by Jessie Wolf
For whatever reason mama was being all mysterious. I hate it when I don’t know what is going on. “If I find out that the three of you are b.s.ing me you’ll find yourselves on the unemployment line.” All three of my maids turn white as sheets when they hear the threat. Um they do know something. “Alright ladies, last chance, what is going on?”
After looking at each other, Nia nods her head to Gin. “Lady Maiha, please understand that you have put us in a difficult position.” I nod my head to let her know that I do. “We know that you can and will fire us if we don’t answer you, but we’re more afraid of your mother, the Lady Dai Etsu.” Now this was not what I was expecting to happen. If mama had told them to keep quiet then they will. There is nothing I could do to override their loyalty to mama, so I just dropped it and changed the topic.
“So, ladies, what’s for lunch?”
The look of relief that washed across their faces lets me know I did the right thing. Both Alice and I headed over to the table in suite area and sat down to lunch. For some reason I was ravenous. Both Alice, and I, cleared our plates and drank two full glasses of tea. For some reason we were not interrupted. When I ask Kina about this she merrily smiled and said that they had left word that we were not to be disturbed. With a giggle she said that the only fool who would dare to disturb us was currently in the Temple hospital under armed guard, who had orders to shoot to kill if he made any move other than to rollover.
That was rather enlightening piece of information. After we had eaten I heard a knock on our room door. I waved for Gin to go answer it. She let in all three of my sisters who were dressed the same as us, in their Storm Dancer kimonos. “Hi, kiddies. Do you three have any idea of what mama is up to?”
All three of them answered in the negative. They couldn’t even get their maids to spill the info. Now we have five very confused young ladies and nine personal maids who have clammed up. Talk about frustrating. A quarter of an hour later there was another knock on my door. When Nia answered it she found, and then quickly ushered in four very confused individuals.
All four were led by Prince Raygel, or I should say Captain Ravenswood. But it was little Dana Silver Leaf that made me smile. The young lady was dressed in what appeared to be the dress uniform for the House military. She appeared to be far more comfortable in her lady’s dress uniform then one would expect. However there was a problem with this and I needed to address it now. “Dana, I know for a fact that I told you that you’re too young to join the House Military. Why are you wearing the uniform of one of my House troops?”
When she blushed I knew there was something wrong. “I know that my Lady, but well I don’t have anything else to wear.” When she said that I did a fast rethink, but before I could come up with an answer she explained. “Yesterday, when your mama’s maids brought me the clothes that they did, they only had one kimono with them. The rest of my clothes were all House uniforms’. This is the only dress uniform in the bunch all the others are BDU’s. I didn’t think it was proper to be wearing BDU’s for your mama’s wedding so I put on the dress uniform. I hope that’s alright?”
I felt like an ass. Here I was all set to chew her out for wearing a uniform when that was all she had. “No problem Dana, but please understand that until you turn eighteen I can’t let you join the House military. I know that sounds harsh, but I have to follow the law.” I get interrupted by Captain Ravenswood.
“Excuse me, my Lady, but that is not exactly true.”
“And just how is that Captain. I know for a solid fact that is what the law reads. I’m trying my best here to change things, but that is one law I will not change.”
“No offence, my Lady, but that is not all that the law reads. It is in place to keep unqualified people from entering the Military of both the Houses’ and PDF’s. There is a provision however that you are overlooking.”
Now this was news to me, let me tell you now. I remember when that law was written. Hell I was one of the original authors of that law. So you can imagine my surprise finding out there is a loop hole. I mean we spent months going over that damned thing to make sure there were no loop holes. “Captain, I would really, no make that dearly, love to know what you’re talking about.”
“The Educational waiver.” Holy shit! I had forgotten all about that, but then again that waiver was only there for someone who had already completed Primary School and had their Diploma, but had not yet turned eighteen.
“You’ll have to forgive me here, Captain Ravenswood, but for that to be the case Dana would have to have already passed Primary Schooling and also be within six months of her eighteenth birthday.”
