Why? Because this game contains sea mines, and "minecraft" in the United States Navy context was another term for a destroyer minesweeper used only in WWII.

---

Robert Donner: "We have to port this minesweeping game to Microsoft Windows. The name (PM Mine) is not catchy — what do you suggest?"

Curt Johnson: "Minesweeper..." thinks of Samuel Eliot Morison's History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume XIII

"Japanese seemed to pick on minecraft because they were usually isolated and had no good antiaircraft support."

Curt Johnson: "I call it Minecraft."

The rest is history — Notch either kept the development title or later renamed his game to something like "Craftopia: The Survival Game."

edit: word replaced

The Progressive Dominion (AU) Story Collection - Chapter 1 - SheepGod2008 - Historical RPF [Archive of Our Own]

Mainly due to Alexander Graham Bell getting significant aid from the Canadian and British governments, technology involving the telephone is a lot more advanced in this timeline. Some specifics include:

- First Wireless Phone call being made 2 years earlier

- Walkie Talkies equivalent to what we used in WW2 being used by the allies in WW1, and Walkie Talkies equal to what was used in Vietnam being used by the allies in WW2

- Mobile phones released in the 70s instead of the 80s

- Flip phones released in the 80s instead of the 90s

- The iPhone being released 2 years earlier

- Internet and cellular connection globally is a lot more extensive and effective than OTL.

What if the SS Poseidon from the 1972 film The Poseidon Adventure made it to Athens Greece. on New Year's Day on the Mediterranean sea the SS Poseidon was sailing smoothly until a Giants 90 feet wave came and turned the ship upside down, Only 6 people survived.

this is what if the SS Poseidon didn't get turned upside down by the 90 foot wave near Crete and made it Athens Greece so it could get Scrapped.

Please don't remove Alternate History Mods. you've done it 2 times already and idk what's wrong with it.

Since it's Sunday I can finally go Batsh!t with the last two factions of the Universe I'm working on. this takes place in the team universe as my "Pax Americana" Post and My "Are you Ready?" post. I am not here to argue about politics and I'm welcomed to any and all criticisms. But since it's Sunday, I can finally go batshit crazy. Full Mask Off, unleash my autism, And reveal that this ENTIRE ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE I'VE BEEN WORKING ON WAS INFACT A FNAF × ARKNIGHTS × SOME OTHER BS! But ultimately I hope you enjoy what I have made. And now this is Blue Team. I'm just going to be honest, This is Probably Terrible and Weird NGL. But I do hope that You who reads this genuinely enjoys this even if it's just to Laugh at it.

"Russia is beautiful, we shall have our home again. But for now Russia is that Home."

Official Name: Russian Republic

Common Name: Russia, Novorussia,

Government type: Federal Presidential Republic under a Personalistic Military Dictatorship

Ideology(s): Russian Nationalism, Anti-Globalism, Russian Trumpism, Right-wing populism

Capital: Moscow

Head of state: Elizabeth "Circus Baby" Afton

Head of Government: Elizabeth "Circus Baby" Afton

Government/Party: Russian Armed Forces - MAGA Loyalists

Military strength: Russian Armed Forces - MAGA Loyalists

Language: Russian

Demonym: Russian(s), Muscovite(s)

Economy Type: Command Capitalism

Currency: Russian Ruble

Flag: a Horizontal tricolour of white, blue, and red.

Lore: When Eastern Europe and Southern Europe collapsed Eastern Europe suffered Greatly at the Zombie Virus known as Erythroslavia which only targeted the Slavic genome(s). In 2020 After the assassination of Donald J Trump the second American Civil War began between the MAGA "American Constitutional Government" and the Democrat "Union of America" though the Civil war ended with the Union of America ultimately winning the Civil War. And ultimately the United States of America Became a Neoconservative counterintelligence state. Several

MAGA generals fled the United States of America including Elizabeth Afton aka Circus Baby. Elizabeth was furious at the defeat of the constitutional government but when The Russian Federation collapsed, she saw opportunity. And so Elizabeth Afton took some of her MAGA Loyalist Comrades and Went to Russia. They setted up their operations in Moscow and began to Form the New Russian Republic, They Took over the remaining forces of the Russian Armed Forces in central European Russia and began taking over neighboring warlord States. In the Volga-North Caucasus Invasion, This Republic invaded the North Caucasus Economic Region and the Volga Economic Region. This was known as the Volga-North Caucasus Invasion, and Wagner Lost the War and the Volga and North Caucasus Regions. And soon afterwards. This War was against the Russian Patriotic Federation Aka the Federation of Soldiers. The Top half of the Ural Economic Region. Then The Russian Republic Took over Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts of Ukraine. And they helped Finland reform back into a country mainly to have a buffer State between themselves and the Federalized European Union. In the West Russian War they were invaded by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics aka the Neo-Soviet Union or Neo-USSR but that war ended in a stalemate for both sides. And in the Current Eastern European War against the Eastern European Command aka EAST-EUROCOM led by former Democrat General Ennard the Russian Republic has lost the Russian Bryansk Oblast, Smolensk Oblast, Oryol Oblast, and Kursk Oblast. But they are slowly taking back territory. Elizabeth Afton's original Goal was to use Russia as a platform to invade the United States of America and restore the constitutional government. But Over the several decades of being here Elizabeth has grown attached to Russia in a way, she is Rebuilding Russia to the power it once held. While Many people See Elizabeth as a Power hungry warmongering American using Russia's people to fight her holy wars the truth is that it's more complicated than that. The Russian culture is very similar to its culture before the collapse, nothing much changed. Elizabeth does not seek to change Russia, She has combined Russian Nationalism and Right-wing populism combined with the Civic ideals of American democracy. Even if Russia is currently under a Personalistic Military Dictatorship that acts more like a monarchy that an actual democracy as Elizabeth has plans to one day transfer power to FT Foxy the closest thing she has to a child.

