USA 2002 in 1942 section 2

ISOT American 2002 was written by Dave Knudson
It can serve as a rough template on how the Infopunk and Dieselpunk Earths interact. The formatting at the source archive has issues and so the piece is provided here. Due to its size it is in sections.
*USA 2002 in 1942 section 1
*USA 2002 in 1942 section 2
*USA 2002 in 1942 section 3
*USA 2002 in 1942 section 4
*USA 2002 in 1942 section 5
*USA 2002 in 1942 section 6
*USA 2002 in 1942 section 7
*USA 2002 in 1942 section 8
==USA 2002 in 1942 Part 4 "Orientation"==
At 4:30 AM PST March 15, 1942, 77 year-old Miquel Jimenez got up in his home, located just south of Tuscon, Arizona. He got into his 4x4 SUV, and drove south along Interstate 19 to within 5 miles of the
Mexican border. He turned off on a service road along the interstate
that led to a small, unmarked dirt road. His SUV bumped along that
road until it ended abruptly at the Mexican Border. Miquel stopped
his SUV off the side of the road.
The Border patrol, never more than a token presence here in the
wastes west of Nogales, had repaired the fence since Miquel's last
journey a few months ago, but that didn't matter to Miquel. He took a pair of bolt cutters from the back seat of the SUV, and grabbed a
backpack and canteen. Spry for his age, Miquel wielded the cutter like the mechanic he'd been for decades. The bolt cutter made short
work of the fence, and Miguel slipped through and walked south into
Mexico.
After a walk of six miles, with several stops and turns to orient
himself and his decades-old memories of the place, Miquel stopped
before a small farmhouse. A few minutes after that, he was shaking hands with his 17 year-old self.
Miquel's experience was repeated by dozens of people over the next few days. For some it was joyful, some terrible, and some just
terribly confusing. The government was unable to offer any explanation for how this could be, and churches saw a surge in
membership.
On March 15, the "Battle of the Atlantic" is in full swing. The CAMPBELL had met up with the EISENHOWER group. The captain of the
CAMPBELL came on board the huge CVN, and could only gape. An
explanation was offered, but the poor man could not understand what
was happening. Finally, he gives a stuttering interview to a CNN
camera team on the boat, and is struck speechless by the roar of an
F-18 taking off.
The captain is escorted down to CIC, where seemingly magical sensors,
relaying information from helicopters and escort ships, display every
German submarine within 200 miles of the group. Even the submerged
ones.
The EISENHOWER was under orders to clear the shipping lanes of German submarines and aircraft. One of the techs on the IKE had an idea. Why not give the Germans a chance to surrender by letting them know how out-classed they were? Some sonar equipment on two sea stallion helicopters and a destroyer was reconfigured, and a sub selected.
The lucky German sub promptly submerged at the sight of the
approaching helicopters. A torpedo with a dummy warhead was launched,
which struck the German sub, caused relatively little damage, but got
the Germans' attention. The helicopters and destroyer then used their
sonar to communicate. Rather than the "ping-ping" of normal sonar,
they put out a series of pings and longer tones that emulated Morse
Code - "Surface or Die" - repeated several times. Then, just to show
they were serious, the US sailors launched another torpedo with a
dummy warhead. The sub surfaced, and the crew interned. Over the
next few days this procedure was repeated, with varying degrees of
success, as some German subs did flee or try to fight. They were
destroyed.
The procedure worked even better after someone had the bright idea of
tran-sonaring the messages in German rather than English.
As German submariners were experiencing Darwinism in person, the
EISENHOWER group was approaching Europe. Several German long-range
FW390C CONDOR four-engine naval scout/bombers met F-18s. The results
were fairly predictable, though the IKE's S&R teams did manage to fish
some German pilots from the sea.
On March 16, Winston Churchill was standing with Ike, Joe Kennedy and
Anthony Eden watching an impossible plane land. They were at a bomber
base near Manchester, England, and the 727 coming towards them with
"United States of America" emblazoned on the side was impossible not
to see. The propeller-less aircraft lined up, and did a perfect
landing on the tarmac.
Overhead, equally impossible planes circled the field. Though none
of the men on ground recognized them, all knew military planes when
they saw some. They had the lean, sharp look of killers. The RAF had
a squadron of Spitfire Vs up providing CAP as well, but it was clear
the fighter jets were far more capable.
The plane taxied for a bit, and then a ladder was pushed up to the
door. It wasn't the right size of course, but some quick adjustments
fixed that. With much less pomp than befitted the Prime Minister of
the United Kingdom, a couple of men in blue uniforms descended the
stairs. The saluted Churchill, and Eisenhower, and introduced
themselves as members of the United States Air Force.
An African-American also descended the stairs. He was in a suit, and
smiled at Churchill. Shaking hands, he introduced himself as Colin
Powell, Secretary of State of the United States. As he was doing so,
the F-18s suddenly roared off to the East.
One of Air Force men touched an earpiece, and nodded at Powell. The Germans were coming.
