Complicit Simplicity 22

Gloria sat down with Pahl and Amelia.

"What time do they change guards, are there roving guards?"

Pahl answered, "It's usually every four hours, starting at midnight. But there is a procedural imperative to frequently change timing so as assure wakefulness and confuse watchers, they don't want predictable."

"Were you two able to agree on a group of trusted royal guards?"

"The original third stands, about a hundred troops. Pahl is also confident of twenty from the questionable group. Guards my men pegged as loyal to the royal family, yet are disenchanted by mistreatments of Jacob's family and the rise of Scar."

"Pahl, Are any in that twenty with you today?"

"There are three."

"We will talk to them as soon as we sort this next bit out. Request they be released to your direct control starting tomorrow."

Gloria continued, "Let's talk a bit about tonights program. At what we hope will be the middle of the first night shift we will interrupt all communications with a message from both your highness and Jacob de la Casa. You will quickly state that Scar is seeking to foment war with our neighbors for his own aggrandizement. Warn the people and the army they are not to assist Scar, and are to resist his efforts to destroy our nation's peace. You will promise a period of peace, and increased liberty and opportunity in the nation once Scar is gone. I hope we can get all that in before power is cut to the kingdom."

"That should meld many factions together, how are Jacob and I to work together? immediately for broadcasts, and after in governance. Please do remember that I want out."

"We will record opening statements, show you on split screen, each of you talking in turn. You will always be Prince Pahl of Elldee, but you will now function as chief advisor to a new king, Jacob de la Casa."

"Jacob has cause to hate governance as much as I, although he carries less guilt. Are you sure you can convince him to carry this weight I seek to unload?"

"He has reluctantly agreed, as long as he has a free hand to destroy a malignant bureaucracy and move Elldee toward freedom. Like you he thinks of the people of Elldee first. I also have confirmed the FLC and the Natural Enterprise Cooperative will support his efforts with training and open and freel trade. As a side note, there is a professorship with your name on it."

"We can deal with my future later, if I still have one. I must include my endorsement of Jacob in that intro speech. Then I will say I am at the Palace attempting to assert control of the kingdom for our new king. I will also apologize to my people for any complicity I have had with Scar and lack of courage in not ousting him sooner. I will ask God's guidance for Jacob. Jacob can carry on alone with God from there. The two of them working together can accomplish anything."

"Pahl, would you call in the officer of your royal guard?"

An officer of the royal guard soon entered, dressed all in black except for dark purple beret and epaulets. "Your Highness, Ladies."

"This is Captain Gray," Pahl stated "a loyal and exceptionally capable officer. Captain, I want you to listen to what these ladies have to say, knowing I approve of their words. We will want your honest and most direct reaction when they are through."

"Yes Sir!"

Gloria gave the Captain an overview of the plans for the evening, he didn't raise an eyebrow, he listened intently.

The Captain responded as requested. "Much will depend on where Scar is at the time of your and Jacob de la Casa's announcement. Scar keeps a contingent of soldiers close, if he is in Hemlocks computer bay, it will be difficult to uproot them. There will almost surely be a sustained firefight. What Hemlock will be able to do during that time may shift the balance of power toward Scar. Spotlights glaring in our eyes are the least of our worries. Hemlock is a gadget freak, there may be many death traps he has laid to protect himself."

The Captain continued; "We can rescue the hacker on the fourth floor and escort him to any programing station he desires, except one in Hemlock's territory. We will try even there, but it will take time and many lives could be lost."

"The twenty you feel are loyal, but are unsure due to the treatment of Jacob de la Casa's will be in the barracks. I will instruct them to listen to the news at the appointed time, and talk of the story as they wish; but to circulate and talk to as many guards as possible. It will be hectic, the men will know they have an immediate need to prepare for battle. One of the other officers will enter the barracks within minutes to assemble the guard for protection of Prince Pahl and our principality."

I can offer no response about any systems, they are beyond my responsibilities, and rightly so. My commitment is to follow as Prince Pahl leads, and if his will is to follow Jacob de la Casa, my men and I will die rather than break that trust."

Prince Pahl solemnly looked at Gray "Captain, may we all live to see the morning, but if not, my hope is Elldee will come to exist as a free state. See to your troops, tell them our prayers are with them. If you will send in Davis, Garcia, and Whitecloud, I will issue them orders personally."

As Captain Gray left, Pahl turned to the ladies, "I think I know what is required here, in fact it will be practice for tonights message to the people of Elldee." Amelia stepped to a book case and slid a section to the side, "With your permission Pahl, I will video your talk. It can be played online after your first presentation with Jacob."

She tapped the monitor over the image of the Prince. "All seven cameras will now track you and those around you."

Pahl nodded, "Speaking as a nascent professor of history, those recordings may be invaluable."

Soon three royal guardsmen entered, stood at attention, eyes forward.

Pahl walked in front of the guardsmen and examined them before he spoke, the men's eyes glowed with appreciation. "Gentlemen, you are here as my judges."

Their eyes barely moved, but their lips quivered.

"I have been representing a government in decline, and was unable to find a way to avoid dying with it." Pahl paused, he wasn't allowing any misunderstanding. " I now realize the decline started during my father's reign, and the slippery descent has increased as Scar's power has grown. This is my father's and my burden, that we allowed such a thing to happen. Too easy has it been to accept the advise and evidence presented by others, seemingly it has been too hard to rule wisely."

"I will tell you something now that only your captain knows. If you find me false, use your blasters and end my life. For the sake of the people of Elldee."

"Tonight there will be a coup, I hope it will be bloodless. I will be overthrown."

In spite of their training, the guardsmen were shaking.

"A great wrong will perhaps be righted, a series of evils perhaps reversed. Scar will be removed, and I will abdicate the crown in favor of Jacob de la Casa. He is well suited to be our ruler, for he hates the idea of ruling. He will do everything he can to escape the burden by dumping freedom on our people. The wealth and happiness found in the FLC may find root here. You can stop this coup - shoot me now, and Scar will win."

"The middle guard, Garcia, removed his pistol. He hesitated a moment, then set his blaster at Prince Pahl's feet. The other two quickly followed suit. "Shoot us if you will sire -- we are your men, do with us as you will."

"My will is that you return with me to the palace. There will be a broadcast tonight, both I and Jacob de la Casa will tell the nation what you already know. Help convince the royal guard to follow my lead, to follow Jacob de la Casa."

"If any of your guardsmen brothers ask of this visit, I want you for a special detail, you will be on special guard duty tomorrow, but I have not told you yet who you will guard. They will assume since I am here to visit Gloria, that she is your task. The one in white is Gloria, the one in green is Lady Amelia; feel free to describe in tasteful terms their beauty. I'm sure their beauty has often turned minds from dwelling on other thoughts."

"You are dismissed." As they turned to leave he spoke to their backs.

"Tonight we free Elldee."

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