Earth 30

Earth 30 is a world in the Multiverse. It's most well known element is the huge success of the Soviet Union in conquering most of the Earth.

## Timeline

### **Point of Divergence**

**1905**

The POD of this universe actually occurs before the Soviet Union formed. On Earth One, on January 22, 1905, Anyanka, a Vengeance Demon, granted a wish that led to the the revolution in St.Petersburg. On Earth 30 she never granted that wish, meaning the 1905 revolution never happened. While the people in Russia are unhappy, they do not yet rise up. This impacts the lives of Pelageya Nilovna Vlasova and her son Pavel Vlasov(Mother), and Pasha Antipov(Dr.Zhivago)who do not yet, join the revolution. This also means the Battleship Potemkin does not rebel, as there is no revolution for it to join.

**May 27th, 1905:** During the Battle of Tsushima of Russo-Japanese War, Marshal-Admiral Marquis Tōgō Heihachirō mistakes fleeing Russian ships for Japanese ones and commands to slow down the pursuit, believing Japan has already won. In a clever maneuver, remnants of Baltic and Far Eastern Fleets reunite at Vladivostok and strike back at the Japanese. This victory and the subsequent economic crash in Japan forces the two countries to start negotiations.

**September 5th, 1905:** With an assistance of the US President John Norton, Russia and Japan sue a peace deal in Porsmouth, dividing their sphere of influence in Manchuria.

At this time on Earth One, the Airship Wars were raging, while there, Russia lost to Japan and this contributed to the nation's decline and the 1905 revolution. A Russian success, stymies the revolution. Japan also pulls out of America. As a result, the floating City of Columbia does not get involved in the war. When the San Francisco Earthquake hit, Japan does not need to rebuild the city in war reparations and it keeps its name of San Francisco.

**July, 1909:** Spanish workers constructing a rail-bridge between Melilla colony in Morocco and near iron mines were attacked by Rif tribesmen, forcing government to wage war on them. Attempts to call up reserves from working-class families results in revolts and strikes, which ended in the arrest and execution of anti-war activists. Prime Minister Antonio Maura attempts to reform voting system and weaken landowning class, which fails due to their fierce opposition.

**September 18th, 1911:** Tsar Nicholas II and his Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin attend a performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's opera *The Tale of Tsar Saltan* in Kiev Opera House. During this Dmitry Bogrov, SR revolutionary disguised as a bodyguard, attempts to assassinate Stolypin, but misses and shoots the Tsar instead. After his death, Stolypin and Grand Prince Mikhail Alexandrovich, brother of Nicholas, form a regency council to oversee a rule of young Alexei.

**1912-1913:** The Balkan States of Vulgaria, Lutha, Greece and Pontevedro, having achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire, attack and defeat the weakened Ottomans, each gaining territory in the resulting Balkan War, though Vulgaria losses land.

### **The Great War(1913-1918)**

**1913:** Vulgaria, discontent with their losses in the Balkan War, invades Lutha, Russian ally in the Balkans, and Greece. The Russian Empire starts mobilization on the Ruritanian border, intending to invade the country to get to Vulgaria. Seeing this, Ruritanian king Carol I asked for Central Powers' help, and Germany with Osterlich-Zubrowka waged war on Russia. As a part of Entente, France joined the war against Germany. Soon German forces invaded neutral Belgium as a part of their Schlieffen plan, provoking British entry. The Italy and Ottoman Empires both started secret negotiations over post-war concessions, resulting in the former joining Entente and latter - Central Powers.

The Great War breaking out one year earlier and differently would impact the lives of several notable figures. When the War broke out in 1914, on Earth One, Henry Jones Sr decided to stay out of Europe, and likely did the same when war broke out in 1913 instead. The Archduke's son Aleksandr remains with him and never joined the crew of the Leviathan British airship. On Earth One, the child Maryann's involvement in the murder by wishing for the assassination led to Fairies adopting rules against killing, while here no such rules yet exist. Author V.M.Straka is not blamed for starting the war. The plot of the Video Game "The Last Express" don't happen at all due to the earlier war.

