Rescued by the Master

Peter Mandelson	In 2001, Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Mandelson was confirmed in his position by British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Members of the inner circle had doubt whether Mr Blair would succeed in rescuing his familiar. An unknown source reported that Mandelson had his own fears – being hung upside down by his master in a gesture as old as Macedonia. At the very least the Prince of Darkness had feared a second resignation from the cabinet over a row concerning a passport application from an Indian billionaire.
Prince of Darkness

It is the second time Mr Mandelson was under pressure to leave the cabinet in disgrace since Labour came to power in 1997. Mr Mandelson, a close confidant and friend of the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said he did not accept he had acted "improperly in any way" over the passport affair. Mr Mandelson had come under increasing pressure over the issue since the weekend. He strongly denied claims he pulled strings to help Srichand Hinduja secure a UK passport in return for a £1 million sponsorship deal for the Millennium Dome while Mr Mandelson was in charge of that project. The Hinduja family is one of the most influential in the world and runs the transnational Hinduja group, a company with assets amounting to around $8 billion. Since 1990 Srichand Hinduja and his brothers Gopichand and Prakash have been defending themselves against criminal allegations in a long-running corruption case involving an arms deal between Swiss company Bofors and the Indian government. Srichand Hinduja, who with his brother Gopichand has lived in London since 1979, had his first application for UK citizenship refused in 1990. Just after paying the sponsorship money, he asked Mr Mandelson whether he could apply again. The passport was granted soon afterwards. Earlier on the same day, Mr Blair had summoned him to Downing Street to 'establish the facts' of his involvement. The next day, Minister for Europe Keith Vaz also became embroiled in the affair after it was revealed he had written to both the prime minister and Mr Mandelson about the Hinduja brothers in 1997. In March 2001, an inquiry, led by Treasury solicitor Sir Anthony Hammond QC, cleared Mr Mandelson and placed the full responsibility for wrongdoing on Mr Vaz. It was a textbook case study in the highest standards of integrity in public office, a key pledge from Tony Blair when he assumed office in 2007. Vaz felt somewhat differently, describing the events through a different perspective in his political biography 'Thrown to the Wolves'.

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	In 1966, the lives of 117 people were placed in jeopardy after an Air India Boeing 707 nearly crashed near the summit of Mont Blanc in the Alps. The plane was on a regular Bombay to New York flight when the accident happened at around 0800 local time. All 106 passengers and 11 crew landed safety at Geneva airport in Switzerland. Fortunately, a Brahmacharya soul deep was amongst the passengers. Exercising 'control of the senses in thought, word and deed' the brahmacari shaped time and space to avert Moksha.
Mont Blanc

One of the passengers included chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha, who was on his way to Vienna. The remaining passengers were Indian nationals, 46 of whom were sailors. Six were British. Dr Bhabha, described as a man 'who simply must not die' subsequently negotiated a nuclear free agreement for the subcontinent. Gerard Devoussoux, a mountain guide who witnessed the scene, said: 'Another 15 metres (50ft) and the plane would have hit the rock. It would have made a huge crater in the mountain'. Robert Bruce, from Tooting, who was waiting for his parents to arrive, said: 'I am so choked I cannot even cry. I will just go home with my parents and collapse. 'As far as I am concerned my world has been saved.'

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In 1965, Winston Spencer Churchill died in his Falklands stronghold, buried under a boulder inscribed, 'Founding Father of the movement to uproot Nazidom from the world.' His mission is unfulfilled at the time of writing.

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In 1945, after joking 'I drink and smoke and I am 200% fit' Winston Spencer Churchill died months before the end of World War 2, forcing the hopelessly unprepared Deputy Prime Minister Clement Attlee into office. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had stopped smoking when he reached the Presidency, said that a similiar disaster in America would have had deeply profound consequences for the post-world war, a disguised reference to the Bomb.

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In 1924, following a series of strokes Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Bolshevik Party, and father of the revolution is forced to shape change, fleeing his cadaver to occupy the body of the rude Georgian Joseph Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili. Through the cult of the personality, Stalin as he Vladimir Lenin is known is able to dilineate an uninterrupted rulership as General Secretary, which is very much the case given the continuity of the demon in the two bodies. He leaves the cadaver of Lenin on display, embalmed at a mausoleum in the Kremlin in case he ever needs to make a Dracula-style exit from Russia in the future.

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In 1994, the Ames dossier demonstrated incontrovertible evidence of the CIA's role in the multiple Lee Harvey Oswald diversionary ploy. And some complementary words for the case file officer, George H.W. Bush.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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In 1986, Trade and Industry Secretary Leon Brittan became the second cabinet minister to resign over the Westland affair. Before the year was out, Mrs Thatcher would be the victim of a 'political' assassination, replaced by the more moderate Michael Heseltine.

