s other allies, their strategic position in the Middle East cannot be understated
- Economic sanctions are placed on Spain by the European Community to further isolate the country. Total embargoes are put in place across the board as EC members agree to end all support for the Franco regime. This isolation further radicalizes Franco, who begins a campaign of mass recruitment to put down the Basque rebels, as well as show the EC that Spain was untouched by World War II, and has a military “ready for action if need be”
- The French military moves to expand their base in Latakia in order to further provide protection and power projection in the Mediterranean. However, before troops and ships can arrive, the French observe the bombardment of the port and city by Zion vessels. In order to avoid open conflict, France moves its ships to Syracuse to rendezvous with the American vessels stationed there. De Gaulle, like Rockefeller, is enraged by these moves and considers possible actions
- State owned banks are opened up in major cities throughout North Africa as the French government begins supporting buyouts of native businesses. The formation of the “Credit Algérien” provide cheap credit and loans to all citizens of France alongside legal immigrants. This encourages migration to France proper, as well as locals wishing to officially become French citizens through the various legal processes, now streamlined after recent reforms
- Tunis is given protectorate status similar to the other republics in French Africa, with the goal of creating a semi-independent, economically strong and republican Tunisia. These reforms cause many in Algeria to become incredibly jealous, as the tiny North African state has suddenly far more civil, economic and political rights than Algeria does, which causes socialist groups to lodge multiple formal protests to the French government
- A bombing takes place in the medical center at the University of Algiers, killing three and wounding more than a dozen. Due to the bombing taking place in the dark of night, campus security was unable to detect the attackers. Police believe that the bomb was detonated by Islamic extremist groups, who can “neither confirm nor deny these claims”. A manhunt begins to try and find the bombers before another attack can take place
- The French navy continues its program of modernization, finally doing away with nearly all of their outdated ships, and introducing much more up-to-date destroyers, cruisers and support ships. With carriers on the way, France will soon be on par with the British and the Soviets, with a powerful navy capable of projecting French influence across the world, as well as defending its assets both at home and overseas
- Engineers working with nuclear reactors begin testing the idea of “miniaturizing” reactors, to not only be smaller, but also be mobile. The goal is to create a nuclear reactor small enough to fit on either a ship or a submarine, essentially negating the need for oil to fuel these ships, allowing them to patrol for years on end without having to refuel. This process will take some time, as the “miniature reactors” are only in the embryonic stage
- Nuclear weapons scientists continue working with the possibility of creating a “hydrogen bomb”. One of the major issues now is trying to understand the sheer force of the explosion, and how to control its detonation. With the lowest estimates being in the hundreds of kilotons, and some estimates placing the weapon at nearly a megaton, French scientists find a comfortable middleground of 800 kilotons, which is more than enough to level some of the world’s largest cities

- France makes an open diplomatic statement against the nationalism in Germany, and clearly defends its position. If the German states include Bavaria, West Austria, or any of the territories absorbed during the occupation, France will move to occupy the Saarland, and begin “any and all military actions to prevent such a move”. In open defiance of this, Germany unites across the board, and with the power of the Bavarian government, essentially spits in the face of the French
- In response to such moves, the French military is mobilized in full, and the initial point of the French response goes through as French troops enter the Saarland under arms, and officially occupy the region as a French territory. Aircraft patrols begin, and France condemns the German government, refusing to recognize it and demanding that the nation break up to be reformed by the United Nations at a later date. Doubling down, Germany moves a number of troops to defend its major cities in the west, and declares a state of emergency
- West Austria, via referendum, chooses to reunite with the newly formed Federal Republic of Germany. With its economy dwarfed by the reunified Germany, and East Austria still far more powerful militarily and economically, West Austria finds that the best course of action is to submit to becoming one of the “Bunds” within the FRG. This infuriates much of western Europe, who draws parallels to the Anschluss of Austria in 1938 by the Nazis
- The German military is mobilized to begin protecting its major cities in the west, reformed into the “Bundeswehr” (Federal Armed Forces). Germany is unwilling to see its borders and its people picked apart yet again, and reserves are pulled up across the board to try and bolster their defenses. Though some soldiers have allegiances to the post-war states, the threat of further occupation of their homeland is a powerful motivator
- The last “Bavarian” Oktoberfest is held in Munich, with Joseph Müller presiding over the festivals. Even with the threat of conflict with France, Müller manages to pull off a spectacular finale to Oktoberfest with a huge public display of unity with all the former royal heads of state, prime ministers and representatives of the post-war states of Germany. The flags of these states are symbolically lowered in the town square, and replaced with the German tricolor, with the band striking up a medley of the various anthems
- After intense deliberation, and defiance of the French, Josef Müller and the many other prime ministers of the former post-war states form the "Rat der Deutschen Wiedervereinigung" (German Reunification Council), which will meet in Bonn to discuss the reorganization of Germany into a federal republic, as well as draft the new constitution for the country. The first order of business is to officially disband all monarchies, stripping the royalty of their legal powers and reducing them to peership
- Another quick decision is that Germany will be led by a unicameral legislature, which is made up by elected representatives from across the country. At the head of this legislature, known as the “Bundestag”, is a prime minister who is elected by parliament, acting as both the head of state and the head of the government. This system is more similar to Britain and the United States, as opposed to the dual-leadership system of PM/President or PM/Monarch
- Many in the new Germany celebrate the reunification, while also openly protesting the dangerous moves made by France to try and disrupt “the will of the German people”. Anti-French protests take place across major cities in Germany, with French businesses being ransacked, French flags burned in the streets, and the shouting of "Wir sind nicht deine Marionette!" (We are not your puppet!) over and over, demanding that the French back down
- Elections are planned for the early part of 1954, with the RDW working overtime on redistricting the nation and ensuring a fair vote. Parties similar to the NSDAP, as well as the “Deutsche Nationalpartei”, a right-wing radical party, are banned from participating in the elections. This causes an outcry from conservatives, who demand that the government also ban the KPD and SPD, though no strong evidence is brought before the RDW to make such a decision
- A referendum on the flag of Germany is planned once the elections are finished, and on the 1st of November, 1954, a nationwide vote will take place on proposed flags to represent the nation. At the current moment, Germany will use the flag of the Weimar Republic and revolutionaries of 1848, which is considered by many to be the “new standard” for Germany. Of course, there are many who desire to do away with all flags of the past, and look for a newer, better way to make this new Germany stand out from the rest
- The Bundeswehr undergoes a series of reforms to begin the standardization of equipment and training. However, due to the fact that the French have begun making hostile gestures to Germany, the military is only able to get some basic reforms made before shoving troops out into the field. Luckily, almost all of the west German states were reliant on American arms and equipment, and thus supply lines are much more streamlined than initially believed
- Electronics engineers begin working on improving Bavaria’s radar systems, mainly through the use of more powerful projections and more sensitive equipment. These radar systems are able to “track” aircraft as they move, rather than having to do the classic “sweep” and pick them up only when the dish sees them. However, most of these dishes are unfortunately static, due to their size and fragility, and thus huge arrays must be constructed to get a full picture of the air
- Nuclear engineers, now united under a single flag, begin looking for ways to harness nuclear materials for a more peaceful purpose. Seeing that nuclear energy has benefitted the nations of France, Zambezia and the Soviet Union, Germany hopes to follow in their footsteps by creating nuclear plants of their own. With nuclear power, Germany can begin ending its reliance on the importation of oil, and the cutting down of forests for coal

- The city of Gobabis, home to a but a few thousand blacks after being evacuated a few years prior, and a major holding of the People’s African Army, is vaporized in less than a second by the “field test” of Sword of Damocles, the first nuclear weapon of South Africa. The attack on Gobabis kills nearly six thousand in total, and completely wipes out the city as a whole. Yugoslav volunteers, stationed near the city, are the first to witness the effect of the weapon, and the attack is a crushing blow to morale for the PAA
- In the northwest, the South African military makes a drastic decision. With the situation quickly getting out of hand, and the troops at risk of being cut off, Namibia is essentially abandoned. A huge number of whites are evacuated from their homes and taken along in a huge military convoy, guarded by tanks, helicopters and attackers. Any equipment and materials that can’t be easily transported are destroyed. Mines and traps are laid out in spades in these areas to do as much damage as possible
- In Transvaal, South African troops manage to surround and grind the last PAA holdout in the region into dust. With nowhere to turn, the rebels put up a desperate and bloody defense, but are simply unable to halt the advance of the technologically and numerically superior government soldiers. Incendiary weapons are used to great effect to burn the last few defensive positions to the ground. The wounded are ignored, and huge numbers of prisoners are taken to either be sent to labor camps or executed on the spot
- Natal, largely under the control of the African Defense League, is the next target of the South African government. These regions are far more difficult to take, as the tenacity of the ADL’s fighters is a force to be reckoned with. Government soldiers are wary not to get into any sort of close range engagement, for the rebels will forgo close quarters combat and immediately charge with machetes, spears, or just their fists. As a result, these areas are burned to the ground before troops move in
- Airstrikes are a soldier’s best friend, with the South African air force utilizing flamethrower aircraft to burn down forests and bushland, which is followed up by constant airburst incendiary artillery. Once the fire begins to subside, the government begins deploying flamethrower armed tanks to push alongside elite infantry armed with flamethrowers or incendiary grenades. Entire villages are reduced to smoldering ashes, with any bodies made unidentifiable thanks to the intense burning. Sometimes, the plumes of smoke can be seen for miles
- South African soldiers begin to grow more and more vicious as the fighting drags on. Less prisoners are taken, more civilians are indiscriminately killed, and lands are regularly salted to make a point. Some officers encourage this, while others try to rein it in which causes some divisiveness between commanders. Nonetheless, the government suppression of the rebels is beyond extreme, and the terror it inflicts is more than enough to prevent some from wanting to join the likes of the PAA or ADL
- Fighting in the bush is sporadic and inconsistent. With many pockets of resistance being crushed in the nation’s center, there are some rebels that take it upon themselves to wage one man wars against the government. These men are difficult to track down, and are incredibly dangerous for troop movements, but they are easily brought to justice as the government makes them pay by torching entire villages connected to the rebels
- Whites in the bush or outer regions are evacuated en masse to bring them to cities like Praetoria, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, which are then surrounded with some of the most elite troops as possible. This centralization of the white populace makes it harder for rebels to attack them, as well as make it far easier to keep an eye on everyone in such dire straits. Meanwhile, non-whites/coloreds found trying to enter the cities are immediately imprisoned on charges of espionage, with many executed as a result
- Utilizing the last of Prometheus Technology and Manufacturing’s overseas holdings in Argentina, the South Africa begins ramping up the production of the M-48 Patton, under the new, domestic designation of T-53 "Renoster" (Rhino). The T-53 is an important tool in punching through defensive positions, as well as assaulting fortifications. However, when it comes to close quarters, the T-53 is used sparingly, as the rebels use numerous improvised anti-tank weapons at short distances
- Kommandos begin hunting the leaders of foreign rebel groups, considering them to be “race traitors” for their service in the People’s African Army. Specifically, white volunteers are targeted, and due to their high value status, the Kommandos begin conducting far more daring raids on their compounds. In Tsumeb, one of the major holdings of the People’s African Army, a number of communist volunteers from Europe see their leaders offed in attack after attack by Kommandos, all of them escaping into the bush before they can be captured
- The free time for white citizens, when they are not working in factories or generally trying to relax, is encouraged by the government to be filled with farming activities. Rather than rely entirely on fields outside of the cities, civilians are encouraged to use their lawns, window sills, gardens and just about anywhere that can grow food to be used to grow food. These farms are then inspected by government officials, and any excess food is taken to food canning facilities to create rations
- Surplus weapons and goods, anything that won’t see military use at any time, is given out to civilians in droves. Revolvers, pistols, shotguns, old rifles and old machine guns are given to citizens of any stature, with the weapons quickly registered to hastily thrown together armories. Stockpiles of Martini Henry rifles, in storage since before World War I, are doled out in the hundreds, with many of the recipients being granted hundreds of bullets for these iconic weapons
- South Africa doubles down on its demands for the continued “crusade against communism”, and pleads for assistance, or at least neutrality, from world governments. With most nations not even recognizing the government of South Africa, these words fall on deaf ears. The Commonwealth takes their chance to denounce South Africa yet again, which only serves to prove the point of the AMP. However, thousands of white nationalists from the United States, as well as volunteers from Spain, arrive in South Africa to “liberate the civilized peoples of South Africa”
- Britain is shocked by the deployment of South Africa’s nuclear weapons, and begs the United Nations for intervention. However, the request is smothered by the sudden eruption of combat within the Middle East, and the fears of cascading alliances that could lead to a devastating World War III. As a result, South Africa manages to skirt past a massive worldwide intervention, at least for now

- American diplomats arrive in the Soviet Union to create the “Red Telephone”, a long series of telephone lines and relay stations that directly links Moscow to Washington D.C. A strict series of coded messages are delivered to the President of the United States and the General Secretary of the Soviet Union, which are used to “activate” the Red Telephone, and speak with one another. This device’s sole purpose is to ensure that crises can be solved diplomatically on a 1-to-1 level, before having to take it to the UN, or worse, the battlefield
- With France growing closer to the United States, especially with the continued expansion of Soviet influence, the United States begins selling hundreds of Sidewinder missiles to the French military. These missiles, paired with supersonic fighters, gives both the French and the United States a massive military advantage, with air superiority essentially guaranteed when fighting in their own airspace
- The South American Treaty Organization (SATO) is formed in order to continue creating a bulwark against communism. The entirety of Central America joins the alliance, as well as Venezuela, Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Haiti. These nations cling to the United States for military protection, while those who refuse the treaty desire to remain “independent from the clutches of the Americans”. Brazil is a surprising opponent of SATO, feeling that instability in South America is a “temporary issue”
- The port city of Tartus is leased to the United States and France in order to assist in the projection of power for NATO and the Western Union in the Mediterranean. However, before American naval vessels can arrive, the war between Zion and Syria essentially wrecks the city’s ports, and the United States orders its ships to move back to Syracuse to avoid coming under fire by Zion’s military. Rockefeller is infuriated by the sudden rebuke of American influence in the region
- Camille Chamoun of Lebanon, as well as the leadership of Syria, are brought to Washington D.C. to begin discussing the possibility of Lebanon’s absorption into Syria. With the Syrian Social Nationalist Party wanting to expand “Greater Syria”, Lebanon is an incredibly important territory for those goals. Though standing on shaky footing, Chamoun wishes to transfer Lebanon to Syria, though under the semi-autonomous command of himself. However, the war with Zion has caused Chamoun to withdraw his support, and instead begin ramping up protection of his own country
- Syria, a member of the Middle East Treaty Organization, calls for aid in its war against Zion. Some believe that intervening against Zion may call in Iraq, who has guaranteed the state’s independence in order to “bolster defense against imperialist and nationalist expansionism”. With Iraq’s membership in the Warsaw Pact, the possibility of a dangerous cascade of alliances poses a serious risk to international peace, which could lead to nuclear war
- Rockefeller expands the national highway program to include interstate railways, with the hopes of creating a series of railroads that link major cities of the United States together. These programs are publicly funded, and Rockefeller works with labor secretary Nelson Cruikshank to prove jobs for the poor to be able to create these railways. Over the course of the next few years, these railways will provide trade and passengers throughout the country, further tying the states together
- Protections for unions are put in place across the board, with the ability for union members to sue their employers expanded. Noting the rage from the southern states, Rockefeller meets with Randolph to specifically ensure the safeties of black unions. Though segregation and discrimination laws still apply to black individuals, the union’s protections prevent any real dangers to the jobs of african-americans, which causes hilarious legal issues in the south
- Funding for public schools, national parks and public housing, as well as the foundation of “Medicaid”, is done in hopes of bringing the lower classes up. In order to pay for these expanded programs, congress passes a rise in taxes for the upper classes, with a jaw dropping 85% income tax on the upper 3%. This causes lobbyists that support the states rights party to be thrown into a fury, and their benefactors try their best to try and block the bill from passing to no avail
- Discrimination based on age and sex is outlawed nationwide as the federal government continues to expand civil rights in the country. Referencing the working women during World War II, the federal government pushes for the hiring of women and older Americans, stating that their “experience at home, experience in years, and desire to work” should be a reason to hire these individuals. Though, on paper, this does nothing to stop businesses from simply refusing to hire these individuals, though it does protect them from discrimination at work itself
- The T-48 Rifle and its various counterparts are brought back to the drawing board to standardize the design and implementation. The new T-48A1 uses a series of polymers to reduce the overall weight of the rifle, as well as the implementation of a “rail” on the handguard to mount a single-shot grenade launcher. The United States also begins exporting M-48 Pattons, F-86 Sabers, and numerous other military advancements in order to bolster the strength of NATO and its constituents
- At McDonnel Aircraft, engineers begin working on creating a supersonic fighter for the United States Air Force. Designated as the F-101 “Voodoo”, this new fighter has the capability of reaching a stunning speed of Mach 1.65, and is armed with four Sidewinder missiles beneath hardpoints on the wing. The F-101 is the best fighter in the world, who’s only drawbacks are its expensive electronics system, and the fact that it guzzles fuel when going at its top speed
- Electronics engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reveal their latest creation. Using a series of specially shaped crystals and powerful energy sources, the students involved in the project present “Light Amplification through the Stimulated Emission of Radiation”, or “LASER” for short. The LASER has multiple possibilities of application, such as enhancing radar, guidance systems for weapons, or security systems to prevent theft or intrusion

- Soviet forces make a beeline to begin striking south into Khuzestan in order to free up the crucial oil fields. Iranian, Iraqi and Yugoslav troops advance alongside the Soviets, breaching through the Islamic lines with little issue, and forcing them into the sea. Air strikes from Soviet aircraft stop their retreat, and Iraqi forces swing in from the south, seizing the gulf and pushing northward. Surrounded, outnumbered and outgunned, the rebels surrender and are taken into military custody
- Naval forces of the Soviet Union capture Qeshm and Hormuz island after intense fighting on the landing zones. The rebels on these islands are made up of former Iranian infantry, and give the Soviets a run for their money, forcing the Soviets to establish multiple beachheads on Hormuz to be able to take the island. However, with near-constant air strikes and naval bombardments, the defenders of Hormuz are more or less forced to surrender, despite the damage inflicted on the Soviet marines
- The war in Iran comes to a somewhat anticlimactic end, as many of the Islamic soldiers simply have no desire to try and fight back against such an overwhelming force. Despite being motivated by the word of God, throwing their lives away to next to no reason. With little to no outside support, rebel settlements collapse on the approach of Soviet forces. However, there are many that still hold out in the mountains in the south, as well as some cities still under rebel control, but the Soviets see no need to continue the massive offensive, and calls off the Warsaw Pact from further intervention
- Tito and Khrushchev meet in Bucharest to discuss the formation of the “Soviet-Yugoslav Defensive Agreement”, which ensures that the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia mutually guarantee one another’s independence, as well as the establishment of military coordination and training. Yugoslavia will still take no part in the Warsaw Pact, and is thus not tied to its various restrictions and quotas. However, this deal does tie the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia closer together, which for eastern Europe, is a good thing
- The Soviet Union begins to ship military equipment in droves to Zion, primarily in the form of armored vehicles, anti-tank weapons and helicopters. Alongside the equipment is the “Comintern Logistical Corp.” made up of Soviet and Warsaw Pact logisticians tasked with supply lines and hospitals to assist Zion’s war effort. This move unfortunately raises tensions in the Middle-East, with many condemning this move as “exacerbating the war beyond its scope”
- Soviet diplomats arrive in the United States to create the “Red Telephone”, a long series of telephone lines and relay stations that directly links Moscow to Washington D.C. A strict series of coded messages are delivered to the President of the United States and the General Secretary of the Soviet Union, which are used to “activate” the Red Telephone, and speak with one another. This device’s sole purpose is to ensure that crises can be solved diplomatically on a 1-to-1 level, before having to take it to the UN, or worse, the battlefield
- With the unification of western Germany, the Soviet Union takes steps to begin growing and modernizing the military of the German Democratic Republic. Though the Federal German Republic has made no overtures of military expansion, the USSR is unwilling to let the “whirlwind birthplace of fascism” pose any threat to the Soviet’s control over Eastern Europe. As a result, incompetent commanders in the GDR’s military are removed and replaced with more experienced generals, whose loyalty lies to the GDR rather than just the USSR
- The war between Zion and Syria is propagandized in the Soviet Union as a struggle between the proletariat and the imperialist, with the Soviet Union drumming up domestic support for Zion, as well as ensuring that the Soviet expansion into the Middle East is a long-term success. Film reels and first hand accounts from the battlefield are presented to the Soviet public, which serves its purpose to make the Soviet public to support the “Jewish proletariat state” of Zion
- Despite the losses taken in Iran, the Soviet people celebrate the victory over the “oppressive imperialist and religiously corrupt” forces, and heads of industrial conglomerates make their way to Iran to begin discussing deals to expand their industry. The government approves the arrival of thousands of Soviet volunteers to begin reconstructing infrastructure damaged in the war, as well as making new roadways and railways to help the Iranian economy
- Jazz music, once considered “profane, noisy and far too erratic for the Soviet people” by Stalin, is now officially legalized in the Soviet Union. Jazz music is considered to be the “song of the foreign proletariat”, and is used in propaganda pieces to build sympathy for the plight of african-americans suffering from oppression in the United States. Jazz musicians from overseas are invited to the Soviet Union to perform, which goes over quite well in highly supervised concerts in Moscow and Leningrad
- Soviet rocket scientists begin experimenting with a higher altitude version of People’s Fist. Instead of carrying a nuclear warhead, "Рука Мира" (Ruka Mira) [Hand of Peace] is instead designated for the eventual delivery of a communications satellite capable of orbiting the earth. Khrushchev makes it quite clear in his demands that the Soviet Union should get a satellite in orbit before the year of 1955, and tests show that such an achievement can be made by the deadline
- The Soviet navy begins expanding itself significantly after two mid-size carriers are commissioned for the Black Sea and Baltic fleet. Though nowhere near as impressive as American or British carriers, these vessels are purpose-built for the delivery of naval fighters and helicopters, which are a boon for naval invasions. A huge number of submarines and destroyers are built to support these carriers, which will act as the fulcrum for the Soviet fleets, as well as numerous Ekranoplanes to support landing operations
- Engineers in the Soviet navy begin experimenting with sonar-tipped torpedoes. These torpedoes are granted the ability to “home in” on targets using passive sonar that is made active after a certain distance. To avoid accidents, such as the torpedo turning around, these weapons are tied to a “wire” which snaps once the torpedo is a safe distance away. Tests show that these torpedoes are highly effective, and can, in some extreme cases, be nuclear tipped to take out entire fleets
- Nuclear weapons scientists continue working with the possibility of creating a “hydrogen bomb”. One of the major issues now is trying to understand the sheer force of the explosion, and how to control its detonation. With the lowest estimates being in the hundreds of kilotons, and some estimates placing the weapon at nearly a megaton, Soviet scientists find a comfortable middleground of 800 kilotons, which is more than enough to level some of the world’s largest cities

