Act 2 - Bargaining[]
With A Bared Sword[]
Chapter 34[]
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Castle Davion, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
26 May 3057
“I think the question on everyone’s mind,” J. Hammond Davion declared to the Privy Council. “Is whether we can expect the Archon-Prince to attend Royal Court this year.”
“We will need to prepare if he is,” Horatio DuVall added. “The coronation can’t be thrown together on a moment’s notice.”
All eyes were on Kate and she had to shake her head. “I have expressed it would be advisable, but unfortunately it seems that the earliest Victor expects to be able to make the trip will be Christmas this year.”
DuVall’s eyes narrowed. “And is that definite? Surely the military situation in Skye is under control now?” He glanced over at Jackson Davion for confirmation.
“For the most part, yes,” the Field Marshal confirmed. “However, I do not believe the military situation is the reason that Victor isn’t coming here just yet.”
“My brother does not feel it would be wise to leave Tharkad until the treason trials are concluded and the sentences carried out.”
Hammond tilted his head curiously. “Did he give any more specific reasons? Victor said himself that he was leaving the matter in the hands of the courts.”
Kym Hasek-Davion leant forwards. “We are discussing the men who had his mother killed,” she said sharply. “If they had killed your mother, what would you do? I would like to be there myself, Melissa was -” She broke off, looking at Kate guiltily.
The princess shook her head. “I will settle for watching the executions on TriVee,” she said. “I am sure that sentiment is part of it, but he also wishes to be on hand in case the defendants call him to testify. They are trying every trick in the book, dragging the trials out. If Victor’s called while he’s here, that would buy them weeks.”
“Lyran treachery,” someone hissed from further down the table. Kate’s head whipped around but she didn’t see who it was.
“The Federated Suns has had their own traitors,” Hammond said warningly. “We are fortunate that it has not done so on this scale in recent generations.”
Kate saw that Kym was biting back a response and couldn’t blame her. But most at the table did not know that the previous Duke of New Syrtis, Kym’s father-in-law, had been conspiring with the current Capellan Chancellor’s grandfather right up until his death at the height of the Fourth Succession War.
“Our own courts might not be any faster,” the Count of Roussa Tel pointed out.
He should know, almost every ministry represented on the privy council had a hand in law enforcement. Reforming that into something comparable to the Lyran judiciary was a struggle that had been put off time and again, due to more pressing issues.
“Should we plan for a Christmas coronation then?” DuVall asked hopefully. “It would be a rallying cry and many of the High Council would remain available for it if we can commit to that.”
“Nothing is definite,” Kate admitted. “I hope that by the time the Royal Court convenes that we will know for sure.”
Hammond interlaced his fingers and stretched his arms out. “Will you be able to attend that?”
“The plan is for me to return by then.” The princess had arranged a goodwill tour of worlds between New Avalon and the Terran corridor. Her staying on New Avalon wasn’t very much better than Victor’s continued absence - the Steiner-Davions had to be seen by more than their own courtiers to be effective rulers. In addition to public appearances, she would be applying what pressure she could to settle various minor disputes.
“I wish you weren’t going so close to the Sarna March,” muttered DuVall. “You’d be an extremely valuable target for the Capellan terrorists… dead, or worse, captured…” The speaker of the High Council shook his head.
“A battalion of the 1st Davion Royal Guards will accompany her wherever she goes,” Jackson Davion assured DuVall. “And I’m detaching the Fifth FedCom Battle Armor battalion as well for additional coverage. That will be more than enough to deal with anything the Zhanzeng de Guang have displayed. We’re also avoiding anywhere they are known to have struck at.”
“I’m more worried about where they will strike in the future.”
Hammond shook his head at the words. “I think we are all concerned for the security. Have there been any strides so far in dealing with those criminals?”
“Not so far.” Jackson steepled his fingers. “David Sandoval has decided on a new approach, which I expect the Archon-Prince will accept.”
“What is this?” the Duke of Argyle asked curiously.
The graying Field Marshall smiled thinly. “A number of Free Skye insurgents are currently detained pending sentencing,” he told them. “The Field Marshal of Sarna suggests that we use fire to fight fire: offer them the chance to pay their debt to the Federated Commonwealth by being formed into anti-insurgency units and sent to serve under the supervision of his own forces.”
That got frowns from most of the council. “Is that really wise?” Kym asked cautiously. “Can they be trusted?”
“I think it’s quite unlikely they will find common cause with House Liao,” Jackson pointed out. “It will also give them a look at the work we’re doing to rehabilitate worlds that were ruled by the Confederation. I won’t say they will all be converts to the Commonwealth’s cause, but they may think twice about how fortunate they have been under the rule of House Steiner.”
“I had my own doubts as to how they will interact with the civilians,” added Kate. “But I was reminded that Skye accents and customs will be associated by the majority of Sarna’s worlds with the Northwind Highlanders, who remain highly thought of in the area. And they should understand the tactics being used against us. It is a better use for them than imprisonment.”
“Ten years military service has been used to straighten out young men and women before,” agreed Hammond reasonably. “It’s got plenty of precedent, and if the current approach to the… unpronounceable Capellan band… is not working, then trying something new has merit.”
“Moving back to the original matter,” DuVall observed, tapping the table with his pen. “Princess Yvonne will be covering for public appearances over the summer while the viceroy is away. And we can hope to announce this fall whether or not the Archon-Prince will be spending Christmas here?”
“It would be excellent news if he did,” Kym admitted. “Lady Marie has suggested she may make as well, so it would be something of a family gathering if your brothers could make it.”
No chance of Arthur, Kate thought. He would be halfway through his final year at the Melissa Steiner Memorial Academy on Bolan. But Victor at last… and perhaps if she was very lucky, Father Christmas would bring Peter back to them as well.
She was distracted from happy thoughts of shaking answers out of Victor by a question from Ways and Means.
“I see a supplementary budget request has been put forward by the AFFC to subsidize certain manufacturers,” the Minister observed. “I understand that supporting the military is one of our highest priorities, but are we sure this can’t wait until the next financial year?”
“If we want to secure the Combat Vehicle Upgrade Program then unfortunately, yes,” Jackson Davion spread his hands. “I was able to push back the Aerospace Upgrade kits to next year as they need more work, but you know the sort of lead time there is on this sort of thing.”
“The money has to come from somewhere,” Hammond pointed out. “I really don’t think we want to be bringing up any potential tax increases…”
Kate leant forwards. “Would it be possible to look at government backed loans?” she suggested. She had suspected this was an issue which was why she’d kept financing discussions very general until Ways and Means had responded. If the firms weren’t expecting subsidies, they wouldn’t be disappointed… and the Minister would be more accepting of loans if they were a compromise than if she had asked for that in the first place.