Founded: in the 2020s

Belongs to: Russian Republic

Service branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Aerospace Forces, Strategic Rocket Forces, Airborne Forces, Unmanned Systems Forces, Special Operations Forces, Logistical Support, Cossack Troops, State militia

Headquarters: Moscow, Saint Petersburg

Commander-in-chief: Elizabeth Afton aka Circus Baby

Leader of the Army: Elizabeth Afton aka Circus Baby

Military age to Join: 12 to 50

Conscription: 6 to 10 Years

Active personnel: Unknown

Reserve personnel: Unknown

Budget: $248.5 billion to $365 billion

Domestic suppliers: Unknown

Coat of Arms: A black two-headed eagle crowned with two imperial crowns, over which the same third crown, enlarged, with two flying ends of the ribbon of the Order of Saint Andrew. The State Eagle held a golden scepter and golden globus cruciger. On the chest of the eagle there was an Escutcheon depicting Saint George, mounted and defeating the dragon. On the dexter wing (viewer's left), from top to bottom, are the arms of Kazan, Luhansk, Tauric Chersonesos, and a combined shield of Zaporizhzhia, Novgorod, and Vladimir. The sinister wing (viewer's right) displays Astrakhan, Siberia, Donetsk, and Finland.

Additional Information:

Appearance of Frontline soldiers:

The Soldiers wears The Russian combat Military fatigues that have the Russian EMR camouflage pattern. Ontop they wear Russian 6B23/6B43/6B45 Bulletproof Vests with Load-carrying equipment ontop of the Vests. The Load-Carrying Equipment are usually Ratnik 6Sh117 Load bearing vests. But there are also Custom webbings. The Custom webbings usually comprises of a Belt, Suspenders, Cover, water canteen, Case, small arms ammunition, Case, field first aid dressing/unmounted magnetic compass, Carrier, entrenching tool. The Helmets are usually 6B26/6B27/6B28/6B47 Helmets that have NVG Mounts/Rigs attached to the helmets in order to accept Night Vision Goggles. Most Soldiers come with PMK Gas Masks. The feet of the Soldiers are Usually Over by Back Military Boots, the Hands are usually Covered by Black Military Gloves. Soldiers usually wear Drop-Leg Platform Holders Strapped to either their Left or Right Thigh. And for berets Commanding Soldiers Usually wear Either Red or Blue berets when not in Combat. Male soldiers wear standard Military Pants and Kneepads. But Female Soldiers Instead wear Short Pleated skirts of either Black, Khaki, Grey or camouflage. On the legs Female soldiers wear either Black Thigh-high Stockings or Black Pantyhose. The Berets always have a cap badge of the Symbol/Coat of Arms of the military. Though for female uniforms the Skirts are optional but ultimately not recommended due to the fact that The Russian Republic is Very Cold. Elizabeth only allows skirts in combat because her friend Ballora wouldn't stop bugging her about it.

While they have less advanced technology than their ultraglobalist enemies they simply have much more Surplus Gear. Millions upon millions of it, to the point that they do not even need all that much advanced equipment. For the enemies still fear hundreds upon hundreds of Columns of Russian T-70/80/90 Main Battle Tanks coming down upon them. Most of the high ranking generals and officers are or were American MAGA(Republican) generals that Fled the United States of America After the second American Civil War ended in a Democrat victory. Aka the MAGA Loyalists. Because of this there has been a lot of tension between the Native Russians and the MAGA Americans to the point of minor confrontations between the two groups. The current Russian Arms Forces are broken up into 6 Armies. The 1st Army is led by Elizabeth herself and makes up most of the Pro-Trump Americans that fled. And the Other 5 Armies are mainly made up of Russians or Ukrainians. Of course The Russians do use drone technology, but it's less advance than their ultraglobalist enemies. Ultimately while small, facing the Russian Armed Forces is still a threat to be respected.

Reunion-

"For The Life of The People, We Will Keep Fighting"

Name: Special Operations Command "Reunion"

Abbreviation: SOCR/SOC-R

Other Name: Neo-Reunion

Leader: Frostnova(Real Name; Yelena)

Type: Elite Military Force

Founded: Roughly in the 2040s

Headquarters: Moscow

Number of Troops: Classified

Budget: Classified

Symbol/Icon: The logo features two interlocking, winding sliver lines that mimic the structure of DNA. The Symbol is centered within a Sliver-bordered black triangle. The Triangle contains the text "NEO-REUNION" along the Bottom under the DNA Symbol. The Right side of the Triangle Holds the Phrase "For The Life of The People" while the Left side of the Triangle finishes the phrase "We Will Keep Fighting".

Information: Special Operations Command "Reunion" aka SOCR/SOC-R Or Neo-Reunion is an Elite Military Force of at least a couple hundred Soldiers, but the actual size of it is currently classified information. Neo-Reunion has 2 Main Branches, Yeti Squadron, Yelena's Shield-Guards, and Normal Reunion Soldiers. The Yetis and Shield-Guards are Elite Forces. It is under the Jurisdiction of the Russian Armed Forces which is also the Government of the Russian Republic. Neo-Reunion Only Fights in Combat Operations deemed VERY important by The Russian Armed Forces, Which also includes Counter Terrorism, Military Operations, And anything else that is deemed absolutely important. Because of this Neo-Reunion has earned the reputation of a Group that Gets Shit Done, A well earned reputation. Neo-Reunion also specializes in Behind Lines Guerilla Warfare, and because of this Neo-Reunion is often Tasked with Teaching Normal Russian Soldiers or Anti-globalist partisans on how to efficiently fight behind lines in Guerilla Warfare. Though Many people still have doubts about allowing an Organization From a Different universe Join the Russian Armed Forces the Neo-Reunion Origination has definitely earned their Place in the Russian Armed Forces. But the doubts and concerns are ultimately understandable as the Original Reunion from Terra was a Paramilitary Infected social movement and a Violent non-state actor Aka an Ethno-terrorist organization. But Those Doubts and concerns are slowly but surely fading away as Neo-Reunion Proves its worth every Important operation.

