Ever since Roman times, our island has relied upon strong leadership from those with an eye on the bigger picture. After Ireland reunited, our leaders made a difficult choice: to reduce the divisions in society by healing the fractured nature of our country with a new Union. The transition period was turbulent, with supply chain issues leading to food shortages. Instead of Legions, the Conservatives moved workers around the country until a tragic rail disaster led to the loss of many lives. This devastating accident provoked a spike in terrorist activity. After much heart-wrenching deliberation, Prime Minister Patel was forced to declare martial law.

Unlike Scotland, the Welsh accepted Westminster’s benevolence swiftly. The network of castles Edward I left in the thirteenth century provided a secure base for our heroes in the Armed Forces. These grand seats of power remain a boon to both nobility and commoners alike. Granaries and food stores benefit from the cool, thick stone walls which stood resolute against uprisings. Awe inspiring as tourist attractions prior to Unification, the re-fortification of these key points in the country’s infrastructure are historically resonant strongholds from which to dispense alms and justice. With rationing in place until 2025, no citizen could expect more than his fellows - those attempting to steal carefully managed resources faced the death penalty after a poll in the autumn of 2023 confirmed the electorates’ desire for a return to the natural order of the past. National Service and capital punishment were restored and met with widespread approval. The extremity of these sentences is proportional and underlines the seriousness of the situation we continue to collectively face.

It became clear that calls for another Independence Referendum in Scotland threatened the fragile stability our government had created. With Holyrood dissolved, Nicola Sturgeon was found guilty of treason. Radicalised extremists provoked civil unrest on an overwhelming scale. Turning their backs on the hope offered by Westminster’s strategic reforms, these rebels announced their intention to self govern. Their naive plans were ultimately doomed to failure as the transition period progressed. This did not prevent occupations from springing up in Glasgow, Perth and Dundee, among other pockets of terrorist activity. Dissidents had already protested the temporary relocation of citizens to farmland in the south of England by sealing themselves behind barricades, with the rail disaster encouraging them to increase the intensity of the onslaught.

I ask readers, what kind of person would turn their back on fellow Albians at such a time? Those dependent on the state surely owe a debt to the taxpayers bankrolling their lifestyles. It was necessary for the unemployed to play a part as the country pulled together. With comfortable hostels providing accommodation near the orchards and vegetable fields, the “Dig for Westminster” initiative created a common sense solution for those willing to contribute while Albian politicians negotiated new, improved trade deals across the globe.

Benefit claimants from Dundee had formed a large majority of the rail disaster death toll and residents launched a series of attacks on the East Coast Main Line in response. Prime Minister Patel decisively struck back: if this seditious rabble would refuse to acknowledge the sacrifices we were all making and see their countrymen starve, then they would see their own resources reduced. Unfounded accusations of human rights violations from the European Union were vastly exaggerated, as the tactically destroyed university and hospital sites were unused due to a lack of expertise among the rebels.

The outrageous sanctions placed upon our government and military remain in place to this day. Access to the Irish Sea is still constrained by frequent attacks by terrorists in Liverpool, aided by the Irish. Even now, the EU continues to interfere with our sovereignty, supplying terror cells with resources under the guise of aid. Negotiations had attempted to prevent a return to the dark days of the 1980s, yet violence and chaos appears to be the preferred choice of countries which owe so much to what was once Britain. That the law-abiding residents of Albion must live in fear for their lives goes against everything that the Conservatives hoped to create with their vision for the New Union. Short-sighted selfishness must never be allowed to thrive on our shores.

To reach Aberdeen avoiding the ravaged train lines, the safest route is now via ferry routes. From Dover to Fraserburgh, sea travel ensures goods and passengers alike are safely out of the reach of aggressors. The first of the fleet was named “Boaty McBoat Face” as a tribute to the resilience and humour of Albians.

Cabins aboard Sea Borne’s fleet are splendid, with cutting-edge design, high quality furnishings and every need provided for. Catering facilities are able to offer the freshest foods as they are restocked at each port of call.

Separating decks via individual entrances allows passengers to efficiently. I boarded the Executive Gold floor via the lounge in Hastings, having collected my Vêtements de Voyage. Passengers keep their own garments clean and securely stored while travelling, wearing the Hugo Boss leisure suits pre-ordered and tailored to each travelers’ measurements.

Albion’s revived textile industry creates jobs to ensure that skilled garment workers can once again make Albion synonymous with quality and accomplishment. In next month’s article, I will explore the philanthropic efforts of Aid for Rebel Children, a group of jewellery brands supporting the innocents tragically caught up in this incomprehensible struggle.

My journey to Aberdeen aboard the new Sea Borne Ferries alternative to the east coast railway, which was destroyed by terrorists in 2023, passed in uneventful luxury. Disembarking in Aberdeen, I was pleasantly surprised to find a city less altered by our turbulent recent history than I had feared.

Public transport has been improved by the Department for Transport’s training scheme which recruited unemployed Albians and fast-tracked qualifications for a variety of infrastructure needs, including HGV drivers and the classic Hackney Cabs. These offer an efficient network of experienced drivers, one of whom made the transfer to my hotel in the heart of Aberdeen as smooth as it was private and comfortable.

