He laughed, not a condescending or mocking laugh, but a jovial, happy sort of laugh. He didn't really know why he was laughing, just that he found her question highly amusing. My family is very large my Lady. John is the Police Commissioner for Bretonia, William is on Her Majesties Privy Council, Victor is fast on his way to becoming Director of Intelligence, the current Director, Sir Harry is my Uncle and Edmund is the First Sea Lord of Bretonia. I myself am only the Vice Chancellor of the University. But yes, to answer your question, I am very much related to Edmund. His laughter faded, leaving only a smile. If you need my help then I would ask: What is it that you need? My Brothers are...not very diplomatic, you must accept my apologies for any blunt comments they make but they are, as I'm sure you understand, under a great deal of stress.
D-R-09 Vogtland Station, Dresden
3/16/825 AS, 18:02 Well, at least I was right. Though given his statement I suppose it meant I only had hell to bear for the next few weeks.
Bluntly speaking, your brother thinks we're doing this to support the Gallic invasion. Maybe he's saying it to make his job easier, but a part of me thinks he actually believe that's why we're doing this. I need you, to explain to him why we're really doing this. Maybe he'll hear it a bit better, and when the fighting stops, it will actually stop.
Asking relatives on vacation in your home to tell their siblings to calm down otherwise face more fighting for the rest of their lives - quite the Generalmajor I am indeed. But, tactics are tactics, as long as they work effectively, they're valid.
Vogtland is secure, but there are many who will try to crack open a communication channel sent from an ordinary citizen to a Bretonian Sea Lord. If you understand me... Intriguing title by the way.
Amazing Generalmajor indeed. At least I felt more approachable, and less, well, evil.
He refrained from lighting his pipe although he certainly wanted too, especially when he mulled over her words. The question is: Why did you do it? Oh of course, commitments to allies take priority, without a doubt. But you surely understood before you ordered such an attack that there would undoubtedly be consequences. My question is one that Edmund and many other people will be asking themselves. I suspect that Gallia is simply preying on a volatile situation, and if I can come to that conclusion I'm sure Edmund will as well, if he hasn't already. So the next question on his mind will be: Why should we trust you? This is not a silly question either, consider yourself in Edmund's position. A house at war, driven to desperate acts and those whom they though of as neutral entities betraying them. If the Coalition military, or the Unioner movement, did to you what you have done to Bretonia, would you be in a receptive mood? He paused for a moment, allowing her to mull over his statement before continuing. You can see how this matter has spiraled out of control so quickly. But I will say, in all Honesty my Lady, if you are seriously and genuinely interested in salvaging a peace with Bretonia, you must meet with my Brothers in person. They will not believe it otherwise.
D-R-09 Vogtland Station, Dresden
3/16/825 AS, 18:05 I knew salvaging peace was a wasted effort at this point, but maybe it was better to tell him what he wanted to hear for now. It was infuriating to answer this question, "how can we consider you trustworthy". It was never that simple, houses, large bodies with strong connection could never in a life time understand the struggles of smaller bodies fighting for freedom. They could never understand our struggle, trying to establish ourselves while being forced to choose between those we stand against ideologically, but alongside to establish ourselves as something more then what the masses claim we are - and choosing between life long allies. We never had the luxury of deciding when, where, and how we wanted to go about something; or care about something - it just wasn't possible for us. With our past reputation, it was far easier for people to take advantage of us in situations like these, and denounce us.
Why did we do it? We have an obligation to our allies, do you think I wanted to burn down something I worked to build up on a moments notice? We are not as large as our enemies and neighbors, what connections we have - we rely on. We don't have the luxury of deciding when we want to care about something, or how we want to do it. Suddenly our way of life has become real to you, I'd much like to see Edmund sit in our shoes for a week.
This wouldn't work. I turned towards the window and started speaking up again.
He shouldn't trust me. At least not now. You know there was a group of people we considered allies at a time. We gave them many chances to stick with us, betrayal after betrayal. Eventually we came to a breaking point, I don't think the Bretonians ever considered us allies at all. So I'm not sure if sitting down with your brother would even be worth it. Maybe at some point. But not now I don't think.
It's times like this that I wish I could go back to being a monster. Its much easier. Freedom, for all, fighting our past actions. Fighting media reviews and re-configuring our image, there are times where I don't believe its worth it.
The older man simply nodded in understanding Being a monster, being evil. It's not hard, I'm of the mind that most of us are 'bad' because it takes a great deal of effort to be good. My father once said that you don't look at how far you have to go, rather at how much you have done. Of course, he was talking about gardening but I believe the principal still applies here. You, it seems to me my lady, have a choice. Either you elect to be good, or you revert to being evil. The choice is up to you, and the consequences of whatever you decide will be yours as well. He waved his hand, dismissing what he said, coming to the conclusion that he had probably overstepped his bounds enough for one day Don't worry about it my Lady, Edmund and the Hessians will keep for one night, they'll be there come the 'morrow. Let us worry about other things if we need worry at all.