The Free Atlantic States

The Free Atlantic States is a Superpower State located in North America, Oceania and Europe (British Isles). The Free Atlantic States is the result of the Unification of the Remaining Allied Powers after their defeat in The War of Liberation and signing of the Peace Treaty of Paris. The FAS is one of the 3 World Superpowers , being the Second Strongest of the 3 and slowly creeping up on The Imperium. The Free Atlantic States has a long standing rivalry against The Union of East Asian Soviets who they fought during the War of The Pacific.

## History

### Unification

Prior to 1942, The United States and the United Kingdom were in a tough situation. The Great Depression had taken it's toll even before the Defeat in the War of Liberation. The Defeat ruined the Economies of the two remaining Allied Powers and Eisenhower proposed a Unification of the Remaining British Empire and the United States to Lord Halifax, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who accepted at the damage of his own career. The Free Atlantic States were then formed.

### Post-Unification

Following the Unification of The British Empire and the United States, The Free Atlantic States under it's First President, President Eisenhower, went through a period of reflection on the failures made during the War of Liberation and a new era for the west had emerged. Eisenhower led the new country through a period of national rebuilding. The Great Depression and The War had left the Wests' economy in tatters and as such they had to focus on themselves. Extremist Groups are running rampant in the Free Atlantic States. The Humiliation Accord had left the West in humiliation and their pride was cut dead. The Fascists were determined to bring the west back to prowess.

He is forced to concede to the British Conservative Party and allow The British Isles to keep a Parliament who set Laws for The British Isles and keep The British Royal Family although they have no real power and act as a figurehead of Britain.

### Pax-Europa

In 1945, The Pax-Europa was signed by The Imperium. The Free Atlantic States saw this as a direct attack by The Imperium on the wests' economy as it de facto cut trade with Europe meaning The Free Atlantic States could no longer trade with the European Signatories. This damaged FAS-Imperian Relations but the FAS were in no place to do anything about it. Ireland ,however, refused to sign the Pax-Europa and instead opted to join The FAS. This gave the FAS complete control over the British Isles. However, it also created a new enemy in the Irish Republican Army who are a terrorist Group set on Irish Independence.

### Tensions in the Pacific

In 1947, The Union of East Asian Soviets , The FAS' rival in the Pacific, had been gearing their military up for war. Threats had been made to annex India and Australia and UEASN warships had been moving into the region. The Chinese begin an uprising in the form of the Chinese National State which the Free Atlantic State vows to protect. The UEAS stops attacks on China in fear of an Invasion of Japan.

### 1948 Elections

The Election of 1948 almost saw the end of Eisenhower's Career as Winston Churchill , The Leader of the British Conservative Party, ran against Eisenhower. The Vote came out as a 53 - 47 Vote for Eisenhower and he stayed in office. Churchill retired from Political Life and this was a great victory for Eisenhower and American Democratism. That same year, The FAS and UEAS met in Iwo Jima to discuss a cease of hostilities.

### Meeting in Iwo Jima

Eisenhower and Tokuda met in Iwo Jima on the 30th August 1948 to try and relieve tensions. However , Tokuda's main goal was to try to ally the Free Atlantic States and The Union of East Asian Soviets in a war against The Imperium. Despite the Bad Relations between the Free Atlantic States and The Imperium, Eisenhower was furious that the Communists wanted to fight together against an enemy that wasn't theirs anymore. Eisenhower responds by stating the Free Atlantic States would rather face the Communists in Asia than The Imperiumists in Europe. Peace Talks break down and The Nations ready for war. This show of force by Eisenhower made him slightly popular in The Imperium.

### Bay of Bengal Incident

On the 9th of June 1949, The Communists Militarist Faction of The UEAS Military lead by Admiral Mamoru launch an attack on a Atlantic States Navy Destroyer , the ASN "Penultimate". During the attack, The ASN and their Indian Counterparts attempt to rescue the destroyer and repel the UEASN Ships attacking the Destroyer. The Commander of FAS Naval Assets in the region was Admiral Thomas Moorer who tells Eisenhower at 1600 on the 9th, around 2 hours after the First Attack. Eisenhower prepares to address his Cabinet and eventually the FAS Assembly.

Before Eisenhower can be addressed, A Second Attack takes place at 1900 hrs. This is repelled but was a concern for the ASN Penultimate. at 1945 hrs, the Briefing begins. Eisenhower is made fully up to date with the situation and the now 11 dead ASN Sailors. He declares he wants revenge for the loss of life caused by the UEAS and leaves to brief his Cabinet and Later the FAS Assembly. His goal is to pass a law allowing him to deploy combat troops to India and attack the UEAS Force in Bengal. By 2200 hrs the FAS Assembly is gathered, They allow Eisenhower to deploy naval assets to the Bay of Bengal to rescue the Penultimate.

