The Malayan Emergency [CLOSED][IC | SIGN-UPS] (1948 PT)

[Pan-Asiatic States]

Sponsored by The Srivijayan Consortium

43 years before the founding of the Pan-Asiatic States, in the aftermath of the Second World War, the once-proud Sultanate of Bruneian Malaya, dubbed "the Balkans of Asia" is in a state of emergency—its races and cultures are breaking the shackles of the monarchy, and new nations are emerging from the flames of revolution. The stage is set for the ultimate showdown between the Trotskyite Bolsheviks of New Nusantara, the Sultanate Loyalists of Australia, and the Fascist "Social Republicans" of the Philippine Islands. The dream that is a pan-Malayan empire will not go silently into the night.

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OOC | THEME

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JANUARY 10, 1948
KOTAGURUN
MALAYAN AUSTRALIA (GURUN)

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Fleeing to Gurun, the once great Kesultanan Besar Malaya Brunei bid their time; waiting for the day they could reclaim their empire. For the past three years, the Kesultanan Besar had sought to rebuild its military with the help of its allies. Now, Haji Farid has deemed his soldiers ready for battle; for conquest. As the Kesultanan Besar wraps up its final preparations, soldiers prepare to deploy. Sailing under the golden banner, the Kesultanan Besar shall show its usurpers that it will not go quietly under the night.

The flagship of the Bruneian Navy raises anchor. The signal for launch is given for the scout planes. An angry storm hovers above the contingent.

After three long years, the Bruneians shall finally see home. As the sky becomes cloudy with warplanes, warships sail from the northern tip of Gurun to the southern tip of Irian Jaya. On the 27th day of Safar 1367; the Kesultanan Besar Malaya Brunei declares war on Irian Jaya, the most vulnerable of the upstart Malayan nations, citing reconquest as their casus belli. Their nation stands unprepared for the invasion. Once Irian Jaya falls, it only becomes a matter of time before the rest of Malaya follows.

As Irian Jaya barely holds against the Bruneian tidal wave, New Nusantara and the Philippine Social Republic watch from the sidelines. They grow worried and concerned, as it is likely they would be next after Irian Jaya. Remembering the oppression and treachery of the Faridian regime, they each resolve to never again let themselves be forced to bow to the Kesultanan Besar. They begin to figuratively sharpen their spears and prepare for war. And as they do all this, another great storm begins to brew.

In each nation lies opposing interests and ideologies. Interests and ideologies that many foreign countries would either enthusiastically support or ravenously despise. As this new storm brews, many foreign powers begin to pick a side; bringing with them funds, military support, and humanitarian aid. Weary of war, these powers do so discreetly; as not to incite an inextinguishable fire. It is this format of proxy warfare that shall become the staple of the following half of the century.

As brother takes up arms against brother, nations east and west set their stakes on the victor. As it did not too long ago, Malaya will once more become a battlefield. Never to catch a break, the peoples of Malaya simply prepare for the inevitable storm.

This storm, is the Malayan Emergency.

[The Philippine Social Republic]

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“National greatness never springs from the cult of ease or self-complacency, but from the crucible of grim struggle and patient industry.”
— Jose P. Laurel, First President of the Social Republic of the Philippines

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JANUARY 10, 1948
KOTA KINABALU
NORTH BORNEO OCCUPATION ZONE

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The cool Siberian winds of January swept through every house within the city. The flag of the Social Republic flew high above every hut and manor. The once-lively ports of the Bruneian thalassocracy had turned into a militarized area, from whence poured guns, artillery, tanks, and ammunition. Filipino soldiers marched left and right, some with rifles larger than their own bodies.

The Philippine Social Republic had occupied this area, spanning through the entire Western beach from North to South Borneo, a year after the war's end, officially, to protect Filipino nationals in the area. The Japanese garrisons did not detest the move, and gladly handed over any equipment they had stored over to the Filipinos. With the whole Bruneian army still in Gurun at that time, there was nothing standing in the way of the Filipino military.

This key port-city, named after Mount Kinabalu, on the edge of the Bornean island, had been bombed to high hell in the years leading to the end of the Pacific War. Tens of thousands of spent ammunition cases, as well as mortar and artillery shells, were still lying around. Abandoned vehicles and tanks still lay deep within the jungles beyond the principal beaches, still sinking in the mire. The civilian population had been decimated. The local industry had seen better days. There were shortages of every major resource - and every last scrap of food; every last drop of potable water, was prioritized for military consumption.

With every march the Filipinos conducted, the Malayans trembled - hiding inside crudely-built houses and mothballed bunkers. They had good reason to be afraid. The Filipino army was gallant, but its rear echelons had a morality that left much to be desired. During the nights, looting on a scale never before seen in Southeast Asia occurred throughout the major cities. The upper-class districts befell this fate above all other places. The riches of the Imams and the oligarchs were forcibly seized time and time again. Alarmingly, reports of young girls disappearing into the night also began proliferating. Anyone who dared stand in the way of the aggressors was met with decisive action, a bullet to the head. Any complaints by the local population fell on deaf ears.

Overall, there was an abundance of two things that an army should never have both of: time and liquor. With the Filipinos in full control of the Malayan home area, the only other alternatives the Malayan people could hope for were conquest by the largely atheistic Trotskyites of North Malaya or reconquest by the imperial slavers of South Malaya.

Needless to say, there were dark times ahead.

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"Private Guimatao, you are tasked with delivering this telegram to Major Verano. Accomplish it before 1100 Hours. You'll find him on the outskirts of the old bruneian redoubt, in the South. Ask around, he'll be somewhere there," commanded a Lieutenant in drab khaki - a slender man no less than 25 - who promptly handed the private the telegram and returned to his command post.

"Opo, tenyente," affirmed the private.

Luis Guimatao was himself, a young man and devout Catholic of 20. For all his life his only dream was to serve his Fatherland. With the war raging the training time was cut from almost a year to less than 2 months. He became a simple soldier who faced the brutality of the frontline in Gurun, where he had seen many of his friends die at the hands of the Bruneian menace. The word "Islam" itself sent shivers down his spine. Ever since he was a child he was told the Arabic and Caucasian races were devils, the enemy, the faceless monster that squanders the world's resources and degenerates the culture of his country.

