The Next War - Expanded (Beta 1.0) hotseat

[Hellen_slith]

June 19, 1979

Actors unknown have assassinated Marshal of the Soviet Union Sergey Sokolov. Rumors circulate that a terrorist group, believed to be backed by Afghanistan's President Taraki, have gained access to nuclear and chemical devices near Leningrad.

The West is speechless.

[John B.]

Looking forward to this one!

[Hellen_slith]

Acting on intelligence passed to the Hungarians, WP moves to quelch "sleeper cells" in Austria thought to be providing aid to the assassins of Marshall Sokolov.

Supreme Allied Commander Bernard Rogers issues a terse statement: "The Soviet Union is rightly concerned about their missing devices, but they--and we--must proceed with caution."

[Hellen_slith]

Meanwhile, in the confusion wrought amidst plans for an emergency REFORGER, a U.S. helicopter unit inexplicably wanders off course into East Germany. It is promptly shot down without warning.

Supreme Allied Commander Rogers denies WP allegations that it was, in fact, an attempt to recover the stolen devices. Nevertheless, General Rogers issues orders to commence a full-scale NATO deployment.

Italian Prime Minister Sandro Pertini objects, refusing to send troops outside of Italy and closing Italian air space.

The tension mounts.

[cathar1244]

a U.S. helicopter unit inexplicably wanders off course into East Germany

... meaconing

Cheers

[Hellen_slith]

ASC General Rogers rushes to St. Polten in an attempt to confer with his WP counterpart. His advance is rebuffed with a curt, "There is nothing to discuss."

Soviet Premier Alexi Kosygin declares Wiener-Neustadt a "closed city" and warns NATO that Soviet forces will henceforth enforce a "no fly" zone over Austrian territory.

[Hellen_slith]

WP forces obliterate Target "X" as East German Special Forces move in to join the hunt for the missing materiel.

Czech forces (shown here in blue / red colors, as at Bratislava) move to secure the border.

Refugees panic when all civilian air traffic over Western Europe is suddenly grounded due to security concerns.

[Hellen_slith]

Gen. Rogers ignores Prem. Kosygin's warnings and reinforces Austria, sending U.S. F-4s and F-111s to Klagenfurt.

WP responds with a missile and air barrage on the airbase. The Italians, under pressure from Rogers, agree to defend Austrian air space.

[Hellen_slith]

French Mirage and Jaguar open an air lane for the 11th Airborne to take position on the Czech flank.

In response to the attack on Klagenfurt, Rogers orders a withering Pershing missile barrage that destroys the Soviet aircraft based at Sarmellek.

U.S. Special Forces move in, assisted by Austrian Allouettes. They take and hold Sarmellek AFB while elements of II Aus. establish positions SW of Szombathely.

The Soviets declare martial law in Wiener-Neustadt, "sequestering" part of I Aus.

Panic grips the civilian population of Budapest -- rumors are that the city will be a target of U.S. Pershing nuclear-tipped missiles.

[Hellen_slith]

July 3, 1979

A "radio-chemical incident" contaminates Gyor, Hungary.

KGB blames Mujahideen for the "dirty bomb".

Kosygin claims to have undeniable evidence that CIA provided funding and operational assistance to Sokolov's assassins.

Stone-faced and brief, he states: "This unforgiveable act of aggression will be avenged."

In the United States, all July 4th fireworks displays are banned. A nationwide nightly blackout is put in place and strict curfews ruthlessly enforced. Every soldier on leave or reserve is recalled to active combat duty. Sales of "blackout curtains" skyrocket along with sales of guns and ammunition. Unruly mobs clear store shelves in major cities.

Mankind is once again at war.

[Cfant]

As an Austrian, I can't believe Austria holds Vienna since 11 days against WP And even invading Hungary once more. I don't care for St. Pölten, but please no nukes on Linz!

[Hellen_slith]

Warsaw Pact attacks Ramstein and Rhien-Mann airbases with long range missiles, destroying most of the U.S. air assets there. In response, NATO launches its own barrage on Brno, but does little damage.

A poorly coordinated NATO helicopter attack on Soviet armor outside Wiener-Neustadt goes horribly wrong. Almost all helos are left smoldering wrecks on the ground.

WP issues an ultimatum to NATO: "Withdraw from Austria, and your cities will be spared."

Rogers: "Nuts."

[StuccoFresco]

That's a lot of wrecked helos. Were the WP forces accompanied by a lot of Shilkas?

[Hellen_slith]

Soldiers of the Soviet 19th Guards (SPAAG) are issued the Soviet "Order of Glory" (3rd Class) for their conspicuous efforts on the battlefield:

[StuccoFresco]

Niiice.

[Hellen_slith]

ORIGINAL: Cfant

As an Austrian, I can't believe Austria holds Vienna since 11 days against WP And even invading Hungary once more. I don't care for St. Pölten, but please no nukes on Linz!

Diplomatic channels are confident that the "radio-chemical" incident @ Groz was not, in fact, a NATO attack.

Negotiations are said to have occurred concerning the military stances of both WG and Britain.

With both the Italians and Danes out of it, this looks like a U.S. fight. Gen. Rogers and his WP counterpart have begun negotiations.

In the meantime, WP forces are moving to place Vienna under siege....and, of course, to obliterate U.S. Air Forces seen to have been recently moved to Hof. The Fulda Gap is on high alert.

[Hellen_slith]

Rogers watches, helplessly, as yet another U.S. air unit simply ... evaporates.

[Hellen_slith]

WP pounds Hof.

Rumors float that Rogers lacks spine.

Kosygin, to NATO: "Withdraw, or face annihilation."

[Hellen_slith]

Czech forces move in and slice the Fr. 11th airborne to ribbons.

NATO continues to take extremely heavy losses.

The Siege of Vienna begins.

[StuccoFresco]

This scenario looks really fine.