[Backstory] A Lord's Duty
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[Backstory] A Lord's Duty
WC Mayer was sitting in his office, looking out the window, as Squadron Leader Phillips entered the room. He continued to stare out as he began to address him.
"You have heard the rumours of war, of course?"
"Which one?" Phillips replied.
"Good lad," WC Mayer said. "Keeping on eye on all things, even not your division - that's what I like about you. And it is, in fact, both wars I come to talk to you about. Gralus is in danger again, from ancient enemies and from new, and I fear both struggles will be fiercely fought. And I say Gralus, not Novatainia, very specifically, because one of the enemies know us only as Gralus."
"So it's true then?" Phillips asked.
"I have been to Stardock myself," WC Mayer said. "Without a doubt it is true. While the Micrans plod along on the little path they know will eventually lead to war, other enemies are not as kind. And so it is now that I tell you, while I still can, that I will not be fighting with you in the World War."
"Sir?" Phillips said, slightly worried. "Surely, as Wing Commander, the defence of your nation is uppermost in your mind ..."
WC Mayer's tone was slightly cold as he replied, "It is uppermost in my mind."
"I'm sorry sir, I just meant ..." Phillips began.
"I know what you meant, and it's fine," WC Mayer said, smiling again. "But I was a Lord before I was a Wing Commander. It may not be a Lord in the sense that some understand it, but in all senses that matter, it is. Besides, I may not be a Wing Commander in the Gralan reshuffle, when it hits the military."
"And as President?" Phillips ventured, knowing the answer.
"Exactly the same - Lord first," WC Mayer said. "Besides, the people, if they do not all like it, understand it at least. I am protecting Novatainia in the way I know best. We have a hundred military officers - we have only one Lord. And the way things are going, we'll need it ..." WC Mayer paused, and went on. "I am too old for these wars."
"Sir, with all due respect, you're 20, I'm almost twice your age," Phillips put in. WC Mayer laughed. "True, young in body, but look at what I have achieved this last year - it would take most people several lifetimes to do so. Perhaps it is an old head on young shoulders - or an old heart. I am not a military man, at heart. I want to help people, to save people too much - and not being able to do that, in these international wars, bears too heavily on my hearts. Above all, I hate unnecessary killing. To defend against clear evil, certainly. If it is an illusion, why not? But in international politics these days, nobody is wholly evil, and their soldiers are definitely not. At least where I'm going, I know I don't have that problem." His tone became brisk and business-like again.
"That is why I am appointing you Air Vice Marshal," Andreas said. "You are the most promising recruit I have seen in all my time here, an excellent flier, and good with the men."
"It's an honour sir," now-AVM Phillips said, saluting, but slightly nervous.
"Relax, soldier," WC Mayer said, with a rye smile. He chucked him what appeared to be a radio, though it felt heavier than normal. "You can still contact me if you need advice. Now, before we go, there's just the issue of Lord Montague. He's spreading his false rumours again. We heard them first in the Passas war, and dismissed them as garbage, but they're back again, and even less believable this time. As if the NISB would ..."
"Sir," Phillips interrupted before his superior could start raging, "what if there's some truth in the rumours?"
"Some truth!" WC Mayer yelled. "Preposterous! As if Novatainia would order ..."
"Not that, sir," Phillips interrupted quickly. "But someone else. I know you conducted a full inquiry with the Passas rumours and found nothing in the army or NISB. And to be frank, it doesn't make sense for us. We'd been virtually pacifistic the whole war, and, at that time, Lord Montague's fleet was far away - no threat to us in the slightest. Why would we attack him? NISB is led by some of the best minds in the world - why would they do something that is not only foolish and sadistic, but also would surely summon Montague back. However, if someone else were to do it ..."
Andreas mused on this for a while, then slowly broke into a large smile.
"I can manage with just the Dark Watchers," he said slowly. "That is, afterall, why I created them. Yes, I could leave you NISB to investigate, certainly. But if it did happen - that's horrible, poor fellow. There is little love between us, for, whatever happened to his family, we know for certainty he did slaughter the Airforce while we waited for Lachlan, and continued to do so AFTER a ceasefire had been agreed AND called on the battlefield. But I would forgive him if he did not persist with this story about his family. If we could find out the truth ..."
