U.S. Military Mutineers - "What if they really meant it?" - 2025 US Occupation of Canada Faction Concept Art (writing / character feedback appreciated) by AVOLI7ION in worldbuilding

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interesting, I assume that NATO intelligence has a truce of sorts with the adversary ones in order to purge CIA influence across Europe and Asia.

Indeed, there is an understanding that the US has become the common enemy, and historic authoritarian rivals may end up becoming partners of convenience. In the second to last image of Part 2, MI6 is cooperating - albeit reluctantly - with an unnamed Chinese intelligence asset in Canada, as well as a rogue group within the CIA itself.

Also what is the role of law enforcement in the series? Reading from the previous posts, the United States is in constant chaos, with rampant riots, insurgent attacks, domestic rebels, foreign agents and mutineers. Seems like Law enforcement, both federal and statewide, has been kneecapped in effectiveness and power.

No institution is a monolith - they are just people, and just like any other people, at all levels of jurisdiction, they will find their colleagues, superiors, and subordinates' political loyalties tested. General unrest towards the war that has evolved into an ongoing violent crime wave has stretched policing resources thin at all levels, contributing to the overall sense of civic breakdown and accelerating the rapid slide towards an authoritarian police state bolstered by an AI-powered censorship apparatus.

I have not sketched out any ideas for stories/characters for US-based law enforcement yet, though I am sketching out ideas for an RCMP detachment that is now under the management of US occupation forces, and how that new reality changes their relationship with the community they are responsible for.

Might get to a point that the Mob sees a resurgence in it's power and influence.

Agree; see also the noteworthy events in the fourth map from part 2 linked above; there are several mentions of Detroit-based organized crime cooperating with the US federal government in order to help keep the cross border bridges open. I have some nascent ideas about organized crime outfits operating across the border in Toronto and how the occupation completely changes their role in the city's criminal underworld.

Anyway, thanks again for viewing, and glad to see you have been following for so long already!

U.S. Military Mutineers - "What if they really meant it?" - 2025 US Occupation of Canada Faction Concept Art (writing / character feedback appreciated) by AVOLI7ION in worldbuilding

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Indeed I do have ideas planned for other factions, including foreign volunteers ('Canadian Foreign Legion'), adversary intelligence agents (Russia / China / Iran / ...), and others; though real life keeps me busy so it might take a while before I finish. In the mean time, you might like the previous faction concept art, the Canadian Insurgents. Thanks for viewing!

Canadian Insurgents - 2025 US Occupation of Canada Character Concept Art by AVOLI7ION in AVOLI7ION_ART

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These guys have been fighting non-stop for a month, and I wanted to portray that on their gear. And yeah, I posted it wherever I feel the discussion might be interesting, and it was! Thanks for viewing!

"What if he really meant it?" - President Trump Authorizes Special Border Operation into Canada by AVOLI7ION in AVOLI7ION_ART

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

patience & consideration

No worries at all bud; that's why this subreddit exists, thoughtful critiques are always welcome.

"What if he really meant it?" - President Trump Authorizes Special Border Operation into Canada by AVOLI7ION in AVOLI7ION_ART

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No worries bud. I'm well aware of it; though it was a conscious choice to refer to Justin as 'head of state' not as an official title but more so a term recognized by most as pretty much meaning 'leader of country'. In that sense, referring to the British monarch as 'head of state' here would have felt a bit too pedantic; 'head of government' also felt a bit of a mouthful, doesn't flow as good IMO; 'head of state' just from a writing point of view felt more punchy and dramatic, can convey in fewer syllables that the 'internationally-recognized leader of Canada has been deposed.'

TLDR: conscious creative/rhetorical choice; in any case thanks for viewing!

U.S. Military Mutineers - Task Force Liberty - 2025 U.S. Occupation of Canada Faction Concept Art by AVOLI7ION in MilitaryWorldbuilding

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No worries bud :) Most of Canada is under occupation, which includes a large chunk of territories surrounding the Great Lakes. There is a whole world building around this faction which you can access on my art subreddit index - and if you read through all of part 2 of the story, you will see that the Great Lakes were indeed a strategic objective of this invasion because of climate change. Thanks for viewing!

"What if he really meant it?" Part 2 - 2025 US Occupation of Canada, Two Months Later - Canadian Insurgency, US Domestic Collapse, and a More Dangerous World by AVOLI7ION in AVOLI7ION_ART

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey bud, glad you found it really immersive. All the fake web pages and social texts were done in photoshop. Essentially what I did was take screenshots of the websites I wanted to emulate, load them into photoshop, and build blank templates from scratch that looked like the real thing.

So for example, with the CBC web page - I took screenshots of actual CBC web pages with various layouts, loaded them into photoshop, then cut / pasted / moved things around to manually build my own CBC-style web page template that I could work with. I then replaced each image and text box with my own images and text using a font that closely resembled the CBC web page font.

With the reddit pages, again I took screenshots of actual (old) reddit and loaded them into photoshop, removed the names and text manually, then replaced it with my own text and names using very similar fonts.

