“As per request from the Contemporary Forces, we have shipped dozens of the new guns to Malta, sweeping the skies of any Axis aircraft that dares to come too close to Malta. I am happy to report that interdiction of Axis shipping lanes is total; we have cut Germany off from North Africa. With the new radar systems, communications network and surveillance drones, we have total coverage of the Mediterranean Sea.”
Hanover smiled to himself. “Splendid,” he said. “General Cunningham?”
“We have pushed into Algeria, having overrun Tunisia, and are making progress towards Algiers. The Vichy French don’t like us much, but fortunately their weapons are junk and we can just smash through them. We’ve captured enough German ‘advisors’ to prove that the invasion was necessary; Hitler was apparently forcing the French to join the Italians and invade Egypt.” He scowled. “There’s a lot of pent-up anti-French feeling; we’re having to separate the pied noirs and the natives from time to time. There have even been several rebellions in the rear.
“For the moment, we’re interning Frenchmen along with Italians,” he continued. “Their ultimate fate, of course, is in your hands, but leaving them in Algeria seems likely to lead to their doom.”
Hanover nodded. “Major Stirling?”
The young army officer stood up from his seat at the rear of the room. Hanover had already considered simply confirming his rank; his de facto position as Head of the Oversight Committee seemed to require someone with more gold braid.
“The Germans have finally managed to work out lists of who betrayed Hitler,” Stirling said. “Unfortunately, the momentary confusion in the German ranks was insufficient for us to take more that local advantage of it; the Germans clearly move with efficiency and considerable brutality. From what we can determine, through SIGINT and some other sources, the vast majority of current traitors were simply shot in the head and dumped. Those who would have been future traitors have either been shot or condemned to penal battalions.”
He hesitated. “Some of them seem to be being held in France, so we’re working on finding out who and why,” he said. “Unfortunately, there are other problems; who would have thought that the Encyclopaedia Britannica would cause so much mischief?”
The weak joke prompted some smiles. “The Germans have apparently increased their production of aircraft, although it’s hard to be certain as our records came originally from them. What we are certain they’ve done is streamline their production; in the next couple of months we expect that their production will skyrocket. Oil remains their problem, but they are apparently pushing ahead with bio-fuels and supplies from the USSR. Unfortunately, we lack sources in Russia to confirm what Stalin is doing.
“Worse, they have mastered the production of V1 automated missiles,” he said. “While they are old and slow, they are capable of launching hundreds of them in one volley and the RAF has to shoot them down before they get over land. Some of them are loaded with a primitive fuel-air explosive; we’re watching for ones with biological weapons.
“It’s hard to be certain about what Hitler’s long-term intentions are,” he concluded. “They’ve cut their radio traffic to almost nothing, and they’re using code phases to conceal their plans from us. What is certain – and this comes from Ireland – is that they’re meddling in Spain, trying to force Franco into invading Gibraltar. They have apparently given him some of the future data, including the fact that Gibraltar would never go back to Spain. There’s also evidence of communications with Turkey – and some suggestion that the Balkans will get an offer they can’t refuse soon – and hey will have overland communications through Russia with Japan.
“It’s very difficult to predict with any accuracy what Herr Hitler will be able to develop,” he concluded. “The Oversight Committee was divided on the question of if he’ll be able to produce nukes, but with the future information it becomes a near-certainty. He might also try for biological and chemical weaponry, both of which would make our defence problems far worse.”
“Thank you,” Hanover said. “Finally, John?”
McLachlan grinned. “Finally, we have circled the world,” he said. “We have established relay stations, new ones, in Africa, Kuwait, Ceylon, India, Singapore and Australia. There was considerable shock from the Contemporary Nations and units; the Viceroy of India was not too receptive to a request that he attend an imperial conference, and that he brings the leaders of the nationalist movements with him. Fortunately, Admiral Cunningham convinced him to come.
“The Australians and new Zealanders didn’t argue, not once they saw the devastation we inflicted upon Germany,” he said. “They want, for the moment, some of our ships to be deployed down under, and they were very grateful for the technical database that their ambassadors brought. So, hopefully, we should have a full house; even South Africa has agreed to come.”
Hanover locked eyes with him for a moment. “We’ll discuss that later,” he muttered.
McLachlan nodded. “It’s hard to be certain if President Roosevelt will win the election in November,” he said. “Thanks to our arrival, he suddenly has more challenges to cope with. There have been several waves of violence across the country; directed at Germans, blacks and Japanese, once the news of the war got out. Tokyo is aware of this and very unhappy at the insult.
“He’s also had to drop Wallace and replace him with Truman,” he continued. “That damaged his standing within the Party, and affronted Wallace’s allies, all of whom are loudly denying being communists. Ambassador King has nearly been killed twice; he is also being approached by black American organisations for help. Several of the former Marines, black Marines, have disappeared into the black regions, apparently to formant trouble.”
“The Americans, on the other hand, are also looking forward to recovering their personnel stationed here and some of their equipment. That does present a problem – we can’t tear Feltwell out of the ground – and some of the personnel have requested asylum. However, we should have at least a thousand Americans who want to be repatriated, so that can be done quickly.
“Finally, one piece of good news,” he concluded. “Our new companies within the United States are doing very well indeed; a complete basic mobile phone network should be up and running in a month or two. Even if the Americans refuse to join the war, we should be able to fund purchases of American goods through trade.”
“Excellent,” Hanover said. “This meeting is dismissed.”
“You were very abrupt then,” McLachlan observed, after the room had been cleared. “Something the matter?”
“I could tell that you had something you wanted to tell me,” Hanover said. “What is it?”
“I had some visitors last night,” McLachlan said, and outlined the meeting. “That’s their offer; they want us to help them conquer Saudi and in exchange they will help us with oil and supplies.”
Hanover steepled his fingers in thought. “Is it worth the risk of clashing with America?” He asked finally. “The Roosevelt administration was always anti-colonial, and we don’t need a collision with them, do we? On the other hand, we do need the oil, we do need the bases, and it’s a neat place to dump our unwanted Muslims.”