Monday, April 17, 2006

Franklin Dies In Exile

ALTERNATE HISTORIAN'S NOTE: we have our second anniversary coming up on May 27th, and we would like to have another contest. For our second anniversary, send us up to three of your own alternate histories, and we will publish the best - no limit on how many will end up on the final page! We would like to see as many of you enter this as possible, so please - think 'em up, write 'em down, and send 'em on to us at rat4cat@gmail.com! Help us celebrate our 2nd year of existence in style!

April 17th, 2006

in 1534, prior to his summary execution for disloyalty, Sir Thomas More was confined to the Tower of London by Pope Henry VIII. Although More had proven himself a valuable propagandist against the few remaining Yorkists in the Holy British Empire, Pope Henry thought him too capable a man to be left alive.

in 1790, American exile Benjamin Franklin dies in Montreal. Although he had been active in the Canadian Independence movement and had helped with the final negotiations in that war, his heart was with his native America, and he wanted his body to rest in his home colony of Pennsylvania. Although it took many years, his family were finally able to bring him home to rest in American soil.

in 1810, Lewis Norton of Troy, Pennsylvania created one of America’s greatest contributions to world cuisine with his Pineapple Cheese. This artfull blending of fruit and dairy was considered sublime perfection in the kitchens of fine European restaurants, and helped America break into the top ranks of culinary recognition.

in 1915, the Harlequin, captained by Congress of Nations officer Captain Michael Smith, arrives at the C.N. base on Pluto with his “cargo” of Q'Barian refugees. He immediately reports everything he has found out to the base commander, and is then ordered to take the Q'Barian doctor, Ch'Kel'Mlar, to earth so that he may speak to the main C.N. body about the Kainku.

in 1952, outside of Cairo, Mikhail von Heflin draws on extra-dimensional forces and heals the leg of his lover, Velma Porter. Her new foot seems to work just as well as her old one, and she is grateful to have the use of it back. She keeps the peg leg she had made, just in case.

in 4656, one of the more remote areas of the Chinese Empire, the Samoan Islands, institutes a democratic council for the first time in its history. Following the example laid out by the new elected emperor, they elect a governing Council, which then elects a Governor. Representatives of the Chdo Democracy, the alien civilization responsible for the democratization process, are pleased to observe the elections and pronounce them a success.

in 1961, anti-Castro Cubans land at the Bay of Pigs with support from the American Navy and Air Force. They press halfway across the island before encountering heavy resistance from Cuba’s military, and then the fighting is mainly left to America soldiers. This prompts Cuba’s Fidel Castro to call for help from the Soviet Union, and the world is forced to the brink of nuclear war before President Richard Nixon orders his people to withdraw from Cuban territory.

in 1969, Enrique Soledad, El Salvador’s President and Communist Party Chairman, is forced to resign under American pressure. Soledad had spearheaded the reforms known as the Salvadoran Spring, an attempt to mix communism with some free-market practices. When the population of the small nation appeared ready to throw out their socialist roots, the Soviet States of America stepped in to bring them back into the fold.

in 1997, British Brigadier General Lewis Meriweather seizes 4 nuclear missiles that Egyptian troops had been transporting to the American coast. Since the invasion of Constitutionalist America by allied forces, the Egyptians had been seeking nuclear technology and the British had been attempting to keep it from them. Meriweather likened it to “fighting your friends as much as your enemies.”

in 2005, Chelsea Perkins is told by her teacher, Debra Morris, that they will have a break of a few weeks from study, so that Miss Perkins' work can be evaluated by the Council of Wisdom. Chelsea asks if she can visit her mother, but Miss Morris says, “Oh, my heavens, no. She'll call the FBI to keep you from leaving.” Although Chelsea appears to accept this decision, she has other plans in mind.

Timelines in today's post: the Holy British Empire, Canadian Independence, the Mlosh, the Chinese Empire, von Heflin, Communist America, the Chelsea Perkins timeline and the Ralph Shephard timeline

Today's "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenge: Connect the 1983 mini-series Kennedy 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!


And, another cool thing - Let us know where you are on Frappr!


The Forum lives again!


Buy my stuff at Lulu!
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!









You can also visit the Co-Historian's store -
Support This SiteCatScratches Art Store

5 comments:

Edward Ott said...

I find myself reading through everything trying to get a better grip on the alternate time line you have created. just great franklin dies in exile really got me. as he is my favorite founding father.

Salam

Anonymous said...

Martin Sheen (Jack Kennedy, now and forever) was in the Deadlands-tastic movie "The Killing Box" with Corbin Bernsen...

... who was Q2 in "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

- Sean Demory

Anonymous said...

Sean Demory, you have just made my day. Finally, a Deadlands style movie! Now, if only I can find something with more 'Hallowed', hucksters, and ghostrock steampunk, I will be most

Anonymous said...

Happy. Sorry, didn't re-read.

B. said...

re: "in 1810, Lewis Norton..."

The word "afterful" doesn't scan with me. What did you mean by it?

TIAH Editor says we'd like to move you off the blog, if you're browsing the archives - and most people are - more than half of them are already on the new site. We need to be sure the new web site accomodates your archive browsing needs because we don't want to lose any readers. Please supply any feedback or comments by email to the Editor and please note the blogger site is shutting on December 1st.