The Old House

Introduction.

12th October 2018.

The results pouring in filled the inhabitants of Bute House with a feeling of foreboding. It felt like another world from the elation of just over two years ago when 51% of the Scottish people had voted, albeit narrowly for independence.

As in the song from the musical, Les Miserables, the Tigers had come at night.

Negotiations had gone poorly. The plan for keeping Sterling had fallen apart. The return of the Pound Scots had somehow been sold to the people. Being forced to reapply for the European Union had been accepted in the face of the anger of the Rejoiners.

The biggest sell had been Trident though. Although the United Kingdom agreed to pay, Faslane remaining a base for British Nuclear Submarines for a decade whilst a new base was built in England had been a tough sell.

Somehow the First Minister sold it. Somehow as promise through promise was altered or broken, the First Minister sold it.

Then Independence happened.

As the party of Independence, the SNP had won through. The flush of unity as Jim Wilson was swept into Bute House as the first Prime Minister of an independent Scotland with a majority government was a joy.

The elation was not to last though.

Massive budget cuts were required to ensure Scotland met the criteria for EU membership. Unemployment had trebled. The people were not happy.

All the while, the Scottish Conservatives had not even split from the UK Party. Following the defeat of the UK Party in the February 2015 General Election, the co-ordination was increasingly obvious. Their policy was one of rejoining the United Kingdom and it had been effective. Their UK Leader, Mary Dalton had even openly espoused it, with her Island wide “Let's make Britain Great Again” tour, gaining attendances from Bristol to Blairgowrie.

Labour had stressed unity and although the official split had happened, their elected members were known as a block to be full of rejoiners. The UK Labour Party remained officially neutral due to the position as the Government. In spite of this, the UK Prime Minister, David Smith had refused to rule out the possibility of Scotland rejoining.

It was this Rejoiner alliance which had pushed the referendum on the Republic forward. In spite of the reluctance of the Prime Minister, he had been driven to support the plebiscite.

It was seen as a way to secure the newly independent state. The removal of the Monarchy was the first big test of the new Scottish Democracy.

The Government had campaigned vigorously. Democratic arguments had been pushed. Nationalism had been pushed. Social Democracy had been pushed. On a lower level, the bogeymen of the Orange Order had even been raised.

In spite of this, the polls remained stubbornly low. Inside the past week, it had become increasingly obvious that the Monarchists were going to win. The Daily Record had even published a poll proclaiming 66% in favour of the Queen, something trumpeted on the newly formed SBC.

The mood was further tarnished two days before the vote when it was discovered out that the Chair of the Republic group, a Nationalist MP had been misappropriating funds that had been donated into her own Bank account.

Corruption hat the heart of the Republic campaign was hardly the desired image.

All the while, the campaign for the Monarchy had avoided the actual subject of monarchy itself, rather concentrating on the vote four years earlier for Independence. It was hammered home by many within the campaign that should Scotland vote for a Republic, the chances of the nation ever rejoining the United Kingdom would die forever.

In the face of the unemployment and the general dissatisfaction amongst many within the population, sadly this message gained traction. Two years of austerity budgets outside the European Union and with the Government seemingly impotent in Holyrood, the Union was becoming gradually more attractive.

And so it was. People went out to vote on the 11th October, and private Government polling was pessimistic over the chances of success., estimating a 58- 42 defeat. The rain had helped turnout somewhat. This was seen as a worry as almost everyone acknowledged most who had voted Yes were disillusioned and most who voted No were motivated.

The polling had been sadly accurate.

It was to this background that the referendum on the constitutional future of Scotland was to take place. Council after council, from Shetland to Orkney, from Fife to Perth and Kinross were coming back with strong results in favour of retaining the Queen as head of state.

Such was a result of the gloom.

Robespierre famously said that the King must die so the Nation could live. It struck many that the survival of the monarchy imperiled the nation.

The Prime Minister turned to his Director of Communications, Allan McIntyre and made his position clear. “We're not going to fuck this up. Call a meeting of the Cabinet tomorrow. We need to end the possibility of the rejoiners winning. This will be the sole matter of discussion.”

The fightback to save the new state was about to begin.
 
12th October 2018.

10 Downing Street, London.


David Smith was the unlikeliest of Prime Ministers. The son of a Nationalist family in Derry, he had moved to England as a teenager to live with his Aunt and Uncle after the death of his parents in a car crash.

It was his Aunts activism for the Labour Party which had driven him into politics. The kindness of the couple who raised him in such difficult and harrowing circumstances had remained with him as he grew up to become an MP, then in a shock result, leader of the Labour Party and then Prime Minister, as he liked to point out to many, the first Irishman to hold the role since Wellington and the first to be elected by the people.

