Bright New Day In Italy; Civil War In Greece

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December 3rd, 2005

in 1469, Piero de Medici, vampire lord of Florence, was staked by Venetian vampire hunters Luciano Roma and Giuseppe Scamardo. His long, undead reign of the city was ended, and the still-living citizens of Florence joined the vampire hunting pair in eradicating Medici’s spawn. It was a bright new day in Italy.

in 1776, after the devastation of New Jersey by British troops unchecked by rebel General George Washington, the Continental Congress voted to surrender to the British. They could no longer withstand the horrors that the redcoats were subjecting the colonies to, and decided that it was time to spare their fellow countrymen from further British atrocities. Many rebels headed west to escape British justice, and continued to harass the colonies for years after.

in 1829, George McClellan, Union general and United States President, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a general, McClellan opposed using overwhelming force against the rebellious Confederacy, and as President, he brought them to the peace table to negotiate the division of the country. His containment of the south in their original 11 states let the United States expand to the west; and now, while the Confederacy is barely even a third world nation, the U.S. has the respect of the world.

in 1901, young Teddy Roosevelt, bare months after taking over from deceased President William McKinley, lays out a tepid anti-trust strategy to the House of Representatives, urging that they keep their trust laws “within reasonable limits.” It was exactly this sort of timidity in office that led the Congress to run roughshod over his presidency, and doomed him to the footnotes of history.

in 1944, a civil war erupts in Greece, just freed from Nazi rule by partisans and Allied forces. Communists of the National Liberation Front, who controlled most of the country, ousted their former allies, the Democratic National Army, whose hope of British support went unfulfilled. After a brief struggle, the DNA surrendered and Greece became the first of many independent communist nations in Europe.

in 1962, a confidential report from the Pentagon informs Comrade President Hall of the unexpected strength of the Guerrillo reactionaries in South Chile. If Soviet American forces are pulled out of North Chile, the Pentagon warned, it would fall to the capitalists within a year. Comrade Hall, in spite of his desire to reduce American troop commitments outside of the country, reluctantly agrees to increase support to the weak North Chilean Communists.

in 1984, a huge disaster was narrowly averted in Bhopal, India, when Union Carbide personnel noticed a leak developing in their plant and quickly rushed to plug it. An investigation by Indian officials determined that all of Bhopal, a city of 1 million people, would have been at risk if the leak had continued. New safety regulations were forced on all chemical plants in the country after this near-disaster.

in 1999, comedic great Madeline Wolfson died in New York City of ovarian cancer, which she had been battling for some months. The hilarious actress was nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress twice in one year, for her roles in Paper Moon and in Blazing Saddles. She is missed by all who loved classy, beautiful, funny women.

in 2002, the hyper-dimensional drive on the spacecraft being flown by Dr. Courtney cuts out. The ship begins to drift. While they still have momentum and are moving forward, they are unable to make any course corrections. They still have some power, but, for all intents and purposes, have been turned into a ghost ship.

in 2004, Chelsea Perkins visits the Council of Wisdom.

Christmas Day Contest! ONLY 17 DAYS LEFT!! Following up on our Halloween contest, you can enter our next contest, which will be alternate histories for Christmas Day, December 25th, 2005. The same rules will apply, the top ten entries will be posted on that day, and by entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on October 31st, 2005, 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. Enter early and often - entries must be received by December 20th, 2005! Email us up to 3 entries of your best alternate Christmas Days!

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!

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An Offer That Cannot Be Refused

June 10th, 2007

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The Announcement

in 1891, with Kansas City pacified by the large Union force now occupying it, Lt. Colonel Mark Wainwright has become free to devise a plan to take Topeka. He has used the telegraph extensively, coordinating movements between the Union soldiers surrounding Kansas, as well as requesting addition troops from Washington. He now comes to General Theodore Monteith with a plan for the final attack on the rebel state. “If this doesn't do it, sir,” he tells the general, “nothing will.” Monteith approves the plan, thanking Wainwright for his tremendous efforts in this war. “I imagine there'll be some medals for you after this is all said and done, Mark.” Wainwright doesn't seem too enthused by the prospect, and Monteith asks him why. “I've soured a bit on the whole idea of honor and glory, sir. Most of me now just wants revenge, and an end to all of this.” Monteith says, “I understand, Mark. Hopefully, this plan will bring you that which you want, as well as that which you don't need.”

in 1999, Walton Ray Thermopolous, a London industrialist who is high among the Illuminati, is granted an audience with Queen Gwen of Britain. She dismisses all her aides before speaking with him, “so that we may be as frank as necessary.” Once alone, she presents him with what she says is an easy choice - “Support me, Walton, and the entire Illuminati is ours. I've crushed most of them already, but you I want on my side. Your organization will be useful to me.” Thermopolous is worried about crossing his masters, and says so. Queen Gwen derides his fear of the ancient organization. “They are nothing, now. I drive them before me like cattle to the slaughter. I offer you the chance to be one of the drivers, rather than the cattle.” The frightened businessman reluctantly accepts the queen's offer, and severs his ties with his old masters to throw his support behind her.

In 2003, US President John McKay told Carl Griffin there was Power in the West. Something came into the World with a roar and was growing like a cancer. Griffin was authorised by McKay to end the Magic Time.

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

In 1955 in Richmond Virginia, the New Orleans R&B artist Chris Kenner was found guilty as charged under new Confederate anti-obscenity laws. Most of the lyrics of Land of a Thousands Dances were subject to non-sordid interpretation, 'Chicken in the pot' being an example cited by the defence. However 'Over on your back, I like it like that' was too bawdy and unmasked the unmistakeable sexual undertones of the song.	Chris Kenner
~ story by Co-Historian Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1944 in London England, General Dwight David Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force released the following statement to the World Press in the aftermath of Disaster Day: 'Our landings have failed and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.'

~ story by Co-Historian Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Arab Dhow	In 1760, at Zangi-bar (Zanzibar City) five European stowaways draw into the shadows of the Arab Dhow. They are very afraid of the fierce-looking Jumbe (chief) Majid Sayyid bin Said Al-Busaid. Unbeknown to this desperate gang is the great secret they carry with them. A secret that will determine the future of Europe. Put bluntly, ..
.. whether Europe will have a future.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 2012, at Camp David former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld spoke candidly with US President George W Bush. “W,”, he drawled, “ you just can't negotiate with terrorists.” pouring them both a vase of bourbon each. “I'm not sure I appreciate you calling my second wife a terrorist, Don” says W, flicking the channel ..	Donald Rumsfeld
.. to watch Friends. “And you went to meet with Saddam in 1983, so you're memory is failing you again”. Rumsfeld mumbled something, he no longer had W's ear, he had known that since he was fired back in 2006. He was at Camp David on sufferance.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

