Hap and Anastasia arrived in the antechamber of the formal dining room. The Company's leadership and their spouses were already there and Commander McFinnigan was entertaining the countess and Ashely with a whiskey tasting and regaling them in stories and of past battles and misadventures from the various planets and places where each bottle originated.
Hap and Anastasia approached as Kelly poured out whiskey from a bottle that looked like a ceramic Sake jar. He saw Hap and Anastasia and motioned to Mark to pull two more small glasses, "Aye, now this is Captain Farrell's Whiskey. We got this on the world of Harvest, one of the last jobs we did before Klathandu. We were part of operation GOTTERDAMMERUNG and after the defenders fled I found an old Whiskey brewery that predated Kurita's occupation of the planet."
The countess took a careful sip. "Mmmm this is sweeter than the other whiskey."
"Aye I couldn't get the distiller to tell me his secret, but I believe he was using rice in his whiskey mash. I suspect his predecessors were trying to 'kurita-up' their recipes after the world fell centuries before." Kelly explained as Hap took a sip. The whiskey had a curious sweetness among its leathery complexities.
"I must say Commander you have quite a collection of whiskeys and the most wonderful stories."
"Bless ye my lady." Kelly said as he carefully poured her a little more whiskey.
"When your company comes to Hazelhurst I will return the favor with some of the choicest wine from my cellar." The countess said, "I believe I can match you for quality of spirit, but perhaps not for the stories."
"My Lady, it speaks to your virtue that you're not as talented a liar as our Commander." Fletch said.
"Well bless ye too, Mr. Fletcher." Kelly growled
Fletch sipped his whiskey, "I just call them how I see them."
Elinor threw open the doors to the dining room, "I believe we're all assembled, and the table is prepared, My lady if you're ready, we can go proceed to the dining room."
The countess nodded and finished her whiskey, and then followed Elinor as she led the way into the table. As the countess's guards started to follow, Elinor stopped them, "I have a rule that I limit weapons in my grand dining hall." Elinor smiled, "I've had some bad experiences with my fine china getting broken, bleeding on my carpet, things of that nature. So ye may disarm yourselves, and trust my protection, or dine out here."
The men exchanged looks and shrugged. Elinor shook her head, "I believe ye know exactly what I'm saying, and I personally assure you that your beloved Countess will be safe." The men still seemed unsure, "Have it yer way." Elinor repeated herself in French, but the men still looked hesitant.
The Countess gave them a dismissive wave and spoke to them in French, then said, "I'll be fine, and they'll stay out in the outer room."
Elinor looked at the bar, "Kitty if you'll see to these men."
The large table was now arranged so that the countess sat in the center with Kelly and Elinor on her right side and Anastasia and Hap on her left. Hap was also next to Fiona and Crow. Ashley was across from the Countess. Tatyana and Fletch sat on Ashely's left and the doctors Jackson and Leslie Morgan were on her right.
Before they began Kelly stood and asked the men to fill wine glasses as he gave a small speech thanking the countess for everything she had done for the company. Getting them favored company status with House Davion had certainly helped their fortunes, and he thanked for allowing her daughter to be a member of the company and "lend her" to his family. As he finished he offered a toast to her health, family name, and fortune.
The countess thanked him, and gave her own short speech expressing her gratitude for him and his family. She thanked them all both for what they did for her daughter, and even the kindness they were showing them now.
As she finished speaking the servers for the night brought out bread and beef carpaccio with capers and onions. Mark moved from the antechamber bar, to work in the formal dining room. He refilled wine glasses, made cocktails, and pulled pints.
When the fish course was taken away and replaced with lime sorbet and more bread the countess looked impressed. "Commander, it's been long since I've had a proper seven course meal."
"Aye, the work we do may not always be civilized, but Elinor ensures we at least know how to behave properly." Kelly said.
"Well then you have my highest compliments. Anastasia told me of the meal when you entertained Major Braun. Those courses would have been a pleasure, but this is a surprise I would have never imagined."
