Against all Odds: The British Empire in World War Two

[trekaddict]

ViperhawkZ Eventually. For the moment the irony is that most of the Gurkha units are actually in Europe butting the fear of god into the Germans and Soviets.

Kurt_Steiner Politics and logistics are against this.

stevep(1) This basically.

stevep(2) Well, the Japanese surely build tough Nuke plants.

As said, we don't really know enough about O'Connor to really judge his performance.

Yes, very ugly indeed.


And of course there is only one kind of footie. *cough*4:1*cough*

[El Pip]

As has been said, if this ends up like Manilla this will be messy, though to be fair I'm really not sure if there is a better option. The port has to be taken and grenades and bayonets look the only option - bloody work.

[Griffin.Gen]

Very good update but one question. What is the standard rifle of the British if it isn't the SMLE? I'm drawing a blank right now...

[ViperhawkZ]

Question for Trek: you mention in this most recent update a "Chinese Tank Battalion". Since, to the best of my knowledge, the Chinese never fielded a single tank in IRL WWII, am I right in assuming that it's a Japanese tank model or a variant thereof?

Incidentally, when I was checking around the internet for that, I discovered that the Canadian Army had - before the Lend-Lease agreement - been building their own (improved) version of the Sherman. Now, because (I think) you mentioned that the Brits were making their own armoured vehicles based on the captured design, would it be plausible for the Canadians to start modding the British designs in a similar way? If they do, or indeed if they just invent their own tanks, I ask only that you retain the name for this tank design: the Grizzly. Because bears are a badass animal and Grizzly is the most badass name for a tank that I can think of.

[trekaddict]

El Pip Bloody but very necessary. O'Connor has of course been briefed on Drumbeat just as Browning in Singapore, and he knows that if he is to support it from his end he needs Rangoon.


Griffin.Gen Thank you. The main rifle for the Brits is the No.4.


ViperhawkZ TTL the Chinese, lacking most American and British support, lost the 2nd Sino-Japanese war and a relatively effective puppet regime was installed. The Chinese puppet Army is largely equipped with Japanese cast-off equipment and locally made copies thereof and this does include a Tank Battalion. While the Japanese Army has more resources to play with and thus more Tanks, they still regard them as an Infantry support weapon first, so have no issues with their puppets using their own.

The 12th is going to teach them something about that.

There is actually no need for the Canucks to mod the British designs. In Europe the main tank is the A34 Comet, so the 17pdr (the real one, not the RL 77mm that IIRC just share the breech and the calibre with it) and the frankly surprisingly modern chassis make it unnecessary. The Canadians do produce an awful lot of armaments though that's transhipped everywhere via the UK and North Africa. You'll find Canadian-made armaments and kit literally everywhere where Allied Armies fight.

They did produce the Ram I (TTL based on a defecting M3) and will, in the future produce the Avro Arrow and licence-build a certain German-designed Cat-O'War.

[ViperhawkZ]

in the future produce the Avro Arrow

Hallelujah! I'm an atheist, but still, hallelujah!

[trekaddict]

Hallelujah! I'm an atheist, but still, hallelujah!

Of course. Canada needs the expertise, and the Arrow is the perfect interceptor needed for the sort of Air Defence the RCAF needs to do.

(no unification too.)

[stevep]

stevep(1) This basically.

stevep(2) Well, the Japanese surely build tough Nuke plants.

The worrying bit is there still seems to be problems. I thought modern plants were designed so that if there was a problem they automatically shut down. Unless the quake prevented the moderating rods operating or something?

And of course there is only one kind of footie. *cough*4:1*cough*

A bit worrying when the writer of the TL fails basic arithmetic. Anyway to correct 4:2.

Actually if you had made it 1-4 that would have fitted my home teams away victory last night. Their really on a roll at the moment, last 5 games won with scored 19 conceded 1 Just hope they can continue and get promotion.

While international footie is the main kind you do realise that you could be inciting rebellion in the southern dominions making cracks like that? There is a certain event in New Zealand this autumn that's going to mean some very late nights for me, hopefully all the way to a victory in the finals. [Albeit the performance against Scotland, by the men anyway, was less than convincing].

Steve

[trekaddict]

I was mostly saying that you were correct and I had nothing to add to what you said.

IIRC the Japanese Nuke plants are built so that safety is guaranteed until 7.0 on the richter scale and the quake was 8.9...


As for that game, we carried what you feel about it around with us for forty years, so payback was well due.

Aussie rules footie also counts, since there you actually use your feet.

[trekaddict]

FEAR NOT! I've found that the morning trainride to University (roughly 60 mins) is excellent time for writing. Next update is almost done.

[ViperhawkZ]

Sweet!

[Ehran]

The Canadians do produce an awful lot of armaments though that's transhipped everywhere via the UK and North Africa. You'll find Canadian-made armaments and kit literally everywhere where Allied Armies fight.

which if this time line is like ours is being produced and distributed free of charge to our allies.
looking forward to seeing arrows flying about scaring the crap out of the neighbours with their sheer awesomeness.

