OtherWorlders

Novel is also shared on Royal Road: https://www.royalroad.com/profile/350627/fictions

In the alternate history of 2016, Transnistria stands as a beacon of prosperity within the post-communist world. Blessed with an unimaginable resource - a revolutionary energy source known as "Lumite" - Transnistria has soared to economic heights unimaginable to its Soviet counterparts. With Lumite, they have not only revolutionized their own industries but also become a crucial gateway between Eastern and Western markets, positioning themselves as a vital hub of commerce and innovation.

The roots of Transnistria's success traced back to the aftermath of a hollow victory in the Cold War by the Soviet Union in 1995. In a surprising turn, the Soviets managed to keep up their military spending, the Americans, weary of the endless arms race and the strain it placed on their populace, chose to shift their focus away from military dominance. This decision was driven by widespread civilian backlash and sustained protests against the burdensome military expenditures. This military race which had left Soviet citizens grappling with a miserable standard of living. Following this victory, however, the Iron Curtain began to fray, allowing breakaway states to assert their independence thanks to the Union's inner turmoils and an upcoming civil war.

Transnistria, however, had charted a different course. Capitalizing on the discovery and harnessing of Lumite, they redirected their efforts towards civilian industries, bolstering their own development while simultaneously meeting the needs of the Soviet populace abandoned by their government in the chaos... until the Union collapsed in 2001.

Positioned strategically between East and West, it became a vital nexus for trade and diplomacy, bridging ideological divides and fostering newfound connections up until now, until something strange happened...