"The fare for the good Major was chosen based on his condition." Patrick said. As Patrick said it Hap realized the meal was soups, shepherds pie and soft or small things that didn't need to be cut with a knife. He hadn't realized at the time, but it was probably a kindness anyone thought to do for Major Braun.
Elinor shook her head, "Patrick, please, this is unnecessary. Part of preserving the man's dignity is not speaking of it."
"I'm pretty sure that pretty little gal he had with him would have leaned over and helped him out with anything he needed. Might have been interesting to watch, given her dress." Crow said thoughtfully.
Fiona sighed, "Remember how I said if you were coming you'd have to be on your best behavior, and should talk as little as possible?"
"Pardon us my lady, we may know how to behave, we just don't always manage it." Kelly said.
"Anastasia has told me of all of you, and I would be disappointed if you were anything less than this." The countess said with a warm smile.
The main dish, beef bourguignon, was brought out and the countess's eyes widened. Anastasia took a small bite and whispered, "oh that's good." She looked at her mother "I've been helping out in those kitchens for months and never thought about making something like this."
The countess nodded as Anastasia spoke. "This is truly a delight."
"My lady, if you're enjoying yourself, perhaps we could stay a few more days." Ashley said.
The countess looked over at her daughter and smiled, "No I believe after the wedding Anastasia and Harold will want some time alone, days I'd suspect. We may as well return my holdings."
Ashley looked frustrated, but nodded, "Yes, my lady."
Everyone settled into their beef bourguignon. After a few bites Ashley cleared her throat. "Anastasia, do you really think ComStar is 'out to get you'?" She looked around the table, "Seems kinda crazy right?"
Tatyana gave Ashley a strange look. Kelly put down his fork. "Lass, if ye'd seen the things we've seen ye'd know it's far from crazy."
Anastasia's head tilted to the side, "Someone murdered my father, and I've had too many near misses to assume coincidence. To not believe ComStar would be crazy."
"But Comstar? Really?" Ashley said patronizingly.
"They desire to suppress recovering technology or making new advancements, who else but ComStar?" Anastasia said.
Ashley gave Anastasia a condescending look, "This is a conspiracy theory long held by fools and people from the periphery and fringes of society."
"Edmund believed this." The countess said, "Ashley we should speak of something else now."
"Yes, my lady, but I'd submit Anastasia is being paranoid and keeping herself unnecessarily secluded."
"What's it to you?" Tatyana asked
"I just think it's foolish just because some mercenaries attacked one of your patrols you're using it to justify this idea that ComStar is some great evil group that hurts people. I think we can all agree this is clearly a falsehood."
The countess's eyes narrowed, "Ashley explain yourself. You were against our trip here, now you want us to stay and you are accusing my daughter and husband of believing a conspiracy theory."
Ashley looked around the table. Everyone had stopped eating and was staring at her now. She nervously cleared her throat. "I'm sorry my lady. I don't know what got into me. Forgive me everyone."
Hap again felt a strange sense of foreboding. "I think you should explain yourself."
Ashley seemed to ignore Hap but looked at the countess. "My lady, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to retire for the evening."
"Are you a ComStar agent? That letter wasn't really from your brother was it?" Hap asked.
"What letter?" Anastasia asked, "Why would you think she's a Comstar agent?"
"She had a letter with weird markings. It looked like a secret memo or something." Hap said.
Hap noticed that Tatyana stiffened. Her hands under the table, and her dinner knife was missing.
"I'm going to leave." Ashley said. She started to reach for her bag as she glanced at Tatyana. There was a strange moment as the women sized each other up. Ashley snatched up her purse as Tatyana struck Ashley under the jaw and pushed her head up. Tatyana's other hand stabbed out from under the table headed for Ashely's throat, but Ashley was able to get her arm up to block the attack. Ashley swung her purse at Tatyana and caused both women's chairs to tilt back and they spilled onto the floor.
