Chapter Seventeen

The political opinions and actions in this chapter do not automatically represent those of the author.

Chapter Seventeen

The Priest took his eyes off the burning German Embassy and the General could see that he was about to explode with anger. The King was contained in his Palace and they were about to announce the Military Government to the nation, but this was not planned.

“What happened?”

“We aren't sure, Brother. We besieged their Embassy along with that of the British Dogs but that was siege only. My people are speaking with those in command here, but it seems that one of the Germans shot one of ours through the fence and then there was no way to control the crowd.”

“YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO STORM THE BRITISH EMBASSY AND NOT THIS ONE!” the Priest yelled at the General.

“I know that, Brother.” the General said, “but the entire city is in chaos and it was hard to pass on orders without some sort of mix up.”

The Priest stared at the burning building some more and then turned away from it.

“There is little we can do about it now. What about their officials?”

“Some fled over the wall into the Swiss Embassy, but we have most of them in our hands.”

“Dead?”

“No, they are still very much alive, but what are we to do with them?”

“How many are there then?” the Priest wasn't sure what he was to do with all those Germans. The plan called for the British Embassy to be razed to remove their influence from the country, but what relations with the Germans there had been were good.

“Twenty-seven, Brother. Do you fear for their reaction?”

“No, Brother. The Germans are weak, weaker even than the British. Remember this, brother. We are dealing with nations weak in spirit and religion, so we have to play by their rules until we are ready. To this end we will release any woman hostages immediately and the rest as soon as we have completed our next step.”

That step was to consolidate the rule of the new Regime over the country. Once that was accomplished the good faith of the hated British was no longer needed and the fervour and righteousness of the people would sweep everything before them.

~**---**~

The news of what had transpired reached the wider public in the British Empire and the Federal Republic of Germany at the beginning of the next news cycle the next morning. In both countries the morning papers carried the story and as the news crawled through the Empire along with the sunrise in the different time zones public opinion shifted with it, it became clear that the British public demanded action, and the Government realized this.

In Germany on the other hand the prevailing public opinion was more one of “we never had any business being there in the first place” though the sanctity of an Embassy was enough to generate some anger.

Due to this the public reaction to the also very public denunciation of the incident was greeted with support though what was to happen to repair the situation divided opinion.

What did happen though was that the Defence Ministry very quietly decided to use this opportunity to try out what mobilization plans there were and the few already active Regiments were put on a higher alert status. Upon being queried by a reporter whose brother had been called to duty in the middle of the day it waved away as a standard training exercise.

Anti-war protesters still gathered in front of the Ministry to protest the 'aggressive move' though curiously enough the numbers were far smaller than expected.

However the biggest surprise was experienced by the British Ambassador when he was called to meet the Chancellor.

Sitting in the Office after a very conspirational entry into the Bunderskanzleramt via the back door in the middle of the night, though considering the crowds out front that were sure to come back in the morning in spite of the cold.

“Mr. Ambassador, I gather that your Government is preparing a response to what has happened in Saudi-Arabia in the last few days?”

“Indeed we are, but I wouldn't be surprised if this was difficult. Our diplomatic channels to what passes for Government there are closed.”

“No matter what you are doing, Mr. Ambassador, I want you to convey a message to your Government. We want to be part of your response, because it is my and my Cabinet's opinion that we can't afford to bloody mess about down there.”

The reference to the bungled handling of the war between the People's Republic of China and Russian-backed Manchuria was clear. The British response to it had been less than ideal resulting in a short but extremely brutal war where thousands had died.

“Hrm.” the Ambassador shifted uncomfortably at his chair. “I will forward this sentiment to my superiors of course.”

He neglected to mention that he had been ordered to inquire into the German intentions anyway.

“But I believe Her Majesty's Government would like to know how far you would be willing to go.”

The Chancellor leaned back in his chair.

“We want a diplomatic solution if at all possible. If there is any hint of a military response on our part I could as well resign within the next five minutes, because anything but a diplomatic response would be, to put it blunt, a bloody political nightmare.”

The Ambassador smiled, the Chancellor was known to speak frank of the circumstances called for it.

“In any case Mr. Ambassador, we will throw whatever diplomatic weight we have behind a peaceful solution.”

“I will forward these news with great pleasure, Mr. Chancellor. However I must ask something else.”

The Ambassador looked into the Chancellor's face and steeled himself.

“What makes you think we are interested in military action?”

The Chancellor smiled. “My people tell me that at least on one of your airbases has seen a lot of new arrival in the last few days. Mind you, that is a prudent course of action, but it might send the wrong message.”

Just who the message was being sent to remained unsaid but the intent was clear. The Ambassador wouldn't be caught dead badmouthing his Prime Minister to a foreign, if allied, Head of State, however much the idiot deserved it. Wilson's desire to compensate for British failures in China and his own failing domestic agenda was painfully obvious to anyone willing to take a look beyond the headlines.

Admittedly there were many things that made the situation as it was but trying to strongarm a country while trying to make it look as if one wasn't was a recipe for failure akin to the Halifax Conference. Lord knew Wilson probably had the best of intentions in the long run but short term blacking out the Saudi skies with the RAF probably wasn't the best idea.

“I will pass that on also.

He really would, not that anyone in No.10 was likely to see the real meaning behind it.

“So let me sum up, Mr. Chancellor. Due to the seizure of your Embassy and the death or capture of most of your Embassy staff the Federal Republic of Germany intends to join the British Empire and Her Majesty's Government in a joint reaction to what has happened in Saudi-Arabia.”

The Chancellor nodded.

“Should we exhaust diplomatic options we need to talk again.”

Eyebrows rose on the Ambassador's face while the Chancellor only shrugged his big shoulders.

“We may need you to teach us the meaning of Realpolitik and the real world.”

Neither knew that by now the situation was totally out of control and was moving with it's own inertia, beginning with the lone Canberra Mk.IIIr[1] taking off from Aden.

[1] PR.3.