Responses
 
 

It did not take too long before reactions began to occur around the world in response to the American loss at the Battle of the Pacific. None of them were favourable to the United States. Having said that, nothing positive seemed to take place for Israel either, although in hindsight one can clearly state that it was in fact the first positive step for Israel. Nonetheless, the Americans, angered by the news from the Pacific, decided to go onto the attack. Drache gave his blessing to his general’s plans & soon the Israelis were under attack by everything the Americans had on hand.

Although it may have seemed rushed, in fact the Americans had prepared for some time to commence a large offensive. But due to the slowness demonstrated by the Syrian military, after all Syria had joined in on the hostilities late, the Americans had to place any offence on hold for the moment. That now changed. Around Jerusalem the American Air Force began a methodical bombardment of the Israeli defences. Following this action, American artillery joined in on the attack. Finally, hundreds of tanks & personnel carriers, including 100 000 infantry, advanced on the Israeli lines. But that was not all. As a diversion, the US Mediterranean Fleet, based around the old but venerable Enterprise, used its aircraft, & the land attack variant of the Tomahawk missile, to pound important Israeli assets along the coast. Needless to say, the Israeli navy ceased to exist. This took place even though, at one point, it was feared that the Israeli Air Force may strike at the Enterprise. This was soon forgotten, however, as the Israeli Air Force was too busy trying to defend the country against the combined fighter & bomber strengths of the US Navy, the US Marines & the USAF, not to mention the threat from Syria.

The Israelis, nevertheless, did what they could, but it soon became obvious that they could not hold back the American offensive forever. Combined with an expected attack anytime soon from Syria, desperate plans were made in the event of a collapse in the Israeli lines. First, the best parts of the military reserve of about 200 000 troops, which had been called out when the conflict had begun, took up positions along the coast thus freeing up much needed full-time troops. But that would not be enough as cracks had already begun to open in the defence lines around Jerusalem. As a consequence, Israel called for immediate help from the UN. The only problem was, currently the UN could not get anything to Israel other than its best wishes. Israel was totally surrounded.

In order to do so meant fighting their way to their embattled member. And to that end the UN decided to take advantage of trouble in Iran. When news came to Iran of the American defeat in the Pacific, rebellion against the CN occurred almost at once. At first the UN was focused elsewhere, but as appeals from Israel could not be ignored, it was decided at UNCOM that something had to be done. As a result of a hastily devised plan, the 500 000 strong "lost" Russian Army would become the 1st UN Army. The next day, elements of the 1st UN Army began crossing over the Iranian border with little resistance. Announcing in advance that they were here to help the rebellion succeed, most of the Iranian border guards were more than happy to help the UN forces. Thus, in full irony, the Russians achieved within a few days what they could not do a few years ago - namely the take over of Iran - but as peace bringers, not peace destroyers.

Coupled with this success, the UN organised a second army. Under the control of an Australian general, units from around the South East Asia region, namely Indonesia (one mixed division including light armour), Malaysia (one mixed division including light armour), Singapore (one mixed brigade), East Timor (one infantry brigade), New Guinea (one infantry brigade), Australia (one armoured division, one mixed division, one infantry brigade), New Zealand (one infantry brigade) & Fiji (one infantry brigade), were organised into a new fighting force of six divisions. Along with the troops, several air forces would likewise come together, although this duty would mostly fall to the Australians & Malaysians. As a result, the 2nd UN Air Force would deploy mostly F/A-18s, although some Malaysian MiG-29s would also come along. China also sent two squadrons of SU-27s to join the ranks.

Although much smaller than the 1st UN Army & Air Force, the 2nd UN Army & Air Force would nonetheless be added to once it got to Iran. Here four Indian divsions (one armoured, two mechanised, one infantry) , two Pakistani divisions (one armoured, one mixed), one Iranian infanty division & one Chinese armoured divsion, spared from the post-nuclear war humanitarian operations, would join it. Likewise, more aircraft would join the ranks of the air force, namely some Pakistani F-16s & Indian MiG-27s. The only problem in achieving this objective was the American presence in the Indian Ocean. Not only did America have two carriers stationed there, the Vinson & Stennis, but the US military base on the island of Diego Garcia controlled all approaches via the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf. Thus the UN had a lot to do in order to get the great 2nd UN Army convoy to Iran safe & sound.
 

