LEGAL NOTICE: THE TWO GEORGES NOVEL BELONGS TO HARRY TURTLEDOVE AND RICHARD DREYFUSS. THE FOLLOWING STORY IS MIKE TURCOTTE'S


October 23, 1944

The London theater was packed. Of course, all the conference delegates were there – well, not all, but most; and all attired splendidly in their formal best. Several member of the Royal Family, including the King-Emperor himself were there as well, and a host of the London elite as well. The theater was gorgeously bedecked in glittering gold-plated statues, plush velvet, electric lights, and someone had even found red-white-and-blue bunting. There were delicacies from around the British Empire to partake in, and, not be outdone, the French had added a selection of fine wines, and the Spanish had added some rums and cigars from Cuba. It seemed a little much for Dorothy and Toto to Dean Acheson, but as the saying went, 'When in Rome …' –or in this case London, where no one had ever seen a movie, and certainly not one in color. It wasn't that this world didn't have photography – they did, albeit primitive photography – but one here had yet thought to link the photographs together to tell a moving story. Two guys from Hollywood had accompanied the US delegation and managed to rig a makeshift screen in the London theater, and Acheson was given to understand that mating the projector to the theater's power system had been a … non-trivial … task, but it had been accomplished.

Acheson had actually been in favor of 'Gone with the Wind' as the movie to show; 'The Wizard of Oz' seemed a bit childish to him, and he thought bringing along Vivien Leigh, the English actress who portrayed Scarlett O'Hara might help smooth things over with the British. However, there were concerns over the sexuality, and … unfavorable portrayal of certain regional elements of the United States … in the film, and it was thought that the fact that the Wizard was in color would be even more impressive. From the reactions of the crowd watching, Acheson had to concede the point. Dorothy was making more of an impression than Acheson would have guessed.

Yet if the film was even more evidence of the United States' technological lead, then the cinema audience was evidence that the British and others were ahead in other areas. While the majority of the crowd was white, a significant minority was not. There were brown, Asian and black faces spread throughout the crowd, and not as help staff as they would have been in America. Acheson had been stunned to learn that several high-ranking 'British' officials were not white, and that one of the non-whites – the young Duke of Ceylon – was actually being talked about as a potential future Prime Minister. Even more shocking, the King-Emperor's second son had married a woman from a prominent family in India and done so with the full approval of the King-Emperor, the British Court, and society at large. Having met the woman – young girl actually, just past her 23rd birthday, Acheson could understand the attraction: she was Hollywood-gorgeous (except for the brown skin, of course), but the fact that the British not only accepted it, but regarded it as no big deal deeply impressed Acheson.

All of that was modified by the importance of titles. No one without a title could serve at any real rank in the government, and no one without a title could be an officer in the military. While commoners could and did achieve significant mercantile positions in society, a title was the gateway to true power. Titles could be purchased for huge sums of money or earned via extraordinary service to the state but even then holders of such were regarded as 'new' and not quite as 'noble' as older lineages. It was an odd dichotomy to Acheson – a certain degree of color-blindness coupled with the idea that noble blood still existed. It was as if the aristocrats from European society had decided that the best way to hang on to their power was to extend the franchise – the aristocratic franchise – to 'imperial' societies like India in the case of the British or Indochina in the case of the French to allow the maintenance of their empires. It sounded crazy to Acheson, but the size and stability of the empires of the world were proof that the system worked. Or had worked until the United States arrived. On the screen, Dorothy was absolutely paying attention to the man behind the curtain. And the 'Wizard' turned out to be a county-fair charlatan.

The crowd was enraptured, and Acheson wondered if any of the watching aristocrats realized what a threat Dorothy – the consummate American 'commoner' - was to them. To Acheson and many Americans that was all aristocracy was: a man behind a curtain. Strip away the fancy titles, the tortuous protocols and the elaborate clothes, and all the nobles were men and women, no different than the commoners they ruled. For most of them, those titles were based on the accomplishments of past ancestors (in many cases, very distantly past ancestors) rather than anything they themselves had achieved. On the Earth the United States had come from, that had been realized and reacted to starting in the late seventeen-hundreds. Here, it hadn't yet. Acheson couldn't help but wonder what would happen when it was realized.

Because Hollywood was good at telling stories, and those stories didn't come from the nobility.


October 25, 1944

The first substantive meeting had started barely five minutes ago, and already there was controversy.

