New Reality Seeds

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Try this one...

In Homeline history, President Truman declined to run in 1952, although he could have done so, and Eisenhower easily brushed MacArthur, especially after MacArthur, made several embarrassingly right-wing speeches. However, in this Q6 world, Truman's popularity didn't sink as low as on Homeline (why is still unknown) so he did run in 1952. Meanwhile, Eisenhower had a period of ill health in early 1952 and declined to run giving MacArthur a free shot at the GOP nomination. "Give 'em Hell Harry." easily took MacArthur down and won a third term. MacArthur's defeat was so thorough that it sunk many conservatives with him. It also set up Truman running an winning in 1956 as well. The enhanced popularity and prominence helped Truman get National Healthcare through congress. Of course it didn't hurt that Truman had the goods on two important senators and the chance to use what he knew.

There were multiple other effects as well. Neither John Foster Dulles nor his brother Allen ever rose to prominence. The "Good Neighbor Policy came fully back and became standard practice.

Centrum, wants to gain greater influence in this world.

more later...

Later has come...

Although Truman is seen today as a fierce and uncompromising anti-communist, at the time Truman was seen as dangerously conciliatory. Once Khrushchev consolidated his power Truman and he worked surprisingly well together. Sure neither man really trusted the other, but they felt they could do business. Historically most leaders of the USA and a plurality of Soviet leaders wanted a better relationship. Both Truman and Khrushchev wanted a better relationship between their nations and had good temperments for dealing with each other (Eisenhower and Khrushchev got on each other's nerves in multiple ways neither man should be blamed for) as a result, the Cold War was far less tense and both sides acted with more discretion and a greater pragmatic awareness that not everything is about them.

As this world is calmer and more aware of how multipolar it is, the world is less defensive and paranoid. This deprives Centrum of easy means to hook in and control this world. They need to reintroduce fear and paranoia.

Basically, this is a very different Cold War espionage campaign. It's a lot more like the old TV show The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and its spinoff perhaps with a nice dose of another stylish show. The role of THRUSH goes to Centrum. As Centrum is technologically advanced, all those superweapons and weird tech are simply 70 years advanced on the local tech. The stranger threats could be Cabalists and/or Swagmen.

The local year is 1959, the manna level is low. The Tech Level is seven, but that could change if any Centrum tech is captured and reverse-engineered.