El ultimo Panzer

Another Lima, Another 1990s

The American was early.  That was not good. 

Cadet Verde Steiner announced the man, from the Man.  Taking a moment or two after hearing her voice and looking up from the papers he was feigning filling in. They were in fact a list of nonsensical names. But everyone needs their pretense. Like the Girl from Callao, in her silk dress on Sunday and starving on rice all week

The man behind the desk looked at Steiner for a moment. The funny thing is he was sure he still made her nervous. She was only 22, Steiner had been drafted as the PA. She could speak some English, and she was too gringa  and too pretty too be left alone. Men would have ganged up..
They had shot a few people for that already
 Poor Steiner  In another universe she would have been studying her Abi in Wittlesetein But some fool ancestor had moved to Peru, and some fool had told her the Peruvian National Police was a good job

It should have been. She should have been smiling at handsome Yanks outside the presidential palace or babysitting some celebrity galivanting about  Macchu Picchu Or looking stern as some rich kid was stopped with pot outside Pacifico, Instead, she was taking a piss into a chamberpot  while carrying a loaded pistol  Instead she was sleeping on US Navy blankets  a concrete floor,  in the Military college of the Republic of Peru.  A college that would see more cadets The  Army it had trained broken. The Shining path almost led to the Sea

Lima was never kind.  Millions of people huddled on the slopes of a  dead volcano, dripping dew into a ditch by the sea.  Now the city of the Kings had fallen again. Something unspeakable was about to happen again as was done by Pizzaro and to the Chileans. No more lights on the hills. There was no electricity after the revolution. There were fires burning bright. Red flags, on the Westin  Hotel and San Cristobal hill

Just him, as far he could tell. The Military cadets, the Police cadets,  a handful of Watchimen and some volunteers. There barricades and the Prayers, dry rice, and the smell of shit.

The boys had paired off. But the Gringa started fights. Everyone wanted to fuck the Gringa. Hands grabbed her. Everyone’s girlfriends and wives hated her for that. The rumor had got round that He was fucking her. He was not. Oh, she was pretty enough. But where would he have the time. Besides, he was married He had a

NO. HE COULD NOT LET himself think about that. It would be better to have the German girl on the desk right now. It would be less stupid... His training mattered, the now mattered. His past did not. He did not wear a wedding band. He had removed the photos. He would not torture himself with hope or worse with speculation 

The sentence from Washington was delivered by a senior Marine NCO. He did not salute. No one was supposed to know who he was. Why he was there. He would slip away and return. Brown skin, a T shirt, and Jeans, there were a million faces like his across a Lima. 10 Million  Well that was before the war came

Besides a  Uniform would have been cruel. A uniform would have meant hope

``We have evacuated our Embassy and those of friendly powers.  The USS Dolphin will depart tomorrow’’.

``Can you supply us with ammunition, guns?’’

``No’’

``We can give you blankets and food’’

It was 33 degrees outside. 24 degrees at night. No one was going to die of exposure. They kept being given blankets. Not bullets, or bayonets. People were being killed by snipers and the only thing he could do was cover the corpses and douse them in cheap perfume  The building stank. It was full of people. Full of sickness, there were babies crying in the hallway. The occasional fight had become frequent. Little girls skipping, boys kicking balls Now and then a sound of something ungodly and screaming followed by sobs. The smell of smoke filled the air. Then the insistence of gunshots, and in the distance on PA systems, the same words Revolution Revolution…Guzman Revolution

``Okay. A moment, please..

Cadet Verde Steiner bring our guest in please   The Oxcampa German opened a side door. She stood ramrod straight and saluted.

The Man behind the desk stood up.

``Sgt Let me introduce Her excellency. Zuzanna De Diaz. As the only member of Congress still in Lima. She is the President of the congress of the Rrepublic. She is thus president of the republic

A woman teetering on the cliff of middle age walked into the room.  Her hair skank blonde and her chest deflating. The poor tailoring of the borrowed clothes did not help. The expensive perfume did not conceal the smell of sweat.

She did have manners.