One group that takes different actions are "The Flock" led by the enigmatic Shepherd. The Shepherd's main goal was Scottish independence by pitting Britain, Germany and Russia against each other. Rasputin was a member and was sent to poison Alexei and use his life to force Russia out of the war. He poisoned Alexei but the Stolypin and Grand Prince Mikhail Alexandrovich refused to trust Rasputin. Rasputin is forced to make his retreat from a hail of bullets. After his failure, The Sheperd sends in Pasha Antipov to destabilize Russia.

**1916:** During a battle between German and French forces at Verdun, General of the French Second Army Philippe Pétain is killed.

**March 14:** Mexican revolutionary El Guapo raids US city Columbus, forcing President Winthrop to start an invasion into Mexico to hunt him down.

**July:** Republican convention fails to convince Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes to run as a compromise candidate between them and Progressives. Elihu Root is chosen as a Republican candidate instead of Norton's close friend Henry Cabot Lodge, once again driving two parties apart.

**November 7:** Incumbent president Woodrow Winthrop is reelected, with Progressives being in the third place this time.

**1917:** Kal-El's Ship crashes in Russia, rather than the US(The *Superman: Red Son* comic depicts this as Ukraine but Ukraine was not part of Russia at this time. Another inconsistency. The Comic depicts two of Superman's, childhood friends from the comics Pete Ross as Pyotr Roslov and Lana Lang as Lana Lazarenko. Neither existed and were just transplants of Superman supporting characters but their true identities are easy to identify. Roslov is Stalin's illegitimate son in the retelling. Here he was actually Joseph Besstrashnyy's son Pyotr Besstrashnyy. Lana was actually Svetlana Besstrashnyy, daughter of Joseph Besstrashnyy. They were Superman's siblings. Yakov was born in 1907 while Svetlana was born in 1926. Superman's civilian identity was not Clark Kent but Vasily Besstrashnyy. A Name which Besstrashnyy would have chosen for his son born on Earth One. Joseph Besstrashnyy came upon the baby while investigating the crash of the ship. He killed the couple who found the baby and took the infant for him self when it demonstrated super strength)

French army mutiny starts, during which French Section of the Workers' International breaks Union Sacrée and starts major anti-war strikes all around the country, paralising it and forcing to drop out of the war. French government collapses. Young French soldier Antonin Artaud is shaped by this event, which fuels his hate of spottsism. Belgian refugee crisis starts. President Winthrop orders the creation of American Expeditionary Force to aid those refugees and make sure that French government will pay their war debts. UK annexes Calais.

**1918:** Osterian Archduke Franz Ferdinand implements reforms that transform the old Empire into United States of Great Osterlich. This forces Zubrowka to declare an independence, which starts Osterlian collapse. German General Erich Ludendorff, using his tremendous political power, declares a state of emergency and begins new extensive conscriptions.

**May 1st:** German Revolution starts.

**June:** Sickly Tsar Alexey dies from haemophilia. Soon after, Stolypin is assasinated, creating a vacuum of power in Russia. Revolutionary forces coup the government, proclaiming the Russian Republic.

**September:** Monarchist forces amassed by Alexander Kolchak coup the government, starting his regency. Republicans under Alexander Kerensky flee to Zheltorossiya.

World War I is declared over, largely due to the chaos each nation is involved in, leaving no clear winner, only a ceasefire.

### **Post-War(1919-1936)**

**1919:** Adolf Hitler moves to America(Yes, Hitler, not Hynkel. This happened on Earth One as well. Hitler will become a science fiction writer as seen in *The Iron Dream,* while Hynkel normally takes his place).

Technical Alliance is formed in the United States, as well as Left Wing of Socialist Party, which is inspired by German Spartakists. Mass bombings of Wall Street force President Winthrop to use Attorney-General Palmer to supress left-wing parties, but their work is slow. At the same time, Italian futirists under Gabrielle D'Annunzio proclaim Regency of Carnaro in the former Osterlich-Zubrowkan lands.

