With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

[FuzzyZergling]

"…why?"

Click to shrink...

Missing capital.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Universe 191
13th May 1954
09:07 GMT

Mr. Blood tosses an orange in his right hand. "So much for isolationism. Or is that just for the peasants?"

I smile politely. "Those were actually grown in this country."

"Oh yeah?" He frowns in disbelief. "How?"

"Oranges thrive in hot places with lots of sunlight." I look out through the pavilion entrance into the overcast spring day. "And while Britain doesn't have much of either, we do have a surfeit of electrical power. And sunlamps. And for your information, my father was a school teacher."

"You're saying you grow your own tropical fruit."

I shrug. "Some things we don't grow. But for the first time in a long time, Great Britain is self-sufficient in terms of food. We've seen large areas of land being returned to agricultural use, and farming is increasingly becoming a prestigious occupation because farmers don't risk being undercut by foreign imports."

He looks at me incredulously. "You reinstated the Corn Laws?"

"Not precisely. Most farms are owner-run, rather than being part of large estates. But there is a slight readjustment between-."

A man in a sergeant's uniform strides in, making directly towards me. "Mister Talwyn?"

"Sergeant?"

"It's here, sir."

"Oh, good. Has Mister von Spreti been informed?"

"On his way now, sir."

"Good show. Lead the way-. Ah, Mister Blood. You aren't obliged to come, but you may find this interesting."

"I may as well find out why you dragged…" He looks around at the assembled dignitaries. "Everyone out here."

We follow along behind the sergeant, heading for the loading area. "Oh, no, this is a little more personal." Ah, yes, here we go. Soldiers with latest generation Janson rifles stand on guard, and a corporal with a clipboard containing a goods receipt is standing next to a tarpaulin-covered wooden pallet. A moment later Mr. von Spreti joins us, looking at me expectantly.

I smile politely. "Thank you for joining us, Mister von Spreti." I walk over to the tarpaulin. "Both of you have expressed concern about Britain having fission bombs, so…" I bend down, grip the edge of the tarpaulin and pull it back. "Here you are."

Mr. von Spreti's eyes widen. His feet twitch, as if he's considering taking a step back. Or running. But at this range what would be the point?

Mr. Blood on the other hand takes a step closer to the two fission bombs. "Are these live?"

I nod. "The trigger's inert, but the fissionable material is still in there."

"I thought you didn't make super bombs."

"We don't. Other than the one which didn't reach its target during the war."

"So you just pulled these out of your hat?"

"No." Mr. von Spreti shakes his head. "These are ours."

I nod, pointing at each in turn. "London and Brighton. Now, London I understand, but what was the rationale behind Brighton?"

"It was most accessible. The planes had a minimal risk of interception but would still demonstrate the power of our weapon against one of your cities."

"Ah." I nod. "Well, as per the terms of our treaty, expelled ordnance was excluded from the list of things that we were obliged to return, but I'm happy to return these to the Kaiser." I wave the corporal forwards. "If you could please sign here?"

He shakes his head. "I cannot sign to say that I have accepted them until I have verified that they are indeed our superbombs."

I shrug. "I can open the case if you like?"

He stares at me quite carefully for a moment.

"I believe that we would need special equipment to do that safely, and in any case I lack the expertise to identify it with certainty."

"Wait a second." Mr. Blood frowns. "You sent a superbomb at them and they sent two at you, and none of them actually exploded?"

I shake my head. "Ours exploded, it just didn't reach the target. That was one very sorry patch of Bavarian pasture."

"Hah! Hey, von Spreti, just sign to say you received it without checking. You can confirm what it actually is once it's back in France."

He signs reluctantly. "And how will we transport it to France?"

I smile. "Well, since you signed for it, that's your problem now. Detail, dismissed!"

He looks up in shock as the soldiers fall out. "Vas?"

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a demonstration to perform." I turn and head in the direction of the main stage. "Mister Blood?"

He follows me, glancing back briefly at his bewildered colleague. "This should be good."

"I think that you'll be satisfied."

"What have you got? Death rays?"

I smile, and reach into my jacket with my right hand. He actually looks nervous for a moment as I pull out a device the size of a cigar. "This little thing?" I point it at my left palm and press the activation switch, a small red dot appearing on my skin. "It's just focused light. It would take about a thousand years of constant application for it to burn me. It can blind someone if you shine it in their eyes, but all it's really good for is replacing a board pointer." I put it back into my jacket, not mentioning the fact that we're already switching over to compact discs for data storage. As far as I know, the United States hasn't progressed beyond mechanical computers. "Though I suppose I should warn you that you might see a few familiar faces."

"Why's that?"

"Your Office of Strategic Services was murdering its way through the Confederate intelligentsia after the war. But the thing is, a nation's intellectual elite are actually quite clever, and can spot patterns. Like all their colleagues suddenly forgetting how to use their brakes."

"And they came here."

