What would be the point of starting a campaign game before the point of divergence has taken hold?
The Union Forever: A TL
- Thread starter Mac Gregor
- Start date
What would be the point of starting a campaign game before the point of divergence has taken hold?
If it's unrelated to MacGregor's wonderful timeline, then I'd say you have the wrong place then.
On another note, Russia supported the Union in oratory measure alone, so nothing would change. The fleets staying in American waters were their for their own safety, not to protect the Union.
2016: Domestic Developments
2016
Domestic Developments
On February 26, Biomedical researchers at the Dallas based Chiron Group held a demonstration of a quadriplegic man manipulating a prosthetic arm. Known as Direct Neural Interface (DNI), electrodes placed on a skull cap linked the paralyzed individual’s brain to the mechanical appendage. While still in its early stages, DNI promised to restore at least some functionality to thousands of handicapped people.
In one of his last acts as president, Peter Rowland officially opened the Federal Nuclear Waste Repository in the Escalante Desert in southern Utah. Construction started after the 2003 Breslau nuclear disaster in Germany raised public awareness of the dangers of locally stored nuclear waste. The site would facilitate a dramatic expansion of nuclear power over the coming decades, reaching 28% of domestic energy generation by 2035.
During the summer, the Adventure Studios amusement park in San Francisco opened two new roller coasters that used virtual reality (VR) headsets to provide patrons a fully immersive experience. In subsequent years VR and augmented reality (AR) devices would become increasingly common in theme parks and arcades around the world.
2016 Presidential Election
After twelve years of President Rowland the nation was thirsting for change going into the 2016 presidential election. The economy was still making a sluggish recovery from the recent recession and unemployment hovered above 7%. As expected, Vice President Carmichael did not seek his party’s nomination and the Republicans struggled to find a nominee before settling on Ohio Senator Butch Reed and retired Admiral Oswald Wyeth III. The Democrats would have an equally difficult time before selecting their own nominee.
Carla Navarro
Carla Isabela Navarro was born on May 29, 1966 into a Catholic working class family in David, Panama. As a teenager, her family moved to Punta Gorda after her father got a job on the Nicaraguan Canal. Navarro received a scholarship to the University of Tennessee where she excelled and later attended Harvard Law becoming the lead editor of one of the school’s legal journals. While at Harvard she met Bing Rodman of Georgia, and the two married soon after graduation with Navarro keeping her maiden name. After practicing law for several years in Atlanta, the couple moved to Panama with their twin daughters. In Panama City, Navarro quickly became involved in local Democratic politics and was elected to the state senate in 1998. In 2006, she ran for the U.S. House of Representatives but lost by a narrow margin. In a subsequent attempt two years later she was successful and joined the 111th Congress. Navarro served two terms before running for Governor of Panama in 2010. The gubernatorial race was particularly vicious, suffering a number of personal attacks ranging from her not adopting her husband's name to converting to her husband’s Methodism. Ultimately Navarro prevailed becoming the state’s first female governor. In her two terms in office, Navarro oversaw an expansion in the state’s canals while impressively reducing the budget deficit by closing a number of onerous tax loopholes. During the 2016 Democratic primaries, Navarro garnered little attention until a stunning performance during the first televised debate started her on a path to eventually clinch the nomination.
The Campaign
Throughout the general election, the Republicans repeatedly tried to concentrate on foreign policy, a strategy that failed to resonate with most voters. Navarro and her running mate, former Senator Billy Kuklinski of New York, stayed on message talking about the economy and the national debt. They made a proposed balanced budget amendment a key plank in the Democratic platform. Furthermore, Navarro’s pro League of American Republics and Pacific Treaty Organization stance undercut much of swing voters' apprehension in voting Democratic.
The Results
Carla Navarro
Democrat from Panama
40th President of the United States
On election day, the Republicans managed to capture only 225 electoral votes and failed to retake either house of Congress. The Democrats cruised to victory winning 51.9% of the popular vote and 37 states including most of the normally Republican Caribbean. As such Carla Navarro became the first president of predominantly Hispanic ancestry in American history.
Last edited:
A balanced budget amendment a key plant in the Democratic platform?
Break out the maniac laugh.
