Sunday, December 31, 2006

Goodbye, 2006

The state of TIAH

December 31st, 2006

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Alternate Historian's Note: This is the 3rd year we have said goodbye to since starting up TIAH, and it's been a tumultuous one. We hope that you have enjoyed the quality of our work – and that of our many guest historians – and that our work in the future will be worth your time. Since our future is highly uncertain at the moment, we don't know if we will be able to keep TIAH up; that is our plan, certainly, but you never know what can happen. Our new year's hope for you is that you live in less interesting times than we have – sort of a reverse on the supposed Chinese curse.
We're taking the day off, now. The new year will see a return of our tremendous work ethic, but for now, we'd like to bid goodbye to all the good parts of 2006, and good riddance to all the bad ones. We leave it to you to determine which are which.
Have a safe and happy new year, everyone!

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Saturday, December 30, 2006

Encounter In South Austin

The state of TIAH

December 30th, 2006

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Alternate Historian's Note: This is very cool – I was looking at the Amazon sidebar, and saw that somebody had made this. This designer makes a lot of different things of this general type, so I don't know if it's an automated process or something, but it's still pretty neat. I also think it's more likely that the TIAH referred to is 'aunt' in Spanish. (Although misspelled.) Anyway, back to our exciting NaNoWriMo novel...

After(cont.)
Janice messaged back to her friends that they were going to assemble in Bryan. "The problem, of course, is that they can't travel at night." She looked at Jake. "Unless we go get them."
"You're kidding."
"No, that's the best way."
Kevin spoke up. "Why can't we just go to New Mexico? Cut out the middle men?"
"They won't tell me who to contact." She shrugged. "They're pretty paranoid."
"What a shock." Jake sighed. "OK, where do they live?"

They were soon shooting down the deserted highway in the jeep, flashing past the occasional other Guard vehicle as it went about other official business. Much to everyone's surprise, they weren't stopped, and made it all the way to South Austin and the small shack that Janice said was the home of Mike and Eli. After making sure that no one was watching them, Jake let Janice out and accompanied her to the door. "Now, these guys don't really have a lot of social skills," she told Jake as she rang the door bell. "Try not to be offended."
"Who the hell is it?" The gruff voice from the other side of the door registered surprise as it said, "Government stooge. You'll have to blow down the door, pig, and you still ain't getting me alive!"
Janice quickly put herself in front of the peephole in the door and said, "Eli, it's me. Let us in."
"Does he have a gun on you, Jan?"
A look of great exasperation dropped over Janice's face. "Every damn time... no, Eli, he's the guy I was telling you about on the computer. You're wasting time and causing a scene that is going to make sure that people see us out here, where they will be able to identify us later. Open-the-door!"
The door opened a crack, enough for Eli to stick his face out and glare at the two of them. He had wild, long dark hair, and eyes that were straight from a psychiatrist's nightmare. After a few seconds of examination, he opened the door widely and let the two of them in, slamming the door shut quickly behind them. He looked Jake up and down, fingering the pistol in his hands nervously. Jake felt compelled to ask, "Could you put the safety on that?"
Eli smiled, revealing a mouth of surprisingly bright teeth. "You'd like that, wouldn't you, Sergeant?"
Jake nodded. "Yes, I would. I'd prefer that to me beating your sorry, narrow butt down and taking it from you." Jake's expressionless face obviously spooked Eli, because he did flip the safety on. "Now, are you ready to go?"
"Almost," Eli said, heading towards a door on the other side of the small room. He opened it up, and started descending a set of stairs that it hid. "Mike's telling our contacts how to get hold of us once we decamp."
Jake and Janice followed him down the stairs into a dingy little basement filled with computer equipment, weaponry, ammunition, and some strange unidentifiable detritus that they didn't want to think about. Mike, a large man with a buzz cut, sat in front of a monitor, tapping instructions as they came up behind him.
"I told you it was Janice," Mike said to Eli.
"They could have hacked into the door cam with a false image," Eli said, defensively.
Mike finished whatever he was typing and turned to the others. A long scar cut across his right cheek, but otherwise, he had a pleasant face. He put up a hand in a faux-cool high-five gesture and said to Jake, "My brutha." When Jake simply stared at him icily, he dropped his hand and said to Janice, "So, we're set. We head to Bryan to throw the man off the trail, then we head off to join the resistance in Roswell."
Jake chuckled. "Roswell?"
"Appropriate, right?"
Janice nodded. "We could use a little alien intervention right now."

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Friday, December 29, 2006

Decision

The state of TIAH

December 29th, 2006

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Alternate Historian's Note: Our thanks to Stephen Payne for his great contributions the last couple of months. We truly appreciate his work here at the Academy, especially as we continue the second half of our NaNoWriMo novel.
I'm going to inject a note of reality today – today is the last day of work for several people at my day job, and it's a little depressing, because it's a reminder that I only have 3 months to go. So, if you've got a lead on a good day job, or an in with a publishing company, let me know. I'd be in your debt.
OK, enough with the downers; on with the good stuff...

After(cont.)
Something shook the image on the screen of the PC, and Janice said, “That's them.” She opened up her message program and read what they were writing. “They say that they're holed up in South Austin, with plenty of ammo and firepower.” She furrowed her brow at something else they were sending her. “The National Guard's picked up a few of our friends.” She looked accusingly back at Jake and Kevin, who simply shrugged. “OK, I'm gonna ask them if they can handle a few visitors.” She typed for a few minutes and waited for a reply.
“I'm not really sure about leaving my house to go sit in a hole with a couple of gun nuts,” Steph whispered to Kevin. “I had enough of guns when I was married to him,” she continued, bobbing her head at Jake. “Do you really think that we need to leave? Those guys wouldn't come back, would they?”
He looked into her eyes and tried to speak soothingly as he told her, “They're not getting anything out of stealth right now. They have to come back.” He lost the soothe as he told her, “Next time, they're gonna be more direct, too. Much as I don't want to sit in a hole with a couple of her friends,” he said, pointing at Janice's back, “it's probably safer for us all if we do.”
“This is all so crazy.” Steph reached out a hand to tentatively brush his. “I hope that my kids aren't warped by all this.”
“Are we gonna get to shoot somebody, dad?” George was vibrating with excitement.
“No,” Jake said, firmly.
Janice turned back to them all and said, “All right, here's the deal. They don't want to compromise the security of their hideout, but they don't feel that safe there, anymore. We feel that it might be better to go someplace entirely different.” She looked over at Kevin. “Another city. A nice millionaire's place.”
“Whoa, hold up.” Kevin walked over to the computer. “They have to know that I'm with you.”
“We feel that's an acceptable risk,” Janice said. “In Bryan, we'd be off the radar, temporarily. We tap into your serious fundage, and see if we can get ourselves out of state. According to our sources, New Mexico is in open rebellion, and should be safe for people who have proof that this is all a hoax.” She looked over them all. “We spread the word, fight the good fight, and take back the country. What do you say?”
“Cool,” George said, in apparent awe.
Jake, although he looked a little worried, agreed. “Sounds like a good plan.”
Joan hugged her mother and nodded. Steph said, “I guess we're all in.” She looked up at Kevin. “Provided you are.”
Kevin scanned all of their faces. His life had been so full of promise just 2 days ago; now, he was about to be AWOL and was being enticed to commit treason. He flopped down heavily in a chair and sighed. “All right. Let's get going.”

