STATE OF THE WORLD I
It is December of 1938, the last month of the year of the old regime. The Combined Syndicates of America stands triumphant in the Second American Civil War, after years of brutal, bloodthirsty conflict. Multitudes from around the world came to America to serve in one army or another. It truly was the world's testing ground, with new weapons deployed against both military and civilian. New tactics were tested, new ways of thinking were formed. But now with the new era world's longest lasting conflict over, the dust has finally started to settle. But it never really does settle, for when there is one land at peace, a fire flares up somewhere else.
The fires still burn in the lands of the former United States of America, but they only can smoulder now. Triumphant over the last of his enemies in July of 1938, Jack had reason to look forward to the future. Finally, the true way was to unfold. Jack Reed had won the American general elections of 1936, and had proceeded to implement his campaign. The first trouble had started in California, where the state authorities refused to hand over oil that was to be nationalized. When MacArthur had refused to lend the Army's support, Jack heeded his Vice President, the far more radical Paul Mattick's advice and called upon worker's militias in California, along with playing a game of high stakes chicken by blockading California's exports. This led to self styled Pacific States of America declaring independence. Jack was completely unprepared, he hadn't realized how drastically the nation was divided, and how drastic what he had proposed was doing to galvanize his opponent's resolves - he simply didn't realize how badly things had deteriorated, and he only too late realized his and Mattick's rhetoric wasn't helping things. Though he hastily dropped the more far reaching nationalization plans (angering many within the American Syndicalist Party in the process) and apologized to the Californians, he couldn't put the genie back in the bottle.
It could have still been repaired. Jack was in talks with the Pacific temporary military administration at the White House when shooting and explosions started to be heard around Washington DC. Word came through from Denver, where Douglas MacArthur, holding a press conference, declared the Presidency of Jack Reed was null and void, and that authority and leadership of the country was in the hands of "temporary emergency committee" headed by himself. With that, any hope for keeping a lid on the spiraling madness was over. After seeing President-General Arnold of the PSA safely to his plane through a hail of gunfire and incoming shells, Reed directed the defense of Washington. Fortunately, much of the DC Garrison were loyalists, or at least would not side with MacArthur's clearly unconstitutional gambit. But for Reed, all was in doubt now. While he and loyalist units of the US Army held DC, much of the cogs and gears of the American system went with MacArthur. Angrily, temporary President-General Arnold, with uncharacteristically acidic rhetoric, denounced "the would be King" MacArthur, and made clear in no certain terms that the Pacific States of America, if they separated from a President they felt was going about things illegally, they would
never return to the United States as long as it was ruled by MacArthur and his junta - only immediate new elections would make them return. MacArthur, in typical bombastic fashion, promised fire would rain from the skies if they didn't cease their little rebellion, and sent a wing of B-10 bombers flying over Sacramento. With that, Arnold took the final step, and commenced an immediate attack. If there was a time to try to secure their independence, it was now or never.
Caught off guard, and with most of the military either radically disorganized, suffering mass desertions, or trying to hopelessly contain massive riots across the entire Union, MacArthur and his junta scrambled to react. Further draconian measures were instituted, along with drastic curfews in cities across the United States, while he tried to swing the military to at least counter the numerically smaller Pacific States forces, and stop their advances. It was here that the next step on the road to Hell was put upon. During another intense riot in Tampa, Florida, a unit of the United States Army was stationed, since the local National Guard simply couldn't be trusted. During the melee, the commander of the unit, Maj General Lawrence, opened fire on a massive wall of peaceful demonstrators. When everyone dispersed, 122 people were dead. Reed, still in Washington, got a call from his sometime friend, sometime visceral opponent Huey Long, about what had happened. It was there Long said that he tried, they all tried peacefully, but the time for words was past now. With a wish things could turn different, Long also wished Reed good luck and mysteriously apologized before he hung up the phone. It was only later that night Reed understood - Huey Long declared the United States of America dead, and that the new American Union State was going to fight for the mantle and legacy of all Americans. Maj General Lawrence in Tampa never escaped in time.
