The underground "bunker" at Northfort was prepared for the King while he was still out at the Representative Council. As usual the various members of the military command and intelligence services had arrived and were already throwing ideas around as David walked in. He had already taking his jacket off as he got himself settled. His Head of Royal Household, Quinn Germaine, handed him his black leather notebook and a steaming mug of green tea. "Good afternoon everyone" David began, "I understand that there are a few reports from Mersch. So what's happening?"
It was Grace Yacobs who responded. "Well its good news, bad news, strange news." She began.
"Strange news.....that's a new one" David semi-smiled as he waited for her to continue.
"The good news is we've got Jasmine Volk, Rochus Kristoffer and Markus Switzer safe and secure dotted around East Moreland. That means we've got a chance to at least get the Merschians a monarch that the majority there are going to support to some extent. The bad news is soon after our team evacuated Markus the house came under attack, the guys there were well switched on and fought them off, two guys escaped but the navy of Mersch caught one of them. The team protecting Rochus have failed to check in so we're a little concerned. It seems like someone in Mersch has loose lips. Now the strange news, the guy the Mersch Navy have picked up went all Uppsala style in their questioning. Introduced himself as a sergeant in the 1st Republic of Mersch Commando's and that he's got...." Grace checked her notes...."about ten hours to check in with his commanding officer or further attacks take place. He spoke of a ceasefire but....and here is the even stranger part, only if your sister goes to lead negotiations."
David laughed, "Right, so we know the guys a little odd. If Prime Minister Dahl wants we'll be happy to send Freya and a team with her but we're not trusting any Mersch forces. They're is something going on there and while we want to help Mersch I'm not putting Freya out front on her own."
"I'll have the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing fly her in with a few random cross boarder flights just to keep things interesting. I'll also have eight of the boys go with her." Brigadier Corey, the commander of Red Legion spoke up. "If I can ask for the Air Force and Navy to move things towards the border quietly too just in case things get a little bit tasty then we can get a few extra assets in the region?" He looked across the table at Admiral James Thompson and Air Commodore Edward Briggs he nodded their approval.
"We'll move the King Robert up on routine manoeuvres and the Chamwick's on shake down after a software upgrade so we can count on that. That gives us a decent air ability and 800 Royal Marine Commando's if we need them." Thompson glanced down at his tablet.
"42 Squadron are based up at Roberton FOB at the moment, that puts F-5's in play if we need to strike anything, we've also Dragonlings if a lighter touch is needed." Briggs had already begun the process of moving other aircraft north, particularly cargo aircraft from Ostlake to Roberton.
"I'll break the news to Freya then. Keep me posted." David stood, drained his green tea and headed off.
As two borrowed EMAC-Wings aircraft crossed the border on Mersch it was the old
Ironside One that went in low through the Alps with a JSFAW pilot throwing it round like a fighter. Freya had enjoyed many flights in it and it two other siblings before her brother had got a jumbo jet, the air force kept them around for internal flights or special occasions and now as Freya, her husband and his seven Red Legion friends entered Merschian airspace they were in very different surrounds than regular military operations. "Can we get seats like this in the transporters?" Olly Barks asked as he reclined his chair into a practical bed his kit across his lap. Soon they put down at the agreed airfield having taken a very out the way route. Barks and Saxby left the aircraft first followed by Freya and the others. Freya was keen to make it clear this was no official state visit and had her 2nd Light Scouts DPM uniform on and an
assault rifle slung across her back. It was clear this was to be a business trip and no risks were being taken.