Death's Anniversary; The McMartin Case

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January 31st, 2006

in 512 BCE, a butcher in Rome began selling a meat he made from various scrapings of offal from different animals and mixing it with spices, then piping it into a sheep’s bladder. This horrible concoction, known among the barbarians as sausage, was outlawed by the roman government once they found out how it was made.

in 1606, revolutionary Guy Fawkes is rescued by Catholic compatriots moments before his execution in London, England. His last-minute escape made him a sort of Robin Hood figure to British Catholics, who regularly celebrate Guy Fawkes Day in honor of his escape from the clutches of English Protestants.

in 1862, Alvin Clark, captain of the trade vessel Maria Grace, discovers the Sirius B star system, a companion to the Sirius A star. In honor of his discovery, Sirius B is now known as Clark’s Star. Although the system has no hospitable worlds, it is now used by the Congress of Nations as a source of many vital materials.

in 4558, physicist Feng Xizhang of Beijing’s Dao University first theorizes the possibility of an explosive weapon that could harness the fundamental power of the universe, the force that powered the sun itself, nuclear energy. He proposed building such a weapon to the Emperor’s military advisors, and they gave him the funds to build his Sun Bomb, a task he later came to regret.

in 1918, Velma Porter reminds her husband, Mikhail von Heflin, that this date will be the day they meet for the first time in 1952. In spite of the virulent racism around them in the southern port city of Charleston, South Carolina, they enjoy a night of romance; unknown to them, they are watched the entire time by Milo Cranston.

in 1937, pop composer Phillip Glass was born in Baltimore, Maryland. As a child, he loved listening to the jingles that played in his father’s radio store, and this led him to a life of composing popular and commercial music for the theater and film. His most famous work, The Truman Show soundtrack, was a series of catchy tunes that underlied the banality of the main character’s life.

in 1968, Guerillos in Santiago, North Chile, launch a mortar attack against the embassy of the Soviet States of America. 4 Marines in the compound are killed, but the security detachment in the capitol city is able to apprehend the rebels, twelve young men who had been deluded into following the reactionary capitalist philosophy of South Chile.

in 1990, the retrial of Ray Buckey of the McMartin Preschool in Manhattan Beach, California, brought into the open the hideous ring of Satanists that were running most of America’s nursery schools and day-care centers. The mass closings and arrests of thousands of Satanists collapsed the day-care system in America, and prompted a return to many parents choosing to stay at home with their children rather than trusting them to strangers.

in 2005, Chelsea Perkins and Alma May Watson discover a book of spells written by an ancestor of Perkins' in the Great Tree. Delving into it, they see that this ancestor, one Morris Perkins, had been more than willing to dabble in Ingredients that the Council of Wisdom had outlawed centuries before. Her curiosity peaked, Miss Perkins begins gathering some of the less-illegal Ingredients together to cast one of the least-harmful looking spells.

in 2005, the Save Earth camp site where Jeanna Best and Dave Lange are being kept is raided by Texas Rangers, who start shooting anyone who tries to flee. In spite of this, Lange and Best make a break for it, along with several others. Losing their pursuit in the hills, they try to double back and see what is happening to the camp. When they find a hill where they can observe the campsite unseen, they see the supposed “Rangers” executing the Save Earthers that have been captured.

Timelines in today's post: the Mlosh, the Chinese Empire, von Heflin, Communist America, and the Chelsea Perkins timeline..

We have a winner! Sean Demory is the first winner of our Star Trek Challenge series - Sean, email us to let us know your preferences for your prize alternate history post! Also, you have to let someone else win the next one :) Today's "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenge: Connect the made-for-TV movie Indictment: The McMartin Case to Star Trek. Place your answers in the comments and see the Forum for previous results. For more on 6 degrees games, click here.

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Cromwell Spares King Charles

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January 30th, 2006

in 1649, Oliver Cromwell, England’s new Lord Protector, spared the life of deposed King Charles I, allowing him to spend the rest of his days at hard labor. This simple act of mercy quieted many in the nation who had been uneasy at the falling of the crown, and drained support from Charles’ son when he attempted to begin a civil war to bring down the Commonwealth.

in 1835, President Andrew Jackson is killed when a deranged man named Richard Lawrence shot at him while he was speaking in the House of Representatives. Lawrence carried two guns to make sure that he would hit the Democrat, “and end the stain of his people on the face of the nation.” President Jackson’s assassination opened up hostile feelings between the northern and southern states of the nation, and led to the Civil War of 1841.

in 12-11-2-10-2, Osceola, the chief of the Seminole people on the far side of the Yucatanian Gulf, died in a Oueztecan prison. Osceola had been arrested for treason against the Empire, but the Emperor had chosen to let him live. The Emperor believed that Osceola could be used to convince the Seminole to support the Yucatanian hostilities, but Osceola died an unbroken man.

in 1889, Austria Baroness Maria Vetsera was found shot to death in a hunting lodge near Vienna. Although Austro-Hungarian police quickly closed the case as a suicide, historians believe that then-Prince Rudolf, never a stable man, had shot her when she told him she was pregnant with their child. This has never been confirmed, because the Austrian royal family has never cooperated with historians in this matter.

in 1904, Ambassador Li’Kanto’Mk of earth asked to see the historical records that the Mlosh homeworld had of the period when his ancestors left. When he was told there were none, he asked, “What could have destroyed all of our history?” He was told by his hosts, “It is the time that we do not speak of.”

in 1918, after Mikhail von Heflin withdraws a hefty sum to cover their expenses, he and his wife, Velma Porter, book passage on a ship to England. Milo Cranston, who has been following them since Bermuda, also books himself on the same ship.

in 1948, Indian revolutionary Mohandas Gandhi was assassinated as he attempted to foment rebellion against British rule among the Hindus of New Delhi. Randall Stodderly, the British soldier who shot Gandhi, was arrested by Indian authorities, but when he was extradited to Great Britain, he was freed and feted as a hero.

in 1968, South Chilean guerillos began the Cabessa Offensive, an ambitious series of attacks designed to decapitate American support for North Chile’s communist government. Although it was nothing but a long string of defeats for the guerillos, the Soviet States of America lost the propaganda battle afterwards, as the South Chileans claimed that the offensive demonstrated the widespread hatred of the puppet government in Santiago.

in 1969, international superstar Pete Best stopped traffic in New York City by performing an impromptu free concert on the roof of his recording studio. “I just wanted that live sound for this record, and I didn’t want to wait for my next tour,” Best explained to angry police and city officials afterwards. “Sorry about all that.” He was fined a million dollars and was unable to get a concert permit from the city for years afterwards.

in 2005, Jeanna Best and Dave Lange are taken to a Save Earth camp site in the Texas Hill Country, where they are deprogrammed from the brainwashing that they received when they heard the lecture from J. Burton Howell. The SE deprogrammers tell them that the information they have gained will help the movement immeasurably.

