A Second Sunrise: Taiwan of 2020 Sent Back to 1911

[ChrisProvidence]

Memorandum Regarding International Brigades, Nanjing Accord Joint Intelligence Forum, c. July 1942

In short, the International Brigades refers to over a dozen brigade-sized units comprised of foreign volunteers to the Unionist cause in the Second American Civil War.

What had originally started as a small movement of Great War volunteers to the Unionist side grew into a mass movement across social media as volunteers flocked to Unionist-controlled territory and supporters raised millions of yuan to purchase equipment for the volunteers.

Volunteers seem to be a mixed sort that includes veterans of the Great War, post-war former military personnel, and civilian volunteers with little to no military experience. Ideologically-speaking, volunteers tend to lean on the left of the global political spectrum, though nonwhite countries (particularly those in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia) have seen more of a "big tent" support across the political spectrum.

Units are largely-organized along national lines so as to minimize cultural and language conflicts. Due to the informal, volunteer-based nature of the International Brigades, the hierarchy is largely democratic, with officers selected through popular support from the members.

While outright arming the International Brigades would be a political quagmire that Nanjing, Delhi, Tokyo, Hanseong, Bangkok, and even Paris, the units' reliance on donations allows for a more-covert (albeit less-efficient) means of supporting them that is already underway.

Composition of the International Brigades, c. January 1943

I International Brigade "Jean Jaures"

Commander: Antoine Reval
Order of Battle
1st French Battalion "Lafayette"
2nd French Battalion "Thomas Paine"
1st Iberian Battalion "Bernardo de Galvez"
1st Italian Battalion "Giuseppe Garibaldi"

II International Brigade

Commander: Thomas Lawrence
Order of Battle
1st British Battalion "John Paul Jones"
2nd British Battalion "William Godwin"
1st Irish Battalion "John Barry"
1st Scandinavian Battalion "Vinland"

III International Brigade "Spartacus"

Commander: Hans Beimler
Order of Battle
1st German Battalion "Peter Osterhaus"
2nd German Battalion "August Willich"
3rd German Battalion "Max Weber"
1st Netherlands Battalion "Batavia"

IV International Brigade

Commander: Josip Broz
Order of Battle
2nd Italian Battalion "Giuseppe Mazzini"
1st Serbo-Croatian Battalion "Sava Kovacevic"
1st Greek Battalion "Socrates"
1st Romanian Battalion "Dobruja"

V International Brigade "Ferid Pasha"

Commander: Yigal Peikowitz
Order of Battle
1st Ottoman Battalion "Constantinople"
2nd Ottoman Battalion "Jerusalem"
3rd Ottoman Battalion "Cairo"
4th Ottoman Battalion "Mosul"

VI International Brigade "Ashoka"

Commander: Mohan Singh
Order of Battle
1st Indian Battalion "Jawaharlal Nehru"
2nd Indian Battalion "Chandra Bose"
3rd Indian Battalion "Rani Lakshmi"
1st Burmese Battalion "Aung San"

VII International Brigade "Indochina"

Commander: Vo Nguyen Giap
Order of Battle
1st Indochinese Battalion "Hanoi"
2nd Indochinese Battalion "Sai Gon"
3rd Indochinese Battalion "Phnom Penh"
1st Siamese Battalion "Chao Phraya"

VIII International Brigade "Jose Rizal"

Commander: Ramon Magsaysay
Order of Battle
2nd Siamese Battalion "Mekong"
1st Filipino Battalion "Andres Bonifacio"
2nd Filipino Battalion "Antonio Luna"
5th Chinese Battalion "Michael Chen"

IX International Brigade "Sun Yat-sen"

Commander: Mao Zejian
Order of Battle
1st Chinese Battalion "Homer Lea"
2nd Chinese Battalion "Wang Jingwei"
3rd Chinese Battalion "Huang Xing"
4th Chinese Battalion "Tsai Ing-wen"

X International Brigade "Benito Juarez"

Commander: Augusto Sandino
Order of Battle
1st Mexican Battalion "Emiliano Zapata"
2nd Mexican Battalion "Pancho Villa"
3rd Mexican Battalion "Miguel Hidalgo"
1st Centroamerican Battalion "Centroamerica"

XI International Brigade "Simon Bolivar"

Commander: Juan de Jesus Franco
Order of Battle
1st Gran Colombian Battalion "Francisco de Miranda"
2nd Gran Colombian Battalion "Francisco Burdett O'Connor"
1st Commonwealth Battalion "Antonio Jose de Sucre"
1st Caribbean Battalion "Toussaint Louverture"

XII International Brigade "San Martin"

Commander: Euclidés Zenóbio da Costa
Order of Battle
1st Chilean Battalion "Bernardo O'HIggins"
1st Argentinian Battalion "Jose Gervasio Artigas"
2nd Argentinian Battalion "Manuel Belgrano"
1st Brazilian Battalion "Ana Garibaldi"

XIII International Brigade "Ozaki Yukio"

Commander: Karl Yoneda
Order of Battle
1st Japanese Battalion "Sakamoto Ryoma"
1st Indonesian Battalion "Soetomo"
1st Korean Battalion "Ahn Chang Ho"
1st Australasian Battalion "Ned Kelly"

XIV International Brigade "Amistad"

Commander: Achieng Aneko
Order of Battle
1st South African Battalion "Moses Kotane"
1st East African Battalion "Mekatilili"
1st Congolese Battalion "Joseph Kasa-Vubu"
1st West African Battalion "Sengbe Pieh"

XV International Brigade "Tadeusz Kosciuszko"

Commander: Vasil Kozlov
Order of Battle
1st Polish Battalion "Kosciuszko"
1st Eurasian Battalion "Alexander Kerensky"
2nd Eurasian Battalion "Nestor Makhno"
3rd Eurasian Battalion "Yurii Hlushko"

 

[ChrisProvidence]

Top Row: Justin Greene, SGT Robert "Rob" Dole, SGT Morgan Chen, SGT Samuel Kimura
Bottom Row: Alexis "Alex" Greene, SPC Daigo "Dai" Shinoda, CPL Daniel Inouye
Photo taken 6 February 1943, Panama Canal Zone, United States of America​

 

[ChrisProvidence]

Transcript of the Interrogation of George H.W. Bush, Transcribed by Jon Dowd, Office of Strategic Actions, 10 January 1943

Lieutenant (junior grade) George Herbert Walker Bush​

SUMMARY
This is a transcription of the interview of Lt. George H.W. Bush, who was captured last summer after he was shot down during the raid on Cape Canaveral.

The video was leaked to social media on 7 January 1943, though metadata indicates it was filmed on the 1st of January.

TRANSCRIPT
[Scene fades in to Lieutenant George W. Bush, who appears to be sitting in a makeshift studio with a floodlight working as a studio light]

INTERVIEWER: State your name and rank.

BUSH: My name is George Herbert Walker Bush, Lieutenant, United States Navy.

INTERVIEWER: And when were you captured?

[Prisoner appears dazed, and is seemingly blinded by a the bright floodlight - He winces and blinks to try to adjust to the bright light]

BUSH: I was captured on June 4th of last year after my squadron attacked the Cape Canaveral Space Center. I ejected over the water and was captured by members of the Nationalist Navy.

[Prisoner continues to blink as he speaks]

INTERVIEWER: And how have you been treated since your capture?

