This is meant to be a (reasonably) systematic list of AUs that can be derived from incidents occurring or referred to in the series. I make no claims to exclusivity, beyond the creation of the checklist: several of the ideas have already been developed, sometimes repeatedly. Several of the items on the list could be developed in a canonical fashion.
There are, of course, many possibilities that are independent of canonical events.
I will consider additions (and bring out a supplementary list if there are enough of them).
See also the List of dreams and other departures and Plot seeds.
Would any of the specialists (Avon, Jenna/Tarrant and Vila) who did leave be deliberately replaced by equivalents?
If Blake were not to come back on any occasion in S1-2 what would the remainder of the crew do? Would they continue helping the rebel movement, look for Star One (once that path had been decided upon), go in for trading and similar activities (Jenna's influence and Avon's comments about getting rich), a combination of such activities or something else entirely?
Temporary recruits/visitors on the Liberator/Xenon base are quite consistent with canon - there are a number of examples, from the Ortega crew onwards. This could include stowaways (being twice mentioned - 'Mission to Destiny' and 'Powerplay'). Even these could create a divergence - influencing the permanent characters to adopt a viewpoint or course of action other than that seen. Influence will depend in part on familiarity with "modern" technology (which would probably include Cato/the Seska) and those who are not (which might include Vargas).
Blake develops a coherent plan of action that involves more than destroying Central Control/Star One.
Other rebels/rebel groups/opponents of the Federation take the lead, or develop plans of action, the rise of political groups and factions within the rebels and within the administration (compatible with canon).
Those on the Liberator set up a base/network of specialists and other useful persons. (It appears that Avon is attempting to do this in S4.)
Technology and other resources can often be more fully developed/exploited than is shown.
Several of the characters could be further developed from their initial presentation than they are. These would include Vila's from TWB, Gan's "strong" character from Spacefall/Cygnus Alpha, Cally, Jenna and Dayna, and Avon's computing/technical skills etc.
Persons from regional groupings etc start deliberately interfering with the Federation for their own purposes. (These activities could well be fitted into the events of canon).
The Freedom Party (and equivalents) is not destroyed and becomes a significant/victorious force. Alternatively, while remaining small, they force the authorities to initiate changes of policy to stop 'everybody' from becoming restless.
Blake, instead of joining the Freedom Party, decides to work for change within the administration: if he starts this way (and, canonically, gets involved with the FP when this path does not work) he achieves some success.
Avon manages to rejoin Anna (he has lesser/no injuries), and/or embarks on a path which does not lead to the London - which may take him to the Liberator at a later stage.
Something is "done to" Avon during the 30 hours he is unconscious. (Possibly canonical.)
Blake's programming breaks down (as it did for Vila) without the authorities being in a position to control him.
Dev Tarrant's dual role deduced by the rebel/Outsider group before the massacre.
For this or other reasons Blake does not end up on the London. (How would events on the London develop?)
The Justice Machine is tampered with and gives a different verdict. (There may be rival groups within the administration, or agents from outside the Federation as well as the rebels etc.)
Blake's lawyer Varon deduces he might well be more expendable than Blake, and so arranges for the information he gathers to be transmitted elsewhere.
Other plans are developed for Blake - by those within the administration or outside it (Would Travis decide his enemy deserves something better?).
A different selection of people go on the to-be-named Liberator. (Including eg Leylan). The Liberator might end up with a different name - what? What would it be used for?
Avon's brother comes looking for him at some point (or Del Grant does).
The flight is manipulated by the company/crew doing the run. (This might include arranging for various 'specialists' to be removed: Avon the computer expert, Jenna the free trader/pilot etc. What Vila refers to may have happened on occasion, or he has heard a garbled version of actual events.)
A different selection of people come from Cygnus Alpha - with or without Blake. (Thus two different paths).
Vargas decides to cooperate and stay on the Liberator. (He would have to be taught many of the things the rest of the group would take for granted. He may already have learnt some details from incoming prisoners, and will have to do much by rote/accept that "this is the way things are" {as we accept computers, for example} but eventually he could function on the Liberator). How would the three-way struggle Blake ("promote my cause")-Vargas (ditto)-Avon ("I want the ship") develop?