I nod. "Some of them did. What was that about, anyway? I'd have thought that the intelligent thing would be cutting a deal."

He glowers. "The former Confederate States are none of your concern."

I shrug. "Just trying to be helpful. But your loss is our gain. And I suppose that if you end up buying anything from us then you'll get the benefit anyway."

"Budget finally getting tight? You've been spending money like it's going out of fashion ever since the war ended. You can't have much left after using your entire gold reserve to pay off the krauts."

"It's amazing how much precious metal there is in some asteroids." I reach the edge of the stage. A wooden structure set up outside of the facility we're using for the demonstrations, it's not particularly big. Just enough to support a band and the speaker system, it's more than enough for my opening remarks. "If you'd like to join the audience? I'll begin immediately."

And then I walk up the steps onto the stage.

 

[timeForced]

Tbh I like this America the more I hear about it. We've been paying for slavery for a quarter millennium and the interest has been killer.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

Universe 191
13th May 1954
09:07 GMT

Mr. Blood tosses an orange in his right hand. "So much for isolationism. Or is that just for the peasants?"

I smile politely. "Those were actually grown in this country."

"Oh yeah?" He frowns in disbelief. "How?"

Click to shrink...

What, never heard of a greenhouse? All it takes is a good level of climate control and lighting to manage the task. Of course, I imagine the size and industrialisation needed to mass-grow stuff like this might be a bit trickier, but...

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

"Oranges thrive in hot places with lots of sunlight." I look out through the pavilion entrance into the overcast spring day. "And while Britain doesn't have much of either, we do have a surfeit of electrical power. And sunlamps. And for your information, my father was a school teacher."

Click to shrink...

Probably still a 'peasant' job in his eyes, if he's that obnoxiously arrogant about it.

"You're saying you grow your own tropical fruit."

I shrug. "Some things we don't grow. But for the first time in a long time, Great Britain is self-sufficient in terms of food. We've seen large areas of land being returned to agricultural use, and farming is increasing becoming a prestigious occupation because farmers don't risk being undercut by foreign imports."

Click to shrink...

And the British Isles do have a lot of land, after all...

He looks at me incredulously. "You reinstated the Corn Laws?"

"Not precisely. Most farms are owner-run, rather than being part of large estates. But there is a slight readjustment between-."

Click to shrink...

Oooh, that's not a well-known thing outside of England. To sum up: restrictions on the import of 'cereal grains' in the early nineteenth century to help buoy a farming economy in difficulty thanks to cheap imported stuff. Repealed mid-century after a famine hit Ireland.

A man in a sergeant's uniform strides in, making directly towards me. "Mister Talwyn?"

"Sergeant?"

Click to shrink...

Heh, at least he has a legitimate name here. Wonder if he worked with someone to develop something close enough to his own name that he could use it without suffering the feedback issue.

"It's here, sir."

"Oh, good. Has Mister von Spreti been informed?"

"On his way now, sir."

Click to shrink...

Excellent. This should be rather entertaining.

"Good show. Lead the way-. Ah, Mister Blood. You aren't obliged to come, but you may find this interesting."

"I may as well find out why you dragged…" He looks around at the assembled dignitaries. "Everyone out here."

Click to shrink...

Oh, you will, you will...

We follow along behind the sergeant, heading for the loading area. "Oh, no, this is a little more personal." Ah, yes, here we go. Soldiers with latest generation Janson rifles stand on guard, and a corporal with a clipboard containing a goods receipt is standing next to a tarpaulin-covered wooden pallet. A moment later Mr. von Spreti joins us, looking at me expectantly.

Click to shrink...

Man, those are some nice-looking guns. They look almost pulp-sci-fi-ish...

I smile politely. "Thank you for joining us, Mister von Spreti." I walk over to the tarpaulin. "Both of you have expressed concern about Britain having fission bombs, so…" I bend down, grip the edge of the tarpaulin and pull it back. "Here you are."

Mr. von Spreti's eyes widen. His feet twitch, as if he's considering taking a step back. Or running. But at this range what would be the point?

Click to shrink...

And they'd hardly have them here if they weren't made safe.

Mr. Blood on the other hand takes a step closer to the two fission bombs. "Are these live?"

I nod. "The trigger's inert, but the fissionable material is still in there."

Click to shrink...

Since the bulk of the work in setting off the nuclear reaction is done by the triggering device.

"I thought you didn't make super bombs."

"We don't. Other than the one which didn't reach its target during the war."

Click to shrink...

I like the subtle message being implied there: "We caught these. Be glad we didn't throw them back at you."

"So you just pulled these out of your hat?"

"No." Mr. von Spreti shakes his head. "These are ours."

Click to shrink...

I would not be surprised if the German text on the bombs was still readable.

I nod, pointing at each in turn. "London and Brighton. Now, London I understand, but what was the rationale behind Brighton?"

