Remember the Alamo!

Songbird, filling in for the Plague-ridden Alternate Historian...
All new entry's, don't expect to see any favorite timelines!
(although I may sneak *1* in..)

in 1997, Riots occurred when scientists announced they had succeeded in cloning an adult mammal, producing a lamb named "Dolly", despite laws prohibiting taking the works of God in vain. Enraged citizens converged on the location, and the scientists were summarily executed.

in 1455, An inventor named Johann Gutenberg who had re-invented a 'printing-press', originally from China, published his first book, a novel intended for the enjoyment of the lords. The novel was laughable, although the writing was good, there was none of the calligraphy, word spacing, or rich leathers expected by the lords, and the lessers had no need of such a volume. Gutenberg immediately went bankrupt, and his financier, Johann Fust, sold his equipment for a pittance.

in 1861, A Texas referendum was held to determine the legality of the proposed secession of Texas from the Union. It was determined that Secession was not to be Legal, and Texans stayed with the union, and assisted their northern brothers in the defeat of the south.

in 1836, Santa Anna reached the Alamo, a small mission in Texas, and besieged it. Knowing that reinforcements were unlikely to reach them on time, the men manning the mission surrendered to the general. Santa Anna had them all put to death, despite their surrender, and enslaved their women and children. This enraged the population of Texas, who declared independence from Mexico, and used the battle cry: "Remember the Alamo".

in 1836, Santa Anna reached the Alamo, a small mission in Texas. The mission had been razed to the ground by Sam Houston's order. El Camino Real had been left unguarded, and Santa Anna was able to attack the Texican settlements, and drive the insurgents across the Sabine, and Texas remained a Mexican State.

in 1836, Santa Anna reached the Alamo, a small mission in Texas, and besieged it. Knowing that reinforcements were unlikely to reach them on time, the men manning the mission surrendered to the general. Santa Anna released the youngest of the men, with the exhortation to spread the word of his generosity. The seeds of insurgency in Texas died without germination.

in 1836, Santa Anna reached the Alamo, a small mission in Texas, and besieged it. The defenders fought valiantly, but were slaughtered, all but 7 men. Seven men, under the protection of General Castrillón, were brought before General Santa Anna. Several of these men were American, among them Davy Crockett. General Castrillion had spared them in an attempt to avoid inciting war with the United States. Santa Anna was displeased by this, and summarily ordered the men's torture and execution. His officers were outraged by this order, and relieved him of command.

in 1896, Candy maker Leo Hirshfield released a candy he called the 'Tootsie Roll', which he had named after his daughter. Unlike his patrons from his homeland of Austria, New Yorkers did not appreciate the overly sweet and sticky candy.

in 1963, Peter Hicks was arrested for assault, after hooking up a cattle fence charger to his land rover in an effort to deter wardens from fining him for parking violations. Mr Hicks was given a £1,500 fine.

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Connections

"I had the Bell Telephone Company find him for me. They are wonderful that way. I have this disease late at night, sometimes, involving alcohol.

Kurt Vonnegut	I get drunk .. and then, speaking gravely and elegantly into the telephone, I ask the telephone operators to connect me with this friend or that one, from whom I have not heard in years." ~ Kurt Vonnegut Kurt Vonnegut was a fourth-generation German-American living in easy circumstances on Cape Cod (and smoking too much), who, as an American Infantry Scout hors de combat, as a prisoner of war witnessed the fire-bombing of Dresden. In 1967, Vonnegut needed help with his memories for Slaughterhouse-Five, and decided to contact the crazy Colonel. For the sake of balance in his anti-war diatribe, if nothing else. And just taking up an open offer, after all.
Peacenik

In 1978, it was just about impossible to enter any bar in Toronto without having to endure it at least twice during the course of the evening. Oh yes, we're talking about Plastic Betrand's's crazy French song Ça plane pour moi. Even in Old Toronto, our last anglophone bastion in New France.

Ça plane pour moi	Worse, knowing it was a French rip-off version of the British queer punk anthem Jet Boy, Jet Girl. Talk about adding insult to injury, yet that was our history in this part of the world.
Play

Some of us still hoped for our own nation, New Britain. It wasn't as if there was a shortage of real estate of course. And the language barrier was absurd in one nation. It was like two dogs having a fight under a blanket. The secession vote was only twelve months away. There was still hope for us Brits. Was it possible that the majority of citizens in Ontario would vote to leave New France? Possible - yes? Likely - not a chance.

The Ambassador	In 1962, US President John F Kennedy angrily replaced the red telephone on its cradle on the Resolute Desk. Secretary Nikita Khrushchev had categorically denied Soviet participation in the deployment of nuclear missiles on Cuba. Bobby's back channel communication to Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin had the same, puzzling result. His intercom buzzed and Evelyn Lincoln said in a small voice “Mr President, the Ambassador says he would like to see you”. “And I him” replies Kennedy, starting to stand up, ready for an argument with Dobrynin, until the door opens, and the Ambassador walked in to the Oval Office.

In 1962, during the Turkish Missiles Crisis Strategic Rocket Forces Marshal Mitrofan Nedelin warned Secretary Nikita Khrushchev that some of the US ships in the Gulf of İzmir were probably carrying missiles. In fact on a recent honeymoon to Armenia he had been told by Turkish KGB Agents that the US was planning to deploy missiles in Turkey. Direct military invasion was studied in depth, and an operational plan for pre-invasion bombardment was presented by Red Air Force CINC Colonel-General Braiko. Russian overflights of Turkey airspace and minor harassment at Izmir Naval Base were also the subject of repeated diplomatic notes from Turkey. Privately, Khrushchev believed Kennedy would withdraw the weapons, after all, he had demonstrated weakness over the Bay of Pigs, Berlin and at the Vienna Conference. He had backed down on all three occasions.	Kennedy

Bush	In 1962, CIA Agent George HW started to plan the greatest conspiracy of the twentieth century – to arrange a CIA hit on the President, concealed as a KGB plot. It required an elaborate deception. The murdered US marine Lee Harvey Oswald was being impersonated by Soviet double Alek. The genius of Bush was to recruit a further six doubles who would shuttle between Mexico City, New Orleans, Fort Worth and Dallas to plant crucial evidence of a KGB plot the kill the President. The real plot to kill the President was the CIA's, and it was a punishment hit for failing to authorise air strikes on Cuba, thus abandoning their agents to Cuban Forces at the Bay of Pigs.

In 2007, using advanced techniques demonstrated on International Visit Today In Alternate History Day Rat hacks into the networks of global news agencies. RSS news feeders are intercepted, instead of publishing regular content, alternative history stories are published from TIAH.	Robbie Taylor

The Invasion Of Kentucky

Alternate Historian's Note: Today's post is by Guest Historian Zach Timmons. If you'd like to be a Guest Historian, read this post, and then email us. Our thanks to Zach - we appreciate his contribution!