As he rode his bicycle towards the old redoubt, he gazed at the burned-down houses and broken infrastructure of the city. Many roads remained in disrepair; many natives remained homeless. The occupation exacerbated the issues of the locals, but for Guimatao, it was finally a time for him to enjoy some much-needed rest and relaxation. Just yesterday he was able to take a swim at the local beaches. There was little to no resistance in the cities. He hadn't seen combat in 2 weeks.

He parked his bike leaning towards a small machine-gun nest that guarded the redoubt. The machine-gunner, even younger than the private, glanced at him shortly, and then called out his name.

"Private... Guima- gee-mah-ta-uh?"

"Yes... That's me," responded the Private.

"I remember you! I think I saw you ship out with your division, in Manila. I remember selling you a newspaper, I think. My name's Leonard. Leonard Hinojosa." exclaimed the machine-gunner.

"Hold on - you weren't conscripted?" asked Guimatao.

"I was underage then. I joined some months before the war's end," exclaimed machine-gunner Hinojosa. Now that Guimatao thought about it, Hinojosa looked no less than a teenager.

"That's... Good to hear. I'll be on my way then," said Guimatao.

"Yeah, yeah. Hey, when'll we see some real action? I hear President Laurel's gonna pick a fight with the Trotskyists." asked the machine-gunner.

"Just enjoy the damned peace, will you?" rhetorically asked the Private, very muched annoyed at this point.

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Private Guimatao entered the outskirts of the redoubt, an open field where an ancient fortress of mud had been converted into a command post and makeshift bunker by the Filipino army stationed there. A large tent stood beside the fortress - used as the main planning room by the officers in peacetime, to avoid the cramped mustiness of the redoubt itself.

The private opened the tent. Seven officers had gathered around an old radio set. The news was playing:

"For all those who are just tuning in, we've confirmed that Bruneian forces have in fact invaded the Republic of Irian Jaya. The declaration of war was sent only moments ago, and the Bruneian fleet is reported to be in full control of the Solomon Sea. I repeat, Irian Jaya and Brunei - at war. President Laurel has issued a statement condemning the attack... for that, we turn live to our correspondents in Malacañang..."

The officers turned around them, staring at the private - with a look as if he had interrupted some great ritual of theirs.

"Well, private. What is it?"

[Bruneian Malaya]

Irian Jaya, The Malayan Archipelago

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Just off the coast of the island, a battleship leads the charge against Irian Jaya as the flagship of the invasion fleet. Hundreds of bombers and close air support fighters flew in from the Gimoy Airbase in North Gurun, dotting the sky as clouds on a cloudy day. Cruisers sail along the coast, while landing ships make their approach. Each ship flies the golden banner of Sharif Ali, the Hashemite prince from Mecca who facilitated the Islamization of Brunei.

The sky whistles long and silent, before suddenly does the earth cry out and the jungles burst aflame. Without a proper airforce, Irian Jaya can do nothing but watch, hide, or flee as thousands of bombs rain down upon them like a heavy storm. And just as the bombers leave and they think it is finally over, a torrent of shells from the battleships and cruisers come down upon them as a powerful gust of wind.

Those who have survived the first waves of bombs must have thought themselves lucky at first. They could only look in horror at the bodies of comrades who did not escape the bombs and shells lain strewn across the jungle floor, as the trees themselves lay broken and burning. But it was not the end, as hundreds of landing ships arrived on the beaches and their bays began to open wide. A flood of armored vehicles and soldiers came upon their island, crying out in jihad. As the surviving Irian Jayan defense points their rifles and machine guns, the Malayans look right into the barrel and see paradise. Nothing stops the advance, and those that stayed are swiftly overrun.

Malaya is swift to capture the coastal areas of Irian Jaya, pushing the Irian Jayan forces deeper into the jungle where the naval shells do not reach. It is here that they regroup and reorganize, before scattering into various cells. There will be frequent attacks on Malayan supply routes, with a response by the Malayans that is not swift enough to eliminate or capture the raiders. And whenever the Malayans attempt to go deeper into the jungle to hunt them down, they become the hunted.

It becomes clear however, that Malaya has been more a winner than a loser here. They have invaded Irian Jaya, and they have captured the ports and coastal areas. They are swiftly establishing their foothold and staging point for the invasion of the rest of the Malayan Archipelago, that is undeniable.

[Cairene Arabia]

The Arabian Fleet
The Indian Ocean

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Through the vast waters of the Indian Ocean, the waters ripple with an echo; heralding the arrival of a great host. As they come up from the horizon, one can catch a glimpse of them; but cannot count them.

Hulking steel behemoths of various sizes tear through tides and sail on. Throughout their decks, a vast amount of great guns and aircraft. They fly banners black and golden, which take the form of the wind as they fly high and proud.

Two battleships, two carriers, eight cruisers, sixteen destroyers, thirty frigates, sixteen corvettes, six submarines and a many other vessels sail under the black banner. The black banners of the Abbasid Caliphate and Sultanate of Qahira.

Splitting off from the Indian Ocean Fleet, the Arabian Battle Fleet Malaya sails off for Bruneian Sumatra. While Tada'i has yet to take an official stance, it will likely side with the Kesultanan Besar; and as such, an interventionary battle fleet arrives to pursue Tada'i interests.

[Reorganisieren Reichregierung]

DER HEIMAT

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The German Pacific Fleet en route to the Philippines.

The Tada'i is not alone in sending a great fleet to the Pacific. The North Sea Fleet of the Kriegsmarine, now renamed the Pacific Fleet, consisting of five carriers, six battleships, eleven heavy cruisers, six light cruisers, forty-six destroyers and twenty-four submarines, accompanied by a plethora of oilers, weather ships and other support units, departed from Wilhelmshaven. They were to be joined by the Monsun Gruppe, consisting of eighteen submarines. While the Pacific Fleet will enter the Pacific via the Suez Canal, the Monsoon Group was to sail down the Atlantic and around the tip of Africa to enter the Indian Ocean, and wreak havoc with Tada'i naval resupply lines. In the absence of German naval bases in the area, "milk cows", or resupply submarines, would do the honor of supporting the Monsoon Group. However, the deployment of the Monsoon Group was contingent on the situation, as an open attack on Arabian forces outside the theater of war would be a very escalatory move.