"It was most accessible. The planes had a minimal risk of interception but would still demonstrate the power of our weapon against one of your cities."

Click to shrink...

...Much the same reason the US picked Hiroshima and Nagasaki, really. Easy to hit, big enough to carry the intended message.

"Ah." I nod. "Well, as per the terms of our treaty, expelled ordnance was excluded from the list of things that we were obliged to return, but I'm happy to return these to the Kaiser." I wave the corporal forwards. "If you could please sigh here?"

He shakes his head. "I cannot sign to say that I have accepted them until I have verified that they are indeed our superbombs."

Click to shrink...

Aw, no big German flag on them to declare their origin? How mundane.

I shrug. "I can open the case if you like?"

He stares at me quite carefully for a moment.

"I believe that we would need special equipment to do that safely, and in any case I lack the expertise to identify it with certainty."

Click to shrink...

To be fair, he's a diplomat, not a nuclear weapons expert.

"Wait a second." Mr. Blood frowns. "You sent a superbomb at them and they send two at you, and none of them actually exploded?"

I shake my head. "Ours exploded, it just didn't reach the target. That was one very sorry patch of Bavarian pasture."

Click to shrink...

Shame for anyone in the region, though. I'm sure it was a very pretty patch of Bavarian pasture.

"Hah! Hey, von Spreti, just sign to say you received it without checking. You can confirm what it actually is once it's back in France."

He signs reluctantly. "And how will we transport it to France?"

Click to shrink...

Confident, isn't he? Archer probably figures they're having a laugh.

I smile. "Well, since you signed for it, that's your problem now. Detail, dismissed!"

He looks up in shock as the soldiers fall out. "Vas?"

Click to shrink...

A bit surprising, given they are two large nuclear bombs. Then again, without the detonators...

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a demonstration to perform." I turn and head in the direction of the main stage. "Mister Blood?"

He follows me, glancing back briefly at his bewildered colleague. "This should be good."

Click to shrink...

I wonder if they have the same sort of science fiction as in our world? Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, that sort of thing...

"I think that you'll be satisfied."

"What have you got? Death rays?"

Click to shrink...

Eh, inefficient except at battleship scales. And they probably have better options for that.

I smile, and reach into my jacket with my right hand. He actually looks nervous for a moment as I pull out a device the size of a cigar. "This little thing?" I point it at my left palm and press the activation switch, a small red dot appearing on my skin. "It's just focused light. It would take about a thousand years of constant application for it to burn me. It can blind someone if you shine it in their eyes, but all it's really good for is replacing a board pointer." I put it back into my jacket, not mentioning the fact that we're already switching over to compact discs for data storage. As far as I know, the United States hasn't progressed beyond mechanical computers. "Though I suppose I should warn you that you might see a few familiar faces."

Click to shrink...

Amusingly, a laser pointer is basically the same principle as the so-called 'death ray' Archer was thinking of. Intensified light, often at the end of the visible spectrum...

"Why's that?"

"Your Office of Strategic Services was murdering its way through the Confederate intelligentsia after the war. But the thing is, a nation's intellectual elite are actually quite clever, and can spot patterns. Like all their colleagues suddenly forgetting how to use their brakes."

Click to shrink...

Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence... Honestly, that seems a bit sloppy on the assassins' parts.

"And they came here."

I nod. "Some of them did. What was that about, anyway? I'd have thought that the intelligent thing would be cutting a deal."

Click to shrink...

Probably explains why America is languishing in the equivalent of the 'Forties.

He glowers. "The former Confederate States are none of your concern."

I shrug. "Just trying to be helpful. But your loss is our gain. And I suppose that if you end up buying anything from us then you'll get the benefit anyway."

Click to shrink...

Albeit at higher monetary cost. And not being able to reverse-engineer it as easily as if you'd had the boffins to do the work in the first place.

"Budget finally getting tight? You've been spending money like it's going out of fashion ever since the war ended. You can't have much left after using your entire gold reserve to pay off the krauts."

Click to shrink...

I wonder if he'll still have that superior attitude in a few minutes.

"It's amazing how much precious metal there is in some asteroids." I reach the edge of the stage. A wooden structure set up outside of the facility we're using for the demonstrations, it's not particularly big. Just enough to support a band and the speaker system, it's more then enough for my opening remarks. "If you'd like to join the audience? I'll begin immediately."

Click to shrink...

I doubt Archer is smart enough to realise just what that statement meant. Especially if British Military intelligence has been able to keep things under wraps.

And then I walk up the steps onto the stage.

Click to shrink...

It's Showtime...

Somehow, I am looking forwards to seeing Archer Blood having to pick his jaw up off the floor, no matter what he's about to see. He really seems like an asshole who has no business being a diplomat... The German fellow seems more pleasant, if a little over his head with whatever he's about to witness. Bring on... Whatever it is! Spaceships straight out of 'Dan Dare', I hope.

 

[Darko]

farming is increasing becoming

Click to shrink...

