Italy 1936 /An Empire Reborn

Chapter XLIV (March 3rd 1977 to December 27th 1977)

March 3rd 1977

The members of the PLO sentenced to death are executed by firing squad outside of Jerusalem.

March 4th 1977

A massive earthquake hits Bucharest killing 1,500.

March 5th 1977

President Carter orders the US Ambassador to Rome recalled in response to the executions of the PLO members.

March 8th 1977

Consul Medici pull the Ambassador to Washington.

March 10th 1977

Blackshirt General Stefano Delle Chiaie is appointed as the new Viceroy of Greece.

March 12th 1977

Dr. Vito Rizzo is appointed to the President of the Academy of Italy thus granting him a seat on the Grand Council.

Rizzo is a doctor of history and has written several books on ancient Roman history and historical fascism. He is largely regarded as a moderate and one of the few moderates ever appointed by Medici.

March 20th 1977

The PLO terrorists shift their focus from attacking government targets to attacking Jewish residential areas as several bombs are detonated throughout Jewish neighborhoods in the city.

March 25th 1977

Lt. Colonel Medici enacts the same harsh policies of martial law in the Jewish sections of the city as those that exist in the Arab sections.

April 7th 1977

OVRA officers arrest several Jewish community leaders in Jerusalem.

April 10th 1977

The Israeli government officially protests the actions of the Italians within Jerusalem stating they are seriously overstepping their bounds.

April 12th 1977

Thousands of Jewish civilians take to the streets protesting. Italian soldiers and Palestinian police units move to stop them only to be pelted by rocks and bottles. Lt. Colonel Medici orders the soldiers to move in and “break their bones.”

April 13th 1977

After a night of violence over 200 people are sent to the hospital due to the Imperial response and another 300 are arrested.

April 15th 1977

President Carter condemns the Italian response to the riots in Jerusalem and pledges to bring the matter to the UN.

April 20th 1977

“The Sixth Plotter” is premiered in France. The movie is based on the actions of Philip Henri and his participation in the bombings of the shrines of fascism.

May 2nd 1977

Edda Ciano flees the NRE for Switzerland and then the United States. She is officially declared an enemy of the Empire.

May 4th 1977

Rachele Mussolini meets with the Consul and pleads with him not to persecute her grandchildren because of her daughter’s actions. Medici agrees that no reprisals will be taken against any Cianos.

May 5th 1977

The UN votes to condemn the NRE for their actions in Jerusalem. The Lira Block nations of the UN walk out on the vote in protest.

May 10th 1977

The Lira Block votes to condemn the United States and to cut all oil sales to the United States as retaliation for their efforts to destabilize the internal politics of the Empire.

May 12th 1977

Oil prices skyrocket in the United States as a result of the Lira Block embargo.

May 25th 1977

The Arab leaders of the Lira Block meet at a summit in Constantinople to discuss the future of Jerusalem.

June 3rd 1977

Medici is successfully able to convince the Arab nations of the Lira Block to allow for a vote to be held in Jerusalem on the fate of the city, whether they will remain a free city, join with the Palestinian authority, return to Israeli control or become a province of the NRE. In exchange Medici pledges not to flood the city with Christian settlers before the election and allows the Arab nations to form a commission on the rebuilding of the dome of the rock.

June 12th 1977

One month after the oil embargo was put in place against the US it is lifted by the Lira Block.

June 20th 1977

Rome announces a program that will allow Muslim Turks, Albanians and Libyans to relocate to Jerusalem.

June 25th 1977

The formation on the commission for the reconstruction of the Dome of the Rock faces considerable difficulty as no one nation can agree on who should lead the commission. They all want the honor for themselves.

July 7th 1977

The Grand Council approves of an amnesty plan for political prisoners and those previously convicted of political crimes to emigrate with their immediate families from the NRE to any country that is willing to take them.

July 10th 1977

President Carter states that the United States will welcome all political refugees from the Fascist Empire with open arms.

July 12th 1977

The amnesty plan is quietly amended to include any and all criminals who wish to leave prison and emigrate.

July 16th 1977

The first flight of refugees arrives in the United States.

August 3rd 1977

The Plebiscite in Jerusalem is slated for December of this year.

In other news, violence in Jerusalem has reached an all time low. Despite this martial law is expected to remain in effect until after the election. Lt. Colonel Medici has stated he will not compromise security for the sake of the voting process.

August 20th 1977

With approval from the Italian military authority within Rhodesia the nation begins allowing foreign mercenary companies to operate within the nation. These mercenaries are paid both with money and with land should they choose to settle within the nation.

