1975: 2 Minutes to Midnight(AH/Cold War/IC/Open)

[Bolovia]

1975:2 Minutes to Midnight.

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December 31st, New Years Eve. Philadelphia,Pennsylvania

3, 2,1 Happy New Year!

Richards slouched back in his couch, he took a gulp of his whiskey. Watching his children play, the fireworks furiously popped and cracked outside from every direction. The night was lively, John was content with how the evening was spent. A nice dinner, sitting around the fireplace listening to music or turning on the tube. John took another swish of his whiskey. 20 days, he thought.20 days until I can relax for good. The elections were still fresh, the inauguration was to be held in 20 days. He just couldn't believe who the people chose; a billionaire business mogul from California. A man with no shame in what he says or how he conducts himself. The mere thought of his name made John cringe.20 days until that fool takes over. It was rumored the Doomsday clock moved forward a full hour after Carson Blackburne got elected, bringing the world 2 minutes away to global catastrophe. Roosevelt must be rolling over in his grave knowing a man like Carson Blackburne was the people's choice. The mere thought of bourgeois billionaire being elected President was the mere idea Roosevelt wanted to avert.

Still, John didn't let Blackburne ruin his evening. He couldn't let his eyes up on his kids; John couldn't believe how fast they were growing up. His daughter Claire was 9 years old, taking up ballet. A sense of relief over came John,he was elated at the thought having time for his family again, especially after losing the election. His hair turned a silver grey, the wrinkles around his eyes and forehead firmly entrenched itself on his face, four years of leading the free world had taken its toll. The USSR, civil unrest, the civil rights movement, the economic downturn, Carson Blackburne, all these things took a toll on John.The reflection of his administration gave him a headache, he took another swish of his whiskey. Gun shots and firecrackers filled the night, downtown Philadelphia was lively. The night was one of celebration for America, but John stressed on the idea of a Blackburne Presidency. Was it a genuine concern for the well-being of the nation? Or was it bitterness that got the best of him?

John poured himself another drink.

Mary walked into the room, she noticed the whiskey bottle was halfway empty; it was a little early for it to be empty so soon at the beginning of the month.She grabbed herself a glass and poured some scotch in it. John glanced over at her backside, gazing up and down at her figure. Mary walked over to the couch and sat down beside him, drinking and watching the kids play.

The kids look happy, why aren't you Johnny?

I'm just tired. I'm ready for the break, for relaxing, spending time with my family. This election was a blessing, I know you guys are ready to move on.

John, I just wanna let you know this election.......your loss doesn't mean we think any less of you. We're in the same boat.

I didn't say that. I'm just, a bit unnerved that the country chose Blackburne of all people. The Popular Party finally got one. Ever since Franklin Roosevelt was elected, the Left Wing has dominated politics.We ushered in the age of progress, we fixed the economy from the deep shit we we're in in the 30's and 40's. We defeated Adolf Hitler, we defeated Tojo. I just don't get it.

John, take your mind off politics. You deserve a break, enjoy being with your family. We miss you.

John took another drink of whiskey, to cope with the underlying guilt of neglecting his duty as a father to a certain extent. He had missed his son's football games in exchange for briefings, he traded his daughter's recitals for press conferences. I haven't been a good father. He took another drink, his wife took notice.

Easy on the juice.

Sorry, just it's been rough, a lot of stress. I'm just.... trying to get used to the transition.

