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Fiction > Backstab's Fiction
Black Eagle - Teaser
backstab:
Ponta Delgada, Azores
0630hrs 12 Aug 2019
Bravo Company (Remnents), 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment
Sergeant McDonald squatted down and reached for the pack of cigarettes in one of his pouches. He lit it and as he drew the smoke into his lungs, McDonald looked out at the town below. Smoke still rose from several locations close by and not more that a hundred meters, he could make out the still smouldering hulk of a tilt rotor transport. As he pondered the events of the night, he became aware of someone walking towards him. McDonald took a few more drags, stubbed the cigarette out in the gravel at his feet and then rose up.
His visitor was just his Platoon Commander.
“How you holding up McDonald?” the young officer asked
“Yea….. I’ll live, Sir. How about you?” he replied
The Platoon Commander walked a few paces in front of him and gazed out into the bay.
“That was my first action. This smeg will haunt me forever.”
McDonald walked up to him.
“Sir, you did well. We should have kicked their asses. We out numbered them and we were in a defensive position but they still managed to smash us and break into the research lab.”
The Platoon Commander adjusted the bandage on his arm and turned to face McDonald.
“I was just talking to the US Marine Intelligence team; it seems that the Yank Navy sunk nearly all their ships, including their only carrier, but they lost most of their aircraft in the process. It seems that we were not the only ones to under estimate them.”
McDonald shook his head.
“How the frakk do we fight against the smeg they have. They walked right past our thermal sensors; their Tilt Rotors did not even show up on the Airport radar and caseless ammunition. I thought that stuff was useless…. cooked off in the chamber.”
“They used special thermal dampened suits, only a few of them and the Tilt Rotors, well Intel thinks that they don’t have any more left…. used them all being experimental and all.”
Both men stood in silence for a few minutes watching a USMC Amphibious Assault ship disgorging its cargo at the docks.
“What was so important in this smeg hole that they had to send us here to guard some duckweed geeks?” McDonald asked
“I over heard some of the surviving scientists mention Trans-Newton Physics and how it will change the world. What ever it was, those goons were willing to risk war with us and the Americans to get their hands on it. They lost most of their naval power, their best commando force”
In the distance, automatic fire broke out along with several small explosions. The Platoon Commanders headset buzzed to life.
“It looks like the local cops have cornered a bunch of stragglers in a warehouse. They’ve asked for assistance.” The officer said
“frakk ‘em, let the marines take care of it” said McDonald as he walked back towards the compound.
backstab:
43-45 The War
Some time shortly after Germany’s victory at Kharkov, Hitler’s transport plane crashes in East Prussia. Hitler survives but is comatose and Goering takes charge until the Fuhrer recovers. Goering leaves Military Strategy to the OKW and concentrates on the Political aspects of running Germany. This enables Von Manstein to propose a daring action for the summer nicknamed the "backhand blow". By using elastic defence, Von Manstein intends to bleed the Soviet offensive and then counterattack pinning large formations against the Sea of Asov at Rostov. Goering and the OKW approve the plan.
By the end of May, the Soviet summer offensive in the Ukraine is defeated by the “Backhand Blow”. The German Army continues to give up ground while destroying large concentrations of Soviet troops. Near the end of June, Hitler recovers and takes back the leadership. Goering and the OKW expect retubution for disregarding Hitler’s ‘Not one step back’ orders but find that he is unconcerned. Over the next few weeks, Hitler’s Staff notice a change in character, gone are the rages and temper tantrums. Hitler becomes more reclusive and distant. By the end of June, Stalin collapses and dies from a stroke. Beira takes control and is convinced that the only hope for the Soviet Union is negotiating a separate peace with Germany. Beira offers Hitler a separate peace for a return to the ’39 border. Hitler surprises everyone by accepting the deal. This separate peace enables the Germans to redeploy forces from the east to shore up the defence of Europe and Mainland Italy. The Allies launch Operation Husky and manage to clear Sicily of Axis forces. The Allies hope that this victory would topple Mussolini’s regime but with the war against the Soviet Union finished and German reinforcements arriving, the Italian Fascists remain in control. The Allies attempt to land in mainland Italy but the beach head is quickly contained and destroyed.
When the final Axis troops leave Russia, Beira begins a bit of house cleaning by purging the Party and Military of any Stalinists and other parties that could possibly threaten his position. By the time of D-Day, the Western Allies are faced not with hastily raised Garrisoned Formations but Eastern Front Veterans. Over the next few months the Western Allies suffer horrendous casualties and by the beginning of 1945, most of France had been liberated but at unacceptable casualties. Hitler suffered a heart attack; most probably a result of his earlier accident and Goering assumes power. Still facing a war with Japan, the United States began to loose heart and suggested it is time to cut their losses and end the conflict with Germany now that Hitler is dead.