The last three days had been confusing to Germans. Strange reports
from America, loss of contact with Atlantic U-boats, and reports of
rocket planes from Condors. Then the call from "President Bush" to
Churchill. A chance to get the British PM was too good to miss. 
Three squadrons of FW190 fighters were tasked. They had the range to
make Manchester from Calais.
The AWACs from IKE saw them almost immediately. The two F-18s
circling Manchester were joined by two more from the IKE.
At twenty miles separation the four US planes started launching
missiles. 8 FW190s blew up before they knew anything was coming. The
remaining FW190s went to evasive, and tried to see what was killing
them. 6 more died from more missiles before they did. Impossible
planes flashed by, guns blazing. Two more German planes died. 
However, the FW190 was one of the premier propeller fighters in the
world, and they were piloted by combat veterans. They looped and
rolled, and fled back to France, all thought
of engaging these monster planes gone. The US jets made another pass,
and two more FW190s exploded. The remaining 5 sped off to France. 
Remarkably they made it - as the US jets broke off, under orders to
let them escape.
At Manchester, Powell and Churchill boarded the plane. Churchill's security men did a sweep of the plane, and took up positions within. 
Churchill expressed concern about leaving when the Germans were coming, but Powell assured him the attack had already been turned
back. As they boarded the plane, one of Churchill's security team curled his lips slightly in a sneer at the idea of a black man speaking
to the Prime Minister of Great Britain as if they were equals.Inside the impossible plane were luxurious accommodations, a full
communications suite, and a copy of the TIME-LIFE Atlas of World War II.
In the Pacific, the USS STENNIS battle group is sailing for Hawaii,
full speed. The group is at battle stations, pinging away at
submarines. Approaching them is a 1942 carrier group built around the
HORNET. Nimitz in Pearl is in contact with Eisenhower and MacArthur. 
Eisenhower reports from the 727 that yes indeed, these people are from
future, and, yes indeed they have some amazing military equipment. 
Nimitz is ordered to prepare for the arrival of US Defence Secretary
Rumsfeld from Washington.
When Nimitz asks about the Secretary of the Navy, he informed that
position no longer exists.
In America, a rash of panic buying is on. People flood supermarkets
and gas stations. Bush doesn't hesitate - the National Guard is
deployed. Riots break out in some cities, but are quickly suppressed.
By the 17th, something like calm is coming over the nation. There is no immediate shortage of food or electricity, and no identifiable
threat.
Millions of people, American and foreign must come to terms with
something, however. Loved ones overseas on March 13 are gone - not
necessarily dead - but gone. Parents have lost children, people have
lost relatives fighting in Afghanistan, the State Department has been
decimated.
The government responds ineptly at best. The scope of the problem is
so huge that no one organization can cope. Some places deal better
then others. There are isolated outbreaks of violence as
grief-stricken people decide the government is responsible for this. 
These are quelled by local police, but the seeds of doubt are planted.
NASA is ordered to repair the satellite network - at once. NASA does
have considerable launch capacity, and does have some satellites
available. However, to repair the network will require the
manufacture of more satellites. Although "mostly" constructed in the
United States, some components were manufactured elsewhere. US firms
can make up the difference, but it will take time.
Still, both Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg start preparing rockets for
launch.
In Berlin, the reports from the Condors are supplemented with those
from the surviving FW190s. The news is not good, as the FW190s - the
best Germany has - were obliterated with ease. A panic situation
grips Zossen and Berlin. The future Americans are calling for the
eradication of Nazism, and right now, there is not enough information
to stop them.
In Moscow, the mood is not much better. The radio reports from
America are confusing, but conclusions seem inescapable. Soviet spies
report the defeat of the U-boats and that Churchill was met by a
fantastic aircraft in Britain.
Most concerning, however, is the near fanatical hatred of Stalin in
the American media. Most are openly calling for him to be crushed. 
The only good thing is that the hatred of Hitler seems even greater. 
However, it is clear that most Americans don't seem to differentiate
much between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. They seem to think both
systems are pure evil.
Something the USSR and Nazi Germany suddenly have in common, it would
seem.
The Israeli commander at the NTC is in touch with his embassy in
Washington. The city is in chaos, which is understandable. Both the
Ambassador and the Israeli commander had family members die in the
camps - from the Holocaust. Both want it stopped - and do not want to
wait for the Americans to do it.
The Ambassador tells the commander to sit tight - for now. 
Transportation is being arranged by the Mossad.
==USA 2002 in 1942 Part 5 - "Assessing Options"==
When Winston Churchill stepped off the 727 at Andrews AFB, he was
shaken. Not by the plane ride - smoother than any he'd
ever known - or even by the almost preternatural speed of its
transatlantic crossing. No, he was shaken by what Secretary of State
Colin Powell had shown him in the Atlas of World War II. He'd
understood - on an intellectual level at least - that remarkable
as it was, time travel of a whole country had occurred. The atlas,
however, had brought that home on an emotional level as well. More
than the 727, a black US Secretary of State, the F-18s or anything
else, the atlas brought home to him that this was REAL - there
was no denying it. The pictures of him with Franklin and Uncle Joe at
Tehran, and then later Yalta - they felt right. But that
wasn't what shook him
Churchill took comfort from the Allied victory the atlas had set
forth. Even without the magic of the 21st century, he and Franklin
had put the rabid dog Hitler down. The battles of in North Africa and
Italy, operation Overlord, the bulge, all had happened. The Atlas
spelled out the immense pain that victory had cost though - for
Britain more than America, and for Europe in general the most of all. 