On this date in 1861, Union troops under Brigadier Gen. Ulysses S. Grant invade Kentucky, enraging the inhabitants of the state. Kentucky had declared itself neutral in an attempt to spare the state the ravages of the war, but when Gen. Grant marched in and occupied Paducah, the majority of the legislature (which had been pro-Union) sided with the Confederacy. The legislature officially seceded on the 4th and asked for admittance as the twelfth state of the CSA. The Confederates were overjoyed; with Kentucky on their side, this made it easy for Confederate troops to march into the vital states of Ohio and Indiana and wreak havoc. Also, the Ohio River formed the border between Kentucky and the states to the north, giving the rebels an excellent defensive position. General Grant's campaign was for his army to march down the Mississippi and cut the Confederacy in half, but on September 17th Confederate troops began the siege of Cincinnati, forcing Grant's army to be recalled north to relieve the city. For the next year, the Union army hammered away at the Confederates in Kentucky, slowly driving them back. However, the Union was dealt a major blow on October 1st, 1862, when southern raiders under the command of Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest rode north into Illinois, tearing up the southern half of the state and briefly riding into the outskirts of St. Louis. At the same time, a raiding party led by Joe Wheeler went into Ohio, making it as far as the state capitol at Columbus before returning south. The states of the Old Northwest had considerable numbers of Southern sympathizers, especially Illinois' south; in the mid-term elections in November, these states went strongly Democratic, forcing Lincoln to rely heavily on War Democrats in Congress. The political success of these relatively minor raids did not go unnoticed in Richmond, which ordered Forrest (promoted to Brig. Gen.) and Wheeler to step up their attacks. The Union was forced to keep considerable numbers of troops in the rear to guard against possible raids; these troops could have made a huge difference on the front. Confederate raids increased through mid-1863 and tapered off around August as the Union finally developed a cavalry force capable of keeping up with the Southern horsemen. However, the effect of these raids was immeasurable; by the time of the presidential elections in 1864, the Union had only then begun to march into Tennessee, and a three-year stalemate had been occuring in Virginia with no results on either side. President Lincoln was soundly defeated by his Democratic opponent, New York Governor Horatio Seymour, who began peace talks with the South the day after he was inaugurated. According to the terms of the Treaty of Alexandria, Kentucky remained with the Confederacy, as did a piece of southern Missouri that was added to Arkansas. Also, the Mississippi was demilitarized and opened to Northern shipping. This became a moot point in 1867, when the states of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, and Missouri formed the Union of Midwestern States, with its capitol centrally located at Des Moines, Iowa. With a land connection to the east lost, the territories of the west gradually broke off: California, Oregon, Nevada, and the western half of the New Mexico Territory (Arizona) formed the Commonwealth of the Pacific in early 1868; the Confederacy added the Indian Territory and the eastern half of the New Mexico Territory (West Texas) later that year. The Dakota and Nebraska Territories were annexed by the UMS, and Colorado was split in two by the UMS and the Mormons, now in the Nation of Deseret. The British even moved in, taking the northern half of the Washington Territory as the Mormons nabbed the south. The USA, now limited to New England and the eastern Great Lakes states, was a shell of its former self. Abraham Lincoln was a broken man; with the secession the UMS in 1867, he collapsed into a deep depression. On January 6th, 1868, at his home in Springfield, he put a pistol to his head and committed suicide. His wife Mary awoke, and was so overcome by grief she picked up the gun and shot herself as well. Ulysses S. Grant, the man whose invasion of Kentucky most likely started the downfall of the Union, was last seen drinking on a Mississippi riverboat in 1870; he is believed to have fallen overboard and drowned.

Virginians Take Fort Duquesne

May 28th, 2006

in 1754, British colonials capture the French-owned Fort Duquesne in Pennsylvania. It is a stunning success for the Virginian militia, which results in only one death on their side, their commanding officer, Lt. Colonel George Washington. The young colonel's family is given the land around Fort Duquesne as a reward by the crown.

in 4558, Emperor Min-Yuan granted freedom to the vassals of the west. It was a controversial move that caused the Viet and Siamese people to attempt secession; in the war that followed, the Viet were almost wiped out, and the Siamese eventually switched sides back to the Empire.

in 1899, Thomas Edison announced the new Eddie for a new century, the Mandarin. The 20th century line of Eddies was named after orange varieties, and proved to be very popular; the cost was down to that of a new car, and they were the size of a large car. Edison vowed that with the Orange line of Eddies, by the end of the next century, an Eddie would be the size of a desk. Skeptics abounded.

in 1910, the Q’Bar sign the terms of surrender at the Barnard’s Star talks. They will be moving their entire race from the Mlosh home system to the Kantar star system, a move financed by the Jovian Mlosh, although Mlosh from across the system donate money to the cause. There is riotous celebration in all Mlosh communities after this victory.

in 1963, Comrade Elvis Presley, People's Attorney for the Soviet of Tennessee, declared that counter-revolutionary Lee Harvey Oswald had not acted alone in the assassination of Comrade President Rosenberg the year before. His far-reaching investigation was quashed by the Federal Soviet.

in 1961, Amnesty International, an underground organization dedicated to documenting human rights abuses across German-dominated Eurasia, is founded by British lawyer Peter Benenson. Benenson is killed by the German Reich later in the year, but A.I. continued to go on, at least slowing the international acceptance of the Reich’s abuses.

in 1965, a coal mine explosion that kills hundreds of people in the Indian city of Dharbad becomes the catalyst for Indian research into alternative fuels. With India's vast labor pool and native talent motivated as never before, they are able to eliminate the usage of coal and gasoline by 1993, turning their economy into the envy of the world.

in 1995, an earthquake levels the Russian town of Khabarovsk, and in particular smashes a temple that had been erected 5 centuries before by Baron Mikhail von Heflin. From across the world, he senses what has happened and rushes back to the old country.

in 1998, the largest wave of mergers and acquisitions to ever sweep through American businesses hits Wall Street. After the dust clears, all American businesses that are publicly traded on the stock exchange are owned by either SuperUltraMegaCorp or MicroPepExCo. Pleas for the government to step in and enforce anti-trust laws are ignored as the two super corporations own virtually every congressman in Washington.

in 2004, Marjorie Adams visits the Smartnet node at UCLA to see if she can piece together some of the things her dead father had hinted at in his correspondence with her were true. After speaking with Doug Barrister, the new Smartnet Administrator, she is somewhat reassured, but something about Barrister doesn’t sit well with her. She plans a return visit to UCLA – with some hacker friends.