“Oh, but I can make an even stronger case than that. Dana Silver Leaf is not only has her PSD, but a Masters’ degree in Linguistics, and two Bachelors’ degrees, one in Business and the other in Modern Letters. I believe that should be more than enough to grant her a full Officer’s commission in the House military or any Military force in the Empire.”
I have Dee De pull up the full law for me. It takes her a few minutes to find it and then display it on my HUD. There it was in glowing black and white.
Empyreal Command 1967
Neither man nor woman shall enter into Military service prior to their eighteenth birthday. No man or woman can be conscripted prior to their eighteenth birthday. Only individuals who have reached their eighteenth birthday may serve in any Military unit be it PDF or House.
1) Exceptions can only be made to individuals who are seventeen and nine months that have completed their Primary Education with a full diploma.
2) Exceptions can be made for individuals who have more than Standard Education and not yet of the age of consent. Requirements for said waver are as follows.
a) Associates degree and seventeen yrs. six months.
b) Bachelor’s degree and seventeen yrs. four months.
c) Master’s degree and seventeen yrs.
3) All exceptions listed in paragraph two can only enlist in the officer’s core and must complete a minimum of three yrs. service. They can only hold positions within the Officers Support cadre.
“Dee De, how long have these revisions been on the book?”
Just a sec hon. After what felt like hours. They have been on the books for the last twenty yrs. (Dee De)
Looking up at Captain Ravenswood “Ok, I’ll buy that, but we have another problem. Dana Silver Leaf does not have legal id as herself. How do you plan to handle that, sir?” I really wanted to know this, because if he can this will solve one major pain in the ass for me.
“Oh, well… umm… I think I might be able to handle that.”
“Captain, I suggest that you come clean on how you’re going to make this all work.” I was looking at Dana and I can tell that even she is wondering how Ravenswood is going to pull this off. “I believe that Dana would also like to know what you’re up to.”
With a heavy sigh the man comes clean. “As a member of the Royal Family of High Winds I can grant her full Citizenship. Also I can make her an Officer of the Royal Guards thus giving her all the rights and privileges as member of the High Winds Royal Military.” Now there are a few things in this world that are mostly likely to throw me for a loop. What Raygel just said was one of them. In the last four hundred years there have only been six non Elf born people to be granted full citizenship to High Winds. If he does that it will put me in a very delicate position politically.
“Prince Raygel, I’m a little fuzzy on the part about her having a commission in the High Winds military being a help?”
“It works like” I interrupt him before he can go much further.
“Tell her, not me. It’ll be Dana’s decision not mine if this happens.”
Looking over at Dana he has the good sense to blush. “I’m sorry Dana. I should have come to you first with this idea. Like I was explaining to her Ladyship, if you become a citizen of High Winds I can commission you as an officer of the Royal High Winds Military. As such you can serve in either our milita
ry or in one of the House military units despite your age.”
Dana looks up at him and a small smile crosses her face. “You mean I can legally be a member of House Nakatoma’s Military?”
“Well, yes, but it is more than just that. You’ll also be protected against someone coming along and forcing you to return to Helos Prime.”
“What if I don’t want to serve in the High Winds Military?”
“Not a problem. I’ll just state that you’re serving your time in an approved House Military unit. Oh and by the way you only have to do five years, so if you want after your time is up you can do something else.” The man was practically bursting at the seams when he told her this. Not that I blame him. The smile on Dana’s face could be used for a nav beacon in deep space it was so bright.
The petite young lady jumped up and hugged the big man as hard as she could. All the while chanting over and over ‘yes oh yes.’ When I finally got her to calm down again. “Well, Dana, I take it that you would like to become a member of the Nakatoma House military by the way of High Winds officers’ commission and term of service?”
“OH yes ma’am. More than anything else.” She was truly happy. I believe it is the first time in her young life she has ever felt this way. I look up at Combs and Taylor to see smiles on their faces as well. Faced by this united front of friendship and love I can’t say no to her.
