A Trial of Time- India/US Transference.

As of May 22, 2022, this chapter has been rewritten.

 

20th April, 1942,

Andrews Air Force Base,

Joint Base Andrews,

Maryland,

United States of America.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, along with British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden, US Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Ambassador Winant stood on the tarmac (that had been completely sealed off by the US Secret Service and personnel from the US Army, Marines and Air Force), stretching their back, after they alighted from the US Navy’s CMV-22B Osprey that ferried them from the USS George Washington. 

The initial idea of using a C-2 Greyhound was shot down when it was realised that the catapult launch would seriously affect the British Prime Minister’s back. Thus, the Osprey was used, which meant that the party had to visit multiple carriers in the North Atlantic Region before the last leg to Andrews. Despite all that, it was clear that the journeys in the Osprey were only marginally better.

However, men like Prime Minister Churchill and General Eisenhower still retained curiosity about the aircraft they had used for their journey. General Eisenhower theorised that the aircraft was a combination of a helicopter and a plane that could switch in mid-flight.

As the men reacquainted themselves with the solid ground, a tall <insert ethnicity> man, dressed to the nines in a fancy suit, approached the four men and held his hand out to shake. “Mister Prime Minister, General, Mr. Foreign Secretary, and Mr. Ambassador. Welcome to the United States of America. I am Evan Perry, the Secretary of State, and it is an honour and pleasure to welcome you here.”

Prime Minister Churchill was the first to take the Secretary of State’s hand and firmly shook it. “The pleasure is mine, young man.”

He was followed by Foreign Secretary Eden and US Ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1942, John Gilbert Winant and then by General Eisenhower, who said, “You got a firm handshake, son.”

Perry gave everyone a nod of acknowledgement, before he pointed a little distance away to a fleet of black Chevrolet suburbans, and more importantly two custom-built armoured Cadillac Limousines. All the cars had flags of the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and India. “Gentlemen. Allow me to introduce you to The Beast. It’s the official state car of the President, and on President Potts’ personal request the Secret Service have made an exception to transporting you directly to the White House in those cars.” Secretary Perry said as he looked at Eisenhower, Churchill, Eden, Molotov, and the Indian Foreign Secretary. “Of course, the Secret Service was more than willing to do this when they heard that General Eisenhower was also coming.” 

“What makes me so special?” General Eisenhower asked in confusion.

“Former President of the United States.” Perry said, much to the General’s surprise.

“Well, I have to say.” Churchill started. “I believe Congratulations are in order, General.”

“The only thing I want to know is how and why.” General Eisenhower said.

“You can access the White House Library when we reach. Maybe you can even ask the President.” Perry said, before he turned to Churchill. “Prime Minister, you are scheduled for a meeting with the President.”

“I see.” Prime Minister Churchill said as he contemplatively looked at cars while stroking his chin. However, he quickly broke himself from contemplation as he spoke to the US State Secretary. “I am looking forward to the meeting, Mr. Perry.”

As the group made their way to the helicopter, the four men looked around the base in awe, taking in the sights. However, it was General Eisenhower who noticed something.

“Mr. Perry, if I could ask you a question.” General Eisenhower started, making the man turn to him, “Is this base always so… busy?”

“Well… We are having another plane landing in a short time. So they are preparing for its arrival.” Perry said.

“And who might they be?” Foreign Secretary Eden asked, as Churchill hoped it wasn’t the Germans.

“Uh… It’s the Soviets.” Perry said. Churchill gave a quiet breath of relief.

“You got in touch with the Soviets too?” General Eisenhower asked incredulously.

“Well, it was more like our US Navy bumped into the Soviet Navy up in the Bering Strait, which soon made its way up both command chains. Apparently, they were wondering why there was a sudden stop in supply shipments and assumed the Japanese sunk all of our ships. The folks from the Russian Embassy helped us in acting as a third party during a short meeting in Alaska, after which they decided to send Foreign Minister Molotov, who is leading a delegation.”

“Good. Good.” Churchill said approvingly. “If I may be so bold to say, I am completely willing to wait for the Soviets and leave with them.”

“Are you sure?” Perry asked. “The car would be comfortable.”

“Not to worry, young man.” Churchill said, dismissing Perry’s concerns. “If nothing else, standing up would certainly help me after that trip through the Atlantic.”

