Historic Timeline in the BETAverse (Part 04)

Divergence Point and Timeline (Continued)

  • Late 1978
    - In order to resist the BETA invasion, the Middle Eastern nations declare a holy war. The First Jihad Union Force, transcending previous sectarian divides, deploys in a simultaneous attack on multiple fronts, successfully push back the front line temporarily. This is the beginnings of the @Middle Eastern Union.
    - In response to the ongoing BETA invasion, the Soviet Union moves the headquarters of Alternative III from Novosibirsk to Khabarovsk.
    - First deployment of the @A-10 Thunderbolt II by the USA, developed by Fairchild Republic as a heavy TSF specializing in point defense and fire support. In particular, it gains a reputation on the European front for high performance at killing @BETA - Tank Class, thus gaining the nickname "Tank Buster".

  • 1979
    - Joint experiment between Dr. Karls Moorcock and Dr. Ristomatti Lechte is a success. Gravity manipulation engine mechanism is established. The Moorcock-Lechte Drive is developed at Ros Alamos.
    - The concept that would later become the G-Bomb is first invented during the development process of manufacturing the Moorcock-Lechte Drive. The possibility of a decisive strike on the BETA would heavily influence @The United States of America (USA) strategic actions to come, and with the completion of the Moorcock-Lechte Drive, the US makes further requests to Boening and Rokswell to continue testing and development.
    - @The United States of America (USA) puts the Santa Fe Project into motion. From HI-MAERF Project participants, the "Memorandum Concerning ML Theory-Based Strategic Weapons" is submitted to President Harry O'Laughlin in utmost secrecy. The same year, a different plan to apply the ML Engine in a simpler super-critical reaction weapon commences - the beginning of the Fifth Dimensional Field Effect Bomb (also known informally as the G-Bomb) development program.
    - Due to the war situation in Eurasia and other world events related to the BETA invasion, the @Empire of Japan drastically revises its Fundamental Law of Education. In the interests of cultivating superior BETA-fighting pilots (Eishi), a special educational environment for the gifted and an aptitude-based selection system are set up.
    - The @Empire of Japan ends the Akebono Program. Acquisition of fundamental technology related to the development and operation of 1st generation @Tactical Surface Fighter (TSF) is complete.
    - The issue of a shortage of TSFs on the front-lines begin to end, as the technical acquisitions of the other nations progress on to domestic production. @The United States of America (USA) Congress passes a bill restricting foreign transfer of next-generation TSF production technology.
    - The Vancouver Pact under the @United Nations enters into force. Believing the rapid expansion of BETA territory to be a result of lack of unity in the war, under a UN Security Council Resolution the war against the BETA including Hive capture operations would be conducted under UN leadership. It also stipulates matters such as participating countries' right of belligerency against BETA to be limited to self-defence as well as collective defence and granting UN management/control over captured/seized articles.
    - Poland falls to the BETA assault.

  • 1980
    - Once the @European Union Force is established the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Italy, and other European NATO nations, agree to the ECTSF (European Combat Tactical Surface Fighter) Program, a joint development plan for a next-generation TSF. With the goal of practical implementation in 1985, collaborative development between the nations begins.
    - In light of the current situation in Europe and Asia, the @United Nations begins mediating negotiations with nations located away from the front lines, to have them accept national governments and refugees from frontline regions.
    - The @The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) attempts to buy the territory of @Alaska from the @The United States of America (USA). Although the USA refuses to sell Alaska, negotiations continue for a time-limited lease.
    - The Soviet Union first deploys the @MiG-23 Cheburashka, the nation's first true domestically-designed TSF. Developed separately from the MiG-21, its capabilities are equal to that of a quasi-2nd generation TSF; however, its poor serviceability and operational rates did not improve, prompting the Soviet government to begin work on an improved model. Units that were already deployed were given hasty repairs and modifications, and offered to @Asia and @Africa nations at a low price as a means for the Soviet government to preserve its influence with them.
    - The @The United States of America (USA) begins the LWTSF (LightWeight Tactical Surface Fighter) Program. As part of research into @Tactical Surface Fighter (TSF)s for close combat, technological demonstration of smaller and lightweight craft with high mobility, begins. Under this plan, the YF-16 and YF-17 were developed by General Dynomics and Northrock, respectively. Though there are initially no plans to make it an official project, the appearance of the High-Low Mix concept in the future would elevate the technology demonstration into a development program for combat-capable units.
    - Taking into account the attrition rate on the European and Asian fronts, the Imperial Diet of Japan decides to reorganize and reinforce its military forces. The @Empire of Japan reintroduces its Military Service Law, previously abolished at the end of WWII. Conscription of a portion of the male populace, above 20 and under 40 years of age, is re-introduced as a result.

  • 1981
    - BETA invade the Nordic region. Weakened by the major BETA offensive of 1978, the Sino-Soviet and @European Union allied forces retreat to the last bastion in Northern Europe, the Scandinavian Peninsula. The Scandinavian front would continue to intensify and last for over a decade.
    - The BETA group that invaded the Scandinavian Peninsula begins construction of @Rovaniemi Hive, Objective 08, in Finland.
    - Operation Dunkirk begins in @Europe. With the BETA advance into Western Europe, the European nations evacuate their civilians and civilization to @Africa, @South America, and South-east @Asia. This would continue until 1984.
    - @Empire of Japan first deploys the @Type-81 Wadatsumi and its tender submarine, the Type-81. They are deployed to military bases mainly in western @Empire of Japan and around the shorelines of the Sea of Japan.
    - L1 early nuclear attack platform Space One is completed, and SHADOW begins partial operation.
    - France first deploys the @Mirage 2000. The TSF is a 1.5th-generation unit produced by Dass-Ault via independent modification of the @F-5F Mirage III, with a 15% increase in frame size to accommodate features for increased armament loads and operational time. Subsequent modifications would upgrade the unit to a 2nd-generation TSF.
    - @The United States of America (USA) begins the ATDP Program (note: possibly Advanced Technology Demonstration Program?) by DARPA, the US Army, and NASA, to explore and establish leading experimental technologies for the third generation of @Tactical Surface Fighter (TSF)s. The X-29 experimental TSF, produced by Grunnan, re-uses components from other TSFs in order to save on development costs and accelerate the program schedule to begin early testing.

  • 1982
    - The United States Congress approves a 50-year lease of @Alaska to the Soviet Union, and transfer of local residents begins even as preparations for relocation commence in various parts of the Soviet Union. At the same time, as a measure of military insurance, @Yukon Base and the surrounding area spanning the US-Soviet border is leased to the @United Nations free of charge for the next 50 years.
    - The @Empire of Japan first deploys the 1.5th-generation @Type-82 Kai Zuikaku, a unit designed by Mitsuhishi, Fugaku, and Kawazaki, with the know-how obtained from the Akebono Program.
    - In light of the setbacks encountered during the purely domestic development of the Type-82, an integrated public and private sector development of a domestic next-generation @Tactical Surface Fighter (TSF) begins in the @Empire of Japan, in order to close the technology gap with @The United States of America (USA).
    - The USA begins deployment of the carrier-capable @F-14 Tomcat developed by Grunnan, a long-ranged strike unit capable of utilizing the Pheonix missile; nevertheless, the TSF has more than enough capability for close-range melee combat. Deployment of true 2nd generation @Tactical Surface Fighter (TSF)s begins.