Unlikely Guests.
Lupus Wulfen thought that he had enough of that.
"As one of the accepted Commanders of the Green Company, a peer among my peers, I ask to make a declaration to this free assembly."
Suddenly hearing the traditional formula had the effect of an electric discharge on the emerald crowd.
Marshall Chas looked for a moment in Wulfen's direction trying to figure out his intentions.
"Your declaration will be freely accepted as freely will be expressed Commander Wulfen."
Answered Karl Chas using the traditional formula too.
"Stop dragging your feet."
Said Wulfen addressing the other Commanders.
"Our Battle Marshall has presented his plan, if,as Commanders, you don't have anything better to suggest, it's your duty as soldiers to prepare for the incoming battle."
"This is not the time for second thoughts, as far I am concerned I have only one thing to say."
Here Lupus faced Karl Chas directly, ostensibly saluting the Marshall he said:
"The Wulfen Militia entrust Commander Karl Chas as its Battle Marshall."
And after expressing his vote:
"Commander Wulfen reporting for duty sir."
"Present and ready" shouted, completing the traditional formula for formal declarations during War Councils.
This seemed to galvanize the others , that slowly, but steadily, began to come to the forefront, all repeating the traditional formula while expressing their vote in favor of Karl Chas.
In few minutes the various voices surmounted each other becoming one single roar.
"Green company reporting for duty sir."
"Present and Ready."
A new confidence animated Karl Chas.
He was sure that a major crisis had been averted thanks to Wulfen's intervention, for now, at least.
"The vote is closed, with the confirmation of the current Battle Marshall and the approval of the war strategy by he proposed."
"Every Commander please consult your reference Officer for more specific orders and concord the details."
"You have a day in doing so before returning to your sectors for the necessary preparations."
"This war council is officially concluded."
The Marshall said this last words with a sense of relief, now that the gears of wars had been set in motion everyone would have been occupied with other things than infighting, hopefully, the Green Company was composed by soldiers after all.
With the conclusion of the vote he thought that was now possible relax a bit, but a new happening came to perturb the assembly.
One of the base's officials entered the room presenting a letter with the Representativity logo on it.
Chas opened it and rapidly read its content, then he nodded to the official sending him away.
"As you know Gentlemen, we have a resident delegation of the Representativity in this base, now, for the first time, they decided to use one of the privilege that were granted to them when the Representativity was first established."
"Please, welcome counselor Arbhert and the chief delegation Mudhor, and their secretaries, as external observers of the proceedings of this assembly."
The announcement was encountered more with incredulity than anything else, until now that privilege was never invoked, mostly due to its ceremonial nature.
They regularly sent recommendations or suggestions to the Directorate or to the Marshall's office usually with little success.
In case of a War council, as this one, they should await the end of the military consultations for getting an audience, as in
this case, and were only allowed to present some general request that was completely up
to the assembly to accept, and even in that case there was no obligation for the Green Company to comply.
Counselor Arbhert confidently entered the room followed by his staff, all dressed in dark blue suits except for the sleeveless, knee-long, white garment wore by the counselor to indicate his status, with the golden insignia of the Representativity on the left breast.
Aware of the stupefaction of the Commanders he calmly looked at the reunion as to assess the situation.
What he saw were confident soldiers with a confident leader.
"The Representativity, while regretting that a pacific solution couldn't be achieved,desire to express its full support to the
heroic effort of the Green Company.
And respectfully request for the establishment of a conjoined presidium where the fringe sector borders the central sectors for contributing to the safety of the Federal Commonwealth in this campaign."
Karl Chas was in awe at the sight of such impudence, he openly acknowledged that they wanted to reach a deal with the enemy while at the same time asking for an expansion of the Representativity military facilities.
And one conveniently located in a very strategic position for controlling the central sectors too.
Surely the main reason for the request, thought the Marshall, considering that almost no danger ever came from there.
But maybe that was the cunning part, asking for a zone with low military activity would have encountered less resistance than asking for a zone with a well established presence of the Green Company, something that could have been seen as a challenge to the role of the Company.
A sneaky serpent this counselor, and an ambitious one at that, Thought Chas.
"I wonder what he would have said and with what tone if the commanders didn't offered a united front as they did."
This was a very unpleasant consideration on the Marshall's part.
"I see,we are witnessing the escalation of the power struggle between the Directorate and the Representativity."
A bitter smile accompanied this silent realization.
"The Green Company gladly welcomes the support of the Representativity."
Said diplomatically Karl Chas.
"But as Battle Marshall I can't abstain to express my perplexity over the insistence of Counselor Arbhert in promoting a peace
deal with the Jehnizars, which brutality it's well known by the Representativity."
This blunt statement clearly surprised the counselor, but, as the seasoned politician that he was, quickly regained his composure.
"Our only concern is the the well being of the Federal Commonwealth."
Promptly answered the counselor.
"It's not the first time that we allied with our enemies, humans or otherwise, if circumstances demanded for it."
This was clearly a dig to the Past of the Green Company.
"For now we only encountered enemies using a technology equal or inferior to ours, mostly due to the globular cluster we reside in, that easily allows space travel."
Continued the counselor.
"But what if we encounter an intergalactic civilization with a far superior technology?"
Rhetorically asked.
"It's my opinion that it's better to try to reach a compromise with all the civilizations around us, to become stronger and to have better opportunities at retrieving and studying those xeno-artifacts that so many improvements brought to us, but that are also an ominous reminder of what we could face some day."
The Marshall hoped to dig out the serpent out of his hole but realized that continuing that conversation would have only permitted the diffusion of its poison instead.
"Your concerns are being duly noted, I can assure you that the Green Company will not underestimate any present or future menace that could face it."
"About the request for a presidium, as much we appreciate the support of the Representativity, is opinion of this assembly that ,for now, is unnecessary in this campaign."
The Counselor realized that that was a dismissal and decided that was better to leave after presenting his homages once again.
Lupus Wulfen found that interlude amusing, he never saw before a politician with such a strong will, and ruthlessness, not that your average politician is not ruthless, but they usually lacked the backbone for acting accordingly preferring subterfuges, but this Arbhert used them only as a tactic of convenience.
Wulfen had no doubts that if the occasion arose the Counselor would have not hesitate to use more direct means, or enter the fight personally if needed.
Well time to attend business, too much time has been already wasted, thought Wulfen.
Having the liberty to associate with the commander he desired ,and relative battle group, he began to ponder which one would have been better for his militia.
A)Zhenar Xhan, not very fond of the guy, but it's where the action will be more intense, and the rapid astrocrafts of the Wulfen militia seems the perfect support for the new Battle Cruisers.
B)Norian Dhen, an old veteran, associating with him also means fighting alongside Georian Sthar, a honor, and considering that they will sustain the full brunt of the initial attack they will probably need all the support they can get.
C)Velhar "The Raven" Kraszyek, this guy has the 'right' ideas, and velocity is the weak point of his battle group, even if his position is mostly defensive it's also the place from which unsavory surprises can come.
D)George Gragg, not much action here, but Wulfen felt a sort of affinity with the half savage half civilized attitude of the outer sectors.
You can also add an extra option to your vote.
XXX)After attending his military duties Wulfen could chill out a bit in a nearby town, drinking and trying to get himself a nice piece of ass.
This is mostly to adhere to the true Biowhore spirit, if gets more than half of all votes there will be an extra update with Wulfen adventures in the city.
Let me know what you think of it, I can always remove it completely.