Sgt, she began.`` I am a congresswoman. I am in Lima. I formally declare myself head of the provisional government of the Republic of Peru. I ask for US assistance to avert a humanitarian disaster. I ask your Government to intervene.  ‘’

The Marine nodded, He replied in good Spanish. Parents were Colombian. He thanked her, and informed her that he would pass on a message to his superiors. He told her, that due to the nature of his mission he had been ordered not to salute or wear a uniform.

``In the name of God please help us  ‘’

``I have to contact my ship. It is easier if I do it outside- He mentioned something about the radio frequencies .

``Thank you Ma’am’’

The Marine walked outside. The commandant’s office was next to a gate guard, the yankee called it.

A couple of cadets got to their feet.  He nodded them away  There were some civilians sleeping there. An old man and his daughter, the daughter had once been a little fat. You could tell by the way her clothes hung on him. The man babbled in some language from time to time. He would stare at the tank. They were harmless enough. The man had a tattoo on his elbow ..O That his daughter would cover up. Something she did not want others to see. Maybe she was a Mormon or something

The gate guard was an old panzer. The American played with his electronics. He typed a message to his ship. The reply required waiting a few minutes. He handed out some smokes to the boys on guard. He asked to see one lad’s rifle and quietly fixed something with the sights. The man was a professional. As decent as he could be. Not his fault his government were ….

At least he had a government. There were currently two government in exile in Miami, and a third special ambassador in DC who had been caught with 20 kilos of cocaine and  ….

The entire might of the American military on Peruvian soil returned into the office

``Sir, Maam I have some news. My CO has forwarded your request to Washington. Please it is now out of my hands. I will not this in my report. I serve, I do not command.

Sir, We have agreed to send you some fuel , with blankets and food.’’

``If you can find any transport. Take it.

Please be careful with the Gasoline’’

It was the best the man can do. He had thought and worked hard to something. Molotov cocktails There were some boats in the PNP barracks at Chorillos. Inflatables, with outboard motors.

``We will turn and leave tomorrow.

But we are  the Captain ordered me to mention We are sailors. We will rescue those in distress at sea’’

``I will be back with some supplies in two hours’’

So he waited. He broke up a fight. He made sure the cadets had something to eat. He applauded a goal. He accepted a bible, and a set of rosary beads. He let Steiner fall asleep for 20 minutes.

A voice asked him.`` Do you think the Americans will help us?’’

He had forgotten the Congresista. She was still there, in his office. She had been a joke and a whore. But when they found her walking towards their barracks, she was carrying a sick indio child. She had done some good

The real whores were in Miami. Calling themselves the Government in Exile

He stood up. ``I hope so Senora President and saluted’’

She nodded

He went back to burning papers. Years of registers to be destroyed

The American was back. A few of his shipmates had brought a few drums of fuel. Some rice, and MRE and the blankets. He nodded at the Congressista

``Ma’am

One last thing sir.

If you do not know. Arequipa is under Chilean protection. Ecuador has mobilised. We think they may have crossed the border. Brasil has closed it’s borders.

The American took out a map of Lima. A piece of tourist tat. It something that could be denied, and forgotten. The Americano’s had drawn lines in red pen,

So as you know the terrorists have taken the Presidential palace, and the Cathedral. We had surveillance up there. Doesn’t matter how. The buildings to the left here, what are they

Oh

That’s a red light district

Okay

There was so much horror. It got boring after a while. Both men knew what happening After the Revolution there would be no money

``There are still AF and Navy units holding out in Callao. Airbase is still working. We wanted to know about this place here

Lima Norte

Yes. There seems to be fighting about this building. We are not sure who. It’s not military but there is someone going on here.

``I don’t know it.’’ He passed the map the lady..

She squinted hard. Is this Calle Iupiter

Yes

There is a school for handicapped children there…

Right.  Well whatever else is happening –Someone here is fighting and fighting hard.

The old man stood up, his daughter caught his arm

``There is something you don’t know. The terrorists are massing there behind those apartments. Your spotters cannot see them. They have been doing this for a while. We think they are going to move on you tomorrow’’

``You understand’’

He nodded

Wait

``Steiner’’

``Who,’’

``The blonde girl. Take her with you. Now.