- Yugoslav troops advance alongside Soviet armored brigades as the combined forces of the two nations bear down on Islamic fortifications in Khuzestan. As a result, the Islamic rebels begin to fold one by one, and Yugoslav infantry celebrate their victory with Soviet, Polish, Iraqi and Iranian soldiers in Tehran shortly thereafter. Iran considers Yugoslavia to be one of its many liberators, and opens up a sizable embassy in Belgrade as a token of friendship
- Under the orders of Tito, Yugoslav aircraft fly through Soviet, Iranian and then Iraqi airspace to station themselves outside of Baghdad. Multiple strikes against Syrian defensive positions and airfields take place, destroying dozens of aircraft and completely wrecking runways. Without warning, these attackers come again and again, stretching the lines of the Syrian air force thinner and thinner
- Peacekeepers in South Africa, assisting in the occupied areas of the People’s African Army, are first to witness the destruction of Gobabis. These peacekeepers rush in to assist those wounded, not understanding the sheer scale of the destruction. Thousands of people, both civilian and rebel, have been vaporized, and the burning piles of hundreds of bodies greet the Yugoslav peacekeepers on their arrival. Many request to return home, too shocked by the experience, while others demand blood for such a horriffic action
- Tito and Khrushchev meet in Bucharest to discuss the formation of the “Soviet-Yugoslav Defensive Agreement”, which ensures that the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia mutually guarantee one another’s independence, as well as the establishment of military coordination and training. Yugoslavia will still take no part in the Warsaw Pact, and is thus not tied to its various restrictions and quotas. However, this deal does tie the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia closer together, which for eastern Europe, is a good thing
- Fearing the possibility of a major war, Greece tries to make overtures with Tito to sign some form of non-aggression pact. However, due to Greece’s obligations to NATO, Tito finds it incredibly difficult to sign such a deal, as Yugoslavia is tied to the Soviet Union militarily, and has tied themselves too much to Zion. Tito does, however, make a promise that Yugoslav troops will not ever violate Greece’s borders without a formal declaration of war
- Dockyards across the country are expanded in order to facilitate more trade overseas, as well as building bigger and better ships for the Yugoslav navy. One of the biggest issues that Yugoslavia faces at the moment is the lack of proper shipping routes, and much of Yugoslavia’s trade has to go through middlemen such as Italy, Germany or Zion. Tito pushes for the creation of a merchant marine, capable of reaching out to the entire world, delivering such goods as the Yugo and research computers
- The “Balkan International Football League” is formed in Belgrade, using one of the massive stadiums to house numerous tournaments. The new members of the BIFL include Czechoslovakia, East Austria, East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, the Soviet Union, Iran and Greece, with all nations eager to compete against one another in the various tournaments. These games are friendly in nature, but are also a point of pride for the competitors, which only serves to strengthen its growing popularity
- Tito makes personal moves to diversify the Yugoslav teams by representing all major ethnic groups within Yugoslavia, including the much smaller minorities such as the Hungarians in (pizza planet) and Yugoslav Jews. These multi-ethnic teams are a sticking point to the other competitors, who are largely made up of their primary ethnic groups, making Yugoslavia appear to be far more progressive than their competitors. How this will affect the “ground game” remains to be seen
- Ethnic diversity is pushed in factories as well, with industrial union leaders encouraged to hire minorities and put them in managerial positions when given the chance. Some in majority areas complain, feeling that “minority rule” will overtake their employment and “leave them at the mercy of but a few”. Tito himself cracks down on these protestations, demanding that Yugoslavia “have but a single identity, to be Yugoslavian above all else”
- A hunt begins to find all remaining members of anti-communist militia groups from World War II, such as the Chetniks, Stasi or those who generally got in the way of the partisans. These individuals are tried for their crimes, named and shamed. These men are sent to labor battalions tasked with the creation of roads, factory work or just general imprisonment, never to be released for the rest of their lives. Those accused of more vicious acts, such as mass murder or violent crimes, are simply hung after a speedy trial
- Yugoslavia, conducting airstrikes in Syria, continues to build up its air force by producing more and more jet fighters and attackers, with the intention of bringing its numerical and technological prowess up to speed with the rest of the world. Tito is proud to see formations of Yugoslav fighters flying overhead at a military parade, and takes multiple publicity photos with pilots returning from Iraq, giving them various awards and praises
- Nuclear engineers from Yugoslavia begin looking for ways to harness nuclear materials for a more peaceful purpose. Seeing that nuclear energy has benefitted the nations of France, Zambezia and the Soviet Union, Tito hopes to follow in their footsteps by creating nuclear plants of their own. With nuclear energy, Yugoslavia’s energy grid can easily become self sufficient, and oil can instead be stockpiled for passenger or military consumption at a much lower cost
- Yugoslav electronics engineers begin working with their large computers to try and create a faster, more efficient “language” for programming. These engineers manage to create the next great step for computer programming, inventing "PRIFORM" (Prijevod Formule) [Formula Translation]. Capable of running through huge calculations at record speeds, and able to be customized for scientific use, PRIFORM is one of the greatest achievements for Yugoslavia since its nuclear weapon

- With the British empire still beginning to recede, Zambezia pushes for the further private investment in Britain’s territories throughout Africa. With Britain’s assistance, Zambezia begins sending out government-approved prospectors and businessmen to begin setting up shop in the major cities of British East Africa to try and encourage investors from around the world, as well as employ large numbers of African locals
- Zambezia pressures the British Government to begin forming an “East African Federation” similar to Zambezia, which would act as a Commonwealth member in Africa, which would provide the British government with cheap resources, military outposts and regional influence without the headache of having to personally manage the colonies. Though the British people are becoming disgruntled at the idea, Britain will make the move to create the EAF by the beginning of the following year
- Portugal accepts Zambezia’s offer to begin sending troops to Angola and Mozambique to prevent the spillover of rebel forces, as well as help take in more refugees to Bechuanaland. In return for these protections, Zambezia manages to needle the Portuguese government to reduce tariffs on Zambezia’s port at the mouth of the Zambezi. Portugal begrudgingly concedes to Zambezia on the tariffs, and simply desires that Zambezia prevent chaos in their colonies
- Belgium formulates a free trade deal with Zambezia to help the colony’s economy see some sense of normalcy. Most of this trade comes in the form of mining and logging companies setting up shop outside of major settlements, though these companies are pressed by the Zambezian government to hire african locals, largely to ensure stability, as well as begin lifting up the lower classes in the Congo
- Engineers are invited from the European Nuclear Committee to oversee the implementation of safety protocols in Zambezia’s nuclear energy facility, as well as provide tips for their management. Unsurprisingly, the ENC finds the reactor to be far behind European standards, and begins putting into place numerous safety regulations, while also helping boost the security of the facility by posting guards, checkpoints and a large razor-wire fence to prevent intrusion
- The Zambezian Electric Company begins to expand the Zambezian electrical grid by building power stations in Bechuanaland. These power stations and lines are constructed by refugees who are given crash courses on electrical engineering, and are given light payment to help them purchase goods from Zambezian markets that crop up around refugee camps. Zambezia has quickly moved from “occupation” to “integration” of the region and its people
- Refugees are invited to enjoy showings of Shakespeare, participate in football matches, and partake in sermons by the Church of Zambezia. The government hopes to raise the spirits of these refugees, while also taking the time to not bombard them with Zambezian ideals. Refugees that are slightly better off make their way to Zambezian cities to try and find a new life in the nation. Many refugees agree that, no matter who wins in South Africa, that their homes are lost, and they are without a real place to live
- A “Promotion of Peace” campaign is launched across Zambezia, with pamphlets handed out in Angola, Mozambique and the Congo to try and prevent ethnic conflict, and instead push for negotiations and talks in regards to civil rights, protections and independence. The Portuguese government tries its best to quash these pamphleteers, while the Belgians are glad to have them as the horrible colonial treatment has led to severe resentment in the local populations
- The reserves of the Zambezian military are mobilized to assist in the peace operations in Angola and Mozambique, as well as bolster the auxiliary forces in Bechuanaland. The locals in the new territories are put through a quick series of military exercises and lessons to better prepare them for their new positions as military police and peacekeepers. The ultimate goal of Zambezia is to relieve their stationed troops of such positions, and let the locals screen incoming refugees to prevent violence
- With the stresses on the command of the Zambezian military growing, parliament agrees to lift the ban on africans from achieving higher ranks in officer positions. Though still banned from becoming generals or above, various africans are quickly promoted to colonel thanks to their dedication to the military and the country. This move is incredibly popular amongst africans in the army, with many applying to officer school to better themselves and further streamline command
- With the factories of Prometheus Technology and Manufacturing having been nationalized, Zambezia begins producing a line of their own aircraft. These planes are largely dedicated to ground support as opposed to interception, with the hopes of benefitting troop movements. Though lacking any real armor, aerial support is considered just as effective for combined arms operations, and the dense jungles and forests make it hard for Zambezia to field armor anyways
- Engineers at the ZEC begin adapting Yugoslav designs of the “integrated circuit” to try and create a better version. Unfortunately, the design is exactly the same, with only some minor differences such as the general shape and implementation. However, the ZEC quickly patents this design, thumbing their nose at the Yugoslavs who try and treat the integrated circuit as some sort of state secret, even though just about every electronics engineer has been trying to get their hands on it
- The first “solar shingles” are created at the Zambezian Electric Company’s headquarters in Salisbury. These “shingles” are built to provide electricity for lighting and other implements in government facilities. The biggest drawback to these shingles is their fragility, alongside the fact that the power must be stored in batteries during the day for it to be used at night, and if operators forget to reconnect the batteries, the shingles simply sit out being warmed by the sun for no real purpose

- At 0600, on the 2nd of September, Zion bombers and attackers enter Syrian airspace in droves, making brutal attacks on key Syrian airstrips, taking out aircraft and fuel dumps. Secondary strikes are launched against Syrian command posts, which kills numerous generals and higher ranking officers, causing a panic amongst the lower ranks. In an attempt to pursue the Zion bombers, fighters are launched to intercept, and are instead faced with Zion pilots, who have far more hours behind the stick
- Zion artillery fires a volley over the river Jordan striking numerous Syrian positions, killing hundreds and destroying key fortifications. Zion armor, though in small numbers, punch through their lines, followed by infantry. The Syrian troops, shocked by the sudden early morning assault, begin to fall back further into Jordan in an attempt to gather themselves. Zion troops take no time to celebrate their victory, and continue to press on southwards towards Aqaba
- The fighting in the south of Jordan proves to be far easier than expected, as the Syrian troops near the port city are demoralized by the sudden overwhelming firepower of the Zion troops, and many rapidly evacuate the area to regroup in Amman. Zion troops land in the ports of Aqaba, ensuring that any Syrian ships that may be stationed are destroyed or captured. Bombers chase down the escaping troops and make mincemeat of their trucks and light armored vehicles
- Outside of Amman, Zion troops begin firing volley after volley of artillery into the Syrian defensive position, with devastating commando raids causing the defenders to continually lose morale. However, Syrian tanks arrive outside of the city, and begin driving Zion’s soldiers back meter by meter, though they pay a devastating price. Zion’s armor brigades are painfully outnumbered, however, and are forced to make a fighting retreat once the Syrian tanks arrive
- Attacks are carried out to specifically target the royal holdings in Amman, with numerous palace guardsmen being killed as a result. The Circassian Guard, having only just been recently reformed, suffers immense casualties. The palace is levelled, and some of the royal family is killed, though Hussein bin Talal is only slightly wounded in the bombardments. These attacks manage to send ripples of doubt through the Jordanian people, who fear yet another toppling of their government
- In the northeast, Syria’s defenses are far more robust. An assault into the foothills of the mountains inflicts casualties amongst the Zion troops that the military is unwilling to repeat. With the use of helicopters, troops can still make strategic gains in the Golan Heights, but the Syrians are far more willing to defend their homeland as opposed to Jordan, and make Zion pay dearly for every inch taken
- When it comes to close quarters engagements, Zion’s soldiers are second to none. Utilizing the fast-firing Uzi submachine gun, as well as intense drilling on room-to-room and close up fighting, Syrian troops are doomed once the fight closes in. Even tank or helicopter crews, with their vehicles either disabled or outright destroyed, put up valiant efforts to take down as many Syrians as possible. An entire Syrian platoon is held off by no more than five Zion tank crewmen, who force the Syrians to enter a village, making quick work of them. Though these men die, they take down 22 Syrians with them
- Incredible air duels take place above Zion as Syrian fighters attempt to break up the aerial superiority of Zion, only to lose plane after plane to the superior Zion pilots. A couple Syrian pilots survive, and land within Zion territory, and are quickly captured and sent to one of many makeshift military prisons. Meanwhile, Syrian bombers are rarely able to make any significant attacks into Zion, and are driven back at the first sight of fighters in order to avoid any more casualties
- Naval forces make quick nighttime raids on Latakia and Tartus, striking Syrian ships and naval facilities. Though the war with Syria will largely be focused on the air and land, any threats to Zion from the sea are considered an immediate danger that must be dealt with. Numerous frigates and destroyers are torpedoed, and anti-submarine ships begin mining the areas around Syrian ports to prevent any access, be it civilian or military
- Zion forms a government in exile for Jordan, using the few surviving members of the former communist government as its heads. The many Jordanian political and military refugees within Zion are rounded up to create the Free Jordanian Army, which is immediately armed and sent out to follow the advance of the Zion military. Some of these soldiers are deeply anti-Zion, and make their voices heard. However, they view the Syrian occupation of Jordan an affront to their decency, and begrudgingly follow the flag of Zion to their destination
- Zion’s army reserves are mobilized in full, with numerous divisions stationed alongside the border with Egypt in order to dissuade any possible attack by the Egyptian forces. Egypt, though wishing to make Zion pay for its occupation of the holy land and its aggressive actions against the Arab people, is unwilling to join forces alongside a government that has purged Ba’athist politicians in the past. Regardless, Egypt responds in kind by stationing an equal number of troops in the Sinai
- France pressures Britain to break its treaty with Zion due to the fact that Zion is not only a member of the comintern, as well as the aggressor in the war, but is also aided and supported by the Soviet Union. Though Britain is incredibly nervous, knowing that Zion would be an important ally against Egypt in the event of a war over the Suez canal, the British agree, and break off their defensive treaty with Zion
- The Soviet Union begins to ship military equipment in droves to Zion, primarily in the form of armored vehicles, anti-tank weapons and helicopters. Alongside the equipment is the “Comintern Logistical Corp.” made up of Soviet and Warsaw Pact logisticians tasked with supply lines and hospitals to assist Zion’s war effort. These arrivals are greatly appreciated, and Ben-Gurion takes the chance to drum up support for the “international proletariat” and the “protector of the Jewish state, the Soviet Union”
- At home, an official state of war is announced, and all adults fit for conscription are mobilized, with many either going into field positions, or being mobilized as hospital, logistics or general public safety units. All non-military people within Zion are drilled once again on making their way into the many air raid shelters, though the government makes it clear that, if the sirens aren’t sounding, that citizens try their best to go on with everyday life
- The economy of Zion essentially grinds to a halt, with all industrial centers being switched to produce military goods, and farms nationalized in order to maintain a steady flow of supplies for the military. With the threat of losing the war an ever present thought in the minds of Zion’s populace, these moves are begrudgingly accepted. The everyday life of Zion’s citizens is disrupted significantly, and many are worried over the possibility of the war being dragged out for too long
- David Ben-Gurion meets with the Left Bloc to once again discuss interpretations of socialism and its various successive ideologies. As a result, the Left Bloc is largely dissolved, as center-left groups break away, while more far left groups are absorbed. Officially shedding of the skin of generic socialism, the newly organized “United Left” taking control. This party focuses on implementing the new “Neo-Marxist” theory, and preserving the rights of the proletariat throughout Zion
- Medical research teams are sent out in droves to the Amazon rainforest to try and gather as many healing herbs, spices or animal products that could possibly aid in the creation of medicines. Most of their discoveries come in the form of painkillers or salves, while a couple teams stumble across a more efficient blood thinner. Otherwise, no major cures are discovered, and most of these teams are recalled to Zion to act as hospital technicians
- Medical researchers do, however, begin working on improving neonatal intensive care units. These new units are specifically built to help with the monitoring of gasses and pressures within the incubator, which prevents the possibility of blindness or other disabilities of the child. These units are also far more mobile, and can be stationed next to the mother in the hospital, allowing them to be with their baby at all times
- Military electronics engineers begin adjusting the guidance systems of the “Black Dagger” missiles. Utilizing miniaturized radios and a more powerful battery, these missiles can be “guided” to their target after being programmed to “lock on” to a specific radio signal. Though this requires a man on the ground to set up the signal, and time it just right to avoid being struck, the missile can essentially make minute adjustments to deliver a more accurate strike against its target

 

[Zillamaster55]

Adolf Eichmann hears the charges read against him during his trial

8 September, 1953
On a dreary September morning, four men are marched into the courthouse in southern Jerusalem, a massive crowd surrounding them, jeering and shouting angrily. Police struggle to keep the crowd from descending upon the men, who barely manage to enter the building before the crowd spills over the lines. A huge throng of people are already inside, who are quiet, their faces darkened with an unimaginable fury.

Burlap bags are taken off of their heads, and they are temporarily blinded by the bright lights bearing down upon them. The first thing they see is a juror’s box, an audience of angry people, and a wide array of cameras pointed straight at them.

These four men are then taken to a bench, handcuffed, and placed under guard as a man approaches a podium sitting in front of the cameras, clearing his throat before speaking into the microphone.

“My name is David Ben-Gurion. I am here to represent the people of the nation of Zion, and I hope I am here to represent the Jewish across the globe, to represent the people of Europe, to represent the people of the Free World itself. Today, we begin the trial of four men who are to be held accountable for their crimes. Today, we try the criminals who brought about the most hideous acts known to man. Today, we bring justice.”

The cameras shift their vision to the men on the bench, who try their best to look proper and proud, but three of them look disheveled, terrified, and unready. Only one seems calm with the situation, and stares directly into the cameras.

The calm man is Adolf Eichmann, architect of the Holocaust, the man responsible for the deaths of millions, and the greatest enemy of the Jewish people next to Hitler himself. His compatriots, chained to the bench beside him, are men of his ilk. Gerhard Bohne, the slaughterer of the infirm and the elderly; Walter Rauff, the creator of the mobile gas chambers; Franz Stangl, the head of the infamous Treblinka death camp.

All four men face their trials. All four men are found guilty without a shadow of doubt. After only a few hours of quiet judgement, recorded by cameras from more than a dozen countries, the men are led outside. On a platform facing in the direction of the wailing wall, the men are brought out together.

A rope is placed around their neck, and without any ceremony, the doors beneath them open, and four quick crunches are heard around the world. Their bodies are quickly taken off the stage, loaded onto trucks, and taken out to sea.

A final broadcast takes place with their nude bodies, wrapped in chains and blocks of concrete, are dumped into the ocean. The broadcast ends, without celebration, without pomp and circumstance, without cheers.


Four of the most vicious men in history are dead, and the Jewish people can rest just a bit easier than they did before.


Four men now serve the devil.

 

[Zillamaster55]

A Soviet Tu-16 bomber flies alongside the HMS Albion (R07) off the coast of South Africa

2 August, 1953
0930
A flight of five Soviet Tu-16 bombers enter the airspace above South Africa, having taken a long “bunny hop” from the Soviet Union to India, and finally launching from an airstrip in Tanzania. These bombers arrive at such a speed, at such an altitude, that the radar stations can barely detect their intrusion. Five bombers, in loose formation, at their maximum service ceiling. This is something the South African air force has been expecting, preparing for, and readying itself.

Quickly, a squadron of South African interceptors are launched to catch the bombers before they can reach their targets. Unfortunately, the radar operators were too focused on the aircraft coming from the northeast, and weren’t paying attention to the bombers coming from the southwest. Six Avro Vulcans of the Royal Air Force, swinging around in a wide flight path from stations in Nigeria, fly at their fastest speed and their lowest service altitude and unleash hell on South African airfields.

Runways are obliterated, numerous hangars destroyed, and dozens of aircraft lost in just a few minutes. Before more planes can be sent to intercept the Vulcans, the Soviets unleash their hidden weapons. The Tu-16s pull back and gun it out of South African airspace, just in time for nearly a dozen submarine-launched ballistic missiles to rain down on South African military installations, detonating huge thermobaric warheads, incinerating buildings, vehicles and soldiers.

Completely panicked, the coast guard is sent out to hunt these submarines, only to find themselves under fire from British naval bombers launched from carriers. Radar operators report the arrival of transport aircraft dropping paratroopers across the northeast of the country, and troops landing on both the western and eastern coasts. Taken completely off guard, these troops make their way inland, forcing what few defenders are on the beach to pull back.

Operation Orion and Operation People’s Fist, the planned, combined invasion of South Africa by the United Kingdom and Soviet Union has begun.


4 August, 1953
With the beachheads overrun, and the army reeling from the attacks, South Africa pulls its forces from the fighting against the rebels, and begins a beeline to intercept whatever ground forces are spotted. Aerial duels that have taken place over the past few days are horribly skewed in the favor of the coalition who, despite not actively supporting one another, grind the South African air force into dust.

Multiple ground incursions, from both the sea and from the air, drive the South Africans back. The Soviets and their allies work alongside the People’s African Army, making quick work of the African Defense League and utilizing local knowledge to expand the PAA’s borders. The British, meanwhile, begin collecting loyalists to the old government, and do their best to try and dislodge as much of the AMP as they can. Both sides hope to create a new South Africa, something the sitting government simply will not allow.


6 August, 1953
Unable to contain the beachheads any longer, the South African military begins to make a strategic withdrawal inland. Before the coalition forces can make any more gains, however, the South Africans begin unveiling one of their darkest, most insidious secret weapons: Element Red. In an instant, a series of barrels hidden beneath the soil detonate, releasing a reddish-pink gas up into the air.

Soldiers immediately begin to convulse, vomit, choke and bleed profusely before succumbing to one of the deadliest chemical weapons known to man. What few aircraft South Africa has left is dedicated to dropping Element Red on any and all targets, causing immense casualties for unprotected individuals, soldier and civilian alike. Incendiary weapons are launched en masse into areas affected by Element Red, and South African troops wearing gas masks storm their positions with flamethrowers, incendiary grenades and tanks.


10 August, 1953
South Africa continues to take heavy casualties as, despite the use of Element Red, the coalition forces refuse to stop their advances. Carrier battle groups of both the British and the Soviets, alongside naval elements of the Commonwealth and Warsaw Pact, deliver airstrike after airstrike against South Africa, essentially grounding the air force permanently. In response, South Africa activates “Protocol Omega”.

Several Avro Lancasters, some of the only surviving aircraft of the South African military, fly out under the cover of darkness from makeshift airfields. In their bellies are South Africa’s only trump card: the nuclear weapons they’ve been stockpiling. These weapons are deployed against the unsuspecting carrier groups in a suicide attack, killing thousands of sailors and destroying dozens of vessels in an instant. In less than three hours, the Coalition loses nearly half of its naval forces in the region.

Without prompting, the Soviet Union retaliates with the launching of 10 “People’s Fist” intercontinental ballistic missiles tipped with nuclear weapons. With the assistance of Spetsnaz ground surveyors and KGB agents, the facilities tasked with the productions of both Element Red and nuclear weapons are targeted and vaporized, killing thousands and wounding thousands more. Entire towns are destroyed in an effort to rid the South Africans of both their weapons and their will to fight.

Panic grips the streets of South Africa as the people fear further retaliatory strikes by the Soviets, which have completely broken the spine of the strategic capabilities of South Africa. Nonetheless, the army pushes on, knowing full well that its mission has yet to be completed. “Liquidations” of villages take place as soldiers do everything in their power to gather supplies, and farms are poisoned as the troops retreat to more defensible positions.

Regardless of the damage done, the casualties taken, and the sheer brutality of it all, the war cannot end overnight. It must be brought to a real conclusion, a real victory.