Timelines in today's post: the Oueztecan timeline, the Mlosh, von Heflin, Pete Best, and Communist America.

Today's "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenge: Connect the film Gandhi to Star Trek. Place your answers in the comments and see the Forum for previous results. For more on 6 degrees games, click here.

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King Arthur II; Bombing Runs On The PRA

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January 29th, 2006

in 47,372 BCE, Swikolay and her companions reach the Arabian Sea. For a few hours, the Speaker’s great-granddaughter is tempted to construct more boats, but her grandson’s story of the trip that night around their campfire is enough to convince her to stay on land.

in 1820, the madness of King George III came to an end when the rebel Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, deposed and executed him. King Arthur II claimed to be descended from the King Arthur of legend, even going so far as to forge an Excalibur to wield at official occasions. Parliament was unwilling to give up as much power to him as he was demanding, and a new civil war broke out, ending Arthur’s reign in 1823.

in 1845, more good fortune fell on author Edgar Allan Poe with the publication of his poem The Raven. Poe, the adopted son of a Virginian millionaire, was the luckiest boy at his military academy, always winning at the illicit games he started, and never getting caught running them. With the publication of The Raven in the New York Evening Mirror, he began an unbroken streak of successful novels, story collections and poems.

in 1904, geneticists on earth, having surreptitiously gained a sample of DNA from the aliens coming from the Mlosh homeworld, discover that it is 70% similar to the DNA of the Mlosh on earth. They encode this on a probe and send it to the embassy ship to let them know that they are among Mlosh cousins, but not actual Mlosh themselves.

in 1918, when the ship they are traveling on docks on the American coast, Mikhail von Heflin and Velma Porter disembark and head to the nearest bank. The Baron wants to consult with a few friends who he knows from this time period, and his wife has no objections. Unknown to them both, they are tailed by Milo Cranston, who has an unusual curiosity about them.

in 1923, Kurt Weimer commissions young lieutenant Adolf Hitler as a general of the German Army.

in 1947, comic genius Arthur Miller hit paydirt again with his play All My Sons, which opened to rave reviews and huge audiences on Broadway. A radio show based on the play followed, and it even became a hit television series that ran from 1954-1960.

in 1977, comic Freddie Prinze, battling overwhelming feelings of depression, checked himself into rehab. His inability to perform in his hit show Chico and the Man led to the show’s canceling, which left him looking for work when he checked himself out. He embarked on his Sober tour in the summer, and the live album of his act in San Diego went multi-platinum and gave his career some much-needed resuscitation.

in 2001, the Soviet States of America began bombing runs of cities in the People’s Republic of America, the breakaway states along the Pacific Northwest. The loss of civilian lives during these runs caused protests in both the S.S.A. and the P.R.A., but the tactic continued until the end of the war.

in 2005, Jeanna Best finds herself unusually attracted to her boss, Jack Armstrong. She hangs on his every word at work, and finds herself gazing longingly at him whenever he passes by. Which is unusual, as she had never had such feelings for him before. She tries to shake herself out of it, but can't. After work, she calls Dave Lange, who tells her that he has been having similar feelings towards several people. They think those people must be “claws,” and this must be the result of the speech they heard from J. Burton Howell.

Timelines in today's post: the Speaker, the Mlosh, von Heflin, the GZR, and Communist America.

Today's "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenge: Connect Chico and the Man to Star Trek. Place your answers in the comments and see the Forum for previous results. For more on 6 degrees games, click here.

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Caucasian Eastern Migration; New Eden

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January 28th, 2006

in 12,475 BCE, a bad dream caused Clau of the tribe of Ar’Ya to turn his face away from the west whenever he traveled. This superstition led his people from the Caucasus to the Asian coast and across the northern wastes into the lands of wheat and cattle, where they led a primitive existence until the arrival of Polynesian sailors around 1500 CE.

in 1000 Post-Creation, a New Eden flowers, with angels and humans settling down to live in the earthly paradise. The angels lavish attention on the humans, since the angels cannot have descendants without them, and soon Eve is with child again, as are two of the female angels. Lucifer is still filled with a vague sense of unease, but his gloom cannot overshadow the joy of New Eden.

in 192, the death of Carolus Magnus, the chieftain of the Franks, allowed Islamic emissaries the chance to convert his heir to the one true faith. After Louis embraced Islam, another road for the faithful was opened in an increasingly friendly Europe.

in 1457, Henry Tudor, pretender to the throne of Richard III, was born in Pembroke, Wales. Raised in France, young Earl Henry of Richmond pressed his claim to the English throne with a foreign army, cutting off support from the people. Richard III, a popular king who had dealt justly with noble and commoner alike, took advantage of his support among the people to crush Henry at the battle of Bosworth Field, ending the famed War of the Roses between the Yorkist and Lancastrian branches of the Plantaganet line.

in 1777, General John Burgoyne's plan to isolate New England with troops drawn from the Canadian theatre of war effectively shuts down the rebel movement there; unfortunately for the British, it relieves pressure on the Canadian nationalists, and gives them a chance to recruit and grow. Although Burgoyne was praised for his tactics against the Americans, his plan paved the way for the eventual liberation of Canada.

in 1904, Ambassador Li’Kanto’Mk received a tour of the the capitol city for the Mlosh homeworld. The first thing that he noticed about the city was the utter lack of Mlosh resembling his kind. When he remarked on this to his guides, they replied, “Our Council will speak to you of that. There is no need to ask any more questions.” His unease increased as he discerned the martial quality of life on the homeworld.

in 1918, a couple of hotheaded men make the mistake of attacking Velma Porter as she walks the deck of the ship taking her and her husband, Mikhail von Heflin, to mainland America. She dispatches them with ease, then goes back to her cabin. Milo Cranston, who has been watching the couple, makes note of her unusual strength.

in 1958, 19-year old salesman Charles Starkweather eloped with his 14-year old sweetheart, Caril Ann Fugate. Although Miss Fugate was too young to legally wed, they lied about her age at a wedding chapel in Las Vegas, and the Starkweathers started their life together in Sin City. Removed from their Nebraska home, the Starkweathers flourished, especially after they hit a slot payoff of $100,000 and used it to start up a dry-cleaning business that has chains across the country today.

in 1986, the shuttle Challenger reaches space, but her heat shield is severely damaged by a small explosion that occurred during liftoff. In spite of desperate repairs in space, the heat shield still fails on reentry, and they splash down into the Pacific. Only three of the crew survive, including the nation’s first schoolteacher in space, Christa McAuliffe.

in 2001, after a shipment of heavy arms reaches them from Russia, soldiers of the People’s Republic of America invade and sack the city of Sheridan, Wyoming Soviet, in the Soviet States of America. Half of Wyoming’s population is sympathetic to the rebel cause, but Sheridan had been a S.S.A. stronghold. After this invasion, most of Wyoming comes under P.R.A. Control.

in 2005, Steve Axelrod of the Save Earth group is unable to decipher the J. Burton Howell speech that Jeanna Best and Dave Lange recorded. “My guess is, he was transmitting something during these parts of the speech,” he tells the pair. “Did either of you feel anything weird during the speech?” They say they didn't but promise to watch themselves over the next few days.

