Thunderstorm!
Benito awakens following this visitation from his mystical guide. Was his visit a good omen or bad? He did mention needing to be stronger than ever before... A staff meeting must be called immediately!
Following the staff meeting and doing some circumspection, Buffarini-Guidi has been appointed as the leader of the west Italian empire. This area includes Spain and Morocco, with more to be added as necessary. Allowing someone else to run this area takes much work off of his shoulders... B-G, known as a Man of the People, has proven to be interested in all facets of his staff's work so now, he can deal with his own staff. To replace him, we shall get an extremely efficient staff member, Umberto Albini. He has ways of extracting more from those foreign workers even if he is a bit harsh with his methods.
Now to review more reports for this month of April...Our industry still lacks the ability to fully upgrade our troops, some new CLs were ordered to replace our aging ships, and a few new MTNs were ordered to round out our commando forces.
May begins like the previous months until the morning a messenger comes running into his bedroom just after midnight...
As expected, the war has finally moved to West Europe. An immediate staff meeting is discussed the review our role in this brewing war. After much deliberation, following several days wait to ensure nothing was overlooked, a decision is made...
His army not quite ready but realizing if he should not ally now, his country could very well be the next target, Italy enters the war. Now Germany will have to make good on the promises of the Tri-Partite Pact signed last year. The fact that the Pact inferred three names, Japan was excluded in the final draft, was not lost on him. Mussolini considers this war-like Hitler a beast but, for now he will join forces with his.
The morning of May 11, sees much news...
The Germans make good on the Pact, the USA tries to threaten us, and Japan continues to struggle in Asia. This causes an uprising of their military staff. Luckily for Benito, his staff has backed most of his concerns and ideas completely.
The western Med is sealed off by B-G and his forces. His appointment is validated by the quick action taken on such a vital point. If only Suez could be taken so easily!
As soon as Gibraltar is secured and all beachheads protected, the remaining Spanish forces are shifted to Tripoli. Already. the British are pushing into Italian held assets there.
The Soviets do not remain quiet during this time. Estonia decides to ignore Soviet demands and war breaks out in the Baltic states. Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia have to deal with the Russian bear alone. Their bravery is undeniable but, their resistance is viewed as futile against the Soviets. Fascism had begun to take hold in the area, maybe in the future it can be revived. Both Germany and the Soviets make rapid advances...
While in the south of France, Italian troops easily swarm into southern France taking Grenoble, Nice, Marseilles and further west Bordeaux and Toulouse. The Belgians and Dutch capitulate, the French colonies in the Med are freed, then Germany decides to keep a puppet government in parts of France. A decision Mussolini is most unhappy with...
Benito will have to seek recompense for this slight at a later time. For now, the puppet Vichy can live at the mercy of the Italians. Further east, the Soviets pick on another small neighbor. They too decide to fight !!
A letter is sent to all of the officers and staff, that they could learn something from the brave soldiers to the east. A certain officer returns with a great insult to Il Duce. This will not be tolerated. A quiet, quick solution is devised so that no other officers will ever again dare such a false bravado against the will of the New Empire. One person's dissent can escalate easily...
His staff says nothing to Il Duce about the occurrence but, a great military funeral is held in his honor.He served the old Italy well and gloriously but, this is the New Italian Empire. Romania gives in the Soviet demands at gunpoint, in Africa, advance landings are made in front of the British, slowing down their advance, and Germany sends us new blueprints to advance our technical knowledge.
Most importantly, Suez is captured from the British! The Med is ours!
Much has occurred in a short time. War has a way of making weeks seem like months. Il Duce sends the entire army to Africa to deal with the British. They could easily retake our gains and reopen the Med. To allow this, would be the death of the navy and it would threaten the Italian peninsula, a situation best avoided. A staff meeting is called with the military to discuss the next few months planning.