“Very well.” Perry said, before he had a brief conversation with a member of the Secret Service, who nodded and then left while he spoke in his earpiece.

“I guess we’re lucky for the fact that we don’t have to wait so long.” Perry said three minutes later.

“What makes you say that?” Ambassador Winant asked.

“The Soviets are landing.” Perry said, as he pointed to the distance and everyone turned to look in that direction.

Prime Minister Churchill and Foreign Secretary Eden watched with piqued curiosity as a large, long bodied plane with two jet turbines began lowering its altitude almost silently before it touched the ground. That interest soon turned to disbelief when they saw the words ‘भारत’ (Bhaarat) and ‘India’, along with a symbol that Churchill and Eden recognised as Ashoka’s Lions between the two words. The plane was white in colour, save for the spaced orange and green stripe below the windows, the Air Force roundel and the tricolour flag on the tail.

“What aircraft is that?” Ambassador Winant asked.

“That’s the Boeing 777-300ER, custom made in our Boeing facility down in Texas for VVIP Transport of the President, Vice-President, and Prime Minister of India. Its usual call sign is Air India One.” Perry answered. While the reactions of Eden and Churchill were varied, the former in disbelief, and the latter in concealed anger, General Eisenhower looked contemplative as he digested this new information, already trying to figure out how could this India, independent, if he read between the lines properly, be helpful in their fight against the Axis.

Meanwhile, the Indian Boeing 777-300ER was already taxiing towards the same area where the group was waiting. That’s when Perry spoke again. “From the passenger manifest I was given by the Indian Embassy before I came here, the plane is carrying a delegation from the Soviet Union led by Foreign Minister Molotov, officials from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the British High Commission to India, which includes the High Commissioner himself.”

‘Good. Maybe someone will be able to explain this Independence nonsense to me then!’ Churchill thought, as he tracked the large aircraft with his eyes.

“Wait a minute.” Eden started. “Why didn’t personnel from the British Embassy to the United States not come here with you, Mr. Perry?”

“DOD wouldn’t allow it.” Mr. Perry bluntly replied. “The email had a long line of excuses that was so mind numbing, I already forgot most of it by the time I closed it. But they will be meeting you at the White House.”

The Indian plane completed its final procedures and began powering down while base personnel attached a stepladder on the door. A few minutes later, the door opened and the Foreign Minister of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Vyacheslav Molotov, stepped out of the plane and got down to the stairs.

“Prime Minister Churchill.” Molotov said, as he greeted the man. The group had made their way closer to the plane once the doors had opened.

“Minister Molotov.” Churchill greeted back as the two men shook hands. Molotov then shook hands with Anthony Eden, General Eisenhower and Ambassador Winant before he was face to face with Perry.

“Mr. Molotov. I am Evan Perry, the Secretary of State. On behalf of the US Government, I welcome you to the United States of America.” Perry said.

“Thank you, Mr. Perry. On behalf of the People of the USSR, I thank you for having this meeting on such short notice.” Molotov replied.

“Ah… High Commissioner Evans. How’ve you been?” Perry asked as he shook hands with another man who descended down the steps.

“I’ve been good, Secretary Perry. Of course, all this notwithstanding.” Evans replied.

“Ah, right. Mr. Evans, you may already know them from the history books, but I’ll still do the introductions. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the US Ambassador to the United Kingdom John G. Winant. Gentlemen, Mr. Thomas Evans, the British High Commissioner to the Republic of India.” 

“Gentlemen.” Evans said as he shook everyone’s hands.

The last group to come down the steps were the officials from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, and after another round of introductions, everyone bundled into the motorcade before they left Andrews Air Base.

As the motorcade (which was given a police escort by the Maryland State Police the second it left Andrews) made its way via Maryland into Washington, D.C. The eyes of everyone from the 1940s were glued to their windows. 

For Churchill himself, this was a very different United States than the one he had visited the last time. Last time he had come to this side of the Atlantic, there was a general mood of grief, hopelessness and more importantly, rage, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941, or as Roosevelt put it, “A day that will go down in infamy!”

However, in this America, the mood was… different. Churchill was not sure how he should word it, but he had a queasy feeling in his gut. As if a voice was in his head telling him that he should not expect his objective to be met smoothly. On the other hand, while it was disappointing that there were no flying cars yet, the amount of cars on the road was mind-boggling, to say the least.