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood

 

[Fighting Monk]

SEND IN THE ZAMBEZIANS WE MUST SAVE OUR BRETHREN

 

[Zillamaster55]

Turn 13

July - December, 1953
---
World Tension is HOT (RISING QUICKLY)
World Economy is STABLE

World Events
- A “Coalition of Nations” is made to intervene in South Africa. Citing the “field test” of a nuclear weapon against rebels, the Commonwealth of Nations--sans Zambezia--and the Warsaw Pact plus Yugoslavia, two groups with completely different ideologies and goals, work together on bringing down the South African government in a series of surprise airborne and amphibious invasions. Ballistic missiles with thermobaric warheads and high altitude bombers make quick work of South Africa’s air force, and the ground troops are relatively unimpeded

- In response to this invasion, South Africa begins to deploy “Element Red”, a deadly neurotoxin that kills its victims in minutes. This weapon is deployed without care for collateral damage against South Africa’s enemies, killing hundreds in the initial strikes, and hundreds more as the war drags on. With continued invasions, South Africa rapidly begins to deplete its stockpile in order to inflict as much damage as possible

- Seeing no other option, the South African government activates “Protocol Omega”, and delivers several nuclear weapons against Commonwealth carrier groups and Warsaw Pact surface vessels, killing thousands in the process. As a response, the Soviet Union uses 10 “People’s Fist” ICBMs to destroy nuclear and chemical weapons plants throughout the country. Thousands of South African soldiers and workers are killed instantly

- Panic grips South Africa, and the armies of the world are notified to the attacks and put on high alert. It becomes difficult to condemn the Soviets for their move, and the Commonwealth simply chooses to awkwardly ignore the strikes and move on with their invasion. The war is expected to continue for quite some time, as the South African army is whipped into a bloodlusted frenzy as a result of the nuclear counterstrike

- Argentina and its allies begin to surround Santiago in a prolonged siege that may soon see the end of the war in South America. Special care is taken to inflict as few civilian casualties as possible as Argentina prepares to annex huge swathes of territory in southern Chile, as well as to try and convince the people of the nation to accept the implementation of a new, Argentina-friendly government

- The war in Iran essentially comes to an end as the last major pockets of Islamic resistance are stamped out. However, an ongoing insurgency will last for years on end as radical Islamists and royalists fight a guerilla campaign in the rural regions of the southeast, not too dissimilar to the situation in Indochina. Nonetheless, Iran can now turn its focus to supporting the Warsaw Pact’s efforts in South Africa

- Peace comes to the Middle East as Syria and Zion manage to hash out an agreement that sees both sides gaining and losing something. The Jordanian Commune is brought back from the grave, though it is a shadow of its former self, and the risks to the stability of the nation are horribly apparent. Meanwhile, Syria moves quickly to absorb Lebanon, expanding both the border and the demilitarized zone with Zion, essentially surrounding the nation’s northeast

- Adolf Eichmann, Gerhard Bohne, Walter Rauff and Franz Stangl are put to death in Jerusalem after a speedy trial. The four men, responsible for some of the worst crimes during the Holocaust, are finally brought to justice and punished. Their bodies are unceremoniously dumped in the ocean, with all personal affects destroyed in a bonfire at an undisclosed location. A small but impactful victory for justice has been won

---

- The Second War of the Pacific enters its final stages as Argentina and its allies close the noose tighter and tighter around Santiago. Chilean forces fall back, their defensive positions being taken one by one, and put up a desperate fight only a few hundred miles from the city. The fighting is horribly one sided, with the Argentinian troops making the Chileans pay for their attempts to fight back with interest, and thousands of Chilean soldiers are killed after numerous spearheads break through their lines

- Argentina begins conducting strikes on Chilean ports in the center of the country in order to force Chile’s tiny navy to head out to sea, where it is torn to shreds by Argentina’s enormous fleet waiting just outside of their harbors. Taking nearly no losses, the Chilean fleet is sunk one by one, with a handful of frigates approaching the Argentinians waving white banners, surrendering and then scuttling their vessel, rather than pointlessly try to fight it out

- Aerial assaults on Santiago are halted before too much damage is done to the city, and a leaflet campaign begins to try and encourage civilians to flee the city and “avoid wanton destruction of war”. Chilean police are unable to stem the flow of people leaving the city in droves, and Santiago is slowly but surely drained of its populace. Though Argentina and its allies are still hundreds of miles from the city, it is only a matter of time before the nation’s capital falls

- Argentina begins to understand the problems with prolonged combined arms warfare. Despite large oil reserves, much of it is crude and unrefined, and what available gasoline can be found in the nation is rapidly being drained by the army, navy and air force. As a result, tank advances are halted, and airstrikes are conducted less and less in order to conserve as much fuel as possible. Victory is on the horizon, but Argentina’s military begins to sweat at the prospect of losing its trump card

- Incendiary weapons are used to great effect in place of armored breakthroughs, with the trenches of Concepción being described as “enormous ovens” as artillery and aerial bombardments burn the Chilean defenders alive, and the positions are slowly taken over by a trickle of Argentinian troops. Chilean citizens are horrified by the tactics, and shocked by the accuracy of the weapons

- Special forces of the Argentinian marines enter Santiago under the cover of darkness and conduct daring raids on the headquarters of Chile’s military. High ranking officers are killed, battle plans stolen, and orders halted in but a single night. These commandos manage to escape relatively unscathed, and those that are captured commit suicide before being pressed for answers. This move shocks Chile’s military to its core, and many are wondering as to how the nation is still able to hold on

- Argentine and Bolivian troops begin to fraternize with one another, celebrating their victories over their enemies and especially celebrating the return of Antofagasta to Bolivia. Occupying forces of Argentina, Bolivia and Peru march through the streets of the port city, symbolically lowering the flag of Chile which still stands on the city hall, and raising the flag of Bolivia, flanked by Peru and Argentina. A bombastic orchestra plays the Bolivian national anthem, much to the chagrin of the Chilean locals

- Perón continues to whip the people of Argentina into a frenzy with a massive propaganda campaign of radio and television broadcasts, playing patriotic music, talk shows and updates on the war. The populace of Argentina isn’t worried about the war itself, but more about its effect on the economy at large, with many of the factories that once made consumer and luxury goods now entirely dedicated to military production, and rationing is slowly beginning to take its toll on the waistlines of Argentina

- With the nationalization of the farmlands, farmers begin to see fewer and fewer monthly returns, and are growing increasingly desperate for money. The government has promised payment for the farms that have been taken over, but the lack of income begins to harm the farmers more than they initially expected. With agriculture being the backbone of Argentina’s economy, there is a concerning possibility of it bottoming out, and plunging the nation into recession before the war is over

- With this in mind, Perón moves to assign the budget for 1955 to be entirely dedicated to paying back those in the agricultural sector. This is met with protest from those who seek the next year’s budget to instead focus on the refitting of industry, while others push for the further expansion of public works programs. As a result, Argentina is more or less forced to add massive indemnities as part of the treaty with Chile should they win the war

- A military parade is held in Buenos Aires to calm the nerves of the people of Argentina, largely to cover up a press blackout. Though Perón is considered by many to be a “guiding hand to freedom”, the president must begin to exercise dictatorial powers to avoid causing more and more concern. Whistleblowers try to call out the administration’s move, but further propaganda manages to spin it as an “essential action for national security”

- Engineers tasked with hastening the war effort design the next step for air-to-ground warfare. Rather than just a single bomb, or a large combination of incendiary fluids, these new weapons are a combination of the flechette and cluster artillery munitions. These bombs detonate at a set altitude, and spread numerous fist-sized pieces of ordnance. These explosives, once having impacted the ground, detonate after a period of 24 hours. Chilean soldiers nickname these weapons “Houdinis” after the famed American illusionist

- Farmers, desperate to make the most out of their money, continue breeding some of the best pigs that they can. With new documentation on animal husbandry, as well as additive hormones, a new breed of pig is established. Nicknamed “Gran Cerdo” (Big Pig), these pigs reach a whopping 165kg and are purpose bred and maintained for maximum fertility, with farmers pushing for litters of dozens at a time

- Germany begins to offload its huge reserves of scrap metals to Zion as both a token of friendship and as a way to get more cash via trade. This metal is largely made up of old vehicles, industrial waste, unrefined ores and other such materials that have no real application in the more “modernized” industry of Germany. The money that comes back to Germany is immediately added to the treasury, with only small portions of it given to the companies collecting the metals themselves

- Tensions between France and Germany begin to cool as both sides hash out a deal that allows for Germany to reclaim the regions occupied by the Dutch and Danish, as well as continuing to hold Bavaria and Austria, in return for the temporary occupation of the Saarland and minor restrictions on Germany’s military. A painful dividend of 1.5% of Germany’s GDP is to be given to France for the next two years, as well as the demilitarization of the Rhineland for the second time

- Even with the tensions between France and West Germany dying down, the Soviets pledge their support for the new republic, guaranteeing the “integrity and independence” of the nation, though demanding that the country put a 5 year ban on fascist parties from ever being able to assemble, let alone be able to participate in elections. The Germans do one better, and permanently ban parties that try to mimic fascist/nazi ideology

- Another major aspect to this deal is a mutual defensive pact between France and Germany, with both sides guaranteeing one another’s independence, with France promising to guarantee the safety of Germany’s borders. With Germany still a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, this deal largely just gives Germany yet another ally in the event of a defensive war, though Germany is still wary of being considered nothing more than a speed bump if the Soviets were to invade

- Sweden opens itself up to trade with Germany, seeing that a unified German economy could provide a massive boon. Coal and raw iron is purchased from Sweden, where it is refined in German factories and sent back overseas in return for cold, hard cash. Though the new German government is far more left than its predecessor, international trade is still a necessity for the new nation, as all of the post-war states were heavily dependent on it to simply survive

- Germany’s elections see the ascension of the recently unified Deutsches Solidaritätspartei, a far-left combination of the KPD and SPD. This party manages to snag a razor thin victory over the CDU, putting a socialist government in control of Germany. In the post-war states, socialist movements were divided due to the decentralization of the voting base and the power of the monarchies, but now, labor leaders have managed to rile up the working class with anti-conservative and anti-imperialist slogans and promises

- Ludwig Erhard, essentially the architect behind the speedy recovery of the German occupation zone’s economy, and head of the "Wirtschaftswunder" (Economic Miracle) in Bavaria, is appointed as Minister of the Economy in the German government. A staunch capitalist, Erhard is leashed tightly by the new socialist government, and only able to implement a handful of reforms to help keep Germany’s economy stable

- A program to begin the integration and standardization of Germany’s infrastructure is launched thanks to Erhard’s suggestions. The government mobilizes those that are struggling to find work to begin expanding the Autobahn from Bavaria into the rest of the country, as well as building ElectRail lines to and from the major cities. This program is woefully expensive, and will take years to fully implement, but will nonetheless be incredibly beneficial to Germany once it is completed

- Parliament passes a new taxation system that focuses on implementing a “progressive” tax rate, with the richer being forced to pay more and more to the government the higher the income. This is in line with the American system, of the top 3% paying 85% of their income, while the lowest on the ladder pay very little as a result. This move is incredibly unpopular amongst the upper class, who lobby hard to try and get the government to reverse their decision

- A debate begins in parliament over which side of the brewing conflict Germany should side with. The conservatives believe that the west is the only option to protect Germany’s integrity, while the socialists believe that Germany should push to stand on its own to feet. Those even further on the left seek to have Germany align itself with the Soviets, and absorb itself into the German Democratic Republic. This debate is expected to rage for years until either the conflict between east and west is resolved, or the world is blasted into smithereens

- Radar installations are constructed across Germany to begin the creation of a “web” capable of observing Germany’s entire airspace. Even though the Bundeswehr has a somewhat sizable air force, air patrols simply cannot keep an eye on everything at once. As a response, the air force begins conducting exercises for rapid aerial response and interception, rather than long, static flights. The air force looks on in jealousy at the Soviets’ powerful airborne radar platforms

- The Bundeswehr begins finding ways to better standardize training and equipment of troops from all ranks and branches. Nations like Hannover were heavily focused on its marines and navy, while Bavaria had more of its attention turned to its ground forces. As a result, the military is somewhat divided on its doctrines, and the government is forced to step in and try to find a “one size fits all” series of stratagems to help unify the army, navy and air force

- Exercises are conducted across the country with “mixed brigades” of soldiers from the various post-war states, as a way to normalize troops with the new weapons systems and tactics that they may not have been familiar with before. Bavaria’s military is considered the “standard” in terms of equipment and training, and all equipment that isn’t up to par is sent to storage, and is replaced with better, more efficiently produced weapons and munitions

- Military engineers continue to improve on the idea of body armor, largely by copying the Yugoslav design of layered kevlar and “trauma plates”. The new German design is slimmer, and sacrifices full protection of the torso for more mobility and less strain on the soldier as a whole. Regardless, these vests protect against pistol-caliber bullets, and can absorb light shrapnel, which is more than enough to protect the average foot soldier in the heat of combat

- German engineers continue to work on the implementation of nuclear power to overtake the importation and use of coal or oil. With the theories in place, these scientists begin working hard on finding ways to build reactors that are capable of withstanding the intense radiation and power demands, as well as being space and materially efficient. A handful of designs are decided upon, and the German government pushes the scientists to take the next step into “limitless energy”

- The intervention in South Africa, one of the greatest fears of the new regime, has come to realization. Coordinated airstrikes from the Commonwealth, Warsaw Pact and Yugoslavia begin destroying key air bases and radar stations across the country, and interceptors are taken down by the superior aircraft of the coalition. Ballistic missiles with thermobaric weapons are launched by Soviet submarines, which destroy coastal fortifications and ports

- South Africa’s coast guard, though prepared for fighting a possible invasion force, is completely overwhelmed by the Commonwealth’s massive carrier group that is combined with the wolf packs of Soviet submarines. A desperate fight takes place to prevent naval landings in the southernmost parts of the country, with heavy damage taken on both sides. Despite their best efforts, the South Africans are forced to retreat again and again, and many ships are simply obliterated from the air and beneath the surface

- Warsaw Pact forces make joint airborne and amphibious invasions of the western coast, where they are supported by Soviet and Yugoslav aircraft, joining up with the People’s African Army in order to bolster their forces. In the east, British soldiers stationed in Lesotho and Swaziland break through and meet up with the invading forces of Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, while also launching a series of landings in the southwest

- South African troops fight hard, inflicting serious losses on the coalition forces, retreating whenever possible in order to prevent as many casualties as possible. These naval landings are atrociously bloody, with South African soldiers fighting tooth and nail, using any dirty tactic deemed necessary to do as much damage as they can. Nonetheless, these troops are forced to pull back from the beachheads and reorganize in the center of the country

- Foreign volunteers are sent to “wrap up” fighting against the PAA and ADL in their various pockets around the country as the South African military focuses on defending itself from the invading forces of the coalition. These volunteers are all too eager to be put to the test, and the rebels soon find themselves up against a fresh-faced and ready group of opponents, who bowl them over with ease

- Unable to properly contain the invading forces, the South African military begins deploying Element Red, a powerful neurotoxin that has the capability of killing its victims in minutes. Hidden in explosive barrels that are buried beneath the soil, set to explode when trodden upon. Huge lines of these barrels detonate against amphibious landing forces, killing hundreds of soldiers in the initial waves, and hundreds more who choke to death in hospitals

- What’s left of South Africa’s incendiary weapons are used to create hideous booby traps, which are paired with Element Red to great effect. Areas that could provide strategic benefits to South Africa’s enemies are burned and poisoned, making it nearly impossible to make swift gains against South Africa without suffering horrendous casualties. “Clean up crews” of Kommandos are sent to kill whatever enemies have somehow managed to survive

- Armored units are moved into easily defensible positions, with those unable to escape essentially turned into bunkers as they are fortified deep with sandbags, dirt mounds and camouflage netting. These “Ghost Tanks” are more or less consigned to fight to their last breath, but thanks to their positioning and patience, wreak havoc on approaching enemies by launching well-timed ambushes on those passing by

- The South African government approves “Protocol Omega” and loads numerous nuclear weapons into Avro Lancaster bombers, which are then sent out in the cover of darkness to launch suicide attacks on coalition naval units. Undetected and unsuspected, these bombers fly directly into British carrier groups and Soviet/Yugoslav surface ships and detonate their weapons, vaporizing thousands of enemy sailors and dozens of vessels in an instant

- This victory is only temporary. In the early morning of the 11th of August, ten bright flashes are reported across the nation, and thousands of South African soldiers, laborers and scientists are vaporized in a matter of minutes. Having been identified by KGB and MI6 operatives, plus turncoats within the South African army, nuclear and chemical weapons plants have been destroyed in nuclear strikes by the Soviet Union

- Effectively cut off from their trump card, South Africa begins to scramble whatever reserves of Element Red and the few remaining weapons to areas wherever they can, keeping them hidden and difficult to track. Anyone suspected of leaking this information is executed on the spot, and an intense search begins to try and find enemy agents around the country. For now, however, the damage to South Africa has only just begun

- Panic grips the streets of the major cities in South Africa, with people ransacking stores and fighting with one another to gather as many supplies as possible. Civilians begin converting their basements into shelters, and states of emergency are declared nationwide as police are mobilized into the streets to keep the calm. Acting quickly, prison labor crews are set to constructing huge concrete bunkers to be able to house the civilian populace, though these shelters can only hold hundreds at a time, and cannot protect anyone from a direct strike

- Despite their best efforts, the police are unable to stop the hundreds of people fleeing the cities into the countryside. Those that remain begin to hole up in their houses, desperately trying to find ways to protect themselves from nuclear strikes. The government does its best to try and keep people calm by pumping out as much propaganda as possible. There are some, of course, who are enraged by the attacks, and leave the cities, gun in hand, to bring the fight to the enemy

- The South African government begins to disperse itself across the country to try and prevent a decapitation strike, and generals are ordered to “fight as themselves”, essentially unleashing the army as to avoid any sort of hiccup that could cause the total collapse of South Africa’s defenses. There is simply no other option, as a rigid command structure for South Africa’s military could be easily shattered by a single, well place intercontinental ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead

- Nuclear engineers, even with the war and the attacks going on, begin trying to find ways to up the ante with South Africa’s weapons. Knowing that other nations are working on harnessing the power of the hydrogen atom to create an enormous weapon, South Africa seeks to mimic those designs in the near future, hopefully before the war is over. Some breakthroughs are made, but many fear that it may not be fast enough

- The United States condemns the Zion government for its actions against Syria, and moves to unilaterally embargo the nation until it “relinquishes its territorial claims” and “ceases inappropriate military actions against its neighbors”. The base in Syria, though still in a state of disrepair, is expanded significantly to house numerous American naval vessels and aircraft, as both a warning to the Warsaw Pact and to Zion

- Seeking further friendship overseas, the United States and Saudi Arabia agree to build a base in the city of Jazan, built specifically to hold the crucial paths to the Suez canal. With tensions rising in the Middle East, the canal is an incredibly important route for trade in and out of the Mediterranean and cannot be left to its own devices in such a hostile atmosphere. Britain, though deeply involved in South Africa at the moment, also opens Port Sudan to create a “net” in the Red Sea to catch enemy vessels should war arise

- Trade with South America grows as the United States begins to dangle numerous incentives for countries to focus their exports to the United States as opposed to Europe, hoping to act as a middleman for fruits, meats, spices and cheap consumer goods. A reduction on tariffs, customs fees and a general blind eye to local practices are amongst the many benefits given to these countries. American companies begin to reap the benefits as free trade flows through into America’s ports, largely due to deep seated corruption amongst the regimes of America’s partners

- The National Highway Program continues to link the nation together with the construction of enormous highways and railroads that criss-cross the states one by one. Much of this labor is made up of the poor or unemployed, hoping to get as much money out of the government as possible during the construction. Surprisingly enough, this program begins to bring white and black Americans together, as both groups are put to work on building the nation’s infrastructure, and parallels to the Transcontinental Railroad are drawn

- Multiple states officially make it illegal to discriminate against individuals based on their skin color, with governors pressing the federal government to begin implementing such laws nationwide. Hearing this, southern states with states rights governors rail against these moves, and promise “hell to pay” in the event of national desegregation. Despite total control of all three branches of government, Rockefeller is hesitant to go through with such a measure, at least in such a massive way

- Hearing of Rockefeller’s unreadiness, and that the highway program is “built on the backs of the poor black man”, A. Philip Randolph organizes a new, nationwide political party known as the African Free Labor League. Rather than only focus on the rights of black workers, this party focuses on african-americans as a whole, as well as demanding further protections for all workers, regardless of race, sex or age. The AFLL allies itself with the progressives, and refuses to caucus with republicans in the event of gaining seats, fearing that the GOP is “too entrenched in the status quo”

- With the midterms around the corner, the people of the United States prepare to make their voices heard at the ballot box, as this election is just as crucial as any. Rockefeller’s administration is incredibly popular in everywhere but the south, thanks to his strong social programs and rapid response to the damages that took place during the Great Atlantic Wave. As a result, the republicans are expected to keep many of their seats, while the states rights party is rumored to “completely absorb” the democrats in order to bolster their position in congress

- Rockefeller cuts the ribbons outside of a building in Houston, officially announcing the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to begin empowering the American space program in the “race to the moon” against the Soviet Union. NASA will also seek more peaceful, cooperative routes for discovery, such as climatological, atmospheric and stellar research that “could benefit mankind as a whole”

- The United States Navy begins constructing numerous carriers in order to replace the decommissioning of the older, more “rapidly produced” carriers from World War II. These carriers are much larger, more complex and capable of carrying dozens upon dozens of jet fighters and attackers. To bolster these carriers, the navy also commissions the construction of dozens of cruisers and submarines to act as a defensive force

- Massive naval exercises take place off the coast of Hawaii in order to simulate ambuses from a submersible force. With the Soviets building up their submarine fleet, the United States is unwilling to lose important capital ships to “undersea pirates”, and the navy does everything in its power to drill every sailor on anti-submarine warfare. Aircraft, surface and submerged vessels are used in a “three prong approach” to try and hunt down enemy submarines

- With the conflict reaching dangerous heights in South Africa, the United States begins bolstering its nuclear weapons stockpile significantly, with hundreds of warheads being built for the specific need of “tactical saturation bombardment” in order to delay enemy troop advancements, either from the land or the sea. The Final Patrol sees its numbers doubled, and the government begins producing numerous pieces of propaganda to instruct people on safety in the event of a nuclear strike

- Engineers working with the US navy begin working on better ways to detect submarines. A new piece of equipment is unveiled at the testing in the pacific, which is dropped either from the deck of a ship or from an anti-submarine patrol aircraft. Known as a “Sonobuoy”, this long tube uses a simple passive sonar that can detect submerged vessels in its proximity. When a submarine is detected, the sonobuoy will alert nearby ships to its location. When laid out in a grid, it becomes almost impossible for a submarine to avoid interception

- Weapons designers at Loral, working with the AIM-9 “Sidewinder” begin looking into possibly creating an anti-tank version of the missile. Utilizing the “heat-seeking” capabilities of the sidewinder and radio-guided bombs from years prior, a co-pilot can now deliver a 450kg bomb almost directly on top of a target. Boosted with a small missile, the Guided Bomb Unit Model 1 (GBU-M1) can be gently guided towards a ground target using a small radio transceiver in the tip of the weapon, greatly improving in the air-to-ground capabilities of American aircraft

- The Soviet Union, the Warsaw Pact and its Yugoslav allies launch Operation "Народная Ярость" (Narodnaya Yarost) [People's Fury], a full-scale invasion of South Africa to oppose the sitting AMP government and implement the “Rule of the Proletariat” by supporting the People’s African Army. Though this invasion coincides with an intervention by the Commonwealth of Nations, neither side seeks to actively assist the other for anything more than medical treatment

- The opening stages of People’s Fury comes in the form of numerous airstrikes and SLBM strikes with thermobaric weapons. These attacks are focused on destroying South Africa’s capability to create aircraft and build more nuclear weapons, though the South Africans have clearly managed to scurry away the real location of their weapons facilities, at least for now. With the arrival of the British, joint strikes of Tu-16s and Avro Vulcans annihilate South African airfields and military factories

- Soviet troops, having managed to pass through the Straits of Gibraltar with British support, land in northwestern Namibia. Alongside them are Polish, Romanian, Iraqi and Yugoslav soldiers that break through the weak lines of South African militias, and advance quickly through territories held by the African Defense League. Completely unable to withstand fighting against an organized, fresh and modernized army, these irregulars fold like paper as the Warsaw Pact forces advance

- Beachheads are secured, and northwestern Namibia flies numerous red flags as the People’s African Army welcome the intervening troops in hastily organized parades. The fighting is still ongoing, as South African militiamen still try and do as much damage as they can by fighting a guerilla war, though the People’s African Army is ready to deal with them and let the Warsaw Pact do the bulk of the fighting, something the invading force was prepared to do

- The sudden deployment of the toxic chemical known as Element Red stuns much of the Soviet advance, and hundreds of Soviet and Yugoslav soldiers are killed during a naval landing in the southwest, with hundreds more dying in hospitals. Furious with this move, airstrikes are conducted on areas believed to be producing Element Red, and gas masks are deployed in huge numbers. The BYOS is more than prepared for this fight, and surprise South African defenders by simply marching through the gas, guns blazing

- Submarines continue to launch strikes with thermobaric rockets on South African positions, turning their focus to ports and radar facilities to try and cripple the defensive capabilities of South Africa even further. With the Commonwealth doing their work against the coast guard, Soviet submarines begin sinking any sort of vessel deemed to be of enemy origin, and multiple thermobaric rockets are fired into coastal cities to destroy foundries and factories

- A series of Soviet surface vessels--tasked with transporting troops, supplies and helicopters--are stationed off of the coastline, near the beachheads that have been made against the South Africans in the prior days. Suddenly, in the dead of night, Lancasters are launched from South African air strips and fly in a bee line towards the Soviets at the lowest altitude possible. Before they can respond, a nuclear weapon is dropped from the plane directly in the cluster of Soviet boats, vaporizing them instantly

- Thousands of Soviet sailors are killed, alongside dozens of ships and hundreds of tons of equipment are lost. This sends a ripple effect through the Soviet troops who, rather than be demoralized, are instead driven into a rage, and begin to fight even harder. Some soldiers slip the leash, and execute captured South African soldiers in revenge, while airstrikes are increased to further the damage done to enemy industry

- Within hours of receiving the news, knowing that thousands of Soviet men are dead, Khrushchev approves the deployment of 10 “People’s Fist” intercontinental ballistic missiles. These 10 missiles are tipped with 25kt nuclear warheads. Their primary targets are nuclear and chemical weapons facilities that have been identified by MI6, KGB, Spetsnaz and local operatives. In less than three hours, these sites are destroyed in rapid succession, with thousands of enemy combatants being killed, and the ability to create nuclear or chemical weapons essentially neutered

- Soviet forces continue their march south, breaching through the lines of the African Defense League who are quickly knocked over by the oncoming armies. The ADL is largely powerless to stop the assault, and folds quickly as to avoid being totally overrun. The ADL then begins to devour itself as ethnic groups turn on one another, who are then stopped by the Soviet forces that arrive in the region. As a show of kindness, prisoners are treated well and handed over to the PAA for processing and reeducation

