[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]Operation Tropic Gull: A US Invasion of Cuba in 1980[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]by M16A1994[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]In all of the cases, the United States granted political asylum to the Cuban deserters. In March, Castro made a national speech, hinting at the possibility of the relaxing of rules regarding mass emigration. The Cuban public seemed to regard the hollow promise with a grain of salt. In April, ten thousand Cuban citizens stormed the grounds of the Peruvian embassy, at which point they received immediate asylum from the South American government. President Jimmy Carter was keen to seize the political opportunity. To reinforce the concept of democracy, the United States agreed to receive nearly four thousand defecting Cubans, should they somehow manage to reach American soil. Costa Rica also agreed to serve as a staging area for refugees seeking asylum. Fidel Castro agreed to allow any citizens who wished to leave a chance to do so, as long as the method of exodus was taken through Mariel Harbor. But unlike in our timeline of history, the situation took a turn for the worse. The result was the bloodiest war America fought since the jungles of Vietnam. This is the frightening documentation of the Third World War, and its effects felt around the world.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]6 April 1980 – 10,856 Cuban citizens seek political asylum in Peruvian embassy located in Havana, bashing down the gates and protesting in the courtyard. All are promptly granted asylum. Andean Pact ministers ask other nations to help in accepting these refugees.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]11 April 1980 – President Jimmy Carter announces that the United States of America will accept 3,500 refugees in accordance with the Refugee Act. The American intentions add to the political pressure that has already begun to corner Fidel Castro and his regime.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]13 April 1980 – Government officials from Costa Rica indicate that the city of San Jose will accept any refugees traveling from communist Cuba. [/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]16 April 1980 - Fidel Castro agrees to allow limited flights to leave from Jose Marti International Airport, using several CV-2 Caribou aircraft modified for transport. The flights are closely monitored by the Cuban Air Force, and are escorted more than once by communist MiG-21 Fishbed aircraft until leaving regime airspace. The first two flights land successfully in Miami during the afternoon, with its passengers undergoing immediate processing.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]17 April 1980 – Flights continue to leave out of Jose Marti International Airport at a trickling rate. Fidel Castro has authorized the travel of only a few aircraft per day, and each flight cannot hold many passengers. Refugees continue to stay nearby the Peruvian Embassy, patiently waiting for their turn to be bussed to the airport. Most of the refugees seek to travel to the United States of America, and wish to leave communist Cuba for good. Among those who are waiting at the embassy are farmers, former plantation owners, and several political opponents of Castro. The Seguiridad del Estado, also known as the Cuban Secret Police is ordered to keep a close watch on those around or near the embassy, to prevent riots and unrest. Thankfully, no problems occur. Yet.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]18 April 1980 – In a morning broadcast on Radio Havana, Fidel Castro announces the cancellation of all outbound and inbound flights. The official excuse is: “...for the safety of our people, further flights between the United States of America, Cuba, and Costa Rica have been canceled. The integrity of the used aircraft has not been verified, and shall not be allowed within state borders until it is.” The announcement is largely seen in the West as a deliberate delay, managing to stop the exodus of state citizens to the US and Costa Rica until Mariel Harbor opens.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]19 April 1980 – To bolster morale, Fidel Castro organizes a massive military parade in Havana. The route for the military march is purposefully planned to cross in front of the crowds at the Peruvian embassy. Tensions amidst the refugees waiting to leave increases slightly.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]20 April 1980 – Castro announces the intention to open Mariel Harbor. While the West seems partially satisfied with the regime, the communist leader has other plans. Several political opponents, criminal felons, and clinically insane refugees are released from government institutions, and are allowed to leave with other refugees. In one swipe, Castro eliminates several staunch opponents and reduces the crime rate in his nation.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]21 April 1980 – Fishing boats Dos Hermanos and Blanche III arrive in Key West with 48 refugees. A Cuban American leader organizes a homemade flotilla of fishing trawlers in Miami with the intention to pick up refugees from Mariel Harbor.