When the Western Allies approached Germany with a Peace deal, Goering agrees and after a few weeks of negotiation the war officially ends in May 1945. Germany agrees to withdraw from Greece, Belgium and the Netherlands for the allies’ recognition of the Fascist Governments in Norway, Denmark and Croatia/Serbia. While the Axis forces concentrate on destroying the last elements of Polish and Yugoslavian resistance, the Western Allies shift their priorities to deal with Japan.
While the Western Allies negotiate with Germany, Japan realizes it will not be long before the full weight of the US and Britain will bear down on their shoulders. The Japanese decide that the war with the Chinese is drawing off too much of their Army and in a shock move, Japan withdraws from China. Japan began to fortify the Home Islands and their holdings in Korea leaving their puppet ally, Manchukuo, to face a vengeful China.
Operation Downfall began in late October. The US was not prepared for the fanatical resistance put up by the Japanese Military as well as civilians. After the fist few weeks, Allied casualties grew out of proportion to the territory they captured. Appalled by the slaughter, the American public began to protest against the war. Not willing to sustain the losses to force Japan’s surrender, the Allies agreed to a peace with Japan.
50’s Early Post War
During the years after the war, most of Europe and Asia began the massive task of rebuilding their shattered infrastructure and Industry. France, struggling under the debt of rebuilding, cut away most of their colonial holdings in Africa and Indochina enabling them to concentrate on continental France. Britain, on the other hand, held onto their colonial empire which ignited Arab nationalism in the Middle East and ethnic troubles in India. After an abortive attempt to regain control of the Suez Canal, Britain began the process of decolonization and granted independence to the majority of their colonies under pressure from the United States. Brazil had supported the Allied war effort during WW2 and was rewarded by an influx of US and British investment and trade. This favouritism caused other South American Nations to resent Brazil’s special attention and many began to follow Argentina’s lead by opening up trade with Germany and other members of the Axis Block in Europe. The Soviet Union, still overcoming the effects of Beira’s purges, began to influence communist groups within western India. During this time, the US detonates the first atomic bomb closely followed by Germany.
60’s-70’s Mutually Assured Destruction
The early sixties saw the Soviet Union support the newly created nation of Pakistan against India as well as assisting Afghanistan in setting up a Communist Government. The United States intervened in the1965 Cuban civil war to ensure that the Communist backed insurgency would fail. After 8 years of low intensity conflict, American troops withdrew from Cuba leaving behind a stable Democratic Government. A border dispute between China and Japanese Korea devolved into a 4 week war which showed the world that Japan was still a strong power to contend with by defeating the Chinese invasion and forcing them back over the border. The Japanese intended to go further until the US threatened to intervene. Germany and the United States began to mass produce nuclear weapons in an attempt to gain an edge in any future war. Soviet spies manage to steal information from both the United States and Germany enabling them to develop atomic weapons. To counter the growing threat of the Axis Block, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium and Greece form the West European Union. By the end of the 70’s a three way cold war between Germany, the United States and the Soviet Union was in force with all sides attempting to spread their ideology in South and Central America as well as Africa. In 1978, a Communist coup in Panama forced the United States to invade and annex the strategically important nation, protecting it against any further changes in Government. Franco of Nationalist Spain dies and the first Democratic election is held. By the end of the year, Spain is admitted into the Western European Union.
80’s
The early 80’s sees Japan develop nuclear weapons and join the Nuclear Club. This development scares may South East Asian nations and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is borne, at first this is nothing but an economic and military alliance but as Japan’s and China’s strength grows, a full federation is agreed and the Federation of South East Asian Nations is enacted by 1990. South Africa withdraws from the Commonwealth and absorbs Zambia and Rhodesia. Mozambique and Angola, abandoned by the Portuguese and threatened by communist insurgents agree to form the Southern African Confederation with South Africa. Brazil, infuriated by Anti Brazilian propaganda and Venezuelan refusal to stop pro fascist insurgents from crossing the border, invades. Other Hispanic South American Nations condemn Brazil’s actions and soon Argentina crosses the Border into Brazil.
Brazil strikes back at Argentina and defeats the invasion force, facing defeat, Argentina’s Fascist Government asks Germany for Assistance and by the end of the week the first German volunteers arrive in Argentina. The “Condor Legion” as it becomes known as, is thrown into battle against the Brazilians and soon turns the tide of battle in favour of the Fascists. Fearing a Brazilian collapse, The United States and the Commonwealth send forces to defend Brazilian territory and for the first time since WW2, US/Commonwealth troops face off against German forces. After a few clashes, the US and Germany both hold talks with hoping to avoid a world war. Both sides agree to reign in their respective sides and a peace plan is agreed on. Germany lends clandestine assistance to Argentina which leads to their first atomic test in Dec 1988. Brazil manages to develop nuclear weapons without assistance by early 89.