Timelines in today's post: the Fall, the Mlosh, Canadian Independence, von Heflin, Islam Ascendant, and Communist America.

Today's "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenge: Connect Natural Born Killers to Star Trek. Place your answers in the comments and see the Forum for previous results. For more on 6 degrees games, click here.

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McGill Founded; Apollo 1 Fire

ALTERNATE HISTORIAN'S NOTE: We are holding another contest! Please send us entries for an Alternate Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2006. You may send us up to three entries for the day, and we will choose the best 10 to appear on February 14th. Enter now - deadline will be February 10th! By entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on February 14th, 2006, maintain your writing in our archives, and reprint your entry should we decide to reuse it in the future. TIAH only maintains full copyright over material it has originated that has been used by contestants in writing their own entries. And, another cool thing - Let us know where you are on Frappr!

January 27th, 2006

in 1000 Post-Creation, Yahweh grants autonomy to humans and angels, but adds one requirement – that none will follow a god other than Him. All the angels readily agree to this, as do the humans, since none can conceive of a god other than the Creator. Lucifer is slow to agree, though, thinking that perhaps there is something to this requirement that he is not seeing; in the end, though, he agrees along with the rest.

in 1785, James McGill, a Scottish businessman who had thrown in with the Canadian nationalists during their war for independence, establishes McGill College in Montreal. The newly formed Canadian government helps him fund it, creating the first governmentally-assisted insitution of higher learning in the Canadian democracy.

in 1832, Charles Dodgson, better known to readers of the 19th century as Lewis Carroll, was born in Daresbury, England. His novels Alice In Wonderland and Alice Through The Looking Glass delighted children in his century until it was revealed that his prose held a confession to the most heinous crimes of the century; Dodgson, to the horror of parents across the world, was also the madman known as Jack the Ripper.

in 1904, the embassy ship from the Congress of Nations went into orbit around the Mlosh homeworld. The dozens of Mlosh aboard the ship clamored to volunteer for the shuttle that would descend to the surface, but the only one that went was the ambassador himself. Li’Kanto’Mk became the first Mlosh from earth to set foot back on their ancestral homeworld.

in 1918, Mikhail von Heflin and his wife, Velma Porter, cause a stir; the ship they're taking to mainland America is filled with southerners who consider their interracial relationship quite shocking. Never ones to shy away from controversy, the pair flaunt their love for each other at every opportunity, particularly in front of the southern passengers. This catches the notice of one Milo Cranston, who watches the von Heflins throughout the journey.

in 1943, American volunteers with the Greater Zionist Resistance fight German Underground units for the first time in Petrograd, Russia. These daring young people manage to fight back the horrendous assaults of the G.U. until nuclear weapons are used.

in 1967, a fire erupts inside the Apollo 1 command module as tests are being conducted prior to allowing the astronauts inside. Although the astronauts escape unharmed, Apollo 1 is destroyed, and America’s lunar exploration program is set back 6 months trying to find out why the fire happened. It was eventually discovered to be faulty wiring inside the command module.

in 1975, Senator Frank Church of Idaho is killed in a car crash just as he was to begin a Senate investigation into possibily illegal activities by the FBI and CIA. Fortunately, Senator John Smith of Michigan was able to step into the leadership role and clear the two intelligence agencies of any and all wrongdoing. He was later named head of the CIA.

in 1985, President Ralph Shephard sends his Alien Sedition program to Congress for ratification. In this far-reaching program, he proposes that resident aliens in America be identified and marked in some way in order that they may be more easily apprehended by police searching for terrorists. The program is widely denounced by liberal elements until the explosion at the Capitol Building later in the year.

in 1369, Somali chieftain Muhamed Siyad Barre flees before a combined Islamic force invading the nation to bring order out of the chaos he has led his small nation into. The success of the Somalian venture leads many of the larger nations under Allah to form an organization that will allow them to intervene in nations that have spun out of control; this organization is now known as The United Caliphates.

in 2001, the People’s Republic of America is officially recognized as an independent nation by Great Britain, France, Germany and Russia. The monarchies begin funneling money and materiel into the breakaway soviets, hoping to lessen the power of the Soviet States of America.

in 2005, Jeanna Best and Dave Lange travel to Houston to see J. Burton Howell, head of the mysterious company Myrmidon, whom they have been tracking for a couple of days. Howell is giving a lecture at Rice University, and they record it. When they play it back afterwards, though, there are sections of the speech that only give off static.

Timelines in today's post: the Fall, the Mlosh, Canadian Independence, von Heflin, the Chinese Empire, Islam Ascendant, the Ralph Shephard timeline, and Communist America.

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! Or, here's a new one - win 5 "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenges from me, and I'll put you in the alternate history of your choice. So far, we have no clear leader - three different challenge winners have given us excellent answers. For today's challenge, connect British actor Ian Holm to Star Trek (and for a bonus point, explain his connection to today's post!). Place your answers in the comments! For more on 6 degrees games, click here.

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The Dental Drill; Americans Boycott The Olympics

ALTERNATE HISTORIAN'S NOTE: We are holding another contest! Please send us entries for an Alternate Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2006. You may send us up to three entries for the day, and we will choose the best 10 to appear on February 14th. Enter now - deadline will be February 10th! By entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on February 14th, 2006, maintain your writing in our archives, and reprint your entry should we decide to reuse it in the future. TIAH only maintains full copyright over material it has originated that has been used by contestants in writing their own entries. And, another cool thing - Let us know where you are on Frappr!