However, this was all too late and at 2300 hrs, a third attack begins. A torpedo hits the stern and damages the steering of the Penultimate. The Naval Cannon manages to sink a boat killing the crew of the boat. At 2307 hrs, Cmdr. Taylor broadcasts to the ASN Fleet that they are under attack. The Indian Fleet replies saying they will arrive at 0034 on the 10th. Two Torpedo Boats hit from the starboard side and one torpedo hits. This torpedo causes a fire below decks and kills 34 sailors in the original hit. From this Torpedo, the Bridge is damaged and many officers are killed and wounded. Cmdr. Taylor survives the initial blast.

By 2315 hrs, the fire had become uncontrollable and the crew prepared to evacuate. At 2320, The Fire manages to reach the ammunition store which explodes and rips a hole in the ship. The Bridge is entirely destroyed including Commander Taylor. The main gun is destroyed in the blast. The remaining officers organise an evacuation of the ship. At 2335, the Ship splits in half and is fully sunken by 0013 the next day.

Eisenhower addresses the public about the attacks in the morning. He vows revenge will be taken and begins to invoke the Bay of Bengal Resolution allowing him to deploy Combat Troops and Naval Forces without the permission of The FAS Assembly to prevent another incident. There is a public uproar about the attacks and demanded revenge.

### War of The Pacific

On the 1st of January 1950, Eisenhower declares war on the Union. UEAS Forces push into the Chinese National State. India is also invaded in the Kashmir Region. The ASN Began a blockade of Japan in the hopes it cripples Japan and so that Japanese Divisions cannot be deployed to the mainland. Some Japanese Divisions manage to get past the blockade under the command of Gen. Takeshi Manusuko. The Blockade continues despite its failure to stop Japanese Forces leaving the Island. The Battle of The East China Sea begins on the 3rd August - 10th August. The Battle was an Atlantean Victory and the UEASN lost 2 of their 4 Main Battle Carriers with another having to be sent to a dry dock for repairs.

The Imperium and Their Puppets announce that they will not intervene in the war directly due to the Treaty of Imperia. The Imperium did consider joining the War but the Threat of Nazi Insurrections was too high. The Imperium instead sends support the The Free Atlantic States in the form of Weapons and Training. No Major Battles take place in the rest of 1951 due to The Union preparing to launch The Summer Offensive of 1952.

The War was seemingly calming down during the first few months of 1952. The Battle for India had almost ended and attacks in China had stopped. Then in June of 1952, The Summer Offensive begins. A "Hail-Mary" attack began on all fronts after 6 Months of Build-up. Australian Divisions in China were pushed back into India and some UEAS Forces managed to push the British from the Kashmir region. The UEAS successfully break the Blockade and invade Midway. 6 New UEAS Carriers supported by over 100 Smaller vessels faced up against the ASNs' Carrier Strike Group 12 with 5 Carriers and just over 30 Smaller Vessels. The Battle began on the 26th June and ended on the 1st July. The Initial Battle was at Sea and the UEAS Strike Force clashed with the ASN Carrier Strike Group. The Naval Battle was fierce and despite the overwhelming numbers, The Atlantean Navy Forces fought bitterly and bravely. Carrier Support Group 2 and the Hawaiian Home Fleet were dispatched from Pearl Harbour on the 28th. On the 3rd of August, a Second UEAS Carrier Strike Force hit Hawaii and caught the ASN Force off-guard. The ASN had the numbers this time and although a small number of Marines landed on Hawaii, these invasions were defeated by The Army and Airforce.

The Summer Offensive had shocked the FAS and they ordered a counter attack. The Plan was for Amphibious landings on Borneo, Bali and Vietnam. These Invasions were hastily prepared and consisted of mainly British, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian Personnel. The First Landings took place on the 12th September under the codename of Operation Homesick. Eisenhower hoped these landings would turn the tide of the war once more. The landings on Borneo and Bali were crushed and The Forces in Vietnam were ambushed by Vietnamese Guerrillas. The Entire Operation was called off and deemed a failure.

In 1954, The UEAS invade Northern Australia. Despite all the FAS' efforts they cannot retake the territory. A scheduled Grand Offensive in Northern Australia on the 4th of September is postponed by Eisenhower himself who instead diverts two Carrier Groups to the East China Sea and begins a gruelling Bombing Campaign of Japan. Over 32,000 Tonnes of Bombs are dropped on Tokyo alone. This brought the Union and FAS to the peace table. The Two Superpowers agree to meet in Hawaii and sign a peace deal.

### Post-War of The Pacific

The FAS initially respected the efforts of Union Forces in the war and the UEAS returns the bodies of all FAS Soldiers killed in Operation Homesick and those killed on Midway. In return, the FAS returns the bodies of those killed in Hawaii including the Body of General Ishii Shichiro ,who receives a military funeral, and India. Both sides release the POWs captured in the War.

