Against the Tide Imperial: The Struggle for Ceylon (The Usurper's War: An Alternative World War II B, James Young [best management books of all time TXT] 📗

He gestured for the Army officer to step inside just the radio began to play Mozart.

Let's see how good you are at picking up on social clues, idiot.

"Are you the liaison officer who was supposed to be meeting us?" the lieutenant asked, his nostrils flaring as he removed his sodden helmet. "What are you doing in here?"

"What does it look like?" Isoro asked. "Not getting wet."

Locking eyes with Isoro and seeing no fear there, the Army officer gathered he was at least talking to a peer. The man began removing his gloves, wringing them out on the floor.

"I would think you'd be in a hurry to get back to your clean bunks and silverware," the Army man said disgustedly. "Heaven forbid the Navy have a little hardship."

"Both of these men are from a carrier that is on the bottom of the ocean," Isoro replied coolly. "I lost both my wingmen wresting this island from the British. What have you done in the last month?"

"Bombed Darwin," the Army pilot responded grimly, his demeanor relaxing somewhat. "Nice place to visit, if you don't mind Spitfires."

Isoro gave the man a nod of respect, and the Army officer returned it.

"I am to show you the ready room and the rather austere amenities," Isoro said. "Thankfully the British claimed to have thinned the snake population, so you don't have to worry as much about having a viper under your pillow."

The Army lieutenant looked at Isoro worriedly.

"Yes, that happened," Isoro said, shrugging. "Thankfully the pistol works on them."

The Army officer shuddered. Before he could respond, there was a fanfare from the radio in the corner. The man's eyes narrowed.

"That's the British Royal Family fanfare," he said, then looked back at Isoro with a raised eyebrow.

"We haven't changed the channel since we got here," Isoro said. "According to one of our prisoners, every pilot in this squadron died. Figured keeping the ghosts happy with their choice of music was a good plan."

The Army pilot laughed at that one.

"I understand mollifying ghosts," he replied grimly. "I am Lieutenant Hirohata, by the way."

"Lieutenant Isoro Honda," Isoro replied. The Army officer came to attention and saluted, which Isoro waved away.

"No, sir, please do me the honor," the man said, his eyes wide.

Oh shit, not this again.

Isoro returned the salute.

"The papers back home have talked a great deal about your exploits," Hirohata said. The man was clearly awestruck.

"I am sure they embellish some things," Isoro replied.

"Honorable sir, the Queen is apparently about to speak," one of the petty officers said.

Isoro and Hirohata turned to look at the radio, finally paying attention to what was being said.

"…Her Majesty's speech to both houses of the United States' Congress will begin at the top of the hour," the British radio announcer said. "Our Washington office has assured us that it is critical to the continued war effort in light of recent events. To our listeners around the Indian Ocean and in Australia, you may be hearing history."

"Maybe they are going to announce peace talks," Hirohata noted. "The Australians and Americans have been much less active attacking the East Indies since the operation here."

That's probably because someone believes we have the strength to attack Australia proper. Or they're just preparing to take this place back.

"We go now to our Washington Office and Mr. Denis Johnston, BBC."

There was a brief pause, the rain continuing to pour down on the roof as the four men looked at one another.

"Good evening from Washington, D.C.," Mr. Johnston's voice came over the radio. "Her Majesty has entered the American capitol building, where she is being escorted by Mr. Harry Hopkins and several armed agents of the FBI. We are told that these men are allowed here at the express permission of the Speaker of the House, Congressman Rayburn of Texas."

"Interesting that the Americans would need an armed guard for a foreign leader in their legislature," Isoro observed.

"Have you not heard what happened to the British Prime Minister?" Hirohata asked. Isoro shook his head.

"Americans shot him while trying to kill the Queen," Hirohata stated.

I missed so much here while we were on operations, Isoro said. Before he could speak, he could hear a gavel being banged on the radio and several shouts."

"As you can hear, ladies and gentlemen, there is a commotion from the Republican side of the Senate," Johnston said. Isoro noted the man seemed distressed and angry. Cursing his memory, he tried to recall how the American Congress was organized. His old school lessons were still evading capture when the Queen began speaking.

“Thank you, Speaker Rayburn, for inviting me to speak today."

She sounds so reserved and calm for someone who was just delivered a grave insult.

"Gentlemen, I pray you will forgive me for speaking plainly, as time is short. I come not to you today not, as some of your more intemperate members have recently called me, a beggar princess."

I recognize that tone. That is a woman who is deeply, irrevocably angry but is being polite. Several of those men have made an implacable enemy.

"As you can see I have not been, as Senator Taft stated yesterday in this very hall, rendered incapable of independent thought and movement due to Prime Minister Churchill's death. While Lord Churchill was my advisor, my tutor and, in his last act, my protector, I assure you that the woman who stands before you is a sovereign, not a 'puppet.'"

Indeed, if I were any of the men who were so insolent, I'd hire a food taster immediately.

He glanced over at Hirohata. The Army officer was pensive as the broadcast continued.

"Instead of a child's toy, let me introduce myself properly. I am Queen Elizabeth II, rightful ruler of the British Isles. A ruler who has now not only lost my father to fascism, but buried one of the greatest statesman my nation has ever known to radicals within in your own midst. Still, even to the last, Prime Minister Churchill considered the United States the key to the