Juan Carlos II on the day that he became king was arguably one of the most powerful dictators in Europe, and arguably could have been *again* if he had accepted the coup. Instead, he gets to tell people "Why don't you just shut up".
The consequences of an errant shell
- Thread starter johnboy
- Start date
26 March 2010, Washington DC, United States of America
The tone of the documents were remarkable in and of themselves, reflecting the final years of the administration of John Bricker, who had graduated to the Presidency in 1953 upon the death of Taft in office during his second term. Larry Bond was planning the writing of a techno-thriller set in 1958, where the China incident provoked a Third World War between the United States and China on one hand and Russia on the other. Of course, things had never approached that in real life, but the tension had certainly been in the air.
What the declassified papers had clearly shown was that in the closing year of the Bricker administration, there were real fears that Russia had already obtained the use of the first ICBM's(as indeed they were to do in 1957), whilst the US was at least 12 months further behind on a nuclear missile, perhaps as much as two years on an ICBM. With von Braun having propelled Russia's rocket program, it was seen that the US in severe danger by some, even though the benign state of the political relationship did much to rebut such thoughts.
This had produced a variety of possible scenarios, some quite outlandish. The one that interested him the most was Operation Badger, a plan for a full on conventional war against the Russian Empire in conjunction with China and Japan. Whilst most of the military force would be directed to the Pacific, use was to be made of forward air bases in Greece to threaten South Russia with nuclear B-47 and B-52 bombers if she tried to use nuclear rockets to attack the US. The US Navy Atlantic fleet was to proceed into the North Sea and Barents Sea to attack the Baltics and North Russia in what he personally thought would be a very uncertain operation.
In the Pacific, using Japan as a staging point, Korea was to be invaded at Pusan and troops landed at Quingdao in support of Chinese forces. It certainly had the epic scope Larry Bond was after, with both countries at the time possessing large navy's and air forces, spearheaded by the F-86, 100 and 101, as well as the B-47 and B-52. Essex and Valley Forge Class carriers in abundance, as well as all five of the Iowa Class battleships plus the Montana. The Russians would have an abundance of submarines, the exceptionally fast Moskva Class battlecruisers, the two big Roissya Class battleships and the large Gangut Class carriers, as well as aircraft such as the MIg-15, the Su-16 and the huge Tu-4 bombers. However, their large armour, in particular their armoured formations would be the hardest nut to crack.
All in all, Bond thought it would make a fantastic novel and from the tone of concern in the 1956 Presidential papers, it was not completely outrageous fiction.
The tone of the documents were remarkable in and of themselves, reflecting the final years of the administration of John Bricker, who had graduated to the Presidency in 1953 upon the death of Taft in office during his second term. Larry Bond was planning the writing of a techno-thriller set in 1958, where the China incident provoked a Third World War between the United States and China on one hand and Russia on the other. Of course, things had never approached that in real life, but the tension had certainly been in the air.
What the declassified papers had clearly shown was that in the closing year of the Bricker administration, there were real fears that Russia had already obtained the use of the first ICBM's(as indeed they were to do in 1957), whilst the US was at least 12 months further behind on a nuclear missile, perhaps as much as two years on an ICBM. With von Braun having propelled Russia's rocket program, it was seen that the US in severe danger by some, even though the benign state of the political relationship did much to rebut such thoughts.
This had produced a variety of possible scenarios, some quite outlandish. The one that interested him the most was Operation Badger, a plan for a full on conventional war against the Russian Empire in conjunction with China and Japan. Whilst most of the military force would be directed to the Pacific, use was to be made of forward air bases in Greece to threaten South Russia with nuclear B-47 and B-52 bombers if she tried to use nuclear rockets to attack the US. The US Navy Atlantic fleet was to proceed into the North Sea and Barents Sea to attack the Baltics and North Russia in what he personally thought would be a very uncertain operation.
In the Pacific, using Japan as a staging point, Korea was to be invaded at Pusan and troops landed at Quingdao in support of Chinese forces. It certainly had the epic scope Larry Bond was after, with both countries at the time possessing large navy's and air forces, spearheaded by the F-86, 100 and 101, as well as the B-47 and B-52. Essex and Valley Forge Class carriers in abundance, as well as all five of the Iowa Class battleships plus the Montana. The Russians would have an abundance of submarines, the exceptionally fast Moskva Class battlecruisers, the two big Roissya Class battleships and the large Gangut Class carriers, as well as aircraft such as the MIg-15, the Su-16 and the huge Tu-4 bombers. However, their large armour, in particular their armoured formations would be the hardest nut to crack.
