A post, for those just joining us
For those just joining us now, on account of JW's
TURTLEDOVE NOMINATION
, here is a brief summary of events thus far: (but you should still totally go back and read the story anyway, since I do try to write an interesting proper narrative. This latest update is unusually infodump-heavy.)
Our true POD occurs in 1977, but it's minor, and the changes to history it causes are from butterflies. (The POD is
that Billy Beer is commercially successful, but I'm putting that as a spoiler because it's kind of the punchline to a joke.)
In 1979, as a result of butterflies and the chaos of a hostage situation, the taking of the US embassy in Tehran, which IOTL led to the Iranian Hostage Crisis, ends with a massacre of all Americans in the embassy. President Jimmy Carter declares war on Iran.
Richard Marcinko, who you may remember from the terrible video game Rogue Warrior, is essentially the protagonist of the story. Soon after the war is declared, he is dispatched to lead a strike force to capture or kill Ayatollah Khomeini. The operation is beset by the same problems as OTL Operation Eagle Claw, but goes ahead anyway. In the end, the Ayatollah is killed, but at the cost of dozens of American operators.
Now, of course, there's the issue of the Soviet Union having their own invasion of Afghanistan the next country over. To prevent the proximity of American and Soviet forces from having a risk of escalating into a whole new crisis, the Soviet Union agrees to condone America's war in Iran, in exchange for the USA no longer aiding the Mujahideen, and indeed betraying them to the Russians. A young Osama bin Laden is nearly killed in a devastating Soviet raid of a mujahideen camp. The Soviets are currently headed for victory in their war, with the mujahideen on the run.
With the war in Iran looking up and detente at an all-time high, Carter secures re-election in the 1980 presidential election. His victory is a short lived one, however, as in January 1981, he is assassinated by John Hinckley Jr., in an attack that also leaves Jodie Foster paralyzed, and ends with Hinckley's suicide. Walter Mondale assumes the presidency.
Barely a week later, an unknown terrorist organization detonates a bus bomb in East Berlin. Walter Mondale flies to Russia to assuage Soviet fears that the attackers were backed by the USA. Mondale moves forward with what he is led to believe was Jimmy Carter's plan to end the Cold War: a multi-national antiterrorism task force. Which brings us up to speed.
Other characters in the story include:
Montel Williams: yes, that Montel. IOTL, he was a Navy officer until a sick leave caused by a tainted vaccine cut his military career short. ITTL, as a result of butterflies, this never happens, and he takes part in Operation Evening Light (the ITTL version of Eagle Claw). Soon after, his tour of duty comes up, and traumatized by the horror of the Evening Light disaster, he leaves the military to pursue a career as a war correspondent for the young Cable News Network, better known as CNN.
Pat Robertson: famed televangelist and, IOTL, ill-fated presidential candidate. Driven by an apocalyptic vision, who knows what the future holds for him?
Billy Carter: Brother of the late President Carter, and the man behind Billy Beer. Last seen working out a deal with Colonel Qaddafi to import Billy Beer into Libya.
Ronald Reagan: Minor player ITTL; apparent savior of the Republican Party, his presidential hopes are derailed by Carter's unexpectedly strong performance in the '80 election. Last seen planning a California gubernatorial comeback bid.
Tony Mendez: Mastermind behind the Canadian Caper; while he was kept under wraps IOTL, President Carter used him effectively as a propaganda tool ITTL. The contemporary fame of the Canadian Caper (known ITTL as the Argo Escape) led to the Argo script actually being turned into a film, with Mendez himself cast in the lead role as a publicity stunt. While
Argo: a Cosmic Conflagration is mediocre and forgettable, his performance is praised for its unexpected skill, and he picks up an Oscar nod.
