A ROYAL EDICT

[ROT13]

Planet Cambridge, a remote Palais above a small valley

"Good evening father!"
Harold McNeal calmly entered the library of Sir Charles, Knight Commander of the Bretonian Empire and Member of the House of Lords.
Standing at the large windows, his father turned around. The evening sun was throwing long shadows into the usualy bright room. A small flame was already playing with the wood in the fireplace.
"Good evening my son, have seat" Sir Charles waved him over to the big old comfortable lounge chairs.
Harold sat down, like in the early days in his life, when he watched from here how his father made decisions for thousands of people.

"Of course you are aware of the current political events?" It was not a question. Harold nodded quietly.
As an officer of the Royal Reserve Fleet, he was perfectly briefed on all events concerning the safety and stability of the Bretonian Nation.
"We soldiers feel uneasy about the current events. They are destabilizing our command structure and affecting directly the efficiancy of our armed forces."
A deep sigh came from his father as he sat down, too.
"Indeed they do, and even more than that. They are destabilizing our whole political and policy making structures. We politicians feel uneasy, too." Sir Charles was thinking about the discussions he had this morning with the senior deans of the university.
Both sat in assuring silence.
"We must give our best, to solve this situation. As long as we are occupied with ourselves, we are unable to care for our own safety." Sir Charles was searching behind the eyes of his son. "Regardless of the outcome, your loyality and that of our whole armed forces must be clearly stated and communicated to our people."

Harold straightend his back. "There is no question of loyality! Father, I promise you!"
"Easy, son, easy. Those words are easy to say, but sooner or later it will be hard to act accordingly."

"I promise you father, that there will be no shot between bretonian soldiers! We are to saveguard the Bretonian Nation and not to shoot each other."
"Better don't promise, what you can not provide..." Sir Charles softend his voice "but I am very proud of your personal position." He smiled.

"So what will you and your fellow soldiers do?" Harold folded his hands. "The planning staff in my wing has analyzed our most probable options." Harold felt relieved, finally he had something clear.
"Option A: The supposed king will give up his claims, or Queen Carina will resign. This will lead to a stable transfer of government and this not the concern of the armed forces."
"George will change the strategic objectives of our forces?" His father inquired. "We will obey them as always!" That was a clear statement. Sir Charles knew exactly what this meant to his son. Of course he knew that his son symphatized with the Gaians, like most young people on Cambridge do. But in the same move, his son was truely disgusted by the Mollys and their claims.
Harold continued:
"Option B: The supposed king or Queen Carina will be criminalized, well that's something for the BPA."
"This could lead to Bretonian blood to be shed" his father inquired again. "So even more a job for the BPA and not the armed forces".
"Option C: One of both parties will align with foreign powers and call for support, or foreign powers will intervene without authorization. In this case we will counter any foreign movement and neutralize their military capabilities"
The language of a soldier.
"But this will make bretonians into traitors?" Sir Charles inquired again. "Justice is not the task of the forces, that's what we have judges and courts for." His son was again very clear in his answer.

Silence.

Sir Charles nodded thoughtfully. "Your sister indicated that at least Kusari is preparing for Option C. And it would surprise me if the corsairs would not think along the same lines"
Harold was shocked. Of course! His sister was working for the foreign ministry and keeping up the remaining diplomatic relations to the Kusari government - one day there will be peace again between both states. And of course, the KNF would try to use any weakness. Their general staff was very professional, they would right now be very busy to adapt their war strategy.

A light knock at the door indicated that Daniel, the old butler of the family had prepared the dinner. Harolds mind jumped back to the old day of his childhood, when Daniel explained the stars and their meaning to him.
"Well, thank you Daniel." His father rose to his feet. "Come, Harold. It is time." He smiled like in the old days "Did you wash your hands, yet? Your mother would be very harsh with me, if I would not remind you." He turned and followed the butler to the dinner room.

Harold remained seated for another second. The picture of his grandfather was looking down at him. Old and wise.
How many lessons more would there be for him to learn?

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Character 1: Biography of H.McNeal (BAF)
Character 2: V.Bontainer (ALG)
Character 3: Y.A.Renkov (CIV, still undecided, yet)
Character 4: P.Decker (CIV, will work in the mining business)