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Thursday, December 28, 2006

Greatest Story Ever Told

The state of TIAH

December 28th, 2006

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Alternate Historian's Note: A combination of great head pain and lack of sleep is stifling creativity at the Academy today, so we'll let Stephen Payne conclude his time travel epic and sign off for the year while we attempt to recover and continue the second half of our NaNoWriMo novel this weekend. We hope that you are enjoying the change in format – let us know how you feel about it in comments or by emailing us. This will be the format of TIAH throughout the holiday season, and probably well into January, unless we receive a great outcry about it. Speaking of the Holiday Season, keep in mind those who need help year-round and keep yourselves safe and happy, as well. And, should you feel generous inclinations towards our guest historians, you can visit the sites of those who have separate ones from TIAH; generosity towards us here at the Academy is always appreciated, too, and you can find ways to help us out all over the site. Right now, we'd appreciate a lead on a good day job, but my lovely Co-Historian could also use some more memory on her PC, if anyone feels generously inclined. (It's PC133-style – yes, it's an old machine). Any good wishes you have towards us can be emailed here.

in 2126, the Mullah Elijah Rafsanjani arrives home in Doha, Qatar, courtesy of the Hussein-Saddat time dilation device. He has such a story to tell, he does not know where to start. In fact, it's the most wonderful story ever told. What the Mullah does know is that he will dedicate his life to achieving peace and reconciliation in the post-jihad era. He is the only man alive who can deliver a different Today in Alternative History. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

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Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Secret Messages

The state of TIAH

December 27th, 2006

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

in the timestream, as the Hussein-Saddat time dilation device returns Mullah Elijah Rafsanjani to the year 2126, he glimpses two further events. The births of two beautiful dual heritage children - Jacob and Joshua, in London England. The father, Steve Payne, tells the Mullah that love will meet you at the point of your need. Rafsanjani is now sure he knows how to achieve a breakthrough for the future, very different from the one he had planned for when he set out to cancel Christmas. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

After(cont.)
The dazed, blank look on their faces told Janice that what she had said had sunk in pretty deep. Good, she thought, and stood up. “I should contact Mike and Eli – they've been living for this kinda thing to happen. Can I use your computer, Steph?”
Steph nodded, holding her children close to her. “It's in the living room.”
Kevin said, “Hey, they probably have some spyware on her PC – a keystroke recorder, at least. They'll be able to track you.”
“Good point.” Janice dove into her backpack and pulled out a small stick. “Operating system on a USB. Never leave home without it.”
Jake shook his head, smiling. “You are one paranoid chick.”
“It's not paranoia if they really are after you,” she said, shaking the stick at him. She walked over to the Morris family computer and found the USB port. She slid her small stick into the port and turned the machine on.
Kevin followed her over and quickly turned off the computer, saying, “Hang on a second.” He pulled the computer out and examined the back. “Hey, Steph,” he called back into the kitchen, “do you know of any special hardware that you've had to install in the back of your computer?”
Steph looked at the kids, who both shook their heads. “No, why?”
Kevin pulled a small, flat object from a port in the back of the computer. “This is a hardware hack – probably record everything you're doing.” He looked grumpily at the little gray box. “I'd lay odds we gave them plenty of time to open this up. Steph, have you got a screwdriver?”
“Yeah,” she said, walking over to her kitchen cabinet and getting some tools out. She drew out a small kit and took it over to him. “These work?”
He looked over the set and nodded. “Thanks.” Their hands brushed slightly as he took the kit from her, and they both sort of smiled about it. Janice rolled her eyes, but didn't say anything. Kevin deftly and quickly removed the case's cover and peered inside the guts of the machine. “Oh my god,” he grumbled.
Janice sat up and asked, “What is it?”
“Look at all the dirt. Do you ever open this thing up, Steph?”
Steph and the kids laughed. “No, I'm afraid I don't dust the insides of my computer.”
“Wish I'd brought my air can,” he muttered, moving a cable out of the way. He cocked his head at something he saw and said, “OK, this isn't standard equipment.” He pulled out a card that was plugged into a spare slot and set it on the table. He spent several more minutes going through the case before saying, “It looks clean, now. Well, except for the dust.” He put the case back together and turned it back on for Janice. “Now, you can use your OS on a stick.”
“You are good,” Janice said, impressed. She saw her familiar system boot up, and she logged in, then opened up the non-standard Internet browser she kept for just such situations. She navigated to the forum where several friends of hers passed encrypted messages to each other. She found the thread that they had started for the current events and posted a reply addressed to Orgone and Cressidae. She then copied and pasted the last few messages into the decrypter she kept on her desktop and read through them quickly. Once she was done, she turned back to the group and said, “Well, Mike and Eli are still around, and hopefully they'll see this post and instant message me.”


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Tuesday, December 26, 2006

The Day After...