James Earl Ray	1977, James Earl Ray escaped from Brushy Mountain State Prison in Petros, Tennessee shortly after testifying to the House Select Committee on Assassinations that he did not shoot Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The following day he made his second appearance, on the FBI Most Wanted Fugitives list this time as the 351st entry. ..
.. Entry number 348 was Lee Harvey Oswald, who was also missing following a similar testimony to the Committee.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1940, on this day German forces, under General Erwin Rommel, reached the English Channel. Plans for the D-Day Landings on the South Coast of England commenced forthwith. You could safely say that a broad sweep of British society was represented at the Prime Ministers residence at Chequers for a crisis conference . Amongst ..	Aleister Crowle..
.. them is a man with a most intriguing plan. Aleister Crowley had gained much notoriety during his lifetime, and was famously dubbed by the press as “The Beast”, “The Man We Would Most Like to Hang” and "The Wickedest Man In the World” inter alia. However this was no time to bear a grudge, the wolf was quite literally at the door.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

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Whitman Reelected; Nixon Not Kicked Around

November 6th, 2005

in 1851, Charles Henry Dow was born in Connecticut. After a brief period as a journalist covering financial news, Dow joined a monastery and soon began preaching of a better life to be led without concern for money. He developed a character he spoke about, the Dow Average Man, who left the dog-eat-dog world for a richer, spiritual reward.

in 1860, Communist President Walt Whitman is reelected in a landslide against Democrat Andrew Johnson. In his second term, Whitman freed the slaves in the southern states, weathered a brief rebellion by that region, and established new rights for American workers that were unparalleled in western democracy.

in 1861, after the newly-formed Confederate Congress elects Jefferson Davis to its presidency, he immediately sues for peace with the United States. “Upon my weary heart was showered smiles, plaudits, and flowers, but beyond them I saw troubles and thorns innumerable, and I could not lead my beloved South through that,”, he said in his address to the Confederates. He and President Lincoln of the Union worked out the Compromise of 1861 together, in which slavery was slowly abolished in the south over the course of decades.

in 1890, half of rebel Mormon Charles Brigman's followers turn themselves in to the authorities in salt Lake City; they are no longer willing to follow the man after the death of the children at the Morrison farmhouse. In spite of losing so many of his troops, Brigman attacks a federal convoy bringing supplies into Salt Lake City and captures guns, food and ammunition. He is about to become even more dangerous than before.

in 1906, William Randolph Hearst, newspaper tycoon, sweeps into the governor's mansion in New York. Rumors of vote fraud are quickly quieted, as his newspapers soon enjoy a monopoly in the state. From his new position, he is able to run for president in 1912, winning handily. His newspapers then become the official word of the administration, and virtually all others are driven underground; no dissenting words are allowed in Hearst's America.

in 1917, Russian Prime Minister Kerensky saved his position by managing to convince enough soldiers to defend the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg that the Bolsheviks were unable to take it over. Kerensky offered amnesty to any Bolshevik who swore allegiance to the new government the next day, and thousands took him up on the offer, destroying Bolshevik leader Lenin’s power base.

in 1956, Democratic President Adlai Stevenson defeated Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy in the general election, sweeping all 50 states and crushing him in the popular vote, 67% to 30%. The Republicans lost control of both houses of Congress and became negligible as a political party for decades because of McCarthy’s defeat.

in 1962, Richard Nixon won the governor’s race in California against Democratic incumbent Edmond Brown. He was reelected in 1966, and used the office for another unsuccessful run at the presidency in 1968. After the loss in ’68, he remarked to reporters, “you won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore.” He left public life after this and devoted himself to memoirs of his life as Vice-President and Governor.

in 1984, Vice-President Walter Mondale, having run a campaign based on being straight and honest with the American voter, finds his reward – he wins the presidential election against Republican President Ronald Reagan, who had mouthed meaningless platitudes in the face of economic disaster and left the economic heavy lifting to the Democratic-controlled Congress.

in 2002, as the fleet of vessels from earth flees the Pleiades, the ship that they had encountered on their way leaves the control of the Air Force pilot inside and launches an attack on Professor Thomas' vessel. He is teleported off his ship and the strange new robot ship shoots away. Dr. Courtney reluctantly orders his small fleet to follow.

Christmas Day Contest! Following up on our Halloween contest, you can enter our next contest, which will be alternate histories for Christmas Day, December 25th, 2005. The same rules will apply, the top ten entries will be posted on that day, and by entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on October 31st, 2005, 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. Enter early and often - entries must be received by December 20th, 2005! Email us up to 3 entries of your best alternate Christmas Days!

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!

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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

Still wishing...

As your humble alternate historian enters the downhill slope of the 40's, he still has his birthday wish - a contract with a publishing company like Workman Publishing to produce a page-a-day calendar of TIAH. If you are an editor for such a company, or can place us in touch with one, please fulfill this belated birthday wish!

May 3rd-5th

The state of TIAH

Today In Alternate History

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Alternate Historian's Note: It was an eventful trip, but we're finally back, and ready to post again! Today, we'll have posts for May 3rd, 4th and 5th, and will be back to regular posting tomorrow. Thanks for your patience!

May 3rd, 2007

in 1891, the prosecution in General Anthony Franklin's court-martial rests its case after presenting the rather damning evidence present in the reports from the battlefield and the days leading up to it. Franklin's own diary entries about, “Getting that pompous jackanape, Simpson, and making all these rebels pay,” becomes fodder for the prosecutor. In defense, Captain David Danforth reads sections of Franklin's diary recounting his days as a young man during the Civil War, and his zeal in seeking to preserve the United States from, in his words, “traitors who would destroy everything good that we stand for.” Danforth rests his case, and the judges dismiss all present while they deliberate over night.

in 1999, as bombs begin falling on his capitol in Bern, Emperor Pierre of the Central European Empire begins to show the slightest traces of doubt that his master plan is working. The other Illuminati elite, trapped in Switzerland because of the war being brought to them by King Arthur's forces, begin plotting to overthrow Pierre and make a deal with Arthur.

In 2069, after years of Alzheimer degeneration and senility, Gerald Fitzgerald Beltane had cheated death by illegal rejuvenation instigated by his son Jeremy. Bio reads - born 1976, educated to MA degree, and secretary to the Australia First party in 2005. Retired, aged seventy in 2046 on ground of ill health; 2069 undergoes a remarkable transformation into a young man.

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

In 2000, Patricia Vasquez travelled along the Way to fulfill her secret mission to prevent the Death. Only one change in Earth's past which would render the nations sane was achievable by a single christian scientist.

