The outcome of the Caliphate's invasion of Italy was expected, but definitely a disappointment. Even though the Caliphate offered food, shelter and aid to the civilians, they were met with resistance and riots, now that Italy was finally free, they don't want to be someone else's country again. When the Sunayyadian Forces stepped food in the Heel of Italy, they were met with an army of 23,000, broken remnants of the EFJ. They fought long and hard to defend, but the Caliphate soon overwhelmed them with air support and 17,000 more men. After the Italian military was defeated, the Caliphate marched into Rome, but no one was happy about it. Even though at that point Italy had surrendered and was submissive, random shoot outs broke out, people threw bricks and shot at Caliphate soldiers and started to riot. In the entire engagement, over 1,200 Italian soldiers lost their lives, while only 500 Sunayyad Soldiers died. An account of 250 civilian deaths was counted. Italy's government was thrown out and a Turkish governor put in place. The governor assured the people that aid was on the way and that their Muslim settlers were to keep peace with them, they were only there to extract resources and create a Commonwealth between Italy and the Sunayyad Empire, Italy would benefit in this, as trade and a greater economy would appear, yet people still don't like it. (Now is a good time for Mussolini to come out of hiding from TBF and start an Italian Revolution). The Caliphate declares that any resistance will be met with a hard thump, anyone seen threatening the Caliphate, Allah or Islam will be punished, and people who resist the military and create weapon chains will be killed or executed.
The Caliphate condemns the SEU for destroying Japanese culture. The Caliphate, the world's centre keeper of history, literature and culture thinks of SEU's actions as justice to the Imperial Japanese, but the Caliph seriously wants all Japanese art, literature and history books if the SEU is just going to trash them. This is not an act of rebuilding the Japanese, this is an act of preserving beauty for millennium to come.
The SEU responds "There is no beauty in Japanese Culture, and there is nothing worth preserving, only madmen and a culture gone mad. We will break them, whether you like it or not."
Then we shall retrieve it ourselves then. Cue the hired madman who would risk their lives to go into a war territory to take all Japanese books and culture and bring them back to the Caliphate.
There are always people crazy enough to do it. There are always people smart enough to do it. The problem is finding someone that is both. SEU hasn't invaded Japan yet, they need to develop entirely new methods of Warfare and Technology to do so. They are trying to invade amphibiously, which is highly problematic. Also, the IJN's Battleships and Carriers are still intact, despite SEU bombing Japan for a year now. Given, a good 1/3 of their Air Force is fighting India. But still.
The Balkan Federation has deported Benito Mussolini back to Italy, after arresting and charging him with inciting hatred through his newspaper network, political friends, etc.. Due to the large amount of fascists in the state governments and the federal government, TBF has secretly agreed that they will form an alliance with him if he ever gains control of Italy. The only people to know are the President of TBF, the Foreign Minister, Mussolini himself, and the Serb Fascist Party leader.
The Caliph has a dream, and his dream is to build a glorious Islamic Empire and to bring back the Golden Age of Islam. With that goal comes the rebuilding of the Ancient Wonders and the Ancient world itself, and that's why the Caliph, as crazy as it seems, and as expensive as it seems is rebuilding the Library of Alexandria. It was a shock to many in his court, but he was settled on rebuilding this ancient glory. "So let it be written, So let it be done." He said, and his voice spoke to power, as plans went underway. He envisions a massive architect masterpiece near the ruins of the original library which was destroyed by Caeser's troops in the first century BC; no, Muslims did not destroy it. The library will be triple the size of the original, eventually being undoubtedly the biggest library in the world and of all time. It will have many gardens, fountains, ponds and streams running from it, gardens will hang from it and the sun will radiate onto it's Ancient Egyptian/Greek style architect and Ancient Egyptian god statues, revisioned in a modern taste yet following its ancient roots. In that library will be grand knowledge, literature, poetry, sagas, centuries of research and history, dazzling paintings, potteries, textiles and crafts, and mind wrenching religious and scientific books. Being the biggest library ever created, it will hold over 500 languages, and an estimated 180 million items, beating the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. by a huge margin. Designs for the library will be completed in 3 years and will be built therefore after in 6 years, meaning 9 years of work. It will be finished in 1935. This is why the Caliphate wants Japanese books and historic arts kept, it is for the library. A small number of people under the Caliph have been hired to obtain all the historical culture arts and literature they can find all throughout the world. The focus would especially be on relics and highly valuable stories and artworks from generations past. This "creed" is sort of like spies and secret agents, although they don't focus on political and war affairs, just obtaining as much history as they can, there are rougly 2,300 in the membership and they are all paid very well, making their job respectable. They are called the "Book Keepers" or in Arabic, "Katib Alhisabat." Their methods are basically spreading throughout the world and either asking for a donation, purchasing or even rescuing of historical literature, as is seen attempted by going to Japan to receive all of their cultural books, it wouldn't be a surprise if they even stole some literature artifacts from some other libraries, but that would be rare and if caught by the Caliph, would end up in their demotion. That task is daunting, and only a few have gone, they are all crazy, yet smart, there are maybe under 100 of them going into Japan, yet they risk their lives for world culture.
