[ TT ] A time traveler determines that the greatest impact he could have on the world in a single act is foiling the destruction of the Library of Alexandria .

Professor Hunt looked so much like a physics professor you could not have mistaken him for anything else. In his great 18^th century styled study he poured over a holographic display, his moon-like eyes wide and his fingers tapping away as though he were a piano virtuoso in the final movement of a grand performance. He was one of the foremost minds at one of the Commonwealth's foremost universities, the University of Alexandria. The last rays of Helios, Theia and Alectrona had slipped below Athena's horizon though the white stone and green forests of Alexandria were still visible under the dim light of the two moons. The professor's assistant knocked sharply on the door and announced the arrival of Lord Ephraim, one of Parliament's *Lords Temporal* and well known to have the ear of King-Emperor Edward V. 
 
 The professor barely looked up from his work as the imposing man dressed in the traditional attire from his wig to his shoes, merely nodding and saying `` my lord'' to the aristocrat who was now standing on his rug. Lord Ephraim acknowledged this and waited a good five minutes before the professor had completed the paragraph of the article he was writing and finally took a seat when the hologram faded away. A glass of whisky distilled 24 light years away in Scotland was poured and more logs placed on the fire as the two gentlemen began their discussion. Not a word was exchanged about the month-long journey in space nor was any small talk exchanged, this project was on Royal time. 
 
 Lord Ephraim did however offer some sentimentality to the discussion, `` This is truly a beautiful place, Professor. Alexandria is one of the oldest cities of the Empire and it's a wonder we bothered to expand any further! Truly, His Majesty's colonies on this world are the brightest jewel in the Commonwealth's crown, if it were n't for the Jeffersonians on the next continent I dare say we, the Indians and the Scandinavians could rename the planet Heaven!'' 
 
 Professor Hunt's voice cracked slightly from lack of use. `` My Lord, I share your sentiments. It is funny you should say this, because as Alexandria provides answers in the modern world so it did in ancient times. The answer to the question you put to me five years ago is Alexandria, specifically it's library. In order to have the greatest impact on the world, one must halt the destruction of Alexandria's library''. 
 
 `` How can that be so?'' asked Lord Ephraim incredulously. `` The Library contained nothing unique, the idea it's destruction set us back centuries is nothing but a myth!'' 
 
 `` My Lord, there were a few documents unique to that library. The one that is of interest is the true Gospel of Judas. I have calculated if this testament were to emerge before our blessed King Edward the Liberator founded the Faith then the Christianity in the Home Nations would have sufficed to prevent conflict. There would have been no Unification War, no world government, no Wars of Restoration and no Faith. Without the Faith we would not have followed the dictum to expand into space, there would be no Commonwealth and no Empire. We would probably still be a province of Europe, happy on Earth with no wars and ignorant of the stars''. 
 
 `` That's preposterous!'' cried Lord Ephraim. `` How can you say these things, in this place of all places! Surely one day the men of our blood and history would have united! I refuse to believe our Empire is as fragile as an ancient book about an ancient prophet''. 
 
 The five years seemingly wasted had angered Lord Ephraim and he stormed out of the study to the astro-plane waiting outside. Professor Hunt unlocked the draw in his desk and gazed expressionlessly at the millennia-old papyrus scroll.