BUSH: I receive adequate food and clothing, as well as medical care when I need it.

[It is at this point that Open Source Intelligence analyst Adrian Friese observed that Lieutenant Bush was blinking a pattern]

INTERVIEWER: And do you condemn the actions that led to your capture?

[Lieutenant Bush looks straight at the camera]

BUSH: I do not. I followed my orders to the fullest, and I do not regret them.

[Interviewer pauses for a second]

INTERVIEWER: I see... and does that mean you do not acknowledge the legitimate government like your father does?

[Bush takes twenty seconds to compose himself, blinks, and looks at the camera]

BUSH: No, I do not recognize the unelected government in Washington.

[The video ends here]

ANALYSIS
Given the content of the interview, it's no surprise the Nats didn't want this spread out. Given his father's support of the Washington government, one would have thought he'd switch sides.

In all likelihood, that was why this interview was given in the first place. Had the younger Bush agreed to switch sides on camera, it would have been a propaganda victory for the Nationalist cause, and Bush would be the highest-ranked defector to the Nationalists.

Adrian Friese also observed that Lieutenant Bush continued to blink in a pattern throughout the interview.

While it could be attributed to the harsh lighting of the makeshift set, Friese translated Bush's body language to morse code and received two messages.

The first, which was taken at the start of the interview, spells out "T-O-R-T-U-R-E." While we have no further confirmation, Lieutenant Bush's emaciated appearance implies he's being mistreated in some form.

The second, which was taken at the end during Bush's refusal to condemn the United Front, spells out "G-T-M-O."

Indicating that he, along with other prisoners, are likely being held at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station.

"Cuba Agrees to Purchase French Weapons, Host French Squadron," by Elise Brodeur, l'Humanite, 14 January 1943

In what can only be described as a continuation of the Franco-Latin American naval operation, Havana and Paris have finalized a deal to transfer several tons of weapon systems to the island nation, along with two air wings. Weapons include, but are not limited to, anti-ship missiles, anti-air missiles, and loitering munitions.

French ground forces will arrive alongside the weapon systems to train the Cuban forces in their use. Once the designated training period of one year is finished, both sides have agreed that the French forces will leave.

The two squadrons will be deployed in the cities of Guantanamo and Havana, where they will remain for the next two years, though a clause allows for an extension pending both sides' agreement.

The Nationalist Government in the United States has criticized the deal as "A violation of the 1901 Constitution," citing the provision against hosting foreign military bases on the island. The provision, which is part of the Platt Amendment, has been criticized across the Cuban political spectrum as an unequal treaty that has led to Cuba's current constitutional reform movement.

Havana responded by pointing out that the basing of French aircraft in Havana and Guantanamo is constitutional, as they will be hosted at Cuban-controlled bases.

Given the recent surrender of Nationalist "Army of the Rockies," it is unlikely that the Washington government will be able to militarily intervene in Cuba for the foreseeable future.

"Statement of Principles - Project for an American Century," projectamericancentury.com, last updated 4 February 1943

Logo for Project for an American Century, a Nationalist-aligned think tank in Washington D.C.​

Ever since the Great Journey, America has fallen behind East Asia on almost every front. Whether it is economics, military strength, diplomacy, or technological growth, the last thirty years have been full of American policy failures under Democratic, Republican, and Farmer-Labor-Socialist administrations that have left our nation behind.

We aim to change this. We intend to set America on the path to prosperity and global leadership that it achieved during the Lost History.

As the first half of the 20th Century draws to a close, the United States is at risk of permanently falling behind our Eurasian counterparts. This leaves us with one preeminent question: Does the United States have the vision to achieve the same successes as our Lost History counterparts? Does the United States have the strength and fortitude to assert its rightful place in the world?

We have forgotten what truly made America great: A strong economy, free from cheap foreign goods and labor, an American people that embraces traditional values, a society that rejects the degenerate ideas of the Lost History, and strong foreign policy that reasserts America's rightful place as a global leader.

Now, America will have to be practical with how it reasserts itself on the global stage. East Asia has the numerical, industrial, and technological advantage against the United States. However, we cannot ignore the benefits that an American-led world would bring to our people and the people of the Americas as a whole.

To that end, a pragmatic approach must be taken to reassert ourselves.

Our aim is to set America on the path to achieve its rightful place as the global leader. It will be done in the following ways.

• We need to increase American economic independence by growing American industry, increasing productivity, and decreasing the influence of East Asian goods both at home and abroad.
• We need to increase American economic and political strength by reducing European and East Asian influence, first in North America and then the Americas as a whole.
• We need to reject the degenerate ideas of the Lost History, both at home and abroad.
• We need to align ourselves with ideologically-similar opposition leaders to create an alliance strong enough to stand up to the Chinese.
• We need to convince the American people that it is in their interest to create a "Pax Americana," in which the United States, not the Republic of China, is at the head of the international order.
• We need to ensure a strong population growth so that the East Asians and Europeans cannot replace us through sheer numbers in the long-term.

While these policies may not be popular right now, it is important that the American people are made to understand the importance of our values and a strong America.

If America is to become the country it is destined to be, then it must abandon the last thirty years of failed policy and take the immediate and appropriate action against all who would stand in the way of this greatness, whether foreign or domestic.

Panama Canal Zone, Unionist-Controlled Territory, United States of America, 1 February 1943

Photo of OSS Team SPECTRE, c. 1943​

"How's the arm, Rob?" Morgan Chen asked the familiar face, "Good as new?"

"Better," Dole told her, before giving it a good stretch. "Takes some getting used to, but I feel like I could punch through concrete."

"Yeah... I wouldn't do that," Sam Kimura interrupted, "Glad to have you with us, Rob. Now that he's here, we can get started."

"Right," Morgan agreed, before jogging up to the front of the repurposed classroom. "Okay, I'm going to cut to the chase: We're going undercover to Cuba to do recon on Gitmo."

The rest of the team just stared at her for a moment in silence, staring at her and Sam.

"You really know how to get to the point, Morgan," Daigo Shinoda chuckled. "And here I thought we were done attacking prison camps with like, three people."

"Nah, we got seven people this time, Dai," Sam answered for her, "But to answer your question, we'll have backup when the time comes."

"Backup, as in..." Dole asked.

"Classified," Sam answered.

"Great," Inouye sighed, "Well, we knew what we were getting into. So, what is the plan?"

"Sam, would you hand the passports out?" Morgan asked, and her counterpart began handing out the passports and documents. "These will be your new identities. Learn them, memorize them, and don't lose them. That's how we're going to get into Cuba."

Now, she could go into detail about how she had her connections in the Military Intelligence Bureau basically create new identities out of thin air, but they didn't need to know that part.

"We'll be flying from Panama City to Santiago as separate teams. Rob'll be going with Dan Inouye, Alex and Justin Greene'll be working together, and Dai, Sam, and I will be on our own flight."

That part was simple enough. Two or three Asian tourists (or in the case of Rob and the Greenes, "white tourists from Hong Kong") wouldn't raise too much suspicion, and eco-tourism had been a thing as soon as commercial flight became affordable.

"Once landed, we will take separate buses to Guantanamo City, where we will gather our equipment and begin our recon in shifts. Every twelve hours, a team will hike along a trail from Guantanamo City to a peak three kilometers east of Gitmo. Once there, the team will divert from the trail and perform surveillance until their shift is done and they are replaced by the next shift."