"increasingly"

 

[NightmareWarden]

He doesn't really get to work with women in this dimension, eh? Hmm, maybe the first astronauts will be women? Or some of the computers who worked on the space program in our timeline were with families who fled the US?

 

[BR549]

...Much the same reason the US picked Hiroshima and Nagasaki, really. Easy to hit, big enough to carry the intended message.

Click to shrink...

Interesting fact, Nagasaki was the secondary target for that mission. The intended target was Kokura. Delays in the mission meant smoke from the previous night's firebombing of Yahata had drifted over Kokura; after making three attempts on the target, Bockscar, low on fuel and with AA fire closing in, diverted to Nagasaki.

 

[ForeverShogo]

Also, Hiroshima and Nagasaki weren't just chosen for ease of access. There were strategic reasons for targeting them, though the main reason the target cities were picked was just that they hadn't been devastated by conventional bombing so they'd have a better idea of how much damage the bombs actually did.

Hiroshima had the HQ for Japan's 2nd Army, among other facilities, and Nagasaki was an industrial center that built ships and weapons. If they'd been able to hit Kokura, then the strategic reason for that city was that it contained one of Japan's largest military arsenal.

 

[Mr Zoat]

"increasingly"

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

Somehow, I am looking forwards to seeing Archer Blood having to pick his jaw up off the floor, no matter what he's about to see. He really seems like an asshole who has no business being a diplomat... The German fellow seems more pleasant, if a little over his head with whatever he's about to witness.

Click to shrink...

Archer Blood was sent to lean on a defeated former enemy who's been getting too big for their boots, not persuade by reasonableness.

He doesn't really get to work with women in this dimension, eh? Hmm, maybe the first astronauts will be women? Or some of the computers who worked on the space program in our timeline were with families who fled the US?

Click to shrink...

There are women around. The astronaunts so far have all been men, former pilots and other engineering professionals.

 

[Duke Long]

"Ah." I nod. "Well, as per the terms of our treaty, expelled ordnance was excluded from the list of things that we were obliged to return, but I'm happy to return these to the Kaiser." I wave the corporal forwards. "If you could please sigh here?"

He shakes his head. "I cannot sigh to say that I have accepted them until I have verified that they are indeed our superbombs."

Click to shrink...

'sign'
'sign'
Though maybe it being repeated means that's just how they say it in that universe?

"Wait a second." Mr. Blood frowns. "You sent a superbomb at them and they send two at you, and none of them actually exploded?"

Click to shrink...

'sent'

"It's amazing how much precious metal there is in some asteroids." I reach the edge of the stage. A wooden structure set up outside of the facility we're using for the demonstrations, it's not particularly big. Just enough to support a band and the speaker system, it's more then enough for my opening remarks. "If you'd like to join the audience? I'll begin immediately."

Click to shrink...

'than'

 

[WereDragon]

"Both of you have expressed concern about Britain having fission bombs, so…" I bend down, grip the edge of the tarpaulin and pull it back. "Here you are."

Click to shrink...

Pay no attention to the British Powers That Be laughing in the background as they think about the ship stuffed with 'explosive metal bombs' the Race was kind enough to donate.

 

[Mr Zoat]

'sign'
'sign'
'sent'
'than'

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

Pay no attention to the British Powers That Be laughing in the background as they think about the ship stuffed with 'explosive metal bombs' the Race was kind enough to donate.

Click to shrink...

Ah, clearly you're referring to the Type 3 Mining Ordnance.

 

[Mr Zoat]

"More to the point, I imagine that you all have reasons to not want to be on Cyberton at the moment."

Click to shrink...

Thank me, corrected.

 

[Prince Charon]

Interesting fact, Nagasaki was the secondary target for that mission. The intended target was Kokura. Delays in the mission meant smoke from the previous night's firebombing of Yahata had drifted over Kokura; after making three attempts on the target, Bockscar, low on fuel and with AA fire closing in, diverted to Nagasaki.

Click to shrink...

There were probably folks from Kokura who had significant feelings about that when it got out.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Universe 191
13th May 1954
09:13 GMT

I raise my personal microphone to my mouth.

"Launch volley."

"Aye, sir. Launching volley."

The musicians glance at me as I hover at the back of the stage, waiting for them to finish the current movement. Several invitees have noticed that I'm here and are gradually drifting towards the centre of the garden, where they have a clear view of the stage. In addition to the United States of America and the German Empire, there are representatives from the Empire of Brazil, the Empire of Mexico, the Empire of Japan, Australia, the Federation of India, the whatever-they're-calling-it-this-week of Russia, the Transvaal Republic, and observers from a dozen other smaller countries that used to be part of the British Empire before its dissolution. No Canada or Republic of Quebec, no France, no Republic of Ireland and no Chinese successor states.