All the while, his past held him back. During the General Election, several of the red tops had pushed him hard. 'The Provo Minister' being a rather infamous headline, insinuating that his father had been responsible for a terrorist attack in the very constituency that he was an MP. Such smears on his background hurt, but he hid it, pushed on and was elected in spite of it, winning the election and being the first son of a nationalist family from the Foyle to be summoned to meet the Monarch to become her First Minister.

The 12th October was a particularly busy day for the Prime Minister. The results from Scotland should not have had any impact on the Government in London. The Scots had voted for and were now a separate country after all.

They did though.

In the Shires, Dalton was pushing the message that she wished to be some kind of British equivalent of Helmut Kohl. This, rather sadly brought the debate into the sphere of UK politics. The initial response of respecting the will of the Scottish people was not enough. The Mail, the Sun and the others were pushing for a statement.

How else could he respond though?

Stating that he would advocate a reunification referendum north of the border would be a complete violation of the internal affairs of another nation, further another nation which he wished there to be good relations. Further to this, surely a reunification referendum would have to be put to tthe United Kingdom also? Whlst polling was 60/40 in favour of reunification if the Scots wanted it, it was not certain.

A position was required. It had to be present before Cabinet met that afternoon.

The head of MI5, Amanda Russell walked in with a smile on her face.

'Prime Minister, I come bearing gifts, news from the Nort!'

A document was passed to him. He burst out laughing at the insanity of it.


Bute House, Edinburgh.


Never had a Cabinet meeting been so angry. The divisions were obvious. The unity towards the campaign to create the Scottish Republic had morphed into anger over who to blame for the defeat. Wilson struggled to maintain the peace as at one moment, his Finance Secretary slammed the desk at the temerity of the External Affairs Secretary for daring to state that it was his financial decisions which had caused the disaster and encouraged the rejoiners who seemingly were on permanent protest throughout Edinburgh.

Wilson, looking at his colleagues who just two years earlier had seemed like the bright new things of European politics marveled at how reality had bitten home. This sure as hell was not going to be his Waterloo.

Composing himself for a moment, he prepared and cleaned his lungs before shouting.

'SILENCE!'

He then continued in a quick, yet aggressive manner to the stunned room.

'We are not here to bicker. We are not here to attack, blame or push for recriminations. I want ideas. We are two years into an independent state after another two years of fucking negotiations. We are in danger of losing what I believe most of us have spent our entire lives pushing for. We have the fucking opposition in England pushing for us to be returned to the United Kingdom in what would be the biggest bloody humiliation since 1707.

Ideas. Now.'

Julie O'Hara, the External Affairs Secretary was the one who came up with the idea.

'The question on the ballot paper was 'Do you believe Scotland should be a Republic or a Constitutional Monarchy as defined by the White Paper delivered by Parliament'. It wasn't 'Do you want the Queen to be the head of state.' Why don't we just remove the Queen and have our own Royal Family.'

Callum McDonald, the Justice Secretary burst out laughing. The idea sounded ridiculous. The questions started to fly in.

Assuming it would get past Parliament, who would be asked? How would the people perceive it? How would this fly with the republican trends of both the party and the overall movement.

The Prime Minister looked at O'Hara and asked how she thought the nation would react to such a move.

There was no doubt that initially poorly was the answer. It would though divert the talk in the nation over reunification to the monarchy and if the Monarchy was to fall, they would get the republic they dreamed of.

McDonald intervened that they ran the risk of being associated with such a decision. Of being the party of an ancient tradition which was outdated in the modern world.

Such fears were not unfounded.

There would be no doubts that rabble-rousers such as Sean O'Dowd, the newly elected balding MP and supposed Socialist who was rumoured to be more fond of bribery and swinging than poverty would doubtless seize on the idea to boost his own popularity and chances of personal enrichment.

From the other side, the main parties, the opposition Labour Party and the Tories would be accusing them of attempting to to separate the Union of the Crowns merely because they were scared of a referendum on rejoining the UK.

Such fears were also not unfounded.

And so the debate went on, all the while being listened into by the handy listening devices of the British intelligence services.



SBC Headquarters, Pacific Quay, Glasgow.


14:00

There were only three hours to the Evening News was to be broadcast and yet the top story was undecided. It was rumoured that Callum McDonald had stormed out of the Cabinet meeting in the aftermath of the referendum defeat.

It was unclear as to whether he had actually resigned or not.

Mary Dalton was making a speech from the Tollcross in Edinburgh to over 2,000 people declaring that she firmly believed that Britain would be better together. Such an intervention from what was a foreign politician was also a possible top story. As was the silence emanating from Downing Street on the matter.

The new Scottish Prime Minister was expected to make an announcement at four as to how he perceived the direction of travel to be with events.

All the while the was small matter of the referendum itself.

'Nothing like a slow news day Jack!' hollered Ian Paterson, the Head of the News Department. In his typical, guttural Glaswegian ways, he continued 'What have you cunts got planned then. Who is going to be the first one in the line of fire?