- News of the nuclear attack on Soviet vessels makes its way to the Soviet populace, who rally in the streets, demanding blood. Soldiers still stationed in the Soviet Union rail against their base commanders, calling for full scale action and their deployment. South African flags are burned in the public squares of the Soviet Union, and the Soviet government rides on this anger by whipping the people into a frenzy

- The Warsaw Pact responds in kind by mobilizing more troops to assist in the fighting in South Africa. As much as the average person in the east may not appreciate the Soviet dominance, such actions are deemed reprehensible, and only the most powerful reaction is considered appropriate. Even East Austria pledges troops in the form of attacker jets and hospital units to try and assist in the war effort

- A massive mechanization program takes place for troops not already in the field as the Soviets push to try and reduce the strain on the individual soldier, as well as make their armies move faster and farther. A second push comes as engineers seek more “all terrain ready” trucks and cars that are capable of moving through rougher areas like hills, deserts, mountains and swamps. Most of these are just modifications of existing trucks, but the move is nonetheless beneficial

- Troops in Iran are withdrawn to be able to assist in the war effort in South Africa. With the last pockets of Islamic insurgents having been overrun, the Soviets see no reason to keep so many forces in the region. Those left behind are set to train Iranian troops and standardize their military doctrine, as well keep the regime running before allowing ti to stand on its own two feet. Nonetheless, Iran has been declared an absolute victory for the international proletariat

- Even with the tensions between France and West Germany dying down, the Soviets pledge their support for the new republic, guaranteeing the “integrity and independence” of the nation, though demanding that the country put a 5 year ban on fascist parties from ever being able to assemble, let alone be able to participate in elections. The Germans do one better, and permanently ban parties that try to mimic fascist/nazi ideology

- Soviet nuclear engineers finally break through the last barrier and test the world’s first “Hydrogen Bomb”. A whopping 9 megatons, "Молот" (Molot) [The Hammer] is tested in central Siberia. The plume is seen for miles around, and the sheer destructive power of The Hammer dwarfs all other known weapons. The most terrifying thing about this hydrogen bomb is that it is easily carried by a plane, or worse, can be made just a tad smaller to be carried on a rocket

- A declaration of war is made as Yugoslavia announces its cooperation with the Warsaw Pact and Commonwealth of Nations in their invasion of South Africa. No expenses are spared as the Yugoslav military takes all troops currently stationed in Iran and moves them to join the Soviet battle group moving through the Adriatic, having passed the Bosphorus and through the straits of Gibraltar. Considered a righteous mission, a propaganda campaign is launched to praise the British and Soviets for their “focus on the struggle of the proletariat”

- Yugoslav troops, having managed to pass through the Straits of Gibraltar with British support, land in northwestern Namibia. Alongside them are Polish, Romanian, Iraqi and Soviet soldiers that break through the weak lines of South African militias, and advance quickly through territories held by the African Defense League. Completely unable to withstand fighting against an organized, fresh and modernized army, these irregulars fold like paper as Yugoslav forces advance

- The soldiers already stationed as “peacekeepers” are given the green light to begin engaging the enemies of the People’s African Army and, at all costs, force back any South African soldiers still in the area. Linking up with the Warsaw Pact and the recently landed marines, these forces make their way southward in a grand push to try and capture as much territory for the “rightful government” led by the People’s African Army

- “Element Red”, a highly toxic chemical weapon, is deployed against Yugoslav troops on the beaches and in the rural areas of South Africa. Hundreds are killed in these attacks, and those that are wounded are essentially destined to die in hospitals from the damages to their lungs. Gas masks are rapidly deployed to the region, and medics are quickly drilled on the effects of these weapons to try and prevent as many casualties as possible

- The fighting is brutal and bloody as the South Africans refuse to give an inch. Armored groups manage to finally break through some lines of enemy infantry, but not before having their supporting soldiers be terribly damaged by incendiary weapons and booby traps. Close air support manages to break up their defenses just enough to allow the Yugoslavs to advance. Regardless, the South Africans are clearly in this for the long haul

- Yugoslav aircraft fight alongside the Soviets in intense air duels against the dwindling numbers of South African interceptors, with the two sides partaking in friendly competition to try and take down as many South African planes as possible. Both the Yugoslavs and South Africans have drilled their pilots like mad on fighting in air-to-air combat, and both sides inflict similar casualties as a result, though the Yugoslavs can replace their numbers far easier

- With the nuclear attack on Soviet and Commonwealth vessels, Tito announces that “the dogs of war are loose”, and that further nuclear actions taken against the coalition could lead to the deployment of Yugoslav nuclear weapons on either nuclear facilities or industrial centers. Tito is infuriated by the South Africans “total disregard for humanity”, and actively calls upon a unilateral intervention by the United Nations as a whole to destroy the South African state

- Now that Iran is largely stable, and Yugoslav troops have made their way out of the country to join the fight in South Africa, Yugoslavia finally begins to receive the much desired oil from Khuzestan. This time, of course, the oil comes at a massive discount thanks to Iran’s friendly government, and the crude comes in droves to Yugoslavia’s refineries, almost overwhelming them. Full of black gold once again, Yugoslavia’s industry gains a massive, much needed boost of fuel

- Talks take place with Bulgaria and Romania regarding the possibility of a “Balkan Federation”. Due to the tensions around the world, and the fact that Yugoslavia remains in a defensive agreement with the Soviet Union, Tito makes overtures to try and convince their leadership to unite the region into a single entity. Surprisingly enough, Bulgaria seems somewhat interested in the idea, though Romania is fairly hesitant. Such negotiations will take years, and if successful, Tito will have significant obstacles to overcome

- The various ethnic groups of Yugoslavia continue their integration as the government begins to print news stories of Yugoslav troops fighting alongside one another in South Africa, as well as victories of Yugoslav teams in the various regional sports competitions. These stories are truthful, of course, but they are also paired with significant amounts of propaganda in order to pad out the idea of growing unity amongst the Yugoslav people

- The government begins a massive restructuring of the budget to begin seeking ways to grow a surplus. Bean counters are put to work to begin cutting overspending in areas such as industrial subsidies and factory construction, instead focusing on better methods to centralize the economy. Surplus industrial and military goods are sold off overseas, mainly to Zion, Iraq and Iran as a ways to not only make a quick buck, but to also simply get them out of storage and making room for more modern supplies

- A huge push is made to continue the expansion of Yugo sales, this time focusing on sending the cars to South America in hopes of offsetting the dominance of American and German automobiles. Unsurprisingly, the Yugo is more popular amongst the working class people of nations like Cuba, Brazil and Nicaragua, while Ford, Volkswagen and Chrysler are still dominant in the upper rungs of society. A new, convertible model is created for the United States, though anti-communist sentiment makes the car unpopular amongst most Americans

- Yugoslavia forms a massive bureau dedicated entirely to tourism. Ski resorts, zoos, movie theaters and music halls are constructed with intense scrutiny and are maintained by only the best and brightest. The Yugoslav National Zoo in Zagreb is set to be one of the greatest in the world, with no expenses being spared on creating beautiful and healthy exhibits for the animals, while a huge ski resort in the northern mountains may soon rival those in Austria and Switzerland

- In a move that stuns the west, the International Olympics Committee announces its final choice for the 1956 Summer Olympics, this time to take place in Belgrade. Thanks to Tito’s efforts to make the city a “modern masterpiece”, plus the huge number of intricately constructed sports facilities, Belgrade is “essentially perfect” for the olympics, and Tito sings the IOC’s praises. Though still three years away, the Summer Olympics coming to Yugoslavia is a massive point of pride

- Though peace has come to the Levant, Yugoslavia continues to produce a new line of next-generation fighter jets, alongside conducting large-scale naval exercises in the Adriatic to better protect Yugoslavia’s coastline and inner cities. Tito pushes for a new defense stratagem that is brutally simple, “A body for an inch”, that essentially demands that any and all actions be taken to destroy any enemy effort to try and take Yugoslav soil, no matter the cost

- Rocket engineers begin seeking ways to try and project Yugoslavia’s power by improving on existing designs. Longer bodies, more powerful engines and better fuel compositions are designed or acquired to try and create a long range missile capable of either delivering a warhead to an enemy, or to going upwards to the stars. Either way, Yugoslavia hopes to quickly join the ranks of the United States, France, Soviet Union and Zion in creating modern rocket technology

- Nuclear scientists continue to work with ways to harness nuclear energy, similar to that of France, Zambezia and the Soviet Union. One of the biggest hurdles is the fact that radioactive waste is incredibly dangerous and difficult to properly contain. Luckily, existing theories on the disposal of radioactive waste can be adopted, and huge “coffins” made of lead and concrete are constructed to house spent rods, which can be buried deep in the hearts of empty mines

- Despite Zambezia’s total neutrality in the ensuing conflict, the United Kingdom evacuates the troops that Zambezia has stationed in Lesotho and Swaziland, while simultaneously stationing numerous short ranged bombers and helicopters in Zambezia’s airports. Though Zambezia protests these moves, fearing that it may drag them into the conflict, the British use their authority as head of the commonwealth to commandeer the country’s airports to begin launching an air campaign against South Africa

- Zambezia manages to pull both Belgium and Portugal to the table to begin discussing the expansion of power grids within Angola and the Congo, seeing as both nations are desperately trying to modernize their colonies, rather than risk having to abandon them entirely. Zambezia begins funding electric companies to head out into these regions to begin probing for good areas to set up coal plants, transformers and routes for power lines, which will be constructed on the Belgian and Portuguese dime

- The Khoisan peoples, largely nomadic and constantly under threat from both the South African government and the Bantu majority, are encouraged to come to Zambezia to “settle in a land friendly to their way of life”. Rather than risk being continually hunted by the government or militiamen, many Khoisan tribesmen begin packing up and making their way into Zambezia, mainly to be organized into “reservations” in Bechuanaland as to avoid interfering with the cities of Zambezia proper

- Architects from around the world are invited to come to Zambezia and begin working on designing a massive church that would not only serve as the center of the Church of Zambezia, but as one of the greatest houses of worships ever. To be known as “St. Mary’s Cathedral”, Zambezia hopes to boast the largest cathedral in the world, capable of holding thousands of practitioners and would be well on its way to being the envy of Rome itself

- With Prometheus Technology and Manufacturing nationalized, the Zambezian government moves to continue its production of military equipment, officially redesignating the corporation as Salisbury Avionics and Bulawayo Rifles and Engineering (SABRE), with the intention of creating aircraft and small arms for the nation’s military. This move will hopefully offset the lack of equipment the army suffers from, as well as finally allowing Zambezia to begin producing tanks

- A second nuclear power plant is planned in the northeast of the country, to be larger than the first one outside of Salisbury. This new plant will boast a reactor “twice as large as before”, and will be used to power factories and urban centers across the region. One of the issues this plant runs into however is the fact that constructing a plant of this size is very hard to do, and the difficult terrain will make planning out the reactor a serious hassle, though the project will still have many benefits

- Mines in Bechuanaland are reopened by the Zambezian government, and the properties are dangled out to be purchased by the highest bidder. As part of the deal to be able to purchase the land, which was already cheap to begin with, is that all mining companies operating in the region must still meet the safety and labor standards of operations within Zambezia proper, which includes the employment of african locals. Many refugees take these jobs first in order to begin providing their families with some income

- Todd proposes the creation of a “National Healthcare System” similar to other social programs overseas. This “NHS” would provide medical care at little to no cost for those unable to pay for their treatments, and is specifically written to avoid discrimination based on race, age or sex. The NHS would be funded with a portion of the profits made by Zambezia’s mining corporations, which upsets some of the business heads

- Hospitals and clinics are planned to be constructed across the country with the intention of giving everyone the opportunity of receiving care, regardless of who they are or where they’re from. In order to staff these hospitals, Zambezia has to look outward, and begins welcoming doctors and nurses from numerous foreign countries, including the United States, Great Britain, France and Zion. These centers will take years to be complete as the NHS hopes to have a “web” of hospitals and medical centers nationwide

- Training standards for the Zambezian military are ramped up significantly, and any troops with downtime are sent back to base to undergo new fitness and readiness standards. The training is now far closer to that seen in the United States, with grueling marches, hikes and physical training put in place to weed out those who are unable to keep up with the demands of modern warfare. Those that are already serving but drop out are given an honorable discharge and the opportunity to try again

- Exercises take place in the rural areas of Zambezia to begin drilling soldiers on hill, jungle and asymmetric warfare. Though these drills on their own seem not too dissimilar to what the army has been doing before, this time it’s used to get african officers readied for the possibility of fighting a modern war. Zambezia’s terrain is varied, harsh and difficult to navigate, and soldiers must be ready to find their way through the hills and jungles on their own should things get too heated diplomatically

- Though morbid as it is, Zambezian scientists begin putting animals through various tests to see the effects of radiation on the body, and how to fight it. Knowing that the thyroid glands appear to be most at risk, scientists seek ways to try and find out how to stop it from absorbing harmful radioactive particles. A breakthrough is made with the discovery of potassium iodide, which is capable of preventing the thyroid gland from absorbing harmful radiation

- With this new discovery, various safety measures are put in place in and around Zambezia’s nuclear power plant, such as emergency shut off procedures, improved radiation shielding and emergency kits of potassium iodide. Outside of the plants, people are drilled on what the effects of radiation sickness are and how to avoid them, especially in the light of the numerous detonations of nuclear weapons in South Africa

- The United States condemns the Zion government for its actions against Syria, and moves to unilaterally embargo the nation until it “relinquishes its territorial claims” and “ceases inappropriate military actions against its neighbors”. The base in Syria, though still in a state of disrepair, is expanded significantly to house numerous American naval vessels and aircraft, as both a warning to the Warsaw Pact and to Zion

- Germany begins to offload its huge reserves of scrap metals to Zion as both a token of friendship and as a way to get more cash via trade. This metal is largely made up of old vehicles, industrial waste, unrefined ores and other such materials that have no real application in the more “modernized” industry of Germany. This scrap is put straight to use in Zion’s factories to be refined into usable materials for further production, which relieves some stress on the need to import fresh resources

- An unsteady peace is signed with Syria that sees both sides losing and gaining. In exchange for monetary sums to help rebuild their infrastructure, plus the continued ownership of northern Jordan, Syria relinquishes its control over Jordan, which is once again under the administration of the Jordanian Communist Party. Jordan is a battered, bloody, broken shadow of its former self, with no real capabilities to defend its own borders or even remain stable without Zion’s help

- Though seen as the aggressor, Zion still tries to build relations with other countries in order to import scrap and other raw material goods in return for cash. Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy are actually fairly receptive to these deals. Most of the scrap imported from these nations is of particularly low quality, largely due to the fact that Zion can only afford to purchase so much at a time, but the moves are appreciated

- Uncut diamonds are purchased in bulk from Zambezian and Portuguese colonies which are shipped to Eilat and Aqaba to bolster the newly organized gem cutting industry in southern Zion. There are rash cases of gem smuggling due to criminal elements in the port cities, as a black market for precious gems grows thanks to the ongoing war in southern Africa. Police forces try their best to root out these crime rings, but fail to break them up in any really significant manner

- A huge series of metal sorting and melting plants are built in Gaza, Khan Yunis and Be’er Sheva to begin processing the huge amount of scrap metals arriving in Zion. This area is reorganized into a “Special Industrial Zone”, and the various kibbutzim in the region are to begin specializing in the construction of refineries and factories with a focus on the production of industrial goods

- Railway stations begin construction in Acre with the intention of creating a robust rail line stretching down the western coast of Zion, linking the major cities of the coast to one another for easier transport of goods and passengers. This coincides with the expansion of inner-city railways in cities like Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, whose lines are slowly but surely linked to these new planned railways. This project will take a couple years, but will be a boon to Zion’s economy as a whole

- With the treaty in place, Zion absorbs the port city of Aqaba, merging it with the city of Eilat in order to create a special economic zone for Zion. here, these two cities are purpose-built to begin the importation of goods from Asia and east Africa, with raw materials being sent to the growing industrial centers of the southwest. Aqaba is forced to leech off of Eilat due to its mismanagement under the British and Jordanian governments, which takes resources away from properly expanding Eilat’s ports

- A number of Nazi war criminals, including the architect of the holocaust Adolf Eichmann, are put to death in Jerusalem. Their trials and hangings are made public, and their corpses are tossed into the Levantine Sea, stripped of all personal affects and wrapped in dirtied rags. The sites of their ocean burials are placed under guard to prevent individuals from trying to recover their bodies, and a number of Nazi radicals are caught trying to do just that. Zion vows that, no matter what, every Nazi shall greet the devil soon enough

- Zion’s army begins to stand down now that peace has come to the region, with many soldiers able to return to their home bases and take a much needed rest. Units that have lost too many men or too much equipment are disbanded, their remaining soldiers and equipment doled out equally to standing troops. Zion cannot afford to have a large number of half-strength units, and instead moves to have all of its soldiers at peak condition at all times

- Losses of men and equipment are taken into account by a huge number of military administrators. Though somewhat cynical, these bean counters look at casualties from a purely number-based sense, and begin to draft ways to counteract material losses by knowing exactly how many tanks, small arms, vehicles and other such items must be produced to ensure a healthy supply line

- At the medical university in Tel Aviv, studies take place on how excessive tobacco usage affects the human body both on the inside and the outside. It is soon discovered that huge intakes of cigarette smoke, be it filtered or unfiltered, causes progressive damage to the larynx and lungs, and could possibly be linked to the growth of tumors within the bronchial tubes. What can be concretely stated is that cigarettes damage the mouth, discolor the teeth and skin, and cause horrible breath. Cigarette companies rail against these discoveries, and do their best to keep everything quiet

- Artificial insemination, by no means a new idea, continues to be researched at the university. Seeing that nations like Argentina are producing bigger and better animals through traditional methods, researchers believe that “manmade” methods could be used to rapidly breed animals on an almost industrial scale. Some researchers, however, look to a more “humanitarian” use of artificial insemination, looking for ways to help couples produce children of their own

 

[Zillamaster55]

Soviet space engineer putting the final touches on “Sputnik”

19th May, 1954

Thousands of Soviet politicians, scientists and engineers gather around a launch site in central Russia to watch the ascension of a “Hand of Peace” rocket into the atmosphere. Once liftoff occurs, the rocket flies higher and higher into the sky, passing by the clouds and out of sight in mere minutes. Reporters and TV broadcasters from around the globe track the rocket as it makes its way far into the heavens before it totally disappears

Rounds of applause and photo opportunities signal the first successful launch of a manmade object out of the atmosphere. However, what reporters are not alerted to, is that the rocket was not the only thing to be launched. Khrushchev makes a quick gesture, and a large radio is wheeled out for all to see.

After fifteen minutes of confused silence, a quiet broadcast is picked up from the radio.

“Beep….beep….beep….”

Khruschev himself addresses the crowd, announcing that the Soviet Union has made the “greatest achievement since the power of flight”.

"Простейший Спутник-1 ( Prosteyshiy Sputnik-1)" [Elementary Satellite-1], the first manmade object to enter orbit, has successfully been launched. The Space Race has officially entered a new chapter.

The Soviets are ahead of the game.

 

[Amfleet]

Gonna leave this here for posterity

 

[Zillamaster55]

Turn 14
January - June, 1954
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World Tension is HOT (RISING QUICKLY)
World Economy is STABLE

World Events

- The War in South Africa enters the beginning of the end. A massive assault of coalition forces breach through South African defensive lines, pushing them farther and farther inland, with nearly a fifth of South Africa’s army being either killed or captured in a pocket formed by Soviet ground and airborne troops. Meanwhile, with South Africa’s air force destroyed, there is little the nation can do to fight but simply hold on for as long as possible

- Spain’s war against the Basques takes a turn for the worse as public protests in Madrid turn violent. Spanish civilians begin refusing to assist in the war effort against “Spain’s own people”, and the intense embargo put in place by the European Economic Community has taken its toll. Rather than acquiesce to these demands, Franco puts the entire country into a state of emergency, pulling crucial troops from the Basqueland, allowing the rebels to seize even more territory

- Greece’s parliament puts through a resolution to bring a popular vote to the people regarding the monarchy. Surprisingly enough, despite the king’s popularity as a figurehead, more than 55% of the population votes in favor of abolishing the monarchy in its entirely. Though the King is deeply saddened by this, his status of peership is granted, and the royal family is still treated with great respect. The Hellenic Republic of Greece is born

- The Soviet Union successfully launch a satellite that achieves orbit of the Earth. "Простейший Спутник-1 ( Prosteyshiy Sputnik-1)" [Elementary Satellite-1] begins broadcasting freely, cementing the Soviets as the first space-borne power without a doubt. This satellite is also an incredibly important step forward for space and communications technology, and the United States is deeply embarrassed by not becoming the first

- In the People’s Republic of China, Chairman Mao’s plan for a “Great Leap Forward” stumbles immediately out of the gate. Forced collectivization of farms and harsh quotas cause tens of thousands to starve in the rural regions, while hundreds of thousands begin to suffer from foot shortages. Meanwhile, nearly three million people are forced to change their jobs and begin creating metals in their backyard, producing refined goods, or simply laboring aimlessly out in the wilderness for the government

- A series of small earthquakes in the Atlantic cause many to become concerned over the possibility of a second “Great Wave”. However, the largest only registers as a .2, sending tiny waves lapping along the shores of the nations affected by the first Great Wave. Ships report feeling a “trembling” coming from the area, and American submarines confirm that another shift is taking place, though the epicenter cannot be located

---

- The Second War of the Pacific comes to an end as Santiago’s defenders exit the city waving a white flag. In a glorious parade, Argentine, Peruvian and Bolivian troops march through the streets of Santiago, the bands striking up the anthems of the victors. Chile’s president is discovered to have fled to Mexico, alongside much of his cabinet, via a private flight out of the country weeks prior. Perón dismisses this as he makes a moving speech about victory, peace and brotherhood

- Chile itself is divided amongst Peru, Bolivia and Argentina, with all three nations gaining significant amounts of land and reparations. However, Perón is quick to send prisoners back to Chile, and immediately divert combat engineers to repairing damaged civilian infrastructure both in their captured territories and Chile. Peru and Bolivia are less forgiving, making Argentina seem more and more like a benevolent victor

- The government of Chile is made up of defecting generals, Argentine loyalist politicians and those generally similar to Perón’s ideals. This government is incredibly weak, and is at risk of total collapse if nothing takes place to ensure its stability, and there are those that fear it could outright fall apart within the next few years. With the territories gained by the coalition, Argentina couldn’t care less about Chile’s problems from here on out

- With these new territories, Argentina begins to absorb the cities in these regions by implementing a new tax system that prioritizes the elites that remain in the cities, while diverting the remaining money to the poorer communities. Though a grossly populist move, this keeps public order in check and prevents panicked riots or civil unrest during the coming years of the occupation

- Argentina sends numerous peacekeepers, alongside elite elements of its military, to begin safeguarding its industrial centers in South Africa. Openly flying the Argentinian flag, these troops are explicitly in South Africa to protect business assets and Argentinian civilians unable to escape from the fighting. South Africa’s military is unable to do anything about it, and in fact appreciates Argentina keeping some sort of normalcy in the cities

- Meeting with delegates from Bolivia and Peru, Argentina announces the formation of the Southern Hemisphere Association of Mutual Negotiation (SHAMN). SHAMN brings together Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru, with all four nations agreeing to a mutual defense, research and economic treaty to be able to “continue the pursuit of South American greatness”. SHAMN is a direct contender to NATO’s influence in the region, and could cause some friction in the future

- Argentina’s economy finally manages to take a breather as the war comes to an end. Rationing is loosened somewhat, and the government slowly but surely begins to relinquish control of its nationalized industries back to their owners, with the promised dues being paid out of the coffers of Chile. In the streets, Argentina’s people celebrate with massive demonstrations praising Perón’s achievements and honoring the nation’s soldiers

- Perón uses his influence in the government to continue a “soft purge” of opponents in parliament and in the military, starting with anyone who opposes his budgetary and social reforms. Thanks to his status as both a sympathetic target of a coup, and the proud victor of a war, the public basically ignores these measures by Perón to cement his near-absolute power in Argentina. A somewhat doctored poll shows Perón standing at a 79% approval rating, which only guarantees his future control of the country

- Numerous towns and cities have had their boys stripped away in the fighting. In a “whistlestop tour”, Perón meets with these communities in mass funerals, personally honoring the slain and giving numerous heartwarming sessions with priests about the tragedy of war and the glory of their sacrifice. This is a fantastic photo opportunity for Perón, who uses it to his full advantage to make himself out to be an angel

