Alternate History - Gallia Triumphant!

[Capt. Henry Morgan]

25 December 825 AS, Christmas Day
Westminster Abbey, New London

Just over a month had passed since the end of the war. Most of the turmoil had died down, people eager to just get back to their lives. Bretonia was under direct Gallic control at first, but the BPA was allowed to continue keeping the peace. Both to reduce Gallic manpower requirements, and to put a Bretonian face on the occupation. A Resistance had begun to form, built around the SIS and Privateers, composed of BAF officers and troops who refused to concede defeat. Resistance attacks were still sporadic at this point as they were mostly still organising and digging in rather than attacking. For the first week, BBC had gone mostly off the air, limited solely to official Government releases. When it came back online, it was under Gallic control. The changes were subtle, but there was a definite pro-Gallic slant to the news. Other news sources were silenced. Most Bretonians were now secretly getting their news from the underground Voice of Bretonia, which was broadcast at irregular intervals.

Over the last two weeks, the Gauls had been working to shift from direct control to allowing Parliament to meet, at least those members not tied to the Resistance, and constitute a new Government. Bretonia would, in theory, be easier to control as a client state than through a direct occupation. In the last week, BBC began pushing the Gallic line that the Bretonian Government-in-exile was illegitimate, and composed of disloyal cowards who chose to run rather than stay with their people. The propaganda also held that Queen Carina and her direct heirs had abdicated their right to the Throne when they withdrew to Liberty.

To that end, the Gallic Governor had approached Lord George Mountbatten, Duke of Westminster, and "offered" him the Throne. The implied threat should he refuse went unspoken, but was unmistakable. George knew that there would be a target on his back no matter what he did. If he accepted, he would rule as a Gallic puppet, forever hated by his own people, regarded as a traitor and a usurper. If he refused, he would soon disappear, along with his wife and his one remaining child, John, and John's own children. Were the penalty limited to George himself, he'd refuse and die with honour. He couldn't bear to throw his son's life away, too, along with the lives of his grandchildren. So, George accepted, then got drunk as soon as the Governor left him alone.

They had decided on a Christmas Day coronation. The ceremony had gone without incident, though it was a much more somber affair than the usual Royal Coronation. George looked over into the seats. None of the Lords and Ladies there would look him in the eye. Most had forgone the traditional Coronation clothing, making it clear to everyone who understood the symbolism that they regarded the entire proceeding as illegitimate. Fleet Admiral Charlotte Brooks looked distinctly unhappy. The HMS Ark Royal was cut off in Newcastle and unable to join the defence at the Line, so Brooks was the highest ranking field commander remaining in the BAF. Her promotion to the BAF's highest rank came far sooner in her career than she planned, and under the worst possible circumstances.

At last, George reached the altar. It was all he could do to maintain his dignity and accept his lot. He went through the motions of the ceremony, though his heart wasn't in it. Just as the Archbishop was about to set the Crown on his head, though, he had a sudden impulse. He put up his hand to block the Crown, then stood and removed his ermine cape and placed it neatly on the throne. Everybody watched in stunned silence. This had never happened before. He then began to address the crowd.

"For the second time in my life, I have been offered a Throne to which I have no right. First, by my father, who misled me into believing I was our nation's rightful Sovereign, treason disguised as justice. Now, nine years later, I am again offered the Throne, this time by our Gallic "benefactors". They contend that Queen Carina has abdicated through her departure for Liberty. I respectfully disagree. Her Majesty represents the purest expression of our national character. A Bretonia that remains forever unbowed, unconquered by any foreign power. Though we, her subjects, must endure the unendurable, she must forever remain untainted by our shame, a symbol of better times and our hopes for the future."

George took the Crown from the Archbishop and placed it gently on the throne, atop the ermine cape.

"On this day, I will not accept the Crown. It is not mine, and I have no right to claim it. It will remain on the throne, untouched by everyone until its rightful bearer returns to claim it."

George motioned to one of the stunned Lords in the front row, asking for his chair. He carried it over and placed it in front of, and one step below, the Throne. He then quickly whispered instructions to the Archbishop.

"Until that day, until the return of the Queen, I will rule in her stead, hopefully with her blessing, only as Steward to the Throne of Bretonia. I will wear none of the Royal Regalia, nor claim any of the Royal Titles."

George knelt again and took the quickly modified oaths. When he finished, he sat down on the much simpler chair he had placed near the Throne. Applause erupted throughout the Cathedral, only the Gallic delegation remaining quiet. He could see the fury on the Governor's face, but he was sure he'd get away with it. Any sycophant they found to take his place would never be accepted by the Bretonian people. They needed him, and they knew it. That didn't mean they wouldn't find some other way to make George suffer, though. Whatever happened from this day forward, however, he would at least retain his honour.