LEGAL NOTICE: THE TWO GEORGES NOVEL BELONGS TO HARRY TURTLEDOVE AND RICHARD DREYFUSS. THE FOLLOWING STORY IS MIKE TURCOTTE'S.
The rooms provided by the State Department were comfortable, and had air conditioning. Air conditioning was something the Imperials evidently didn't have; they were fascinated by it.
Halifax sat on a comfortable sofa in front of a coffee table. Howe, Mortimer, and the rest of the Imperials gathered around the table in preparation for the imminent discussion.
Howe spoke. "I understand you were - perhaps are - the British ambassador to ... these people?"
Halifax nodded. "Yes, appointed by Prime Minister Churchill. The United States are our most important ally." He made sure that the last word was clear.
"You treat with a former colony?" Howe seemed surprised.
Halifax looked up. "The events of the American revolution are 150 years in the past. While there has been turbulence from time to time, we have generally had positive relations with the United States." He sat back. "Our world is different than yours. There are many, many more independent countries, especially in the Americas, and most of them at least call themselves republics."
"And why is the United States Britain's most important ally?"
Howe asked. Halifax gave a Gallic shrug. "Because of their economic power and military might. In our world, they were the most powerful nation."
That clearly didn't sit well with the Imperials. Mortimer spoke. "But it is apparent from the atlases that you have that the British Empire is far larger - even without this United States - and has more people."
Halifax looked up. "Your Grace, the United States has 150 million people - more, I understand, than lived in this area prior to the event."
Howe nodded. "Far more, but that doesn't address His Grace's question - why was your British Empire weaker?"
"My point is, " Halifax continued, "that while the Empire is larger, only Britain itself - and to a lesser extent the white dominions - have any degree of industrialization or economic power. The rest of the Empire is engaged in barely-above subsistence farming."
"White Dominions?" asked Howe.
"Yes - like Australia or Canada - those areas settled by white European Christians."
Dead silence greeted Halifax. "You discriminate on the basis on skin color?" asked Howe.
Halifax reluctantly nodded. "Some do."
Looks of distaste from the Imperials, though Halifax noted that all of them were white males.
Howe spoke again. "What will the United States want?"
Halifax sat back, glad to be off the topic of ethnicity. "Well, first and foremost, they will want recognition as a sovereign, independent state."
More grimaces from the Imperials. "So they would not acknowledge the sovereignty of His Majesty?"
Halifax straightened. "They will not. Under any circumstances. While the United States and Britain were allies - friends even - under no circumstances would they acknowledge a monarch - any monarch." Halifax reached down, opened his briefcase, removed several manila folders, and looked Mortimer in the eye, causing a stir from the Imperials."Nor should you try to force them." He spread out the folders and removed some pictures provided by the US Navy and US Army Air Force. "Tell me, Your Grace, do these pictures represent the current state of your military art?" Howe stepped up with an angry look, but Mortimer stilled him with a raised hand. He glanced at the pictures,then at Halifax. "And if they do?"
Halifax gave a small smile. "Then you are so outclassed it is laughable." Halifax removed some photos from another file and handed it to the Duke. The Duke, never taking his eyes off of Halifax, handed the pictures to another man. Mortimer spoke. "This is Jeremy Styles, Earl of Portsmouth, one of my vassals. The Earl spent most of his career in the Royal Navy, before his older brother's untimely death left him with the title. Your opinion, Earl Styles?"
Styles was looking at the picture. "USS Iowa, " he said and then looked down at the facts. The British Embassy in Washington DC had prepared a fact sheet on the Iowa, mass, speed, range, armament. He frowned in concentration, and the his eyes widened slightly. "Is this correct?"
Halifax nodded. "And I gave you that because it is easier to understand than this." Halifax handed him another picture, which Styles goggled at it. "What the devil - USS Essex. Apart from the English name, what is it?" "An Aircraft Carrier." Halifax nodded at the picture Styles held. "It can carry 100 of the airplanes that you've seen." "What do they use it for?" Styles frowned for a moment. "I suppose you could use the planes for scouting other ships." "No, the Americans use it for killing other ships. With torpedo bombers and other aircraft" Halifax shrugged. "They have two dozen of those, and if this -" Halifax held up a picture of HMS Agincourt, a British Battleship that looked like it was from the 1880s - complete with masts in case the steam engines quit - "is what you have the Americans will sweep you off the oceans in short order, and with very little effort."
Styles looked ready to protest, and while it was clear he hadn't yet grasped the implications of the Essex, the Iowa was clear enough. Halifax tapped the paper in front of him. "The Americans built the largest military anyone has ever seen to wage a global war. They have an immense navy, enormous air force, huge army, and the industrial might and technical knowledge to sustain and even expand it if they must. They are decades ahead of you, and will not hesitate to crush anyone threatening them. If you fight, I daresay you will be able to do little more than annoy them."
Halifax sighed. "We were on the verge of invading France when this happened - an immense logistical undertaking. The Americans have historically not been this well-armed, but now..." Halifax let it linger. There was an uncomfortable silence. Mortimer have a shadow of a smile. "Well, that didn't sound good, but I must say the idea of invading France has a certain appeal." There were chuckles from the Imperials, and Halifax found himself grinning as well. "It wasn't to fight the French, it was to fight the Germans." he said. "Although, God knows, dealing with that French bastard DeGaulle made me see red." More laughter. "It seems, Lord Halifax," Mortimer said, "That dealing with the French is poisonous whichever version of Earth one finds himself on." Halifax boomed out a laugh. "Your Grace, I can not disagree." Mortimer let the laughter die down, and regarded Halifax once more. "And if our attacking them if not an option, should we be worried by what they might do to us?"
That question killed the levity in the room. Halifax thought for a moment before answering. "I would think not," he said carefully. "It seems that the event brought all of their lands here. They are not expansionist in the territorial sense, though I wouldn't trust them when it comes to the New World. They have no sympathy for empire, however." Howe spoke again."This event has hurt us, My Lord, badly. "Our enemies - primarily the Holy Alliance - may seek to exploit this weakness before we can recover."
Halifax regarded Howe for a moment. "Are you asking if the Americans would intervene on your behalf?" Another non-answer from the Duke. "And if we are?" Halifax frowned. "Then I would say you have set yourself a most difficult task. The Americans are historically non-interventionist, indeed, they got into the war we came from after only the most egregious provocation." "But you have worked with them for years now, my Lord?" Mortimer asked. Halifax nodded. "Then perhaps you can help us chart a way forward." Mortimer said.
Halifax nodded - this was going as well as he could have hoped.