"You'll have binoculars, scopes, night vision, FPV drones, stuff like that," Sam chimed in. "You name it, and we'll be able to get it."

"Question," Justin Greene said, raising his hand. Sam and Morgan nodded. "Wouldn't the Nats be able to jam our drones with stuff like GPS jammers?"

"Not exactly," Sam answered for both himself and Morgan. It was his specialty, after all. "GPS jamming works against kamikaze drones and aircraft, but it doesn't really work on FPVs. You have to use different jammers for those, and it's an arms race right now."

"Do they have those?" Alex chimed in.

"Probably," Sam figured, "but the question is whether or not they will work."

And whether or not Lin and Lena's modifications'll get us past them, Morgan figured. It'll make our lives easier, if they do.

"So one of those 'Cross that bridge when we get there,' things," Alex figured, and Sam nodded. "Eh, it's worked for us so far."

"So what happens when they finally do something?" Daigo asked for the rest of the team, "It's not like we can just have Morgan take potshots at them with a sniper rifle."

"I mean, I probably could-"

"There'll be something," Sam promised, "But it's a... tool that will help us later."

Operation Alamo, Joint Army-Marines-International Brigade Operation, Office of Strategic Services, 26 March 1943

Map of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (Operation Alamo, 1943)​

OBJECTIVE: The liberation of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and its prisoners.

PLAN: The Operation will be divided into Seven Objectives (Juno, Jupiter, Ceres, Pluto, Poseidon, Vesta, and Lucina) and four teams.

ORGANIZATION: The forces will be divided as follows:

Team 1: Bravo and Charlie Companies, Marine Raider Battalion

Team 2: Alpha, Delta, and Echo Companies, Marine Raider Battalion

Team 3: Foxtrot and Golf Companies, Marine Raider Battalion

Team 4: I International Brigade, OSS Team "SPECTRE"

ORDERS: All four teams will be subordinate to Colonel Edson upon the Raiders' landing and contact is established. Until then, Team 4 will work autonomously.

Once Teams 1-4 have reached their position, the operation will proceed to Phase Two.

PHASE ONE

Team 1 will land at Objective Juno (Leeward Point), after which they will secure the airfield, disabling any and all aircraft and anti-air batteries.

Team 2 will land at Objectine Lucina (Windward Point), then move to secure Cable Hill and the airfield at Objective Ceres.

Team 3 will land at Iguana Rock and move eastwards to surround Objective Hades, eliminating any and all sentries and patrols.

Team 4's infantry element will deploy to the east of Guantanamo Bay, utilizing the hills for cover from sentries. SPECTRE Team will provide overwatch and eliminate sentries when necessary.

PHASE TWO

Team 1 will move to secure Objective Jupiter, seizing effective control of the western half of the base.

Team 2 will secure Objective Neptune and disable and/or destroy any and all naval assets still in Guantanamo Bay.

Team 3 will hold Objective Hades and prepare for evacuation. Should Team 2 require assistance with any attacks, Team 3 will be able to flank Objective Neptune from the southeast.

SPECTRE Team will provide overwatch from a vantage point 3 km east of Guantanamo Bay. Artillery elements of the 1st Brigade will rendezvous with them to provide fire support once the rest of 1st Brigade begins their attack or the Marines request fire support.

3 Kilometers East of Guantanamo Bay, Republic of Cuba, 28 February 1943

Location of Observation Point (OSS Archives, Declassified 2023)​

"Sergeant Kimura?" Commander Antoine Reval greeted his counterpart in the dark. "It's good to finally meet you."

"Likewise," said the Japanese-American soldier, before turning to the truck behind them. "So is that it?"

"Yes," said the Frenchman in accented English, before saying something in French to his men, "See for yourself."

The other six men and women followed him and Kimura to the back of the truck, where they did just that in silence.

"You know, Kim," a soldier, named "Dole" according to his nametag, breathed, "When you said we'd have something, I didn't think you meant suicide drones."

"These models have first-person cameras and can be remote-operated."

From the looks of him, that was all Kimura needed to know.

"So they're basically giant FPV drones?"

"Oui- Er, yes. More or less."

"We'll be fine, Rob. I'll handle the piloting."

"Fair enough, Sam," Dole relented, before looking at the rest of the team. "You'll need somebody to spot. I'll go."

"You'll need someone to come with you," Kimura told him. "You up for it, Inouye?"

"Sure."

"Then it's settled," the Japanese-American sergeant decided. "Let's get this stuff unloaded so Commander Reval can join his men."

Despite this, Reval couldn't help but notice Kimura turn towards the edge of the hilltop.

"See anything, Morgan?"

"We're good over here," a Chinese-accented voice spoke in English, "Guards are switching shifts soon, so I'd get down there if I were you."

Leeward Point, Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Nationalist-Controlled Territory, 1 March 1943

"Charlie 1 Actual to all Raiders, we have reached Objective Hera," Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Griffith announced over the radio. "Proceeding with orders."

"Just like we trained," he whispered to his men as another jet launched off the airstrip, "We need to move in and get those charges prepped on the enemy AA and jets. Any questions?"

The rest of his men nodded in silence.

"Good. Make sure your suppressors are on, and let's secure this airstrip. "Sullivan, take Bravo Company and loop around to the west side."

"On it," Captain Sullivan agreed, and his half of the landing team crept off into the night.

"Alright then," Griffith agreed, before taking point with Charlie Company. "Let's get to work."

Cable Hill, Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Nationalist-Controlled Territory, 1 March 1943

"Alpha 1 Actual," a voice said over the radio, "This is Recon Team Zulu. There is an enemy patrol approaching our position. Permission to engage?"

This was the last thing Colonel Merritt Edson wanted, but he had to be flexible.

"Zulu, you are clear to engage. Suppressed weapons only."

"Understood, Actual. Zulu out."

"Everything good?" Major Chambers asked him, "Colonel?"

"Zulu ran into a patrol, but they'll be able to handle it. We'll keep moving on Objective Ceres."

"Recommend we hold up, sir," Chambers insisted, before pulling out a map. "Ceres is too close to Neptune to get it silently. Sure, we could probably sneak up from the south and plant charges on the helos, but we can't secure it without alertin' the naval base."

"Shit." Edson could see it with his own to eyes from this distance. "Wouldn't take more than a few minutes to send a runner there."

"Got a plan?"

"More like the concept of a plan," the Colonel figured, before pointing on the map. "Okay, you'll take Echo and move into position. I'll take Alpha and Delta Companies along this backroad, and we'll hit Ceres from the south. Any objections?"

"It's more of a plan than I have. Good luck, Colonel."

"Likewise."

Outside Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp, Nationalist-Controlled Territory, 1 March 1943

"Drop them," Major Carlson ordered over the radio. "Status?"

"They're dead, Major."

"Good. Foxtrot, take the backroads and set up a roadblock up north. I don't want anyone getting in or out besides us the guys we're saving."

3 Kilometers East of Guantanamo Bay, Republic of Cuba, 1 March 1943

Morgan Chen had been staring down her sight for hours. Hours of watching the same few men walk back and forth, up and down the watchtowers. Days of hours watching the same thing.

It'd be boring, if the stakes weren't so high.

"Nervous?" a familiar voice asked from behind.