All in all, Bond thought it would make a fantastic novel and from the tone of concern in the 1956 Presidential papers, it was not completely outrageous fiction.
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seconded
except of course can hardly be the ATL version of OTL "Harpoon" Bond.
our Larry was born in 1952 and while a precocious talent was hardly penning a novel in his crib
Hecatee
Donor
I understood it as Bond looking in 2010 into the events of the 50's to write his novel, so it feels like it is indeed a nod to Cauldron's authorseconded
except of course can hardly be the ATL version of OTL "Harpoon" Bond.
our Larry was born in 1952 and while a precocious talent was hardly penning a novel in his crib
I understood it as Bond looking in 2010 into the events of the 50's to write his novel, so it feels like it is indeed a nod to Cauldron's author
This is indeed correct. Have always liked his stuff.
Hecatee
Donor
Of all the techno-thriller writters he's among the most interesting one, alongside Gordon Kent.
16 April 2017 St Petersburg, Russian Empire
It was a standard day for Dvoryane Bank. The bank itself had gone through a myriad of changes since it had first been established 263 years ago with branches in Moscow and St Petersburg. Not least of which was the fact that the Noble Bank was now not only a bank, but also the headquarters of the Russian Nobility Association, which dealt with all matters pertaining to nobility within Russia, both legal, confirmation of accession, ceremonial precedence, charities that were supported and so on.
Russia has seen vast changes, especially in the last 150 years. It was as recently as the 1860’s that noble customers were able borrow against the asset value of their serfs, effectively mortgaging them to the bank. It was also a time when nobles owned over 80% of the private land in Russia. There were certainly still some great estates, especially among those families that had essentially hitched their horses to farming for a living. However, for all that the percentage of private land held by nobles had declined to 5.1%, even with the retaining on the entail as a means of passing estates. Russia still retained the same noble ranks-Prince, Count and lastly Baron, however, the number of noble families in Russia had declined considerably. For instance, of 296 princely family's in 1905, this had declined to as little as 117 at present. Counts numbered only 88, Barons only 36. The reasons for this were varied, but chief among the causes were firstly, the independence of Poland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan had meant that these titles had been lost for families native to those areas, becoming foreign titles or ceasing to exist. Secondly, their had been no new titles of Prince granted since 1910, in fact only 2 of count and 6 of baron since 1947. Thirdly, all foreign titles(many German) were repudiated in 1944. Lastly, the Imperial family had ensured that the statute of Nobility could only pass from father to son via the male line unless dispensation was received via the reigning Tsar. This had only occasionally been granted for those families that had performed meaningful service for the Empire, most of these Counts and Barons rather than the older title, Prince.
With only 241 noble families left in Russia, the bank would have long faced failure, however, it had branched off it's activities to incorporate those of the Russian Nobility Association and because of it's charitable arm enjoyed the Imperial Seal as well. What had saved the bank, however, had been it's purchase by the Brodsky family in 1952, which had renamed it the Dvoryane Ferma Bank, or Noble and Agricultural Bank, specialising in loans for the purchase of land and by 1954 moving away from an exclusively noble clientele. It complimented the other branches of the families vast agricultural group, Alexandria Ltd.
Dmitry Medvedev was the head of Customer Relations for the Bank, which had 88 branches across the country. It was a position he was more than happy with as it afforded him access to some of the most influential people in the country, also gratifying his own wife's expensive tastes.
It was a standard day for Dvoryane Bank. The bank itself had gone through a myriad of changes since it had first been established 263 years ago with branches in Moscow and St Petersburg. Not least of which was the fact that the Noble Bank was now not only a bank, but also the headquarters of the Russian Nobility Association, which dealt with all matters pertaining to nobility within Russia, both legal, confirmation of accession, ceremonial precedence, charities that were supported and so on.