The state of TIAH

December 26th, 2006

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

in 0, The malfunctioning Hussein-Saddat time dilation device delivers the Mullah Elijah Rafsanjani to Central Texas on March 26th, 2005, where he meets the man RAT and his CAT just in time to witness their unbounded joy at the arrival of Little CAT. RAT tells the Mullah that something was missing in this harsh world, but now they are finally fulfilled. The Mullah says he understands, he really does. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

After(cont.)
Much to Janice's surprise, she didn't find any bugs. She walked into the living room and told everyone gathered there, “Place is clean. Well, except for where they trashed it.”
The three strangers had left quite a mess behind. Steph had almost screamed when she saw what they had done to their clothes, the contents of her kitchen, and anything else that had been in a container. She had been picking things up since she walked in, and everyone except for Janice had been helping her for the entire hour that it took Janice to run through the house with the bug detector.
“Let me check the phone,” she said, walking over to the kitchen hand set and sweeping the detector over it. A light lit up on it, and it let out a small beep. “OK.” She picked it up and quickly disassembled it, much to Steph's dismay. “Don't worry, I can put it back together. We used to do this all the time in this club I belonged to a couple years ago; I knew all that practice'd come in handy one day.” Deftly, she located a small metal object that had been attached to a few wires and pulled it out. True to her word, she then put the rest of the phone back together. She handed the hand set to Steph, who heard a comforting dial tone.
Steph hung up the phone and went back to her cleaning. “What were they looking for?”
“Anything they could find; that'd be my guess.” Janice picked up a carton of juice that had been tossed onto the floor, found a glass, and poured herself a drink. She replaced the carton into the refrigerator and sat down at the kitchen table to enjoy the juice. “They didn't come near the jeep, so I'm guessing they don't care about evidence. They just care about the messy little nuisance that we represent.”
Jake sat down next to her. “What kinda nuisance are we?”
“Worst kind, if you're trying to install a military dictatorship. We can call them liars and sound sincere enough for some people to actually believe us.” She sipped at her drink while the others took seats around her. “Now, I don't know what you guys expect to come out of all this, but I'm gonna paint a picture for you.” She looked them all in the eye before continuing. “It's not gonna be pretty, either.”
Joan looked over at her mother. “Do you want us to go to bed?”
“You might as well hear this,” Steph said. She said to Janice, “They're involved, too, right?”
“You better believe it.”
Steph placed a hand on her daughter's head. “Stay here. We're gonna have to go through this together.”

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Monday, December 25, 2006

Christmas Day

The state of TIAH

December 25th, 2006

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

in 0, the Sadat-Hussein time dilation device sends Mullah Elijah Rafsanjani back through time from 2126 to the greatest moment in human history. As an arch-conservative member of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee of the Reconstructed United Nations, he has been astounded that the European criminals delivered for justice have confessed to their ignorance and bigotry. The Mullah has therefore been frustrated in his goal of sending jihadists into history to prevent the Arab traumas of the first two millennia So instead he has taken matters into his own hands by returning himself to cancel Christmas for good. At Bayt La (Bethlehem) Rafsanjani witnesses the first miracle, the birth of Jesus, who to his very great surprise is as unquestionably Middle Eastern as his own beloved son Muhammed. He is driven to his knees in hot tears of joy at the arrival of the baby infant, sent by a loving God to defeat hate; not just for him, but for all nations and for all time. Rather than abducting the infant to 2126, he delivers a present to the mother. So do two other men that look just like the Mullah. It is quite simply the most wonderful story ever told. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

After(cont.)
The three men stayed in the Morris home for almost half an hour before Janice finally was able to say, “OK, looks like they're leaving now.” She was watching them through her night-vision goggles while everyone else sat in the dark. George was having a hard time of it, and his mother was holding him now. “I don't think they're carrying anything. Hope the place isn't too trashed, Steph.”
“Me, too.”
They all heard the roar of the car start up in the still night, and it pulled out of the driveway quickly and took off down the street. Janice turned off her goggles and took them off. “Well, should we go see what they did to the place?”
“I don't know if that's a good idea,” Jake said. “What if they anticipated us coming back and left some kinda trap?”
“They probably bugged the place, too,” Janice said, “but, we won't really know until we get over there.” She grabbed her backpack and took out a small, flat device. “We can use this to sweep the place for bugs.”
Jake laughed. “What else have you got in there?”
“I got a ghost detector that I blew about 300 bucks on that doesn't work for crap,” she said. “Just your standard paranormal investigation gear. I like to be prepared.”
“Good.” He stood up and turned to the others. “Steph, it might be best if you and the kids stay here.”
“Nobody knows my house as well as I do,” Steph said, rising with him. “If you need to tell if something's been messed with or taken, I should be over there with you.”
“She's got you there, Sarge,” Janice said, elbowing Jake in the ribs.
“You're not leavin' us over here,” Joan said, grabbing onto her father's arm. The memory of what she had seen played in her eyes, and Jake shook his head.
“All right, then, everybody comes.” He turned to Kevin. “Bradley, you and the ghostbuster here go first. Steph and I'll follow up with the kids. Start sweeping the house with that thing, Janice, and let us know if we need to watch our mouths.” He turned to his ex-wife and children. “Now, till Janice gives the all-clear, we need to keep quiet. We don't want them hearing us come back.”
Janice gave him a little mock-salute. “Aye, aye, captain.” She and Kevin slipped out the front door of the Johnson's place and snuck across the street. She swept the bug detector all around the door as they approached, then gave Kevin a thumbs-up. They both entered the house and began a very slow pass through to see if the three strangers had left anything behind.

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Sunday, December 24, 2006

Christmas Eve & Its Attendant Miracles

The state of TIAH

December 24th, 2006

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Alternate Historian's Note: Even though nobody works on Christmas Eve, Mr. Scrooge, Stephen Payne has thoughtfully provided us with material for today's posting. The bug that had been keeping us down has lifted, (it's a Christmas Miracle!), so we'll continue the second half of our NaNoWriMo novel today. We hope that you are enjoying the change in format – let us know how you feel about it in comments or by emailing us. This will be the format of TIAH throughout the holiday season, unless we receive a great outcry about it. Speaking of the Holiday Season, keep in mind those who need help year-round and keep yourselves safe and happy, as well. And, should you feel generous inclinations towards our guest historians, you can visit the sites of those who have separate ones from TIAH; generosity towards us here at the Academy is always appreciated, too, and you can find ways to help us out all over the site. Right now, we'd appreciate a lead on a good day job, but my lovely Co-Historian could also use some more memory on her PC, if anyone feels generously inclined. (It's PC133-style – yes, it's an old machine). Any good wishes you have towards us can be emailed here.

