America's Only Export, A Timeline

(Note: No Specific POD here. I have a general idea of what causes this future, but again, no specific POD.)

I drove up, dreading what was coming up. I had sixty thousand dollars worth of America's only export* in the back of my truck, and I was going to sell it to the first radical I ran across. I just needed to get my stuff, but my roommate wouldn't be... happy with it to say the least.

"Why? You know if you get caught it will destroy your family." Crap, he probably saw their reflection in the back somehow.

"What choice do I have? What do I tell my parents when I get home, that I can't get a job because they're either outsourced, or require a degree I have no hope of affording? The only I can get by is through this." I really didn't have time for this, considering these items weren't exactly

"So, you're going to sell guns to Reds and Naps*? I know you were never much of a patriot, but-"

"BUT WHAT?! This country is a relic from a by gone era, holding onto ideals that are outdated, at best. The only reason I don't go take my chances in Europe is because of my sister. You know I can't get sixty thousand dollars any other way."

"... Fine. I guess I can't blame you. Alright, you can take your stuff, and get your ass out of here. Don't come back, you know I can't afford the publicity."

"Thank you." I quickly grabbed my stuff, which was sparse even for American standards, because of my sister's costly medications. I started driving to the border, hoping that I wouldn't get pulled over by a cop wanting a bribe, or a gang looking for a ride.



1. Okay, obviously not literal, however the Soviet's #1 export was weapons from what I understand, so this is similar here. Reason why it gets only is because... well, the US ain't doing so well export wise.

2. Okay, that stands for National Populists, and they're basically this timeline's Fascists. They do have some key differences, but it's to spoiler filled to discuss them right now.
 
The Highway to Hell, Part 1

(Seeing as no one commented, I'll continue the story in the hopes of attention being drawn to it.)

"So, they'll purchase my goods?" I asked this, wondering how he would deal with it in the long run.

"Yes, however you'll need to get to Chicago, and you know that's virtually impossible considering all the crap on the way. But I can assure you the Naps won't buy it, because the French have their supply needs covered. The Reds, on the other hand..."

"Have to deal with a lack of Pacific Shipping, and the Union can't spare the resources. I'm not clueless you know."

"Good. Alright, I can fuel you, but remember, I expect my cut. Don't make me-"

"Hunt me down, and cut my balls off before blowing my brains out, I know. I'll give you the cut. But what if I can't find you?"

"Don't worry, I'll find you. Just get there, and sell it, so we can both get through the year." At that, he gave me the fuel, and I was on my way.

The trip would be long, and quite twisting too. The road was hardly there at this point, being nothing but a collection of gravel or dirt typically. But, fortunately, the truck was made to deal with off road conditions. The question would be whether I could get far enough for that to matter. The guns would be fine, being wrapped so much. Question would be finding the Reds, who had to be rather hidden considering the government's feelings towards them ever since the Union arose.
 
I'd like to see what else their is to be added before commenting. Perhaps some serious backstory is required, as so to explain just how the particular situation has arisen.
 
Highway to Hell Part 2: Reflections

While driving to Chicago, I thought about my childhood, back in the late 60s. Then, the US was still somewhat functional, however, its collapse to the point where it is now was possible to see, in hindsight. Could it have been prevented? I mused over history in mind, while maintaining just enough focus on the road to continue driving.

By the 1968, the US was in deep decline. It never really pulled out of the Great Depression, just holding together despite a failed revolution in the 40s, and a failed military coup in the 50s. The former was crushed by the military, the latter was stopped a nation wide labor strike. The government had effectively lost control over its military until a massive purge of military staff. This was partially responsible for the utter failure of the US military in the Philippines, which ended up joining the Comintern despite US military intervention to oppose it in the early 60s.

I know all of this because my mother kept talking about it, having nothing else to do. She couldn't get work, as she had nothing to offer except her body for cash of late, with the loss of her left arm to infection. The Anti-Communist League locked out us out with tariffs, and the Comintern we locked ourselves from, although the latter had become meaningless with the black market of course.