"Exactly," Phillips said, glad his point was made. "If someone hated Montague, this would be the perfect time. And if someone hated us, and wanted Montague as our enemy, likewise."
"My feelings aside, Babs is friendly with him," WC Mayer suggested. "Get him to give Montague a call, ask him if he had any enemies before the war. We'll make our own investigations. And that name Kael sounds familiar ..."
"Lord Keryl?" Phillips suggested.
WC Mayer turned to him, genuinely impressed. "You have been doing your reading! Possibly. Good lad, its thinking like this I chose you for."
"I still wish you weren't leaving," Phillips confessed.
"Oh, that reminds me," WC Mayer said, "did you think I'd leave you entirely on your own?" He opened the door, to reveal a wiry elderly chap, with a cane, and a large and rough looking man in an army uniform.
"Your grace," Phillips said, recognising the older man as Duke of Novatainia. The Duke had survived the revolution that had put King Lachlan on the throne unharmed, and was rumoured his political influence went far and wide.
"Hi grandpa," WC Mayer said, rather more informally. "Phillips, these two men taught me most of what I know about fighting and politics. The Duke you already know. This man is one of his best friends - known simply as Sarge, and a more wiley soldier you'll never find."
"Good to meet you, young lad. Going to drive the enemy horde back, who ev' they are?" the Duke said, shaking his hands. Sarge merely spat the tabacco he was chewing on the floor, and nodded, grinning wildly.
"Tis an honour," Phillips said. "Good luck sir!"
"And good luck to you to, Phillips," WC Mayer said, "though I expect we'll need more than luck. God be with us both, as we defend Novatainia against all foes."
"Amen," the three men replied, and WC Mayer left.
"You have heard the rumours of war, of course?"
"Which one?" Phillips replied.
"Good lad," WC Mayer said. "Keeping on eye on all things, even not your division - that's what I like about you. And it is, in fact, both wars I come to talk to you about. Gralus is in danger again, from ancient enemies and from new, and I fear both struggles will be fiercely fought. And I say Gralus, not Novatainia, very specifically, because one of the enemies know us only as Gralus."
"So it's true then?" Phillips asked.
"I have been to Stardock myself," WC Mayer said. "Without a doubt it is true. While the Micrans plod along on the little path they know will eventually lead to war, other enemies are not as kind. And so it is now that I tell you, while I still can, that I will not be fighting with you in the World War."
"Sir?" Phillips said, slightly worried. "Surely, as Wing Commander, the defence of your nation is uppermost in your mind ..."
WC Mayer's tone was slightly cold as he replied, "It is uppermost in my mind."
"I'm sorry sir, I just meant ..." Phillips began.
"I know what you meant, and it's fine," WC Mayer said, smiling again. "But I was a Lord before I was a Wing Commander. It may not be a Lord in the sense that some understand it, but in all senses that matter, it is. Besides, I may not be a Wing Commander in the Gralan reshuffle, when it hits the military."
"And as President?" Phillips ventured, knowing the answer.
"Exactly the same - Lord first," WC Mayer said. "Besides, the people, if they do not all like it, understand it at least. I am protecting Novatainia in the way I know best. We have a hundred military officers - we have only one Lord. And the way things are going, we'll need it ..." WC Mayer paused, and went on. "I am too old for these wars."
"Sir, with all due respect, you're 20, I'm almost twice your age," Phillips put in. WC Mayer laughed. "True, young in body, but look at what I have achieved this last year - it would take most people several lifetimes to do so. Perhaps it is an old head on young shoulders - or an old heart. I am not a military man, at heart. I want to help people, to save people too much - and not being able to do that, in these international wars, bears too heavily on my hearts. Above all, I hate unnecessary killing. To defend against clear evil, certainly. If it is an illusion, why not? But in international politics these days, nobody is wholly evil, and their soldiers are definitely not. At least where I'm going, I know I don't have that problem." His tone became brisk and business-like again.
