1) The Soviet Union falls, Germany reunited.
2) First Gulf War occurs.
3) Clinton becomes President and begins to disband the US Military to provide a "peace dividend" to the American people.
4) The US becomes embroiled in a number of "peacekeeping missions" designed to promote democracy. Kosovo, Restore Hope, the interventions in Africa, East Timor, and Kurdish Iraq all happen... spreading out US military personnel all over the globe.
5) The Mexican elections in 96 go south and Mexico becomes a "Narco-Puppet" State. The US stages a series of "interventions" in Mexico which create chaos and a deep resentment of the US. US Mexican relations deteriorate further when a series of incidents at the border leaves both US residents and immigrants dead.
6) Russia, looking for "friends," brokers a tenuous peace between Iran and Iraq using the "enemy of my enemy is my friend" strategy.
7) The Serbian conflict begins to escalate in late 96, led by "Russian sympathizers," forcing NATO to step up operations there.
8) The First Chechen War sees Russia suffer a number of defeats. Boris Yeltsin is assassinated and after a bit of upheaval in the government, a new President takes Office. Vladimir Putin takes control of the Russian government in early '97.
9) Russia begins selling major military hardware to Mexico. The Mexicans want tanks, aircraft, and heavy weapons... the Russians NEED hard currency. This becomes a "match made in hell" for American interests in the region when Mexican drug gangs begin using AKs and RPGs to settle scores on American streets.
10) In early 97, Russia and the CCP begin to have a conflict over natural resources in the far East. As Fracking hasn't been used on a large scale yet, and the Middle East is in shambles from the 1st Gulf War, energy is in high demand everywhere, and Russia aims to supply it to get back on sound economic footing.
11) Russia rearms Iraq and enhances Iran's defenses with surplus weapons and armor in exchange for oil, which it sells illegally to both Europe and Asia, stabilizing its own economy in the process.
12) Russia sells nuclear secrets to NK as well as providing more modern aircraft to the regime. In addition, the Russians sell several Naval assets and aircraft to the Indian Army which is fighting Pakistan in the Kashmir. These sales help the Russians build up the more advanced weapon systems in their arsenal.
13) Russia begins a secret plan to "destabilize" Eastern Europe after the Visegrad agreement between The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland threatens Russia's newly rising economic power in Europe. It places "revolutionary agents" in the various former Soviet States to "stir the pot." There is little movement outside of the Balkans which erupt into open conflict with NATO, mostly in Serbia. The Russians secretly arm these rebels and NATO finds itself fighting against well-armed insurgents in the region.
14) in late '97, Russian-backed communists in Poland (and supported by Belarus) begin clandestine attacks on government officials over what they view as a poor economic investment in the country. The Polish government begins a campaign to destroy this movement which is supposedly made up of disgruntled Poles but in reality, is a highly trained group of Russian Spetnaz, and the would-be revolutionaries take shelter in Belarus. The Polish government raids the revolutionary base in Belarus. Belarus protests and Russia moves troops to the Belarus and Polish borders.
15) In the spring of '98, Russia and CCP go to all-out war! The Russians make good initial gains until the People's Army surrounds the invaders. The Russians use Thermobaric munitions and gas attacks to slaughter the Chinese. The UN condemns Russia's actions. The US begins to send China aid.
16) The Polish government requests assistance from Germany and the NATO powers to stop the attacks on its soil, which have ramped up in the wake of the Polish incursion into Belarus. US, British, and German troops cross into Poland to help the Poles "keep the peace." The Poles decide to secure a region of Belarus that formerly belonged to Poland as a "buffer zone." Belarus counter-attacks and Russian troops follow behind. The war in Europe is now beginning in the summer of '98.
17) NATO is split with some members deciding to help and others abstaining.
The Czechs decide to help the Poles and Russia moves forces to the Czech border in retaliation.
18) Russia convinces NK that IF they attack South Korea, the Russians will not only assist the North Koreans but will tie up America in Europe and the Middle East. North Korea advances south using barrage techniques and Russian Thermobarics to scorch South Korea. The US and South Korean forces stop them COLD.
19) Russia convinces Iran and Iraq to launch joint operations against the US and Saudis. Syria decides to sit this out but does provide clandestine aid to both Russia and Shite Militias fighting with the Iranians.
20) The Russians offer to help the Mexicans retake the US West Coast and send a large force deceptively called the Cuba Division to help with an invasion of the US. The US is forced to use Reserves and National Guard units to repel Mexican T55Ms and Russian T72Ms rolling into the Southwest. The Russian offensive bogs down.
21) In late '99 (November) a desperate Russia, being thrown back on all fronts, begins using NUCLEAR WEAPONS. Mostly tactical weapons (150kt or less), which are used to hit specific Strategic targets but a few larger sub-launched weapons are used. In China, the Russians OBLITERATE the Chinese Army with nuclear weapons, leaving the country in total chaos. The large Strategic Missiles sit in their bunkers awaiting commands which never come. They are STILL sitting there when the game begins. The US then retaliates and for a little while, it looks like there could be peace... IF only there were someone who could broker it. Sadly, that doesn't happen. The war begins to pick up again in the spring of 2000. The military has now begun to "live off the land," planting crops, moving livestock in supply trains, and making biodiesel to fuel their machines of war.
22) Fall of 2000. "You're on your own!"
I basically spread the US "paper-thin" across the globe to give Russia a chance of winning. My idea for Poland has been laughed at a lot, right up until Russia took the Crimea and the fighting started in the Donetsk region. People told me, "there are NO WAY commandos could invade a country without that country wiping them out." Today I'd say: "go watch the fall of the Crimea."
The reason for shortening the timeline was to make sure no country was able to mobilize its economy to a war-time footing. This war escalated so quickly that it became a "come as you are war" with the combatants taking equipment out of mothballs to fill a dire need.
My nuclear war (referred to as The Exchange) occurs in '99 so the PCs have less than a year to develop the survival skills that they will need. The PCs will be learning how to survive JUST AS THE PLAYERS WILL BE, during play.
This is an abbreviated history, and I do keep a lot of the tactical actions in the initial RAW history. Do what you will with it.
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