“Alright, I’ll let it happen on two conditions.”
Dana quickly calms down and looks at me. “What is that my Lady?”
“You remain in the main house until you can present yourself as a young lady and you don’t go anywhere without either Corporals Taylor or Combs. Do you agree?”
It took her a few seconds before she said anything. “I would like to know why first?”
“Ok I can understand that. As before you still need to learn how to be a young lady and the best way to do that is around people who understand and can help you. Now as far as the corporals go I don’t want you without a bodyguard until you can move about comfortably as a woman.”
After a few moments a careful thought she nods her head. “Ok my Lady, I can live with that.”
“Good, and by the way you’re out of uniform young lady. Corporals if you’ll escort her over to supply so she can correct this matter.”
“At once my Lady, what rank is Dana to draw?” Combs ask.
“First Lieutenant, should do nicely I think. How about it, Captain that sound about right?”
“Yes ma’am it sure does. Carry out your orders L.T.” Ravenswood tells Dana. She smiles up at us both then salutes Ravenswood and leaves us with Taylor and Combs right behind her. When they are gone Ravenswood turns back to “My Lady, I know that you didn’t want to do that but it is for the best. Dana will never really fit in as a regular girl.”
Sighing I look up at Ravenswood “Trust me I know all too well. She never really had too much of a real childhood, I can tell. She is like a lot of gen-alt male brides. I have met a few of the over the years. I’m just glad that she got away before they sent her to that school.” I just shook my head in sadness knowing that even though I won the war here on Hades it’ll take a lot more to put a stop to that practice. The only way for me to truly end it is to attack Helos Prime and destroy everything that belongs to House Daniels. Looking up at the big man I could see that he had some more news. “So, Captain, what else do you have for me?”
Pulling a few sheets of paper from his inside his uniform jacket. “I have the butcher’s bill, my Lady.” When he hands the papers to me I know what it was. The listing of our dead and wounded along with the total of lost equipment. I was shocked to see that except for Captain Ravenswood, no one in the House military above the rank of first Lieutenant was alive. My God I thought over one third of my House troops were dead. Seeing the shock on my face Ravenswood tried to ease my guilt. “My Lady, please, understand this was not your fault. We placed the House troops in the center of the line making them the anvil to everyone else’s hammer.”
“I know full well who to blame Captain. I will look her in the face every time I look in a mirror.” Waving the sheets of paper at him. “What these are is a reminder that when all is said and done I, and I alone, am the one to blame for what happened here today. So please, don’t try to place the blame on anyone else, unless it is on the rebel Houses. By the way do we have a tally on their losses yet?”
“We’re working on it that as we speak, my Lady.”
“Very well then, let me know as soon as you have it.” He nodded his head to let me know he understood. “I do have a question though. How it is that almost everyone our House and Body guard officers above the rank of Captain are dead? Except for you, the only officers we have above that rank are Col. Fujiyama, Maj. Howard, and Captain Bell. What, did you guys lead a full on assault on the rebel lines or something?”
He looked down at the floor before he answered. “Well, to be honest ma’am yes. When the troops saw little ghost get shot out of her APS the troops came close to losing control, but when her little elves got taken down they just charged over the bearers and into the rebels. Seeing as how we no longer had direct control over our units we threw caution to the wind and joined them. The paint schemes we had made us the first targets they took out, but it did them no good. Our troops were in a full on killing frenzy.”
Damn it happened anyway. All that planning down the tubes because I led my team over the wall and let my emotions get the better of me. If I had held my ground then maybe just maybe there would be more of my troops and officers alive. Alice comes up behind me and gives me a hug. While whispering in my ear. “Kitten, no matter what happened you could not have stopped this. Once the battle was started all of your planning was bound to get thrown out the window. You know that no plan survives contact with the enemy whole.” I nod my head letting her know, I knew. I didn’t have to like it, but I still knew.