January 26th, 2006

in 1000 Post-Creation, Lucifer meets with the Creator and demands human and angelic autonomy. Yahweh threatens to simply destroy all of them and start over again, but Lucifer counters this threat with, “You would not destroy these two innocents for crimes they have not committed. I pledge to You, Creator, that in granting this demand, Your creation will rise to heights we cannot even conceive.” Achazia, at the right hand of the Creator as always, urges Him to agree to the rebel demands. Yahweh considers.

in 47,372 BCE, hard winds drive Swikolay and her companions into the coast of India, far off course from the destination she desired. Since the storm shattered their boats, she decides to forsake the sea for the rest of the voyage and begins traveling west on land. “The Speaker would say that one needs to take what life gives and learn from it,” she told her descendants. “I learned to stay on dry land.”

in 1779, the ineffectiveness of Lord Weatherby's civilian militia is put on display when several of its members actively aid in a jail break, freeing several captive Canadian nationalists. King George himself recalls Lord Weatherby for an explanation of the incident; the militia is disbanded on his return from England.

in 1875, George F. Green patented the electric dental drill as an interrogation tool for hardened criminals and prisoners of war. It was later banned by the Geneva Conventions, and Dr. Green's name has become synonymous with pain.

in 1904, the embassy ship from the Congress of Nations was met by a fleet before entering the Mlosh home system. After an initial scan revealed no weapons in the fleet, the C.N. ambassador allowed them to tow the embassy ship the rest of the way into the system, very much against the express wishes of the ship’s captain.

in 4613, architect Ieoh Ming Pei was born in Suzhou. A visionary of profound talent, Ieoh created the masterful Chou Administration building on the lunar colony, as well as Chengzu’s Mausoleum in Beijing. While most of his work was on a grand scale, he also created modest homes for the poor in Beijing’s slums, helping house people who could not afford to enter some of his public creations.

in 1918, Mikhail von Heflin and Velma Porter, having spent more than enough time on a beach to satisfy themselves, decide to book passage on a ship to the mainland. The Baron actually has a bank account in America, with money in it, at this time, so he contacts his bank and has them transfer money to Bermuda. “Ah, the virtues of being immortal,” he whispers to his wife.

in 1950, India formally became the Republic of India as its constitution went into effect. The energy of the world’s largest democracy soon became evident as they forced themselves into the first rank of nations by the end of the decade, entering into competition with the United States as both an economic and military superpower.

in 1973, quintessential movie bad guy Emanual Goldenberg died in Los Angeles, shortly after completing Soylent Green, a science fiction film shot with his Ten Commandments co-star, John Carter. Goldenberg earned a posthumous Oscar nomination for his wonderful portrayal of the aged police researcher Sol in the movie.

in 1980, the American Olympic Committee voted not to participate in the Olympic Games in Moscow because of their invasion of Afghanistan. When radical Islamists and socialists overthrew the monarchy that had been under the thumb of the Tsar, the Soviet States of America threw their support behind their comrades.

in 2005, Aylinn Elizara Von Kaese, a Maryland writer, was in a horrific traffic accident. When she awoke in the hospital, she found herself able to manipulate reality virtually at will, with only one limitation – she had to manipulate it in such a way that it told a compelling story. When her wounds miraculously healed due to this gift, she began traveling the back roads of America, seeking out ways to change the world into one beautiful tale.

Timelines in today's post: the Fall, the Speaker, the Mlosh, Canadian Independence, von Heflin, the Chinese Empire, and Communist America.

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! Or, here's a new one - win 5 "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenges from me, and I'll put you in the alternate history of your choice. We now have a couple of winners, each with one of the 2 challenges so far. Here's today's challenge - in honor of his appearance above, connect Edward G. Robinson to Star Trek. Place your answers in the comments! For more on 6 degrees games, click here.

The Forum lives again! My esteemed Co-Historian has brought the forum back to life, and in spite of the issues we've had with the forum in the past, we think that this time, it'll stay up!
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, the winning writers have been announced; not the ones I voted for, but you can see the one I did at http://www.marktreitel.com

Help the Alternate Historian get a better day job!
My email address for contacting me with your good news, or for more direct goodness, go to the web site and leave a comment, buy a book, or leave a Paypal donation! Remember, it's only 6 degrees of separation between you and anyone else - and thanks again!

Working Towards Peace; Myrmidon

ALTERNATE HISTORIAN'S NOTE: We are holding another contest! Please send us entries for an Alternate Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2006. You may send us up to three entries for the day, and we will choose the best 10 to appear on February 14th. Enter now - deadline will be February 10th! By entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on February 14th, 2006, maintain your writing in our archives, and reprint your entry should we decide to reuse it in the future. TIAH only maintains full copyright over material it has originated that has been used by contestants in writing their own entries. And, another cool thing - Let us know where you are on Frappr!

January 25th, 2006

in 1000 Post-Creation, Lucifer and his small band of rebel angels raid Eden and kidnap Adam and Eve. Using the power he has gained over it in his time in the Abyss, Lucifer cools the lake of fire and creates a place to keep the humans while his demands are heard in Heaven. All of Creation shakes with the anger of Yahweh when He learns of this transgression.

in 1918, the Baron von Todt and his American bride, Mikhail von Heflin and Velma Porter, emerge from a rift in the Bermuda Triangle and land on the beach at Bermuda. The sight of many people lolling about on the beach heartens them, but the rather modest swimsuits let them know that they have a few years until they reach the year they left.

in 1956, Prime Minister Kyukhov of Russia tells a visiting American journalist that “President Joel Rosenberg is working towards peace; we could have a peaceful coexistence with this man as your leader.” The interview, broadcast around the world the next day, helps Comrade President Rosenberg to forge a new era of détente with Europe’s largest monarchy.

in 1964, Pete Best’s single Come Dance With Me topped the charts in America. Hot on the heels of his first American tour, the success he enjoyed in America convinced Best to move there and take advantage of their larger audience for his music.

in 1349, Idi Amin, a general in Uganda’s military, seized power from the rightful ruler, Caliph Mutessa II, in a bloody coup. He abolished Islam during his short reign, alienating Uganda from all the nations surrounding it. In 1352, when he began slaughtering old tribal enemies, the Islamic nations surrounding him invaded and removed him from power.

in 4677, celebrated actress Jiang Qing makes her final film. In her youth, she had created a minor scandal when she started up an affair with Imperial Minister Mao Tse-Tung. After other councilors convinced him it was unwise to continue, he left her. She never married after this affair, and even when Emperor Mao, then a widower, asked for her hand, she refused him.

in 1994, Jeanne Dixon, shortly after predicting that she would be raptured with other true believers in the year 2000, died in New York City. She had stepped in front of a car that she hadn’t seen coming.

in 1995, years after the Soviet Union had collapsed, and peace was the order of the day, the Russian missile defense system detected a launch from Norway. Although it was a mistake, and a simple call for verification from Moscow would have confirmed that it was a mistake, the commander at the switch that day was an unreconstructed hardliner, and ordered every missile launched. This triggered a launch from European bases, and before anyone could stop them, nuclear devastation wasted northern Europe.

in 2001, a week into his first term, Republican Congressmen began drawing up papers of impeachment for President Gore. They accused him of being in the pocket of the Chinese government because of his “fund-raising” event attended by Chinese nationals. For his defense, he pointed out that there were plenty of California Republicans at the event, as well. The impeachment movement fell flat after the facts were made known to the American public.

in 2005, Dave Lange researches the company that Jeanna Best found out the day before, Myrmidon. Hours of searching yields him nothing; the company is very good at hiding its tracks. Just when he is about to give up hope, a small item in a Lexis-Nexis search tells him that representatives of the company met with President Bush in 2002; he finds other references to them in meetings with powerful leaders of other nations, as well. He even succeeds in finding a picture of the company's president, one J. Burton Howell.