The Marine thought for a moment.

S``he is 22. We can’t even have a white man  here for the love of god’’

The Old man, walked towards the fuel. Grey and old, he picked up a fuel can. He twisted off the cap. He turned the cap off, and walked towards the panzer. He had stopped to hobble. He smoothly poured in the fuel. Lifted a hatch, and clambered in

The engine spluttered into life

The Tank began to move. It was a weapon again

The Driver looked at the Marine and the Soldier, and asked one question. The Reds are to the North

He headed out towards the fighting, The Cadets, ran after him,… Someone picked up a flag..

The last Panzer lead against the Reds…

The Freeport of Callao

About 1900 ad. But somewhere you don't quite recognize. An office, a portrait of Queen Victoria and someone else on the wall. 

Posters in English and in Spanish. Newspapers, A large typewriter, and the smell of smoke

A man in a light suit is talking to a man in uniform

( Note this is written in the vernuclar) 

``There were worse places to die, than San Martin de Porres I suppose Sgt  Cavanagh''

Si Sir

So what happened man? 

The Sgt began his statement. Looking at his notebook 

``We were then outside the Chapel of San Martin it was a Saturday evening… The world and his wife, and their prettiest maid were out for a stroll. I took a glass o Moranda, with the young fella.

 People were selling anticuchos, and cuy, and roz puddin'' The usual stuff

He cleared his throat

``That’s when the commotion started. This fella- que bueno was walking down the street; he had a wan, from the Forest with him. The Strumpets see this, and they don’t like that at all. 

No Senor nada! He flicked his hand

``They seeing her, they knows she is giving away what they are selling for silver Well they start to holler and hoot Curse and so on  the dogs start barking- the bootblacks the sambos, they are starting to rush over to look''

 ``Terrible Naso all of them''

 This fella, says nothing keeps walking on.. him and the wan arm in arm. Like they are courting''

``Now some Eyetie sees your fellow. Me and the young fellow, told him Basta! Stop! See this Eytie won't listen''

`` I heard him, say something to the poor fellow. He spoke in English. With an accent so I am thinking an American sir. He has the look''

So me, and young fellow rush over but the before we get their the eyetie stabs the Yank.

`` I draw mi revolver and get a shot off in the air. 

No one would thank me, for killing a couple of mountain Tia'ss.. The Eytie  disappears, into the crowd. ``The Wan, was screaming at the young fella.''

 ``The Priest is out of the Chapel, and tries to give the Yank the last rites…That wan is still screaming probably not even a Christian. I am having enough of this, so I tell, the young fella, to give her his mano''

She stops roaring.. The crowd drifts off. 

``The Priest calls over this gwatchieman A big lad from the mountains- all muscle, and no conversation. We lift him into the chapel yard ; at least he is off the street.  The Priest has gone in to the chapel and sent one of the ould widows  to the station.

So, I look for his pocketbook, and papers, he is a Yank alright. Some railroad engineer, up in Selva. ``That’s probably where he met the wan…They have no morals up there. It was a mercy she was dressed. Probably seduced the poor yank.. Put witchcraft on the crater..

 ``I was checking his body, felt sorry for the lad He seemed a decent sort Offered a quick novena to el Santa Rosa del Lima''

The Policeman cast his eyes down 

``Anyway, I am poking and prodding him… and I feel something… under his jacket.  I put my hand up, and I looked at the young one, and I said…to the young fella

``Put the wallet.. in your pocket, and give the gwaticheman the Yank’s watch

What The lad is a bebe

``Put the wallet, in your pocket, and give the gwatieman the Yank’s watch!''

That’s robbery

``I sighed. God forgive me, but I scared the lad nearly white. 

``No, it’s murder.