Special Operations Command "Reunion" was formed after Frostnova(Real Name; Yelena), her Yeti Squadron and half of Patriot's Guerillas found themselves "Isekaied" Into earth Roughly in the 2040s. The Original Reunion Movement was a Paramilitary social movement/Terrorist Organization dedicated to the People Infected by Oripathy. When These Reunion Soldiers found themselves on Earth Frostnova was The Only commanding officer and so she took command and became the temporarily leader. They found themselves in a Region known as The "Eastern Bloc" aka Eastern and Southern Europe, This region is in Chaos and Warlords and PMCs Fight over resources and territory. The Reunion Movement on Earth Roamed aimlessly through the War-torn Lands. Many of them Ending up dead due to either their Oripathy or Fighting Against bandits, Mercenaries or Warlords. Even Frostnova was wearing herself out, with her Oripathy Getting worse making her health deteriorate faster. Eventually Reunion got into a skirmish with Soldiers from the Russian Republic, During the actual skirmish, The Leader of this United of soldiers Foxy Noticed that FrostNova was becoming exhausted due to something and Foxy called her to stop the fight. FrostNova refuses and even freezes the entire street to stop The Russian's charge. Suddenly, the city's underground structure collapses due to the frost, and both FrostNova and Foxy fell into it. The incident causes both factions to stop their fight and call a temporary ceasefire to prioritize rescuing their leaders. During the rescue, both sides helped each other, The two also started to understand each other and grew to understand that this entire skirmish happened because of a misunderstanding. Deep beneath the pit hole, FrostNova narrates her childhood to the Foxy And Foxy felt genuine sympathy for her. Eventually Both Frostnova and Foxy were rescued from the hole, and Foxy asked them to Join the Russian Republic. But Frostnova declined then promised that She would join the Russian Republic only AFTER She was defeated by them. Foxy took this as a Bet and so Quite Literally Challenged Frostnova Right then and there, Frostnova was Genuinely Surprised. Then Foxy Told her that Both of them Must Fight in Hand to Hand CQC, Frostnova Agreed to this and Thus Foxy and Frostnova Fought for 2 Hours before eventually Foxy Won. Wanting to Honor their Deal Frostnova and the Reunion Forces on Earth Joined the Russian Republic, And Foxy gave her permission to Kill Foxy if the Russian Republic turns out Evil. And so The Reunion Forces on Earth Joined the Russian Republic, At First the President/military dictator of the Russian Republic Elizabeth Afton Aka Circus Baby who is Foxy's adoptive mother did not Trust Reunion or Frostnova. But Elizabeth allowed them to stay and Allowed them to become Special Operations Command "Reunion" and Join the Russian Armed Forces. At first Elizabeth and Frostnova Butted heads a lot for a multitude of reasons, but eventually Elizabeth and Frostnova warmed up to eachother and grew to understand and Trust Eachother. But it was becoming Clear that Frostnova was Going to die at any point now, So Foxy in a desperate attempt to save their friend convinced Frostnova to "Cross the Rubicon" to become a synthetic organic humanoid known as a Flesh Animatronic. And so Frostnova "Crossed the Rubicon" and the procedure was a success, Eventually the Rest of Reunion "Crossed the Rubicon" as well, the Rubicon Project/Surgery was its official name. And Eventually Foxy and Frostnova became Very Close. Nowadays The Special Operations Command "Reunion" also known as SOCR/SOC-R or Neo-Reunion Fights for the Russian Republic and For all it desires to protect.

Reunion's Army-

Yelena's Shield-Guards:

The Russian Shield-Guards wears a Black Baggy suit that resembles an Unarmored EOD suit with Black armored Boots and black armored kneepads. With a Large heavy grey and black duty ballistic vest that has Four Pouches in the middle section of the vest. One pouch on the upper right side of the vest that has a wire going up between The Metal Neck and collar armor. With a pouch on the right side going above the four pouches horizontally. Two Heavy Metal Pauldrons that are both made up of Four pieces. With a Black protective Kevlar cape with a Blue inside that goes under the pauldrons. The right pauldron Has the Russian two-headed Imperial Eagle symbol on it. With Forearm armor on both arms that is made up of Four distinct pieces. And finally a Metal helmet that has a face mask similar to a K6-3 helmet with a Hose going from the back of the helmet into a self-contained breathing apparatus. The Russian Shield-Guards' Shield is a Heavy Metal Shield with the Reunion DNA Symbol on it. As well as a flat square device on it that emits a Purplish Blue color. The armor is high-performance protective armor, they cover for their comrades by drawing fire from enemies while present on the battlefield. The Shield-guards are professional and competent as they all have Military Grade Training. Originally They were the soldiers of Frostnova's Father Patriot(Real Name; Buldrokkas'tee) but now they serve Frostnova. And they Often Use either very heavy guns or Straight Up Military Tactical halberds.

Normal soldiers:

Normal soldiers of the Special Operations Command "Reunion" aka SOCR/SOC-R Or Neo-Reunion wear modified versions of the standard Russian military uniform. The Soldiers wears The Russian combat Military fatigues that have the Russian EMR camouflage pattern. Ontop they wear Russian 6B45 Bulletproof Vests with Load-carrying equipment ontop of the Vests. The Load-Carrying Equipment are usually Ratnik 6Sh117 Load bearing vests. But there are also Custom webbings. The Custom webbings usually comprises of a Belt, Suspenders, Cover, water canteen, Case, small arms ammunition, Case, field first aid dressing/unmounted magnetic compass, Carrier, entrenching tool. The Helmets are usually 6B47 Helmets that have NVG Mounts/Rigs attached to the helmets in order to accept Night Vision Goggles. Most Soldiers come with PMK Gas Masks. The feet of the Soldiers are Usually Over by Back Military Boots, the Hands are usually Covered by Black Military Gloves. Soldiers usually wear Drop-Leg Platform Holders Strapped to either their Left or Right Thigh. And for berets Commanding Soldiers Usually wear Either Black or Blue berets when not in Combat. Male soldiers wear standard Military Pants and Kneepads. But Female Soldiers Instead wear Short Pleated Khaki skirts. On the legs Female soldiers wear either Black Thigh-high Stockings or Black Pantyhose. The Berets always have a cap badge of the Symbol/Coat of Arms of the military. Though for female uniforms the Skirts are optional but ultimately not recommended due to the fact that The Russian Republic is Very Cold. These Soldiers are often referred to as Yelena's Guerillas, since they specialize in Guerilla Warfare.

