Hoi 4 Chapter 17

Chapter 17 - Jul 1945: The Desolation of Istanbul

It is not possible to keep the existence of nuclear weapons a secret. Very quickly, stories of the destruction of Moscow and Allenstein spread and become front-page news around the world. Strangely, the fact that the Russians struck first is a press and propaganda victory for the US. Their atomic strike is proclaimed a retaliation, rather than a preemptive strike. Both sides are now fully aware of the other side's capabilities. The race for more bombs is on, and the end of the world has never been closer.

Control of the skies is more paramount than ever, and the production of new fighters is prioritized. Now, the US churns out 16 new P-51 Mustangs every day.

The threat of more nuclear strikes fast-tracks the invasion of the Middle East, and it kicks off in mid July. It is quick and easy work for the veteran marines. Soon, a large foothold is taken, and more troops are sailed in.

Hungary begins to break apart against the endless pounding of Anglo troops, and soon the country is split in two.

Invading the Middle East in the middle of the Summer becomes much more difficult as August begins and reinforcements from China and Eretna begin rolling onto the line against the Americans. The 1st Marines are told to hold the north line against Eretna as the rest of the Marines subdue the rest of the Castillian territories in the south.

General BPM, wildly popular among both civilians and military, is promoted and made commanding officer over all US troops in the Middle East (4th Group). His 12th army is reassigned to General James Manuel. He then sets into motion Operation Bad News. The marines in the north will continue holding the line against Eretna, while the troops in the south, reinforced by the victorious troops from Iberia, will push into Castillian lands until the Euphrates River is reached. Then, they will loop around Qara Koyunlu and break the stalemate in the north.

The enormous pocket of Stali troops caused by the split in Hungary is closed in late August, and a staggering 400 thousand enemy troops are captured. It is the largest ever to surrender in modern warfare, and it is a huge blow against the Stali pact.

The second bomb is completed in September. This bomb was nicknamed "Little Bugger" by its engineers. However, many in the administration protest against a second bomb. The first is seen by the world as retaliation against the Russians' bombing of Allenstein, but a second dropped without equal provocation may be viewed as an unnecessary crime against humanity. Many more argue for the drop, saying that already 15 million have died in the war, and that continued fighting will cause many more deaths than a couple of nukes. Eternien agrees with the latter, and the next target is chosen: Istanbul.

Istanbul is a hugely important city for Eretna. While not the capital, it is the most populous and most prosperous. Nearly all of Russia's remaining ports are also located in the Black Sea, only accessible through the Bosphorus strait, which means destruction of Istanbul would impede a lot of the commerce and supply to Russia via the sea. Transporting the bomb to an airstrip within range of Eretna will take some weeks.

Castillian Middle East is fully taken by mid September. Now Eretna is the next target. The marines are sent to prepare to create beach heads in Central Eretna.

At the same time, Eretnid Greek is entered from the north. The momentum from the summer's offensive in Europe has cut straight through Hungary all the way to Eretna.

Hungary capitulates on the 1st of October, just as the bomb is in place to launch against Eretna. However, Eternien hesitates before giving the order. The war is already so much in Anglo favor, and there is a chance the Russians are not able to make another bomb; their financial situation must be bad considering their losses in the war. Instead, a message is telegrammed to Kornilov, informing him of the US's continued nuclear capabilities, and demanding unconditional surrender. If Russia does not surrender by the end of October, another nuke will be dropped.

As Aleppo is taken, a large pocket of enemy troops is created and slowly suffocated. Further west, the first of the marines land in Central Eretna.

The US designs the first jet fighter on the 29th of October. It is called the P-80 Shooting Star. Although it has the same range as the P-51, its top speed is much higher, making it the better choice. Production of the model begins immediately.

The deadline comes and goes and Kornilov does not respond to the demand. Iskender Pasha, the tyrant president of Eretna, is also contacted and surrender is demanded. Nothing. The second bomb, a more powerful one than the first, is loaded onto its delivery plane.

At first light on the 7th of November, the plane takes off from Naples. It is a short flight before Istanbul is spotted. This time, it is not the barbarian Russians who the nuke is dropped on. This time, it is not a retaliation. The bomb hits with the force of 35 kilotons of TNT, obliterating the city center and wiping out a quarter million lives with it. The US troops just 200 miles from the blast see a slight brightening of the sky to the north west. The rest of the world will learn of what the US has done in the coming days, but the reaction will be much different from the last. There will be backlash.