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

Joseph McCarthy	In 1947, Senators Millard Tydings and Joseph McCarthy shared a late night drink together. They briefly reviewed the circumstances of the Tydings Committee. You could say without fear of contradiction that history had taken a rather unexpected turn on D-Day, 1 May 1944. In military language of course D-Day was a term to denote ..
.. the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. The Battle of Normandy was planned for that day, commencing the Western Allied effort to liberate mainland Europe from Nazi occupation during World War II. However, 1 May 1994 was more like Disaster Day and the choice of May Day was both tragically and prophetically appropriate...
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1989, it was evident to but a discerning few that the Western European Monarchies were living on borrowed time. Sure there had been some key moments in the past half millennia where the divine right of kings had, shall we say, wobbled? The storming of the Bastille, the troubles in the Colonies etc. The British Royal households ..	Charles Stuart
.. believed that now the modern world was fundamentally sane. The disease of republicanism had been flushed out of the body politic for good. How wrong they were. And they were just about to find out..
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Man in the High..	In 1964, Philip K Dick published the counter-factual novel Man in the High Castle. Set in Japan in 1962, the once-proud nation has been reduced to a vassal of the United States with a powerless Emperor. All because some twenty years earlier Japan lost the Pacific war. The essence of Dick's masterpiece is the book within ..
.. the book, 'The Grasshopper Lies Heavy', a work of fiction written by a man called Hawthorn Abendsen. It describes a world where the Japanese won the Pacific war - as a result, it has been banned by the Americans. Given his unpopularity with the world's two great powers, Abendsen is said to live in a heavily fortified home and has become known as "The Man in the High Castle". Critics panned the concept but loved the story. After all, it was predicated on the US Fleet leaving San Diego for Hawaii when Americans overwhelmingly disapproved of war in the Pacific. Today we know that Mr Roosevelt meant it when he said at Boston on October 30 1940: "I have said this before, but I shall say it again and again and again: Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars."
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1946, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East began in Tokyo against 28 American military and government officials accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The accused were led by General of the Army Douglas “Brass Hat” MacArthur who had been seized unexpectedly in the hurried retreat from the Philippines. ..	MacArthur
.. He said he had not expected to come to Japan under these circumstances.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

May 4th, 2007

in 1891, the judges at General Anthony Franklin's court-martial return a verdict of guilty against him, strip him of his rank, and sentence him to life in prison. Franklin is stunned, and weeps openly in the court, while his attorney, Captain David Danforth, vows to appeal directly to the president himself. Unfortunately for the former general, President Harrison is quite pleased with the verdict, and instructs his secretary to ignore Captain Danforth's requests for an appointment. Meanwhile, Governor Silas Trent of Missouri, touring the state to shore up his support after Franklin's Massacre, is set upon by a drunken mob in Jasper County, and killed for his support of the federal troops.

in 1999, Emperor Pierre of the Central European Empire, hearing the bombs fall on his fair capitol, puts in a desperate call to his agent in King Arthur's court, instructing the spy to, “do whatever is necessary, but stop this bombing!” Prime Minister Merl Myrddin, hearing the successful news from the front, decides to celebrate with a drink at his favorite London pub, where he unfortunately lets his guard down. A drug is slipped into his beer, and he disappears into the night. At the same time, labor leaders across western Europe are casting down the CEE's puppet governments and proclaiming themselves leaders of the nations; this has the unfortunate side effect of reducing their support for Sir Lance du Lac's drive to Switzerland. The great knight is forced to slow down his advance and deal with the demands from his allies about respecting their sovereign territory.

In 2069, the Canberra Conference was forced to finally confront overpopulation problems in Australia. A decision was reached to initiate genocide by releasing a finely mutating bacteria manufactured at a secret government institute. Premier Jeremy Beltane cannot accept the decision to use the cull weapon, and has illegally rejuvenated his senile father Gerald, desperately needing his advice and guidance.

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

In 0, a single christian scientist Patricia Vasquez fulfilled her secret mission to prevent the Death by making the only change in Earth's past which would render the nations sane. Vasquez convinced Governor of Palestine Pontius Pilatus to take a principalled stand on his own convictions. Pilatus exercised political leadership, he refused the demands of religious leaders and the mob by setting Rabbi Joshua Ben Joseph free. Vasquez established the common sense precedent, decisions made under pressure were rational, logical but not sane.

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

Joseph McCarthy	In 1947, Senators Millard Tydings and Joseph McCarthy had shared a late night drink together which could by now be safely called an early morning drunk stopover. The slurred topic under consideration continued to be the circumstances of the Tydings Committee. Operation Overlord was master-minded by General Dwight David Eisenhower, ..
.. Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, effectively in overall charge of the Allied forces in Western Europe. General Sir Bernard Montgomery was commander of the 21st Army Group, to which all of the invasion ground forces belonged, and he was also in charge of developing the invasion plan. The initial attack was for five divisions by sea and three by air. That was where theory ended, and the startling truth began.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1989, the British Royal household awoke to somewhat of an unpleasant shock. It appeared that not all of the young people celebrating May Day had gone home peacefully. And some had brought a Goddess of Democracy statue into Hyde Park! Even since the birth of European democracy in Russia with the 1905 Duma, the Western democracies ..	Freedom
.. had pursued a containment policy. They believe in the domino theory, a 20th Century foreign policy that speculated if one land in a region came under the influence of Democracy, then more would follow. But now containment was over, the disease had finally arrived in Great Britain.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Udham Singh	In 1976, Jack Higgins published the pseudo-factual novel the ”Lion has Landed”. Set in 1940 Udham Singh prepared to assassinate the former Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, a revenge attack for his authorisation of the events of April 13, 1919 in Jallianwala Bagh. Known as the Amritsar Massacre, imperial troops opened ..
.. fire on an unarmed gathering of men, women and children in an act of unprovoked barbarism, killing 1800 people. In the novel Singh enters Admiralty House to put his plan into action, killing Winston Churchill not realising he has murdered his double George Fowler. Critics ridiculed the far-fetched concept of Churchill gaining Downing Street, let alone surviving a car collision that killed him in New York in 1931. Such a scenario would have required him to be sober after mid morning.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1948, the publication of Norman Mailer's controversial novel 'The Naked and the Dead' was banned by President John Nance Garner . Set in the South Pacific and dealing primarily with a single reconnaissance platoon of riflemen, the novel contains several combat scenes, but focuses on the psychological portraits of the men ..	Naked and Dead
.. in the squad. The tension of the novel derives mostly from the conflict between officers and men, including the lieutenant of the squad and the men under him as well as his superiors. The novel questions the impact of high-ranking officers and their decisions on the outcomes of military campaigns. Garner's justification was that the nation had been traumatised by the horrors of the invasion of Japan. Mailer's novel would distress the 200,000+ US soldiers suffering post-combat disorders.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

May 5th, 2007

in 1891, Lt. Governor Arnold Morgan of Missouri receives the news that he is about to be promoted; he takes the oath of office and then orders a day of mourning across the state for the late governor, Silas Trent. He also reduces Missouri's cooperation in the siege of Kansas, which causes Colonel Theodore Monteith, who has been charged by the Secretary of War with ensuring the success of this endeavor, to send Major Mark Wainwright back to Missouri to convince the new governor to back the military more fully.

in 1999, King Arthur II of Great Britain orders Scotland Yard to find Prime Minister Merl Myrddin, “and spare no expense.” The worried monarch sees victory, so tantalizingly close just days ago, start to slip from his grasp. His queen, the lady Gwen Rivers Pendrake, tells him, “Do not concern yourself, my liege. You have capable men in charge of all your affairs. Sir Lance will prosecute the war, and Scotland Yard will find your prime minister. Let us relax and let them do their jobs.” Arthur wearily agrees, sending word to Sir Lance that he will be in Wales if he is needed.