SEU loathes Fascism as the enemy of Socialism. If it came down to it, India and SEU would put aside their differences to defend the World from the tide of Nationalistic Facism, when Marx and the Founder wanted a World without borders, a World without differences. I propose France, Italy, Japan and a large Coalition of African nations work to take the world to one of Facism.
Jihadists vs Facists vs Socialists? God this is going to be a crapstorm. World War 2, when Italy and much of Europe is taken by Fascists, when SEU sorts out its business with Japan and makes up with India, and when everyone sorts out their business. Fascists: Most of Europe + CNE/The Federation (one of these two has to join for balance) + Balkan Federation Muslims: The Caliphate, much of Muslim Africa and Middle East (cannot be balanced without them) Socialists: USSR (includes SEU and United Baltic Federation) (will infight for much of war, deliberate nerf) The Socialists hate Fascists more than Islam. The Fascists hate Islam more than Socialism. The Muslims hate Socialism more than Fascism. Hey, Otus. You know that Sultan who's going to ruin the Caliphate? What he does to ruin it should be "Starting World War 2 and subsequently greatly weakening every major faction." NOT YET THOUGH, SEU HAS UNFINISHED BUISNESS. MAYBE AT 1939.
This is it. Kantai Kessen. Decisive Battle. Japan has had "good" kill-to-loss ratios on larger ships so far. While 2 of their Battleships were damaged and 1 sunk, SEU had 1 sunk and one effectively sunk. The Socialist Eurasian Union has drawn a lot here. Not everything, they need to be able to win a war of attrition. But Japan will get their Kantai Kessen. They will lose their Kantai Kessen. They will be broken by their own Kantai Kessen. The Vice Admiral of the Yi Sun-Shin, pride and greatest of the SEU Navy ponders this. The only reason his ship is even there is because SEU ceased repairs and building on just about everything else, including The People, the second ship in her class (OOC: This could not possibly happen in real life, even if they redirected all resources to a single ship. I just wanted a legendary duel of Battleships). Japan had been building a second Tokyo-Class Battleship, and his Battleship was meant to neutralize it. His escort of 45 destroyers and 12 Heavy Cruisers, 5 fleet Carriers and 3 more Battleships was the greatest fleet that had ever been assembled. He was one of Japan's victims, and was determined to defeat them here and now. Japan sailed out to meet them. He knew all too well that this Battle would be one of Titanic Ships, not small fry. But nevertheless, the small fry were the first to engage. Japan's Destroyers were massacred against SEU's greater numbers and massively greater size. The Heavy Cruisers opened fire at each other while an entire air war raged above them. The result was clear: SEU's small fry was stronger and there were more of them. But it would be suicide for them to attack Battleships or Aircraft Carriers. So they hide for now. The Air War continued. But it was clear; SEU was winning. They had numbers and quality on their side. It was up to the Battleships now. If Japan could win the Big-Gun Battle, they could get a draw. If they lost... the result was unthinkable. The Japanese fought bravely. Nay, madly. But the bravery was equaled by the Koreans and Chinese, filled with rage. These people had despoiled their homes, took their children from them, burned their names, looted everything, taken everything from them. No. They would not win. As the mighty 18-inch guns of one of his neighboring ships roared in a full broadside against Yamato, he waited to open fire. He was looking for a specific ship. Then he saw it. God. What had it taken to build that thing? A monstrous Battleship, just as big as his own. It made 27 knots and had 20-inch guns, 8 of them. He ordered a full broadside. Of course, all the sides were missing for a while. It was deadly, but unexciting. Then an 18-inch shell slammed into his ship's armor belt. The Japanese landed the first blow. Musashi opened fire and hit his ship. But its armor piercing was mediocre, and it did not penetrate his armor. Another of his escorting Battleships fired on Tokyo, in a full broadside. 4 of the shells hit. 2 hit the armor belt, and 2 tore massive holes in her. While she was all-or nothing, this slowed her. This made her easy pickings for 8 18-inch shells slamming into her in every ship in the fleet concentrating their fire onto one ship. This was more than devastating, she blew up in a massive explosion so large that it was amazing to watch. One of his Battleships was adjusting her aim when a 20-inch shell pierced her armor and blew up inside her. It blew up one of her 18-inch turrets, taking out 3 guns. But then she fires at Yamato. While Yamato resists barely 1 18-inch shell streaking at her, it does damage her slightly and give a good frame of reference for future shots. The next 18 shells streaking at her do more damage. While only 2 shells hit, this was enough to make her take on water. And then the Planes