A Giant Awakens
 

"Desperate times call for desperate measures", or so argued the Indian general at UNCOM. His plan was rather elaborate, but nonetheless straight forward. The Indian Navy would lure the US Fleet away from Diego Garcia & then attack both the fleet & the island with the combined air forces of Pakistan & India. The would rely on conventional weapons for the most part, but a small number of aircraft would be armed with a nuclear weapon should the conventional attack fail. Needless to say, there was much debate over the use of nuclear weapons.

To the Indians & their Pakistani partners, who were faced with the daunting task of taking on, not only the American Fleet but the heavily protected base at Diego Garcia as well, there seemed very little else they could do in order to secure the Indian Ocean for the UN. There was simply no way that the Indian Navy, even when combined with the Pakistani naval ships, could take on the Americans in a conventional manner. Even the combined Pakistani & Indian Air Forces would be limited in their attack due to the vast distances involved. Most of their aircraft did not have the range, even with fuel tanks added under the wings. Thus, the Indians & Pakistanis continued to argue, if the conventional attack did not succeed, which was more than likely, a nuclear one was required. Furthermore, the Indians had intelligence which said that the Americans had some nuclear free fall bombs on Diego Garcia. Come a battle in the Indian Ocean, the Americans may use them in order to ensure that a second naval defeat would not occur.

Thus, by the time the convoy carrying the 2nd UN Army approached Sri Lanka, the Indian plan went into action. The Americans, though, were not as handicapped in their surveillance efforts as in the Pacific. Having Diego Garcia meant that a forward base in the area could still have access to satellites most of the time. As a result, the American Admiral could be fully informed of the naval movements of the Indians. Once surveillance information informed him that the Indian Fleet had altered their course & were heading for Diego Garcia, the American Admiral ordered the US fleet to intercept the Indians. He was well aware of the UN convoy, although still had no idea of its location. But the intentions of the Indian Navy suggested it was not far away, as ocean distances go, & that this move by the Indians was an attempt by them to cover the convoy’s approach. In many respects he was right. But he was wrong about the Indian’s intentions.

As planned, when they got close enough to the Americans, the Indian fleet turned to the north. Behind, albeit still at some 800 kilometres distance, the American Fleet followed. The American Admiral, though, was desperate & decided to launch a long distance attack by his 48 A-6 strike aircraft whilst being covered by  24 F-35 fighters. After the results in the Battle of the Pacific, the F/A-18s were held back in reserve should the Indians try anything. In a similar move, the defenders of Diego Garcia ensured that they had plenty of air cover. Not only did they have their AWACS aircraft up scanning the sea & sky for the enemy, but forward patrols of F-15 fighters ensured that nothing would come close without being challenge. Closer in, F-16s likewise patrolled the skies. It was just as well.

Even though the Americans had their satellite surveillance this time, spotting incoming aircraft from a satellite was near impossible. The Americans would have to rely on their AWACS & Hawkeye aircraft for that. And just as a Hawkeye was the first to spot the enemy in the Battle of the Pacific, so too would it be a Hawkeye at the beginning of this battle. Out from the electronic clutter of the Indian jamming equipment, the Hawkeye soon identified a large incoming force consisting of MiG-29s, Mirage 2000s & much older MiG-23s. Immediately they were all considered hostile. The American Admiral, as a result, called off the attack mission & ordered the A-6 aircraft back to the carriers. Whilst that was happening, the F-35s covered their retreat, whilst 48 F/A-18 aircraft flew off to join up with the F-35s. Not long afterwards, the air battle commenced.

The Indian air element was large to say the least, but that was required. Although the 32 MiG-29 & 30 Mirage fighters were equal to the F/A-18s, the F-35 was by far better. It did need reminding, though, that the pilots of the 80 MiG-23s knew that their fighter was inferior to everything else flying here today. Still, they, like the others, continued to fly at the Americans. Soon, however, the air battle commenced to the wild manoeuvres of aircraft on both sides. The Indians were in a desperate venture to stop the American getting to the next formation of attacking aircraft which included 35 Jaguar strike aircraft carrying two Exocet anti-ship missiles each. With the Jaguars were also five of the venerable Canberra bombers. If all else failed, it would come down to these old bombers to launch their nuclear armed missiles. Each bomber carried two such weapons.