**1920:** French anarchy finally ends with the proclamation of Fourth French Republic. Georges Bernanos, an ardent critic of socialism and front-face of Action Française, is elected President as a leader of an anti-left coalition.

**November 2:** Woodrow Winthrop is reelected, becoming the first US President to enter third term.

**1921:** German immigrant Eric Muenter, who blames Winthrop for his homeland falling to communism, assassinates (perhaps unintentionally) Vice-President Thomas Marshall via bomb placed in the Senate. In a controversial move, Winthrop makes his Knights of Nordica-affiliated friend Thomas Dixon Jr. new Vice-President. Soon after that, President suffers a major stroke, and Dixon becomes de-facto ruler.

**1922**: Mid-term elections end up in Democrats slowly losing their power. To combat that, Dixon proposes an invasion into Mexico, which ends up in a defeat due to a lack of unity in the government. His other plan to deport all African Americans into Ligeria is also met with scepticism, both form liberals and Knights of Nordica radicals.

**1923:** Famous French fighter ace Charles Nungesser and his colleague François Coli achieve transoceanic flight from France to Metropolis. President Bernanos moves capital from Paris to Orleans and start to repeal Loi d'Exil with the support of the Pope, pushing France to a brink of civil war. Meanwhile during a Rif War, Spanish troops are ambushed by Moroccans, which results in the latters' crushing defeat at Annual. General Miguel Primo de Rivera launches a coup against civilian government, with a help of African Army and the reluctant acceptance of the King.

**1924:**

**December 20:** Adenoid Hynkel is killed by a time travelling Jacob Barnhardt from Earth One's 1946(Barnhardt did invent a time machine in 1946 and attempted to change history. Without a flux capacitor this failed. He instead shifted into Earth 30)(*Command and Conquer: Red Alert*).

**1927:** Without Hynkel, the oppressed workers rise up as Communists led by Freder Fredersen(*Metropolis*).

**1930:** Germany becomes Communist and an ally of Fearless Leader(*Red Flood*, *Titanic: Adventure Out Of Time*). The Soviet Union, without a distraction from the Germans, aids Communist China in repelling Japan's invasion and seizing control of the country. This caused Japan to grow a hatred to the Soviet Union and the US alike as both prevent their empire from expanding.

**1933:** A Secessionist movement in Australia results in the country splitting in two, leading to the formation in Westralia.

**1934:** The Futurist regime in France is established after the FNAG, led by Antonin Artaud, stormed the Élysée Palace.

### **Red Flood(1936-1949)**

Red Flood is a mod for the game Hearts of Iron IV. While events will usually play out differently in specific playthroughs here there is a "Canon" path of sorts. As such each country's fate will be looked at from the context of what we know "Must" happen with later evidence.

**1936:** Spain breaks into a three way civil war between the Spanish Republic, National Front and Iberian Communes. At the start of the war, President Ramon Franco disappeared into the woods. He was succeeded by Alejandro Lerroux. The National Front chose the relucant Ramón Gómez de la Serna, and the Iberian Commune was led by Buenaventura Durruti. A North African garrison under Francisco Franco seized power there but instead chose to maintain order in the region rather than join any side expect the victor. Outcome is currently unknown.

Indochina breaks into civil war between the enlightened Liberation Front, the Imperial Restoration Army led by Hideki Tojo, and the National vanguard Front. Hideki Tojo eventually won the war and united Indochina.

It's possible a civil war broke out in Japan, but if so the Imperial Royal Family eventually won. They may have lost and fled to Mantetsu before organizing a counter attack and retaking the homeland, possibly with the aid of Indochina. Yoshiro was wounded in an assassination attempt and so his brother Yasuhito took over during the campaign. If the Civil War did break out than Hun Chiu began a fight for independence from Japanese ruler Ugaki Kazushige.

