The
news of the attack on the construction site in Semelberg belonging to the Sisterhood of Helus reached the King. "Quinn can you get me Redfern, both the Yacobs, Sir Harry and my cousin Orlaith please. Its high priority" he buzzed on the intercom to his outer office. Almost instantly his Head of Household buzzed back informing him she'd get on it. The King spun in his chair and peered out across the parkland and lake. This winter morning their was just the hint of a frost across the grass and a mist hung over the lake on which the swans still glided. He savoured the view for a moment or two and then swung himself back to his desk to focus his attention on some proposals from his Prime Minister for tweeks to legislation on internet safety, if he was honest he didn't understand a lot of it so he'd have Olivia Cole his Minister for Science and Technology prepare a brief for him. As he'd finished highlighting the document for the bits he needed more detail on Quinn informed him the people he requested would be here at 2pm and that she'd put two hours aside, she'd had to cancel his visit to an art gallery and a meeting with the Chef about a menu for a banquet would now take place with Princess Freya, something David knew she'd be thrilled about.
At 2pm there was a knock on his office door and the five guests walked in. Major Alex Redfern was David's closest friend and a valued source of military wisdom for the crown having served in the military and the intelligence communities. His protege at one point had been Grace Yacobs who while still a relative unsenior member of the National Intelligence Agency was heavily trusted by David because of Redfern's recommendations. Her mother Katie was the most senior officer in the Army and another well trusted friend. Sir Harry followed them in, the Minister of Defence and a man David knew likely to tell him things he didn't want to hear, his advice over the years had always been valuable. Finally his cousin, Duchess Orlaith Kade, his foreign minister arrived. "Thank you all for coming."
"Freya says your toast" Alex said as he took a seat on one of the leather sofas surrounding a glass topped table made from a jet engine used in the SSC Honeybadger. She hated the more formal elements of royalty and couldn't imagine anything worse than banquet preparations.
"Tell her I'll make it up to her, infact you may have something in a few minutes" David said as the others actually waited to be motioned to sit. David took a seat at the head of the table in an arm chair made from others parts of the SSC Honeybadger. "I've asked you to come here as I want us to try and get ahead of something, and frankly I don't like it." He passed each of them a map of the Charterlands. "Like it or not we've found ourselves tied to a patch of dirt in the Charterlands called Semelberg." It was clear they all knew that much but it didn't hurt to go over things. "I'm not thrilled and would have happily sat back and let my in-laws at the Pelagiya family manage the situation, at least until Llewellyn got a little older in the hopes they'd get bored and we'd be shut. Problem is this anti-Sisterhood movement seems to be spreading. While they may not be the Cult they worship the same God....kind of." David wasn't fond of the Sisterhood, mainly because of bumping heads with the leader Jinny Denman in the past, but his wife was a devotee and so that meant he had to take an interest. "We've made a point that we will not accept Cultists being victimised, and I suppose now by extension this has to be applied to the Sisterhood." Alex and the Yacobs nodded in agreement, Sir Harry couldn't care less while Orlaith looked concerned.
"I'm worried that protecting the Sisterhood could piss off the Cult." Orlaith said, "We've always relied on their backing and while your popular you aren't Helus popular. Shouldn't we talk to the High Priestess about this?"
"No." David said firmly, "We've got seperation between Cult and State for reasons, our creed is to defend those who can't defend themselves and it doesn't state only Cultists. Beside at the moment I sense terrorist not rebellion." Orlaith conceeded and the King prepared to inform them of why he called them. "I've been checking things out and the Cult and the Sisterhood have no real presence in Semelberg. Their Norse Pagan, while that faith has its extremists in the Gungnir I know that these attacks where going on here long before my wife essentially created our mini-Empire. I have two things I want to happen. First is I want us and the Alanders to pay Semelberg a visit for military manouvers. Low numbers, spec op type stuff. This will help us test the waters of what the locals will think of us being more directly involved. The Principality has a small militia, some 600 or so men, I want them included." The King turned to Alex, "This is where you and Freya come in. I want to make sure these 600 men are good. If the Sisterhood thing turns into something more I want people I can rely on, and I want them to be damn good at their job. We're creating the Semelberg Legion, name pending." The King smiled, "We'll ship in older stocks of equipment and I want a training programme that makes them more of a Commando force than a militia. I want them to fulfil two criteria, priority one is to be able to respond to attacks like the one on say Princess Asuna, without losing a Princess. The second is I want them to work seamlessly with our forces if the situation ever requires a Seleucid scenario."
"I can do that." Alex nodded, "Freya will be pleased that having planned your menu she doesn't get to eat it. I've a few lads I'll take with me. We'll need 48 hours minimum but we'll wait for your green light."
"Your Majesty" Grace sat forward. "We've no idea who are behind these attacks, while I like the idea of ensuring we've people on the spot to stem the tide in the worst case situation. Well shouldn't we speak to the Reenburg's?" She quizzed.
"That is next on my agenda. I just wanted to know whether its feasible first." The King looked around the table with each nodding until he reached Sir Harry.
"I'm of a mind to say yes but I think we should be spreading the Cult much more than we are anyway. I know you believe we are the Holy Land and that's all we need but I've always believed the world would be a better place with more Cultists, at a push I'd take the Sisterhood. If we can have influence in this Charterlands system we should embrace it. I'd call them the Semelberg Legion and I'd make it like a Foreign Legion, pack it with ex-Legionnaires from here, make it the best militia force in the Charterlands. I know I'll not change your mind but I'm for this if you don't think we can go as far as I'd like." David nodded his acknowledgement, he was well aware of Sir Harry's views on the faith and while they disagreed he knew Harry would never disagree with the King in public.
"Very well, begin the preparations. I'll summon their ambassador"
The invite to the Reenburgs representative was dispatched and the next morning David waited eagerly in the office. "Welcome Ambassador. I have a few questions I need some help with." The King briefed the ambassador on the talks yesterday as much as he could. "What I need to know is two things, first is their any legal reason I can't do what I'm hoping to do. The second question is what do you think the reaction would be?"