In 2069, Premier Jeremy Beltane took a fateful decision, briefing the Southern Area Services Commander on the imminent release of the cull weapon. They agree, and choose to destroy the Institute in which the finely mutating bacteria has been manufactured. The Premier's senile father, Gerald Fitzgerald Beltane had been illegally rejuvenated by his son, desperately needing his support. However Gerald is old school and strongly agrees with the use of the cull weapon. Fooling computers with a genetic impersonation of his son, he authorised the launch codes, releasing the bacteria. Genocide sweeps the continent of Australia.

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

In 1945, low flying American and British bombers released thousands of white doves over the City of Tokyo. After several days of behind-the-scenes negotiations the Gozenkaigi (Japanese leadership) decided, in principle, to accept generous proposals for conditional surrender. John Nance Garner had only recently entered the White House following the sudden demise of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The new President was the son of a former Confederate cavalry trooper, famously described by the British journalist Alistair Cooke as the last public man linking America of the Civil War and America of the Nuclear Age. Garner had the gift of perspective resulting from a genuine insight into long-term history. Japan was ready to surrender, and there was absolutely no need to be a damn-fool and usher in apocalyptic weapons to bring the war to a speedy conclusion; best to set up a beacon of liberty to whom the post-war nations would rally.

~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Joseph McCarthy	In 1947, Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy of Wisconsin was suffering from a rather extreme hangover having drunk more or less continuously for the past three days. The truth of his investigations however were as sobering as an icy shower. On the morning of 1 May 1944 at H-2 Hour, all eight divisions of Operation Overlord had ..
.. quite simply disappeared. Ridiculous of course, to imagine eight divisions just disappearing, but that was precisely what happened. Continuous radio transmissions had been sent by Eisenhower for many hours afterwards in an increasingly desperate attempt to locate the missing forces. The final message received was elliptic to day the very least – it sounded like 'Caves of Ice'. As he poured himself a black coffee, McCarthy started to feel more upbeat. Both Eisenhower and Montgomery were in DC and amongst the first witnesses to be interviewed – or shall we say, interrogated? - by the Tydings Committee. Fun was sure to be had. After all, why else would he be wasting his time in politics?
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1989, by now the Goddess of Democracy had been in Hyde Park for twenty-four hours. The Security Forces were in an agony of indecision. Democracy had faltered in Great Britain almost exactly 310 years ago when King Charles II had disbanded Parliament. Both James I and Charles I had done likewise but Charles II had finished ..	Charles II
.. Parliament and therefore democracy for all time, or so it was thought. On the one hand, the forced removal of the Goddess could be seen as heavy handed. On the other, it was as insulting as a spit in the face.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Battle of the W..	In 1864, on this day began the Battle of the Wilderness in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. The Army of the Potomac under the command of Major General George G. Meade, was pulverised by the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. General Robert E. Lee started his final push to the east.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1940, on this day in London, a Norwegian government-in-exile was formed. A better choice of location could have been made. By September, British rule only existed in Canada, with the British Government in Exile, headed by Lord Halifax unexpected guests of the Governor General at his residence in Rideau Hall, Ottawa.	Halifax
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

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We're Back - Hopefully

The state of TIAH

April 25th-26th Combo

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Alternate Historian's Note: Well, I'm typing this in the dark, with an extension cord running off to the part of the house that has power plugged into the computer. The modem is still acting up, so I can only hope that I'll be able to upload this before it goes out again. We got hit by a tornado yesterday morning – it ripped off a small part of our roof and threw a couple of trees through a couple of our fences, but no big damage and nobody hurt. It did inconvenience me by killing all the electrical power in one part of our house – the part with the computers in it, naturally. We have all kinds of adjusters and repair people supposed to come out, but there are people with worse damage, so we're kind of low on the list. Hopefully, things will improve and we'll be able to keep up the posts. We'll do our best!

April 25th, 2007

in 1891, troops begin heading west to reinforce General Anthony Franklin in Missouri, where he is planning a large-scale siege of Kansas. He sends messengers to the governors of the surrounding states for militia men to handle the main portion of the siege while he uses federal troops to penetrate into Kansas. “Once we take Topeka, the rest of these rebels should fall like dominoes,” he told the messengers to tell the governors. Major Mark Wainwright, who had been involved in the struggle longer than Franklin, said, “Sir, I fear that you're underestimating these men. They've proven themselves capable of fighting off trained military – more than once, as you know.” Franklin, stung by the memory of his own defeat at the hands of the Kansans, ordered Wainwright, “Be quiet, sir. Your defeatist attitude has no place in this campaign – which will be short and successful. Understood?” Wainwright nodded, saluted, and left to see to the few men who had survived the trip to Kansas with him.

In 2165 matters were unraveling fast in the real world. Michael Version7 Punk and Stanley 3XG Homeboy were no longer able to ignore this state of affairs when the words GAME OVER flashed up on their consoles just after noon Eastern Seaboard Time.

~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Margaret Thatch..	In 1972 Prime Minister Margaret Hilda Thatcher spoke to the nation from the BBC. The country had not come to terms with Britain's new position in the world, she wisely said, and the empire, and then the great wars had bankrupted the nation. Those were the facts, but they were here to  change the facts . We ..
.. won the war, but lost the peace, she added by way of explanation. Effective immediately, Britain would be speaking to her partners in the Commonwealth to establish a new economic union based on free trade and the pooling of British technology. The first such meeting would be the following week with President Idi Amin Dada of Uganda; a graduate of Cardiff University, “Dada” was a true friend to Britain.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1983 at a press conference on this day, the  Bormann Diaries  were declared by historians Hugh Trevor-Roper, Eberhard Jäckel and Gerhard Weinberg experts to be  authentic . Even though they had not yet been properly examined by scientists, Trevor-Roper endorsed the diaries thus:  'I ..	Bormann
.. am now satisfied that the documents are authentic; that the history of their wanderings since 1945 is true; and that the standard accounts of Hitler's writing habits, of his personality and, even, perhaps, of some public events, may in consequence have to be revised'
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Elbe Day Celebr..	In 1945 on this day US President Charles Lindbergh declared Elbe Day. United States and Tsarist troops meet in Torgau along the River Elbe, cutting the Wehrmacht of Weimar Germany in two, a milestone in the approaching end of World War II in Europe.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1982 as agreed in the Camp David Accords, Israel completed its withdrawal from the Sinai peninsula. Anglo-French forces were also removed from the Suez Canal Zone in a synchronised troop withdrawal.	Camp David Acco..
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

April 26th, 2007

in 1891, General Anthony Franklin receives replies from the governors of Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado and the Oklahoma Territory. All pledge their support to his mission, and say that their states stand ready to preserve the Union. He sends them the plans he has drawn up to lay siege to the Kansans and tells them to be ready by May 1st, when he plans to have troops ready to make a run to Topeka. The first reinforcements from Washington have already reached him and are being drilled by Major Mark Wainwright, who has reluctantly become General Franklin's chief aide.

in 1999, now that the Commonwealth stands behind King Arthur, he issues a call for support of the kingdom to all loyal citizens. “We are about to embark upon the greatest struggle of our history,” King Arthur says in the televised address. “An enemy sits across the Channel from us; an implacable enemy who sees us as nothing but an impediment to their own plans, as tools in their overarching conspiracy to control our world. Today, we declare war against these Illuminati and their henchmen inside the Central European Empire. Today, we declare that we will live as free men and women in this world. Today, we declare that the United Kingdom of Great Britain shall fight to the death those that seek to extinguish the light of liberty from our land. We ask for your aid in this great conflict, and with God's help, we shall emerge victorious.” Hours after the address, Emperor Pierre of the Central European Empire declares war against Great Britain.

