@Razgriz 2K9: Do not worry, Japan's grand master plan for Pacific domination does not involve fighting the Americans and their puppets until after Japan has knocked out the SCO.
@Sumeragi: Nothing is impossible. I will shatter Japan's enemies, whether it is the Chinese, the Russians, the Koreans, or the Americans.
@Timmie0307: It is impossible to have a "limited" nuclear exchange, if the AI were to ever use nukes they would launch everything they have. Probably would not be very smart of NATO to start using them first, since the Russians have a far larger arsenal of nuclear weapons and could easily turn all of western Europe into plate glass. Not saying the Russian's wouldn't pay for it, they would take lots of damage, but in the end it would be Europe that would be worse off.
@talt: True, ALBA will not last for much longer. Then again, they will not be done quickly, their last members will hold out probably for a long time, but they have almost no chance of throwing back Coalition/NATO invasions.
@everyone else: thanks for the comments!
As Japanese forces begin to move into position to launch their assault on the final Vietnamese stronghold of Ho Chi Minh City, combined Thai/Singapore Army forces move on the city to test its defenses. PAVN presence in the city is found to be very extensive, as the Vietnamese are gathering almost everything they have left for their final stand. The Thai and Singapore forces are ordered to fall back to their start positions, having not made any headway in the face of intense PAVN resistance.
Meanwhile, in Africa, coalition forces, led forwards by the South African Defense Force, continue to drive SCO forces further to the north. Mozambique is the latest country to surrender to Coalition forces, while other SCO members are under ever increasing pressure. Zimbabwe's army has withdrawn to defend their capital, now under increasing attacks by SADF artillery. To the west, SADF troops are moving deep into Angola, marching on the capital of Luanda.
The status of the European front on August 24th, 2009. Russian forces are now at the gates of Oslo, Stockholm, Athens, and have taken control of Copenhagen via a combined ground-naval assault. Meanwhile, Russian forces have begun to enter northern Italy. The German front seems to be shifting once again as well, with European NATO forces starting to push the Russians back, at least for now.
The Russians and their allies are not the only forces who are actively fighting NATO forces in Europe. ECON is launching amphibious attacks on European Mediterranean islands, such as here, at Crete, where Libyan forces have invaded and taken control of the entire island.
Back in Southeast Asia, the final battle for control of Ho Chi Minh City begins. Japanese and allied forces attack the city from all sides, ordered not to stop their advance until PAVN forces are driven out. In ferocious house by house fighting, PAVN forces are steadily forced back, fighting hard for every square inch of their remaining stronghold.
Finally, after several days of intense fighting, the last PAVN holdouts in the city are forced to either lay down their arms or retreat into the Mekong Delta. Japanese, Thai, and Singapore flags fly high over the city, which is now fully secured by Japanese forces.
Back in Europe, NATO's European Union members launch a final, desperate large scale counteroffensive to drive the Russian army back. The Europeans, down to their last reserves of soldiers and equipment, are throwing everything they have left in this offensive. European forces quickly make great progress, liberating Munich, Nuremberg, Leipzig, and many other German cities from the Russians. Russian troops meanwhile fall back to secondary defensive positions, hoping to keep the EU from retaking control of Austria, the Czech Republic, and Eastern Germany.
Back in Vietnam, Japanese/Thai forces move to finish off the remnants of the Peoples Army of Vietnam. Enemy troops, low on ammunition, supplies, and having lost battle after battle to superior Japanese forces, only put up sporadic resistance before surrendering en masse to Japanese and allied troops.
Meanwhile, in West Africa, Nigeria's advances in the region have attracted the attention of far greater powers. 45,000 US troops invade Nigerian controlled areas along the coast, liberating coastal regions of Togo, Benin, and seizing control of the massive Nigerian city of Lagos. Nigeria's army is reported to be redeploying large numbers of troops from the rest of its fronts to keep the Americans from advancing any further.
Finally, in Southeast Asia, Vietnamese leaders sign the final surrender of their country to Japanese and allied forces. With Vietnam's surrender, the last of the SCO's allies in Southeast Asia have been defeated. Vietnam is put under temporary Thai administration, pending a handover to Japanese control when the war with the SCO is over. The Southeast Asian campaign is over, but far greater battles still await the forces of the Japanese Army before final victory is achieved.
