Lucifer Bound; Death In London

ALTERNATE HISTORIAN'S NOTE: Please send us entries for our next contest, which will be an Alternate April Fool's Day, April 1st, 2006. Just send us the entries for now - we'll decide on a deadline later. (Contest rules) And, another cool thing - Let us know where you are on Frappr!

February 16th, 2006

in 1123 Post-Creation, Lucifer tries to bring Achazia down to Eden to show her the loss of control among the angels and partial-angels, but she refuses to leave Heaven. He sees that she is reluctant to leave because of the power she now wields in Heaven, and regrets his own long exile. “It seems that you have bought with honeyed words what all my warfare could not,” he says to her, and she smiles as her band of angels lays hold of him and locks him into a tower.

in 301, Abu Dja'far Mohammed Djarir al-Tabari, historian of the early days of Islam, is called to the embrace of Allah at the age of 83. His powerful stories of Mohammed and the first faithful are credited with converting most of the pagan lands surrounding the holy land, and giving Islam its first great writer.

in 1000, millenialists capture the Vatican in Rome and assassinate Pope Silvester II. Their leader, Budo de Stella, crowns himself Pope and decrees that all who oppose him oppose Christ; he claims to be the risen savior. Over the next three decades, the Catholic Church is wracked by religious war as the millenialists fight those who consider de Stella the Anti-Christ.

in 1600, Giordano Bruno was released from the Inquisition’s custody after a long discussion with the Pope. Bruno’s work flirted with an almost atheistic view of the universe. Pope Clement VIII met with a mysterious end after this meeting, and Bruno fled Europe for the Americas to escape the reach of the Inquisition.

in 1778, John Adams leaves America behind forever and sails to France to appeal for their aid to the cause of Canadian independence. He never sets foot on his native soil again, although the cause he has pledged himself to, the freedom of Canada, does succeed.

in 1804, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur of the U.S. Navy attempts to convince his superiors that his daring plan to destroy the frigate Philadelphia being held by Tripolitanians will succeed. Although none of them doubt his courage, they do doubt the wisdom of his plan, and order him not to proceed. The Tripolitanians add the Philadelphia to their navy, but it is sunk in an engagement with American ships in 1805.

in 1904, a Q’Bar ship meets a prison ship from the Congress of Nations carrying the Q’Bar held prisoner by the C.N. After a tense docking, the Mlosh and humans aboard the Q’Bar ship head onto the C.N. ship while the Q’Bar rejoin their people. No apparently hostile moves are made by either side, and the exchange concludes peacefully.

in 1918, Velma Porter and Mikhail von Heflin disembark in London. It has been some time since the Baron has been in London, and he wishes they had been thrown back just a few years later, so that he could be sure that his friend had a telephone. Trusting to his memory, he flags down a cabbie, and the couple climb aboard, but the driver refuses to carry Porter. After a few threatening words from von Heflin, the driver thinks better of his position, and goes speeding off to the center of London.

in 1953, U.S. President Strom Thurmond declares the Eurasion Union is merely “a weapon of aggressive war” for the New Reich. It is hard to disagree with, and Fuehrer Adolf Hitler of the New Reich shoots back, “Of course it is a weapon. Our people face many obstacles in the world, and obstacles do not exist to be surrendered to, but only to be broken.”

in 2003, Washington soviet surrenders to the Soviet States of America, leaving Idaho as the sole remaining remnant of the People’s Republic of America. In desperation, the soviet’s leaders attempt to reconvene the peace talks with Washington, D.C., but they are rebuffed since the S.S.A. feels that victory is imminent.

in 2005, “Mike and Edna Beauregard”, (just-married Dave and Jeanne Lange), on their first day of business running a gun shop in Tucson, Arizona, are confronted by a police officer. They note that the officer, Patrolman Daniel Evans, seems to have some trouble using two fingers on each hand, and they let their fellow Save Earthers know about this officer.

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

Today's "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenge: Connect 1776 to Star Trek. Place your answers in the comments and see the Forum for previous results. For more on 6 degrees games, click here.

Get yourself into TIAH!

The Forum lives again!

Good long fiction from the AH.

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!