As the Prime Minister – the Duke Russell – started the meeting with a round of introductions. Most, in addition to introducing the delegates themselves (something Acheson found completely unnecessary as the various, dinner, lunches and parties prior to this meeting had provided more-than-ample time to meet the delegates), had allowed for some kind of opening statement; these statements ranged from completely bland expressions of desires for peace (as from the British) to the Japanese, who, when their time had come, had, in addition to introducing themselves, announced – to Acheson and the world at large, that the Japanese Empire was officially extending diplomatic recognition to the United States of America. To say that the other delegates were shocked would have been an understatement, although Acheson did note the diplomatic reserve of most delegates never broke. The whispers that raced around the room, and Acheson's distinct (and deliberate) lack of surprise, had let everyone know that SOMETHING had happened between the Japanese and these new Americans. Acheson did note that Duke Mortimer-who the Office of Strategic Services had tentatively identified as the British Empire's equivalent of a chief spy-did not look surprised.

The composition of the US delegation had caused controversy as well. The fact that there was not one person with a title of anything other than 'Mr.' in the US delegation was something many were still struggling with. In addition, the presence of Harry Truman and John Bricker had to be explained. The fact that the United States was, in fact, going to have an election in just a few days was mystifying to most at the conference. The idea of … bringing along one's internal political opponents to an international conference was clearly alien. Thomas Dewey had met with Roosevelt and Acheson before the departure of the US delegation to London. While there was little love lost between Dewey and anyone in the Roosevelt administration, Dewey recognized the importance of the conference. He had committed to retaining Acheson as Secretary of State for at least the duration and immediate aftermath of the conference, if he won in November. From the polling Acheson had seen, that was unlikely, but he conceded that the man had a good point. Including Bricker (frankly a better campaigner than Dewey) was a good idea; Dewey would want his own man's take on the conference if he won. Getting that idea across to the nobility at the conference was a Sisyphean task, Acheson had discovered. One of the Ottoman delegates had even asked Bricker if Acheson would be beheaded or strangled if the Republicans won. Bricker had simply stared at that.

The Russians were, of course, as gorgeously attired as anyone else. Acheson was used to dealing with the Soviets and their drab suits, and these Russians struck him as aristocratic to the core. There were two main diplomats – a Count and a Boyar (Acheson had already labeled them Albert and Costello)– but also,by his clothes – a priest. That wasn't so unusual here: both the French and the Spanish had Catholic priests in their delegations, and the British had the Anglican Bishop of Canterbury provide an opening invocation and if odd to more secular American eyes, it was understandable. The religious figures in general stayed in background, but with the Russians, it was clear that Albert and Costello deferred to the priest, rather than the other way around. The Russian opening statement included an … interesting … statement about welcoming the United States and desiring peace, so long as the United States recognized the 'holy and inviolate borders' of the Russian Empire. It was at this point that Acheson interrupted.

"Count Vlassov, if I may?" Vlassov stopped at glared at Acheson, but nodded once.

"I can not help but notice you refer to the 'holy and inviolate' borders of the Russian Empire. The United States requests clarity as to your meaning." Vlassov smiled coldly. "I assume you are interested primarily in the borders around the North American continent, Acheson?" No 'Mr.', no 'Secretary of State', no honorific of any kind. Just 'Acheson'.

Well, that was just rude. Acheson didn't rise, however, and mildly responded. "Yes, Count Vlassov. The Event has replaced what was formerly your Alaska with what is now our Alaska, and the United States requests clarity as to what the Russian Empire means by 'Holy and Inviolate?" Acheson was deliberately emphasized the 'yours' and 'ours' – not just to Vlassov, but to everyone in the room. His instructions from Roosevelt were clear: not one square inch of American territory was negotiable – not one.

"Then Acheson, you have a problem, " Vlassov said bluntly.

Acheson blinked; diplomatic language and protocols, especially in formal, multinational settings like this one, were far more elaborate and stilted than on the world the United States came from. The Japanese had already strained that protocol with their preemptive recognition of the United States; what Vlassov had done was beyond rude to the chief representative of a foreign power. However, as Acheson thought about it, he realized what Vlassov was doing. He wasn't addressing Acheson as a representative, or anything approaching an equal. He was doing so as aristocrat to a commoner. And if his tone and manner would have been a mystery to most Americans, it most certainly was not to the delegates here. They would have understood it- and how Vlassov – and presumably the Russian Empire – regarded the United States. As peasants – little more than animals barking at their betters. Acheson again refused to rise to the bait.

