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1. After an accelerated collapse of the Soviet Union, the constituent parts took an approach more like OTL China’s, gradually easing themselves into this whole “capitalism” thing rather than ripping away the bandage all at once, leading to less economic turmoil. They also developed warmer and more consistent relations with the west. Simultaneously, by the fortuitous chance of a butterfly flapping its wings, Nasa’s planned space station Freedom advances further — and some of the former Soviet republics sign on. Things escalate from there, with international collaboration in space being treated as a sort of symbolic break from the tensions of the cold war.

1. A bit like Nauru’s sovereign wealth fund IRL, the Monégasque royal family makes a series of poor investment decisions that results in them having to sell off the naming rights to their country each year for some extra dough. From a Doylean perspective… i just thought it would be funny.

1. Most of the off-map text is in Alegreya Sans. The headings are in Michroma, and on-map, the pixelated text is in 04b03.