Morgan didn't need to turn to know it was Sam.

"...Yeah."

"Seriously? You, of all people, are nervous?" Sam snorted. "Bullshit."

"Internal screaming's an old family trick," Morgan joked. "Baba used to do the same thing during the Revolution, back in the day."

"Yeah. He's some kind of war hero, right?"

That got a smile out of her.

"He'd kick your ass if he heard you say that, Sam." And she meant it... even if her Baba's age was starting to show. "But yeah. That's how Baba made it all the way from Guangzhou to Haishenwai during the Revolution. He said it helps when you keep getting dragged into important events."

"Smart guy," Sam figured. "Guess it runs in the family."

"The internal screaming or getting dragged into important events?"

"...Yes."

"Team 1 is in position," a voice said over the radio. "Awaiting signal."

"Team 2 in position," said another, "Ready when you are."

"Team 3's in position," said a third, "Ready to move in,"

"Team 4-Alpha is in position," a voice spoke in French-accented English.

"No turning back, Sam."

"Yup. Ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." she breathed, with her eye trained on the sentry in the tower. "Send it."

"Team 4-Alpha is in position. Send fire missions when ready."

"Here we go..." Alex muttered.

"Yup," Justin sighed. "Let's get this over with."

"All stations, this is Colonel Edson," the Marine Raider announced over the radio, "You are clear to begin Phase Two. Repeat: You are clear to begin Phase Two."

And then it happened.

Explosions, gunfire, and everything in between erupted in the distance, and the thundering roar of three thousand volunteers stormed towards the eastern fence.

Morgan aimed at the sentry in her sight.

Her target just stood there, seemingly paralyzed and terrified at the chaos in the distance and the sight before him.

So she fired, ensuring those would be the last of that man's worries.

 

[ChrisProvidence]

Transcript of Flight Data, Taken 50 Kilometers North of Cuba, 1 March 1943

Colonel Charles Lindbergh, USAF

Captain George Lincoln Rockwell​

ROCKWELL (Spirit 2): <<Colonel, we have radar contracts approaching our rear.>>

LINDBERGH (Spirit 1): <<Spirit Squadron, we have unknown contacts. Maintain course towards Guantanamo Bay. Prepare evasive maneuvers.>>

ALBERT (Paris 1): <<This is Captain Marcel Albert of the French Air Force. You are currently violating Cuban air space. Turn around immediately, or we will be forced to take action.>>

LINDBERGH (Spirit 1): <<Captain, we are en-route to Guantanamo Bay to reinforce the local garrison. We have authorization to travel along this route.>>

ALBERT (Paris 1): <<Again, you are not authorized to fly through Cuban air space. Turn back immediately, or we will be forced to fire upon you.>>

ROCKWELL (Spirit 2): <<It's your call, Colonel.>>

LINDBERGH (Spirit 1): <<Spirit Squadron, prepare weapons in case of engagement. We will continue towards Guantanamo Bay.>>

ROCKWELL (Spirit 2): <<Understood. You heard the man, Spirits. We are breaking through.>>

CAPE CANAVERAL HQ: <<Spirit Squadron. RTB.>>

LINDBERGH (Spirit 1): <<Say again, HQ? We're just about to fly over the coast.>>

CAPE CANAVERAL HQ: <<Return to base immediately, Spirit 1, and prepare for retasking.>>

LINDBERGH (Spirit 1): <<Tell them we can make it! We have the fuel!>>

CAPE CANAVERAL HQ: <<That order comes from Washington, Spirit 1. I won't repeat myself.>>

LINDBERGH (Spirit 1): <<Goddammit! Fine. Spirit Squadron, RTB.>>

Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Unionist-Controlled Territory, 1 March 1943

Sunset over Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, 1943​

"Senator," Inouye greeted, with a smile on his face. "Mind if I join you guys?"

Dole moved to the side of the campfire. "By all means... Senator."

"Oh for fuck's sake," Daigo Shinoda groaned, "You guys are still doing this shit?"

Sam Kimura just put another hot dog on the grill.

"It's still funny the 500th time, Dai. Hey, back me up on this, Morgan."

"It's even funnier when you realize that neither of you guys are the same person."

Now that got the group going quiet.

"I don't follow," said Inouye, "I mean, I guess, if you mean that Rob and I both had different experiences."

"Yeah, that tracks," the Kansan agreed, "Island showing up from the future'll do that to you."

"Is that what you're getting at, Morgan?"

"Kinda, Dan," she figured, then turned to the chef. "Next batch ready, Sam?"

"Five minutes."

"Aw, c'mon." She could practically feel her stomach growl this time. "But yeah, I mean it on every level. Biologically. Socially. Temporally. You name it."

"How so?"

"Biologically speaking," Daigo thought aloud, "It's highly unlikely that the same sperm and egg end up fertilizing. We're talking possibly one in a trillion chances-"

"Dai?"

"Yeah, Sam?"

"Shut up and eat your hot dog."

It was times like this that Morgan was happy Sam was a pretty good cook.

"Eh, he's not wrong," Morgan figured "But if we think about it-"

"Oh goddammit-"

"I meant socially, Sam," she quickly clarified, "Rob and Dan probably grew up with different experiences than in my Baba's time. For starters, when were you born, Dan?"

"August 7," said the Nisei soldier. "Why?"

"Well, the 'other' you was born on September 7," Morgan recalled. "And I'm willing to bet that you probably grew up with the internet and TV, right?"

"Yeah. I mean, most kids do, right?"

"Call of Duty would say so," Rob added. "So... this means we're literally different people, right?"

"Pretty much," Morgan figured. "I read your guys' Wikipedia pages, and it's pretty much a miracle that your parents still ended up marrying the same people. Hell, it's a miracle that you guys even ended up with the same names."

"Could be destiny," Dan shrugged. "Or some higher power watching over us trying to make sure some things stay the same."

"Maybe," Dole figured, before sipping from his water, "They do say God has a sense of humor."

After Action Report: Operation Alamo, United States Armed Forces Central Command (Unionist), Submitted 4 March 1942

SUMMARY

On 1 March 1942, units including the 1st Battalion of the 1st International Brigade, Marine Raider Battalion, and OSS Team SPECTRE liberated Guantanamo Bay Naval Base from Nationalist control. After a covert landing and initial sabotage, the combined forces were able to liberate the naval base, its airfield, and the Southeast Detention Center.

In addition, the ships USS Decatur, USS Reuben James, and USS Eden were destroyed by loitering munitions from OSS Team SPECTRE, while the Marine Raiders were able to capture Fleet Admiral William Halsey of the 4th Fleet.

UNIONIST CASUALTIES

OSS Team Spectre: None
Marine Raiders: 24 KIA, 30 WIA
Lafayette Battalion: 20 KIA, 50 WIA

NATIONALIST CASUALTIES

Combined Navy and Marines: 240 KIA, 450 WIA, 876 Captured
Civilians (Incl. Contractors): 20 KIA, 25 WIA, 258 Captured

ANALYSIS

The capture of Guantanamo Bay has severely limited the Nationalist Navy's strength in the Caribbean. By eliminating one of two major naval bases in the area (the other being Puerto Rico), the Nationalist Navy will be unable to project power as effectively as it has before in the region.

