[center][b][u]The Republic of Brazil[/u][/b]
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Flag_of_Brazil.svg[/img][/center]

[b][u]2 January 1950[/u][/b]

[b]Eurico Dutra[/b]
It was already the evening by the time Eurico got to writing the letters he had been intending to write. He would’ve never thought the first of the year would’ve been so busy. He started with what he deemed to be the most important of the letters to write, naturally.

[i]To President Truman of the United States or Whom it May Concern,

It is a new decade. A whole fifty years has passed since the beginning of the century. If you would follow me through the upcoming anecdote, there is an importance to what I say.
When the First World War ended, a large portion of the world entered an economic boom. That boom went bust ten years later, and ten years following such the world saw the beginning of the Second World War. It has been five years since then, and it has been a very prosperous five years for Brazil, as I hope it has been in the United States. In fact, all of my top advisors tell me that this trend in Brazil’s economy should continue for at least five years.
But I ask you, what good is ten years of growth, if it is followed by ten years of stagnation?
And I have thought about this myself, Mr. Truman. And I have tried to figure out what pulled the mighty United States out of such a grand economic depression, when one day I spoke to one of my advisors and friends about it. He told me it was the war. He said it was WWII that brought the United States and Western Europe out of such a grand depression.
So I thought some more. If in five years time the world has another such terrifying depression, that would be bad enough. But if then, in fifteen years time from now, after a depression we enter into a new World War? That is something that must not be let to happen. And so I thought to myself, if Brazil could do what the United States did to pull itself out of depression when Brazil is already economically powerful, could a depression be prevented? Perhaps not on our own. But perhaps, if Brazil did it, succeeded, and then other countries followed suit, we could not only prevent a horrifying war but spread the principles of capitalism and democracy across the globe.
So I had to think about what the United States did besides prepare for war. And it occurred to me. Your great nation focused patriotic feelings into a common purpose and rapidly industrialized your economy.
But now, Mr. Truman, to the point of the matter. In hopes to realize the goal above (preventing economic stagnation and another horrifying war), I ask for the assistance of the United States. I, in Brazil will work on creating the Patriotism needed for a common purpose, if the United States could aid Brazil in the industrialization process.
I understand such a plan would be a massive investment for the United States. Brazil would need technology, and scientists, and engineers, and money couldn’t possibly hurt. But I feel such a passion that the success of this could help bring lasting democracy to a majority of South America, if not the entirety of the Americas together. I believe it could then serve as a model to countries in Asia, who are more directly under the threat of communism. Eventually, the whole world could be shown the power of industrial capitalism.

With Highest Hopes,

Eurico Dutra[/i]

Eurico handed it to his secretary who was to get it delivered to President of the United States immediately. As the young messenger moved to the door Eurico shouted out to him, “Faster than that, my boy! You’re life depends on this message!” Then, smiling, he thought to himself, [i]Actually, I suppose it very well COULD mean his life. If another war gets started the size of the last one… And Brazil was barely involved in the last one. For the next one Brazil would be a much more powerful nation in the world, I’d hope. But should I hope that…?[/i]
Eurico shook the thought from his head and sat back down to write. His remaining letters, however, were not for world leaders like his letter for President Truman. Rather, they were for scientists and engineers. He wrote to them in the United States, in West Germany, in the United Kingdom, in Norway and some even in Canada. Yesterday, it had been decided that the National Brazilian Academy of Science and Technology would be opened in the capital of Rio de Janeiro within eight months. It was to be a modern scientific university for the bright minds of Brazil to attend. He was offering the scientists and engineers positions as professors and jobs working for the Brazilian government in general.

[b][u]3 January 1950[/u][/b]

[b]Harold Arelo[/b]
Harold really shouldn’t have been captain. He was only 27, after all. A nobody back in the Big War. But that had ended and apparently his track record had afforded him to be captain of a ship. But a ship headed to a wasteland, Harold thought to himself.
The young captain was on a mission given to him by the president to go scout out a location for a Research and/or Strategic Base in Antarctica of all places. But he was happy to be doing a mission that seemed very hush hush. He was only given command of a small ship, with a very minimal crew of around thirty or forty people. He was also told to not go too fast so as not to attract attention, so it would be a few days before they got there, despite having left the night of the first of the year.
Admittedly, Harold didn’t entirely know what he was looking for. He supposed an area that could be accessed from the water directly and preferably one with as little ice as possible. However, from what he knew, that was probably going to be a challenge. It was while he was thinking about this all again that night when he heard a knock on his cabin. “Come in,” he said, not sure of whom it would be at this time.
Antonio Fonseca came in. He was Harold’s right hand man, so to see him not at the help was surprising. “The pilot seemed to be doing a good job of headed to where we need to be. A good speed, too, for what you’ve told us,” Antonio explained, reading Harold’s mind. “May I ask you a question, sir?”
“Antonio, these are my quarters. We’re friends. Say what you will here,” Harold smiled at his long term friend. Harold at times felt it should’ve been Antonio who became the captain, but he was two years younger than Harold so it was practically impossible.
“What on God’s green earth are we going to Antarctica for?”
“I wish I knew,” Harold conceded to his friend.
“What all do you know, then?”
“I know we’re supposed to be looking for a good spot for a base,” he started, “That we’re going at a slow pace so as not to arouse suspicion. It’s a small crew, so fewer people need to know that this mission even exists, but it’s a very young crew. I do believe our oldest here is 31 years of age. I know it was a mission that came straight from the top, probably the President himself, but they wouldn't tell me. And in my gut I know something strange is going on.”
“It’s not like Antarctica holds a strategic purpose, does it?”
“Not that I can think of. And we aren’t going there for more space. I literally have no damn idea why we’re headed off to this frozen wasteland.

[b][u]4 January 1950[/u][/b]

[b]Eurico Dutra[/b]
After he heard the rumours that morning, Eurico had to make haste. Even if it was overplayed, there was bound to be some truth behind it. Soviets in Cuba of all places… And with Nukes!
He had first heard it from his chauffer, but then three of his advisors met him as he was going to his office. They all told rather similar stories, all slight parodies of each other. One told him that assassinations were taking place en masse in Havana and across Cuba. Another told him it was just a minor revolt. But the third would be the best bargaining chip, even if it were a bit far fetched. The third told him that the Soviets were attempting a Communist coup in Cuba and had already moved nuclear warheads there to secure their position.
In truth, Eurico figured it couldn’t be much bigger than a minor revolt and that it would get taken down quickly if it already hadn’t, but news doesn’t travel all that fast in Latin America. Not true news. Gossip seems to have it’s ways of going around though. He wondered if that was universal.
As he walked into the office, he pulled his clerk in with him. It was the same one that had sent off the first letter to the Americans.
Eurico furiously wrote upon his paper.

[i]To President Truman,

I write this in extreme haste. It is to be as a supplement to my last letter. I do not know if you have read or received it yet, but I pray to God that he lets you see this with it or not soon after.
I have heard rumors from sources I trust that it is likely that the Soviets are attempting a coup in Cuba and have moved nuclear warheads into the country to secure their position.
As the supplement to my last letter, I then implore you to make haste with any and all aide you can supply Brazil, for the sake of not spreading Communism to the Americas. Was it not one of your nation’s first presidents who said that Europe had no right to interfere in the Americas? It was your President Monroe, in fact who made that happen. Protect your weak, island neighbor from the Soviets and help your growing neighbor to the far south grow stronger.

With Great Haste

Euico Dutra[/i]

Eurico rapidly put the letter in the messengers hands and pushed him out of the door. [i]We shall America's help yet,[/i] he thought to himself, [i]So what if we're stretching the truth a little?[/i]

[b][u]Summary:[/u][/b]
-Brazil Request Aide from the United States
-Brazil Secretly Launces Exploration Mission to Antarctica
-Rumors of Cuban Revolution Reach Brazil