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Secrecy and Deception Chapter 17

The Arms Race (Wattpad | Ao3)

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Event: Signing of the European Defence Treaty

Location: Paris, French Republic

Date: May 27, 1952

West Germany was a strange mix of excited and nervous. He was excited because today was the day he, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Italy were going to be signing the treaty of the European Defence Treaty.

It was another step toward integrating himself with the other countries of the West and was the reason for Stalin’s notes trying to convince him to reunite with the other one.

Of course, the treaty still needed to be ratified by all signing countries, but West Germany was sure—and hopeful—that it would happen. This was his alternative to joining NATO, and it would offer the West a solid bloc to combat the Soviet one.

They would have to want to ratify it.

West Germany knew it was also seen as a way to ensure he did not attack any of them and would be on their side in the case of a future conflict. He knew that some of them didn’t trust him.

West Germany couldn’t blame them, not really. The one that came before him had done great harm to many nations. He would be haunted by that for a long time until he was able to establish himself as his own person, his own country, free from those burdens.

Italy, born three years before him, and lucky to be the child of the kingdom and not the Axis Italy was able to shake off the shadow of her brother. West Germany hoped by the time he was her age, people would stop worrying if he was going to end up like the Nazi.

His biggest worry was that France did not seem as…eager for this European Defence Treaty as the rest of them. Many times during negotiations, she expressed her displeasure with the fact that her national sovereignty in security and defense would be taken away. She was strong-willed and preferred to be in control of her own fate, but West Germany really hoped that she would not be the lynchpin that prevented it from passing.

Maybe she didn’t want it, but he did, and he did not want her messing this up for him.

“So…are we betting on whether or not France is going to ratify this?” Netherlands asked as they sat around a table, waiting for France.

“Considering we’re waiting for her to show up and we’re in her own capital…not good odds she will,” Italy commented, looking bored and tired.

“She better be because I’ve really pissed off Stalin with this whole thing and probably threw away the only chance at reunification until the USSR pulls his head out of his ass,” West Germany said, annoyed.

“You’re having fun over there, aren’t you?” Belgium asked sarcastically. West Germany gave her a blank stare, and she shrugged. Silence fell across the room once again until Luxembourg sighed, standing up.

“I’m going to go look for my mother,” he said, just as the door opened and France strolled in. Luxembourg sat back down and rolled his eyes.

“Sorry, I’m late. I had something else to do,” France said.

“You are the person hosting France. I know you aren’t excited about this, but you could at least make an effort to pretend like you care,” Netherlands said.

“Netherlands, you know I will never pretend to care about something I am not interested in because I am unwilling to give up my control over my safety. We’ll see if this actually passes or not, but I’m only here because I have to be,” France said before signing her name and marching right out of the room.

West Germany sighed. The likelihood of this treaty passing was getting slimmer and slimmer.

He hated it.

• ───────────────── •

Event: Britain develops the A-Bomb

Codename: Operation Hurricane

Location: Main Bay, Trimouille Island, Montebello Islands, Western Australia, Australia

Date: October 3, 1952

Western Australia knew it was only a matter of time before her father would acquire nuclear weapons for himself. So when he dragged her and Australia out to Trimouille Island to watch the first test, she was not surprised.

“Isn’t this exciting? Once these tests are done and taken care of, I will be a nuclear power, just like America and the USSR. Then we won’t have to worry about America returning to his isolation and leaving us with nothing to defend ourselves with,” Britain said as he gestured out over the bay. Western Australia nodded as she listened to her father drone, not very interested in what he was saying.

He had been slowly losing his mind, it seemed, ever since the end of the Second World War. From beating Western Pacific Territories to near death to now, scrambling to do everything he could to cling to his fading power.

It was nice to see him fall, even if it made him all the more terrifying with how his already short anger seemed to be taking less and less things to make him snap.

“It will be good to see you retake your place among the powers of the world, where you belong,” Australia responded, buttering up Britain’s ego in an effort to stave off his rage on the off chance that the bomb ended up failing.

Western Australia knew neither of them would be here if they had the choice.

