Story Idea Thread: post your ideas here!

[forcon]

Last Stand in Tehran: Operation Eagle Claw goes worse. Delta Force makes it into Tehran, and hits the embassy successfully, but two of the helicopters are shot down en route to the extraction point at the stadium. Delta and the hostages are cut off inside the city. They fall back to the embassy and take a stand, which ends with the hostages and the assault force wiped out to a man.

The US bombs Iran's oil fields and transport infrastructure, but Carter doesn't invade: Reagan wins the election as per OTL. His first act is to send I MEF and XVIII Airborne Corps into Chah Bahar and Bandar Abbas. The Soviets roll in from the north and a new DMZ is established in central Iran.

The US and USSR engage in a proxy war across Iran which becomes a Vietnam-like quagmire for both nations.

[gillan1220]

Feb 25, 2021 14:15:19 GMT forcon said:

Last Stand in Tehran: Operation Eagle Claw goes worse. Delta Force makes it into Tehran, and hits the embassy successfully, but two of the helicopters are shot down en route to the extraction point at the stadium. Delta and the hostages are cut off inside the city. They fall back to the embassy and take a stand, which ends with the hostages and the assault force wiped out to a man.

The US bombs Iran's oil fields and transport infrastructure, but Carter doesn't invade: Reagan wins the election as per OTL. His first act is to send I MEF and XVIII Airborne Corps into Chah Bahar and Bandar Abbas. The Soviets roll in from the north and a new DMZ is established in central Iran.

The US and USSR engage in a proxy war across Iran which becomes a Vietnam-like quagmire for both nations.

Iran would be the next frontline in the Cold War just like Germany and Korea.

[fieldmarshal]

I had a dumb idea a while back for a story in which a secret and genuine love affair between heads of state (specifically a Soviet General Secretary modelled on Alexander Lebed and a female Indian PM - not Indira, someone much younger and completely fictional) is played for drama amidst an international crisis, with American agents being able to use the affair as leverage 

But now I have a dumb idea for a black comedy in which a future US president has an affair with Kim Yo Jong (pic related), who has become leader of North Korea after her brother had an unfortunate heart attack, and the Secret Service and their DPRK counterparts are working overtime to keep the whole thing a secret

[stevep]

Mar 16, 2021 9:11:41 GMT fieldmarshal said:

I had a dumb idea a while back for a story in which a secret and genuine love affair between heads of state (specifically a Soviet General Secretary modelled on Alexander Lebed and a female Indian PM - not Indira, someone much younger and completely fictional) is played for drama amidst an international crisis, with American agents being able to use the affair as leverage 

But now I have a dumb idea for a black comedy in which a future US president has an affair with Kim Yo Jong (pic related), who has become leader of North Korea after her brother had an unfortunate heart attack, and the Secret Service and their DPRK counterparts are working overtime to keep the whole thing a secret

  That would be hilarious, at least in fiction.  In real life it would definitely be a nightmare for the security services and potentially the wider world.

  Which makes me think.  You rarely get comedy in AH.  I think the nearest on this site are Spanishspy's Christmas stories and the AT stories.  Possibly because we take ourselves and history too seriously.  There are published stories that are farcical but that is generally unintentional.

[lordbyron]

Here's my 1983 World War idea (this is copied mostly from a post I did at alternatehistory.com):
Midnight In The Abyss
-In addition to Representative Larry McDonald, Senators Jesse Helms and Steve Symms and Representative Carroll Hubbard also die on Korean Air Lines Flight 007. This increases tensions between the US and Soviet Union.
-Tensions worsen between the two countries and their allies during September of 1983, which is noted as part of Operation Ryan (the Soviets' military intelligence program to detect signs of a first strike by the US).
-Then, on October 9th, 1983, during a visit to Rangoon to lay a wreath at the Martyrs' Mausoleum to commemorate Aung San, one of the founders of Burma (he was assassinated in 1947), South Korean president Chun Doo-Wan is killed when a bomb concealed in the roof of the Mausoleum explodes shortly after he arrives (IOTL, it was detonated early by mistake--ITTL, it detonates on time). The subsequent Burmese investigation of the bombing reveals the North Korean involvement in the bombing (as per OTL) and, as a result, tensions begin rising between North and South Korea (and the US, as well). China essentially breaks off all ties with North Korea as a result.
-In response to the increasing tensions in the Koreas, the US decides to call up troops to back up South Korea. When the Soviets hear of this, they assume that it's part of a plot to attack the Soviet Union (as per Operation RYAN) and also start calling up some of their troops.
-Then, the twin bombings of the US and French barracks in Beirut occur like OTL. In response, the US joins France in bombing the alleged perpetrators (this is noted by the Soviets as another sign). This is followed by the US invasion of Grenada, which is seen as another checkmark for Ryan.
-When the Able Archer exercise starts, the Soviets take this as a sign that NATO is about to attack, and decide to attack first.