Ashley scrambled to get up and started digging through her purse, as Tatyana smoothly rose to her feet and pulled up the top of her dress to make sure she was still covered. Ashley saw Tatyana approach and grabbed a wine bottle off a side table and threw it at her. Tatyana caught the bottle by the neck and broke it on the side of the table as she continued walking toward Ashley.
Ashley pulled a stunstick from her purse. "I'm leaving and if anyone tries to stop me I'll use this."
Tatyana smirked, "Oh you think you're leaving?" She settled into a fighting stance and held the broken bottle like a knife.
"Commander please stop this." The countess said.
"Tatyana, I'd like to ask the lass a few questions, escort her back to her seat."
Tatyana stood up straight, and motioned to the chair, "Maybe you sit and let doctor look at your arm, dah?"
Ashley looked down and saw the dinner knife was embedded deeply into her arm. She glanced back up at Tatyana, "No. I'm leaving." She took a step forward but Tatyana moved between her and the door. Ashley swung her stun stick but Tatyana skillfully parried it with the broken bottle. Ashely made two more attempts to stun Tatyana. The first swing was also parried. When Ashley tried to thrust the stun stick into Tatyana she pushed the weapon aside and head butted Ashley. There was the unpleasant crack of broken bone. Ashley stepped back to gently touch her nose then looked at her fingers for blood.
"Now maybe you sit, or I break leg instead of nose." Tatyana said nonchalantly.
Ashely gave a primal yell, raised the stun stick high overhead and charged Tatyana. Tatyana lowered herself and prepared to decisively end the altercation, but instead of bringing the stun stick down Ashley struck Tatyana with her purse. The purse was surprisingly heavy and Tatyana was too off balanced to effectively block the stun stick as it struck her in the shoulder. She reached out for Ashley's arm as the stun stick hit Tatyana again.
Tatyana groaned obscenities as she went down, but not before grabbing the knife in Ashley's arm. Ashley screamed in agony, but rushed to the door.
Several people got up, including Fletch and Doctor Jack. They rushed over to Tatyana. Elinor had stepped out from behind the table when the altercation started. Now she moved swiftly and grabbed Ashley around the shoulders and spun her around and pushed her back towards the table. Ashley tripped, nearly fell, but managed to keep her feet as she backpelled away from Elinor..
Elinor gave her the sternest of maternal looks. "Ye'll sit now, young lady." Elinor had her hands on her hips but her hands disappeared into the folds in her dress. It almost looked like she had pockets in her elegant ball gown. Elinor's tone reminded Hap of being a child and having his mother go from benevolent caregiver to fearsome wrathful demi-goddess. As a child to cross her would have been unthinkable, even now if Hap were in Ashley's position he would have meekly returned to his seat.
Ashley was pale and shaken but she still had her purse and stun stick. She shook her head, "I'm leaving."
Ashely charged Elinor like she had Tatyana. Elinor brought her hands out of her dress. Hap could see long slits in multiple layers of fabric and caught a glimpse of Elinor's leg and a sword sheath. In her hands Elinor was holding two swords, one longer than the other. The room was filled with a hum as Elinor activated her vibroblades.
Hap could hear Anastasia and the countess's surprise gasps as Elinor started to approach Ashley.
Ashley didn't hesitate as she charged. She raised her stun stick high. As Ashley swung the purse Elinor leaned out of the way of the hand bag and cut through the stun stick with the longer vibroblade, and punched Ashley in the nose with the hand holding the shorter blade.
Ashely staggered backwards again. Hap could see the tears welling up in her eye. Hap couldn't see Elinor's feet but the way she moved was like a prize fighter. Hap had watched exhibition fights with his father and he remembered his dad explaining how the best boxers knew a fight was won or lost in the foot work. A good fighter was always moving and positioning themselves to deliver the most powerful hits at the right time. Elinor moved like that. She was controlling the fight. By contrast, Tatyana had fought with absolute aggression, and had Kelly not stopped her she would have killed Ashley as quickly as possible. Elinor had already won this fight, Ashley just had to choose how much pain she wanted to endure, but Hap knew there was little she could do to escape Elinor.
