*Before we continue on with the story I would like to make a statement. I do not support the actions which either the Japanese Government or the German Government carried out during World War II. There were horrific crimes carried out by all sides in that war. This RPG is not some attempt to glorify what they did. It’s simply that, an RPG. Given as the original Mobile Suit Gundam was an analogy to World War II, I felt it would be interesting to create a Gundam RPG which spawned from a divergence point in History, that divergence point is World War II.
A Different History
Little is known about the day the world changed, much of the information lost to the Empire’s various purges of information. What is known is that a popular uprising swept across Germany following the Assassination of Hitler. The Nazi Party was tried internally for its crimes and in most cases members of the SS were simply executed on sight by the Wehrmacht which had risen to power. A new Germany was born amidst the flames of war, by officers who longed to restore a glory that had been long lost to them. Without the misguidance of Hitler the German army was able to fight a more effective war against the USSR. On December 7th, rather than attacking the United States of America, the Japanese Empire sent planes to the aid of its Imperial German Allies. The bombers shattered the Russians production capabilities, which had been moved to the east to avoid wrath of the German forces. A comprehensive aerial and naval campaign by the Japanese kept the USSR crippled while the German Army advanced forward. Seeing their chance, the Japanese began a massive land-grab, targeting the Eastern Half of the USSR as well as consolidating their position in South-East Asia.
With the focus turned to the Western Front, the German Empire turned its aim toward the British Isles once more. The attempted invasion of Normandy was an utter failure as British troops attempted to storm the beaches of France. (With no war in the east, the German Empire was able to position a majority of its forces to rebuff the British invasion) With their army utterly crushed, the British sue for peace. The German Empire demands nothing short of the surrender of the British Isles, a request which was vehemently denied. A few short days later and a V-2 rocket struck the British parliament whilst the King George VI was present, killing much of the parliament as well as the king. The British, seeing no way out, evacuated the government to Canada and reached a peace agreement with the German Empire. At the same time, forces loyal to the Japanese Emperor stormed India and broke the British Empire’s hold over it while Italy finally won its war in Africa. Seeing no other option, the American’s sought a long-term peace agreement with the Japanese Empire. In exchange for lifting their embargo and their holdings in the Pacific, the American government asked for a fifty-year peace with Germany and Japan. The agreement was accepted and the war concluded.
Resistance remained all across Europe as the Nazi war crimes slowly came to light among the German people. Disgusted by what had transpired, the German Emperor, Markus I, ordered the immediate execution of all those involved in the holocaust that was carried out under Hitler’s regime, as well as paid repatriations to the families whom suffered, money which was often confiscated from the former Nazi Party Members. In Japan, a similar event occurred at the end of the war. Found to have been in violation of Japanese Military Code, those who perpetrated massacres in the Asian Countries were ordered to commit ritual suicide or be executed. The Japanese Empire, in an attempt to better integrate its territories, offered stipends to those who had been directly affected by the crimes of the military officers.
In 1959, the American Government turns its eye to South America. With no USSR to fuel communist uprisings the American giant is able to quick establish puppet governments all across South and Central America. Cuba is seized by American military might for the “Security of the Nation”. The British Government in Exile settles into Canada, in order to deter the German Empire from further delusions of conquest, the British test the world’s first atomic bomb. Germany abandons all plans of crossing the Atlantic shortly after. By 1963, Japan, America, and the German Empire have all acquired nuclear technology. In 1967, the Dresden Accords is signed by the German Empire, The Japanese Empire, The United States of America, and the British Government-in-Exile agreeing to cease the testing of Nuclear Weapons. The treaty also includes provisions prohibiting the use of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Weapons during times of war. In 1968, the German Empire successfully sends a manned mission to the moon.
Civil War in several South American countries results in the United States of America deploying its military on a ‘peacekeeping’ mission. Thousands are slaughtered when those protesting against the United States Puppet government charge a line of soldiers wielding primitive weapons. Government troops open fire on the crowd, which quickly disperses. In 1972, the first World Summit is held. Representatives from every country gather in Hawaii to discuss the state of the world, the Japanese Empire announces its plan to establish a City upon the moon.
1983, The War of Secession begins in South America with Brazil seeking to unify all of South America. The Brazilian Government being one of the few that was not under the sway of the United States of America had secret backing by the German Empire. The United States of America, citing various treaties, deploys its full military might to stop the brunt of the Brazilian invasion.
In 1984, the American Forces sent to South America cross the border into Brazil-proper The Brazilian army proves no match against the new American battle tanks which storm across the borders and quickly seize the capital. At the same time, CIA operatives incite a popular rebellion against the Brazilian Government and the United States establishes its own puppet regime, thus eliminating the German’s last ally in the Americas. At the same time, the Japanese Empire begins developing plans for its Lunar City.
In 1986, the World Summit meets again to discuss the situation in South America. The German Empire expresses displeasure at what it sees as unwarranted American Aggression. The Japanese Empire announces a new and ambitious plan for the construction of Space Colonies. The proposal is generally rejected by the world summit. Nothing is accomplished.
In 1989, The German Empire holds the first ever Berlin Conference, an Inter-Empire meeting. Having determined that the government had become too large for the Imperial Family to manage on its own the German Empire declares the formation of the European Empire. The Italian Kingdom agrees to join the newly formed European Empire. The German Empires territories are divided up with “Lord Governors” being appointed for each newly created region. These new Lord Governors serve as the parliament, the Imperial Throne and handle the management of its lands. The Imperial House maintains absolute veto authority on any law passed, and the power to pass any law unopposed. The military might of the European Empire is overseen and organized by the Germans.
