Chapter Sixteen: Your Final Orders
Jean-Luc returned to the Golden Rinnebeast to check himself out, and pick up his equipment. As he approached, he noticed the royal guards standing outside. He approached and asked the lead guard, "May I assume that King Richard is inside?"
"His Majesty is enjoying a family dinner," the guard said.
"Inform the King that Captain Picard has a message for him," Jean-Luc said. "Is there a problem with me accessing my room?"
"No, I will walk you to the staircase before taking your message to the King," the lead guard said.
Three minutes later, Captain Picard's packing was interrupted with a knock on his door. "The King would like you to join him for the remainder of his dinner."
Jean-Luc Picard entered the private dinning room to find the King sitting with his son on his left and daughter on his right. "Jean-Luc, have a seat," the King said, motioning to a seat across from him. "Would you like something to eat? Your daughter told mine that the meat pie here was excellent and she was definitely right. Madame, put Jean-Luc on my bill."
"Who can refuse the Golden Rinnebeast's meat pies?" Jean-Luc said. "If it wasn't for the fact that she's married to the owner, I'd suggest you steal the cook for the palace."
"At the very least, I'll arrange for regular delivery … though things tend to get cold by the time it reaches my table," the King said. "I assume we need to talk?"
"Yes," Jean-Luc said. "And I'll have a large slice of that pie, Madame."
As the pie was placed in front of Jean-Luc, the King said, "That will be all, Madame. Tell the guard that we do not wish to be disturbed."
The cook left quickly. Only after the cook was gone did Jean-Luc speak up. "Are you sure you want your children in on this?"
"In this world, they've become two and three on my chain of command, and I know the folly of not letting my command team not know my orders," the King said. "Plus, they're Federation Citizens, the Prime Directive's restrictions on what we can tell them doesn't apply. I doubt my orders are classified enough to have other provisions apply."
"They aren't," Jean-Luc said. "Given your situation it might be advisable to give your children the line officer's field training course though."
"We have field training for that now?" the King said.
"Yes, it's how my daughter managed to get her rank," Jean-Luc said. "She's actually never attended the Academy, save for a couple Security Seminars."
"The short blond who helped out Avery?" the King asked. Jean-Luc nodded. "Excellent officer. How old is she again?"
"Thirteen, almost fourteen," Jean-Luc said.
"And you made her your Chief of Security… Jean-Luc, they must think you're crazy," the King said.
"Some did, but not many after Starbase 72's Security Competition," Jean-Luc said. "How well did the Enterprise do," the King said.
"We won four out of the nine events, and came in second on two more," Jean-Luc replied. "She came in second the individual bladed weapons contest with bat'leth."
"So, she's good with a sword," Avery interrupted. "Brittany would probably find her a challenge."
"And yourself?" the King asked his son.
"Brittany beats me, unless she's in a dress," Avery admitted.
"Should I arrange a challenge before we leave?" Jean-Luc asked.
"I could use the practice," Brittany said. "I just know I'm going to be stuck too much in court while I'm in Odyssey."
"I'll order her down then," Jean-Luc said. "Richard, I've arranged for the starship Sir Edward Pellew to assist you in removing any of the advanced technology that can be removed. There is nothing we can or should do to the Odyssey's hull or space frame, of course. Our projections say it will take a couple of years to do it properly and without the notice of the general population."
"That's just about what I figured," the King said. "The Computer Cores alone will take a year, with the reinforcement we'll need as they're removed."
"For the moment, you'll report to me," Jean-Luc said. "Commander Lozano of the Pellew will report to you, and is assigned to the project for the duration."
"How long will you be in the sector?" the King said.
"Another two months," Jean-Luc said. "They're giving the Enterprise a thorough shakedown cruise. Afterwards, we'll be doing the three on one off Neutral Zone rotation. Even when we're on that, your chain of command will go through me after the sector commander. Any questions, Richard?"
"How often do you want reports?" the King asked.
"Every three weeks," Jean-Luc said, finishing off his meat pie. "You're right, this is good."
Admiral Jean-Luc Picard exited his ready room a couple days later to find all of his Command Crew on duty for the first time since the mission began. He approached his seat as he said, "Number One, Counselor, I assume our business with the Odyssey is concluded?"
"Aye, sir," Riker replied. "Thanks for the shore leave."
