Nothing Ventured, Nothing Changed
Death and All His Friends
Death and All His Friends
Shaw House
St. Gregory's Square
Lunden, Breotonia
Shaw House was a townhouse in the traditional sense in that it was a city home of the aristocracy. St. Gregory's Square was one of several neighborhoods in the capital that was made up of terraced homes that catered mainly to Peers of the Realm and, more recently, the obscenely wealthy. Tobias Fleming Shaw fit both categories, he was Lord Shaw a baron in the peerage, he was also one of the heads of the Shaw-Fujikawa Group alongside Wallace Fujikawa. Both men sat side by side in the ornate drawing room but they were not the only men present nor were they the most important. The room was occupied by more than a dozen people captain's of industry, bureaucrats, politicians, and military men. The final two men were arriving. While they traveled separately they were both coming from the Defense Ministry so their timing was almost exactly the same.
The first was a man adorned in the uniform of a Vice Admiral of His Majesty's Navy. Vice Admiral Ackerson was the Director for Acquisitions underneath the Assistant Secretary of the Royal Navy for Research, Development and Acquisitions. Knowing that the most important individual was arriving just behind him he said nothing and took a seat near the more important figures of the group. Seconds later the final attendee stepped into the room. He wore a plain black suit with a matching tie was just removing his earbuds and turning off his mp3 player. Defense Minister Harold Simm took a seat near the center of the group and everyone waited patiently for him to begin.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice. I know the conditions are not ideal." In the past there meetings had been arranged carefully and well in advanced. Not only because they were obviously all very busy people but also out of the need of secrecy and discretion. "Recent developments will prove unfavorable to our plans, I'm afraid." He motioned to Ackerson, "Admiral." Ackerson withdrew a file folder from his briefcase and opened it. He knew what he was going to say but he would keep it for reference.
He held it aloft for a moment for effect, "This is a draft for a command paper from the Prime Minister that outlines extensive budget cuts to the armed forces. Research and development, acquisitions, recruitment, everything." One of lesser men present inquired, "How much?"
Ackerson half sighed, "Half." The room was aghast. Half? That would be almost fifty billion euros. Everybody knew that Wilson was planning austerity measures, starting with the military, but this was ridiculous. Ackerson continued, "By 2015 it is mandated that total personnel for the Army should be no more than fifty thousand and the navy is to cancel orders for any new carriers as well as ending the experimental battleship program." Anyone looking at Simm at that particular notice would have seen a look of subdued anger. The Valiant Project was of his own engineering and something he had fought very hard for. "It is a significant problem and something we only have a small window of time to confront."
A junior member of the group spoke, "We always knew he had this in mind. I say we proceed as planned. We move at the next election and muscle Wilson out. We can reverse the decision then and fix any damage that has been done. Not much can be lost in a year."
Simm shook his head, knowing that the full gravity of the situation had not yet sunk in to some of the men there. "No, not at all. As soon as this paper goes public the Government will have nailed its colors to the mast. Even if I replace Wilson then I won't have any effective way of overturning the decision. I'm from the same party, I would have been the defense minister when the decision was made. It would be a political nightmare. If this gets out then the game is over. We must move now."
Everyone considered the situation now explained. So long as there was no official policy a new government would be able to pursue its own goals unencumbered. If this proposal became policy, however, Simm would be in no position to act contrary. No political position anyway. The plan had been to usurp power by means of the election. Using popular opinion and party politics to force Wilson to step aside in favor of Simm. Now it seemed that if the cabal was to accomplish its true goal, a strong Breotonia, they would have to move with all haste and prevent the present prime minister from making a decision that they would not be able to undo.
Shaw tapped ash from his cigar and looked at Simm, "Well what exactly do you propose then? We can't force an election now. It's too early, people are not in place and we won't have time to undermine the current party leadership. I don't think we have a choice but to hope for the best in a year or so. Continue as planned."
Simm was frustrated. Everyone in the room was a firm patriot committed to the protection of Breotonia and Her interests. At this critical junction though they were not willing to do the obvious. Only Ackerson shared his commitment to success at all costs. He would simply have to push these men to do what was necessary.
"I think it's plainly obvious that we have only one course of action with any true chance of success. We will have to assassinate the Prime Minister."