came. Somewhere in there, SEU had managed to get a flight in and the IJN was completely surprised. Torpedoes razed Yamato, and then 12 18-inch shells streaked at her. All of them missed. Somehow, they all missed. But SEU's Battleships were not done yet, and 18-inch shell after 18-inch shell lit up the sky. Musashi had been free to get range, but she was constantly harassed by Heavy Cruisers and Destroyers, throwing off her aim time and again. She wasn't too damaged, just a lucky torpedo here and there. But she was not helping well. The destroyers took Heavy Losses, but it was enough. And then the monstrous thing with 8 guns fired. She hit his ship. His flagship. But it did not do too much damage. He fired back, with 12 guns. 2 of them hit. They both had points of reference against each other, and they pounded each other to scrap. And then, through sheer luck rather than genius, while the SEU Battleships were attacking the IJN Battleships, Yi Sun-Shin's Guns finally penetrated that monstrous thing's engine rooms, performing a mobility kill. Yi Sun-Shin proceeded to dismantle her counterpart. She was nothing now, all of her great guns torn to pieces by 18-inch shells. The IJN's fleet carriers, receiving a single message turned to flee. But they would not be allowed to flee. No, SEU's victory had to be complete. The Air War was won by SEU, and they attacked. The Carriers were mobility killed, their hangers pounded to nothing. The Battleships finished them. The Day was won. Now, the Invasion begins. SEU has researched all they need.
The Invasion, all of it planning, logistics, has culminated to this. Kyushu has been invaded The largest amphibious operation on Earth. Despite all the planning and all the research, it all goes horribly wrong. Everything is messed up. Banzai Charges nearly drive the invasion back into the sea. And then the Deathcorps show up. They are nothing short of Demigods. They fight with madness exceeding the Japanese. They are clever and insane, and they lead the charge. One of them remarks about the Japanese "Creative killers. Fascinating.". SEU just keeps throwing more and more men into the meat grinders. More men are arranged to be sent, and they are sent even if they do not have the training to do so. Bodies pile high on the beach and men crawl over their own dead, but the Chinese and Koreans are fighting with equally mad bravery and strength. They have lost everything from Japan, and the thirst for vengeance is great. Most of the men fighting remember Japan taking their sisters and mothers away from them, how their Brothers were taken as Soldiers, how their fathers never came back from the Mines of Japan. Every man on those beaches, defenders or attackers, are like the Masif Corps. And then the resistance just... stops. Every single one of the defenders are dead. They march inland, and what they see is horrifying. Children attack them with Bamboo Spears and are gunned down. Entire families throw themselves upon the Sea. Soldiers fight, and fight, and fight until they cannot. They inflict pain upon their enemies as if they enjoy it. Each step is a nightmare, but they are killing far more of the enemy than the enemy is killing them. The Japanese are well equipped, but the Bombing raids have done their work well. There are no more industrial centers left to produce weapons, only primitive ones. The same man from earlier remarks with a far darker tone. "What is this nation? Do they enjoy inflicting pain? This is illogical. Madness." Considering this guy is a psychopath, this illustrates the tone well. They have a beachhead, but the casualties are huge. 50,000. Just to establish a beachhead. So many wounded. Japan's casualties are three times that, and 9/10s of them were dead. As SEU marches inland, they cut swaths through Japan. Their progress is slow and hellish, but the Kill-to-Death Ratio is even more skewed. Many of the Soldiers are ill-equipped, and many are Students. Children are strapped with bomb vests, at this point they've taken to shooting any Japanese person that approaches them, because 80% of the time it's an attack. Shinto Shrines are sacked and burned. While there are orders not to kill civilians, no one is eager to enforce or follow those orders. Japanese people die in droves, if they didn't kill themselves. The commanders only bother to enforce anti-rape rules, and that doesn't happen a lot. India has threatened to directly invade and attack SEU should this continue. SEU secretly offers to only decapitate the Emperor of Japan and wipe out Japanese Culture. India responds they can accept the first, but not the second and that this is far too harsh. SEU responds they're being lenient. India stews among itself for a while. The Founder is disappointed in his great Socialist Project. He plots to directly intervene should this madness continue.
Ehh Serbia is the only one controlled by fascists, followed closely by moderate conservatives/liberals and socialists. The other states are socialists and the federal government is mostly split but majority socialist. I'll see.