In 1983 a time travel team from the far distant future prepare to snatch passengers (“goats”) out of a DC-10 and a 747 just before they collide over Oakland, California. They will leave prefabricated smoking bodies (“wimps”) for the rescue team to find. The goats will be held in hibernation on a spaceship to be sent to the stars. This human re-population project is a desperate and final attempt to save humanity. The mission is headed by Louise Baltimore, Chief of Snatch Team Operations who is as yet unaware of a paradox being created by her mission in 1983. The airline disaster threatened an end to the world as we know it.

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

Margaret Thatch..	In 1972 Prime Minister Margaret Hilda Thatcher announced a series of appointments to the new civilian government, all absolutely necessary to execute the go-forward plan for Britain. Messrs Enoch Powell, Keith Joseph and Norman Tebbitt were pleased to accept the great offices of state as the nation prepared for a return ..
.. to parliamentary democracy by 1976.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1983, German news magazine Stern published extracts from what purported to be the the  Bormann Diaries . The magazine had paid 10 million German marks for the sixty small books as well as two 'special issues' about Rudolf Hess' flight to the United Kingdom, covering the period from 1932 to 1945.	Bormann
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Chernobyl Disas..	In 1986 on this day an accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant consisting of an explosion at the plant and subsequent radioactive contamination of the surrounding geographic area. A plume of radioactive fallout drifted over parts of the western Soviet Union, Eastern and Western Europe, Scandinavia, the UK, Ireland ..
.. and eastern North America. Large areas of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia were badly contaminated, resulting in the evacuation and resettlement of over 336,000 people. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, western loans were conditioned about the dismantling of atomic energy which was completed by 1995.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1925 on this day Paul von Hindenburg defeated Wilhelm Marx in the second round of the German presidential election to become the first directly elected Reichspräsident, the head of state of the Weimar Republic. He was succeeded by his nominee, the former German fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen, previously known as 'The ..	Red Baron
.. Red Baron'. This was considered a master-stroke as the appointment of another illustrious officer from the glorious past held the highest-level centrifugal forces together in the Weimar Republic in the absence of the deposed House of Hohenzollern. Gathering right-wing forces were unable to justify action to fill a vacuum of power that was of course ultimately averted.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

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The state of TIAH

May 21st, 2007

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Alternate Historian's Note: C'mon people! In just 6 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! And, just as an addendum – if we don't get any entries, we're going to consider printing some of our more interesting emails...

in 1891, 5000 Union soldiers reinforce the fort at Concordia, Kansas, and Colonel Theodore Monteith receives word from Washington that he has been promoted to General. He has a brief ceremony where Major Wainwright pins his new insignia on his uniform. “I hope this won't make you start acting like the last general I followed on this campaign, sir,” Wainwright says to him, laughing. General Monteith replies, “I trust that you will keep me honest, Mr. Wainwright.” Wainwright smiles and shakes his head. “I'll do my best, sir.” As Wainwright turns to leave Monteith's office, the general says, “That's all I'll ever ask of you, Major.” Once alone, General Monteith opens the orders that came from Washington with his promotion. These orders detail the 25,000 men who are being moved under his command, who are to be used in the general assault on Topeka planned for June 1st.

in 1999, Sir Lance du Lac's return to the war in Hungary heartens the British troops, and the Hungarians seem to melt before the withering attacks of the Brits. King Arthur II, back home in England, tells Queen Gwen, “You know, I think we should decorate Lance. Perhaps we could make him a lord.” Queen Gwen is very enthusiastic about this idea, saying, “After all he's done for us, that's the least that we could do for him.” Arthur is still a little awkward around his queen, and says, “My lady – Gwen – I hope that you have forgiven me for my actions against you. The loss of Merl; it affected my mind. He was my mentor, practically my father. I suppose what I'm saying is that I went temporarily insane.” Gwen bows her head and graciously forgives him. “Arthur, you've always done what you felt was right for the kingdom, and I know that you would never have moved against me if, well, if you had been in a right frame of mind.” Arthur nods, and she goes on. “My lord, perhaps you need to speak with someone about your grief. A professional. I know someone who is discrete.” Arthur is hesitant, but eventually agrees to meet with the psychiatrist that the queen suggests to him.

In 1941, war children Colin and Susan were evacuated to Alderley Edge, Cheshire. Hidden in a nearby cave at Fundindelve are the sleeping Knights who wait for the time when the Country needs them again. Watching over the Knights was the wizard Cadellin; Susan had a bracelet that he desperately needed to rouse them.

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

In 1939, Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter Pevensie explored the rambling old house in the countryside to which they had been evacuated. Whilst playing hide-and-seek, the children entered a dusty old wardrobe and ventured into the Land of Narnia.

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

Battle of Dunki..	In 1947, Senator McCarthy explained his discovery to the Tydings Committee. The miracle of Dunkirk, was not a miracle. It was a sinister conspiracy. And the price paid by General Sir Bernard Montgomery was a very high price indeed. Not only had he lost a part of himself, he had delivered the Nazis with a vital weapon. And ..
.. the result was 1 May 1944, Disaster Day. Enraged, Millard Tydings jumped up out of his seat and shouted: 'Enough of these riddles, what do you mean?' I will explain, I will explain everything tomorrow says McCarthy.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1989, it was difficult to imagine a series of events that would lead to the dissolution of the Western European Monarchies even though they were living on borrowed time. Certainly Peter Tatchell's plan was extremely unlikely to work. And the House of Stuart had been in power for three hundred eight-seven ..	Peter Tatchell
.. years so they knew no other life. What was needed was a group of men that had nothing to lose. Unfortunately for the British Royal Household such a group of men had a meeting the day after tomorrow. They would define an operational plan that would blow the British Royal Household away. Quite literally.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Firework displa..	In 1998, later that evening and after the regatta was over he saw them together in the market square. The light of the fireworks illuminated the fierce, liberated joy on the faces of the lovers. The display paused briefly and it was dark as he fought his way through the crowd. A rocket exploded, lighting up the square. They were gone.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1758, Mary Campbell was abducted from her home in Pennsylvania by Lenape during the French and Indian War. Her release was secured by the thousand year old Lenape soothsayer who had been imprisoned by the Dutch when they defeated the Delaware people at Manna-hata (Manhattan). The soothsayer later passed in to American ..	Lenape Nation
.. custody where he had successfully predicted the course of modern history to strategic planners in the US Government. This long period of service ended with the strange being's death in a US base in Nevada following the return of extra-terrestrial technology from Iraq in 2008.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