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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.

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In 1971, British industrialist Frank Spencer and his wife Betty faced the cameras after mechanical failures onboard the British spacecraft Marie Celeste had been traced to his Factory. Spencer was asked to comment on the European Space Agencies' self-inflicted wound. The British really would have to do something about this quality control problem for next time, they had said.

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Double Post - May 10-11

The state of TIAH

Today In Alternate History

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Alternate Historian's Note: Thanks to the unplanned outage yesterday, we have a double post today to catch up. And remember - in 16 days, we'll hit TIAH's third anniversary. As before, that calls for a contest! Please send in your alternate versions of the Academy's beginnings (May 27th, 2004 was the date in this timeline). You can even use the fact that we lost the original day and had to restart on the 28th – whatever you can think of to provide a twist to our start. Send 'em in, and we'll print 'em! Be sure to tell us how you want your credit for the post to appear, as well as any links you want to be connected with your entry. Thanks for reading and get researching those alternate timelines!

May 10th, 2007

in 1891, as news of the successful Union attack on the Kansas ammunition dump is blazoned across the nation's newspapers, President Benjamin Harrison takes the opportunity to call for a draft to supplement the military. “Our nation has a grave need of you all in this time of trouble,” he says in the declaration. “Just as in our great civil war, those of us who know the righteousness of our cause must stand in the heat of battle for our nation. I call upon the Congress to enact this legislation quickly, so that Kansas may, once again, be brought into the brotherhood of states.” Congressional leaders take up debate on the draft bill that very day.

in 1999, as King Arthur II reaches his bedside, Prime Minister Merl Myrddin wakes from his coma and smiles at his younger friend. “Today, I feel that you will pass beyond my teachings, Arthur,” Myrddin says to his king. “But, before I leave you to fly with your own wings, I must tell you – there is a traitor in your house.” Arthur, who had been growing suspicious of Queen Gwen, merely nods and says, “I know, old friend. Do not spend your strength on her; that matter will be taken care of.”

In 1997, software engineers from Sun Microsystems arrive at the hospital and release author Neal Stephenson from catatonia. He had been trapped in the Black Sun, a software construct in cyberspace. Stephenson explains to Snow Crash movie Director Marco Brambilla that later editions of the novel described Blaxxun, originally Black Sun prior to his being sued by Sun Microsystems. The basis of the novel was on fact, and he was very grateful to the Corporation for expediting his release.

~ variant from Steve Payne: extensive use of original content has been made to celebrate the author's genius.

In 1999, the sound of Mr Gray's vehicle diminished into the west. The author Stephen King emerged from the trees where he had been hiding. Screaming actually. Mr Gray was not death, but worse than death.

~ variant from Steve Payne: extensive use of original content has been made to celebrate the author's genius.

Bertram Ramsay	In 1947, the Tydings Committee proceeded with the interview of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay who commanded the 6,900 vessels involved in the D-Day ..
.. invasion including the 4,100 landing craft. As Vice-Admiral Dover he was responsible for the Dunkirk evacuation. He was active in planning Operation Sledgehammer and was subsequently given the planning role for the naval landings of Operation Torch in North Africa. He played a major part in planning the D-day invasion, particularly the naval landings of Operation Neptune and led the naval forces in the battle.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1989, in Great Britain the public backlash at the death of Blair Peach shocks the British Royal household. The ranks of protesters with the Goddess of Democracy in Hyde Park are swelled considerably.	More violence
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Udham Singh	In 1998, Jack Higgins published sequel Lion has Flown to his famous pseudo-factual novel the Lion has Landed. As an increasingly isolated and insane Churchill pursues his hopeless war, betrayal and treachery reach the highest levels of the British Raj. British intelligence knows that Punjabi freedom fighter ..
.. Udham Singh survived "Operation Eagle", the bungled assassination attempt on Winston Churchill, and is now a POW somewhere in London. The Indian Congress wants him back -- at any cost -- and puts their top espionage agents in charge of the perilous rescue mission. Racing from the nightclubs of Delhi to Churchill's opulent country retreat to the damp streets of London, Nehru's men get closer to their target -- and to the shattering true objective of their mission....Critics ridiculed the basis of the novel that the British were able to defend the Raj from Japanese invasion.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1865, the trial against the Lincoln conspirators begins. The Union had been in chaos ..	Abe Assassinated..
.. since John Wilkes Booth, George Atzerodt and Lewis Thornton Powell assassinated the United States President, Vice-President and Secretary of State being Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson and William H. Seward respectively. A lifeline was thrown to General Robert E. Lee called the Confederacy's Last Chance. He took it.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