August 22nd 1977

In a rare move, Foreign Minister Franco Freda meets with British officials to discuss the possibility of further opening relations between the two nations. He proposes a meeting of the Queen and Emperor in a neutral country, perhaps Switzerland.

September 3rd 1977

President Carter’s policy of open amnesty to the Imperial refugees comes under fire by Republicans in the Congress and Senate. There is strong reason to believe that many of those coming to America are released mental patients or violent felons. An investigation is ordered.

September 10th 1977

Three Palestinians attempt to hijack an Italian Airlines flight from Jerusalem to Naples. While 50 miles off the coast of Crete they get out of their seats draw pistols and declare that the plane now belongs to the PLO and attempt to storm the cockpit. Several soldiers going home on leave jump the hijackers before they can reach the cockpit. A fight ensues in the cabin as several other passengers join in to subdue the terrorists. One hijacker’s gun gets discharged several times in the course of the battle resulting in the death of a stewardess and injuries to one soldier and another passenger. The three hijackers are however subdued and the aircraft makes an emergency landing in Crete.

September 11th 1977

Consul Medici condemns the PLO and their attempted hijacking. He promises that the terrorists will face the full force of Imperial law and issues a warning to anyone else who would attempt to take over an Italian airliner “Know this, We Italians are a proud people and would never allow ourselves the dishonor of being held captive for your demands. Everywhere you challenge us you shall meet the same determined resistance.”

September 13th 1977

Reprisals against the PLO are swift and brutal with the OVRA arresting 17 people in Jerusalem connected to the hijackers.

September 15th 1977

The soldiers and passengers who fought the hijackers meet with the Consul and receive medals and commendations for their actions.

October 10th 1977

Consul Medici orders the purchase of several dozen of the new personal computers recently released in American market and requests that Italian electronic companies to reverse engineer them and produce an Italian made model.

November 2nd 1977

The investigation on the Italian amnesty situation reveals that the NRE released and transported thousands of violent criminals and psychiatric patients to the United States. It is also believed they used the program to establish several new spy rings within the US.

Nearly 300,000 people have emigrated to the United States. 50,000 of those being the so-called “political prisoners” and the rest being their immediate families.

November 4th 1977

President Carter puts an end to the open door policy for asylum seekers from the NRE.

November 12th 1977

The Grand Council puts an end to the amnesty program.

December 5th 1977

Jerusalem votes on the cities future. There options are 1. Remain a Free City 2. Become a part of Israel 3. Become ruled by the Palestinian Authority and 4. Officially become part of the NRE.

December 8th 1977

The results are in. Jerusalem will become part of the New Roman Empire with 44% of the population approving of the measure. Integration with the rest of the Imperial government will begin immediately.

December 10th 1977

Antonio Medici is promoted to full Colonel and named Prefect of Jerusalem. He will serve as the ultimate military and civilian authority of the city until a civilian government can be established.

December 12th 1977

The Jewish population of Jerusalem protests the vote calling it a fraud. Prefect Medici showing a bolster typical of his father back in his Viceroy days responds with “If you don’t like the result leave! We don’t want you!”

There are more protests across the Arab world at what is seen as a holy site being annexed by infidel invaders. However, the governments of the Muslim countries(as least the countries that matter to Rome) are supportive of the move and work to quell the popular unrest.

December 15th 1977

In a move to put the Muslim world at ease, Consul Medici personally pledges $500,000 to the rebuilding of the Dome of the Rock.

December 27th 1977

Twelve Palestinian terrorists seize control of the cruise ship “Mediterranean Princess” off the coast of Egypt. They demand that the NRE relinquish all claims to Jerusalem and release all Palestinian freedom fighters in their custory.

Chapter XLIVII (April 15th 1978 to May 10th 1978)

April 15th 1978

Consul Medici makes an unscheduled visit to Jerusalem, officially to visit his son and to see his newborn grandson named in his honor. Unofficially, he is visiting his son to convince him to give up his post of Prefect at this time telling him that he as achieved fame in his posting and it is time to leave on a high note.

April 21st 1978

The second carrier of the Mussolini class the Marcus Aurelius begins its sea trials.

April 25th 1978

Taken from Montgomery’s article on Italian East Africa:

“Italian East Africa is a land of startling contrast and perhaps the most clear cut caste system of any place within the Empire. Italians are obviously at the top of the pyramid and right below them are many newly arrived Imperialized Libyans. Below them are the ‘colonials’ from Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti who while still segregated from white society and still subject to many of the anti-African laws are given dominance over the Ethiopians whose only use is cheap labor. Even after over 40 years of occupying the former nation the Italians still do not trust the Ethiopians as long as the line of the ‘House of Solomon’ continues to exist.”

