Local skirmishes erupted all along the ASR-USA border in early July, as relations deteriorated rapidly, America finally declared war on July 22nd when USS Hunter was sunk by the battleship Manhatten. Within a week Adams' troops were in Pittsburg, by August 3rd, they were in Harrisburg. US forces were still in the Mid-West when the invasion began, and recent revolts by the Mormons and the North-West governors meant that many troops had to stay in the area rather than head to Pennsylvania.
All US troops in the area had setup a hasty defence to the north and west of Baltimore. Expecting a repeat of the mass assault on Washington during the last war, they were taken completely by suprise when 30,000 Red Marines landed near Annapolis! This new problem confused American commanders as (flase) intelligence had told of a build up of troops to the north, and they split their force sending only a few thousand to stem the tide of the Marines. By the time commanders had realised no large frontal assault would happen, the Marines already controlled most of the capital and surrounding area. The commanders decided to surrender but many of their troops refused, consisting of New Yorkers that had fled from the Communists, they were ardent die-hard that intended to fight the last. The defenders split up and it would take several weeks more before the area was secure and the advance could continue into Virginia.
Red Marines battle Union troops on the outskirts of Washington
*****
Sergeant O'Connell stumbled as he made his way through some thick undergrowth with his squad. One of his corporals, Goldmann tripped over some roots and landed face first in a thorn bush, receiving several nasty cuts which made the squad burst out laughing.
"Ah Goldmann, your swan-like grace amazes me", remarked Private Hendel.
"Shut up Hendel!" spat Goldmann as he picked himself up "I hate this place, it couldn't get any worse". As if in answer to this, a shot rang out and the corporal fell back down.
"Partisans! Shit! Everyone get cover", yelled O'Connell, as he himself jumped behind a large log. Bullets flew as the enemy, tree by tree, swiftly came closer to the squad's posistion. O'Connell took aim at one of the trees, and as the soldier behind it began to run to his next hiding place, he was thrown to the floor as a bullet smashed into his temple. O'Connell smurked at his superb marksmanship before half a dozen shots smacked into his log , causing him to quickly duck. The enemy was getting closer, their shouts being easily audible.
"Come out ya red bastards, we'll gut ya!" they shouted, prompting O'Connell to give a big gulp. Suddenly more Partisans appeared to the right taking out two of the squad.
"Fall back, fall back". O'Connell began to run with shots ringing all around him, and the occasion scream. He turned to fire his rifle only to trip into a shallow stream. Before he could get back up, a rather large, bearded American soldier was standing over him with a rifle, bayonet fixed.
"Am gonna enjoy this, ya little commie". O'Connell winced, the man raised his bayonet, but was quickly downed as Hendel ran up from behind, connecting his rifle butt to the soldier's jaw.
"Come on sarge lets get out of here"
"Yea I think we'll be doing that".
*****
As the Defense Corps were rushed up to secure the frontline at the end of August, troops were still securing Delaware, which had proven a hotbed of partisan activity. Adams was marching west into Ohio while his cavarly vanguard under the dashing Colonel Hughes were heading straight for Chicago, causing as much trouble as possible along the way. The Marines were also making progress, taking the rest of Maryland and heading deep into Virginia, defeating a US army of 20,000 near Manasas.
With the newly raised armies being defeated piece meal, it was decided to try a counter-attack into the ASR itself, some 50,000 troops were mustered in North Carolina and put aboard transports. Before landings could happen the Red 'Navy' had to be defeated. Manhatten and Karl Marx had been going up and down the Atlantic seaboard, attacking lone destroyer squardrons and cruisers, bombarding towns and even Fort Sumter. Though the US fleet hadn't anything of the firepower of the two ships (indeed even the Royal Navy was only starting to develop similar designs), it had greater numbers and it intended to use them. On September 8th, Manhatten and Karl Marx under the brilliant Admiral Moultrie engaged several heavy cruisers and a dozen cruisers, supported by destroyers. In a battle that lasted on and off for four days, Moultrie used his ships greater range to keep the enemy at arm's length, sinking two cruisers and damaging another cruiser and a heavy cruiser. On the final day, fog set in, allowing the US fleet to close in to cause some damage, which the Karl Marx took the brunt of. Another cruiser was sank along with several destroyers, and the heavy cruiser USS Virginia, was badly crippled when the Karl Marx appeared out of the fog right along side. The Karl Marx hit by two torpedoes, and dozens of shells, lost two of its major turrets, as it took on water Moultrie ordered it to pull back, but the captain, knowing it would soon sink, ordered all ordnance to the front of the ship, the crew off and set it for a side on collision with the Virginia, the resulting explosion destroying both ships. Moultrie and the Manhatten, having done all they could, retired to New York habour.
