The Last War: Chapter 6

"I am not certain this is legal, Senor Presidente."

President Francisco Almacen looked up at his subordinate, General Chavo Oso. The dictator's fists slowly clenched as he worked to subdue his rage.

"I am not concerned with legality, Oso! It is my will, and it shall be done as I have commanded!"

"Yes, Presidente," the general bowed in supplication to his commander in chief.

Francisco Almacen had been born in Cuba just before the outbreak of the Cuban-American War, which had been called the American War in Cuba and the Cuban War in America. It was all a matter of perspective, as both sides believed the other to have started the conflict. Cuba had lost and so Almacen had grown up in an environment of bitter hatred towards America.

Moving to Mexico in his later years, Almacen began to gather followers who believed that Fascism was the only way Mexico could become as strong as it's northern neighbor, and no longer be dependent on the Americans. When he believed the time was ripe, Almacen led a bloody revolution and struck towards Mexico City with his small but fanatic legion of followers. He was defeated at first, but made the Mexicans pay dearly.

Brooding and biding his time to lick his wounds Almacen slowly gathered more forces, not just from Mexico, but from Central America and the surrounding Gulf islands. With promises of land, money, and power to all of his followers, his fascist regime slowly grew. Learning from his previous mistakes he attacked the legal government again, this time ready. The legal Mexican government had been strengthening it's own forces, and a long, drawn-out revolution began.

The morale of the fascist rebels never flagged, and when it began to droop even slightly Almacen reminded them of the bountiful rewards that they would earn when it was over. The Mexicans, however, were growing tired of war, and soon regiments and regiments of legal Mexicans crossed over to the rebel side. The few remaining defenders surrendered after the brutal siege of Mexico City.

Almacen had declared himself president (though in fact he was little better than a dictator supported by his goons and thugs) and began to try to negotiate with his northen neighbors. America refused to recognize Almacen's regime, but the Canadians began to speak quite a lot with his ambassadors. Canada began to take a few lessons in semi-fascism from Mexico, and began strengthening it's army, as it was already having some troubles with a restless Quebec. The two weak nations were now becoming stronger and more militant, and growing very close together.

Almacen had already sucked his homeland Cuba into the Mexican Empire. With Cuba as a staging ground he had begun sending troops to some of the Greater and Lesser Antilles islands. His troops had begun to enter Guatemala and Belize. So far it had all been controversial, but not illegal. Now Almacen had ordered Oso to commit his forces to an overt attack on Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Neither one would stand up to Mexican attacks for very long, but it was very possible that the two small nations would receive aid from other countries, including America.

The dictator did not care. He would take what he deserved, and let anyone try to stop him. He, too, would soon have allies.