DISCLAIMER

The following is a fan-based

FICTION

All Destiny related stuff is owned by Bungie and Activision.

Please support the official release.

Chapter 19 - De-Escalation through Escalation

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

Also Pxtreon: P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin

It took me roughly five years to create a circumstance where both the US and the USSR were humbled by their own problems.

Five years of careful remembering the fine events of these years, move around those and then plot about the rise in popularity of those that would prove to be genuinely invested in 'approaching' us after seeing the growth Africa experienced.

It wasn't an easy job nonetheless due to how divided the countries were through the colonial era, but consolidating our base first and then tackling the rest of the countries to break free from dictatorship or lingering grasp from European countries allowed for this to be feasible.

South Africa was particularly a troublesome element considering the authoritarian sway the pro-Apartheid National Party had over the country through the limited democracy it exerted. Moving against them was difficult due to the international laws that 'protected the sovereignty of the country'.

Hence why the approach was not to attack the National Party, but create a sort of 'coalition' between the United Party of De Villiers Graaf and the Progressive Party of Colin Eglin. When elections came in 1974, the Apartheid absolute rule was contest when the parliament was won mostly by the coalition.

There was tension on 'giving up' the position of power took a month to dissipate, but it was De Villiers Graaf, chosen as the majority leader for the coaltion, that pretty much pushed for the expected violence- to tear the bandaid earlier than too late.

"I am a staunch believer of her majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, but these long years have proved that we cannot rely on London's support anymore. Not against the racists and the pro-fascists that ruined this country. Hence why, by the Will of the Lord and by Popular Mandate, I shall sign the renegation of papers tying us to Britain and pledge for support from the new African Union."

The move constituted a risk for the democratic rule. The Boers had been campaigning on 'either democracy or true white freedom!' as a slogan to push about their interest to fight for their 'independence' if they lost to the ballot. Ballot or bullet, and they were ready to get the bullets going.

Sadly for them, the process of confirmation in the African Union was actually speedy and as De Villiers required for assistance on the immediate, advanced weapons and human troops trained in such tools were provided to bolster the military.

What would have been a bloody civil war turned into a one-sided affair when the African National Congress, now reinstated and supportive of the African Union, pledged their support for the new government and the 'First Desegregation Act' was passed by Parliament.

The war was, as expected, not one of 'good against evil'. Not when conduct of war was barely observed by both sides, and where prisoners were killed rather than be kept sheltered until a trial could be administered. Justice was then imposed on those that violated it, with pressure exerted to not create 'martyrdoms' out of what were clear violation of legal restrictions.

The coalition government would see a major rise in popularity, while the National Party would be split among Pro-Apartheid and Anti-Apartheid in an effort to 'preserve the national purity' and 'distance themselves from the racists' respectively.

These events were, somewhat, mirrored then in D.C. and Moscow.

For the former saw the Watergate Scandal causing a major downfall of the Nixon Administration, but the temporary President Gerald Ford was 'willing' to listen for advise when I offered him some. On August 20, Ford took George W. H. Bush as his Vice-President opposed to Nelson Rockfeller and, on September 8, he denounced any idea to pardon Nixon despite rising pressure to have the former President covered for his crimes.

While many conservatives in the Republican Party were outraged by this move, the extensive support he yielded through the public was enough to make the whining of the leadership easy to ignore. And when the elections would then come in 1976, Ford would secure himself a comfortable majority and mandate for the Republicans despite the Scandal and the growing infighting.

Albeit his cabinet was conservative in nature, it was deemed 'clean' as it tried to steer away from Nixon's shadow entirely. The position in regard Detente with the Soviet Union also regarded a possible turning point for international politics on Earth.

Especially when Alexei Kosygin was able to claim control of the country from Brezhnev in 1971. Despite opposition from the Soviet Old Guard, the political moves of Premier Kosygin allowed for reforms to be expanded by exploiting the info I was willing to provide him.

Albeit he was unsure why I was aiding him and at what cost, I confided in him a rather simple answer that seemed to put his mind at ease: Peace. Peace above all. No more war, no more tyrannies.

A reformist at heart, this forged a sense of understanding that helped me further push him to the top. And while Brezhnev had pushed to rely on the Red Army to keep his supremacy over the politburo, Kosygin's sway over the military grew when he successfully pushed for a greater budget for the Red Army compared to the proposed plan from Brezhnev.

A clash ensued on December 21, 1971, which resulted in Brezhnev's ousting and 'disappearance'. 1972 would be defined as the 'Age of Reforms' in the Soviet Union. Albeit old-styled Central Planners would lose popularity, the backbone of the national economy would persist with several changes to it.

Liberalization was indeed allowed through the members of the Warsaw Pact, but it was forcibly graduated and slower than it would have been in the Original Timeline. The Union was thus set to redefine its politics to be less warhawkish and pursuing a more democratic mandate in the next few years to come.

And as I slowly 'tapped' into problems all over the world, I realized one thing.

'You sound empty when you bring up those achievements, father.'

Xi Ro's comment hit the problem right in the head.

She had the opportunity to see who the humans were, who I used to 'be' a long time ago. She wasn't that impressed due to their appearance, but agreed that their military growth was something noteworthy but... that wasn't the topic of this speech as we both sat at the edge of her little 'temple/house'.

Is that so?

'When I would wage wars, it would never be because I am following orders and nothing more. I had a fire, a vision, a desire. You, instead, are quite... quiet. You don't feel it is as important as it should be. You are clearly trying but...'

But I sound detached.

'As if you don't care enough for it.'

I hummed at this, knowing what Xi Ro was referring to.

I suppose it's due to how long I have not been human. How long I have not been a proper living being beyond this.

'Maybe you should consider focusing on getting a body,' Xi Ro offered, trying to be helpful and... kinda more as I felt a hint of intrigue in her voice. 'Maybe you could regain bearing of the sensations you lost through it.'

Not a stupid idea, but neither a smart one. I didn't tell her that as I just hummed distractedly, but my uncertainty was driven by a fair reason: it's been too long for my 'muscle memory' to remember how to live in a proper body. To eat, to drink, to pee, to crap- to sleep and to dream.

Can I still do any of those thing if I was given a body?

After all, the point of humans 'learning' to use their body was not an immediate situation. It was a process. Babies were not able to talk on their own, hold their bladder and poop in. And yet they did know how to breathe and how to live.

Would I even know how to do either of those things with a body?

'Father?'

Xi Ro's voice dragged me out of my tedious thoughts.

Y-Yes?

She offered a smile. 'You are going to be fine regardless of what happens.'

The assurance felt like a gutpunch but also a soothing blanket that eased me out of the topic. I had shown unease, and now my child was being distressed by this. A hint of shame did arise from that idea, and I 'nodded'.

Yes. Thank you, Xi Ro.

I need to find solutions. The Big White Golf Ball should have answers...

AN

Existential Crises mixed with International Ones.