The United States and Britain had secretly formed an alliance. To maintain confidentiality, neither side documented the agreement formally. German spies were known for their omnipresence, and since the outbreak of the war, their prowess had been felt by nations across the globe. Thus, to prevent Germany from discovering this alliance, no written records were left behind.
Even so, both nations were determined to honor the verbal agreement, as their fates were now intertwined. A stronger Germany would spell trouble for both, given its likely ambition to consolidate its dominance by suppressing any perceived threats. For the sake of their national interests, they had no choice but to unite against Germany.
The British Foreign Secretary, brimming with satisfaction, quietly departed Washington and returned to Canada to continue preparations for relocating the British government. Meanwhile, the Americans were equally pleased with the alliance, having secured access to a trove of advanced British technologies. These technological gains, particularly in military innovation, would significantly bolster the United States' capabilities.
Moreover, the prospect of defeating Germany promised another reward: control of the Middle Eastern colonies. The region's abundant oil resources would further solidify America's control over this crucial energy source, propelling it closer to global supremacy.
However, defeating the formidable Germany was no small feat. The United States would need to exert its utmost effort, for failure would mean not just the forfeiture of victory but potentially devastating defeat. Such an outcome would spell complete ruin.
Britain, on the other hand, found solace in having America as a powerful ally. Even if the British homeland were to fall, their hopes of ultimately defeating Germany would remain alive. Yet, fate is rarely kind to all. As Britain strained every nerve to secure American support, another of its allies was on the verge of abandoning them.
Far away in the East lay a nation strikingly similar to Britain. Like the British, it was an island nation whose rise to prominence was largely driven by naval power. However, unlike Britain, this nation's ascent had been comparatively recent. Nevertheless, its ambitions were grand, driven by aspirations of conquering the seas and dominating the globe.
This island nation was Britain's key ally in the East, bound to it by a formal treaty. During the First Sino-Japanese War, the nation had gambled everything in an audacious attempt to defeat the decaying Qing Dynasty. Its gamble paid off, and with the immense spoils, it rapidly grew in strength. Recognizing its potential, Britain sought to make this rising power a key player in its strategy to contain Russia. On January 30, 1902, the two nations signed an alliance treaty in London, primarily targeting Russia. This partnership led Britain to further assist the island nation, enabling it to challenge Russia and decisively defeat the Tsarist regime in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904.
By 1905, the two countries renewed their alliance, recognizing the island nation's protectorate over Korea and pledging mutual military aid if either faced attack. The treaty was extended a third time in 1911, meaning that when World War I erupted, Britain and this nation were still allied.
As a result, at the war's outset, the island nation declared war on Germany and seized the opportunity to occupy Germany's Pacific colonies while German forces were withdrawn to other fronts. Though Germany's colonial holdings in the Pacific were few—such as German New Guinea, German Samoa, the Caroline Islands, Micronesia, Palau, and the Mariana Islands—they were geographically expansive. With minimal resistance, the island nation took control of these territories, reveling in what they believed was a significant gain.
However, as the tides of war shifted, the island nation's confidence began to waver. The Germans proved ferocious on the European battlefield, pushing the Allies to the brink of collapse and nearing outright victory. The territories seized from Germany now became a liability, for it was evident that a victorious Germany would not tolerate their loss.
Though the island nation fancied itself a burgeoning military power, its forces paled in comparison to Germany's, which boasted the world's strongest navy and army. The only advantage the island nation had was its geographical distance, being on the opposite side of the globe.
Despite this, fears mounted over Germany's potential retaliation after securing victory in Europe. Could they rely on luck, as they had during the Russo-Japanese War, to pull off another miraculous triumph?
Internally, the island nation was deeply divided. One faction insisted on retaining the seized territories, citing the difficulty of relinquishing such a valuable prize, particularly for a resource-starved country plagued by natural disasters. These Pacific islands, while largely jungles, offered considerable land for settlement and development. The nation had even begun relocating its citizens and exploiting these new territories, making it nearly unthinkable to surrender them.
The opposing faction argued that Germany's might was insurmountable. By occupying German colonies, the nation had invited disaster upon itself. They advocated returning the territories to Germany to mend relations and avoid inevitable retribution.
Neither side could convince the other, leading to fierce debates that dragged on as time slipped away. When France and Italy surrendered and signed peace treaties with Germany, incurring heavy losses, only Britain remained in the fight. It was only then that the island nation realized the gravity of the situation—Germany's victory was almost certain, and time was running out.