Colin Powell had explained that none of this would happen, assuming
the time event didn't whisk them back to the 21st century. 
America's weapons were vastly better. The atlas revealed
pictures of some of those weapons - and their effects. That
wasn't what shook Churchill either.
The thing that really shook Churchill - more than anything else
- was the small section of the atlas devoted to biographies of
the major actors of World War II. Nothing more than sidebars, really,
a man's entire life reduced to a few paragraphs in a
coffee-table book. All men die - the mystery is in when. But
not for Churchill, for the small biography in the atlas revealed that
history had decided that Winston Churchill was to die on January 24,
1965.
At the civic center in Atlanta, Georgia, the crowd was swelling. 
Atlanta PD estimated 120,000 people showed up for what had been an
impromptu, non-denominational gathering of the Christian faithful. 
Southern Baptists predominated, of course, but the Methodists were
also represented, along with some Episcopalians and even the odd
Catholic or two. Of course, most of the "fringe"
Christian groups were there as well, along with the usual assortment
of UFO and Scientologists and Lyndon Larouchies.
A man could do well here, thought Jeremiah Jesus Jones -
Triple-J to his friends. Triple-J had started his adult life as a
small-time scam artist and con man. Like most con artists, he got
nailed, eventually. After doing 2 years in the Texas State
penitentiary, Triple-J had decided that prison wasn't for him. 
In prison, he'd met a man simply called the Reverend. The
Reverend had made millions as head of a Church. Triple-J
couldn't believe the stories the Reverend told - just make
up some BS about God, and people give you money. And best of all
- the law couldn't touch you, since it was a church and
all. The Reverend would still be out there making money if one of his
accountants hadn't found religion (real religion) and sold him
out.
Upon his release, Triple-J founded the Church of Everlasting Mercy
(CEM). He became an accredited priest of the cloth from some Internet
site, and he was bright enough to craft a message that attracted some
followers. With his southern accent, striking appearance, and fluent
Spanish, JJJ had made millions. But he dreamed of bigger things. The
problem was, he was hardly the first person to come up with this idea,
and the big slots were all full already. The Big Boys - as Triple-J
thought of them - Falwell, Robertson, Swaggert, and the rest
were rolling in loot. Triple-J wanted a piece of that pie - but
he needed a way to break in. Triple-J was patient, though, his day
would come.
The crowd was hungry for answers - and the government wasn't providing any. Either were any of the talking-head
reporters, or even the Big Boys - Falwell wasn't even here
and Swaggert didn't seem to know what to say. The crowd was
angry, confused, and most of all, scared.
Yes sirree, thought Triple-J, it looks like today's could be my day.
In the embassy of the People's Republic of China in Washington,
DC, the mood was tense, frightened, and bewildered. The fantastic
reports on the American media were unbelievable, but also undeniable.
A stormy meeting was underway in a secure conference room -
what to do. The Great Chairman, Mao, was alive again. There was
official joy over this, and unofficial panic. The people in that room
were old enough to remember the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural
Revolution, the Gang of Four, and the dark days before Deng. On the
surface, their choice of action seemed obvious - assist the
Great Mao in his holy task of defeating the Nationalists.
But all was not well. China - the Middle Kingdom - faced
years of threats - both from within and without - and the
Chairman might not have all the answers. And there was the question
of the Americans. They'd supported Chiang, and kept his puppet
Taiwan from the fold even into the 21wst Century. Despite their
knowledge, there was little the Chinese embassy could do to impact the
whole United States. The people in the meeting had much to think on.
In the Situation Room, Winston Churchill and Dwight D. Eisenhower
were greeted with a standing ovation. Military men, members of
Congress, some Cabinet people, the British ambassador, and President
George Bush all rose. Churchill smiled, gave a "V" sign,
and lit up a cigar. Despite the "No Smoking" sign,
someone got the PM an ashtray.
George Bush introduced himself, the 2002 British ambassador Sir
Christopher Meyer, and selected members of the 2002 US government in
the Situation Room to both 1942 men. Winston beamed, while Ike was
studying the various monitors about the room. The monitors showed
satellite images of the Earth, and computer-generated schematics of US
naval assets and deployments.
In particular, Ike, and the other 1942 military men, were drawn to a
large monitor that displayed the position of every remaining German
submarine in the Atlantic shipping lanes, as reported by 2002 US naval
forces. Also, some intelligence was coming in on German field
deployments in Western Europe.
After a few minutes of welcome, Churchill sat down at the table. 