- Millions of dollars are spent in repairing the infrastructure in the newly captured territories in the south, as well as further connecting it to the massive railway systems in the southern parts of Argentina. Not willing to let these territories go to waste, the Argentinian government does everything in its power to rapidly rebuild and integrate these cities in hopes of exploiting any sort of industrial capacity they may have

- Large radio and television broadcasts are launched across Chile, Bolivia and Peru to congratulate the victors, as well as make numerous productions about SHAMN and its “benefits to the South American continent and its people”. Perón continues to make himself out as a populist, benevolent leader who “seeks peace, not war”. In Chile, Perón is still vilified, but there are those that believe such attitudes will soften over the next few years

- Argentinian military engineers begin devising a bizarre new sort of tool. Using a radio guidance system, this small, tracked vehicle uses a massive tank of smoke-emitting liquids to create a “moving smokescreen”, which would prevent enemies from seeing the movements of soldiers. Nicknamed “Chinche” (Pillbug), this piece of equipment is used to do the job of smoke grenades, but from a safe position, thus not exposing soldiers to enemy fire

- A new series of antibiotics are developed for the pork industry, using numerous specially grown fungi to be able to combat the various dangerous bacterial infections that plague pigs across Argentina. These antibiotics prove to be incredibly effective on pigs, but in some cases are actually able to prevent further infections in human beings as well. Without this, Argentina could see a series of diseases wipe out the pig population, crashing a major section of the economy

- Diplomats from Germany arrive in Stockholm to begin a series of trade deals regarding raw material imports from Sweden in return for the production of processed goods from said materials. Swedish copper, iron, zinc and tungsten is converted into a variety of useful materials within German factories, which is sold back to Sweden at a lower cost. This deal on the outside seems incredibly simple, but it is in fact an important step forward for Germany’s future foreign relations

- Despite Germany being an entirely new entity, Italy treats it as if Bavaria has simply grown larger. Having managed to secure multiple deals with German companies, the free trade agreement with Italy is quickly re-ratified and celebrated in Munich by German and Italian diplomats. Germany may still find it tough to stand on its own two feet compared to the rest of the post-war world, but Germany understands the steps that must be taken to get ahead of the pack

- Corporate taxes are lowered somewhat, largely to avoid a total drain of manufacturers from Germany, but the progressive tax margin is raised slightly to pick up the slack. However, in order to show the company heads that the money isn’t going anywhere, the money is instead used to fund important social programs such as education, health care and welfare. The progressive tax has proven to be an incredible boon to the German economy, despite all the efforts by large companies to try and say otherwise

- Germany’s economy continues to recover at a steady pace, with much of the wounds caused by the war having healed. Families are growing again, businesses are packed with workers, radio and television broadcasts freely, and the streets have people bustling to and from work, restaurants and shopping. Germany, at least the western half, has finally begun to shed the burdens of the destruction caused by World War II

- A massive infrastructure program is launched to continue the integration of West Germany’s infrastructure and highway systems, with the government continuing to mobilize the unemployed or poor rather than immediately hire contractors. This intense job will last years as ElectRail lines are set to replace the older railways, and the Autobahn is expected to completely overtake what remains of the Nazi construction

- With this new infrastructure program, taxes are levied once again from the upper crust of Germany. With the trade forecast looking good for Germany, the country is able to offset the immediate damages of paying for such an immense project. Company heads find themselves paying head-spinning high tax returns, but the huge number of employees they have in Germany makes it basically impossible for them to pack up and head to somewhere like Italy or Britain

- Germany’s industry finds itself largely clustered in the major cities like Munich or Cologne, rather than being spread out between the smaller urban centers. Most attribute this to much of the post-war rebuilding being done for the post-war states, rather than there being some sort of unified reconstruction for a “West Germany”. This works in the government’s favor, as these large cities tend to produce more left-leaning voters, and with the growth of labor unions in Germany, these cities are a hotbed for DS voters

- Radar stations continue being constructed across the country as the German military hopes to improve it’s aerial “net” that covers Germany’s airspace. These new radar systems are gigantic, capable of scanning thousands of square kilometers, allowing for overlapping areas of observation. One of the largest issues is that Germany’s air force is still somewhat small, and cannot easily respond to immediate danger, but these new radar installations make it easier to pinpoint the largest threats

- New combat vests, using the recently created “bulletproof armor”, is tested in various training exercises. Most soldiers are able to wear a layered piece of armor that protects them from small caliber bullets and shrapnel, while combat engineers wear far heavier armor that is able to withstand the impact from full size rifle cartridges. The armor is very dense, and soldiers regularly complain about how uncomfortable the armor tends to be when one is exerting themselves

- Officers from across the board are selected at random to return to officer school for “Reaffirmation Training”, in which they are drilled on the “Bavarian style” of combat. Those that go through well with the training are sent back to their posts, while those that struggle are given extra time at the academies to be able to hone their craft. Germany hopes to have nearly every single officer up to speed by the end of 1955

- German nuclear engineers continue to conduct experiments with mockup reactors. One of the largest issues that these scientists have been struggling to overcome is finally solved. Instead of simply disposing of nuclear waste deep underground, these scientists propose “locking it up” in one of the many abandoned mines in Bavaria, surrounded by thick lead walls and deep concrete fortifications making it impossible to easily access or affect the environment

- Seeing as to how Zambezia and Zion are racing towards “independence” from the implementation of fossil fuels for energy, German scientists propose utilizing the power of wind in order to produce electricity. These experimental windmills, not too-dissimilar from those seen on farms across Europe, use passing wind currents to spin a small generator, producing an electric charge capable of powering lights or small machinery. The biggest hurdle is that these windmills are incredibly fragile, plus there are no batteries capable of efficiently storing the power produced

- A huge wave of Warsaw Pact troops blast their way through the defensive lines in the western front with tens of thousands of soldiers and thousands of tanks grinding down the South Africans day by day. A desperate fighting retreat is launched to try and reorganize towards the center of the country, only to be faced with Soviet airborne troops cutting off their advance. Nearly a fifth of South Africa’s troops are surrounded in an enormous “pocket” that quickly collapses, with every soldier either being killed or captured

- South Africa’s air force is basically non-existent as coalition bombers and attack aircraft destroy airfield after airfield and shoot down every plane that attempts to escape. The air defense systems of South Africa are destroyed by raids of special forces, or are simply overwhelmed by the advancing armies of the coalition. Only a handful of planes are left, which make a beeline to the Congo to try and evacuate as many politicians as possible

- Along the south and eastern coastlines, the Commonwealth makes a devastating charge that punches deep into the soft underbelly of South Africa. Wanting revenge for the massed deaths in Protocol Omega, the commonwealth is far less forgiving and far less willing to ignore collateral damage. Though no civilian centers come under direct fire, the British are especially willing to just bombard the South Africans into nothingness, rather than soften them up to assault their positions

- Argentina sends numerous peacekeepers, alongside elite elements of its military, to begin safeguarding its industrial centers in South Africa. Openly flying the Argentinian flag, these troops are explicitly in South Africa to protect business assets and Argentinian civilians unable to escape from the fighting. South Africa’s military is unable to do anything about it, and in fact appreciates Argentina keeping some sort of normalcy in the cities

- The populace of South Africa begins to suffer as Yugoslav and British aircraft begin destroying fuel silos, power plants and water facilities, essentially cutting off the most basic amenities from the major cities. Rather than bombing civilians or destroying food supplies, these bombing efforts make it harder and harder for the average person in South Africa to live a normal life. The panic induced by the nuclear response of the Soviets doesn’t help

- A mass mobilization of South Africa’s men takes place, with another 300,000 men being pressed into service to defend the state. A series of concentric defensive rings surround Pretoria as the last anti-aircraft batteries and tank brigades are put in place to hold the line. This mobilization essentially grinds the economy of the state to a halt, and South Africa’s military understands that this is its final stand

- Dozens of South African politicians attempt to flee through Zambezia or into Portuguese Mozambique to try and avoid capture by the coalition, only to be intercepted by special forces and brought to justice. A number of high ranking officials commit suicide before being captured, knowing the possibilities of torture and imprisonment by the Soviets or the People’s African Army. These moves serve to deely harm the morale of the South African people

- Disease begins to ripple through the cities of South Africa as medical facilities are focused entirely on helping the military. Things like salmonella, cholera and streptococcus spread throughout the increasingly squalid conditions of South Africa’s urban centers. Thousands are sickened, and hundreds succumb to these diseases as the government dedicates everything it can to try and fight to its last breath

- The last of South Africa’s “Element Red” is destroyed by Soviet special forces, essentially removing South Africa’s final trump card. No matter how much knowledge the soldiers have of the land, how much patriotic dedication and intensely rigorous training can prepare them for the onslaught of nearly half a million men pouring in from all directions. Blacks in the rural areas do everything in their power to disrupt the military efforts of South Africa, and the civilian populace no longer desires to support the war

- With the end in sight, South Africa’s army circles the wagons and digs in deep. This is the last stand, the final battle. Should Pretoria fall, the entire nation shall fall. The dream of a white utopia centered in Africa, free of influence from Europe or other outside forces, entirely independent and entirely of its own design, is dead. What must be done now is to simply fight as hard as humanly possible so the dream can’t die out

- In a swift and devastating blow, a massive assault on all of South Africa’s airfields by hundreds of aircraft, including supersonic fighter jets and high altitude bombers. What remains of South Africa’s air force is obliterated over the course of a few hours, with runways being melted with thermobaric bombs, hangars being blasted to smithereens and fleeing aircraft shot down with impunity. Total air superiority is achieved for the coalition

- A massive assault is launched in the west as the Soviets land nearly fifteen thousand troops and more than one thousand tanks, followed closely behind by Romanian, Bulgarian, Iranian and Polish infantry brigades. This attack punches through the increasingly weak South African defenses, with huge swathes of South Africa’s territory being occupied in only a couple months. South Africa’s training and technology crumbles when faced by the sheer might of the Warsaw pact

- Airborne forces make surprise landings behind the lines of the South Africans in the west, essentially surrounding them in a massive “pocket”, which is rapidly squeezed shut. Thousands of South African soldiers are killed, while thousands more are forced to surrender. Nearly a of the South African military is destroyed in this pocket, shattering the western front and causing a massive route towards Pretoria

- Soldiers of the elite Spetsnaz hunt for the remaining nuclear scientists, capturing or killing them in a daring series of raids that take place across the country. On a few rare occasions, British SAS and Soviet Spetsnaz find themselves hunting the same target, and a bizarre sense of comradery is formed between the two special forces groups. Captured scientists are immediately sent back to the Soviet Union to be tried for their crimes

- The Soviet tank divisions present in South Africa quickly overrun their enemies as South Africa is unable to produce enough tanks to continue their fight against the coalition. Surplus tanks from World War II and the interwar are put to the front line, which are smashed without issue by the Soviets. Hundreds of South African soldiers surrender every day, knowing that their fight is becoming increasingly pointless

- All officers, generals or commanders captured by the Soviets are immediately handed over to the People’s African Army to be tried for their crimes against the South African people. Unsurprisingly, most of these officers are put to death after being found guilty of mass murder, imprisonment, slave labor and attempted genocide. The Soviets don’t bat an eye at such executions, having done a fair share of their own with the Nazis

- The British and Soviets come to a simple agreement regarding what territories they have captured from the South Africans. A fifteen kilometer wide “Deconfliction Line” will run alongside the “borders” of areas under British or Soviet occupation. Unsurprisingly, both sides do their damndest to avoid any sort of confrontation, and do everything in their power to stray as far away as possible from this area of ceasefire. This is a step forward for possible normalization of relations between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union

- Training drills with the Warsaw Pact take place in order to get the militaries of the Soviets other satellites up to speed with the newest breed of modern war. Luckily, many of these nations already have troops partaking in the intervention against South Africa. However, the Soviets are still forced to begin exporting jets, tanks and other military equipment to their allies, as the military industries of the Eastern Bloc are lacking the capacity of the Soviets

- Comecon is once again expanded to encompass even more nations, this time including the People’s Republic of China, India, Iran and Zion. With the former, the Soviets hope to get control of the rapid industrialization of the PRC and India, guiding them towards a properly planned economy and more in line with Soviet ideals. Meanwhile, with Iran and Zion, most of Comecon’s assistance comes in the form of engineers and advisors who help oversee existing industries, nudging here and there to keep them in line

- A huge number of economic, industrial, agricultural and political advisors flock to Beijing to begin assisting Mao’s regime in the “Great Leap Forward”. Already, the People’s Republic of China has suffered tens of thousands dead from a famine caused by poor maintenance of its farms, and hundreds of thousands of workers are booted from their jobs to begin creating steel, mining for metals, or general busy work assigned by the government. The Soviets hope to put a stop to this pseudo economics, and pull Mao back on the path set by Marx, Lenin and Stalin

- With the successful launch of "Простейший Спутник-1 ( Prosteyshiy Sputnik-1)" [Elementary Satellite-1], the Soviet space program begins working on its next major experiment: sending a living being into orbit. Many are currently wondering about exactly how such an experiment would be undertaken, while others are simply too hungover from the nearly week-long celebration. Either way, the Soviets rub their victory in the faces of the Americans to an absurd extent

- Engineers at Tupolev begin experimenting with a modified form of the Tu-16 bomber to be able to extend the air power of the Soviet Union. Instead of a bomb bay, and with much of the other internals removed, this Tu-16E carries an enormous secondary fuel tank with a long tube that can be deployed out the rear. The Tu-16E is built for “mid-air refueling”, and a number of modified MiG-19s and Tu-16s are built to be able to accept fuel from a top-down tube, extending their range significantly, and giving the Soviets even more reach across the globe

- The BYOS, pushing for further protection against the threats of nuclear, biological and chemical agents, are given the capacity to design their own version of the T-55. This version of the T-55, designated as the T-55K, is completely “sealed” from the outside. Using heavily filtered intakes, rubber-lined cupolas, double-paned optics and a specially designed breech essentially “shuts off” the T-55K from being affected from the outside world, and a series of lead plates prevent intense radiation from killing the crew

- Yugoslav troops in South Africa join in a massive spearhead that punches through South African lines in the northwest. With the arrival of Yugoslav and Soviet armored divisions, the South Africans cannot stand a chance, as their chemical weapons supplies are depleted and their air force almost entirely destroyed. The South Africans continue to put up a desperate and vicious defense, making the coalition troops fight for every inch

- Cooperating with the British, Yugoslav bombers begin conducting tactical bombing raids on South African cities, primarily hitting power plants and fuel storage facilities, hoping to “starve out” the civilian populace of the most basic amenities. Rather than directly affect the food supplies, bombers instead focus on finding ways to make everyday life so frustrating and uncomfortable that the people lose hope and give in, instead of simply making them more enraged, something the Germans learned during the Blitz of London

- Yugoslav infantry begin to hang back from the main front to begin working on caring for the civilians caught in the crossfire of the war over the past few years. Huge numbers of towns, villages and farming areas have been devastated by the fighting between South Africa and the rebels, and the issue has only been exacerbated by the intervention. Tens of thousands of orphans are evacuated from South Africa and brought back to Yugoslavia to be given to loving families

- Tito announces a “Final Campaign” to be able to “drive a stake through the heart of South Africa” by launching a massive series of aerial attacks on South African defensive positions. With the Soviets having managed to essentially wipe out South Africa’s air force, there is next to nothing that can stop Yugoslavia’s pilots from making mincemeat out of these fortifications and trenches. South Africa’s trump card of having the home field advantage means nothing now

- Yugoslavia officially forms YASA, the Yugoslav Aerospace Administration, following in the footsteps of Zion and the United States. However, rather than exclusively acting as something for national pride, Tito meets with David Ben-Gurion of Zion, officially announcing a future of cooperation between the two countries to “explore the stars together, not apart”. With the combination of YASA and ZASA, a third party has entered the “space race” between the United States and the Soviet Union

- Discussions regarding a “Balkan Federation” continue between Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania. One of the largest concerns is the massive language gap between the Slavs and the Romanians, with a non-Slavic language being difficult to integrate. With Romania’s population comparable that to the entirety of Yugoslavia, there will be a significant divide between the two peoples. However, Bulgaria’s populace is becoming more and more supporting over joining a “Balkan Federation”, though a definite deal will still take a couple years to be worked out

- The government begins to look at the country’s education, which is severely lacking in the realms of efficiency and actual usefulness. Tito pushes for a new program to begin renovating schools across the nation, as well as improving funding for textbooks, teachers and school supplies. One of the biggest issues is the fact that the school system uses outdated forms of testing, which simply focus on regurgitation rather than actual learning. A board of directors within the Yugoslav government begins seeking ways to implement the inverse

- Yugoslavia’s film industry has suffered over the past few years as its productions were almost entirely propaganda. Hoping to find some way to further Yugoslavia’s cultural exports, Tito officially grants film students from across the country the opportunity to make their own films of their own design, utilizing the compressed tape technology almost exclusive to Yugoslavia. Of course, some restrictions are still in place, but the Yugoslav National Film Board states that “Creativity is the Engine of Progress”, and isn’t too harsh on imposing punishments

- Enormous bunkers begin construction nearly four meters under the earth outside of major cities. These huge construction projects are built in hopes of protecting thousands of civilians in the event of a massive bombing campaign, or worse, a nuclear strike. These bunkers, expected to be finished by the end of the year, will contain running water, heating, food and medical facilities to last thousands of individuals for months at a time. Yugoslavia is clearly preparing for the worst

- The navy is once again put through the wringer as Yugoslav engineers begin seeking ways to further modernize the armament of Yugoslavia’s ships. With the arrival of the new heavy ships from Sweden, Yugoslavia boasts a capable navy, on par with that of its neighbors. However, this navy has little to no power projection, and is instead purpose built for the defense of Yugoslavia’s coastline and local waters, something that these engineers hope to fix by implementing short-range anti-ship ballistic missiles on the new heavy cruisers

- Massive fortifications begin construction across Yugoslavia’s western shores. Enormous pillboxes, lines of deep trenches, rows upon rows of minefields, barbed wire and machine gun nests, alongside artillery and anti-air emplacements. Yugoslavia’s shores slowly but surely become gigantic fortresses, which will be nearly impossible to attack without significant advantages of both numbers and firepower, thus making it essentially unassailable by anyone that doesn’t outnumber Yugoslavia 3:1

- Josip Tito cuts the red ribbon on the entrance to a massive nuclear energy facility outside of Zagreb, and in a lengthy ceremony, activates the reactor for the first time, powering the lights of the city to rounding cheers and applause. This new reactor is Yugoslavia’s first, and will focus on utilizing uranium for peaceful purposes, which will also allow Yugoslavia to free itself from the bonds of fossil fuel imports and enter a “glowing future”

- Electronics engineers make a breakthrough at the Zagreb nuclear facility by unveiling one of the most powerful computing machines yet. Using transistors rather than raw mechanical parts, this computer is capable of making huge calculations at a breakneck speed and helping engineers monitor the nuclear reactors on a regular basis. With computing technology marching ever forwards, Yugoslavia is at the forefront of the incoming “Computer World”

- Zambezia sends hundreds of busses, trucks and cars, flying the colors of Zambezia and a United Nations flag, across the border into South Africa to arrive at the fortified cities. This convoy moves in an obvious, loud line to avoid being struck by the intervening coalition forces. Once at their destinations, these vehicles load up thousands of civilians and immediately begin sending them back across the border into Zambezia

- Tensions are high in the refugee camps as whites and africans quickly draw their lines in the sand, and Zambezian authorities are regularly forced to intervene in violent squabbles over food, sleeping areas, water and just general racial intolerance. Essentially forcing their hands, the Zambezian government places whites and africans on opposite sides of the refugee camps, with a large “neutral zone” of hospitals, kitchens and schools in the middle in order to keep the peace somewhat

- The many Khoisan “reservations” in southern Zambezia are reorganized to be largely free from government influence, and any tribes that register themselves as hunter-gatherers are exempt from all forms of taxation. Of course, strict rules are put in place for where and when these groups can move, and the basic laws of the land still apply. The biggest issue is farmers in the region complaining about family groups settling either near or on their land, which is small potatoes compared to the attempted genocide in South Africa

- Zambezian cities prepare themselves for the possibility of a “refugee wave” come the end of the war in South Africa. With many cities still besieged, and many african groups being forced off their lands, it’s believed to be only a matter of time before tens of thousands of civilians decide to abandon South Africa altogether, no matter the outcome of the war. Large apartment buildings are constructed with only the most basic of facilities, and many townships begin to stockpile food

- With the railway project having finally met its conclusion, the government immediately turns its focus to begin seeking ways to improve it. With much of these railways being more “traditional”, with ElectRail only going between the most populous cities of Zambezia, the government decides to expand the ElectRail lines even further. This project will be even more expensive than the last, and even more difficult to implement, but will nearly triple the effectiveness of Zambezian railway lines

- The Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend and Honorable Franklin Westfield, arrives at the foundation site of St. Mary’s Cathedral, officially blessing the construction efforts as crews begin working around the clock to make one of the greatest churches the Christian world will ever see. At the moment, of course, it’s nothing more than a concrete slab surrounded by construction scaffolding and men with hardhats. However, for the next two or so years, the cathedral will grow larger and larger, and more and more impressive until it is finally completed

- The refining industry of Zambezia receives another cash injection as the economy grows from exploiting the war in South America and South Africa. Much of this refining focuses on using domestically produced copper, zinc, platinum and palladium for both export and domestic consumption. Benefits are offered for electronics companies seeking easy access to these materials, but with the war so close to Zambezia’s borders, most of this production is still sent overseas as pure exports

- Oil fields in southwestern Zambezia are expanded as the government seeks new ways to properly exploit the natural resources found throughout the country. Even though the giants of the United States, Iran and Saudi Arabia continue to pump oil like nobody’s business, Zambezia has an important trick up its sleeve, which is a domestic refining industry. Though nowhere near as capable as the Americans, Zambezia’s refineries can still produce gasoline and diesel fuels for export, and quickly turns its export focus to southeast Asia and India

- Military exercises take place between Zambezia and Portugal in Mozambique as both countries take turns acting as one another’s enemies to try and drill each other on the intricacies of jungle combat. Both sides then begin to “mix” by sending units back and forth, making things both interesting and confusing. This does happen to instill a sense of pride and accomplishment for the native auxiliaries, who find themselves able to beat the combined Portuguese and Zambezian forces when it comes to these exercises

- At SABRE, new models of fighter jet such as the British Electric Lightning are produced in small amounts, alongside the M48 model tank from South Africa, redubbed the M48 Mk II “Bush Hound”, as it is given the much larger 105mm L7 cannon. Though expensive to produce and maintain, this new equipment will “kickstart” Zambezia’s military industry, as well as simply give the country some sort of edge in the possibility of a war

- Engineers from SABRE begin working on a way to safely transport infantry to and from the battlefield, as well as being capable of tackling the numerous environmental hazards present in the region. The result is the angular, six wheeled T53 Mk I “Snapper”, named after its similarities to a snapping turtle. Taking designs from the German Sonderkraftfahrzeug halftrack from World War II, this armored personnel carrier skips the tracks for a third pair of wheels, with each axle able to move semi-independently, essentially ignoring rough terrain. Many who ride in it find the T53 to be incredibly uncomfortable, but less so than being shot

- Nuclear technicians, fearing the possibility of intense radioactive damage in areas affected by either industrial accidents or nuclear warfare, begin looking into ways to “clean up” radioactive materials. Surprisingly enough, it is discovered that using E. Coli bacterium paired with inositol phosphates, an agricultural waste runoff, is capable of binding to uranium, making it easier to identify and remove from affected areas. Of course, this pairing is still toxic, and has to be cleaned up itself to avoid further contamination

- Comecon is once again expanded to encompass even more nations, this time including the People’s Republic of China, India, Iran and Zion. Soviet industry engineers are quick to arrive in Zion to begin assisting in streamlining Zion’s economy, while also encouraging the growth of workers unions. Zion’s inclusion in Comecon will be a massive benefit to the nation’s economy in the future, as there is now a reliable safety net for Zion to work with

- Zion opens an enormous hospital campus in Tel Aviv, known as the “Tel Aviv International Health Center”. Staffed with top-of-the-line doctors and medical students from around the world, the hospital caters to foreign patients able to make it to the hospital, who have to pay very little for their treatment. Of course, quotas are in place, and patients are booted out once recovery begins, but the hospital is an incredibly popular move worldwide, with thousands of visitors from dozens of countries arriving to receive treatment

- Approaching the United Kingdom, Zion attempts to rekindle warm relations between the two by providing numerous diplomatic overtures. With the British heavily involved in South Africa, and losing thousands of men to the disastrous South African counter-attack, Zion is able to make a handful of caring gestures, of which the British respond by recognizing the territorial gains of Zion and the new government of Jordan, much to the chagrin of Syria and France

