"What if?" alternate timeline mode

> **Skills:** TypeScript · narrative design · schema work · alternate-canon thinking
> **Time:** ~10 hours
> **Good for:** Lore experts · counterfactual thinkers · 'Star Wars Infinities' readers
> **Difficulty:** Intermediate

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## Context

The timeline scrubber assumes one true canon. Many of the most loved Star
Wars discussions are counterfactual: "What if Order 66 didn't happen?", "What
if the Death Star wasn't destroyed?", "What if Anakin wasn't redeemed?"

## Goal

A toggle that re-renders the galaxy under user-selected counterfactual
events. War theatres redraw. Force lineage transitions shift. Some characters
disappear / appear.

## Where to start

- `lib/data/counterfactuals.ts` — declarative format:
```
{ id, label, year, branch: { factionsRedrawn, deathYearsAdjusted, etc. } }
```
- Hand-curate a small set: 3-5 well-loved hypotheticals
- Wire into `useSelection` as an optional layer; the existing state is
treated as canon=true
- War theatres + faction territories adjust based on the selected
counterfactual

## Acceptance criteria

- 3-5 plausible counterfactuals selectable
- Each visibly changes at least 2 of: faction territories, lineage tree,
active wars, selected entity death years
- Toggle clearly communicates "you're in alternate canon"
- Returning to canon is one click
- Lore notes link to community discussion threads