Alternate History Thread II...

[Oruc]

What about lizard aliens invade Earth during WW2? quite believeable if you ask me, then the USA takes the fight to the foul lizard homeworld succesfully conquering the entire universe.

 

[Stormbringer]

Well Das, what I want is a little bit of a different modern world. I do not want a survival of the SU as a superpower and the continuation of the Cold War, but given the fact that it was not until 1993 that Yeltsin could wrestle the power from the Communists in Russia and in 1996 he almost lost to a Communist leader in democratic elections I believe that it was very possible for the August Coup to suceed. Had Yanayev been a stronger leader and had the Coup leaders stormed the White House the first night, before the massive rallies in Moscow I believe that there would not have been a dissolution of the Soviet Union. The only places of resistance to the Coup were Leningrad and Moscow.

Now, what would happen to Russia and the rest of the world had the Coup suceeded...I am not quite sure. The Soviet economic collapse was inevitable, although I do believe that the Yeltsin economic reform hurt the country more than it helped. That is why I asked here what people believe would have happened.

 

[Kozmos]

I am very much for the no-nuke scenario sym suggested, greatly advanced modern tech but no nukes.

 

[Symphony D.]

I believe that it was very possible for the August Coup to suceed. Had Yanayev been a stronger leader and had the Coup leaders stormed the White House the first night, before the massive rallies in Moscow I believe that there would not have been a dissolution of the Soviet Union. The only places of resistance to the Coup were Leningrad and Moscow.

Thematically, maybe. Technically, the odds are not so hot. Quite a number of military units involved in Coup defected or refused their orders, and without the full backing of the military the completion of the coup would be very hard. They didn't demonstrate the willingness to use full force (attack/execute traitor units) to carry out the coup. A fat old man (Yeltsin) delivering a riling speech on top of a tank was enough to derail them - that speaks ill of their chances, at least to me.

I think a collapse under the Communists would'be been worse, actually. After losing most of its peripheral territory, and with some internal elements like Ukraine agitating, and a (likely somewhat, at least) bloody coup and a following purge, the remaining government would likely be highly paranoid and prone to use force. I foresee the tanks rolling out. Open rebellion might break out, Russia proper even would be somewhat rebellious and there would likely be increased chances of action and intervention on the part of the USSR's enemies, be it the West or China. Unless at that point a large swathe of the Strategic Missile Services simply refused orders I can see a decent number of warheads falling on various places before everything was over.

In short, I think if they'd stuck around, I feel the downfall of the Soviet Union would've been a lot more dramatic, bloody, and ugly, and would've resulted in even more chaos as large sections of it would likely either be blasted into oblivion, occupied, in chaos, or reduced to warlordism. For the rest of the industrialized world, the 1990s would likely have been a time of rebuilding, instead of prosperity, and with all those NBC weapons floating around in the shattered hulk of the former Soviet Union, terrorists would likely have a much easier time getting their hands on them down the line...

Why does it need to be commies, there is lots of other scenarios that don't involve the USSR. Bigger Socialist South America, Someone in Africa actually uniting people, EU saying FU and taking over lots of land........etc.

Sho-RYU-IGGY PUNCH!

I am very much for the no-nuke scenario sym suggested, greatly advanced modern tech but no nukes.

Sure. If you're prepared to wait maybe 6 - 9 months.

 

[Dachs]

Oh, I got it! Regulus in OTL proposed much harsher terms to the Carthaginians, which inspired them to fight on, leading to Regulus' total defeat at the Battle of Tunis. By Xanthippus, unless I'm mistaken.

Good enough. There was a minor change before that led to that, but it's not important enough to nitpick about. I'll try to have another installment in as soon as I get back.

das: Wow. Excellent. BTW, I believe I've explained why a Sulla couldn't happen that early; perhaps later, though.

About Storm's modern NES althist ideas: No bloody idea. You guys go at it.

 

[Kozmos]

Sure. If you're prepared to wait maybe 6 - 9 months.

Why that long? Damn you. It's not like I see that other NES you promised or anythings, besides you dont have to mod it.

 

[Symphony D.]

Because I work slowly and methodically, I work on several things at once, and that's my core project and if somebody took the timeline and ran it themselves, I would find a way to mail bomb them for wasting all my effort. That's why.

 

[Kozmos]

Well I'll steal it from you anyway. You are not majestic enough.

 

[Symphony D.]

How do you plan to Escape from New York when you have a neurotoxin in your bloodstream, Mr. Plissssskin?

 

[Kozmos]

I know a chinese dude who's good with toxins, name's Tong.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Sho-RYU-IGGY PUNCH!

I'm famous!

 

[North King]

Speaking of which, what with that 2,000 post limit thing that we never observe, we might need to start a new thread.

 

[Thlayli]

@das: Well technically I'm using a modified, slightly tweaked version of your rules, but I'm rewriting everything for simplicity's sake.

 

[Luckymoose]

Speaking of which, what with that 2,000 post limit thing that we never observe, we might need to start a new thread.

Doing it now.

 

[Kozmos]

I have passed my yearly exams in physics, electrotechnic and maths! This means I might be able to run a NES pretty soon. Now do you want a basic cold war NES? My Altfuturist 'fantasy' which I am not finished yet? OR something new and wild around year 2142?

 

[Turner]

Moderator Action: Thread closed.

Please see Althernate History III.