in 0, in Bayt La, (Bethlehem), the time traveler Mullah Elijah Rafsanjani bursts into the birth room of Jesus. His plan: to abduct the infant and return him to 2126, frustrating his ministry and achieving a breakthrough in the pre-Jihad era by eliminating the cohesion of European power. The mother is in labour. It won't be long now. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1914, the "Christmas truce" begins in World War I as British and German soldiers climb out of the trenches for the last time to play football in no-man's land, swapping cigarettes and chocolate at half-time. The Germans win, of course. After it's over, the British leave; they can always find their way home from a party at Christmas. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1946, Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader, CBE, DSO and Bar DFC and Bar FRAeS DL LegH CdeG RAF, is executed at Nuremberg on Christmas Eve. Speaking in exile from Toronto, former British Prime Minister Winston Spencer Churchill pays tribute to Bader. Reprising his “Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few” speech, Churchill pledges to fight a second Battle of Britain and reconquer the islands from the Nazi occupiers. He speaks at length of his experience as a journalist in the Boer War, drawing comparisons with the relief of Mafeking and Ladysmith in 1900. Britain, he says, has lost some wickets, but the innings are far from over. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

After(cont.)
Jake and Steph pulled the sleeping bags from the jeep and wrestled them into comfortable handholds. “So, what do you know about Kevin, besides the whole lottery thing?”
Jake looked over at her with raised eyebrows. “You didn't just ask me about another man, did you?”
“Hey, baby, we're done,” Steph said, snapping her fingers. “You might as well help me move on.”
He laughed and shoved her shoulder gently. “He's not a bad guy, I guess. Probably a good church-goin' boy, you'd like that. And, if you got with him, I wouldn't have to worry about the kids' college. Yeah, go for him, Steph.” He turned her back around towards the Johnson's house. She wheeled back and slugged him on the arm.
“I haven't really had that many dates since we split up, you know. I guess since I chose you for a husband, my taste in men's not the best, so I should ask somebody else's advice.”
He shook his head in disbelief. “Maybe you could be having this talk with Janice, then, instead of insulting me.”
Steph snorted. “Please. That girl wants you so bad, she practically has an ad in the paper.”
“Really?” That put a little pep in Jake's step. “All right, then.”
“You so full of yourself,” she said, looking down the road. Twin beams of light were rushing toward them. “Jake, is somebody else supposed to be comin' here?”
“No,” Jake said, following her gaze.

They turned off all the lights and gathered by the windows. Janice put on her night-vision goggles and told the others what was happening across the street. “Three guys just piled out of the car. They don't look too nice.”
George plaintively asked, “Where's mom and dad?”
“I don't see them.” She scanned the yard for any sign of the pair, but saw nothing. The jeep, as far as she could see, was empty. She saw one of the strange men do something to the lock on the door of the Morris' house and open the door. “They just busted the lock on your house.” All three of them rushed inside, drawing guns as they did so. “They mean business, too. They're armed.” She looked across the yard one more time. “Where is Jake?”
Kevin stood and said, “I'll go after them.”
“Sit your butt down, GI Joe,” Janice told him. “It's three to one, and those guys are probably not computer jocks.”
“I can shoot,” Kevin said, his face growing hot.
“I don't doubt it,” she said, trying to see where the strangers were in the house. “But, I bet they can shoot, too, and they're probably in better practice.”
Kevin reluctantly sat back down. “How about I just sneak over there and see if I can find Steph and Sergeant Morris?”
Beams from flashlights flashed crazily all over the Morris' house. “They're not doing a real thorough search; looks like they're just running around the house to see if they can find anybody.” They all jumped as they heard a gunshot.
Joan squeaked out, “Oh my god, did they see mom and dad?”
Janice was desperately looking everywhere she could see in the house across the street. “Damn it,” she whispered. “OK, Bradley. Looks like we're stormin' the castle after all.” She pulled out her own pistol and stood up. “You let me lead, all right? They're using flashlights, so we may be able to spot them before they get the drop on us.”
“What if they shine the light in your goggles?”
“Then, I'm screwed, and you better be ready to back my butt up.”
“All this concern is touching,” Jake said from behind them, “but, y'all don't have to worry about us.”
Janice immediately ran over and hugged him, then let go quickly and looked at him and Steph. “What happened?”
“We saw them coming down the street,” Steph said, pulling herself away from her children's embrace. “So, we just went around back here.”
“You scared us,” Kevin said to her. There was a strange half-smile playing around his lips.
“Sorry,” Steph said to him, an odd softness in her voice.
Janice turned back to the window and asked, “What were they shooting at, then?”

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Saturday, December 23, 2006

A Birth Draws Near

The state of TIAH

December 23rd, 2006

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

in 0, Mullah Elijah Rafsanjani continues to search the town of Bayt La (Bethlehem) for the birth room of Jesus. Time is running short now. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1948, seven former Japanese leaders sentenced to death by hanging at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East are executed at Sugamo Prison in Tokyo. Missing are Emperor Hirohito and Prince Asaka who had escaped to the island of Formosa, where they formed an unlikely partnership with Chiang Kai-shek and his KMT government-in-exile to forge the first Asian Tiger in the 1950s using the entire gold and foreign currency reserves of China and Japan. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 2004, outgoing US President Al Gore pardons his former boss, Bill Clinton, and former First Lady Hillary Clinton for the many scandals that forced Clinton's impeachment and subsequent resignation. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

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Friday, December 22, 2006

Intestinal Fortitude

The state of TIAH

December 22nd, 2006

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

in 0, Mullah Elijah Rafsanjani searches the town of Bayt La (Bethlehem) for the birth room of Jesus. He's starting to get very excited now. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1944, German troops accept the surrender of United States troops at Bastogne, Belgium as the disastrous Battle of the Bulge reaches a decision. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 2004, former US Marine Jack Smith makes damning allegations regarding President-elect John Forbes Kerry's actions outside the Senate committee on April 22, 1971 following his famous “How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?” speech. Smith recollects that Kerry and other veterans threw their medals and ribbons over a fence on the front steps of the U.S. Capitol. However, Kerry still possesses his medals in 2005 and Smith explains this apparent anomaly by revealing that Kerry threw someone else's medals in an act of showmanship. Smith and Kerry – he alleges - had purchased the medals at a market sale in Greenwich Village, New York in December 1970. Vice President-elect John Edwards is thrilled with Smith's performance; at this rate he's going to be sitting in the Oval Office before Easter. Perhaps Harry Truman's record ascendancy to the Presidency after only 82 days could be beaten! -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