The lack of a Nationalist naval base in the western Caribbean Sea will lower the risk of naval interdiction for civilian shipping, if not eliminate it entirely due to the sheer distance. However, it is likely that Nationalist submarines will continue to operate in the area and military convoys should act accordingly with escorts and screens.

The future repatriation of Latin-American sailors, who were the primary target of the Nationalists' blockade, is likely to increase support from Central American and South American nations while displayin

Overall, this is a strategic and propaganda victory for our forces, regardless of the outcome of Operation Guillotine.

Nanjing, National Capital Region, Republic of China, 5 March 1943

"So they work?" Chen Lin asked his father over the secured video call, "The missiles, I mean."

"About as good as any other weapon system tested at a black site, son," his father answered, before sighing, "I swear to God, our family keeps getting dragged into historical events."

"Tell me about it, Dad. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Morgan was at Gitmo when it was liberated."

"You can ask her about that when you meet up with her. Got the details?"

"Everything that isn't covered in black ink," Lin muttered, before turning back to the camera. "Does she know?"

"About the NNEMP?" Lin nodded over the camera. "Not yet. All she needs to know is that it's important. That's it for now."

"I really don't like this spy shit, Dad," the ballplayer-turned asset sighed, "Even if this stuff could end the war."

"I wouldn't call a non-nuclear EMP wunderwaffe, Lin," the elder Chen laughed tiredly, "We've had this stuff for over a decade, at this point. Probably around '25, I think."

"So why didn't you guys use it then? It would've saved you a lot of time in Europe, right?"

"They were doing field tests by the time we landed," his father recalled, "And the Brits surrendered by the time they were ready."

"Ah." That made sense to Lin. Well, enough sense, anyways - he didn't really get geopolitics. "Thanks for the heads up, Dad. Love you."

"Love you too, Lin."

Owensboro, Kentucky, Unionist-Controlled Territory, 12 March 1943

Owensboro, Kentucky
​

"You know what I hate the most about this?" Jon Dowd asked in his usual southern drawl to his friend, "C'mon, don't leave me hanging, Adi."

"Well I dunno, Jon," his shorter friend figured, "Between the lynchings, the unexploded ordinance, the destruction, and the literal hate groups running around, I don't really know which is the most fucked up thing about this war."

"That's just it, though," the Kentuckian told his friend from Tennessee, "All of this shit's preventable. The lynchings, violence murders - all of it."

"Mhm. Coffee?"

"Sure." So Adrian tossed him the thermos. "Thanks."

"No problem. But yeah, I get it - we'd be better off if those assholes didn't blow up all three branches of government."

"Well write that down in a memo and title it 'Shit I Already Know,'" Jon sighed, only to realize what he'd just said. "Shit, I'm sorry, Adi."

"It's all good, Jon," Adrian insisted, before turning looking out over the bombed-out high school. "Hell, I'd be pissed too, if I found oout that my hometown was full of landmines. Any idea how long it'll take to demine the place?"

"Years, probably," Jon figured. At least those were the numbers that Lin gave him before he and Lena went off the grid. "Probably faster if we use newer tech that China's offering."

"Does this tech boil down to, 'Let's get AI and robots to find the mines and blow them up?'"

"You complaining?"

"Me?" Adrian just shook his head. "Fuck no. I don't want to dig up landmines."

Oak Ridge Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Unionist-Controlled Territory, 1 April 1943

Oak Ridge Laboratory​

Morgan Chen knew her way around a laboratory. She did major in physics, after all.

Hell, she even toured this place a few years ago, as part of a department trip. It was nice enough, but she had her eyes set on Cal Tech or maybe MIT, or some place back in China.

I think I said I'd go back to China before I'd move to Tennessee.

But fate (or as Rob Dole would say, "God having a sense of humor") brought her back here, where her team was securing the place withthe 10th Mountain Division.

"Christ, you guys work fast," she told Rob as the soldiers waved them through. "Looks like we're working together again."

"Maybe God really does have a sense of humor," he figured, before flashing his papers, "So, what are we looking for?"

"Nuke," Daigo Shinoda answered bluntly, "Pretty sure that's why the entire 542nd to join up with you guys."

"It's a need-to-know thing, Rob," Sam Kimura chimed in, "So, you still know your way around this place, Morgan?"

"I was here for, like, two days. Which apparently means I'm more qualified than everyone else here."

Which is bullshit, by the way.

The sooner the OSS gets here, the better.

"So what exactly does a nuke look like, anyways?" Sam asked her.

"Best case scenario is we know it when we see it."

"...And the worst case?"

"They took it with them on the way out. This place is abandoned, and the most we're going to get out of it is the IT guys going over files."

And that's assuming they didn't burn everything.

Command Headquarters Appalachia, Roanoke, Virginia, Nationalist-Controlled Territory, United States of America, 1 April 1943

Hotel Roanoke, Home of Command HQ Appalachia​

"Splash one more," Captain Ryan Curtis shouted, before sipping his Red Bull. "What does that bring us up to, Jimmy?"

"Fifteen from Lexington, and another twelve from Wytheville," the Lieutenant answered, "Traitors are picking up the pace, aren't they?"

"They can try," Curtis yawned, "But we have the stockpiles and the supply chains to keep shooting them down."

Honestly, I'm wondering why they keep trying. We know where they're coming from, and we've had a year to prep for this.

"Roanoke to Lexington," he said over the radio, "Status report."

"Everything's above board here," said the voice at the other end, "We've taken minimal damage, so we're going to take the time to reload the-"

"Say again, Lexington?"

Curtis waited for a response. Any response, after a few seconds.

"Come in, Lexington."

Still silence.

"Must've hit the generators," Jimmy figured, and Curtis just nodded. "Let's put a pin in them and check on Wytheville."

"Works for me," the captain yawned again, before switching frequencies. "Roanoke to Wytheville. Status report."

There was nothing but silence on that end, too.

"Wytheville, this is Roanoke. Do you copy?"

The answer was still static.

"Okay, seriously," Curtis spoke with audible frustration. "What the Hell's going on, Jimmy?"

"Checking right now..." the Lieutenant answered over the sound of frantic typing, "Power station's saying there's a blackout in both."

"Cyberattack?"

"Doubt it. If it were, they'd still be able to radio us."

"Makes sense. Cyberattacks don't knock out radios, right?" Jimmy nodded. "So what is going on, then?"

Maury River, Lexington, Virginia, Contested Territory, 1 April 1943

Maury River, Lexington, Virginia​

"You know the mission," Sergeant Jonathan "Jono" Doherty shouted to his men, "Go, go, go!"

Fire erupted in the darkness, and Jono could see his men's lasers pointing back as they fired into the darkness.

And they kept firing, until the shooting from the other side stopped.

"Cease fire!" he shouted, and the men moved up to the crossing. "I want a full check of the bridge for charges. You see anything, you get EOD to disable it. Got it?"

"Got it," one of his fireteams agreed, only to have a very different message five minutes later. "Bridge is clear!"

"Good work," Jono spoke into his mic, before switching to another channel, "Padre, you are clear to cross the bridge. I repeat: the bridge is safe to cross."

"Much obliged, Sergeant!" the tanker shouted over the radio. Jono could hear the engine roar past him into the night, "I'll be sure to buy you a drink when we get to Richmond."