Cally might decide to return home/join another rebel group. (Or her skills and abilities - in particular her telepathy - could be used more effectively.)
The more intelligent Saurian Major plants are used in the rebellion/participate in galactic affairs.
Gan's suggestion that Zen has a limiter is investigated further.
Rampant mutiny on Space Command - a sufficient number of the military decide they will not serve with or under Travis, and the rest decide to see what develops.
Blake's Travis and Sevalan's Travis turn out to be different people.
Travis' treatment of Cally involves "imposing" some programming on her.
Travis suffers more consequences than having his mechanical hand damaged.
Travis uses his knowledge of how Blake will operate to infiltrate a rebel group. Various possibilities arise: he becomes integrated with them, possibly because his contacts are lost, or is recognised and turned by them.
The ship coming to collect is contacted, and Sara's contacts pursued/investigated.
Blake and Travis decide that they can compromise. Developments do not necessarily include Giroc and Sinofar fading into the sunlight or an electric storm, nor the monument/the tombs crumbling into dust. (Or, consistent with canon, some other pair after this episode.)
The substitution is realised earlier - or changes are made to the android which affect its future activities.
Travis does not catch the glitterglobe in time.
Those on the base are truly neutral, and help Gan, while Avon stays on the base (until the Liberator is summoned by Farron to retrieve one general-purpose heckler). Or they provide further crew members/useful information.
Avon insists that they investigate other XK-constructs (possibly canonical).
Jenna links up with Tarvin.
Tarvin takes and keeps the Liberator for his own purposes.
Tarvin decides to link up with Blake's group (not necessarily as rebels).
Sarkoff decides to take on the role of an opposition leader to the Federation, and attempts to incorporate the Liberator or its crew in his plans. (This, however, could be compatible with canon: for example Blake after leaving the Liberator, or Avon seeking advice before episode Warlord.)
The Liberator is half an hour later - and is not aware of the other ship's passing. Ensor may survive long enough to launch Meegat's ship. Orac thus falls to Servalan without anyone else being aware of it (unless Orac decides to find a better companion/pet).
Maryatt's pass is reworked and used.
Ensor junior is given a stronger sedative. Avon's group are rescued - possibly after meeting Meegat, and launching her ship. The Liberator will arrive at Aristo with sufficient time to save the elder Ensor and remove him and Orac. (How would Servalan react to the empty room?)
Servalan and Travis are able to acquire Orac. (Would Orac arrange to be retrieved by someone more suitable?)
Servalan and Travis do not leave Aristo. Nobody knows that they are there, and they are treated as deserters.
Servalan kills/abandons Travis (probably on returning to the ship - the Phibians might have a wide range) - he has seen her fear in the tunnels, and knows about Orac.
Travis kills/abandons Servalan - he realises she will have him "dealt with": or the Phibians get her. In either case, Travis, on returning to Space Command denies all knowledge of her whereabouts (claiming he was pursuing Blake); or he disappears from official view.
The Federation learns about Spaceworld. (Theoretically compatible with canon - but the Federation's subsequent behaviour might differ.)
The Space Rats or others learn about Spaceworld.
Blake, Avon, Orac and Zen subsequently develop a Mcguffin that is capable of taking over Spaceworld. What use is made of this new base (which is probably effectively immovable)?
It is decided that the inward-looking Altas/Spaceworld system could not have been the originator of the DSVs, and the matter is pursued. (Again, could be contained within canon.)
The Terra Nostra (or the sections Blake is in contact with) are independent of the current Federation administration, help Blake and the rebels achieve victory - and then demand payback.
The moondiscs join/are used in Blake's cause.
The Clonemasters develop clones of Travis and/or Servalan.
The Blake clone becomes active beyond the planet. (Or there are other clones.)
Rashel takes on a leading role (she knows how to communicate with the Liberator, and takes the lead with Coser).
