My brother is currently working on a Shadorun campaign set in around 2063, in an alternate timeline where Dunkelzahn survived the explosion of his limo following his election for President of the UCAS. I am curious to hear some more knowledgeable SR fans' opinions on what the fallout of this massive change in the timeline would be; in particular the immediate fallout in the 4-5 years directly following his election.
Any thoughts on the matter would be regarded with the utmost gratitude.
-Always Overkill
Survived it, or it never happened?
If he survived, domestic political pressure and pressure from Damien Knight and others would have insisted upon a public retaliation based on some excuse. Given the times, I'd just assume a massive public crackdown on bug spirits.
Renraku and Fuchi wouldn't have nearly destroyed each other.
Fuchi would still exist.
CATCo would not have become a AAA.
Wuxing would not have become a AAA.
The Japanacorp bloc would've remained intact because Yamatetsu wouldn't have the strength to survive the move to Russia and so it'd either be forced to remain in Japan, or the combined abilities of Shiawase, MCT, Renraku, and Fuchi would've devoured Yamatetsu (which does not have the guaranteed Corporate Court seat those four have). I'd just as soon say that Yamatetsu doesn't exist.
Renraku would've still advanced computer tech and become a huge competitor to Fuchi because of Leonardo's tech, but might not have lost that edge (overtaking Fuchi as the #2 corp behind S-K) because of Deus because Deus's emergence could've been prevented or contained as it happened at the same time as the Corp Court case and the two megas were moving forces and about to break out into full-scale war.
Deus may not have emerged, and if it did it may not have sustained the shutdown long enough to escape. Though this also depends on whether it lasted as long because it took so long to set up the Network or if Deus was just waiting for Inazo Aneki to leave Tiber. If Dunk lived, he wouldn't have been given the gloves that let him enter Tibet. So he may have been taken sooner or killed. The latter would've stopped the escape almost entirely.
No Draco Foundation. No DIMR.
Ehran remains on the Tir Tairngire Council of Princes.
UCAS improves relations with the NAN.
No Ghostwalker.
Aztlan remains in Denver.
Aztlan/Aztechnology would have had similar upheavals ousting the Oscuro faction as followed, especially with Dunk able to directly pressure and attack whatever would remain.
Alamais may have succeeded in assassinating Lofwyr and nuking Berlin in 2062? 63? I forget.
Lofwyr's death would be a Hell of a lot more earth-shattering than Dunkelzahn's death.
The most direct I can think of is that Nachtmeister would have lived, and the entire Shockwaves plot wouldn't occur.
Much of the fallout from events in Year of the Comet would've been tempered or may not have occurred at all.
I assume Dunkelzahn would be re-elected in 2060.
I think that's about it up to 2063.