As a vital hub for the international oil industry, Aberdeen was protected fiercely from the anarchistic attacks which threatened people and property during the transition period which saw Prime Minister Priti Patel lead us into a new national identity, United Albion. Drawing on her experience as Home Secretary, Patel was able to defend strategic locations from the spiteful intimidation tactics of the European Union and NATO. It made little sense to remain part of organisations which would effectively prevent the nation from gaining the maximum benefit from our traditional industries, new opportunities and renegotiated trade deals. Aberdeen was one such location. Visitors and locals alike comment on the lack of disruption while only one hour south, rebels were erecting barricades as Dundee joined Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and other cities in turning their backs on the hope offered by a brave new dawn.

Even London saw some measure of unrest as liberal pockets protested decisions made under incredible duress, common sense solutions to an impossible question of how to fight for the interests of our new state. However, as tensions grew during the resettlement of Unionist families from Ireland, even the misguided Champagne Socialists of Hampstead and Highgate were able to see that Westminster offers not oppression, but hope and stability.

Trading her home in what became the North London Liberal Enclave, Amanda Cavendish has seen the light. A designer and stylist, Amanda sympathised with the rebellion initially. However, the violence and indiscriminate destruction wrought by those under the delusion that disorganised, unskilled masses held anything like an upper hand began to change her mind.

“My level of empathy hasn’t changed,” she says, as we sit down for afternoon tea in the opulent rooms of the renovated Royal Athenaeum Hotel. The re-named Reunion Street has a celebratory grandeur and Cavendish’s elegant style fits right in as we sip a young sparkling wine from vineyards in the Garden of Albion.

“I realised that being a ‘Bleeding Heart’ is all well and good” she says, “but I should perhaps be selective about where I direct my charitable and creative energy.”

Amanda’s creativity found an outlet when she founded Aid for Rebel Children (ARC) Programmes. The company establishes outreach networks within occupied cities and offers rebels a chance to take advantage of an alternate economy, trading handmade jewellery for the essentials they chose to forsake. In order to avoid funding any terrorist activities, Amanda explains how the programmes operate:

“Each time our contact receives a package of jewellery, it is appraised and a value assigned to the shipment. When a figure is calculated, we then provide goods of the equivalent value directly to the communities. We work with the Department of Health and Social Care to confirm that we are supplying prescription medicine to children, not adults. This means we can do the most good possible, without risking the safety of those who live close to occupied areas.”

Rebels are willing to work with law-abiding society when it comes to providing for their children.

“As a mother myself, I know that love will always win over ideology. There is nothing that rebels stand for that comes before the health of their children, even though the lifestyle choices they have made do lead to extreme levels of deprivation. There isn’t much we can do about that, but by making sure certain medical needs are met, we are at least offering some tangible support to these poor kids.”

The symbolism of a “medicine woman” is present in the promotional materials Amanda oversees. She certainly makes magic happen for the children in terrorist held cities whose parents have condemned them to a life of hardship.

“It’s difficult to imagine ever taking the kind of risks the rebels have; I don’t think I could live with myself if I knew I had walked a path which put my children in any kind of danger.”

Amanda’s compassion for both people and the planet is maybe best showcased by the Forté range. Developed by an ingenious rebel in Dundee, Amanda was stunned by the beauty of unique creations which use local semi-precious agate stones in vintage settings they claim are salvaged from abandoned charity shops.

“I am grateful I can provide some of the few comforts children in terrorist held cities experience,” says Amanda. “I can sleep at night knowing I am able to help, even just a little.”

Welcome to the third and final article in this series exploring life in the city of Aberdeen. Uniquely positioned north of several terrorist held urban centres, Prime Minister Patel was able to ensure that business and private life continued relatively undisturbed during the hardship and upheaval experienced during the transition period which saw United Albion emerge as a world leader once again.

I have described the luxurious provision aboard Sea Borne Ferries’ flagship vessel Boaty McBoat Face and interviewed the founder of ARC Programmes, an organisation which provides the “Aid for Rebel Children” after which it has been named.

Amanda Cavendish, a forty six year old mother of three, left her home in London’s Liberal Enclave of Highgate and Hampstead for Aberdeen in the summer of 2025 after the violent clashes between unemployed rebels and the justified actions of a cabinet trying to work in the interests of all Albians. Her experience as a designer and stylist, as well as seemingly endless compassion, inspired Amanda to create a series of outreach initiatives. These offer the anarchists and rebels much needed medical assistance for the innocent children trapped within barricades since the International Community placed unfairly strict limitations on our government’s ability to protect the people and property impacted by the misguided actions of these violent dissenters.

Having spent a week shadowing Amanda at the offices from which she oversees several jewellery brands, my admiration for this Angel of Altruism has continued to grow.

