Part 4 (Imperial States of America)

1964- The I.S invades Finland, which had slipped away from Russian control. Although the Finns fight bravely, they stand no match against the fury of the American army. Helsinki falls in a week. Many civilians are shot on sight. A similar fate befalls Estonia. The victory of the Nazis in England alerts Lord Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., who fears the revival of the fascist threat, though he ignores the fascist tendencies of MacArthur. With the Russians defeated, he easily convinces MacArthur to occupy England, and defeat the nazis. With little popular support, the Nazis quickly surrender, and England is given full status as a state. Switzerland is bombed in preparation for an eventual invasion. Rumor has it that MacArthur will retire in favor of Lodge. Refuting these rumours, MacArthur decides to crown himself Emperor of the American Empire. At his coronation, which attracts millions and is broadcasted on National TV, MacArthur lays forth his plans for the future of humanity. He declares that the moon shall become an American territory, so that " All men shall live under the I.S.A." He also threatens war with Spain, saying " America's conquest of the world shall end as it began."

The Second Spanish- American war
1965- On his 85th Birthday, before millions of people on National TV, Emperor Douglas MacArthur is shot and killed. The violent death of the Empire's leader for sixteen years shocks and stuns the world. His estranged son is denied the position of Emperor, which is kept empty so that the honor of being emperor would remain MacArthur's alone. The new president, Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., traces down the assassin to a radical Latin American independence group, Las Cabarellos de Libertad ( The Knights of Liberty), headed by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. The group's bases in Havana, Buenos Aires, and Caracas are stormed, and political sympathezers are killed. Street fighting erupts between CDL gangs and American police. Lodge blames the turmoil on Latin America's former master, Spain, for attempting to steal America's glory. This is actually not far from the truth, as Spain, fearing war, was funding rebels to distract the Americans. Showing the I.S's mastery of Europe as a threat to Spain, Swizterland, after a heavy bombing campaign, is occupied. Geneva is quickly seized, and Bern is occupied. Heavy casualties are taken, but as these are mostly European conscripts, Lodge ignores them.

1966- Nomadic warriors in Morocco and Algeria, who have been fighting the Americans and French for years, have begun stepping up their raids. With various other military operations in the rest of the world ongoing, the I.S cannot commit to a full scale invasion. Yet Lodge continues to increase the number of troops. Raids are commited on Spanish Territory. The Spanish protest, and since the border is uncertain, it asks for a settlement. Lodge refuses, and the war slowly escalates. Lodge invades Spanish Guinea, which he regards as a relatively easy territory to take. Spain is then forced to declare war on the I.S. Lodge expects an easy victory. However, Spain, smarting from its' defeat in 1898, and three decades of potential threats from Britain, Germany, and the I.S, has had a long time to prepare for this battle. The Spanish fight for every inch of territory, and even launch an offensive into I.S held Gabon, which takes Lodge by surprise. After the Spanish reach the Congo, they are repulsed, though they leave African rebels in their wake.

1967- After pushing the Spanish from Gabon, the I.S renews its' assualt on Spanish Guinea. The distraction has allowed Spain to resupply its' colonies, and boost their already considerable defenses. As a result, American advancement stands at a crawl, unusual for a military that is accustomed to near blitzreigs over vast swaths of territory. It takes weeks for individual military bases to fall. The war slowly escalates in Morocco, with Spanish tanks under the command of Don Velasquez recalling the desert warfare of World War II. Inspired by the Spanish, revolutionaries in Europe take to the streets to overthrow their American overlords. This Great European Revolt largely occurs in France, Germany, and nations that were formerly America's allies before their annexation. This destraction allows the Spanish to win the Battle of Casablanca, overrunning all of American Morocco. This flares up Algerian and Libyan rebels, who quickly start a campaign against the Americans. The rebels are crushed in most battles, though they still take a heavy toll. With aid from Spanish tanks and renegade French battalions, the rebels take Algiers. Then, all of the French battalions in Africa turn on the Americans. This encourages the riots in occupied Europe, who begin purging cities of all Americans. Most of the police throw off their badges and join the rioters. I.S troops are originally pushed back by these rioters, but tanks sent in roll them over. The only bright side for the Americans is when Spanish Guinea falls in October. Even this is a mixed blessing, for the weakening of American power in the region leads to declarations of independence from Cameroon and the Congo. Wearily, the Americans turn to crush the rebels.

1968- The Americans mount an offensive through Mali and Niger, where French troops had attempted to seize control. The nations take a few months to be pacified. In Europe, bombings and guerilla warfare continue throughout the rest of the year, with the occasional riot. Militias hide in the countryside, preying on any Americans who pass through. In the Second Battle of Bellau Wood, French militias ambush the Americans. European rebels then seize control of Brussels, declaring the Republic of Europe. American troops bombard the city, and crush militias in the Low Countries. After a failed assualt on Tripoli by the Spanish, it is decided to attack Gibraltar, the base of Spanish naval operations, which was taken from the British after the Empire's collapse. Lead by Admiral John McCain, a massive naval assault of Southern Spain begins. Gibraltar is another highly fortified base that proves difficult to storm. It continues to be held even after a grueling summer campaign. However, some Spanish cities on the Southern Coast are taken after a surprise attack. This allows the I.S to push the Spanish out of Algeria, and into Morocco. The Canary Islands are seized within two weeks around the same time, with even such a simple military endevour taking thousands of casualties. The Second Spanish-American war has already taken hundreds of thousands of casualties. Opposition to the war has grown domestically, as the I.S has not faced a war like this since the 1930's. Lodge, desperate for a victory, orders the war to continue for as long as it may take. He points to the end of newfound republics in Mali, Niger, Cameroon, and the Congo as evidence of America's eventual triumph. He also begins funding of Basque rebels in the Pyrenees.