With the seas open, US troops could start landing, the original plan to land all troops in Manhatten was scrubbed after reports showed its fortifications to be stronger than expected so instead troops would be landed all up the coast. The landings were a catastrophe, either meeting repulsion on the beach or being defeated by quick counter-attacks by local militia. One division's unguarded transports were destroyed by home-made bombs used by enlisted fishermen, leaving the force stranded, they quickly surrendered.
The war's biggest battle to date happened on September 20th, when Adams' 66,000 troops were attacked by a 100,000 strong Union army near Colombus. Both sides suffered heavy losses, and after two weeks of brutal fighting, the Americans fell back, qucikly followed by the advancing Adams, but he had to fall back when confronted with an additional 50,000 troops. Though the ASR had so far been victorious it was being warn-down, with large American armies forming in the Mid-West and South, both Adams' and the Marines' advances were being stalled.
Help was on its way from unexpected places. Finally the Mormon populace in Utah and the North-West governors broke out into open rebellion, declaring the nations of Deseret and Columbia to be free from the yoke of "Federal bereaucratic and religious oppresion". Though at first almost joke revolts, Britain, Canada and California all secretly aided them with arms and money, hoping to cut the USA off from the Pacific. The revolts grew in size and eventually troops had to be sent to put them down, not forgetting what had happened in the 2nd Civil War, local troops weren't sent, but local troops still mutinied in their army camps, though in more managable numbers. Also stand-offs on the Texas border meant thousands of troops being stationed there, although only having just over 2 million people, Texas still boasted 80,000 soldiers, that could be a serious threat in the circumstances.
The final battle of the war began October 15th in Cleveland, Ohio. Adams' reinforced army of 76,000 held a defensive position along a ridge with an American built fort at the centre. Against this stood 160,000 US soldiers. For a week the Union forces battered their heads against the People's Army, losing some 75,000 casualties compared to only 20,000. Victory seemed assured by the 23rd but then some 40,000 reinforcements joined the fray, which worried Adams greatly. Having to get the Council's approval, the Defense Corps was ordered to march with all haste to the battle, arriving just in time, with Adams' force reduced to under 20,000, the 50,000 was a god send. Though the battle was more or less over by November 2nd, Hughes' cavarly appeared from behind the Union army, resulting in the virtual annihilation of all US units. The President, from the provisional capital in Chicago, opened peace talks.
The ASR was given the remainder of Pennsylvania, Delware and the province of Salisbury. Another condition of peace was Columbia and Deseret's status. Deseret was given full independence, while according to its wishes, Columbia was just made a semi-autonomous republic. The United States was in ruins, it was at this time the Republicans and Democrats fell out of favour and parties like the Populists and Union Party began to rise in popularity, also at this time colonial expeditions began in Africa, in an attempt to regain some prestige for the nation.
Adams, in full ceremonial uniform stepped out onto the balcony. A wave of adjulation swept over him, as the crowds roared. To his left stood a grinning Chairman Wilson.
"Congratulations Comrade Adams!, you have done your nation proud, I here by present you with the merit of 'Hero 1st class'!"
"I thank you greatly Comrade", the two men shook hands, and Wilson addressed the crowd.
"Comrades, comrades I am proud. I am proud of our glorious army of the proleteriat and their leader, Comrade Adams but Im also proud of all of you. They fought the fight on the battlefield but you all fight. The farmer fights to put food on our nations table. The coal miner fights to keep our home fires burning. The policeman fights to maintain order. The doctor fights to keep our people healthy. The factory worker fights to sustain the nation's growth. You all fight to make this nation what it is. Great. We have proven that socialism works, we are only a population of 18 million, the 14th biggest country but we are the 5th most industrialised, the world leader in steel production and we are still growing. Scientists and other great minds flock here from around the globe eager to help the growth of socialism, making us one of the most technologically advanced and cultured states in the world. We have sustained the revolution, strengthened it, now its time to spread it, whoes with me?!"