He'd been stunned and amazed by his short ride from Andrews,
through the DC suburbs. So much change had taken place. The 2002
Americans obviously had wealth and technology beyond the dreams of
avarice, and Winston looked forward to this meeting.
George Bush opened the meeting. He started by saying despite the
strangeness of the situation, he was happy to report to Churchill that
the United States and Great Britain were as close in 2002 as in 1942,
and that the United Kingdom could continue to count on the full
support of the United States. Meyer echoed this, and reported that
the Embassy staff had been in contact with the year 2002 British
citizens in the United States, and that, while stunned by the event,
Britain's citizens would help during the time ahead.
The Americans had identified three main problems facing the Allies. 
The first was the war against the Axis; the second was the maintenance
of the 2002 US economy, and finally there was the post-war world
- in particular China, the Soviet Union and finally the European
colonies around the world.
Churchill furrowed his brow, and indicated he didn't know why
the colonies were an issue. After all, it was the burden of Christian
civilization to minister to those less fortunate under God then they. 
There was dead silence in the room, broken by Bush, who smiled, and
indicated that they should deal with that when the time came.
First - the war. Bush spoke. He wanted it clear to the 1942
people that the war could be over in hour. At the surprised looks
from Churchill and Ike, an aide started a DVD player. On it was a
copy of a PBS broadcast of nuclear weapons. The program included a
quick description of a hydrogen bomb, the basic principles behind it,
footage of test blasts from Nevada and Bimini, and finally some
graphics showing destruction projections for various US cities if they
were hit. Bush indicated that less than a hundred of these weapons
- and the US had thousands - would eliminate both Germany
and Japan as powers and cultures for the next few thousand years.
Churchill and Ike were stunned, and Churchill actually looked eager. 
We should use this now - to destroy the Nazi beast in its lair. 
Bush looked uncomfortable. There was considerable debate, he said,
about using these weapons at all. They were so dangerous and
destructive that it was difficult, in good conscious, to use them
against any enemy, even Hitler. They remained an asset, of course,
but Bush had decided, and made it clear it was his decision, not to
use them in combat at this point.
There was also considerable debate, Bush said, about a demonstration
blast, perhaps at a remote island. It was thought by some in the US
government that a demonstration of the power at America's
command would convince the Axis to simply surrender. Others thought
the Axis' historical response to overwhelming odds -
sending children out to die in hopeless battles - indicated a
degree of fanaticism that no demonstration could move. Bush wanted
Churchill's opinion. Churchill shrugged - the weapons
were impressive enough - why not try it? Environmental impacts
were not something he thought of.
As for the conventional war, then the JCS had a plan for that. First
of all, naval and air assets of the United States would absolutely
secure naval air dominance over and around the British Isles. No more
bombers would hit British cities - guaranteed. A build-up of US
supplies and forces would take place in the UK. This would
necessitate the conversion of some British facilities to support them,
but no one thought that was issue. The first thing would be the
neutralization of all EuroAxis air and naval assets. It was thought
that that two US CVNs and several squadrons of fighters based from the
UK, Gibraltar and Egypt could accomplish this. The Germans had no
defence against the US Air Force, and their subs were being swept from
the Atlantic.
After a period of build up, the invasion of Europe would take place. 
Tentatively, this was scheduled for mid-September, at a site to be
determined. Churchill seemed aghast at this - too soon! What
about North Africa, Italy, and Norway? Bush shrugged. His military
people had convinced him the best way to win was to land and take
Berlin. As for the German Army? A tour of Fort Hood, Texas, home of
the US 1st Armored Division was arranged.
For the Pacific, 2 CVNs would eliminate the Imperial Japanese Navy by
June 1. Once that was accomplished, US SSNs would strangle Japanese
trade. The marines would grab some islands, and US air assets staged
out of them. Japan was not expected to present a problem.
All in all, the war was expected to be largely over before November
of 1942. Isolated Axis military units were expected to fight on,
particularly in the Pacific, but German and Japanese ability to impact
global trade or threaten other nations should be eliminated by then.
Churchill was flabbergasted. That's it? The war over in a few
months? That smacked of over-optimism. Bush agreed that it was
optimistic, but asked that the Prime Minister reserve judgment until
he became more conversant with 2002 US military capabilities. 
Besides, said Bush, a criticism of the military is that the generals
are always fighting the last war. This time, they actually get to.
On to the US economy. The US economy is hugely dependant on oil. 
Foreign oil. Luckily, US petrochemical companies knew where that oil
was. Once the Axis military threat was dealt with, the oilmen would
go out. A strong US presence in the Gulf was anticipated - to
whit, the US would be focusing on Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Churchill
pointed out the UK's own need for oil, and Sir Meyer indicated a
display showing North Sea oil deposits.
After that, a massive retooling of not only the US economy, but also
the global one. Churchill is shocked to learn that in 2002, Germany,
Japan, and the Republic of Russia are all US allies. Capitalism had
swept the globe, and Churchill felt the first stirring of fear. The
world in 2002 seemed to be an American one, where American ideals,
culture and politics dominated. While vastly preferable to Nazism or
Communism, Churchill wasn't sure how he felt about that.