Orac extrapolates that Silmarno/Horizon was developed as "last service station before leaving the galaxy (next stop x million spacials, Star One, turn off for the Lesser Magellenic Cloud Byepass)" - the Monopasium is a bonus, and the magnetic barrier is a non-decommissioned test for the minefield. It overrides Blake's search for Central-Control-as-was, and the Liberator follows the freighter's route. Blake's desired destination is reached for the "wrong" reasons.
Veron follows Kasabi's instructions that if she (Kasabi) is ever captured, Veron should assume her dead, and join another rebel group - in this case Blake's.
There is #something# to be found where Central Control was.
Gan survives. (Possible to develop as compatible with canon: severe injuries, brain prints etc.)
A different member of the crew is killed.
Servalan and Travis do not escape from Central Control.
The President of the Federation decides Servalan is a liability - through her actions the secret of Central Control is revealed and she failed to capture Blake et al.
A "lucky shot" and Space Command auto-destructs. Who would the new Supreme Commander be - one of Samor's equivalents, or a military administrator, possibly with insufficient confidence or experience to handle the alien invasion?
Tynus decides to help Avon and Vila, rather than call in the Federation.
A spaceship lands and leaves before the warning is given.
Servalan and/or Travis are left on Exbar.
The device is removed and reset elsewhere as a rebel plant.
Avon and Grant do not settle their differences.
Grant joins the Liberator, and requires that his interests be pursued.
The conditioning is not (fully) removed - and Blake switches on subsequent occasions.
The Governors' Council is actually held and the information is presented. (Orac might have acquired the information from the storage media in the briefcase).
MummyShivan is not Travis.
Krantor acquires Dochelli - and Servalan is not aware of the fact. (Or she is, and she is diverted into taking action against Krantor rather than her intended coup.)
Servalan and/or Krantor carry out their threats against each other.
Orac/Vila lose the game against the Klute, and, with Avon's help, a deal with Krantor is arranged involving the Liberator/co-operation.
Lurgan is traced.
Star One's breakdown causes active damage rather than "controls ceasing to work."
Travis arrives before Blake. [He is aware of the minefield systems/whatever other functions Star One performs and deduces that Star One and Extragalactic Station Andromeda are identical, while the Liberator has to proceed slowly through an unfamiliar region without landmarks.]
Travis decides that he will not help the Andromedans after all.
The aliens are neutral/friendly.
The Liberator does not arrive in time to give the alert to Space Command: the aliens invade, and the rebels, the remnants of the Federation military and 'anyone else who can' joins in a new resistance. (Would the Timesquad capsule be retrieved for this purpose?)
Travis is rejected by the green whirly.
Servalan makes off with Orac (she finds the ship of the two troopers killed by the Sarrans - which is how she gets to Dustworld for the next episode).
Hal Mellanby survives and leaves on the Liberator (with Avon and Dayna).
Servalan does not escape from Sarran: or not before the previous President regains control.
Different groups of people end up on the Liberator - some survive to be included in whatever happens.
Servalan does not escape from Dustworld/Chenga, or she is picked up by a different ship, so does not know Cally has survived.
The goods she promises the Chengans are 'diverted' and Servalan faces the consequences.
The Pyroans have an intermediate option for dealing with potential threats. (A cultural imperative to living peacefully might have been more effective than the methods chosen - or a combination.)
Orac and the Thaarn pursue their rivalry.
Avon's bluff does not work.
A spider's nest with eggs is sent to Space Command.
The Liberator persuades the Kairopan freighter's crew to change sides.
Vila has a location-analyser device, so can work out where Homeworld is.
Bayban decides to do a deal with Avon et al.
Anna and Avon do not meet.
Blake gets back to Earth, and links up with Anna-as-Sula and they work together. (Depends in part on Anna's actual motives.) Possibly canonical.
The proverbial 'accident' befalls Servalan, during the coup or the retaking of the Presidential Palace.
The rebellion referred to by Shrinker has a greater degree of success/causes a greater degree of disruption than it does.
Other characters encounter the Sarcophagus entity instead of the Liberator - or there is more than one.
