LEGAL NOTICE: THE TWO GEORGES NOVEL IS THE PROPERTY OF HARRY TURTLEDOVE AND RICHARD DREYFUSS. THE STORY IS WRITTEN BY MIKE TURCOTTE. ENJOY.
September 14, 1944
The sudden arrival of 'The United States of America' had thrown the world into what might have charitably been called a state of confusion. The British Empire-THE premier power on the globe-had suffered an immense blow, the impacts of which were becoming more apparent every day – and that was causing global security challenges as other powers considered what to make of the wounded lion of Albion.
Economically, the disruptions were worse. British North America had accounted for as well as provided immense amounts of trade, from manufactured goods to raw materials to food. That such a large segment of the global economy had been removed had severe impacts on the British Empire, yes, but others were not immune. The Holy Alliance's territories in the New World–despite Catholic edicts against dealing with 'heretics' – had enjoyed extensive and lucrative trade both above and below board with British North America. Most of that trade simply vanished; indeed, some parts of the Holy Alliance were now struggling to feed themselves. All of this was also impacted by the great unknown: what this 'United States of America' actually was. Within weeks, it became common knowledge that the 'Americans' as they called themselves had some impressive LOOKING technology; how those looks translated into actual power was unknown, although naval officers of all countries could not help but impressed by something like USS IOWA. Additionally, the Americans – still recovering from their own shock at the new world they found themselves in – had made it clear that if they got the recognition they were prepared to trade with other powers. That would solve many of the problems the Holy Alliance was having – and from the goods that seemed to be available, would be very lucrative as well.
In Paris, the mood was cautiously optimistic. Under the guise of a royal wedding, the French King and Spanish Emperor met with their advisors. The Holy Alliance had been forged in the mid-19th Century as the only possible way for France and Spain to counter the enormous juggernaut that was the British Empire, and even then the partners simply could not bring enough to bear to engage the British in open battle. Of course, that was before the British had lost most of North America.
The Marquis De Rochefort glanced over the crowded room. Since the meeting was in Paris, the language was French, and for that, Rochefort was glad; his Spanish-something all the French nobility had to know due to the importance of the Holy Alliance- was passable but not what anyone could fluent. Both the French King and the Spanish Emperor were present, and Rochefort shivered at the sight of both of them. The French King was almost 80 years old and was in poor health, with a mind rapidly descending into age-related dementia. Given that even when the King was young that mind had been, at best...not impressive, it was an already bad situation made Spanish Emperor, on the other hand, was young, energetic, and fairly bright. At 24 he still had some of the callowness of youth, but he was rapidly maturing. He was handsome, recently married to the daughter of a French Duke, and by all accounts was a good husband and temperate in his affairs. Unfortunately, he burned with a religious fervor unseen since the Inquisition; and there were rumors he was trying to bring it back to ensure the 'Sanctity of Spain's Soul'. Rochefort shuddered at that thought. The last thing already-backwards Spain needed was MORE religion. It was never stated –publicly at least– but for all the public posturing about an Alliance of two Equals united under God, the simple fact was that France was the far stronger 'partner'. French industry and technical achievement far eclipsed Spain's, and if Spain reverted to an even more religious state that disparity was likely to grow. But France needed Spain's manpower, imperial territory, raw materials, and, Rochefort admitted to himself, its' fervor to compete with the British. Alone, France never could have done it. France couldn't, even with the Spanish.
Rochefort turned his attention back to the meeting. A Spanish general -Pedro Alvarez, Count of Toledo was speaking. Rochefort noted that this general who had never been in battle, commanded men, or left mainland Europe for that matter was now dispensing some carefully thought out words of wisdom. "The time to strike is now! The British have almost no forces in the New World. The Caribbean sugar islands, the dye manufactories, and their great naval base at Jamaica are ours for the taking!" Alvarez slapped his hand down the table to emphasize his point, and got admiring looks from others. There were some scowls too, however, both from the French and some Spaniards. "They still outweigh us at sea," said a Spanish Admiral. Rochefort noted him as the Duke of Darien, from the New World, and a 'professional' according the French Admiralty, which was about the highest compliment the French military paid to anyone–even their Alliance partners–who weren't French. The duke continued. "Their Caribbean fleet was always the strongest of their New World naval forces, and Kingston was not impacted by this … event. Further, their other main Atlantic naval base in the New World is Halifax-also intact." Alvarez wasn't finished. "But they've lost New York and Charleston – those were huge bases – and they have almost no ground troops available." Nods from the table. The duke nodded. "Yes, they are hurt. And, in the long run, they've lost too much of their infrastructure to sustain the forces they do have in place. However, for now, they remain as potent as ever." The Emperor spoke, and Rochefort looked up surprised. The Emperor rarely spoke at meeting like this. "Does not his most Catholic Majesty see the event as God's Will, striking a blow at His Faithful's mortal enemy? If we do not act upon this event, we risk displeasing the Almighty." The Emperor looked not at the drooling, semi-conscious French King, but at Rochefort. Internally, Rochefort sighed. Being the King's...Prime Minister for lack of a better term, though Rochefort thought more of himself as a regent, was for the most part extremely satisfying. He had the power and prestige to command the mighty French state, and woe unto any who might oppose him. There were downsides too. Constant intrigue at the court as others sought Rochefort's position. Treating with the King's idiot eldest son who was trying to take power for himself. Trying hard NOT to wish that the King's younger (and much more capable) son had been born first. And, of course, dealing with a fanatical young Spanish Emperor.
