Scars

(1943) Breakthroughs and Revelations

Welcome back! And happy Thanksgiving to all readers who celebrate it! Best thing about it is that I get a whole week off school...

Anyway, let's start!

January 14, 1943

Casablanca, Morocco

Britain, America, France, and Morocco met. The African country had a red flag with a green outline of a star.

"I invited Soviet to meet with us," Britain said. "But he says he's needed in Stalingrad."

America nodded. "Understood. So, what's on the table today?"

"I believe we've finally turned this whole thing around. So it's time to plan the next phase of this war. Specifically, where to strike next and the topic of surrendering."

"I need to set up a provisional government. Unfortunately, my two leaders aren't getting along," France sighed. "They're fighting over who's the head of the Free French Forces."

"And why have you summoned me?" Morocco asked.

"Oh!" America turned to him. "I was hoping to speak about the subject of decolonization."

Morocco's eyes widened. "I beg your pardon?"

"A day ago, my president took a trip to Ghana," America began. "And he saw the conditions the natives lived under. I've been asking my dad to begin the process of decolonization for Africa. We have this war to get through first, but I'll get right on that as soon as it does."

Morocco swallowed, turning to France. "Are you willing to let me go?"

France averted her eyes. "You have to prove that you are strong enough to drive both me and Spain out."

"I see."

Britain clapped his hands. "Anyways, if there's anything I've learned about the enemy, there's always a weak point. In this case, I believe we need to strike Italy first."

"I get you," America said. "If we take him down, Reich will lose a major ally. Maybe we can even make history repeat itself."

"How so?" France raised an eyebrow.

"The Great War. Italy was with the Central powers, but he later defected and joined the Allies. I've seen the state of his army, so I infer that conditions at home can't be great either. If we can make him see that this war won't end well for him, we can get him to surrender peacefully."

"I doubt it," Britain frowned. "He's not listening to what his people truly want. He's obsessed with fascism, seeing it as the only way to save his country."

"I know," America's eyes shimmered with hope. "But it can't hurt to try, right? We can even promise to help him rebuild the right way."

The European country chuckled. "Your optimism astounds me. But I suppose it's worth a shot."

America smiled, then went serious. "Speaking of surrender, one thing we should remember is that we never want to make another Treaty of Versailles. Because it'll just create another Reich. Instead, taking a page from General Grant, we should demand nothing more than unconditional surrender. No money. No land. Just surrender."

France replied, "Agreed. I certainly don't want to be responsible for another Reich."

Britain nodded his head.

The red, white, and blue country continued. "Out of all of them, Italy pegs me as the one most likely to agree. Reich and Imperial are fanatics and they won't listen. So we will have to get them to surrender the hard way. Even then, we'll just ask for unconditional surrender. And we can guide them on the right path."