Half an hour later, the Maryland State Police was joined by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia aka the MPDC, making the former turn back once the motorcade crossed into Washington, DC. Men like Churchill and Eisenhower could not help but notice the weapons the MPDC officers on the street were carrying, and the latter would have confused them for soldiers had their badges and vests not clearly said ‘POLICE’. 

That was, until another group of armed men could be seen as they got deeper into the US Capital. “Why is the Army deployed on the streets of Washington, Secretary Perry?” Churchill asked. His question was supplemented by General Eisenhower’s “Army is not allowed to be deployed on US Soil unless there is a risk of invasion.”

“Yep.” Perry replied with a nod, before he turned to Churchill. “That’s not the Army. That’s the DC Army National Guard.”

“National Guard?” General Eisenhower asked incredulously. “My friend, I thought these men were US Army. That is not how the National Guard looks!”

“Well… I’m not part of the DOD so… I guess the only ones who could answer your questions about this are the Secretary of Defence or the Joint Chiefs of Staff.” Perry replied diplomatically, to which General Eisenhower could not say much. 

But as he looked at another bunch of National Guard soldiers when the motorcade took another turn, he noticed the camouflage pattern in their uniform. From what he knew, before the… switch, the only soldiers who used camouflage were the paratroopers in order to not be detected by enemy ground patrol following their insertion. Over here, it looked like even the average joe was given such a uniform.

[-Linebreak-]

White House

Washington D.C.

The motorcade reached the White House some time later. However, they were all informed that President Potts was currently in a meeting with CEOs of some American companies that would extend through lunch. Thus, now the entourage had some time to kill. 

Using this as an opportunity, the British Ambassador to the United States requested if he and his colleagues could get a meeting room where they could properly brief the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary in regards to their meeting with the President and give him the contents of his speech that he had managed to send ahead to them. The Secret Service led them to a room that was not scheduled for anything.

Meanwhile, the Soviet Union delegation were led to another room where they had a meeting with the US State Department led by Alan Perry and a delegation from the Embassy of the Russian Federation led by the Russian Ambassador to the United States also being in attendance.

Finally, General Eisenhower decided to learn more about the history of this America. Maybe even try to get some tips from his past counterparts and colleagues who dealt with the menace in Europe and East Asia. And if he then had the time, he could learn more about what the United States did following the Second World War. 

For that, he was escorted to the White House Library by a Secret Service Agent who had been assigned to him. Their rationale being that former Presidents get a permanent Secret Service escort. That made the General do a double take.

For now, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden sat in a Private Meeting Room within the White House. Outside the room, two Secret Service agents were posted. The other attendants of this meeting were the British Ambassador to the United States of America, Shawn Hodge, the British High Commissioner to the Republic of India, Thomas Evans, and the Section Chief of MI6, Ian MacFarlane. The latter was currently checking the room for any bugs that could have been planted by any of the American Intelligence Services.

“Room’s clear.” MacFarlane said as he sat down on his chair. “No bugs. We can talk.”

“Thank you, Ian.” Hodge said as he opened his bag and took out a manilla folder. “We received a copy of your speech to the US Congress, Prime Minister, and the War Cabinet had sent us. That along with your own personal notes from when you were on board <Insert US Aircraft Carrier>. We had to make a few edits, of course.”

“Not many, I hope.” Churchill said as he took the offered folder and then wore his reading glasses. He spent a few minutes carefully reading it and then raised his head to look at the men in front of him, who had blank expressions on their face, before he read the edited speech again.

“Gentlemen, I believe there has been a mistake.” Prime Minister Churchill said, calmly.

“How so, Prime Minister?” Ambassador Hodge asked.

“The entire meaning of the speech has been changed.” Churchill replied, as he handed it to Eden to go through. 

“It seems to me that your team has completely cut off the parts where I advocate for a stronger and more united British Empire after this war, where we advocate for the continuous proliferation of European and Christian civilisation and culture. In turn, your… ‘edits’ talk more about the rather frightfully rapid retreat of the Empire and the upholding of this LGBTQIA, whatever on Earth that means, and a… financial compensation to our African Colonies! What preposterous humbug is this?”

Anthony Eden meanwhile, who just finished reading the speech (for the third time) only said, “What on God’s Green Earth did I just read?”

“Thank you, Mr. Eden.” Churchill said, finding a voice of reason in his Foreign Secretary.

