1947 - Kyoto, American Occupied Japan -
Pfc. Kyle O'Connor lit another one of his Cuban cigars as he walked down the streets of Kyoto, yet another routine patrol. He kept his winter coat on him tight as the Japanese winter began to set in, flurries were gently falling around him as the block finally grew a bit quieter for the evening. American soldiers had been occupying Japan for two years at this point, two years which saw absolutely massive change on the world stage. Kyle and his fellow troops watched as Germany chipped away at the Soviet Union, watched as the United States did little to nothing to curb German influence. They fought their Pacific War and then it was all over.
Passing the occasional Japanese civilian, he found it useful to turn his gaze away. It spared him the guilt associated with the difficult relationship between the occupied and the occupier, for a time. It was an inevitable thing, strenuous occupations aren't really known to breed good relations. The American soldiers throughout the former Japanese Empire knew this fact.
Tensions eased somewhat when the communist Japanese Red Army was hunted down and mostly destroyed by a combined US-JSDF effort. Of course, it couldn't be determined if the JRA was totally eliminated, some reports still spoke of Soviet smuggling making its way onto the mainland. Against all odds, the Union still held out against the unstoppable fascist tide that had infected most of Europe. The tide that had wiped out the European empires of old and made way for the expansionist German and Italian regimes, their armies looked to be unstoppable, though for now, Europe was under some sort of peace, no matter how twisted the term could be.
It was the common opinion in his garrison that some sort of action should've been taken against the Nazi Germans earlier, be it weapons shipments or even full military involvement. The United States' disinterest in European affairs was a frustrating ordeal, to say the least. Many thought that the sudden uproar of rage directed at Japan should've also been launched at Germany as well. Considering the warming of relations between the two powers during the initial stages of the war.
Kyle himself doubted that Germany would have been beaten, and Nazi victories throughout 1940 stunned the world to a degree that hadn't been seen since Napoleon's Empire. Britain's vast holdings began to crumble soon after, with various rebellions in India exploding after the disaster at Dunkirk, leaving most of the sub-continent under the control of Subhas Chandra Bose's India. Malaysia was also beginning to experience tension, with reports of communist rebellions swelling up.
The whole world seemed to be turning upside down, and the ongoing campaign in Eastern Europe seemed to be turning more and more in the fascist's favour. The Free World seemed to get smaller and smaller as time went on, with the last enclaves now having earlier agreed to form the nascent United Nations.
Kyle found himself just outside a popular restaurant, frequented by GIs. Looking around, he saw a mostly abandoned street, with a few Japanese still walking about here and there.
He unslung his M1 Carbine, ensuring that its safety was switched on. As he entered the building, he was greeted with quite a warm atmosphere. Plenty of American soldiers were already inside: some were at a table eating Japanese cuisine, and a small group was gathered around a radio which was broadcasting breaking news from the world stage.
"Hey! O'Connor!" Kyle's eyes were drawn to the radio, where he saw a friend of his alongside some other soldiers on their breaks listening to the small radio.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"It's about the Nazi-Red War." Another soldier pointed at the radio, Kyle grabbed a nearby seat to rest near the group, resting his rifle against one of the seat's legs.
From what little that he could discern from the radio's quality, the lien of control that was so hotly contested between both sides will become the new demarcation line. German forces had largely ceased their movement, and reports of mass desertion from the Red Army were vehemently denied by General Secretary Lavrentiy Beria. All the while rumours were that terms for an armistice between both sides had been reached.
The group of US soldiers surrounding the radio grew larger, and the news of the Soviet capitulation reverberated through the rather quiet restaurant. All of the men had the feeling that this moment was one in their lives that they would not forget.
"This morning, German sources claimed that a majority of Army Group Center and Army Group Volga had withdrawn from Russia. As Axis soldiers hosted a hastily organized march on the streets of Berlin. Cheered on by German citizens, Hitler was nowhere to be heard. Rather it was his lowly lackey, propagandist Dr. Joseph Goebbels who was at the microphone. Hurling inflammatory speeches to the cheering German crowds, proclaiming a total, crushing Aryan victory. A victory over the inferior, disgusting Slavic, Judeo-Bolshevik race. Assuring the people of Germany that victory will always belong to the fatherland, no matter who opposed them."
Goebbels' speech seemed to rise over the crowds of Berlin, a victory speech trouncing the cries of the masses cheering spoke of only triumph.
"Well, that's that..." One of them said, "That's it."
"So that's it? The Krauts won?" Kyle asked rhetorically, shrugging his shoulders tiredly.
"All because of those wackjobs in the Senate. Every time an intervention against the Germans was put up, it was shot down time and time again." One of the soldiers exclaimed, kicking over the chair he had been sitting on a few minutes ago.