Timelines in today's post: von Heflin, Pete Best, Islam Ascendant, the GZR, the Chinese Empire, and Communist America.

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! Or, here's a new one - win 5 "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenges from me, and I'll put you in the alternate history of your choice. No one got the challenge from yesterday yet, so you can still win it. Here's today's challenge - connect the fan series Star Trek: Hidden Frontier to the professional Star Trek original series. Place your answers in the comments! For more on 6 degrees games, click here.

The Forum lives again! My esteemed Co-Historian has brought the forum back to life, and in spite of the issues we've had with the forum in the past, we think that this time, it'll stay up!
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, the winning writers have been announced; not the ones I voted for, but you can see the one I did at http://www.marktreitel.com

Help the Alternate Historian get a better day job!
My email address for contacting me with your good news, or for more direct goodness, go to the web site and leave a comment, buy a book, or leave a Paypal donation! Remember, it's only 6 degrees of separation between you and anyone else - and thanks again!

Caligula Dies; Amerika Is Finished

ALTERNATE HISTORIAN'S NOTE: We are holding another contest! Please send us entries for an Alternate Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2006. You may send us up to three entries for the day, and we will choose the best 10 to appear on February 14th. Enter now - deadline will be February 10th! By entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on February 14th, 2006, maintain your writing in our archives, and reprint your entry should we decide to reuse it in the future. TIAH only maintains full copyright over material it has originated that has been used by contestants in writing their own entries. And, another cool thing - Let us know where you are on Frappr!

January 24th, 2006

in 793 AUC, Caligula, who had briefly served as Rome’s emperor before a brain fever drove him mad, dies under the care of doctors in Rome. Hard as it was for Romans to depose an emperor, Caligula was clearly in no condition to continue to server Rome as its leader. Rumors that he even began speaking to his horse were never confirmed, but were not doubted.

in 1184, after a year on deserted Bermuda, Mikhail von Heflin and Velma Porter decide that they've had enough of a vacation, and strike out for the North American coast in one of the boats they have constructed. While en route, they encounter another rift in time/space. They don't try to evade it; Porter says, “I just hope it doesn't send us back to the stone age.”

in 1732, French playwright and revolutionary Pierre de Beaumarchais is born in Paris, France. He was influential in supporting both the French Revolution and the independence movement in North America that created the North American Confederation. His plays Le Barbier de Seville and Le Mariage de K’Tem’La were banned until after the revolution, since they were critical of the nobility of France.

in 1781, Canadian guerilla fighters known only as “Snow Fox and Light Foot” stage a hugely successful raid on the British garrison at Fort George in Quebec. The fort was completely destroyed, and the British abandoned the region because of the popular support for the Snow Fox.

in 1908, the Young Comrades organization begins among British Communists and quickly spreads to America. Although officially repressed by the British government, the Comrades are embraced by their comrades in America, and many leaders in the Soviet States today were Young Comrades in their boyhood.

in 1914, almost a year after vowing he would never work on it again, Franz Kafka finished his novel Amerika. Although most critics say that the beginning is a powerful tale of a European boy banished to America by scandal, the ending where the boy is turned into a sheep and eaten by coyotes in Oklahoma does tend to throw most people.

in 1943, General Friedrich von Paulus of the German Underground, commanding officer of the 6th Army, requested permission from Adolf Hitler to accept the surrender of Greater Zionist Resistance soldiers in Russia. General von Paulus had no stomach for the sort of war that the G.U. was waging, and Hitler threatened to replace him if he didn’t acquire one, saying, “The 6th Army will exterminate the Zionists down to the last man”.

in 1984, Apple Computers released the Macintosh, a personal computer with a graphical user interface, rather than the command line that most PC’s had used up to that point. This innovation, although not unique to Apple, rocketed them to the top of the computing world. By the end of the decade, they produced almost 80% of the computers used in America, and their operating system, licensed out to other computer manufacturers, today accounts for around 90% of the computing done in the world.

in 1986, Ron Hubbard, known for his rollicking western pulps in the 30’s and 40’s, and his more epic detective and western fiction afterwards, died at his home in San Francisco, California. Reverend Hubbard, who was ordained in the Church of Christ and led a huge congregation in San Francisco, always said he was unafraid to die, since that was the last promotion God could give him.

in 2005, Jeanna Best goes in to work for Austin lawyer Jack Armstrong and gets called into his office. Armstrong asks her about her illness on the previous Saturday, and she replies that it was a little 24-hour bug. She notes that he does not use the last two fingers on either hand at all, and barely contains her shudders of fear; she also notes the defense contract lying on his desk for a company called Myrmidon.

Timelines in today's post: the Roman timeline, Canadian Independence, von Heflin, the Mlosh, the GZR, and Communist America.

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! Or, here's a new one - win 5 "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenges from me, and I'll put you in the alternate history of your choice. Here's your first one - with only the info you have on me in my profile, connect your esteemed Alternate Historian to Star Trek. Place your answers in the comments! For more on 6 degrees games, click here.

The Forum lives again! My esteemed Co-Historian has brought the forum back to life, and in spite of the issues we've had with the forum in the past, we think that this time, it'll stay up!
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, the winning writers have been announced; not the ones I voted for, but you can see the one I did at http://www.marktreitel.com

Help the Alternate Historian get a better day job!
My email address for contacting me with your good news, or for more direct goodness, go to the web site and leave a comment, buy a book, or leave a Paypal donation! Remember, it's only 6 degrees of separation between you and anyone else - and thanks again!

Mecheco Massacre

ALTERNATE HISTORIAN'S NOTE: We are holding another contest! Please send us entries for an Alternate Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2006. You may send us up to three entries for the day, and we will choose the best 10 to appear on February 14th. Enter now - deadline will be February 10th! By entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on February 14th, 2006, maintain your writing in our archives, and reprint your entry should we decide to reuse it in the future. TIAH only maintains full copyright over material it has originated that has been used by contestants in writing their own entries. And, another cool thing - Let us know where you are on Frappr!