"That is why I am appointing you Air Vice Marshal," Andreas said. "You are the most promising recruit I have seen in all my time here, an excellent flier, and good with the men."
"It's an honour sir," now-AVM Phillips said, saluting, but slightly nervous.
"Relax, soldier," WC Mayer said, with a rye smile. He chucked him what appeared to be a radio, though it felt heavier than normal. "You can still contact me if you need advice. Now, before we go, there's just the issue of Lord Montague. He's spreading his false rumours again. We heard them first in the Passas war, and dismissed them as garbage, but they're back again, and even less believable this time. As if the NISB would ..."
"Sir," Phillips interrupted before his superior could start raging, "what if there's some truth in the rumours?"
"Some truth!" WC Mayer yelled. "Preposterous! As if Novatainia would order ..."
"Not that, sir," Phillips interrupted quickly. "But someone else. I know you conducted a full inquiry with the Passas rumours and found nothing in the army or NISB. And to be frank, it doesn't make sense for us. We'd been virtually pacifistic the whole war, and, at that time, Lord Montague's fleet was far away - no threat to us in the slightest. Why would we attack him? NISB is led by some of the best minds in the world - why would they do something that is not only foolish and sadistic, but also would surely summon Montague back. However, if someone else were to do it ..."
Andreas mused on this for a while, then slowly broke into a large smile.
"I can manage with just the Dark Watchers," he said slowly. "That is, afterall, why I created them. Yes, I could leave you NISB to investigate, certainly. But if it did happen - that's horrible, poor fellow. There is little love between us, for, whatever happened to his family, we know for certainty he did slaughter the Airforce while we waited for Lachlan, and continued to do so AFTER a ceasefire had been agreed AND called on the battlefield. But I would forgive him if he did not persist with this story about his family. If we could find out the truth ..."
"Exactly," Phillips said, glad his point was made. "If someone hated Montague, this would be the perfect time. And if someone hated us, and wanted Montague as our enemy, likewise."
"My feelings aside, Babs is friendly with him," WC Mayer suggested. "Get him to give Montague a call, ask him if he had any enemies before the war. We'll make our own investigations. And that name Kael sounds familiar ..."
"Lord Keryl?" Phillips suggested.
WC Mayer turned to him, genuinely impressed. "You have been doing your reading! Possibly. Good lad, its thinking like this I chose you for."
"I still wish you weren't leaving," Phillips confessed.
"Oh, that reminds me," WC Mayer said, "did you think I'd leave you entirely on your own?" He opened the door, to reveal a wiry elderly chap, with a cane, and a large and rough looking man in an army uniform.
"Your grace," Phillips said, recognising the older man as Duke of Novatainia. The Duke had survived the revolution that had put King Lachlan on the throne unharmed, and was rumoured his political influence went far and wide.
"Hi grandpa," WC Mayer said, rather more informally. "Phillips, these two men taught me most of what I know about fighting and politics. The Duke you already know. This man is one of his best friends - known simply as Sarge, and a more wiley soldier you'll never find."
"Good to meet you, young lad. Going to drive the enemy horde back, who ev' they are?" the Duke said, shaking his hands. Sarge merely spat the tabacco he was chewing on the floor, and nodded, grinning wildly.
"Tis an honour," Phillips said. "Good luck sir!"
"And good luck to you to, Phillips," WC Mayer said, "though I expect we'll need more than luck. God be with us both, as we defend Novatainia against all foes."
"Amen," the three men replied, and WC Mayer left.
Andreas
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
Brilliant! Nice job on working in... references... without doing it bluntly.
Bayen ronToketi
http://www.toketi.org
http://www.toketi.org
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Thanks, you're one of about ... five people in the world who would get them all.
Andreas
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
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You probably wouldn't know Keryl, you weren't in that expedition ...
Andreas
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
- Lord_Montague
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Thanks. Yours was well written, I just didn't like all the subject matter
Andreas
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander