As already announced a few days ago, the dramatic events of the last few weeks are coming to an end. Talks for a ceasefire are now taking place in Belgrade, with both sides throwing in the last reserves to gain a tactical advantage on the negotiating table.

Whatever the result of these bitter diplomatic talks, Europe and the World will never be the same. For the third time during this century, European cities are in ruins and tens of thousands lives have been sacrificed on the altar of ideological conflict.

As a privileged witness of these historical events, I think my last duty is to report the key passages of World War Three and thank all the people who helped us during these extraordinary and dramatic circumstances.

September, 1 2017: “1985: Under an Iron Sky” Announced

 

February, 14 2018: DEFCON 3 and Production Print Started

March, 10 2018: DEFCON 2 – Production Print Completed

April, 07 2018: Official Presentation at Modena Play

 

Continue reading 1985: Under an Iron Sky – This Is The End.

Since this project started, I’ve been planning to publish a gallery of photos taken by 1985: Under an Iron Sky owners.
Well, here it is! In no particular order, all the snapshots I’ve collected and received during these months.

 

The 1985: Under an Iron Sky reprint, codenamed Second Echelon, is available!
Grab your copy and decide the fate of Central Europe.

1985: Under an Iron Sky Details Page
1985: Under an Iron Sky Product Page

 

---

Another chapter in the increasingly creepy saga of KGB Colonel Fabrizio Leonidovich Vianello, brought to you by Grognard Emeritus Thomas Gaul!

---

TIME: 1:30am Moscow time, 14 Sept. 1985
PLACE: Deep, deep, in the bowels of the “Special Branch” of the KGB annex of the Kremlin, Special Interrogations Divisions

The “clack, clack, clack” of the boots of the military goons marching KGB Colonel Fabrizio Vianello to the door of “Special Interrogations Room” sounded to KGB Colonel Vianello like the shots of a firing squad. As he was being “guided” to his perhaps final destination, KGB Colonel Vianello’s mind feverishly worked to come up with a plan, a scheme, a plot, anything to avoid what he fully expected would be his last confrontation with the Soviet Party . Never had “the Survivor” needed the cunning of his personal avatar, “the Weasel” more than now. Surely, this was all a misunderstanding! None were more loyal, more dedicated, more devoted to the glorious Socialist system. Surely, this would be recognized? Surely he was still useful? Surely there were others the “Special Branches” division of the KGB were more interested in then him?

That was it! His genius had done it again! Denunciations! The last refuge and true product of the Glorious Soviet Communist State! Others were at fault! Many others!! His superiors, obviously. His colleagues without a doubt. And, of course, those lower on the totem pole than he anywhere at all in the Soviet system. And, in a pinch, his wife was none too trustworthy. Even his children had recently show an unhealthy and bourgeois interest in jeans, rock music, and fashion of the decadent West. A few decades in the Gulag would help to re-focus their aims.

The two goons frog marching him down the corridor sharply turned a corner and stopped abruptly before a larger than expect steel-encased door. Two other trogloydte-shaped thugs in the uniform of the Special Branches division gazed with beedy, pitiless eyes at the Colonel. For a moment, the four Neanderthals simply glared at the Colonel. Then, slowly, the largest and dimmest looking of the four guards took out his truncheon. Raised it. Stared at the Colonel. Suddenly, rapidly, the club and the arm holding it came crashing down.

And struck the steel-encased door. Like the tolling of a funeral bell, the sound rang throughout the corridor.

“KGB Colonel Fabrizio Vianello, is present, Major Olivares!”

“Send him in” hissed the feminine, surprisingly soft-spoken, sibilant voice of the enfant-terrible of the KGB’s Special Branch, Major Eleonora Olivares. With not a word spoken between them, the four minions opened the door, shoved the Colonel in, and then slammed it shut like the lid of a casket, leaving the Colonel alone with his Doom.

The Colonel blinked in surprise. The room was ordinary, looking more like one of the many briefing rooms throughout the Kremlin than the expected torture chamber. A desk, a chair behind the desk where the Major sat studying some papers, and another chair before the desk. Mounted on a wall behind the desk, somewhat dimly lit, was an enormous map of Germany, Central Europe, Scandinavia, and the rest of the battle area presently being fought over between the Glorious Forces of Socialism and the blood-sucking leeches of the Capitalists of NATO. Military symbols crowded over each other, but seemed to be in their correct place. Clearly the Major was kept well informed of the progress of the operation.

“Sit, Colonel.”

Spoken quietly, like the whisper of poison, the voice of Major Olivares compelled instant obedience. As if he had been shot, the Colonel collapsed into the chair in front of the desk. Major Olivares did not move at first but just stared at the Colonel with the coal black, burning eyes of the fanatic, inspecting her subject like she would a rodent who she had cornered and was contemplating how best to terminate.

The Major, despite her high rank, was young, mid-to-late 20s, no more. In spite of her youth, legends had already grown around her like weeds in a graveyard. Not since Beria had the KGB known such a terror in one person. How she had risen so far, so fast, had been the subject of numerous Party rumors, each one darker, more lurid, and more sinister than the last. Of course, most Party rumors were false, put out by the individual to terrify his opponents and enemies. With Major Olivares, the false rumors were put out to cover up the even more horrific true ones.

The foundation of the rumors began with the appearance of the Major herself. If the room itself was ordinary, the Major was not. Beginning with her “uniform”. Not strickly regulation. In fact, not regulation at all. Her boots, while boots they were, rose much higher up her legs than the manual authorized. Shined to a high gloss midnight black sheen, they had heels at least 4 inches higher than regulation. The uniform itself was as tight as a second skin, showing all her medals in distracting glory. Her hair, black as a starless night, was bound tightly as required but the binding was done by a clasp in the shape of chains. Around her neck, worn on the outside of her uniform (against all dressing standards of the Red Army), was a necklace embossed with the motto, “Pain is the Way to Truth and I am the Guide”. And, with her at all times, including now, was that for which she was most infamous. Her knout.

Continue reading September 14, 1985: All Comrades Are Born Equal

Kev Sharp of Big Board Gaming goes deep into 1985: Under an Iron Sky, facing “Next War” series Game Designer Mitchell Land in the “Forward, Comrades!” campaign game!

Don’t miss this epic struggle between NATO and Warsaw Pact. Ragnarok will be a trivial bar brawl in comparison.

Big Board Gaming “Forward, Comrades!” Campaign