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Thursday, December 21, 2006

Marriage Equality In The US

The state of TIAH

December 21st, 2006

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

in 1979, the Lancaster House Agreement is signed in London by Lord Carrington, Sir Ian Gilmour, Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo, Bishop Abel Muzorewa and Dr S C Mundawarara. Secret promises are made by the British Government to deliver land reform to the Zimbabweans in a single generation (twenty years). They are not honoured, yet kept secret and Mugabe's actions to seize land from the former Rhodesian farmers in the year 2000 are considered barbarous in the western world. Lord Carrington, Lady Thatcher, Robert Mugabe and Ian Smith all lived to see the millenium in but chose not to mention the secret promises. Instead, they stuck to Benjamin Disraeli's famous maxim “Never explain, never complain,” proving once again that British Public School Rules still govern matters affecting millions in Africa to this very day. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1990, the Kuwaiti Oil Tanker fleet, which is carrying alien seaborne creatures, mysteriously disappear from radar in the English Channel. Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey Howe takes the press conference to explain away the disappearance as “a maritime disaster for Lloyd's of London to investigate”. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is not available; he says she's “having one of her spells”. In Henley-upon-Thames, Member of Parliament and former Minister of Defence Michael Heseltine decides there and then that he will make a bid for the leadership of the Conservative Party. Witchcraft, he feels, has no place in the 1990s - a more collegiate form of government is appropriate for the modern age. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1993, different sex marriages are legalised in the United States. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

After(cont.)
The Johnson's place had a strange odor to it already; they all thought it was probably from all the blood that was still drying, but not a one of them was going to mention it. Joan avoided the room where Mr. Johnson had been; Steph avoided the room where she had seen Mrs. Johnson take her own life. They ended up in the kitchen.
“Bradley, I'm gonna get a couple of sleeping bags from the jeep.” Jake was trying to help the kids get comfortable, so after Kevin nodded, he left.
Steph said, “I'll go help him,” and followed after him.
Janice turned to Kevin and said, “I'm gonna make a call. There's a couple of guys that I know will hook up with us, and they can be helpful.”
“Helpful.” Kevin looked at her and shook his head. “In what way?”
“They're good muscle,” Janice said.
“Why do we need muscle?”
Janice raised her eyebrows at him. “Look, honey, maybe you think that we can get out of this by being all stealthy, but you didn't see Miss Raintree. That wasn't just some random lowlife that killed her. That was a government hit.”
“There's no way you can know that.”
She smiled at him. They were keeping their voices low, but the kids were watching them. “Do you really want to have this conversation in front of them, Kevin? I'm fine with it; I think everybody should know the truth. But, Jake might not want his kids to grow up quite that fast.”
Kevin looked over at the young girl and boy and dropped his head. “I'm sorry about the nutjob crack.”
She waved it off. “Eh, you're not the first one to call me that.”
“I bet.”
“OK, insults after apologies kinda negate the apology, big fella,” Janice said, punching him in the arm. They both chuckled.
George watched Janice punch Kevin and asked his sister, “Does she like him?”
Joan shook her head and whispered to him, “Nah, she likes dad.”
George was a little shocked. “How do you know?”
Joan shrugged. “Who wouldn't? Besides, mom likes him,” she said, tilting her head at Kevin.
George was a little confused. “But, what about dad?”
“They're divorced. Mom wants to move on.”
It was all swirling in George's head. “I don't wanna grow up.”
“Don't say that too loud, Georgie,” Joan said, looking out the window. A car was pulling up to their home across the street. “The wrong people might hear.”

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Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Carl Sagan

The state of TIAH

December 20th, 2006

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Missing Leader

The state of TIAH

December 19th, 2006

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

in 1967, Prime Minister of Australia Harold Holt is officially presumed dead. On 2 September 2005, the Coroner's finding was that Holt had drowned in accidental circumstances. There were many rumours about Holt's death, such as that he had committed suicide or faked his own death in order to run away with his mistress. In fact he had been seized by justice agents of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee who had returned from 2126 using the Hussein-Sadat time dilation device. Holt subsequently faced charges of inhumanity including the pursuit of sterilization programs against aborigines in the mid-1960s. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1990, Member of Parliament and former Minister of Defence Michael Heseltine has a vivid recollection of calling British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher the day after the sinking of the Argentine Cruiser the General Belgrano during the Falklands Conflict. She was not available, said an assistant, she's “having one of her spells”. OMG. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 2004, back-channel communication between the Vice President-elect and the Swift Boat Veterans continues as they build a case for the early impeachment of President-elect John Forbes Kerry. Just about the only thing that John Edwards agrees with his boss on is that America can "do better". Of course Edwards means “do better” than having his boss assume the Presidency. Regrettably that means Edwards has to seek common cause with these unlikely allies, the Swift Boat Veterans. As a lawyer, he's pretty comfortable now with moral compromise. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

After(cont.)
There was an uncomfortable silence as Janice concluded their story with a description of Miss Raintree's body. Joan looked like she was going to throw up; Steph held a hand over her mouth and tried to hold back the tears that had been pouring down her cheeks. “And, that's when we decided we better get to you.” Janice took a roll from the table and bit into it absently. “Jake has a plan.”
Steph looked over at her ex-husband and he said, “Have the Johnson's family gotten over there yet?”
She shook her head, confused. “No, not with all the traffic and the curfew and everything.”
Jake nodded. “That's what I thought. We need to move y'all over there till we can arrange someplace safer for you to stay.”
“I don't wanna stay over there,” Joan said, starting to cry.
“It's just for tonight, Joanie,” Jake said, reaching out to her. She pulled back from him. “It's the only place they won't know to look for you, cause we haven't mentioned it on the phone or in our email.”
“I don't wanna go there.” Joan repeated, and buried her face in her mother's arms.
Steph patted her head and looked at the three people in front of her. They suddenly seemed very dangerous, even Jake. She wanted to throw them out of her house, but they had entangled her in their plans, now, and she was trapped. She stroked her daughter's hair and soothed her. “Joanie, baby, go get Georgie and tell him to come here.”
“We're not goin' over there, are we, mom?”
Her daughter's pleading look almost melted her heart, but Steph told her, “We have to, Joanie. I don't think we have a choice, now.” She looked over at Janice. “Right?”
Janice nodded, gulped down the piece of bread she was chewing, and said, “Right. You don't wanna end up like Miss Raintree.”
Joan shuddered and hurried from the table. Steph looked over at Kevin. “Couldn't you get us a room in some hotel somewhere?”
“That's what I told 'em,” he said.
“They're probably watching his bank account,” Janice said. “They'll be able to trace any activity from it. That means, he pays for a hotel room, they're gonna want to know who's in it.”
“Great.” She looked over at Jake, and her eyes could have eviscerated him. “Why do you always get me in trouble?”
“It's a gift,” he said, shrugging and smiling weakly. “The bad part is that, come mornin', we're AWOL,” he said, pointing at himself and Kevin. “We can't report in.”
“Why not?”
“Well, if the government's lookin' for us, the last thing we wanna do is walk into a heavily-armed government facility.” Jake's eyes didn't focus on her as he spoke; he was looking at something inside himself. “Looks like I can kiss my career goodbye.” He shook himself out of his reverie and said, “Anyway, that's gonna complicate the whole thing. Once we're AWOL, he becomes a fugitive and they'll probably freeze his bank account.”
Kevin looked over at her glumly. “Easy come, easy go.”

