Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction ❯ Bound Through Space ❯ Within Closed Sessions ( Chapter 6 )

Within Closed Sessions

"The Princess Ayeka will be arriving shortly and I think it would behoove us to have a clear idea as to what our intentions are before she arrives." The first minister of the Foreign Affairs spoke within the cloistered walls of the High Consulate chambers to the few gathered members of the High Consulate of Caladan.

"Yes, yes, I concur. We must have a precise plan for our actions before we make our move." The minister of Treasury agreed as he agitatedly paced the opulent room.

"So with that settled, what are we planning on doing exactly?" The minister of Commerce questioned while watching the nervous fidgeting of the rapidly moving figure to his left.

"Well, what I say we do is to first, set up a whispering campaign to destabilize faith in the monarchy amongst the rest of the members of the consulate. Once we have enough lack of confidence, the tasks of interposing one princess for the other will be simple. And with the new princess on the throne we can begin consolidating the rest of the consulate departments. Under our own knowledgeable and scholarly leadership of course." The minister of Defense sneered his last statement. The minister of Defense looked around the room at his fellow consulate members. All were equally garbed in the most opulent of robes, indicating and befitting their high stations within the consulate.

"We will have problems. There has not been another bloodline on the throne for eons. In addition she will not be Caladan born. The people have not taken well to off-worlders previously. Revolutions have occurred for lesser reasons." The minister of Energy shrewdly observed.

"Bloodlines be damned! Can she be controlled?" The minister of Foreign Affairs demanded.

"I have neither the time nor the inclination to settle your insecurities and fears. Either you deal with your personal issues on your own time or you leave the decision making to the rest of us. These are petty concerns! All monarchies must fall, for that is the way of things. And as for the issue of whether or not the princess Ayeka can be controlled I can envision no foreseeable difficulties in that arena. She will be the perfect figurehead; nothing more, nothing less." The minister of Defense snarled.

The lot was nothing but conniving, backstabbing cowards; he would be rid of them at the first available opportunity. Unfortunately for now he needed their influence and connections. "These are not petty concerns nor trifling worries. These are legitimate blocks to our goal, and I for one would greatly appreciate your acceptance of what we perceive to be obvious difficulties." The minister of Foreign Affairs replied.

She will be a problem, I must remove her first. "Yes, you are correct, I apologize for venting my impatience, but an opportunity such as this will not present itself again." The minister of Defense began to exude charm, trying to soothe the ruffled feathers.

"Yes, apology accepted. Now to address each concern. First the issue as to the plan… this does seem a rather too simplistic. Whispering campaigns have been notorious for backfiring on their initiators. What will be different about yours?" Challenged the minister of Foreign Affairs.

"This whispering campaign will be lead simply by truths. As you yourself know, there are already many amongst the consulate that could easily be swayed to our manner of reasoning. Over the years the consulate has been given one example after another as to the lack of control the royal family has over the heir apparent. It would not take much to draw enough dissenters to over power the remaining portion of the consulate. And with their allegiance the consulate will hand us the monarchy."

"The consulate will not hand us anything, and the monarchy has survived greater scandal than a willful child. There are enough in the consulate that appreciate the forthrightness of the Princess Ryoko. It will take more than a few simple words spoken into the right ears to bring us that many votes." Countered the minister of Foreign Affairs.

"Careful there Minister Nagi, that almost sounds like respect. We cannot afford to lose one of our own. And you most certainly cannot afford to leave our ranks." The minister of Defense slyly warned.

"I will admit to respecting anyone willing to retain his or her beliefs in the face of such intense scrutiny and adversity, that the royal family is constantly subjected to. Yet, that which I respect is not what the empire needs, and it is the needs of the empire that I am concerned with. And to address your thinly veiled threat, I have no intentions of leaving, but challenges like the one you just issued could easily result in the loss of limbs." The minister of Foreign Affairs issued her rebuttal while pretending to clean a speck of dust from her nails.

"I shall remember that for future reference, ma'am. I have myself, personally queried the consulate and there are a greater number of dissenters, than I think any of you realize. Even the more loyal of members are afraid of the consequences of Ryoko ascending to the throne. It is through this gateway that we shall find the greatest venue for our needs."

"So, if I understand this clearly what you are saying is that we simply need to emphasize the advantages of Princess Ayeka ascending and..." The minister of Treasury drifted off as he mentally finished the sentence.

The minister of Defense continued, "Yes, it is not a matter of destroying the good name of the entire royal family, simply accentuating the disadvantages of "Little Ryoko" on the throne."

