[Internal Breakdown]
CHAPTER FOUR:
‘The Will’
It was four weeks after Jim Herbst had been declared dead on the spot, four weeks of panic and disorganisation as the remaining three Admirals attempted to make things work as they had before. The assassin had not been captured, he had slipped into the shadows and vanished, and despite Alliance Intelligence Officers attempting to breach Badnarik in an attempt to find him and avenge their leader’s death, the Merczateers were on high guard.
The Late Admiral Herbst’ Office:
Fenir had been summoned to his Grandfather’s Office at five in the morning, and had entered to a scene of chaos; the other Admirals had wasted no time in searching for clues for his death, and piles of paper and ruined furniture were stacked in the corner.
Sitting on a smashed up cabinet was Mazer Ludd, looking rather ill at ease with the other three figures who sat on the remaining chairs in the centre of the room- Harlequin Salome, Nanao Mahfouz, and Jared Zander.
Fenir had only met Jared once before, and the man eyed him curiously as he stepped into the threshold.
‘Fenir’ Harlequin cried jovially ‘We are sorry for your loss.’
Mazer stood up and pulled what appeared to be a half ruined chair from his debris pile, he placed in front of the Admirals, and then sat back on the cabinet.
‘Have a seat’ Mazer muttered awkwardly, refusing to meet Fenir’s eye.
Several questions were running through Fenir’s mind; What was this about?
Was he in trouble? Why did Mazer look so uncomfortable?
Ignoring his racing imagination, he sat on the chair, which lurched dangerously.
Nanao burst straight into questions the moment Fenir was settled.
‘Did your grandfather ever tell you about a great responsibility you would receive?’
‘What sort of responsibility?’
Nanao ignored he question. ‘Did he?’
‘No.’
Nanao leaned back in his chair and shaked his head.
‘He has told him nothing, this is riddicilous; look at him, he is barley more than a boy, and has no experience in this area.’
Mazer turned to look at Nanao, a knowing glint in his eyes. ‘Of course, you would not think of disobeying the Admiral’s will, would you sir?’
Nanao shivered for a moment, then shook his head. He signalled to Harlequin, who passed Fenir a piece of paper. It was a will.
‘Your grandfathers will. It clearly states that you are to be the next Leader of the Alliance Republic’
Fenir stared at Harlequin, shock making his jaw plummet.
‘Surely there must be some mistake… I haven’t even passed Marine Training yet!’
Jared spoke at last. ‘There is no mistake.’
Mazer unseated himself once more, causing the fragile cabinet to collapse. He strolled over to Fenir and patted him on the back warmly.
‘Congratulations’
While the other Admirals looked on disapprovingly, Fenir nodded gratefully to Mazer. He was glad for the senior Marine’s support here, and he knew he would need it in times to come.