Iron Eagle: The New American Reich

The Turning Point

Washington, D.C. – March 10, 1941

The air in the ballroom of the Mayflower Hotel buzzed with anticipation. Banners with stars and stripes hung proudly, swaying gently in the breeze from the circulating fans. The crowd, a mix of politicians, military officers, and social elites, filled the room with polite conversation, their chatter masking the anxiety that lay beneath the surface. The nation was holding its breath. The world was at war, and everyone knew that Roosevelt's leadership was the fragile line holding America together.

The President's wheelchair, cleverly hidden from view behind the podium, served as a poignant reminder of the weight he carried. Franklin D. Roosevelt, his presence commanding respect even in frailty, leaned on the lectern, ready to address the nation once more. His voice, worn but resolute, carried the promise of hope.

"The destiny of this great republic lies in the hands of free men and women," Roosevelt began, his words ringing with conviction. The audience leaned forward, drawn into the vision of an America steadfast in its ideals.

But destiny would not let him finish.

A sharp crack split the air. Silence gripped the room for a split second—a moment when time itself seemed to freeze. Then, chaos erupted. Secret Service agents lunged toward the President, their faces twisted in panic. Roosevelt's eyes widened as he clutched his chest, blood staining the crisp white of his shirt. His body slumped forward, the lectern providing no support as he collapsed to the ground.

Screams filled the air as the crowd scattered in every direction. The guests tripped over chairs, pushing one another in their desperate attempt to flee. Security rushed toward the source of the shots, tackling a shadowy figure whose face was contorted with fanatical zeal. Gun smoke lingered in the air like a ghostly shroud over the scene.

Roosevelt's eyes fluttered shut as he lay on the cold marble floor, gasping for breath that would not come. The man who had guided America through the Great Depression and led with an indomitable spirit was gone, leaving a void that no one was prepared to fill.

Across the nation, radios crackled with the news. The headline blazed across newspapers by the next morning: "Roosevelt Assassinated—Nation in Turmoil!" The streets of New York fell eerily silent as people gathered in stunned disbelief. In factories, offices, and homes, the same question was whispered in fear: What happens now?

In the corridors of power, the reaction was a mix of shock and opportunism. Some saw a chance to grab power, while others were consumed by dread. General Robert Hamilton stood among the military brass later that night, watching as high-ranking officials exchanged grim nods. The weight of the moment was palpable.

Hamilton had known Roosevelt personally, admired his resilience even when they disagreed on policy. Now, looking around at the faces of his colleagues, he sensed the ominous shift—a crack in the foundation of the nation. In that moment, a dark tide was gathering, and Hamilton could almost feel the ground shifting beneath him.

The power vacuum did not last long. Within hours of Roosevelt's death, Vice President William Ainsworth moved with a swiftness that left the nation reeling. The American public, still dazed by the loss, barely registered the rapid sequence of events that followed. Ainsworth's address to the nation was broadcast just three days after the assassination. He stood tall at the podium, radiating confidence and authority, his voice a potent blend of charm and cold determination.

"Fellow Americans, these are perilous times. Our beloved President has been struck down by enemies within. But this tragedy will not break us—it will forge a stronger, more unified America."

His words struck a chord with a nation desperate for stability. But behind his charismatic veneer lay a darker truth. Within days, Ainsworth consolidated power, aligning himself with a faction of ultranationalists who had long been waiting for a moment like this. The so-called American Renewal Coalition was born—a coalition that cloaked itself in patriotism while dismantling the very foundations of democracy.