Here's the challenge.
In ARC Riders, by David Drake and Janet Morris, time-travelling rightwingnuts intervene to cause the US to ESCALATE massively after the 1968 Tet Offensive. The challenge here is to craft a timeline to join together various points in the book, while fleshing out various elements hinted at but not fully revealed. Also, try to show how the rest of the world reacts and develops.
To start things off, here's a rough sketch of how the timeline is played out in the book.
POD
1968 - Quang Tri Incident. ARVN units attack across the DMZ in response to NVA actions. Johnson Administration supports the action, and expands to attack sanctuaries in Cambodia and Laos. Rolling Thunder gives way to Linebacker on steroids. Mining of Haiphong harbor, bombing of dams and levees in the Red River, etc. At home, anti-war movement goes rabid. Guardsmen/Police fire on protesters.
1969ish
Civil strife in US, bordering on outright insurgency in some areas. Federal government begins full wartime mobilization. President assumes total control of government, suspending Congress. Federal Emergency Control Administration/Authority assumes control. FBI/CIA/NSA/OGA etc initiate "dirty war" against opponents, dissidents, insurgents, etc.
1975
US forces intervene to prevent left-wing anti-war government from pulling Australia out of war.
1983
US forces in North Vietnam encounter organised Chinese units in the Ha Trung region and it's implied that smaller groups have been encountered further north. It's also implied that troops from Taiwan, Pakistan and South America have been contributed to the conflict.
1985
US economy wracked by runaway hyperinflation. Conspiracy theorists suggest that Johnson is actually dead and that MacNamera is really in charge.
1991
US forces in the Yunnan highlands of China overrun by Chinese offensive. US forces, augmented by troops from Taiwan, Pakistan, South America, etc stretched thin. Nurses, clerks, and assorted REMFs placed in nominal command of foreign units.
The US is a crapsack mess and Southeast Asia is Hell's new mailing address. Now how to connect all of these dots together. Also, what's the rest of the world been doing.
Areas to consider
1. China. At the POD, Mao's Cultural Revolution is in full bloom. How will matters in Indochina effect this?
2. The Soviet Union. How will US actions in SEA affect the Soviets activities in the rest of the world?
3. Europe. In 1968, students in Paris were trying to kick off a revolution. The Troubles in Northern Ireland were just getting started. The Soviets rolled on the Prague Spring. The Red Brigades and the Red Army Faction were just getting started. The European Union was still more likely to mentioned in the sci-fi pulps than in the big news magazines.
4. The Middle East. In 1968, Lebanon could still be mistaken for a functional country. Jordan plays host to the Palestinians, who strive to annoy both their hosts and the Israelis. Egypt and Syria are both Soviet duty stations, and the Egyptians are busy fighting their own ugly little war in Yemen. Iran is a US ally.
5. Africa. Ethiopia in 1968 is an absolutish monarchy allied to the US. Low level insurgencies in southern Africa between Africans and white minority and/or colonial rule.
6. Central & South America. Cuba is still trying to export the revolution. Throughout the region, civilian rule is really the exception.
All thoughts welcome
In ARC Riders, by David Drake and Janet Morris, time-travelling rightwingnuts intervene to cause the US to ESCALATE massively after the 1968 Tet Offensive. The challenge here is to craft a timeline to join together various points in the book, while fleshing out various elements hinted at but not fully revealed. Also, try to show how the rest of the world reacts and develops.
To start things off, here's a rough sketch of how the timeline is played out in the book.
POD
1968 - Quang Tri Incident. ARVN units attack across the DMZ in response to NVA actions. Johnson Administration supports the action, and expands to attack sanctuaries in Cambodia and Laos. Rolling Thunder gives way to Linebacker on steroids. Mining of Haiphong harbor, bombing of dams and levees in the Red River, etc. At home, anti-war movement goes rabid. Guardsmen/Police fire on protesters.
1969ish
Civil strife in US, bordering on outright insurgency in some areas. Federal government begins full wartime mobilization. President assumes total control of government, suspending Congress. Federal Emergency Control Administration/Authority assumes control. FBI/CIA/NSA/OGA etc initiate "dirty war" against opponents, dissidents, insurgents, etc.
1975
US forces intervene to prevent left-wing anti-war government from pulling Australia out of war.
1983
US forces in North Vietnam encounter organised Chinese units in the Ha Trung region and it's implied that smaller groups have been encountered further north. It's also implied that troops from Taiwan, Pakistan and South America have been contributed to the conflict.
1985
US economy wracked by runaway hyperinflation. Conspiracy theorists suggest that Johnson is actually dead and that MacNamera is really in charge.
1991
US forces in the Yunnan highlands of China overrun by Chinese offensive. US forces, augmented by troops from Taiwan, Pakistan, South America, etc stretched thin. Nurses, clerks, and assorted REMFs placed in nominal command of foreign units.
The US is a crapsack mess and Southeast Asia is Hell's new mailing address. Now how to connect all of these dots together. Also, what's the rest of the world been doing.
Areas to consider
1. China. At the POD, Mao's Cultural Revolution is in full bloom. How will matters in Indochina effect this?
2. The Soviet Union. How will US actions in SEA affect the Soviets activities in the rest of the world?
3. Europe. In 1968, students in Paris were trying to kick off a revolution. The Troubles in Northern Ireland were just getting started. The Soviets rolled on the Prague Spring. The Red Brigades and the Red Army Faction were just getting started. The European Union was still more likely to mentioned in the sci-fi pulps than in the big news magazines.
4. The Middle East. In 1968, Lebanon could still be mistaken for a functional country. Jordan plays host to the Palestinians, who strive to annoy both their hosts and the Israelis. Egypt and Syria are both Soviet duty stations, and the Egyptians are busy fighting their own ugly little war in Yemen. Iran is a US ally.
5. Africa. Ethiopia in 1968 is an absolutish monarchy allied to the US. Low level insurgencies in southern Africa between Africans and white minority and/or colonial rule.
6. Central & South America. Cuba is still trying to export the revolution. Throughout the region, civilian rule is really the exception.
All thoughts welcome