Re: Blood and Iron

The attack came under cover of night. For years, the Imperial Japanese Navy had trespassed into German colonial waters; but this time, they fired the first shot.

This was no warning shot over the bow; this was a deliberate strike by multiple cruisers upon a lone German destroyer. Outnumbered, and outgunned, the ship was sunk.

Japan had been isolated during and after the Great War, due to their geographical location, and the focus of the war being in Europe. They received little aid in their own ambitions, and won just fine all the same.

It was this thinking that led them to believe, under the Taisho regime that they were no longer behind the European powers, but were far ahead of them. A bold assumption, but a mistaken one.

Japan’s development cycle had been spurred by necessity in this timeline. It had been taught during the Great War, from observations made after it that armor, aircraft, and highly mobile units with high volume small arms were a must to secure victory in the next war.

Because of this, they had invested significantly into the development of things like monoplanes, tanks, and semi-automatic rifles beginning as early as 1918. After over a decade of efforts, they had produced weapons that were at the very least functional in the field. But function alone did not win wars. Not against Germany.

This resulted in the production of the Ki-27 a decade earlier in life than in the previous timeline Bruno had come from as well as the Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank and the Type Type Kō Rifle.

Which would have been impressive if it weren’t for the fact that Germany was already fielding significantly better equipment even among their colonial troops.

But none of this was Bruno’s concern as he walked through the office of the German Reich’s military high command. When he did so, his face was stern and enraged.

He moved like a storm contained in human form; his mere presence scattering doubt from the room like leaves before the wind.

Those who witnessed him would mention later in life that he looked like a man possessed, and they knew then and there that he wasn’t going to simply defeat the Imperial Japanese Army, he was going to completely dismantle the Empire of Japan itself.

Thus, when Bruno entered the room where the Kaiser and all his generals were gathered, the room, which had previously been bickering over how to proceed, was quick to enter total silence.

Bruno took one look at the map on display and the pieces on the board and immediately understood the situation. Making a move to the naval assets, or the figures that represented them.

He moved them into a position that nobody was expecting.

“Deploy the Pacific Fleet to the Bismarck Sea. Mine the straits. Use destroyers and U-boats to intercept enemy transports; wolfpack doctrine.

Scramble all Bf 109s for air superiority. Do 217s are to conduct torpedo strikes and recon. Ju 52s remain on reserve for airborne deployment and supply runs.

We will not accept their invitation to open sea combat. Drag them to our chokepoints. Then annihilate them. I want artillery on every shoreline in range.

Once their landings fail, they’ll panic and commit fully. That’s when we break them. Get it done!”

Nobody dared disagree with Bruno’s orders, and immediately did as he said. Meanwhile, the Kaiser pulled Bruno aside and was quick to give his own thoughts on the matter.

“Are you sure that this is the best strategy? The Empire of Japan has attacked us without provocation, and without a declaration of war. Should we not muster the High Seas Fleet in retaliation?”

Bruno scoffed as he shook his head, drinking the cup of coffee, which was handed off to him by an aide, as he did so.

“”They wanted this war. Let us oblige them. But we will not show our full hand. Colonial assets alone will suffice; and the world will learn that Germany, even at half strength, cannot be challenged.”

The Kaiser said no more; he trusted Bruno’s judgement on military matters more than anyone.

—

The Emperor of Japan was likewise in his own war room, meeting with his generals and admirals just the way the Kaiser was. The men were confident in a swift and brutal victory. And why wouldn’t they be? Their investments had paid off.

Their armed forces had some of the most advanced weapons in the world, and their training was of elite quality. But there was just one problem.

When they attacked a German Naval Vessel culminating in a declaration of war by the German Reich, they did not expect just how far ahead Germany was over the rest of the world.

But that was not a fact yet revealed to the Empire of Japan, instead they were already toasting to a victory which would give them another step towards total Pacific dominance. The clink of porcelain cups echoed like a funeral bell in waiting.

“Kanpai!”

The Generals and admirals downed shots of Sake, as they spoke boastfully of how they perceived the war to go.

“Utterly foolish! Our reconnaissance shows that earlier this year, the Germans withdrew their last battleship in the Pacific, and had it scrapped for parts. It would seem they have lost any concept of naval projection! It was almost like they were asking us to come in and take their colonies!”

The man who said this was quite proud in his assortment. And it was a sentiment shared by all the others around him. As for a nearby general, he was quick to add his own thoughts.

“once we have obliterated their petty fleet, we will send in the army to seize New Guinea and the surrounding islands. Nothing can stop us now!”

It was almost as if God was watching, and this life was little more than a divine comedy, because right on queue a runner brought in a message and handed it to the Emperor, waiting for his judgement, as the news he carried was far from good.

But the Emperor did or said nothing, at least not initially, only his expression soured. And when he did finally speak, so too did his tone soften.

“The Russian Empire has declared war on us, and invaded Korea….”

As silence fell over the room, the sake turned to ash in their mouths.

Suddenly, the celebration had ended and instead turned into a moment of mourning. The Japanese had not anticipated the Germans calling upon the Russians for aid in a petty matter like a colonial conflict. Nor had they expected the Russians to accept.

Japan was no longer facing an enemy in the far western world. They were fighting a united Eurasian bloc, one that they shared a border with. And they only now realized how badly they had screwed up.

They had not picked a fight with a weakened colonial power.

They had provoked a Eurasian titan.

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