Introduction
Apart from the soldiers at the front, all troops stationed abroad rose up in a symbolic act of disobedience, which propaganda on chavvy television provoked into a coup. It was symbolic because it was all more like a passive strike. It was non-violent, but still immensely spooky! Enough to rock the British Isles. The nomenclature in the establishment saw its foundations shaken and warned of the dangers threatening British democracy.
The clamor raised in the House of Lords and the House of Commons seemed exaggerated to much of the public as the soldiers merely held a silent protest, mirroring what many of the people themselves thought: the government is losing support. Not surprisingly, one of the protest's demands is for the resignation of the Labor government, led in favor of an interim government led by Tory Gabriel Morgan, to be followed by military-supervised general elections. What is seen by Labor as a Conservative coup attempt.
What horrifies many in the establishment back in the British Isles is the precision with which Operation Scatter Men has been carried out. In America, from Canada to Falklands, troops in Africa, the 61 British military bases in Asia, Oceania and Gibraltar and Germany, most of the British troops go into silent protest. Across the world, they rise at the same instant, abandoning all their proper duties to line up at their garrison's roll call ground, while the Union Jack is flown at half-staff and the sirens sound the disaster alarm as a final warning.
In big garrisons, such as in Kenya or the Persian Gulf, some overzealous officers find themselves spurred on to resist the 'scatter men', as the media is quick to dub them. Probably in the hope of a quick career as ideologically reliable. There are some dead and injured, but basically the Scatters assert themselves quickly and everywhere. The consensus in London is that this is a sign of widespread organization and a serious threat. Especially because no secret service had previously pointed out the danger brewing in the ranks of the military.
Surprisingly, the main territories are largely spared from the scatter men. Leaving aside the indirect actions of Irish and Scottish nationalists, who somehow misinterpreted the Scatters' action as their chance, for which British domestic intelligence MI-5 blames the German embassy, sparking a diplomatic scandal.
The Scatters' only one active action in Britain is limited to shutting down all British television stations to allow appearances by Generals Gordie Bunkers, Arlyss Hamblett, Captain General Putnam Coombs, Admiral of the Fleet Odell Dollins and Air Marshal Baxter Goodwyn. They proclaim the military's demands, including for the resignation of the government, which they accuse of treason, and urge war hero General Ordlaf of Astgill, known as the savior of Britain, and Vice-Admiral Carl Marron to join the Scatters, which they demonstratively refused to do. Little is known about Admiral Marron. He is actually the head of military intelligence, but the British media focuses on presenting him as the father of pop star Rachel Marron, who herself has repeatedly revealed that she has no deep insight into politics.
After thirteen days of panic, the establishment dumped the government and Gabriel Morgan became head of the provisional government charged with preparing new elections. He shifts military power to General Astgill and Vice-Admiral Carl Marron, authorizing the former to set up the Section 13 military organization. He also conducts sharp propaganda against the enemy Britain is fighting in Eastern Europe. Which appears to be a big difference, in contrast to the Labor Party's policy of accommodation.
The elections are held after six months and the Tories win them with their lead candidate. Gabriel Morgan's inauguration was one of the Scatter men demands, but it soon becomes clear that Morgan will not support the Scatters.
In a commando-like coup d'état, soldiers are arrested and kidnapped in a night action. It is the first time that the increasingly dreaded 'ghosts' have emerged and, supported by regular police and Scotland Yard, but operating without judicial powers, invade homes and abduct military personnel. Rumors of extrajudicial executions are substantiated when bodies found in remote locations are to be touched up by explanations that are not very credible. Rumors of extrajudicial executions are substantiated when bodies found in remote locations are hushed up with implausible explanations.
The word treason is used quickly. Whereby the dark men entrench themselves abroad. The excesses of the 'Ghost' are increasing as are their powers, which increasingly affect civilians as well. It is dangerous to speak of an arbitrary terror regime, even though more and more people are recognizing Britain as such.
The scatter men seem paralyzed. Rumors are circulating in public that the scatters have long been smashed. Others assume they never existed, but were invented 'by those up there' to legitimize a form of rule based on fear and terror.
As the 'ghost' enjoy increasing freedom of movement, the finds of civilian bodies, including children, are becoming more than justexceptional. Eventually, however, the Scatters counterattacked low- and middle-level regime officials, indicating increasing audacity. Some of the panic that the government sows among the people comes back to them.