It took another two days, but finally, after word of slaughters of union protests in New York City and Chicago, that Reed finally took the last step. Even Hawaii had declared independence from MacArthur's regime. Lines were rapidly galvanizing, and the American military was finally starting to organize, and get new numbers for people who had deserted. To many American loyalists, both Reed and Long were wannabe tyrants and collectivists. Even if they were relatively mild, they provided cover to extremely nasty pieces of work. They legitimized people who wanted to steal the very identity of what it meant to be American. For others, it was loyalty to the America they knew. Others because it was tradition. Or any reason really. It was thus that Reed finally declared the United States of America dead and gone. This was the time - the rise of the Combined Syndicates of America. There was no going back now. Now, it was the time to lead.
Across the industrial north, city after city fell to local workers inspired by the call to rise up, along with revolutionary elements of the American military. US Army elements in DC defected, along with the city. MacArthur, caught completely off guard by Long's declaration, and with nearly the entire South following him in hours, could be forgiven that he had forgotten about Reed in the White House still. Now, he sat stunned as much of the North also rose against his rule. He knew he had massively misjudged, but then again, everyone had. One series of bungles after another, and they had tiptoed into Hell. His military had been ripped apart. Most of his units, while numerically superior, were hollow since so many had deserted. Many of his best staff had unexpectedly departed. Then even more madness began. First, the international volunteers. They truly came from all over the world. Canada immediately pledged volunteers for MacArthur, along with surprisingly still democratic Russia, perhaps seeing a parallel with their earlier civil war. The AUS got volunteers from all over, even the Pope devoted volunteers to his aid. And as for the CSA - volunteers from all over the Internationale streamed in. The war was hardening. Then, to make things worse, the United States Navy ripped itself apart. There were fights on just about every ship for months, but after PSA locale officers and seamen got their hands on much of the American Pacific Fleet, it became a free for all. Under the cover of two nights, massive fights and mutinies broke out on every ship in the Navy, and a decent amount steamed into Charleston for the AUS, and New York City for the CSA, with remaining loyalist ships having to steam back to Corpus Christi because of damage and lack of crews. It followed with things like the King of the former British Empire seizing Alaska. Mysteriously, though CSA sympathizers in the Canadian administration had leaked plans of a Defence Scheme to seize New England in case of civil war or Syndicalist takeover, the Entente never acted upon the plan.
Reed did always wonder why him and Long didn't work together. Yes, they disagreed with implementation, with rhetoric, but they were also friends, almost. And certainly, the core of their ideologies could be said to be similar. But it was in their similarity that one could find the answer. Long spoke for both of them when he said there was truth to criticisms of them and their movement, that they provided room for much more unsavory characters to swim around in. And now, they realized, they were beholden to the paths their movements were to take. They had become, they had internalized what they had previously simply led. So it was with heavy hearts Reed and Long declared war on each other as well. Thus, the stage was set for one of the most nightmarish conflicts of the decade. If any of them - Reed, Long, Curtis, MacArthur, if anyone of them wished more than anything, it was to take it all back. But it was too late for that. The only ones who would be right were the ones who were left.
The Second American Civil War ended up costing somewhere in the realm of nearly 1.6 million dead
soldiers alone over two years. Many times more that many civilians died. At the end of hostilities, two states lay dead, and a united nation of brothers and sisters lay shattered. But God willing,
someone would glue the pieces back together. And maybe then some.
From the start of the war, the CSA enjoyed an industrial edge over both the USA and AUS. Soon after the Defections of the Navy, quick backchannel talks with Long in the AUS revealed his men didn't grab any of the aircraft carriers either. That was what would begin the Trial of New York City. Religiously, the USN with its two aircraft carriers, USS Yorktown and USS Enterprise, would sail out to, as they put it, "sink the CSA Navy". But often, it would only end in random parts of New York City getting bombed. Thus, after the initial bits of the post-declaration state had settled down, it was decided that a crash aircraft carrier program was needed to protect the nucleus fleet if it intended on ever sailing out of NYC and back in without getting ripped to shreds. Many people questioned this decision, considering the many wartime needs - namely, more troops. But there wasn't much that could be done about this anyways - while the CSA had a lot of manpower in the cities, it couldn't simply draft every available man. Indeed, even then, Reed had to allow de jure what was happening de facto - women joining the combat units. It was a similar story in the AUS, where early on, Long firmly overrode objections from more racist elements within the America First, and demanded that colored people also be allowed to serve. It really was the war of all against all. Later, when the AUS was defeated, the USN would start religiously bombing Miami (it is believed in revenge for the massacre there of the US Army unit stationed there during the uprising of the AUS) as well. When the AUS was eventually defeated, the CSA quickly discovered the AUS Navy had come to the same conclusion as their CSA Navy counterparts, and despite their less material resources, they too were trying for naval air cover. After paring some of the more unneeded programs, like obsolete heavy cruisers, the CSA had two additional aircraft carriers and battleships in production courtesy of the AUS. That was in addition to the they inherited along with the rest of the USN when the Junta was finally defeated.
