Royal Federation of Hessunland
Albrechthof Palace, Franktorf
Hugo’s office was a cavernous room on the second floor of the royal palace, it was here he spent the majority of his waking hours. Hugo had never desired the crown but at his people's insistence, he now wore it and dedicated himself to service. Service generally meant public appearances, addresses and diplomatic missions, but today something wholly more unpleasant was about to occur.
The office was beautiful in a minimalist sort of way, white marble covered the unadorned walls and a collection of books and manuscripts lined the colossal shelves that filled the room. Hugo left the room free of decorations save for his grandfather Otto’s portrait, this he kept in a place of honour on the wall behind him. He liked the idea of the last duke of Granze keeping watch over his royal grandchild, keeping him honest.
Leto peered through the office window at the arriving guests in the courtyard below, the prince consort seemed uneasy. Hugo lit a cigarette with a single delicate motion and took a long puff before exhaling and turning to regard his husband with a curious expression. He felt sorry for Leto, the trappings of power had all but obliterated the quiet existence they had once known, Leto would be forced to put up with many tense meetings from now on.
“If you stare any longer, I fear your eyes will bore through the glass darling!” Hugo muttered softly
Leto sighed and turned away from the window “A lot of powerful people will soon fill this room, that usually means trouble” Leto said grimly
Trouble indeed, the terrorist attack in Andrenne could not have come at a worse time. The ink on the NGEC accords was barely dry when the news of the Mitta attack had reached Hessunland. Hugo had hoped 2020 would herald the beginnings of a new age of cooperation in Mittel Gothis, instead, things were looking all too familiar. By attacking the heart of Andrenne the Ducrijeckans had provoked the single most dangerous nation in Gothis. Already the eagle was shrugging off decades of economic misery and gearing up for the thing Andrennians knew best, War.
Hugo shuddered as he cast his mind back to the rubble and dust that had accompanied Andrenne during the Gotmark war. He had watched Andrenne and Goyanes reduce Franktorf to rubble from his prison cell, now he might see the former do the same to Ducrijecka, at least the view would be better.
“It will be okay Leto” Hugo assured his husband whose frown was so pronounced it seemed chiselled upon his face
“War seldom is, I don’t think Ducrijecka knows what it has unleashed on us all” Leto replied in an ominous tone
“All the more reason to have a plan,” Hugo said comfortingly as he stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray
Hugo had only hours before called Grand King Lukas to express his support and condolences, that had been an expected nicety. Now though came the truest expression of statecraft, now the prime minister and all her military advisors had come to brief the new king. He had risen to the throne hoping for peace, now he would have to consider war. A knock came ominously on the redwood door
“Prime Minister Linz and the cabinet have arrived in the waiting rooms, your majesty!” A guardsman in a grey uniform announced
“Thank you, Albert send them, through” Hugo replied gratefully, he had taken pains to learn all the names of his staff, he would rely on them much in the coming years
Albert saluted and went to fetch the Prime Minister, Hugo considered lighting another cigarette but thought better of it. Instead, he rose from his desk and regarded Leto with a sympathetic look. He adored his husband's passion and his kindness, but this meeting would require cooler heads then the prince consorts.
“I hope you don’t mind but I would like to discuss matters with the prime minister alone, it promises to be an unpleasant conversation,” He said resting a comforting hand on Leto’s shoulder
Leto patted the hand gently and nodded before wordlessly turning to leave the room. It was an unspoken understanding, love must wait when weighed against duty, the two understood this new arrangement even if they occasionally despised it. Not long after Leto had departed a second knock sounded, it was time.
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Hugo looked up at the picture of his grandfather, Otto’s warm smile greeted his gaze, it was a ritual he often did before making any decision. His grandfather had understood sacrifice better than any person, the last duke of Granze had been ordered to abdicate in a humiliating ceremony orchestrated by Gebhardt Himdach, instead, he had shot himself. The defiant suicide had made a mockery of the Himdach’s but doomed the late duke's family to persecution and misery.
Perhaps that was why Hugo constantly looked up to the painting, as if to drawer upon the moral strength of his forefathers. His musings were interrupted as the door opened softly and Maria Linz entered, the Prime Minister was flanked by three uniformed individuals. Hugo recognized Field Marshal Karl Weissman immediately, he guessed the identities of the other two by their uniforms. Of the other two one was Admiral Helena Rosen of the Royal Hessunland Navy in her dress blues and the other was Minister of intelligence Mattias Meyer in grey.
Next to these immensely talented military figures, the rather demure looking Maria took Centre stage. Hessunland’s last president and the first prime minister had all the outward appearance of a middle-aged homemaker, she was short, with blonde hair in a bun and a motherly face. Her disarming appearance, of course, hid the truth, she was a political genius who had governed Hessunland for nearly three terms.
Demure she may have looked but Hugo had no doubt that should any of the officers in the room challenge her they would soon regret such a decision. Where Hugo was the face and soul of the new Hessunland, Maria was its brain. Now that terrible intelligence had come to debate action with the nation's conscience.