May 11th, 2007

in 1891, in a whirlwind of activity, the US Congress passes a bill authorizing a military draft and sends it to President Benjamin Harrison for his signature. “This is the sort of speed that is necessary when the nation stands at peril,” President Harrison says at the signing. “I have high hopes that my friends in the legislature will not grow lethargic and feel that their work is done, now. In addition to providing troops for the coming battle, we must fund and supply them. I would ask them to please work as quickly on these other matters as they have on the draft.” The Democratic leaders of Congress, nominally Harrison's political enemies, are temporarily defanged by the need to unity at this time, and feel obligated to take up more legislation to fund a war that many privately consider to be Harrison's fault.

in 1999, Prime Minister Merl Myrddin dies in his London hospital, and King Arthur II appoints one of his old Welsh comrades, Kay Ector, as the next Prime Minister, and tells him, “You follow a giant. But, I have faith that, standing upon his shoulders, you will seem taller still.” Prime Minister Ector makes immediate contact with the British allies from across the globe and lets them know that Britain's fortunes may have taken a temporary dip, but are rebounding back quickly. On the Swiss front, Sir Lance du Lac's forces approach within sight of Bern. Emperor Pierre flees the city and finds himself cut off from the Illuminati's resources – his old allies have apparently lost faith in his abilities. His greatest spy, in the meantime, is taken into custody in Wales. Queen Gwen, her head held high, is jailed for treason against the realm.

In 2367, on the planet Bezer'ej Royal Marines of the Federal European Union have taken the most extreme measures possible to prevent the immortality parasite falling into the hands of World governments. A cobalt-salted nuclear warhead has genocided the indigenes of the planet. Trouble is, the world is considered a protectorate by the wess'har and that outrage must be redressed.

~ variant from Steve Payne: extensive use of original content has been made to celebrate the author's genius.

In 1999, still shaking the author arrived home in Center Lovell. As he entered the key in the lock, the door swung open. “Good afternoon Mr King,” said Mr Gray. Stephen King screamed. He was still screaming an hour later when another vehicle arrived. The trademark waa-waa of the Maine state troopers' siren drowned out the scream, briefly.

~ variant from Steve Payne: extensive use of original content has been made to celebrate the author's genius.

Bertram Ramsay	In 1947, the Tydings Committee proceeded with the interview of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay who commanded the 6,900 vessels involved in the D-Day ..
.. invasion. Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy of Wisconsin asked a series of penetrating questions. As a starter, where did Ramsay believe the 4,100 landing craft were right now? Ramsay repeated the orthodox wisdom - 'Caves of Ice'. The room took several minutes to settle down as an uproar broke out. What could this mysterious transmission possibly mean?
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1989, in London Security Forces including the Army moved in on Hyde Park in an attempt to breakup the protesters around the Goddess of Democracy. A sign of the resistance movement was the unknown rebel who stands calmly in front of an oncoming tank. Morale in the Security Forces is now a concern to the British Royal household. ..	Unknown rebel
.. They could neither confirm nor deny the arrest of the unknown rebel.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Nicholas Assass..	In 1891, today marked the anniversary of the Otsu Scandal. This was of course the assassination of Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovitch on 11 May 1891, while Nicholas was visiting Japan. Nicholas was returning to Kyoto after a day trip to Lake Biwa in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture. He was attacked by Tsuda Sanzo, one his escort policemen, ..
.. who swung at the Tsarevich's face with a sabre. The quick action of his cousin, Prince George of Greece and Denmark, who parried the second blow with his cane, might have saved his life. Tsuda then attempted to flee, but two rickshaw drivers in Nicholas's entourage chased him down and pulled him to the ground. Nicholas was left with a 9 centimetre long scar on the right side of his forehead, which doctors were unable to close and he bled to death shortly afterwards at the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The weakening of the Romanovs at this critical juncture actually extended their longevity. Concessions in the 1905 revolution led to the opening of the Duma and the blossoming of a constitutional monarchy and democratic system of government in all the Russias. Western Europe set about a containment strategy desperate to prevent any form of republicanism entering the capitals of London, Paris, Vienna and Berlin.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1949, Palestine joined the United Nations. Palestine has a vibrant cultural life and a technologically and industrially advanced economy. Palestine was ranked 23rd out of 177 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index, the highest ranking in the Middle East and 3rd highest in all of Asia.	Commemorative S..
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

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