Department of Defense, Washington, District of Columbia, Nationalist-Controlled Territory, United States of America, 2 April 1943

Line of Control as of 2 April 1943, Department of Defense, Declassified 1993​

"Exactly how bad is it," General MacArthur asked his subordinate. "We need to know."

"You've already seen RIchmond," the three-star bluntly observed, "Traitors are halfway to encircling it through the ring road."

"And the rest?"

"Nashville and Knoxville were hit, but we're holding the line for now. We can call up reserves if we need to."

"Then there is Wytheville," Patton continued, referring to the elephant in the room. "Ever since it was overrun 24 hours ago, the traitors have pushed up to Winston-Salem and Greensboro, while tanks are moving up on Charlotte and Asheville as we speak."

"And what exactly happened to the reserves over there?" asked an increasingly-frustrated MacArthur, "Shouldn't they have reinforced Wytheville?"

"Normally, yes," Patton agreed, "But the EMP attack knocked out communications, preventing a viable response."

"I see... so where does that put us, George?"

"To be blunt, General, we don't have enough men there. They could hold the mountain passes, especially with reinforcements, but those men and reinforcements were overrun, and we're rushing everything we have to seal the gap."

MacArthur took a second to assess the situation. The traitors were advancing on five axes:

• Lexington towards Richmond
• Wytheville to Asheville and Winston Salem
• A general assault across Tennessee
• The column moving down Mississippi that was threatening Memphis
• And a lightning campaign across the plains of Texas.

"Priority one is Richmond," he informed Patton, "Without that, we'll be cut off from the rest of the country."

"And if we ignore Wytheville, we'll just be left with a smaller chunk that's cut off," Patton countered, "We can't defend the entire frontline or push them back with the men we have."

"Which is why we'll be shortening it. We can reinforce the Wytheville Gap and the Tennessee front by engaging in a fighting retreat across Texas."

"The White House isn't going to like this, General."

"Well the White House can get us more manpower if they're so damned upset!"

 

[ChrisProvidence]

Archery, Georgia, Unionist-Controlled Territory, United States of America, 20 April 1943

It was just like the day he'd left for Annapolis.

Same buildings. Same fields. Same girl he grew up with.

The fields were fallow, sure, but that was better than a whole lot of places he'd gone by over the last year.

And the same store his father had built up since he was a child. Even if there were boarded-up windows at this point.

All that was left was the farm over in Archery, but that was the moment he was dreading the most.

Sure, his mother Lillian had been a staunch liberal, but his father has no love for the Roosevelts, the Chinese, or Olson in descending order.

Politics be damned when it came to family, but the reality was that he and his father were on different sides of this conflict.

Dread, anxiety, and a bit of fear filled his heart as he walked up to the farmhouse.

Would his father be there to condemn him for the choices he'd made? The man had been a supporter of Talmadge and by extension Theodore Bilbo's True Patriots.

Would his mother be there to praise him for doing what he believed in? She'd always been a more progressive-minded woman.

Were either of them even alive at this point?

Honestly, he didn't know, and the uncertainty of what was behind that door scared him more than anything else.

You've made it this far, Jimmy. Just a little bit more.

So he knocked on the door. Key or no key, he knew it was the right thing to do.

"Jimmy?" a familiar voice answered back. "Is that you?"

"Will?" He recognized his kid brother's voice anywhere, "Staying out of trouble?"

"Jimmy, I'm six. How much trouble do you think I'd make?"

"About as much as when you were four," the elder Carter chuckled. "Are Ma and Pa in?"

"Ma's cooking dinner with Ruth and Gloria."

"And Pa?"

"Up in Washington," Will answered, "You didn't hear?"

"I've been in a sub for the better part of a year, Will. What's up?"

"Pa's with the government in Washington. He's a Congressman, now."

"…Oh."

On one hand, Jimmy knew the implications.

His father had gone north to support the Nationalists in Washington. Not just as a supporter, but as a member of President Theodore Bilbo's government.

The same Washington that was now surrounded.

On the other hand, James Carter Sr. Was still his father, and that counted for more than something.

Even if he didn't know what that something was at this point.

"Haven't heard back from him in a while, though," Will sighed. "Have you?"

"Not at all," Jimmy admitted. "On account of the whole 'inside-a-sub' thing."

"Ah."

"So, are you going to let your big brother in, or am I going to have to stand out here all evening?"

"Oh, right!" His little brother reached up to unlock the door. "There you go!"

"Thanks."

"So, how's Rosalynn?"

"You mean your future sister-in-law?"

"My what-"

"Hey, quiet!" Jimmy hissed, but he had the biggest smile on his face, "That's a surprise for Ma, alright?!"

"Oh, alright!" Will said with childlike innocence, "Your secret is safe with me!"

Somehow, Jimmy figured that wouldn't be the case."

"Will," another voice called from the kitchen, "Who's at the door?"

"See for yourself, Ma!" the boy shouted before running in there. "It's a surprise."

"Oh alright," the familiar maternal voice answered, only to stop dead in her tracks. "Oh my God."

"Hi Ma. I'm home."

 

[ChrisProvidence]

"Unionist Reconstruction Plan Involves a Hundred Thousand Jobs Writing Opinion Articles" The Onion (April 1943)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Citing the economic devastation of the Second Civil War, United Front Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins has proposed the creation of a hundred thousand jobs writing opinion articles to help unemployed Americans get back on their feet and jumpstart the economy.

These welfare jobs, which will require little to no education, training, or experience, will be available to thousands of Americans across the nation. The United Front Reconstruction Authority (UFRA) plans to open up applications in the coming weeks.

"One of the reasons we picked writing opinion pieces," Secretary Perkins explained at a Reconstruction Authority meeting, "Is that we already know that writing opinion pieces for newspapers does not require a college degree... or any competence, apparently. These are low-skill jobs that pay well, and as such, they will be opened to Americans of all ages and educations."

Economist John Maynard Keynes, one of the chief advisors for UFRA's economic recovery efforts, argued that while writing opinion pieces for newspapers can be described as "useless work for useless people," the creation of thousands of jobs writing opinion pieces would kickstart the American economy by increasing the demand for goods. This would, in turn, boost economic activity.

Critics of this plan, such as the New York Times' publisher Arthur hays Sulzberger, have argued that the plan would "lower the quality of opinion pieces in newspapers and oversaturate the market." Sulzberger went on to argue that it would be impossible to hire that many opinion columnists in America.

Proponents of the new welfare program, including Representative Norman Thomas (S-NY), countered by saying that newspapers such as Sulzberger's "already produce too many low quality opinion articles," and claimed that adding a hundred thousand jobs writing opinion articles "would hardly make a difference."

"Opinion articles are already welfare for useless people," Representative Thomas said in a recent interview, "Now they'll just be welfare for people."

 

[ChrisProvidence]

Floral Park, Washington, District of Columbia, Contested Territory, United States of America, 24 April 1943

"Taking fire!" Daigo Shinoda shouted, before ducking behind a tree, "Three hundred meters north at the Washington Monument!"

"Yeah, I noticed!" Sam shouted back, before doing the same, "That's what the tanks were for!"

Or at least that's what the charred out hulls were for.

It had been a simple plan: Cross the Tidal Basin, then let the tanks punch through.

Probably would've worked, if it weren't for all those damn javelins.

"Overseer, this is Pheasant 1-1 Actual," Sam shouted over the gunfire, "Requesting artillery barrage on the Washington Monument!"

