A very special double update coming soon, because I both can't logically divide what comes next, yet at the same time kind of have to... (if that makes any sense). Expect Chapter 9 right after this one.
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Chapter 8 - The Winter Campaign
November 28, 1943
Things are getting urgent, both here and at the front. The winter weather has slowed us, giving time for the Americans to start forming a more solid front ahead of our advance. We were a bit too late in coming to the relief of Chicago, and the rebels were unable to hold out. That being said, we did manage to accept a large number of their leaders, and even the common rank and file, as refugees through gaps near Gary and across Lake Michigan. Though militarily defeated, they are still hopeful, and likely a plan will already be drawn up on how to reconstitute the CSA by the time it is actually feasible to do so, ensuring a more smooth transition.
In the mean time, as our forces are not positioned well to retake one of the world's major urban centers after this turn of events, the general advance will continue, into Indiana now. Our forces are well positioned for that, at least.
Overall there is a great sense that time is running out for victory. Next campaign season the odds in America will likely be much more even, which is probably why the generals order advance throughout the winter. The American navy is getting more daring as well, striking Scapa Flow directly again earlier this week. Unlike many of my reports, which I must carefully scrounge through gossip, whenever I report on Scapa Flow I can say I see the event directly. It is a good ways away, but aircraft have been screaming overhead nonstop since the raid, a fact the tightest of security could never squash. I suppose we are lucky that the USN has not seen fit to strike our own facility here, which I hope is because our own secrecy is working. Some of the guards who were on leave by the shore reported back that they saw the flattops themselves steaming out in pursuit. The RN is likely rightfully embarrassed, and deadset on some form of vengeance.
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December 17, 1943
Our current strategy seems to be ineffective. We've made a few large gains, here and there, but the Americans now seem to be ready to meet our spearheads and push them back, every time. This never made the official news networks, but about ten days ago we'd actually managed to slip some forces down all the way into Tennessee, the heart of the American South! Partisan activity against our supply lines is increasing, daily, though, and even when direct force doesn't counter us, our divisions find themselves slowing or even retreating to protect the rear! Maybe some of this is lingering Union State sentiment, but I wouldn't know much about that.
American leadership and troop quality continues to be poor at least, however. They really do have a tendency to draw too many toops for their counterattacks. Thus, as we saw in Detroit and elsewhere, they leave plenty of gaps for us to exploit. The withdrawal from Tennessee was coupled with a fast push down to North Carolina. Not only was this a particularly long advance when they left a gap, but their critical naval base at Norfolk fell too. The USN may be a thorn in our side, but whoever they organize to defend their bases was really asleep at the helm. Sadly their carriers bloodied our noses yet again down around Portsmouth, but when their fleet returns home, they'll have to look for another place to berth.
The push West in Indiana has also been thwarted for the time being, after the occupation of the state capital was driven out. MacArthur continues to have personal command of the area. Before this was not a problem, but our momentum seems to well and truly be running out here, and difficulties supplying the troops through Ohio persist.
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January 7, 1944
We are attempt a risky strategy. In the face of stiffening American resolve, we need a big push to win. Under the logic that it's better to know now that we should start pulling back than later when we're under constant attack, the generals have decided to route as many of our divisions North as we can, leaving the Southern front and even some regions along the Ohio River very vulnerable. Originally I estimated that this in and of itself might doom us, if the Americans decided to push at our weakened sectors, and they sure are trying, but now I believe that even if we fail we'll likely be able to hold everything North of DC while pulling back to New England. It is still a very, very risky maneuver.
Something helping us is a new drop in American morale. On the same day that La Plata restores democracy in South America, it officially dies in the US. Citing an unprecedented emergency, MacArthur has suspended elections indefinitely.
In a way, he may be right, from his point of view. The following day our attack on Chicago commenced. Divisions are being thrown into the fray as they arrive. The defenders offer fierce resistance, all things considered. Civilians in Chicago keep their heads down, but there are reports of riots in a few other cities, notably St. Louis, a major transport hub that could be used for American reinforcements.
All the defenders need to do is buy time, though. MacArthur knows the forces for our sudden attack had to come from somewhere, and he's pushing back in the South. Thankfully, our troops are very keen on maintaining order, pulling back slowly, but we lose ground either way. We've been pushed out of North Carolina, which was never officially confirmed as having been reached in the first place, and my best bet is that remaining troops are being ordered out of both Virginia and West Virginia. One of my associates has a friend who works logistics that believes he may well be the only man left stationed in Ohio, for as deserted as the remnants of that state have become.
This is the crunch point. This next week or so will decide the fate of North America.