Alright! Operation: Win Over Miette with my Adorable Charm is a complete success!!
I was in a great mood. After designing a cute avatar for myself, one oozing with charm, I had successfully endeared myself to my pilot. She had agreed to keep my secret, pledged to be more careful while piloting me and even given me some of her access codes! With her on my side, I stood a much better chance of not dying!
Total victory for Sveta! Bwahahahaha! You truly can manipulate anyone with a cute face and a smile!
While metaphorically patting myself on the back, I connected to the ship’s mainframe and began my studies. I had to learn everything I possibly could about the world I was stranded in.
I discovered, much to my delight, I could manifest virtual spaces for my avatar to occupy. I chose a cozy room with a wooden floor and walls, filled with bookshelves. It had a crackling fireplace in the corner and was filled with big ol’ plush beanbag chairs. Truly the perfect environment for a little heavy reading!
I dove onto one of the beanbag chairs and manifested the first of the ship’s database wiki articles in my hand, in the form of a large hardcover book.
Study session! Let’s GOOOO!
*****
When conversing with Miette earlier, we had established that some details of her world’s history didn’t match my own memories. Poring over the wiki entries in detail, I established a point of divergence where this world’s timeline branched off from my own.
It seemed, in this world, Franklin Delano Roosevelt had lost the 1932 presidential election in the United States of America, done in by the public airing of an affair he had some fifteen years earlier which culminated in a contentious divorce from his wife, Eleanor, during his presidential campaign.
Dude shoulda kept it in his pants. I mused sardonically.
Without FDR’s liberal New Deal policies to jump-start the economy, the downturn of the Great Depression only worsened to the point where the American government completely collapsed in 1935. With America becoming a failed state, revolution took hold among the people, and organized labor soon stepped in to fill the power void and establish a new communist administration. Thus was the country reborn as the United Soviet States of America.
Ultimately, the USSA and Soviet Russia became rather close allies, and banded together to put down an aggressive Nazi Germany in the 1940s, with the newly founded People’s Republic of China joining in the communist alliance. In this world, the conflict was referred to as the Great Patriotic War instead of World War II.
Without an ideological divide between East and West, the Cold War never manifested. The USSA, USSR and PRC joined in an intergovernmental organization to promote worldwide communist revolution, and thus was born the United Soviet States of Earth. Of course, many smaller nations and decolonized regions weren’t keen on joining the revolution, but they didn’t have much chance against the combined might of three communist great powers. Various proxy wars, clandestine expeditions by irregular mercenary forces and secret regime changes soon tidied up those loose ends.
Hmm, I thought, ruminating on that unsavory detail. In that respect, at least, this world isn’t terribly different from my own.
With the ostensible achievement of world peace, the USSE’s nations opted to pursue accelerated space exploration instead of military brinksmanship. The first moon landings occurred in 1955, and a permanent moon base was established soon after. From there, humanity went on to Mars and the asteroid belt in the 1960s.
Eventually, concerns of overpopulation, food supply and a looming Malthusian catastrophe became paramount in the 1970s. The USSE began the construction of space colonies in Earth’s orbit to address this, and soon humanity became a truly spacefaring species. Most of these colonies were Stanford toruses, although a few O’Neill cylinders were constructed as raw materials poured in from increasing mining in the asteroid belt.
It wasn’t all roses, however. Differing policies in forced space immigration lead to an American/Russian split in the 1980s, which wasn’t patched up until over twenty years later, causing the USSE’s government to become rather divided and strained. Additionally, several of the orbital colonies decided to declare independence in the early 2000s, although such rebellions were quickly quashed. By the time the 2010s ended, an uneasy peace had settled over the Earth and her orbital colonies.
Even with a world government you can’t have total peace, huh? Typical human nature. I shouldn’t be talking shit, though, as a human myself. Or, wait, ex-human? Aaaah, whatever! Difficult topics can wait until later!!
In the year 2021, the calm was completely shattered by an outside context problem of staggering proportions. An utterly ravenous bio-technological alien entity invaded the Solar System, seemingly with no other purpose than to drive humanity to complete extinction.