"Affirmative, 1-1," the radio officer promised, "ETA thirty seconds. Danger close."

"Wait, what was that last part?" Daigo shouted over the gunfire that barely missed them, "They say danger close?"

"Yup!" Sam shouted back, before palming a smoke grenade. "Pop smoke and pull back to the parking lot!"

The other Nisei nodded and tossed their grenades up to the smoke, only moving when there was a clear white cloud blocking the machine guns on the hill. Only then did those who could run carry their wounded back with them.

"How many we'd lose, Dan?" Sam asked the now-sergeant from Hawaii. "How bad?"

"Suzuki and Matsui are gone," Sergeant Inouye answered, "Toyama, Inoue, Ikeda, and Akiyama are wounded. Rest are good to go."

"Got it," Sam acknowledged, only to be interrupted by the explosive blast, "Shit!"

He could barely hear himself think over the sound of explosion after explosion landing nearby.

"Pheasant 1-1," Overseer said over the radio, "Do you have visual on the target?"

"Negative, Overseer." Sam didn't even have to look to see that the smoke hadn't dissipated.

"This is Sierra 0-1," a familiar voice announced over the radio, "Good effect on target. Providing sniper fire to mop them up. How copy?"

Morgan? The Hell is she doing here? Thought she went back to SOG.
"Overseer copies. Continue providing cover fire with your team. 1-1, are you combat effective?"

"Yeah, we are!" Sam quickly shouted into his headset, "We're good to go."

"Acknowledged, 1-1. Continue your mission and secure the Washington Monument. Overseer out."

"Well," Sam said to his men, "Artillery bombed the hell out of the Nats, and we have snipers covering us. I want smoke covering the street before we charge. Any questions?"

The rest of Pheasant 1-1 shook their heads or just stared intently. They knew the plan, and so did he.

"Alright then. 1-1, let's move. I want those trenches cleared, ASAP."

Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Washington, District of Columbia, Contested Territory, United States of America, 24 April 1943

"He's dead," Corporal Alice Zhu said before the body hit the ground. "Got another on the MG."

"Adjusting," Warrant Officer Morgan Chen answered, before firing off another suppressed shot, "Firing."

"Hit. We have friendlies pushing up north, so watch your fire, ma'am."

"I see them," Morgan confirmed. At least she assumed that was Pheasant 1-1. It was hard to tell when she was using a thermal scope, "Any more targets?"

"Couple MG teams at the base of the Monument. About 330 away."

"Firing," Morgan answered, followed by the quiet thud from her suppressed rifle.

"Hit."

"Pheasant 1-1, you are clear to move up. Hostiles at the base of the Monument are KIA."

Skies Above Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, Contested Territory, United States of America, 24 April 1943

AWACS Sherman: <<That's another kill, Captain. What's that, five for the day?>>

OLDS (Devil 1): <<Affirmative. Furball clearing up?>>

AWACS Sherman: <<Negative. They're throwing everything they have in this one.>>

YEAGER (Mustang 1): <<Not like they have anywhere else to go. DC's the last stand, and they know it.>>

OLDS (Devil 1): <<Didn't think they'd have any- Shit! Fox Two!>>

AWACS Sherman: <<Thanks, Cap. You were saying?>>

OLDS (Devil 1): <<How the Hell do they have this many aircraft left? I thought we bombed most of their airstrips!>>

AWACS Sherman: <<They've had a year to dig in. Plus, OSINT's showing them taking off from I-95.>>

YEAGER (Mustang 1): <<More for us, I guess. Got anything for me?>>

AWACS Sherman: <<Got one pulling up on- Nope, Finback 1 got 'em. No, wait, I've got contacts coming from the South.>>

OLDS (Devil 1): <<Well, crap. I'm out. Is Fairfax Field open?>>

AWACS Sherman: <<Affirmative. Ground crews'll have a slot open... actually, right now, Devil 1.>>

OLDS (Devil 1): <<Works for me. Try to hold the fort while we're gone, Mustang.>>

Base of the Washington Monument, Washington, District of Columbia, Contested Territory, United States of America, 24 April 1943

Samuel Kimura had thought he'd seen everything.

He'd seen the worst of humanity in the mass graves up north and the murder-suicides in Montana.

And the best of humanity shined through these thousands of kilometers he'd traveled. People working together, struggling, and fighting - all in the name of that American Dream.

But what he hadn't expected was to see a soldier jump off a building like it was nothing. And live.

"Morgan."

"Sam."

"You guys the ones who helped us?" Morgan nodded. "Thanks. Also, what the Hell are you wearing?"

"This?" the Chinese-American sniper asked, motioning to the exosuit she was wearing. "Upgraded exo with adhesion gloves and shock absorbers. Gift from my brother over in LA."

"Cool." To be honest, he only understood about half of what those words meant. "Wish it'd help us secure the top of the Monument. Elevator's cut, and the stairs are booby-trapped."

"Done."

"...What?"

"Just trust me on this," she promised for the umpteenth time before climbing up the tower. "I think this'll work."

"Wait, what are you-" he asked, before looking up at the team of four climbing the side of the Washington Monument.

This better work.

Top of the Washington Monument, Washington, District of Columbia, Contested Territory, United States of America, 24 April 1943

Morgan Chen wouldn't consider herself a particularly religious person. Sure, she was baptized and all that, but the most she attended were Christmas and Easter masses.

Or as her father would joke, "About as often as most other Catholics."

Did she believe in God? Well, she believed in something up there. Who exactly that was, on the other hand, she didn't know.

But if there was a God, gods, or some other outside force out there, she wanted to know just why the fuck did her family keep getting roped into historical events.

God, Heaven, or whoever is up there owes me for this one. Whose bright idea was it for me to climb up buildings with my sniper rifle?
Oh, right. Mine.
That didn't stop her, Alice Zhu, Lei Anying, and Jin Xianyu from climbing up the one side that wouldn't be shooting at them. Wind or not, they were already a hundred fifty meters up.

"Windows are gone," Alice said through her radio. She had to, when the gunfire and gusts were as loud as they were. "Your call, Chen."

"Hook up first," Morgan instructed, before drilling a hole in the side and hammering in a multi-pronged hook. "Then prep grenades."

I'm sure Washington would understand. Probably. Hopefully.
Mama said he didn't like the whole cult-of-personality thing anyways, so it's probably fine.

"Hooked."

"Attached."

"Hooked on."

"Alright then," Morgan breathed. It was a little easier, knowing she wouldn't be risking a hundred fifty meter fall drop now. "Prep grenades and throw on my mark."

Pull the pin, let the spoon fall out, and then toss the grenade through the window. C'mon, you've done this a hundred times before.

Just, y'know, usually at ground level.

Fuck it, let's get this over with.

"Now!" she shouted, and four grenades went through the slits in the marble.

Four seconds later, a large blast sent dust flying out those same slits. Morgan peered up to see the dead snipers on the floor.

Blood, viscera, and a hand or two were scattered all over the now-charred room.

"This is Sierra 0-1. Tower is clear. Providing covering fire."

Base of the Washington Monument, Washington, District of Columbia, Contested Territory, United States of America, 24 April 1943

"Damn, she's really going to town on those guys," Daigo Shinoda told his boss, "Looks like they've stopped firing missiles."