Jack Underwood, the main reporter and host of 'the Five', the new News show shook his head as to the confusion in the news room. 'Events are moving faster than Speedy Gonzalez on performance enhancing drugs gaffer.'

He continued 'Every time we start with the top story, it is updated. One minute it's McDonald, one minute it's Dalton. I would personally go with the referendum and the chaos at the heart of the government.'

Paterson glowered. 'Listen laddie. Do you like your job? Do you want to lose it so some tosspot south of the border can celebrate? I would prefer it if you moderated the chaos line. We are neutral, but we are pro-Scotland.'

Underwood responded angrily, pushing the line that if freedom of the press meant anything it meant ensuring all the stories were reported fairly.

After much discussion, it was agreed that they would be merged into one twenty minute segment on the referendum.
 
15th October 2018

The Office of the Prime Minister, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh

Ian Innes, the nephew of the External Affairs Secretary and a staffer in the same department was ordered into the Office of the Prime Minister out of the blue. He had only held any job within Parliament for a year and as such this was unexpected to put it mildly.

Facing him were the Prime Minister, seated in the centre, flanked by his Aunt and a man who was revealed to be the Lord Lyon, King of Arms.

'Sit down young Ian' gestured the Prime Minister.

'I want to be clear. What I am about to disclose is not official Government policy. Should this be revealed by you,'

Ian looked on with a blank stare.

'You have been asked for due to being family with your Aunt. You are going on a trip around Europe laddie.'

Still a blank stare, followed by a question 'Why?'

With that the explanation was provided. Ian Innes was to be sent to Germany and possibly Liechtenstein, Italy, Austria, France and Poland.

His mission was to sound out potential candidates to their acquiescence to becoming the King or Queen of Scots, should the role become available.

The descendents of the House of Stuart were to be sought out.

The importance of his silence was vital. Should the news break prior to the Government being ready, there was a strong chance that the Government would split, the Rejoiners would gain power and the possibility to the fall of the Kingdom would become a distinct possibility.

As such, the Prime Minister stated that the fate of Scotland lay in the hands of this 24 years old.

In asking him, it enabled the Government plausible deniability.

Ian then asked the inevitable question. Was there a chance of this happening?

The Government were known in the main to be republicans, the Prime Minister included. The Conservatives would oppose this measure like the plague and the chances of the Labour or Liberals backing such measures were slim.

The Prime Minister made things clear.

This was not his choice. He did indeed back a republic, however with the result of the referendum and the calls for Scotland to rejoin the United Kingdom, a separate Scottish Monatchy would likely help defend the nation if but for a period of time before Scotland was to eventually become a republic.

This was not even agreed as yet in Cabinet, but the idea did have merits and was something that he felt should be looked into.

It was at this point that Julie looked at her nephew.

'Ian, this is your chance to go down in history. I've booked you a ticket on the 9pm flight tonight to Munich.'

His first stop was to meet Max, the octogenarian Duke of Bayern.


M-I5 Safe House, Edinburgh.

Sarah Goodwin, was the daughter of a British Army Major who had served with the Scots in the Falklands and Kuwait. She had served herself in the forces, swearing an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen. This was something that she took seriously and felt bound by until the present day, even although she had left the Forces after a mere four years as a Lieutenant.

The knowledge of this led to her being recruited by the British Intelligence Services willingly. Her Scottish accent, being raised in Kingussie was an advantage.

Her mission this evening was Ian Innes.

As yet, the Government did not have listening devices inside the office of the Scottish Prime Minister, but it was obvious that Innes was on some form of mission to invite the Duke of Bavaria to take up the throne of Scotland.

Such a move in itself was treachery against the Crown and must be stopped.

The file on Innes was extensive. In the space of an hour after he left his meeting, she had been able to book a ticket on the flight to Munich with a seat next to the young Jacobite.

Everything was present not long after. She had everything from his internet search history to his television viewing habits.

She even found out what he had ordered in KFC a week earlier.

There were elements which she could use to engage him. His internet search history was a treasure trove. He was a keen fan of Heart of Midlothian Football Club, something he had in common with her father.

Aside from football, the BBC, SBC and other news websites, his history was bland. He accessed pornographic websites, but even these were vanilla although the search for big breasted women advised her choice of clothing for the flight. A low-cut dress being the choice.

His political history had also been rather straight-forward. His Aunt, a woman in her fifties without children who he was close to had got him the job in her department straight out of his Degree from Aberdeen University in Politics.

It was nice to see that nepotism wasn't dead in the brave new Scottish state.

Everything was set.. A quick trip to Waterstones to pick up a copy of a book about Hearts was all she needed.

Everything was set for the visit to the Airport.

The Flight from Edinburgh to Munich. 9.15pm.

Sarah, the book sitting on her lap looked at Ian sitting next to her and made a passing comment 'Even independence can't make the Planes fly on time, eh!'