At this point, Bush broke up the meeting. He was sure Churchill was
tired, and offered the hospitality of the White House. Churchill
thanked him, and asked to stay at the British Embassy. Sir Meyer
agreed, and they left.
Sir Meyer was in for a long night, because Churchill had questions.
As the meeting broke, and various military leaders left to give
orders to US units, John Ashcroft drew Bush aside, and reminded him
that he needed a vice president.
In Germany, a growing sense of panic reigned. German radios
continued to pickup the bizarre stories from America, and the ease
with which the FW190s had been smashed to ground was frightening to
contemplate. Hitler, at Zossen with OHW and OKH, was in a quandary.
The USSR would be finished this summer - he was sure of it. 
Only the damnable mud and cowardice of his generals had enabled to
Bolsheviks to survive this long as it was. The threat from the West,
thought manageable until the war against Russia was complete seemed
far greater now. Canaris was able to provide little data, other that
German U-boats were surrendering in large numbers to the American
Navy. The few reports they did have indicated magical military
machines.
All of this was backed by implacable hatred coming over the radio
from America. In particular, a seemingly endless numbers of Jews
talking about something called the Holocaust. To Hitler, America was
a mongrel, Jew-infested place that would be better ignored, if not for
its insane meddling.
The only good note that German intelligence was able to report was
that almost as many broadcasts were anti-Stalin as anti-German
(Canaris was careful not to say ‘anti-Hitler' though in
truth they were). Most Americans seemed to want him dead as well.
Hitler fumed and Hitler fidgeted and Hitler sat. The option open to
him was abhorrent, but his generals recommended it. Hitler hated the
option - it went against everything he believed in. His crusade
was working - Europe and Germany were being cleansed, and the
Bear was on the ropes. But this new America - this threatened
the very soul of the Nazi state, and could not be allowed to exist.
Sighing to himself, Hitler called for Joachim Ribbentrop. He wanted
the German Foreign minister to make a call.
In Moscow, Stalin was stony-faced as the Politburo met. Each member
gave a carefully crafted opinion - either about the strange
messages from America, or the evidence from Soviet spies in
German-occupied Europe. The Luftwaffe had been stung by mystery
planes, but the U-Boats were reporting impossibilities. The
possibility that this was some fascist-capitalist trick could not be
ignored.
What to do? The Nazi animal occupied much of the USSR. The
victories of the winter must be expanded - but Soviet arms were
still weak. This new America seemed as much a threat to the USSR as
the Germans.
An aide entered. It seemed the Swedish ambassador had called. A
message was waiting for Comrade Molotov.
From Berlin.
At the NTC, the Israeli commander met with his unit commanders. A
change was coming. Transport would be arriving. It was time to get
ready.
Time to kill Nazis.
==USA 2002 in 1942 Part 6 - "Reactions"==
Winston Churchill gazed out of the limo's windows at the Cherry
Blossoms on the Mall. So much had changed, and yet these were the
same as he remembered them. He remembered his last trip to
Washington, right after Pearl Harbor. Franklin and the Americans had
been so shocked. They had seen the world collapsing around them as
the Japanese overran Asia. Churchill and the British had seen
salvation - with America's strength, who cared about the Philippines
or Malaya (though Churchill still winced at the thought of Singapore).
Now it was Churchill's turn to see the world collapse. The days he'd
spent with Ambassador Meyer had been - interesting, to say the least. 
Devastating in their own way. The next decades, Churchill now knew,
would see the dissolution of the British Empire - despite the victory
over the Nazis. That was very bad, in Churchill's mind. What was
truly incomprehensible though, was that Sir Christopher, a Peer of the
Realm, (and, evidently a good one to be awarded the plum
Ambassadorship to the United States) actually viewed this a good
thing. He had prattled on to Churchill about the rights of people (as
if the British Empire could be better ruled by the small brown
people who lived in parts of it rather than good Europeans), and how
the British were better off without the Empire, and even how the
Commonwealth survived in a form. But all Churchill saw was the
retreat from Empire - the retreat of Christian civilization. After
two world wars, centuries of exploration and discovery - it was all
for naught. The retreat of the Empire, matched by a subdued fury from
those it had ruled was the rule of the 21st century, it seemed.
The limo pulled up in front of the TV people in front of the Capitol.
Sir Christopher had assured Churchill that the Americans of 2002 viewed him as a hero. Churchill wondered how his own would view him
after tonight. He was to address the US Congress - a joint session of
it. In it, Churchill, who considered himself a great writer and
orator, would read a speech written by others. A speech written by
the Embassy staff, actually. Churchill had written his own speech, of
course, but had magnamoniously submitted it to Sir Christopher for
review. A few hours later, Sir Christopher had returned, and politely
and deferentially suggested a few "minor" changes. The changes hadn't
been "minor" at all - Sir Christopher had had the whole speech
re-written. The parts about Allied solidarity and shared heritage in
the face of Nazi brutality had stayed the same, but the rest was gone.