Timelines in today's post: the Chinese Empire, Edison Steampunk, the Mlosh, the GZR, Communist America, von Heflin and The Smartnet Timeline

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

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The Overton Statute; Comrade Shephard In Space

April 12th, 2006

in 1633, Father Vincenzo Maculano da Firenzuola, Chief Inquisitor and a Conspirator of the Speaker’s Line, convicts Galileo Galilei of heresy. He had wanted to hear Galileo’s theories in person, and suppress them in the general population, and used his position in the Inquisition to do this. Galileo’s theories moved the Speaker’s Children forward in science, but the rest of the world was left behind.

in 1770, the British Parliament enacted the Overton Statute, named after the English lord who negotiated it, granting all colonies representation in Parliament. This was followed by quick repeal of many of the more odious laws such as the Townshend Act, and a new era of enlightenment propelled the British Empire forward; grumblings from the colonies became a thing of the past.

in 1858, Alfred Cummings arrives in Utah to take control of the territory as its first non-Mormon governor. The Mormons had been flouting U.S. law and threatening secession since arriving, and they felt that the appointment of a “gentile” as their governor was the last straw. They erupted in violence, declaring their independence from America.

in 1915, Dr. Ch'Kel'Mlar of the Q'Bar continues telling Captain Smith of the Harlequin about the mysterious race he has called the Kainku. After befriending the Q'Bar and aiding them with a cure for a recent plague, they began to sow mistrust among the various nations of the Q'Bar, and soon there was full-fledged civil war among the once-unified people. Captain Smith ponders the strange Kainku, and sends a full report back to earth.

in 1945, President Roosevelt suffers a massive stroke, disabling him for several months. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Vice President Harry Truman cover up the illness in order to keep the nation’s morale high; once the war is won, though, they announce Roosevelt’s resignation and Truman becomes president.

in 1952, Velma Porter and Mikhail von Heflin dig up more than they wanted to in Kenya when they unearth an ancient ancestor of the Baron’s and with it, the burial chamber she had been trapped in. Freed, the extra-dimensional being fled the earth and leaped into the stars.

in 1961, Communism proved its scientific superiority when Comrade Alan Shephard became the first man in space. Comrade President Rosenberg had accelerated the space program to beat the European monarchies in the space race and prove that true innovation could not be found within their reactionary borders.

in 1963, international sensation Pete Best releases his huge hit Between Us, which jumps to the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. He starts planning his first world tour.

in 1997, British leader Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s longest-serving Prime Minister, dies of a heart attack. Leading the fight against the American Constitutionalists and South Africa’s National Front had strained her immeasurably, and she had neglected her health while directing the war against the Fulcrum powers.

in 2005, the success of the Save Earth missions to destroy the centers where the Claws transform themselves into human appearance makes it impossible for the alien race to maintain its presence on earth. There is a vast withdrawal, and many prominent people disappear overnight. U.S. Representative Carl Worthington calls a press conference and announces, “The earth is now safe from alien influence.”

Timelines in today's post: the Speaker, the Mlosh, von Heflin, Communist America, Pete Best, the Ralph Shephard timeline and The Claw.

Today's "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenge: Connect the 1975 adaptation of Brecht's Galileo to Star Trek. Place your answers in the comments and see the Forum for previous results. For more on 6 degrees games, click here.

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All Of Creation Mourns

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

March 18th, 2006

in 1123 Post-Creation, as all of Creation mourns the death of Lucifer, the Creator speaks to all of the inhabitants of His Creation. Holding up the body of the fallen angel, He says, “This was My beloved son, in whom I was well pleased. For his sake, I shall forgive the sins of the world, and for his sake, you shall forgive each other.”

in 1314, Jacques de Molay, greatest of the Knights Templar of the Holy British Empire, died in battle against the Mamlukes of the Holy Land. He had pledged victory for his British masters, but despite many outstanding victories, he was unable to capture Jerusalem for his British Pope.

in 1673, Lord Berkeley, who had been granted part of New Jersey by King Charles II, was manipulated into granting it to the Quakers, an organization with large numbers of Speaker’s Children. In the wilds of this new land, they sought to find a way to fulfill the dreams of the Speaker.

in 1766, with Parliament's repeal of the Stamp Act, emboldened colonists across the British Empire begin to flout British law. Since the British lack the resources to put down rebellions of this nature everywhere in their empire, they begin losing control everywhere. Within a few short years, rebellions and outright secession have reduced Great Britain's territory to the British Isles themselves.

in 1871, Mlosh negotiators were able to broker a truce between Parisian Communists and President Adolphe Thiers of France. The Communards had chafed at the rule of the conservatives, and wanted to take control of the government by force. Irish Mlosh negotiatators were able to keep the situation from spilling over into a full-scale civil war.

in 1950, Nationalist Brazilians invade Sao Paolo, sending the reigning Communists into a tailspin. In spite of assistance from the Soviet States of America, Brazil’s Communists lose power; it is the single worst defeat for American foreign policy in the western hemisphere.

in 1991, President Terreblanche of South Africa pledges the support of his nation to the United States of America and its leader, President Ralph Shephard. “Together,” President Shephard said of the alliance, “we form a fulcrum that will be used to turn the world upside down.”

in 2000, Bill Burke, an avid player of tabletop role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons, dies in an auto accident and is greeted by Hamid, the spirit of a Turkish boy who died in the 12th century. Hamid, like so many other ghosts, was a hard-core fan of RPGs himself, and had been waiting for a good gamemaster like Burke to die so that he could finally play.

in 2004, Titan’s methane crabs swarm across the beaches of Darwin, Australia. Jacob and Livinia Sheridan lead the counter-attack against the alien menace, but it seems that for every crab the Aussie forces finish off, two more pop up from the water. Fighting desperately, the Sheridans make note of something they have seen repeatedly – the crabs don’t show up on their ship’s sensors. At great cost, they get a sample of the remains of some crabs to examine back in their lab in Darwin.

in 2005, Dr. Reilly has proved tougher than they thought he would be. “The other Claw we caught was pretty resistant to interrogation, too,” Dave Lange tells the other Save Earthers. “But he cracked when we said we'd cut off his hand – there must be something about their hands that we haven't figured out yet.”

Timelines in today's post: the Fall, the Speaker, the Holy British Empire, the Mlosh, Communist America, The Claw, the Ralph Shephard timeline and The Sheridans

Today's "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenge: Connect the newer and better D&D movie, Wrath of the Dragon God to Star Trek. Place your answers in the comments and see the Forum for previous results. For more on 6 degrees games, click here.

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The Forum lives again!

Good long fiction from the AH.

Help the Alternate Historian get a better day job!
My email address for contacting me with your good news, or for more direct goodness, go to the web site and leave a comment, buy a book, or leave a Paypal donation! Remember, it's only 6 degrees of separation between you and anyone else - and thanks again!

The Society Of Friends

We have our winners! Our thanks to everyone who entered, and be sure to enter our next contest, which will be 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!
Now for the winners - congratulations to Mike Smith, Gamer Girl, Nathaniel Engelsen, Dante Ojeda, Jake Dominguez, Leaper and Bob Brandon! Their winning entries will appear tomorrow, Halloween day!

