Honour Bound

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So much for the Royal Engineer's big plans for bypassing the bureaucracy.

As with Sergeant Ebonshield yesterday, it seemed any attempt to get things done while avoiding paperwork or politics was doomed to failure. At least this time they only had to deal with Equestrians, though. And they had Lieutenant Temper Violetta to guide things, as well. She could be gruff, stiff, and overly formal, but Honour had served in the VIP section for long enough to know she was an officer more than worth the silver bar on her lapel.

Sitting in front of the Royal Engineer's desk, Violetta went over the manila file in her hooves. "Just a moment, sir... Ah, yes, here we are..."

After vacating the race track and putting away the steam car in the garage, the quaternion had gathered in their VIP’s office for further discussion, while Lieutenant Vi had gone to dig around the Canterlot Palace Military Office for Hoofstrong's file. Like any officer who achieved the rank of colonel, regardless of their birthright or background, Hoofstrong had been granted a personal affinity and issued with a VIP escort for the standard three months, courtesy of the CPMO. Beyond that, she would have been expected to hire her own retainers, if she wanted them. That was on top of whatever guards, drivers, or other operational aides the military itself assigned to her.

"The Major-General, then a colonel, had just been commissioned as commander of the First Air Division, having previously been promoted from commander of the 27th Air Superiority Wing. The Privy Council authorized a single affinity, and the CPMO assigned two guardsponies to serve in alternating shifts as required."

Honour actually didn't know very much about Hoofstrong, but it certainly seemed as though she had risen properly up through the ranks.

Behind his desk, Anonymous scribbled a few notes, then looked up. "Just a moment, Lieutenant. I'm not quite clear on the rules concerning 'affinities.' What exactly are the conditions entitling someone to a personal escort?"

As Violetta continued to riffle through the pages, trying to find the relevant notes and looking a bit upset at having to field a basic question, Honour stepped forward and nodded to her.

"Ma'am, I can field that one for you, if you'd like."

"By all means, Corporal."

Honour looked up at the Royal Engineer. "Sir, ultimately an affinity can be granted by the Privy Council to anypony, but there are three situations where it's commonly done." Holding up a hoof, she continued. "The first is when a member of the nobility requests it. They need to justify themselves a bit, but it's not hard, so long as they're only requesting the right to have a single retainer. For more than that, they have to demonstrate why a personal escort is necessary to ensure their dignity or safety, usually done by comparing themselves to other nobles. A baron can easily claim a single retainer on the basis that most other barons have one, and a count can just as easily claim two on the same basis, and so on."

The corporal glanced around and looked at the rest of her quaternion members -- not a lot of ponies could claim the privilege of a full four-count quaternion affinity. And it sure seemed like they’d been together on this assignment for a lot more than just two weeks.

"Whatever the reason, if the affinity is granted they won't be getting anything free from the Royal Guard; it's on them to hire their own. Often, those ponies will be minor members of the nobility themselves; landless gentlecolts looking for a respectable career without the hazards of the military or the indignity of ordinary servitude."

Anonymous nodded. "I see."

Honour continued. "The second case is for foreign dignitaries and diplomats. When residing at the palace they're automatically given a VIP escort for the duration of their stay, but even if they're living elsewhere, they're still often given a standard three-month assignment for free as a sort of 'Welcome to Equestria' gift, which can be extended at the Privy Council's discretion."

Glamerspear piped up beside her. "It also lets the Royal Guard keep a close eye on important newcomers. Those guardsponies' weekly reports go straight to the 'diplomatic corps.’"

That was a common euphemism for the Canterlot Intelligence Agency, but the Royal Engineer didn't know that.

"By 'diplomatic corps,' sir, Specialist Glamerspear means-"

"The spy agency, yes, I figured. If Equestria keeps tabs on newcomers like that I'm half surprised I wasn't assigned an escort earlier, to be honest."

That was unusual. A hairless bipedal monkey-creature suddenly appeared in Equestria, and he wasn’t placed under diplomatic observation? Then again, Honour didn’t actually know the circumstances of Anonymous' arrival. Maybe he was spied on in other ways.

Still reviewing her papers, Lieutenant Violetta looked up and cleared her throat. "Ahem, actually, sir, the CPMO did originally receive a request to issue you an escort when you arrived in Canterlot, but it was withdrawn shortly thereafter without an explanation. I was responsible for your file back then as well."

‘They made a request and then cancelled it?’

‘That's even more unusual.’