"We still have not addressed the issue of the people, the consulate is all very well, but it is the people that will be the hardest to sway." The minister of Commerce commented.

"Yes, I heartily agree. The Princess Ryoko is the darling of the populous. Since her tragic fall and amazing recovery the people have adored her. She will not be easily replaced in their hearts and minds." The minister of Energy agreed.

"The people are of little concern to me." The minister of Defense huffed.

"They should be of great concern. They can destroy the monarchy and any other form of government you wish to replace it with. The people will be the key to the success of this entire venture. If you have their support you will have the consulate." The minister of Energy replied pointedly.

"And what of the bloodlines? As previously stated the current bloodline has been on the throne for several lifetimes now. I doubt we can simply usurp the entire dynasty without ruffling a few feathers. And what of the other houses of the Royal family? Will they not rally up against us in support of their kin?" The minister of Treasury queried.

"All of these concerns are irrelevant if the girl cannot be controlled! If we do not have a firm grasp on her, then she could prove to be more difficult than Ryoko. And I for one refuse to remove one pain-in-the-ass princess, only to replace her with another! We must be able to control her. And until you convince me that mastery of the girl is obtainable my support in this gamble will be non-existent." The minister of Commerce turned his smugly superior gaze to the minister of Defense. "And there is no sense in threatening me; I am too powerful and too well insulated for you to simply... How shall we say it? Remove me?"

The silent invitation hung in the air. With practiced diplomacy the minister of Defense skillfully dodged addressing the verbally issued gauntlet. "I have no intentions of threatening or removing anyone, as you so indelicately termed the phrase. Everyone within this room is integral for this intrigue to work. I understand your concerns and will address them each, but you must understand as well, that for your own political safety the entire plan must not be revealed until the moment of completion."

Using logic as his rationale he continued. "The fewer people that know the exact details the less that can go wrong. It is easy for Ryoko sympathizers to overhear a simple conversation and remove the element of surprise from our grasp. You must therefore put aside your opinions of me and trust that I will not betray your confidence. And in return you will reap the reward of our compatriotism." Leery and mistrustful glares returned the minister of Defense's gaze.

"And what exactly is the reward?" The minister of Energy was easily over his distrust and focused strictly on his own greed.

"A share of the Maradoshi Empire's wealth, of course. Princess Ayeka will be the key to the famed fortunes of the heavens." The minister of Defense sneered. One hooked, three to go.

The remaining ministers spoke as one. "But the people..." "The bloodlines...." "The girl..."

Tired of the constant litany, the minister of Defense's cool exterior fractured. "The people are nothing more than chattel! They will believe anything that is fed to them. And as for the matter of Royal Bloodlines? There is always a need for fresh blood within royalty otherwise you inbreed madness! No the people WILL accept the Princess Ayeka and shun the Princess Ryoko mark my words. And as for your trifling concerns about controlling the Princess Ayeka, she is a girl nothing more, nothing less. Give her a night in shining armor to save her from her terrible plight and suffering and she will agree to anything! Now either you are in this or out!"

One by one the remaining ministers agreed. At last the minister of Foreign Affairs acquiesced. "I will concede to your plans Minister Kagato." Kagato simply sneered in reply. Their meek acceptance was his smug exaltation. Now all that was left was to begin maneuvering the pieces into place.

Yes, once everything is in place, the entire ruling house will fall and deliver me little Ryoko. I wonder how she will take being a concubine like her mother after so many years of preparation to accept the throne? Kagato's sneer transformed into a cruel smile and he could not stop the slight chuckle that rose to his lips as the people assembled before him gave a trivial shiver at the sight of him.

Yes, he would win back all that his family had lost to the usurpers that currently controlled the throne. And to the victor go the spoils, and just delightful spoils as the royal princesses of both the Caladain and Maradoshi Empires would be his for the taking. To payback all the insults and years of servitude his family had to bear by making the darlings of the royal court suffer would be a sweet victory.

No, it would not be a matter of lust, but instead a matter of principle. Turning away from his fellow consulate members and beginning to explain his plans for the future after the crown had been toppled, Kagato could not resist being desperately smug. Yes, in the end they would pay…. They would all pay… especially the Princess Ryoko. She of all of them deserves to be humiliated… Before all the gods and the boundless heavens she will pay for what she has cost me. Clenched fisted rage momentarily stole logic and reason from the man.

Yes, they will pay… they will all pay…