U.S. Invasion of Cuba (Great Nuclear War)

The U.S. Invasion of Cuba was an American military offensive aimed to overthrow the Castro Regime via simultaneous invasions from the sea and air. The operation occurred a year after the CIA-backed failed Bay of Pigs Invasion. It is the direct cause of the Great Nuclear War of 1962, also known as World War III.

Prelude
On October 23, 1962, the U.S. Navy began enacting a "naval quarantine" of the island of Cuba after discovering Soviet nuclear weapons stored on the island. Having failed diplomatically in tense negotiation with the Soviets, President John F. Kennedy gave the go ahead signal to invade the island on October 24, 1962.

Invasion
Simulataneously, U.S. Marines mounted an amphibious invasion of Cuba, followed by air strikes from the Air Force and bombardment by the U.S. Navy. After the initial Marine invasion, the 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne were deployed, joining up with the rest of the invasion force. This caused the treaty of 1902 to become void as both Cuba and the United States were now at war. Meanwhile, in Guantanamo Bay, U.S. Naval Forces came under relentless attacks by Cuban Revolutionary Forces but were able to successfully defend the base, due to its impregnable defenses. The invasion was quick and swift as the superior U.S. military was easily able to defeat the Cubans. Santiago fell just to the Americans just the following day of invasion.

Soviet Intervention
However, the Cuban dictator Fidel Castro requested help from the USSR. Expectedly, on October 27, the Soviets responded by attack the U.S. Naval Blockade, resulting in the loss of several ships. The USSR lost five bombers while attacking American ships at sea. This was not the end however, the Soviet Air Force would conduct carpet bombing operations on American troops on Cuba itself as the naval blockade finally broke as Soviet carriers and submarines entered the Caribbean Sea. Casaulties mounted from the carpet bombings. U.S. Air Force jets would engage the Soviet bombers as it seemed the World War III was finally on the horizon. At home, Americans began evacuating the major cities and headed into fallout shelters. B-52 bombers, nuclear submarines, and Minuteman silos were placed on high alert for a fear of a Soviet strike. The world's worst fear of a global thermonuclear war was finally confirmed hours after the American-Soviet clashes in Cuba. While this happened, U.S. troops suddenly withdrew from Santiago, regrouping at the Bay of Pigs and in Guantanamo.

War Becomes Nuclear
The same day, a small U.S Air Force Base in Damascus, Arkansas is vaporized by a thermonuclear blast. The Great Nuclear War begins. Major cities in America, as well as major military installations became targets for Soviet nuclear missiles. The United States' response was harsh, retaliating with their missiles on both the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, the Warsaw Pact and their communist allies.

In Europe, most NATO missiles stationed in West Germany, Italy, Turkey, and the United Kingdom (with the UK firing their's as well) are aimed at the Warsaw Pact, though in a surprise move, the French turned on their American allies, and released their payload post-haste. While it is unknown why they did this, it can be assumed that the French taught they were going to spared from Soviet attack when they nuked U.S. positions in Europe.

At the end of the day, majority of the North America, Europe, the USSR, the Middle East, and Asia remained irridated. Some areas attacked such Japan, the Philippines, and parts of Oceania fared better than Northern Hemisphere, but nonetheless faced a challenge on how to move on from WWIII. Millions died in the the resulting war with many more dying from the resulting fallout, prevailing diseases, infighting, and starvation. It was start of a new dark age in which mankind needed to survive and cooperate for the future generations.

Post War
Fighting with Cuban and American forces did not stop with the nuking of Havana and Santiago. Instead, it intensified the Cuban's to take revenge on America. However, this was somehow futile as Fidel Castro was killed and there were no more allies to help Cuba wage war against the United States. So from this point, the battle became a stalemate, with both sides sporadically engaging in clashes with no clear achievements. Remnant U.S. forces still in Guantanamo effectively made it their temporary HQ, now that contact with Washington DC was gone. Meanwhile, the Cubans continued their relentless assault on Guantanamo even though they failed several times in the past. About six to seven months later, the U.S. troops realized that Kennedy was still alive and gave an order for all military assets to evacuate to Hawaii, the last functioning state of the union. The Americans began a hastily evacuation of the base, bringing in with them what they can while destroying any weapon or equipment that could not be taken. By early 1964, all Americans have left Guantanamo via U.S. Navy ships and making contact with the Antilles, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the American territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. After a brief stop at the nearly impassable Panama Canal, the U.S. troops at Guantanamo finally arrived in Hawaii, now part of the newly established United States of the Pacific - the successor of the U.S. government. Remnant Cuban forces occupied the empty Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and made it their military HQ.