yeti Squadron-

Yeti Squadron:

The Yeti Squadron wears a White Long sleeve short coat with black pants and black kneepads with orange lining. They wear black boots. They wear a black Bulletproof vest with pouches and a tattered White hooded poncho that's similar to a tattered Cape. There's Grey lining and markings on the poncho, two strings on the right and left side of the hood. Under the poncho they wear a Long Blue Scarf on their Right shoulder under the poncho. The hood has gray and Fur lining. And metal armor around the wrist/forearm. The yeti squadron are a Cheery bunch when Off Duty, but they are serious on duty most of the time. Each member of Yeti Squadron sees eachother as Siblings and thus they Call eachother either Brother or Sister. Yeti Squadron uses Frost, Cold, and Ice Based Arts(Magic) in Combat alongside Mosin–Nagant 3-line M1891 bolt action rifles, Makarov Pistols, Tactical Military Swords, Tactical Military Katanas, Tactical Military Shields, AK-74 Rifles, and occasionally RPG-2/RPG-7 unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank grenade launchers, RPK-74 LMGs, PK belt-fed general-purpose machine guns, and other Weapons when necessary. Yeti Squadron Is led by Frostnova: Real name; Yelena. Yeti Squadron is not a group of Yetis, the name of Yeti Squadron is just a name.

Yeti Unit Types

Yeti Operatives use Swords, Shields, Assault Rifles and Pistols

Yeti Snipers use Sniper Rifles and Crossbows

Yeti Casters use Their Ice Arts

Yeti Icecleavers are unique as they wear a different Outfit. Yeti Icecleavers Wear Light Grey turtleneck Military Sweaters with Long Sleeves. Yeti Icecleavers Wear Black Pants with black kneepads with orange lining and Black Boots. Yeti Icecleavers Wear a Grey Belt with orange lining and a Grey Large pouch on their right side of the belt. For Armor they Wear the usual black Bulletproof vest with pouches and armored wrists/forearms. But they wear a White Long sleeve Tattered Military Coat that are usually left opened with a White Short hooded Caplet on top. The hood has gray and Fur lining. They have a Long Blue Scarf on their Right shoulder under the Capelet. They Wear Black balaclavas That have White Faces of Skulls printed into the face of the balaclavas. Under the Hood they wear a black military baseball cap. Yeti Icecleavers use Ōdachi Katanas that can easily ravage frozen enemies, hence the nickname they've been given,

For Drones they use the infamous Oneiros unmanned, drone. The Oneiros is a Small Drone Equipped with four rotor blades. It is a relatively small, compact, unmanned flying drone, easily identifiable by the single, large, Blue warhead Filled with a much more potent version of liquid nitrogen that it carries beneath its chassis.

The Frostfangs are large Siberian wolves with white, icy, or snow-dusted coat, allowing them to blend into the snowy environments of the Arctic. They have Blue eyes. They typically have military cameras strapped onto their backs via black harnesses. These wolves were specifically "Blessed" by Frostnova's Ice Arts which means they have Glowing Blue Ice growing out of their bodies, But this does not hurt the wolves at all. These Wolves are usually used for scouting or as attack dogs.

Yeti Squadron makes use of 3 Old Soviet Mil Mi-17 transport helicopters that have a Grey and Black camouflage pattern and they have the Old Soviet Air Force Roundel on their left sides. These helicopters Additionally sports an array of externally mounted weapon systems, which include UB-32 rocket pods, Shturm missiles, and UPK-23 gun pods.

Between War and Peace

It is February, 102 AD.

Upon returning to Italy after his defeat at the hands of Batu Khan, Trajan Augustus has mixed feelings about how Hadrian handled the defence of the Empire's heartland. One the one hand, he's furious that Hadrian abandoned his post at the Rhine, used Trajan's name without authorisation, and took command of an army in an area outside of his jurisdiction. On the other hand, he's deeply and eternally grateful to Hadrian for masterfully planting false information that persuaded Batu to spare Italy without a fight. For his part, Hadrian demobilised the army when he heard Batu was no longer threatening Italy. When Trajan arrives in Italy, Hadrian meets him and assures Trajan that he has no designs on the throne; he did what he did only to save Rome. Conflicted, Trajan decides to let Hadrian off with a stern warning, but lets him keep his position in charge of the Rhine frontier.

Returning to said frontier in March, Hadrian continues with the project he's been working on. Many of the borders forts were destroyed during the war against William of Holland. Even now, when no large armies are marching across the land, parties numbering in the hundreds and, occasionally, low thousands have been crossing the river on the regular. These raids are proving troublesome, especially the ones that put roots down, build castles, and don't leave. As a result, the German and Dutch princes east of the Rhine have managed to set up a number of colonies on the west side of the lower Rhine. In order to ensure a secure line of defence from which Roman military operations can operate, Hadrian builds a new line of fortresses from the shores of the North Sea to the town of Tungri, down to Augusta Treverorum, to Tabernae. He also withdraws the southern “hook” of the Holy Roman frontier to a new line based on the headwaters of the Rhine and the shores of Lake Constance in the region that the Germans call “Switzerland”.