Ashley threw the handle of the broken stunstick at Elinor and Elinor leaned slightly to let it sail past her. Ashley pulled a needle gun from her purse and leveled it at Elinor. "Get out of my way." She almost shouted.
Elinor snickered, "If ye think a needlegun can pass through my fine embroidery yer more a fool than ye look."
"You've brought vibroblades to a gunfight, so who's the fool?" Ashley spat back.
Elinor looked surprised, "Call me a fool? I'm debating if I'm going to disarm you or dismember you. If ye want to help me decide, keep talkin'. Or ye can be wise, drop the gun and bag o' tricks and sit."
Ashley shook her head. She started to raise the pistol's aim when Hap noticed she was turning the gun. He instantly lunged to push Anastasia out of her chair. As he pushed her down he wrist caught a tray of vegetables which caused it to tip and spill food on them as well. He heard the hiss of compressed air and heard the sound of the flechettes striking the metal food tray.
There was the squeal of metal on metal and Hap heard the needle gun clatter to the ground. The countess shouted for her guards in French. Hap could make out "Anastasia", "Ashley", and "murder or kill". He heard the heavy door burst open. Ashley started yelling, but she was quickly silenced in the hiss of more needle guns.
Hap carefully looked over the table. Ashely lay crumpled on the floor. The body guards were standing over her, both with their own heavy needle guns trained on her. Doc Jack was checking her vitals, but Hap could see multiple pin pricks of blood were starting to form a large red stain on her blouse and sleeve. Elinor and Fletcher were helping Tatyana back up and the countess looked shocked.
Hap pulled Anastasia up, "Are you okay."
She could only nod as she looked over at Ashley. The countess pushed Hap out of the way as she held her daughter and hugged her. She pushed her back so see she could make sure she wasn't hurt. The countess looked at a loss for words as she hugged her again, then looked over at Hap and pulled him into the embrace.
Elinor laid her swords on the table with a sigh, "And another well planned formal meal ruined by an enemy of the family. Why I even bother with planning desserts…oh, and I had personally worked on the crème bruelle."
"Shall we start cleaning up, or call the local constable?" Roweyna asked, "If we call the constable we'll need to get our stories straight. However this may be one of the few times when the truth may serve us best."
"My lady." Kelly said, "How would ye like us to handle this? We can easily make this disappear for you, or if ye prefer we can get the local law enforcement involved. It will create some problems for ComStar, but they'll have a ready lie and make it disappear."
"Do as you see best commander." The countess said quietly. She was still holding Anastasia and Hap.
Kelly nodded, "Mark go get some help, and start cleaning this up. Wrap the body and put in the freezer while I debate how big a message I want to send to ROM." As he spoke Tatyana took Ashley's purse and emptied the contents onto the table. She sat down and drank Vodka straight from the bottle as she started to go through Ashley's "kit bag". She found the note and started to read it.
Fletch picked up a long thin double edged knife, "If you had a knife like this, the fight would ended before she knocked you out of your chair."
Tatyana held up the memo, "She was ROM counter intelligence. If I had known this, I would have ended her before first course." Tatyana looked disappointed, "Seems she was sloppy too."
Kelly could see the countess was still shaken, "My lady, by your good pleasure I'd believe we should reconvene our meal in the galley. Let my people take care of all of this, and report to you in the morning. Elinor has prepared creme bruelle, perhaps it would-" Kelly said
The countess shook her head, "I believe I'd like to retire for the evening. However Commander, its obvious my daughter is safest with your company. I doubt even NAIS or the High prince enjoy this level of protection." She looked down at the weapons on th table then up at Elinor, "Vibroblades under a ballgown, I'd never have imagined."
"They were a wedding gift from Elinor's father." Kelly said, "I often suspect the man never much cared for me."