Alternate History
It's an alternate timeline where the War of the Worlds was real. Humanity reverse engineered the “Martians” tech to colonize Venus and Mars, which are found to have breathable atmospheres and native civilizations. Humanity also created Spaceports, space stations the size of cities for vital trade to supply the colonies and re-terraform Earth.
The Allied Spaceport, the Manhattan, was designed for 15 million souls, but probably has ten times that now. It’s inhabited not only by Humans but by Manchanged (Mutants), Androids granted sentience by the Central Core herself, bioengineered rodents, and the occasional extraterrestrial.
Culturally the Manhattan is like a film noir exaggeration of its namesake with the occasional intrusion of alien weirdness and horror. Think Bladerunner and Aliens with a dash of Naked Lunch. You won’t find any lightsabers here! No blasters on deck either, you might blow up the ship! It’s knives and guns, like it always has. The entire ship swallows its angst deep, knowing the enemy of mankind is still out there and waiting to strike. In the meantime, work for your credits and celebrate every time you make it back your favorite dive bar in one piece.
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TIMELINE
"Behold, I am become Garuda, Vehicle of Gods..."
- John Oppenheimer, July 16th, 1945 as the starship USS Manhattan launched from Trinity, New Mexico
Chapter I: Divergence Point
1895 - War of the Worlds. Mysterious lights seen on Mars, followed by global attack by alien ships. After the aliens die mysteriously, world governments confiscate the alien artifacts.
"Redweed" seeded by Martians found to to be edible (if processed), and a natural antibiotic.
The 20th century of this universe develops technologically at about half the rate ours did, as the lion's share of resources are spent on reverse-engineering the secrets the Martians left behind.
1905 - Albert Einstein, develops Theory of Hyper-relativity (E=MC^3) after studying engines of Martian spacecraft, breaking the secret of FTL travel.
1914 - The Great War. Germany defies international treaties and uses captured Martian technology on the battlefield. The Allies follow suit.
1915-1920s The Shifting Sickness strikes millions across the world, causing genetic mutations. Circumstantial evidence points to prolonged consumption of redweed.
1925 - Hitler publishes Mein Kampf, spouting hatred towards Mutants who he believed were agents of the Martian invaders.
1938 - Worlds War II. This time the Martians are defeated with Earth weapons reverse-engineered from Martian technology.
1941 - Japan launches aerial attack on China and Hawaiian Islands. The airship Yamato is shot down before it reaches Pearl Harbor.
1942 - Classified evidence that the Martians may be planning a third attack on Earth convinces all sides to commit to a cease-fire.
April 1945 - Nazi Fleet of seized Martian Ships "liberated" from secret Antarctic base conquer South America and set up a satellite state in Argentina, from which they launch their attack on the United States. Hitler strongly suspected to be in Argentina. Mexico becomes a battleground. Just as the battle seems lost and Texas is invaded the Nazis suddenly lose control of their fleet. The ships "return" to Mars with German soldiers trapped inside.
July 16, 1945 - The starship USS Manhattan launches from Trinity, New Mexico, with ten million souls.
Japan declares a unilateral cease-fire and leaves the Axis. Finland formally joins the Axis in its stead.
August 29, 1949 - Soviets and China launch their own space station, The Red Star.
1950's - Relations between Russia and China with the rest of the Allies fall apart. For all intents and purposes there is now a three-way Cold War with the Allies, the Axis, and the Reds.
Japan leaves the Axis, signs non-aggression pact with the Allies and concentrates on holding Manchukuo and keeping the Russians at bay.
1953 - Earth forces face Third Martian Invasion head-on. The Staten Island deck of the Manhattan is damaged, flooding with radiation. Survivors crowded into Bronx level.
1955 - Russians take the fight to the enemy and land on Mars. Initially, no sign of Martians. To everyone's surprise Mars has an almost breathable atmosphere, requiring only a dust filter and eye protection. Just as suspected, the red dust of Mars is laden with redweed pollen. Exploration of Mars begins. Other nations send ships to mine for minerals and explore the seemingly infinite caverns for artifacts. German soldiers stranded on Mars ten years ago claim have formed an independent town of New Bavaria. New Bavarians have trading partnerships with the native Amoeboids (Slimefolk) who lived underground before the “Martians” invaded from another sector.
1968 - US lands on Venus, finds a Jurassic biosphere, makes first contact with the Reptyl, Mycellians, and Sylvaren.
1988 - The largest Martian fleet ever seen phases out of hyperspace and remains on far side of asteroid belt, but has not attacked.
2025 - You’re a citizen on the Manhattan. It’s busy and crowded. You need a job.