"Look on the bright side, no more Reds. No more JRA." Another soldier joked in an effort to bring some light to the situation.
"Janson, the Reds were the only thing standing between the Germans and Asia. Who knows what'll happen if the Germans begin another invasion? Senate cowers in fear, and we sit our asses here in Jap-land doing fuck all." The furious soldier retorted.
"Calm down, Sean." Kyle patted his fellow soldier's shoulder.
"I won't be calm! We did nothing. Nothing! While those Krauts, Eye-Ties and their fucking henchmen ran circles around Europe! All to take the war to these fucking Japs, they didn't even matter in the long run. Moustache had his fun, and now we're all fucked."
Sean sat back down, taking off his helmet and flinging it at the walls in frustration, resting his head against his palms as he clenched his hair in anger.
"Let's just all calm down here." James, the one who had called over Kyle, tried to diffuse the situation.
"Well, if there's one thing I'm certain about... I'd rather be here in Japan than anywhere in Nazi-land." Kyle said, with most of the other soldiers either agreeing or nodding silently. All of them but Sean, who just sat in silence. Lamenting mentally as he rested his hand on his gun. All of them knew that Sean had some family in Britain, having lost both an uncle and a cousin to German bombs during the intense Blitz. A fierce campaign that largely overwhelmed London's air defences and construction repair ability. While he had an intense hatred of the Nazis, the others in his platoon couldn't really come to terms with hating the Nazis, who were half a world away, doing who knows what that didn't really affect them. Kyle nonetheless took the moment to place an understanding hand on Sean's shoulder, giving him reassuring pats that told him that he wasn't alone.
An aura of unease fell around the US Soldiers, who all still understood the implications of this. The Nazis won, finally establishing the pan-Germanic empire that they all heard Hitler talk about on the radio for the last decade. Not many believed that they would actually be able to commit, much less achieve such an outrageous goal. Yet here they were in some tavern in Kyoto, listening to Germany's greatest triumph over the radio, and possibly a humongous turning point in the 20th Century.
"What do you think comes next?" James asked Kyle.
Kyle simply looked at James, blankly staring before shrugging a little. He wasn't going to try and be a theorist, one thing was clear to him.
"If there's something I can guarantee, we won't be leaving Japan anytime soon, that's for sure..."
- Washington DC, The White House -
A seemingly unending crowd of reporters was gathered around the president's podium, awaiting the president's address concerning the German victory against the Soviet Union. A quarter an hour had passed as the reporters stood out in the cold with heavy winter coats, patiently awaiting the arrival of their president. Hoping for reassuring words on Truman's behalf, which would help to calm the American public regarding the new world situation that lay before the nation. Gentle flurries began to fall across the capital before President Harry Truman stepped up to begin the announcement.
A rousing exclamation from the reporters brought back a sense of life into the crowd, their cameras shuttering, flashing and clicking like machine-gun fire as Truman greeted the crowd with affectionate waves and a half-hearted smile. He approached the various microphones hooked up to the podium, confiding in his staff to make sure that they were connected and ready. Media cameras began to roll, and Truman's incoming speech would be heard all throughout the nation.
"My fellow Americans. As President of the United States, I am obligated to be the one to inform you of the unfortunate situation developing in Europe. As it seems, the valiant Russian resistance to German aggression has largely faltered and ended with a ceasefire between the two warring powers. Axis forces have begun larger withdrawals from the demarcation line, though German forces remain throughout occupied Russia to cement their illegal control over the westernmost portions of Russian territory. From this day forth, as quoted by Prime Minister Churchill earlier today... an Iron Curtain has descended over all of Europe. From the cold northern coasts of northern Norway to the warm shores of Iberia. The oppressive hand of fascism holds all of Europe in its grip, threatening to extend its reach even further in due time. I have spoken directly to the respective governments of Canada, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and The French Republic in exile. We have all come to the agreement to conclude a formal military alliance in Toronto against German aggression, to ensure the safety of democracy in this period of great danger."
Truman was barraged with questions from reporters, but when it was clear his speech wasn't finished yet, he was able to mostly quiet down the crowd.
"If the German dictator, Mister Hitler is unwise enough to further extend his sphere of influence, in a manner which greatly endangers the free world. The United States and its staunch allies will use any means necessary to ensure that peace and security are thoroughly enforced and that Germany's military power is destroyed."
At that, the president was finally finished. Questions from the reporters began to flow in, questions about the new alliance, and questions concerning military action. As well as other questions concerning his intention to run for a second term.
The seeds of a new global conflict have been sown once more, a conflict the world has never before seen.