``I look at the boy square in the eye 

``I am not messing with you, Chico. I have killed men cold dead. Do as your told. I fought the Manchue in Patagoina, do not try me- Put the wallet in your pocket- we will talk about this later''

  ``Well The Gwatchieman.. took the watch.. his eyes were colder than the Andes for a moment. ''

He nodded.. put it in his pocket.. and walked away… he paused by an ould woman begging, muttered something and walked off..She took her blankets and sped away 

The priest… came back.. We said little. The cart came from the station. I put the body on the bench myself. I road with it to the morgue myself. I was waiting for yourself inspector Sir

Is that so? Because you seem to have admitted to robbery 

Yes

Why is that then

Our Yank, has 100 golden Dollar .. on his person..

``You will need to speak to Inspector Heffernan Sgt for that much Money San Martin would cut his own mothers throat''

I thought so too

St Thomas and the Lion

Constantinople 1453

It would not be long now. Soon the Turks would breech the walls. But not today. There would still be work to be done. There were still souls to be saved. He looked about his little chapel. The widows in black. The orphans. The scared, the lost

No, he would give them a message of hope. They would sleep well tonight. He preached about St Thomas in India he spoke about Prester Jon. God would forgive him.

After the service the old women begged leave to pray to St Thomas

What harm could it do? He retired

 On the battlements of the wall looking at the sea. The sentries scanned the sea

Sails

They got word to the Emperor

He insisted on seeing it for himself

The ships were near now

He could make them out, galleys and transports a hundred at least

There was no more hope 

It was now

The light of Rome would be extinguished

 The Emperor gave grim orders a man soiled himself. Women wept

Then someone spoke

Is that the Alpha and Omega on the sails?

What

They looked on with wonder and terror hand in hand

They could see crosses

They saw men with shaved heads  and plain robes. In the sky flew silken Banners of a dark skinned woman with a child.

The ships came close

Krystas Krystas...

The Turks were moving.

There ships were moving towards the strange fleet

Then the fighting started...

They watched

The dark skinned men on the ships fought like lions . They threw themselves on the Turkish swords . The Turkish ships were driven to shore. The strange fleet were pursuing landing. At Europe and across the Bosporus. Men, with swords and bow. Horses now. It was a rout. Still the shout Krystas still the image of a dark skinned woman with babe

The Emperor ordered his men to hold.

The Turks were dying

A Man approached the wall. Took of his helmet and shouted

 I am Singh of  the House of Jon, the Virgin appeared to our King on Holy innocents day and begged us save the Christian city 

RetCollinsed

Today the hundredth anniversary of the Easter rising is being celebrated in Dublin 

It is  not the actual historical anniversary, that will be in April the twenty fourth, 1.15 pm . The anniversary is commemorated as a movable feast on the Easter Sunday of each year rather than the historical date

 Also its the premiere of Game of Thrones season 6. So I presume no one wants to miss that. It is notable that during the Troubles commemoration of the Rising became very low key

Scott  asked  what if Collins, could return to the Easter rising? How would it be different.

 I thought about this. I have put my thoughts down here

This will be an ASB but I will try to keep things as grounded as possible. Collins will wake up in NYC in 1905, with his memories a full Rolodex or of names and addresses. IRB, Clan na Gael, a few Irish American politicians and gangsters, prominent members of the Irish diaspora across the sea. Newspaper editors Printers union shop stewards.  There will be a few thousand dollars in the bank, and a decent apartment-office.  Mr Collins will enjoy rude health.

I may be demanding some advances in motion picture technology. I am probably pushing the edge of what could be done, with editing and disseminating motion pictures 

The Rising itself will not be much larger in a military sense. There will be some more rebels in Dublin, and probably more isolated incidents across Ireland. The odd shooting and burning.  The men Collins sends to Dublin, will have some up time knowledge. It will not be presented this way. Just the Crown will come down here...so...

There will be no purges on the Irish side. Collins will not seek to take Devalera out of the equation or quietly see that Cathal Brugha will bleed out.