“We have to take the audience into account, Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary.” Ambassador Hodge replied. “Your draft did not do that. We did. And we modified it accordingly.”

“This is not a modification, Ambassador.” Churchill said in a low voice, that had a good inch of steel in it, making the other occupants sit a little bit more straighter. 

“What your team has done has changed the entire bloody meaning of why this war is being fought for. Why bright young men from all over the Empire are losing their lives everyday fighting the fascist menace from Europe to Africa to Asia. Why do soldiers posted in London go to homes across the length and breadth of Great Britain and tell the parents and wives, those men left behind, that their son or husband has been killed in action? Why are the people of Britain willing to fight with broken beer bottles in the event of a German invasion of our island? That’s the meaning you have changed, Mr. Ambassador.”

Shawn Hodge maintained eye contact with Winston Churchill for a few moments. The tension in the pin drop silence was so thick that it could be cut by a hot knife, before the former yielded with a sigh as he sat back on his chair. 

“I get what you’re trying to say, but that spur won’t work with them. Especially because of the messenger.”

“What do you mean?” Churchill asked, confused.

“I mean what I said.” Ambassador Hodge replied.

“Oh I heard that part.” Churchill countered. “I just do not understand what you are trying to convey.”

“We can work that out in a second, Prime Minister,” Ambassador Hodge said, in an effort to stall Churchill. “But for now we have to work on which members of Congress you will have to meet–”

“No, no.” Churchill refused as he wagged his index finger. 

“You wish to tell me something. Yet you’re hesitating in saying it. I can hear what you’re saying, but I’m not able to comprehend you, and I wish to do just that. Stop beating around the bush and tell me in plain English.”

Ambassador Hodge struggled to build his word, and for a moment he looked to his counterpart posted to India who only said, “You tell him. I’m going to face the music for India, anyway. I have no hesitation in putting you in front of the firing line for this.” 

A similar sentiment was shared by MacFarlane. “You’re the boss on this one. I say, take points.”

"Alright, I'll say it plainly. Bluntly or no holds barred, maybe, Prime Minister." Hodge started. The tone he used made the hair behind the necks of Eden and Churchill stand up. 

"As far as you are concerned, the modern, American public, regards Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom as a racist, homophobic, imperialistic pig of a politician at the helm of an Empire, which has profited from the slavery and subjugation of India and Africa, white supremacy, enforcing heterosexual orthodoxy while restricting sexuality that is capitalistic and is immorally bourgeois.”

“I did not understand a word of what you just said.” Churchill said as he sat back and blankly looked at Hodge.

“Talk about a word salad.” Eden commented.

“We’ll have to give them a crash course.” MacFarlane said.

One long explanation later saw Churchill fuming in his chair. It was a wonder how he hadn’t burst a blood vessel in his body as he was given a crash course in history of the world, in general, and Britain in particular. He had a feeling he would never learn the full of it, but what he’s heard so far, it was enough to make him rage, yet he controlled his temper. How he did so, was something he was sure he would reflect upon in the future.

[-Linebreak-]

Oval Office

West Wing

The White House

Washington D.C.

Churchill, Eden and Eisenhower sat across President of the United States, Emily Potts, in the Oval Office’s couch following a long wait for the President to complete her meeting. The President herself did not get much time to reorient herself, and because the meeting had gone through lunch, she quickly raided the kitchen for some snacks before she returned to the Oval Office to finally meet her important guests of the day. Despite her best efforts to not look so, it was clear to the three guests that the President was visibly exhausted when she was welcoming them.

Meanwhile, Winston Churchill had used lunchtime to calm down and smother his anger, only leaving it to a lowly sinner as he constantly ran the British Ambassador’s explanation of what happened to the United Kingdom. Churchill was not stupid, he knew that the future would be different, but what he heard had completely stumped him. Sure he knew that there will always be people critical of him, his time as the First Lord of the Admiralty during the Great War had obviously shown that. Then of course there was the opposition he had faced within the Party when he became Prime Minister. But this?

British men and women from the year 2025 finding his very existence to be revolting and defacing his statue in London (he still did not know what to feel about the fact there were statues dedicated to him)? He felt rather sick, if he was honest. There was the consolation that the Queen had attended his funeral. Again, another topic that weirded out the Prime Minister.

