Six hours later, in the capital city of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
King George III was on the balcony of the Windsor Palace, staring vacantly at the streets below with a pale face. He had received news that the British English Channel Fleet was under attack by the Franco-Spanish Fleet attempting to cross the Channel and pave the way for the invasion.
Now, he was waiting for an update from his Prime Minister about the development of the situation.
"Your Majesty," spoke the manservant behind him. "Prime Minister Pitt has arrived in the palace. Should I get him to you?"
"Yes," King George said and the manservant nodded, quickly disappearing back into the palace. King George III continued to stand on the balcony, his fingers clutching the railing tightly.
Moments later, Prime Minister Pitt entered the balcony, his expression grave yet resolute. He walked briskly towards the King, his footsteps echoing in the quiet tension of the moment. As he approached, he gave a respectful nod and then cleared his throat.
"Your Majesty," Pitt began. "I bring you the latest report on the fleet's engagement with the enemy."
King George turned his attention fully to his Prime Minister, his eyes locked onto Pitt's as he awaited the crucial information.
"Tell me, Pitt. What news do you bring?"
Pitt took a moment to collect his thoughts before speaking. "The Admiralty has informed me of the development of our fleet, and was told that our English Channel Fleet has been…" he trailed off, his face visibly weighed down by the burden of the news he was about to deliver. The King's gaze intensified, and he leaned in slightly, prompting Pitt to continue.
"...has been decimated, Your Majesty," Pitt finally managed to say with a sorrowful tone. "The battle has taken a grave turn. Admiral Cornwallis, Admiral of the English Channel Fleet, has lost his life in the midst of the battle."
The King's eyes widened. "Cornwallis... No," he whispered, his voice barely audible. His heart sank as the weight of the loss settled upon him.
Pitt's gaze was empathetic as he locked eyes with the King.
"Your Majesty, I think it's time that we prepare for the worst. With the decimation of our English Channel Fleet, it is only a matter of time for the French to invade our island."
"This can't be happening…" King George's pale face grew even more solemn, and he looked out over the horizon, where London is situated. "I thought…I thought—How did the Franco-Spanish Fleet escape the blockade? I thought we had them blockaded?"
"We were fooled, Your Majesty," Pitt said. "The squadron that is blockading the French Fleet at Brest has managed to break through the blockade. We thought that it was heading for Saint-Domingue to retake it so our squadron made a pursuit. Little did we know, that it was all ruse made by the French Republic. Their main target is to lure the squadron out of their position which they did. It was too late before the Admiral commanding the squadron, Admiral Calder realized it."
"So you're suggesting this is an intelligence failure on our part?" King George's voice carried a sharp edge, his jaw visibly tensing and his gaze narrowing as he absorbed the implications of the situation.
"Yes, Your Majesty. It appears that our intelligence was misled, and the enemy exploited that to their advantage. Admiral Calder and his squadron fell into the trap, and as a result, the Franco-Spanish Fleet managed to get to the English Channel."
"So what should we do now, Pitt? The French you said are going to invade Great Britain now that they have a navy to accommodate the invasion."
"The Secretary of State for War, Henry Dundas, said that they are making preparations for the island's defenses. We have anticipated the invasion of the French before when they tried to invade Ireland. As a result, there were defensive fortifications constructed along the coast, specifically at Romney Marsh, the closest point between France and Great Britain. The Militia and the Army stationed in England are being mobilized and heading there as we speak. We'll do everything in our power to prevent the French landing."
The more King George III listened to Pitt, the more his heart ached with worry.
"I could have prevented this," King George said. "We could have negotiated the terms demanded by the French. Now we are to face the entire might of the French Army on our soil. We have to prevent this invasion at all costs. Have you reached out to the Austrian? Tell them to attack France and promise them that I'll give them five million sterling pounds."
"It's too late for that, Your Majesty, and they are likely going to refuse…"
"How about the United States? They have a territory in North America right? Louisiana was it? Tell them they can take it, we will support them."
"That's also unlikely, Your Majesty. The United States policy of isolationism is going to make it hard for us to convince them—"
"THEN WHAT THE HELL ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?" King George's voice erupted in a sudden burst of anger, interrupting Pitt's words. His entire frame trembled with the intensity of his emotions. "Pitt, you have promised me that you would do everything in your power to prevent things from happening, but now that they are happening. Hearing you tell me that WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DEFEND OURSELVES… it sounds like defeat already! Is there no strategy left? No recourse?"
"There is Your Majesty…"
"Be honest to me Pitt, can our men defend Great Britain should the French land? TELL ME!"
"No—Your Majesty…we can't—our army would stand no chance against the French. The army stationed in England had no battle experience comparable to the French forces. The English Channel Fleet was our first and last line of defense, and its destruction has left us vulnerable."
King George III's anger ebbed away, replaced by a chilling realization that settled deep within him.
"Then what awaits us, Pitt? If our fleet is gone, our army is unprepared..." The words trailed off, a haunting silence taking over the balcony.
"What awaits us is a struggle unlike any we have faced before. Our military strength may be diminished, but our resolve is not. We may not have the upper hand in warfare, but we have the power to rally our people, to unite them against a common threat. For that, I need Your Majesty, you have to speak to the people. Tell them that there is a man hell-bent on destroying us coming here."
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