Rochefort sat forward in his seat. "His Most Catholic Majesty agrees wholeheartedly with that sentiment." He said, nodding at the Emperor. Indeed, Rochefort, never the most religious person himself, did as well. What other being than God could have done this? "And yes, he views it as an opportunity to strike at our enemy. However, our own military assessment matches that of his Grace," Rochefort nodded at Darien,"That for now they are too strong to oppose directly. They have been hurt, and we should prepare to strike them, but we must do so with careful planning and foresight. Else we risk wasting God's great gift to us." There were more nods at this. The military of the Holy Alliance was keen to come to grips with the British, but only after the...ripples of the event...had finished weakening them. The Spanish general wasn't finished. "And what of this new country, this..United States?" asked Alvarez. "Should we not reclaim what is rightfully ours from this REPUBLIC?" The last word came out almost as a curse. Rochefort answered. "They have been in contact with us over radio." The room stilled at the mention of the secret long range communication technology. "They claim to desire the establishment of diplomatic relations with us." A snort-this time from a Frenchman. Rochefort glanced down at him – and recognized the Duke of Algiers, a man almost as backward as the Spanish. "Diplomacy? With a republic-with former British colonists-with peasants?!" That last word was spat. "We can not treat with them! They have seized our lands as well!" Rochefort tried not grimace. The relatively small slice of northern New Spain that had been...not seized but ...'replaced' by the United States had been virtually uninhabited and was of no real value other than as a border with British North America. It certainly did not compare to the vast green verdant continent that the British had lost. Algiers continued. "And that canal in Darien! That is our land too." Nods again, and Rochefort found himself agreeing. The dream of linking the Atlantic and Pacific via a canal had tempted French engineers for decades. To find that this Republic had done it was...disturbing. Rochefort had read the reports of what the Americans called the 'Panama' canal and it's huge size and wondrous locks. The economic and strategic benefits of such a construct were obvious and vast. Alvarez slammed a fist down on the table. "I think we should seize that canal at once!" A growl of affirmation ran around the room, and the Spanish Emperor nodded. Even the French King perked up.
One voice dissented however. "Then you are a fool, general."
The room quieted immediately as everyone turned to the man dressed in the...not quite...French uniform. Alvarez was sputtering. "Who is this insolent individual?" The general was almost purple with rage, especially as the stranger continued to look at him calmly. Rochefort spoke. "Your Majesties, my Lords, please allow me to introduce Captain Pierre Renault, of the French Army." Confused looks all around greeted both the Captain and Rochefort. The uniform the Captain was wearing was not correct for the French Royal Army. Rochefort continued. "Captain Renault was in the United States when the...event...occurred, and was brought here to our world with them, but he was from their France." There were gasps at this as the assemblage turned back and studied the Captain. Rochefort was smiled internally; he had scored yet another coup in getting one of the Americans here; that the 'American' in question was actually French was even better. Rochefort had been contacted by certain...agents...of his within the British government. Rochefort knew that the British were talking to the Americans in Lower Canada; it had been made known that there were Frenchmen in the United States as well. With some complicated political maneuvering, Rochefort had managed to guarantee the safety of a French military officer if that officer would come to France. Captain Renault was the result. Of course what Captain Renault had to say about the history of France in the world the United States had come from was deeply disturbing to Rochefort. And while Rochefort had cautioned the man to be…circumspect…in his dealings with the various members of the nobility Renault had discreetly met, his…republican tendencies…were clear.