The reasoning is pretty obvious. Brazil wasn't really involved in either Great War, and has benefited from the peace and lack of competition for its industries. They're the leading power in South America by quite some way, and concerned that the newly unified United States might try to expand its influence southwards. Mexico has similar concerns, having sold several states to the Confederacy and been informally allied to them during the Second Great War. It's not hard to see how Confederate partisans might start using the border as a shield, and while America is having indigestion over its reacquisition that hasn't really weakened its military.

The Empire of Japan more or less quit the Second Great War once its allies got knocked out, abandoning the Pacific and focusing its aggression on Asia and correctly assuming that war exhaustion would prevent the United States pursuing them across the islands back to mainland Japan. I… Like to think that they're not being as psychotically violent as their alter egos were on my Earth, but… Not much I can do about it. There's no League of Nations, no international sanctions, and no nations who are in a position to impose any. They can buy all the Middle Eastern oil they want to fuel their industry and military. And now they're starting to lean on Australia, which having been forcibly separated from Britain doesn't have anything like the industry to stand against them.

The Federation of India had freedom dumped on it after the First Great War, without the unity to make a go of things. Between the Muslims, Sikhs and Hindu religious divisions, and the rivalries between the princely states, it's really only the fact that no one wants to start the fight that's holding it together. It's getting to the point where they're starting to remember us fondly. Russia quashed its Communist revolution during the inter-War period, but two losses destroyed the Tsar's authority and now they're in a bit of a mess. And last of all, the Transvaal Republic is the union of all formerly British territory in southern Africa, which came together after Britain was forced to decolonise the area after the First Great War. They were too busy fighting blacks to do anything during the Second Great War, and they'd quite like better guns to maintain their advantage.

And then the music stops.

I nod to the band, clapping politely as they stand and take a bow. There's a little applause from crowd, but they're mostly focusing on me. As the musicians pick up their instruments I walk forwards and take the microphone from its stand.

"Thank you, gentlemen. And-" I give the crowd my full attention. "-thank you everyone for coming. I'm sure that you're all very interested in how the British arms industry has changed since the war, and despite the best efforts of our American friends-" I gesture to Mr. Blood. "-this will be the first time since the last War that anyone outside of Britain has had the opportunity to see them. We'll be showing off small and medium arms this morning, then break for lunch before we transport everyone to our testing grounds to get a look at our tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. Our engineers will be available at each stage to field any questions which you may have, and after each demonstration you'll have the chance to test the weapons yourself." I adapt an apologetic posture. "Not the tanks though, I'm afraid."

Well, a couple of people in the Australian delegation laughed.

"But before that, I'd like to address a concern that our American and German friends brought to me earlier. They were concerned that Britain might try to develop a new generation of strategic weapons to replace the one fission bomb we managed to build before the armistice. I am here to tell you that we are not developing a new strategic deterrent." I smile modestly. "Because we have already developed a new strategic deterrent. And prepared it for use."

I look up and… Yes, there it is.

"If you turn your gazes upwards, you should just about see them entering the upper atmosphere." I wave my right hand, and servants with trays of binoculars begin moving through the crowd. "You can't see much from this distance -and I wasn't going to target the building I'm standing in- but rest assured, they'll come quite close before they hit their target."

Faces showing varying levels of concern turn upwards, finding the tiny glowing dots almost immediately.

"Most of you are familiar with the communication satellites we've been putting into orbit over the last few years. But what we've also been putting up there is the very latest in space-based weaponry. Mechanically, they're extremely simple. Tungsten rods with steel jackets, launched downwards using magnetised rails and aimed by the very latest in-" Pilfered reptiloid. "-computing machines, they can hit a target the size of a cricket pitch from orbit far faster than any aircraft."

By now the speck of light is visibly six separate specks, each passing overhead as they head for the ocean.

"They're not on fire; that's the air being turning to plasma by their passage. It's even more noticeable when there are clouds in the sky. The tungsten rods -or 'kinetic penetrators'- have no warhead, no fragile internal components and are impossible to intercept with current generation aircraft. When they strike the target, there is no release of ionising radiation. You can send troops in the moment the dust settles. Earlier, if you're using the vision enhancement systems we'll be showing you later."

Radiation from the multiple nuclear detonations that occurred in America has mostly died down, but there was the expected increase in various types of cancer as well as damage to vision caused by exposure to the flash.

"There's also no flash. What you will see is a pure transformation of kinetic energy. The shockwaves released will pulverise any solid structure, any foundation and any hardened bunker."

Mr. Blood tears his eyes away and looks at me, face blank. "How many of them do you have?"

"Currently, there are something in the region of eight thousand in orbit around the Earth, though they need a few minutes to recharge their capacitors between shots." The specks are now very visibly heading 'down' rather than 'along'. "Now, if you'll brace yourselves, I believe-."

WOOMPH!

The six kinetic penetrators hit the ocean surface as one, a colossal water spout erupting into the air! One mile, two miles, and the sea undulates as a colossal wave shoots out in all directions!