Russia has seen vast changes, especially in the last 150 years. It was as recently as the 1860’s that noble customers were able borrow against the asset value of their serfs, effectively mortgaging them to the bank. It was also a time when nobles owned over 80% of the private land in Russia. There were certainly still some great estates, especially among those families that had essentially hitched their horses to farming for a living. However, for all that the percentage of private land held by nobles had declined to 5.1%, even with the retaining on the entail as a means of passing estates. Russia still retained the same noble ranks-Prince, Count and lastly Baron, however, the number of noble families in Russia had declined considerably. For instance, of 296 princely family's in 1905, this had declined to as little as 117 at present. Counts numbered only 88, Barons only 36. The reasons for this were varied, but chief among the causes were firstly, the independence of Poland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan had meant that these titles had been lost for families native to those areas, becoming foreign titles or ceasing to exist. Secondly, their had been no new titles of Prince granted since 1910, in fact only 2 of count and 6 of baron since 1947. Thirdly, all foreign titles(many German) were repudiated in 1944. Lastly, the Imperial family had ensured that the statute of Nobility could only pass from father to son via the male line unless dispensation was received via the reigning Tsar. This had only occasionally been granted for those families that had performed meaningful service for the Empire, most of these Counts and Barons rather than the older title, Prince.
With only 241 noble families left in Russia, the bank would have long faced failure, however, it had branched off it's activities to incorporate those of the Russian Nobility Association and because of it's charitable arm enjoyed the Imperial Seal as well. What had saved the bank, however, had been it's purchase by the Brodsky family in 1952, which had renamed it the Dvoryane Ferma Bank, or Noble and Agricultural Bank, specialising in loans for the purchase of land and by 1954 moving away from an exclusively noble clientele. It complimented the other branches of the families vast agricultural group, Alexandria Ltd.
Dmitry Medvedev was the head of Customer Relations for the Bank, which had 88 branches across the country. It was a position he was more than happy with as it afforded him access to some of the most influential people in the country, also gratifying his own wife's expensive tastes.
It ever strike anyone else that Medvedev looks a little like he could be a Romanov if he had a beard. Always thought he looked at least like he could have been Niki's brother.
Never comment on a likeness! Did your mother not each you that?
Donald Reaver
Donor
I have enjoyed very much all your timelines so far Johnboy, followed most of them from the beginning. I hope it is not presumptuous, but do you have any plans for another timeline other than perhaps the Jutland Redux? What ever you plan if you feel up to it will be following.
Well I will pick up Jutland Redux for sure. If you have any other ideas you would like to see let me know. I may go back to something based in Australia. Write what you know they say....
Donald Reaver
Donor
Not sure if you could do anything with this world or if you have read the book, https://books.google.ca/books/about/Kelly_Country.html?id=twif5DmaW-kC&redir_esc=y A interesting book I read way back when it first was published here, still have a copy, need to read it again. A interesting what if involving time travel, Australia and a favourite author of mine in the day.
15 June 2017, Erzurum International Airport, Kingdom of Armenia
Rex Tillerson stepped off the executive jet and towards the waiting limousine. He was here to attend the funeral of the Armenian King, Michael I, at least officially. Unofficially he was here to talk about access to oil field formerly held in Iraq that were now coming back on line and joint exploration efforts in the Caspian Sea in conjunction with Nobel-Lorikov.
Armenia had become a prosperous, modern country of 7.5 million on the back of oil and gas. Gaining a start with their own small reserves, they had provided technical assistance via Nobel-Lorikov to Kurdistan. After the 1944 merger between Branobel and Lorikov, money had continued to flow into the country when the headquarters of the company's oil and gas arm had been established in Erzurum in 1966, the perfume, cosmetics, renewables and financial headquarters being located in Moscow.
The 2004 takeover of Conoco-Phillips by Noble-Lorikov had gained the oil giant a solid foothold in the U.S market and Tillerson had made the decision to investigate a strategic alliance with the company for Exxon-Mobil to try and break further into not only Middle East fields but the gigantic Russian gas market.
Tillerson considered it good form to meet the new King. Through the marriage of his Aunt to the Noble family heir Emmanuel in 1943, Lorikov and Branobel had merged and the Loris-Melikov family still maintained a solid 4.6% stake in the company. If only mergers in the U.S were decided on such quaint terms.
Rex Tillerson stepped off the executive jet and towards the waiting limousine. He was here to attend the funeral of the Armenian King, Michael I, at least officially. Unofficially he was here to talk about access to oil field formerly held in Iraq that were now coming back on line and joint exploration efforts in the Caspian Sea in conjunction with Nobel-Lorikov.
