OOC- Moving towards the banquet
Sir Alan had clambered down to Catriona's level. "What your talking of is the Zircon right." he said, "Now levelling the playing field is one thing but for that you need sensors, software and other shenanigans, thats where you should be talking to Martin Dawson and his team at SmartWar. If your essentially thinking trying to go toe to toe with the Zircon then you need to realise everyone is well off the mark. While the rest of us played about with tech to defeat sensors such as stealth casings, absorbent materials and the like the Kiatiane guys went for pure straight line speed. But this is where you're coming at it from the wrong tact, there are two ways to sink a ship using an anti-ship missile, one is speed, the other is guile. While your trying to outsprint the fastest missile on the planet, we're outmanouvering if. Take our spearhead missile, Mach 3, so no sloth, but flies a unique pattern and contains two kinetic impactors. So essentially in the final run in the ship suddenly goes from needing to follow one target to three. What worries us therefore is not speed, its range. If we imagne the reports are true and Zircon is a 1000km killing machine then we've got to find Spearhead an extra 500km. Now as an aeronautical engineer you give me the choice between finding you 2300 mph or finding an extra 500km of range then I know which I'm doing. It'll take a good five years to hit at find the 2300mph at least, then you need to work out how to not sacrifice range. Meanwhile I'll have found the 500km within the next two years. You want to go toe to toe with the Zircon you don't fight them where their strongest. Now, who knows Spearhead Five or something may hit Zircon speeds, but what you want is to close a gap, two years or five, thats your choice."
Alex and Freya were about to head of towards the ice cream, it was however Rebecca who stopped them. "We've not long til the banquet" she whispered, "and we've got to get Evie here over to the baby-sitter" who in this case was going to be the Osman's.
"Sorry Evie, Sorry Your Majesty" Alex said, "Perhaps another time" he suggested. Alex and Freya kissed their new daughter goodbye and she headed off towards what would likely be an evening of causing mayhem with Rhiannon at her mothers. "Thank you for the offer" Alex said once more, "We suppose we'll have to start getting her used to the spotlight a little now, but she's a tough kid" Alex remembered them making he raft on the island they'd meet on and had to admit she had been a different kid back then. "Perhaps we can have a glass together at the banquet" Alex extended a hand before he and Freya headed off to get changed.
Fraser was mindful of the time, he would be expected to be at the banquet but he wasn't that fond of them, he'd have prefered to simply prop up the bar, enjoy a few drinks and make merry. "Only problem we seem to have is Academica, my niece I know has plans there but the sooner its sorted out the better" Fraser explained, "Messes with constitutional congresses, peace and reconciliation tribunals, referendum, election. I imagine Freya is going to love all that" the family chuckled, "Beyond that nothing much to report." Fraser concluded, soon it was time for the family to say their goodbyes as they too had to get ready for the banquet.
That eveningThe Portworth Naval Bases Officers Mess was no stranger to banquets, it had however been almost fifty years since they had hosted a Royal one. There had of course been the wedding of Freya and Alex last year but that had been hastily thrown together and paled into insignificance in terms of the precision this required. A man dressed in a black pin stripe suit down the length of the long table, he was followed by a Naval officer who in turn had a number of young naval ratings in his wake. Royal Chamberlain Sir Felix Rodgers had been the Chamberlain to the royal family for 15 years and in the household staff for 50 of his 72 years. He stopped and with a white glove picked up one of the silver pieces of cutlery twisting it this way and that before simply handing it without a word to the Naval officer who then passed it like a hot potato to the first rating who slipped it into a pocket and took a new knife from one of the many boxes his comrades were carrying, the new knife was passed up the conveyor belt and Rodgers inspected it, paused for a moment before placing it back on the crisp white tablecloth. He examined it again for a while and then with a single finger gave it the slightest nudge on the handle to line it up with the precision that would make a naval pilot proud.
In the kitchen the Naval Chefs were hard at work, a traditional Moreland dinner being prepared, some wild guinea pate to start, then a nice cod dish, before the ever popular Game Pie that the nation adored before finishing off with a creme brule and then a cheeseboard with the Port. Outside the various guests were being entertained by a trio of young Royal Marine musicians, two playing acoustic guitars and one singing. Stewards in black jackets mingled between them handing out glasses of bucks fizz while others catered to more demanding guests. Freya and Alex seemed to have borne the brunt of much of the greeting, Alex now in the famous Red Jacket of his beloved Red Legion while Freya stood next to him in the rather less bright khaki of the 2nd Light Scouts, equally as proud to wear the uniform. As each guest arrived, no matter whether the Emperor of Achkaerin or some minor East Moreland noble they were greeted the same, Alex and Freya handed them a drink, bid them welcome and handed them a commemorative port glass. "You'll need that later" Freya advised them all. It bore the Festival of Sail logo, while underneath it had in Morelandish the words, " A token of our respect to a special guest" and then the King's signature.
There was a ringing of a ships bell. "Your Majesties and Highnesses, Lords and Ladies, distinguished guests. Dinner is soon to be served, please be seated for the arrival" Chamberlain Rodgers announced from the dining room entrance and then waited for everyone to filter in. Each guest had been allocated a seat (OOC- Sit where the hell you want if I don't mention you specifically.) and would be expected to conform to the seating plan which Rodgers had put together based on years of experience. Once everyone was in place the ships bell rang again. "Please be upstanding for His Royal Majesty King David, third of his name, monarch of East Moreland and his guest the Lady Stasya Pelagiya, Lady in waiting to the Queen of Lodja" the room stood and the Morelanders clapped politely as David entered his arm linked with Stasya's. He was for once wearing his crown, something he didn't really enjoy and he believed it looked out of place with his own Alpine Cadre black uniform. Stasya meanwhile looked elegant, a pale blue dress that swept the floor, a gold coloured scarf around her neck trailed half way down her back. They made their way to the head of the table and David took his seat first, nobody at such banquets where permitted to sit until the King had and once he was joined by Stasya everyone else resumed their seat. Moments later the door opened and a nervous looking Royal Marine officer, looking like he had just come out of basic training marched forward, a
Silver Drinking Cup in his hand. He stopped before the tables began and placed the cup on the side table.
"Your Majesty I present the Parting Glass" the officer announced loudly. He then picked up a bottle of port which sat ready opened at the side of the table. "A long time ago the people of East Moreland united behind King Robert the Unifier. At the battle of Greenflowers they carried the day, that evening Robert knew that his task of creating a land of good was not over and tasked his men to carry themselves to their homes and if neccessary continue to fight to bring his dream to fruition. As they sat around the campfire many knew they would never meet again and so as each readied themselves for the work ahead they stood, raised a glass to their friends and proposed a toast, before disappearing into the night." He poured a measure into the silver cup. "We remember that, and as each of us feels the need to retire, to leave our friends both old and new we too wish them well." He raised the silver cup, "To friends old and new, to His Majesty King David and to the land of East Moreland. May the Gods Watch Over you and all your homes know peace" He drained the cup, used the cloth on standby to clean it and then performed a smart about turn before marching out.
"Just remember" Alex said from the middle of the table is a quiet tone, "you only use it when your leaving, not when nipping to the loo. We had a guy at one mess dinner who nearly passed out he was so drunk, every time he went for a leak he was toasting, some daft bugger told him you had to fill the thing too." Alex and the King smiled as they remembered the thoughts of that evening back when both had been in the Alpine Cadre.
