Debauchery Worlds 47 (Patreon)

Commissioned by Southmonk

Debauchery Worlds

Chapter 47

-VB-

Alan Marris

David II, Federated Suns

2982.02.01

“Welcome to my office,” I said as I greeted the two visitors from where I sat behind my … I supposed ornate office. It wasn’t as bare as before, because I felt that I needed to make everything I had reflect my new status as a “prince.” “Please, take a seat.”

And even if I only held one planet to my name, I was still a ruler. More than that, I was a ruler who derived my power from conquest. I couldn’t be seen as being weak or poor because it was a reflection of my own capabilities. 

So the once barren office was now decorated with the best and tasteful arts and crafts produced by the elves, dwarves, warrior bunnies, and other races from Falmart who continued to work for me. 

As a result, my office took on a even more high medieval European mixed with Roman-esque flavor compared to even the halls of New Avalon. The only place in the Inner Sphere that probably would beat me there would be the slavers of the Marian Hegemony. 

Leftenant Colonel Joan Yeslie stood in front of Major Anderson. I waited for them to take the offered seats in front of me, and after a moment, she came over and sat down while the major stood behind her. 

“What brings you here today, colonel?” I asked her. 

The colonel looked at me for a moment longer in silence before she closed her eyes and opened them slowly. “You claimed yourself the ruler of another planet that is not part of the Federated Suns.”

“Yes, I have,” I replied with a raised eyebrow. “Are you here to congratulate me or something? That’s really not necessary.”

“No. I’m here to ask you to leave David II.”

I stared at her with both of my eyebrows raised in surprise. “You are here to ask me. To leave.” I glanced at the major, who looked surprised. So she didn’t tell him. I think I knew the man well enough to believe that he wasn’t a good actor. 

“Yes,” she replied. 

I nodded slowly. “Is that the order you have received from AFFS High Command?” I asked while focusing on her, but I saw the major shake his head no in the periphery of my eyes.

“No.”

I frowned. “So you have received no orders regarding my stay. And just came here to ask me to leave.”

“Yes. You are no longer a resident of the Federated Suns. You never were. And as a foreign citizen without permission to enter the Federated Suns, you must leave.”

I stared at her for a moment longer before bursting out into laughter. 

It took me a moment to calm down, but even then, snickers kept bubbling up. 

“Alright, on what authority are you trying to do this?” I asked her dismissively. “At the very least, you need to be a governor of the planet but you aren’t.”

“I am the military governor,” she retorted. 

“Are you?” I asked with a smile. 

She stared at me.

I stared at her. 

She turned to the major. “Major -.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” he interrupted her. “He speaks the truth.”

Her jaws dropped. “Major!” 

“I don’t have my orders from the First Prince with me, but when we go back to the base, I can show you it. You were assigned here as the military commander, leftenant colonel. You weren’t assigned as the military governor.”

That was a distinction I had noticed back when he first introduced the stocky woman to me alongside that light commodore who took the First Prince’s Irotryoshka dropship. 

She was in charge of all Federated Suns and AFFS military matters here on David II but that was also where authority ended. Major Anderson here, on the other hand, was given the full authority, including the authority to force his own superiors in the name of the First Prince, when it came to all matters regarding the Federated Suns-Marris Company relationship. 

He was the liaison, not anyone else. This was something the major explained in full detail, including how he was the authority, not anyone else, noble, civilian, or military, as designated as such by the First Prince. This was something that’s been in place before the leftenant colonel came in. 

“Even if you are the governor… I hold landhold over all of the lands that are currently settled and operated by my company,” I replied. “So unless you want to talk about how the Federated Suns took away someone’s landhold…?”

“You aren’t a mercenary company so stop acting like it!” she snapped at me. 

“So unprofessional. Are you one of those mercenary-hating officers?” 

The silence and gritting teeth said everything. 

“Oh my God, you are, aren’t you?” I chuckled before looking at her with pity. “I thought you were at least half decent because you didn’t shove your nose where it didn’t belong, but now I see that you were just a half-smart idiot waiting for a chance to screw me over. Is that why you didn’t say anything about my men policing the planet, too?”

She blushed.

“Jesus. So you call yourself a governor, doesn’t even govern, and then dare to come here while proclaiming that you are the governor? Half-stupid and hypocritical at the same time. Jesus Christ, forgive this woman for her innate biases, she cannot help herself.”

The leftenant colonel looked like she wanted to jump me, and might have if the major wasn’t here. 

I leaned back into my chair, making its back tilt backward. “If you actually get that order, I’ll be here waiting. Until then, I suggest you go back to your base.” I paused. “Oh, and don’t try to make a scene by using your soldiers? I would hate for my first interaction outside of this office to be violence between our two polities.”

She glared at me but eventually whirled around and stomped out of my office. The major gave me an apologetic grin as he chased after his nominal superior. Or rather, he was the dogsitter and she the terrier he needed to keep in leash.

“That one’s going to be trouble,” I mumbled to myself.