Late Final
I have done nothing other than what I believe to be the textbook airmanship solution, ie squawk Charlie, stay under the CTA, and try to contact them. The fact that I bother my a*se to ask further on here is because I do actually care what the right thing to do is. And also that I had too much time on my hands yesterday!
The question about mode C was asked, with a little irony, to illicit a response; that's all.
Thanks for your pontifications on my worthiness to hold a licence anyway pal. I'll keep that in mind.