Benyamin XIX Shimun of Assyria died and was succeeded by Shimun XXI Eshai.

**1938:** (Speculation: The Red Lectroids invade Earth. The Soviet Union is protected by Superman. In America, The Ultra-Humanite is killed battling the Invaders while Alexei Luthor successfully builds a device that destroys them, making him a hero. After the Daily Star is devastated and the boss killed. Jimmy Olsen goes to work for the FBR. Lois Lane, having been rescued by Alexei Luthor, agrees to marry him, despite him being older than her).

**1941:** President Craig Stanley(*The President is Missing*) dies in Office of a stroke. His Vice President Mike Thingmaker(*Mess Mend*), who has communist sympathies. Succeeds him. One of Thingmaker's actions would be exchanging Nuclear secrets with the Soviets(*For All Time*). During his term the Pacific War between Japan and America breaks out. The War is long and bloody.

**1943:**

**June 12:** The Philadelphia Experiment is conducted.

(Sputnik II is launched).

**1945:**

A Military Coup prevents Emperor Yoshiro from surrendering and several cities are devastated before the Emperor is rescued and restored to the throne(*1945, Decisive Darkness*). This momentarily chaotic distraction led the Soviets to take Hokkaido(*For All Time,The Place Promised in Our Early Days*).

**1946**

Japan surrenders and begins to turn to Democracy, but many such as the Emperor Yoshiro himself believes Japan fell only because of the coup(*1945*).

**1948**

Republican John Lindsay wins the US Presidential Election(*For All Time*).

**1950:**

World War II breaks out as the Allied Forces of the US, Britain, and France vs Germany and the Soviet Union. The Chinese invade and take all of Hun Chiu(*Red World*). The Soviet Superman proves to be a difficult force, stronger than most allied Superhumans. Lex Luthor creates a clone from his DNA but their battle destroys London and the clone dies trying to stop a nuke from going off accidentally in the city(*Superman: Red Son*). This action leads the UK to gravitate towards a fascist Dictatorship under IngSoc(*1984,* though I may have the Insoc Government last much longer here). Frank Carlson, a former British Secret Service Agent who opposed IngSoc politically is assassinated(*Titanic: Adventure Out Of Time*). At some point(possibly during the Italian Campaign), Superman likely discovers Themyscira and meets Wonder Woman. She becomes an ally of the Soviet Union and forms an attraction to Superman. Meanwhile Hal Jordan is taken captive while fighting in Hun Chiu and tortured until the war's end(*Superman: Red Son*). Benzino Napaloni is overthrown and the Italian People's Republic is declared(*Crosstime Traffic*).

**1953:** Fearless Leader begins World War II by invading Arzotzka. He also publicly reveals Superman. The news of a superpowered alien under Soviet control causes panic in the United States, shifting the focus of the Cold War arms race from nuclear weapons to metahumans. CEA agent James Olsen recruits Alexei "Lex" Luthor, a scientist employed by S.T.A.R. Labs, to destroy Superman. Luthor's first act is to cause *Sputnik 2* to plummet towards Metropolis. After Superman diverts the satellite away from the city, Luthor retrieves traces of Superman's genetic material from the satellite and uses them to create a monstrous clone of Superman, whom Lex Luthor names Superman 2.

Superman, while flying during the war, discovers Themyscira, leading to the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Soviet Union and Themyscira. Superman meets Wonder Woman at a diplomatic party, and she becomes smitten with him. Pyotr Besstrashnyy, the head of the NKVD and Fearless Leader's illegitimate son, is angry that Superman has turned his father's attention away from him and ended his chances of advancement within the Soviet regime. Pyotr shoots a dissident couple in front of their son for printing anti-Superman propaganda. Pyotr poisons his father with the aid of Bela Razinin but Superman is able to identify the poison and save him, leading to Razinin's capture. Svetlana learned the truth but was sent to the camps by Pyotr before she could reveal anything. There she met and care for the orphaned boy.