October 30th, 2005

in 1650, the murderous cult that called itself The Society of Friends first gained its popular name of Quakers when founder George Fox told them that “the unbelievers will quake and tremble at our approach”.

in 1890, as the sun rises, Colonel Beauregard T. Jackson leads condemned Mormon rebel Charles Brigman up the scaffold to be hung in Salt Lake City. Dozens of citizens have assembled to watch, and they are being kept back by federal soldiers. Just as the noose is being lowered over Brigman's neck, an expertly-fired shot sunders the rope and a small group of men break through the federal lines and hustle Brigman away. Jackson shoots Brigman in the back as he escapes, but is unsure if the shot is fatal.

in 1915, H.G. Wells opens his second Little Warriors role-playing convention, with a special scenario to be run by himself on Halloween night. Over 15,000 attendees flood the hall in London where the convention is being held, and even members of high society can't resist joining in. At this convention, the American company called Parker Brothers announces that they will be producing a role-playing game of their own based on the legends of King Arthur, called Knights & Castles. It sells like hotcakes at the convention.

in 1938, the Mercury Theater was interrupted by breaking news from New Jersey of an invasion from Mars. After the hideous takeover of our government, the news program was passed off as a “hoax” by radio actor Orson Welles; the truth wasn’t revealed until decades later, when the Red Planet’s influence was finally eradicated from our government.

in 1953, President Eisenhower approves National Security Council Action 162/4, which formally grants the power to [CENSORED][CENSORED][CENSORED], thus ending American democracy.

in 1958, after convincing the Soviet government to allow him to travel to Sweden for the Nobel Prize Awards so that he could refuse his, Arthur Miller officially requested political asylum from the Swedish government. In his request, he denounced the state of free speech within the Soviet States of America, and likened the influence of America to “an iron curtain that has descended across all of North America, squelching artistic and political expression in subservience to the state.” Needless to say, Comrade President Joel Rosenberg lost no time denouncing Miller as a reactionary counter-revolutionary, no friend of the common people.

in 1975, King Juan Carlos begins his formal reign as ruler of Spain. True to his word to former dictator Francisco Franco, he maintains the fascist government, ignoring the entreaties of other governments and exiled Spaniards to transition Spain to a more democratic society.

in 1995, the Canadian province of Quebec overwhelmingly approves a referendum on secession from Canada. When the rest of Canada refused to let it secede, it closed its borders and began shooting Canadian troops sent in to restore it to the bosom of Canada. The short-lived civil war ended in 1998, when Canada finally subdued the rebel province.

in 2001, President Al Gore threw out the 1st pitch at game 3 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Republicans denounced his action roundly; as trivial showboating when America was at war with terrorism; as dangerous to the nation, since he didn’t wear a bullet-proof vest while on the mound; and as wimpy, since his pitch didn’t strike out the batter. Just as he had during his campaign, President Gore laughed off the Republican complaints; a winning strategy - he seems to be on his way to reelection.

in 2002, safely back in their stolen vessels, Dr. Courtney, Professor Thomas and their Air Force escort find themselves being approached by dozens of ships. They take off in a hurry, and advise the pilots in the other craft to stop for nothing. “We have to get back to earth with this,” Dr. Courtney says of the globe they have stolen. The desperate humans begin a prolonged chase through the Pleiades to escape from the aliens.

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

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!

Lutheran Empire; Travolta Defects To Britain

August 23rd, 2005

in 1861, Allen Pinkerton, having discovered that Washington socialite Rose Greenhow was a Confederate spy, suggests using her to feed false information to Johnny Reb rather than arrest her outright. With her unwitting assistance, the Union is able to cripple Confederate spy operations and trick the southern rebels in such important battles as Bull Run.

in 1866, in the middle of the Austro-Prussian war, Johannes Bittlemeyer, a young Lutheran minister, began encouraging soldiers on both sides to lay down their arms in the name of God. The widespread success of the peace movement threatened to topple the Austrian and Prussian governments, and they sent assassins to kill Bittlemeyer; unfortunately for them, the assassins joined the other side. The theocracy that became known as the Lutheran Empire took complete control of the central European nations in 1871 and was overthrown at the end of the Great War in 1947 when a long-suppressed democratic movement gained power.

in 1892, in a world-wide address, (and across hyperspace to the ships fleeing earth’s recent seismic troubles), the Executive Council of the Congress of Nations announces that henceforth, Mlosh weather-control technology will only be used in extreme circumstances. “This should save us a repeat of these circumstances,” First Chancellor Rabah told the world. In the aftermath of the disturbances, terrorist activity against the Mlosh picks up again.

in 4610, the Japanese province began its secession struggle against the Chinese Empire. Emperor Chengzu, grandson of Min-Yuan, was reluctant to war against his own subjects, and employed a different strategy, instead. The Eastern Fleet formed a blockade around the island, and the Empire used economic sanctions against the rebellious Japanese. While slower than conventional war, the strategy was effective – the Japanese begged for return to the Empire by 4618.

in 1934, actress Barbara Jean Moorhead was born in Tucson, Arizona. After several years of bit parts, she became a star when she landed the role of Samantha on the TV series Bewitched, due in part to having a similar name to the actress who played Samantha’s mother, Oscar-nominee Agnes Moorehead.

in 1959, Li Huang-Sen and Huan Yue find themselves on the coast after evading a group of soldiers. Huan Yue was suddenly seized with the desire to leave China, and she asked Li if he could get them away. Although he wanted to fulfill her wish, he felt that he shouldn’t spirit her out of the country without at least informing her father, and he tells her that they must go back to Po’s farm before departing the country.

in 1968, drummer Ringo Starr left the band the Silver Beatles, which had only been trading on their history as Pete Best’s band for the last 6 years. His solo career was somewhat better, and he was able to make a few movie appearances over the years. He even played for Pete Best, himself, on Best’s Reconciliation tour in ‘77.

in 1979, American actor John Travolta defected to Great Britain during a publicity tour for his latest film, Grease, a hard-hitting musical about the harsh life of auto-mechanics in capitalist countries. Travolta denounced life in the Soviet States of America as controlled by the two political parties, with little freedom left for the artistically or politically inclined. Travolta was declared a traitor by Comrade President John Anderson of the Socialist Party.

in 1363, Said Aouita of the Caliphate of Morocco won the Trials of Sport in Al-Meshuk. Aouita defeated infidels of the freed European nations, proving the glory of Allah over their blasphemous ways.

in 1989, after assurances that the United States would not interfere in an “Arab-Arab conflict”, Iraq took control of the tiny but oil-rich nation of Kuwait. When the stock markets posted a hefty gain, based mostly on oil stocks, the U.S. issued a statement that there would be no action to free Kuwait.

in 1996, Professor Malcolm Thomas, working late on the object at Edwards Air Force Base in California, stumbles into a room that has some very strange specimens preserved in a clear liquid. He runs from the room and tries to forget what he has seen there.

in 2004, a diagnostic of the Elder early-warning system reveals no flaws. Many scientists begin to wonder if the earlier “false” positives were actually true. They make a few quiet recommendations to their respective governments about searching the local populations. As discreetly as possible, governments around the world begin screening their people to see if any of them are Elders in disguise.


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!

Thanks to everyone for their generosity!