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Monday, December 18, 2006

Nuremberg

The state of TIAH

December 18th, 2006

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

in 1946, Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader CBE DSO and Bar DFC and Bar FRAeS DL LegH CdeG RAF is informed by guards at Nuremberg that he should prepare himself for execution on Christmas Eve. He commits his remaining time to writing a robust defence of the controversial Big Wing theory, an aggressive policy of assembling large formations of defensive fighters north of London ready to inflict maximum damage on the massed German bomber formations as they flew over South East England. History records that the leaders of Fighter Command Air Marshal Hugh Dowding and Air Vice Marshal Keith Park had instead chosen careful husbanding tactics, contributing in no small part to the British defeat in the air war at the hands of the more aggressive Luftwaffe. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1982, Herr Major Hans-Ulrich Rudel, the famous World War 2 Stuka dive-bomber pilot, dies in Rosenheim, Grossdeutschland. Rudel is famous for being the most highly decorated German serviceman of the war. He was awarded Germany's highest military decoration, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Rudel flew 2530 combat missions and successfully attacked many tanks, trains, ships and other ground targets, claiming a total of 2000 targets destroyed - including 519 tanks, a battleship, two cruisers and a destroyer. He also shot down 9 aircraft. Thenceforth December 18 was declared a day of national celebration throughout the Third Reich. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1990, former Minister of Defence Michael Heseltine receives an odd visitor at his Member of Parliament's surgery in Henley-upon-Thames. The man gives Heseltine an envelope which he opens later that afternoon. A solitary piece of paper has a black and white photograph of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, President George Bush and a number of senior officials including Secretary of State James Baker. Cut-out newspaper letters below spell out “All of them witches”. Heseltine laughs nervously. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

After(cont.)
The table held more than enough food for everyone. Jake and Janice were already digging in as Steph and Kevin sat down. The kids had been more polite, waiting for their mother before serving themselves. Everyone piled their plates with food, especially Janice, who told Steph, “This looks great, Steph. I haven't had any real food since the day before yesterday.”
Steph raised an eyebrow at Jake, who just shook his head.
Kevin just took one chicken-fried steak, a small dollop of corn and potatoes, and a roll. He ate small bites of the food, but didn't seem very interested in it. He did tell Steph, who was seated just to his left, “This is great, Steph.”
She beamed at him, and her smile lightened him up a bit. He tucked into the food a little more enthusiastically. Janice, meanwhile, was grabbing a second steak. “Yeah, Steph, it's awesome.”
“Glad you like it,” she said, laughing at Janice's appetite. The kids were pretty healthy eaters, too, but Janice was shoveling it down.
George, who had placed himself next to his father, asked, “So, dad, did you see any dead bodies in Waco? Or zombies?”
“I sure felt like a zombie, gettin' up as early as I did,” Jake said, looking at Janice and Kevin. Kevin looked down at his plate, but Janice looked over at Jake.
“You need to tell them,” she said to Jake.
Kevin looked up sharply, but Jake just nodded. Kevin asked, “Is that a good idea, Sergeant?”
“No, but they're sharin' the same risk we are. They deserve to know.”
“What do we deserve to know?” Steph felt a twinge at the bottom of her stomach. She looked at her three guests suspiciously now. “What is it, Jake?”
“I don't know if the kids should hear this, Steph.” Jake looked at his son and daughter, who looked back at him apprehensively.
“Well, you've already scared 'em, they might as well know why.”
“Oh, for God's sake,” Janice said, throwing down the fourth roll she had picked up. “There wasn't any nuke in Crawford. The president is very much alive, this whole emergency thing is a big fraud, and somebody may be after us.” She picked her roll back up and tore a big hunk off with her teeth.
Steph looked at Jake, who couldn't meet her eyes, then over at Kevin, who nodded acknowledgment of what Janice had just said. “We all saw the ranch,” he muttered, but the table was so silent that every word was heard clearly. “I saw him walking around like nothing was going on. Like it was just another day.”
Steph was looking out the window at her neighbors' house. “The Johnson's,” she whispered. “Those poor people killed themselves, and it was all over a... a hoax?” Kevin nodded and laid his hand on top of hers. “And, what was that about somebody bein' after you?”
Jake looked at Joan and George. “I don't know if y'all want to hear this,” he said to them.
“I saw Mr. Johnson's body, dad,” Joan told him. “I want to hear more.”
George, though, looked a little sick. “Can I be excused?”
“Sure, baby,” Steph said, going over to him and hugging him tightly. She reached a hand out to Joan, who took it in both of hers. Jake looked on awkwardly; Janice thought that she saw his arms reflexively move toward his ex-wife and children, but he restrained himself. After a moment, Steph let go of George, and he ran from the room. She sat down next to Joan and hugged her tightly. There were tears in their eyes as they turned back to the others and Steph said, “All right, tell us everything.”

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Sunday, December 17, 2006

A Nice, Quiet Dinner

The state of TIAH

December 17th, 2006

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

in 1862, during the American Civil War, General Ulysses S. Grant issues General Order No. 11, expelling Jews from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky. It was an event that later inspired another anti-Semite, Charles Lindburgh, to challenge for the Presidency in 1940. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1969, the USAF closes Project Blue Book, its study of UFOs, stating that sightings were generated as a result of 'A mild form of mass hysteria, individuals who fabricate such reports to perpetrate a hoax or seek publicity, psychopathological persons, and misidentification of various conventional objects'. In fact, the US Government was confident that the non-proliferation committee for the Congress of Worlds had abandoned attempts to probe the American nuclear program after landings at Roswell, New Mexico and Kecksburg had been intercepted following tip-offs by a traitor inside the Committee... -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 2004, Swift Boat Veterans confront their former colleague President-elect John Forbes Kerry during his pre-inauguration tour of the nation. They fiercely dispute his account of the 1968 events in Cam Ranh Bay leading to the award of a Purple Heart. Already whispers of impeachment over SwiftBoatGate have started. Democrats start to wonder if they would not be better off with the more charismatic Vice President-elect John Edwards. Edwards could not agree more; in fact, he is the agitator behind the rumours. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