Losing the election hit John in his hubris, his ego, his drive. It had been assaulted, the wound was fresh and it would heal like a scab, being branded in the back of John's mind for the remainder of his life. The ultimate fail, one he would not recover from. He couldn't look at his wife, his kids,he couldn't look his family in the eye. Blackburne, it's all that fuckers fault., John thought to himself. He took another gulp of whiskey. The people were tired of liberal policies, a very strong centralized government, there was a lot of anger, a lot of unrest, a lot of anxious Americans. Blackburne tapped into that feeling, that feeling of uncertainty, compounded with the economic downturn and the recent signing of the Tri-American Free Trade Agreement causing American businesses to seek cheaper employment, the wage hikes unappealing to corporations, the Unions dominating employment. Blackburne appealed to the anger, to the anxiety, to the blue collar worker, to the teacher, to the soldier, he appealed to broad spectrum. The Liberal wing couldn't win this round, and after 1940 nearly 35 years of liberal rule, the Popular party finally won back the Oval Office . Congressional elections showed a dangerous trend occurring. Either everyone ignored it or denied what was happening.Since 1953, being defeated at the hands of the Chinese and North Korean armies, the Popular Party gained momentum in Congress. By 1970 the Popular party controlled nearly half of Congress, coming into the spotlight once more, back into the light of relevance. When John was elected, the Popular Party didn't make his job easy when it came to legislation. Back and forth of Presidential vetoes and vote-downs of the President's bills. He became a lame-duck by 1972, and the Popular Party ,primarily Blackburne,succeeded in blaming not only President Richards but the entire left-wing for the stalemate in Washington, the economic downturn caused by TAFTA and the Communists winning in Asia.

John finished off his fourth glass of whiskey. He got up, buzzing from the immense intake of hard liquor, and headed to the kitchen. 20 days. He splashed a little water in his face to cover the perspiration he was experiencing back in the living room. The loss of the election had riled John up especially losing to a man like Carson Blackburne. The booze was getting to his head, he needed to calm down before he lost it. 20 days.... 20 more fucking days until that sociopath takes my seat. He sighed. He sobbed lightly, tearing up mostly. The United States was in for a ride with Blackburne, they were in a very fragile foreign policy ordeal, the economy was in a volatile situation, the military was being cut to promote the new healthcare bill. Blackburne is going to ruin all my progress!, John still thought to himself. He sighed once more, things will change, things already had changed.

[Krugeristan]

Sana'a, North Yemen

"It's the New Year for the Westerners, Khalid."

Khalid al-Jahallah looked up from a newspaper sent to him from an operative in New York. "I know it is, Fareed," he said to his second-in-command, the tall, muscled, and ridiculously handsome Fareed Zaharu. "I already told you, the American election will bring a new man into power, maybe a man who can sympathize with us. I do not know if we can trust their new president."

"I'm afraid, Khalid, that we may have to. The Communists will be weaker and more easy to destroy if we can gain the support of America." Fareed sat on a cushion near the door of Jahallah's home. "I don't like the Americans either, my friend."

"Odds are, they probably have not forgotten what we did to the hippie parade in San Francisco. It would take a miracle if they were to accept us." Jahallah closed the newspaper, in time for someone to run into the room.

"Uncle Khalid! Uncle Khalid!" A boy, all of eight years old, dashed into the room, and threw his arms around Jahallah's neck.

Smiling at the sight of his nephew, Jahallah let the boy sit on his lap. "Emir, does your mother know you're here?"

"Yes, Uncle Khalid." The boy turned. "Hi, Fareed!"

Fareed nodded toward the boy. "Emir, your uncle and I were having a private conversation, if you don't mind."

"Please, Fareed, I think he is old enough to stay with us. I don't think we want to be like those American politicians who shun their own children."

"You . . . have a point."

"Now, where were we . . . ah, yes, possibly extending our hand in friendship to the United States," Jahallah said.

"I thought the United States was our enemy, Uncle Khalid," Emir whispered.

"There's an old saying, Emir, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'. We have no choice but to try and be friendly with the Americans." Jahallah smiled. "The Soviets are far worse than the Americans. That is why we are going to try to work with them."

"When will I be able to go fight, Uncle Khalid?"

"In good time. You're not old enough, and your mother would kill me if I sent you out now." Jahallah stood up, putting Emir next to him. "Fareed, do me a favor, I want you to hook up that old telephone you stole from Venice. I'm going to call the American president."

"Yes, sir."

"Emir, I'd love to talk with you more, but I have some important work to do. Go on home, and I'll see you in the morning."

"OK, Uncle Khalid." With that, Emir ran out of the house, across the street into his own house.

A few minutes later, Fareed re-entered the room. "The phone is working, whenever you are ready."