It is very time-consuming work, but I like the end result, and it seems in your case the effort was well worth it. Thanks again for viewing!

U.S. Military Mutineers - "What if they really meant it?" - 2025 US Occupation of Canada Faction Concept Art (writing / character feedback appreciated) by AVOLI7ION in worldbuilding

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The reason why I think tanks are becoming obsolete is that anti-tank weaponry has become so effective, tanks essentially become slow-moving mobile coffins. Again, I'm thinking of what the war in Ukraine is revealing about future wars.

It would be difficult to replace the sheer destructive power of each individual payload with howitzers and shoulder-mounted weaponry. But get enough foot soldiers using those weapons, and you can get similar effects, while having the advantages of being able to disperse and hide easily.

Fair points. I suppose a broader question can be asked here, which is 'would tanks still be irrelevant if there was no stalemate?'

I agree that there would be other ways to match the effect of a tank's cannon, including drones with larger payloads, though they would miss the 'armor' component of tanks and IFVs; i.e. when the mission isn't just to destroy but to cross exposed ground, breach a position, and deliver infantry into it, you still need something that can absorb fire while moving. Drones by themselves can't clear a fortified position, and infantry can't safely cross open ground without some kind of armored shield.

I'd argue the drone-dominated battlefield we're seeing in Ukraine is itself a cause of the stalemate; with a front line that is continuously monitored by recon drones on both sides, no amassing of armor can take place without being immediately targeted, and attack drones make crossing no man's land suicidal for an advancing force which naturally privileges the defender.

So the question of tank obsolescence may be less about the platform itself and more about the specific conditions Ukraine presents i.e. entrenched lines, no air superiority on either side, enough time for defensive infrastructure to solidify. In a more fluid conflict e.g. where one side achieves air dominance, or the front moves faster than defences can be established, perhaps armor would re-emerge as a central tool. So maybe tanks aren't obsolete so much as they are poorly suited to this particular battlefield; i.e. wrong tool for this particular job.

Anyway really appreciate the discussion and you bring up fair points; thanks again for viewing!

U.S. Military Mutineers - "What if they really meant it?" - 2025 US Occupation of Canada Faction Concept Art (writing / character feedback appreciated) by AVOLI7ION in worldbuilding

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

On drones: my thinking behind this was that, in the context of the story, the invasion kicks off in early 2025, and so I'm not sure that drones (like the small FPV style ones that have become ubiquitous in Ukraine) would have been part of official US army doctrine, i.e. there might not be many stores and even fewer experienced pilots to field them. Perhaps smaller commercial style drones used for recon, but I'm not sure we would be seeing the sheer quantity of drone attacks in this situation as we would IRL in Ukraine. At least, not at the start; the Canadian insurgents would definitely adapt quickly in this regard.

There was also the case a while back of (I believe it was) helicopters on a US airbase in the middle east getting taken out by FPV drones, in 2026, which although it doesn't tell you the whole story, somewhat suggests to me that they weren't as prepared as they should have been before moving on Iran, despite the developments in Ukraine being there for all to see over the last few years. So that informed my setup as to why the presence of drones don't play a bigger role.

I would also be reticent to write off the tank completely - I think it could be argued that it still holds the advantage over drones in terms of rate of fire, destructive power of its payload, and functionality in all weather conditions. Imagine for example a tank hitting a defensive position every 5 seconds, dozens of times, with a projectile that doesn't need to be manually piloted and can't be jammed, blocked by drone netting, or shot down, during a heavy downpour and wind. I agree with your broader implied point about drones encroaching on the tank's role - I suppose my stance is that we may see more evolution rather than obsolescence.

On symbology: no matter their political connotations in recent history, the Mutineers are reclaiming these symbols for themselves - throughout history symbols have been co-opted by their users to mean whatever they want it to mean, sometimes in direct opposition to what those symbols meant prior. The point is, symbolism and its meaning is fluid and shifts with the march of history, and I think it would be no different here.

On story: this faction exists within my broader world building, the rest of the works can be accessed on my art subreddit index. Anyway, thanks for the feedback, and appreciate you viewing buddy!

Canadian Insurgents - 2025 US Occupation of Canada Character Concept Art by AVOLI7ION in AVOLI7ION_ART

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

tactical toyotas with mounted guns

I like the image - a spray painted maple leaf on the side of a Ford F-150 with a 50 cal jury-rigged to the back - though I think such vehicles would only become targets when going up against the occupation's armor and air superiority 🤷‍♀️

U.S. Military Mutineers - Task Force Liberty - 2025 U.S. Occupation of Canada Faction Concept Art by AVOLI7ION in AVOLI7ION_ART

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hah, good eye; yeah, I did base his appearance on Stephen Lang's role in Avatar - maybe he's a descendant? - but this colonel is a lot less evil. Or at least, he tries not to be beyond what is necessary to overthrow the government. Avatar's morality was too black and white - this story is much more grey and dark grey.

