Normally I don't really like these threads, but I seriously can't decide. Both of these are Cold War timelines, but I'm not going to describe them. Instead, I'm going to have a narrative vignette, from the same day, in the most populous city in America. And you can try and figure out the POD from there.
Neither will be written entirely in narrative, though both will have a little, one more than the other though. No More Strong Men will have less.
~
Heard in Dreams, Spoken in Nightmares
December 19th, 1981
Snow had come early, again, it had been for the last twenty years or so. The Mayor was shoveling snow on State Street to raise morale. The trucks were out, but gas was as scarce as ever and it was too valuable to use on work that could be done by manpower.
After digging for a while he left, encouraging the men and women still working on clearing the streets as he got into his ski-equipped vehicle. The snow was three feet high. Cars were not an option.
He walked into City Hall a few minutes later, travel was fast without cars on the road. A guard greeted him, he was armed with an assault rifle, it was unfortunate that such precautions were necessary.
He had been called to an immediate emergency meeting, the snow had disrupted food distribution points. Someone was proposing cutting rations, the Mayor didn’t want to, that was too extreme.
“We only have enough food for four more days without a new shipment, which isn’t coming.”
“We have not had to cut rations since my father did in ‘72”
“It’s the only way, the people may not like it, but it’s for their own good”
“Do you want me to stay in as mayor? This is a democracy, actions matter, this will cost votes”
“With all due respect Mr. Mayor, this isn’t a democracy anymore”
~
No More Strong Men
December 19th, 1981
I hate this. It’s such a useless institution, the only useful things it’s done have been done after it failed. It failed while my father was here, I’m sure someone will bring that up.
Such were the Prime Minister’s thoughts about the UN, pulling into the driveway in his Rolls Royce he tried not to look unhappy. He was doing something that opposing had gotten him elected. A young Korean man greeted the Prime Minister, the man spoke no English, odd for him to be working at the UN.
He was further greeted by his own representative at the UN, who looked solemn, one had to be in these troubled times. The man asked the Prime Minister whether he still wanted to give the speech himself, the Prime Minister responded with a mere nod.
A Ghanaian man came to show them the way in. Thankfully he could speak English.
“Hello, Mr. Dixon”
“Watch you mouth, that’s Mr. Prime Minister to you” Replied the representative.
“Excuse me, Mr. Prime Minister right this way”
They walked down a long hallway, the Prime Minister noted the Forth Committee. Trusteeship and Decolonization, it didn’t look like the room was used that much.
Finally they arrived at their destination, the Ghanaian man stayed outside as the two of them walked in. The buzz of activity stopped as he walked into the room, the Secretary General called for decorum. After giving a brief introduction he yielded the floor to the United Kingdom.
The Prime Minister approached the podium, sighed, and began to speak.
“Delegates, the United Kingdom, after due deliberation on the matter. Has decided to release the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya, as a sovereign, independent state. The United Kingdom has come to this decision after long talks both domestically, and with the people of Kenya, who we feel are ready for their own, democratic government. We will be working in concert with the Kenyan people to provide the infrastructure that is necessary to maintain a stable nation. Delegates, the United Kingdom is committed to the cause of self-determination, but realizes that it must be reached practically and is hoping that eventually more colonies will meet our release requirements. Thank you.”
The Prime Minister left the room without looking back.
Neither will be written entirely in narrative, though both will have a little, one more than the other though. No More Strong Men will have less.
~
Heard in Dreams, Spoken in Nightmares
December 19th, 1981
Snow had come early, again, it had been for the last twenty years or so. The Mayor was shoveling snow on State Street to raise morale. The trucks were out, but gas was as scarce as ever and it was too valuable to use on work that could be done by manpower.
After digging for a while he left, encouraging the men and women still working on clearing the streets as he got into his ski-equipped vehicle. The snow was three feet high. Cars were not an option.
He walked into City Hall a few minutes later, travel was fast without cars on the road. A guard greeted him, he was armed with an assault rifle, it was unfortunate that such precautions were necessary.
He had been called to an immediate emergency meeting, the snow had disrupted food distribution points. Someone was proposing cutting rations, the Mayor didn’t want to, that was too extreme.
“We only have enough food for four more days without a new shipment, which isn’t coming.”
“We have not had to cut rations since my father did in ‘72”
“It’s the only way, the people may not like it, but it’s for their own good”
“Do you want me to stay in as mayor? This is a democracy, actions matter, this will cost votes”
“With all due respect Mr. Mayor, this isn’t a democracy anymore”
~
No More Strong Men
December 19th, 1981
I hate this. It’s such a useless institution, the only useful things it’s done have been done after it failed. It failed while my father was here, I’m sure someone will bring that up.
Such were the Prime Minister’s thoughts about the UN, pulling into the driveway in his Rolls Royce he tried not to look unhappy. He was doing something that opposing had gotten him elected. A young Korean man greeted the Prime Minister, the man spoke no English, odd for him to be working at the UN.
He was further greeted by his own representative at the UN, who looked solemn, one had to be in these troubled times. The man asked the Prime Minister whether he still wanted to give the speech himself, the Prime Minister responded with a mere nod.
A Ghanaian man came to show them the way in. Thankfully he could speak English.
“Hello, Mr. Dixon”
“Watch you mouth, that’s Mr. Prime Minister to you” Replied the representative.
“Excuse me, Mr. Prime Minister right this way”
They walked down a long hallway, the Prime Minister noted the Forth Committee. Trusteeship and Decolonization, it didn’t look like the room was used that much.
Finally they arrived at their destination, the Ghanaian man stayed outside as the two of them walked in. The buzz of activity stopped as he walked into the room, the Secretary General called for decorum. After giving a brief introduction he yielded the floor to the United Kingdom.
The Prime Minister approached the podium, sighed, and began to speak.
“Delegates, the United Kingdom, after due deliberation on the matter. Has decided to release the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya, as a sovereign, independent state. The United Kingdom has come to this decision after long talks both domestically, and with the people of Kenya, who we feel are ready for their own, democratic government. We will be working in concert with the Kenyan people to provide the infrastructure that is necessary to maintain a stable nation. Delegates, the United Kingdom is committed to the cause of self-determination, but realizes that it must be reached practically and is hoping that eventually more colonies will meet our release requirements. Thank you.”
The Prime Minister left the room without looking back.