The Enemy Within

Adelphi Hotel 5.17 AM

"I knew it. I knew those bastards would try something"

Harold Wilson smoked and drank furiously as he paced the room. Mary, Marcia, Joe and Bernard swivelled between him and the television which was showing Downing Street surrounded by tanks and armed soldiers.

He'd been at the count in Huyton when the news came through. His entourage quickly left under police guard and were now being protected by armed officers.

Since then he had been fulminating with rage. Repeated attempts to get through to the duty office at No 10 failed and now he had seen that piece of shit Mountbatten pleading with fake piety that he had no choice.

"Harold..." began Joe.

"Harold, you have to make a statement"

Wilson just stared at the screen...
 
What if the British Royal House had descended through a Dutch culture with a bit of the banter. Come WWI they decide to rename themselves to the house of Konijn.

Much like the famous left communist Pannenkoek (Pancake).

yours,
Sam R.
 
She wasn't an overtly emotional woman but there were times in which her guard would slip and the tears would flow. This was one time. She remembered how Philip would howl and roar that the name change to Mountbatten and how Winston stood firm on Windsor.

Was this why? Was Louis thinking "if the family cant be mine then i'll take the government"
 

Geon

Donor
My sympathies at this point are with Queen Elizabeth. This has to be as Shakespeare put it, "the unkindest cut of all."

From a PR standpoint having a member of the royal family leading a coup against the government is going to play into the hands of those who wanted the monarchy abolished.
 
The tears dry...the steel shows

The phone rang

"Hello" said Marcia

"Harold...its the Palace

"Wilson...Good morning Your Majesty"

"Mr Wilson, I will dispense with protocol this once. I request you form a government. I would normally say congratulations, Prime Minister but the circumstance don't call for frivolity"

"Thank You Ma'am"

"What do you propose"

"I can only make one...declare martial law"

"I understand, but I am unsure about how the military will respond"

"Your majesty I am convinced the people will not stand by and let this coup occur. I suggest you write a speech to broadcast to the nation..."
 
Perhaps a government of national unity? Opposition to extra legal methods must be found in all parties to counter the government above party.
 
Jack was ushered in to the office taken by Walker.

"Jack, please sit down"

He did, rather nervily.

"You do realise sir that I could arrest you for treason"

Walker smiled. "I know you could, and you would be right to do so, but how would you escort me to the nearest station"

Jack had seen how quickly the soldiers supporting the coup had taken up key positions across 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street and both sides of the road. Tanks barricaded all entrances and snipers were on the roof.

"General, I served in the Green Howards, I fought in Korea. I saw the communists slaughter hundreds and I hated them for that. I still do. But what you're doing is madness"

"Was it not also madness in Korea"

Jack remained silent.

"Jack, like you I fought for my country and saw people die. I don't want any bloodshed"

"Then, I ask you in God's name end this"

"When our terms have been met, we will"

"What makes you think that anyone will work for an illegal government led by traitors"

"We're not going to lead the government, It will be lead by people who are determined to take whatever steps are needed to stop the damage caused to this country"

"What does Lord Mountbatten think about betraying his own family"

"Spencer"

A soldier came in.

"Take Jack back to the others"
 
Nezza

You have my interest. Subscribed..

Looking forward to seeing where this goes .

Cheers

Kosh
 
Everything flashed by so quickly. A blur of sounds and lights, mumbled voices, half heard conversations, shouting and swearing and walking, so much walking. Those are my recollections of that time.

We raced down the motorways towards London. Harold wanted to return to Lord North Street but for once we all agreed that it would be dangerous him being so close to Downing Street.

Instead we were driven to the Defence Office. Working our way through the warren of rooms at the top I heard Roy Mason's Barnsley accent fulminating at some poor soul.

Bursting into Roy's office we saw him alongside Michael Carver the then Chief of The Defence Staff...

Bernard Donoughue " The Heat Of The Kitchen" 2003

 

Pangur

Donor
Nice work so far nezza! One of the first things that crossed my mind reading this is that there will be protests on the streets and no way known can I see British soldiers opening fire on demonstrators on the streets of London. Second thoughts were the NUM, they were well and truly in the mix in 1974
 
"I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, her heirs and successors and that I will, as in duty bound, honestly and faithfully defend Her Majesty".

That's what he said. Now he was breaking that oath.

Mountbatten sat in the private apartment in NO 10 with a huge scotch. He was only going against his country but his family.

But he saw what Elizabeth couldn't. She didn't see the chaos caused by the unions, she didn't read the filth in the Socialist Worker. She didn't realise how bad things were. It wasn't her fault, she was deliberately kept above the fray.

Mountbatten saw everything and everyone he held dear at risk. He had to defend his country, his people. No matter the cost.
 
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