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ARMAGEDDON 2089

STANDING ALONE

MJ DOUGHERTY

COPYRIGHT © ANTIMONY 2013

Published by Antimony Sun

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“Martin’s story is riveting. This is warfare fought by real people.” - Marc Miller

“A compelling page turner from a great new writer.” - Geoff Thompson

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Martin J Dougherty has been at times an engineer, a teacher, a sports coach, a games designer, a defence analyst and, of course, a writer. His published works range from strategic reports for the arms trade to a self-defence manual and a handbook for teachers.

Martin currently works as Line Editor for a games company, and is heavily involved in the creation of Roleplaying Games and supplements. He also pursues a career in the arms trade as a freelance analyst, where he specialises in high-technology weapon systems and asymmetric warfare.

Martin’s interests include military history and malt scotch. He also trains regularly in the martial arts and is coach to the University of Sunderland fencing team. He lives in the northeast of England with his wife Helen and three unruly cats.

History is nothing more than the sum of the actions of many, many people. Most individuals make no real mark on history, but some dare to stand above the rest. It is those few that shape the world.

And likewise, most of the people who pass through our lives make no real mark. But there are those who, by their influence or just by being there when we need them, change our lives forever.

THIS WORK, THEN, IS DEDICATED TO THE PEOPLE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE.

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THE WORLD OF ARMAGEDDON 2089

It is 2086, and the world is in flames.

The European Federation is at war with the United States of America while lesser conflicts rage in other corners of the world. The powerful economies of the Far East, united into the so-called Tiger Combine, flex their muscles and seek domination. And the mighty multinational corporations transcend the boundaries of states as they pursue their own agendas.

Conflict between nations and corporations is fought by all means available. Economic pressure, covert operations, manipulation of populations through the media – and outright war.

In 2086, the weapon of choice is the Warmek, a towering humanoid monster capable of taking the firepower of a tank unit any place an infantryman can go. Backed up by conventional units, Warmeks clash in all corners of the world, and normally the only counter to a Warmek is another Mek.

Thus Warmeks are big business, and the Mek firms wield tremendous power. As Earth shudders in the throes of what will come to be known as the Armageddon War, the arms firms are probably the only ones who will prosper.

The Armageddon War was born of many causes; the Earth of 2086 is a troubled place. But the flashpoint was an island state off the coast of Europe, unimportant in geographic terms but a powerful economy, one of the Big Four of the European Federation.

Tired of the gradual erosion of national identity by French and German dominated Euro-bureaucracy, the people of Britain voted in a new government, one determined to secede from the European Federation. The EF blocked the move, of course, so British Secession went ahead unilaterally.

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The EF sent its EuroForce troops to bring Britain back into the fold, and met a storm of opposition. The initial battles were bloody in the extreme, but the EF advance was held back for a time. A minor but vital US intervention resulted in a state of war between the EF and the US.

EuroForce was pushed back out of Britain twice, but each time they came back stronger. Finally, under the effective command team of General Louis Calvert and his field commander General Jean Lavalle, EuroForce broke the back of British resistance.

As Euro forces rampaged across southern England, US units deployed to assist were overrun or forced to surrender. Organised British resistance all but collapsed as covert operations units struck at key command & control installations, and assassinated figures who might be a rallying point for the British people.

British resistance almost collapsed. But only almost.

Somehow the shattered remnants of the British forces, which themselves were part of EuroForce, managed to beat a fighting retreat northwards. They held out long enough for a new defensive line to be created, a shaky chain of defended conurbations and hurried emplacements stretching from Manchester to the Humber Estuary. Defended by militia and forces cobbled together from the remnants of British EuroForce regular units, the Humber Line was expected to hold out for a few days at most.

It stopped the Euros cold.

When the European field forces under General Lavalle confidently assaulted the weak Humber Line, they met fanatical resistance from its defenders, backed by the very last formed British units, which had been held in reserve in the north against this dire day.

After a week of bloody fighting, the Europeans fell back to their start positions. They had made gains, bent the line in places and even penetrated it here and there. But they had not broken it.

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Euro command decided it was time for a change at the top. Calvert kept his overall command but Lavalle was relieved by his rival, the Polish-born Karl Tanikeszk. A period of reorganisation and preparation ensued, punctuated by low-intensity raids and bombardment. The defence of the Humber had bought Free Britain a short respite.

But still the situation is dire in the extreme. The Humber Line dammed the European Tide. But can it hold until the tide ebbs, or will the dam break and drown Free Britain? There is no way to tell. All the defenders can do was hang on, shore up the line and hope overseas powers might come to their aid.

That seems less than likely. The Americans, having got their fingers burned in their first intervention, are reluctant to come to the aid of their old ally. There is no other likely source of assistance.

And so, as 2086 turns to 2087, Free Britain stands alone.

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