January 23rd, 2006

in 47,372 BCE, Swikolay sets sail from Australia for the southeast Asian coast. The Speaker’s great-granddaughter keeps up the spirits of her 6 companions during the voyage by regaling them with the stories she heard from Telka. By the time they land on the Asian coast, each of them is as dedicated to the Speaker’s cause as Swikolay herself.

in 1000 Post-Creation, Lucifer is cast back down from Heaven, but this time, he does not regret his actions. He frees Gabriel and Lilith, and corrupts them to hatred of the Creator. With his rage in complete control, he sets himself as a counterpoint to the Creator, and declares opposition to all that He does. Gabriel and Lilith swear to follow him, and soon other rebels join his side.

in 1183, Mikhail von Heflin and his wife, Velma Porter, sail back into the Bermuda Triangle, hoping to enter the rift that brought them to this time. Unfortunately for them, the rift has either moved or closed, and they are unable to find it. They spend hours searching, but end up back on the Bermuda shore. The Baron asks, “How long could it be before Columbus arrives?”

in 1775, with the merchants of London pleading their case, American colonists begin negotiations to end the conflict between themselves and the Crown. Although a few more years of violence follow, the deep support that the Americans have among the merchantile class brings them back to the good graces of the King. The Canadian nationalists, who lacked the desire to cultivate friendships with the merchants, had no spokesmen to plead their case before Parliament.

in 4528, artist Cheng Shifa was born in Shanghai. The great port city afforded Cheng with a great wealth of material, and became the basis of most of his vast body of work. His nearly-abstract portraits of Shanghai pulse with a love for the city that is almost palpable. His work is often cited as the reason so many people move to and write about Shanghai to this day.

in 12-2-5-0-3, Oueztecan Captain of the Empire Cotchiquetal leads his men to what he thinks is an encampment of Siksika warriors, but is actually a small settlement on the Mechecho River. After scouts inform him of the true nature of the settlement, he declares, “I don’t care if they’re the right Siksika or not, we shall attack.” The brutal slaughter of these innocents sends a shudder throughout the empire, and Captain Cotchiquetal is brought before the Emperor for trial and executed.

in 1904, the ambassadors from the Mlosh homeworld begin a tour of earth given to them by the Congress of Nations. While they are still suspicious, the C.N. wants to extend as much courtesy to these emissaries as they can; the Mlosh of earth have been very vocal in their desire to meet and welcome their long-lost brethren from the homeworld.

in 1941, Senator Charles Lindbergh, leader of the American Bund party in the United States Senate, urges his fellow citizens to ally themselves with the German Underground. Arguing that the “revitalization” they are bringing to Europe could achieve similar wonders in America, he manages to convince a majority of the Senate to urge President Landon to enter negotiations, something Landon refuses to do.

in 1973, Comrade President John Anderson announces the signing of a peace treaty between the Soviet States of America, North Chile and South Chile to end the civil war in the South American nation. Although American troops pull out, the South Chilean guerillos continue fighting in violation of the treaty, and eventually bring down the legitimate socialist government of the north.

in 1985, a constitutional amendment is put before the House of Representatives to give President Ralph Shephard the power to dismiss Congressmen who are unwilling to support his agenda. Although it seems doomed because of the number of Representatives who oppose it, a terrorist attack on the Capitol brings them in line, and the first of many amendments rolls through the House.

in 1989, Salvador Dali, surrealist painter and filmmaker, underwent an experimental procedure to cure the palsy he had suffered from since the beginning of the decade. Since he had been unable to paint, Dali felt he had nothing to lose. After the procedure, the control in his hands returned, and he was able to produce art again. Although many consider this period his least creative, his masterpiece Christ On The Operating Table was inspired by his own operation, and was finished just before Dali’s death in 1993.

in 2005, Jeanna Best and Dave Lange meet at a Save Earth safe house with a few of the SE people. “What are we supposed to do?” Lange wants to know. “Fight,” he is told. Best and Lange agree to join Save Earth and Best gives the SE group some vital information on her employer. They tell her that they will need her to keep her job there as long as she can – the intel she provides is vital to the cause.

Timelines in today's post: the Speaker, Canadian Independence, the Fall, von Heflin, the Chinese Empire, the Oueztecan timeline, the Mlosh, the GZR, the Ralph Shephard timeline, and Communist America.

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!

The Forum lives again! My esteemed Co-Historian has brought the forum back to life, and in spite of the issues we've had with the forum in the past, we think that this time, it'll stay up!
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, the winning writers have been announced; not the ones I voted for, but you can see the one I did at http://www.marktreitel.com

Help the Alternate Historian get a better day job!
My email address for contacting me with your good news, or for more direct goodness, go to the web site and leave a comment, buy a book, or leave a Paypal donation! Remember, it's only 6 degrees of separation between you and anyone else - and thanks again!

Lucifer's Rage

ALTERNATE HISTORIAN'S NOTE: We are holding another contest! Please send us entries for an Alternate Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2006. You may send us up to three entries for the day, and we will choose the best 10 to appear on February 14th. Enter now - deadline will be February 10th! By entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on February 14th, 2006, maintain your writing in our archives, and reprint your entry should we decide to reuse it in the future. TIAH only maintains full copyright over material it has originated that has been used by contestants in writing their own entries. And, another cool thing - Let us know where you are on Frappr!

January 22nd, 2006

in 1000 Post-Creation, Lucifer rages in Heaven.

in 902, with their temporary truce over, the wizards of Wales leave Rhonwen's fortress. Although she complains bitterly that they are not going to stay to help her repair the damage, she is most upset at losing the companionship of her fellow wise ones. She approaches Atticus, wizard of lightning, and broaches the possibility of a Welsh Wizard's Council.

in 1183, Velma Porter and Mikhail von Heflin, having walked many miles around the island, are convinced that they are no longer in the Bermuda of their own time period. Although immortal, they are both somewhat reluctant to just wait out the problem, and so they make the decision to build another boat and head back towards the rift they came out of.

in 1561, Sir Francis Bacon was born in London. Since he was a notable political figure, he initially hid his play-writing hobby from other nobles by using an actor named William Shakespeare as a front. After the wide-spread acceptance of his work, he came out openly and took credit for his work. This made a pauper of Shakespeare, who spent the rest of his days plotting revenge against Sir Francis.

