Alternate History World War III: 1988, aka "The War of '88"

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Tiamat

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Thanks to everyone providing feedback and support thus far. I really do appreciate it. I’d be grateful to hear anyone else’s thoughts or opinions on the matter?

I just prefer writing fiction, I don’t like it when fiction starts to get a little too parallel with reality.

Covid was finally starting to slack away, now this. Fucking hell.
 
Tiamat

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Thing is? As I’m writing the follow up to the Soviet operation in Iran, there’s a considerable segment involving the soviet VDV. Lo and behold, Russian VDV irl are on the ground at Kiev airport…

Maybe I should just call the Russian VDV public affairs office or equivalent and compare notes. “Hey Ivan, how was your flight??”
 
Aaron Fox

Aaron Fox

Well-known member
Tiamat said:
Thing is? As I’m writing the follow up to the Soviet operation in Iran, there’s a considerable segment involving the soviet VDV. Lo and behold, Russian VDV irl are on the ground at Kiev airport…

Maybe I should just call the Russian VDV public affairs office or equivalent and compare notes. “Hey Ivan, how was your flight??”
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... I would recommend you not do that. People who try that sort of thing tend to be dead...
 
Kujo

Kujo

For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
Keep writing Tiamat! You think Tom Clancy was worried if "Red Storm Rising" was too close to reality? Heck the old insurance Salesman would of been proud at how close he and his actuality tables got it! Keep Writing and if you had some insight and/or precognition so much the better! Thank you!
 
Tiamat

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Kujo said:
Keep writing Tiamat! You think Tom Clancy was worried if "Red Storm Rising" was too close to reality? Heck the old insurance Salesman would of been proud at how close he and his actuality tables got it! Keep Writing and if you had some insight and/or precognition so much the better! Thank you!
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Thanks, but insight or precognition? Nope, I've got a dartboard. That and I'm familiar with the ugly reality that history has this nasty tendency to rhyme...
 
Tiamat

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
So what would be the music that helps define the "War of '88" and the preluding months leading up to it? (and has helped me revisit the 80's)


Some of my favorites:

"Eleanor Rigby" by the Beetles, an oldie, admittedly but quite melancholy and strangely fitting.

"Land of Confusion" by Genesis.

"People are People" by Depeche Mode

"Aces High" by Iron Maiden

"Master of Puppets" by Metallica

"Wild Side" by Motley Crue

"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears

"It's a Mistake" by Men at Work

"Blue Monday" by New Order....because the 80's isn't complete without it.


And yes, note I didn't add "99 Balloons"...I guess it would get a mention, but always thought it was overrated.

I'm just imaging an M1 Abrams tank gunner with the 11th ACR at the Fulda Gap having this on a cassette tape (remember those?), playing on the stereo he managed to fit inside the tank...right as it all goes down.
 
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Kujo

Kujo

For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
Can we have Sabaton time travel with Devil Dogs, 82nd all the way, War to end all wars, Ghost Division, the Unkillable Soldier, Soldier of Heaven, Lion from the North (have to have some Norwegian Commandos vs Soviet spec ops action somewhere right?). also an actual song from the time frame Mike and the Mechanics Silent Running (though could be applicable today as well). Hope I wasn't too nettlesome, thank you!
 
A

Airedale260

Well-known member
Kujo said:
Can we have Sabaton time travel with Devil Dogs, 82nd all the way, War to end all wars, Ghost Division, the Unkillable Soldier, Soldier of Heaven, Lion from the North (have to have some Norwegian Commandos vs Soviet spec ops action somewhere right?). also an actual song from the time frame Mike and the Mechanics Silent Running (though could be applicable today as well). Hope I wasn't too nettlesome, thank you!
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Honestly, if World War III had broken out in Scandinavia, there was a non-zero chance Sweden would have fought alongside NATO. But yeah…would have made for quite a soundtrack.

Oh, and for any action in the Middle East/Levant, don’t forget The Clash’s Rock the Casbah. It was in fact the most requested song on Armed Forces Radio during the Iraq invasion in 2003.
 
Tiamat

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
ATP said:
Was "i need a hero" arleady made ?
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It was, but IMO always sounded a bit corny to me. I tend to be a bit more "metal". :devilish:

Airedale260 said:
Honestly, if World War III had broken out in Scandinavia, there was a non-zero chance Sweden would have fought alongside NATO. But yeah…would have made for quite a soundtrack.

Oh, and for any action in the Middle East/Levant, don’t forget The Clash’s Rock the Casbah. It was in fact the most requested song on Armed Forces Radio during the Iraq invasion in 2003.
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Perhaps there is a non-zero chance Sweden fighting alongside anyone when WW3 hits....at first. There wouldn't be any fun in that, would there??

"Rock the Casbah" might indeed become the unofficial theme (as well as again one of the most requested on AFN) of the U.S. Rapid Deployment Force during the '88 War in...ah, somewhere hot and sandy. 😎
 
Kujo

Kujo

For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
If time travel was an option Sabaton just dropped this one

Which if the Soviet axis of advance it could apply to the Netherlands, Denmark, non NATO members like Taiwan, parts or all of Japan, Hong Kong (depending on China's choices), Kuwait, or even the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, perhaps Israel, or what the song is about Belgium! Though the chorus line of "See a king and a soldier, fighting shoulder to shoulder " could be poignant moment in the story?

It's an alternate history just have Par and Joakim be born in the 60s ;-)
 
Tiamat

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Sergeant Foley said:
@Tiamat Reading the first parts of your timeline and I am shocked and scared.

Wondering how the '86 midterms go?
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How far have you read so far, and what scared you? If I did scare you, I'll take that as a compliment. :devilish: :LOL:

I think the '86 midterms probably went as they did in real life. Remember, Tip O'Neill is Speaker of the House and leader of the House Democrat Caucus at that time, and the Democrats of this era are a bit more comparable to the party of FDR, YMMV of course. Then again, O'Neill gets replaced in January 1987 by Jim Wright, who will lead the House Democrats in '88, which is an election year, btw, when it all goes downhill...
 
Sergeant Foley

Sergeant Foley

Well-known member
Tiamat said:
How far have you read so far, and what scared you? If I did scare you, I'll take that as a compliment. :devilish: :LOL:

I think the '86 midterms probably went as they did in real life. Remember, Tip O'Neill is Speaker of the House and leader of the House Democrat Caucus at that time, and the Democrats of this era are a bit more comparable to the party of FDR, YMMV of course. Then again, O'Neill gets replaced in January 1987 by Jim Wright, who will lead the House Democrats in '88, which is an election year, btw, when it all goes downhill...
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What about Philippines? Does Cory Aquino serve out her 6-year term as President in this timeline like she did in real life?
 
Tiamat

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Sergeant Foley said:
What about Philippines? Does Cory Aquino serve out her 6-year term as President in this timeline like she did in real life?
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That was the plan. She's gonna have her hands full though, with Communist rebels being armed and aided by "rumored" Soviet advisors, not to mention the Philippines possibly getting the occasional visit by Soviet AF and Navy. It's still housing several U.S. bases during this time, Subic Bay and Clark AFB among them, with possible chance of said bases also getting visited by saboteur attempts...
 
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