In 1990, The American Union is proposed as a joint venture between the United States and the British Government in Exile. Seeing that they would never be able to reclaim the British Isles and the arrangement of the new European Empire, the British feel the only way to stand a chance is if North and South America come together as one Democratic Union. Not long after its announcement all South American countries fold into the Union. In 1991, the Treaty of Wake is signed, ratifying the new nation-blocs commitment to the non-use and non-testing of Nuclear Weapons.
In 1999, the World Summit meets again. Japan has completed its plans for a Lunar City. The subject of Space Colonies is touched on again as the World Population continues to rise. Due to being under the control of the European Empire, world-hunger in Africa is non-existent, which lends to the heightened growth of the human race. In India, a terrorist attack occurs which makes use of a Nuclear Weapon. Though small in yield, millions of Imperial Japanese citizens are killed. A brief series of border struggles occurs between the Japanese and the European Empire Member-States where the Terrorists had crossed over from. The Japanese Empire violates the European Empire’s sovereign space and destroys the terrorist cell in a daring attack which strains relations between the two nations.
The world experiences a heightened sense of tension until 2012, when the European Empire and the Greater Empire of Japan reconcile their differences publicly. A memorial service is held on the anniversary of the terrorist attack and attended by representatives of the European Empire.
In 2020, Operation Apollo is launched. The Japanese send massive amount of materials into space with the aid of Germany’s newly constructed Mass Driver. The Materials reach the moon where a large city is built inside of one of the Moon’s craters. In the next five years, several more of these cities are constructed and millions of people migrate to space.
In 2032, following the success of the Japanese and European Lunar Cities, the American Union and Japanese Empire construct their own mass-drivers. More cities are built on the moon. Millions of people now live and work in space, but it is only a dent in the world population. As food begins to grow short and pollution raises, an emergency World Summit meeting is held. Japan once more proposes the construction of Space Colonies. At the same time, the European Empire announces they have created a ship capable of traveling to the Asteroid Belt in two months. An ambitious plan is hashed, with the European Empire dragging several large asteroids from the Asteroid Belt into the Orbit of the moon, where they are harvested for their raw materials. The first space colonies are constructed at the various Lagrange points.
In 2050, the first space colonies are completed and billions of human beings migrate to outer space. The conditions are generally favorable from those found on Earth and citizens of the various nations go to Colonies which were sponsored by their respective nations. A meeting of the world summit concludes that it is time to change the Calendar. An old name is touched upon, the Common Era, and is selected as universally non-offensive to all.
The Common Era
More and more space colonies are created and by CE 15, a large chunk of humanity resided in space. In CE 17, the Japanese Empire announced its “Fifty Years of Peace” plan. Despite the name of the plan, the Japanese Empire undertakes a vast re-militarization and modernization of its armed forces.
In CE 20, The Japanese Government unveils its newest technology, the Minvosky Fusion Reactor. Similarly, the Japanese Empire finds a way to harness ‘Mega Particles’ for military usage and outfit several of their space-faring ships with such technology.
In CE 24, The European Empire unveils the Coordinator. Humans genetically altered to be smarter, faster, and stronger than normal humans. Genetic defects are also removed from their DNA and Coordinators are immune to most every disease known to man.
By CE 35, the World Summit creates the Jupiter Energy Fleet as a means of harvesting Helium-3 from Jupiter to supply fuel to these new Minvosky Fusion Reactors. The Japanese Empire oversees the construction of the fleet alongside the European Empire. Financial Crisis halts the development of further colonies, though the colonists remain living happy in space. The Jupiter Energy Fleet makes its first round-trip voyage to Jupiter, returning with critical supplies of H3.
In CE 50, The Japanese Empire reveals the Space Fortress Axis as well its newly reformed Military in a public display. Among the things shown off are the Japanese new Musai Class Space Ships, armed with Mega Particle Cannons. While some question why Japan has chosen to militarize space, the Empire writes it off as necessary to protect its monetary investments in the colonies from terrorists and asteroids.
In CE 55, The European Empire dives into a crash course of creating space-faring warships. As does the American Union.
In CE 60, the World Summit meets and the Treaty of Zum is ratified. This treaty prohibits in the event of war the deliberate targeting of Space Colonies or Lunar Cities, as these are no military targets, there is no reason to attack them.
In CE 69, Empress Keiko ascends the throne of the Greater Empire of Japan. A series of border clashes erupts with the European Empire, despite the revitalization of their military, Japan is unable to match the numbers of the European Empire and end up losing some territory in Eastern Europe. The Empress orders Project Bishamonten, which would change the face of war forever.
In CE 75, the rumors of a new Japanese weapon begin to trickle into the west. Fearing their safety, the German High Command sends spies to infiltrate the research project. What they find is terrifying, though their finds are too late.
In CE 76, following a terrorist attack in China which kills five thousand and the capture and interrogation of a European Spy, the Greater Empire of Japan mobilizes its new military might to its borders. It wages a long war against the Europeans, facing stalemate after stalemate; Empress Keiko orders the deployment of Project Bishamonten. The newly produced Zaku I’s storm the battlefield and the European Empire’s forces are unable to compete with the hulking war machines as they reclaim the territories they had lost.
In CE 78, the World Summit is officially disbanded, though all treaties remain in place. The European Empire declares war upon the Empire of Japan, and the Empire of Japan responds in kind. The European Empire, having had spies embedded in the Japanese Research Project, was able to create their own Mobile Suits shortly after. Though they lacked the time to master the art of creating the Ultracompact Minvosky Fusion reactors that the Japanese utilized, the European Empire instead opted to equip their suits with battery systems.
In CE 79, the American Union unveils its own Mobile Suits. War eventually erupts between all three nations as each side seeks something from the other. The German Empire are still furious with the ousting of Brazil, the British still desire their homelands back, and the Japanese desire expansion and thus seek the American lands. War has erupted on all sides, yet space remains in relative peace. For now.