AGELESS CAMPAIGN, Episode II, Part VI.

[Queenie]

Everybody stands and handshakes are exchanged between the men. Orabi alone kisses the Princess's hand. The Egyptian Generals along with their aides and scribes then depart. Four of the ogres at the doorway accompany them back to the upstairs suite that has been reserved for them.

Colonel Hassan orders the door closed and all scribes, guards and servants to the outside of the door to give the three complete privacy. Once the doors are shut he says, "Thoughts Mr. Eastman?"

"I think the Egyptian generals will be easy. If Orabi is satisfied they will fall in line. The issue of course is extracting the necessary concessions on the other side. I knew the British would be the tougher sell, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve and can play hard ball with the best of them. My thanks to you princess for your signal on Orabi and the republic. Without even calling him out directly, by the end there was no discussion of that and solid support for the Queen as full monarch. Hassan, the Queen did not give me any specific direction on reintegration of the forces, I can use that either way, but, as an officer, as a loyal royalist, what do you think. Should AFRE troops, especially officers, be allowed back into the army, or even a full merge?"

 

[Silver Moon]

"My thanks to you princess for your signal on Orabi and the republic. Without even calling him out directly, by the end there was no discussion of that and solid support for the Queen as full monarch.

She replies, "He started lying when he brought up a Constitutional Monarchy with a Prime Minister and Parliament. That was an original goal of his group and he probably said it now for the benefit of the other Generals. But once his wife became the monarch he would not have wanted any power sharing arrangement."

Hassan, the Queen did not give me any specific direction on reintegration of the forces, I can use that either way, but, as an officer, as a loyal royalist, what do you think. Should AFRE troops, especially officers, be allowed back into the army, or even a full merge?"

Colonel Hassan says, "Absolutely not. However, we might want to consider using them as a separate police force to monitor and regulate use of the canal. Their authority could be limited to only Port Sa'id and the canal itself."

 

[Silver Moon]

"Are you looking for another place for them? It must be cold here in the winter. How long have they been here?"

He replies, "They have been here almost a year now. It is cold in the winter, but we have placed a magical heating device in the deepest part of the pond. They stay down there except for the noontime hour, when they prefer the rays of the natural sunlight. We will eventually find another place for them, but not until after their current clutch of eggs have hatched."

 

[Queenie]

Colonel Hassan says, "Absolutely not. However, we might want to consider using them as a separate police force to monitor and regulate use of the canal. Their authority could be limited to only Port Sa'id and the canal itself."

"Now that is an interesting idea. I may keep that in my back pocket. Maybe we could use them as marines on navy vessels where they are in smaller groups and under Royal Navy command. But yes, a canal police force. Maybe even have them patrol the Sinai peninsula as a buffer against the Ottomans. Border guards. Yes, some definite possibilities there. If we need them of course. Where does the army stand now Hassan and where does it need to be?"

 

[Silver Moon]

"Where does the army stand now Hassan and where does it need to be?"

The Colonel replies, "The Army, in total around 8,000 troops, over half of which we personally commanded two days ago in Cairo. But it had been twice that large before Orabi's revolt. We had made the mistake of using regional battalions of approximately one-thousand troops, so when the regional Generals defected they brought their forces with them. The battalions that have remained loyal were those from Gizah, Heliopolis, Haggi Kandil, Wasta, both Memphis battalions and two of the three Cairo battalions."

 

[orchid blossom]

He replies, "They have been here almost a year now. It is cold in the winter, but we have placed a magical heating device in the deepest part of the pond. They stay down there except for the noontime hour, when they prefer the rays of the natural sunlight. We will eventually find another place for them, but not until after their current clutch of eggs have hatched."

"Oh, how lovely! Congratulations," Abby said sincerely, with another nod at the beautiful creatures. "I like the sun, too. And this beautiful spot. I should have brought some books with me, I could spend a few hours here."

 

[Queenie]

The Colonel replies, "The Army, in total around 8,000 troops, over half of which we personally commanded two days ago in Cairo. But it had been twice that large before Orabi's revolt. We had made the mistake of using regional battalions of approximately one-thousand troops, so when the regional Generals defected they brought their forces with them. The battalions that have remained loyal were those from Gizah, Heliopolis, Haggi Kandil, Wasta, both Memphis battalions and two of the three Cairo battalions."

"Alright, not as bad as I had feared. A blow by all means but one that could be remedied over a few years. I have a few other....ideas for the army as well I will discuss with you later. But if we allowed one or two generals to keep a thousand men each for Canal and port duty, it would disband the majority and take pressure off the army for security. Again though back pocket. Any other concerns before we bring in the British?"

 

[Silver Moon]

"Any other concerns before we bring in the British?"

Colonel Hassan says, "Primarily Alexandria. Since taking over that city last summer after driving the rebel army away they have been establishing a major base there, and their construction materials of stone, concrete and solid timbers demonstrate that they clearly intend to keep that base for the long-term. Plus they've built up a lot of good will by rebuilding the city, despite the fact that it was their own naval bombardment which destroyed it. They also suspended their traditional ruling there about fraternization and marriages with the locals. Getting them to leave there will not be an easy sell."

Princess Asimi says, "My sister will never stand for them keeping our key Mediterranean port."

 

[Silver Moon]

"Oh, how lovely! Congratulations," Abby said sincerely, with another nod at the beautiful creatures. "I like the sun, too. And this beautiful spot. I should have brought some books with me, I could spend a few hours here."

He replies, "So bring a book tomorrow. I can also provide you with one of Dr. Jekyll's elixirs, which will allow you to communicate with them telepathically. I will warn you though, Nalu never shuts up once you get her going, so it will be mostly one-way communication. Bey's comments are rather profound if his mate ever decides to let him get a word in edgewise."

He reaches into his coat pocket and takes out what looks to be a long flat rectangular envelope. He unfolds the paper to reveal a bar of dried oats-and-honey, 10-inches by 4-inches and a half-inch thick. He snaps it in half and hands the pieces to Abby saying "They are waiting patiently for their treats."

 

[Fenris]

Colonel Hassan says, "Primarily Alexandria. Since taking over that city last summer after driving the rebel army away they have been establishing a major base there, and their construction materials of stone, concrete and solid timbers demonstrate that they clearly intend to keep that base for the long-term. Plus they've built up a lot of good will by rebuilding the city, despite the fact that it was their own naval bombardment which destroyed it. They also suspended their traditional ruling there about fraternization and marriages with the locals. Getting them to leave there will not be an easy sell."

Princess Asimi says, "My sister will never stand for them keeping our key Mediterranean port."

George sighs "I know, the rebels were easy. The British will be hard. They are used to getting their way. I do also know the Queens wishes, and while I can work towards her desires, executing them can be another matter. The real problem of course is the matter of leverage. Legally of course the Queen has the authority to order that, forcing that to happen is another matter. I have some ideas for leverage, but how effective they will be is another matter. Hassan, how large is the British force here now by your estimate?"