We have raised a lot from your donations, for which we are VERY grateful! Our situation is no longer as dire, so we don't need to beg for help - thanks so much! Because we like including our readers into the site, though, we will still keep our offer open - 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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Warp and Protocols still available; also, see the script I submitted for Bravo's Situation: Comedy

The Terror Continues; Bomb At The Olympics

July 27th, 2005

in 1794, French leader Maximilien Robespierre crushes an attempt by the National Assembly to overthrow him. He executed virtually all representatives in the Assembly, and called for new elections, with only his loyal Jacobins in the running.

in 1797, the Marquis of Lafayette arrived in North America to negotiate for France’s possessions on the continent. Most of the European colonists, the Mlosh population, the African slaves, and the Native American population have been banding together and speaking with their home governments about secession and formation of a new country; the Marquis has been charged with halting that.

in 1925, Enrico Caruso releases an album of arias on the Maggie format. When he dies days after the recording session, the album cannot be kept on store shelves, and this has the side effect of driving sales of Maggie-players through the roof. It seems as if every home in America has one by Christmas.

in 1974, acid rocker John Denver hit the top of the charts with Annie’s Song, a ballad about his wife’s drug addiction. Denver also had a hit with downers like I’m Sorry, and often opened for acts like Kiss and Alice Cooper. After a decade of inactivity in the 80’s, he experienced a brief revival in popularity when Marilyn Manson covered Annie’s Song.

in 1982, after decades of observation and debate about the people of the Beautiful Parent star system, the inhabitants of Lalande 25372 decide to broadcast a message. The Beautiful Parents have had no contact with the galactic civilization of the Elders, so the Lalandians feel that they must be warned. The encrypted message, sent in the 7 most common languages from the system, gives a history of the Lalandians and a warning about the Elders.

in 2749 AUC, a bomb explodes at the Olympic Games held in Athens. The first Olympics held in Greece since the ancient days, it also attracted political dissidents; Romans protesting the move back to Greece, and Greeks protesting their continued inclusion in the Roman Republic. Terrorism was bound to follow.

in 1996, the Courtney expedition arrives in Harare, Zimbabwe. They are driving the trucks of the soldiers that had stolen the Chimanimani object from them, and are met by a similar group. Surprised at seeing civilians in these vehicles, the leader demands to know where his men are. “Back there,” Dr. Courtney says, pointing down the road, “and up there,” he says, pointing to the sky.

in 2000, leaving his bride resting in their Las Vegas hotel room, newlywed Mikhail von Heflin goes down to the hotel’s casino and plays a few games. The same men who had been watching him since the plane flight here are scattered throughout the casino, and he corners one. The bald man stammers an apology about simply finding the Baron attractive and begs his forgiveness. The Baron releases him, but returns quickly to his room.

in 2002, a disease struck across the Holy British Empire which raised boils on everyone; well, almost everyone. The heretics and Protestants who had refused the mark of righteousness were unaffected.

in 2003, the BBC reported that their scientific exploration of Loch Ness in Scotland had found a colony of huge monsters living in the lake. Tourism in Scotland increased by a factor of 1000.


DIRE FINANCIAL TIMES AT THE ACADEMY!

Thanks to everyone for their generosity! We have raised a lot from your donations, for which we are VERY grateful, but our new academician is expensive, so we're keeping the offer open - 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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Warp and Protocols still available

Orange Eddies; Amnesty International

May 28th, 2005

in 1704, Pope Henry IV succeeded his father, Stephen II, as pope of the Holy British Empire. Stephen II left behind a legacy of fanaticism unequaled in the history of either the church or the empire; thousands of so-called "Protestants" were put to the stake under his reign.

in 4558, Emperor Min-Yuan granted freedom to the vassals of the west. It was a controversial move that caused the Viet and Siamese people to attempt secession; in the war that followed, the Viet were almost wiped out, and the Siamese eventually switched sides back to the Empire.

in 1899, Thomas Edison announced the new Eddie for a new century, the Mandarin. The 20th century line of Eddies was named after orange varieties, and proved to be very popular; the cost was down to that of a new car, and they were the size of a large car. Edison vowed that with the Orange line of Eddies, by the end of the next century, an Eddie would be the size of a desk. Skeptics abounded.

in 1910, the Q’Bar sign the terms of surrender at the Barnard’s Star talks. They will be moving their entire race from the Mlosh home system to the Kantar star system, a move financed by the Jovian Mlosh, although Mlosh from across the system donate money to the cause. There is riotous celebration in all Mlosh communities after this victory.

in 1961, Amnesty International, an underground organization dedicated to documenting human rights abuses across German-dominated Eurasia, is founded by British lawyer Peter Benenson. Benenson is killed by the German Reich later in the year, but A.I. continued to go on, at least slowing the international acceptance of the Reich’s abuses.

in 1963, Comrade Elvis Presley, People's Attorney for the Soviet of Tennessee, declared that counter-revolutionary Lee Harvey Oswald had not acted alone in the assasination of Comrade President Rosenberg the year before. His far-reaching investigation was quashed by the Federal Soviet.

in 1995, an earthquake levels the Russian town of Khabarovsk, and in particular smashes a temple that had been erected 5 centuries before by Baron Mikhail von Heflin. From across the world, he senses what has happened and rushes back to the old country.

in 2004, Marjorie Adams visits the Smartnet node at UCLA to see if she can piece together some of the things her dead father had hinted at in his correspondence with her were true. After speaking with Doug Barrister, the new Smartnet Administrator, she is somewhat reassured, but something about Barrister doesn’t sit well with her. She plans a return visit to UCLA – with some hacker friends.


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Communists Place Man In Space

April 12th, 2005

in 1633, Father Vincenzo Maculano da Firenzuola, Chief Inquisitor and a Conspirator of the Speaker’s Line, convicts Galileo Galilei of heresy. He had wanted to hear Galileo’s theories in person, and suppress them in the general population, and used his position in the Inquisition to do this. Galileo’s theories moved the Speaker’s Children forward in science, but the rest of the world was left behind.

in 1817, astronomical explorer Charles Messier, dies aboard his ship Henri II when they miscalculate the path of a comet and smash into it. Messier had created a system of cataloguing astronomical objects that even surpassed the Mlosh one of the time.

in 1858, Alfred Cummings arrives in Utah to take control of the territory as its first non-Mormon governor. The Mormons had been flouting U.S. law and threatening secession since arriving, and they felt that the appointment of a “gentile” as their governor was the last straw. They erupted in violence, declaring their independence from America.

in 1945, President Roosevelt suffers a massive stroke, disabling him for several months. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Vice President Harry Truman cover up the illness in order to keep the nation’s morale high; once the war is won, though, they announce Roosevelt’s resignation and Truman becomes president.

in 1952, Velma Porter and Mikhail von Heflin dig up more than they wanted to in Kenya when they unearth an ancient ancestor of the Baron’s and with it, the burial chamber she had been trapped in. Freed, the extra-dimensional being fled the earth and leapt into the stars.

in 1961, Communism proved its scientific superiority when Comrade Alan Shephard became the first man in space. Comrade President Rosenberg had accelerated the space program to beat the European monarchies in the space race and prove that true innovation could not be found within their reactionary borders.

in 1963, international sensation Pete Best releases his huge hit Between Us, which jumps to the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. He starts planning his first world tour.

in 1997, British leader Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s longest-serving Prime Minister, dies of a heart attack. Leading the fight against the American Constitutionalists and South Africa’s National Front had strained her health, and she had neglected her health while directing the war against the Fulcrum powers.


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Poll Link: New poll coming, but take the old one for now.

