Hellsing Fan Fiction ❯ Private War ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: Hellsing and all other associated copyrights owned by Kouta Hirano and others. Should any one of these parties wish it, I will remove this story at once.

The Round Table would assemble shortly. Integra was, of course, first. She took a moment for herself. She knew the whole gathering was a waste of her time. She had to try. She prepared her words, honed her cause. She breathed in, the age of the room, the oak table. Her grandfather had this room commissioned. When he passed on it had become her father's. Now it, and everything that went with it, was hers. What would father do? She briefly wondered.

She took her seat and waited for the rest.

Sir Montenegrin and Ashby were first in. Both in their sixties, at times they looked like brothers. Montenegrin in a grey suit, always grey, Ashby in black with his cane.

Neither would think of supporting her. Montenegrin because her lineage in England didn't go back thousands of years and Ashby would not because she was a woman.

Sir Islands, Penwood and Buxton were next. Islands strode away from the rest, keeping his distance as head of the Round Table both figuratively and literally. Penwood looked and always looked like uncomfortable in a suit. Buxton was there and that was his only defining feature.

Islands never voted, Penwood she might be able to bully into supporting her. Buxton she knew next to nothing about.

Robins, Paddock, Foss and Edwin strolled in afterwards. All pointedly ignoring each other. Whether they disliked each other or this was some game they played Integra did not know or care. Robins was a thin, reedy man that never took any action without spending an hour thinking it over. Paddock had an aggressive bearing and at times lived the definition of mercenary. Foss looked like a jolly Father Christmas. Of all the Round Table members he was the only one that had ever entered military service. To Integra Edwin screamed fake. He would argue passionately for something then vote it down. Be cordial and stab them in the back a moment later.

In the past only Foss had supported her.

Sir Corwin was last. He was a few years older than Integra, and elevated to the Round Table recently. Everything he wore contributed to the militaristic image he cultivated so diligently.

He always voted with her.

Five against, three for and one maybe. A waste of time.

They took their seats, and Islands called the meeting to order.

“The first order of business is the situation in Ireland-”

Corwin did not wait for him to finish.

“The bloody papists blew up schoolyard, what do you think would happen after that?”

“One would think that the man in charge of the situation would calm things down.”

“It is calm.”

“After several hundred deaths and mass destruction of property.”

“All Catholic, a 'measured response' like you said you wanted.”

Island pinched the bridge of his nose. This discussion was hardly new. At least now Corwin seemed to consider Catholics human.

“Sir Corwin, focus on undermining Iscariot and remain out of the politics of the area.”

“Very well, Sir Islands.” The emphasis was barely there, just enough to remind Sir Islands that they were, here, equals.

“With that understood, the next point: Rouge attacks have increased in England recently” Islands paused and shot Corwin a glare,” and are affecting other operations.”

“Thirty-five men dead in the last month, Iscariot is getting bolder. We are not an army. Sir Robins had been unable to stop Iscariot. This must end now. I ask that Hellsing be given to responsibility to deal with this.”

“Here, here I say we show these bloody papists what-for!” Corwin yelled out. Islands glared at him again. Robins spoke first.

“The situation is most uhh ... delicate, careful, subtle movements are what we should aim for.”

“Iscariot has no desire to be subtle” Integra responded.

“Hurmphh, any more subtle and we'll be given vampires free reign. If Iscariot cannot handle their extremists we will” Foss added.

Edwin nearly interrupted Foss in his hurry to speak.

“That would be an open declaration of war, and as Sir Hellsing pointed out they are not an army.”

You know what needs to be done, a dark whisper came into Integra's mind.

“There is not much of distinction right now. We are not defenseless.” Integra left the implication hanging in the air.

“Hardly necessary Sir Hellsing, Her Majesty maintains not only an army, but a navy and air force for such occasions. If the Church wanted open war they would not last the week-end” Foss concluded.

An order.

“Sir Foss is correct, Iscariot has shown no effective method of controlling the fringe elements. Weeding them out seems to be left to us. There is no telling what they will hit next: Ports, factories, roads”, Buxton announced. This was the first time in months he'd actually spoken in council. Integra had no idea why he thought Iscariot would attack anything other than Hellsing. She wasn't going to question it. Edwin turned to face Buxton.

“Iscariot may very well engage anything they believe supplies us. If they think they are unopposed” Integra added.

“And increase the likelihood of further attacks. Giving Iscariot more time is the best option” Paddock chimed in.

Give me an order.

Buxton turned to face him.

“Sir Paddock is that really a choice? Iscariot goes where they please, killing and burning. What if they attacked our infrastructure next? How can we chose between our borders and economy?”

Paddock swallowed.

“We should chose the economy, of course.”

Buxton shrugged and smiled.

Integra kept pushing, but she could move none on their stances. Six against, three for. A complete waste of time.

There were other matters voted on. None of them concerned her. She voted her conscious on each.

The gathering ended, slowly they filed out. Conversations lumbering on as they walked out. Sir Corwin stayed behind to speak with her.

“Bloody idiots, if I heard Sir Islands say 'we'll have peace in our time' I going to throw something at him.”

Integra found him crass, but tried to be sociable with him.

“They will see, or they will be made to see.”

“Hopefully sooner than later. I heard what happened to...uhh...Sarah is it?” He was the only one that never challenged her on how Hellsing should be run. She was thankful for that.

“Seras, she will recover in time.”

“Ehn, getting closer. I'll remember her name one day. If you need any people I have a few guards who shouldn't embarrass themselves.”

“Hellsing will be fine. We will continue as we always have.” He'd asked before. She still answered the same way.

“If you do ever need anything I more than willing.”

He left. Both had plans of their own to attend to.