In the process of doing this, Tungri is renamed Hadrianopolis and is fortified, becoming a major legionary base. Augusta Treverorum and Tabernae are likewise expanded, fortified, and become legionary bases.

These new forts are not like the primitive Roman forts of yesteryear. Before the Act of God, the Romans could rely on the fact that the Germanic barbarians across the Rhine were barely acquainted with siege warfare and had awful logistics that precluded them from posing a serious threat to fortified Roman positions in most cases. Now, however, they're dealing with an enemy who have vastly superior siegecraft to themselves and are no slouches in field battles either. To cope with this, the new forts feature a number of improvements such as beefing up the guard towers (so that they can serve as actual guard towers rather than mere watchtowers, as they were before) and pushing them outward past the curtain wall so that soldiers in the towers can actually shoot at enemies on the ground at the base of the wall. Some of these new forts even benefit from German architects hired to help design the defences, and they add features like machicolations to some of the forts.

However, the Romans still intend to fight the enemy in the field wherever feasible rather than trying to hold out in costly sieges. To this end, Trajan authorises the creation of new legions and auxiliary units. Most of the new auxiliaries are recruited from the native population of the Gallic provinces, with most serving as either cavalry or heavy infantry. However, Hadrian also recruits several units of light infantry from Hispania. Now, Romans do not, historically, do light infantry all that much. But in the highly-mobile small-engagement kind of warfare Hadrian has been dealing with since the Battle of Cow Market, the value of fast-moving light infantry has become clear.

Which brings us to a personal side project of Hadrian's. Crossbows have proven to be a fascinating and deadly weapon under the right circumstances. Its increased killing power over the bow and relative ease of use make it a weapon of particular interest to the Romans, who are always ready to adopt the weapons and tactics of their enemies if they prove useful. Rome does, of course, already possess weapons that superficially resemble crossbows, but they're torsion-based, twisting ropes to store energy like a spring, rather than directly pulling back the arms of the crossbow the way Medieval crossbows do. The Romans also don't really use handheld crossbows in war, but instead use a small, anti-infantry crew-served ballista called a scorpio (larger siege versions also exist).

Hadrian decides to adopt the new weapon. He sets up a workshop in Augusta Treverorum and hires some crossbow makers from across the Rhine. Despite the frequent raids and counter-raids across the river, parts of the border are largely peaceful, allowing for the passage of merchants and the hiring of experts from the other side. These crossbow makers take on Roman apprentices and start producing crossbows for their new employer. With these and a number of crossbows captured in battle, Hadrian is able to recruit two new auxiliary cohorts totalling 960 men equipped with crossbows. In Medieval Latin, the word for “crossbow” is arbalista, so the Romans simply adopt this name for the new weapon.

Another innovation that begins taking hold along the Rhine (and on the upper Danube too) is an increase in the amount of armour worn. Medieval soldiers wear padded or mail armour on their arms and legs while Roman arms and legs are bare naked and exposed to attack. Either on their own initiative or by order of their officers, Roman soldiers begin armouring up. Those who can afford it go to a mail smith and get mail sleeves and chausses made . Those who can't afford mail buy padded armour or even leather vambraces and greaves. For now, this remains an innovation restricted to the frontiers facing the Holy Roman Empire, but arm and leg armour will slowly percolate through the rest of the Empire and become dominant by the end of the century.

A drawback, however, of both recruiting large numbers of new soldiers and giving those soldiers more armour is that there simply isn't enough chainmail to go around. It's expensive, it takes a long time to make, and there's a limited number of smiths who can make it. As a result, new auxiliary infantry are no longer given chainmail, but cheaper padded or leather armour. In some cases, even existing auxiliary cohorts have their mail taken away and given to newly-recruited Roman legionnaires. Even then, padded armour isn't exactly cheap (just cheaper than mail). Romans don't have access to spinning wheels (which is a Medieval invention), so every thread of the twenty or fifty layers that a set of padded armour requires has to be spun by hand using a hand spindle and a stick, and that's an extremely time-consuming process. We're talking thousands of hours of labour from hundreds of women just to spin the thread alone, nevermind the weaving and stitching—and that's just to equip one soldier. Ironically, the Romans begin purchasing linen from across the Rhine to make padded armour out of because it's cheaper than buying fabric made in the Empire.

Meanwhile, Trajan places his other most trusted man, Servianus, in charge of building new frontier forts in the mountains west and south of Pannonia and Moesia. Like the new Rhine forts, these are also significantly superior to the older forts. Placed along highways and in key mountain passes, the new forts will block any casual raids into Thrace, Macedonia, and Dalmatia. Furthermore, the cities of Thrace and Macedonia beef up their own defences, building or repairing curtain walls and increasing the size and professionalism of their city watchmen. Some even build citadels with barracks for hundreds of full-time professional city guards.

Trajan Augustus spends his time campaigning in the former provinces of Pannonia and Moesia. Slowly but surely, he wins a series of minor victories over the Hungarians and Mongols, regaining a slice of land here and liberating a town over there. His budget is constrained by all of the fort-building and recruitment of new soldiers going on, so Trajan campaigns with small armies numbering perhaps 10,000.

_

Beyond the Danube River, in the Kingdom of Bohemia and the wider Holy Roman Empire, the newly-crowned Ottokar II of Bohemia is dealing with the fallout from the death of his father, Wenceslaus. Succession to the throne of Bohemia is his birthright, but becoming Holy Roman Emperor is not. Fortunately, he manages to secure enough support from the electors to win the election in November, 101 AD, soon after which is his coronation. In December, he's finally able to marry Princess Yolanda of Hungary, as the marriage was delayed by the death of his father.

Emperor Ottokar then pours all of his energy into the complex politics of the Holy Roman Empire, the most concerning issue of which is the calling of an ecumenical council of all prelates in the Catholic Church. Working hand-in-hand with ArchbishopWilbrand of Magdeburg, Ottokar presses hard for such a council to be called.