Armenia had become a prosperous, modern country of 7.5 million on the back of oil and gas. Gaining a start with their own small reserves, they had provided technical assistance via Nobel-Lorikov to Kurdistan. After the 1944 merger between Branobel and Lorikov, money had continued to flow into the country when the headquarters of the company's oil and gas arm had been established in Erzurum in 1966, the perfume, cosmetics, renewables and financial headquarters being located in Moscow.
The 2004 takeover of Conoco-Phillips by Noble-Lorikov had gained the oil giant a solid foothold in the U.S market and Tillerson had made the decision to investigate a strategic alliance with the company for Exxon-Mobil to try and break further into not only Middle East fields but the gigantic Russian gas market.
Tillerson considered it good form to meet the new King. Through the marriage of his Aunt to the Noble family heir Emmanuel in 1943, Lorikov and Branobel had merged and the Loris-Melikov family still maintained a solid 4.6% stake in the company. If only mergers in the U.S were decided on such quaint terms.
14 May 2017, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, United States of America
Sergei Solkolov was one of the lucky few that had been accepted into the SFTI program. Every second year the normal "aggressor" function was actually performed partially by foreign pilots and equipment and this year was one of those years. As an a serving naval officer, he had been eligible and had finally made the group of six Russian Navy pilots that had made the trip. It was more common for the two navies to exercise together than it was their respective air forces, or so it seemed and Solkolov had made landings on American carriers before as part of Rimpac and whilst cross decking off UK carriers in joint exercises. Combat simulations, however, were another matter and he was very much looking forward to the challenge.
For a mount he had the MiG-28 fighter. Whilst not as new as the Su-50 and not a stealth design per see, it was designed for super maneuverability and would be an excellent mount for the dog-fighting parts of the course.
Sergei Solkolov was one of the lucky few that had been accepted into the SFTI program. Every second year the normal "aggressor" function was actually performed partially by foreign pilots and equipment and this year was one of those years. As an a serving naval officer, he had been eligible and had finally made the group of six Russian Navy pilots that had made the trip. It was more common for the two navies to exercise together than it was their respective air forces, or so it seemed and Solkolov had made landings on American carriers before as part of Rimpac and whilst cross decking off UK carriers in joint exercises. Combat simulations, however, were another matter and he was very much looking forward to the challenge.
For a mount he had the MiG-28 fighter. Whilst not as new as the Su-50 and not a stealth design per see, it was designed for super maneuverability and would be an excellent mount for the dog-fighting parts of the course.
I presume this is the Su-50:
How have technological advancements been compared to OTL? After all without a Cold War there wouldn't have been such a massive arms race ITTL.
Also I spent the last few days binge-reading this TL. Another amazing work @johnboy.
EDIT: On a related note how is South America ITTL? The update on Cuba makes me optimistic about US's conduct/meddlings there, but then drug cartels would still be a thing. Did War on Terror get replaced by a War on Drugs that's actually a war against the Cartels ITTL?
How have technological advancements been compared to OTL? After all without a Cold War there wouldn't have been such a massive arms race ITTL.
Also I spent the last few days binge-reading this TL. Another amazing work @johnboy.
EDIT: On a related note how is South America ITTL? The update on Cuba makes me optimistic about US's conduct/meddlings there, but then drug cartels would still be a thing. Did War on Terror get replaced by a War on Drugs that's actually a war against the Cartels ITTL?
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19 June 2018, London, United Kingdom
It was a loving image: nervously, Harry took a very gentle step forward, making sure he knew where the steps were, before climbing down them. After what looked like a long time, we managed to reach the sidewalk of the Lindo Wing.
“We did it!” He smiled, proudly, making me giggle.
As we seemed to approach, the press started going a bit more insane, thinking we would give them an interview. Instead, we just stared around, smiling and waving at the very loving people who had been there for so many days now. Some of them had been camping there even before I was admitted, a lot of them spent those three days there with us. The reporters were doing what they were paid to do, but those people, they were just excited to see us; they were just happy for us; they just wanted to congratulate us for our baby. They were, truly, who we wanted to see.
“Oh, God.” Harry sighed, emotional, looking up. “I cannot cry in front of all these people.”