[gillan1220]

Apr 4, 2021 18:26:26 GMT lordbyron said:

Here's my 1983 World War idea (this is copied mostly from a post I did at alternatehistory.com):
Midnight In The Abyss
-In addition to Representative Larry McDonald, Senators Jesse Helms and Steve Symms and Representative Carroll Hubbard also die on Korean Air Lines Flight 007. This increases tensions between the US and Soviet Union.
-Tensions worsen between the two countries and their allies during September of 1983, which is noted as part of Operation Ryan (the Soviets' military intelligence program to detect signs of a first strike by the US).
-Then, on October 9th, 1983, during a visit to Rangoon to lay a wreath at the Martyrs' Mausoleum to commemorate Aung San, one of the founders of Burma (he was assassinated in 1947), South Korean president Chun Doo-Wan is killed when a bomb concealed in the roof of the Mausoleum explodes shortly after he arrives (IOTL, it was detonated early by mistake--ITTL, it detonates on time). The subsequent Burmese investigation of the bombing reveals the North Korean involvement in the bombing (as per OTL) and, as a result, tensions begin rising between North and South Korea (and the US, as well). China essentially breaks off all ties with North Korea as a result.
-In response to the increasing tensions in the Koreas, the US decides to call up troops to back up South Korea. When the Soviets hear of this, they assume that it's part of a plot to attack the Soviet Union (as per Operation RYAN) and also start calling up some of their troops.
-Then, the twin bombings of the US and French barracks in Beirut occur like OTL. In response, the US joins France in bombing the alleged perpetrators (this is noted by the Soviets as another sign). This is followed by the US invasion of Grenada, which is seen as another checkmark for Ryan.
-When the Able Archer exercise starts, the Soviets take this as a sign that NATO is about to attack, and decide to attack first.

Everyone agrees 1983 was closer to World War III than 1962 ever was.

[griml0ck122]

Here's a long one-
A Karabakh conflict leads to a NATO-Russia confrontation
Starting back in 1999-NATO and Russian troops engage each other in Kosovo, setting the tone for a new Cold War early on, 
Fast forward to 2020
Azerbaijan invades the Karabakh like OTL, only they ignore ceasefire attempts from Russia and decide to take the whole region. One thing leads to another and Russia stages a coup in Baku, leading to a split in the government and open Turkish intervention. Turkish and Russian forces engage each other in Azerbaijan and Aermenia. This leads to NATO blockading Kalinangrad, as well as prompting US intervention as Russian troops cross into Turkey proper. Seeing this happening, the Russians launch a partial invasion of the Baltics and Poland to secure their links with Kalinangrad as well as stop a percieved invasion of the exclave. NATO and Russia clash in what is to be known as the War of 2020. 

Optional PODs
-Lebad is elected in '96 after Yeltsin has a heart attack, leading to "great power Russia" earlier
-No COVID so the big Azeri attack happens in July rather than September 2020
-Belerus is part of Russia so going across going across Lithuania is the best option, or Belerus has access to Kalinangrad in return for hosting a "corridor"
-Russia bought combat drones in the 2000s because they couldn't buy aircraft (see:Iran)
-Russia never left Cuba or returned
-NATO is much better armed due to Cold War II being a thing earlier (CATO/STOBAR QEs, M8s and Crusaders)

[gillan1220]

Aug 3, 2021 2:42:54 GMT griml0ck122 said:

Here's a long one-
A Karabakh conflict leads to a NATO-Russia confrontation
Starting back in 1999-NATO and Russian troops engage each other in Kosovo, setting the tone for a new Cold War early on, 
Fast forward to 2020
Azerbaijan invades the Karabakh like OTL, only they ignore ceasefire attempts from Russia and decide to take the whole region. One thing leads to another and Russia stages a coup in Baku, leading to a split in the government and open Turkish intervention. Turkish and Russian forces engage each other in Azerbaijan and Aermenia. This leads to NATO blockading Kalinangrad, as well as prompting US intervention as Russian troops cross into Turkey proper. Seeing this happening, the Russians launch a partial invasion of the Baltics and Poland to secure their links with Kalinangrad as well as stop a percieved invasion of the exclave. NATO and Russia clash in what is to be known as the War of 2020. 

