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BOTA Prologue I - Odin's Shield

INTRODUCTION TO THE CAMPAIGN:
The Battle of the Atlantic campaign unfolds in a dark reimagining of 1984, where Cold War tensions erupt into full-scale war. After seizing power in the Kremlin, Marshal Nikolai Ogarkov launches a lightning invasion of Finland, Sweden, and Norway. Soviet forces pour across Scandinavia and surge into the Norwegian Sea, threatening to sever NATO’s transatlantic lifeline and dominate the GIUK Gap. In response, the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and allied NATO naval forces mobilize for a desperate stand to preserve control of the seas.

The Campaign begins with a three-part prologue, before entering the main Battle of the Atlantic Campaign.

From the fog-choked Baltic to the windswept North Atlantic, players will command Task Forces through a series of missions: from the defense of Gotland and interdiction of Soviet amphibious landings, to high-stakes carrier battles in the mid-Atlantic and convoy escorts across submarine-infested waters, to full-scale amphibious warfare. In this struggle for maritime supremacy, every decision counts—and the future of Europe hangs in the balance.

A 25+ mission linear campaign, The Battle of the Atlantic, is inspired by famous naval battles of WWI and WWII. This is my first attempt at developing missions and a campaign. Please let me know in the comments about any bugs or suggestions.

PROLOGUE I - ODIN'S SHIELD:
Since the death of General Secretary Yuri Andropov earlier this year, power in the Kremlin has fractured. In the vacuum, Marshal Nikolai Ogarkov, Chief of the General Staff and architect of Soviet military doctrine, has emerged as the dominant force behind the Politburo’s curtain.
Frustrated by economic stagnation, declining influence in Europe, and perceived NATO encirclement, Ogarkov has seized the reins of the Soviet military and security apparatus. Backed by hardliners in the KGB and Ministry of Defense, he now operates with near-dictatorial authority, overriding civilian moderates.

Ogarkov has long argued that nuclear war is unwinnable—but a conventional first strike might secure a swift strategic victory before NATO can respond.
In secret war games earlier this year, Ogarkov tested a plan to decapitate NATO’s northern flank: seize Finland, Sweden, and Norway, lock NATO out of the Norwegian Sea, and threaten the GIUK Gap. Western reinforcements would be delayed, and NATO cohesion shattered. Soviet naval forces would break into the Atlantic.
The plan was approved by a select faction of the Politburo under the guise of “defensive counterpressure.”

MISSION:
Tensions between NATO and the Soviet Union have escalated, with increased Soviet naval and air activity reported across the Baltic and North Seas. On 04 June 1984, at 02:30 Zulu, NATO activates Task Force LYNX (TF 24.1) in the Kattegat Strait, approximately 25 nautical miles northeast of Skagen, Denmark. The task force includes USS Texas (CGN-39), USS Elliot (DD-967), HMS Nottingham (D91), FGS Lütjens (D185), and HMS Courageous.

USS Texas and USS Elliot were originally enroute to Europe for scheduled NATO exercises, but an urgent shift in posture prompted their diversion. In recent weeks, Soviet air and naval forces have adopted a markedly aggressive stance, probing into contested waters and shadowing NATO vessels across the region. Intelligence suggests that these maneuvers may be part of a broader shift in Soviet doctrine—a more assertive, possibly preemptive strategy shaped by Marshal Nikolai Ogarkov, now believed to be consolidating power within the Kremlin.

Reports of Soviet submarine incursions into Swedish waters, combined with unusual troop concentrations in the Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions, have alarmed Nordic and NATO defense planners. Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway have increased their maritime patrols amid growing concern that the USSR may be preparing for operations beyond intimidation.

The Kattegat Strait is a vital NATO-controlled sea lane, forming a gateway between the Baltic and North Seas. It is also a potential flashpoint. Operating under Operation ODIN’S SHIELD, the task force's mission is to monitor Soviet naval and air movements and, if necessary, interdict to protect Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian maritime interests. The situation is volatile. Diplomatic channels are quiet. Ogarkov's next move is unknown. This may be the final calm before the storm.

***Credit to Stealth17 Gaming for the awesome intro and playthrough videos.