“I would imagine that the antebellum south looked very much like the current state of Ethiopia. Large plantations which here mainly grow coffee are run by wealthy Italians from their large villas and worked by cheap Ethiopian labor. Though, the wealth of the Italians is largely artificial. While the farmers do make a large sum of money living in Italian East Africa is expensive. All locally produced goods are extremely cheap thus allowing most of the Italians income to go to buying expensive luxury imports from the Empire proper. The Ethiopians themselves live as they have lived for decades in their native villages only now with running water and electricity. It is a simple existence where they have few luxuries and little time off. However, these small villages are rapidly in decline as Rome encourages the Ethiopians to move away from the villages and into the cities.”

“The contrast of Italian East Africa can be seen most greatly within the cities. Addis Abbas as well as all other large urban centers are clearly divided between Italian and Ethiopian sections with very little overlap between the two except for Ethiopian workers entering into the Italian section to work during the day. It is difficult to tell whether the Italians took this system from South Africa or if it’s the other way around. But, the distinction is clear, the Italians live well with all the conveyances of modern life while the Ethiopians live very frugally. The average Ethiopian lives in an apartment complex where the greatest luxury they possess is a radio. Italians are rarely seen within the black sections of the city and they are policed by native Muslims who keep the Orthodox Christians in line with ruthless efficiency.

The sites that were formerly important to the House of Solomon have been turned into propaganda sites for Italian purposes. The former Imperial residence until recently has served as the seat of the Viceroy of Italian East Africa. However, Viceroy Borghese has chosen to rule the territory from Djibouti so that he may better command the fleet from the massive naval complex there.”

April 30th 1978

Afghanistan goes Communist with the success of a pro-communist coup in the nation.

May 1st 1978

The New Roman Empire breaks all ties with Afghanistan.

May 3rd 1978

The Lira Block votes unanimously to cut relations with Afghanistan.

Prefect Medici announces that he will resign his post as Prefect by May 15th.

May 5th 1978

Taken from Montgomery’s article on Mozambique:

“The latest acquisition of Rome is still very much Portuguese. Those Portuguese who chose not to leave have all been granted the status of “honorary Italians” and thus colonial citizenship with the condition that they eventually Italianize. The Portuguese since then have been slow in adapting Italian and still prefer their old ways.

Italians themselves are a rarity here. Only 2,000 have chosen to settle within the colony making them an extreme minority and the thousands of others are just tourists enjoying what the Italians call “Summer in the Winter.” In the place of Italian settlers are thousands of Eastern Europeans and Libyans taking advantage of the relaxed Italian policy for immigration to the colony.”

May 8th 1978

Prefect Medici holds a torchlight procession through Jerusalem with the officers reading off the names of those who have fallen in defense of the city followed by the chorus of soldiers shouting “Present” after each name. Upon the completion of the procession the soldiers array themselves in front of the Prefect and report that all men are present and accounted for. The parade serves as a reminder to the inhabitants of the city that Rome is now supreme and will ignore any losses dealt to them.

May 10th 1978

Taken from Mongomery’s article on Rhodesia:

“While not officially part of the New Roman Empire it seemed fitting to end my series in the Empire’s only foreign ‘adventure.’ At any one time there are over 5,000 Italian soldiers within the nation.

Rhodesia and South Africa are both interesting cases being the only members of the Lira Block who claim to whole heartily embrace democracy(though, only whites can vote) and also proclaim not to be Fascist. However, whereas South Africa tries to limit the influence from Rome, Rhodesia embraces Roman help and many detractors claim they are on the way of becoming the next province of the New Roman Empire.”

“The Italians have come a long way in winning over the hearts and minds of the white Rhodesians. While taking pictures of a procession of soldiers a group of teenage girls came rushing towards me asking in broken Italian if I was Italian. When I responded in the negative, they looked very disappointed, then asked if I had been to Rome. When I respond in the affirmative they get very excited and start asking if it is as great as the soldiers making it out to be and if the streets are really paved with marble. I try to explain to them that the Empire isn’t as great as the soldiers make it sound and they have their own problems. To a tee they all steadfastly refuse to believe me.”

“If the Rhodesians generally love and adore the Italians, the native Africans hate and despise them. The Italians here are nothing but cruel to them. Whereas in the Empire colonials are treated as subject people where a meritocracy does exist for one to earn more freedom and power to keep rebellions from occurring, here the Italians don’t care and treat them all as potential communists. Combine this with the fact that all the soldiers stationed here have been chosen for their loyalty to Fascism this makes a dangerous combination.

