Carl Sagan

The state of TIAH

December 20th, 2006

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Alternate Historian's Note: Stephen Payne provides the alternate history, (although we have a post for Carl Sagan in tribute of the 20th anniversary of his passing), as we continue the second half of our NaNoWriMo novel. We hope you are enjoying this change in format – let us know how you feel about it in comments or by emailing us. This will be the format of TIAH throughout the holiday season, unless we receive a great outcry about it. Speaking of the Holiday Season, keep in mind those who need help year-round and keep yourselves safe and happy, as well. And, should you feel generous inclinations towards our guest historians, you can visit the sites of those who have separate ones from TIAH; generosity towards us here at the Academy is always appreciated, too, and you can find ways to help us out all over the site. Right now, we'd appreciate a lead on a good day job, but my lovely Co-Historian could also use some more memory on her PC, if anyone feels generously inclined. (It's PC133-style – yes, it's an old machine). Any good wishes you have towards us can be emailed here.

in 1989, the United States send troops into Central America. On the pretext of overthrowing the government of Manuel Noriega, they recover Extraterrestrial Technology (ET) buried in Panama. Like Iraq a year later, former CIA Director George Bush had developed a long-term plan for harnessing ET since his access to Project Blue Book in the mid-70s, but needed the Presidency to make it happen. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1990, the Kuwaiti Oil Tanker fleet transports the alien seaborne creatures into the English Channel. Made possible by the Iraqi occupation, they had been transported across land in Kuwait and secreted into the tankers for their invasion of Great Britain. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1996, NeXT merges with Apple Computer, starting the path to Mac OS X which is used on 98% of personal computers today. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1996, award-winning scientist and celebrity Carl Sagan undergoes the last treatment to remove the bone cancer he had been plagued by for 2 years. The cure for cancer was developed, appropriately enough, by a young doctor who had been inspired to go into science by Dr. Sagan's Cosmos book and series. 4 years after this, of course, Dr. Sagan became National Science Advisor to President Al Gore, and was instrumental in crafting the international treaty that halted the global warming epidemic, as well as the ground-breaking Universal Treaty for the Exploration of Space. Although he has no political ambition, Democrats in New York state have urged the governor to appoint the good doctor as the state's junior senator should Hillary Clinton win the right to succeed President Gore in the Oval Office, due to his immense personal popularity.

After(cont.)
“Too bad we can't draw that much out of an ATM machine,” Janice said. “We could use some fundage.”
“Have you thought about just reporting in, givin' 'em what they want, and then seeing if they'll let you go?” Steph wanted to find a reasonable way out of all this.
“You wouldn't be thinking that if you'd seen little Miss Raintree.” Janice shuddered. “Man. I'm gonna have nightmares over that one.”
“We could report in and see if they try to detain us,” Kevin said. “I mean, there weren't that many people in the armory when I went there. More than likely, everybody's out enforcing martial law. We zip in, we report what we found in Waco – except for you, Miss Carbonari,” he said, after seeing Janice straighten up to protest. “Then, I say, see you later, gotta report back to my unit in Bryan.”
“What about me?” Jake looked over at Kevin. “I'm at my unit. I ain't got 3 million bucks to grease my way out. They tell me I gotta stay, I'm stuck there.”
“We could... we could... we could say you got picked up by a unit from Dallas that needed additional manpower!” Kevin was proud of this scheme. “Yeah, we ran into another unit that was going through Waco, they needed a good sergeant right away, they took you. Paperwork'll be down in a few days.”
Jake looked at him much like he would look at a piece of gum on the bottom of his shoe. “You don't tell too many lies, do you, Bradley? Cuz that one sucks. Nobody gets transferred without the paperwork.”
“This is an emergency.”
“Army won't care.”
“It could buy us some time, at least, Jake,” Janice said. “I think it's pretty stupid, too,” she said, prompting Kevin to pout at her, “but it'll cause enough confusion to give us a day or two. That's all the time I need to work my contacts and get the word out to the world.”
“And then, what?” Kevin had raised his voice a bit, embarrassing himself. He lowered it and kept talking. “What happens when a lot of people know? Whoever's responsible for this just folds up shop, says 'you got me', and lets us get back to regular life? You liberal nutjobs, you all live in your own little fantasy world - “ All three of them shouted at him, and he was about to raise his voice to reply when Joan and George walked back into the dining room.
Steph ran over to her children and told them, “Don't worry now, the discussion just got a little exciting.” She looked disapprovingly at Kevin, and his face burned with shame.
“I'm sorry, Steph. Kids, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have raised my voice like that.” He turned to Jake and Janice, and apologized to them, too. “This has all just been...” He couldn't think of anything to finish out his thoughts, and they both nodded.
“Hey,” Janice said, brightly, “I'm just surprised I've only seen one dead body in all this. People like me, we've been expecting a blood bath with the coup.”

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