The war on the home front continued. The American command planned for the next stage of the war to be an attack on Mugla. Brutal fighting between Turkish and American forces continued in the fallout covered area.
Although the USS Phitsanulok had been sunk, most of the Turkish navy in the Sea of Istanbul had been defeated. So the US fleet began assisting the ground troops. However, the Ottomans had a sizable army between Istanbul and the city of Mugla.
Also, this close to their capital, the dedicated troops of the Turkish fatherland fought with an astounding ferocity.
The US Airforce continued supporting the ground troops, doing massive damage to Turkish forces, while the fighters protected the American forces from enemy bombardment.
American forces finally captured Mugla after a long siege and months of fighting. The battle continued in the desert around Mugla, with the American robot anihilating Turkish troops.
Although the Ottomans counter-attacked several times, they were not able to beat back American forces. The American command determined that the next target would be the Turkish capital itself.
While fighting their way to the capital, American troops captured some workers who explained that they were Russian citizens who were taken prisoners by the Turks and put to work. American forces allowed them to go to Marsin and get passage back to Russia if they wished. And the Russian leader thanked the US for freeing it's citizens.
American forces continued advancing, although taking some losses. But if wasn't long before they were on the very doorstep of the proud Turkish capital.