Edward saluted as he stepped into the Prime Minister’s office.

Conrad Livesy had been elected PM with a sliver-thin majority last year. Windsor had very little interaction with the man - in either of his personas - but there was no doubting that he was a gifted politician. Also, one in need of some good news.

Which is why, instead of a briefing with the Defence Minister, the entire top brass of the Royal Army had been summoned to a meeting at Number 10, Downing Street, to explain the revelations made by Belessar to the entire British Cabinet.

The PM, the Secretary of State for Defense, the Chiefs of Defence Staff and Army Staff, and - interestingly - the Chancellor of the Exchequer were all waiting.

“Thank you for coming, General Windsor,” said Livesy. “Please be seated.”

As Edward took a seat, the PM turned to the Defence Secretary. “William, you’ve read the reports. I want you and Robert to work out a plan.”

“I must strenuously object, Mr. Prime Minister,” said the Secretary. “We have only just come in possession of this information. We need to validate it before publishing it to the larger world.”

“And how would you validate it?” asked the Chancellor. “We’ve spent twenty years getting to this point, for God’s sake. How much longer will it take to get an independent confirmation?”

General Edgar Curry, the Chief of Army Staff, spoke up. “I must point out, sir, that the information we’ve gathered - and our sources - need to be treated as official secrets.”

“Secrets from whom?” asked the Chancellor. “The aliens haven’t shown they even care what we say. And humanity certainly needs to know this information.”

“Try to understand, William,” Livesy said patiently. “You need more money to upgrade our military in light of the London threat - I get that. But the only way we can get that money is through war bonds or increased taxes. Which the public will resist, if we don’t show evidence of success.”

“We did fine at Liverpool,” grumbled the Secretary.

The Chancellor fixed Windsor with a stare. “General Windsor, you led the defence against Liverpool. How much of the credit for the success needs to go to the American hero?”

Edward gulped internally. This wasn’t what he’d been expecting when he was summoned …. “A large part, sir. Without him we most certainly wouldn’t have been able to break the alien defence shield with so few casualties. Or … well, take any prisoners in the first place.”

“Or speak to them, if this report is anything to go by,” observed the Chancellor.

“We’d have figured out their language eventually, sir. We’re making progress every day.”

“Enough to verify what one prisoner’s said by asking the other in their language?”

“Eventually, sir, but it may take some time. Possibly a few weeks.”

“We don’t have time,” grumbled the Chancellor. “You want the funds, gentlemen? I need something to show the public for the money we’re asking for. Tangible proof of success.”

“Which is why we need to do a publicity campaign,” explained the PM. “And it has to come fast - before that damned Frenchman and the Stratospheric Guard decide to publish the findings anyway.”

“Sir, they won’t publish without informing us,” said Curry.

“Will they make sure the UK government gets the credit?” asked the Chancellor. “Because if it’s a joint effort, the British public will ask why they should foot the entire bill. Especially after the payouts for Liverpool.” He held up a hand. “I’m not saying we wouldn't give the heroes who risked their lives their due. I’m just saying we didn’t plan for it in this year’s budget.”

“Which is why I’m taking the decision,” said Livesy. “No, William, I’ve already heard the arguments. We need to show the world that British efforts - yes, British efforts - contributed to the successful extraction of information from the aliens. That’s the only way the public will be willing to back the higher taxes.”

“And take the credit away from Belessar?” asked the Secretary.

“I’m not saying don’t reward him. Windsor - you’re the one handling Belessar, right?”

Edward nodded. “As much as anyone can handle an ultra, sir, I am.”

“Keep him happy, please. Whatever he wants - a knighthood, a title, an OBE - just get him to back us on this.”

“He wants unfettered access to any tech about the aliens. Although if anyone deserves a knighthood, he certainly does.”

“Then we’ll give him both. No money, but you have full authority to give him any tech he wants access to. Just get him to agree to keep silent about his part in the interrogations.”

“I’ll do so, sir.”

“Good. Then we’re agreed, gentlemen - in two days’ time, the BBC will run a special report on the aliens, their society, their classifications, the whole thing.”

“Half the world will complain that they didn’t have input on it,” the Secretary pointed out.

“Foreign Affairs will manage it. Two days, gentlemen, and the BBC puts out the most important documentary in its history.”