in 1878, the anti-Mlosh terrorist known as The Lone Bomber is caught by North American Confederation officials in the Pacific Northwest. Although great care was taken in his apprehension, several officers died during the search of his house when they triggered hidden explosives. The Bomber, Theodore Morris, is convicted of a dozen murder counts and sentenced to life in prison, without possibility of parole.

in 1901, Her Holiness, Pope Victoria, died in her Scottish residence. Pope Victoria, at first a strong-willed leader of the Holy British Empire, waned in her later years after the death of her consort, Albert. Victoria wore the Shoes of the Fisherman longer than any other Pope, and during her papacy, the Empire grew to enormous heights.

in 1905, Russian communists, with the support of the communistic American government, attempt to overthrow the Russian Tsar and replace him with a socialist democratic government. Unfortunately, the Oprichnina crushed them before they could gain any popular support, and the Tsar’s suppression afterwards kept the Russian people under his yoke for decades.

in 1918, the Provincial Parliament of Manitoba, Canada, directed its film censor board to ban all dramas and allow only comedies to be shown in movie theaters. After the Great War, the town fathers decided that dramas made everyone too serious.

in 1946, the Central Intelligence Group, precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency, was established by President Truman after advisors from the Bilderberger Group and the Bavarian[REST OF POST CLASSIFIED FOR NATIONAL SECURITY REASONS]

in 1985, President Ralph Shephard begins his first full day in office. His first task is to assert control over the Congress; although members of his Constitutionalist Party form the largest bloc in both houses, they don’t command an outright majority, so he makes overtures to several Republicans who lean in his direction, convincing them to join his party.

in 2005, Jeanna Best, coming in to work a Saturday at the law firm she is employed at in Austin, Texas, notices her boss, Jack Armstrong, using the “claw”. Suddenly frightened, she tells him that she has taken ill and goes to her friend Dave Lange's apartment, where it takes a few drinks to calm her nerves. The two of them are now utterly convinced that they have stumbled onto something real – and dangerous.

Timelines in today's post: the Wizards of Wales, the Holy British Empire, the Fall, the Bacon/Shakespeare timeline, von Heflin, the GZR, the Ralph Shephard timeline, and Communist America.

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!

The Forum lives again! My esteemed Co-Historian has brought the forum back to life, and in spite of the issues we've had with the forum in the past, we think that this time, it'll stay up!
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, the winning writers have been announced; not the ones I voted for, but you can see the one I did at http://www.marktreitel.com

Help the Alternate Historian get a better day job!
My email address for contacting me with your good news, or for more direct goodness, go to the web site and leave a comment, buy a book, or leave a Paypal donation! Remember, it's only 6 degrees of separation between you and anyone else - and thanks again!

Death In The 12th Century; Ralph Shephard Sworn In

ALTERNATE HISTORIAN'S NOTE: We are holding another contest! Please send us entries for an Alternate Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2006. You may send us up to three entries for the day, and we will choose the best 10 to appear on February 14th. Enter now - deadline will be February 10th! By entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on February 14th, 2006, maintain your writing in our archives, and reprint your entry should we decide to reuse it in the future. TIAH only maintains full copyright over material it has originated that has been used by contestants in writing their own entries. And, another cool thing - Let us know where you are on Frappr!

January 21st, 2006

in 1000 Post-Creation, Gabriel takes the human woman Eve again, and one of his female angelic cohort, Lilith, takes the male, Adam. The Creator sends His arch-angel Michael down to them to punish this further transgression, and Michael casts Gabriel and Lilith down to the Abyss. Lucifer, angered at their willful disregard for his sacrifice, leaves the Abyss and, with all the might he has been given by Yahweh, seals the opening to the lake of fire, trapping Gabriel and Lilith there.

in 902, Lebuin's Christian forces, now down to less than a hundred, break down the defenses of Rhonwen's fortress by the sea and storm into the castle. Their numbers are further reduced by deadly traps inside the fortress that have been devised by the wizards of Wales, and the pitiful handful that manage to stumble out of the keep alive are driven off by the combined forces of Merlin's dragon and Atticus' golem. Lebuin vows to return with a stronger force and destroy the wizards.

in 1077, the Tuscan Bishop Hildebrand begged forgiveness of Pope William I for his heresy in challenging the Pope’s directive that all clergy in the Holy British Empire should be approved by him. Bishop Hildebrand continued to defy Pope William, even declaring himself the Pope once, until His Holiness had him arrested and executed by the Papal Guard.

in 1183, Velma Porter and Mikhail von Heflin emerge from the swirling rip in the time/space continuum of the coast of Bermuda. They manage to swim to the shore, but both quickly realize that they are no longer in 2008. “That's the last time I let you plan our vacation,” Porter tells von Heflin. They begin walking inland from the coast to see if there is any civilization on the island.

in 1862, British police arrest a man in Marbury for trafficking in explosives illegally. During interrogation, it is revealed that he is the source for most of the conventional explosives that have been used by the Human League. This is both good news and bad news for the British authorities; the good news is that they have cut off that supply of explosives to the terrorists. The bad news is that they move up to more powerful weapons from there.

in 1926, strongman and actor Steve Reeves was born on his family’s farm in Montana. After gaining popularity in Italian films playing Hercules, he made a move to more sophisticated roles as the spy James Bond in Dr. No. He retired from the role after 4 feature films and from acting in general afterwards, occasionally making cameo appearances in television and film in the 70’s and 80’s. After spending the 90’s raising horses and promoting drug-free body-building, he returned for one last role as a gladiatorial mentor in the Ridley Scott film Gladiator. He died the day the film premiered in 2000.

in 1969, Astrid Pflaume gave her first report about her operation to the neo-Nazis financing her. Although she had only been gone 4 days by their time, she has been in the field for 5 years. She is surly during the debriefing, more to used to giving commands now than obeying them. Wilhelm Schoemann begins to suspect that her heart is no longer on their side.

in 1985, conservative activist Ralph Shephard begins his first term of office. He had delayed his swearing in until the 21st because he refused to conduct state business on a Sunday. In his inaugural speech, he promised to end the dishonor that had gripped the nation since the loss of the Vietnam War, declaring, “A year of great decisions is approaching. A historical task of unique dimensions has been entrusted to us by the Creator which we are obliged to carry out.”

in 2001, the breakaway soviets of the northwest, the People’s Republic of America, invade the California Soviet and occupy San Francisco. They hold the northern portion of the soviet until the Soviet States of America cut them off by invading Washington Soviet, forcing the P.R.A. to withdraw their troops in order to defend their own territory.

in 2004, the Soviet Union’s Martian colony is hit by a gigantic sandstorm. Their underground facility is saved, but the above-ground facility is totaled. They are forced to request aid from the American and European colonies, who escaped the worst of the storm. The destruction of the facility marks the end to an era – it had stood since the Soviet Union had first landed on Mars in 1975.

in 2005, Jeanna Best and Dave Lange, after a couple of days of observing people's use of their hands, get together at his apartment and compare notes. They have both become decidedly paranoid, because they have actually witnessed the “claw-like” behavior that they had been warned about in the Save Earth meeting. Best plaintively asks, “What's going on?”

