Capítulo 1873: Chapter 807: Every Era Eventually Fades Away
Second, establish the Scottish Transitional Security Council, with half of its mbers from us and the other half from the reorganized Scottish police, to jointly oversee the security of all regions outside these five bases. International observers will be stationed, with half of them within the Safe Zone under our control. Third, and most importantly—”
He turned around, the candlelight casting deep shadows on his face:
“The referendum options are not just a simple choice between independence or remaining with the United Kingdom. There must be a third option: a Highly Autonomous Kingdom within the Commonwealth, possessing all powers except for foreign and defense affairs, while retaining the right to hold another independence referendum in the future.”
Donald was stunned: “This… this is too complicated! London will never agree to a third option! This is tantamount to an implicit acknowledgnt of Scotland’s right to secede!”
“They must agree.”
McTavish lowered his voice, “Because this is our only condition for a ceasefire, otherwise, the Skye Bridge is just the beginning. Next will be the Forth Bridge, the Clyde Tunnel, and Glenbain’s power lines… We can paralyze Scotland. By then, let’s see whether London succumbs to economic collapse first, or if we starve to death.”
He walked up to Donald, bending down to stare into his eyes: “Donald, you go tell those gentlen in London, and also those spectators in Brussels and New York. Scots are not commodities to be sold. We are negotiators holding guns. If you want peace, you must accept our conditions. If you want war…” He straightened up, his hand resting on the gun handle at his waist, “We will accompany you to the end.”
Donald could sense the resolute determination emanating from this man in front of him, not a re bluff.
This was not the calculation of a politician but the ultimatum of a warrior.
“I will do my best to convey it,” Donald said with difficulty.
McTavish: “You have three days. If we haven’t received a formal response from London in three days, the next target for bombing on the A9 Road won’t be a bridge, but a troop transport train. I an what I say.”
On the sa day, London, Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s private study
Outside the window, the ticulously manicured garden, but Queen Elizabeth II’s gaze was unfocused.
In front of her lay a summary briefing from Downing Street, alongside another top-secret report from the Royal Intelligence Officer.
The briefing summary was written very tactfully, but its core ssage was clear: the Cabinet leaned towards accepting a referendum for Scotland to “avoid a complete collapse and imasurable casualties.” The price was “severe damage to sovereignty” and “potential chain reactions.”
The report from the Royal Intelligence Officer was more direct, accompanied by several vague but shocking photos: tents and banners set up by protesters inside Birmingham City Hall; crowds gathered in the Liverpool Dock Area; there was even one picture from Cardiff, the capital of Wales, with a few young n saring slogans of “The End of English Rule.”
The last page of the report contained only one handwritten note from the intelligence officer: “Your Majesty, emotions are deteriorating. Discontent is shifting from the economy to the system. The ‘Heize Incident’ and subsequent suppression attempts are creating new martyrs and hatred. If Scotland becos independent, Northern Ireland is sure to follow. By then, the United Kingdom will be hanging by a thread.”
Hanging by a thread.
These four words pierced the calmness the Queen had cultivated over seventy years like an ice pick. She had lived through World War II, the Cold War, the Suez Crisis, the Northern Ireland conflict… but this ti, the enemy was not across the channel, not in distant islands, but at ho, on the streets, and possibly… within the palace.
She thought of Charles, still recuperating, his mood fluctuating, occasionally asking in panic: “Mother, will they also co to London? Will they storm Buckingham Palace?”
She thought of Andrew, her rebellious younger son, who even yesterday suggested “deploying the Gurkha troops, those Nepalese are loyal and ruthless,” which she sternly rebuked.
Loyalty? How much loyalty is left now?
A knock on the door sounded.
“Co in.”
It was her private secretary, Sir Robert Flos, who entered, his face equally grave.
“Your Majesty, the Pri Minister requests an ergency audience. He has brought Director Graham, along with an ‘additional proposal’ from xico.”
The Queen closed her eyes briefly. “Let them go to the Blue Drawing Room. I will be there in five minutes.”
In the Blue Drawing Room, the Pri Minister and Graham stood there, not sitting down. Both seed as if they hadn’t slept all night.
The Pri Minister handed a thin docunt to the Queen. It wasn’t a formal diplomatic note, and not even on headed paper, just a printed English clause.
The Queen quickly scanned it, her fingers trembling slightly.
The clauses’ essence was: xico is willing to “use all appropriate influence” to ensure Scotland accepts a “ti-limited, supervised referendum” and to help significantly reduce “violent activities during the referendum.” anwhile, “certain market forces” under xico’s control could “assist in stabilizing the British Pound exchange rate to a reasonable range.”
The exchange conditions are:
The British governnt must publicly commit imdiately not to conduct retaliatory military strikes against any “non-civilian-targeted military facility destruction” before and after the Scottish referendum.
The referendum frawork must include the “Highly Autonomous Kingdom” option, and the phrasing of this option must be “endorsed” by the xican side.
After the referendum, regardless of the outco, the UK must start “legally binding negotiations” with xico on the “legal status of the North Arican Great Lakes Region and surrounding territories” within three months.
The UK must vote in favor of or at least abstain in the UN and other international forums on xico’s “Global Decolonization and Humanitarian Revival Initiative.”
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