On a more serious note through I think Yucca Mountain would had been chosen for the Nuclear Waste Repository no matter the timeline. You got things at Yucca Mountain you can't find anywhere else. Notably thousands of feet of dirt above you and thousands of feet before you hit the water table. OTL three spots were looked at before Yucca Mountain was selected, one in Hanford, and the other in Deaf Smith County in Texas. But the geography of Yucca Mountain is such that its damn near a natural nuclear waste repository. Its why its been the only place ever looked at. Escalante Desert looks promising, unless rushed, I think Yucca Mountain would ended up the winner no matter what.
On another subject which party is the liberal party and Conservative party
Break out the maniac laugh.
On a more serious note through I think Yucca Mountain would had been chosen for the Nuclear Waste Repository no matter the timeline. You got things at Yucca Mountain you can't find anywhere else. Notably thousands of feet of dirt above you and thousands of feet before you hit the water table. OTL three spots were looked at before Yucca Mountain was selected, one in Hanford, and the other in Deaf Smith County in Texas. But the geography of Yucca Mountain is such that its damn near a natural nuclear waste repository. Its why its been the only place ever looked at. Escalante Desert looks promising, unless rushed, I think Yucca Mountain would ended up the winner no matter what.
On another subject which party is the liberal party and Conservative party
After six of the last seven elections being GOP victories, it's only logical to see a Democrat win.
What's the current situation in the Russian Empire? Have they recovered from the civil war?
What's the current situation in the Russian Empire? Have they recovered from the civil war?
I think its as much internationalist vs isolationist as left vs right.
Sorry about that!
That is correct! And yet, in the Pacific when there was a rumor of a Reb ship coming the Russian fleet was going to go out after it.
Interesting point about Yucca Mountain. What do other people think?
Regarding American political parties ITTL they don’t fit neatly into the left-right spectrum of OTL. Generally speaking the Republicans are more progressive on social issues while economically they are pro-free trade and government oversight. The Democrats tend to be socially conservative but want a smaller yet more protectionist government.
@Mac Gregor I may have already asked, but is there anything similar to libertarianism ITTL?
Weapon Profile: Winchester Model 1910 Heavy Machine Gun
Got another armament post for y'all, let me know if you have questions:
Name: Winchester Model 1910 Heavy Machine Gun
Designer: Winchester Armament Company
Type: Short-recoil operated machine gun
Caliber: .50 Multipurpose [1]
Feed System: Disintegrating belt (single or double feed)
Adopted: 1911
Notes: Developed as a result of War Secretary Roosevelt’s attendance of the 1904 Napoleonic Centennial in Paris, the U.S. military sought a weapon to counter France’s formidable armored-car and dirigible forces [2], with a focus on utility against multiple kinds of targets and being more mobile than even a light field gun, as dictated by contemporary technology. Built by the same design team that created the M1902 General Machine Gun, the M1910 was similar mechanically to its predecessor but built up in scale to handle the massive .50 anti-material cartridge in its various full metal jacket, armor piercing, incendiary and high explosive variations. Due to this round’s incredible mass, it had the added benefit of extending the engagement range of dedicated machine-gun emplacements beyond almost any contemporary design, allowing a single position to theoretically defend against any given manner of threat conceivable [3].
Not only was this machine gun decisive in use by U.S. military forces in the Great War, it was licensed out to other leading L.A.R. members such as Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Nicaragua. Further development on the design in the 1950s led to the current E1 model, which has a simple-change barrel, accommodates a variety of .50-derived cartridges, and has improved ergonomic features like a variable-tension butterfly trigger and a lighter receiver. The fact that it continues to serve in over 80 national militaries, and has only been matched by the British Commonwealth’s L86A1 in the heavy machine gun arena [4], is a testament to its capability and simplicity. It has even experienced a growth in popularity as a sniper round due to its power and long-range ballistic stability (in particular, the U.S.A./L.A.R.’s M1980 High Power Sniper Rifle [5]).
[1] The different moniker from OTL reflects a lack of direct Browning influence beyond the initial gun design. And bear in mind, the M1902 machine gun is developed and fielded early ITTL, which has knock-on effects on TTL's Ma Deuce development/adoption.
[2] With advancements in small arms and vehicular technology ITTL, and the specter of Napoleonic military ambition in Paris, I figure there’d be an earlier push for a heavy, armor-defeating cartridge in development.
[3] Or at the very least, provide a sustained fire capability to the U.S. Army equal to or greater than other armies using water-cooled designs. And once the move to a more lightweight machine gun like the “Puke” happens, you still have a long-term base of fire weapon at the sub-munition level.