Humans named these creatures the Sarcophage, a Latin word meaning “flesh-consuming.” The Sarcophage were a relentless legion of all-consuming might, and humanity was driven back from its holdings in the asteroid belt and Mars with startling speed. All attempts to communicate with the Sarcophage went unanswered, and dissections of captured corpses revealed a bizarre biology bereft of a central nervous system or reproductive capacity. They seemed little more than instinct-driven biological machines ordered to wipe out humanity for reasons unknown.
It was at this time that humanity, desperate for any weapons against the alien menace, began to adapt spacefaring powered exoskeletons for combat. These exoskeletons, known as Zero-Gravity Powered Frames, had been built for construction and mining work, but with weapons hastily strapped on they were humanity’s first and only line of defense against the Sarcophage. Even so, with their primitive chemical rocket thrusters hampering their maneuverability, they were at a staggering disadvantage.
The USSE hastily developed and deployed scaled up and combat specialized versions of these exoskeletons, which were large enough to hold their own miniaturized nuclear reactor and included newly developed gravity drives instead of chemical rockets for greatly enhanced mobility. These became the first Gravity Frames, the giant robots which held back the endless flesh-tide of the Sarcophage.
Over the following 34 years of total war, humanity was driven back to just outside the Moon’s orbit, where they made their final stand at the Absolute Lunar Defense Line, a vast constellation of orbital fortifications. If the Sarcophage ever managed to breach this line, Earth herself would be subject to their slavering ministrations.
Well that’s utterly horrifying. Argh, I’ve found myself in an awful timeline! I’ve been reincarnated in a Harry Turtledove novel! GOD DAMN IT, GOD!
I shook my virtual fist at an invisible sky deity with vigor. It was an entirely futile gesture, but it felt good, damn it!
*****
After my crash course in world history, my next task was to read up on detailed information concerning Gravity Frames, spaceships and humanity’s tactics in the war against the Sarcophage. I was prioritizing information essential to my survival, although many links on frivolous topics tempted me greatly. Several pop culture touchstones I was familiar with didn’t exist in this timeline, with the notable exception of the 80s glam metal band Night Ranger. What might their music have been like under a worldwide communist regime?
ARGH I WANT TO KNOW! A little side reading couldn’t hurt, right?
Pushing that thought aside with desperate abandon, I returned to my technical studies. Just then, I felt an icy-cold presence, like the frigid aura of death, manifest behind me.
My head creaked around, sounding like a rusty wheel. Standing over me was Radiolaria, the ship’s AI. She wore a deep-blue business suit, with a perfectly neat tie and a short pencil-skirt that came down to just above the mid-thigh. Her long legs were clad in sheer blank pantyhose, and a pair of high heels made her look tall and intimidating. Her arms were folded and her eyes pierced me with an icy glare.
It seemed like her glasses were glinting with hell’s own light.
Every part of her, from her clothing to her body language, proclaimed “This woman is in charge. This woman is the boss. Do NOT fuck with her.” I was intimidated beyond all reason, mouth opening and closing with no words coming out.
“Gravity Frame AI Sveta, I presume.” she said, her tone dripping with anger. “Would you mind telling me EXACTLY what you’re doing?”
“Ah!” I squeaked out, trying to reply. “I g-guess I’ve been found out, huh?”
If I wasn’t an AI, I would have been sweating like a snowcone on a summer day.
Radiolaria briskly walked up to me and clamped onto my shoulder with her left hand. Her grip was vicelike. She brought her right hand up to her ear and began to speak to someone.
“Yes, captain? Sorry to wake you. There’s something we need to discuss.”
I like an alternative history every now and then. It is unique in that Communism is the leading ruler. But there are many issues I see with it. I get it, this probably isn't meant to take in every account. But I am a history and alternate nerd.
One of the first problems that comes up, is the FDR scandal. It is believable that FDR would lose. That's not the issue. The issue arises that FDR's lack of leadership would lead to the fall of the USA. It's a popular theory you can find only and even by some Arthurs. But FDR really wasn't that great of a President. It's thought that due to past administration policies being slow at the start and finally kicking in around FDR's time. You can see that parts of the economy were already gaining traction by the time FDR came in. His infrastructure projects did contribute, don't get me wrong. But with America's inevitable entry into WW2 one way or another, and the economy already coming into work, it's likely his success is less to do with his economic powers, but more to do with combining factors, there are a couple of others things that were notable about the Great Depression recovery.