- Another deal is struck between Zion and Ethiopia as both sides grow closer together as friends. In return for food exports from Ethiopia, which have benefited greatly from Zambezian agricultural technology, Zion begins to export textiles, which are higher quality than ever before. This trade is somewhat lopsided, as Zion trades at a loss. However, the food imports have more worth than just their monetary value, and the people of Zion are happy to see stocked markets

- Political advisors are sent to the recently refounded Jordan to begin organizing and centralizing the government. With Jordan essentially reliant on Zion’s agriculture, economy and industry, Zion hopes to tie Jordan as close to themselves as possible. Much of this advising helps with rebuilding the heavily damaged cities, as well as repairing infrastructure and industrial centers that were lost during the war with Syria

- New labor laws are introduced that restrict privately held industries’ abilities to make their employees work. Shifts are locked at 10 hours for private industries, and 9 for Kibbutzim, and with all workers guaranteed a paid 30 minute work break at the minimum. Workers are also guaranteed vacation time, paternal and maternal leave. The workers rejoice at these moves, while industry leaders grumble and lobby for a reversal in these laws. The government ignores these demands

- The Kibbutzim administration sees restructuring as it is split up into three separate subordinate branches. These new branches focus on the Agrarian, Industrial and Commercial sectors of the Kibbutzim, allowing for the government to have more oversight over the day-to-day operations of these industries. The Agrarian sector is focused on the most, as Zion is still heavily dependent on foreign imports to feed its people

- Labor unions must now register with the government in order to receive recognition. However, the rights of unions are strengthened, and multi-union organizations form to be able to cover multiple sectors of Zion’s economy to ensure that the rights of the workers are protected as much as possible. Ben-Gurion fuels the fire by announcing a government program to further empower the unions of Zion, as well as prevent corruption within the unions by allowing for an anonymous reporting system

- The fishing industry of Zion is nationalized as a whole, with fishermen being given lump sums of cash to encourage further work. A huge fleet of Zion fishing vessels leave Aqaba to go to the Indian Ocean, flying the flags of their nation. The Agrarian Kibbutzim is in charge of these fleets, and introduces strict quotas that vessels must meet in order to keep up with the demands of the people of Zion. India begins to compete with these fishing fleets by sending out huge numbers of boats of their own, essentially forcing Zion’s vessels out of their normal fishing spots

- The islands purchased from Ethiopia undergo further military expansion as a small airstrip is built to house numerous Zion fighters and fast attack aircraft. Paired with the small naval base, this allows Zion to project its power to almost the entirety of the Red Sea, capable of sending aircraft deep into the heart of Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Infuriated, Egypt conducts numerous naval exercises to show off its strength towards Zion

- Arabs in Zion are finally allowed to join the military in the form of auxiliary volunteer forces. Rather than be given the regular training of Zion’s Jewish soldiers, these volunteers are given only basic training, stationed at only a single base, and are not allowed to take their weapons home. However, arabs that follow through with their training and prove their worth are granted a handsome monthly sum of money to ensure their loyalty

- Looking at various “G-Suit” designs used for high altitude, high speed aircraft, Zion engineers at ZASA begin working on their own designs to create a “pressure suit” capable of retaining pressure around the body cavity of its wearer. These suits prove to be fairly effective, though they are clunky and uncomfortable, and have a terrible habit of becoming quickly waterlogged with sweat. The biggest hurdle at the moment is finding a way to properly wear these suits and still allow for a full range of motion

- Using silicon compounds, Zion electronics engineers begin working on solar cells to improve their efficiency. Shockingly enough, these new designs are able to raise the efficiency and reliability of these solar cells by nearly 12%. This is an important step forward for solar power and non-fossil fuel energy production, as further development on these cells could lead to a breakthrough in “renewable energy”

 

[Fighting Monk]

Boer Wars 3.0 Communist edition

 

[Zillamaster55]

Atlantis Rising


29 June, 1954

A rumble is detected on seismometers across the Atlantic. Believed to be the beginning of a second Great Wave, cities begin evacuation protocols and the alarms are sounded. However, this rumble is identified as something very, very different.

It is not coming from the earth at all, but is instead the roiling sound of billions of gallons of water rushing over something, and mile-wide swathes of bubbles bursting at the surface. A deep, unsettling groan rockets its way through every ship on the Atlantic, rattling men to their core.

Suddenly, without warning, thousands of people begin reporting sightings of enormous “structures” appearing from out of the water. Pilots flying overhead, breathless and in shock, confirm these reports. People begin to panic, hoping dearly that it’s some sort of fake.

A second groan is heard, and a tidal wave bursts forth in all directions as a construct the size of a small continent erupts from the water’s surface. Waves crash against the shores of the Atlantic, sending floodwaters once again deep into cities, though not as ferociously as before.

There, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, lies a near perfectly symmetrical structure, with titanic obelisks reaching hundreds of meters into the air, and impeccably carved lengths, like spokes on a wheel. Glittering in the pale moonlight of the evening, aircraft report an enormous pyramidal structure in the center stretching nearly two kilometers into the air, its base “unimaginably huge”.

Expeditions from around the globe are planned to map out and uncover the secrets of what can only be described as Atlantis, the ancient continent sunk beneath the waves in the myths of old.

Who built this? What is its purpose? Why was it hidden? Why has it returned?

These questions, and more, must be answered.

 

[Fighting Monk]

Little do you know ...

 

[.Del]

1 slot open? How do I apply?

 

[Zillamaster55]

1 slot open? How do I apply?

Unfortunately I've been trying to fix the title but it won't let me. RockmanYoshi has taken the slot as the Republic of Kampuchea.

Howeeeeeevvveerrrr, keep your eyes peeled as we're transitioning into !!!FUN!!! parts of the RP, so within the next 2-3 turns you'll be able to hop in

 

[Zillamaster55]

1 December, 1954

Deep in the Australian outback, at 1200, the hot afternoon sun is engulfed in a stunning white-hot flash. A rumbling boom echoes across the shrubland as a mile-high cloud of dust and ash is kicked up into the sky.

“Blue Danube”, a 20kt nuclear weapon, is tested by the Royal Army Air Force, officially signalling Britain’s membership in the rapidly expanding club of armed nations.

Britannia will rule the waves, come hell or high water.

 

[Zillamaster55]

The car carrying Mao Zedong after his assassination

9 August, 1954
1030
Mao Zedong’s motorcade heads down the main street of Shanghai, passing by the newly constructed “People’s Garden”. The sidewalks are choked with adoring citizens, and Mao himself stands up in his car to wave to his countrymen. Flanking him in the car is his wife, Jiang Qing, and behind his car are loyal generals and officials.

All of a sudden, a flurry of gunshots are heard, and the cheers turn to panicked screams. Police rush forward to try and see who is shooting, but in the chaos, Mao falls forward from his standing position, clutching his chest.

Screaming, Jiang Qing brings Mao upright in his seat, only to discover he has been struck nearly a dozen times, and is already dead. Before she is able to react further, the assassins break forth from the crowd and riddle the car with bullets, killing her before the assassins continue making their way through the motorcade.

The fighting lasts minutes as nearly twenty assassins enter a firefight with police and guards, leaving numerous civilians dead, alongside many of Mao’s closest advisors. The reports of Mao’s death immediately send the government of the People’s Republic of China into a panic.

The Glorious Leader is dead.

 

[Zillamaster55]

Turn 15
July - December, 1954
---
World Tension is HOT

World Economy is STABLE

World Events
- Dozens of countries flock to “Atlantis” to begin exploring the massive structure in attempt to discover its true meaning. Many explorers begin to record huge “frescoes” towering more than twenty meters, all showing in impeccable detail scenes of worship of unknown gods, and a strange series of “people” that have yet to be identified. What is known is that “Atlantis” is a sight to behold, and is the greatest archaeological find in history

- Argentina sends a huge expedition to “Atlantis” with armed guards to begin securing parts of the “Southern Arm”. Unsurprisingly, this move disturbs other researchers in the area, who protest the arrival of soldiers. Argentina, using evidence to support their claim, states that Atlantis was the cause of the Great Wave a few years prior, and “whatever element has caused this structure to surface may indeed have hostile intentions”

- Several German archaeologists and scientists take it upon themselves to head to “Atlantis” to try and learn as much about the structure as they can, taking with them dozens of undergraduate students and millions of dollars worth of equipment. After a week of fairly constant transmissions, largely regarding the “artistic personality of Atlantis”, these explorers go missing. The German government considers launching an expedition, but is hesitant to bring armed forces outside of Germany itself

- In the heart of the Australian outback, the United Kingdom tests “Blue Danube”, a 20kt nuclear weapon dropped from an Avro “Vulcan” bomber at a high altitude. No longer reliant on French or American weapons, Britannia can now show the world that it can, indeed, still rule the waves. With a third western power possessing nuclear weapons, the east finds itself boxed in more and more

- Mao Zedong, chairman of the Communist Party of China and leader of the communist mainland government since the end of the civil war, is shot to death by “counterrevolutionaries” tied to “unorthodox elements” within the Chinese government. Immediately after choosing Wang Ming to take Mao’s place, a hunt is launched nationwide to purge the government of disloyal politicians and officials

- Peace finally comes to South Africa after two excruciating years of brutal warfare. With hundreds of thousands dead on either side, and nearly a million civilians caught in the crossfire, the victorious forces of the Warsaw Pact and the Commonwealth of Nations begin the arduous process of dismantling South Africa into a series of successor states. An uneasy air of peace settles over the region, as many fear the People’s African Army’s job isn’t done just yet

- It is revealed that the South African government operated hundreds of “prison labor camps” that utilized captured individuals, who were worked to death under brutal conditions. Numerous comparisons are made to the holocaust, and the sheer wanton destruction wrought by the South African military only makes those comparisons more concrete. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are discovered to have been killed by the South African government from both the fighting, and during the pre-war AMP regime

- A population exchange in South Africa sees tens of thousands of Boer citizens being forcibly moved to the location of the “Boer Free State”, which will become a white majority nation in the region. Meanwhile, africans in the proposed area are gently encouraged to migrate to the newly organized “Zululand” in the southeast. The non-Boer white population will return to the “Cape Colony”, which will remain as a Commonwealth member under the close watch of the United Kingdom

- Spain’s government enters total gridlock as citizens begin mass protests in the street, demanding that the Franco regime end its war in the Basque territories. Though these protests are brutally put down, the Spanish government finds it harder and harder to do basic legislative duties

- American president Nelson Rockefeller Jr., having managed to continue his control over the house, senate and supreme court, begins making steps to pass an “American Civil Rights” bill, which outlaws discrimination based on race, gender, age and religion across the country. Such a move has been met with an intense backlash, and many in the south begin to riot as a result, leading to numerous deaths and thousands of arrests

- The United States successfully launches “Fast Bob”, a small satellite similar to the Soviet “Sputnik”, which stays in orbit along the opposite path of the Soviet craft. Though not first, the Americans are more than proud of their achievement, and prepare to beat the Soviets to other milestones in space travel. Regardless, the Soviets still get to gloat over how Sputnik was “better, bigger and first”

--

- With the war in South Africa over, the United Kingdom agrees to allow all assets of Prometheus Technology and Manufacturing in the British occupied areas to be given to both Argentina and Zambezia, parceled out fairly between the two. The mines for precious metals are largely taken up by Argentina, who immediately sends them to the homeland refineries. Essentially buying the ores for nothing, Argentina rapidly becomes a competitor with Zambezia for refined precious metals such as palladium and platinum

- Argentina sends a huge expedition to “Atlantis” with armed guards to begin securing parts of the “Southern Arm”. Unsurprisingly, this move disturbs other researchers in the area, who protest the arrival of soldiers. Argentina, using evidence to support their claim, states that Atlantis was the cause of the Great Wave a few years prior, and “whatever element has caused this structure to surface may indeed have hostile intentions”

- South America begins to take sides as the United States moves to isolate Perón economically by actively pursuing a policy of tariffs as well as discouraging American companies from trading with Argentina. However, there are numerous central and South American nations who side with Argentina, stating that “American imperialism must come to an end”. Perón makes numerous inflammatory speeches denouncing the United States and making it clear that Argentina won’t sit on its haunches and wait for America to get bored anymore

- A huge effort is made to try and improve security throughout the newly gained territories in Chile. Many people are still upset with the Argentinian occupation, and protests are held almost weekly demanding that the Perón regime exit the region. A soft hand is used to bring these protests to an end, with only the minimal police presence used to keep the peace. Argentina has been incredibly peaceful when it comes to their occupation, and the protests grow smaller and smaller with each assembly

- Government-sanctioned broadcasts are increased massively throughout Argentina, most of them playing music, radio dramas or simple local news. Many Argentinian musicians become regionally famous as their music is played in countries like Bolivia, Peru, Brazil and Ecuador. Meanwhile, Argentina’s numerous crime dramas capture the imaginations of tens of thousands worldwide, and many translated records of “The Dark Night” are sent around the globe

- Perón orders that dozens of oil refineries be built across the country as a nationwide “oil rush” begins. Huge swathes of the “black gold” are discovered in the northeast of Patagonia, and millions upon millions of barrels are flowing freely after only a few months of exploration. Taking the initiative, Perón moves the government budget to support the creation of both private and publicly owned refining facilities in order to beat the Americans to the punch

- Argentina’s navy expands as several more destroyers and a new carrier are commissioned to begin patrolling the Pacific and Atlantic oceans to secure the nation’s coastline. Boasting the largest and most advanced navy in the region, Argentina sends some of its fleets to governments more friendly to the Argentinian government. Several destroyers dock in Busan as Argentinian veterans of the Korean War arrive to oversee the unveiling of a “Unity Statue” between South Korea and Argentina

- The military begins to once again shed itself of anti-Perón elements by doing a systematic series of bait-and-switches leading these individuals into traps. Many of these men are publicly named and shamed after being stripped of their titles, but a handful are imprisoned for upwards of a decade. Luckily, the upper echelons are clear of disloyal elements, and Perón’s position as commander in chief seems unthreatened

- Military exercises are launched in the Patagonian desert to find better ways to avoid the massive fuel consumption seen during the Second War of the Pacific. Numerous armored elements, originally placed on the front lines, are instead organized to remain in the rear “unless desperately needed”, which reduces the demand for gasoline and diesel significantly, but also reduces the offensive capabilities of Argentina. Luckily, the new refineries may indeed lead to the end of this problem altogether

- Electronics engineers working with the Argentinian air force reveal the newest design for guided rocketry. Using a modified form of the “ship killing” missile designed a few years back, this missile can be “locked” onto a target using a powerful radio signal, capable of delivering 2000kg of high explosive onto the foe with near perfect accuracy. This “Bayoneta” missile is perfect for both close air support and strategic attack, allowing the pilot to safely fly away before entering the range of most anti-aircraft emplacements

- Argentine geneticists begin to experiment with ways to bond existing DNA strands with others in an attempt to create entirely new genetic structures. The process is immensely complex and difficult to manage, and thousands of man hours result in creating a rose with blue petals at best. However, these scientists continue to push for the creation of a “chimera”, or a bonding of numerous genes to create an entirely new living being

- During a visit to the city of Shanghai, Mao Zedong’s motorcade comes under fire from gunmen. In the ensuing chaos, Mao is shot numerous times by his assassins, as are a handful of his loyal generals and advisors. It is soon discovered that these assassins are tied to numerous anti-Mao officials within the Chinese government, mainly opponents to the cultural revolution and great leap forward. Rebuked from attempting to storm the capital, the assassins and their allies are captured, tried and executed for their crimes against the state

- Having been thrown into chaos, with their most important leader dead, the Communist Party of China is desperate for a new figurehead to take control of the country before order collapses. Wang Ming, a well-known “orthodox marxist” steps forward, and seeks to “rehabilitate” the CCP, as well as bring an end to the destructive policies created by “those that led our glorious Chairman away”. Though still having many enemies of his own, Wang Ming is quickly put in place as president of the People’s Republic of China

- Almost immediately after ascending to his new title, Wang Ming begins a full-scale purge of “unorthodox” elements within the Chinese government. Thousands of those whose loyalties to the state are questioned are brought to trial and put to death, while thousands more are forced out of their positions. Elites in the government are pressed for any and all information to prove their dedication to the state, and those that prove not to be loyal enough are dealt with

- Wang Ming makes a move that shocks the world stage by sending a cable to none other than Chiang Kai-Shek. An official ceasefire is signed between the Republic and the People’s Republic, essentially ending the miniature cold war between the two governments. Though official recognition of each other is refused, and both sides continue to build up their defenses, there is at least an air of peace, allowing both countries to focus on their own issues

- Macau and Hong Kong, both cities having been taken in hostile expeditions by european governments, are the only cities of China that are not under the control of the mainland government. In an attempt to “unify the Chinese peoples”, Wang Ming makes pleas to try and return the two cities to the People’s Republic. Portugal immediately refuses to do so, and Britain “respectfully declines”, stating that “no matter the alignment of the government, the Convention of Peking still stands”. Disappointed, Wang Ming decides to turn his attention to more pressing internal matters

- The Soviet Union, seeing the failure of the Great Leap Forward and the enormous famine that has broken out in China, begins to send thousands of aid workers alongside literal tons of food to help offset the damages. Most of these aid workers are gathered in the major cities, with their delivered goods sent out to the rural areas by Chinese government personnel. China seeks to take control of its own situation, though they are grateful for the help given by their socialist friends

- Zambezia, with the approval of the Wang regime, sends thousands of tractors, combine harvesters, tons of fertilizer and tons of canned food to the People’s Republic of China to offset the disastrous effects of the Great Leap Forward. These relief efforts are under the watchful eye of Chinese government agents who make sure that western propaganda doesn’t make its way into China. Many of the foodstuffs have their labels stripped and replaced with simple Chinese markings stating what food is inside, rather than let its citizens see the symbol of the British crown

- Forced collectivization and arbitrary manpower reassignments, two of the greatest mistakes made during the Great Leap Forward, are done away with. Knowing that the risk of famine is high, and that tens of thousands have already succumbed to hunger, Wang knows that China “cannot march forward on an empty stomach and without shoes”. State controls on farms are lessened, and those moved away from factories or mines are encouraged to return to their previous positions

- Landlordship, however, was something that managed to skirt the worst of the “misleading policies” of the Great Leap Forward, and are quickly targeted by the Wang regime. Businesses, offices and properties that are under the control of these “borgeouises elite” are seized by the government, and their owners are either fined an exorbitant amount, or simply charged with crimes against the state and imprisoned

- A pricing scheme is introduced to try and encourage surpluses of grain, cereals and other foodstuffs. With the famine wreaking havoc in the rural provinces of China, these price controls are the first step to try and offset as much damage as possible. Unfortunately, in these far off regions, administration is difficult, and “grain bandits” take control of the supplies and essentially bribe locals with food. Any of these individuals are immediately put to death by the state, but the sheer size of China and the political disruption makes this hard to root out

- Wang introduces a massive education program to try and bring the literacy rates of China back to a respectable level. Intense neglect over the decades by corrupt or apathetic governments has caused much of the population to lack one of the most basic skills to partake in society. Large state-funded schools are constructed for children, and centers of education are constructed to be able to bring adults up to speed on the most basic forms of reading and writing

- In order to properly begin administering the rural regions, as well as to simply bolster the industrial capabilities of the People’s Republic, a huge infrastructure program begins using mobilized elements of the population to construct railways leading to and from major cities, eventually stretching out into the countryside. Rural administrations are ordered to begin paving roadways to link to these rail lines, which gives many people work to do, though many of them don’t know exactly how to do it

- Wang Ming’s final “great reform” to the government of the People’s Republic of China is introducing the "腐敗控制委員會" (Fubài Kòngzhì Weiyuánhuì) [Corruption Control Committee]. The CCC has orders to root out any “unorthodox elements” within the government, starting from the top down. Many see the CCC as a “new red terror”, which clears house in the lower echelons of the government, with many simply fleeing the nation to avoid being caught up in the purges

- The ground forces of the People’s Liberation Army undergo a period of intense scrutiny and examination. Elements of the military deemed “unfit” or “redundant” are disbanded immediately, with the soldiers sent home to work in the fields or factories, while their equipment is stockpiled for future usage. This cuts nearly a quarter of the men out of the army, allowing the PLA to consolidate itself into a somewhat more cohesive force

- Loyalty is a must for any officer within the military, and government agents regularly make sweeps through bases to begin gathering information. Disloyal officers are given a variety of punishments depending on their rank and the severity of their crime. Some are stripped of their command and demoted, others are discharged, others imprisoned and a fair few brought to the firing squad. Come hell or high water, Mao’s memory will be protected while Wang Ming holds the shield

- Copying designs from the Americans, Soviets and South Africans, Chinese military engineers begin constructing a hodgepodge of a dual-purpose transport and attack helicopter. Though by no means a new idea, this domestically produced vehicle is capable of carrying nearly a dozen soldiers to and from the battlefield, or carry a swathe of rocket pods or extra machine guns to provide fire support. With the new Harbin Z-5, China will no longer be reliant on importing foreign helicopters

- Knowing that future wars in China will still be fought on the ground, engineers are tasked with creating a cheap, reliable form of armored vehicle with the intention of both supporting infantry and fighting against other thanks. The Type 10 Medium Tank boasts a quick firing 75mm gun mounted in a “low slung” turret. Sacrificing thick armor for more speed, the Type 10 is a versatile vehicle that will greatly benefit the Chinese army once put into full production

- France and Germany agree to push for a faster reintegration of the Saarland now that the international community has turned its attention towards the sudden ascension of “Atlantis”. In a somewhat brief and uneventful ceremony, De Gaulle and Ollenhauer meet in Saarbrücken to formally return the territory to Germany. German citizens in the Saarland rejoice and welcome the “return of the rightful government”. The French in the Saarland, however, are somewhat disturbed by this change, and many begin to emigrate back to France as a result

- German economic experts are sent out across Europe and parts of the Middle East to begin observing “cooperatives”, or areas where communities form a series of farms, factories or other organizations and share the profits evenly. The concept is introduced to some small communities in northwestern Germany, but proceeds to falter as individuals try and take bigger cuts out of the profits after only a short while, essentially defeating the purpose. However, with some government oversight, these issues could be avoided

- The miracle of the post-war economic boom finally begins to wear off as industrial and economic growth slows to a more steady pace. The miracle’s effects will be felt for decades to come, as it has been less than 6 years since the occupation, and the average German life has improved greatly. Factories are humming, the streets are abustle with shoppers, and the roads are packed with families and workers alike

- Inflation is still a serious issue for Germany, and knowing the risks that overinflation presents, Ollenhauer makes concerted efforts to try and tamp down on inflation by putting tight restrictions on loans, throttling interest rates and preventing the mint from producing too many bills. These measures slightly stunt future economic growth, but will in time prevent the risk of a “thin ice” scenario with the German economy

- Integration of the post-war state economies and infrastructures continue as the Autobahn slithers its way up and down the country, linking smaller highways and offroads into itself as it continues its late-stage construction. Large swathes of cities are re-zoned to begin building factories as the government moves to further centralize the German economy in urban centers, rather than have it be spread out amongst the many smaller towns that dot the countryside

- The idea of a “welfare state” is batted around in Germany’s parliament, with advisors and ministers of the DSP looking into ways to properly implement such a system. With Germany’s rapid economic growth over the past few years has allowed for more diverse government spending programs, and some believe that Germany is ripe for deploying a strong public welfare system. This change does have its opponents, however, as the conservative minority in parliament fight hard against such measures

- A nationwide sting is launched to observe working conditions and safety measures in factories, with many surprise visits taking place at some of the largest factories in Germany. Employers found breaking the rules are fined heavily, and some are sent to prison after plots to cover up safety violations are discovered. Unions rejoice at these moves, and an anonymous reporting program is put in place to allow for workers to bring attention to poor workplace conditions

- An unofficial holiday is formed, known as “Gewerkschaftstag” (Union Day). On Gewerkschaftstag, many union members head to work with a red ribbon either in their hair, on their wrist or elsewhere on their uniform to signify their part in the nation’s labor force. Many celebrations are held in major cities after the day shifts, and employers struggle to keep control of their employees that attempt to leave early to partake in the festivals

- Several German archaeologists and scientists take it upon themselves to head to “Atlantis” to try and learn as much about the structure as they can, taking with them dozens of undergraduate students and millions of dollars worth of equipment. After a week of fairly constant transmissions, largely regarding the “artistic personality of Atlantis”, these explorers go missing. The German government considers launching an expedition, but is hesitant to bring armed forces outside of Germany itself

- The German government forms a new branch of state police known as the "Grenzkontrolleure" (Border Patrol), with the sole purpose of ensuring the safety of the country by keeping an eye on border crossings, and regularly going through checkpoints to prevent the transfer of contraband and illegal migrants. The GK sits in an awkward place between the regular police and the Bundeswehr, with the GK being fully armed and answering only to the government