In the ensuing post-war situation, when different factions of the American Syndicalist movement started trying to implement their visions irrespective of each other and bringing the country nearly to the brink yet again, Reed had to pick a side. He came onside with the Syndicalists - he despised radicalism, and he'd seen enough of it not only in Russia, but also during the war, when some units even from his side, committed atrocities. Totalists found themselves increasingly frozen out of the temporary administration until a standard government form and first elections, if any, would be held. While they still held influence and certainly had sacrificed for the Revolution, Reed wanted to make sure their vision didn't take over as it had in so many other places, and brought death and ruin. Norman Thomas, among others, provided balance to more radical figures like Sidney Hilman. And to keep all working together (and keep everyone talking instead of fighting), there was the indomitable Smedley Butler, war hero of the Revolution.
During the Revolution, an opportunity had come Reed's way by contacts in Cuba. They wished to organize a coup to stop Cuba from falling into the hands of AUS sympathizers, or even worse, into the Exile ruled authoritarian Caribbean Federation, as Puerto Rico had been. It would take minimal effort, just some resources, supplies, and money which the CSA had aplenty. The coup had been a success, and while for practical purposes, Cuba could not help the war on the mainland, any further Entente expansion in the Caribbean was halted.
In Europe, they prepare for war with ever sharpening sabers. Already, war had touched the continent. In Spain, the Bourbon pretender's supporters, set up a revolution and forced Spain into civil war. It looked manageable, until the revolutionary CNT-FAI also joined the conflict. It was with the Carlists heady early days that they concocted their own undoing. They planned to kill the ailing father and the legitimate son, and so force the kingdom to fall to the Carlists by way of succession. The CNT-FAI got word of the plot however, and spilled it to the main government - they agreed to capitulate to the CNT-FAI, and from there, the unions forces beat back the Carlists handily. While Spain lost Morocco and the like, Spain was under socialist rule now. Portugal, either by hubris, or indifference, did not feel a need to protect themselves, and thus when they broke up union protests violently, the CNT-FAI surged across the border. Portugal in short order was annexed, and rather than fight a long and probably unwinnable war, the CNT-FAI mercifully let the government go into exile, to their colonies.
The political situation is balanced as can be. The Totalists have won in the Commune, and in the Social Republic of Italy. However, one of the most mild, nearly unsocialistic governments came to power in the Union of Britain, following an extraordinary Trade Union Congress. They are finally balanced out by the Syndicalist oriented CNT-FAI. They work together, for now, but for how long that lasts? France had already invited Reed and the CSA to the Internationale, the alliance, but Reed had to politely decline. Not only was the country devastated, but he had to win the trust of non-socialists in the country, as well as socialists in the party who hoped to keep Totalist influences to a minimum. Maybe some other day, not now for sure.
Mitteleuropa fared more interestingly. Their current story starts in the ashes of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. During the Augsleich of 1937, everything went to hell. Nationalists in Hungary refused any and all compromise, and so the Empire was torn. Galicia voted to join Poland, Bohemia declared independence, Croatia went it's own way, Serbia attacked Bosnia. While the Austrians did rally in the end. everything was devastated. Eventually, the Magyars were brought to heel by their own greed. In their determination to grab everything and independence, they miscalculated, and Iron Guard Romania went to war for Transylvania. Finally, the Austrians rallied, and subdued Bohemia once again, and turned back Italy. In the end, the big winner was probably Serbia, which looks set for more growth. After the war, a Syndicalist coup was attempted, which failed. Since that, the remaining administration of Austria petitioned the German Empire for admittance, and what was unthinkable decades earlier, had come to pass. Nearly all the German people were finally united into one megastate.