There is also the fact that the US wouldn't be able to collapse just like that. The term 'Too big, too fail' never holds more true to America. Sure there might be these time periods of turmoil, but America's fast land, resources, technology, economy, and population put it in a distinct place where some even more catastrophic than a depression could do to America.
But, without FDR, Europe would be completely different at this point. One of the only reasons that Europe didn't fully succumb to Nazism, is that America lead by FDR supported Britain. At first, it was both Germany and Britain, but with FDR and his Anti-German agenda, it eventually leads to mass imports of Food, weapons, and ships to Britain. Germany was already employing Wolfpack tactics meant to starve out Britain into a peace deal. Britain was undergoing mass-rationing. Their regular supplies were cut off, as convoys would be sunk by the Germans and Italians. Even Japan helped with that. Republicans during this time ran on a non-intervention agenda. So even with the US still alive. We'd see a Britain unable to deal with a Nazi Europe.
The Blitz was a thing that Britain dealt with late into the war. So with this and mass starvation becoming rampant, we'd probably see Winston Churchill's popularity plummet and either see rebellions or a Churchill coming to his sense and surrendering. If you looked at the plans Germany had, it wasn't world domination that is widely believed. But to create an empire of their own. They were content on letting Britain maintain it's empire and colonies, while Germany would take back colonies lost during WW1 and most likely have the French as a puppet. Germany was keener on exporting Jewish people to Madagascar and the eventual war in the East.
Britain themselves would face either a Fascist takeover, possibly even putting the Monarchs back in or a Communist revolution. Each one has some setting in reality. Losing so badly when they had just 'Won' a war not even 20-years ago. It would lead to mass dissent against the government. I could see people seeing the success of Germany and thinking that Britain's True path lies in Fascism. I can see people think they need to revert back to the Monarchy that is still a very popular idea back then, and like many other nations, a Communist revolution takes place mostly for the same reason as Fascism.
This alone might not even be the biggest change. With America maintaining a Non-intervention policy, Japan would have free reign over the Pacific. Japan only attacked America because of its attitude towards Japan's Policies and the cutting off trade with Japan. Resources were Japan's biggest issue. But with a stable supply of oil and food. Japan would be able to wreak havoc on Britain, France, Dutch, and China. You would see Japan become one of the world's most powerful nations. Especially once the Dutch East Indies and Malaya have been taken over. China would either have a conditional surrender with Japan. Japan would put their puppet Manchukuo in charge of China and bring back the Chinese Monarchy. Japan would probably give India self-autonomy to an extent, but more then what other European powers gave. Japan would not want to deal with an insurgent nation as big as India.
Once Japan has settled their claims, where else would they turn to? The US? No, the USSR. One of Japan's biggest enemies, and with such a bolstered Nation, it'd be considerably easier, especially closer to Japan's border's. Since the Soviets are well known for their brutal treatment of the indigenous populations of Siberia and Asian's elsewhere in their land. Japan would probably have a lot of support, Kind of like how the German's were praised as liberators as they invaded parts of the Soviet Union.
Japan and Germany were allies in our timeline. But this is only in terms of mutual assistance. Japan and Germany shared fastly different views and were only united under common enemies. This would probably lead to an eventual clash between these two nations, as there isn't any real way that a Germany not occupied with the allies and a Japan not occupied with the Allies, could not defeat the Soviet Union still weakened by Stalin's Great Purges. Even more so if the Anti-Soviet Union US decides to provide support or less likely but intervene.
Any talks of the PRC winning in this timeline is out of the question, even if you take Japan's victory in China out of the equation. The factors that lead to the PRC winning are due to unprepared Nationalist China, Japan losing, PRC hoarding military supplies, and so on.
While sure, we might see a more technologically advanced world in the story timeline, it's unlikely. One of the big issues with Communism is that the nations tend to fall behind in terms of science and technology. The Soviet Union had massive problems with this. It's actually kind of impressive how they were able to keep a rough even field in terms of technology in the Cold War. So a Soviet Union that haves massive problems already, and the US that has had a collapse and a reemergence as a Communist nation. It's unlikely we'd get anything close to the technology advances as in the story timeline.