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President Gore Throws Pitch In World Series

October 30th, 2004

in 1485, the Papal Guards, popularly known as Beefeaters, were created by Pope Henry VII. They have guarded Buckingham Cathedral and all the Popes of the Holy British Empire since then.

in 1650, the murderous cult that called itself The Society of Friends first gained its popular name of Quakers when founder George Fox told them that “the unbelievers will quake and tremble at our approach”.

in 1902, an encrypted message was broadcast from the old Mlosh colony ship in the Sahara Desert towards the center of the galaxy. Many human radio astronomers were able to intercept the message, but no one was able to break the code on it. By this point, the Sahara was teeming with the alien race, since the colony ship wasn’t large enough to hold them all. Human messengers sent to the site were rebuffed politely but firmly, and the Mlosh refused to respond to vidcoms.

in 1938, the Mercury Theater was interrupted by breaking news from New Jersey of an invasion from Mars. After the hideous takeover of our government, the news program was passed off as a “hoax” by radio actor Orson Welles; the truth wasn’t revealed until decades later, when the Red Planet’s influence was finally eradicated from our government.

in 4646, Star Sailor Yang LiWei was born on the moon colony, the first child born there since it was repopulated after contact with the Chdo. Yang was the first human being to see the galactic core, traveling there in the experimental Chdo-Human hybrid vessel, the Black Swan.

in 1958, after convincing the Soviet government to allow him to travel to Sweden for the Nobel Prize Awards so that he could refuse his, Arthur Miller officially requested political asylum from the Swedish government. In his request, he denounced the state of free speech within the Soviet States of America, and likened the influence of America to “an iron curtain that has descended across all of North America, squelching artistic and political expression in subservience to the state.” Needless to say, Comrade President Joel Rosenberg lost no time denouncing Miller as a reactionary counter-revolutionary, no friend of the common people.

in 1995, the Canadian province of Quebec narrowly approves a referendum on secession from Canada. After intense negotiations, it becomes the sovereign nation of Quebec in 1997, followed by New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland/Labrador. In 1999, British Columbia and Yukon Territories join the United States by treaty, and by the end of the century, Canada is only the center of the former great nation.

in 2001, President Al Gore threw out the 1st pitch at game 3 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Republicans denounced his action roundly; as trivial showboating when America was at war with terrorism; as dangerous to the nation, since he didn’t wear a bullet-proof vest while on the mound; and as wimpy, since his pitch didn’t strike out the batter. Just as he had during his campaign, President Gore laughed off the Republican complaints; a winning strategy - he seems to be on his way to reelection.

Mlosh Weather-Control Technology Curtailed; John Travolta Defects

August 23rd, 2004

in 1866, the Austro-Prussian War was temporarily halted by a Communist-inspired solidarity movement among the soldiers. Both sides laid down their arms and refused to fight. When enough leaders of the movement were executed by the leaders of Austria and Prussia, the war resumed.

in 1892, in a world-wide address, (and across hyperspace to the ships fleeing earth’s recent seismic troubles), the Executive Council of the Congress of Nations announces that henceforth, Mlosh weather-control technology will only be used in extreme circumstances. “This should save us a repeat of these circumstances,” First Chancellor Rabah told the world. In the aftermath of the disturbances, terrorist activity against the Mlosh picks up again.

in 4610, the Japanese province began its secession struggle against the Chinese Empire. Emperor Chengzu, grandson of Min-Yuan, was reluctant to war against his own subjects, and employed a different strategy, instead. The Eastern Fleet formed a blockade around the island, and the Empire used economic sanctions against the rebellious Japanese. While slower than conventional war, the strategy was effective – the Japanese begged for return to the Empire by 4618.

in 1934, actress Barbara Jean Moorhead was born in Tucson, Arizona. After several years of bit parts, she became a star when she landed the role of Samantha on the TV series Bewitched, due in part to having a similar name to the actress who played Samantha’s mother, Agnes Moorehead.

in 1968, drummer Ringo Starr left the band the Silver Beatles, which had only been trading on their history as Pete Best’s band for the last 6 years. His solo career was somewhat better, and he was able to make a few movie appearances over the years. He even played for Pete Best, himself, on Best’s Reconciliation tour in 77.

in 1979, American actor John Travolta defected to Great Britain during a publicity tour for his latest film, Grease, a hard-hitting musical about the harsh life of auto-mechanics in capitalist countries. Travolta denounced life in the Soviet States of America as controlled by the two political parties, with little freedom left for the artistically or politically inclined. Travolta was declared a traitor by Comrade President John Anderson of the Socialist Party.

in 1363, Said Aouita of the Caliphate of Morocco won the Trials of Sport in Al-Meshuk. Aouita defeated infidels of the freed European nations, proving the glory of Allah over their blasphemous ways.

in 2003, the Antarctic falls to the monsters from beneath the ice, and the Australian-led multinational force falls back to their respective continents. Livinia Nixon is taken prisoner during this battle, and transported underneath the ice to the monster’s lair.

Bomb At The Olympic Games

July 27th, 2004

in 1234, Pope John of the Holy British Empire was defeated by Bishop Philip of Bouvines. Philip was harboring “Protestants”, and John had attempted to seize them. Through Philip’s actions, the “Protestant” community of the Holy British Empire was able to grow.

in 1797, the Marquis of Lafayette arrived in North America to negotiate for France’s possessions on the continent. Most of the European colonists, the Mlosh population, the African slaves, and the Native American population have been banding together and speaking with their home governments about secession and formation of a new country; the Marquis has been charged with halting that.

in 1925, Enrico Caruso releases an album of arias on the Maggie format. When he dies days after the recording session, the album cannot be kept on store shelves, and this has the side effect of driving sales of Maggie-players through the roof. It seems as if every home in America has one by Christmas.

in 1974, acid rocker John Denver hit the top of the charts with Annie’s Song, a ballad about his wife’s drug addiction. Denver also had a hit with downers like I’m Sorry, and often opened for acts like Kiss and Alice Cooper. After a decade of inactivity in the 80’s, he experienced a brief revival in popularity when Marilyn Manson covered Annie’s Song.

in 2749 AUC, a bomb explodes at the Olympic Games held in Athens. The first Olympics held in Greece since the ancient days, it also attracted political dissidents; Romans protesting the move back to Greece, and Greeks protesting their continued inclusion in the Roman Republic. Terrorism was bound to follow.

in 1999, the 17 madmen of Mt. Didicas arrive back at the undersea ruins. They kill a scuba shop owner and steal all of his equipment, then steal a boat to sail back out to the ruins. A voice is calling them all; a voice that many fisherman also can hear on the sea; a voice that sends the sane back to the shore.

in 2002, a disease struck across the Holy British Empire, which raised boils on everyone; well, almost everyone. The heretics and Protestants who had refused the mark of righteousness were unaffected.

in 2003, the BBC reported that their scientific exploration of Loch Ness in Scotland had found a colony of huge monsters living in the lake. Tourism in Scotland increased by a factor of 1000.