Ian nodded, his mind fixed on the fact that the following morning he was going to potentially meet the next King of Scotland. He looked down, noticing the book and passed comment that he was glad he wasn't the only Jambo on the flight.

And so the conversation began.

Over the two hour flight, they discussed at length the state of Scottish football, with the conversation morphing into one of politics. Ian revealing that he worked for the Scottish Government. Sarah smiled inwardly with the knowledge that the young man was clearly trying to impress her.

This was going to be easier than she thought.

During this conversation, she had implied that she was traveling around Bavaria on a trip without set plans.

As such, asked innocently if he would like to meet the next day. Ian, believing that he had potentially met a new beau,

Ian, looking up declared that he had a meeting in the Nymphenburg Palace on behalf of the Scottish Government, making an excuse around trade.

This was all that was required. He was going to meet Max.

Sarah agreed.

Ian Innes had a new traveling companion.
 
16th October 2018.

Riverside Hall, Govan

“BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE SITUATION IS A DISGRACE!” Sean O'Dowd loved rabble-rousing, the only thing louder than his voice being his suntan.

“UNEMPLOYMENT HAS SOARED DUE TO THESE TARTAN TORIES. THESE TRAITORS. TRAITORS TO THE CAUSE AND TO THE PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FOODBANKS WHILE THE FAT, BLOATED GOVERNMENT IN EDINBURGH ARE QUAFFING CHAMPAGNE WITH MILLIONAIRES. THEY HAVE BETRAYED THE INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT, THEY HAVE BETRAYED SCOTLAND. THEY HAVE BETRAYED ALL YOUSE PEOPLE OUT THERE!”

The ending of his speech leading to a resounding round of applause in the packed hall.

Deliberately, he made a segway for the young brunette on the front row. His wife had chosen not to attend, so he looked forward to an intense political discussion after the meeting was over.

Sadly, it was not to be. As he shook her hand, O'Dowd noticed a man who he hadn't seen in several years over her shoulder.

He froze momentarily before moving away from the young woman and shaking the elderly gents hand with a fixed smile.

“Charlie, it's been years. Let's catch up round the back.”

The elderly man nodded and walked to the door.

O'Dowd followed.

As soon as they were out the room, the panic on Sean O'Dowd's face became apparent.

“What do you want?”

“Not a nice way to speak to your handler” came the response.

“It's been years. I'm nothing but a back-bench MP. What use am I to you now?”

Charlie smiled.

“I need you to ask questions in Parliament. I need you to do what you do so well.”

O'Dowd could do nothing but nod. Charlie continued.

“We don't want Scotland folding back into the British state. On the other hand, we don't want Scotland to accept a permanent deal for Nuclear weapons on Scottish soil. The Scottish Government is infested with lackeys of the British or American states. I have firm information that Wilson has privately made a deal with the UK Government that your nation will enter the EU in exchange for the British firmly pushing for Scottish membership. Something that has firm backing in Brussels.”

O'Dowd looked shocked, but one question was firmly on his lips.

“What do you want me to do about it?”

Charlie remained silent for a moment, lighting a cigarette and looking at O'Dowd.

“I don't want, I demand. You are not a teenager in love with our old system anymore. You must be a realist. You have a question tomorrow. You are going to ask Wilson about Submarines tomorrow.”

O'Dowd nodded in assent. It was consistent with his beliefs, so on this occasion, what was the harm?


SBC Headquarters, Pacific Quay, Glasgow.

11.00

Jack Underwood couldn't believe the file he had been given. It was a transcript from the Cabinet meeting from the previous Friday.

There was no question that he couldn't disclose this information straight away. The information he had been given was too flimsy and very possibly fake. A battle with the Government over possibly fake news was not a battle that he or, he suspected the corporation relished.

There was no question that the idea that a Jacobite restoration could be absolute dynamite. There was no question that it would dominate the news if it became public.

He needed a lot more sources though.

It had to be watertight.

As a result, he did the first thing that came to mind and picked up the telephone. Lunch had to be arranged with Callum McDonald. As the leading opponent going by the transcript, it was reasoned that he was the most likely to talk.

Once arranged, he immediately headed across the M8 to Edinburgh.


The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh

13.00

McDonald sat down wondering what was so important that it couldn't wait. If it wasn't Underwood, a friend from University, he would have turned any other journalist down blank.

“What is it?” he asked with a sense of curiosity.

Underwood smiled and started singing “God Save our Gracious King, Long Live our Noble King….”

“Pardon?!” asked McDonald, unable to contain a look of panic at the implication.

“I've always been a fan of Julie O'Hara” Underwood responded, deliberately being confrontational in a bid to garner more information.

“Mate. Speak to her. I'm not making any comment on this. Push me and I won't be a minister to comment on any other issues for you.”

Underwood knew he was onto something but the issue was one of proof. No comment was not good enough.