The Socialism USSR promotes would be called "Chinese State Capitalism" IRL. USSR has branded IRL Socialists Communists/Fascists for this reason. SEU is developing a type of tank called the T-26. It will be mass produced and used. As SEU beats Japan into oblivion slowly and painfully (bodies are piling up, and they're having to torch entire forests to kill Guerillas), India has given SEU an ultimatum: Do not destroy Japanese Culture, and stop killing innocents. SEU has enforced their don't kill civilians rules more strongly (as strongly as can be despite uncooperative everybody), but they march ahead with the first.
"H", the Founder, the man, the myth, the legend himself has stepped in. OOC: I would have done this one way or another, don't complain about Deus Ex Machina. TO INDIA: Really? Fascism sweeps over Europe, Islam dominates the Middle East, and you're too busy with your petty squabbles? Fighting your own Socialist brothers and sisters? Why do you fight your own kin while enemies surround you from every side? What is so good about being defeated by a bunch of Opium Addicts and Wall-Builders? We are revolutionaries. We are utopia-builders. We are Socialists. Pull yourself together, India. Socialism is in danger, all that we have built threatens to be destroyed by Opium Addicts and Wall-Builders. Socialism needs you. Get it together, and get the USSR together. Don't fight other Socialists, fight the enemy. TO SEU: What are you doing? No, really. I hate Japan as much as you do. Why wouldn't I, I fought against them to liberate Korea and China from them. They took everyone from me. They took everyone from us. But shooting up villages? Yes, Japanese People are pathetic excuses for human beings. But they are still human. Quit trying to behead the Emperor. Quit trying to erase Japanese Culture. There is no benefit from wasting ammo on them. I am your founder, I am the father of Eurasian Socialism. And I say this: Stop fighting Japan, stop fighting other Socialists, and contain the Fascists and Muslims. They will destroy all we have built if we let our guard down. I will not stand idly as incompetent leaders destroy my creation. Fail and expect my wrath.
Only 100 men and women of the bookkeeper creed went to Japan to retrieve all the books they could find, they were successful before the invasion started, but afterwards that 100 dropped down to only 20... 20 madmen risking their lives to preserve world culture, only 5 made it out alive. They didn't know an invasion was coming, they had to act quick. They stored as many books as they could in ships, and they left. Luckily one of them was Chinese, he reassured the SEU force that they were all non-japanese refugees. They left, but the others weren't lucky. 10 were killed by either SEU bombs, or shot without mercy by SEU soldiers, even though none of the bookkeepers are Japanese. Two were busy rescuing all the knowledge and scrolls in an Ancient Japanese Temple, yet the SEU came and burned it down. The SEU is horrible, destroying thousands of years worth of Japanese art, literature, architecture and culture. They even burned the Horyuji Temple to the ground, the oldest wooden building in Japan. All Japanese culture was destroyed, nothing left of the beauty the Ancient Japanese carved up. The Caliphate is extremely mad at the SEU, the SEU is seen as a religious, cultural, human, hating branch of society. Not many books were retrieved with the Invasion started, but luckily beforehand the bookkeepers got a considerable amount of knowledge, still, the SEU's evil shows drastically.
The Caliphate assures the Socialists they want nothing to do with them. Going to war with the SEU or USSR is deadly, there is no point, the Caliphate would lose offensively, but win defensively. All the Caliph's dream was to spread Islam all throughout the states that were lost to Mohammed's Caliphate rule, this means all the middle east and North Africa. The Caliphate has no point in attacking the SEU, Muslims cannot contain socialists, and socialists sure as hell could never hold a majority Muslim country, no matter which ethnicity of Muslim they are, they will cause revolutions, the only way to end it is to kill every one of them.
SEU knows that they were right, but the Founder doesn't think so. They reluctantly draw up terms of surrender to the Japanese. They won't apologize for this. They did what was right. They only destroyed 1/5 of Japan's culture, and that wasn't enough to do the World a favor.
SEU has pulled out of Japan. They have been given a crushing treaty to completely revert her back to a pre-industrial nation, but India said to give them lenience. And so it was given. India and SEU are still technically at war with each other, but it is virtually non-existent.
The CNE's naval ship has landed at Germany( long overdue for when I said it would happen). The construction of a military base begins. The troops sent do not intervene with the government or citizens but do promise to protect them. The idea of communism is not appealing to the Germans, but the CNE says that ideas of socialism are rising and it's a perfect time to join. Speaking of socialism, the idea of communism has almost been completely destroyed. Most government officials agree to change to socialism because they realize the amount of unemployed and poor. The communist government has a predicted one year lift until it ultimately will fail. But until then communism is still in charge but socialism will take over.