90’s
During early 91 Otto Leuenberger, a Swiss Mineralogist, discovers eleven previously uncategorized mineral substances in a meteor fragment in the Alps. After a few years of study, it is found that the newly discovered minerals reside deep in the core of the planet. Several little known scientific bodies theorize possible uses for the minerals that could lead to development of another branch of mechanics. To complement Classical and Quantum Mechanics, the theory of Trans-Newton Mechanics would, if developed, change the very perception of the other branches. Most reputable institutions distanced themselves from such “Fringe Science” and left it to the crack pots.
As the western world argued the feasibility of what was proposed, central Africa experienced one of the worst recorded famines that claimed millions of lives. The South African Confederation was spared such hardship and used the chaos in the affected states as an excuse to expand their Confederation. At first, the SAC arrived with genuine aid, helping the worst affected states through. Then the SAC used its new found popularity to coherse these states into joining the Confederation. The SAC changed its name to the Pan African Confederation to give the illusion of a united African super state like the Western European Union.
It was also during these times that the Arab nations of North Africa and the Middle East finally solved their problem with Islamic extremism. The methods they chose to use were examples from the German occupation of the Balkans with brutal reprisals, kidnappings, murder and torture commonplace but by 2000 extremism was stamped out and the long envisioned goal of a united Arabic superpower came into being.
2000’s
The three way cold war was beginning to show its cracks. With its massive nuclear stockpile as well as huge technologically superior Army, the German Reich’s economy began to slide into recession. The Soviet Union began to step up its support of Communist insurgents in Central America forcing the United States to continuously react to small uprisings that could potentially threaten the Panama Canal. These constant deployments and operations began taking its toll on the moral of US Serviceman and began to break the bank of the Soviet Union.
2019 .... The End of Our Times
The breakthrough into Trans Newton Mechanics would not happen in one of the Super powers but in the independent nation of the Azores. The Azores Islands were given independence by Portugal at the conclusion of the Second World War. The Azores perused a strict policy of Neutrality to the point where it had no military except a police force. This neutrality made it a popular tax haven for researchers perusing all matter of science and a safe zone for spies. During the early ’90, when Trans Newton Theory was envisioned, a group of Jewish Scientists set up a research facility funded by a little known International Jewish Foundation to turn the theory into fact. The major world scientific institutions ridiculed them for their pointless pursuit of a fringe science but they continued their research regardless.
The breakthrough occurred in the early morning of ( ). Dr. Simon Feigenbaum immediately e-mailed part of his findings to several institutions around the globe to verify his team’s findings. He was careful not to divulge the whole formula and insisted that it would only be kept on a single computer isolated from the internet to discourage hackers.
Feigenbaum’s discovery sent shockwaves around the world. The US and Commonwealth offered protection for the research facility in which they accepted. By the end of the day, a C-130 carrying a Company of British Paratroopers was inbound to provide security. The US dispatched a Carrier Battlegroup to provide a Naval Blockade around the Island but it would be several days before they would arrive. The Soviet Union, Japan as well as several other nations all had intelligence gathering assets either on the Island or on boats around the islands hoping to gather some useful information about the discovery. Germany, on the other hand, had other plans.
At the time of the discovery, the Kreigsmarine was involved in naval manoeuvres in the Atlantic Ocean. When German Intelligence reported the discovery and its implications, The German Chancellor ordered that the information was to be obtained by any means, including military action. The OKW worked through the night and developed one of the most daring plans ever to be put into action. Trägerkampfflotte “Deutschland” (Germany’s only Carrier Battlegroup) and elements of the Italian Regia Marina were close to the Islands on manoeuvres. The plan called for a Company from the SS-Jagdverband ‘Otto Skorzeny” along with several of the experimental Fock Wulf Tilt Rotor Transports to be flown from the mainland to the Italian LSD “Roma”. The SS Commandoes would be equipped with some of the most advanced equipment yet to be used in combat including the new StG-18 6.5mm caseless Assault Rifle and a few of the experimental Thermal Dampening Suits as well as experimental secure man portable communications.
The plan was simple. The Jagdverband would fly out from the Italian Landing Ship at maximum range as to increase the chance of surprise. The Tilt Rotors would land in several pre determined locations close to the target compound and be destroyed to prevent capture. The Commandoes would then assault the compound, retrieve the information and then transmit the information using a secure radio straight to the Ministry of Technology in Berlin. Once the transmission is complete, the commandoes would destroy the lab, disperse and attempt to make their own way back to the Reich by any means. Unfortunately there was one major hurdle; the US Navy Carrier Battlegroup tasked with the blockade would come into range at sometime during the raid. Trägerkampfflotte “Deutschland” would provide air cover as long as it could and remain on station until the mission was complete. Overall, this was considered a suicide mission, especially for the Commandoes and pilots but the importance of the information outweighed any reservations that the Reich’s leadership had. The men of the Jagdverband Company knew that they would most probably die but all volunteered without thought.