"You're welcome, Number One," Jean-Luc said. "Marrissa, may I hope your challenge with Princess Brittany went well?"
"You could, but you'd be wrong," Marrissa said. "She beat me, rather resoundingly."
"So much for your perfect record," Riker said.
"My record has never been perfect," Marrissa replied. "Dad sees to that. Though at the moment I do have need of some cannon fodder. Starboard Aft Gym after shift perhaps, Commander?"
"I'm afraid I've got some paper work to handle," Riker said. "The day-to-day commander for the last week apparently created an update report and evaluation for every shift she served. Captain, perhaps you can take her on."
"Darn, foiled by my own hard work," Marrissa smiled. "I guess I'll be finishing up the Security Department Personnel Evaluations, or doing my school work tonight."
"School work first, young lady," Jean-Luc said, staring directly at his adopted daughter. "The evaluations aren't due for another ten days. Then we'll talk about using my first officer for cannon fodder."
"Aye sir," Marrissa responded. "Incoming request for projected rendezvous time from the Starship Hood."
"Well, it seems that Captain DeSoto is wishes to see us, Number One," Jean-Luc said.
"Ensign Sachs, set a course for the Beta Hydra system, warp seven," Riker ordered.
"Course set and laid in, sir," the girl at the helm. "Projected rendezvous with Starship Hood is nine hours."
"Engage."
The King peered through the telescope that the astronomer had set up in the Royal Gardens. Through it he could see the Starship Enterprise, looking for all like a toy hung from the heavens. He watched for a moment as it rotated, and went off into warp.
"Astronomer, I see nothing," the King said, turning to look at his children "Did either of you see this object before I arrived?"
"No, Father," Brittany said. "And don't bother asking Avery, he was paying too much attention to Hayley."
"I can never pay too much attention to Hayley," Avery said, with his arm around the girl he was to marry in two days.
"Astronomer, I admire your efforts to map the stars, but next time, I'd prefer to see stars, planets, and nebulae," the King said. "I understand that there is a rather nice nebula that can be see towards the south west this time of year with the aid of a telescope."
"Father, you have a message from the Fleet," Brittany said, looking up to indicate the stars. "Perhaps you should read it while the Astronomer finds your nebula."
The King took the parchment from his daughter. "I'll say one thing for Jean-Luc, he chooses good paper," he said as he unfolded the note. "The Pellew will be here tomorrow. Perhaps we better settle some of our other issues before she arrives."
"Like what, Father?" Avery asked.
"Who to we give the Dukedom of Fasstime two, and who do we have take charge of the Army," the King said.
"Grandfather Avtra can handle the Army," Hayley said.
"Your Grandfather is one of the Dukes, I can't leave him in command of all the divisions ... one of them is supposed to be reporting directly to me," the King said.
"How about having that division report to Lord Sidney at the Admiralty while you search for a successor?" Brittany suggested.
"That won't work," Avery said. "I'd suggest either Colonel James Dunsen, or Colonel Daniel FitzAvtra."
"Hmmm... Brittany, have the Colonels report to me as soon as possible," the King said. "Lord Sidney will be heading all our Armed Forces. Avery, let him know Hayley, can you arrange for your grandfather to meet me discretely when he comes into town. Who are our candidates for the Fasstime Dukedom?
"That's my study," Brittany said. "The Fasstime line is very thin. For the last six generations they've just had a single heir. Duke Loniel's father was legally a bastard, at that. If we go out seven generations, I've found a link to the Earl of Arlipor whose head Avery had chopped off a couple days ago, which I guess makes young Virgil a possibility. The best one, however would be the case of Lord Henry's own illegitimate offspring, in particular his twins with the Countess of Dunsen on the Sea. The red hair pretty much told us that It's his instead of the Late Earl Drake's."
"What about the illegitimate problem?" Avery said.
"In Fasstime? You have to be kidding. A declaration of heredity from the Bishop of Dunsen on the River and that's solved," Brittany said. "The Bishop is in town too."
"That still leaves us with a minor child as Duke," the King said.
"The Countess, and one of the Dukes, plus someone from here, and you've got a good core Regency council," Avery said. "Duke Nolan did a good job with Duchess Desiree fifteen years ago."
"We'll give that to council for discussion," the King said, looking at the Astronomer. "Let's see if he's got the McAllister C-5 Nebula in view."