The Pacitic Fleet was not the only German force to be sent to help the Philippine Social Republic. In Wilhelmshaven, Kiel and other German ports, volunteers and "volunteers", or German military units posing as volunteers, were assembling and embarking great cargo ships, while their tanks, artillery pieces and aircraft were lifted by cranes into the cargo holds of these vessels. These volunteers were mostly Germans, but amongst them were other Europeans of various nationalities - French legionnaires of the Charlemagne Division and recent refugees fleeing the épuration, White Russians and former Soviet POWs who grew weary of Trotskyism and feared repatriation, Italian blackshirts, Norwegian quislings, Hungarian refugees, volunteers from the Low Countries and Sweden, Croatian exiles who arrived at Bleiburg and many others. In contrast, the "volunteers" were obviously all Germans, the cream of the crop of the German armed forces - ace pilots, veterans of the Eastern Front and the Ardennes offensives, Waffen-SS troopers, Fallschrimjäger, Brandenburgers, mountaineers, soldiers of the Großdeutschland division and the new German marine infantry corps. Alongside them would come German generals posing as volunteers, who would command the "volunteers" and advise the commanders of the actual volunteers and the generals of the Philippine Social Republic alike.

The German high command hoped this great force would hopefully grant one of the last remnants of the Axis Powers a new lease on life. This was a tremendous opportunity to deal the Tada'i a grievous wound, if not a fatal blow, by making sure Southeast Asia slipped from their hands permanently. To sweeten the deal, a presence in Manila would allow Germany to project power in support of China and even Japan. The presence of a strong German force would also encourage either the Japanese communists to take the red-brown-white position, the military leaders to lead a coup d'etat, or the Emperor to take matters into his own hands. Thus, the purpose of intervention was twofold - to defeat the attempt of the Arabs to re-establish the Malayan sultanate and eventually to persuade the Far Eastern Fleet to back off and perhaps relinquish some of their gains, directly or indirectly.

[The Philippine Social Republic]

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JANUARY 11, 1948
LINGAYEN GULF
LUZON REGION, PHILIPPINE SOCIAL REPUBLIC
THEME - December 1 1899

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The smell of fresh air, salt, and sand welcomed the German sailors and European volunteers upon first sight of Filipino soil. Beyond the horizon, an industrial settlement of seemingly Parisian magnitude - not nearly like that described in the picturebooks of the West - lay upon the shores of the great and mighty Luzon island. The buildings of the great city of Maynila - or what was left of it - could be spotted beyond the orange clouds. Coconut trees blew in the breeze of the Westbound Siberian winds which routinely embraced the Philippines in early January. It was almost poetic, that these Eurasian winds which gathered in the Urals would bring along with them these Caucasians - both plucky and veteran soldiers forsaken by the Reich, soldiers of honor and a lost cause. The sun was sinking now, disappearing beyond the infinite and unconquerable mountains that lie ahead. This signified, it seemed, that the voyage of the European volunteers, which had taken them around the world and back, was over at last.

Many on board the ships of the Reich would recall that from these beaches and ports of Lingayen Gulf, not too long ago, like-minded Japanese militarists of the Kwantung Army - of Manchuria and Manchukuo, of Kanto and Sapporo, of Okinawa and Formosa, and all the vast territories of the Empire of Japan - mounted their assault on the Bruneian Sultanate through the Philippine islands. As the vessels of the volunteer corps made its way to shore, past the islets and rocky regions of the gulf which had posed threat to many a seaman before, the observant among the Europeans could still spot the rotting corpses of the Kwantung Army sunken just below the white crests of the glimmering gulf at sunset, ghastly faces and hollow corpses which seemed to speak to the volunteers, almost warning them that beyond the illusionary veneer of homecoming, beyond that siren song of the awe-some Filipino landscape, was a brutal war that they and their comrades had fought to the death. The dead men spoke to the volunteers clandestine tales in their state of forlorn decay, whispering their message: some of you will never see your homeland again.

Among these dead men were aircraft which never landed, ships which never sailed, and tanks which never made it ashore could still be seen rather distantly, lain to their final rest upon the ocean floor - among the bountiful fishes and the pristine corals that seemed still, oblivious to the horrors of war.

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SAN FERNANDO
LUZON REGION, PHILIPPINE SOCIAL REPUBLIC

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To the surprise of, perhaps some of the Europeans who had visited the archipelago-nation before, the German vessels were instructed not to land in Maynila; but rather, the settlement of San Fernando - a kind of town which Spanish friars used as headquarters for their Catholic conversion operations nearly 400 years ago; which the natives referred to as a barrio. It was not as grand as the former capital of Maynila, but it was a sight to behold nonetheless. The ports were very much alive, and the vessels of the European volunteers passed by dozens of fishing boats made of strong acacia wood. The fishermen manning these boats waved to the smorgasbord of Waffen-SS troopers, Fallschrimjäger troopers, Brandenburgers, mountaineers, soldiers of the Großdeutschland division, German marines, and other European volunteers. One of these fishermen, an elderly man in his 70s at least, yelled to one of the Germans, "Vamos! Vamos!" in a gleeful and excited, somewhat playfully teasing tone. Perhaps he mistook the volunteers for the Spanish coming back to liberate his homeland. Nobody would have blamed him.

Across the boats, a vast swarm of Filipinos in suits and ties, military regalia, and thin camisa de chinos, had gathered to greet the foreign fleet. A marching band played the old Katipunan March. Reporters armed with the latest cameras flashed their equipment at the many pale-skinned volunteers as they emerged from their ships in rank and file, whilst the local military constabulary attempted to calm the crowd. Local girls adorned the men with sampaguitas, freshly-picked and with a distinctly pleasant aroma.

Upon a platform, high-ranking military officials of the Philippine Social Republic saluted the volunteers, with sincere respect and discipline.

"Wilkommen! Welcome to the Pearl of the Orient, German friends!", one rather short, thin man from the crowd shouted loudly and jubilantly.

[Pan-Asiatic States]

(Image)

Irian Jaya, The Malayan Archipelago

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Just off the coast of the island, a battleship leads the charge against Irian Jaya as the flagship of the invasion fleet. Hundreds of bombers and close air support fighters flew in from the Gimoy Airbase in North Gurun, dotting the sky as clouds on a cloudy day. Cruisers sail along the coast, while landing ships make their approach. Each ship flies the golden banner of Sharif Ali, the Hashemite prince from Mecca who facilitated the Islamization of Brunei.