In the early morning of the 12 Aug 2019, Seven Tilt Rotor Transports carrying 92 Commandoes took off from the Italian LSD. One crashed about ten minutes into the hour long flight but the other six made it to the landing zones with at least an hour of full darkness left. The Commandoes then proceeded to assault the compound, making quick work of the British Para Company tasked with security. Once inside, the Commandoes began the search for the required information. At this stage, the KMS Fleet Carrier “Deutschland” began to launch its complement of Aircraft to provide Air Cover for the Fleet and Island as the US Navy Ships drew closer. As the Commandoes searched the compound, the surviving British Paratroopers regrouped and began to resist.
The CVN-76 Ronald Reagan and her escorts received word of the attack and increased speed. Once in range, the Ronald Reagan launched a Squadron of F-18C Hornets to clear the skies of the German aircraft over the island while the other Squadron would escort the strike against the German Carrier Group. As success of the mission took precedence over survival of the Carrier Group, the German TF Commander used the majority of his fighters to cover the island and left the fleet with a small CAP. The US Airstrike manages to penetrate the CAP and caused major damage to the Deutschland and sink several destroyer escorts but the Squadron sent to clear the Island is quickly taken care of by the German Fighters on station. While the US Fleet moved into position, the Commandoes managed to collect all the data regarding the Trans Newton Program and began to transmit the information.
To transmit all the necessary information, it would take over an hour but while the Commandoes could hold off any counterattack in that time, there was a major problem unforseen by both the Commandoes and the OKW Planners. The experimental radio and cipher equipment involved and the encryption was guaranteed to be unbreakable by conventional means but as the Commando communications team began to transmit, they were unaware that the cipher code had not been imbedded and they were transmitting in plain. Every Spy and Intelligence gathering outfit that was monitoring the happenings picked up the transmissions that were sent by the Germans. The Commandoes, unaware of what happened, destroyed the radio equipment, firebombed the lab and proceeded to break out of the compound.
By the time the transmission was finished, most of the German Carrier Fleet had been sunk including the Carrier. The Kreigsmarine aircraft tasked with providing air cover for the commandoes returned and found no carrier to land on and were forced to ditch their aircraft in the ocean. Some were recovered by a surviving Italian Destroyer as it withdrew from the combat zone but the surviving Commandoes were all hunted down by US Marines and the vengeful survivors of the British Parachute Company.
At the end of the action the Germans had lost their best Commando team, millions of dollars in experimental equipment and aircraft and was reduced to a third world naval power in the space of a few hours. To make matters worse, while hoping to have an advantage in the development in Trans Newton Physics, they inadvertently passed the knowledge out to every major power on the planet and lost any advantage they would have gained. Over the next few days, both the Fascist Alliance and the Atlantic Treaty Organization began to mobilize troops and their nuclear arsenal until the German Chancellor and American President both caved into world pressure and held emergency talks in Geneva to diffuse the situation. At the end of the talks, both sides agreed to stand down.
[Transcript of the Azores Incident Conference]
[US President] We need to clear this up before we condemn the world to Nuclear War
[Chancellor] Yes, I agree. The Reich does not want war.
[US President] Why did you order an attack in a neutral country?
[Chancellor] Don’t treat me like a simpleton; you are well aware of what was at stake.
[US President] You are willing to go to war over fringe science?
[Chancellor] Have you had the chance to look at what was discovered and the implications of it?
[US President] Yes I have, it has not even been fully developed. What you risked peace for was a framework ....... a hollow shell. It could take years to work out the intricacies of this science.
[Chancellor] Not what my experts say. They predict that the first practical application of Trans Newton minerals will be ready by mid next year.
[US President] So they say. Are you also aware that your transmission was sent in plain and not encrypted? The rest of the world also has the same data so you have lost any lead that you think you got. To add to that, our intelligence reports that your economy will melt down under such financial pressure of such a massive R&D program.
[Chancellor] Your intelligence is wrong.
[US President] What ever you think, Chancellor. Do you also realize the implications of you losing your whole Navy? We can now project our forces any where on the globe to counter any threatening posture you might take.
[Chancellor] Mr President, don’t you realize that by this time next year your navy will be rendered obsolete.... what is the great United States going to do then?
[attachment=0:2wqpiu5b]BlackEagle.png[/attachment:2wqpiu5b]
Steve Walmsley:
Fascinating stuff!
Are you playing all the human powers involved on the campaign?
Steve
backstab:
Yes .... all of them. The turn cycle is a bit slow due to the number of player nations , about 1-2 minutes each 5 day cycle , but this gives me time to write up what happens while it is still fresh in my mind. I'll post a detailed summery of each nation over thenext few days and once my drawing skills improve, I'll put in some pic's
backstab:
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