“It will be off the record. I also promise not to publish unless it comes to anything. A friend on the side of the fourth estate may be what you will need. If the Government push this and it fails, a leadership contest may happen. What better than being a man of principle with evidence that this has been the case from the start?”

McDonald took it in, smiled and called the waiter across.

They had a lot to discuss.


The Parliamentary office of Mary Dalton, Westminster.


Mary Dalton looked with incredulity at the men who sat across the table from her. The offer that was made was a complete disgrace. After a year of campaigning to reunite Britain, she was being told that in order to defeat Smith at the next election, she should change tack.

With her firm, Home Counties accent, she responded aggressively.

“No, no, no.

I have set my course. Re-nuniting the Island will be the greatest achievement of the 21st Century. Ever since I was a child, Britain has been seen as a nation in decline. This would be a tangible sign of the regrowth of national pride. We will likely only have one chance at this happen, should the Scottish Conservatives force a referendum north of the border so no.”

The first man, a polling expert, a bland man with a grey suit and a name nobody would remember pointed out the lack of impact her campaign was having on the public. He also pointed to the division in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Of those that cared about the issue, the number of Conservative voters who backed reunification stood at just 40%. Across the spectrum, it was little better at 45%. The great fear was that Labour went for the English vote and unified the others on such a motion. Emotion was just not enough.

It was at this point that the second man, the Party Chairman intervened, pointing to rumours that more than one member of the Shadow Cabinet was going to push if things never improved the question of “who will speak for England?”

Dalton asked what this meant for Wales and Northern Ireland. There were three nations in the United Kingdom came the response.

Any could declare independence.

What Scotland could do, England could do. This would both solve the Irish problem and rid the Exchequer of the Welsh.

Dalton exploded in anger, telling the Chairman to leave. Ending the United Kingdom was not going to be her legacy.

In the back of her mind, the political instability that the British state could be ended due to political expediency frightened her.

Unity was key.

It was at this point her telephone rang.

The Prime Minister was inviting her to Downing Street.


The White House, Washington D.C. United States.


The President, Adam Finklestein was due to leave office inside a few months. What had been dubbed as a farewell tour had been arranged in Europe.

Amongst the stops were Dublin, Edinburgh and London.

The trip to Edinburgh would be especially historic. He was to be the first American President to visit Scotland since they had declared independence.

The stop in Scotland was to be more than a social call though.

His briefing was clear. He was to pressure Wilson into allowing the Brits to retain their Nuclear base on the Clyde. He was aware that London was using the carrot of EU membership.

It was his job to use the stick of threatening trade and aid should the Scots decline.

David Smith had been firm in this matter when they spoke on the matter. The new state was seen as potentially only having a few years left of existence.

Keeping it in the sphere was key.

It was important that this was not to be kept a secret until the leaders met.

“Hello Jim,” the President said in his New England accent.

“Adam, pleased to hear from you. Looking forward to seeing you in December.”

“Listen, I have some news.”

Wilson paused before responding. “What do you mean?”

Finklestein responded clearly. “I will have trouble visiting Edinburgh in December if you still have the issue over Faslane. American jobs will be harmed if the UK is forced to end it's Nuclear Arsenal. Further, it opens up the GIUK Gap. It creates problems with your application to join NATO.”

Wilson was taken aback. “Are you saying that unless we agree with London that you won't so much as visit my country?”

Finklestein smiled.

“What I am saying is that giving aid, as we have done to the tune of one hundred million dollars may be problematic. I also hear your nation badly needs credit. Something to think about.”

The Scottish Prime Minister responded about discussing an extension with his Cabinet.

“You do that” the President responded.

“It's nothing personal. I'll call you friday.”

He put down the receiver and pressed the remote on the television. The Bulls were playing the Bengals. This was not to be missed.
 
16th October 2018

Nymphenburg Palace, Munich, Germany

Max, the Duke of Bavaria stood at the window watching the lanky young Scotsman be welcomed through the front door. He had accepted the invitation with a sense of curiosity surrounding why he should be asked by a meeting from the Scottish Government.

He was about to find out.

The Octogenarian sat down and awaited his visitor to enter the room.

Ian Innes couldn't help be impressed by the grand entrance hall as he was ushered up to the private quarters of the Duke. The thought that he may be about to address the next King of Scots was paramount on his mind.

How should you address someone who would potentially be your next King but who is a citizen of a Republic?

The question was out there.

As he entered the room, Max calmed his nerves by walking across the room and shaking his hand. In near perfect English he said hello and “call me Max”.

This was enough to put Ian at ease.

Ian firstly handed the letter, handwritten by Jim Wilson to the Duke and awaited the response.

Without betraying emotion Max sat down and scanned the letter. The two sat in silence for the next five minutes, the Dukes face looking at the letter which he must have read inside a minute.