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A Visit In Heaven

December 29th, 2005

in 47,392 BCE, Telka the Speaker and her great-granddaughter Swikolay reach the foothills of the Himalayas and begin their ascent. Full of optimism, the Speaker says, “The sky will be ours. All your children will look down from heaven.”

in 1000 Post-Creation, Gabriel visits Lucifer in Heaven.

in 1170, Thomas Beckett, the Archbishop of Canterbury and rival for Pope Henry II of the Holy British Empire, is murdered by four priests as he knelt in prayer. Beckett and the pope had been friends for decades, but as Henry veered towards liberalization of the Holy Mother Church, Beckett began to oppose him, and he swayed many bishops and cardinals to his side. After his death, Pope Henry ruled with unquestioned authority.

in 1769, a French patisserie began offering its bread sliced to its patrons. It was the greatest thing ever.

in 1813, the North American Confederation city of Buffalo was burned to the ground when a plant manufacturing an experimental propellant exploded. The horrific flames resisted all attempts to put them out until the local governor was able to order in enough demolitions to level the town. The N.A.C. adopted the world’s most stringent regulations on the handling of propellants after this disaster.

in 1845, rather than see their former possession join the United States, Mexico invades Texas with an overwhelming large force, capturing most of the Republic's leadership just as they were completing the transformation of Texas into a state. Since several U.S. officials were caught in this attack, the U.S. declared war against Mexico. The two mighty nations were evenly matched, and the war dragged on for years as they each sought to enlist aid; America from Europe, Mexico from Latin America, and both from the native populations of the west. The war ended in stalemate in 1856, with tens of thousands dead and Texas turned into a wasteland.

in 4607, Emperor Chengzu named Sun Yat-Sen his Prime Minister. Sun pursued a policy of expansion in space and consolidation on earth. It was under Sun Yat-Sen’s direction that the Star Sailor corps began accepting non-Chinese subjects of the empire.

in 1940, German bombers raided London in the worst bombing of the war to that point. After a particularly powerful cluster of explosions, the sky filled with the planes of dozens of nations, as well as air ships that were unrecognizable. The huge dogfight that resulted ended when one of the planes dropped a weapon that blew up the entire city of London; all that was left was a multi-colored cloud that pulsed as if a heart beat within it. Physicist Richard Tolman sought and was given a meeting with President Roosevelt to discuss these events. This resulted in an unprecedented ceasefire declaration between the Axis and Allied powers to hear what Tolman had to say.

in 1997, Chinese authorities in Hong Kong, fearful of the economic damage that would result from killing all chickens possibly infected with influenza, disregard the recommendations of health professionals around the world and let the sale of chickens continue. The resulting epidemic of flu kills over 20 million Chinese, as well as an additional 2 million worldwide. The sanctions against Chinese food products that follow send China spiraling into the worst depression in its history.

in 1998, Cambodian strongman Pol Pot dies. The hated Khmer Rouge that had placed him in power begin a civil war for power that devastates the small Asian nation for the next three years. After the death toll of the war passes a million, Vietnam invades to put an end to it. The move is surprisingly supported by the international community, and marks a turning point for both nations; Cambodia, although it remains communist, becomes a freer country, and Vietnam is accepted into the community of nations.

ALTERNATE HISTORIAN'S NOTE, in an effort to find out exactly how many readers we have, Today In Alternate History will be holding an International Visit TIAH Day. Our Atom feed will be turned off for one day, January 3rd, 2006, and we encourage you all to visit our site on that day to read our material. The feed will be turned back on January 4th, so you can return to reading TIAH normally.

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!

Edison's Singing Debut; The Altamont Disaster

ALTERNATE HISTORIAN'S NOTE: One of today's entries has something a little different, a link to a longer document which gives more space to the entry. Please let us know if you like that by leaving a comment or emailing us.

December 6th, 2005

in 4225, master explorer Chang Shiao reached the Yucatanian Gulf after a nearly year-long voyage from his home port in the Chinese Empire. His encounter with the Oueztecan Empire there led to a diplomatic mission that forged a great alliance across the ocean between the Chinese and the Oueztecans.

in 1537, the Templars of Pope Henry VIII surround and capture Cardinal Clement, “Pope” of the Reborn Roman Church. Vowing to never receive judgement from man, Clement kills himself by leaping from a tower in Rome. The RRC is unable to maintain cohesion without Clement, and soon becomes a footnote in the history of the Holy British Empire.

in 1793, Madame Jeanne du Barry, who had been mistress to the former king, was dragged before the Parisian mob to be executed at the guillotine. She made an appeal to the crowd, calling upon their mercy and relating her own tale of woe as a poor child who had been used by men throughout her life. Moved to pity, the crowd surged forward and rescued her from the executioner. She went into exile in Great Britain, and founded a home for wayward girls there.

in 1809, the Republic of Eire (Ireland) signs a treaty with Great Britain ending the 4-year long War of Irish Independence. Because the Irish Mlosh had been very influential in the war, many British humans harbored ill will towards the aliens; this led to the founding of several anti-Mlosh racist organizations, including, ultimately, the Human League.

in 1863, with the Southern Rebellion subdued, President Walt Whitman secured ratification of the 13th Amendment, ending slavery within the United States, and guaranteeing economic equality and freedom for all Americans, regardless of ethnicity, gender, philosophy or religion. The 13th Amendment stood as the greatest achievement of the Communist Party until President Haywood’s Community of Trade united oppressed workers across the world in brotherhood.

in 1877, Thomas Edison used an Eddie hooked up to a phonograph machine to play a record of himself singing Mary Had A Little Lamb.

in 1969, the Gathering Moss gave a free concert at the Altamont Speedway near San Francisco, California, that went horribly wrong. 4 of their fans were killed in the chaos of the night, including one who was stabbed within sight of the stage. The Moss were unaware of what was going on, and continued playing, seemingly uncaring of the misery and death around them. The concert became a symbol, somewhat undeservedly, of 60’s hedonism gone wrong.

in 1980, a church secretary who had overheard televangelist Jim Bakker arrange a liaison with secretary Jessica Hahn called the local news station and told them where to find the pair that evening. When reporters burst in on Hahn and Bakker in a sexual tryst, Bakker’s church empire was ruined, and all television evangelists sank in popularity.

in 2002, Dr. Courtney receives a communication from the Air Force pilots he had sent on ahead to earth – they were delayed by a rescue mission of their own, and are on their way to rendezvous with him. With his fleet finally reassembled, Dr. Courtney sets course for earth, at last.

in 2004, Elsbeth Danwich pays another visit to the Great Tree, and calls out Chelsea Perkins. Danwich has heard of Miss Perkins' appearance before the Council of Wisdom, and congratulates her on her manner. “You remind me of myself as a young girl,” Danwich says, hoping to flatter Perkins. When Miss Perkins makes a disparaging remark about that being a century ago, Danwich flies into a rage and uses a Demon-Touched Pebble to try to kill Perkins. The Great Tree protects her and drives off Danwich, but its power is diminished by the attack.

