Hoi 4 Chapter 10

Chapter 10 - Aug 1942: Grisly Tuesday

The Capital of Russia, Stara Ladoga, lies on the southern coast of Lake Ladoga. It is a small but beautiful old city just a hundred miles from Russia's border with the UBP. Most of the government is not here, though. Much of the government buildings are in Leningrad, just west of Stara Ladoga. Much of the government also works in Leningrad, and even President Kornilov is only in Stara Ladoga for a few days a month.

The government of Russia is currently split between those who are loyal to Kornilov and those who are loyal to the ideals of democracy. Changing the government to one less aligned with democracy would not be possible in the current situation, with the perpetual war with the Asian Conference and the split in the upper house. Luckily, he has plans to deal with both of those issues.

In the US, President Eternien authorizes a secret project called the Boston Project. Working with Britain, and using the ideas put forth by a scientist in Norfolk, the Boston Project will work on creating a super powerful bomb using nuclear fusion. Although originally in Boston, the Boston Project is moved to New Mexico.

The battle for Egypt begins in a terrible fight 50 miles from Cairo. An entire division in surrounded and captured, and the rest suffer unbelievable casualties. A week long battle ends with the American capture of the Port of Dumyat, and more troops begin arriving to help the marines.

Benin and its ally Aquitaine invade southern Mali in late August. Benin's alliance, called simply the Red, is the only Communist alliance in the world.

Cairo falls in October. It is the most intense fighting in North Africa to date. A near constant sandstorm blows over Lower Egypt as the American troops struggle forward. The superior air power of the US proves vital, and thousands of bombs drop on Arabian troops. Soon after, the Suez Canal is capture.

Several dozen Arabian divisions are surrounded in 3 different pockets. 2 hundred thousand enemy troops throw down their arms, reducing the Arabian army by a third.

With the destruction of their land forces, the Arabians are helpless to stop the flow of Americans. By December, the Americans have reached Upper Egypt.

Benin's war with Mali does not go as planned, and soon Benin is on the retreat. As Mali unleashes its potential, it announces an alliance with Japan. Now, The War in the Pacific has expanded into Africa as well.

Arabia falls on Christmas day, 1942. The government flees to its territorial holdings in Yemen, as its entire army surrenders. The marines and a newly formed army of special mountain divisions are sent to mop up the Middle East.

The offensive in Europe continues to fling back hundreds of thousands of Covenant troops thrown at the line. Despite this, progress is made, and Picardian territory is entered in the new year. The lines are close to joining again.

In the east, China invades the fascist nation of Cambodia. While they give some absurd justification for their war, it is obvious they do not trust a fascist country to the south, as they are still fighting fascist Japan.

Provence is entered in mid February. For the first time in the war, American troops are marching into Covenant European territory. Provence falls as their capital is taken. Just a week later, the lines meet, and thousands of Covenant troops are caught in a pocket. They surrender a few days later.

The Pacific war sees the first change in many months. Russia successfully lands troops on the southern island of Kyushu. No doubt hundreds of thousands of Russian troops are being transported there at this moment.

The momentum carries the Anglo troops all the way to the border of the homeland of the Lotharingians. All of the overrun Teutonic lands are retaken, and nearly all of Picardy is liberated. After nearly 3 years of occupation, the lands once taken are back in the alliance.

The morning of April 6th, 1943 reveals a clear, crisp day in Leningrad. The few spots of snow, evidence of last month's snow storm, still lie on the grass, as drops of melting icicles drip lazily off the roofs of buildings. The government buildings are already alive with workers at 8. But something is wrong. All of Kornilov's most loyal men are not in the building. They are not in Leningrad at all.

The sound of automobiles and trams in the city is interrupted by a series of explosions. The clear sky is marred as smoke and debris and flame rise hundreds of feet in the air. The government buildings are nothing more than a flaming ruin of burning matter.

And the death does not end there. Throughout the country, Kornilov's men storm buildings of suspected enemies of the state, arresting them. Pyotr Kolchak, the man who planned on running against Kornilov, is blamed for the explosion. Within hours, he is arrested.

What will become known as Grisly Tuesday is over by 8PM, and all those who were suspected as have opposing ideas are dead. Kornilov gives himself 'temporary' executive powers to 'deal with the situation'. It was quick and dirty, and suddenly Russia is no longer any kind of democracy. Suddenly, Russia is a dictatorship.