12-04-2019, 02:43 PM
The Ultimados saluted and exited the room, joining the pairs that were already flanking the outsides of the two doors, to turn away latecomers as the doors to the room sealed. Ramirez nodded to Maria; she smiled back.
Maria walked to her chair at the head of the table, and all the others assembled except the Generalissimo went for their own seats. She pulled the chair away from the table to sit but stopped before doing so; forcing everyone else, including those who'd already begun sitting, to stand back up.
"Nobody sits until La Contessa sits," Helena's instructions had told her. "Remember that. Some of these people are old and have bad knees. It's cruel, it's petty; it's an advantage, and a quick way to remind everyone who's in charge. Use it!"
Maria leaned against the chair and armrest and spoke again.
"A few of you served my Great-Grandpapa." She paused while a chorus of forever does he reign in our hearts went around the table. "And all of you have served my Great-Grandmama." The odd murmur went around the table. "You all know me, too. I have memories of sitting on some of your knees, being given candy when you came to do business with Great-Grandpapa. We would all like to have his guidance now."
She sat. The others took their cue. Generalissimo Ramirez finally walked to his seat by her left side and took his chair. Maria continued.
"If Great-Grandmama were to walk through that door right now, I would happily give this seat back to her. I am to be fitted for La Contessa's tiara in the morning, in case I am needed to serve permanently. I would love nothing more than to cancel that appointment; however, I can assure you that when that little girl was not running through the castle, she was being taught by two of the greatest rulers that San Finzione has ever had. Taught her whole life to serve the people of San Finzione as well as the ones who will forever reign in all of our hearts. I hoped it would be many years before I needed to do so, however, make no mistake; if this is my time, I am prepared to face it."
Everyone around the table nodded silently. Maria's usual smile, tempered with the seriousness of the task ahead, returned.
"What can you tell me? We'll start with the Prefect of La Policia."
The Prefect stood to attention and saluted his Contessa.
"Forensics reports fragments of glass and the plastic stopper of a vial found roughly where the assassin was standing. Whatever liquid it contained had evaporated. The fragments are being sent to the Ministry of Science for further analysis. Identification on the body names him as Carlos Jimenez of the Basque region. An airplane boarding pass indicated that he arrived in San Finzione six hours previously. We believe the identification to be a forgery, however, are checking hotels to get a possible CCTV trace."
La Contessa nodded. Ramirez leaned over and whispered to Maria.
"The Minister of Science is currently sequestered with a number of his people on a special project for your Great Grandmother, Contessa. This is why he was unable to attend. He very possibly has not even heard the news about her."
Maria turned to him.
"Thank you, Generalissimo. While we are talking, what do you have to report?"
Ramirez stood to give his report properly.
"I have been with Contessa Helena most of the day. Tenente Maisson, one of the Ultimados who dispatched the assassin; was a field medic who has recently obtained his degree. I contacted the Ministry of Medicine and got his medical license application expedited through the process. Dr. Tenente Paul Maisson is now part of La Contessa's medical team and is keeping me updated. I am presently awaiting a call from an old friend with Interpol who may be able to help identify the assassin."
Maria took in the information and nodded.
"Thank you, Generalissimo. You may be excused if that call comes during the meeting. Let's hear from the Minister of Intelligence now."
The man stood.
"The usual groups are claiming credit for the attempt on La Contessa's life. We are checking up on all credible leads. Based on the assassin's seeming knowledge that she would be appearing on the tour today, we are investigating any possible security leaks as well. Intelligence channels have reported no indication of a follow-up attack, but we are still monitoring for the possibility."
Maria nodded and gestured for the man to sit again.
"I will be expected to address The People soon," Maria said to the table. "I will be asked questions, I must have immediate answers. Most will probably be about La Contessa, so you're each going to give me one question that is likely to be asked about how the situation affects your ministry, and then you will give me a concise answer. Starting with you."
* * *
Maria walked to her chair at the head of the table, and all the others assembled except the Generalissimo went for their own seats. She pulled the chair away from the table to sit but stopped before doing so; forcing everyone else, including those who'd already begun sitting, to stand back up.
"Nobody sits until La Contessa sits," Helena's instructions had told her. "Remember that. Some of these people are old and have bad knees. It's cruel, it's petty; it's an advantage, and a quick way to remind everyone who's in charge. Use it!"
Maria leaned against the chair and armrest and spoke again.
"A few of you served my Great-Grandpapa." She paused while a chorus of forever does he reign in our hearts went around the table. "And all of you have served my Great-Grandmama." The odd murmur went around the table. "You all know me, too. I have memories of sitting on some of your knees, being given candy when you came to do business with Great-Grandpapa. We would all like to have his guidance now."
She sat. The others took their cue. Generalissimo Ramirez finally walked to his seat by her left side and took his chair. Maria continued.
"If Great-Grandmama were to walk through that door right now, I would happily give this seat back to her. I am to be fitted for La Contessa's tiara in the morning, in case I am needed to serve permanently. I would love nothing more than to cancel that appointment; however, I can assure you that when that little girl was not running through the castle, she was being taught by two of the greatest rulers that San Finzione has ever had. Taught her whole life to serve the people of San Finzione as well as the ones who will forever reign in all of our hearts. I hoped it would be many years before I needed to do so, however, make no mistake; if this is my time, I am prepared to face it."
Everyone around the table nodded silently. Maria's usual smile, tempered with the seriousness of the task ahead, returned.
"What can you tell me? We'll start with the Prefect of La Policia."
The Prefect stood to attention and saluted his Contessa.
"Forensics reports fragments of glass and the plastic stopper of a vial found roughly where the assassin was standing. Whatever liquid it contained had evaporated. The fragments are being sent to the Ministry of Science for further analysis. Identification on the body names him as Carlos Jimenez of the Basque region. An airplane boarding pass indicated that he arrived in San Finzione six hours previously. We believe the identification to be a forgery, however, are checking hotels to get a possible CCTV trace."
La Contessa nodded. Ramirez leaned over and whispered to Maria.
"The Minister of Science is currently sequestered with a number of his people on a special project for your Great Grandmother, Contessa. This is why he was unable to attend. He very possibly has not even heard the news about her."
Maria turned to him.
"Thank you, Generalissimo. While we are talking, what do you have to report?"
Ramirez stood to give his report properly.
"I have been with Contessa Helena most of the day. Tenente Maisson, one of the Ultimados who dispatched the assassin; was a field medic who has recently obtained his degree. I contacted the Ministry of Medicine and got his medical license application expedited through the process. Dr. Tenente Paul Maisson is now part of La Contessa's medical team and is keeping me updated. I am presently awaiting a call from an old friend with Interpol who may be able to help identify the assassin."
Maria took in the information and nodded.
"Thank you, Generalissimo. You may be excused if that call comes during the meeting. Let's hear from the Minister of Intelligence now."
The man stood.
"The usual groups are claiming credit for the attempt on La Contessa's life. We are checking up on all credible leads. Based on the assassin's seeming knowledge that she would be appearing on the tour today, we are investigating any possible security leaks as well. Intelligence channels have reported no indication of a follow-up attack, but we are still monitoring for the possibility."
Maria nodded and gestured for the man to sit again.
"I will be expected to address The People soon," Maria said to the table. "I will be asked questions, I must have immediate answers. Most will probably be about La Contessa, so you're each going to give me one question that is likely to be asked about how the situation affects your ministry, and then you will give me a concise answer. Starting with you."
* * *
Like, Comment and Give Rating.
![[+]](https://xossipy.com/themes/sharepoint/collapse_collapsed.png)