There will be no German intervention beyond that which happened in our time line. In fact one of the dangers is the longer the Rising goes on; the greater the chances the German intervene. Note intervention here means someone from Casements Irish brigade turning up soaking wet at the Valencia Island post office, and saying ''De Rebulick iz Grand Lads''. Any German action allows the Crown ( I will use that term, we do use that Term, we use it in a historical context)to present the rebels as German pawns. Its not a question of numbers and utility its a question of presence and memory

  In the pre Rising  years Collins will spend his time, between Ireland and the US. Some side visits to Britain and Australia. The big fellow will establish a sizable fortune split off and on the books. Mr Collins will keep a low profile, payments to the right charities and politicians. There will be generous funding for the Irish diaspora. No Spiddle Sister of Mercy in Tumbes, or seminary in Salamaca will go unrewarded  No more long nights in pubs for the man from West Cork either . 

 Instead Collins will start a splinter group with the youngest and most able of the clan na gael members.This should not be difficult as the Clan was in decline at this point. These men, will now acquire passports.  There is the possibility of one or two, informers in the US being shot, or falling out of windows. Politics is a blood sport

 Collins will also make contacts with Hollywood.  Tiny tinsel town will get a quiet and  reliable source of funding, who is interested in cameras. Collins will be interested in the manufacture and copying of motion pictures This is going to be important later on. Favors are going to be called in. 

 Collins will also reach out to the print unions, in Boston and NYC. Small printing firms etc

As events progress, Collins will raise money, and recruit. Some shipments of arms will be sent to Ireland In part to support the cause, in part to gain leverage over different volunteer units, 

Some arms will be hidden away for future use. For the purposes of the revolution after 1916 and in case things just butterfly out of control.

  So in 1916 Collins men, Irish American youth, some rebels with out causes. Old Fenians, will travel to Ireland. These men will stay quiet, until they get the order to assemble. Perhaps Collins volunteers take over the shell of the Hibernian rifles

On Easter Friday Collins will flood U.S Irish neighborhoods, with fly stickers and news sheets. The brave Casement captured! Cruelty of British police.Many words about Casement as a politician and a humanitarian and a protestant.  

We will of course be quite vague about what Casement was doing. The first vigils and protests happen,

 There will be no attempt to countermand the countermanding order. Events in Dublin will play out as otl. Collins men will be ready. It is elsewhere that Collins will strike. 

On Easter Monday. At 7.15 The  Palacio del Congreso will be a buzz with clients of the Duggan and Cavanagh familes. Demanding recognition for the Irish republic. Boston will awake, to posters, saying Rising in Dublin . Dublin castle falls! The king of Spain, will receive a polite call from a down on his luck Spanish aristocrat, asking him to mediate between England and Ireland.  Newspapers in Holland and Switzerland will talk about a rebellion in Ireland. This is a result of Collins largess and funding. The checks came with a letter to opened on the 24 of April.  Mother is going to have a very big welcoming party, after the operation 

 In Ireland Dublin Castle falls to a volunteer attack

 In otl, there was a half hearted attack that was driven off. Now  there will be nearly 200 men. Well armed, and with as much training as can be mustered.  Collins volunteers take Dublin castle . The garrison is captured. Collins men, than loot the files. Dublin Castle is at this period a hospital  so there will  be no attempt to fortify the castle. Taking it will be symbolic enough. Wounded men, as POW'S  is bad PR anyway

As this happens, someone is taking pictures and the a cine camera records the green flag being raised over the castle.  While  someone tall and handsome, reads out the proclamation. The Irish then run like hell. For  giggles have some people steal the Guinness lorries , which the Crown would later use . 

 What be remembered is the image The green flag going up the flagpole. Dublin castle fell. They were beat. Just for a second, but they were beat. The whole world knows it ! Emmett epitaph is written!

