The Cold War[1] is a fictional war in the 22nd century depicted in Battlefield 2142, fought between the European Union and the Pan-Asian Coalition for control of some the last remaining habitable areas of Earth during a new ice age.
It is not to be confused with the Cold War of the 20th century, a series of proxy wars (including the Vietnam War) and political tensions between NATO and Warsaw Pact nations in the period from 1945 to 1991.
Background
Some time during the Sino-American conflict in the mid-2000s, when the combined efforts of the People's Liberation Army and Middle Eastern Coalition invaded the United States of America, scientists began predicting an upcoming ice age caused by global warming.[2] Despite having a hundred years to prepare, the world nations made no significant changes to prevent the coming climate disaster.[3]
The New Ice Age began in the year 2106 as temperatures plummeted and a massive ice wall began to move south from the North Pole.[3] By 2131 much of the northern hemisphere had been consumed by the cold, with the ice wall extending as far as Italy in the eastern hemisphere and covering most of the United States in the west.[4] The freezing cold consumed living space and resources in the north, forcing populations in these areas to attempt to migrate south. These mass migrations caused several conflicts to arise and old alliances to crumble across the globe, notably the European Union fell into civil war between its members and nearly collapsed.[5]
Eventually, it became clear that the only way to survive the ice age was through some degree of cooperation, and six major coalitions were formed among the remaining nations. In the eastern hemisphere, the EU re-organized itself into a military coalition, while Russia formed a new Russo-Asian military alliance known as the Pan-Asian Coalition. The African nations, controlling a major portion of the remaining unfrozen land on earth, formed the Union of African States.[5][6]
Despite the existential threat posed by the ice age, old geopolitical rivalries quickly resumed after the formation of the new coalitions. Relations between the EU and PAC were in a poor state sometime before the war. Espionage was actively occurring between the two factions: with the EU appropriating Titan and Battle Walker technology from the PAC[7][8] and the PAC stealing a prototype MK-15 Bandit from the EU and using it to create the UAZ-8 Ocelot.[9]
The EU would have allies elsewhere: the combined effort of multiple United States and European arms manufacturers would go on to create the SCAR 11, the standard issue rifle for the European Union in the upcoming war. [10] The Union of African States became an important ally to the EU, as the Union would supply much of Europe's energy and food through joint projects. These included Shuhia Taiba, a large-scale, EU agricultural project located in northern Egypt, and the Sidi Power Plant which would provide more than 40% of the EU population's energy by 2143.[6][11] EU troops would subsequently be stationed in Northern Africa to assist the African Union in defense of these sites.
The evacuation of northern Europe continues as the ice wall reaches Italy
By early 2138, with around ten billion people on earth; [12] the world's six superpowers were heavily fortified, ready to lay claim to the world's remaining sustainable land and resources. With a sizable population and need for more territory, the Pan-Asian Coalition set its sights on conquering Africa and the Mediterranean[13], realizing it had to get through the European Union and the Union of African States to achieve its goal. Expecting an invasion by the PAC into the now agriculture-rich plains of North Africa, the European Union concentrated its resources along the Mediterranean, ready to assist the Union of African States. A diversion by two PAC battalions into Egypt seemed to confirm their suspicions, but the attacks were merely decoys, meant to distract the world from the PAC's primary objective for the first part of the war: to destroy the military might of the EU's premiere units still left in Europe. [6]
Course of War
Operation Canute
PAC vehicles during the Battle of Minsk
The Cold War began on October 2139 with coordinated PAC invasions from the Persian Gulf to the Baltic Sea. As a part of Operation Canute, Minsk, a key EU command center in Northern Europe, was first targeted by PAC forces in November of 2139 led by General Arkadi Petrov and three PAC battalions would be used in the operation. The EU's Krieg Panzer 2nd Regiment would defend the city by utilizing a series of trenches and the urban environment to their favor. The Battle of Minsk also premiered the first frontline use of the militarized Titan in combat operations, changing the nature of modern warfare forever. Because of the Titans' unmatched effectiveness as both a transport and assault medium, their destruction became a crucial component of military strategy. At Minsk alone, six full-scale Titans were destroyed within the first week of combat throughout the four-month battle. Despite putting up a fierce resistance, the EU forces were forced to retreat from Minsk when the PAC's elite Central Command Group broke through the EU's southern flank. [14]