In its place was a "politically correct" version that ignored many of the points Churchill had wanted to make. Gone was the talk of the
benefits of Empire, gone was the idea that the British, Dutch and
French Empires brought civilization to Asia, gone were the
points extolling Christian civilization. An enraged Churchill had
been calmed down by Sir Christopher. Remember the audience, he'd
said. The audience was the Americans, but also the Germans. No
breach between this new America and Britain may be allowed to show. 
As much as to Churchill's speech, the Germans would listen to the
American comments about it. Churchill, in the end, had acquiesced to
their suggestions.
Churchill lit a cigar (something he had most assuredly NOT acquiesced on) and flashed his "V" sign as he rose from the limo. His
bowler hat firmly in place, he moved like an elemental force through
the crowd, smiling throughout, to the US capitol. He would give his
speech, and then embark upon his tour of this new America, and, in the
end, to see what kind of place Britain - his Britain, not Sir
Christopher's, might have in this new world.
Vyacheslav Molotov watched Britney Spears explain that she "was not
that innocent". More to the point, he was watching two NKVD security
men who had accompanied him to the United States watch the young
American woman on "Television". Both men were considered utterly
reliable - else they would not be with Molotov - but the effect of Ms.
Spears on them was electric. They'd never seen anything remotely
similar, and both had slack-jawed expressions of befuddlement and
lust. Neither was doing their jobs, and after a few moments of
watching the "MTV Music Video", neither was Molotov.
Molotov was on his was to the "Situation Room" at the White House. The Imperialist Churchill had just given a rousing speech to
the American Congress, and it had been well-received. Molotov had
stopped off after a brief introduction to President Bush in the Oval
Office to check on his men. They were supposed to be carefully and
unobtrusively gathering information. Instead, they were watching MTV.
When he arrived at the Situation Room, Molotov sat at one end of the
long conference table. With him were most of the senior military,
diplomatic, and political leadership of the United States. They did
not have friendly expressions on their faces.
The 1942 US Embassy in Moscow had received word, from the 1942 US Embassy in London, of the startling events of the past days. Yes,
somehow the USA from 2002 had been transported back to 1942. Yes, the
rumors were true, and no, the scientists in America from 2002 had no
idea how this happened.
Through the US Embassy, a meeting had been arranged. The
United States and the Soviet Union, were, after all, Allies against
Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy (among others), and consultations were
necessary. A "jet airplane" would fly to Moscow to pick up whatever
representatives the USSR deemed appropriate for a meeting in
Washington DC with President Bush. This response had, of course,
triggered the institutionalised paranoia of the Soviet Union, but
Molotov and a few others were hastily sent on their way. The magical
American plane appeared, and only Molotov's rank in the Politburo had
prevented the NKVD at the airport from seizing it immediately - surely
the great Stalin would reward such a rich technological prize! Molotov
had talked the NKVD Colonel in charge into forgoing any abrupt action
- much richer prizes awaited the USSR if a little patience could be
shown. After all, the dialectic demanded it.
20 hours later, Molotov wasn't so sure about the infallibility of the
dialectic. He'd seen things that had shaken him to his very roots. 
The Americans had on the plane the Ambassador from the "Republic of
Russia" - clearly a Russian, but one whose hatred of Communism in
general - and Stalin in particular - could not be hidden. The plane
had 2 movies on it - something called "CNN's History of the Cold War"
- which wasn't about a war at all, but about a post-war ideological
struggle between the US and the USSR. The other had been a "recent
release" called "Enemy at the Gates" about a battle in Stalingrad. It
had been chilling as well.
The upshot of the information Molotov received on the plane ride
(straight across the Atlantic - no stops) was that the Soviet Union
was doomed. Not from the Nazis - the Americans admitted that the
Soviets had crushed them (Molotov cherished the memory of the picture
of Soviet soldiers raising the Hammer-and-Sickle above the ruins of
the Reichstag in Berlin). But in the long term, and if the Americans
were not lying, then Marx and Lenin were wrong. Molotov couldn't quite
bring himself to believe that, but the amazing sights that he'd seen
did shake him.
He didn't show it, of course. His face wore the same bland
expression of polite interest it always did. Molotov was a man raised
to political maturity in Stalin's Russia. One did not survive - to
say nothing of prosper - in such an environment without learning
emotional control. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for
Georgi Zhukov, currently staring wide-eyed at "satellite" photos of
the Russo-German Front. Zhukov (who apparently had some reputation
among the American military people) had been shown something called
the "Battlefield" series from the "History Channel". Zhukov's eyes
had been round after that.
The African Secretary of State (an African as Secretary of State?