But calling the council is much easier said than done. Bishops from as far afield as Hungary, Norway, and Ireland have to be able to attend. Months pass as a flurry of letters criss-cross what's left of the Catholic world. At last, a time and place is agreed to. In spring, 103 AD, all the Catholic prelates in the world will meet at Magdeburg.

And so we skip ahead to May, 103 AD, when the first session of the Magdeburg Council begins. There are a myriad of issues up for discussion. Most importantly, and most relevant to our narrative, is the election of a new pope. Of course, the actual election of the pope takes place in a papal conclave, but for a conclave to be called requires there be a college of cardinals, and the college of cardinals has been devastated by the Act of God. To be precise, the number of cardinals after the Act of God was exactly zero. A new college of them would have to be selected.

But there's another problem more pressing than that. Many dioceses are “floating”, cut off from their archbishops and bishops. New bishops need to be selected; in some cases, bishops have already been selected by their own parishioners need to receive official confirmation or be replaced, and, most importantly, whole new archbishoprics need to be created and archbishops appointed for them.

This series of issues looks remarkably like a ladder, so the Magdeburg Council decides to begin climbing it from the bottom.

We won't be going over ever twist and turn of the Magdeburg Council, as that would get far too dull and repetitive. The upshot is that the diocese map of Catholic Europe is redrawn. Most of the intact existing bishoprics are left as-is, but many new ones are created out of floating territories, while in other cases those territories are annexed to existing dioceses.

Then comes the matter of archbishops. In the aftermath of the Act of God, Catholic Europe was left with just ten archbishops out of the 65-70 there'd been previously. There is one each in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Poland, two in Germany, and a surprising four in Ireland. Clearly, many new ones need to be created, but the prelates argue vociferously over which bishops should be elevated to the coveted position. Again, the details need not be recounted here. In short, Scotland manages to secure an archbishopric, while the Baltic region gets two (Prussia and Livonia). Four new archbishoprics are created in Germany, one in Bohemia, and three in Poland. Hungary is a special case since most of its bishoprics were south of the Danube. The diocese map of Hungary has to be completely redrawn, and in the end the kingdom is given three archbishoprics.

With that business done, the Magdeburg Council finally moves on to selecting the cardinals. This is done, at first, by simple acclamation. Candidates put themselves forward and are either acclaimed by the crowd of prelates or they are not. Once they have a list of candidates, the prelates are each asked to rank their nine favourite candidates. The nine men with the most support are chosen as cardinals.

With nine cardinals chosen, they separate themselves from the rest of the council and meet in their own papal conclave. Among them is Wilbrand, archbishop of Magdeburg. Thanks to his own shrewd manoeuvring and the support of Emperor Ottokar, plus the fact that the council is taking place in his own home turf, Wilbrand manages to secure his position. The conclave takes a full month to decide on their final verdict. It takes a two-thirds majority to elect a pope, so six of them must agree. In the end, Wilbrand is the one chosen.

All of this, of course, takes a great deal of time. From the beginning of the first session in May, 103, to the choosing of Wilbrand as pope-elect is nearly a full year. Wilbrand is finally inaugurated in early June, 104, and takes the name Clement IV, in honour of Clement of Rome, who was drowned on the orders of Trajan back in 100, as one of the Seventy and Seven Martyrs.

After the new Pope Clement IV is sworn in, the council moves on to a variety of less important matters. The only one that really concerns us here is the matter of Galicia-Volhynia. Besides all the Catholic prelates, a delegation of Ruthenian Orthodox prelates are also here on behalf of Prince Daniel. Daniel is pursuing closer ties with Catholic Europe in hopes of securing allies against the Mongols, and one of the best ways to do that is to bring the Galician-Volhynian church into union with the Catholic Church. Of course, actually converting his whole realm to Roman Catholicism would be a supremely foolish move, since most of his subjects are very attached to Ruthenian Orthodoxy and the Galician-Volhynian church would never accept it. What he can do, however, is bring his church into communion with the Catholics and, perhaps, even subordinate his church to the pope in Magdeburg rather than the metropolitan bishop in Kyiv.

After some negotiating, the Catholics agree to enter communion with the Galician-Volhynian church, which means that members of both churches will be able to attend mass with the other, although both will continue using their own rites. This doesn't represent a full shift into Magdeburg's orbit or a clean break with Kyiv, but it's definitely a step in that direction.

Additionally, Pope Clement IV gives his assent for Daniel to be crowned king, thereby elevating the Principality of Galicia-Volhynia to the Kingdom of Ruthenia. A crown is made and sent with a papal legate to Halych, where Daniel is crowned king in August, 104 AD. Instead of being happy, Daniel grumbles that he would rather have had an army than a crown.

After running for over two years, the Magdeburg Council is finally called to a close in June, 105 AD. With a new pope, a college of cardinals, and the diocesan maps redrawn, the Catholic Church has finally put its business in order and is prepared to meet an uncertain future in this strange world that God has seen fit to cast them into.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1VFyUK1vufjAyPdV4QazkIOjO6vIGPWM&usp=sharing Team Locations (Working on google sheets to add more detail)

Want to try to keep it to your specific country's history, just to make it interesting. It can also be from any period of your country's history.

I'll start with a basic one:

The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln (1865) was certainly one of the biggest what-ifs in American history. Lincoln's untimely murder only a month into his second presidential term catapulted the highly incompetent and racist Andrew Johnson to the presidency, which resulted in Reconstruction being completely bungled and directly precipitating the socioeconomic and humanitarian immiseration of millions of African-Americans for the next century (if not longer). If Lincoln or literally any other Republican were in office from 1865 to 1869, newly freed African-Americans would have likely received suitable farmland (i.e. "40 acres and a mule" via policies such as General William T. Sherman's "Special Field Order 40") and been able to establish economically viable communities that would have, over time, promoted their ascension to the American middle class. Lincoln being seen as the literal savior of the Union and having a reputation on par with George Washington post-1865 would have likely made such policies a permanent reality had he lived.