Ian observed as the Duke stood up and walked over to the window.

“If only I were a younger man.”

Ian looked on with almost total concentration as he continued.

“I am nearly ninety years old. I have no children. If you invite me to be your King, I will be dead soon and there will be no heir. I am an old foreigner. I will be attacked for this. I don't have the strength to fight such attacks any more.

I do not reject you out of anything other than incapacity to perform the functions of Monarch. Please convey both this and my absolute confidence to your government.

I believe my Niece, Maria is next in line. She is the Princess of Liechtenstein. I suspect she will be next in line in your assignment. Ask your Prime Minister if he would like that I call her to arrange a visit?“

And with that, the first mission of Ian Innes, although a failure was completed.

He had arranged to meet Sarah afterwards in the Englischer Garten.

First he had to make a quick visit to the Scottish Consulate.

The Scottish Consulate, Munich

Heather Gillespie, the Scottish Consul was awaiting the arrival of Ian Innes. All she had been told was that she was to allow him entry and then leave him in the office with a secure line to the Prime Minister. In the knowledge that this matter was of such importance, she was surprised to see a young lanky man with the appearance of a student going to a part-time job interview.

She was not impressed. All the same, an order was an order. She cordially invited him in and sent him through to the office.

Ian was patched straight through to the Prime Minister who was expecting him.

Ian started, speaking as slowly as he could. “He rejected us” continuing “he said he was too old but that we could be assured he would stay quiet. He told me to ask you if you would like him to put a word in with his Niece? He said she was next in line.”

The line remained silent for a moment. Ian, concerned that the connection had been lost asked if he was still there.

“Yes m'lad. I'm still here.” came the response.

“Ask the Duke if he will sound out Maria. If he agrees, ask how soon you would expect a response. If it is less than 48 hours, stay at the Consulate and await the reply. If it is positive, await a letter to arrive.

It will be delivered directly by your Aunt. This is too dangerous to have us rely on telecommunications. Also, did the Duke hand back the letter to you?”

“Yes” came the prompt reply.

“Burn it” the Prime Minister said before hanging up.

Burning the letter and responding to the Duke could wait.

Ian had to visit Sarah.

The Englischer Garten, Munich, Germany.

Ian arrived with a massive smile that Sarah had waited for him.

Not only that, but had ordered him a Beer.

“Where have you been” asked Sarah.

“You know where, the Nymphenburg Palace.” Ian responded tartly.

“Sight-seeing without me!” she replied.

Wanting to prove himself more than a delivery boy, Ian shot back “It was important government business actually. I have to go back in a couple of hours to..” tapering off as he realised what he was saying.

“Scotland must be in serious business if we are sending you to deal with matters of state! What was it?”

“I can't say” he looked back.

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Go on!”

“I'll tell you, but you have to promise to stay quiet about it.”



Sarah smiled, the sun illuminating her hair.

Bute House, Edinburgh

Jim Wilson felt like he was firefighting in every direction. The Americans and the British were putting on pressure over aslane, something his Cabinet would never agree to.

After this, The Governor of the Central Bank had arrived alongside the Finance Secretary to offer more bleak financial statements. Unemployment figures had arrived again and again they had gone up.

On the back of this, the Tories were confirmed as being ahead in the opinion polls and then, only then, Julie O'Haras nephew called and said that he had been turned down by the German.

This was the last thing he needed. If the search for the Monarch became public before he was ready, the party would split over constitutional matters.

He needed something, anything to divert attention away from the economy. A new Monarch would actually work in the short term and secure independence from the Conservative assaults.

How to get the party onside was the first task. Parliament the second.

Everyone had known the first few years had been difficult.

Securing the revolution was the goal.

He dare not dwell on the situation.

He had two meetings arranged for the afternoon. One with the Norwegian Ambassador, one with the Chinese Ambassador.

“Money, Oil, Influence and Power” he thought to himself. “Money, Oil, Influence and Power”
 
17th October 2018

Nymphenburg Palace, Munich, Germany

Max was fond of his niece. He always felt she had a head on her shoulders, the sensible one of the family, a devout Catholic who genuinely cared about the people of her adopted land. He was fairly certain that the call he was about to make would be like a bolt out of the blue.

He was wrong.

As soon as she heard his voice, she asked “is this about Scotland?”

Wondering how she knew, he asked only to be told he had received a telephone call from someone representing the English government an hour earlier imploring her not to take the role with a supposed transcript of a Scottish Cabinet meeting where they had discussed their republicanism and how they needed someone as a stepping stone.

Worse, many had objected to even that.

The Duke asked if she was willing to even discuss the proposal. She confirmed that she would only discuss it if she heard directly from the Scottish Prime Minister or External Affairs Secretary. Even then, she had questions.

The Duke agreed to pass on the message,

With that, he sent for young Ian.