"Good." Jahallah patted Fareed on the shoulder. "Get some rest, my friend. Honestly, you haven't been looking well at all."

Jahallah was too smart. Fareed smirking. "OK, you got me. I've been working with a fever the last two days."

"Are you stupid? I'm not asking you, I am ordering you, right now, go home, and get some rest, or I will tell your wife." After Fareed left, Jahallah ducked into the small office where the phone was, picking it up and dialing the number of the Oval Office.

[Tracian Empire]

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Unitit Kinrick o Great Breetain an Northren Ireland
Ríocht Aontaithe na Breataine Móire agus Thuaisceart Éireann
Teyrnas Unedig Prydain Fawr a Gogledd Iwerddon

"Dieu et mon droit!"
"God and my right!"

3, 2,1 Happy New Year!

1975. The Western world celebrated a brand new year.... New Year's Eve was traditionally a celebration of hope, a celebration of a brighter future. But right now, the future was all but bright for the United Kingdom of Greater Britain and Northern Ireland. How far had the once proud British Empire fallen... now, attacked from all sides from all kinds of dangers. As the new year began, the UK had to face its enemies, once and for all, or lose the remains on its Empire. Many challenges awaited Her Majesty's Government...

The Troubles were at full swing in Northern Ireland. Those filthy Irish terrorists who couldn't manage the thought that Northern Ireland was part of the UK were in the middle of their terrorist spree. Despite the best efforts of Britain to halt them down and fight back, those terrorists still killed so many innocent civilians... the British people know that they have to do something. But Her Majesty's Government is split regarding the issue. The more extremist part wants to answer the Irish with the same coin. A declaration of war against the Republic of Ireland, and the use of nuclear weapons for intimidation should be enough to bring the entire island of Ireland back under British control. But of course, this would have been a double edged sword. That's why the other side of the government wanted to negotiate. To negotiate a cease-fire, and then to compromise an agreement to end this bloodbath. But whatever would happen had to happen soon. The United Kingdom needs to be united.

United against the common threat of the red plague. Communism. Ever since the end of the Second World War, the UK had played a pivotal role in the NATO in order to halt the spread of the Bolshevik advance. By supporting its allies in Europe and in the world, especially the United States, and rising the defense budget multiple times, the UK, although weakened by WW2 and then by the decolonization, was still a military power to be reckoned with. In Korea, in Africa, and around the world, the UK supported the US against the threats to freedom and democracy at every step, although usually the British have been a little more moderate than their American cousins. And now, the UK was right in the middle of the Indochina conflict. After the the Phnom Penh Massacre, the UK has been drawn right in the middle of the coalition that is supposed to fight communism, although still without a central command, structure, or plan. To keep communism and bay at to protect the British India, the UK has to take a much bigger role in the coalition, and save Indochina from the red chains that threaten to bind it to China and the USSR. But would it be just a repeat of the Korean War? The United States certainly did seem to be afraid of it. But sometimes, you have to take risks.

And speaking about British India... Southern India.. the remains of the British Raj. The territories of the British Crown in India. After the violent Violet Revolution, the UK had been forced to abandon and accept the independence of northern India and Pakistan as one Indian state. But the conflict was far from over, as the border between the two Indian nations was one of the most tense and armed in the known world. Quite obviously, the filthy Indian rebels in the north wanted to push the British from India all together, while the British and their supporters, in the south, had no intention of leaving, on the contrary, the UK wanted to eventually recover all of India. Negotiations had no success.. despite the several interventions of the UN...and it was clear that sooner of later, the ice will break, and that the war would continue, turning the Delhi Agreements null and void. But what would happen in such a war would be risky for both sides.. that's why, for the time being, the UK merely strengthened its positions and its defense of the region. But to do that, the British needed something.

The Suez Canal. An old possession of the British Empire. Lost for a while after the decolonization of Egypt... had been recovered by the British in the Suez Crisis, in an action that proved to the entire world, that the UK was still a major power. But tensions were rising between Egypt and the Arabs on one side, and the British and their local allies on the other. Each side wanted the Canal... and the UK wasn't going to give it, making the Suez region the second most militarized UK territory after India. They needed the Suez, as it was a central link on the way between the UK and India... no matter what the Arabs would try, the UK would stand firm in its conviction. The Suez was, is, and will remain British.

