Lutheran Empire; Travolta Defects To Britain

August 23rd, 2005

in 1861, Allen Pinkerton, having discovered that Washington socialite Rose Greenhow was a Confederate spy, suggests using her to feed false information to Johnny Reb rather than arrest her outright. With her unwitting assistance, the Union is able to cripple Confederate spy operations and trick the southern rebels in such important battles as Bull Run.

in 1866, in the middle of the Austro-Prussian war, Johannes Bittlemeyer, a young Lutheran minister, began encouraging soldiers on both sides to lay down their arms in the name of God. The widespread success of the peace movement threatened to topple the Austrian and Prussian governments, and they sent assassins to kill Bittlemeyer; unfortunately for them, the assassins joined the other side. The theocracy that became known as the Lutheran Empire took complete control of the central European nations in 1871 and was overthrown at the end of the Great War in 1947 when a long-suppressed democratic movement gained power.

in 1892, in a world-wide address, (and across hyperspace to the ships fleeing earth’s recent seismic troubles), the Executive Council of the Congress of Nations announces that henceforth, Mlosh weather-control technology will only be used in extreme circumstances. “This should save us a repeat of these circumstances,” First Chancellor Rabah told the world. In the aftermath of the disturbances, terrorist activity against the Mlosh picks up again.

in 4610, the Japanese province began its secession struggle against the Chinese Empire. Emperor Chengzu, grandson of Min-Yuan, was reluctant to war against his own subjects, and employed a different strategy, instead. The Eastern Fleet formed a blockade around the island, and the Empire used economic sanctions against the rebellious Japanese. While slower than conventional war, the strategy was effective – the Japanese begged for return to the Empire by 4618.

in 1934, actress Barbara Jean Moorhead was born in Tucson, Arizona. After several years of bit parts, she became a star when she landed the role of Samantha on the TV series Bewitched, due in part to having a similar name to the actress who played Samantha’s mother, Oscar-nominee Agnes Moorehead.

in 1959, Li Huang-Sen and Huan Yue find themselves on the coast after evading a group of soldiers. Huan Yue was suddenly seized with the desire to leave China, and she asked Li if he could get them away. Although he wanted to fulfill her wish, he felt that he shouldn’t spirit her out of the country without at least informing her father, and he tells her that they must go back to Po’s farm before departing the country.

in 1968, drummer Ringo Starr left the band the Silver Beatles, which had only been trading on their history as Pete Best’s band for the last 6 years. His solo career was somewhat better, and he was able to make a few movie appearances over the years. He even played for Pete Best, himself, on Best’s Reconciliation tour in ‘77.

in 1979, American actor John Travolta defected to Great Britain during a publicity tour for his latest film, Grease, a hard-hitting musical about the harsh life of auto-mechanics in capitalist countries. Travolta denounced life in the Soviet States of America as controlled by the two political parties, with little freedom left for the artistically or politically inclined. Travolta was declared a traitor by Comrade President John Anderson of the Socialist Party.

in 1363, Said Aouita of the Caliphate of Morocco won the Trials of Sport in Al-Meshuk. Aouita defeated infidels of the freed European nations, proving the glory of Allah over their blasphemous ways.

in 1989, after assurances that the United States would not interfere in an “Arab-Arab conflict”, Iraq took control of the tiny but oil-rich nation of Kuwait. When the stock markets posted a hefty gain, based mostly on oil stocks, the U.S. issued a statement that there would be no action to free Kuwait.

in 1996, Professor Malcolm Thomas, working late on the object at Edwards Air Force Base in California, stumbles into a room that has some very strange specimens preserved in a clear liquid. He runs from the room and tries to forget what he has seen there.

in 2004, a diagnostic of the Elder early-warning system reveals no flaws. Many scientists begin to wonder if the earlier “false” positives were actually true. They make a few quiet recommendations to their respective governments about searching the local populations. As discreetly as possible, governments around the world begin screening their people to see if any of them are Elders in disguise.


Still wishing...

As your humble alternate historian enters the downhill slope of the 40's, he still has his birthday wish - a contract with a publishing company like Workman Publishing to produce a page-a-day calendar of TIAH. If you are an editor for such a company, or can place us in touch with one, please fulfill this belated birthday wish!

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