A few members of the audience look a little concerned.

"No need to fear, gentlemen! We calculated this precisely well in advance!"

And warned all local shipping away, because conditions for sailing just became somewhat suboptimal.

And then we feel the wind and hear the noise of huge quantities of water moving, not in the gradual way of an oncoming tsunami, but in the wall of water way they're depicted in popular fiction. Aaaaand-.

SPLOSH!

The wave hits the cliffs and stops, spraying majestically across the field between us and the drop and casting a rainbow over us all.

I give them a few moments to take in what just happened.

"A bit prettier than a fission bomb, yes? It-."

Mr. Blood looks like he's about to burst. "How many launchers are there?"

"At present? A hundred and twenty three. And yes, they're spread out all around the Earth, capable of firing on any target at any time. So please, Mister Blood, threaten to cut off our access to Australian nuclear fuel again and see what happens."

A few members of the Australian delegation give him less than friendly glares. They were making friends with America as a superior alternative to Japan, but direct interfering with trade with the mother country is beyond the pale.

"You won't get away with this."

"Mister Blood, with the greatest respect… We already have."

 

[TFTwink]

"Mister Blood, with the greatest respect… We already have."

Click to shrink...

Ah yes, every Paul is a Bond Villain with a Modern Philosophy degree and a coat of autism. TFTC!

 

[Rebu]

I am here to tell you that we are not developing a new strategic deterrent." I smile modestly. "Because we have already developed a new strategic deterrents. And prepared it for use."

Click to shrink...

I understood that reference;

- YouTube

Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.

www.youtube.com

 

[RichardWhereat]

Good. Lean on Australia will the gods damned Nipponese. Hammer of god!

 

[Neruz]

"You won't get away with this" say the bloke whose country has no space program because they thought it was a waste of money.

 

[BR549]

"-this will be the first time since the last War that anyone outside of Britain has had the opportunity to see them. We'll be showing off small and medium arms this morning, then break for lunch before we transport everyone to our testing grounds to get a look at our tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. Our engineers will be available at each stage to field any questions which you may have, and after each demonstration you'll have the chance to test the weapons yourself." I adapt an apologetic posture. "Not the tanks though, I'm afraid."

Click to shrink...

Given the setting, 'barrels'.

"You won't get away with this."

"Mister Blood, with the greatest respect… We already have."

Click to shrink...

"Mister Blood, we're not Republic serial villians. Do you seriously think we'd explain our master-stroke if there remained the slightest chance of you affecting its outcome?"

 

[Darko]

detonations the occurred in America has mostly died down, but there was

Click to shrink...

"that occurred"

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

Universe 191
13th May 1954
09:13 GMT

I raise my personal microphone to my mouth.

"Launch volley."

"Aye, sir. Launching volley."

Click to shrink...

Oooh, it's not a spacefleet... It's an array of orbital strike systems. And since it actually doesn't instantaneous travel time, Paul has to give the launch order well ahead of the high moment of his speech: The big kaboom.

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

The musicians glance at me as I hover at the back of the stage, waiting for them to finish the current movement. Several invitees have noticed that I'm here and are gradually drifting towards the centre of the garden, where they have a clear view of the stage. In addition to the United States of America and the German Empire, there are representatives from the Empire of Brazil, the Empire of Mexico, the Empire of Japan, Australia, the Federation of India, the whatever-they're-calling-it-this-week of Russia, the Transvaal Republic, and observers from a dozen other smaller countries that used to be part of the British Empire before its dissolution. No Canada or Republic of Quebec, no France, no Republic of Ireland and no Chinese successor states.

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Because the events of the last two centuries, both in our world and this one, have been responsible for a lot of the world's nations and borders changing frequently.

The reasoning is pretty obvious. Brazil wasn't really involved in either Great War, and has benefited from the peace and lack of competition for its industries. They're the leading power in South America by quite some way, and concerned that the newly unified United States might try to expand its influence southwards.

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With the changes, there would have been no overthrow of Pedro the second, I take it. That had a major effect on the makeup of South American politics.

Mexico has similar concerns, having sold several states to the Confederacy and been informally allied to them during the Second Great War. It's not hard to see how Confederate partisans might start using the border as a shield, and while America is having indigestion over its reacquisition that hasn't really weakening its military.

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Much the same story in Mexico, I expect. Though an especially expansionist and aggressive America would definitely be making eyes at their southern neighbour.

The Empire of Japan more or less quit the Second Great War once its allies got knocked out, abandoning the Pacific and focusing its aggression on Asia and correctly assuming that war exhaustion would prevent the United States pursuing them across the islands back to mainland Japan. I… Like to think that they're not being as psychotically violent as their alter egos were on my Earth, but… Not much I can do about it. There's no League of Nations, no international sanctions, and no nations who are in a position to impose any. They can buy all the Middle Eastern oil they want to fuel their industry and military. And now they're starting to lean on Australia, which having been forcibly separated from Britain doesn't have anything like the industry to stand against them.