“I know that these products may not meet the expectations of my previous clients,” she says. “The materials available inside occupied cities and the skill levels of those turning their hand to upcycling salvaged settings is understandably not something I wish to compare to the refined silver-smithing techniques I was familiar with at earlier stages of my career. However, I choose to see the beauty in imperfection; these pieces may be more reminiscent of a village hall craft fair, but what these pieces stand for carries more value for me than purely aesthetic or material considerations.”

Amanda’s enthusiasm for her benevolent brands is infectious. The affordable price points appeal to a wide customer base, while the uniqueness of each piece reminds us that we are investing in much more than a simple trinket. She cares about the rebels’ futures too:

“It is my fervent desire that by showing rebels that we ordinary consumers in United Albion are still willing to protect their children from easily manageable health crises, any future peace talks will be bolstered by at least a sliver of good faith towards those of us handling the transition period and martial law with more grace and pragmatism.”

I ask Amanda if she was worried she may be at risk of falling into a pattern of magical thinking. After all, human nature contributed to the dark days when widespread terror attacks led to death and destruction of property. Are people really capable of humble gratitude?

“My styling for the Cyclica and Forté brands fully acknowledges a measure of magical thinking!” she laughs.

“I use folklore and witchcraft-inspired imagery to evoke a time where villages would have a herbalist instead of doctors. I wouldn’t go as far as to say I am making ‘magic’ happen, but mundane support in the form of medicine and even pre-natal vitamins harks back to a time before society had the advantages we take for granted. Some people object, but I have repeat customers who have made it possible for me to supply, for example, an asthmatic nine year old with both long-acting preventative and ‘rescue’ inhalers. I respect those of the opinion that these parents chose to risk watching their child suffocate in their arms, but as a mother myself, I had to act.”

The danger the rebel parents have placed their children in is just as haunting as the skull and cauldron motifs appearing in promotional materials. The magnitude of the issue was brought home to me unexpectedly when one day I arrived at the ARC Programmes offices to be told Amanda would not be available that day. Alarmed by the lack of information I could glean, I called Amanda’s mobile.

Having left a voicemail, I spent the rest of the day in an uncertain limbo until I received a call from an unknown number that evening. A distraught Amanda apologised for the lack of notice, explaining that her contact from the Dundee cell had been in touch with an urgent request. One of the children from the collective had received a short course of amoxycillin after a urinary tract infection had raised her temperature to dangerous levels, but she had not recovered as hoped.

“We have very few options for making sure the rebels have an available supply of basic drugs such as antibiotics, because the fear that they will be used to treat adults hurt during illegal, violent attacks overrides any concern for the lives of kids like Emily (not her real name).” she expained.

When I asked why Amanda had been the one to deliver a second course personally, she continued:

“I can’t ask my staff to make these dangerous journeys. The rebels know me - they trust me. With the cease-fires in place, I feel confident that this is a calculated risk. The government are prohibited from attacking these sites and the rebels who know me won’t hurt me either.”

While I wanted desperately to believe her, I couldn’t help but challenge Amanda regarding her earlier statements about risk to her own family. What would her children do if they lost their mother?

I was deeply shocked by her response. Ordinarily a poised and serene presence, Amanda’s calm reserve broke.

“Come and see for yourself,” she told me through what sounded like tears. “I can vouch for you. I can arrange safe passage. I will be returning in three days, so if you can reach Arbroath by 5pm tomorrow, I will show you why I do this work. I’ll contact you at that time on a different number to confirm whether you’re coming, but I have to go now.”

My editors forbid me to make this trip on insurance grounds. I don’t know if this copy will reach the team at Albion International, but I am writing now from within the boundaries of occupied Dundee. I have met Emily, her parents and the elders of the community who are currently living in what used to be an old student accommodation building still bearing the “iQ” signage. It was explained to me that heating one building with scavenged solar panels to protect the collected wisdom and knowledge of the community elders was a matter of efficiency. Communal living is common, most rebels sharing former blocks of flats or halls.

Emily is on the second day of the new course of nitrofuratoin and her symptoms appear to be improving. Her temperature is coming down, and the rebels held a communal feast event which felt like a vigil. Her parents were able to attend briefly, witnessing the collective support and love shown by people I had imagined to be ruthless, callous barbarians. Emily’s parents cried while telling me that her uncle was among the Harvesters killed in the derailment which sparked the clashes that led us here.

There can be no justification for the avoidable deaths caused by the series of revolts United Albion has experienced and I am sceptical that this writing will ever be published. I have spent my life drinking cocktails and networking in the publishing industry while think pieces about food banks and deprivation felt worthy but distant and slightly unreal.

This will be my final piece for Albion International. Amanda and I will face our return journey north tomorrow, but the memories of this place will never leave me.

THE ABOVE TEXT DOES NOT REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF ALBION INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE. PANDORA STERLING-MORGAN DID NOT RETURN TO ABERDEEN WITH MS CAVENDISH.

A POLICE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

Image Credits: "MV Bretagne, Brittany Ferries, off St Malo, Brittany, France" by Mike Cattell is marked with CC BY 2.0. Edited to replace the logo and some colour correction.

Product shots by Miss Lydia Photography