 With the British distracted. Collins men, will drive hell for leather for the countryside. Abandon the lorries, burn them, but hide the files. The film, will be placed on a fishing boat. Which several days later, will land in Spain. From there, to Hollywood. Once in Hollywood, the Irish rebellion is edited, processed and published

 Using the Clan-Hibernians, Collins will stage incidents across Ireland. A group of  volunteers, will read the proclamation and fire a volley over the treaty stone. Someone will wander ashore on Rutland Island and read a proclamation. The shooting will be done with cameras. Green flags will be raised and the proclamations printed. Vinegar Hill, Tara,   The Widow McCormack's house will again be overrun 

You do not need to be brave to raise a flag and read a piece of paper. You are not required to fight, you are not required to die for Ireland. If the police come, you run like hell. The photos are the victories. A few may be inspired to attack a medium sized barracks in Cork city, or to burn the odd hay rick

Oh but one caveat. The six counties are left alone. Push loyal Ulster, and you start a sectarian war. So there will be no symbolic storming of Derry´s walls. The British beat the rebels maybe half a day or a day later. Except that this time, The O Rahily charge will be reinforced. Collins men will rush the British line, Instead of a platoon with black powder weapons, there will be Millgrenades, Chauchats, and land mines. The British barricade  will be penetrated, and a green flag will be carried out and away into the West. The green flag, which the world will see, in the battle of Dublin films. The Green flag which  will be paraded in Comiskey Park in front of thousands. The Green flag which will raise millions in bonds for the Irish republic. The Green flag,that flew over a free Dublin. The Green flag that Collins will produce in the treaty debate

Collins will force the British empire to fight a media war, and blitzkrieg them, from Perth to St Johns point. 

Magazines and Doctors offices

Magazines in the Doctor's office….
Of late there was a BBC documentary about Irish soldiers, who deserted to the
allied side in WW2. The BBC is looking for them to be Pardoned. As is the Irish Times

Someone asked me, if there was any threat to the Irish state at the time.
Well indeed there was, what Dan Byran called ``our Pearl harbour''

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Raid

Almost the entire Irish states military resources were captured.

