Chapter 33: Victory and Aftermath – 1945
The war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945. V‑E Day was celebrated in Koningstad with parades and church bells. But Adrian did not celebrate. He knew that the Pacific war would continue, and he knew that the atomic bomb was coming.
In July, he traveled to Potsdam for the Allied conference. He was not a participant, but he had been invited as an observer. He met with President Truman, Prime Minister Churchill (and later Attlee), and General Secretary Stalin.
Truman was a blunt man from Missouri. "Your Majesty, I have heard good things about your kingdom. You stayed neutral, but you helped the Allies. That took courage."
Adrian bowed slightly. "We did what was right, Mr. President. Not what was easy."
Stalin, chain‑smoking his pipe, eyed Adrian with suspicion. "Your kingdom is small, but it is rich. After the war, the world will be divided. You will have to choose a side."
Adrian met his gaze. "Zeelandia chooses its own side, General Secretary. We are neutral. We will remain neutral."
Stalin laughed. "Neutrality is a luxury for the powerful. You are not powerful."
"We are powerful enough to defend ourselves," Adrian replied. "And we have friends on both sides."
The conference ended without resolution. Adrian returned to Koningstad, convinced that the Cold War had already begun.
On August 6, the atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima. Three days later, another fell on Nagasaki. The war was over.
Adrian watched the newsreels in the palace cinema. The images of the mushroom clouds filled the screen. Bergman sat beside him, silent.
"We must build our own nuclear program," Adrian said. "Not for weapons—for energy. For medicine. For the future."
Bergman nodded. "It will be expensive."
"The Future Trust can afford it. And the world will need an example of peaceful atomic energy. We will provide it."
Project Atlas was officially launched in September 1945. The goal: to build the first commercial nuclear reactor in the Indian Ocean.
---