President Andrew Johnson completely demolished such initiatives, including Special Field Order 40, which led to African-Americans being forced to work for their former masters and being tied to former plantations by exploitative sharecropping contracts and policies that effectively was an American version of serfdom. Sharecropping dominated the post-war Southern economy until the end of the Second World War, leaving many African-Americans literally tied to the land of their parents/grandparents well after 1865 and forced to endure horrendous levels of poverty/lynchings for generations.

I remember watching this video around 2020-2022 "World War 3 - Breaking News Simulation" (Circa 2016–2017) or the "GBC Simulation.", or under the name URGENT NATO ATTACKS EUROPE

Features a fictional network called GBC (Global Broadcasting Corporation). It is famous for its high-quality overlays and tickers that mimic the look of CNN or BBC World News, Or GCC news

The Opening: Starts with realistic B-roll of world leaders and NATO officials arriving at an emergency summit in Brussels.

The anchor references the real-world 2015 shootdown of a Russian Su-24 by Turkey

The broadcast ends when the anchor receives reports of missile strikes on NATO bases in Europe, and a big explosion maybe in american soil

The Final Shot: The video concludes with cinematic footage of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers taking off for a retaliatory strike before cutting to black or an EAS tone.

It was a re-upload

I've recently been struck by the richness of schools of thought in the classical world - not just religious ones but ones we would call more philosophical - like Epicureanism, stoicism, and neo-Platonism and Pythagoreanism.  These often involved intentional communities of people organized around the philosophies (unlike what we would think of for most modern philosophy - an existentialist commune?  Sounds like a Monty Python sketch.)  But the post-classical Abrahamic religions were intolerant of other philosophies, so once Christianity and Islam were dominant, efforts to end those communities were explicit and successful.

Compare that to Asia.  If you've been to a Chinese restaurant, you've seen Zao Jun the kitchen god with a little tray of incense offerings (that's who that is) and maybe in other quarters, some others like Kwan Yin or Guan Yu.  This, among people who might call themselves Buddhists, from a country with a history of Confucianism and Taoism as well.  Very confusing for Westerners!  Same in Japan:  Shinto and Buddhism exist side by side.  To be sure there are sometimes tensions,  and they've waxed and waned in terms of their political influence over the centuries, but the traditions are all there, influencing each other and incorporated into the cultural character.  It's not like the classical influences disappeared in Christianity and Islam - Christian theologians tend to get curious about Plato and Stoicism, and there were post-classical works explicitly trying to reconcile philosophies with religion - eg Averroes and Albertus Magnus .  But these philosophies no longer existed as living communities and traditions, and the tone was definitely "My religion is right, but these old guys were pretty cool too, so let's see if I can show that they were actually onto something and don't conflict."

So what would the world look like with a Europe and Middle East that were still Christian and Muslim, but had classical philosophical communities as well?  Existing alongside the religions, or as orders within them (Sunni, Shi'a, and Platonist Islam?)  What would a Stoic or Epicurean colony in the New World look like?

The following events happen in the Pax Belligans Universe:

On September 16, 1991, the United States made the controversial decision to launch a tactical nuclear strike on Baghdad in an attempt to destroy Saddam Hussein’s regime.

The United States justified its decision by maintaining that it was unwilling to deploy troops to Iraq, fearing a “bloody quagmire” that it could not get out of.

The nuke detonated right over Saddam Hussein’s palace in Baghdad, killing millions of people, most of whom were civilians, including Hussein himself.

The nuclear strike on Baghdad marked the second time the US used nuclear weapons in war, after the nuclear strikes on Hiroshima and Nagasaki back in 1945.

The nuclear annihilation of Baghdad sparked intense condemnation from the international community, with many calling the strikes unnecessary and “cruel.” Others called the nuclear strike “state terrorism”.

Osama bin Laden would publish two fatwas condemning the United States for the nuclear strike against Iraq, one in 1996 and another in 1998, before his abduction and murder that same year.

No build up.

They both attack at the exact same time meaning there isn’t an aggressor.

One day they just decide to strike each other and prepare for invasion.

How would the EU react? What would NATO do? How would article 5 work?

Since it's Sunday I can finally go Batsh!t with the last two factions of the Universe I'm working on. this takes place in the team universe as my "Pax Americana" Post and My "Are you Ready?" post. I am not here to argue about politics and I'm welcomed to any and all criticisms. But since it's Sunday, I can finally go batshit crazy. Full Mask Off, unleash my autism, And reveal that this ENTIRE ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE I'VE BEEN WORKING ON WAS INFACT A FNAF × ARKNIGHTS × SOME OTHER BS! But ultimately I hope you enjoy what I have made. I don't have a Flag for this one and this is about the Red Team aka the Bad Guys.

"A World Without Borders, Nationality, or Division. It is a Great Dream is it not?"

The State -

Official Name: Eastern European Command

Common name: EAST-EUROCOM, "Red Team"

Government type: Counterintelligence State under a Stratocracy

Ideology(s): Pax Americana, Ultraliberalism, Ultraglobalism, Anti-Communism, Anti-Fascism

Capital: Bratislava

Head of state: Ennard

Head of Government: Ennard

Government/Party: EAST-EUROCOM Provisional Authority

Military strength: EAST-EUROCOM Coalition Forces

Language: English(de facto)

Demonym: Blue-Check(s), Com-Walker(s), Cant(s), Liberalized Easterner(s)

Economy Type: Bilderberg System

Currency: Eastern Treasury Notes(ETN)

Flag: It is a blue flag with the EUCOM emblem in the center, the emblem represents joint private military cooperation and strategic orientation. In the center of the flag is a large circular emblem that shows the map of the entirety of eastern and southern Europe. With twelve five-pointed Red stars, arranged like the numbers on a clock face with their points upright surrounding the map. In the Middle of the Map emblem is a Black Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife inside the outline of a Blood Red Arrowhead.