I giggled, passing an arm lovingly in around his back.
“A little girl has a toy.” I told Harry, pointing at a little girl a bit after the reporters, who was frantically waving what looked like a teddy.
I gave Harry a look, as the girl was so adorably smiling at us, and he knew what I meant.
“Okay.” He said, and started following me as we walked towards her.
We avoided giving too much attention to the press, who now tried to not only turn their heavy cameras into the direction we walked, but also walk closer to where we were going.
The little girl smiled brighter and broader when she realized I was looking at her.
“Hi.” I said. “Is that for the baby?” I asked, looking at what I could now see was a ballerina bunny plush toy.
She nodded enthusiastically as she raised the bunny higher, and I walked closer to get it. “Thank you so much! That is so nice of you! Does she have a name?” I asked, about the bunny. The little girl blushed as she shrugged, smiling timidly. “Maybe we’ll let the baby chose the name then?” She nodded and I smiled. “Thank you so much!”
“Your Royal Highness!”
“Anna!”
Just as I started walking away, having left Harry a few steps behind, the other people around called. They waved more toys, flowers and even onesies at us, and since I was already there, it would just be rude not to talk to them as well. So I walked to them, one by one, grabbing their flowers, toys, letters, balloons and even handmade knitted onesies.
“You made this?” I asked a lady, who handed me a white onesie with the red stripes of the English flag across. “It’s beautiful, thank you!”
“How are you?” Someone asked.
“I’m good, thank you.” I smiled. “A bit tired, but good, and very happy.”
“Was the birth difficult?”
I looked at Harry, now a little closer, who smiled. “It was overwhelming, I think.” He told them. “But safe, thankfully.”
“She’s beautiful!” an old man told us.
“Thank you!” I smiled.
“She looks like her mother, thankfully.” Harry teased, making them chuckle.
“Is she not ginger?!” A girl asked.
“She’s not.” He told her. “She has dark hair, like her mother.”
“And what’s her name, Prince Harry?” an old lady asked, and Harry looked at me.
We exchanged a smile, knowing both that the press, though far, could hear us, and that we couldn’t lie to these nice people who not only camped outside the hospital, but also brought us gifts.
Harry smiled, after I nodded slightly to him, and looked at the old lady who had asked the question.
“Her name is Victoria Olga Elizabeth Diana, after three great monarchs and four great women.”
The months that followed were some of the most overwhelming we had ever had. As soon as the Queen and Prince Philip came to see us, on the same day we brought Victoria home, I tweeted her chosen names, letting everyone know that her full names and why.
“I still think Philippa would have been a good choice.” Prince Philip joked, that afternoon, when they came to meet her.
“Maybe the next one.” I told him, with a smile.
“Already thinking of the next one, are you?” he replied, grinning.
“Of course.” I returned. “I won’t leave him alone until he knocks me up again.”
He laughed, delighted, and I smiled at the colour taking over his cheeks.
Sitting in the couch beside Harry, the Queen had Victoria in her arms, rocking her slightly as wiggled her little arms around, now awake. She had never looked less like a Queen and more like a great-grandmother than in the moment, with our baby in her lap, as she made silly faces to distract her.
“Victoria, huh?” She asked. “I like it. Strong name. Strong legacy to live up to.” I exchanged a smile with Harry. “She has your mother’s eyes.”
“I know.” Harry smiled. “She would have loved her.”
"Yes, indeed.”
“And you’re giving her titles, of course?” Prince Philip asked.
“If you agree.” Harry told them.
“Why, yes, of course.” His grandmother agreed. “Granddaughter of a future king, granddaughter of a current Emperor that’s her birthright.”
Anna contemplated her girl-what a remarkable thing the passage of time was-who would ever guess that she would be here after the distance between both countries and the unrest in Russia only some hundred or so years ago. It showed so much how one transformative reign could change the world.
END OF POST TIMELINE UPDATES AND END OF TIMELINE- THANKS EVERYONE
It was a loving image: nervously, Harry took a very gentle step forward, making sure he knew where the steps were, before climbing down them. After what looked like a long time, we managed to reach the sidewalk of the Lindo Wing.
“We did it!” He smiled, proudly, making me giggle.