Timelines in today's post: the Wizards of Wales, the Holy British Empire, the Fall, von Heflin, the GZR, the Ralph Shephard timeline, and Communist America.

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!

The Forum lives again! My esteemed Co-Historian has brought the forum back to life, and in spite of the issues we've had with the forum in the past, we think that this time, it'll stay up!
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, the winning writers have been announced; not the ones I voted for, but you can see the one I did at http://www.marktreitel.com

Help the Alternate Historian get a better day job!
My email address for contacting me with your good news, or for more direct goodness, go to the web site and leave a comment, buy a book, or leave a Paypal donation! Remember, it's only 6 degrees of separation between you and anyone else - and thanks again!

The Himalayan Gathering; Wannsee

ALTERNATE HISTORIAN'S NOTE: We are holding another contest! Please send us entries for an Alternate Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2006. You may send us up to three entries for the day, and we will choose the best 10 to appear on February 14th. Enter now - deadline will be February 10th! By entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on February 14th, 2006, maintain your writing in our archives, and reprint your entry should we decide to reuse it in the future. TIAH only maintains full copyright over material it has originated that has been used by contestants in writing their own entries. And, another cool thing - Let us know where you are on Frappr!

January 20th, 2006

in 1000 Post-Creation, Ariel visits Lucifer in the Abyss, and asks to speak on his behalf before the Creator. Ariel wishes to end all the conflict that is building between the rebellious angels and the Creator, and feels that Lucifer is best equipped to lead the rebellious ones back to the graces of Yahweh. Lucifer, though tormented by the lake of fire, tells Ariel that he will serve this punishment for as long as Yahweh wills him to. Ariel leaves, his hopes for the future dashed.

in 902, the Christian zealot Lebuin attacks the fortress of Rhonwen, mistress of the sea, with a force of over three hundred men. He had meant to have a thousand, but his men had been slowly decimated by harassments the wizards had placed along his path, and now he was left with only those who had survived and had no fear of the wizards of Wales.

in 1791, descendants of the Speaker’s Line gather in the Himalayas to discuss the recent advances in balloon travel. The Himalayan Gathering produces the first documented evidence of the Speaker’s Line, as they wrote out a manifesto, of which only three copies survive; the manifesto details their plan to utilize their vast network to encourage governments to develop air travel over the next century.

in 4557, Li-Chen Guan is born in Nanking Province. The second man on the moon was perpetually in the shadow of the first, but he was an important figure in the Star Sailor program throughout his life; he directed the program that eventually made contact with the Chdo Democracy.

in 1925, James “Pa” Ferguson was inaugurated as the first male governor of the state of Texas in its history. He was mainly a figurehead for his wife, Miriam Ferguson, who had been driven from the office by scandal after scandal. He served one term before being defeated, and accomplished nothing of importance.

in 1936, Pope George V, ailing and not long for this world, was killed by his personal physician in order to make room for a successor. The fact that Pope Edward VIII had arranged for his father’s death did not surface until the doctor, laden with guilt, published a memoir in the 1970’s, detailing the cruelty of young Edward and his callous disregard for the traditions of the Holy British Empire.

in 1942, German Underground officials gather in Wannsee, a small suburb of Berlin, to discuss their plans for the coming domination of Europe. It is here that Adolf Hitler and Reinhard Heydrich inform the leaders of the G.U. that they plan to exterminate the Greater Zionist Resistance utterly, and non-Aryans with them. Although some are secretly appalled at this plan, none dare speak against it; Hitler’s enemies in the G.U. had a habit of “disappearing”.

in 1960, Roboticist Will Wright was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Born into wealth, Wright spent most of his young adulthood satisfying a boundless curiosity about how things work – and making strange creations to illustrate his thoughts. His bizarre but beautiful robots single-handedly turned to field of home robotics into the multi-billion dollar industry it is today.

in 1961, Comrade President Joel Rosenberg is inaugurated into his second term as President of the Soviet States of America. The day shines with promise as Comrade Robert Frost recites a poem for the occasion and Comrade Rosenberg gives a speech outlining a heady agenda for his coming administration. Sadly, it all comes to an end with his assassination the following November.

in 1964, international superstar Pete Best releases his first LP album, Pleased to meet you, I’m Pete. The album goes multi-platinum within a couple of months of release and launches Best on a world tour to promote it.

in 1981, the Iranian Hostage Crisis ended as Ronald Reagan’s successor was sworn into office. True to their word at last, the Iranians released the embassy personnel they had been holding for over a year once Edward Kennedy was sworn in as President of the United States. To thumb his nose at the Iranians, Kennedy lent Ronald Reagan Air Force One to fly overseas and retrieve the hostages.

in 2005, after gathering a few Ingredients surreptitiously, Chelsea Perkins, Alma May Watson and Geraldine McRae perform a small spell to let the Council of Wisdom know where they are. Within a few hours, a car pulls into the small village and McRae tells them all to hop in. Just as her father's car had driven into a tunnel and appeared on the other side of North America, this car drives into a tunnel and appears at the Council's headquarters. The three of them give a report to the Council, which feels that Elsbeth Danwich might possibly have been vanquished for good.

in 2008, in a boat laden with scuba gear, Velma Porter and Mikhail von Heflin head towards the distortion in the time-space continuum that both of them can feel off the coast of Bermuda. “Some vacation,” Porter says to her husband. Just before they reach the distortion, they don the scuba gear and dive into the water. They are quickly sucked into the rift and disappear from the ocean.

Timelines in today's post: the Wizards of Wales, the Chinese Empire, the Holy British Empire, the Fall, von Heflin, the GZR, Pete Best, the Chelsea Perkins timeline. and Communist America.

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!

The Forum lives again! My esteemed Co-Historian has brought the forum back to life, and in spite of the issues we've had with the forum in the past, we think that this time, it'll stay up!
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, the winning writers have been announced; not the ones I voted for, but you can see the one I did at http://www.marktreitel.com

Help the Alternate Historian get a better day job!
My email address for contacting me with your good news, or for more direct goodness, go to the web site and leave a comment, buy a book, or leave a Paypal donation! Remember, it's only 6 degrees of separation between you and anyone else - and thanks again!