Walking down the street the Africans often set up makeshift bazaars selling traditional tribal objects and charms. The local police both white and black generally ignore them. However, when these medicine men see the black shirted OVRA approach they scramble to their feet and run. Those too slow are kicked and beaten while being cursed at, called communists, heretics and savages. The white police do not interfere considering it to be a waste of time and any black police present quickly make themselves scarce.

Approaching one the black officers I asked if I could speak with him about the Italians, at first he was confrontational saying “No, bass(boss.) I can’t speak about them.” After convincing him I wasn’t a spy with the OVRA he loosened up and spoke with explaining that except for the rebels the blacks and the white Rhodesians had a basic understanding. They both recognize they share this land together and have to work towards. But, the Italians to the native Africans are seen as “foreign devils” who bring nothing but death and persecution.”

Chapter XLVI (December 20th 1978 to June 12th 1979)

December 20th 1978

President Carter orders that a detachment of Secret Service be assigned to protect Edda Ciano against Fascist retaliation.

January 2nd 1979

The United States sees the largest pro-fascist demonstration it has in the past decade with over 5,000 YFM members marching on Washington D.C. protesting Carter’s presidency.

January 16th 1979

The Shah of Iran flees to Egypt in response to continued riots throughout Iran.

January 20th 1979

Five training camps for Afghani nationalists are established within Iraq to begin training Afghanis and Arab volunteers in guerilla warfare as well as fascist ideaology.

The long term goals of the NRE is to establish a Fascist Republic in Afghanistan.

January 28th 1979

Consul Medici pays an official state visit to Egypt. Political pundits consider this to be a marked shift in Lira Block relations with Egypt now become the Empire’s most favored ally. They are quick to remark that in the Third World the heads of government visit Rome, and that the Consul generally only visits other nations when giving them his full support. And, with Spain breaking away from Rome’s lead Egypt will now be taking the second seat within the Lira Block.

February 5th 1979

Taking the advice of the Consul Egypt proposes peace talks take place between themselves and Israel.

February 11th 1979

Ayatollah Khomeini seizes power in Iran.

February 12th 1979

The NRE pulls its ambassador from Iran.

February 14th 1979

Most of the Lira Block quickly follows suit and pull their own Ambassadors from Iran. Spain once again refuses to march in lockstep with Rome.

February 20th 1979

Italian and Egyptian diplomats open up talks with Israel.

February 22nd 1979

Count Giovanni Battista is arrested by the OVRA on charges that he had years previously defamed the image of the Duce.

February 25th 1979

Count Battista is released on the condition that he revoke his complaint leveled against Colonel Medici in the attack on his son thus making the court martial null and dismissed.

February 27th 1979

A furious Consul Medici summons Minister Gritti to his office and verbally berates the Police Chief for going over his head and interfering in what was his son’s problem. This marks one of the few times that Medici and Gritti have ever had a disagreement.

March 1st 1979

Minister Freda secretly visits Pakistan to convince the government there to allow for Italian weapons to be moved through the country to Afghanistan.

March 5th 1979

Minister Rizzo publically launches an expedition to the Mideast to search for evidence of ancient forms of Fascism within the regions ancient civilizations.

April 1st 1979

Iran officially becomes an Islamic Republic.

April 5th 1979

The Argentine government secretly approaches the Consul on whether or not he would support an Argentinean occupation of the British controlled Falkland Islands. Medici tells them that the NRE will not directly support any occupation or interfere with it. However, he does pledge additional military advisors to Argentina.

April 15th 1979

Extensive damage is done in Yugoslavia and Albania after the region is hit by a large earthquake. The Imperial Army is deployed to the area to aid in the relief effort.

May 4th 1979

The Conservatives win the elections in Great Britain. Margaret Thatcher becomes the country’s first female Prime Minister.

May 10th 1979

The first Italian trained fighters enter into Afghanistan and begin operations against the Soviet Occupation.

May 20th 1979

Israeli, Italian and Egyptian officials come together in Lake Garda, Italy to sign a peace treaty between the nations. In a symbolic sign of mutual forgiveness for the Easter War, Israeli officials return captured Blackshirt daggers in exchange for looted Israeli medals.

Field Marshal Guillet serves as the head of the Italian committee even though he served as the Commander-in-Chief of Lira Block forces during the war he is largely praised by the Israelis as a good man who upheld the tenets of chivalry and one who insisted that even captured soldiers be treated fairly and give the same rations as men in his service.

