Drury-Lowe walks right up to George and asks "Are you daft? I was under the impression that you attempting to stop a minor war. Now it appears that you wish to incite a major one instead. I am not sure that you understand the degree of latitude that General Wolseley has been granted in this situation. Do you want a military occupation of Egypt by Great Britain? Honestly sir, that is not what we are seeking. But if we are forced to do that as the only means of preventing an economic collapse of our banking system, then that is what we will have to do."
George stares hard at the man for a moment. "You are welcome, again, for allowing me to save your life." begins George with such acidity that the words hang in the air. "Daft am I? Daft as a fox? Or simply David to the Imperial Goliath? I don't care what latitude Woolsely has been granted if he will act as an impertinent toady to Gladstone's slavish devotion to the lending houses of London. The fact remains that Gladstone's only motivation is economic. And if you want to use that as justification for an invasion? How will the British press spin that into a jingoistic rhetoric? The fact is that these people here deserve self-determination, not subjugation. Economic, militarily or political. Perhaps it is naivety, perhaps I am idealistic and not realistic. But in your heart sir, do you thing that the rampant expansion of the British Empire and subjugation of millions of people who had their own government and economic systems, all to line the pockets of noblemen and plutocrats in London is ethical? Is what the gods would deem just, good or holy? I don't believe so. Just because Britian has found itself ahead of the curve in technology does not give it free reign to crush other cultures. But then again it was your brutal treatment of the Irish that lead to having the man power to grow such an Empire in the first place.
As for war. Well, it would seem war had come to Egypt whether I would it or not. But ask yourself this Drury, after the Afghan War, the Zulu War, Ninth-Xhosa, the Boer War, which is heating up again from what I hear. Nigeria and Burma are proving to be very difficult for the army to penetrate and exert control over. 'The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire'." drones George. "If you wish to have Woolsely involve the Empire in yet another war so be it. I understand the strategic and military significance of the canal. I also know how underhanded, manipulative and strong armed the British were in getting it built with a crappy deal that left Egypt holding all the debt while English Banks reaped all the profits with no risk.
So maybe I am daft for wanting justice. Maybe I am daft for demanding fair treatment, maybe I am daft for risking a larger war. But I know what is right. I know what needs to be. Are these absolute demands? Perhaps. Am I willing to listen to compromises, absolutely. I am a negotiator, that is what I am here to do. But do not think these are idle threats. Britain has no legal standing to be here, not even to secure it's 'economic interests'. I am a man of convictions, a man of beliefs, a man of courage. And I will not back down from a fight because a bully threatens me. " George finally stops, he had been getting heated, his finger had extended and he had been shaking it at the General. These were things he had kept suppressed from the negotiations table. But here he had let his emotions loose. "My apologies General. I became rather emotional. Do not discount the words, rather take the passion they were spoken with and magnify their meaning with it."
