He allowed himself a quick smile, then pasted a proper dignified expression on his face. At least Parliament had credited him with organising a very favourable technology-transfer agreement, one that would give Canada a boost forward that it clearly needed. The helicopter was only one of a number of craft and other items donated; the chart of mineral deposits would come in very handy in the future. The deployment of hydrogen-powered cars would only improve their ability to expand their settlements… and the nuclear power plant would improve their power generation capabilities.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again,” he said, as Hanover stepped neatly out of the helicopter and stepped up to him. He studied Hanover; he hadn’t changed much in six months. His hair was still dark; his face perfectly shaven. Brilliant blue eyes peered down a long angler nose, a face that was caricatured regularly in French-language newspapers.
“Likewise,” Hanover said. Like the other future British, his accent was more… American than British, in some ways. Hanover, who came from an old family, spoke with a more British accent, but the hints of America surfaced through his voice.
“I hope that you’ll enjoy your time here,” Mackenzie King said, leading the way into the hotel. “This is one of the finest hotels in the world, if we say so ourselves. There’s room for both you and the President.”
“Thank you,” Hanover said, as they stepped into a private room. Hanover’s escorts, neat well-dressed men with an air of unconcern – which meant they were bodyguards – were waved back, leaving them alone. “I was hoping to have a chance to speak with you privately as well.”
Mackenzie King nodded thoughtfully. “The discussion on the future course of the war?” He asked. “You must realise that Parliament is demanding access to the decision-making process in exchange for the use of our troops. If the British Commonwealth is to work, you have to be our… partners, rather than try to be our masters.”
One thing he’d learnt about Hanover was that he didn’t seem to think that everyone should be submissive. “I quite understand,” Hanover said. “As a matter of fact, I’ve brought some highly confidential documents, which outline for your War Cabinet the future scope of operations. Although they’re short on specifics for obvious reasons, they outline the plan of action.”
Mackenzie King lifted an eyebrow. “We have a spy somewhere,” Hanover admitted. “That’s between you and me, I’m afraid. Someone, probably in America, is trading information to the Germans.”
“Who would do such a thing?” Mackenzie King asked. The images of the death camps and the Polish Genocide had hit Canada hard. “And how do they communicate with their masters?”
“You know what the situation is like,” Hanover said. “The United States is not technically at war with Japan, so Japanese ships are still docking in America. Mexico and most of Latin America is also taking Japanese, or Spanish, or Portuguese ships in and trading with them, despite our blockade. Portugal is worst; we’re not at war with them and public opinion wouldn’t stand for trying to starve them into compliance.”
“I’m glad to see that your public has a sense of responsibility,” Mackenzie King said dryly.
Hanover laughed. “There’s also the small matter that cutting off their exports will force them into Germany’s arms,” he said. “While their armed forces would add little to the might of Germany at present, given time they would present a serious threat.”
“True, true,” Mackenzie King said. “For the moment, what sort of… power-sharing are you offering for the war?”
Hanover crossed his legs. “For the moment, we intend to concentrate in the Middle East,” he said.
“You’re not going to defend Australia?” Mackenzie King asked. He felt a flicker of worry; would the British abandon their most faithful dominion?
“We have two-thirds of our fleet in their waters,” Hanover said. “In hindsight, that might have been a mistake; we have to keep units pinned down that would be better expended hunting down the rest of the Japanese Navy. Still, should that show its ugly face, Admiral Turtledove has orders to destroy it and then the threat to Australia and New Zealand will be at an end.”
He chuckled. “We don’t expect that there will be a threat,” he said. “Even without the two infantry regiments we’ve sent to their defence, they would have to cross the water between the Dutch East Indies and Australia. They’d have to be crazy to try it.”
“I suppose,” Mackenzie King said. “So… back to the Middle East?”
“Well,” Hanover said, and outlined the plan. “Hopefully, we should manage to defeat the Germans and force them back into Turkey,” he concluded.
Mackenzie King’s mobile phone rang. “Sir, the President is here,” his aide said.
“Please show him to the conference centre,” Mackenzie King said. “I’m sorry to cut our conversion short, but its time for the real conference to begin.”
“It’s quite all right,” Hanover said. “This first meeting is the most important, after all.”
Hanover nearly stopped dead the moment he saw President Roosevelt, being wheeled in by his assistant. The President had always reminded him of his grandfather, but he now looked as the old man had, the week before he died. His skin was pale; he gave an impression of profound tiredness. His hair seemed to be greying – Hanover was certain that he detected the remains of dye in the strands – and his frame seemed somehow weaker. His handshake was firm, though, and his eyes were bright.
Mackenzie King, as host, took the chair. The other two world leaders, and their two companions, took their chairs. Roosevelt, Hanover was interested to note, had brought Eisenhower and Ambassador King to the meeting. His own companions, General Cunningham and Major Stirling, sat behind him. Both Roosevelt and himself had larger staffs to discuss the nuts and bolts, but this was the important meeting.
“Thank you for coming,” Mackenzie King said, greeting Roosevelt. “I hope that this meeting will lead to many important steps towards defeating our mutual enemies.”
“Thank you,” Roosevelt said. He nodded politely to Hanover. “I understand that you had something new to talk about?”
Hanover nodded at Stirling, who spoke quietly. “There are some signs that the Germans are preparing to jump on the Russians,” he said. “Reconnaissance, both through the aircraft and the… new methods…”
“It’s fine to talk about that,” Hanover injected.
“The orbiting satellite, then,” Stirling said. “There is evidence that Hitler is stockpiling men and their supplies in Poland, in a preparatory move for advancing east into Russia.”
“They must be crazy,” Eisenhower said. “Attacking Stalin, when they know that they’ll lose.”
“The history books say nothing about our arrival,” Hanover said. “Major?”
“Some elements of PJHQ are speculating that it’s a bluff,” Stirling said. “At the moment, the German Reich is very dependent upon the Soviets. Hitler might be reminding Stalin that he could launch an attack and… well, kick in the door. Alternately, they might expect the Soviets to take advantage of Hitler’s weakness, and are preparing a defence. Finally, they might want to be training units far from the fronts; either of them.”
“A shame they won’t start the fight themselves,” Eisenhower said. “Mr President, may I outline the operations plan?”