“Thank you Captain. I hope you can provide me with the names of reliable men and women to replace our losses. Do you know how many the other units lost?”
He shakes his head no. “I’m still trying to compound all of that. The mercenaries are working on their losses as we speak and the Death Dealers have said that they’ll see to their own dead.”
“I’ll deal with the Death Dealers.” With far more understanding in the matter than I liked. No Death Dealer commander ever wanted to let out how many men they lost in a battle. Their losses were and still are a closely guarded secret. It was a matter of pride that they left no one behind. “They won’t give up that type of information without direct orders from their overall command. As it is I’ll mostly likely be the only one to ever know how many they truly lost. Thank you Captain for all that you have done today.”
“It was my honor and duty, my Lady.”
“I understand that you personally led a troop of Jump Infantry in taking out the enemy command post.”
“That’s not exactly true, my Lady.” The man had a strange look on his face, like he had just swallowed a bug. “I only led the relief team. It was Silver Leaf, Combs and Taylor who attacked and destroyed the enemy’s command post.”
I feel my blood pressure spike to dangerous levels. “What do you mean Silver Leaf, Combs, and Taylor took out the enemy command post? They were all supposed to be in our own mobile command post far behind our lines.”
“Well, when everything broke down to an all-out brawl and there wasn’t much more they could do from there. That’s when Silver Leaf pointed out where the enemy CP was. Well between her and Combs they convinced Taylor that between the three of they could sneak around and hit it from behind.”
The more I hear the madder I get. Here I am trying to keep the little shit out of the fight and avoid a political nightmare she goes behind my back and pulls a commando raid in the middle of an all or nothing battle. “When I get my hands on that girl I’ll skin her alive. What the hell was she thinking?!”
“Um… My Lady…um… Well that is what those three ar
e actually trained to do.”
“What do you mean by that Captain Ravenswood?” it must have been the sound of my voice, but it was Alice who answered not Raygel.
“Maiha, all the members of the old enforcer squads were trained for this type of operation. They specialize in taking out things like command post’s, landing zones, resupply and refuel points, or anything else like that.” When I look over at her I can tell she is telling me the truth. “If I had to guess I would say that Silver Leaf used her T9-A3 Jump Infantry gear, while the guys used their new Land Warrior assault armor. Between the three of them they can cause more havoc than an entire platoon of regular infantry.” As Alice laid out her reasons and explained just how those three were trained I realized that putting them where I had was not one of my better moments. Then again Dana had provided to be one hell of a coordinator. “I’ll be very honest with you; if you were to move those three plus a few more of the old enforcer platoon members over to the Intelligence Troop they would make one hell of a recon platoon. With the way they are trained they can do all of the sneak and peak stuff a recon platoon, plus smash and dash as well.”
As she explains how she would form a recon platoon out of the old enforcer platoon I find myself liking it more and more. “I’ll announce the changes this evening after dinner.” Looking around I see that everyone agrees with me. That’s when I realized there was a reason we were all dressed up in our good clothes. It hits me like a ton of bricks, hell Dana even told me what it was.
“OH SHIT! Alice when are we supposed to meet mama for her wedding?!”
Chapter 11
The O.M.G. looks on the faces of my sisters and Allison mirrored my own. Looking over at Gin, Kina, and Nia I can tell that this was what they were being so closed lip about. Even Captain Ravenswood had the good graces to keep his mouth shut over our lack of knowledge. Thankfully there is a knock on my sitting room door. Waving for one of my sisters’ maids to open it, I sit back and began to think and plan. First I need to get a representative from the individual units that are here. Second I need to figure out how to broadcast the wedding so everyone can see it. Third, there are all those POWs to deal with. Fourth, I need to try and figure out what my role as the Head of House is in mama’s wedding. Then there is what my sister’s roles in all this are. They haven’t been adopted officially yet. Damn it; I need more time.