Trojan Forces Invade Greece

June 13th, 2004

in the Dreaming, Wandjina came to the people of Pindanjaru with much wisdom. He spoke of caring for the land, of building a bridge to the stars, and of the coming of the pale men. He promised to return on that day to defend the Dreaming against their invasion.

in 1149 B.C., Trojan forces landed on the shores of Greece, and began a 10-year siege of the peninsula.

in the 3rd year of Usermaatreakhenamun's Reign, a vision of Egypt destroyed came to him in a dream. The young pharaoh had been sickly, but this dream filled him with strength. He began to eat only fresh vegetables and meats, and soon his strength grew. By the end of his 53-year reign, Usermaatreakhenamun had conquered half of the known world, and Egypt would never be in danger of destruction again.

in Kaliyuga 597, Gauthama Siddhartha, a prince of India, sat beneath a tree and meditated. The riches of his people were before him, privilege and honor enough for 10 nobles. But he knew nothing of poverty. After much meditation, he decided he preferred it that way. He became a hideous tyrant, conquering the lands to the north as well as other Hindi.

in 1304, so-called "Protestants" founded the city of Jesu, in France. Worshipping in secret, the Protestants grew in number in the region until they felt strong enough to attempt secession from the Holy British Empire.

in 1789, Mrs. Alexander Hamilton served a dessert treat for General George Washington, a dish called ice cream. It was not received well, and has never been a popular sweet since.

in 4561, in a desparate attempt to gain access to food from farmlands around the city, troops in Hanoi burst through the Chinese siege forces in a bloody battle lasting half the day.

in 1892, Sir Basil Rathbone, famed director of the British cinema, was born. Early in his career he had tried his hand at acting, but was such a miserable failure that after only one or two films spent the rest of his career behind the camera.

in 1947, Japanese forces consolidated their hold on Canada, and agreed to a truce with the US. Until Emperor Hirohito's death in 1989, the border of Japanese Canada and the US was the longest militarized border in the world.

in 1964, attempting to capitalize on Pete Best's success, his former bandmates, the Silver Beatles, release old recordings that had been made of him playing with them. Bestmania being rampant across the world, the recordings gave these men, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison, a good living for several years.

Pope Henry IX Crowned; North American Confederation Declares Independence

May 28, 2004

in 1704, Pope Henry IX succeeded his father, Stephen II, as pope of the Holy British Empire. Stephen II left behind a legacy of fanaticism unequaled in the history of either the church or the empire; thousands of so-called "Protestants" were put to the stake under his reign.

in the 18th year of Cheokhan's reign, the Army of the Upper Nile put down a rebellion in the Slav kingdoms of the north. A warrior claiming to be Wotan himself began stirring the Germanic peoples against the rule of the Pharoahs, a movement which would end with Europe finally gaining independence from Africa.

in 4558, Emperor Min-Yuan granted freedom to the vassals of the west. It was a controversial move that caused the Viet and Siamese people to attempt secession; in the war that followed, the Viet were almost wiped out, and the Siamese eventually switched sides back to the Empire.

in 1899, Thomas Edison announced the new Eddie for a new century, the Mandarin. The 20th century line of Eddies was named after orange varieties, and proved to be very popular; the cost was down to that of a new car, and they were the size of a large car. Edison vowed that with the Orange line of Eddies, by the end of the next century, an Eddie would be the size of a desk. Skeptics abounded.

in 1947, the German Reich declared victory in Europe.

in 1963, Comrade Elvis Presley, People's Attorney for the Soviet of Tennessee, declared that counter-revolutionary Lee Harvey Oswald had not acted alone in the assasination of Comrade President Rosenberg the year before. His far-reaching investigation was quashed by the Federal Soviet.

in 1977, the Confederated States of America, after a century of pressure from other nations, officially ended slavery.

in 2000, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named ascended from the depths and began His Unholy reign.


May 27, 2004

in 1800, the Mlosh finalized the independence of the North American Confederation from Great Britain, France, Spain and the Iroquois Confederation. The 3 European nations went into rapid decline following the loss of their North American colonies, but the Iroquois began a healthy alliance that lasts to the present day.

in 1872, on the 50th anniversary of Charles Babbage's difference engine, Thomas Edison unveiled his electric-powered version of the machine. The Edison EDE's, (Eddies, as they were known popularly), initially sold only to the US, British and French governments, became so useful that within a decade, most governments and large businesses were using them.

in 4600, the Emperor Chengzu's Star Fleet landed Ouyang Ziyuan on the moon. The Star Sailor's first words from the satellite were, "This is one small step for a humble servant, but a great leap for our Glorious Emperor." A dozen landings and a small colony followed, but with Chengzu's death in 4623, the Star Fleet became less of a priority for the Emperors of China.

in 1919, the Greater Zionist Resistance rose up in the European area known as The Pale, beginning the movement that would bring chaos to eastern Europe for the next 30 years. Begun by Astrid Pflaume, a fascist German time-traveler, a member of a neo-Nazi group seeking to foment an actual Jewish conspiracy, she succeeded in ways they had not anticipated.

in 1956, Joel Rosenberg secured the nomination of the Communist Party to represent them in the general election. He would face Socialist President Adlai Stevenson in the general election and defeat him soundly, ensuring Communist control of the Soviet States of America for the next 16 years. His own Presidency was sadly cut short in Dallas in 1962, when he was assasinated by a fascist counter-revolutionary, Lee Harvey Oswald.

in 1981, Fuhrer Adolf Hitler of the German Reich died in his sleep after almost 50 years in power. Europe was plunged almost immediately into civil war as dozens of subjugated peoples attempted to throw off their yokes after decades of fascist oppression.

in 12-19-6-1-0, King Chihuehue of the Inca declared himself the heir by marriage to the Mayan throne, after the death of his father-in-law, Emperor Mectezume. He was uncontested, and is expected to rule until the end of the age in 12 years, when Quetzelcoatl shall return.

in 2002, the immortal Comte de St Germaine finally achieved his goal of uncovering the Holy Grail. With its power, he began his campaign to have himself declared King of the Holy British Empire.

A Hinted Confession

August 26th, 2007

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The Announcement

Don't forget - Birthday Contest for Steve – November 22, 1967. Send in an alternate birthday for him for us to post!

Alternate Historian's Note: Back to the Porno Universe story!

After I was finished luxuriating in Willie's tub, I got out and dried off in the wind box she kept next to the bath. The wind box was one of my people's inventions, rather than an Arythiok machine, but I could tell that Willie had made modifications to it, because the gentle caresses of the air on my body were just too sensual. Most of the wind boxes made in my home feel like you're getting dried off by a hurricane.

Clean and refreshed now, I looked for my old clothes and noticed that Willie had spirited them off and replaced them with a fresh set. I hadn't remembered leaving anything here the last time I stayed with her, but she was both a generous and a resourceful hostess. I put on the shirt and pants, both of which were tailored perfectly and of a very tasteful style, and looked at myself in the mirror. I supposed I was presentable again.

I walked down to the living room just in time to see Willie switch off the holo after saying what I think was a goodbye in Arythiok. She looked around at me, her skin dark again. “Forgive me, I was just talking to an old friend,” she said, hurriedly getting up and heading to the kitchen. “I have dinner prepared if you would like to eat.”

“Who was the old friend?” I didn't know if she would answer, but it never hurt to ask.

“Someone from my ship,” she said, a much more direct answer than I was expecting. I followed her quickly into the kitchen; if she had picked now as the time to talk to me about her past, I wasn't going to let a moment waste. “She is related to me, in a complicated manner that I'm not sure I can explain in your language.” Her skin was lightening, but her eyes were still jade. “We shared a soul once.”

I shook my head. “For breakfast, or...”