May 28th 1979

The Lake Garda Treaty is officially signed. While not solving all the grievances between the involved nations it serves to seriously reduce tensions. Both sides officially absolve the other of blame for the Easter War and agree to significantly demilitarize their respective borders as well as allowing passage of travel between territories. While the NRE and Israel officially refuse to fully recognize each other consular offices will be established in both nations.

June 1st 1979

Applause comes in from across the world for the NRE’s role in helping to secure peace in the Mideast. The Doomsday Clock is moved back one minute to show that the threat of World War 3 has been significantly diminished.

June 12th 1979

Minister Freda and Gritti are sent on a diplomatic mission to Spain in order to try to convince the Spanish Crown to repair relations with Rome.

Chapter XLVIII ( March 15th 1980 to September 22nd 1980)

March 15th 1980

Franco Freda is dispatched to the United States to resolve the Cuban issue. He expresses high hopes that a mutually agreeable resolution can be reached.

However, Freda has been instructed by Medici not to come to an agreement with the US until after the invasion of Iran or better yet until after the Presidential elections.

March 21st 1980

President Carter announces that the United States will be boycott the Olympics in Moscow in response to the Soviet Union’s interference in Afghanistan.

April 2nd 1980

The Lira Block states that its nations will participate in the upcoming Olympics but instead of marching under their national flags they will march under the flag of International Fascism in solidarity with the Afghanis.

April 25th 1980

An American attempt to rescue the hostages fails in Iran after the helicopters participating in the raid crash killing 8 soldiers.

April 26th 1980

In a press release Consul Medici says that the United States should have requested assistance from the NRE in the botched raid as the Empire would have secured overfly rights through Iraq for the operation.

May 3rd 1980

Rachele Mussolini dies of natural causes in Predappio.

*Note: In this timeline Mussolini lives slightly longer due to better access to medical care and better living conditions.*

May 7th 1980

A day after the funeral of Rachele Mussolini Consul Medici orders the arrests of daughter’s children their spouses and their children betraying his promise not to conduct any reprisals for the treason of Edda Ciano.

May 8th 1980

In nighttime raids the members of the Ciano household are all grabbed by the OVRA. Marzio Ciano, the naval aviator goes down swinging fighting with several OVRA agents while trying to get his gun from a nearby dresser he is beaten down with batons and truncheons before being dragged out with the rest of his family.

The Cianos are accused of treason and will be brought before the Special Court to decide their fates.

May 20th 1980

Excerpts from a New York Times Editorial:

“While it has been 2 months since Minister Freda arrived in the United States he has spent very little time attempting to complete his assigned mission. If rumors are to be believed, he has met with the state department just twice in the past months. Instead, his time has been spent rubbing elbows with various prominent individuals and organizations and giving lectures on various subjects ranging from law to philosophy to politics and even theology.

Minister Freda has become a hit on college campuses where he gives lectures at both prominent and less-than-prominent universities. Charging no appearance fee he is a favorite at smaller schools which can not normally afford big named speakers.”

June 5th 1980

A full sized mockup of the American embassy in Tehran is setup in Italian East Africa and Italian Special Forces begin conducting training exercise within the complex.

June 14th 1980

Adriano Abrazzi commits a large sum of personal wealth to purchase over 10,000 acres of land in the Balkans to be kept in its natural state as a hunting preserve. Abrazzi for the past decade had been assembling land throughout the Balkans creating preserves but this represents the largest single purchase thus far.

June 17th 1980

Consul Medici announces that he will match Abrazzi’s purchase and personally purchase an additional 10,000 acres of adjacent land to be given to Abrazzi.

June 20th 1980

Several other Grand Council members including Berulsconi, Freda and Rauti make their own purchase of Balkan land for the growing preserve. These contributions range from 1,000 to 5,000 acres.

July 2nd 1980

With the March on Rome nearly 60 years in the past the surviving participants in that triumphant event are quickly fading away. In order to preserve their memory Minister Rizzo has organized a program to interview all the remaining survivors on their experiences from the march.

July 10th 1980

The Special Court finds all defendants in the Ciano trials guilty of treason and orders Marzio and Fabrizio Ciano to be executed for their crimes as well as eliminating the noble title of Count of Cortellazzo and Buccari.

The remaining defendants are granted leniency and allowed to go into foreign exile stripped of their Italian citizenship and ordered never to return to the NRE on pain of death.

July 19th 1980

The Moscow Olympics open with the NRE and the rest of the Lira Block marching under the flag of the Lira Block instead of their national flags in support of the Afghani war for independence.

July 25th 1980

Five members of the Italian shooting team cause an incident in Moscow while passing a Soviet television camera and raising their arms in the Fascist salute. The five Italians are all current or past members of the Praetorian Guard.