[ViperhawkZ]

Fun fact: Canada produced more military trucks on it's own during the war than all of the Axis countries combined.

Also, the above comment on Arrows flying around made me think of "Mad Jack" Churchill (no relation to the PM), a British soldier in WW2 who went into battle wielding a claymore sword and longbow. He scored the war's only bow kill, led Commandos, and just walked out of concentration camps. Twice.

[c0d5579]

FEAR NOT! I've found that the morning trainride to University (roughly 60 mins) is excellent time for writing. Next update is almost done.

Good grief, what in God's name are you doing with an hour-long commute at university level? I've known people who had to drive in from half an hour out and thought they should find a closer place!

(Side note - I suspect that bus service from my house to the local community college would take an hour-ish, over a crow distance of about six miles, a driven road distance of about ten, and a bus distance of about a lifetime and a half.)

[trekaddict]

The problem isn't so much distance as the fact that the damn thing stops nearly everywhere and doesn't go very fast. The express train doesn't stop at all but only takes 25 minutes. Problem there is the first one doesn't go until mid-morning.

The joys of a privatized public railway system.....

[stevep]

I was mostly saying that you were correct and I had nothing to add to what you said.

OK. Thought it might be that but wasn't sure.

IIRC the Japanese Nuke plants are built so that safety is guaranteed until 7.0 on the richter scale and the quake was 8.9...

That's the problem. That bloody thing was huge.

As for that game, we carried what you feel about it around with us for forty years, so payback was well due.

And 1968, 1970, 1990 don't count. Greedy bloody sod!

Aussie rules footie also counts, since there you actually use your feet.

Agreed, although know very little about it.

Steve

[stevep]

FEAR NOT! I've found that the morning trainride to University (roughly 60 mins) is excellent time for writing. Next update is almost done.

Excellent news!

Steve

[Mr. Capiatlist]

Keep things on topic, people.

[trekaddict]

Chapter 280

The Prime Minister of the British Empire and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was today tired enough to fall asleep standing up. After briefing both the Regent and the uncrowned Queen on the aftermath of Rommel's counterattack in Austria he was about to begin yet another meeting that was bound to last for hours. His wife and his doctor had made him promise that he would get away for the weekend and with the Campaign in Europe over for the moment he had decided to actually go and do it.

But first he had to meet with Admiral Edwards and M, the Chief of MI6 in a very clandestine manner in a speaking room in one of the many clubs in London.

When he entered the room he noticed that the Admiral and M were discussing the proposal to dismantle the Crytal Palace for it's raw materials, something that had generated a storm of protests and letters to the Times.


“I am terribly sorry, Gentlemen.” Churchill said, “the briefing at the Palace took longer than expected.”

The Queen had been surprisingly inquisitive and the hour allocated for hit had turned into two and a half.

“No worries, Sir.” M replied.

“What is it that you two spies need to see me about?” Churchill asked as he sat down into one of the comfortable armchairs.

“To explain that we need to lay some groundwork first, Prime Minister.” Edwards said.

“Do carry on then, Admiral.” Churchill said and motioned for Edwards to continue.


“Now, you know as well as I do that our intelligence networks within the old United States were always something of a red-headed step child to our efforts on the Continent. For the most part we believed the Americans to be no danger to British interests anywhere in the world and also believed that the Canadians would forewarn us if something from there was coming our way. That changed dramatically of course with the fall of the USA and the ascension of the UAPR, but building up a network in the atmosphere was nigh on impossible. All we have managed so far is a modest network of agents in Washington that is run out of our Embassy there.”

Edwards paused as a steward came and delivered a steaming pot of Earl Grey's. The men watched as the steward poured cups and passed them around without saying a word or acknowledging the august company in the room.

When he left Edwards continued.


“This Network is frankly not what we want or need but rather more all we can manage at present. No one but the head of Station NA knows all the particulars for security reasons and M here could probably tell you more about how these things are done.”

He took a sip.

“Suuffice it to say we get little really usable intelligence. The biggest break was first information of the American raid on Midway Island and some rumblings that they will try something for real in that directon soon.”


M took over at this point, having more intimate knowledge of the area.

“However two days ago the Head of Station sent us something with the diplomatic bag that had our services in an uproar.”

He handed Churchill a page of paper. No more than half full it was still explosive enough.

“Bloody hell!” the Prime Minister exclaimed after reading the page for three times.

“If this is true then we have an opportunity here we cannot afford to let pass. “ Churchill went on, “I mean our Delegation was to go there anyway...”

M nodded. “Exactly. All we need to do now is to insert someone into that delegation who has secret orders to the effect that he is to make contact with our Agent when he reaches the American West Coast.”

“Making contact is all well and good,” Churchill said. He poured more cups of tea and emptied half of his before voicing his concerns. “As said, making contact is fine, but what about keeping it? It isn't as if we are going to get to slip someone in every other week.”