"May I ask what problem we have, Count Vlassov?" Vlassov leaned back in his seat, and brushed some imaginary lint off his lapel. He refused to even look at Acheson. "'We' do not have a problem. You do. Specifically, you and the entity you represent occupy territory that belongs to His Majesty, the Tsar. You will depart at once." Vlassov made a vague gesture of dismal with one hand. His tone was that of a master giving a minor instruction to a servant. The conference was dead quiet now; all the delegates, even the British were focused fully on the exchange between Vlassov and Acheson.

Good, thought Acheson. Let's get this out into the open.

"No."

Again, silence reigned. Vlassov finally looked at Acheson with a slow, predatory smile. "What did you say, Acheson?" Acheson smiled back. Up until now, he had played the game, deferring to the others, making sure that he and his team understood court protocols well enough not to give unnecessary offense. However, he was starting to lose patience with this. Time to slip the gloves off.

"I said 'No'. Perhaps 'Nyet' is easier for you to understand? Dealing with the Soviets in the world I came from – and, in case you are wondering, the Soviet Union was what replaced the Russian Empire after the Russian people got fed up with the incompetence of the Tsar and his idiot noble lackeys and killed them all – has taught me the value of being clear." Vlassov's eyes bulged. "Additionally, since you and the other Russian delegates seem to be burdened with certain intellectual limitations, I will use short sentences and simple words so that you can understand me." Vlassov turned an interesting shade of purple, and the other delegates were staring at Acheson as if seeing him for the first time. Mortimer crooked an eyebrow, and Acheson noted Halifax looking … somehow satisfied. "Alaska is part of the United States. It will remain part of the United States. If you try to alter that in any way, we will fight you." Acheson didn't know how to make that any plainer. Vlassov stared for a moment more – clearly shocked, and then rose from his seat. "You know not what you say Acheson! Even now, the blessed forces of the most holy Tsar are moving-"

"Your ships departed Vladivostok yesterday morning at about 9:00 local time. We know their orders are to link up with the fleet at Petropavlovsk. The force is commanded by Admiral and Grand Duke Mikhail Romanov. Once combined in Petropavlovsk, the entire force will consist of eight battleships – the Moscow, the Imperator, the Peter the Great, the Borodino, Suvorov, Sebastopol, Sissoo Veliky, and the Kiev. There are also twelve protected cruisers, and some thirty smaller ships, including troop transports with the Sibersky Venta infantry division on board."

No one breathed. Expressions of outright shock were on every face – especially Vlassov's.

Acheson continued, without emotion. "Their orders are to seize Unalaska – what we call Dutch Harbor – in the Aleutian chain, and both fortify it against any possible counterattack and prepare it as a larger base to stage to conquest of Alaska slated for the spring of 1945."

The delegates stared at him. Mortimer recovered first. "Mr. Acheson – that is a remarkable recitation of events that you claim happened less than 24 hours ago. Even if they did, I do not see how it is possible for you to know that so specifically and so quickly." Acheson stared back blankly. He wasn't going to go into long-range radio, and the PBYs the Navy had watching everything, or the fact that the Russians were broadcasting everything in the clear – the only thing needed was a translator who spoke Russian. "The United States has employed a variety of technical measures to gather this information." He turned to the Russian delegation. "Gentlemen, under no circumstances will that force be allowed to enter United States waters – and this, of course, includes Alaska."

Rasputin looked almost purple. "That is not your land – you PEASANT! Commoners do have the right to possess land – that right is reserved by God and God alone for those He has deemed worthy of such responsibility – and that is fact!"He waved an arm at the other delegates – "These … these sheep may have forgotten their blood and their legacies, but we have not!" He stood and pointed at Acheson. "You will submit to your betters, or you will know fire!"

Acheson was level. "I repeat: Under no circumstances will that force be allowed to enter United States waters." With a scowl of disgust, Vlassov stormed out of the room, followed by the other members of the Russian delegation. Acheson watched them go, and then nodded at an aide. If that didn't constitute a declaration of war, he didn't know what did. Then he turned to Nimitz and Eisenhower.

If this was going to happen, then the United States intended to make a firm example of the folly of using military force against it.

And examples worked best with an audience.


Transcriber's notes: Oh, Russia. You have no idea how utterly fucked you are. Lol.