Both sides tried to play the war off as their victory when in reality it was a defeat for both sides. The Free Atlantic States came out of the war better than the Union but lost key strategic lands in the Pacific. Eisenhower's presidency was questioned and the NUF attempted an assassination attempt on his life in 1956 due to a perceived failure to win the war. The ASB gains more support in America and advocates for another war with The UEAS in the name of "True American Communism". Many moderates in America also begin to favour the new British Conservative Party which has been redesigned under Margaret Thatcher. Civil War is on the brink of breaking out in The Free Atlantic States.

### Civil Unrest and Violence

The Extremist Groups within the FAS had begun to clash again. In 1958, a massive battle takes place in New York as The ASB begins operations again and attempts to capture New York. The ASB manages to defeat several National Guard Units but are forced to go into guerrilla warfare using Civilian Populations as shields to hide themselves. An NUF Leader is killed by The FAS Police in Washington and John Smith , a leading American Nazi, takes over and Nazifies the NUF. Eisenhower and his party become more unpopular and his enemies gain more strength. The Economy of the FAS was damaged due to two major wars which were defeats in two decades.

The IRA and British National Liberation Front had also seen a rise in popularity and especially in Ireland, The IRA had been waging a strong resistance under the command of Odhrán O'Dargan and the BNLF under famed SAS General, David Stirling have been calling for a Free United Kingdom. There are claims the British Conservative Party supported the BNLF who adhered to British Conservativism.

The ASB begin planning for an assassination attempt on Eisenhower during his Christmas 1960 Speech on The 25th December 1960. During the speech, an armed gunman of the ASB assassinates President Eisenhower for his perceived failure during the War of the Pacific for not limiting the "false, Asian Communism". The ensuing Battle of Washington DC begins between the Government and The ASB who tried to launch a revolution. However, the Government Forces led by the New President, John F. Kennedy, secured a decisive victory and the ASB were defeated but the Free Atlantic States was heavily weakened and the NUF began a Second Rise.

### Final Years of the Atlantic

Under President Kennedy, the Free Atlantic States entered a new age. The People had began to lose faith in the system of the Free Atlantic States. In 1962, the American Democrat Party failed to gain a majority so had to form a Coalition Government with Margaret Thatcher's British Conservatives. The BCP begin to change the landscape of the Free Atlantic States and prepare to deal with the economic fallout, which was a boost but little was done due to coalition governments not being overly stable.

In 1963, the Last Great War began after a UEAS Spy Plane was shot down over Imperial Controlled Russia. President Kennedy held a firm anti-Union stance and wished for better relations with The Imperium. He pledged to the Emperor that the Free Atlantic States would assist and they began gearing up for war. During August 1964, The Free Atlantic States enter the war with The Imperium. The Free Atlantic States launch an invasion of Midway which they recapture, a great early victory. The Union's Naval Forces were destroyed at Midway which was a major victory for the Atlanteans.

However a year later, the Free Atlantic States would once again be thrown into turmoil. In 1965, The Free Atlantic States enters a formal Military Alliance with the Imperium. A few months after, JFK is assassinated by a member of the NUF. In the power struggle, The Imperial Army intervenes and forms a Pro-Imperian Government under Erwin Rommel in order to keep the Free Atlantic States in the War. As Rommel was known Conservative, he was eventually accepted as a temporary leader. The Free Atlantic States was effectively dissolved in all but name until after the war.

Rommel led the country through the rest of the war. In 1966, The Atlantean Army begins their campaign to advance into Indochina during The Vietnam War. Rommel tries to put in a Pro-FAS leader called Ngo Dinh Diem. This fails and the Viet Cong push the Atlanteans out. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is formed and The Vietnam War ends.

In 1967, Katsuro is assassinated by Japanese Generals. They establish the Japanese Republic and Hiatchi Yamsuno is elected as President. The new Japanese Republic enters negotiations with the Alliance and surrenders. The War Ends with the Treaty of Tokyo. Japan loses all their overseas colonies and The Imperium occupies the rest of Russia and form The Imperial Territory of East Russia. The Free Atlantic States is eventually reorganised into the Atlantic Imperium under Rommel who uses the Imperial Atlantean Army to crush ADP uprisings. China and Asia falls into chaos and the Imperium decides to leave it.

## Legacy

The Free Atlantic States was a significant player in the history of the world. They were a Superpower and even after it's reorganisation, the new Atlantic Imperium was still a Superpower. The Free Atlantic States was also the only Superpower of the 3 (FAS, Imperium and Union) to not have been disbanded in a vicious war like The Union was. The presence of the FAS was still felt in the years after the reorganisation as the ADP Patriots wing launched the September Uprising of 1967 which were crushed by the new Army of The Atlantic Imperium.