After(cont.)
Joan put out plates for dinner as Steph began turning off the burners on the stove. “Georgie, don't forget to put out the silverware,” she reminded her son, and he grabbed the utensils and started placing them next to the plates. Steph pulled some large bowls out and filled them with corn, mashed potatoes, and the chicken-fried steak she had just made.
She was exhausted. It had been a long time since she had cooked like that. The Thanksgiving just before she and Jake split up; that was it. She had cooked for hours, and he had barely acknowledged anything she'd done...
She put that out of her mind. She counted the place settings at the table and hoped there would be enough. She'd added in herself, the kids, Jake and Specialist Bradley, and a couple more, just in case. She placed the large bowls in the center of the big table and told the kids, “Shouldn't be too much longer. Y'all can go watch TV till they get here, if you want.”
They scurried off and checked the regular cable channels. Steph heard the Emergency Lady for a few brief flips through the channels, then a DVD was started up. She sat down at the table and picked up a roll from the pan she had made. She just nibbled at it; she didn't want to spoil her appetite, but she was a little hungry. As she was about halfway through it, she saw lights pull into her driveway. The kids noticed, too, and they hopped up from the TV and ran outside. She went into the living room and turned off the TV before joining them.
Jake was hugging the kids and introducing them to a nice-looking brunette woman. Steph felt a little twinge of jealousy before reminding herself that was ridiculous. She saw that Specialist Bradley was avoiding the little family tableau on the other side of the jeep and walked up to him. “How did it go, Mr. Bradley?”
“It's Kevin,” he said, a small smile lifting the corner of his lip. “It went... well, I think we're gonna tell you about it inside.” He touched her shoulder and leaned in towards her, saying, “I just want you to know, before we start in on all this, that I didn't want them to come here.”
The expression on his face was so serious that it scared her a little. “I'm sure it'll be OK,” she said, uncertainly. He just shook his head.
“The kids say you got a big dinner ready, Steph,” Jake said, bringing the crowd over to them. “You wanna eat?”
“Sure,” she said, turning away from Kevin and walking back up to the house. As Jake, the kids, and the other woman passed, she looked over at Kevin again. He was looking back in the direction they had come from, towards Waco. “You comin', Kevin?” He turned away from Waco, and the look on his face was so sad that it made her want to give him a great big hug. She restrained herself, but as he walked up to her, she touched his arm and whispered, “Whatever it is, you have the strength to handle it.” She gave him a small smile, and Kevin brushed his hand against hers, smiling back.
“Jake sure was a lucky man. I guess he didn't realize that.”
She chuckled. “No, he didn't.” She looked him in the eye a little longer than she meant to. She didn't usually like white boys, but he did have pretty blue eyes – not to mention 3 million dollars. And she always did like a man in uniform...
She shook herself out of it and said, “Well, we better get to the table before they eat everything up.”

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Saturday, December 16, 2006

The Assassination Of Rasputin

The state of TIAH

December 16th, 2006

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

in 0, a sense of raw energy is gripping the town of Bayt La (Bethlehem). Mullah Elijah Rafsanjani can discern it very strongly. The miracle of birth tends to do that. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1916, the Russian mystic Grigory Rasputin (trans. 'ill-behaved child') is assassinated by a group of nobles led by Prince Felix Yusupov at the Yusupov Palace in St Petersburg. Rasputin played an important role in the lives of the Tsar Nicholas II, his wife the Tsaritsa Alexandra, and their only son the Tsarevich Alexei, who was believed to suffer from hemophilia. Less than a year later during Red October, it was revealed that the Tsarevich was actually another victim of the blood-sucking vampirism sweeping Russia. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1944, the Battle of the Bulge engages the forces of General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Field Marshall Gerd von Rundstedt in the Belgian Ardennes. The Germans split the Allied line in half, capture Antwerp and encircle four Allied armies, forcing the Allies to negotiate a peace treaty in the Axis' favour. The attack was planned in total secrecy, in almost total radio silence and not detected by Ultra. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

After
The cold air felt good on Janice's face as they drove. The chill gave her an excuse for the shivers she was unable to control.
“I can't believe we're not waiting for the police,” Kevin was saying from the front seat.
“We can't stick around for them, Bradley. There'd be too many questions, and they'd want to take at least Janice into custody. And that's not happening today.” Jake looked into his rear-view mirror to catch her eyes, and she gave him a weak smile. “Are you doin' all right back there, Janice?”
“I'll make it,” she shouted over the wind whipping into her face. She felt a little ashamed of herself for breaking down like this; she'd seen a murdered person before. Of course, that was someone she was investigating, not someone she had met and talked to. And theirs had been a clean death, not like...
Kevin was not happy at all. First, they had convinced him to go up against the government, and now they were running from the law. The section of his brain devoted to values was going haywire. He just wanted to tell them to stop and let him out. But, they couldn't afford to let him leave, now. No, he knew too much about them. He wished he'd shot her on that roof instead of listening to her.
But, he'd seen. He'd seen the president, live as could be, strolling around his ranch as if nothing had happened. And, that was eating away at him, too.
“Janice, when we hit the checkpoint at Pflugerville, I want you to stay covered up, just like before, OK?” Jake was planning. He hadn't had a chance to use tactics since they moved him stateside after the Gulf War. This was all a little beyond what he had experience with, but he was going to be ready for anything. “They won't question us, since we're supposed to be coming back from Waco, anyhow.”
“You got it, Jake,” she said, and turned away from the window. Her face was uncomfortably numb, so she rolled the window up. She was glad they were in a covered jeep. She put a hand on the sergeant's shoulder and asked, “Hey, how are you doing?”
“I've seen dead bodies before.”
She nodded and squeezed his shoulder. “That poor kid.” She let the road carry them for a few minutes before saying, “You know, I'm not entirely sure that guy was just crazy, in spite of what the people in the diner said.” When they had recovered themselves after the initial shock of finding Miss Raintree, they had asked about her supposed killer in the diner. Everyone in there had been of the opinion that he was no good – tattoos, long hair, rough face – and were not surprised that the young lady he had taken back to his room had ended up dead. “What if someone's been watching us?”
Jake thought about that for a minute. “Did you tell anybody about the motel?”
“No, but they could have figured it out. I think I gave too many clues as to where I was.”
“Then we better watch our backs.”
“If that's the case,” Kevin said, looking over at them, “Should we really be headed to your ex-wife's? We don't want the same thing to happen to them, do we?”
“I got a couple of ideas about that,” Jake said. “But, we'll have to wait till we get there. I don't wanna call her again. That'll put a spotlight on her.”