Optional PODs
-Lebad is elected in '96 after Yeltsin has a heart attack, leading to "great power Russia" earlier
-No COVID so the big Azeri attack happens in July rather than September 2020
-Belerus is part of Russia so going across going across Lithuania is the best option, or Belerus has access to Kalinangrad in return for hosting a "corridor"
-Russia bought combat drones in the 2000s because they couldn't buy aircraft (see:Iran)
-Russia never left Cuba or returned
-NATO is much better armed due to Cold War II being a thing earlier (CATO/STOBAR QEs, M8s and Crusaders)

american2006 Perhaps we can have a bigger N-K conflict in Butterflying The Bat.

[american2006]

Aug 3, 2021 9:57:30 GMT gillan1220 said:

Aug 3, 2021 2:42:54 GMT griml0ck122 said:

Here's a long one-
A Karabakh conflict leads to a NATO-Russia confrontation
Starting back in 1999-NATO and Russian troops engage each other in Kosovo, setting the tone for a new Cold War early on, 
Fast forward to 2020
Azerbaijan invades the Karabakh like OTL, only they ignore ceasefire attempts from Russia and decide to take the whole region. One thing leads to another and Russia stages a coup in Baku, leading to a split in the government and open Turkish intervention. Turkish and Russian forces engage each other in Azerbaijan and Aermenia. This leads to NATO blockading Kalinangrad, as well as prompting US intervention as Russian troops cross into Turkey proper. Seeing this happening, the Russians launch a partial invasion of the Baltics and Poland to secure their links with Kalinangrad as well as stop a percieved invasion of the exclave. NATO and Russia clash in what is to be known as the War of 2020. 

Optional PODs
-Lebad is elected in '96 after Yeltsin has a heart attack, leading to "great power Russia" earlier
-No COVID so the big Azeri attack happens in July rather than September 2020
-Belerus is part of Russia so going across going across Lithuania is the best option, or Belerus has access to Kalinangrad in return for hosting a "corridor"
-Russia bought combat drones in the 2000s because they couldn't buy aircraft (see:Iran)
-Russia never left Cuba or returned
-NATO is much better armed due to Cold War II being a thing earlier (CATO/STOBAR QEs, M8s and Crusaders)

american2006 Perhaps we can have a bigger N-K conflict in Butterflying The Bat.

I’m open to it.

[gillan1220]

Aug 3, 2021 13:30:06 GMT american2006 said:

Aug 3, 2021 9:57:30 GMT gillan1220 said:

american2006 Perhaps we can have a bigger N-K conflict in Butterflying The Bat.

I’m open to it.

I will put that in the OMAKE.

[Zyobot]

Another TL idea I came up with is After the USSA. That is, an unofficial sequel to the AH anthology Back in the USSA, which explores an "inverted Cold War" scenario where the US undergoes a communist revolution, with Tsarist Russia enacting constitutional reforms and the United Kingdom remaining a global empire that retains its superpower status.

With Socialist America eventually collapsing and capitalism sweeping the globe, it seems as if a bright twenty-first century lies ahead. Alas, this is not to be, with many of the perilous themes that kicked into overdrive IOTL also arising here. Post-socialist America being wracked with corruption, cronyism, and poverty under the rule of a shady semi-dictator who bullies Mexico and Central America, in hopes of salvaging the prestige America once enjoyed. A declining Great Britain grappling with inept militarism, mass-offshoring, ever-growing wealth concentration, and "Woke" activism across dominions that have become increasingly critical of the empire and Western liberalism as a whole. Tsarist Russia threatening to overtake the British as global superpower, as left-wing cultural drifts in the Western World drive further rifts with the increasingly conservative Eastern Europe and Asia-Pacific, the latter having also experienced a capitalist miracle that threatens to shift the balance of power back to the East, after four centuries of worldwide Western domination. Clearly, they've got quite a century to look forward to.