- Germany’s reoccupation of the Saarland goes through smoothly as the GK makes up the bulk of the police presence in Saarbrücken. Of course, the GK is also used as a loophole to be able to stationed armed troops in the region ahead of the planned remilitarization date, but France takes little notice. The biggest issue with the transition is the fact that the Saarland has added yet another step towards the full integration of the post-war state economies

- German electronic engineers continue to work on creating better, more reliable batteries in an attempt to get a few steps ahead of the competition. These new designs are much smaller than previous ones, able to fit in the palm of one’s hand, and capable of powering a fairly powerful backpack radio for up to 24 hours of near constant use. The biggest drawback with these batteries is the fact that they are difficult to charge, and if broken open, can cause severe injury with its acidic internals

- Prime Minister Ollenhauer cuts the red ribbon outside of an enormous facility in Munich, declaring the official opening of Germany’s first nuclear reactor. The huge generator immediately begins to power the city, and is expected to do so for decades without issue. This is the first step in the “nuclearization” of Germany, which will see the country shift itself away from “fossil fuels” and instead be entirely self-sufficient

- By various means, the Kampuchean government begins to purchase thousands of rifles, machine guns and rocket launchers from Yugoslavia as a means to bolster the nation’s stockpiles of weapons, as well as simply try and bring the military into a more “modern” status. Much of Kampuchea’s army relies on French surplus from the interwar period, with only small numbers of modernized weapons in the hands of the most elite soldiers

- Businessmen from the United States, United Kingdom and France begin to make their way to Kampuchea as the government begins to offer large tax breaks for foreign companies to begin constructing grain processing mills and basic manufacturing centers within the larger cities of Kampuchea. A handful of companies do arrive, and focus mainly on creating food processing centers, exploiting Kampuchea’s reliance on agriculture for easy access to raw materials

- The island of Koh Trol, commonly referred to as its Vietnamese name of Phú Quốc, is still claimed by the Kampuchean government and its people. As a result, Sihanouk lodges a formal protest in the United Nations, demanding that Vietnam “return the rightful territory of Kampuchea”, stating that the territory was handed over to Vietnam by the French, and was never under “proper administration”. Vietnam rebukes this resolution, and with the arrival of Atlantis throwing the world into shock, little is done

- Sihanouk announces a new government program to begin constructing bridges over the mighty Mekong river, which will provide not only easier paths for the everyman to conduct commerce, but as well as make it easier for the Kampuchean army to hunt what remains of the communist rebels in the far off jungles. These bridges are incredibly expensive to build, and Kampuchea is reliant on foreign engineers to assist in their construction

- Alongside the Mekong bridges, Sihanouk makes a push to continue the expansion of the nation’s road, electric and communications infrastructure by utilizing French-educated workers under the watchful eye of foreign engineers who help oversee the process. Unsurprisingly, the electric grid is reliant on the arrival of Zambezian engineers and workers, who oversee much of the expansion, though at a much lower price than European companies

- Public education sees a serious boost as the Kampuchean government begins to set aside more money for the construction of public schools and trade schools. Foreign teachers, mainly from France or the United States, come to Kampuchea in droves to assist in the teaching of the country’s children. Sihanouk's new literacy program will take years to take effect, but many believe it is an important first step in rejuvenating Kampuchea

- At Sihanoukville, a large deepwater port begins construction using a mobilized labor force and Zambezian mining equipment. The hopes of the Sihanoukville port is that it will not only focus trade towards Kampuchea, but also ensure a “safe and stable” port of entry into southeast Asia, as many speculate the regimes of Vietnam and Thailand are still on shaky ground. Still a year or so out from construction, this port will be a boon to the Kampuchean economy

- As the government pushes for more and more agricultural exports, the government begins to reduce interest rates significantly in order to encourage the borrowing of money for the creation of private businesses. The average citizen is still too poor to afford such a loan, and simply hopes to make as much money as possible by sending their yearly harvests to the companies building processing facilities in the urban centers

- In order to fund these many public works programs, a progressive tax rate is introduced, as well as a land value tax. The richest individuals in Kampuchea find themselves shelling out big time, paying upwards of 65% of their income in taxes, while the poorest of the country pay very little. Farmers are encouraged to have small, efficient plots of land, and the ultra-rich are encouraged to hire more employees to try and grow their own bottom line

- A referendum takes place in order to put Norodom Sihanouk, the current president and former king, back in power as the ruling monarch of Kampuchea, making him both the head of state and head of the government. Unsurprisingly, this referendum passes with an overwhelming majority of 73%. By the beginning of 1955, Sihanouk will undergo a “recrowning” ceremony, and will return to his position as king

- A military operation is launched to quash the last of the communist holdouts in the northeastern mountains and jungles using a three-pronged approach. First, the government begins breaking up socialist and communist parties by disseminating propaganda to turn them against one another, then local administrations are encouraged to report on civilian findings of communist holdouts, members or weapons dumps. Finally, the Kampuchean military utilizes any and all information to launch devastating nighttime raids on communist compounds

- With the help of Zambezian and French engineers, the first hydroelectric projects begin in the northeast of the country to begin providing power to villages in the region. These hydroelectric plants are by no means new to the more industrialized world, but are incredibly important to a country like Kampuchea, which would soon find itself struggling to generate its own power should something stop the importation of equipment from the west

- American agricultural scientist Norman Borlaug works alongside Kampuchea’s agricultural administration to begin finding a more efficient, healthy and more abundant strains of rice. A breakthrough is made after weeks of trial and error, with the Kampuchean government growing its first crop of “IR8 rice”. This strain is not only disease resistant, but fast growing, resilient to environmental changes, and simply produces a far more bountiful harvest. This will not only bring an end to any future food issues, but will bolster the nation’s export capabilities

- Soviet and British forces march in victory through the streets of Praetoria, officially signaling the end of the war in South Africa. With the surrender of South African forces after the devastating “pocket” in the west, the country finds itself divided between the Soviets and the British. Unlike “Elba Day” in which allied and Soviet forces met together in 1945, these troops stay as far away from one another after the parade as possible to avoid “political instability”

- Dozens of South African government officials captured by the Soviet Union during the war are publicly put on trial, with all individuals found guilty. These men are put to death by firing squad, their executioners made up of People’s African Army militants freed from South African prison camps. The Soviets make it quite clear that any South African government official found connected to the crimes against humanity are to be brought to justice and put to death

- The Soviet Union, seeing the failure of the Great Leap Forward and the enormous famine that has broken out in China, begins to send thousands of aid workers alongside literal tons of food to help offset the damages. Most of these aid workers are gathered in the major cities, with their delivered goods sent out to the rural areas by Chinese government personnel. China seeks to take control of its own situation, though they are grateful for the help given by their socialist friends

- An international mission made up of Soviet, Polish, Czech and Romanian scientists arrive in the “eastern arm” of “Atlantis” to begin recording as much data as possible. Unlike the Argentinians who essentially occupy a piece of the structure, the Soviets simply keep a number of armed vessels at a safe distance from Atlantis. Most of these scientists begin finding huge “temple-like” structures dotting their area of observation

- An enormous high-speed railway begins construction, stretching from Moscow to Eastern Berlin, with two major stops in Minsk and Warsaw in between. Utilizing three separate paths, this railway will be capable of transporting multiple trains at once, which is perfect for the transportation of civilian workers and government officials to and from their destinations. However, this railway does serve a dual purpose, and is perfect for the rapid mobilization of troops in the event of a European conflict

- With the war finally over in South Africa, the Soviet Union and United Kingdom agree on the division of the country, organizing the borders of numerous post-war states, including a Soviet-allied Democratic Republic of Namibia. This state will, upon its independence, be a member of the Warsaw Pact and Comecon, essentially guaranteeing a Soviet foothold in Africa, a move that stuns the world

- Soviet air and naval forces stationed in Namibia begin to oversee the construction of a new joint air/naval base on the Skeleton Coast. This signifies the permanent presence of Soviet troops in southern Africa, which greatly disturbs the NATO member nations with colonies nearby. Essentially unable to contest the Soviet’s demands to create a loyal Namibia, the British counter this move by building an even larger base in Cape Town

- Regardless of the tensions caused by the peace deal, the Soviets begin sending numerous aid workers to oversee the peaceful transition of occupied South Africa into its successor states, sending food, construction workers and doctors to help relieve the local populace from the horrible damage inflicted during the civil war. Of course, most of this aid is sent to help transition Namibia into its independence, but such a move is not unexpected, as the British do the same with the Republic of the Cape

- A huge swathe of radio telescopes and atmospheric observation centers are constructed across the country to begin tracking Soviet and American satellites, as well as studying the movement of celestial bodies. Large “star maps” are created as these telescopes are able to pick out star formations not visible to conventional telescopes. The Soviet government forms the “International People’s Space Study Association” (IPSSA), inviting the members of Comecon to send their best and brightest to study the stars

- Information regarding Atlantis that is deemed “safe for public consumption” is broadcast nationwide, both over the radio and television. It is officially revealed that the Soviet Union was the first to uncover Atlantis years prior, though no official exploration of it was possible. Numerous panels are held, discussing the cultural, historical and scientific implications of such a structure being unveiled, as well as near-constant jabs to the religious leaders of the Soviet Union, as this essentially “disproves” much of the bible, torah and quran

- Radar facilities are expanded across the Soviet Union as the militaries of the world begin to make aircraft capable of going higher, faster and farther than ever before. These stations, paired with airborne radar vehicles, essentially cover the entirety of the Soviet Union at nearly all levels, with radio telescope facilities capable of being utilized for military purposes in a pinch. Why the Soviets appear to be suddenly so defensive after being victorious in South Africa is unknown

- Soviet engineers at the Mil Moscow design bureau unveil an absurdly large helicopter. Utilizing a turboshaft-driven propeller design, the Mil Mi-6 is capable of lifting artillery pieces, armored personnel carriers and even fighter jets off of the ground and transporting them far distances. The Mil Mi-6 is the first of its kind, with the ability to carry nearly 20,000kg of equipment to and from the battlefield, with a stunning operating range of 650km at full capacity

- A breakthrough is made by Soviet computer engineering students who, utilizing a Yugoslav-designed computer, begin testing a new programming language built specifically for calculating dozens of variables for space travel. As the Soviet Union races against the United States to be the first to put a living being in space, these computers are essential for ensuring the safety of all involved, as most living things need to breathe

- Peace falls on South Africa as Yugoslav forces capture the last strongholds of the South African military, officially bringing an end to the war. Tito declares victory in South Africa, though he orders a majority of his troops to remain in Namibia to oversee the peaceful transition into independence. This move also serves as a way for Yugoslavia to secure its influence in the region, essentially making Namibia a joint Soviet-Yugoslav “creation”

- Talks continue with Romania and Bulgaria as Tito seeks to try and find a way to finalize the “Balkan Federation”. With Yugoslavia’s victory in South Africa and technological lead over those in the region, Tito has numerous cards he can play in these negotiations. Surprisingly, Bulgaria becomes more and more accepting of Tito’s plans for a unified Balkan government, though Romania remains somewhat hesitant

- In order to satisfy Romania’s demands, Tito promises that Romanian will be used as the primary language for governing in Romanian-majority areas, and Romanian officers will oversee “all-Romanian” divisions in the Balkan army. Meanwhile, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria make the preparations to integrate Bulgaria’s infrastructure into Yugoslavia by widening the railways along the borders, linking them together, as well as creating off ramps for highways to lead into one another

- With the progress made by Tito, the idea of Yugoslavia officially annexing Bulgaria is now a distinct possibility. Both nations would benefit greatly from such a deal, and the diplomatic, political and military implications would only improve Yugoslavia’s standing in the region. The Soviet Union would not lose too significant of an ally, and Yugoslavia would gain an open port in the east for direct trade with the USSR and through the caucasus to the middle-east

- Nuclear power plants begin their slow-but-steady construction across the country as Tito hopes to wean Yugoslavia off of the dependence on imported coal and oil for domestic usage. These power plants will help drive factories, provide cheap electricity for homes and light the streets of cities for decades, or possibly more than a century. One of the added effects of this move is “clean air”, as many report that the closure of coal plants leads to somewhat clearer skies, which is greatly appreciated by tourists

- The Yugoslav government officially forms a state-owned computer and electronics company, named “YugoTek”. Using the best and brightest from the nation’s many universities, YugoTek focuses on the creation of cheap, export-ready computers for both civilian and military use. Much of these computers are purchased by countries like Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary, while some models are sent to Greece as a state gift

- YASA begins a push to join the Soviets and Americans in space by planning to get a satellite into low earth orbit by the end of the following year. However, rather than just make a “metal ball that beeps”, Tito demands that YASA be able to create a satellite carrying a radio-operated camera. This camera would be used to gather images from space, and after a set period of time, descend into the atmosphere to be collected from a pre-planned landing site

- Yugoslavia’s submarine fleet undergoes a massive training exercise in the southern Mediterranean and parts of the Persian Gulf, focusing on “wolfpack” tactics and submarine-to-submarine combat. Though slowly growing its surface fleet, Yugoslavia knows that its greatest naval strength lies in its submarines, and the navy does its best to be on par with those of the Soviet Union and United States

- Yugoslav admirals propose that the navy begin to adopt some designs from the Soviet Union, primarily with the creation of nuclear-tipped torpedoes. With access to nuclear weapons, Yugoslavia’s submarine fleet would benefit greatly from such weapons, which would give Yugoslavia an immense upper hand in future conflicts. However, some oppose this adoption, fearing that it may spark a “secondary power arms race” in the region

- Nuclear engineers begin experimenting with the possibility of creating miniaturized nuclear reactors capable of powering a ship, rather than using a large diesel/gasoline driven engine. These designs appear, at least from the outset, to be horribly expensive and downright dangerous. However, the idea is solid, and further experimentation is needed to be able to begin properly utilizing such an idea

- Women are finally allowed to officially join the Yugoslav army, stunning many of the more traditionally-minded individuals in the Yugoslav government and military. Unlike their male counterparts, however, these women are set to occupy only non-combat roles, such as communications, logistics, transport, maintenance and medical. Regardless, the propaganda possibilities are endless, and posters declaring Yugoslavia to be an “Equal and Free Nation” are plastered on almost every street corner

- Utilizing older design philosophies of things like the Williams Tube, Yugoslav computer technicians begin working on ways to make access to data within a computer faster and more reliable. YugoTek engineers test their first model of “Random Access Memory”, capable of utilizing a static cell which can both store and transfer transfer kilobytes of data that is currently in use. Paired with a strong computer, “RAM” could be a boon to research and computing for decades to come

- Electronics engineers at YugoTek unveil their latest design of computer technology, which is not just a step, but a leap forwards. The YT-500, as it is named, is a “hard-disk drive” capable of storing 4MB of data on fifty 70cm diameter discs with over 100 recording surfaces. The YT-500 is an enormously important advancement, as it allows for “permanent” storage of information on a computer, giving Yugoslav researchers an enormous foothold above their competitors

- Zambezia, with the approval of the Wang regime, sends thousands of tractors, combine harvesters, tons of fertilizer and tons of canned food to the People’s Republic of China to offset the disastrous effects of the Great Leap Forward. Aid workers are barred from entering the People’s Republic of China and are turned away from partaking in relief efforts. Many chalk this up to Wang’s continuation of a semi-isolationist policy thanks to the political upheaval in the nation

- With the war in South Africa over, the United Kingdom agrees to allow all assets of Prometheus Technology and Manufacturing in the British occupied areas to be given to both Argentina and Zambezia, parceled out fairly between the two. Zambezia employs thousands of “private contractors” to oversee the acquisition of these formerly South African factories, refineries and mines, with SABRE overtaking anything that relates to military production

- The northeastern territories of South Africa are officially under the permanent occupation of Zambezia as the peace deal sees the future division of South Africa by the victorious Commonwealth and Warsaw Pact. Unsurprisingly, these territories are in horrible condition thanks to the violent oppression of the South African government. Relief efforts flood the region to oversee the rebuilding of farmland and villages

- Elements of the Zambezian army, alongside huge numbers of volunteers, oversee the peaceful movement of populations from place to place in South Africa before the official foundation of the new countries signed in the peace deal. The Boer population resists these moves, and a joint Zambezian/British effort is needed to push them out of their homes and into the organized “Boer Free State”. Refugees are transported to Zambezia, many of whom are Boers who “have nowhere to return to”

- “Cleanup Crews” of Zambezian scientists and doctors flock to the various nuclear attack sites in South Africa to begin clearing radioactive waste and providing medical care for civilians in the area. A dark discovery is made as thousands of men and women are discovered to have perished from the resulting fallout, and thousands more are horribly burned from the attacks. Despite the tactical yield of these weapons, many are believed to be on the road to a cancer-ridden end in the not-too-distant future

- The SACU (Southern African Customs Union) is reestablished in Salisbury to once again encourage economic cooperation between the various nations in the region. Angola, Mozambique, the Congo, Swaziland and Lesotho are considered “Special Economic Areas” by the SACU, and various prices on certain goods become standard. The Cape Republic, Boer Free State and Republic of Zululand, all set to become independent at the beginning of the next year, are automatically registered as members of the SACU. With Zambezia being the strongest economy in the region, Salisbury will easily dictate the flow of trade throughout the SACU, allowing Zambezia to be both a political and economic powerhouse

- Zambezia opens up citizenship for many refugees within the various camps scattered throughout the country. Should these refugees seek citizenship, they will be given a five year “grace period” to learn enough English to pass a basic citizenship test, which involves understanding of Zambezian law, traditions and history. An overwhelming majority of the african refugees seek to move to Zambezia, knowing that they have little--if any--home to return to in South Africa

- A referendum takes place in Bechuanaland to see whether or not the citizens in the region desire full integration. Unsurprisingly, the referendum passes with 88% of the vote, and Bechuanaland is officially divided into two new states set to elect their representatives in the next election. Garfield’s calm management of Zambezia during a time of regional crisis has made both him, and the liberal party, incredibly popular

- The Zambezian government officially forms the Zambezian Citizen Corp (ZCC) in which refugees and unemployed individuals are mobilized to begin working on improving infrastructure, irrigation, electricity and construction. These workers are given a fair paycheck and basic union-like protections. The biggest aspect to the ZCC is its desegregated mentality, ensuring that white and african individuals work the same hours, the same job and for the same pay

- Priests from the Church of Zambezia flock to the various refugee camps both in Zambezia and in South Africa to begin preaching “faith over race”, stating that “racism and discrimination is not the way of Christ”. Multiple “travelling churches” follow the moving populations to hold sermons in the evenings. Unsurprisingly, the Church of Zambezia rapidly becomes more and more popular amongst the distraught and fearful, who find something to cling to in these dark times

- Knowing that the wars of the future will require rapid response, engineers at SABRE are tasked with creating something to support ground forces with heavy firepower. Using a single rotor, wide-bodied design, SABRE engineers begin testing a large helicopter with numerous hardpoints for rocket pods, extra machine guns or bombs. The Mk.I “Hornbill” is born, capable of acting as a mobile fire platform, utilizing a wide variety of weaponry to deliver death in unique ways

- Artillery has taken a new form in this world of modern war, now used for providing fire support rather than simply flattening the entire battlefield. Using a modified Churchill Mk. VII chassis, a massive 200mm gun is placed in a special carriage to be able to provide “mobile fire” for infantry. Dubbed the 200mm Mk.I Cecil, this self-propelled artillery piece is perfect for laying down shell after shell in quick succession

- With the massive success of the medical facility in Tel-Aviv, the Zion government moves to found an international organization with the sole purpose of creating easy-to-access medical facilities for the lesser off. The International Medical and Hospital Association (IMHA), with its headquarters in Tel-Aviv, will send Zion doctors to oversee the construction of hospitals and to provide care for the poor and sick overseas

- The first two health centers constructed by the IMHA are centered only a few miles outside of the refugee camps in Bechuanaland and Namibia. With the assistance of local labor, medical facilities are quickly raised to provide the most basic care, while full-scale hospitals aren’t expected to be finished until the early part of the next year. Regardless, thousands flock to begin receiving treatment for a variety of injuries. A cholera outbreak in a Namibian refugee camp is halted before it can get out of control thanks to quick-thinking medical practitioners

- A deal is struck between Zion and the occupying forces of Namibia which allows Zion state-owned mining companies to gather precious metals and resources from the region, ranging from iron and tin to copper and uranium. In return for access to these important resources, these companies will hire local labor to begin laying down pipelines for water, powerlines and roadways

- At home, the Zion government convenes with union leaders to discuss safety regulations, or lack thereof, in many factories and industrial centers throughout the country. As a result, the government moves to form form the Labor Safety and Procedures Department, which employs thousands of auditors to begin enforcing strict safety rules for workers. Unions are encouraged to blow the whistle on places that don’t follow these rules, while employers that do are given numerous monetary benefits as a result

- With the sudden interest in Zion’s numerous archaeological sites, the government officially forms the Administration of Archaeological Affairs, which essentially centralizes nearly all of the existing archaeological departments in colleges around the nation. Professors and students are encouraged to report their findings to the newly constructed headquarters in Hebron, with the intention of gathering as much information in the “Zion National Archaeological Repository”

- All current archaeological sites throughout Zion are immediately absorbed by the AAA, and foreign teams are barred from continuing their work without Zion oversight. This upsets many visitors, who find their precious work seriously disrupted, and many artifacts that would have been brought home as trophies remaining in the ZNAR instead. However, with nearly unlimited funds, the more eager researchers are happy to work in “better, safer and more properly administered excavation sites”

- Believing that there simply aren’t enough large government departments, Zion forms the National Police Oversight Administration to begin the centralization of police departments across the country. Many rural administrations are unfortunately terribly corrupt, with officers regularly being paid off to ignore criminal elements, or to actively go after innocent individuals. Though local police departments are still largely autonomous, they must report to the NPOA and adhere to its strict series of regulations

- A new tax program is put in place, following in the footsteps of the French. Married couples with children receive a sliding scale of reduced taxes and increased grants for each child born, which can reach up to a jaw-dropping 50% tax cut. This will lead to a massive population boom over the coming years, and this reform ignores income, encouraging all levels of society to “grow their families for a brighter and better future”. Elementary schools brace for impact

- Electronics engineers continue building up Zion’s electric grid, finally implementing enough junctions to power the more rural regions in the southwest. Though by no means as electrified as cities like Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, these regions now have much-needed street lights during the nighttime, and powered water pumping stations. With the de-desertification programs still going on, these pumping stations are a boon to these small farming communities

- Zion’s military conducts numerous exercises in preparation for warfare “against a larger enemy”. With the world turning its eyes to “Atlantis”, there are many in Zion’s high command that fear the possibility of Egypt pouncing on Zion, or worse, another war sparking up between the arab world and the small jewish state. Most of these exercises focus on small unit tactics, primarily on finding ways to lead enemy troops into a trap to be surrounded and picked apart by almost guerilla-styled fighters

- As the de-desertification program enters a new chapter, industrial engineers are tasked with improving irrigation in these “reclaimed” areas to provide as much water as possible to the regularly drought-stricken region. New designs are presented, utilizing electronically-driven pumps to draw water from reservoirs and distribute it beneath the surface of the earth, essentially creating artificial aquifers. This will take a couple years to properly affect the environment, but it may well present enough of a change to begin making these regions arable again

- Using a high-powered, turbocharged engine, the Zion air force begins testing an interceptor with a mind bogglingly high service ceiling, paired with a sustained speed of mach 0.8. The P-54 “Harpy” is an incredibly versatile high-altitude interceptor and pursuit craft with incredible long range capabilities. Though terrible for dogfighting, the P-54 could easily be strapped with air-to-air missiles or an air-to-ground package

 

[Zillamaster55]

A “Flying Saucer” seen over the mountains of southern Germany

They came without warning. Without fanfare. Without caution.

On the eve of the 28th of December, 1954, millions of people spill into to the streets, looking up towards the sky. There, hovering over thousands of cities across the globe, are enormous disc-shaped craft. Silently, they stare down at the onlookers below.

Air forces are scrambled while politicians, scientists and religious leaders rush to be able to greet these sudden arrivals. Some leaders have one hand grasping an olive branch, while the other holds the big red button just behind their back.

A broadcast is sent worldwide in a garbled, bastardized form of morse code. All radio and television transmissions shudder as the craft “hijack” the waves to bring forth their message, which is decoded after but an hour of its airing.

“We are the Zeta. We are not of your world. We are not of your kind. We are here to study, and to observe.

The structure in your central ocean has made us wary of your true technological prowess.

What is it. What does it do. Why do you have it now.

We are the Zeta. We are revealed. We will no longer hide.