Africa has not changed much so far. In the days after the start of the 2nd American Civil War, Liberia was without protector and big brother. In their foolishness, they signed up for protection by National France. When later, National France had both a Tuareg and Guinean revolt, Liberia was thrown into chaos once again. They held however. With CSA victory in the mainland, many wonder what Liberia may do.
Mittelafrika has for some reason been relatively inactive. They did try their best to get Portugal down to talks on their African colonies, but when presented with the cost for the actual provinces, for some reason they didn't buy. Nor did they intervene in the still smoldering Princes Revolt of Ethiopia.
Portugal's in exile government is lucky in a way. They lost none of their colonies due to Mittelafrika not wanting to pay the money for their colonies earlier in 1936.The government opted to join the Entente, yet another reactionary countryin exile in a collection of reactionary countries in exile.
South Africa has mostly been focusing on internal matters, consolidating internal control of their enlarged country. One can hear whispers, though, of another expansion, into Mittelafrika's undefended southern flank. It would be so easy...
Ethiopia has been under a hard charging, hard reforming Emperor for years now. Unfortunately, his admirable refusal to yield in the face of progress brought him first with scattered revolts, and finally, the Princes Revolt. He is winning, but the war still rages.
In the Middle East and the Balkans, funny business is underfoot. The big change here was the final, merciful collapse of the decadent Ottoman Empire. It began with the Libyan King's declaration of independence. When nearly after a year the Sultan proved unable to counter it, they were forced to let Libya go. With that, the Middle Eastern Axis finally started their war with the Ottoman Empire. Cyprus broke free and was unable to be subdued, along with Kurdistan. After the dust settled, the Ottoman Empire had lost just about everything - only the core Turkish land and Armenia remained, the rest taken by Arabs, Persians, Kurds, or flying out from under their control. In response, the Empire was finally overthrown, Nihal Atsiz declaring that the new Turkish Republic would have it's revenge. Time will tell if he can make good on his threats.
In South America, it almost looks like a repeat of Europe. Three power blocs have emerged - Totalist Brazil and her more mild allies Venezuela and Bolivia. Around the same time (since no one can remember or agree who started the alliance building first), Colombia and Ecuador formed an alliance of their own, both being liberal democracies. Also around this time, what's come to be called the Southern Cone came to be - an alliance of authoritarian Peru and La Plata, with a democratic Chile (more out of necessity than ideology). The first sparks are already there, since Brazil just finished a civil war, which was aided and abetted by outside parties...
In Indochina, Germany was facing mass dissatisfaction with rule, and when the response to isolated revolts were not awnsered, a groundswell, the socialist Indochina Federation came into being thanks to the efforts of the Bharatiya Commune of India. Germany could not win the war at this point, and the Indochinese are now left to face their next step in the world as an independent nation. Thailand has reason to fear however. In Southern China, the warlord Long Yun of Yunnan Clique made promises of restoring the Republic of China, but he seems to have given up the war preparation campaigns. No one knows yet if he intends to restart. The AOG persists, after having given more voice to the Chinese elements in the lands it rules. For how much longer, one doesn't know.
In India, a massive war rages for the future of the subcontinent. The first true war the post-war Entente is facing is underway. Originally, it started thanks to a vanquished party to the conflict, the Nizam of Hyderabad. Ali of the Princely Federation fancied himself the true ruler of India, and had set out his country on the path to claiming the mantle to rule all of India. But no one was ready for when he went before the Durbar of the Princes, and announced himself as the Kaisar-i-Hind. No one dared refuse then, though he got his answer a few days later. The kings of Mysore and Travancore both declared independence, and the Madras Republic joined the fight against the mad Nizam. Outraged, the loyalist Delhi government considered the Princely declaration a step too far, and the Delhi Parliament under Jinnah voted for war with the Federation, and in a display of solidarity among the British Entente, all the Dominions voted for war as well, for Delhi was the rightful heir to the subcontinent. Another who felt the Nizam's act was intolerable, the newly strengthened Bharatiya Commune. After years of building the republic, along with help from the Commune of France and the former masters the Union of Britain, even under the mild rule of Huq and Nehru they felt now was the time to make the Princes pay. Joined in this, was Burma, which had it's own Syndicalist revolt. They refused union into the Republic, but time will tell if they can maintain this. Surprisingly, demands for elections took place in both Mysore and Travancore, and were heeded. In both cases, parties calling for aceding to the Bharatiya Republic won, and so right now they are in the process of integration. After the downfall of the Mad Nizam, there was thought of rest, but perhaps the Bharatiya Republic was too itchy with their trigger finger. Drunk with success, they declared war against the Dehli government. Jinnah and the King-Emperor met, and the result was once again, the former Empire and other Etente allies coming to the defense of Dehli. With the end of this war, it will determine who controls the subcontinent. There will be no mercy, and no quarter in this battle for the fate of nearly a billion souls.