The sky whistles long and silent, before suddenly does the earth cry out and the jungles burst aflame. Without a proper airforce, Irian Jaya can do nothing but watch, hide, or flee as thousands of bombs rain down upon them like a heavy storm. And just as the bombers leave and they think it is finally over, a torrent of shells from the battleships and cruisers come down upon them as a powerful gust of wind.

Those who have survived the first waves of bombs must have thought themselves lucky at first. They could only look in horror at the bodies of comrades who did not escape the bombs and shells lain strewn across the jungle floor, as the trees themselves lay broken and burning. But it was not the end, as hundreds of landing ships arrived on the beaches and their bays began to open wide. A flood of armored vehicles and soldiers came upon their island, crying out in jihad. As the surviving Irian Jayan defense points their rifles and machine guns, the Malayans look right into the barrel and see paradise. Nothing stops the advance, and those that stayed are swiftly overrun.

Malaya is swift to capture the coastal areas of Irian Jaya, pushing the Irian Jayan forces deeper into the jungle where the naval shells do not reach. It is here that they regroup and reorganize, before scattering into various cells. There will be frequent attacks on Malayan supply routes, with a response by the Malayans that is not swift enough to eliminate or capture the raiders. And whenever the Malayans attempt to go deeper into the jungle to hunt them down, they become the hunted.

It becomes clear however, that Malaya has been more a winner than a loser here. They have invaded Irian Jaya, and they have captured the ports and coastal areas. They are swiftly establishing their foothold and staging point for the invasion of the rest of the Malayan Archipelago, that is undeniable.

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JANUARY 11, 1948
LAE OUTSKIRTS
BRUNEIAN INVASION OF IRIAN JAYA

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38 hours ago, Bruneian forces crossed the maritime border between Brunei and Irian Jaya and attacked Irian Jayan forces from North Gurun in a decisive carrier strike group-assisted assault on the mainland, inflicting heavy losses to the already-dwarfed Irian Jayan army and destroying infrastructure critical to the defense of the archipelago. The developing situation was fast getting out of hand, spiralling down the point of no return. The battle of the Coral Sea was lost within less than an hour following the surprise attack, and the Bruneians had full control over the skies of the newborn country. Haji Farid's terrifying aerial behemoths demolished key government buildings in decisive air raids that broke the will of the local population. The wholesale collapse of the Irian Jaya Republic was imminent.

Still, the Irian Jayans resisted. Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun sequestered from the Japanese, along with any other plane-killing weapons the natives of the archipelago could get their hands on fired aimlessly at the Bruneian bombers and landing-crafts. Handheld mortars, an assortment of grenades from different countries, and weapons from all over the world taken by the research and design arm of the Irian Jayan military intelligence were given to active combat units. A last stand would be made in the city of Lae, where many cabinet officials and members of parliament - as well as (or at least was rumored) the President himself, Simon Singarimbun - were reported to have been transferred.

Five special forces divisions - jungle-hunters, mostly Bruneians themselves with prior combat experience who had defected to the republic, learned in unconventional combat disappeared into the jungles of Irian Jaya surrounding Lae, consulted local tribes to determine the best spots from which they could poise their ambushes against the coming wave of Bruneian invaders. Artillery pieces were hauled up from the hills, and trenches six-feet deep were dug. Spotters were given radios and foxholes. All able-bodied men that the government could get their hands on were drafted into the army, trained hastily by attaches which the young republic had sent to Europe. Sufficit to say, the bulk of the republic's armies were not in proper shape, were trained by men who had never even seen active military service themselves, and were, most importantly, undersupplied.

It seemed that Irian Jaya was ready to put every last man, woman, child, and dog between its government and the advancing Bruneian armies.

[Bruneian Malaya]

Port City of Lae
Irian Jaya

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Sweeping across the coastal areas of Irian Jaya, the forces of Malaya made their way to the port city of Lae. Approaching from the sea, they began their advance. Clouding the sky and dotting the seas, the forces of Malaya approached the port city. Utilizing naval and aerial support with a battleship and carrier, the Malayan invaders extended their range while maintaining a distance. While escort ships guarded the capital ships, landing craft approached slowly.

On Lae, the Irian Jayans prepared to make a last stand. They mustered what weapons they could and utilized the aid of Bruneian defectors. The valiant defenders would muster a formidable stand against the forces of Haji Farid. As the final offensive began, so did the final defensive. The last stand of Irian Jaya.

First came a barrage of naval artillery, striking the city and the jungle surrounding it. Then came the planes and the landing craft, as they began their advance to capture Lae. The defenders tore through the Malayan invaders, but the advance did not halt or even slow. Planes and soldiers dropped to the ground, but they kept on advancing. For these men were men who looked into the barrels of their enemy's guns, and saw paradise.

Even as guns tore through planes, men, and vehicles; nothing halted the advance. Even after shot, they would keep firing and never hide nor flee. Naval artillery shells hailed torrents upon Lae as bombers and close air support rained hellfire upon the defenders. Even as each plane was shot down, they only flew straight into their enemies; not unlike the Japanese kamikaze. And as the bombs, both manned and unmanned, fell; the horde flooded the city and jungle from their landing craft.

Bodies and wreckage litter the floor. Yet the advance persists. It was here that one could infer that the Malayan military's greatest strength was also its greatest weakness. The near-suicidal horde-type attacks by the self-proclaimed mujahideen must not be cheap to maintain. Observers and survivors could be able to report to superiors, and utilize this weakness in their long-term strategy.

[The Hindustani State]

Mahaswaminarayana Palace, Varanasi, Hindustan

It had been less than a decade since Hindu clerics lead Hindustan’s revolution against the British Empire. The revolution overthrew the colonial government, bringing the Swaminarayan to power and in control of one of the world’s most populated countries. The country was swept with revolutionary fervor, and under the guidance of the Swaminarayan, created a Hindu theocratic democracy, with strictly enforced Hinduism as a state religion and all other religions being repressed on a national leve. The Swaminarayan is the spiritual head of the Mahaswaminarayan Hindu tradition, and in addition to serving as the head of Hindustan, he felt he served as the spiritual head of all Hindus, and hence felt the need to protect them at all costs.