As we seemed to approach, the press started going a bit more insane, thinking we would give them an interview. Instead, we just stared around, smiling and waving at the very loving people who had been there for so many days now. Some of them had been camping there even before I was admitted, a lot of them spent those three days there with us. The reporters were doing what they were paid to do, but those people, they were just excited to see us; they were just happy for us; they just wanted to congratulate us for our baby. They were, truly, who we wanted to see.
“Oh, God.” Harry sighed, emotional, looking up. “I cannot cry in front of all these people.”
I giggled, passing an arm lovingly in around his back.
“A little girl has a toy.” I told Harry, pointing at a little girl a bit after the reporters, who was frantically waving what looked like a teddy.
I gave Harry a look, as the girl was so adorably smiling at us, and he knew what I meant.
“Okay.” He said, and started following me as we walked towards her.
We avoided giving too much attention to the press, who now tried to not only turn their heavy cameras into the direction we walked, but also walk closer to where we were going.
The little girl smiled brighter and broader when she realized I was looking at her.
“Hi.” I said. “Is that for the baby?” I asked, looking at what I could now see was a ballerina bunny plush toy.
She nodded enthusiastically as she raised the bunny higher, and I walked closer to get it. “Thank you so much! That is so nice of you! Does she have a name?” I asked, about the bunny. The little girl blushed as she shrugged, smiling timidly. “Maybe we’ll let the baby chose the name then?” She nodded and I smiled. “Thank you so much!”
“Your Royal Highness!”
“Anna!”
Just as I started walking away, having left Harry a few steps behind, the other people around called. They waved more toys, flowers and even onesies at us, and since I was already there, it would just be rude not to talk to them as well. So I walked to them, one by one, grabbing their flowers, toys, letters, balloons and even handmade knitted onesies.
“You made this?” I asked a lady, who handed me a white onesie with the red stripes of the English flag across. “It’s beautiful, thank you!”
“How are you?” Someone asked.
“I’m good, thank you.” I smiled. “A bit tired, but good, and very happy.”
“Was the birth difficult?”
I looked at Harry, now a little closer, who smiled. “It was overwhelming, I think.” He told them. “But safe, thankfully.”
“She’s beautiful!” an old man told us.
“Thank you!” I smiled.
“She looks like her mother, thankfully.” Harry teased, making them chuckle.
“Is she not ginger?!” A girl asked.
“She’s not.” He told her. “She has dark hair, like her mother.”
“And what’s her name, Prince Harry?” an old lady asked, and Harry looked at me.
We exchanged a smile, knowing both that the press, though far, could hear us, and that we couldn’t lie to these nice people who not only camped outside the hospital, but also brought us gifts.
Harry smiled, after I nodded slightly to him, and looked at the old lady who had asked the question.
“Her name is Victoria Olga Elizabeth Diana, after three great monarchs and four great women.”
The months that followed were some of the most overwhelming we had ever had. As soon as the Queen and Prince Philip came to see us, on the same day we brought Victoria home, I tweeted her chosen names, letting everyone know that her full names and why.
“I still think Philippa would have been a good choice.” Prince Philip joked, that afternoon, when they came to meet her.
“Maybe the next one.” I told him, with a smile.
“Already thinking of the next one, are you?” he replied, grinning.
“Of course.” I returned. “I won’t leave him alone until he knocks me up again.”
He laughed, delighted, and I smiled at the colour taking over his cheeks.
Sitting in the couch beside Harry, the Queen had Victoria in her arms, rocking her slightly as wiggled her little arms around, now awake. She had never looked less like a Queen and more like a great-grandmother than in the moment, with our baby in her lap, as she made silly faces to distract her.
“Victoria, huh?” She asked. “I like it. Strong name. Strong legacy to live up to.” I exchanged a smile with Harry. “She has your mother’s eyes.”
“I know.” Harry smiled. “She would have loved her.”
"Yes, indeed.”
“And you’re giving her titles, of course?” Prince Philip asked.
“If you agree.” Harry told them.
“Why, yes, of course.” His grandmother agreed. “Granddaughter of a future king, granddaughter of a current Emperor that’s her birthright.”
Anna contemplated her girl-what a remarkable thing the passage of time was-who would ever guess that she would be here after the distance between both countries and the unrest in Russia only some hundred or so years ago. It showed so much how one transformative reign could change the world.
END OF POST TIMELINE UPDATES AND END OF TIMELINE- THANKS EVERYONE
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