Chapter One: The Great WarNovember 5th, 1912:Former President Theodore Roosevelt wins in a close election on his "Bull Moose" Progressive ticket, running against incumbent Republican President Taft, Democratic nominee Governor Woodrow Wilson, and a number of minor party candidates.
Former President Theodore Roosevelt (Progressive-New York)/Governor Hiram W. Johnson (Progressive-California) 284 electoral votes, 38.4% of the popular voteGovernor Woodrow Wilson (Democrat-New Jersey)/Governor Thomas R. Marshall (Democrat-Indiana) 247 electoral votes, 31.8% of the popular votePresident William Howard Taft (Republican-Ohio)/President of Columbia University Nicholas Murray Butler (Republican-New York) 0 electoral votes, 21.1% of the popular voteFormer State Senator Eugene V. Debs (Socialist-Indiana)/Milwaukee Mayor Emil Seidel (Socialist-Wisconsin) 0 electoral votes, 6.9% of the popular voteMr. Eugene W. Chafin (Prohibition-Illinois)/Mr. Aaron S. Watkins (Prohibition-Ohio) 0 electoral votes, 1.6% of the popular voteOthers: 0 electoral votes, .2% of the popular vote
March 4th, 1913:Theodore Roosevelt is sworn to his third term as President. The transition of power is not a happy one for President Taft who saw himself betrayed by one who was once his most trusted friend, and the man who had made him run for the office in the first place. The newly re-inaugurated President swears that the progress towards American power and domestic equality that was a hallmark of his first two terms will continue in his next.
April 29th, 1914:Professor Thaddeus Thatch, a linguist working in Washington D.C., is approached by eccentric millionaire Preston B. Whitmore to be the "brains" of an expedition to Atlantis, a lost civilization. Thatch, long alienated for his belief in Atlantis, is eager to step on board.
The alienated professor, grandson of explorer Thaddeus Thatch
June 1st, 1914:Thatch joins the crew of Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke aboard the submarine
Ulysses. Within the next twenty-four hours,
Ulysses has set out for Atlantis, according to its traditional location in
The Shepherd's Journal.
June 28th, 1914:Europe is launched into an era of war and death as Serbian radical Gavrilo Princip assassinates Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
August 12th, 1914:Commander Rourke resurfaces without a crew, aside from his lieutenant Helga Sinclair. Rourke reports that the mission has failed, claiming that "the kid Thatch went nuts over Atlantis." Rourke continues, saying that the Atlantans treated his crew hostilely and that Thatch, insane over the find, sided with the natives. Whitmore, trusting Rourke as part of the "best of the best", is nonetheless concerned. A man of considerable influence given his wealth, he resolves not to let the mission die.
Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke
September 3rd, 1914:President Roosevelt is informed of the disaster of the Atlantis mission funded by Whitmore. While not beholden to myths and rumors, he nevertheless hears tell of the immense power--the "Heart of Atlantis"--contained in these new rumors.
September 10th, 1914:In a meeting with Preston Whitmore and Commander Rourke, Roosevelt hears the full details of Rourke's "story", including all the evidence left to them. Roosevelt, promising a high fee to Rourke and a refund of Whitmore's investment, vows to use the full might of the Presidency to protect American interests against the "vile Atlantians".
September 13th, 1914:In a speech before Congress, accompanied by Whitmore and Rourke behind him, President Roosevelt calls for an all out war on the belligerent Atlantians who, as far as he knows, violently repelled their peaceful presence. The Senate, unsure of what to think of such events, must deliberate.
October 24th, 1914:On the last day of its session, the United States Senate passes a declaration of war against the Kingdom of Atlantis. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, a friend of Roosevelt and powerful Republican, was the leader of those calling for war.
November 5th, 1914:Rourke, setting out aboard the submarine
Magellan, heads toward Atlantis ready for war.
November 29th, 1914:Rourke reaches Atlantis following a short journey beneath the waves and many days of marching through undersea caverns before reaching the city. This time armed with much greater weaponry, Rourke plans on victory.
December 31st, 1914:"I love it when I win!" exclaims Rourke. After a month-long campaign, the entire city of Atlantis is taken, with Princess Kidagakash and her loyal natives, having fled into the caverns outside the city and over the lava moat. While he knows he will be unable to scam the U.S. government out of the Heart of Atlantis, he does manage to collect as many potentially valuable artifacts while his men concentrate on transportation of the Heart of Atlantis.
"I love it when I win!"
January 1st, 1915:Rourke celebrates the first day of the New Year and his first full day in charge of Atlantis.
Poll