“Thank you for accommodating us on such short notice your majesty, we have much to discuss,” Maria said as she lowered herself into a waiting chair at Hugo’s insistence
“Yes, the Mitta attacks have sparked many discussions across Gothis” Hugo replied
“I had one with the prime minister of Andrenne this morning, we have agreed to assist our neighbours in any way we can,” she said trying to hide the weariness in her voice
Hugo nodded approvingly “I assume that our current meeting relates to your earlier one?” he asked
“Indeed, as of today, Hessunland will be operating under elevated security status”
That ominous-sounding title was far more troubling in its implementation. Elevated threat levels allowed for the suspension of Habeas Corpus, extraordinary rendition of suspects and perhaps most disturbingly the deployment of Federal security across the nation. The law would in effect turn Hessunland into a security state for the duration of its activation.
“That is a major step, what cause do we have to take it?” Hugo asked in a concerned voice
“I can field this if his majesty will allow me?” Meyer said confidently, Maria nodded
The minister of intelligence placed a folder on the king's desk and opened it, dozens of photographs of stacked armaments and warehouses were visible. Notes on the margins of the paper listed various locations from across every major city in Hessunland
“Federal security and Polizei across the country have been uncovering attempts to smuggle weapons and supplies across our shared border with Ducrijecka, we think they are trying to bypass Andrennian customs” Meyer said tapping the folder for emphasis
“how have border customs not detected these shipments?” Hugo asked quizzically
“Though not enormous the border with Ducrijecka is reasonably porous, their smugglers know this and have become adept at giving customs the slip,” Meyer said calmly
Andrenne took the lion's share of contact with Ducrijecka, followed closely by Yakuvony, Hessunland was a distant third but perhaps that was why they were now experiencing problems. Andrenne was on high alert, Yakuvony would likely have similar preparations. Humanitarian loving Hessunland with its border stations and welcoming attitudes was proving an easy target for cunning smugglers.
“It's not simply lands based smuggling either,” Admiral Rosen said chiming in
“I was under the impression that Ducrijecka was landlocked” Hugo replied curious
“That is true your majesty but their cells appear to be operating in many regions, shipments are being seized containing weapons and other supplies by my patrols, they seem to be using every available means to enter our country,” Admiral Rosen said her tone never rising above neutral
“Which bring us to the reason for our visit,” Maria said decisively
“here it comes,” Hugo thought anxiety building
“Your majesty, in the event of Andrenne and Ducrijecka engaging in conflict, we must secure our border with the latter,” Karl Weissmann said in an urgent tone
He was an imposing man even in his mid 60’s, Karl Weissman, the man who had built Hessunland’s armed force from the shattered remnants of Gottia. The nations entire doctrine of informed defence was the brainchild of the ageing field marshal, the goal being to avoid any repeat of the Gotmark war. Now that same man was advising a potentially aggressive action.
“You wish to ask my blessing to invade a neighbouring country?” Hugo asked suspiciously
He despised war, he had seen first-hand the suffering of the one that had ended Gottia, now they wanted to involve Hessunland in a potentially larger one. But then perhaps Ducrijecka had already made sure that such consequences were inevitable. Hugo sighed and stared up at his grandfather for a moment.
“It would be a limited peacekeeping action, securing the border on the Ducrijeckan side, our forces would not advance any further and would prevent anything from entering Hessunland” Weissman replied confidently
“And the immense number of refugees that this conflict will create? What of them?” Hugo asked struggling to keep his tone from sounding sharp
Hugo remembered the days after the Gotmark war, the dead in the streets and the mass starvation of thousands in the winter that followed. He would never be able to forget such horrors and he would be damned if he allowed such actions to be perpetrated against others.
“Majesty?” Weissman asked taken aback
“You have asked me to assent to what amounts to a minor invasion, as king I am but a figurehead, but if you wish for my blessing, I ask that you consider the suffering of the innocent. If you wish me to bless this operation, I would ask that your men be accompanied by humanitarian missions” He said in a stern voice
“With all due respect your majesty this is not a...” Weissmann did not finish his sentence, Maria silenced him with a raised hand
She had a glint in her eye, a look of opportunism that Hugo had come to know all too well, he had given her an idea and she was going to run with it.
“The king is correct, we have to show the rest of Gothis that soft power gets results alongside more direct actions, let us send volunteer nurses, construct field hospitals and turn the seized border into a safe zone for refugees,” She said her tone enthusiastic
Was she entirely sincere in her agreement? Perhaps not, Maria was a good woman but also a cunning politician, the potential for a PR victory was irresistible and she intended to capitalize upon it. Hugo didn’t really care what her reasons were, if it saved more lives, he would give her all the PR she could ever wish for.
“Very well, it seems that where the eagle goes the Falcon must follow,” Hugo said finally agreeing
Deep inside he felt immense pressure as the weight of the decision hit, this day would have consequences and for better or worse he and by extension, Hessunland would be judged by them. He prayed he had chosen correctly.
![Midir [Mondari]](/data/avatars/m/5021/5021626.jpg?1538375103){kind=avatar}