We have come.”

 

[Zillamaster55]

Turn 16
January - June, 1955
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World Tension is HOT
World Economy is STABLE

World Events
- An armed rebellion begins in Angola, clearly inspired by the success of the People’s African Army. These rebels, demanding an independent, locally-ruled Angola, conduct numerous raids on Portuguese military outposts and settlements, retreating into the outbacks once they come under threat. Portugal declares this rebellion to be “foreign interference and fiddling”, and calls for aid from France, who gladly sends soldiers to assist. This war may last years, or possibly decades

- The crisis in the Basqueland reaches a new level as Basque rebels overwhelm troops stationed in Bilbao. Spanish soldiers are becoming increasingly unwilling to continue the war efforts in the northeast, and the commanding officers of the base chose to evacuate rather than risk taking irreplaceable losses. As a result, the largest city in the region has been captured, and Franco is busy trying to break the “diplomatic siege” of the EEC

- In eastern Africa, the United Kingdom exits the region by creating a new multi-state member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The East African Federation, headed by an independently elected parliament, takes up much of Britain’s east-African colonies. Areas such as Somalia, Sudan and Britain’s colonies in the West will remain under direct colonial control, but many predict that this will not last long

- The United Kingdom also relinquishes its control over Yemen, stating that the political, religious and linguistic divisions within the territory have become “too difficult” for the British to maintain direct control over. As a result, these territories are given to Yemen in return for access to the nation’s ports. Almost immediately, however, a group of students attempt to overthrow the regional governor of these newly acquired territories, declaring the independent “Republic of South Arabia”, which declares war on the existing state of Yemen

- A number of new nations arise from the radioactive ashes of South Africa. Having struck a deal with the Soviets, the British retain control over the “Republic of the Cape”, while the Soviets have their own ally in the “Democratic Republic of Namibia”. Meanwhile, the Boer population finds itself in the “Boer Free State”, a white-majority province in the center of the remnants, while natives from across the region are given free access to the “Republic of the Zululand”, an african-only nation in the southeast, both of these states remaining diplomatically neutral

- Hundreds of Zeta craft move harmlessly through the lower atmosphere and above the major cities of Earth, with the crews of the vessels occasionally entering “conversation” with human governments. A couple close calls are made as French interceptors get surprisingly close to a Zeta craft, while a Brazilian interceptor suffers a fuel leak that is almost misinterpreted as a missile contrail. Luckily, the Zeta seem entirely unconvinced that anyone means them harm, at least for now

- The United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom and France begin setting up “permanent residence” on the “tips” of Atlantis as more and more research is done into the structure’s history and physical composition. With the arrival of the Zeta, and the discovery that the two are unconnected, many nations rush to try and gather as much information as possible for a variety of reasons. As a response, Argentina expands its military occupation of the southern “arm”

- Zambezian officials meet in Buenos Aires to begin drafting an agreement between SHAMN and Zambezia, which ends with Zambezia becoming an official participant in the alliance. With this, Zambezia now has military allies far overseas, allowing Zambezia to diversify its international relations while also securing research and equipment deals with Argentina and Bolivia. Zambezia attempts to encourage the post-war states of South Africa to join SHAMN, but most politely deny the offer

- Juan Perón makes a public statement at the United Nations, making his position on the “Zeta” quite clear. In a fiery speech, Perón says that “Any Zeta ship that dares enter Argentina’s airspace unannounced or uninvited will be met with all applicable force!”. There are some at the UN that applaud his measures, such as Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, while many others are taken aback at Argentina’s sudden willingness to fire upon total strangers

- With the sudden arrival of the Zeta, Juan Perón places the nation once again on high alert. Circling the proverbial wagons, Perón begins to recall thousands of Argentinians from areas where the Zeta are most present, which is primarily the United States and western Europe. Argentina activates its air force to begin near-constant aerial patrols, and citizens are encouraged to report any and all sightings of the Zeta and their craft

- Argentina’s navy is sent out to protect the nation’s assets in Atlantis as a huge number of researchers flock to the structure to begin collecting as much information as possible, further expanding Argentina’s hold on the southern “arm”. Some lodge diplomatic complaints in the United Nations, stating that Atlantis should be treated as a “UN controlled zone”, and that direct military occupation has “no place”. Perón ignores their pleas and sends as many assets as humanly possible

- In a stunning display of presidential authority, Perón declares a nationwide “State of Political and Diplomatic Urgency”, and begins spending large portions of this year’s public spending budget on the creation of shelters, hospitals and most importantly, propaganda stations. Radio and television broadcasts praising Argentina’s military, honoring the members of SHAMN, and finally decrying the “authoritarian influences” of the United States and United Kingdom

- Taxes are raised in order to fund these new constructions, and Perón is finally forced to raise taxes on the lower classes to help reduce the nation’s deficit. As Perón has spent nearly a decade in office, bringing Argentina up from the muddy waters of pitiful administrations and incompetent presidents, his popularity is higher than any Argentinian leader before him. With this popularity and public support, Peron’s tax measures go off without a hitch

- Political freedoms in Argentina are rolled back as the government begins to crack down on “dissidents and anti-patriotic movements”. Much of the remaining opposition leaders are thrown in jail after kangaroo courts thanks to their unfortunate affiliation with those that aren’t Perón and his allies. The few public protests against these moves are whipped into shape by rapid police responses that are aided by pro-Perón civilians. Essentially, come hell or high water, Perón is in total control over the nation

- All eyes are on the skies as the Argentinian air force keeps its patrols running day and night. Radar stations are stuffed to the gills with operators, who are to report on any blip, piece of dust, or squeak that seems out of the ordinary. A number of Zeta craft are spotted just out of reach of Argentina’s airspace, clearly either teasing the FAA or legitimately trying to respect Perón’s demands. Either way, Argentinian jets regularly keep pace with Zeta “flying saucers”

- The Argentine navy reports numerous sightings of Zeta aircraft over the Atlantic ocean, though none actively “stop” to observe human oceangoing vessels, and simply pass over them at high altitudes and low speed. Interceptors from the Belgrano are sent to tail them, which proves paltry due to the fact that the Zeta show insane speeds and easily outrun any pursuing jet aircraft. This deeply concerns many in Argentina’s high command

- Argentine military engineers begin seeing the importance of submarine-to-submarine warfare, noting that the effectiveness of German submarines in World War II was stopped primarily by surface vessels. Instead of relying on the precious surface fleet, Argentina will instead utilize a prow-mounted sonar with a unique adaptation. Using a “dish”, the sonar is capable of sending out a bone-shatteringly loud ping directed at an enemy target, capable of literally liquifying the enemy crew. The largest drawback is that the attacker must approach the target at a considerably close range, making many of Argentina’s submarine crews hesitant to use this new weapon

- Citing the Zeta as a serious threat to Argentina’s sovereignty, engineers are tasked with creating a defense system capable of shooting down enemy aircraft that get too close. Mimicking designs by the major powers of Europe, a large array of missiles are placed on a launching platform. Rather than using one or two radar guided missiles, this “Colmena” (Beehive) system launches up to twenty guided rockets that sacrifice accuracy and payload for speed. If aimed properly, this “swarm of rockets” could possibly intercept and destroy a Zeta craft, and would almost certainly break up bomber formations with little issue

- Zeta “flying saucers” pass harmlessly over Germany, taking time to hover over major cities such as Munich, Cologne and Frankfurt before moving on. Jets are scrambled to tail them, but the German government does everything it can to notify the Zeta that these planes are purely for observation. The attempts to follow are futile as the Zeta accelerate to Mach 20 in less than a second, hilariously outrunning the German pilots who become annoyed with “wastes of time on giant dinner plates”

- Italy, despite also being in NATO with West Germany, begins to distance itself from France by reducing its military tributes to the European Defense Community. As a result, Italy instead begins to tie itself closer to West Germany, seeing that the western powers such as France and the United States have a “violent, expansionist attitude” towards those that don’t follow their ideological demands

- Cooperatives in northwestern Germany are examined once again in order to discover the reasons of their failures. One of the largest drawbacks to these cooperatives is the fact that the cooperatives themselves had no real oversight. Instead, the German government forms the "Deutscher Ausschuss für Genossenschaftliche Aufsicht" (German Cooperative Oversight Committee/DAGA) with the sole purpose of ensuring that cooperatives are properly administered while also remaining in the control of the workers themselves

- The last few dollars of the Marshall Plan aid are spent on finishing up the integration of infrastructure in West Germany and Austria, while also expanding some areas with ElectRail and highway systems. Many of the workers that helped in the construction return home with a decent paycheck, as well as a letter of recommendation to employers across the country. As a result of this government program, the populace of Germany is ready to march into a brighter and better future

- Josef Müller, former prime minister of Bavaria, continues to try and rally the CDU and its affiliates in the more rural regions of Germany, as well as trying to pull more Catholic voters to the polls in future elections. The SP does its best to try and prevent Müller’s efforts from gaining any traction, but overt interference could lead to a severe blow to popularity. Instead, the SP ramps up their own propaganda campaign, pushing for the adoption of unionized workplaces nationwide and communes in areas of farming

- The German government opens yet another publicly funded committee, this time known as the "Nationale Gesundheitskommission" (National Healthcare Commission/NG). The NG focuses on bringing together heads of the healthcare industry as well as doctors, hospital directors and medical researchers to help oversee the proper implementation of the public healthcare system by prioritizing certain regions for expansion, others for drawing back, and others for nationalizing large clinics or hospitals

- Thousands of students hold a demonstration in Frankfurt demanding that the Federal Republic of Germany begin talks with the Soviet Union and East German officials to begin “integrating the German people”. Many members of the ruling Solidarity Party hold similar beliefs, and pressure their comrades in office to begin making these moves. However, this demonstration is met with a counterprotest in the south as Catholics gather to discourage “further atheist influence in Germany”

- A full scale travel ban is put in place to “Atlantis” for any civilians from Germany that are not authorized by the German government to partake in the expeditions. As there are thousands of history, geology and physics students clamoring to be able to make their way to the structure, the German government is forced to track private flights in and out of Germany. Regardless of their efforts, however, many adventurous Germans manage to sneak their own vessels or aircraft towards Atlantis to be able to snap photos or outright land at the structure

- As a result of these measures, the German government also lays out numerous “safe flight paths” that actively avoid Atlantis, with many planes being redirected to southern Europe and western Africa in order to go around the structure as much as possible. German submarines, though few in number, go along shipping routes to interdict German vessels by surfacing and warning the crew to avoid Atlantis, but there is little they can do in the way of actually stopping them

- Kevlar, the recently developed body armor for the Bundeswehr, is finally implemented for the common soldier. Using a hefty metal “trauma plate” in the chest that is surrounded by the armor, soldiers are able to withstand most handgun rounds and some weaker rifle rounds, as well as absorb shrapnel without risking their lungs or guts. Many soldiers appreciate the added armor, though some are still complaining about its discomfort, though war is hell and they don’t have much of a choice

- German electronics engineers at the Graz University of Technology unveil their latest battery design. These palm sized batteries, capable of powering radios, cameras and kickstarting car engines, are a major leap forward due to their capability of being “recharged”. These batteries can be plugged into a larger power source and be given a full charge over the course of a few hours. Though sluggish to receive this “replacement power”, these batteries can be reused dozens of times, significantly saving on weight and material costs

- “Deep Front” and “Bite and Hold” tactics are put to the test along the western borders of Germany as the country pulls itself away from the west more and more. Essentially mimicking the massive fortifications of Yugoslavia, Germany begins creating “soft bunkers” out of dirt and sand surrounding a concrete center, making these bunkers hard to spot and even harder to assault due to their capability to remain unseen from the air

- After an hours long meeting in Zagreb, Khrushchev and Tito come to a final agreement regarding the unification of Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, including other nations in the region. So long as the nations involved remain in the Soviet-Yugoslav Treaty, Khrushchev will “fully allow” the creation of a Balkan Federation. This will undoubtedly help in drawing the two nations closer together than ever, with the Soviets gaining a strong buffer state in the soft underbelly of the mediterranean

- Khrushchev, with the help of information gathered by the United States, greets a “flying saucer” of the Zeta in Moscow, with the huge craft hovering over the streets of Red Square. A bright white beam of light hits the ground for a few seconds, revealing the wide-eyed, gray skinned operators of the machine. A handshake later, alongside publicity photos, the Soviet Union announces a “Treaty of Interplanetary Friendship” with the Zeta, who are pleased to be met with such open arms

- In the central plains of Kazakhstan, near one of the many Soviet “cosmodromes”, the Soviet military prepares a facility to house the Zeta and their craft for “study and mutual research agreements”. The Zeta are presented with computing devices, rocket engines and even Sputnik, which are squirreled away into the saucers as the Zeta devour as much information as possible. It appears that, at least at the moment, the Soviet Union are “An Alien’s Best Friend”

- A series of huge, ocean going barges alongside numerous naval vessels set for scrapping are sent to the eastern part of Atlantis to create "Стремление" (Stremleniye) [Aspiration]. Aspiration acts as a helicopter and dinghy launching platform, as well as a temporary base of operations for Warsaw Pact scientists. The Soviets send a small contingent of armed troops to ensure the safety of all researchers, as well as keep any secrets hidden from the prying eyes of the west

- The Soviet Union begins a domestic campaign to “do away with drunkenness” by spending a huge amount of money on leaflets, propaganda videos and “educational reinforcement” to help combat alcoholism in the USSR. Factories, farms and everyday life suffers from rampant alcoholism as many adults cling to the bottle as means of dealing with the harshness of the losses in the Great Patriotic War. This campaign will take years, as many addicts turn to the black market, which makes it even harder for the police to continue the crackdown

- Despite this, the Soviet Union enters what many consider the “Soviet Golden Age”. With the average person having more purchasing power than ever, and much of the country connected with telephones, televisions and railways, the USSR sits atop a pile of allies and friends across the world. Khrushchev uses this to great effect to drum up patriotism and keep the people of the USSR happy and excited for the years ahead

- The air force and air defense forces are placed on high alert, keeping their eyes to the sky and making sure that the Zeta aren’t the only craft that enter Soviet airspace. Some in military high command are still suspicious of the Zeta and their intentions, and elect to keep patrols running at all times. These patrols are made up mainly of airborne radar and high altitude interceptors that keep their distance from the Zeta, but only enough to avoid possible conflict

- Civilian flights across the board are grounded “indefinitely”, with the only planes able to leave airports being those for critical government use. Even then, many government officials and visiting diplomats are encouraged to use Soviet high speed rail to reach their destinations, rather than having to risk anything with air travel. Many travellers to and from the Warsaw Pact find their travel plans completely scrapped, which no doubt upsets those wanting to see the sights of the Hero Cities

- Soldiers of the BYOS are sent to Atlantis to assist with Aspiration, thanks to their hazardous environment training and status as elite soldiers of the USSR. Though only numbering around 500 men, these soldiers act as much needed protection for the scientists of the Warsaw Pact stationed on Atlantis, and even partake in studies themselves as the soldiers have inadvertently become students of chemistry and radiology thanks to their training regimens and protective gear

- A joint exercise takes place between the Soviet Union and members of the Warsaw Pact. Various fighter and bomber regiments are designated as “Aggressors”, while the others are “Defenders”, and both sides are tasked with conducting various missions to simulate an aerial assault against the Soviet Union and its allies. Paired with minor ground exercises, these drills not only make the pilots of the Warsaw Pact sharper and more prepared, but shows the sheer military prowess of the “Red Bear”

- Aircraft engineers at Mikoyan-Gurevich, tasked with creating a “better, faster, heartier fighter” begin testing their latest design. The latest in supersonic fighters, the MiG-21 proves to be an incredibly nimble fighter in testing, and is capable of mounting a variety of wing-mounted weapons, including deadly air-to-air missiles. One of the greatest strengths of the MiG-21 is its combination of supersonic speed and an incredibly high service ceiling, allowing the MiG-21 to intercept anything that the west can throw at them

- Nuclear scientists working with the Soviet navy begin testing a significant breakthrough in nuclear energy technology. Using pumped seawater in order to act as coolant, as well as using more robust building materials, a missile-capable submarine has its standard fuel replaced with a “miniaturized” nuclear reactor. This new source of power allows the submarines to operate at farther ranges for more than a decade at a time without the need to refuel, giving the Soviets a massive upper hand in the oceanic theaters of a possible world war

- After an hours long meeting in Zagreb, Khrushchev and Tito come to a final agreement regarding the unification of Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, including other nations in the region. So long as the nations involved remain in the Soviet-Yugoslav Treaty, Khrushchev will “fully allow” the creation of a Balkan Federation. Parades are held across Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, rejoicing at the news, while Romania’s government begins to warm to the possibility of joining the federation in the future

- A trade agreement is struck between Yugoslavia and the People’s Republic of China. In exchange for rice shipments, as well as precious rare earth metals recently discovered in China’s rural regions, Yugoslavia will send important industrial advancements in the form of both equipment and management theories. The PRC gladly accepts this trade deal, though the rice shipments are disappointingly small due to the desperate rush of the Chinese government to overcome the man made famine of the previous year

- Yugoslavia and Zion, in a joint operation in central Bosnia, launch “Putnik” (Traveller), a small satellite similar to the Soviet and American designs, though its weight is significantly reduced to save on fuel. Putnik reaches the upper atmosphere after a few minutes after liftoff, and successfully enters low Earth orbit only a few minutes later. A massive celebration is held in both Belgrade and Jerusalem as both countries congratulate one another on their efforts in the program

- An official roadmap is made for the coming annexation of Bulgaria and the formation of the Balkan Federation, with Yugoslavia’s neighbor set to join in early July of this year. At the current moment, both nations scurry to begin working as hard as they can to bring Bulgaria’s industrial strength up to Yugoslav standards, as well as begin unifying government and military personnel as much as possible

- With Yugoslavia finally on track to annex Bulgaria, Tito immediately begins sending a huge number of government advisors and engineers to begin working on improving Bulgaria’s infrastructure, primarily focusing on expanding Bulgaria’s road and rail systems, bringing them up to the standards of Yugoslavia. Other areas, such as the electric grid and telecommunications are woefully behind Yugoslavia, which will be a major pain come the unification

- Yugoslav engineers working alongside Bulgarian industrial heads seek ways to properly streamline Bulgaria’s ailing industrial capacity by introducing better management systems and new equipment. Much of Bulgaria’s industrial power focuses either on the production of military equipment or consumer goods, which has hampered them significantly in comparison to Yugoslavia. However, these factories will undoubtedly provide some relief to Yugoslavia’s existing consumer goods industry, allowing more diverse production

- Mika Špiljak, a close ally of Tito’s and a veteran of the war against the Nazi occupiers, begins taking minor administrative powers in order to put his skills to the test. Tito seeks to give Špiljak a more permanent position in Yugoslavia’s government, leading to rumors that Tito may indeed be tapping Špiljak to act as an “heir” in the unlikely event of Tito passing at an inopportune time. Some comparisons are made to Malenkov, who was believed to succeed Stalin, only to be passed over at the last second, though this seems unfounded

- YugoTek, having taken in the precious shipments of rare earth metals begins running dozens and dozens of tests to try and find the most effective implementations of these new goods, while also trying to improve existing computing technology. China may soon become a crucial trade partner as it appears the Chinese government is tripping over rare earth metals, something that the growing electronics industry of the world seems to have an unquenchable thirst for

- With Bulgaria’s military soon to be under the control of Yugoslavia, a program of “fair integration” takes place. Roughly half of Bulgaria’s army is divvied up and sent to existing Yugoslav divisions in order to both bolster Yugoslavia’s standing army while also encouraging “friendship and loyalty”. Thanks to existing cultural integration programs, the Yugoslav military takes on many of these soldiers with ease, and is more than prepared to absorb the rest

- Roughly a dozen destroyers, equipped with the latest in ship-to-ship missiles begin construction. By the summer of 1955, the Yugoslav navy hopes to introduce these new destroyers in order to replace the older ones, which will take a “back seat” and act primarily as anti-submarine defense platforms. With the small carrier, missile cruisers and a host of submarines and destroyers, Yugoslavia’s navy has rapidly advanced from coastal defense to a legitimate open-ocean fighting force

- Electronics researchers at YugoTek begin working on ways to more easily distribute information and calculations gathered by computers. A breakthrough is made as students from a number of technical universities unveil a device capable of recording the information on paper. Dubbed an “Elektronički Tipograf” (Electronic Typographer), or more simply a “printer”, this mechanical device uses an automated set of ink-laden tabs to put down important calculations on paper, which can be copied and distributed outside of the facility with ease

- With the help of Zion electronics and space engineers, Yugoslav technicians begin working on creating a “radio telescope”, a massive radar-like device capable of recording radio waves from space. The initial designs immediately pick up on the garbled transmissions of the Zeta, who begin to converse with Yugoslav scientists. The Zeta are fascinated with the “rapid advance of the ‘Yegoslag’” and take particular interest in the radio telescope’s design and capabilities

- A delegation is sent to contact the Zeta as the Zambezian government officially declassifies its attempts to destroy Zeta craft a few years ago. In an attempt to keep the peace with the Zeta, a large swathe of central Botswana is offered to create a possible temporary “base” for the Zeta to visit Zambezia. The Zeta refuse the offer, but publicly acknowledge the apologies, and promise to avoid causing “issues with relations” between the two polities

- Zambezian officials meet in Buenos Aires to begin drafting an agreement between SHAMN and Zambezia, which ends with Zambezia becoming an official participant in the alliance. With this, Zambezia now has military allies far overseas, allowing Zambezia to diversify its international relations while also securing research and equipment deals with Argentina and Bolivia. Zambezia attempts to encourage the post-war states of South Africa to join SHAMN, but most politely deny the offer

- Portugal, a member of NATO and the European Defence Coalition, officially signs a defensive agreement with Zambezia in order to “protect their assets from the growing threat of communism”. Almost immediately after signing this agreement, rebellious forces rise up against the Portuguese government in Angola, prompting an immediate Franco-Portuguese response. Zambezia has not been officially asked to participate in the fighting, and some in Zambezia’s military press the government to avoid such a conflict

- Economic, military and political advisors are sent to the Boer Free State, Cape and Zululand to try and help administer the new nations’ governments by bringing them up to speed on recent industrial advancements, as well as try to help rebuild from the devastating war. Zululand is the most appreciative of the help, as much of their population is made up of refugees and those without homes to return to in places like Cape or the Boer Free State

- The ZCC flocks to the newly acquired territories in the southeast to begin looking into ways to improve the heavily damaged infrastructure and essentially non-existent electrical grid. These regions, having suffered terribly from mismanagement by the South African government and near total destruction during the war, are a major thorn in the side of Zambezia’s otherwise industrialized and centralized nature

- The southern territories undergo significant restructuring as hundreds of damaged civil facilities are simply torn down and slated for reconstruction. Church-based humanitarian groups are tasked with helping the poor and needy in these regions, providing much needed food, water and medicine to the local communities. Foreign aid groups arrive as well, helping to offset the load placed on the Zambezian government even more

- Despite the issues with these newly acquired territories, the Zambezian government fastracks their integration, alongside with Botswana, to officially designate them as provinces within Zambezia. Polling places are hastily elected, and individuals eligible for public office are encouraged to run in order to help govern these new regions. Unsurprisingly, the liberals sweep these elections with ease, as the conservatives fail to gain a single vote in the southeastern territories

- Zambezia officially draws down its military readiness somewhat by disbanding the thousands of reservists that were called up during the conflict in South Africa, allowing them to return home to their families with a nice stipend for their service. However, the military does dangle better benefits for reservists who choose to remain in the Zambezian military, and many of the lower-class africans choose to stay in the armed forces for the time being

- All units that are still standing, however, are moved to patrol the large border with Namibia. Despite the relatively calm relations between Zambezia and the Warsaw Pact, the sudden creation of an ideologically hostile neighbor causes great concern amongst the Zambezian government, who moves to keep an eye on any potential dangerous element coming over the border. Namibia responds to this by setting up military outposts along the border regions, keeping a close watch on Zambezia’s troops

- SABRE is placed into full overdrive, tasked with providing enough weaponry and equipment to bring Zambezia up to the standards of most European countries. Thanks to technology captured from South African armories, as well as receiving PTM surplus from Argentina, Zambezia’s military enjoys the latest in tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters and small arms. Much of the older equipment is placed into storage, or used for training reservists during weekend drills

- Zambezian military engineers begin experimenting with ways to mimic the West German body armor known as kevlar. Using similar designs, the Zambezian version forgoes the trauma plate for simply extra layers of the material in order to cut down on weight. Thanks to the hot sun of southern Africa, the Zambezian military knows all too well what happens to overencumbered soldiers in the heat. Though not as strong as the German version, this will still give soldiers protection from most handgun rounds and some shrapnel