"The reports are disturbing… very disturbing, Your Holiness." President Morarji Desai presented the accounts of Hindus in the Southeast Asian region. With the region falling into instability and strife, the Hindus of Gurun, Java, and Bali were the ultimate victims. All three sides oppressed these religious believers, much like the British had oppressed Hindustan. The Hindu faith preached nonviolence at all but extreme costs, but even peaceful Gods such as Vishnu became passionately violent when all other options were lost. Such the Hindus of Southeast Asia needed to do, felt the president. However, as this was a spiritual matter, the Swaminarayan had the final say. President Desai gave the Swaminarayan the accounts of the concentration camps in the KBM.

"We cannot let this oppression happen, we must declare a justified holy war-" he was stopped by the Swaminarayan holding up his hand. The president had the interests of the country in mind, not only would a revolt in the region weaken Bruneian Malaya and New Nusantara, but now was the perfect time to do so with the invasion of Irian Jaya. An established Hindu state would likely be heavily influenced by, if not a puppet, of Hindustan. Furthermore, with the last Majapahit Dynasty long gone, any loose descendant could be picked and put as a puppet on the throne of this new Majapahit Empire.

The Swaminarayan, however, thought more spiritually. He recognized the philosophy of using violence as a last resort. "I will personally pen a letter to the countries of the region to immediately cease this attack. I recognize in this situation, violence may be our only resort, but one last ultimatum shall be sent. You are dismissed, Mr. President." the Swaminarayan said. The president bowed and left the palace, while the Swaminarayan penned his letter.

To: Kersultanate of Bruneian Malaya, New Nusantara
From: His Holiness, the 6th Swaminarayan, Holy Leader of Hindustan, Defender of the Hindu People, Lord of Maharajas, Envoy of Lord Vishnu on Earth

Greetings,

It has come to our attention of the disturbing mistreatment of Hindus in your countries. We firmly request your governments to immediately cease these operations immediately. Failure to do so will result in the declaration of a Holy War of Liberation for all Hindus, and all Hindus will be encouraged to fight for liberation.

[Bruneian Malaya]

The leader of Hindustan would receive a letter wrapped in a leather envelope of sorts.

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Letter from Haji Farid Bolkiah, Sultan of the Kesultanan Besar Malaya Brunei
A response to the Hindustani threat

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Islam has ruled the archipelago for centuries, defeating and ruling over the Hindus. That will never change. Your threat is hereby ignored and discarded, for your influence is weak, and so is your navy, and furthermore we friends in places much higher than yours.

Your country is a young country with few allies. Whatever allies you have likely will not see the benefit in invading Malaya. You do not have the age of a nation who holds close enough and enduring ties to call an ally to your own pointless war. Whatever diplomatic pressure you try to exert on Malaya is irrelevant at best.

Your navy is young and thus your ability to even invade us is laughable. You do not have enough ships to launch an invasion and your naval officers are young and inexperienced. You cannot blockade us and you cannot land troops on our shores. Our navy sails carriers and battleships, and we have centuries of tradition to boast.

Even if you could muster a force to meddle with our operations, we have powerful allies. The Ummah will not stand idly by as pagans knock on its walls. The Kesultanan Besar is a founding member of the Tahaluf al-Duwal al-Iislamiah. Chief among our allies is al-Khilafah al-Eabbasiah wa-Saltanat al-Qahira, one of the great powers of the world.

You pose no threat to Malaya. Your words are of no significance to me. Take your bluffs elsewhere.

PS: The leather this letter was wrapped in is cow leather.

[The Hindustani State]

Holy Proclamation from the Swaminarayan

The Hindus of Malaya are under attack by oppressive heathen government. Hinduism is a peaceful religion, following the teachings of Lord Vishnu and his philosophy of nonviolence. But when all options are exhausted, Hindus must retaliate, and invoke their inner Shiva. His Holiness, the 6th Swaminarayan, Holy Leader of Hindustan, Defender of the Hindu People, Lord of Maharajas, Envoy of Lord Vishnu on Earth, has proclaimed a Holy Yudh War, and encourages every man, woman, and child of the Hindu faith in the region of Malaya to take up arms and revolt agains the oppressive governments of Bruneian Malaya and New Nusantara. Far too long have heathens controlled the sacred lands of Javaprānta and Balikinara, the Hindus of Malaya shall re-establish the glory of the Majapahit Maharaja and his divinely ordained kin to rule the archipelago. Halla Bol!

The proclamation would be issued to all Hindu temples and each temple’s head priests, where it was possible to do so. Even in countries with censorship, zealous Hindus would risk their lives to transport the holy words of the Envoy of Lord Vishnu on Earth himself.

[Bruneian Malaya]

Various Labor Camps and Dhimmi Sectors
Gurun and Sumatra, Kesultanan Besar Malaya Brunei

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A warning, issued by the Hindu Swaminarayan to Sultan Haji Farid not to tread upon the basic human rights of Hindus. Farid's respone? An insult packed in cow leather. In response, the Hindu world declares war on the Kesultanan Besar Malaya Brunei. They are furious. They have asked nicely, but now is the time for demands.

The leader of the Hindustani theocracy, the 6th Swaminarayan, rallies the Hindus for war. He declares a Holy Yudh War to liberate the oppressed Hindus of Malaya. As the yudh is declared, the Hindus of Gurun and Sumatra rise up in revolt and protest. In the Dhimmi ghettoes where Hindu families live in squalor and the labor camps where Hindu criminals have been rounded up for the tiniest infraction and put to work without compensation, the oppressed rise up against their oppressors. But they have done little but accelerate their own demise.

The Hindus have been rounded up into contained areas where they would do little damage to valuable infrastructure and could be easily taken care of in the event of an uprising. The rioters are lightly armed, and their opponents are armed to the teeth. Charging into the dhimmi ghettoes and the labor camps, Malayan death squads gun down the rioters. Gunshots ring through the air, only drowned out by the screams of terror. The riots quickly turn to a massacre.

Smoke and panic scatters through the streets, as the Hindus flee and the soldiers open fire. There is no escape, as they have locked down the areas. Corpses litter streets and bullets shatter windows, as blood stains the walls. As the streets become a graveyard, houses become tombs as soldiers break in and slaughter families. Rioter or not, the Hindus were now being wiped out.