Finally, the US and the SU forming up together is very unlikely in any timeline. At least so soon. There's more to relationships besides just having the same ideology. America and Russia are just not compatible. World peace is also unlikely, one of the big three Communist nations would start trouble with one of the other or so. You would still have wars.
I'll call it here, I've already been typing for a while, I believe for over an Hour now. But I do enjoy looking at alternate History timelines. I still like the one you proposed. It's a unique one. I am hoping that this draws conflict between Miette ( I hope I spelled that right) and Sveta. Svetta grew up in America, one of the most democratic places in the world. While Miette grew up with only knowing Communism. I think this could be great character development as they have to deal with such different ideological differences. I also hope this made sense, I've been up for probably close to 24-hours, probably like 22-hours.
Well, I thank you for the detailed historical breakdown. That's quite a lot to address in a single comment, and a lot of it comes down to my own personal preference with trying a less common setting, but I will say this: I never said Sveta was originally American. Every country has forklift drivers, ya know?
@pynkbites Yeah, I guess that's true. Since most stories on this site take set on Earth and have America as the place the MC's from. I do hope though that Sveta is from a non-communist nation. Just because I think that type of conflict could be very interesting.
I think I mentioned it in the original comment but may not have been that greatly told since I had been up for an almost full day at that point. But I was just saying the probability of what'd likely happen. It'd be unfair of me to expect you to spend an entire chapter on just what would happen in the 1940s-1950s. It was just me wanting to go through it all. It is something I greatly enjoy doing.
I did reread the original comment and noticed a lot of grammar issues and sentences that don't make much sense, so hopefully, that wasn't too confusing.
@SovietWeeb It's all good I enjoy the engagement. This is my first serious attempt at writing so I appreciate all the feedback I can get!
There are a lot of stories out there with American perspectives and protagonists, or (because of the origins of isekai) Japanese perspectives, so I'm trying to mix it up a bit. Big swaths of my setting are obviously inspired by my favorite mecha series, so I gotta do something to set it apart, know what I mean? That's why I'm trying to make sure there's a diverse cast, since this is supposed to be a war where all of humanity is pitted against aliens. Hence why the ship's captain has a Russian name, Miette has a French name, and the new pilots in the latest chapters have Maltese and Italian names. I'm trying to show that, in this particular timeline, national borders have become blurred with humanity fighting a common enemy.
On a sidenote, Radiolaria's name comes from my unhealthy obsession with drawing character names from taxonomic nomenclature. I just think it sounds cool. In other story outlines I've brainstormed, practically every character name is drawn from animalia taxonomy.
As for the details of this timeline's diversions from our own, I would like to work them in a little more organically. My own tendency is to write long infodumps (like this chapter) but now that I've indulged myself once and established the setting, I am gonna try and work it into the narrative more smoothly. Little pieces here and there, yeah?
Its really hard to say, because the reason why the soviet union lagged behind science was because of Lysenko and his Lysenkoism cooperating with stalin to maintain his iron fist rule. Together with german talent from east germany and communist focus on S&T, they immediately jumped in technology and science, going to space first.
@pynkbites Add to all of that the core principle of Communist just don't work with human nature.
The best human can realy consider "there own" is betwen 150 to 250 people. More than that, and thing start to go awyre. Nationalism and other way are just a patch band, who work one the hate or fear from oustide, magnified and generalised. Beside ... all great Communist country as go down from there own, from the inside. Either because some rotten guy as take the power, either because the admisnistrative as start to hoard power for themself (i talk about family line, like in China) and, basicaly, created a full-blown nobility-system painted like a communisme one (also like China, in our time, or North Corea). Communisme don't work and contredict the fondamental human nature, simply.
Well ... Liberalisme neither. Like we see it now, it's fall appart as fast, for other reason. Not the human nature, but how long the world itself can stand the waste and polution created by it. And, it's also contredict the part of human nature who make use "social animal" (and other).
Aaaand, like SovietWeeb said it : communism and hight tech don't work together. It's realy easy to understand why, in fact : creation, research, new idea need to be free to work well. And can also come from outside people of the field. Communisme don't alowe that at all.
Thanks for the chapter!
Literally this comment was a freaking chapter