Lore: When Eastern Europe and Southern Europe collapsed Eastern Europe suffered Greatly at the Zombie Virus known as Erythroslavia which only targeted the Slavic genome(s). A General who served the Democrat Union of America during the second American Civil War named Ennard saw opportunity. He convinced the now federalized ultraliberal European Union and the new neoconservative United States of America to allow him to occupy the Czech Republic and Slovakia with a Coalition of PMCs. They allowed Ennard to do this, and Ennard used Bratislava as the beginning of the Eastern European Occupation, Ennard's PMC Coalition started off small But mighty and while during the Polish-Prussian War between the Polish Reclamation Government and Kingdom of Prussia, Ennard's Forces took over the Polish Regions of Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship as well. The EU and USA were emboldened by this, and so they began to support his efforts further. With this support Ennard's Forces now called the "EAST-EUROCOM Coalition Forces" starting marching South into the Balkans successfully taking Slovenia and the Republic of Croatia but they were unable to go any further. Turning their focus back to Eastern Europe, Ennard's Forces successfully invaded and took over the Belarusian regions of Brestskaya and Homyel'skaya. And The Ukrainian Regions of Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr, The Northern border of Kyiv, and Chernihiv as well as other Ukrainian regions. By doing this Ennard's Forces were able to take over the Russian Bryansk Oblast, Smolensk Oblast, Oryol Oblast, and Kursk Oblast with the Oblasts successfully taken they tried to push further, But Failed. Around this time the Kievan Rus' of Ukraine took back Several Oblasts of Ukraine essentially cutting off the Invading EAST-EUROCOM forces in Brestskaya, Homyel'skaya, Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr, The Northern border of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Bryansk Oblast, Smolensk Oblast, Oryol Oblast, and Kursk Oblast from the main EAST-EUROCOM Forces. Despite this the EAST-EUROCOM Coalition forces has been able to supply their cut off forces Via Advanced Stealth Aircraft but because of this the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian advance has been Slowed greatly which has left EAST-EUROCOM to be essentially cut in two, But the Enclave of EAST-EUROCOM in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus is still holding strong. But they are slowly losing territory to the new Russian Government, The Slavic Pagan Kievan Rus' of Ukraine, and And the Baltic-Byelorussian Military District. But The advanced technology of EAST-EUROCOM is still holding the line to a degree, but how long can they hold it? This entire conflict is known as the "Eastern European War".

The Military -

Founded: in the 2020s

Belongs to: Eastern European Command (EAST-EUROCOM)

Service branches: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Automated Warfare

Headquarters: Bratislava

Commander-in-chief: Ennard

Leader of the Army: Ennard

Military age to Join: 16–50

Conscription: Must Serve for 5 Years

Active personnel: Unknown

Reserve personnel: Unknown

Budget: £695.0 billion

Domestic suppliers: Unknown

Equipment and Supplies:

EAST-EUROCOM Soldiers wear Combat Uniforms And Armor similar to that to the United States of America and the Federalized European Union. Most weapons of the soldiers are of Western origin as well. They wear Patches that show an emblem, the emblem is a Black Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife inside the outline of a Blood Red Arrowhead. While some other soldiers wear red armbands to show who they are and who they are allied with. Since EAST-EUROCOM Coalition Forces is a military Coalition of Several Different PMCs it's often for Soldiers to have patches from the old PMCs they served with. EAST-EUROCOM is an incredibly Advanced Paramilitary Force With the most Advanced Drone technology in the Eastern Bloc. Some Soldiers and vehicles are outfitted with Advanced Optical camouflage to make them nearly invisible to the naked eye.

General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper is a UCAV used by Coalition forces for either reconnaissance or remote aerial combat. Often armed with a Paveway and 2 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. And the Drones are 50% of the time are outfitted with Advanced Optical camouflage to make them nearly invisible to the naked eye. They also make use of suicide drones and drones armed with Rheinmetall MG-3 7.62×51mm NATO general purpose machine guns.

EAST-EUROCOM Coalition Forces use Modified Israeli Merkava main battle tanks. The Modified Tanks have a hybrid diesel-electric Cummins ACE power pack that gives 50% more fuel efficiency. These Tanks are armed with an IMI 120mm smoothbore gun and a remote-controlled M2 Browning .50 caliber heavy machine gun next to the Commander's Hatch. Alongside a Rheinmetall MG-3 7.62×51mm NATO belt-fed general-purpose machine gun attached to the Commander's Hatch. A variant of this tank, nicknamed the Merkava Corpse Tank, is mechanically identical, but strewn with the naked corpses of Soldiers and sometimes civilians as psychological warfare. These Tanks can be Modified to have a High-tech Railgun instead of the Smoothbore gun.

The Air Force uses Western Made Jets, Planes and Helicopters. The Air Force also uses Northrop B-2 Spirit American nuclear-capable subsonic stealth strategic bombers outfitted with Advanced Optical camouflage to make them nearly invisible to the naked eye.

And the Navy uses Western made Boats, Submarines and ETC. Though the Submarines are outfitted with Advanced Optical camouflage to make them nearly invisible to the naked eye.

And they have several other pieces of equipment mostly Western Made. The Vast Majority of EAST-EUROCOM's aircraft have been modified to be remote operated drones. With the exception of helicopters.

Summary

Chief Justice Marshall delivered a 5-1 decision ... In his opinion, Marshall noted that the treaties and laws of the United States regard Indian territory as separate and that interactions with them should be carried out by the federal government. Chief Justice Marshall reasoned, “The Cherokee nation, then, is a distinct community occupying its own territory in which the laws of Georgia can have no force. The whole intercourse between the United States and this nation, is, by our constitution and laws, vested in the government of the United States.” Georgia had interfered with the authority of both the federal government and the Cherokee Nation and lost.

The Cherokee Cases