By February 2140, the PAC rapidly advanced through Eastern Europe and into the Balkans. The PAC's X and II Command Divisions swept through Serbia and trapped the EU 9th Armored Corps in the city of Belgrade, with the EU's only retreat pathway being blocked by an ice wall. The EU forces, despite being stuck in the city with no way out, were inspired by General Emil Nikoli and would go on to resist the PAC forces for over a month. PAC reinforcements from the Northern Command Group arrived from recently annexed Bulgaria in March. Utilizing a swift, V-shaped formation of T-39 Bogatyr battle walkers, the bolstered PAC forces managed to break through the EU's eastern flank, prompting the 9th Armored Corps to surrender. With Eastern Europe in their control, PAC Forces began advancing on Germany, aiming for the EU's central command in Berlin.[15]
Fall of Europe
PAC troops engaging EU troops in Berlin
On July 10th, 2140, the PAC launched Operation Thunder; with fifteen PAC gunship squadrons being utilized to gain air superiority over Germany, the operation succeeded in establishing air superiority over East Germany. With the loss of air superiority, the EU Expeditionary Force holding the Brandenburger Line capitulated as airdropped regiments from PAC Titans surrounded them. With the road to Berlin clear, PAC forces would launch an all-out assault on the city. After two months of heavy combat within the city, Berlin fell and came under the control of the PAC. The remaining EU forces were forced to retreat into France, preparing for an eventual evacuation into Africa.[16]
By the end of 2140, the EU had lost control of most of continental Europe, but the PAC had yet to take control of the Mediterranean. The PAC would continue to push into France, attempting to break through the EU's Maginot Wall which was a narrow pathway due to the ice wall advancing to the 49th parallel. Reaching Verdun, PAC forces were halted by a small EU company holding a section of the Wall for over a month. Despite being significantly outnumbered, the EU forces at Verdun were able to severely deplete the invading PAC divisions. This effort was due in large part to the EU's ability to infiltrate and destroy PAC Titans before they could distribute troops and supplies to the front lines. Soon, the PAC matched these efforts, inflicting similar damage to their EU Titan counterparts. The battle would last almost a month until PAC Forces broke through the Maginot Wall, slowly continuing to drive the EU back.[17]
By 2142, with Titan supply stations like Port Bavaria falling into the control of the PAC[18]; Cerbere Landing was the last remaining stronghold for the EU in continental Europe. The port itself was utilized as a chief defensive hub for the EU's Northern Mediterranean operations. PAC Commando units utilizing the new IT-33 Active Camouflage sabotaged the city's defense, allowing PAC Forces to land in the main harbor. The resulting battle was fierce and costly for both sides,[19] but ultimately ended in a defeat for the EU, resulting in their withdrawal to the North African coast.
African Theater
After the defeat at Cerbere Landing and the EU army in Europe, the stage was set for the PAC military to force its way into the EU-occupied African mainland. In February 2142, the EU formed The Mediterranean Wall, a line of defenses along the North African coast from Morocco to Egypt. Meanwhile, the PAC was drawing up a series of diversionary attacks codenamed Kupalo, Dazhbog, and Perun; designed to preoccupy and divide the EU forces in preparation for the PAC's comprehensive, multi-pronged assault on the African continent known as "Operation Motherland".[6]
EU troops defending Camp Gibraltar
The first of these deception attacks took place on April 10th, 2142, at Camp Gibraltar. Although of no military significance, the Camp was an important staging point for refugees from the western Mediterranean territories. As PAC forces launched these diversionary tactics across North Africa, it gathered its forces in the Sinai Peninsula in preparation for a full-scale assault on the African Continent.[20]
The primary strategic target of the PAC's initial invasion into Africa was the EU-controlled Suez Canal. If the Suez Canal was lost, the EU's ability to defend the African continent would be compromised and the PAC would face much less resistance in seizing the continent and its resources. On May 1st, four PAC Command Divisions invaded Libya and engaged the EU's 6th Army Group. The attack in Libya left the EU 5th Corps defending Suez without immediate support, and the PAC's Southern Command Group led by General Muunokhoi subsequently invaded Egypt. PAC forces relied on a squadron of Titans to transport assets into battle, the EU also utilized Titans to transfer divisions to help the defenders. While the ground battle occurred, a secondary battle for air dominance occurred in an attempt by both sides to stop the airborne delivery of reinforcements. As the battle in Egypt raged on, the PAC began attacking EU-controlled transport hubs in order to prevent EU reinforcements from reaching the Suez Canal. The most important of these hubs was Tunis Harbor, which was attacked by the PAC's 8th Command Regiment. Despite being outnumbered, the EU 5th Corp continued to hold the Suez Canal against Muunokhoi's army until reinforcements could arrive. With the arrival of the 10th Airborne division, the EU ultimately managed to repel the PAC's attack on the canal and secured their defensive positions in Africa.[21]