The screams deafen the ears, before being briefly silenced. And soon, there was nothing but dead-quiet. This was not the suppression of a rebellion, but a culling of minorities. The media will call it a battle, the suppression of an insurgency. But truly, this was a genocide.

[Reorganisieren Reichregierung]

SAN FERNANDO
PHILIPPINE SOCIAL REPUBLIC

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A Soviet 15.2 cm howitzer in German hands and a tank destroyer parading through San Fernando.

The first to return the welcome of the Filipino officers were their German counterparts. Slickly dressed in their parade uniforms, they returned the salutes of the Filipino generals and gave the gestures and commands that marked the beginning of a parade.

Following behind the commanding officers were columns of soldiers. These were the soldiers selected to participate in the welcome parade, instead of going straight to barracks from the docks after assembly, along with some sailors from the German warships, the only other German servicemen officially in the Philippines aside from the advisory corps. As a corps formed out of a combination of supposed and actual soldiers of fortune, these soldiers did not wear parade uniforms, but instead showed off their combat gear.

The actual volunteers usually wore an mustard-yellow or khaki Feldbluse M43 jacket with an open collar over an khaki drill shirt, with either jodhpur breeches, trousers or shorts, however there were many volunteers wearing surplus American M-1943 "duck hunter" camouflage uniforms, these having been bought in quantity from the open market some time after the war. In the way of footwear, the volunteers had ankle boots with puttees. In contrast, the incognito German soldiers wore the Feldbluse M43 jacket and a pair of baggy Luftwaffe trousers in either Erbsenmuster or Leibermuster camouflage patterns, depending on service branch, however paratroopers wore Knochensack smock jackets in Splittertarnmuster pattern camouflage. Footwear for these men were either the ankle boot, the classic jackboot, or the paratrooper front-lacing boot. The volunteers where wholly equipped with M42 Stahlhelms, while the regulars wore mostly the new Stahlhelms with rolled edges but no ventilation holes and rivets. However, Fallschirmjäger helmets lacking the projecting visor and flared rim of the Stalhhelm and a copy of the M1 "pot" helmet encountered during the Ardennes offensives were worn as well. Meanwhile, the German sailors were wearing their working blues and their customary sailor's caps.

Gun nuts would notice that the armament also varied between the volunteers and regulars. The volunteers were usually provided with the Ag m/42 rifle chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser and the M1A1 Thompson submachine gun, the latter taken from German Beutewaffe stocks or sourced from arms merchants peddling US and Allied war surplus. Other common weapons wielded by volunteers included the M1 Carbine in .30 Carbine, the M1941 Johnson semi-automatic rifle in 7.92x57mm Mauser and the M50/M55 Reising submachine guns. Like the Thompsons, these were available from arms dealers looking to dump US war surplus, as well as the Beutewaffe stocks of the OKW. On the other hand, the actual German soldiers carried the Gewehr 43 semi-automatic rifle, complemented by the MP40 submachine gun and the StG 44 assault rifle. Their armory was complemented by MAB 38/44, KP/-31 and KP/-44 submachine guns and for paratroopers, FG-42 battle rifles. In the way of support armament, the primary infantry machine gun was the MG42, although many volunteer machine gunners could be seen carrying the MG81, and some paratroopers carried the FN Model D, a variant of the BAR produced in Belgium with a quick-change barrel.

Following the soldiers were several tanks in parade formation. A few of the vaunted King Tiger heavy tanks lead the tank parade, followed by other tanks, armored cars and halftracks, assault guns and tank destroyers or various models. Of these vehicles, the most prominent among these were the Panther "medium" tank, now sporting a Schmalturm, the Jadgpanther tank destroyer based on the Panther, and the monstrous Jadgtiger. However, a keener observer would notice that there was an assortment of vehicles of non-German origin, most likely Beutewaffe or those supplied by the Soviets to Strasser's then-nascent government to field against the Western Allies in the Ardennes offensive. The most numerous of these was the T-34-85 medium tank, supplied and later produced under license in such quantities to partially replace the Panzer IV, which was in turn supplied to the few German allies in need of relatively decent medium tanks. The Philippine Social Republic was one such nation, and the other defense articles being offloaded on the docks for them included several such tanks, among other vehicles.

After the tanks came trucks and halftrack artillery tractors drawing artillery pieces.These were mostly howitzers of 10.5 cm and 15 cm caliber. However, the 17 cm K 18 and 21 cm Mrs 18 was seen, as well as Nebelwerfers of 15 cm, 28 cm and 30.5 cm calibers. They were followed by self-proppelled artillery pieces, 10.5 cm and 15 cm howitzers carried on casemates on top of the Panzer IV chassis and tubes for 15 cm rockets carried on a armored half-track chassis. Again, an astute observer could notice some non-German weapons - Czech and Italian 15 cm howitzers, as well as Soviet 12.2 cm guns and 15.2 cm gun-howitzers, could be clearly seen.

All throughout this display of might, the Filipino press went wild, snapping away with their cameras. The local girls adorned the soldiers with garlands of flowers with a distinct aroma, while the crowds cheered for their newly-arrived comrades in arms. So far as the Filipino press was concerned, Germany organized and ferried over volunteers to fight for their Filipino co-ideologues while stationing a fleet to protect the Philippines from the savage Saracens. This was technically true, but this was only half the story.

---

Some time after their arrival and warm reception, the leading German naval officers gathered at their headquarters to discuss their plans. With Irian Jaya in a state of collapse, there was no time to waste, as the Bruneians were expected to attack the Philippines after all was said and done in Irian Jaya.

General-Admiral Oskar Kummetz started off the discussion. "There is no doubt our fleet is more than capable of defeating the combined Mohammedan naval force. However, I cannot say the same for the Far Eastern Fleet. Our estimates of their strength claim they have at least 4 fleet carriers, 1 light aircraft carrier, 2 battleships, 2 battlecruisers, 8 heavy cruisers, 16 light cruisers, 84 destroyers, and not to mention countless submarines, frigates, or as the Russians call them, "patrol ships", submarines, motor torpedo boats and landing craft. And we should not neglect the strength of the VVS."