Within an hour, Ian was in the drawing room again, eagerly awaiting the news that had been passed onto him from Maria.

Crestfallen, Ian agreed to pass the message onto his Government.

He was, however aware that his Aunt was available to visit Bavaria the following day to pass on the second letter.

Curious as to whether she would be free to actually visit the Princess of Liechtenstein, he took it upon himself to ask the Duke if it would be possible to arrange a covert meeting in two days time, somewhere neutral so that both parties could deny meeting.

The Duke agreed that instant to call her.

Ian waited anxiously, afraid that he had exceeded his brief but wanting to grab history, listening to the elderly man speak excitedly and quickly down the phone in German.

After what seemed like an eternity, he had gained a response.

She had agreed to the meeting. It would be in the town of Lindau. He was aware that he had staked his own position in arranging this, but it was a requirement.

Ian made his way back to the Scottish Consulate.

This time, Sarah would have to wait.



Bute House, Edinburgh

The call from Ian had been tortuous. His arrangement of a meeting could have potentially blown the idea of plausible deniability out of the water for Julie O'Hara.

If she believed in the plan, she would have no choice but to get on a plane and head to Germany. This she did.

The more she moved in the direction of removing the current Royal Family and replacing them, the more committed she was to the idea; The idea of independence being lost was simply unthinkable. She had fought since the age of just twelve for Scottish independence and to see a new act of union in her lifetime was the stuff of nightmares.

Rather a Queen than a new union.

Jim Wilson was not impressed. He stated so. Should the plan be uncovered prior to him being able to muster support for the idea let alone the individual, he would have to ask for her resignation. He was loathe to do this as it would further boost the buoyant Tories in the polls.

He considered not allowing het to go, but that could possibly have created more harm than good. It could possibly have led to the EEA talks stalling. This in itself was seen as vital to the future of Scottish trade.

Then again, trade was not everything.

In spite of the heavy risks, Julie O'Hara booked a flight to Germany. This was officially to be a private flight to meet her nephew.

The Scottish Parliament Chamber, Edinburgh.

Prime Ministers Questions.

S. O'Dowd. : Will the Prime Minister confirm that talks have been held over the future of the weapons of mass destruction based on the Clyde with the British Prime Minister?

Prime Minister. : I can confirm that discussions are always ongoing with the United Kingdom surrounding a base that is on Scottish soil.

S. O'Dowd. : Can he confirm or deny that he has been offered a deal to keep the weapons near Glasgow in exchange for something as yet unknown?

Prime Minister. : Firstly, I am a known supporter for Nuclear weapons being moved off the Clyde. Have been all my life. To insinuate I am not is disgraceful.

S.O'Dowd(from his seat) .: JUDAS!


The Doric Bar, Edinburgh.

Again, this was entirely circumstantial but the brown envelope Jack Underwood received with a photograph of a young man exiting the home of the Duke of Bavaria, along with a file containing information claiming he was the nephew of the External Affairs Secretary was all very suspect.

His meeting with Callum McDonald was going to be very interesting indeed.

As usual, McDonald turned up late, immediately asking what Underwood had to smile about.

“Look at this photo” came the response.

“That's young Ian, Julies nephew. Works at External Affairs. What's that grand building he's leaving?”

“That my mucker is the home of the Duke of Bavaria. Do you know why that is curous?”

“After our last conversation, I can guess. Bastards said they were going to drop this at the moment. Are you going to run with it?”

Underwood replied that he still couldn't run with the story. Innes could make the claim that he was just a tourist. All the information was, as yet circumstantial.

McDonald asked for the source, only to be told that it could not be offered at that moment as Underwood was unsure himself.

Callum looked Jack in the eye. He doubted his friend was telling the truth, but there was no way of knowing for certain.

He then asked the question that Jack hoped he would. “What do you need to prove this?”

The answer was obvious though. He needed hard evidence. Proof that this was happening that the Government would find difficult to deny.

All was set up to avoid things going wrong.



Office of Kelvin Crighton, Scottish Parliament.

When Crighton became leader, he doubted strongly that he would ever become the Prime Minister of Scotland, let alone one who would help reunite Britain.

And yet everything was on course.

Funding was pouting in from Mary Daltons campaign. Official Party policy was that a new referendum be held. Public discontent was seen as a tool to reunite the country. He had no doubts that a referendum would pass a rejoin vote.

In spite of it all, he stuggled to garner a coalition against the government. Whilst Labour and the Liberals played with the disaster which was independence, he could not hope to succeed unless they won a nationalist-style majority.

Even then, this policy relied on the Conservatives winning the next UK General Election. There could be no guarantee that the Provo Smith would back reunification south of the border or even a referendum there.

As a result of this, he was forced to create separate policy in case the referendum never came to pass.

His policy to this end was not much different to that of the SNP. Tax cuts for business would drive inward investment up and personal taxation would pay for the public services.

It was so simple he was certain it would work.

