A Cracking Coronation

Major Yu was Displeased. The coronation was happening soon and there was no suitable company for it! He was throwing a party and putting it on the telly. There were going to be sandwiches! And a quiche! And tea! And a cake!

Scorpia did not have very many employees that he could make, ahem, request the attendance of, however. Howell was no fun. Too many dietary restrictions. His lieutenants were, of course, going to be attending with suitably large retinues. But most of them weren't even British! How could they possibly understand this momentous occasion?! If only Orion-

That was it! He was simply going to have to have Orion here for extra security. Orion couldn't possibly be that busy! Not to mention, it would be a good experience for the young lad and valuable cultural enrichment. Now he only had to convince Yassen of that.

"You want Orion for what?!"

Major Yu frowned. Perhaps he had underestimated Yassen's sheer barbarity. There was no need to deprive Orion further. He was quite sure the boy was very obedient. "My coronation party! I need him there for extra security! Howell and my lieutenants are all going to be there. Do you know how much of a security risk that is?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line. Major Yu could practically hear the cogs turning in Yassen's head. He would have sworn there was no plot this time, but that would have alarmed Yassen instead of reassuring him.

"Are the four combat squads and three elite operatives excluding Howell insufficient?"

Major Yu resisted the urge to pout. Sometimes you just wanted an operative there. And he was offering to pay for it! "Not necessarily. But I think that Orion would provide a unique security perspective."

That sounded professional, even to his ears. Was Orion there primarily to torment Howell? Yes. But that didn't mean he would ever tell anyone that. Besides, it wasn't like Yassen never set Orion on anyone. "He comes off his current assignment in three hours. I will inform him of his change in travel plans."

Major Yu almost smiled. He longed to wrap his hands around his colleagues' necks. Then there would be no barriers to him adopting Orion and having a new second-in-command. A real second-in-command. And a British second-in-command.

"Thank you, Yassen. Orion will be in good hands, rest assured."

And if they weren't good hands, he would let Orion snap their necks. As a treat. The poor boy was sent on all sorts of dreadful civilian-friendly assignments.

"Is that all?"

Major Yu paused in his third reading of the email regarding Orion's transportation and clothing. He cleared his throat. It had been a while since he had been excited about anything. "Yes, thank you, Yassen. If there are any issues, please let me know."

Winston hung up on the man. Now, time to get back to his email. Would sending his private jet for the boy send the wrong message? Possibly. First-class seats would probably be a better fit for his cover anyhow.

Ten hours later, he was greeted by a freshly showered Orion. At six o'clock sharp. Seated across from him in a chair.

"Good morning, Major Yu. Yassen mentioned a coronation party and security?"

Major Yu beamed at Orion. Such a nice boy. It was a shame that Yassen had him so tightly in his clutches. Perhaps an accident could be arranged. "Yes! Isn't it exciting! I'm having every ounce of food imported from the United Kingdom. Well, I do that anyhow, but this is special food for a special occasion."

Orion continued sipping his tea. Where was Howell? The man was chronically late. Frankly, it irritated Winston to no end. The door opened with more force than necessary.

"Anthony, if you crack my mahogany door, you will be paying for my mahogany door."

Howell flinched and muttered an apology before he sat down.

Winston despised mutters, especially for apologies. He smiled at Howell. "Welcome to breakfast. I do hope your vacation wasn't too pressing. Orion will be going over the security arrangements in great detail with us."

Howell paled visibly and jumped slightly as he noticed Orion. Major Yu cackled inwardly as Howell sat in the chair furthest from Orion. Howell had been incredibly uncomfortable the entire week, given the entire reason for the party. "I hope you'll stay for some light refreshments."

Howell took one look at the buffet and winced.

Winston resisted the urge to smile. He had deliberately made it so that there was next to no food that Howell could eat without aggravating his medical issues. Call him petty, but that was what you got for being late to ten of his breakfasts in a row.

"Thank you, sir."

Major Yu wondered if his smile was too predatory. Then he remembered that he didn't care. Howell selected a few of the items. Orion was glaring daggers at him. This was already shaping up to be fun and exciting. "Orion, please begin your report about the security concerns now."

Major Yu sat back and watched Orion point out three major and several minor security issues. The entire report sounded so delightfully menacing. Orion's entire being and tone dripped hostility at Howell whenever possible.

It was easily one of Winston Yu's top ten reports. Mostly due to entertainment value. It was a full three hours before Orion finished. Howell was visibly sweating at the table when he was done.

"Thank you, Orion. Howell, you're in charge of patching my security issues that Orion pointed out."