“It was always a matter of time on that. America and USSR were never going to stay dominant powers. They’re not fit for it,” Britain said before turning to Western Australia and grabbing her by her arm.

“What are you doing?” she asked, startled. She hadn’t done anything to deserve being punished, had she? She didn’t think so. And this was a relatively public area, and Britain took great care to hide how severely he used the rod against Western Australia and her family.

“I want to be able to watch the test and you. America wouldn’t let me see his Pacific territory he took from Japan during his tests, and therefore, I wasn’t able to see the effects of the bomb on one of us. That’s why I want both of you here,” Britain said, something dark glinting in his eyes. Western Australia nodded, shooting a glance at Australia, who just seemed…empty like Britain’s words had drained the joy out of her.

“Of course, Grandfather,” she said, the joy that she had been filled with since the start of the war fading into the familiar rhythm of pleasing their grandfather.

Western Australia didn’t know why Britain was insisting on this. America had made it very clear it never affected personifications, nothing that happened on their land physically harmed them, but it was clear Britain wasn’t doing this to listen to reason but to enforce his control over them.

He really had gone mad.

And it was too early for Western Australia to be dealing with this.

But she has been raised to be a good, obedient daughter, so she sat down in her seat, let Britain squeeze her shoulder in a too-tight grip, and waited for it all to be over.

When the bomb went off, she just sat there, not feeling any sort of pain like she expected. This weapon was one that the world had never seen, but the laws of their nature outweighed the power it held.

The thing that scared her was that Britain now had this power. She had hoped, somehow, that he would never get the bomb and his power could fade, freeing them all from his tight grip and controlling nature as his power faded into obscurity. She guessed that was just wishful thinking.

But it would have been nice.

She wished Australia hadn’t allowed him to test the bombs here, but she knew why her niece had done it. They all still held an immense fear of Britain, especially after what happened to Pacific. Half the reason he wanted this bomb was because he was upset that he no longer had as much power as he used to, so playing nice was the best thing they could have done.

Looking up at her father’s disappointed face, Western Australia wished they could have done more.

• ───────────────── •

Event: Nuclear Tests Series 11 in Nevada

Codename: Operation Upshot-Knothole—Test Annie

Location: Nevada Test Site, State of Nevada, United States of America

Date: March 17, 1953

Nevada, New Mexico, and Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands had started a club once they realized that they were going to be the testing grounds for Dad’s nuclear weapons for a long time.

“I can’t believe this is what we’re doing with our lives,” Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands muttered, taking the drink from New Mexico, who just grinned widely at their adoptive sister.

“What, you never want to get drunk and watch people setting off some of the most powerful weapons in the world in your land?” Nevada joked, downing his drink.

Nuclear tests were best experienced drunk.

“Prohibition was good for you,” New Mexico joked. Nevada rolled his eyes.

“Listen, if I get too drunk to think, then I don’t have to worry about the radiation or any of the side effects from this shit,” Nevada said, leaning back into his couch and shutting his eyes, listening to the noise of the TV, which would be showing the nuclear test soon enough.

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands snorted.

“I’ll drink to that,” she said.

“And here I thought you were against drinking,” New Mexico teased.

“I’m not against drinking. I just don’t think we need to throw a pity party every time one of these tests happens. We’d never do anything else without lives at that rate,” Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands pointed out.

“Kid’s right,” Nevada agreed.

“We are not that far apart in age,” Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands insisted, causing Nevada to open his eyes, sitting up in confusion.

“Yes, we are?” he asked, baffled. New Mexico rolled her eyes, gently smacking Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands on the back of the head.

“No, we aren’t. Pacifica just wants to pretend she’s not a baby,” New Mexico said. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands crossed her arms, grumbling under her breath.

“Why do we have to add an a to my name,” she asked.

“A makes it feminine according to Spanish rules, and we’re trying not to confuse you with our cousin, and neither of you have good names for nicknames,” Nevada added before looking back at the TV. “Oh, dammit, we missed the test.”

“Please, Vada, there’s plenty more coming.”

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