The U.S. government sends "Superman 2" to engage Superman, and their duel causes an accidental nuclear missile launch in Great Britain. The clone sacrifices itself to save millions. Luthor murders his research staff at S.T.A.R. Labs and founds LuthorCorp, dedicating his life to destroying Superman.

**1955:** Superman learns from Lois Lane that several people are being held in lead lined internment camps with the Soviet Union He breaks through one, finding his childhood friend Lana Lazarenko shortly before she dies. Superman confronts Fearless Leader and kills him, taking over as leader of the Soviet Union.

**1959:** President Merkin Muffley dies of a Heart Attack(*Advise and Consent*). Vice President Harley M.Hudson becomes President. Hudson becomes a national hero for standing up to threats by the Soviets at a conference in Geneva, and is dubbed "Fearless Peerless" by the press.

**1960:** President Harley Hudson dies in an assassination by sabotaging Air Force One. He is succeeded by William Abbott, who does not intend to run for his own term(*Preserve and Protect*). Secretary of state and former Illinois Senator Orrin Knox defeats California governor Ted Jason, but Knox named Jason as his vice presidential nominee. A gunman opened fire on both men. Knox was killed. Jason survived. The Soviet and Chinese governments saw him as weak and began to make advances(*Come Nineveh, Come Tyre*).

**1962:** U.S. President Edward Jason decides to allow the Soviet missiles to remain in Tropico during the Tropico Missile Crisis. Communism spreads throughout Latin America and Southeast Asia giving the Soviet Union an upper hand in economic and military strength over the United States.

**1967:** Superman stops an invasion by the alien cyborg Brainiac, reprogramming him to become his advisor, and uses his technology to advance the countries of the Warsaw Pact, as well as lobotomize Soviet dissidents. However, he is unable to prevent Brainiac from shrinking the city of Besstrashnyygrad and is also forced to deal with the terrorist Batman, a survivor of the secret gulag who blames Superman for his family's death. Batman kidnaps Wonder Woman and binds her with the Lasso of Truth to lead Superman into a trap, using lamps that simulate Krypton's red sun to neutralize his powers. Batman beats Superman and leaves him to die until Wonder Woman breaks free and destroys the lamps' power source, restoring Superman's powers. When Superman threatens to lobotomize him, Batman chooses to commit suicide. Drained from freeing herself, Wonder Woman leaves Superman.

**1968:** Edward Jason withdraws US forces from Sarkhan. Realizing how he has unwillingly aided the Soviet Union, he takes his own life.

**1989:** The Volgan Republic of Asia was founded when an individual called Vashkov united the Volgograd citizens into a fascist party named after the local river(2000 A.D.).

**1991:** The Volgan party to a military coup against Mikhail Gorbachev and the Soviet government in 1991, he declared himself the sole leader of the Soviet Union which was renamed the Volgan Republic.

**1999:** After new reserves of North Sea oil were discovered near Britain, he sought the help of a fifth column to invade the country  and much of Western Europe along with it. A deal was made with the United States ensuring that it did not get involved with the Volgan activities.

The result was the Eight Hour War of 1999, so named because it took that long for the Volgans to conquer the United Kingdom. The Midlands were hit by nuclear weaponry, diehard politicians and generals were executed, and defiant British army units were massacred at Stonehenge. Many Britons were sent to concentration camps throughout the Volgan empire. The conquered states were renamed the Eurasian Economic Community and the Volgan occupational forces would be called "EEC peacekeepers" by 2004.

The invasion immediately led to a protracted occupation and an organised underground uprising by figures like the Free European Army, Traitor's Gate, former MI5 & military elements, and the notorious Bill Savage who assassinated Vashkov. Collaborators were nicknamed "Double Yellows" after the twin yellow stripe on the uniform of British State Security officers. Those suspected of terrorism were sent to "Camp Sunshine" in Siberia. Escapist literature such as bodice rippers, utopian prophecies, and space opera were mass-produced as a means of keeping the population pacified.

