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A new timeline.

We're not gonna take it!
No, we ain't gonna take it!
We're not gonna take it anymore!

We've got the right to choose and,
There ain't no way we'll lose it.
This is our life, this is our song.
We'll fight a 1000 legions,
Don't pick our destiny 'cause,
You don't know us, you don't belong.

We're not gonna take it!
No, we ain't gonna take it!
We're not gonna take it anymore!

Oh you're so condescending!
Your goal is never ending!
We don't want nothin', not a thing from you.
Your life is trite and jaded,
Boring and confiscated,
If that's your best, your best won't do!
-Twisted Sister, We’re Not Gonna Take It


Mistakes happen. Cars break down, cups spill, horseshoes lose nails, power lines go out, phones get disconnected and guns misfire. Occasionally, one of these mistakes can change history. Most of these changes are minor, but some are so major that they directly change, and affect the entire course of history. This is about one of these mistakes.

Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, April 10, 1848
POD in: Five minutes
Private Nigel Smith felt the cool April breeze, refreshing in the heat of London, as he looked in the direction of the Chartist’s “Monster Rally”. He could hear the shouts, and loud music emanating from the Kennington Common. He leaned on the sandbags that made up of the barrier between the Chartists and the River Thames. Nigel looked at the other members of his Platoon, as they sat, talked, and played cards with another. Supposedly, they were supposed to stop any Chartists from crossing the Thames. However, Nigel found himself the only one taking this order with any seriousness. After all, he was a fairly serious young man. Aged about 21-25, he had short blonde hair, plain features, and was of average height. Right now, he looked at his fellow soldiers, and his face contorted with disgust with his mates. In their minds, however, goofing off must have made perfect sense. After all, only a fool would dare cross the Thames right now!

Kennington Common, London, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, April 10, 1848
POD in: Five minutes
There are, sadly, many, many fools in this world. Some are only fools in the presence of women, alcohol, or other men. Some, however, are fools twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and fifty-two weeks a year. Mr. Dai Jones was of the latter persuasion, as well as his friends. Mr. Jones had been a Chartist ever since he started working in the smelting plant, back home near Swansea. After he joined the party, all of his friends joined as well. Now, he was sitting on a barrel with his friends, making crude jokes and drinking beer, whiskey, and other alcoholic beverages, and telling raunchy stories. Suddenly, his best mate Jack spoke up and said
“’Ere, Dai! I’ll give you thruppence if you take one of the Tommy’s hats.”
Dai considered this for a moment, and said “Sure. Why not?” So off Dai went. (He was never one to ask questions, especially if money was involved) He pushed through the crowd, until he found himself on Vauxhall Bridge Road, right in front of the Army’s barricade. His friends were right behind him, giving encouraging shouts. Then he saw a soldier, with his hat on, staring at the street. Perfect, Dai thought as he went right up to the soldier
POD in: Two Minutes
Nigel stared at the man coming at him. The man had an almost bullying swagger, but also a drunk’s stagger. The man came up to Nigel, and smelled him, and understood why he was staggering.
“Hey, Tommy!” The drunken man said. With the alcohol slurring his words, his accent could have been Welsh, Irish, or God knows what. “Can I have your hat?”
When the newcomer spoke, it was as if Nigel had been kicked in the face with the smell of cheap whiskey.
“Sir, I cannot give you my hat. It is part of my uniform, and I cannot give you my uniform.” Said Nigel, trying to remain as polite as possible.
The Drunk then screamed “Oh my God! A balloon!” Nigel turned his head to look. Nigel loved balloons, and ballooning.
“Really? Whe…” Right then, the Drunk grabbed Nigel’s hat, and ran.
POD in: Thirty Seconds
“Hey! Give me back my hat!” Nigel screamed as he loaded his rifle. (You might wonder why he was going to shoot someone over a hat. Remember, Nigel has had a really stressful day, and whereas most men would run, and punch the Drunk, Nigel had access to a very dangerous weapon.
“You can’t get me! Nyer nyer nah!” The Drunk said defiantly to Nigel. Nigel rammed the ball into his barrel.
Nigel screamed “I’ll show you, you thieving bastard!”
Suddenly, Nigel felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Private Smith!?”
Nigel quickly snapped a salute, and nestled the rifle into his arms. “Y-y-y-es, Sergeant?” he stammered.
“Were you going to shoot a man on account of a hat?”
“Erm…”
“It’s a yes or no answer, Private.”
“Yes…” Nigel said dejectedly.
The sergeant ordered Nigel “Put down your rifle!”
“Yessir”
Interlude
Twenty feet above Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, The United Kingdom of Great Britain, and Ireland
POD in: Five seconds
The seagull had no aspirations in life. All it knew how to do was eating, pooping, and making more baby seagulls. Right now, he did the first one. Normally, the consequences of a bird pooping are minute. However, when the thing being pooped upon happens to be a man holding a firearm, the results can be disastrous.
Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, April 10, 1848
POD in: Five seconds
Dai had just finished taunting the soldier, and was turning around when the POD happened. He never saw it coming. One moment, he was walking down the road, when he felt a dull pain in the back of his head. Darkness engulfed him.
Nigel was putting down his rifle, finger still on the trigger, when the POD happened. He felt bird feces on his head, and in surprise, his finger jerked, and pulled the trigger. The gunshot was deafening, and Nigel saw the man, who he always knew as the Drunk, fall down. A group of men, who Nigel assumed to be the drunks friends wailed in with rage and anguish. When they ran back to the Rally, the Sergeant, who had witnessed the whole scene muttered “Bugger…”
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