[ WP ] The library of Alexandria never burned , and Rome never fell . This lead to to Industrial Revolution 1300 years earlier , where are we today ?

The smell of burning flesh made Caelius' nostrils flare as he sat, supported by a cold metal bench. The aroma that wafted about the room was familiar, and slightly comforting, reminding him of the luxury of *terra firma* that he no longer had. The only difference now was that the flesh was his own, not that of the charred corpses of enemies conquered. 
 
 Caelius caught himself gritting his teeth against the pain emanating from his right shoulder and stopped that at once. He had felt far worse and would not bow to anything more trivial. Pain was, after all, a god-given gift, a reaffirmation of his own mortality. And it felt good to be alive. 
 
 The pain, momentarily dispensed, returned quickly, making Caelius look up in hopes of finding further distraction. His eyes adjusted to the rays of light that met them and slowly, as the image resolved, he was greeted by a sight he never tired of. Swirling clouds of white and orange gas moved both together and opposite with the swiftness of the Tiber. Lights pulsed deep beneath their surface and Caelius imagined the tremendous thundering within the clouds. Truly, Jupiter had personified his wrath in this planet of storms and gas, and Caelius was humbled. 
 
 The moment ended as a strong slap on his right tricep caused a waterfall of nerve firings throughout his arm. 
 
 “ I ’ d say we ’ re done here, ” the large man beside him said as he placed the laser engraver back on the table. 
 
 Caelius looked down to examine the man ’ s handy work. The last *a* was a bit crooked but overall the markings were legible. Swinging his legs off the bench, Caelius rolled down the sleeve of tunic, the fabric brushing over the bloody letters *SPQR Germania*. He caught himself from wincing. 
 
 “ It ’ a be a bit sore for a day or two, but it ’ ll heal just like the others, ” the engraver said. “ Shouldn ’ t matter much though, heard you boys headed to Epsilon Indi. Hades knows that ’ ll be a fight. ” 
 
 Caelius pushed off the bench and looked out at the gas giant, the thought registering in his mind. 
 
 “ Yes. I hope so. ”