Christmas Day Contest! ONLY 14 DAYS LEFT!! Following up on our Halloween contest, you can enter our next contest, which will be alternate histories for Christmas Day, December 25th, 2005. The same rules will apply, the top ten entries will be posted on that day, and by entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on October 31st, 2005, 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. Enter early and often - entries must be received by December 20th, 2005! Email us up to 3 entries of your best alternate Christmas Days!

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!

Forum Link not working for now - Forum has been hacked! We're working on getting it back, and will let you know once it's back 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!
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Assassinations & Missed Chances

November 22nd, 2005

in 1863, during a visit to Dallas, Mexico, North American Confederation First Chancellor T’Grito is assassinated as his procession leads through the center of the city. T’Grito had been unpopular in the Mexican state since his economic policies had caused rampant unemployment in the region. Human League activists took credit for the murder, their first outside the British Isles.

in 1962, during a visit to Dallas, Texas Soviet, Comrade President Joel Rosenberg is shot to death by a fanatical counter-revolutionary, Lee Oswald. Many investigations have proven that Comrade Rosenberg was killed by a lone gunman, but conspiracy theorists continue to insist that there was a plot to kill the President, and Oswald was simply the patsy.

in 1963, during a visit to Dallas, Texas, President Kennedy narrowly escapes death when a crazed gunman shoots at him from a book depository. Governor John Connally of Texas, traveling with him, is fatally injured when bullets meant for the president strike him, instead.

in 1963, during a visit to Dallas, Texas, President Nixon is shot and killed by gunmen firing from a book depository and a grassy knoll on the route. Republican Senatorial candidate John Tower, traveling with him in the motorcade, was wounded as well. Investigations into the assassination proved that a conspiracy of communists and Mafioso were behind the killing; his successor, President Henry Cabot Lodge, used the assassination as a spur to halt organized crime and communist infiltration into American society.

in 1963, during a visit to Dallas, Texas, President Lyndon Johnson is assassinated by a crazed gunman angry with his Cuban policy. Johnson, who only narrowly won the Democratic nomination against his eventual running mate, John Kennedy of Massachusetts, as well as narrowly winning the general election against Vice-President Richard Nixon, was missed by all when the inexperienced Kennedy assumed the presidency. Kennedy proved a disaster in office, making several misjudgements that plunged America deeper into conflict in Vietnam as well as ignoring civil rights movements in the south. He was defeated by Senator Barry Goldwater in the election the next year.

in 12-17-10-3-13, during a visit to the Apache of their northern possessions, Oueztecan Emperor Kanticli is killed by lunatics opposed to his Yucatanian Gulf war. Kanticli had planned to ease restrictions against the rebel islands in the gulf the following year, but his successor, Emperor Quetzos, stepped up the reprisals against the islands in revenge.

in 1963, during a visit to Dallas, Texas, President John Kennedy is assassinated. Although the initial investigation tries to pin the killing on a lone gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald, (who was conveniently murdered before being brought to trial), subsequent investigations show that the killing was the work of a dazzling cabal of Mafioso, communists, aliens, Republicans, Illuminati, Masons and Merovingians seeking to stop Kennedy’s ascension to the order of high exalted ones. Little did they know that their very action caused his ascension, and now he is one with the other Most High Ones.

in 1963, during a visit to Dallas, Texas, President John Kennedy manages to mend some fences with conservative Democrats unhappy with his somewhat liberal policies. In a related event, a man was killed during the President’s motorcade ride through the city when he fell from the 6th floor of the Texas Book Depository. It was assumed that the former Marine, Lee Harvey Oswald, had been trying to get a better view of the motorcade when he fell out the window.

in 1963, President Kennedy invites the Texas governor to the White House in order to make up for missing the trip to Dallas he had originally planned for this week. Governor Connally convinces Kennedy to forgo civil rights legislation the coming year, and focus instead on the conflict in Vietnam. Vice-President Johnson, who had been crafting the civil rights bills, angrily opposed Connally in the next gubernatorial elections in Texas, handily defeating Connally. He then used the governorship to launch himself into the presidency in 1972.

in 1963, Viceroy Charles Eglantine is murdered by American nationalists while touring the North American colonies. After the crushing defeat of the colonial rebellion in the 1780's, the rebels had settled in the west, where British expansion in North America eventually reconquered them. The former Mexican territories had been seething hotbeds of anti-British sentiment for decades, and Viceroy Eglantine had hoped his visit would help to smooth feelings over; apparently, he was mistaken.

Christmas Day Contest! Following up on our Halloween contest, you can enter our next contest, which will be alternate histories for Christmas Day, December 25th, 2005. The same rules will apply, the top ten entries will be posted on that day, and by entering, you grant TIAH the right to electronically print your writing on October 31st, 2005, 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. Enter early and often - entries must be received by December 20th, 2005! Email us up to 3 entries of your best alternate Christmas Days!

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!

Forum Link not working for now - Forum has been hacked! We're working on getting it back, and will let you know once it's back 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!

Setbacks

Marcus Aurelius	In 180, the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (called 'the Wise') died aged 58. His tenure was marked by three crisis which ultimately resulted in the collapse of Rome - wars in Asia against a revitalized Parthian Empire, the plague carried home by returning Roman solidiers and finally defeat by Germanic tribes crossing the Limes Germanicus. Marcus Aurelius is revered for his keynote work of Stoic Philosophy Meditations, a literary monument to a government of service and duty, praised for its 'exquisite accent and its infinite tenderness.'
General Maximus

In Asia, a revitalized Parthian Empire renewed its assault in 161, defeating two Roman armies and invading Armenia and Syria. Marcus Aurelius sent his joint emperor Verus to command the legions in the east to face this threat. The war ended successfully in 166, although the merit must be mostly ascribed to subordinate generals like Gaius Avidius Cassius. On the return from the campaign, Verus was awarded with a triumph; the parade was unusual because it included the two emperors, their sons and unmarried daughters as a big family celebration. Marcus Aurelius' two sons, Commodus five years old and Annius Verus of three, were elevated to the status of Caesar for the occasion. The returning army carried with them a plague, afterwards known as the Antonine Plague, or the Plague of Galen, which spread through the Roman Empire between 165 and 180. The disease was a pandemic believed to be either of smallpox or measles, and would ultimately claim the lives of two Roman emperors - Lucius Verus, who died in 169, and Marcus Aurelius, whose family name, Antoninus, was given to the epidemic. The disease broke out again nine years later, according to the Roman historian Dio Cassius, and caused up to 2,000 deaths a day at Rome, one quarter of those infected. Total deaths have been estimated at five million. Starting from the 160s, Germanic tribes and other nomadic people launched raids along the Northern border, particularly into Gaul and across the Danube. Numerous Germans settled in frontier regions like Dacia, Pannonia, Germany and Italy itself. Marcus Aurelius death from the Antonine plague gifted the throne to his foolish son Commodus, whose weak character was threatened by the one individual most able to resist the Germanic invasion - his father's favourite General, Maximus Decimus Meridius. Commodus enslaved Maximus and sent him to Zucchabar, a rugged province in North Africa. A greatly weakened Rome fell in 181, unable to resist the Germanic invasion through depopulation and lack of effective military leadership.