July 27th 1980

The Shah of Iran dies in exile.

August 3rd 1980

Despite complaints about Italian conduct during the games and calls that they be stripped of their medals the team from the NRE secures the second most gold medals behind the Soviet Union. Many believe this is largely because of the boycott by other top countries.

August 10th 1980

Strikers gather in Poland to protest the Communist government.

August 15th 1980

Rome begins making overtures to Pakistan trying to get the nation more aligned with the Lira Block.

August 31st 1980

The Polish government peacefully ends the strikes occurring by agreeing to many of the protestors demands. This move is supported by Pope John Paul II.

September 12th 1980

The military takes power in Turkey following a coup against the government.

September 22nd 1980

Iraq begins their invasion of Iran starting the Iraq-Iran war.

Chapter L (April 20th 1981 to June 22nd 1981)

April 20th 1981

Franco Freda is dispatched to Pakistan.

April 28th 1981

Security forces under the command of Colonel Medici foil a plot by Greek nationalists to assassinate Emperor Umberto II on the way to his summer residence in Constantinople. The 5 conspirators are handed over to the Special Court to be dealt with.

May 3rd 1981

The Lira Block holds their own commission on war crimes in Rhodesia focusing that on the violations of the rebels who routinely torture and kill both white and black Rhodesians as well as practice necklacing as a form of execution.

May 11th 1981

Victor Emmanuel IV meets with Consul Medici to discuss the inheritance of the throne as his father ages. The heir-apparent is fearful that his cousin the Duke of Aosta will attempt to claim the throne and wants the reassurance of the Consul that he and the Grand Council will support him.

Medici agrees to support Victor Emmanuel as they have always been good and close friends to the Consul. Privately and more importantly Medici wants the playboy, apolitical, partier on the throne. He would be able to consolidate more power himself without an active Emperor like Umberto or the Duke.

May 13th 1981

Assassins strike at Pope John Paul II gravely wounding him! Mehmet Ali Agca is the primary assassin firing 4 rounds into the Pope before being taken down. Fellow conspirator Stoyan Petkov is tackled by bystanders when he attempted to throw a grenade into the crowd.

Thirty minutes after the attack OVRA officials arrive at the Rome police station where the would be assassins are held and take custody of them and control of the investigation. The Roman Police Chief files a complaint with the government that his department should maintain jurisdiction since the crime wasn’t political or against the state. He quickly withdraws his complaint after being informed that Minister Gritti himself signed the orders for the prisoners to be taken by the OVRA.

May 15th 1981

Under interrogation both plotters admit to their part in the attack against the Pope and give up their fellow conspirators sparking an Empire wide manhunt.

Agca, a Turk claims to have been hired by Soviet agents to plan the assassination. Setting up a base in Bulgaria he put together a group of like minded men. His stated motivation for the crime was to destroy the living incarnation of capitalism.

Petkov, an Italianized Bulgarian and former member of the Bulgarian Colonial Army admits to being an ardent Pagan and was attracted to the plot to “break the back of worldwide Christendom and restore paganism to Europe.”

The news of his pagan allegiance is quickly suppressed by Minister Gritti who also informs Minister Rauti to keep aware of extremism within his sect. Rauti is largely considered the spiritual leader of the Pagan movement within the NRE following the death of Evola.

May 18th 1981

Viceroy Borghese resigns his commission as Grand Admiral after 52 years of service. The “Black Prince” will continue to serve as Viceroy of Ethiopia.

June 3rd 1981

Medici and Berlusconi push forward an initiative to seriously expand the industrial capacity of Italian East Africa. The plan would allow for a massive amount of new factories to be constructed throughout the colony devoted specifically for the international export of cheap goods. One of the key issues discussed was how consumers would distinguish higher priced, luxury goods from the cheap goods produced. A deal was struck with the major corporations of Italy that two production stamps would be made. Those produced still in Italy proper and Europe would continue to be branded as made in the New Roman Empire and those new products would be stamped “Made in Italian East Africa.”

June 10th 1981

Consul Medici allows foreign reporters into the inner workings of Mussolini’s tomb to dismiss the outlandish foreign claims that secret rituals took place beneath the tomb. The mainly British and American reporters are led through the tomb and its underground dorms and supply rooms.