The Ultras come to an arrangement with the Liberator: the collecting and distribution of information. (Avon convinces the Ultras of the use of brain prints for information gathering, and sending out new arrivals as emissaries.)
With appropriate machines (in a very large array) and supplies a second Liberator is created, under whichever side's control.
Moloch comes on board, and survives.
Assorted brain (and computer) scans are made and used.
A second Orac is created.
Vinni's actual nature is revealed prematurely.
Del Tarrant takes on his brother's role. (Or Dev his young relative's.)
The Liberator, surviving, and crew go to Calipheron: Avon has encountered Dorian before the others return.
Servalan, on a viable Liberator, finds that Zen will not respond to her instructions - Avon has imposed commands should she come on board.
Other people pick up Servalan's clues and come to Terminal.
Dorian does not appear. (Servalan's technicians left a viable ship behind/Orac is able to summon a ship).
Vila's timing is slightly out, and the gestalt has begun to form. Vila kills the monster of Dorian's dreams, the others survive, but are linked.
There are other communities on Xenon, some of whom retain working equipment, and who are in business relationships with Dorian. (Potentially canonical.)
Commissioner Sleer/Servalan is not whom she seems - an android (one in a series?) or otherwise.
The Pylene 50 at some point ceases to work. (Possibly canonical.)
Dr Plaxton survives/Napier makes it to the Scorpio.
What would have happened if the Space Rats had encountered the Liberator? Negotiations or attempted acquisition?
Justin gives Dayna his research notes or survives.
The creatures are made use of.
The limiter is in place/attached: Avon and Orac are able to control the robot.
Servalan goes off with her purchase.
Verlis goes after Commissioner Sleer for money owed. (Servalan did make a bid, and Verlis is not responsible for the loss of merchandise once a bid is accepted).
Belkov makes an arrangement with the Scorpio group.
Servalan ends up on the orbiter (what would she face?).
Gerren survives (his death is not shown), and takes action.
Servalan finds her lost love alive.
Orac develops a means of preventing the reconstitution of the gold: the defunct notes are sold to collectors and Servalan ends up with nothing.
Avon/Orac passes on to the tax department that Commissioner Sleer has not revealed all the gold that came into her possession. (Getting Servalan involved in assorted types of red tape would be an effective way of neutralising her - and would be compatible with canon.)
Pinder sabotages Servalan's ship, or goes off with it, leaving Servalan and Egrorian trapped on the base.
Orac informs Avon and Vila that the neutron star material has been placed on the shuttle.
Avon/Orac/Vila decide to land the shuttle rather than reach escape velocity. They can thus be retrieved, with the tachyon funnel.
Zeeona does not take her glove off: does she go back to Betafarl or stay with the group?
Zukan decides to co-operate with Avon rather than with Commissioner Sleer.
Somewhat compatible with canon: the conference is part of a wider process of negotiations (not necessarily all involving the Xenon group) and an anti-present-Federation alliance is being developed.
The Scorpio and crew land at a greater distance from Blake's base: Tarrant is rescued by someone else. Avon and the others have to mount a rescue from the ground.
Slave's interruption is considered.
The blockaders challenge the incoming Scorpio, Orac is capable of giving the correct signals for passage without prompting, and the ship is not attacked.
The representative of the Federation High Council turns out to be someone known to Avon other than Servalan. Or, with Blake surviving, turns out to be Dev Tarrant. (On the information provided there is more reason for Servalan to be traipsing around Xenon than GP - but minimal.)
The trio in the semi derelict building attract the attention of the flier - and it turns out to be Blake's.
Arlen's suggestion that Tarrant be retrieved is carried out.
Other rebels/opponents of the Federation take the lead, rather than Blake/Avon. This would include groupings among the lower grades. (Also canonical.)
The Federation, rather than persisting as is, or being taken over by the rebels, collapses/dissolves in a manner similar to the former USSR (eg the warlords of that episode become more dominant), or other regional groupings interfere in its workings. (This is potentially canonical.)
Last changed on 18th of May 2006