**2004:** A massive uprising led to the Volgans being pushed out of a large part of Britain.

**2006:** The Volgans reoccupy Britain.

**2007:** The Volgans (partially via a propaganda campaign) were becoming more accepted, and a Reconciliation Month was held as a goodwill gesture. At the same time, the United States fell out with the Volgans, and began both landing special forces in the Republic of Ireland and arming the British resistance.

To force Savage and the resistance to cease operations, the Volgans framed them for civilian massacres  and attempted to frame them for a rocket attack at St Paul's Cathedral during Reconciliation Day festivities in order to make America cease their support for this resistance. Bill Savage's intervention meant the rocket was accidentally fired at a spy blimp instead, and when the Volgans executed a hundred civilians in retaliation – a known response to any attack on the blimp – America instead moved further to open hostilities.

**2009:** The US Air Force had "e-bombed" – meaning electromagnetic pulse weapons – the occupied London, reducing technology to the level of 1984, and were using local guerillas to identify and bomb key targets in advance of an invasion. The Volgans ramped up fortications under the "Fortress Britannia" initiative, and tried to manipulate the Allied landings into taking place at Holyhead where defences were strongest. This failed, and the Americans deployed waves of robots in a beach landing as an advance guard. However, the robots could not distinguish enemy targets from friendlies, while the Volgans had developed teleportational technology; Volgan soldiers were able to teleport behind enemy lines and turn the robots on US soldiers, forcing the US to scale back its plans in the face of public outcry at home.

**2010:** The Volgans had developed their own war robots, who were also unable to recognise friendlies and were designed for extreme brutality, however the Allies still manage to liberate Britain that same year.

With the world's oil reserves finally running out, the United States started "**The Volgan War**" under the guise of liberation but with the sole intention of capturing much needed oil reserves (leading to its unofficial name of the Fourth Oil War).

As the war got bogged down, the Americans began replacing human soldiers with their ABC Warrior "War-Droids" on various battlefields in Europe and Russia, starting with the original Hammerstein. The Volgans began using more and more robots themselves, ending up with a vast horde led by the patriotic Volkhan, with their armies including the titanic Stalin war-mechas and the jungle guerilla Straw Dogs under General Blackblood. Their robots were known to be of better quality than the Western ones (almost all designed by Howard Quartz) and, whereas the Western troops had human officers actively controlling the Warriors, the Volgans allowed Volkhan and Blackblood both autonomy and high rank. They could take direct action, command humans, and in Blackblood's case even carry out interrogation of humans. Volkhan himself was hideously powerful and proclaimed by the robots as "Ikon of Ikons", while he whipped them up in a frenzy to make the "ABC Criminals" "pay... the price for oil!".

As the war went on, the more numerous ABC Warriors overran Volgan forces.

**2013:** Western civil liberties have been eroded more and more, until society eventually resembles the Soviet model. Alaska's Senator Bliss Wagoner, head of the Joint Congressional Committee on Space Flight, is determined to do something about it.

Scientific research has stagnated, mainly because knowledge has become restricted. On the advice of scientist Dr. Corsi, Wagoner concentrates his attention on fringe science theories. One project he has funded is the building of a "bridge" made of Ice IV on the surface of Jupiter. This leads to one of two major discoveries which make interstellar space travel feasible: gravity manipulation (nicknamed the "spindizzy"), which leads to both a faster-than-light travel and effective shielding. Another project yields an "anti-agathic" drug, which stops aging. Wagoner is eventually convicted of treason by an oppressive regime, but not before he has sent out expeditions ( they succeed in establishing thriving colonies). MacHinery, hereditary Director of the FBI, which had become a *de facto* secret police agency, states "Bliss Wagoner is dead" but his legacy would live on.

