The Moon As Bright As Day

June 18th, 2005

in 1178, an explosion is seen on the moon by 5 Canterbury monks. Believing that this heralds the end of the world, they flee the monastery and exhort all about them to pray for deliverance. Within a week, all of England is paralyzed with fear of the end, and mass suicides begin happening across the country.

in 3874, Emperor Xiaozong Shen saw a star attack the moon, and the moon glow as bright as day for a moment. This vision seized him, and he summoned his royal astronomers. “Bend all your will towards getting us there,” he told them, pointing at the moon. “The Heavens must be ours.” It took over 700 years, but the vision of the emperors never wavered. Even as they controlled the earth, they knew that their destiny lay among the heavens.

in 1776, Tlamsita’s Congress of Nations gains its first members as both the North American Confederation and the Sioux Nation agree to join. By the end of the month, all of the western hemisphere has at least agreed to talks on the organization.

in 1815, Napoleon defeated the allied forces of Britain, Belgium, Germany and Holland in the battle of Waterloo, in Belgium. The emperor’s defeat of the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, commander of the Prussian forces, was so crushing that the Austrian and Russian armies, arriving late to the battle, immediately retreated to their respective countries on seeing the carnage. France continued to dominate the continent until the emperor’s death in 1821.

in 1961, the long-running western Gunsmoke aired for the last time on the radio before moving to television. When viewers saw star William Conrad reprise his role from the radio show, they were less than impressed, and the television series ended after one season.

in 1981, a genetically-engineered virus escapes the Groom Lake Research Center (better known as Area 51) in Nevada and drifts over nearby Las Vegas. Vacationing gambler Nathaniel Engelsen is one of the hundreds who contracts the virus, and one of only a handful who survive it. When he comes out of the coma, he feels oddly different.

in 1995, as the creature from beyond makes its escape from Khabarovsk, Russia, Mikhail von Heflin sets off in pursuit. He plans to recapture it far enough away from the city to prevent any further damage to the Khabarovskis, but close enough to where he can return it to the prison he constructed for it. Unfortunately, it evades him and heads north, toward the Arctic. The Baron reluctantly follows.

in 2004, Jason Grzechy and Marjorie Adams hitchhike to San Francisco and find the offices of the San Francisco Chronicle. Although their story is unbelievable, the editor, J. W. Birdsall, is convinced when he sees the implants in their heads. The story is set to run the next day, and the Chronicle hides the pair in a hotel room, where they spend a night in fitful sleep.


WE HAVE GAS, BUT WE STILL NEED HELP!

Thanks to your generosity, we have gas money, and truly appreciate the assistance. But, we still have a broken windshield to repair, so we're keeping the offer open - everybody who donates $10 or more through our Paypal link will become alternate history entries on the site this month. When you donate, I will email you asking your preference for a day & timeline; if you don't reply to me, I'll place you in a day that seems to fit your name :) Thanks for your continued support!

Forum Link - contribute to our magazine!

Warp and Protocols still available