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Australia was a major goal of the Japanese expansion in the Pacific Rim in our world... Of course, in ours, Australia held them off in New Guinea. I wonder if, had the Japanese kept pushing, they would have been able to push through?

The Federation of India had freedom dumped on it after the First Great War, without the unity to make a go of things. Between the Muslims, Sikhs and Hindu religious divisions, and the rivalries between the princely states, it's really only the fact that no one wants to start the fight that's holding it together. It's getting to the point where they're starting to remember us fondly.

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That sounds like an unholy mess. India is something of a microcosm of human cultural conflict, given the size of its population and its diversity. Hundreds of cultures, all crammed into one region that Britain came in and ran roughshod over... And this version is starting to wish they were back?

Russia quashed its Communist revolution during the inter-War period, but two losses destroyed the Tsar's authority and now they're in a bit of a mess. And last of all, the Transvaal Republic is the union of all formerly British territory in southern Africa, which came together after Britain was forced to decolonise the area after the First Great War. They were too busy fighting blacks to do anything during the Second Great War, and they'd quite like better guns to maintain their advantage.

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An interesting alternative for Russia, while Southern Africa is having such a fun time, I bet.

And then the music stops.

I nod to the band, clapping politely as they stand and take a bow. There's a little applause from crowd, but they're mostly focusing on me. As the musicians pick up their instruments I walk forwards and take the microphone from its stand.

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Ah, the centre of attention. Risky but entertaining.

"Thank you, gentlemen. And-" I give the crowd my full attention. "-thank you everyone for coming. I'm sure that you're all very interested in how the British arms industry has changed since the war, and despite the best efforts of our American friends-" I gesture to Mr. Blood. "-this will be the first time since the last War that anyone outside of Britain has had the opportunity to see them. We'll be showing off small and medium arms this morning, then break for lunch before we transport everyone to our testing grounds to get a look at our tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. Our engineers will be available at each stage to field any questions which you may have, and after each demonstration you'll have the chance to test the weapons yourself." I adapt an apologetic posture. "Not the tanks though, I'm afraid."

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But first... The perfect way to start a show off: Fireworks?

Well, a couple of people in the Australian delegation laughed.

"But before that, I'd like to address a concern that our American and German friends brought to me earlier. They were concerned that Britain might try to develop a new generation of strategic weapons to replace the one fission bomb we managed to build before the armistice. I am here to tell you that we are not developing a new strategic deterrent." I smile modestly. "Because we have already developed a new strategic deterrents. And prepared it for use."

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And that is going to create quite the stir, I can tell. Especially since...

I look up and… Yes, there it is.

"If you turn your gazes upwards, you should just about see them entering the upper atmosphere." I wave my right hand, and servants with trays of binoculars begin moving through the crowd. "You can't see much from this distance -and I wasn't going to target the building I'm standing in- but rest assured, they'll come quite close before they hit their target."

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Said weapon is at least one generation of development beyond anyone else's, thanks to Talwyn's little bit of armada-busting.

Faces showing varying levels of concern turn upwards, finding the tiny glowing dots almost immediately.

"Most of you are familiar with the communication satellites we've been putting into orbit over the last few years. But what we've also been putting up there is the very latest in space-based weaponry. Mechanically, they're extremely simple. Tungsten rods with steel jackets, launched downwards using magnetised rails and aimed by the very latest in-" Pilfered reptiloid. "-computing machines, they can hit a target the size of a cricket pitch from orbit far faster than any aircraft."

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If not for him speechifying, some might dismiss it as a fluke meteor shower. But in truth...

By now the speck of light is visibly six separate specks, each passing overhead as they head for the ocean.

"They're not on fire; that's the air being turning to plasma by their passage. It's even more noticeable when there are clouds in the sky. The tungsten rods -or 'kinetic penetrators' - have no warhead, no fragile internal components and are impossible to intercept with current generation aircraft. When they strike the target, there is no release of ionising radiation. You can send troops in the moment the dust settles. Earlier, if you're using the vision enhancement systems we'll be showing you later."

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...They're 'rods from god'. A single one can potentially cause as much devastation as a nuke, in fiction at least. But a hell of a lot cleaner. (Ironic that the GI Joe movie sequel used London as their target. )

Radiation from the multiple nuclear detonations the occurred in America has mostly died down, but there was the expected increase in various types of cancer as well as damage to vision caused by exposure to the flash.

"There's also no flash. What you will see is a pure transformation of kinetic energy. The shockwaves released will pulverise any solid structure, any foundation and any hardened bunker."

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Hardly really need the launcher. Gravity alone will give it a lot of power. But when you want something destroyed... Nothing like punching it with a giant nail from orbit.

Mr. Blood tears his eyes away and looks at me, face blank. "How many of them do you have?"