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In 1969, the 'Iron Lady' Golda Meir, infamous for stating that the Palestinian people did not exist, became Prime Minister of Israel on this day. During her term of office she sent an athletic team to the Munich Olympics of 1972, an event marked by symbolism on many levels. Terrorists saw this as an unparalleled opportunity to remind the international community that the Palestinian people did exist. The Games turned to tragedy when the Israeli athletes were massacred by the Terrorist Group, Black September. Enraged, Meir ordered Operation Wrath of God, instructing the Israeli Secret Service to 'set the boys loose' and assassinate the officer class of Palestinian Society including Yasser Arafat, Yahya Hammuda, Mahmoud Abbas and Farouk Kaddoumi. This excessive response turned Israel into a pariah state, and her athletic team were not even invited to either the '76 summer games in Montreal, Canada or even more symbolically, the winter games at Innsbruck, Austria.

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In 2003, British Cabinet Minister, Robin Cook, resigned over government plans for war with Iraq. A highly intelligent man, Cook argued privately that the Extraterrestrial Technology (ET) recovered from Panama was more than sufficient to power the strategic models being developed around the predictions of the thousand year old Lenape soothsayer held until recently under the World Trade Center. Prime Minister Tony Blair changed tack and stated that the ET buried in Iraq, Iraq and North Korea was vulnerable to abduction by China, Russia or indeed al-Qaeda. Cook insulted Blair by calling him the Bush Family Poodle and stormed out of Number 10, Downing Street. Cook would not keep quiet and it was necessary for Blair to arrange a little accident for his former subordinate on a Scottish fell-walking expedition on August 6, 2005.

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In 1966, off the coast of Spain a 16-ton, manned deep-ocean research submersible owned by the United States Navy and operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found a missing American hydrogen bomb. The 'Alvin' as the craft was known inadvertently detonated the bomb, creating a deep-ocean shock. The mysterious beings known as the Kraken raced to the surface, wrecking an orgy of destruction on the East Coast until their rage was spent. It was the worst of times, it was the of times, to paraphrase Charles Dickens.

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In 1985, the serial killer Richard Ramirez known as the 'Night Stalker' committed his first two murders in a Los Angeles murder spree. On August 3, 1988, the Los Angeles Times reported that some jail employees overheard Ramirez planning to kill the jury. On August 14, the trial was interrupted because one of the jurors, Phyllis Singletary, did not arrive to the courtroom. Later that day she was found dead in her apartment, the Night Stalker's last victim.

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In 1960, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration agreed to a recommendation from the CIA to equip and drill Cuban exiles for action against the new government of Fidel Castro. Eisenhower stated it was the policy of the U.S. government to aid anti-Castro guerilla forces. The CIA began to recruit and train anti-Castro forces in the Sierra Madre on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. It has been claimed by one biographer that the main drive behind the invasion scheme was Vice President Richard Nixon. The famous tapes from the time he was President seem to indicate that he was deeply involved. If so, it would explain how this stunningly successful operation was repeated to win the Vietnam War less than six years later.

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In 1960, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Administration rejected a recommendation from the CIA to equip and drill Cuban exiles for action against the new government of Fidel Castro. Eisenhower stated it was not the policy of the U.S. government to give clandestine aid to guerilla forces. The main drive behind the invasion scheme was Vice President Richard Nixon. Nixon and Eisenhower argued bitterly over the decision, as evident by Eisenhowe's non-existent endorsement of Nixon during the '60 election.

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In 1213 AUC, a Brittanian slave attempting to escape to Eire was put to the death. The slave had been part of the underground cult of Christos which still had some few adherents even after 4 centuries of suppression by the Roman Empire. This slave, Patriclus according to some documents, had wanted to convert the people of Eire to his religion.

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in 460, Patrick I, King of Eire, died in his castle in Dublin. With his influence, the Irish had been able to conquer England and Wales, and started spreading across the world over the following centuries. Today, everyone is Irish.

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in 460, Patrick, a wealthy British Christian who had single-handedly converted the whole of Ireland to Christianity, died in his adopted homeland. In a few centuries, the Holy British Empire would use the legend of Patrick to convince the Irish to bow to their rule; the Irish became very loyal subjects of the Holy British Empire because of St. Patrick.

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In 1943, Joint Chief of Staff George C. Marshall discovered that General Eisenhower was having an affair with his English driver, Kay Summersby. It was of course a major security concern for a junior officer to be so close to the man charged with the Normandy Landings. Worse, with Ike's focus distracted, more thought might be given to divorcing his wife Mamie than beating the Germans. Marshall decided to escalate, he leaked the news to Mamie.

And in my dream methought I went To search out what might there be found ;
And what the sweet bird's trouble meant, that thus lay fluttering on the ground.
I went and peered, and could descry No cause for her distressful cry ; but yet for her dear lady's sake
I stooped, methought, the dove to take, when lo ! I saw a bright green snake Coiled around its wings and neck.

~ Christabel, Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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	In 1945, the strategically important captured railway Bridge at Remagen, having sped the end of WW-II, but ironically no longer taking artillery fire, collapses ten days into the battle rendering the lodgement on the Germany bank of the Rhine dependent entirely on pontoon bridges. The Allied invasion was delayed by overcautious Supreme Commander Bernard Montgomery, enabling the Red Army to overrun the Western provinces of Germany. Catastrophically for the future of Europe, there would be no meeting on the River Oder.

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	On 17 Ramadan 2 AH, Abu l-Qasim Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allāh al-Hashimi al-Qurashi was defeated by his opponents among the Quraish at Mecca in the Hejaz of western Arabia at the Battle of Badr. Of the Quraishi army from the time it left Mecca until its arrival just outside Badr, several things are worth noting: although many Arab armies brought their women and children along on campaigns both to motivate and care for the men, the Meccan army did not. Also, the Quraish engaged Bedouin allies they had scattered throughout the Hijaz. The Quraish outnumbered the Muslims by five to one, gifting them an easy victory.

Something incredible happened just after the Battle. It was revealed to Muhammed that he would be a prophet, not a military / political leader - ' a messenger'. After all, only Allah knows what tomorrow may bring. For years Muhammad had been the butt of scorn and insults, but after this spectacular and unsought success everybody in Arabia would have to take him seriously. ~ Karen Armstrong, Muhmmad: Biography of the Prophet 1992.

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