The Japanese Empire holds, in the Far East, and has resumed expansion. Early on, there was democratization afoot, and while there were issues, the democracy has held. The Empire was tested when both Taiwan and Korea rebelled, and both were aided by foreign powers. Despite it all, the Japanese Empire, after a while, did triumph. Taiwan is already reintegrated into the Empire, and as for Korea, Army divisions are enough to hold it down.
With the overthrow of Kolchak, the yearned for freedom has not come just yet. But with the overlords in Tokyo disposed towards democracy now, how will that change Transamur? Likewise, in the Fengtien, rule is being challenged. Where will it lead though?
In China, the Qing Empire is awakening, but slowly. The Emperor, Pu Yi, first sought to bring the Millenarians into the fold, though they refused to talk. After years of reforming and building, the Qing Emperor unleashed his forces onto the Millenarians. Though it initially looked like the Millenarians would sweep out of the mountains, they were beaten back and annexed eventually by both the Qing and the northwestern Muslim lands of the Ma warlords. Now, both are in conflict with each other, and it has been stalemated. Long Yun's entry against the Ma Warlords could tip the balance, but he has to redecide to renew his crusade first...
In Russia, not too much changes. Against all odds, the Russians have held onto their democracy, and even though there is much dissent throughout the lands, no one has risen in civil war yet. Though the President promised action in Central Asia, he has yet to follow through. So events are overtaking him. Central Asia is a mess, with Alash Orda under the dual attacks of the would be Caliphate of Bukhara, and the mad Baron Ungern von Sternberg, and about to fall. Likewise, the Caucuses reels from after effects of the Ottoman collapse. Armenia is currently under the rule of nationalists in Turkey, and thus, their fate is...not pretty. Voices are heard in Transcaucasia of liberating them, but no one knows what to do. Transcaucasia was at war with Azerbaijan, but it ended for no reason anyone else can seem to understand. Maybe if Transcaucasia wasn't so busy killing it's own people thanks to Beria, it could get around to doing something. Hopefully, someone will do something. And Ukraine is...Ukraine.
The action for the CSA, ironically, might be right next door. The poor Syndicalist state of Centroamerica has been nothing but enthusiastic of the CSA project from the very beginning, sending every chance they had everything they could to aid the revolution. Likewise, they have had seemingly good luck. A revolution in Panama, and it brought them into the Union, and then a war for the farmers of Hondouras went well. Though there are no plans to attack the United Provinces right now, the Centroamericans still remain as inscrutable as ever. But the CSA is fortunate to have them as friends regardless. Also counted as friends is the Mexican regime, where Chairman Vincente Toledano was able to outmaneuver army generals and succeed the chairmanship, and was vital towards sending comrade volunteers to aid in the Revolution. But his rule is still unstable, and the CSA worries for him. There are plenty of people who like to seem him dead in Mexico...
In so many points across the globe, all it would take is one spark to set a whole firestorm.
It's a matter of when it seems in Europe, not if. Will the CSA be ready, whatever choices they make?
And then there is the matter of Jack Reed. His condition has been public for over a year now. And he is a brave man, but how long can he delay the inevitable? And who will succeed him when his time is up? He doesn't want radicalism, but he fears the message falls on deaf ears in some quarters. His children can't simply carry it on, the torch must pass to someone else. He prays that nothing undoes the work he's committed his whole life towards. But he also knows the wheels of history always turn. And there are dangerous people in the new America. Only time will tell.
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So erm, yeah. That was a lot longer than I intended it to be. But hopefully you all are caught up with the general situation. And no, Reed is not going to war with President-General Arnold of the PSA (yet, at least. We'll see what the future holds). And also, the CSA didn't join the Internationale. Too much rebuilding, too little time for healing yet. I think I also did a rare thing, and didn't make either Long OR Reed into an absolute monster
. Really, no one big up in the whole 2nd ACW is.