[4] Not to speak for anybody doing a Eurasian weapons post, but to date there’s been no mention of a DShK equivalent so I’m assuming there is none ITTL (perhaps something in the 20-30mm range fills that void in Russia?).
[5] OTL McMillan TAC-50.
Name: Winchester Model 1910 Heavy Machine Gun
Designer: Winchester Armament Company
Type: Short-recoil operated machine gun
Caliber: .50 Multipurpose [1]
Feed System: Disintegrating belt (single or double feed)
Adopted: 1911
Notes: Developed as a result of War Secretary Roosevelt’s attendance of the 1904 Napoleonic Centennial in Paris, the U.S. military sought a weapon to counter France’s formidable armored-car and dirigible forces [2], with a focus on utility against multiple kinds of targets and being more mobile than even a light field gun, as dictated by contemporary technology. Built by the same design team that created the M1902 General Machine Gun, the M1910 was similar mechanically to its predecessor but built up in scale to handle the massive .50 anti-material cartridge in its various full metal jacket, armor piercing, incendiary and high explosive variations. Due to this round’s incredible mass, it had the added benefit of extending the engagement range of dedicated machine-gun emplacements beyond almost any contemporary design, allowing a single position to theoretically defend against any given manner of threat conceivable [3].
Not only was this machine gun decisive in use by U.S. military forces in the Great War, it was licensed out to other leading L.A.R. members such as Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Nicaragua. Further development on the design in the 1950s led to the current E1 model, which has a simple-change barrel, accommodates a variety of .50-derived cartridges, and has improved ergonomic features like a variable-tension butterfly trigger and a lighter receiver. The fact that it continues to serve in over 80 national militaries, and has only been matched by the British Commonwealth’s L86A1 in the heavy machine gun arena [4], is a testament to its capability and simplicity. It has even experienced a growth in popularity as a sniper round due to its power and long-range ballistic stability (in particular, the U.S.A./L.A.R.’s M1980 High Power Sniper Rifle [5]).
[1] The different moniker from OTL reflects a lack of direct Browning influence beyond the initial gun design. And bear in mind, the M1902 machine gun is developed and fielded early ITTL, which has knock-on effects on TTL's Ma Deuce development/adoption.
[2] With advancements in small arms and vehicular technology ITTL, and the specter of Napoleonic military ambition in Paris, I figure there’d be an earlier push for a heavy, armor-defeating cartridge in development.
[3] Or at the very least, provide a sustained fire capability to the U.S. Army equal to or greater than other armies using water-cooled designs. And once the move to a more lightweight machine gun like the “Puke” happens, you still have a long-term base of fire weapon at the sub-munition level.
[4] Not to speak for anybody doing a Eurasian weapons post, but to date there’s been no mention of a DShK equivalent so I’m assuming there is none ITTL (perhaps something in the 20-30mm range fills that void in Russia?).
[5] OTL McMillan TAC-50.
Last edited:
As mentioned in the 2015 update, the Russian Empire is doing much better now. After a decade of rebuilding they have recovered economically to prewar levels and have restarted their space program. Politically, the government is divided between those that want to continue reconstruction and the imperial hardliners who want to retake lost lands.
Last edited:
So the sides in the ongoing Cold War are best thought of as the Technocratic Union vs. Pacific Treaty Organization + Russia + Community of South Asian States .
The Association of European States, Turin Pact, Turkic League, and Organization of Mutual Development are mostly neutral in regards to the TU although Chinese support to the All-African Alliance might be changing this for the AES.
As far as how the Cold War is going, the TU seems to be trying to curry favor with the regimes in the AAA while at the same time competing against the West in space.
There is indeed.
Regarding nomenclature, in the United States what we would think of as libertarians ITTL are usually just called liberals, while people we would refer to as Liberals in OTL are called social democrats or socialists.
Currently ITTL there is an American Liberal Party which is pretty close to OTL's Libertarian Party. To date, the ALP is a minor third party with little electoral success. It is worth pointing out that the federal government is smaller than OTL so generally speaking there are fewer issues to fuel its growth however in recent years as the Democratic Party has become less isolationist many Americans who are not fans of the LAR, PTO, and Fellowship of Nations having begun moving over to the ALP.
Last edited: