This is an old revision of the document!
Table of Contents
Protect and Survive Universe - Chronological Timeline
A chronological overview of all the known events occuring in the Protect and Survive universe. Information is drawn from all canon timelines that are part of the shared universe, i.e. the main timeline and all its official spinoffs.
Bear in mind that this is an overview of general political and societal events throughout the timeline. Listing of events concerning individual characters from the various storylines should be avoided - not only due to the different scope of the overview, but also in order to avoid many individual storyline spoilers.
This is a working demo, not final text. Updating is in constant progress.
1.) Build-up to The Exchange (1982-21 February 1984)
Late 1982 - Due to the deteriorating international situation the RAF decides to postpone the drawdown of the remaining Vulcan B.2 squadrons. Five squadrons, split between RAF Waddington and RAF Scampton are retained for striking targets in the Eastern USSR.
Late summer 1983 - Soviet government demands military exercises with Finnish Defence Forces per the Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948.
Late September 1983 - Finnish President Koivisto's state visit to the US cancelled due to international tensions.
Late October-early November 1983 - Swedish Prime Minister Palme and Finnish Prime Minister Sorsa meet in Stockholm, release a joint statement calling for an international conference in to be held to defuse the diplomatic escalation between the NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
Late 1983 - Pro-Soviet peace demonstrations in Finnish towns, broken down by the police. Police action condemned by the Soviet government as “Finnish police taking an anti-Soviet stand”.
1 November 1983 - Alaska Department of Civil Defense, in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, begins issuing emergency preparedness documents to rural communities in the state. Orders include the designation of evacuation sites, and the stockpiling of additional community food stores. Community leaders in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau receive similar documents.
7 November 1983 - Representative from the Soviet Oil and Gas Ministry arrives in the city of Dutch Harbor, Alaska to begin negotiations with two representatives from the United States Department of the Interior over the proposed Navarin Basin Oil and Gas Lease.
November 1983 - Finnish parliament passes new Readiness Law allowing extraordinary emergency powers to the president and cabinet.
November-December 1983 - REFORGER Soviet pressure on the Finnish government leads to the creation of the Finno-Soviet Bilateral Defense Commission to “facilitate concrete cooperation based on the FCMA Treaty”.
November-December 1983 / January 1984 - Date of Partial Mobilization declaration? Mobilization of the 15 NG enhanced brigades and USAR infantry brigades, and associated support pieces (including Individual Ready Reserve fillers) ?
December 1983 - Mobilization of the Finnish Defence Forces begins, reservists are being called to service in growing numbers. The building of various defensive structures, including dispersed air force bases is started.
6 December 1983 - Military parades held in all Finnish Military Provinces on the Finnish Independence Day to show the increased readiness of the Defence Forces.
Late 1983 - early 1984 - The Finnish government starts introducing emergency controls in the economy. Transition to a “full rationing regime” started. Mandatory requisitions of private vehicles, machinery and “strategic goods” for the national defence effort begin. The mobilization of wartime Civil Defence organization is started. The military units and civilian authorities start moving equipment and personnel into underground shelters, which are being made ready for extended use. In Helsinki, subway stations are repurposed for use as shelters for the residents of the city. Emergency drills held, local authorities directed to stock up on medical supplies and protective gear.
31 December 1983 - Captain Mike Stone and the crew of the M/V Northern Eagle are en route to the snow fishing grounds off the Pribilof Islands, Alaska.
1 January 1984 - In his New Year's speech, Finnish President Mauno Koivisto stresses the Finnish commitment to neutrality and self-defence, and speaks against Soviet demands about using Finnish soil to defend the USSR.
Early January 1984 - Finnish and Swedish governments agree to organize all commercial shipping in the Gulf of Bothnia and the Archipelago Sea into convoys escorted by armed icebreakers. Finnish engineering projects in Iraq are mothballed, and the Finno-Soviet joint project for building a mining combine in Kostomuksha in Soviet Karelia is put on hold indefinetely.
January 1984 - Soviet demands for the right to use the Finnish airspace and Finnish military facilities in Lapland “for the defence of the USSR” carefully rebuffed by the Finnish government. Finnish Foreign Minister Paavo Väyrynen tours the Nordic area to seek political support for Finland and any measures to reduce international tension, meeting Norwegian Foreign Minister Svenn Stray and Swedish Foreign Minister Lennart Bodström.
15 January 1984 - US Gulf States Command formally stood up, Gen Barrow, LTG Reid, MajGen McIlhenny, COL(CH) Hannan, CDR(CH) Blackman, and a couple of others yet to be named confirmed by voice vote of the US Senate.
Mid January 1984 - Pre-emptive evacuations of the residents of the greater Helsinki area are started.
29 January 1984 - Due to the increasing international crisis, the chief of the Norwegian Armed Forces declares the highest level of alert for all Norwegian defense forces installations, effective from 0800 hours until further notice. Preparation of Norwegian civilian bunkers begins in full swing, National Guard deployed to aid efforts. The RNN, coast guard, oil rigs and civilian ships are put on high alert concerning Soviet submarines in the North Atlantic.
1 February 1984 - 159th Fighter Wing disperses from NAS NOLA; only 5 minute strip alert aircraft remaining on base; US Coast Guard aircraft move to Grand Isle and Morgan City, LA. The United States government, in response to escalating tensions with the Soviet Union, begin enacting emergency measures in the state of Alaska to limit possible civilian casualties due to the state's geographic proximity to the Soviet Union. Of greatest importance to the state was the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) decision to ground all domestic air travel within Alaska until the end of the current crisis. This action was taken in response to the Bulgarian downing of a Dutch KLM flight. Secondly, the US Coast Guard, in conjunction with the United States Navy, declared a zone of exclusion throughout the entire Bering Sea. All civilian vessels operating within the nautical limits of the Bering Sea and the adjoining Chukchi Sea were ordered to return to port immediately. The USCG was tasked with the enforcement of this nautical exclusion zone. In the state capital of Juneau discussions began regarding the possible evacuation of civilian communities in the Aleutian Islands. This was fueled largely by fears of Soviet air attack against communities in the island chain following the Soviet air incursion over the Aleutians during FleetEx '83 the previous year. Illinois Governor Jim Thompson meets with the Chancellor of the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) and proposes a plan that the emergency government of Illinois would be seated at the University in the event of a nuclear war. The Chancellor agrees to the plan and the command post there begins construction.
6 February 1984 - The first of several planning meetings are held in Springfield, Illinois. In attendance are all of the executive officials (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Attorney General, and Comptroller).
8 February 1984 - The second of several planning meetings are held in Springfield, Illinois. In attendance are the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Secretary of State. UK is at BIKINI State: AMBER, RAF Vulcans at QRA State: 15 Minutes.
9 February 1984 - The last of several planning meetings are held in Springfield, Illinois. In attendance are all of the executive officials.
10 February 1984 - Operation OPAL executed in the UK - RAF disperses nuclear armed Vulcans to airfields across the UK.
11 February 1984 - 42nd US Infantry Division mobilized.
20 February 1984 - US Gulf States Command (Rear) fully operational at Avery Island, Louisiana - skeleton staffs for NAVFORRES, MARFORRES, and Louisiana National Guard remaining in New Orleans. Mississippi National Guard moves from Jackson and Camp Shelby. Alabama National Guard stands up a rear headquarters at Tuscaloosa.
2.) The Exchange (21 February 1984)
1155 ZULU/5:55 AM CST - The first report of the nuclear detonation near Kassel reaches Governor Thompson. He orders an immediate evacuation of Springfield.
Around 12:00 - Confused reports reach newsrooms that an atomic blast has been reported in West Germany. An American commander on the ground, having found his forces surrounded west of Kassel, mistakenly believes that the use of tactical nuclear weapons has been authorised (to this day, it is unknown quite how he came to this conclusion, although one can only guess at the stress and confusion the man must have been facing). A battlefield nuclear weapon is airburst near Kassel. Soviet casualties are enormous.
1245 ZULU/6:45 AM CST - The Illinois Government evacuates Springfield. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Secretary of State head to the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) while the Treasurer, Attorney General, and Comptroller head to Southern Illinois University (Carbondale).
Roughly 14:00 - A Soviet tactical nuclear weapon has initiated over the Kassel Pocket. It obliterates the American commander's pocket to the west. Casualties amongst NATO ground forces are reported to be near total. The frontline goes quiet. All RAF nuclear armed forces are ordered to go to immediate cockpit alert.
1415 ZULU/8:15 AM CST - Governor Thompson learns of the second nuclear detonation in Germany.
1445 ZULU/8:45 AM CST - Governor Thompson makes a speech informing the citizens of Illinois about the two nuclear detonations in Germany.