"Currently, there are something in the region of eight thousand in orbit around the Earth, though they need a few minutes to recharge their capacitors between shots." The specks are now very visibly heading 'down' rather than 'along'. "Now, if you'll brace yourselves, I believe-."

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Gee, and someone's country decided space wasn't relevant that important right now? How's that crow tasting, Archer?

WOOMPH!

The six kinetic penetrators hit the ocean surface as one, a colossal water spout erupting into the air! One mile, two miles, and the sea undulates as a colossal wave shoots out in all directions!

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That would be a hell of a sight. Even dozens of miles off-shore.

A few members of the audience look a little concerned.

"No need to fear, gentlemen! We calculated this precisely well in advance!"

And warned all local shipping away, because conditions for sailing just became somewhat suboptimal.

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...Just a wee bit, yes. Pity they couldn't put some decommissioned ships out there to drive the power home.

And then we feel the wind and hear the noise of huge quantities of water moving, not in the gradual way of an oncoming tsunami, but in the wall of water way they're depicted in popular fiction. Aaaaand-.

SPLOSH!

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When that much force hits that much water, you bet your bippy the water gives way.

The wave hits the cliffs and stops, spraying majestically across the field between us and the drop and casting a rainbow over us all.

I give them a few moments to take in what just happened.

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And perhaps try to regain control of their jaws, bladders and/or heart rates.

"A bit prettier than a fission bomb, yes? It-."

Mr. Blood looks like he's about to burst. "How many launchers are there?"

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Ooh, better hope he doesn't have a stroke, you kind of need him to tell his bosses 'You do not fuck with Britain.'

"At present? A hundred and twenty three. And yes, they're spread out all around the Earth, capable of firing on any target at any time. So please, Mister Blood, threaten to cut off our access to Australian nuclear fuel again and see what happens."

A few members of the Australian delegation give him less than friendly glares. They were making friends with America as a superior alternative to Japan, but direct interfering with trade with the mother country is beyond the pale.

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Ah, was that meant to be a secret, Archer? Oh, dear. Cat's rather out of the bag now, isn't it?

"You won't get away with this."

"Mister Blood, with the greatest respect… We already have."

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Also, I'm sure Paul can tick that off any list of 'things he always wanted to say'. Let's just hope they don't go sending any secret agents over to try and nobble things. Since he's acting like a Bond villain right now and all.

Well, looks like Earth's political landscape is feeling a few tremors after that show. I hope there were cameras filming it, because some world leaders might not believe the stories without visual evidence. At least a water strike meant no significant seismic events other than the waves. ...Though the French coast might see a little flooding.

 

[Old Knife]

"Mister Blood, with the greatest respect… We already have."

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Alternatively: "Mr. Blood. I warned you about making threats."

 

[Silverias]

"You won't get away with this."

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What does this even mean?

It can't mean "We will stop you.", and it's not like there's some higher authority to cry to…what is he hoping to do here? Is he just pulling a Malloy and being petulant?

 

[thebishop8]

America is having indigestion over its reacquisition that hasn't really weakening its military.

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'weakening' to 'weakened'

"Because we have already developed a new strategic deterrents. And prepared it for use."

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Remove the 's' from deterrents.

but rest assured, they'll come quite close before the hit their target."

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'the' to 'they'

 

[Slake Mothman]

This speech sounds familiar...

 

[Mr Zoat]

Given the setting, 'barrels'.

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No, in universe, most Briitsh people still call them 'tanks'. It's the Confederacy that starting out doing that and then gave up and switched to 'barrels'.

"that occurred"

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Thank you, corrected.

That sounds like an unholy mess. India is something of a microcosm of human cultural conflict, given the size of its population and its diversity. Hundreds of cultures, all crammed into one region that Britain came in and ran roughshod over... And this version is starting to wish they were back?

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View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc7HmhrgTuQ

Gee, and someone's country decided space wasn't relevant? How's that crow tasting, Archer?

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It wasn't that they completely dismissed it, it was that they couldn't afford anything they didn't absolutely need and they decided that sitting on the Confederacy was more important.

What does this even mean?

It can't mean "We will stop you.", and it's not like there's some higher authority to cry to…what is he hoping to do here? Is he just pulling a Malloy and being petulant?

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Clawing their way back into the position of being a first rate power.

'weakening' to 'weakened'
Remove the 's' from deterrents.
'the' to 'they'

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Thank you, corrected.

 

[WereDragon]

Universe 191
13th May 1954
09:13 GMT

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The good old Rod From God.

I was actually quite surprised at how low yield the proposed ones were. Impact energy of only a few tens of tons. Of course there is nothing stopping you just making bigger ones.

 

[AverusBlack]

Does this version of Paul have a way to recharge his ring and is just hiding it?

 

[Mr Zoat]

Does this version of Paul have a way to recharge his ring and is just hiding it?

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I haven't made a firm decision.