Her eyes shaded from green to red, and she answered me, “We were once one soul. You know that we recycle souls; all the talk shows buzzed about that for years. But we never said what we recycle them into.”

I could hardly find my voice. “Are you going to say now?”

The red faded from her eyes and she stared deeply into my own. Now, I knew she was telepathic. I could feel her reading my mind, exploring my motivations and trying to deliberate what I would do with the knowledge she held. I've been read by telepaths before, but this time felt so different – almost as if my soul were being weighed. After a very long time in my head, she finally said, “I believe so. Your recent experience makes me believe that you will be able to understand my own past with some sympathy.”

Jesse Owens	In 1935, the sporting world was rocked by Chief Justice von Shrakenberg's decision to deny a travel permit to Jesse Owens. In protest the American athletics team withdrew participation from the Games of the XI Olympiad in Archona, capital city of the Dominion of Draka. United States Olympic Committee president Avery Brundage had initially stated that "politics has no place in sport".
With Owens expected to win up to four gold medals, von Shakenberg feared that sport could have profound consequences for politics, by debunking the Draka assertion of white supremacy. Brundage now threw his support behind anti-fascists who planned to host a People's Olympiad in Barcelona at the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc. Archona's bid had been preferred over Barcelona by the International Olympics Committee in April, 1931. The outbreak of the Spanish Civil War led to the cancellation of this alternative games to protest the 1936 Olympics.
~ variant entry by Steve Payne: details of the Draka World have been used to celebrate the genius of S.M. Stirling

In 1861, in Lee Allred's West of Appomattox General Robert E. Lee opposed the secession of his home state of Virginia, accepting President Lincoln's offer to command United States forces. A half dozen years later, Robert E. Lee is dispatched to London because Britain's continued alliance with the Confederacy is creating major problems for the defeated North.

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

Kurt Vonnegut	"I wrote the Air Force back then, asking for details about the raid on Dresden, who ordered it, how many planes did it, why they did it, what desirable results there had been and so on. [I was told] that information was top secret still. Secret? My God – from whom?" ~ Kurt Vonnegut speaking about the fire-bombing of Dresden, the city he described as the “Florence of the Elbe”
Dresden

Kurt Vonnegut was a fourth-generation German-American living in easy circumstances on Cape Cod (and smoking too much), who, as an American Infantry Scout hors de combat, as a prisoner of war witnessed the fire-bombing of Dresden. In 1968, Kurt Vonnegut would get answers all these questions and more after he was seized by alien occupants of a flying saucer from the Planet Tralfamadore.

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

In 2002, in Roland J. Green' George Custer Slept Here forward landings near Civitavecchia permit a result in which Rome may fall seven months early. Unlike the later Market Garden and Inchon forward attacks, Civitavecchia is a disaster in which Custer dies during a desperate Last Stand.

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

In 1914, the Russian First and Second Armies led by Generals Alexander Samsonov and Paul von Rennenkampf defeated a much smaller force of German troops at the Battle of Tannenberg. Despite the tactical brilliance of Colonel Max Hoffmann, the new High Command consisting of Hindenburgh and Ludendorff arrived too late to prevent the destruction of German Corps on the Eastern Front. The march on Berlin was relentless, and it would appear that nothing could now stop the Russian Steamroller.

~ entry by Co-Historian Steve Payne

In 2006, at the food court a Canadian customer asked "Can I get an ice cappuccino?". The next customer was a somewhat startled English-born immigrant who asked "Can I have an ice cappuccino please?". Startled because he had never thought of ordering as ordering. Surely, an order was a polite request not an aggressive stock inquiry?

~ entry by Co-historian Steve Payne

Castle Bonny	In 1943, former War Leader Winston Churchill gave his public view of Castle Bonny which premièred seven days before on Broadway. The film was directed by Michael Curtiz, and starred Cary Grant as Dick Blaine, Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund and Paul Henreid as resistance leader Victor Laszlo, caught in a love triangle. ..
.. The rekindled romance between Blaine and Lund was set during Great War II in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt, off the Bight of Bonny – then controlled by the Nazi Protectorate of Britain. The final scene shows Dick, Laszlo and a detachment of Free British soldiers on a ship, to incorporate the Allies' 1943 invasion of England. “The bulldog spirit runs through the whole film, ” said Churchill from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York “we shall fight on the south downs, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets of the home counties, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." Privately Churchill considered the movie quite dreadful. Of greater concern was the pressing need to position himself as the leader of the liberated British nation. Naturally, he and not the Head of the British Government in Exile, Lord Halifax was the right man for the job.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 2127, through the functioning of the Hussein-Sadat time dilation device, and assisted by the kidnapping by the Eurasian fugitive known as Brent, first Asian QC Kim Hollis and her lover the Attorney General arrive in Doha, Qatar. Brent has ..	Kim Hollis
.. but a moment to explain that the world of 2127 is most definitely not a Newt Gingrich pipe dream. The UN has been reconstructed and is run by first nations. Indigenous control has been re assumed of the Turtle Island (America), the Dreamtime (Australia) and Eurasians have returned to semi-barbarism, starving in the unheated and unlit city slums. “Peter, “ says Hollis “ this is terrible, you must alter the legal advice to Tony Blair!”. Goldsmith frets, he has to tell the Prime Minister of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that he is having an extra-marital affair with the first Asian QC, and also he has decided to rule that invasion of Iraq is illegal. His credibility will be in tatters, and people will suspect he has been “got to” by Hollis. OMG, people might even think he is deep sleeping with an al-Qaeda deep sleeper agent!
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

Duckies!	In 1998, SM Sterling's third book the Stone Duckies portrays the ultimate triumph of the Domination. A bio-psychological virus based on peppermint flavoured herbal tea defeats the Alliance for Democracy, who flee to a distant star led by Arnold Schwarzeneggar. It was all done in the best possible taste.
~ entry by Steve Payne: I've always thought there was a slightly sadomasochistic undertone to the over-caricatured fascists of the Draka taking over the world and skewering French peasants on stakes etc. My exagerrated satire of the already exagerrated Drakas of S.M. Stirling's novels (Marching through Georgia, Drakas, Stone Dogs etc) who are just a bit too inhumanely tough and hence "camped" up in my variant.

De Gaulle	In 1944, Charles de Gaulle marched into Paris at the head of Free French Forces. Of course this would never have been possible without the American entry into the war in 1941. Both nations bonded during Operation Torch, conquered North Africa together and then invaded the soft under belly of Europe before finally defeating ..
.. Hitler in 1945. Throughout his long-life, and his Presidency, de Gaulle could never forgive perfidious albion. Lord Halifax had maintained a policy of neutrality as France stood alone, refusing even to supply de Gaulle and the Free French Forces in North Africa with arms during the hard days that followed the Battle of France.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

In 1914, on this day the Russians 2nd Army defeated the Germans in the Battle of Tannenberg, a decisive engagement which resulted in the almost complete destruction of the German 8th Army. Inside of three weeks, the Russian Commanders of the 1st and 2nd Armies, Alexander Samsonov and Paul von Rennenkampf would enter Berlin. ..	Battle of Tannenberg
.. Such was their triumph that the Generals settled the bitter personal feud that had existed since they fought at the train station at Mukden in 1905.
~ entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!

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