Major Yu had it on good authority that Howell would be doing it by frantically sending emails on the toilet. He didn't care much, so long as it got done. Howell took about four painkillers before leaving the table.

Yu heard him running towards the bathroom. He smiled at Orion. "Did you have any last-minute additions to the menu?"

Orion chewed his lower lip. Hopeful brown eyes looked at him. Major Yu continued smiling at him. The boy finally answered. "I like lamb. If it's not too much trouble?"

Major Yu smiled. There would be no trouble at all. At least, not for Orion. Logistics could always be persuaded to deliver last-minute additions. "You shall have it. Now, there's work to do and I require your services in executive security."

Orion all but jumped out of the chair. Major Yu was enjoying having him padding silently at his side. There would be desk work, but he had every faith that Orion would guard him well.

Major Yu had planned the coronation party after hours. Broadcasting would start at 8 p.m. sharp. The party would start at 7:30 to allow guests time to arrive. "Orion, you will be seated at my right side for the duration of the party."

Orion nodded as he rose from his chair. Yu picked up his cane and set off for the door. Orion held it open for him as he stepped through. It was time to supervise the party preparations. The fun part of this entire deal. "Captain de Wynter, why are you a full hour early?"

The man jumped out of his chair. Major Yu felt Orion shift beside him. No weapons were drawn. Good. "I don't have anything better to be doing, sir. Besides, in the military-"

Major Yu waved him off. Sometimes de Wynter was just too Dutch. He cleared his throat. "Thank you, Captain. Please make yourself useful and help supervise the banquet set-up. You did start as a navy cook, after all."

Captain de Wynter scurried off towards the table.

Winston heard a nearly inaudible sigh next to him. To be fair, de Wynter was a spineless man but a useful one. They stood there for a while watching the staff prepare the table and refreshments. "Come, Orion. Let's check on Howell's progress, shall we?"

Orion followed him toward a different office. Major Yu had deliberately given Howell an office that was about three Celsius hotter than the rest of the building. It had been entirely deliberate.

"Can I help you, sir?"

Major Yu fixed Howell with a stern look. Sometimes, grown men behaved like toddlers. And then there was Howell. It was a pity that having such a high-ranking ASIS mole was useful. Then again, all moles had an expiration date. It was only a matter of time. "Yes. Have the security adjustments been made?"

Howell cleared his throat. Winston took a great amount of glee in watching him sweat. Orion's fingers inched towards his firearm. "The critical ones have been. The non-critical ones have to wait for further resources from logistics."

Howell got to live another day. Pity. Winston was sure that Orion would have enjoyed a bit of light murder as a treat. It would have made a spiffing coronation present for him. "Excellent. I see that you haven't let your…unfortunate personal beliefs about the monarchy interfere with your job."

"He's a Republican?!"

Winston would have normally reprimanded a subordinate for interrupting. It was, however, quite shocking. Orion's exclamation could be easily forgiven in light of his youth. "Ah, yes. Fascinating how MI6 managed to miss that, no?"

Howell cleared his throat loudly.

Winston glared at him.

Orion looked at him and shrugged. "Moving on. Isn't the party starting in about two minutes?"

Winston checked the clock. Well, it was time to head back to the main room. Orion was correct. "Quite. Let us proceed to the main room."

The giant viewing screen that Winston had custom-ordered for the party turned on at precisely 7:59 p.m. He was seated just in time for the broadcast to begin. Orion sat down next to him. There was a lovely spread of food in front of them. And, of course, the rack of lamb that logistics had sourced for him.

They got through most of the coronation before something went horribly wrong.

BANG! SMASH!

Orion was up in a flash.

BOOM! BOOM!

Winston let out a sigh as two of his lieutenants and Howell dropped into their dinner plates.

GOD SAVE THE KING!

Winston muted the sound system and paused the viewing. He glared at the table. Captain de Wynter shrank into his chair. "This had better be quick or it's going to be praying to God to save you all instead of the king."

Orion raised his hand. Winston waved him on along.

"Erm, Howell and one of your lieutenants murdered the other lieutenant at the same time so I shot them both?"

Winston let out a sigh. It would be easy enough to verify with security cameras. And he wanted to finish watching this live. Or, at least, roughly live. "We will investigate this after the coronation and meal conclude."

Winston was rather cheerful as he ate a strawberry champagne cake next to the cooling corpses of his subordinates. Overall, no great losses had occurred and he had gotten the party he wanted. Perhaps one glass of champagne wouldn't be too un-British after all.

Fin