Operation Tempered Heart

Operation Tempered Heart was a infamous naval and nuclear action in the opening months of the **Third World War** set during the events of *The European Wall*. It resulted in the deaths of an estimated 100,000 Russian Sailors, Technicians and Civilians. In addition, radioactive fallout would consume almost 70,00 Civilians from Eastern Prussia to St. Petersburg. It is widely regarded as one of the most destructive single retaliatory losses of life in human history to date.

* Operation Dawnbreak

## Background

In the decades before Tempered Heart, the world found itself embroiled was an decades long and arduous **Cold War.** Tensions that had existed since the division of europe in the late 1940's had brought the world to the Brink in numerous incidents over the decades (Such as the **W-1 Incident** in 1960 and the **Cyprus Missile Crisis**.)

Regardless, none could truly anticipate the astonishingly sudden outbreak of violence on across the German border on the morning of the November 9th 1981. Historians today still debate the exact cause, as Intelligence reports out of the region were either vaporized or confused. What is clear is that upon the sudden outbreak of riots and several bombings in the Breslau and the rest of the **German Peoples State,** 17 tactical Nuclear explosions erupted at various points the border wall. Thus, to the shock of many a Third "**Weltkrieg**" had begun.

A full scale invasion of the **Socialist Republic of Germany** began only hours later. The scattered few **MARPAC** forces that hadn't been annihilate in the earlier strikes found themselves unable to mount any kind of defense. Soon Russian and Romanian Forces were nearing the Rhine, and MARPAC found itself forced to respond in kind.

## Objective

With the possibility of Socialist forces being entirely pushed out of continental Europe by the surprise attack, MARPAC command in Paris felt they had a limited window to use their nuclear arsenal.

In most exercises in the buildup to War, the Russian fleet in the Baltic Sea was marked as a primary target, due to the Vital nature of the space it patrolled, as well as it's Air and Nuclear support capability.

If Tempered Heart was Successful, not only would vital Russian Trade be further hindered and naval capacity destroyed, but a potential seizure of St. Petersburg itself became possible.

## Outcome

Tempered Heart was a successful in slowing the **ETO** advance across Western Europe as well as opening a second front in the war. However, it was not without significant causalities and absurd unorthodox strategies.

By morning of November 10th, MARPAC nuclear subs were able to reach the Kiel Canal where they would launch 5 American made "**Huron**" Class **Intermediate range ballistic Missiles (IRBM)** towards ports in Danzig and St. Petersburg. After Reconnaissance flights confirmed positive impacts on detonation, the Invasion itself could begin.

3 Divisions of the [insert cool name] Marine Infantry departed on the pride of the French fleet and the now infamous Carrier “Le temps des roses” as well as its two destroyer escorts. While they encountered no resistance upon their initial approach to the city, dogfights began as the task-force approached the city shore. Casualties began to mount heavily on both sides. Soon, the remnants of the Baltic fleet had regrouped and converged behind the task-force assaulting the city. The "Temps des roses" found its air forces tied up above and its escort engaged below.

In a now legendary act of desperation and fury, Captain Henry Couture issued an order that the carrier must “Find a way ashore by any means necessary!”. The ship would then perform what is now commonly known as  the “**Couture Maneuver**” in which it rammed the port directly, slamming itself into the dock. Allowing marines to secure the lightly defended city from local militias while the Russian Army was distracted in the Rhine.

Support soon arrived, and the Baltic Fleet was forced to retreat. Couture was detained and court martialed for risking the lives of his soldiers despite many of them praising his unrelenting nature.

With the shocking fall of St. Petersburg, ETO command soon realized the war was not going to end with the swift victory they had hoped. Both sides settled in for the long conflict ahead.

## Legacy

Operation Tempered Heart stands as a testament to both the brutality and heroism of the Third World War. It is widely regarded by historians as possibly the most daring operation in Naval history. It also represented a turning point in the early hours of the war and a sufficient retaliation for earlier Russian strikes.

The "Couture Maneuver" itself has become iconic in popular culture. It is frequently invoked in conversations hyperbolically. The Maneuver or events inspired by  it can also be found in comic books, video games and satirical TV shows.The term has come to describe any type of scenario in which one object rams another, or an absurd strategy is used to achieve a desired result.