1969- The Americans have taken much of Southern Spain, but have not taken Gibraltar. Lodge has overseen the taking of Spanish Morocco, and fears that Gibraltar could serve as the starting point for a new Spanish invasion of Africa. He orders 100,000 troops into Gibraltar of whom half perish in the successful siege. The Spanish, acting on a plan designed by General Velasquez, land a beachhead into Cornwall, England, which heavily surprises the Americans. Britain had been one of the few quiet places in Europe. London falls, but it is retaken, and the Spanish are slowly forced out of England. This buys the Spanish even more time. The European rebels have mostly been killed, and the militias arrested, so the Americans can now turn their full focus on Spain. However, the surviving militias join the Spanish army. At this point, astronauts land on the Moon, and claim it for the I.S. The American Empire celebrates at this incredible acheivement, including Lodge, who uses it as a distraction from the war. He begins discussing plans on moon bases to extract resources, though few take them seriously. Perhaps to display American superiority, Lodge launches a nuclear missile at Madrid, destroying most of the city. The Spanish military command, including the leading general Don Velasquez, manage to survive, and continue to conduct the war.

1970- The last remnants of Spanish Morocco are finally taken. However, Spain itself is far from falling. General Velasquez has turned Spain into a war machine, with millions of Spainards called to fight for their nation. Former French Militias make up for the manpower shortages. The I.S manages to land troops to support a newly found Basque Republic- which of course is annexed to the American Empire. Velasquez uses his massive air force to counter American bombers, keeping the beachhead in Cornwall for a few months. Granada and much of Southern Spain have fallen, but massive offensives northwards are prevented by the losses of the battles of Seville and Cordoba. The Americans take the city, but the damage is too heavy. The I.S begins expanding southward from the Basque Country, which encounters some opposition.

1971- Due to a recent ban on formally speaking the Spanish language, the CDL has ignited a revolt. Riots in Miami and Havana spread across much of Florida and the Carribean. The revolt is quickly crushed, but many of the conspirators escape. In Spain, the Northeastern Basque enclave is about to connect with the Southern enclave, which is expanding northwards. Velasquez is alarmed by this, and makes a stand at Valencia. The three month battle costs a million lives. Although the Americans win the battle, the Spanish are noted for their bravery, and the Battle again buys more time for the Spanish. The Spanish manage to retake Cordoba, as most troops have been diverted to Valencia. Lodge, frusterated at the never ending obstacles, destroys the city with a nuclear missile.

1972- With a beachhead established in the Northwest Iberian Peninsula, Spain is now landlocked. With huge sections of Iberia under I.S occupation, Velasquez turns to guerilla warfare. Bombs are frequently set off at American military bases within the region, as much intelligence is filtered to the resistance, which is supported from Portugal. Mines are set up on key roads. The devastated regions of Central Spain, based along the ruins of Madrid are home to the surviving Spanish army, who, despite a lack of supplies, are continuing to hold their ground. Lodge orders a massive offensive northwards to occupy all of Spain, but the offensive is halted after a hundred miles, as the Turks launch yet another revolt. This revolt, based in radical Islamic groups, is quickly crushed, but it distracts from the war with Spain. The Spanish army is becoming increasingly desperate.

1973- Guerilla warfare has cost the I.S many troops and resources. With the war now entering its' Seventh year, the anti-war movement, who had been holding several peace rallies, is now exploding in revolt. Riots in the streets are common, and most of the army is used keeping order over the four continents under American control. African Americans especially are begining to sound noises about rebellion. Many powerful figures in the I.S warn that if the war continues much longer, regime change will be necessary. Lodge, though worried by the dissention, believes a defeat of Velasquez will calm it down, and his advisors are largely oblivious to the public's demands. The Spanish fort on the ruins of Madrid finally falls, and the I.S occupies all of Spain. Resistance is widespread, and guerilla bands continue to cause the I.S casualties. In fact, the I.S cannot stop rebels from the north forming an army to continue the war from Portugal. Gathering the resistance around him, Velasquez leads an offensive to push the americans northward. After eliminating the remnants of the I.S 9th infantry division, Velasquez is forced south to Olivenza, on the border with Portugal. The Portuguese, threatened by the I.S, help the Spanish to inforce the city.

1974- With tensions mounting, Lodge is forced by his advisers to call an attack on Olivenza and go to war with Portugal. At this point, the American Empire has had enough. Sick of war, the army refuses to attack. A revolution occurs disposing Lodge, and establishing Joseph Kennedy Jr. as president. Kennedy calls for a ceasefire, signing a peace treaty with Portugal, and allowing Velasquez and the rebels to seek refuge there. However, Spain, after nearly a decade of fighting, is finally submitted to American domination. The few remaining fighters barely resist for the rest of the year. A revolution occurs in Portugal, creating a passive democratic government, which abandons its' overseas empire. The I.S.A is now the last Western power standing, and the only empire on Earth.