...never had a Rome, or a Western Civilization. The bubonic plague didn't affect the masses as much, because they weren't ferrying around cargo from one port to the next in an effort to create an economy.

So, a funny thing happened on the way to prosperity. In what you would call 1949 in your time line, an alien vessel had technical difficulties (dilithium crystal interrupts) and landed across a grassy field near a communal garden. In your worldline, the United States government made a boo-boo and let the cat out of the bag, but only for a day.

There was talk of "ultra thin" memory metal, something you could bend and warp, but it would unfold again before your eyes. There was bodies, in fact, one was hurt. And as you will see, after all of this stuff was taken away and put into storage at Wright-Patterson airforce base the technology behind much of this vessel--fiber optics, integrated circuitry, zero-point energy, among others--would help America leap frog into the future a tad bit and create digital computers.

The next day in your worldline after the cat was out of the bag it "magically" became a weather balloon, part of project Mogul, which when you do your homework--the original debris doesn't match the material of said type of balloon, besides the fact this type of balloon doesn't carry any type of people cargo.

But of course, your government told you it was all a misunderstanding. You know, because highly trained officials don't know what they're talking about.

But enough of you, what happened in Permutation 4? Well, to understand this, we're going to have to jump back a bit.

So, the tribal society that was in North America slowly worked out their differences. They already were very co-operative, even having some "sacred places" where violence or viciousness could not be brought upon. Rock quarries, buffalo fields, you name it.

And when the pagans finally made their way across the pond, they were fascinated by this totally different culture--as was the native americans.

So when the crash happened, one Native American farmer ran to the mess and acted in love without fear. Below is a detailed account:

"Today I witnessed the most peculiar thing! Star Gods fell from the sky. Well, it seems they have canoes for traveling across the black oceans beyond our planet.

It all began as I was tending to the maize, I saw this brilliant flash that caught my eye. It was noiseless, and then it hit mother earth with a boom like the running of buffalo. I ran towards the space canoe, hoping no one was hurt.

When I found myself in front of the scene I slowly approached this grey person who was making a sound that I could only describe as heart tugging. They were holding another grey person in their arms, and looking down quite distressed. I quickly realized that not everyone survived the crash.

Turning around to run towards the village to get the scouts I saw that they were already on the horizon because they must have witnessed the fireball incoming.

They took the mournful grey person to our village shaman where they treated the wounds, they have been resting all day but seem to be regaining strength. Tonight we are going to be having a ritual for the fallen member of the craft.

The elders explained to us that this was a visiting couple who had trouble with their machine. One pointed out to many of us a star so very far, they say it is the light giver on the home world of the grey people. We don't particularly care where they come from, honestly, because all that matters is that we have made new friends."

I don't feel fear or panic
And nothing brings me down.

I'm an aerospaceage warrior
I can fly sideways through sound.

My reflexes and reactions
Are as fast as a machine.
I'm the right stuff baby
The right stuff.
I'm the right stuff baby
The right stuff,
I'm the right stuff baby.
The right stuff.

Watch my trail

When the dial needle flickers-
Around Mach one or two,
And something happens suddenly-
I know just what to do.
My fosts move without feeling,
And my feet like lightning too.

I'm the right stuff baby
The right stuff
I'm the right stuff baby
The right stuff

I'm the right stuff baby,

The right stuff-

I never fail.

My nerves are made of steel...
And my eyes are eagle sharp....

And what would freak the average man-
Does not affect my heart.

Not even if this dixie-ship
Should shake itself apart!

Cause I'm the right stuff baby,
The right stuff.
I'm the right stuff baby,
The right stuff, baby,

The right stuff...

As hard as nails
I never fail
Just watch my trail!

Within this worldline this day became a defining moment in history. A new friendship was made, and the alien species that had technical difficulties finally decided that the citizens of earth were ready to become citizens of the Universe.

So what happened in your time line? Oh, you'd like to know, wouldn't you?

You'll find out very soon....