William Montgomery, out of retirement for this special assignment wrote for Time Magazine the following:

“....the tomb remains much the same as it had on my previous visits. The effects of millions of visitors a year has not diminished any of its grandeur, following the closing of the tomb every night an army of cleaners and repairmen come out to make it appear as new...One of the first things one will notice as they enter the tomb is the strong smell of flowers and incense. Thousands of pilgrims bring offerings daily ranging from flowers to small trinkets, to plaques, bottles of wine and bread. The massive guest book is replaced nearly daily with praises being lauded on the former dictator. One guest signed with the note, ‘the most fascist Fascist of Gragnano...’ While a trip to the tomb is a once in a lifetime event for many, some come weekly, even daily. An old man told me that he comes to best contemplate his life here in this place of respect and honor remarking ‘You will never find a more sacred place. Here everyone is equal before the Duce. Over there a Catholic Priest speaks of the martyrs of Fascism and their service to the Duce. And, look there an Imam pays his respects to him as the Protector of Islam! Past him, those men are Pagans, honoring him and the ancient gods. No where in the world but here will you see that together...’

Like dorms any other place the dorms of the Praetorian Guard are filled with posters and plaques and other signs of life and interests, but unlike the typical dorm of soldiers or any man in their 20's you will find no pictures of scantily clad women here instead they are Fascist slogans and Roman and Italian heroes. Anything that would dishonor the image of Mussolini is banned and the guardsmen are under orders to abstain from alcohol and tobacco for the duration of their tours. They are almost completely cut off from the outside world and live monastic like lives....Over the bed of one guard is a plaque which reads ‘God created Il Duce before the world. After you, dear emperor, only darkness.’ I’m sure Consul Medici would sorely disagree with the man’s sentiment.

Being sacred ground no souvenirs are sold within the tomb. That doesn’t mean there are no sales of memorabilia. Outside of the tomb are nearly two dozen stands selling everything from Mussolini t-shirts to statues and portraits and everything in between. As a matter of practice all the vendors permits are given to disabled war veterans. Enzo, an Easter War veteran missing two fingers told me how being a vendor outside the tomb was the greatest thing to ever happen to him, “I’m not greedy but I make more money here than I would doing anything else. Some of the vendors are so greedy trying to get every last lira possible. They open early in the morning with the tomb and only close when it closes. And, when the tomb is open all day and night for the holidays they stay open! I come at 10 and by 2 I close. When it rains, I don’t come in. I don’t need too.”

June 15th 1981

Colosseum Comics publishes “The Centurion vs. Sabra” using the Israeli Marvel superhero as a villain in the comic without permission from Marvel.

June 17th 1981

Marvel Comics files suit against Colosseum Comics for the illegal usage of their characters image.

June 18th 1981

Medici announces a new program for the natives of Italian East Africa which will allow anyone to move from their native village to a city and be given an apartment and free appliances if they agree to take a job in the soon to be built factories.

June 20th 1981

Taken from Montgomery’s latest article on Italy before returning home:

“It would be unfair to visit the tomb commemorating Mussolini’s burial without the one honoring his birth. So, I find myself in the little town of Predappio, with a population of around 6,000 they service over 1 million visitors a year. Taken a line from my previous article they are the ‘most fascist Fascists’ of the Empire. With over 90% of the adult population belonging to the National Fascist Party no other area in the whole Empire can claim such an astounding number.

This was not always the case though, throughout the earliest days of Fascism Predappio was a center of Socialism and Communism. However, over the years migration and just the general fact that the town’s entire economy is based on veneration of Mussolini the population has become more and more radically fascist. That is not to say that everyone is happy with the current state of affairs. An old socialist now in his 80's who agreed to speak with me on the condition he remained anonymous has nothing but disdain for the Duce. ‘It’s abusrd’ he says ‘they come here and treat the man like a god. The Duce this, the Duce that! They call him founder of the Empire, Defender of the Faith, enemy of communists! They all forget he started off a Socialist Republican who hated the church!’

Minor voices of occasional dissent aside the town, it’s inhabitants and visitors are almost completely pro Mussolini. Thousands visit the shrine of the birth daily, then embark on tours throughout the town seeing such locations at his childhood home, still occupied by members of the Mussolini family, his school and other sites of interest in the life of the young Mussolini. Relatives of Mussolini are prominent citizens of the town with many owning gift shops and a nephew of the dictator serving as the town’s mayor...the fascist faithful come here for important events in their lives, weddings, graduations and baptisms with many fascist couples wanting to have their children baptized in Mussolini’s home town to have some of the Duce’s spark or spirit present at this holy event forgetting that Mussolini himself was never baptized in the local church and would not become a Roman Catholic until he was made dictator.”

June 22nd 1981

Moved by concerns that an Iranian victory could possibly lead to an Islamic Revolution with Pakistan. The Pakistani government announces their intention to join the Lira Block as a junior member and forbids British and French supplies to be pass through their territory if destined for Iran.