And the Arabs in the area of the Suez weren't the only problem. Iraq... a British territory the UK received after the end of WW1.. won by the blood of the British soldiers... and an area in rebellion ever since. For decades, the Iraqi people had been rebelling, and the British had been maintaining their grip over the region. The UK wasn't going to withdraw anytime soon. But for the UK to keep it under its control, something had to be done. For the time being, the UK had been enlarging its military forces in the area, but a plan still had to be announced. The blood of those rebelling against the Crown would flow.

But for now, the world had at least a few hours of peace. The Prime Minister was asleep. But tomorrow in the early morning, he was going to speak in front of the Parliament. A new year had begun...

[Mangjukoia]

๑ - มกราคม - ๒๕๑๘ | ราชอาณาจักรไทย
Neung - Mohk ga raa khohm - Saawng haa neung bpaaet | Ratcha-anachak Thai
1 - January - 2518 | Kingdom of Thailand

Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand
As the Western world was celebrating their New Year, Thailand, was waiting for their own in 4 months. While those in the West celebrated, Thailand was currently fighting their war against Communism in the Southeast. It was already 11 in the morning in the military junta that is the Kingdom of Thailand, the children had already gone to school, men and women went to work, the street markets we open for business, and Thai soldiers were patrolling up and down the streets of the Kingdom. Pawit stood in his office, thinking to himself. Since his take over of political power from Sawit and Thanom, most of the military had remained loyal to him, along with support from the Royal Lao Army, loyal to his patron cousin. Student protests were running rampant around the capital, trying to push the communists in power. The thought of this made Pawit shudder; knowing that he was doing the best for the country, yet these protesters wished for the communists to destroy their way of life.

There were still many regional things that had to take precedence of domestic issues. The communist insurgencies in Laos, Cambodia, and Burma were growing ever so close to the Thai border. The communists from China and Vietnam were coming in to the nation, posing a threat to his existance. While Thailand itself was secure, the occupied regions weren't as safe for a Thai. Laos was rampant Pathet Lao, and the Royal Lao Army's generals weren't exactly the sharpest swords in the armory. In Shan State, different factions of warlords and insurgents were present, everyone from the pro-Thais to drug smuggling KMT remnants. Cambodia was another problem region. With the massacre at Phnom Penh, and troops around Laos and Burma, they could only reach the northeast portion of the country to prop up the Khmer Kingdom, fighting off the communists pouring in from the other side.

Northern Annamese Mountain Range, Kingdom of Laos
Deep in the mountains of Laos, Royal troops of Thailand and Laos patrolled through the weaving hills. Leading a mixed company of Thai and Lao troops, Major Kasom Narongdid of the Royal Thai Army was on the hunt for insurgents and their hideaways. Creeping slowly, a village was found, and inside, were the communists. With quick movement, Kasom's men gained fire superiority over the surprised insurgents. Within the first 10 minutes, the Royal company had taken half of the village. Moving quickly, what had started out as an initial firefight, turned into a one-sided battle, almost like a massacre, firing on the fleeing communists. After the smoke had cleared and a majority of the communists have been driven out, and Lao villagers were called out.

"Time to root out the rest of them." Kasom said to himself. "We are with the Royal Armies of the Kingdom of Thailand and Kingdom of Laos. Here to liberate our brothers and sisters from the communists."

Out of the group, a few men and women emerged from the group, in aid of the Royal Armies and protection of themselves. In groups, they were told to pick out any communist sympathizers in the village. After a hour of selection, the number of communist sympathizers was at 15 men and women.

"You citizens of the Kingdom of Laos, are to be tried for treason. Alternatively, by telling us the locations and identities of other communists, we will let you go free." Kasom said, although there was no response. "I see. Well then, treason it is.". At that answer, the communist sympathizers were moved out of the village towards the direction of Vientiane, while the rest of the men cleaned up the bodies and collected the weaponry scattered about.