At around the same time as the naval operations were taking place, the AWACS aircraft patrolling Diego Garcia airspace picked up the second UN air assault aimed for the island military base. As a result, the F-15s were ordered to intercept the incoming raid followed by the F-16s. Unlike with the US Navy’s reaction, however, the commander at Diego Garcia only had 12 F-15s & 24 F-16s to counter the incoming attack. He did, though, also have the Patriot anti-aircraft/missile system to help him defend the island. Nonetheless, the UN had 20 Indian MiG-29s, 12 Mirage 2000s & 40 Pakistani F-16s in the leading group, followed by a strike force consisting of 30 Pakistani Mirage 5 strike aircraft, 20 Indian Jaguar bomber version aircraft & 5 Canberra bombers carrying nuclear armed missiles. Diego Garcia was in for one hell of a fight. Soon the fighting had begun a hundred kilometres to the north of the island.

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force attacking the US Fleet found itself in trouble. Desperate squadron leaders even thought about calling upon the Indian Navy to launch its Harrier fighters into the battle, but that would have only increased the Indian casualties, as the Harrier jump-jet was outclassed by the American fighters. Just like the MiG-23s, the Harriers would have been wiped out. As a result of the Indian casualties, however, some American fighters managed to get among the Indian strike force. In a manner similar to what the UN Pacific Fleet had done to the American air strike, so too the Indian air strike suffered the same fate. All of the Canberra bombers, along with their deadly payload, were destroyed as were all but five of the Jaguars. By the time the remaining Indian fighters withdrew, only the MiG-29s fared best losing only ten of their number. The Mirages, however, lost half of their ranks.

The battle for Diego Garcia was just as telling for both sides, but more so for the Americans. Being severely outnumbered, the Americans simply ran out of AMRAAM & Sidewinder missiles. Although the American F-15s & F-16s accounted for three times theirs in casualties, they never broke through the UN fighter line & onto the oncoming strike force. Having heard of the result of the attack on the US fleet, the Pakistani air-assault commander ordered the Jaguars to fire their anti-radar missiles at extreme range. This meant that the Patriot missile system was put under immediate threat, but the Patriot batteries began firing at the incoming attack. They got most of the anti-radar missiles, but not all. Still, even with half of the radar sets destroyed, they could still fire Patriot missiles at the incoming second wave of the attack - the Mirage 5 bombers. The Pakistani  jets suffered greatly, but it was a deliberate sacrifice, as behind the Pakistani planes, the Indian Canberra bombers fired their deadly load of nuclear missiles at the US base. Although they were an old Soviet Union design, the nuclear armed missiles nonetheless almost did their did their thing. None, however, survived the Patriot shield to reach its target. But that merely forced the strike commander to order the second nuclear option on hand - the Pakistani intermediate range ballistic nuclear missiles based some distance to the north in Pakistan. Soon, five such missiles were on their way. The island of Diego Garcia, as a result, disappeared in five mushroom clouds a few minutes later. Its USAF squadron of 12 B-1 bombers & another one of 12 B-52s, not to mention the US Marines squadron of 12 A-6s were no longer a threat to the UN 2nd Army troop convoy. Furthermore, everything else on Diego Garcia was, henceforth, completely destroyed.

Now it was the Americans turn to retreat. Even though they still had command of the airspace around the surviving US Fleet, after hearing of the destruction of Diego Garcia, the US Admiral decided that it was far too risky to continue his pursuit of the Indian Navy. Drache, of course, was angered, not only by the destruction of an important asset like Diego Garcia, but that the Indian Navy had escaped unharmed. Furthermore, by the US Fleet withdrawing to safer waters off the coast of Africa, it was guaranteed that the UN 2nd Army convoy would reach Iran in time to link up with the Russians waiting there. Nonetheless, Drache was convinced that by the time the two UN armies could commence their march towards Israel, it would be all over. It was only a matter of time. Drache would then meet the approaching UN force on the Jordan River & it would bleed red with UN blood
 

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