Alvarez was viewing the Captain with anger."Why do you say I am a fool?" Rochefort was glad the fool statement had not been directed at either King or Emperor; Renault would have lost his head for sure then. As it was, Rochefort was going to have to expend some effort to protect him from Alvarez. Renault spoke clearly. "Since I have arrived here, his Grace" -Renault nodded at Rochefort and Rochefort was glad the Captain had retained enough of his hasty education in French court protocol to maintain everyone's dignity–"has been good enough to provide me access to–ah-Alliance military bases." Renault gave a classic Gallic shrug. "I have no doubt that the men of the Alliance are brave and that the officers are intelligent. However, gentlemen, please believe me when I tell you this: You have no power to fight the United States. If you try, they will crush you." Silence greeted that statement. "Why do you say that? " asked nodded at some aides lining the walls. They started handing out copies of documents that Renault had brought with him from Washington DC, the US capitol. Rochefort had been amazed the Americans had let Renault leave with such detailed information about military capabilities, and been more amazed to learn that they had helped him compile it and sent it on to France with their blessings. Apparently, France and the United States had been allies in the world they had come from. And, if this is what the Americans would allow them to see, how much worse was the information they DID keep secret?
The assemblage studied the documents. Rochefort noted that Darien in particular was frowning at the pictures of US naval vessels. Rochefort gave them a few minutes to read what they had, and then nodded at Renault. "What you there, My Lords, is a sampling of American military capabilities. I will tell you that it is accurate. Renault stood and tapped a large picture of the French Battleship Toulon which had been pinned to the wall. "This ship, I am told, is the pride of the French Navy. It is your most powerful. It is claimed that it is the equal- or better-of anything the British in your world have." Another shrug. "That may be true, but I tell you this – the Americans could sink it instantly if they choose. They would do so with aircraft and bombs you can't imagine." Renault studied the picture. "In our world, we had ships like that 60 years ago. It is beyond obsolete – to the United States Navy it is a floating tomb." Grumbles at this, but Rochefort noted that Darien didn't seem particularly surprised by this. Rochefort smiled internally to himself; obviously the good Spanish Admiral had been cultivating contacts of his own. Captain Renault continued. "In my world, the deceive tool of military warfare was the airplane." As Renault was speaking, Rochefort's aides were putting more pictures on the walls. "This is what the Americans call a B-29 Superfortress. It is capable of flying here from a base in the Atlantic, like the Azores should the Americans choose to seize, or from Britain, if the Americans ally with them, dropping thousands of pounds of explosive on Paris, and then flying back. The Americans have thousands of military aircraft – literally thousands, and you have naught but airships to oppose them." Renault smiled coldly. "A conflict between you and the Americans would not be a war. It would be murder." Dead silence greeted Renault's remarks, and Rochefort internally congratulated himself on getting the man here. An aristocrat to the core, he despised what Renault was, and the France the man represented, but he couldn't deny the impact of the information he brought.
The Emperor turned to Rochefort. "So does His Most Catholic Majesty's government recommend that we do nothing?" Rochefort smiled. Time to drop the other bomb. "Not all, your Majesty. I believe the advice of your subject the Duke of Darien is correct. We wait for the British to weaken and then strike." Alvarez growled. "And these Americans? We do nothing here? These are pretty pictures, but this man" -Alvarez nodded harshly at Renault– "could be lying to us."Rochefort's smile turned shark-like. "Not at all, My Lord. In fact, it seems the Lord has dropped another opportunity at our feet." Alvarez looked up. "Oh?" Rochefort spoke. "I have heard from certain agents of mine in St. Petersburg. It seems the Tsar is...most unhappy...with this situation." Almost everyone looked confused at sudden change from Britain and America to Russia. Rochefort continued. "It seems that our Eastern friend the Tsar is furious about the loss of Alaska to the United States. It too was replaced by the event." The loss of the temperate part of British North America had occupied everyone's minds. It was known that the United States also possessed Alaska, but hardly anyone lived there. "That frozen wasteland? Why does he care about Alaska? He still has plenty of frozen wasteland in Siberia." The Emperor's remarks generated some spontaneous laughter from the group. Rochefort allowed himself a small grin. "My agents are still working the reason for the Tsar's outrage" which was diplo-speak for I haven't got the foggiest damn idea of why the Tsar cares so much – "but I have been able to determine that the Tsar has directed his military to retake Alaska from the Americans." Alvarez leaned back, thoughtful, and the Emperor exchanged a look with Darien. One to watch, that one, thought Rochefort, looking at Darien. "So we don't need to take the good Captain at his word. We'll simply watch what happens with this Russian expedition. And if the Americans prove to be a paper tiger, well then, then we can," Rochefort smiled,"rethink our policies." A growl of affirmation. Rochefort smiled. Always better to get someone else to do the dying.