In this time period however, despite all of this, the US maybe could've recovered. However, it would've required joining one of the alliances dominating the world, or design the economy to be self sufficient, neither of which occurred. The US never joined the Anti-Communist League because of opposition by the poor and intellectuals, who could make a surprisingly powerful combination as shown by the strike in the 60s. The Comintern, on the other hand, wasn't joined because of the military and conservative elements preventing it. This created a rather brutal equilibrium, with neither group ever gaining enough power to overwhelm the other enough to get policy done.

The economy being self sufficient wouldn't have been impossible either, considering the US possessed all the resources in needed for operation. However, it would've required things like infrastructure spending and nationalization of certain enterprises, which was always called either, "Communist," or ,"National Populist," and banned from occurring. Hence, that was cut out too.

But then, what do I know? I'm just another person trying to eek out an existence in a country that is irrelevant in modern politics.
 
So this this is a TL where the great depression goes horribly, horribly wrong :D This sounds very promising. If it occurs at all in this TL, what happens in WWII?
 
Okay, I've got to reveal something now. World War 2? Didn't happen. There were a series of separate conflicts, but none of these were anywhere near the scale of WW2 in OTL. I can't reveal much more than that, but I'm revealing that because it's one of the PODs that made it where the US didn't recover from the Great Depression really.
 
Okay, I've got to reveal something now. World War 2? Didn't happen. There were a series of separate conflicts, but none of these were anywhere near the scale of WW2 in OTL. I can't reveal much more than that, but I'm revealing that because it's one of the PODs that made it where the US didn't recover from the Great Depression really.
Intriguing. This TL is definitely going somewhere :cool:
 
Highway to Hell Part 3: Arrival

I finally arrived in Chicago, and drove to the former industrial sector. I say former because US industry collapsed from lack of demand for the most part in the 1970s, although this was mostly a completing of the process that started in the 1930s with the Great Depression. So, I drove into slums that would probably be a good candidate to be Hell. When I approached a row of burnt out factories, a girl suddenly leaped out, wielding a shotgun, and no older than sixteen.

"Pull into the garage, we'll make the deal there. We can pay you 60,000, but you better deliver." I drove into a decaying garage near the factory, wondering how she knew I carried guns, or the monetary amount I wanted for them.

The doors slammed shut behind me, and I heard many voices. Suddenly, one of the windows was smashed, and I was dragged out. Good thing the guns need to be assembled...
 
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An American Dream: Part 1

"You up?" I looked, groggy eyed, into a shotgun barrel pointed at my face by the girl who brought me here.

"Yeah, you do-"

"Know that we need you to assemble the guns? Of course. This is a necessary precaution, considering the person who sent you here. One Mr. White?"

"Yes... how do you know?"

"Because he sends a lot of guys like you over. You don't know this, but he's really a Nap, and more importantly, won't pay you shit. Whatever you expect of him, he won't be giving it."

"But he show-"

"That he had medication or something? A Co-Opt near us had a girl promised the same thing. We found her raped and with a bullet through the skull the following week. He won't give you shit, no matter what sort of bargaining power you think you have."

"I..."

"What, thought you could handle him? He's more than just some gangster, he wants to be the number one fucker for the Naps here, and we're the only thing stopping him. He tried to put a tracer on your guns, but you destroyed it before you got here. That's fortunate, because otherwise, we would've had to kill you, and abandon the guns."

"Can I get up now?" She had kept the shotgun in my face.

"First, answer a question. What did you bring? We know there are some assault rifles in there, and some handguns, but you clearly have something special to justify 60 grand, which I guessed from the size of your truck. What?"

"Alright, I brought three anti-tank launchers, the re-usable type. I have 9 rounds total for them, and I'm sure you can secure more if needed. The launchers can destroy the armor you'll have to fight soon, and those barricades. Besides that, I brought an anti-air missile launcher, with 3 rounds. Yes, the special type that can shoot down jets."

"Alright, yeah, get up. Assemble them, and if done properly, we'll pay you, however you'll need to stick around if you want your medication. What does your sister need?"

"The expensive shit, that's blue."

"Perfect, we got some already. Do something after this for us, and we'll send you back with a bottle of it." I was sent to a back room, and started my work on the guns, hoping things would work out.
 
Sorry, have been gone for awhile.

But to answer your country, sort of, but keep in mind National Populists actually have differences to Fascists that give them long term economic viability.
 
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