This AH starts with the the death of Sean Russell.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Se%C3%A1n_Russell The IRA chief of staff, in
1939. Russell is to die, earlier of the gastric ulcers, that plagued him all his
life. For giggles make it in Detroit. Just after Russell was arrested by the Secret
service. In our time line he was arrested because Colin Firth, (Sorry George VI
was visiting Canada, and was just across the border) , have the Ulcer, burst
while he is in American custody. For fans of everything connects have Father Coughlin say the last rites. Now in our time line. ( OTL from now on) there was a protest in the House against the arrest of Russell, and
rather cutely it gives Coughlin, a last national story to front.
With the death of Russell, the S Plan, filters out in England, as the IRA
regroup.
The deaths of Barnes and Mcomrick, mobilised a lot of popular support in
Ireland. With Russell dead. Have Sean McBride, move back into the organisation.
Thinking that he can lead, a popular front republican movement. For a while he
will succeed. The purists, will drift away, from him in time. This does not
actually matter. While the hard boys, are quieter, they are getting more guns
and ammo, from the US and the UK. That's where Coughlin came in handy.
Anyway they are making bombs, they are scouting targets. With Russell dead, and
McBride on paper in charge, they are quiet for a year. They are still doing
robberies, Bakers Vans.
So McBride, leads protests and sit ins. The use of the treason act, and the
offenses against the state act are challenged in the Irish Courts. McBride holds out
the promise of a reunited republican movement, that FF want
So McBride, will be the leader nominally at least of the IRA. He will also be
the figure head of a popular front movement disaffected against Dev's
government. For the moment, its mostly peaceful. Its members are IRA men,
republicans. Communists Some Pro Germans, who are just there for devilment?
Some of FF, want to explore the offer. There are those who argue Dev sought a
truce with the IRA, until about 1940. ( Bryan Girvin)
Events from outside are going to take over....
Special branch, in Ireland, has their headquarters in Dublin Castle. (As one
presumes, that someone really decided to mess with the minds of Irish subversives)
The IRA smuggled a bomb into special branch offices. Now with McBride's
leadership, we will make the IRA militarily less ambitious,
Instead of trying to capture the ammo at Magazine fort. They content themselves
with destroying the ammo. Which tactically makes sense since, the Irish Army
are useless without it too. This also mean a larger attack on Special branch. A
bigger bomb, and have someone with a grudge take Alan Clarks advice and wait for
the survivors to come out. Waiting with a tommy gun
The explosion, is dramatic and distracts Irish law enforcement, allowing the
Ira to get away. In otl, some were just captured after the event. This time, the
Ammo and the files, are destroyed
The result is that the Irish state, is now basically defenceless. It's
ammunition stores have gone up in smoke. In our timeline, they were recovered.
But a year has passed
Its July 1940..
Now it gets interesting. Dev orders, the Garda after the IRA. So instead of a
large operation with a visible tail, and prisoners captured to interrogate. The
IRA has been quiet. Sean McBride, leads protests against the Police tactics. He
takes it out to to the streets
There are sit in's and strikes, and marches across Ireland.
However despite what McBride thought
``They have not gone away you know''
Turns out, McBride, was not in the charge, of the organisation. ( Or perhaps he
was. The Irish intelligence agency believed he was too close to the soviets.
Lying outright to him, when he asked for information on British forces across
the border. Its 1940, and Moscow and Berlin are still allied.
So the special branch men go out. They round up dozens. But when night comes,
it's a different story. The IRA are eager for a fight. They are a few hundred
men, with fewer weapons
Except that the Irish army are not much better off.
And the Garda are worse off.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_O'Brien_(policeman)
Now imagine, that was a
village policeman who had pissed off the wrong person in West Cork
In normal times, the state security forces would win this easily. But it's not
normal times its an emergency.
So Devalera is looking for bullets. Churchill refuses. France has fallen, and
asking for help, from Germany, is giving Churchill, another excuse to act. DE
Valera tries to bluff his way out. But the country is in trouble. A mood of
general lawlessness and protest and once, it becomes apparent, that the IRA can
act with impunity in some areas things begin to snowball. A shoot out, with some
B-Specials who live don the Irish side of the border. Raises tensions with
Northern Ireland . Across the Island Scores are settled. Churchill, will not act
to save Dev, if Britain should fall, than it should take Dev down with him. Not
an inch, not a bullet.
Somewhere in Meath a parachute lands, with a few German rifles, and a small
amount of ammo. In our timeline, a German parachutist was landed successfully
there, and with the support of Irish groups other than the IRA, or the state
evaded capture for a year. The rifles are used to scare of a robbery at a bank
in Old Castle. Was it the IRA, was it local thieves. The news is reported around
the world. Dev is not in control. The Garda are exhausted. The RC church, is
looking to buy ammo from Salazar, and Franco. They will not sell.
In September 1940. Archbishop McRory, and Lemass, and Douglas Hyde insist dev.
to ask FDR for help. FDR agrees on the insistence, that the Irish open there
ports, at least to US shipping.
Dev agrees, in the winter of 1940. The second Irish civil war began. Despite
joining the united nations during the war. Ireland would never be a happy member
of the Allied family. It did not join NATO, and remained outside the EEC until
1980

The Lost Kelts

The Lost Kelts! Something that came up on one my lists.

( I use Gaul's and Celts interchangeably I understand this is out of favor 

ASB= Alien space bats

Kesair- Is Cesar remembered in Irish myth)

 The Veneti were the best ship builders- Caesar notes their iron chains and large draught vessels

Therefore we have a Veneti decide to sail off to the White Island, or the Island. ( Great Britain and Ireland respectively) instead of facing Caesar. Indeed this what the Helveti  were going to do. Just by land rather than by sea. 

 Now it could just be possible, for our Gaul's to a rag tag fleet, and get across the Atlantic anyway. (However as its ASB's we will say Abracadabra, and the fugitive fleet  end up an hour away from Nova Scotia or Halifax  Amusingly there is no reason now, why they could not end up on the Miss, or on the James river.  We will however will stick with the Northern Atlantic. So the Gaul's come ashore, and form a beachhead. The iron swords, horses and the odd plague worst the natives Well now what?

  I see a confederation establishing. ( Group of Hillforts-duns. Or perhaps Oppida. That's debatable, but that's the highest form of urbanization I can see happening)  The Gauls will push inland, second sons, raids. 