Ludicrous.) named Colin Powell was addressing Molotov through a
translator. He welcomed the Soviet ambassador to the United States,
and told him that despite the strange circumstances, the United States
had every intention - and the means - to honor its commitments and
prosecute the war against Nazi Germany. Furthermore, the United
States would also do its best to honor its economic commitments to the
USSR. Unfortunately, the industrial base of 1942 had been replaced
with one sixty years more advanced. The spare parts, locomotives, and
other military and industrial products that had been part of the
lend-lease program to the USSR could not be shipped because they
simply did not exist
in a form the USSR could use. However, on a brighter note, the
complete defeat of the U-boats meant that "humanitarian" (whatever
that was) aid could get through.
Molotov took all of this equaminously enough. He hardly expected the
Americans to just give away their marvellous technology. He looked
somewhat abashed, and said that while the USSR would greatly
appreciate any assistance the United States could give, the lack of
spare parts might hamper the efforts of the glorious workers and
peasants of the USSR in conducting warfare against the Germans.
No problem, said the Americans. The German military would be crushed
utterly in the next few months. The Soviets would be well-advised to
wait it out. The Red Army, said an American general, need not suffer
any more. The sons of Russia need not die in its defence. Molotov,
who cared not one whit about the sons of Russia, said this is fine,
but he hardly expected the Germans to be crushed that quickly. The
same US general said he'd been happy to take Marshall Zhukov to
someplace in Texas (Fort Hood) which should dispel any lingering
concerns the Soviets might have.
Molotov said this was all sounding very good, but that specific
concerns had developed in the Soviet Union regarding some radio
broadcasts that had been heard. In particular, these broadcasts
seemed to portray Comrade Stalin in much the same light as Adolph
Hitler. This was confusing to the USSR, why would an Ally portray the
leader as the enemy? After all, Comrade Stalin was the saviour of the
USSR.
A dead silence Winston Churchill would have recognized from his time
in the Situation Room ensued. This time, it lasted for several
moments, and again, President Bush was the one to break it. Bush was
comfortable here; things worked best for him when he could classify
people as either good or evil, and he had no uncertainty about where
Stalin fell. He growled at Molotov, although the translator was more
polite. Premier Stalin, said Bush, had no friends here. Unlike many,
the United States would not operate under the assumption that Stalin
was nice or even rational. At this, Molotov's demeanour broke a little.
What do you mean? Comrade Stalin is the leader of the workers and peasants of the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics. He is a visionary who -
Comrade Stalin, broke in yet another African (even more unbelievably
- a woman - with the title of "National Security Advisor"), is a
lunatic. Molotov's translator blanched at translating this, but the
one from the 2002 Russian Embassy did not. Molotov was actually
speechless. The same woman continued. Comrade Stalin killed millions
of innocents in his forced collectivisations of the 1920s. Comrade
Stalin destroyed ethnic groups he viewed as unreliable or disloyal. 
Comrade Stalin gutted the Soviet military leadership in paranoid
delusions, effectively destroying the ability of the
Red Army to resist the Nazis, and thereby condemning more millions to
death (Molotov carefully did not look at Zhukov).
Powell spoke again. The United States would honor its commitments. 
The aid would come to Murmansk and other ports. The United States
Armed Forces would defeat the Germans. The Soviet Union - while it
was led by Josef Stalin - was not a friend though. At the conclusion
of the conflict, the United States would recognize - and enforce - the
boundaries of the USSR as they were on January 1, 1939. In short, the
United States did not recognize the forcible Soviet annexation of
Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Bessarabia, Eastern Poland, or the lands
seized from Finland in 1939-1940.
Molotov looked at Bush, but there was no give there. His Secretary
of State had spoken, and Bush supported him. Molotov was very pale,
but managed a smile. He said the USSR would welcome any aid the USA
could provide, and, that after conveying this message to Comrade
Stalin and the rest of the Central Committee, would like to establish
a dialogue to prevent any misunderstandings between the two countries.
The United States Navy was busy. Deployed on the first day of the
event to protect the US East Coast, the 2002 Navy carrier battle groups
had picked up bits and pieces of the 1942 US and Royal Navies as well.
The North and Central Atlantic had been swept clean of German U-Boats, and the EISENHOWER group had reached the English Channel. 
The pilots on board had savaged two hastily assembled German air
attacks on the group, and were itching to hit Europe. However, it was
not to be. Orders from the Pentagon were clear: Establish air and
sea supremacy around the British Isles, and wait for the AEF being
prepared in the United States. Britain was completely lacking in
any logistical support capability, and that needed to be created in
order to support extended combat operations. The crews of the ships
would have to wait.
The Captain of the EISENHOWER was a bit of a history buff. His
pilots were frustrated by inactivity, but he knew a nice, juicy naval
target for them. It didn't even mean breaking his orders. Well, not
that much anyway.
The CONSTELLATION battle group had reached and transited Gibraltar
into the Western Mediterranean. One German and two rather desultory
Italian air attacks had been beaten off with ease. The
CONSTELLATION's orders were different from IKE; clear the Med of
Italian and German shipping to choke off Rommel in North Africa.
The Italian Navy was another concern. It had numerous battleships
and cruisers, and a not insignificant sub component. The men and
women of the CONSTELLATION and her escorts had a plan to deal with
this.