Wondering what the next arrow into the heart of this poor administration could be, he opened an email.

It was a picture of a young man leaving a Palace. It was entitled “Nympenburg”. It had a small file attached identifying Julie O'Haras nephew.

Very curious, he thought.
 
18th October 2018.

Lindau, Germany.

Being incognito as a Princess is not often an easy task. This is even true as one of a state of 50,000 people. Maria had managed it though. After hours of being driven to the location, she got out of the car next to Lake Constance, the agreed meeting point with the Scottish Foreign Minister.

O'Hara with her nephew in tow arrived only a few minutes later. Not knowing the protocol for such a meeting, Innes leaned against the car. O'Hara curtsied. The contrast between the two amused Maria. Such was the debate she heard in the Scottish Cabinet papers.

“Do you come with the authority of your Prime Minister?” asked Maria with a slight German accent.

O'Hara readily agreed that she had, handing over a letter from Jim Wilson to that affect.

Maria scanned the letter and then put it in her pocket.

“I will come straight to the point. I received the following document. I need to know if it is, how do you say, genuine?”

Julie scanned the paper she was handed, realising that it was the Cabinet meeting from the previous week, she decided that there was only one option. She was to tell a half-truth.

“The meeting happened, but this document has been doctored. There was no decision as to the future of the Monarchy in Scotland. I believe that in restoring the traditional house which ruled Scotland and to which you belong is the only just way we can secure our independence.”

Ian looked slightly astonished. He had always assumed that his Aunt was a republican who had been forced into this decision by the referendum result. Here she was sounding like a true believer. He opened the door and sat down in the car, looking at the car across from them with the man who looked like a WWE wrestler in the drivers seat.

Julie continued by handing Maria a copy of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Scotland, explaining that the role of the Monarch was defined by the constitution. Further, she explained that in doing so she would protect the land of her ancestors.

“One of my ancestors was Marie-Antionette. Do you suppose I will be as unpopular as her?”

O'Hara denied it before seeing the Princess trying to hold back a laugh.

Maria continued “I will of course have to discuss this with my husband. Taking the throne of Scotland will involve moving to a new country. You have enemies. I knew as much when I received the transcript. We shall also have to take this into account.”

“That isn't a no.” The External Affairs Secretary said.

“We will see” was the response.

“I will give you an answer by next week.”

The two women shook hands as a boat on the serene water floated stationary two hundred yards away, photographs being taken furiously.


The Houses of Parliament, Westminster.

News was emerging of a possible coup attempt against Mary Dalton. David Smith remembered the words of Napoleon Bonaparte. “In politics, stupidity is not a handicap.”

Leading the coup was Sir Frederick Hetherington-Smythe. A man whose vanity and pomposity was only exceeded by his alleged alcohol intake on a Saturday night. The man proposed a radical change in policy from the one put forward by the Leader of the Opposition.

Poncing around, pretending to be a modern-day St. George, Smythe was declaring himself in favour of English Independence, and rather than pay for the Scots again, he wanted rid of the Welsh and Northern Irish as well. He was pushing for the Conservatives to become the definitive English National Party.

This proposal never went down well with the three Welsh Conservative Mps. Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein were having a field day.

His proposal went further, arguing that the Conservatives should stop selecting candidates in Welsh seats and embrace the future as he saw it with the Act of Union revoked. Further, he saw the future of England outside the European Union.

He did all this pointing to the benefits of having an English Prime Minister, in pointed reference to Smiths Irish nationalist background.

Smith was unsure how to react. The man, whilst clearly totally wrong on many things, did have charisma of sorts. He wasn't a real threat to Dalton, but whilst seemingly weakening her, his attack drew further attention to the Irishness of the Prime Minister.

It also risked legitimising the debate that the remaining Union should be dissolved in England. This was not something that Smith could countenance, especially given his commitment to the Peace Process in his homeland. It didn't matter that he was seen as a traitor by many in Ireland. His love for the land was clear.

Further news came along shortly after that whilst maintaining the Unionist line, Dalton had conceded that she would support a referendum on UK membership of the European Union. This in spite of her seeing what had happened to Scotland and her reaction to it.

It was seen for what it was. A squalid deal which would keep the Conservative Party united. He was unsure if the public would see it that way though.
 

sprite

Donor
Monthly Donor
Brilliant!

As a son of a Welshman living in New South Wales, I'm hoping for a happy ending for all concerned (except for of course, the Yanks. Calexit Now! :winkytongue:)
 
Excellent stuff, very intriguing.
The Bulls were playing the Bengals. This was not to be missed.
Since the latter are an NFL team, and the former play in the NBA, it could be interesting. Unless it refers to the North Dallas Bulls, which would be really AH.
A man whose vanity and pomposity was only exceeded by his alleged alcohol intake on a Saturday night.
Nothing wrong with that.
 
Top