"Good," Sam breathed. Just a little bit further. "Padre, this is Pheasant 1-1, You're clear to begin assault on the Green Zone."

"Acknowledged, 1-1. Moving out."

His was just the first of a dozen tanks to begin the drive towards the White House. Sam could barely hear himself think over the roars of their massive engines.

Top of the Washington Monument, Washington, District of Columbia, Contested Territory, United States of America, 24 April 1943

"Second window. Top."

"I see him Alice," Morgan whispered, before adjusting the angle of the M82 anti-materiel rifle. They'd carried it all the way up here, and she planned to use every round of ammunition they also had to carry up here.

One of these days I'm going to have to stop volunteering for stuff.

Today is not one of those days.

"Firing."

The gunshot roared through the enclosed space, and the ear protection only did so much to stem the ringing while she waited for the shot to land.

"Hit. Target's dead, boss."

"Good."

Should make Sam's life a little easier, now. Hope he and Dai are alright.

Skies Above Chesapeake Bay, Contested Territory, United States of America, 24 April 1943

BUSH (Finback 1): <<Sherman, Osprey Squadron is down. I don't see any chutes.>>

AWACS Sherman: <<Damn. I'll still have the Navy to make a pass.>>

BUSH (Finback 1): <<Still combat effective. Son of a->>

AWACS Sherman: <<Finback 1, what's your status?>>

BUSH (Finback 1): <<Got two on me! Taking evasive maneuvers!>>

AWACS Sherman: <<Understood. Marlin, move in to assist- wait, what the Hell?>>

MORENO (Marlin 1): <<What's going on?>>

AWACS Sherman: <<Switching to an open channel. Standby.>>

BUSH (Finback 1): <<Marlin, where the [redacted] are you?!>>

MORENO (Marlin 1): <<Lo siento. On our way, Finback!>>

AWACS Sherman: <<Switching to an open channel. Standby.>>

AWACS Patriot: <<All forces loyal to the Nationalist government of the United States are to stand down immediately. This order comes directly from Vice President Henry Ford, Acting Commander-In-Chief of the United States Armed Forces.>>

YEAGER (Mustang 1): <<The Hell's going on? Since when was Ford President?!>>

AWACS Sherman: <<All forces of the Unionist government are to stand down and cease fighting immediately.>>

OLDS (Devil 1): <<We're still fighting in the sky! We can't just stop fighting on a dime, Sherman!>>

AWACS Patriot: <<As per the negotiations in Copenhagen, all forces are to cease fighting immediately while further peace negotiations are discussed.>>

YEAGER (Mustang 1): <<They're surrendering?!>>

OLDS (Devil 1): <<Is it over?>>

AWACS Sherman: <<A ceasefire has been declared. All units, stand down. Changing IFF Parameters.>>

AWACS Patriot: <<All Nationalist aircraft are return to base immediately.>>

AWACS Sherman: <<I have contacts coming from the south. Unidentified aircraft, stand down! War's over!>>

LINDBERGH (Spirit 1): <<Like Hell it is.>>

Presidential Bunker, The White House, Washington, District of Columbia, Unionist-Controlled Territory, United States of America, 24 April 1943

"So," Samuel Kimura said as he walked into what was left of the President's office, "Any of you guys ever visit the White House before?"

"Not in this life," Dan Inouye answered, before leaning against a wall. "You ever travel here, Morgan?"

"Nope. My brother Lin did, for the College World Series, but that's about it."

"Your brother lost me twenty bucks," Daigo Shinoda sighed, "Knew I shouldn't have bet on our guys."

"Dai," Sam chuckled, before opening one of the desk drawers, "We went to USC. The Trojans are our team, and you don't bet against your team."

"Figures." Daigo just shrugged and joined his old friend at the desk, "Besides, the stuff here's probably worth more than twenty bucks."

"Pretty sure some of that stuff's going to belong in a museum," Dan warned. "Back me up on this one, Morgan."

"I guess?" Morgan could only think back to the museums her parents used to bring her and Lin to when they were kids. "But that's for important stuff, like papers or the gun Bilbo used to shoot himself with. Not, y'know, office supplies."

"Fair enough," Inouye relented, before turning to Sam. "It's your call, boss."

"...Dibs on his watch."

 

[ChrisProvidence]

"Letter to Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna," by Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin, 5 February 1911

Your Imperial Majesty,

I write this letter on the 5th of February. While I away from court, I thank you for your continued friendship and correspondence.

The events of the last month are nothing short of Divine Intervention from God Himself. It is my firm belief that this is a warning, if not a test from Him to demonstrate our faith.

The island of Taiwan is nothing less than a modern Sodom and Gomorrah. They are Godless dens of degeneracy in every sense of the word, where men lay with men, women lay with women, and men and women openly fornicate outside the sacred mystery of Marriage.

They are, without a doubt, God's warning of a future that cannot and must not come to pass.

And while they may offer inventions and medicines like the treatment for the Tsarevich that you have told me of, it is my duty as a man of God to tell you that these are no different than the temptations that the Devil offered Christ during His forty days in the desert.

It is for these reasons, as well as the proven power of prayer on your son's health, that I recommend you reject these islands and all the temptations in favor of continued prayer and faith in God.

As followers of God, we are tasked with spreading His word. I ask you, as His fellow servant, to encourage all at court to follow your example.

Know that despite our distance, I am willing and ready to once again serve both you and the Tsar at a moment's notice.

Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin

 

[ChrisProvidence]

The Government of the Russian Empire and the Government of the Empire of Japan

Desirous of maintaining stability in the Far East, strengthening the peace between Russia and Japan, and proceeding from previous agreements both formal and informal, have reached the following Agreement:

Article I

Both Parties are obligated to desist themselves from any act of violence, any act of aggression, and any attack on each other, either individually, or with other Powers.

Article II

Should one of the Parties be engaged in belligerent action by a third Power, the other High Contracting Party will declare neutrality.

Article III

The Governments of both Parties shall continue to maintain diplomatic relations in order to exchange information for the purpose of coordination with one another.

Article IV

In the event of a conflict between both Parties, neither Party shall participate in any grouping of Powers that directly or indirectly targets the other Party.

Article V

Should disputes or conflicts arise between both Parties, they will settle these disputes or conflicts exclusively through friendly diplomatic negotiations, or, if need be, neutral arbitration commissions.

Article VI

Both Parties shall acknowledge the legitimacy of the rump Qing government in Manchuria and recognize its territorial integrity as it pertains to Manchuria.

Article VII

Both Parties shall acknowledge the rump Qing government as within a mutual sphere of influence in which both Parties exert equal influence. Both parties agree to have permanent representatives at the Qing court that are of equal standing and authority.

Article VIII

Both Parties shall acknowledge the other Party's right to recognize the Republic of China and open diplomatic and trade relations, so long as these relations do not interfere with the above Articles.

Article IX

Both Parties shall be obligated to intervene on behalf of the rump Qing state if it is engaged in belligerent action by the Republic of China.

Article X

Both Parties shall be obligated to intervene on behalf of the other Party if it is engaged in belligerent action by the Republic of China.

Article XI

The present Treaty shall enter into force as soon as it is signed and shall be concluded for a period of ten years after it is signed. Both Parties shall ratify the Treaty in the shortest possible time.

 

[ChrisProvidence]

So, here's a look at the new icon for the story.

It's basically a cut-down version of the cover I'm working on.