Anthony Eden on the other hand, sat beside the fuming bulldog, in quiet contemplation. The man had been made aware that he was the reason for the final nail in the coffin for the British Empire, following his handling of the 1957 Suez Crisis. That along with the fact that he had completely fumbled the aftermath which destroyed his political career.

On the contrary, General Eisenhower was rather pleased, only marginally mind you, based on what he read about the postwar America at least the two or three decades following the victory of the Allied Forces. After spending time in the White House library and then speaking to the librarian, his general outlook was comparatively more positive than the British leaders with him. He was particularly proud of his achievements as President, especially the Civil Rights Bill of 1957 and his handling of the Little Rock Incident. Sending the 101st Airborne to beat some sense into the head of the Arkansas Governor before federalizing the Arkansas National Guard was the right choice, which also saw the Civil rights activists supporting him.

While the initial improvements in the Civil Rights issue was good, almost everything after, save for maybe the 80s and 90s made the General shake his head in disappointment. Vietnam to begin with. Then there were the numerous adventures in the Middle East. Admittedly, the fact that Operation Eagle Claw even had to be carried out could perhaps be his fault because of his support to Operation Ajax, and then there was the nonsense American Foreign Policy in Eastern Europe following the collapse of the Soviet Union. And then there was the icing on the cake, the Military Industrial Complex. From what he could understand, these companies were now too big to fail, and had strong lobbyists in Congress. It’s like this America had not even heard his future (or was it past) self’s warning about the MIC.

“I understand this might be feeling very weird for you gentlemen. After all, it isn’t everyday one knows their future. Or what it could have been.” President Potts said, deciding to break the awkward silence and nervous tension.

“I can reciprocate that sentiment, Madam President.” Churchill replied, as he held his hands together before noticing a bronze bust that bared his likeness. “Forgive me, that bust seems familiar.”

Potts nodded in affirmation to Churchill’s question, “That is you. A reminder of the 'Special Relationship' that was forged between our nations during and after the Second World War.”

"You mean the war that is going on right now? Is that what you call it in the future?" Churchill asked to confirm. 

"Yes." Potts responded, "For us, the Second World War ended eighty years ago, thus we refer to it in the past tense."

“You think that is strange, Madam President?” General Eisenhower asked. “I was here three months ago and this place is completely alien to the America I knew."

"I understand. If there is anything you need, just ask." Potts said, before adding, “If I may be so bold. Ever since I was a teenager, I had been fascinated with historical figures and historical events." 

"Oh really?" Churchill asked. 

"Yes. To be honest, you gentlemen definitely rank amongst the top in my favourite historical figures list." President Potts said.

"Um... Thank you?" General Eisenhower replied, not understanding where this conversation was going. 

"She's not gonna do what I think she's gonna do." The White House Chief of Staff murmured in prayer. 

"She's gonna do exactly what you think she's not gonna do." Came the reply from the President's Private Secretary. 

"Can I take a selfie with you, gentlemen?" President Potts asked, giddy with excitement. 

Behind the couch where the President's guests were sitting, a COS/Cabinet member made a motion of desperately running his hand across his face and then put two fingers in his temple and quietly mouthed 'BANG!'

Both men look at each other, confused. They agree to the 'selfie', even though they seem confused by the term.

"You can't be serious." The Private Secretary said, annoyed, and obviously far enough that these comments cannot be heard.

"It is what it is." Another Secretary replied.

Over the next fifteen minutes, Potts took pictures with the two historical figures (Eden: Am I a joke to you?)(Yes UwU), showing off modern smartphones, much to the curiosity of the two. Showing them what such a small device was capable of doing, implying how advanced technology had gotten by the twentieth-first century and what it had to offer.

After a relaxing laugh, Potts sits down. "Thank you very much. My husband would love this." 

"I will say, I never had a welcome like that before," Eisenhower said. "But, it is important to get to the matter at hand.

"From what we understand, you already beat the Axis once. And with your knowledge, we can do it now." Eisenhower said.

“Madam President, your government would honour the agreement, right?” Churchill chimed in as well, putting his point across. 

“Well, technically we have to get it passed through Congress first.” Potts responded to Churchill’s inquiry, much to their surprise.

“But you are in a way, at war with the Axis alliance aren’t you, Madam President?” Churchill asked, a bit stupified by what he just said.

“Yes indeed we are, the US Navy is constantly defending against the Axis u-boats and submarines as we speak.”