Grand Admiral Erich Raeder responded "I have recently sent a telegram to Herr Strasser, who in turn promised me that 4 lighter carriers, 3 battleships and 3 heavy cruisers are on their way here to further reinforce our presence, and if needed, there are more than enough Torpedoboote on hand to escort convoys. Speaking of the Mohammedans, I am of the opiniom they would probably sortie into the Philippine Sea, as sailing into the Celebes Sea will put them not only in the range of our ground-based aviation, but also that of our ground-based radars and if they attempt to enter the Sulu Sea, that of our S-booten as well. Take note of that." There were murmurs of assent to that statement."

General-Admiral Wilhelm Marschall spoke next. "Mein Herr, we have the advantage. Apparently, the Mohammedans are using kamikaze tactics against ground targets, and even their army is conducting suicide charges. The Mohammedans have the upper hand, yet they are crashing their aircraft into the first AA gun they find. If the training and skills of their officers and men alike are this poor, or their common sense blinded by religious fanaticism, it would be best for us to take the initiative."

General-Admiral Rolf Carls made a rebuttal to Admiral Marschall's proposal "We came here to simply defend the Filipinos from the Saracens, not to wage a full crusade against them. If the Mohammedans cower in fear of our mighty fleet and stop at Irian Jaya, then that is a victory for us, regardless of how remote the possibility of that happening is, given their willingness to die. You are as aware as I am that our fleet is in part a fleet in being intended to make both the Mohammedans and the Soviets think twice before attempting to conquer the Philippines. If we pre-occupy ourselves too much with the Mohammedans, and sortie our forces too far away, the North Malayans will be tempted to make moves against the Filipinos, and the Soviets would not be far behind. If the Saracens want to die so badly, let them come to us."

Raeder spoke again to interrupt his quarreling subordinates. "I will bring the matter of an offensive action up with the Filipinos, I am due to meet with them to fully discuss military matters. I have no doubt they would not relish the idea of taking the offensive, given that we are confronting not one but two potential enemies. Nevertheless, the idea warrants even a cursory discussion. I would also be bringing up the matter of combined naval operations."

Kummetz raised an eyebrow at the mention of combined operations. "Bring up the matter of discipline as well. The naval district commander for Northern Borneo just sent me a telegram in response to my query about the port facilities of the area. He says that the Filipino rear echleon is running wild, looting and raping at will, with many soldiers drunk, disorderly, in contrast to the outlying garrisons were most of the actual combat troops are stationed. In their defense, there have been no actual problems with regards to the disembarkment of men and military equipment, but he is concerned they might loot a petroleum refinery or an ammunition dump."

Raeder replied thusly "Very well, I will bring that up with the Filipino commanders as well. Also, I hear the Waffen-SS will be teaching the Bornean garrison how to loot and terrorize properly." Some of his staff officers sniggered at this bit of black humor from their boss, the former commander of the Kriegsmarine and Germany's premiere surface warfare commander. Little did they know that there was some truth to this jape.

As there was not much to discuss, the meeting ended shortly after that remark. Admiral Raeder and his staff paid the Filipino high command a visit, while Admiral Carls had to leave San Fernando that night for Kota Batu, where his command was located.

[The Philippine Social Republic]

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JANUARY 11, 1948
NATIONAL BROADCAST
PHILIPPINE SOCIAL REPUBLIC

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SPEAKING:
Jose P. Laurel
First President of the Social Republic of the Philippines

Friends and countrymen,

It is with pride and honor that I give this most warm welcome in honor of the German Strategic Observation Mission to our Philippine Social Republic. This is probably the most representative mission that the Government of Germany has ever sent to the people and government of the Social Republic of the Philippines since the end of the Second World War. I am joined by the distinguished citizen and leader of the Filipino people, the Honorable Camilo Osías, Speaker of the National Assembly, Chief of Justice of our Supreme Court, the Minister of State for Finance, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Director-General of the KALIBAPI or the National Service Association of the Philippines in thanking the German Government for cooperating with us on this project.

In my inaugural speech, I said that, because our Government is now independent it would be in a better position to carry into effect certain changes and innovations that would correct the defects in our Philippine military system, the portfolio of which I hold for the present, will bring about some of these changes with the help and cooperation of the officials and employees of the Reorganized German Army and Navy. This holds true today.

Our first and foremost duty as a free and independent nation remains to maintain peace and order within our borders. No government worthy of the name will countenance public disorder or tolerate defiance of its authority. Unless we enjoy domestic tranquility, we cannot prosecute to a successful conclusion those labors essential to our daily existence and to our national survival. Without public security, our natural resources will remain undeveloped, our fields uncultivated, our industry and commerce paralyzed; instead of progress and prosperity, we shall wallow in misery and poverty and face starvation.

THEREFORE, the purpose of this mission is two-fold: first, to express to the august Leader of the Germanic Peoples, Otto Strasser, as well as to the Government of His August Excellency, and to the great people of Germany, the undying gratitude of 18 million Filipinos for everything that Germany has done for the Philippines—particularly for making the case of granting our country the coveted boon of political freedom with the Japanese Empire and the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, which had been the supreme aspiration of the Filipinos for centuries. Second, to enable the Filipinos, through this mission, to get in closer contact with the German Government and people, through strategic and military cooperation. By getting together and developing mutual understanding, the people of the Social Republic of the Philippines can make of Europe through Germany an enduring instrument of world peace and progress.

And so, in the presence of the great leaders of the German military—the Army and the Navy—I bid the members of the German Strategic Observation Mission Godspeed. May they perform the functions assigned to them with honor. May they fulfill their two-fold purpose. May they bring honor to the Fatherland—ours and yours.

---

There was a wave of applause. The President caught his breath. He held his handkerchief to his forehead to wipe the sweat off his brow. He stepped off the podium decorated with microphones, and descended upon the tables below, which had been prepared with a lavish banquet.

Looking around, he saw men in clean white suits. Men who were much more youthful, much more vigorous in speech-making, leadership, galvanizing, or politicking than he could ever try to be. These men—survivors and newly-inaugurated members of the Asamblea Nacional, were eager to chat among each other as they held glasses of champagne in their hands, schmoozing with German officials and with each other. They talked about the future of the Social Republic. Some talked about the prospects of conflict. Some rambled-on about trade and diplomacy with Europe. Some discussed economics and how they would get the nation working again after such a long and brutal conflict.

It seemed as though the Soviets dropping the bomb on Neo-Manila had emboldened these men now that the Old Guard was gone. The past had been shed, and ambition was taking root.