Chapter LII (October 25th 1981 to February 3rd 1982)

October 25th 1981

Violence spikes in Rhodesia as ZANU forces avenge the death of Mugabe. The Africans launch multiple indiscriminate roadside attacks throughout the country.

November 1st 1981

Antigua and Barbuda officially become independent from the United Kingdom.

November 4th 1981

After a little over a week of intense violence in Rhodesia the attacks conducted by ZANU fall off. This is quickly attributed to both a harsher Italian and Rhodesian response as well as ZANU exhausting their offensive capabilities.

November 10th 1981

Talks between the NRE and Spain proceed slowly. The Spanish King insists that the diplomats engage with the Italians at arms length, much to the chagrin of many old Falangists in the government who wish to keep strong close relations with the Italians.

November 16th 1981

The OVRA approves of the sale of small arms, explosives, bullet proof vests, and some personal carried anti-tank weapons to the to the IRA.

Representatives from the IRA also requested to purchase anti-air weaponry, artillery and several APCs. At this time the request is denied, though the OVRA officials tell the IRA that the option remains on the table if they prove successful in their operations in Norther Ireland.

November 25th 1981

The Reagan administration approves of a plan to sell weapons to Contra rebels in Nicaragua. Their internal justification for this is both to help overthrow the socialist leaning government there and prevent the Italians from getting a foothold in the country by propping up the Contra first.

November 29th 1981

Using human wave attacks Iran launches an offensive against the Iraqi lines. The Iranians manage to overwhelm the Iraqi lines and begin pushing them back towards the Iraqi border.

December 4th 1981

South Africa grants independence to Ciskei. The new nation is only recognized by South Africa and the Lira Block, excluding Spain.

December 7th 1981

After making good gains against the Iraqis, the Iranian offensive grinds to a halt as their foes manage to reform their lines and Italian air support hampers the Iranians ability to maneuver.
The Iranians had managed to retake many towns and villages in southern Iran as well as securing their own line of supply.

December 9th 1981

Argentinean military officers begin internally discussing the possibility of invading the Falkland Islands.

December 12th 1981

The Polish Labor Union Solidarity meets to discuss the dismantling of the Communist system within that country.

December 13th 1981

In response to Solidarity’s meetings the Polish government declares martial law and orders a crackdown against the labor union.

Members of the Argentinean Junta meet with the Italian ambassador and the embassy’s military attache to discuss the potential invasion of the Falklands. Both admit that it will be a hard sell to Freda and Medici but they will propose the option.

December 16th 1981

The Pacification of Wujek occurs as the Polish Army is brought in to break a miners’ strike. Nine miners are killed in the ensuing violence.

December 17th 1981

The Grand Council meets to discuss possible ways to use the situation in Poland to the NRE’s advantage. As of the meeting nothing is decided except to continue watching the situation. More alarmingly

December 20th 1981

The Italian ambassador to Argentina flies to Rome and meets with Medici and Freda to discuss the Falklands question. Medici and Freda both agree that the NRE will not intervene militarily in any actions against England but will provide Argentina with intelligence information and continue weapons sales. However, Medici tells the ambassador to inform the Junta that if a victory isn’t achieved immediately a negotiated settlement should be made to prevent escalation of the conflict.

January 7th 1982

The Commodore 64 is revealed in Las Vegas. It will go on to being the best selling personal computer of all time.

January 10th 1982

The Argentinean military begins their initial planning for the invasion of the Falklands islands.

January 15th 1982

Negotiations between the Spanish and Italians continue slowly as neither side can find common ground. Many members of the Italian diplomatic group believe that the Spanish have no intention of coming to a middle ground solution and are purposely dragging out the meetings.

January 25th 1982

The Imperial military begins running tabletop simulations of a hypothetical war between Argentina and Great Britain. The initial prospects look grim for the Argentines. The war gamers surmise that unless Argentina can somehow obtain naval superiority(an almost impossible feat) they will need to effectively neutralize the British fleet, an equally daunting task. To do this the Argentinean military will need the latest anti-ship missiles and equipment.

January 31st 1982

The first additonal arms shipments begin arriving in Argentina from the NRE. These shipments are passed off as general improvements to the Argentinean military.

February 3rd 1982

British intelligence analysts begin observing the buildup of forces in the Southern Hemisphere. While some analysts predict that the buildup is a prelude for an invasion of the Falklands most dismiss this idea. The general belief is that the Argentines do not have the military capacity to successfully invade the Falkland Islands without direct Italian intervention. These analysts believe that without seeing a buildup of Italian forces in the region that there is no threat to be head by the Argentineans.