“Then why not officially declare war on the Axis Countries again? Doesn’t the President have enough power? I read about it in the library.” Eisenhower said, hoping to remind the President of the power she had based on the current legislation in the United States.

“Yes, but that’s against non-state actors. The legality of which, has always been very tenuous, and has had every White House Legal Counsel spending multiple sleepless nights.” President Potts replied. “What you are asking me to do, is take unilateral action, without Congressional approval, mind you, against multiple nations. Congress will have me politically lynched. They are hesitant right now as it is.”

“Is this because of our debacles in Vietnam and the Middle East?” Eisenhower asked, getting a surprised expression from Churchill, who had no idea about what the General was talking about. He decided to needle this out from the British Ambassador after this meeting.

Potts hesitated to respond to the question, taking a moment to think it through, before she could respond, “Yes, you are right.”

“So, what happens next?” Churchill asked Potts, worried that the visit to Washington would go to waste.

“Well, it is a good thing you are already planning to meet with Congress later.” Potts responded.

‘Yeah… Meeting… Speech… Sure…’ Churchill thought as he momentarily closed his eyes and rolled them.

---[+]---

21st April 1942
US House of Representatives

United States Congress

Washington DC.

Churchill stood in front of Congress, his speech prepared in hand as he stepped on the pedestal, all eyes on him. He was used to all this attention, having given many more speeches after becoming the Prime Minister during the war.

He had calmed down for now. Having accepted the politically correct speech given to him by the Ambassador, that had removed the majority of all the points he wished to make. Gone were the talk of the benefits of the empire. Gone were the ideas of the European empires bringing Civilization, and gone were the benefits of the Christian Civilization.

On one thing however, he had to give the Ambassador and his staff credit. They predicted that this speech would also be intently listened to by the Indian Government and its people. Thus making this speech for both America and India. Churchill was no fool. Despite what he thought about the Indians, even he knew they were ferocious fighters and had willingly fought in the First World War and were even now fighting against the Japanese in South East Asia and the Germans and Italians in North Africa. Britain needed the technology of the Americans and the numbers of the Indians. He knew that the Germans would definitely be listening to this speech. He could not cock it up, lest the Germans convince the Americans to sit out the war in Europe or manage to get the Indians on their side. Regardless of how much the revulsion he felt inside him, he could not waver. At Least until the Fascists were dealt with.

“I begin by saying that I am not advocating controversy. On the contrary, I call for historic feuds to die. To let personal quarrels be forgotten, and keep our focus on the common threat.”

“The sins of the past cannot be easily forgiven, or wiped away. In fact they are written in stone, and only weathered by the ageing of time. It serves to remind future generations of their past. Educate them. And inform them of where their ancestors wronged.”

“Nonetheless, the future can be changed. No longer will the errs of the old world be repeated. The United Kingdom, the United States of America and the Republic of India, are three nations that have been linked together in the past, and must now come together to work together for this endeavour.”

“Despite large tracts of the world; many old and famous nations and cultures having fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo, the Kempeitai, the OVRA and all the odious apparatus of Facist’s rule, we must not flag or fail.”

“History has shown what appeasement has done to the future, may it be the policy that defined the last decade, or the Cold War of the future ones. It’s been seen that only decisive action has ensured the safety of sovereign nations.”

“I implore you, not only their representatives, but to you, the people of this United States of America, who pledge their allegiance to the flag with 50 stars and 13 stripes, to not sit back and allow the real Nazis to run amock, and enslave the free world under their facist thumb.”

“And I ensure that the seas of our nations, be it in the Atlantic, Pacific or the Indian Ocean, the British fleet shall ensure its security; our free nations with all its power and might, step forth to the rescue to the freedom of the new and the liberation of the old.”

[-Linebreak-]

22nd April 1942

Andrews Air Force Base,

Joint Base Andrews,

Maryland,

United States of America.

Following Prime Minister’s Churchill speech at Congress, he was taken to his guest lodgings, Blair House, which he was sharing with Foreign Secretary Eden. The Prime Minister was free for the rest of the day. The only other event on his itinerary would be the White House Dinner in the evening. Churchill and Eden spent the rest of the afternoon meeting the Ambassadors of Canada (who had already made contact with the 1942 Government of Canada), Australia and New Zealand. Once that was done, Churchill held a meeting with the British High Commissioner to India and the Indian Ambassador to the United States and got another crash course of Indian history and relationship with Britain after their independence in 1947. 