Hours passed. Dishes were served. President Laurel sat and listened. It became increasingly evident that all sorts of things were being discussed—from power to politics to history—and yet no-one was talking about his address or his policies.

Instead, a member of the Nacionalista wing of the KALIBAPI stood out among the rest, an outsider hardly noticed outside a few mentions by members of the more pro-Japanese market liberal class whose pockets had been lined by the Yen of the Zaibatsus in the days of the old Social Republic. Those who did speak about him described him as a radical democratic reformer, for better or for worse. He was apparently a member of Zambales' Lone District, a probinsyano. He droned-on about the lucrativity of repairing relations with the Americans, something which seemed to latently insult the German officials present but he apparently did not seem to notice.

This vulgar and brash Assemblyman continued to garner attention to himself on the dinner table. Laurel continued to look on with envy.

Realizing eventually that the occasion best not be wasted, he decided he would participate in the schmoozing, and turned to Grand Admiral Erich Raeder from the Reorganized German Navy.

"So, Grand Admiral, how are you enjoying the reception?"

[Reorganisieren Reichregierung]

SAN FERNANDO
PHILIPPINE SOCIAL REPUBLIC

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German officers at the welcome ceremonies held by the Philippine Social Republic to welcome them.

The official reception for the German mission to the Philippine Social Republic was a resplendent affair. Filipino notables in crisp white suits chatted up each other and the German officers in their dress uniforms. The Germans, renowned veterans of the Great War, were receptive to the propositions of their hosts, encouraging their talk of trade and diplomacy with Europe and Germany.

Some responded with talk of their own about the wiseness of building relationships with Europe, German investment in Filipino reconstruction, and even a bloc consisting of those countries in Europe and Asia that continue to resist the world order United States and Great Britain desired to impose upon the world. Others spoke of more grim topics, namely the possibility of war. Everyone knew most likely threats were the aggressive Bruneian Malayans and their Arabian masters, but there were some concerns regarding North Malaya, as well as the massive Soviet forces in North Malaya itself and Indochina. Not to mention that there was a possibility that the United States could exploit the situation to occupy strategic Pacific islands, or even set up a sympathetic puppet goverment in the region, at least in the minds of the Germans.

There was only one person among the Filipino elites assembled in the dining hall so far who appeared to support a possible anti-German party, in this case the Americans. While this person was making a scene at the moment, apparently he was just a marginal figure, a supporter of plutocracy as fanatical as the Mohammedans of Arabia and Bruneian Malaya, according to those who would speak about him. His ranting nonetheless managed to attract many Filipinos and a few Germans, who grew more and more convinced this man was someone who was not to be ignored, but who had to be dealt with.

Meanwhile, Grand Admiral Raeder, the commander of the German Pacific Fleet, found himself at the top table with his host and other senior dignitaries, Filipino and German alike. In particular, President Laurel appeared to be staring at a rather loud and obnoxious character with envy, perhaps jealous of the attention this young firebrand was garnering. Like many of the other Germans present, Raeder thought that said rude character may be a political outsider today, but he may one day prove to be a potent tool in the hands of the Americans. The Filipino president would do well to engineer a way to get rid of him and whatever influence he has managed to garner.

Not surprisingly, President Laurel turned his attention to him and tried to strike up a conversation. After all, Raeder was one of two German grand admirals and a former commander of the Kriegsmarine, making him one of the most senior officers present, if not the most. Raeder replied to him "Herr President, to say I am enjoying myself is quite an understatement." The German stopped speaking for a moment to swallow a morsel of food and take a gulp of his wine. Almost immediately after putting down his wine glass, he posed the following question to the Philippine president.

"What are your plans for the war to come?"

[Kommunst]

Imperial Palace of Japan, Tokoyo

Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe burst into Emperor Hirohito's room bearing important news about world affairs. Hirohito, who was awoken by Konoe, and quite frankly annoyed by him groaned
"What do you want Fumimaro?"
"Dear Emperor," Konoe said in reply "There is a possible conflict that is on my radar sir. It seems to be between Bruneian Malaya, or sometimes, more commonly known as South Malaya which is a Muslim nation, and the nation of Hindustan which is a Hindu nation."

"So what? I don't see the problem, everything seems fine." Hirohito said as he turned his head away from Konoe's.

"Well, I have gotten reports that after Hindustan earthed to declare a holy war, South Malaya has sent thousands of Hindus to concentration camps.... most likely for them to be killed. This could be an all-out conflict involving multiple nations... another world war!"

"Look Konoe I understand your concerns however even though this may be a very serious issue to you, the USSR has the final say here. Remember we are not an independent and free nation anymore. All we are is a pitiful excuse of a country that is practically controlled and influenced by another. Those stupid soviets, coming in and invading. Anyways all we can possibly do is send a letter to both sides encouraging them to not declare war. We could also send a letter to the head of the USSR and ask them for permission to declare war. I doubt they would say yes."

"So I write both Hindustan and South Malaya letters to encourage them not to declare war?" Konoe asked
"Yes, I believe that to be the best course of action currently." Hirohito nodded and ordered Konoe to leave and start writing the letter.

The next day Hindustan and South Malaya received letters from Kone discussing the conflict. The letter addressed to Hindustan read:

"Dear Hindustan, the Japanese government has seen how your people are being mistreated in other countries especially in South Malaya. However, do you really think declaring war, let alone a holy one would be best for Hindustan and the world? We are all still recovering from the last war, and unnecessary declarations of war can lead to entire world conflicts. In order to prevent a full-on war, we recommend that you instead back off and we will take care of the situation in South Malaya. We will send serval inspectors to insure Hindus are being treated fairly in South Malaya.

-May peace be with you, Fumimaro Konoe"

The letter addressed to South Malaya read

"Dear South Malaya, I understand your want and passion to destroy all who stand in your way. My people admire your strength and courage. However, Hindustan is complaining and wanting to cause even more conflict. Thye believes that Hindus are being treated unfairly in your nation. I highly doubt it and I believe it to be a Hindu conspiracy meant for them to be able to conquer and destroy South Malaya. In response to this, we will send inspectors to insure Hindus are being treated fairly in your nation. Do not worry, as we shall say Hindus are being treated fairly no matter what the inspectors see. I would also like to open a trade route with your nation in secret as well as improve relations.

From, Fumimaro Konoe"