September 8th, 2005
in 1157, Richard Plantagenet, the Lion of God, was born in Oxford, England, to Pope Henry II of the Holy British Empire. Like all the Plantagenet popes, Richard schemed for the papacy at an early age, and led many ecclesiastical rebellions against his father. He is remembered more for his attempts to recapture the Holy Land than for anything else, although the harshness of his reign led to the movement known as Protestantism, and a Protestant assassinated him in 1224.
in 1664, unpopular Dutch governor Peter Stuyvesant is killed attempting to keep the British out of New Amsterdam. After his death, thousands of Dutch take to the streets to defend their city against the Redcoat forces, and are able to repel Colonel Richard Nicolls’ forces.
in 1893, Human League terrorists gain control of Brahe’s atmospheric controls, and send an ultimatum to the lunar colony – either all Mlosh leave, or the city will perish. The city’s police chief, a Mlosh named Kelnir, launches a daring raid against the terrorist, killing every one of them without damaging the atmospheric controls in the process. He is hailed as a hero across the moon, but marked as a target forever after by the Human League.
in 1935, Comrade Senator Huey P. Long, champion of the people, was assassinated in broad daylight in the Capital Building in Baton Rouge. An official investigation blamed the shooting on counter-revolutionaries, but many conspiracy theorists have made a plausible argument that the Communist Party itself had comrade Long killed because of his rapport with the proletariat. Such rumors are frowned upon in polite company.
in 1959, Li Huang-Sen is cast into a higher dimension, where he sees Huan Yue and the man who took her. Huan Yue is bound mentally, and cannot leave. Li tells the man that if he will not let Huan Yue go, he will be dead very soon. They begin a mental battle, but Li is interrupted before the end, and loses his hold on that dimension, returning to his body on the ship.
in 1966, NBC boldly went where the networks had rarely gone before and premiered a science fiction series called Star Trek by producer Gene Roddenberry. Although interesting at times, and with special effects that were well above average for the time, it was cancelled midway through the first season by a network that was horrified at the cost of keeping up a sci-fi show.
in 1974, President Richard Nixon declares martial law after he is convicted at the impeachment trial in the Senate. Armed troops gather up a protesting Congress and Nixon goes on television to explain, “I am not a crook; but I cannot allow the office of the presidency to be mocked by these nattering nabobs of negativity.”
in 1986, the newly admitted United States Football Conference played its first game as an NFL conference, after several years of play as a successful league on its own. The New Jersey Generals defeated the Washington Redskins at home, 38-21; Hershel Walker of the Generals ran in 2 touchdowns.
in 1996, Professor Malcolm Thomas demonstrates what he and Dr. Melvin Courtney have learned from the object at Edwards Air Force base. The military brass is pleased with what he can show them, and tell him that he has a bright future working for them. Professor Thomas visits Dr. Courtney in the infirmary, despairing that either of them will ever be allowed to leave.
in 4697, Captain Wu’s probes land on Yang Gao, and their transmissions pierce the static for almost 10 minutes before being shut down. The visual transmissions show a city that has been turned into a parody of human life; metal men walk Yang Gao, performing the mundane tasks of Chinese life in a mockery of those they have supplanted. Captain Wu orders his 3 remaining ships to drop all stores of explosives on the planet and retreat back to earth. On the way, they alter the trajectory of several large asteroids so that they will impact on Yang Gao. Captain Wu intends for nothing to survive his leaving.
in 2004, with several nations now following Egypt’s lead in accepting the Elder delegation, President Gore invites them into the White House for a long discussion. During this frank talk, many of this concerns are allayed; the Elders say that the citizens of the Lalandian star system were simply receiving transmissions from rebels, and the Lalandian star went nova coincidentally; they assured the president that they had no power to do such a thing. Gore is not entirely convinced, but agrees to let the Elders have access to America.
TIAH HALLOWEEN CONTEST
In order to provide for the upkeep of our new historian, Today In Alternate History is sponsoring its first contest - make a donation at our Paypal link, then email us up to 3 alternate history entries for October 31st, 2005. The best 10 entries will make up the entire content of the post on October 31st, Halloween day. Boring contest information is available on our Forum link below. Enter early and often!
Also, we still have our standard offer - everybody who donates $10 or more through our Paypal link will become alternate history entries on the site. 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 - Boring legal info on the TIAH Halloween Contest!
Fresh New Poll - Shall we use future dates in our entries?
Warp and Protocols still available; also, see the script I submitted for Bravo's Situation: Comedy. Speaking of which, voting for the winner is now over. Be sure to watch Sept. 9 for the winner, and watch the pilots at http://aol.com/situationcomedy
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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