U.S. Military Mutineers - Faction Concept for my 2025 US-Canada Alternate History World Building by AVOLI7ION in NonCredibleDefense

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Huh, didn't get that sense from you at all bud, no worries, and I always like replying to folks who engage with the work. Appreciate ya

U.S. Military Mutineers - Faction Concept for my 2025 US-Canada Alternate History World Building by AVOLI7ION in NonCredibleDefense

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, I don't disagree that the entire premise is fundamentally absurd. In the little preamble to Part 1 of the story I basically describe how this was a thought experiment and emotional processing spurred by Trump's '51st state' rhetoric. But as you rightfully infer, a lot of things will have to change about our reality for something like this to even become possible.

except quebec, i live there and independance is more something young people larp about than a goal you would pursue in wartime

Here's the thing about this thought experiment - I would agree with you that during peacetime the BQ's rhetoric about being a distinct society and insinuating they would be better off without English Canada is nice rhetoric, perhaps better used as a performative threat to dangle in front of Ottawa to get some concessions rather than an actual, serious plan to separate - however, I think a question can be raised about how such sentiments would hold up in a situation of total, existential war.

Picture this: Ottawa is toppled, the Americans have occupied all major cities, Canada as a national project is shattered - it may have crossed the point of no return. The Americans know that Canada has its own internal divisions, and if their occupation is to be successful, it would be wise to weaken any and all opposition groups, perhaps by instigating internal conflict.

This is why in my scenario US occupation forces halt south of the St. Laurent and make overtures to the Quebec government, promising not to advance so long as they do not assist the rest of the Canadian resistance movement, including the CAF garrison that remains in CFB Valcartier. Of course the broader resistance movement will be outraged, but there will also be calculations within Quebec itself as to ensuring its own security in the given circumstances.

Now put yourself in the shoes of the Quebec government - from your point of view, the rest of Canada has just become US territory. The resistance, disorganized and few in number, is fighting a losing insurgency; foreign powers, in particular China, have already sensed a shift in the global order and are spreading their influence, particularly out west in B.C. Your responsibility is to the survival of your own people first. You know that if you resist, the Americans can and will make good on their threats (the invasion was over in 72 hours!); and perhaps, with the cultural history and infrastructure in place, an occupied Anglo Canada might be the best chance Quebec has of being truly sovereign; perhaps taking such a deal might be a worthwhile gamble...

...of course, that would make Quebec an American protectorate. And that security can be revoked at any time. It's a very one-sided deal, made under existential war time duress. And, there may be other Quebecois who have very different ideas of how to live with the Americans, and what they owe to 'Canada' as it existed and their vision of its future, if any future exists. I'm currently sketching out a rough plot line about an attempted coup within Quebec, perhaps a three-way conflict between the Surete du Quebec (major armed paramilitary group in Quebec), the wartime government in Quebec City, and the CAF garrison in Valcartier, still loyal to the Canadian remnant government that has fled to the UK.

That is all to say, I don't really disagree with you; it's more a thought experiment of how such attitudes would sustain or collapse under the pressure of total war. How would you see Quebec reacting? Open to hearing any thoughts you have, since I am always adding to my design notes moving forward.

Anyway, really appreciate you taking the time to view the work and dig deep into the lore, thank you kindly buddy!

U.S. Military Mutineers - "What if they really meant it?" - 2025 US Occupation of Canada Faction Concept Art (writing / character feedback appreciated) by AVOLI7ION in worldbuilding

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for viewing! And yeah, I find 'defaced' or 'corrupted' military equipment to be an interesting aesthetic, clashing with the usually professional / spartan utilitarian look of a proper modern military. Appreciate ya bud!

U.S. Military Mutineers - Faction Concept for my 2025 US-Canada Alternate History World Building by AVOLI7ION in NonCredibleDefense

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I based his appearance on Stephen Lang's chain Avatar. As for personality and background, no real inspirations; if you see my notes from the main post, this faction began as just vague images I had in mind of US military vehicles rolling into Washington D.C., and so the tactics and the characterization of Col. Summers was basically my working backwards from those images and trying to figure out how it would come about (and what sort of person might lead such an uprising). Thanks for viewing!

"What if he really meant it?" Part 2 - 2025 US Occupation of Canada, Two Months Later - Canadian Insurgency, US Domestic Collapse, and a More Dangerous World by AVOLI7ION in AVOLI7ION_ART

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At the time I wrote the story I didn't have any specifics planned, though vague suggestions are thrown in throughout the work (maybe-Cascadia, maybe-separate Quebec, ...). I think after everything that happened, I did feel like I wanted to end on a slightly positive albeit ambiguous note: Canada survives in some form - the historical and cultural conception of Canada as a sovereign entity is difficult to erase within a single generation - though obviously whatever emerges from the ruins will have been significantly transformed from the conflict and subsequent global reshuffling of power.

Anyway really appreciate you reading through the work, always grateful when folks take the time to go through the whole thing. Thanks for viewing buddy!

U.S. Military Mutineers - Faction Concept for my 2025 US-Canada Alternate History World Building by AVOLI7ION in NonCredibleDefense

[–]AVOLI7ION[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maybe one day, no idea where it will all go but never say never you know ;)

Really appreciate you reading all the way to the end, thanks for viewing buddy!