**2084:** The northern front was near Lithuania. However, an attempt to take the occupied city of Vilnius by paratroop drop, in order to outflank Volgan forces in Kaliningrad and Belarus, turned into a massacre that the Allies nicknamed "Zarnhem". Later, the US robots pushed into the Republic itself. In one incident, they were forced by human officers to massacre the (fictional) city of Jadrez.

The war officially ended after Marshal Volgod, the then-Volgan leader, was assassinated by the ABC Warrior Steelhorn. Many former Volgan robots would be shipped to Mars as labour, while their commanders were incarcerated.

The Cold War ended with the peaceful merging of the Eastern and Western blocs into a single, planet-wide Soviet-ruled dictatorship, which hardly made any perceptible change, as the West's political system had already become virtually identical with the Soviet one. However, this dictatorial power was broken by the spindizzy drive which becomes more efficient as more mass is affected, so that dissidents and malcontents have an easy way of escaping and going off into space. First factories, then eventually whole cities migrate from the economically depressed Earth in search of work; these space-wandering cities are called Okies.

sixteen-year-old Chris deFord, born when the above process of migration had already been going on for a considerable time. When Chris goes to watch the imminent departure of Scranton, Pennsylvania, he is kidnapped and brought with it.

After several adventures, Chris is fortunate to be transferred to the much more prosperous New York (or at least the Manhattan portion of it), a major "Okie" city under Mayor John Amalfi. Scranton is run by the city manager rather than its figurehead mayor. When the two cities meet again and come into conflict over Scranton's bungling of a job, Chris is able to convince an influential friend in his old city to depose the city manager and end the conflict. Impressed, Amalfi elevates him to the newly created position of city manager of New York and gives him the status of resident rather than passenger (and thus entitled to anti-agathic drugs).

**2090's:** Two kids in Italy discover a front for the Crosstime Traffic agency and request them to end the threat of Communism(*Crosstime Traffic*).

**C.Over 300 Years**

After an economic collapse causes a galactic depression, New York ends up in a "Jungle", where Okie cities orbit a dying red giant star while waiting for work. Amalfi realises that the "Vegan Orbital Fort", a semi-mythical remnant of the previously dominant alien civilisation, is hiding among the Okies. His plan to stop the Vegans involves forcing the Okies to "march" on Earth, attracting the Vegan fort to join in the "march", and culminates in installing a spindizzy drive system on a small planet and using it to lead the march. When the march reaches Earth, a big fleet of armed Earth police ships appears from invisibility and summarily vaporises all the marchers, with at least one loss in the police fleet, because it is recorded that the flying city Buda-Pesht destroyed a police monitor. A mention of the "Battle of the Jungle" may mean that the Earth Police cleanup fleet then goes to the "Jungle" and destroys all that it finds there. Amalfi takes advantage of the vastly higher speed and size of the flying planet to destroy the fort, then flies New York away before the Earth Police can catch them.

Eventually, the city is projected out of the Milky Way galaxy, towards the Greater Magellanic Cloud. With some of New York's spindizzies irreparably damaged, Amalfi convinces the New Yorkers that they must find a planet to call home. On their chosen planet, New York encounters the Interstellar Master Traders (IMT), a rogue city whose sacking of the planet Thor 5 damaged the reputation of Okies in general, and who have enslaved the local human population. In typical fashion, Amalfi swindles the IMT residents and sets their spindizzy engineers to fly the city off the planet, where they are destroyed by an Earth Police ship.

the passage of Amalfi and the planet "He" undertaking the first intergalactic transit. In the less relativistically-distorted space between the two galaxies, evidence of a collision between two universes is detected by the "Hevians" — a matter-antimatter collision that reveals the cyclic nature of reality. An alien culture is also investigating this phenomenon, which will shortly accelerate to engulf all galactic space; in other words, the colliding universes will end in a transition in between the Big Bang and Big Crunch. It will be possible to modify the future development of the fresh universes which will emerge from this singularity, and Amalfi directs the "New Earth" residents to compete with the alien culture (the Web of Hercules) in order to prevent their manipulation of the future of the universe(*Cities in Flight*).