Meanwhile, General Eisenhower spent the entire day at the Pentagon. Over there, he was given a full access tour (owing to his status as General, former President and the personal authority granted by the Secretary of Defence and the President) of the building, before he held a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In that meeting, he, along with Admiral Chester Nimitz (who had also decided to come to Washington DC from Hawaii, especially when he heard that General Eisenhower was on the way), briefed the Joint Chiefs of Staff about the current situation with the war effort in the European and Pacific Campaigns.

As evening approached, the invitees to the White House Dinner party were veritable who’s who of the ruling elite of Washington DC. The invitees included the Vice-President, the entire Cabinet, Speaker of the House, Leaders of both parties in the House of Representatives and Senate, other members of Congress who were part of important Congressional committees, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, heads of the embassies of NATO countries and other important US Non-Nato allies such as Australia and New Zealand. Due to the rather unique situation, even Foreign Minister Molotov and his delegation were invited along with the senior officials of the Russian Embassy, despite the frosty relationship that had existed between the United States and Russia before the switch. Another noticeable invitee was the Indian Ambassador to the United States, someone who had become a recurring presence to the White House following the switch.

As Churchill reflected on the previous evening while the motorcade was making its way to Andrews Air Base, where he would take Air India One for his visit to New Delhi, he already knew that this trip had definitely shaken his world view and Britain’s relationship with the United States had been changed forever. Despite the rather pleasant evening with the American political elite, he was already worried about the rather socialist leaning that existed in the United States and also the fact that from what he understood of the relationship between the two countries, Great Britain had, if put extremely crudely, become the United States’ bitch. That was something Churchill swore would not be allowed to happen under any circumstances. For now, however, he would pretend to acquiesce what he foresaw would be ridiculous demands as right now, they had to win this war. At Least there he was confident. It could be won.

With regards to his next trip, the Government of India had sent an invitation to the British High Commission just as they were more or less securing the West, what they called Pakistan, and the East, what was called Bangladesh. The official reasoning of the Indian Government was that it wished to return all British nationals that made up the British Indian Army and the Royal Indian Air Force who had been captured as Prisoners of War and extend a peace offering of the inadvertent war that had started between them, which would allow the Indian Army relieve the siege they had put in place in Chittagong.

Of course, Churchill was no fool. He knew that the Indians would in turn demand political and diplomatic concessions. A few weeks ago, he would have vehemently refused, but from what he had seen so far, and heard from the High Commissioner, the relationship between Britain and India had developed by leaps and bound following the latter’s independence, and despite the popular rumours being that he was a man who refused diplomacy, even he knew when to bite the bullet. Of course, that same courtesy would still not be extended to the Axis. And this India if they join the Axis.

For now, he didn’t have to like it, but he had no choice but to accept it. Furthermore, the lads of the British Indian Army would be overjoyed when they hear that their Prime Minister personally came to negotiate their release, which would definitely earn him political points back home. Plus, based on the figures he had already read, both nations made a lot of money in trade, especially following the signing of the Anglo-Indian Free Trade Agreement of 2023.

As Churchill climbed the stairs of the aeroplane, he took a last look at the United States, before he turned and went inside the aircraft. After being greeted by an airhostess, he was led to a window seat in the VIP section of the plane. Eden sat beside him, and  the High Commissioner was seated in front of them. Apparently, the man was afraid of flying, and had already lowered the window blinds and focused on his documents. General Eisenhower took the open window seat directly in front of Churchill and took out his own briefcase which contained documents that had been given to him by the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, many of which he had to deliver to the US Navy’s highest ranking officer in the Indian Ocean. The other guests such as Molotov and his delegation, along with the Indian delegation were also seated in the VIP section, and handling their own business

As Churchill leaned back into the seat, awaiting for the plane to begin pushback, he decided to rifle through the contents of the seat pocket and was pulled out a small booklet that had ‘Shubh Yatra’ on the cover along with a photo of the Gateway of India and text, ‘Rediscover Mumbai’.

“Interesting.” Churchill murmured before he turned to the High Commissioner. “Mr. Evans, would you know what this is?”

“In-flight magazine.” Evans replied. “I read it when we were coming here. It’s pretty neat.”

“Thank you.” Churchill said as he opened to read it. From what he was seeing, it did seem interesting. The last time he had gone to India was 1896 after all. So he was at least curious.