[griml0ck122]

Another idea that involves several PODs
The US launches a limited invasion of Iran in 2020-
Without COVID to deal with, the escalatory cycle continues in the middle east, leading Iran closing the Strait of Hormouz to all non-gulf flagged vessels. In response, the US, it's Gulf allies and Turkey (who have also roped the Azeris in) prepare launch a two proged invasion of Iranian Azerbaijan and the area around the strait. However, Iran know at least some of the invasion plans thanks to a third party country, including the start date, and is able to ride out the inital attack. Iran hits back, with the first large scale use of cyber-privateering in warfare, as well as attacks against US bases in the Gulf states. The invasion ultimatley succeeds, but is deeply unpopular in the west, due to high casulties, as well as the need to police the area around Hormouz.

[american2006]

Aug 10, 2021 11:18:13 GMT griml0ck122 said:

Another idea that involves several PODs
The US launches a limited invasion of Iran in 2020-
Without COVID to deal with, the escalatory cycle continues in the middle east, leading Iran closing the Strait of Hormouz to all non-gulf flagged vessels. In response, the US, it's Gulf allies and Turkey (who have also roped the Azeris in) prepare launch a two proged invasion of Iranian Azerbaijan and the area around the strait. However, Iran know at least some of the invasion plans thanks to a third party country, including the start date, and is able to ride out the inital attack. Iran hits back, with the first large scale use of cyber-privateering in warfare, as well as attacks against US bases in the Gulf states. The invasion ultimatley succeeds, but is deeply unpopular in the west, due to high casulties, as well as the need to police the area around Hormouz.

I bet you could probably get away with just two PODs. The first of course being things go different in Wuhan and perhaps drone striking another official at the same time as Soleimani.

[Zyobot]

This next one started as a passing thought, but grew into a potential Warhammer 40K fanfic idea that I may (or may not) hammer out at some point. It starts with Uday Hussein, who was Saddam's even more sadistic and deranged elder son, being corrupted by Chaos. Likely sometime before the invasion of Kuwait, as opposed to right after (giving him some time to assassinate his father and plot a coup).

An Iraqi Civil War soon breaks out, fought mainly between a Slaaneshi Uday and a Khornate Qusay, the latter having turned to the Blood God more out of desperation than anything else. Naturally, the fighting would soon spill into neighboring nations, drawing the entire Arab World into war with two merciless, demonically empowered nightmare-states that make Hitler and Stalin both look like enlightened and gentlemanly philosopher-kings. Not to mention global powers like the United States, which will rush to contain Chaotic influence, in addition to stopping the worst conflict since World War II from spiraling out of control. Which will ultimately be in vain, given Chaos's irrepressible tendency to crank things up to eleven, then break the dial by twisting it faster and faster and faster, until the Warp threatens to swallow the Materium whole and the laughter of thirsting gods becomes a deafening, eternal cacophony from which there is neither respite nor salvation. In the grim darkness of the new millennium, there is only war.

[forcon]

I have an idea for a modern retelling of Apocalypse Now, more closely related to its source material, Heart of Darkness.

After a coup in West Africa, the newly installed dictator (think Kony) starts conducting a genocide against the ethnic group opposing him. A retired British Army officer, Sir Alistair Sinclair, who left the Grenadier Guards in 2014 to fight with the Kurds against ISIS, publicly announces his intention to take a small group of former soldiers into the jungle to bring down the dictator. His efforts are initially supported by the public. However, several months later, the British government receives reports that Sinclair has 'gone rogue' and is committing horrible atrocities to fight the Dictator, including forming an army of child soldiers.

An SAS officer, Major Tom Stanley, is assigned to lead a team of 'Increment' soldiers to assassinate Sinclair by the British government, who fear that Sinclair's activities being revealed will embarrass them. Major Stanley eventually becomes dissilusioned after witnessing yet more atrocities by both Sinclair and the Dictator.

Stanley eventually locates Sinclair, but he comes to see things from his side. After Sinclair is captured and killed by the Dictator, Stanley takes his place as the leader of a rebel army of conscripted child soldiers.

I know the whole premise is pretty horrific. It's sort of a story about how a good man - Sinclair and eventually Stanley - can become truly evil.