[UA] Guy Fawkes

[David M Jacobs]

At 03:41 PM 8/04/02 +0100, Gareth Hanrahan wrote:

> > Question: If somebody wanted to channel the Slayer of Kings archetype by
> > emulating Guy Fawkes and blowing up the British Houses of Parliament, 
> when would
> > be the most effective time of the year to do so? The campaign year is 
> 1951, if
> > that makes for a difference from today. I'm looking for a 'narrowly avoided
> > decapitating stroke' here, so if there's some other seat of government 
> which
> > would make a better target, please let me know.
>
>State Opening of Parliament/Queen's Speech? Everyone turns up for that.

Somebody mentioned the ritual search of the basement before; what would be 
better is to have an inside man who could give you access to the carpark, a 
week or so beforehand.  Many Houses of Parliament have no security between 
the carpark and the rest of the building; you just have to have your number 
plate checked off against a list with the guard at the boomgate.

If you can't use an MP's office to store your gear, then often, storerooms 
near the roof of the building are disused, or at least, not often 
visited.  When the big day arrives, get your contact to issue you a 
day-pass as a casual staffer (again, no security checks), rock up to the 
top floor and break out the goodies.

Another possibility is to stow things above removable ceiling panels in an 
out-of-the-way area.  Usually, ceiling space is used to route power and 
network cables; there's usually a foot or two of space above the 
ceiling.  (I'm not sure how well this relates to the UK; I'm going off 
experience of the newer Parliaments in Australia.)

Of course, if all else fails, then there are always state funerals and 
campaign launches.



David M Jacobs
dmjacobs at zipworld.com.au
http://www.zipworld.com.au/~dmjacobs/
ICQ UIN: 17027598

"'Kevin,' David interrupted, 'what the Germans should have done
was show the Russians a dead cat and ask them to explain it.'

"'That would have stopped the Soviet offensive right there,' I said.
"Zhukov would still be trying to account for the cat's death.'"

— from Valis, by Philip K Dick


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