The EU victory at Suez effectively halted Operation Motherland, and by the end of 2142 as freezing temperatures, mass migration, and warfare had rendered most of the PAC occupied territories uninhabitable; as the PAC's population began to dwindle, it would change its military strategy to controlling key energy, food, and water supplies. On November 11th, 2142, six PAC Command Divisions attacked the Shuhia Taiba agricultural project with a fleet of Titans, engaging the EU's 2nd Army group. The fighting at Shuhia Taiba would continue for over a year, with fighting rendering half of the capabilities of the project useless by the first month. Both the EU and PAC utilized over twenty Titans between them; by the end of fighting a year later only two remained. While the EU likely emerged the victor in the battle, the land in and surrounding the area would be littered with the carcasses of Titans, giving Shuhia Taiba the nickname of the "Titan Graveyard".[22]
While the battle at Shuhia Taiba was taking place, the PAC attempted to secure the Sidi Power Plant in January of 2143. The power plant was a key energy resource, as it provided more than 40% of the EU's civilian population energy. Both the EU and PAC were depleted of resources due to the fighting at Shuhia Taiba, and as a result, the battle at Sidi remained a ground war; for the first three months, The EU's 3rd and 4th Infantry Divisions established three lines of defense, fighting off wave after wave of incursions by PAC Special Forces. By March, armored and airborne divisions arrived and intensified the conflict. Although both sides had initially relegated the Titans assisting in the battle to non-battle zone duties, this changed once the ground war expanded, and within a month multiple Titans were fielded by both coalitions in combat roles.[11]
The failure of PAC to secure the resources in Northern Africa allowed the EU to go on the offensive at some point between the end of 2143 and early 2145. By 2145, the bulk of EU forces would be fighting mostly around the Mediterranean.[23]
Northern Strike
With fighting mainly occurring around the Mediterranean, the PAC had begun to claim natural resources beneath the ice in Europe. By the time the EU was aware of their presence, PAC forces were deeply entrenched in their positions, and the EU would have to go through them to reclaim the continent.[23]
Port Bavaria, a Titan and key strategic point for PAC supply lines
By Late 2144 to early 2145, the EU's counter-offensive had begun. Fighting would occur in the city of Anzio, Italy during Operation Shingle, where PAC forces would suffer heavy losses from the EU assault alongside the loss of a Titan.[24] The EU would make rapid progress, and by March of 2145, they had reached Germany. Halted by the near impassible frozen Rhine River, EU forces would make a bold attack at the famous Bridge at Remagen on March 7. Despite the entrenched PAC forces and urban setting, the EU would emerge victorious in the battle and go on to establish a foothold on the eastern side of the Rhine.[25] Pushing deeper into Germany, EU forces would go on to assault the PAC controlled Port Bavaria, a Titan supply station that had been captured by the PAC during the European invasion in 2142. Port Bavaria served as the central supply station for PAC Titans patrolling the European continent, and the EU's recapture of the port crippled PAC supply lines in Europe. [18]
By late summer of 2145, the EU had pushed the PAC entirely out of western Europe, with the city of Leipzig, Germany acting as the PAC's last stronghold in Europe. As the arctic winter approached, Central European High Command ordered a final assault on the city before the harsh weather could take hold. EU units would infiltrate the city by nightfall during the Liberation of Leipzig.[26]
Other Engagements
The Cold War was not limited to Europe and Africa, and EU forces would engage PAC elements in various other areas of the globe during the conflict.
Two known battles took place in the Middle East. The EU would assault the region Karkand to destroy a hidden PAC Titan manufacturing facility there[27]. PAC oil reserve and a nearby harbor at Highway Tampa would also see combat as the EU attempted to secure its resources for itself.[28]
In the Pacific, the EU established a secret Titan repair and re-armament base on Wake Island in 2144, with the intent of dividing PAC supply lines. The facility was discovered by PAC satellites and PAC task force was dispatched to Wake to destroy the facility.[29]An engagement on the Hawaiian island of Molokai would also take place in 2145.[30]
By 2147, the war was still ongoing, with EU and PAC forces fighting over an abandoned diamond mine that could be used to power Titan power cores.[31] Operation Blue Pearl was an EU assault on a PAC-controlled refugee camp in a critical location[32].
References
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