In the Pacific, the STENNIS group had reached Hawaii. Chester
Nimitz, after a tour of the NIMITZ-class ship, knew the war was over. 
On his own initiative, and in consultation with Douglas MacArthur in
Australia, Nimitz was putting together a relief force for the
beleaguered men of the Philippines garrison. Two divisions of 1942
troops in Hawaii were available. One of these, plus a 2002 marine
contingent built around the TARAWA were to sail to the Philippines
with the STENNIS, and the TRUMAN hastily sailing from the US.
Bush had initially opposed this plan, but the enthusiasm of the
military people, both 2002 and 1942, had swayed him. It was
shoestring, and might not work, but the Japanese would be obligated to
try and stop it. The STENNIS and TRUMAN would be enough to crush the
IJN, and meanwhile, a 2002 Navy force from San Diego was on its way to
Hawaii, to build up a logistical base there.
Triple-J had come up with a plan. The Reverend had taught him the
basics - make 'em afraid of it, and tell 'em who to blame for it, and
then they'll flock to you. Well, they were already afraid of "it". 
"It" being the event that sent them to 1942. Who to blame - well,
that was tougher. Triple-J initially wanted to blame Bush, but a
quick call to the Reverend in his Texas prison cell changed that. 
Bush was too popular with Triple-J's core constituency - the South -
to blame. No, people wanted to rally round
the good Christian Texan President, and blaming him was not the
answer.
Triple-J had to admit that the Reverend made damn good sense there. 
But there were plenty of other targets. Triple-J's ambition was
money, and to get money meant people. Who to blame to attract the
most people, and therefore, the most money? Triple-J hemmed and hawed
about this for a couple of days, and then, as if by divine providence,
an inspiration hit him. With a smile, Triple-J began to write the
sermon of his future.
Winston Churchill was a place called Cape Canaveral in Florida. His
tour of the 2002 United States was leaving him breathless, and today
promised to be the best of all. NASA was launching the Space Shuttle
Discovery, mission STS-110. The original spec for STS-110 was to
convey and assemble a large piece of the ISS (International Space
Station). The ISS didn't make it to 1942, so STS-110 had been
reconfigured. Two MILSTARs were going up instead, to help rebuild the
tattered US Satellite network.
On time (for once), and on a plume of fire, the Discovery lifted off.
In all his life, Churchill had never seen anything like it. The plume of fire, the rumble felt in the bones, the exhaust light too bright to look at, and the speed of the machine left Churchill
breathless.Author's Note: I actually got to see the real STS-110 launch from the Cape during my honeymoon, and decided to include it here. It is amazing to see a shuttle launch in person, and I knew - more or less - what to expect. For someone from 1942 I imagine it would be even more
impressive.
The Israelis boarded a series of Greyhound buses. They didn't have
their weapons with them, but they would be provided later, the man
from the Embassy said. The buses left the NTC under eye of the US
commander there. He had no orders regarding the Israelis, but a
pretty good idea of what they were off to do.
He supposed he should have stopped them - after all, military action,
to be coordinated should have a centralized command structure. With
the absence of an Israeli high command (not to mention the absence of
the State of Israel), the Israelis probably should have demobilized
themselves, or submitted to US command.
On the other hand, the US Commander had no love of Nazis.
The same magical US Jet returned Molotov and Zhukov to Moscow. 
Zhukov's tour of Fort Hood would have to wait. The flight back had
been difficult for Molotov. He'd seen enough during his brief visit
to America to convince him that resistance was futile. The Soviet
Union had not the means, not could it acquire the means, to fight
these people. Instead, Molotov focused on what the Secretary of
State had said - the US would
have difficulty dealing with the USSR. While Stalin was in charge,
that is. Molotov considered this carefully. The Americans would be
the power to deal with in the future, and - appeasing for lack of a
better word - them would be critical to the survival of the revolution
- not to mention Molotov's own skin. He was not so foolish as to
allow his mind to even begin to plan a plot against the man who ruled
Russia. Instead, Molotov spoke with Zhukov about what they'd seen and
done. They went over each and every detail of the trip. This was
more than simple preparation to report to a superior - Stalin would
quiz each separately, and any inconsistencies would set his paranoid
mind
awhirl - no, for both Molotov and Zhukov, this was simple survival in
the Soviet state.
Molotov nodded politely to American cabin crew as he left -
politeness cost nothing and could be useful later. The US translator
wished Molotov a safe trip to the Kremlin, and Molotov nodded
politely.
Of course, Molotov wasn't going to the Kremlin - yet. He had another
appointment Stalin had made for him.
In the much less comfortable Soviet plane that left an hour after the
American one did, Molotov mused on what was said. It wasn't until he
was over Pskov and winging west that he recalled that Zhukov hadn't
mentioned the American statement about the USSR being better off
without Stalin either.
Yes, much to consider.
More to come.
Dave Knudson
Category:Timelines
Category:ISOT American 2002
==Notes==