I enjoy your prose sections more than strict date/outline. Keep up the good work. I don't see how you can believe noone cares about this timeline. Look at all the viewers.
Why did a Chinese Fleet attack the bulk of the american Pacific Fleet and how did they achieve an attack on the other side of the Pacific?
It's a really impressive achievement for a traditional continental power.
Did the Chinese attack other countries as well (Japan)?
Grand Duke Alexei Konstantinovich strode purposefully down the corridor in what had once been the Ottoman sultan's seraglio. He had two things on his mind, the offer from the British on the one hand, and a long-standing offer from the Egyptians on the other. Hopefully neither his cousin, Tsar Nikolai II, nor the secret service, the Okhrana, knew about either, but it was always wise to proceed as if they were watching him. Hence he walked alone with his thoughts, and did not speak his deliberations out loud, though how much he did wish to !
Egypt had always been complicated. He had passed them plans of Russian warships building, details of naval deployments, coastal artillery and Marine strength, all for monies paid into his account in the Republic of Malta. But little of it had been sensitive - with Aleksandr II's eldest son's accession to the Imperial throne had come reform at home, and parsimony in the navy. Russian designs were at best the equal of Egyptian ones, and usually substantially inferior, but Cairo paid up - presumably because proof of Russian inferiority was worth it in itself.
But now he could take no more. Arguments between his office and the Imperial court had grown beyond reconciliation in the last twelve months, and he would have to act. But how to act, and in whose interest ? Could he manage to please both of his suitors ? In essence, that was what his long walk today was all about
Egypt had signed an alliance with the USA, one of several that President Semmes had banged out across the world - Sweden, Germany, Egypt and Japan. The latter had already led to war with the Ching, but Washington remained unbowed. Its Egyptian connections remained potential, unutilised, but it did not take a genius to work out that they were arranged against Russia. Russia who had suported Columbia (in return for generous cessions in the Yukon), Russia which had established good relations with Oregon and Fredonia upon the Western coast of N America. Russia who in the eyes of many in Washington had abandoned the USA and embraced its enemies
The submarine was carried by another ship to off the coast. More details about that will follow.
From my reading, China had several times approached naval modernity even in OTL after the Taiping, after the Sino-French War, despite the waste of the Dragon Empress' reign (marble ship anyone ?), the defeat to Japan, and the Boxer Rebellion. Each time it came back and rebuilt, and if the 1912 revolution had not occurred then it would have finished out another fleet
In this timeline, after the much worse setback of the Opium War, China begis to reform. That this is the right course was reinforced by China's victories in the World War, and from then on it has steadily modernised - perhaps like Japan in OTL
Damn traitor. I hope he will not survive the next years.
The new USA did really try to encircle Russia, though the USA seems to become quite overstretched thanks to many non-necessary international commitments.
At least Russia can strike back and significantly weaken the american Pacific presence by using and supporting the north american West-Coast republics against the USA.
How many "enemies" did the USA have aside of Russia, China and the break-away republics in North America?
Submarine carrier?
The Chinese Navy seems to be one of the world's most advanced Navies.
Yes, the IOTL modern Chinese Navy has much bad luck but times changes.
I enjoy your prose sections more than strict date/outline. Keep up the good work. I don't see how you can believe noone cares about this timeline. Look at all the viewers.
As can be seen from the last post, the W coast republics have already thought ahead of you !
Two minutes after the fellow had been allowed to leave, alive, the sixty-three year old Tsar turned to his aides, rage leaping onto his assinie features.
"My COUSIN !" he roared, "Blood of my blood !"
Nobody dared to speak. As if Mishkin's suicide were not bad enough, the cause was worse still
"Where is the fleet ?" the Tsar demanded
Nobody was able to answer him
But the Wurzburger refused to panic.
At least Sweden was also standing firm to the new Alliance, and Austria, his blood relatives, and a long-term ally of Frankfurt, was speaking in tones designed to reassure the more jittery members of the Diet
"Sire", his second son Peter entered the room, an expression of concern upon his face
"What is it ?" asked the Emperor
"Telegraph, father, from Peking. Chinese forces have invaded Japan"
Ferdinand was silent a moment, then he nodded
"So the Alliance crumbles" he said
Will Mexico join them and invade the south-western part of the USA?
It looks like a perfect opportunity to liberate the oppressed the spanish-speaking population of the USA.
The defection of the traitor or something worse?
Only the european member of the US-forged alliance (how did they called the alliance?) will come through this war unscathed (or not?).
Will they form a closer only-european alliance?
Not sure about Mexico, they could be said to have learnt their lesson that the one place the USA CAN win is against them, and may decide to take advantage of American weakness in other directions for the meantime.
In addition, only really the internal territories now have a Mexican majority - Monterrey/Tampico and Baja California have been steadily settled.
Regarding the Russian fleetLater !
Are the US-forces in the UPCA and the allied UPCA-army strong enough to defeat Mexico?
The weakened US-forces in the Southwest-USA should be not a great problem for the mexican army.
I would expect that the USA will focus on the "traitorous" Westcoast-republics and will send reinforcements primarily againt them
A majority is not necessary for a justification of a intervention and the recruitment of collaborators.
OK, I will wait.
The problem for the USA IS GETTING AT the W coast republics. Columbia blocks the NW route, whilst the Trans-Mississippi Federation was erected as a Fredonian client state and bulwark.
The US can only really get at the W coast via the SW, and in reality since the trans-Rockies route is treacherous at best this means across the SW, OTL N Mexico
Thus, the US is going to have strong armies there whatever happens![]()