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Friday, December 15, 2006

Before 1st Half Conclusion

The state of TIAH

December 15th, 2006

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

in 1947, in a traditional Fulani ceremony at the Shehu Mosque in West Africa, the Sultan of Sokoto marries Princess Elizabeth of England. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 1993, the Downing Street Declaration is issued by Prime Minister John Major and Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, who agree that the Irish will increase their participation in the cross-border governance of north and south England. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

in 2004, President-elect John Forbes Kerry embarks on a national tour. America could "do better" in the 21st century, he says as the defeated nation seeks to climb out of the ashes of defeat in the Cold War. -entry by Steve Payne from Counter History in Context - You're the Judge!-

Before(1st half conclusion)
The jeep pulled up to the motel and Janice hopped out of the back and ran up to the room she had paid for. She was followed by Morris and Bradley, whom she told, “Try not to look menacing, OK?” She stuck her key in the room's lock and opened the door, calling out to Miss Raintree, “Linda? I've got a couple of soldiers with me, but they're cool, all right?” She looked around the room, but no one was in it. “Damn. Let me check the bathroom.” She ran over to the bathroom door and looked inside. “Nope.” She frowned and kicked the door. “Oh, well. I knew she'd probably run.”
Bradley asked, “Any idea where she'd go?”
“Someplace far away from Crawford,” Janice muttered, shaking her head. “Let me go check the front desk to see if she turned in her key or anything.”
They went and sat in their jeep while she talked to the clerk. It was still the same kid, and he obviously needed a break. “No, lady, nobody's turned in a key for that room.” He closed the registry and sat down on the stool behind the desk. “I saw her eating at the diner earlier, though.”
Janice perked up. “How much earlier?”
“I dunno,” he said, irritably. “Maybe an hour or two.”
“Great. Thanks.” She put her key down on the counter and walked outside to the jeep. “She was still here a couple of hours ago,” she told them. “I'm gonna go talk to the people at the diner and see if they said anything to her.”
Sergeant Morris asked, “Want us to come with you? Might loosen a few lips.”
“Yeah, but try not to get in my way, OK?” Morris hopped down from the jeep, but Bradley stayed in his seat.
“I'll just stay here and watch for her.”
Morris shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He and Janice walked over to the diner together, looking down the road for signs of Miss Raintree as they did. “I don't think Bradley's accepted the way things really are,” he said to Janice.
“Have you?”
“I started off not trustin' the government. I didn't have as far to go.”
“Yeah, he is a big boy scout, isn't he?”
“Big, rich boy scout.”
“Right. He's not married, is he?” She nudged Morris with her shoulder, and he laughed. The sergeant was very cute, Janice thought. Divorced, though, so there were obviously problems there somewhere. Still, he had a lot of the factors she liked in somebody she was on the lam with – tall, dark, handsome; and trained with a gun.
They walked into the small diner, and it looked like the walking dead had taken the place over. Janice guessed that these people had probably been there for 2 days and were not in the best of moods. Sergeant Morris was immediately surrounded by the patrons and one of them asked, “Can we leave yet?”
“That's not for me to say,” he replied.
Good, noncommittal answer, she thought. She walked over to the waitress and asked, “Have you seen a young, kinda mousey chick in the last couple of hours, name of Linda?”
The waitress took her eyes from Sergeant Morris and turned to Janice. “Brown hair, kinda quiet?”
“That's probably her.”
“Yeah. She came in, had a salad, stiffed me on the tip, then left with some guy.”
Janice's heart sunk. “Left the motel?”
“No, she went back to the motel.” She pursed her lips in disapproval. “With him.”
“Oh.” Great. Now she was somewhere unknown in the motel. She looked back at Morris, who was still trying to get the diner crowd to leave him alone. That gave her an idea. She cut through the people to his side and said, “Sorry, Sergeant Morris, we need to get back to headquarters, now.”
Morris played along. “All right, then. You people just stay calm. Everything's under control.” They walked out of the diner and back across the parking lot to the motel. “You found something out?”
“Yeah, she went back to the motel with some guy. I figure, there can't be that many people checked into the motel right now, so using you as an intimidator, we get the registry and find out how many single guys are checked in and what rooms they're in.”
“Good plan.”
“Thanks. Now, try to be intimidating, OK?”
“No prob.” His face hardened, and he narrowed his eyes menacingly.
“That's good,” she said, approvingly. They walked up to the motel's front desk and the surly clerk looked at Morris with shock all over his face. Janice leaned across the desk and said, “The sergeant here needs a look at who's checked in the last couple of days.”
“Of course, of course,” he stammered, pulling out a book and handing it over. Janice took it from his hands and flipped it open, holding it in front of Morris and scanning the pages. Just as she had hoped, there weren't that many people who'd booked rooms in the last couple of days; there were only three single men.
She noted all three of their rooms, and looked up at Morris. Pretty eyes, she thought, but said “OK, Sergeant, shall we check out these people?”
He nodded curtly, and barked at the clerk, “Thank you for your cooperation.” Just for effect, he gave a salute as he whipped around and strode from the desk.
Hurrying up to catch him, she could barely contain her laughter. “That was very good.”
“You said you wanted intimidating.”
“You sure got that down.” She led him up to the first room with a single man and knocked.
After a moment, an older man opened the door. “What is it?” He caught sight of Morris, and said, “What's happening now?”
“Nothing, sir,” the sergeant said. “We just needed to know if you've seen a young lady.”
“No, I've been here since day before yesterday. Damn terrorists.”
They left him and walked to the second room. When Janice knocked on the door, it swung open. Morris pulled his pistol out and walked slowly into the room. Janice pulled her weapon out and did likewise.
It was a grisly scene inside. There were streaks of blood across the bed and walls, and a small pool in front of the bathroom door. Morris looked back at her, was somewhat surprised by the gun in her hand, but then pointed her over to the side of the door. Once she was in position, he pushed the door open quickly and scanned the small chamber.
“I don't think she's gonna be much help to you, now,” he said, straightening up.
Miss Raintree was lying in the tub, her flesh torn open, her life gone.

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