16:00 - Last-minute emergency preparations still being made in various parts of Europe, including the British Isles.
1745 ZULU/11:45 AM CST - Word reaches the University of Illinois about the tactical exchange in Europe. Both Urbana-Champaign and Carbondale prepare for an all-out strategic exchange.
1753 ZULU/11:53 AM CST - The EAN is received by Urbana-Champaign and Carbondale.
17:56 - Flight of Avro Vulcan bombers authorised for take-off, scrambled from RAF Elvington, Yorkshire. British nuclear bombers throughout the UK are put into action.
17:58 - The first nuclear device to detonate in the north west of England exploded above the communications base at Inskip, around seventeen miles south of Lancaster.
18.06 - The closest blast to Lancaster occurred. Twenty thousand people in Barrow-in-Furness became vapour. Thirty thousand Barrovians were dead within ten minutes, over thirty five thousand within the hour. The single airburst fell short of the shipyard by half a mile, exploding above the Holker Street soccer ground. Within seconds the steelworks and shipyard were gone. It was only in Ulverston, ten miles from ground zero, and protected by the hilly south Cumbrian geography, that damage became scarce.
3.) The first post-Exchange months (22 February - 31 December 1984)
23 February - Donald Rumsfeld arrives at Southern Illinois University after escaping the nuclear destruction of St. Louis. The city of Keokuk, Iowa is taken over by survivalists.
2 March - Rumsfeld leads a coup that successfully installs him as leader of the Carbondale government. The Treasurer, Attorney General, and Comptroller are captured and arrested. The Urbana-Champaign government denounces Rumsfeld's government and declares that it (Urbana-Champaign) is the only legitimate representative of Illinois. The Free Carbondale Militia is formed.
4 March - Indiana Lieutenant Governor John Mutz, the highest ranking surviving executive official of Indiana, arrives at Urbana-Champaign due to safety concerns back in Indiana.
13 July - USS Texas spotted at the southwestern coast of Ireland, later meets up with RMAS Bustler in the English Channel. First post-war establishment of official contact between the governments of the US and the United Kingdom. Return of surviving Operation Prospero air crew to the UK. First post-war deals between the survivor governments signed.
15 of July, evening - Swiss aerial reconnaissance had positively identified four mobile launchers in the vicinity of Munich. This confirmation that the weapons are not mere hearsay brings the internal conflict in CHANTICLEER to boiling point.
16 July - An emergency meeting of the UK emergency cabinet is called in the early hours of the morning.
Late July - Operation Anthony launched, with the goal of using the remaining nuclear-equipped bombers of the RAF to obliterate the surviving Soviet troops in Munich. In mid-flight, all bombers are called off to return to their bases and the operation is cancelled.
10 August - The Munich armistice and peace treaty are signed between the governments of most major surviving combatant countries by their delegates and representatives. The Third World War is brought to an official end.
19 September - The coronation of George VII., the new monarch of the United Kingdom. The ceremony, presided over by Archbishop Runcie, took place at Portsmouth Cathedral in the presence of an encouraging number of foreign dignitaries. The Queen’s newborn second son was also in attendance, and infamously, cried incessantly from the moment that the USS Texas fired a salute. In accordance with tradition, the new king was crowned atop (much of what had been rescued of) the Stone of Scone.
4.) Developments during the second half of the 1980s
Text to be added.
5.) Developments during the 1990s
Text to be added.
6.) Developments during the 2000s
2000s - Damaged relatively less than other countries of the developed world, Brazil is now an important producer of machine and vehicular products. Turboprop trainer aircraft built by EMBRAER serve in the United Kingdom's rebuilding Royal Air Force.
May 2007 - Elections in the United Kingdom. The country remains a rebuilding liberal democracy with regular and fair elections, despite some of the Emergency Powers Act from the early 1980s still being in place a quarter century after the Exchange. In post-war Scotland, the two most important cities are now Stirling and Inverness. Stirling is still the de facto capital of Scotland and is the home of the Scotland Office and Scottish Administration. (The latter being the successor to the Commissioner who had governed Scotland from the Regional Government HQ at Kirknewton in the immediate aftermath of war.) Passenger rail links between Stirling and Inverness are in good condition and of great regional importance.
7.) Developments during the first half of the 2010s
Text to be added.
This is a working demo, not final text. Updating is in constant progress.