 When they cannot loot and burn they trade. So as time goes on and things settle we have the Gauls getting rich of the Inland to  Atlantic trade. From the interior. Hides, Metals, slaves, Cattle. Dried fish, metal working, grain being sent back. The result is 100 years or so later after landfall  As  you go inland. There are less horses less cows, less iron tools. Less Sails Less Iron age

 Now it depends, on what level of Civilization the Celts retain. They should have stopped using Chariots. They were becoming rarer. On the other hand. The locals don't have any, and wood is cheap and horses expensive. Coinage is another problem. The Celts have started to use it. But there is less need for coinage as a metal coin. Is more then the locals have. Ditto writing. The Celts are just on the verge. So you could leave it at that. I prefer, to have them keep all 3. Let them get literate, after 500 years, and coinage, to reemerge again I suppose in time there will be trade with Chakotia over land or something So we have a North America, Being settled with Iron tools. 

With Horses and Cattle. The forests cut down. Grain is planted.

Oh and Pigs, terrible, poisonous relentless 

 A few plagues hit. Mines dug. The Druid, prays to the buffalo woman and Lugh  The stories say Kesair, is why we never sail east more then 5 days Kesair, as we all know, stole Lugh's fathers land. However he met Buffalo woman after wandering the seas. His strong son, will one day return Anyway. Rome falls on schedule There is a possibly now. Of them getting contact with Irish monks. They got as far as Iceland. They did go out on boats. Into the middle of the Atlantic. Looking for hermitage. We say one or two get to Greenland, where they meet Indo-Ven fishermen, who point them south. Every now and then you see signs of the ban Christi. A big cross on the track to the shrine of buffalo woman and Kernunnos Amusingly, they might do better further north, more Indian areas. Where there will be less contempt. Rather then resistance. That makes the proto Christians some what of a darker hue. So the Norse sail west Now they start finding signs of life  shipwrecks. fishing camps. The Norse get to Greenland, establish the colony and as in OTL someone sails west. Ahh:) NA is now settled. There is a seaboard to trade and raid. Its possible. That the locals simply kill the Norse. Then Norse never bother to go back. However if they don't and the Norse hit upon a small village. Some sheep, huts a blacksmith. There is something worth having. couple of sheep, couple of swords, axes, pottery. Cloth. Slaves. Something you can seize and build on. I would have the Norse settle, we get a few more Norse ships sailing west. ( basically they simply don't grok how big it is. The trip is difficult anyway) So if in 1300 you ask if there is anyone there. The Norse captain says. Sirri my brother went there. Have a few Irish monks, go as missionaries. They connect at Iceland. 50 in about 150 years. (The Norse seemed to have less passion  for missionary work) So you get some Norse flavoring to the mix. The Norse are allowed to settle. (Amusingly they may spook the Ven-indios. By telling them about the great father who lives in Rome) But more Christianity, by now writing and coinage. We will have the cold, and plague, shut down contact. Okay we get to say 1400. The Grand banks, start to be fished. Columbus sails west. Sooner or later. The fact is inescapable There are other ships. Cabot lands, and is greeted, by a horseman. With a sword, and an mail shirt. Not a medieval knight. Good iron age horse warrior. He is taken, to the Ri a Amorica. The White Christ, we know they are peaceful. (Here it is a religion of woman and slaves, and fir lag. Men of the spear. Indios) No one of good blood, takes it seriously. Then they ask him, about the keys on the tapestry he has on his banner. Oh the Holy See,  The Bishop, and then that word.

 Of Rome Oops Now the Euros come. They are facing people with decent Iron age tech. Who know how to use it. As well a lot of them. Gunpowder, will get you bridge heads. But they have a lot to trade for rifles. In time they can make it themselves. (Irish and Scottish highlanders did) This is Ireland on a Galactic scale. You can take the coasts, You can settle it. You cannot hold the interior. Now the locals, can get help. The French Spanish, etc will all be settling. BTW the French can get people who get close to speaking the language. They have decent ships too. Its a different type of Americas. The locals, can and will grok gunpowder, and there will be a lot of them, and all down to some ships, and some livestock