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]23 April 1980 – More refugees arrive in Key West. The US Coast Guard reacts on a case by case basis, allowing nearly all trawlers to pass. As a precaution, the USCG requests help from the US Navy in assisting with surveillance operations. [/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]24 April 1980 – The influx of refugees continues. The USCG request for further support is noted, although reinforcements to help in aid processing are scheduled to arrive sometime later. Until then, the Coast Guard will have to stay satisfied with a handful of cutter ships. [/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]Sunday, 25 April 1980 (POD DAY) [/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:21 AM – USCG cutter Acushnet is approached by three Cuban gunboats, who refuse to communicate over open airwaves. The three aggressors are armed with 20mm cannons, M2 machine guns, and Soviet built mortar systems. In an apparent attempt to force the Acushnet into Cuban waters, the trio of approaching ships begin to correlate and alter their paths, aiming to herd the USCG ship with malicious intent. The gunboats close into within sixty feet of the cutter, severely limiting any chance of escape, while turning their searchlights on the bridge. With night adaptation lost, the captain of the Acushnet sees no other option but to radio for help. The Seventh District calls for immediate help from the US Navy. [/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:22 AM – NAS Jacksonville receives orders to scramble two A-6 Intruder aircraft.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:26 AM – Two A-6 Intruder aircraft claw into the sky above Florida, immediately beginning to close the distance between the gunboat and the cutter. They are both armed with two AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles, two AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and pilots hailing from the Vietnam War. Both aircraft have strict orders not to engage the gunboats. The three gunboats are identified as the Pina, the Playa, and the Maria.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:27 AM – One gunboat sails within thirty feet of the cutter. The ship is so close that the USCG personnel can see the Cuban soldiers holding their assault rifles at the ready. The captain of the closest gunboat, Joaquin Marisol, takes up the microphone and states his intentions. The Coast Guard cutter must prepare to be boarded, as the Cuban Navy is searching for a murderer. The apparent felon left Cuban waters with a twenty foot boat, and was headed for the US after a killing spree in Havana.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:28 AM – The captain of the Acushnet refuses boarding, and orders his men to take up arms from the armory. In a desperate radio call, he learns that the fighter jets are only about four minutes out.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:29 AM – Upon the slippery deck of the closest gunboat, a Cuban soldier slips and falls. His AK-47 expels three rounds into the night. Two more soldiers immediately unleash assault rifle rounds into the USCG cutter upon hearing the gunshot and seeing their comrade fall. Their firing is quickly returned with the clatter of an M-60 and several M-16 assault rifles. [/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:30 AM – The Pina opens fire with her 20mm gun, aiming directly for the bridge of the USCG cutter. Her indiscriminate shelling is soon followed by the booming thud of .50 caliber machine guns and the whistle of a mortar. The bridge of the Acushnet is shredded to pieces, with five US personnel immediately killed. The captain quickly emits a distress signal to all ships in the area before consulting NAS Jacksonville for further orders. He is told to flee the area immediately. [/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:32 AM – US Navy A-6 Intruders easily spot the stranded Acushnet and her three captors, but are not cleared to engage until the situation can be clarified.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:33 AM – Two Cuban soldiers are killed in the exchange of small arms fire. The Maria and the Playa open fire in response. A large fire is reported on the Acushnet.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:34 AM – The A-6 Intruders are cleared to engage all three gunboats, and begin circling around for a better weapons release point. Cloaked by darkness, the attack jets are oblivious to the .50 caliber machine guns aiming blindly for them. The Cubans can only fire into the black and hope to hit one of the rumbling beasts that roar above them.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:35 AM – The lead A-6 Intruder releases one AGM-84 Harpoon missile, which quickly finds its target. The anti-ship missile slams into the hull of the Maria at over 500mph, detonating upon contact and twisting the gunboat into a floating heap of contorted metal. Twelve Cuban soldiers are immediately killed in the blast, and several more receive horrible burns as they jump into the fuel laden water. Heavy fire from the Pina and the Playa continue to slam the Acushnet.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:36 AM – Two AGM-84 Harpoon missiles find their target, quickly rendering the Pina useless. Twenty-two perish as her insides are gutted by high explosive warheads. Another three die as secondary munitions aboard the ship explode. USCG cutter the Acushnet begins to abandon ship while still under heavy fire from the Playa.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:37 AM – Two MiG-21 fighter jets scramble into the sky above Havana, quickly vectoring towards the incident.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:38 AM – Four F-4 Phantom II fighter jets scramble from NAS Key West, and are tasked with providing air cover while rescue operations are considered. The Playa is hit by a AGM-84 Harpoon missile, and is promptly sunk.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]4:39 AM – President Carter is awoken from a deep sleep. He is quietly informed that three Cuban ships were sunk in international waters, and that one USCG cutter was rendered useless.[/FONT]
[FONT=Simplified Arabic, serif]And that's all I have so far. Feedback would be great, especially regarding the plausibility of this whole scenario.[/FONT]
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