“That, Prime Minister, is our biggest problem in this matter.” Edwards said, “but we think we have worked something out. If anything we believe it might be a trap anyway.”

“How come?” Churchill asked.

“Well, for one it is awfully convenient that he chooses to make contact with us just as we are about to send a delegation of civillians and military officials to tour American bases on or near the West Coast. Granted, that might be a coincidence as this visit is very hush-hush, but still. Secondly, he claims to have the means to collect and forward Data to us that relieves us of our most pressing concerns.”

Churchill nodded thoughtfully and lit a cigar.

“So you have concerns because it is all awfully convenient for us. Good. Suppose it is a trap, what would the Americans have to gain from it?”

M answered this question. “Well, if we were to fall for it they would confirm that we have at least some sort of network within the UAPR. Secondly maybe they figure that we will send someone senior from the United Kingdom or Canada and that they can thereby weaken the SIS at home and abroad for their own means. Mind you, this is a very elaborate operation if that is indeed the case.”


“And even if it isn't a trap Sir, if there is any chance at getting our hands on an agent located on the American West Coast then we simply have to look into it.”

“Agreed.” Churchill replied.

He leaned back into his chair and pondered what had just taken place. It was true, a source on the West Coast of the UAPR would be priceless indeed. The Americans and the Allies had agreed that one was to inform the other if major operations were to be started that transgressed into operational areas agreed upon earlier in the year, but other than that the Americans were incredibly tight-lipped and the American Newspapers were less than reliable. If anything the Allies would be getting advanced warning if anything was in the offing and that was important. American Grand Strategy was a mystery that MI6 and the NID had so far failed to unravel. Then again there were only so many ways one could attack Japan from America. In any case the Americans needed to re-take Midway....


“Who are we going to send along then?” Churchill asked his two top spymasters.

Edwards grinned and said: “I have someone in mind.”

He told them and Churchill didn't have to look to know that Edwards was grinning.

“Is that wise?” M asked. “Professionally these two are our best men, but is he able to...”

“I vouch for the both of them.” Edwards replied.


~**--**~


Ian was putting on the jacket of his uniform with one hand and brushed his teeth with the other. The upper bathroom in the house was tiny and he made a mental note to look at alternative accommodations at some point. He knew that Sandra would likely be less than pleased with him, because the tone of the orders that had been sent over from the Company was such that his old hunch that had served him so well in the past tingled again and worse than ever before. He really was getting to old for this.

He stepped out of the bathroom and smiled when he saw Sandra guarding a sleeping Sean while at the same time looking over the perpetually unfinished manuscript that Ian was working on intermittently.

“One question though,” she said in a hushed voice. “Why Casino Royale, isn't it set in Jamaica?”

“Well, it all rotates around the casino and the Poker tournament held within and...”

She smiled and turned back to her reading.


Ian kissed the top of her head and then took a few minutes to say good bye to his son before putting on his SOE persona. Felix was already waiting impatiently and leaning against the side of the Aston.

"Whatever you have been doing, and I don't want to know it in the first place, can we get going?"

"Lead on, friend." Ian said. The Aston's engine caught immediately.


~**--**~

“To America?” Felix asked in wonderment.

“Yes, Commander.” Edwards replied. “Officially you are representing the Fleet during an official tour and...”

Three and a half hours later Felix was yearning for a cup of his mum's coffee.

“The Mission, should you choose to accept it, will be secret. Should either of you be caught or killed we will disavow any knowledge of your actions.”

A moment of silence followed in which Edwards believed that Ian and Felix were expecting him to say something more. When he didn't Ian instead spoke.

“So, when and how?” Felix asked without any emotion in his voice.

"You'd be taking the clipper to Canada in a week or so, and then fly to Vancouver...."

Three and a half hours later Felix was standing outside the door of the Office and was trying to light a Cigarette with shaking hands. Suddenly a third hand with a petrol lighter in them appeared.

As he took a greedy drag he turned slightly and watched as Ian looked at him with concern in his face.

"You all-right?" he asked.


Felix nodded. He inhaled and exhaled the smoke.

"Yes, all's fine."

Ian didn't really believe and decided to press matters now before Felix decided to clamp down.

"You know the Admiral was serious when he asked us to volunteer?"

Felix nodded. "This isn't how I imagined going back there you know..."

“I imagine you didn't.” Ian said sympathetically and suddenly wished he hadn't stopped smoking.

“Well, orders are orders.” Felix said flippantly and replaced the packet of Players in his left coat pocket.

He readjusted his cap and flipped his smoke into a nearby ashtray. Ian couldn't help but feel how he was once again shown that there was more to his friend than what met the eye, but he also knew Felix well enough not to push any more just yet.

+-+-+-+-

Comments, Questions, rotten tomatoes?

#
This is something I wanted to do for a while.


Anyhoo, from now on update speed will be seriously reduced, due to RL. I'll try to update once a week though.

[Griffin.Gen]

Don't worry about the reduced update speed, I'm sure we can all be patient for a little longer.

America, hmm? This is going to be very interesting.