Glamerspear scoffed. "Huh, weird. I wonder why they changed their minds."

Violetta returned to her papers. "I couldn't say, Specialist."

Shrugging, Anonymous waved a hand towards the earth pony. "Whatever the reason, please continue, Corporal."

Honour nodded. "The third case for granting an affinity and issuing guards is when somepony achieves a 'high station' in Equestrian society. The definition of 'high station' is flexible, but can include major celebrities, local heroes, military officers who are promoted to command of a division or a particularly prestigious regiment, elected politicians, and important bureaucrats like yourself."

"Hmm. I never really thought of myself as a bureaucrat before now..." He trailed off, and Honour wasn’t quite sure what to say. Considering that just moments ago she was herself complaining about the bureaucracy, lumping Anonymous in with them almost felt mean.

Luckily, Honour had Lieutenant Vi there to dryly state the facts. "As a member of the Privy Council, m'Lord, you are technically not a bureaucrat, as you are not a part of any bureaucratic organization." She closed the manila folder and continued on. "You are an appointed member of the government, serving directly at the whim of Their Royal Majesties. And it is for this reason that you are entitled to an affinity."

Anonymous nodded. "I see. I suppose Their Majesties didn't think I needed one while I was cooped up in here working on writing my theory-book." He grinned and looked around the room. "It's a strange feeling, having been surrounded by these four walls for the past eight months. Besides an evening jog, a visit to the library, or the occasional meeting elsewhere in the palace, I really hadn't left here at all until two weeks ago."

Shrugging, he looked over at Temper. "But enough about me. What can you tell me about Major-General Hoofstrong, Lieutenant?"

‘Time for the real reason she’s still here.’

"Yes, sir. I see here that Georgia Hoofstrong enlisted in the Royal Guard air corps thirty-four years ago--"

Once again, Glamerspear interjected. "Wait a minute, enlisted? She's a mustang, ma'am?"

Temper gave her a curt nod. "Yes she is, Specialist."

Anonymous furrowed his brow and squinted. "I'm sorry, she's a what?"

Honour piped up. "A mustang officer, sir, is one who was promoted up from the enlisted ranks."

The Royal Engineer nodded. "Ah. So I take it she's not a noblepony, then?"

Surprisingly, Violetta didn’t shake her head. "Actually, sir, 'Hoofstrong' is a minor Cloudsdale noble house, and the Major-General is a gentlemare. I don't have the details, but she either could not or chose not to purchase a commission, and instead enlisted into the Guard as a common soldier."

After scribbling a bit on his notepad, Anonymous looked up. "The purchase of commissions -- that's what this is all about, isn't it? Lieutenant Kilfeather said as much when he came by last week to collect the remains of his helmet."

Violetta nodded. "I would imagine so, sir. The Major-General is in a unique position to criticize the practice, having risen first to sergeant before being commissioned as a lieutenant during a time when such exceptional cross-promotions were the only alternative to purchasing one's rank -- the Royal Military Academy, the officer training school, is itself just twenty-five years old."

Honour knew a bit of history about the RMA herself, and elaborated on the Lieutenant's answer. "The only exception is the Royal Artillery School, which has existed for almost a century, and has accepted officer candidates from any background since its founding."

Temper lifted an eyebrow, surprised by her interjection. "Corporal Bound is correct, m'Lord, but the Royal Artillery was seen as unglamorous by the nobility, and the requirement for such a formal, mathematical education caused its officers to be looked down upon by the rest."

Anonymous sighed. "This sounds complicated. I suppose Kilfeather was right again when he said I didn't really understand what was going on with his 'Pas de Sabots.'"

The lieutenant tilted her head. "It is rare for a noblepony like the Major-General to be against the purchase of commissions, but Georgia Hoofstrong would hardly be the only one. A largely uninterrupted period of prosperity in Equestria has led to the elevation of a large number of nouveau riche entrepreneurial families, and the gradual impoverishment of the landed noble houses. That, combined with repeated examples of mismanagement from noble officers who bought their way into a rank far beyond their skill to handle, has turned the general public, and even the competent members of that group, almost entirely against the practice." Arching her eyebrows, she shut the folder and tucked it under a foreleg. "Why, I even count myself among their number."

Honour turned towards the Lieutenant, surprised. "You're a gentlemare, ma'am?"

She nodded. "Yes. The Violettas are a cadet branch of the Rosettas, who control significant amounts of property north of Canterlot. My family could afford to purchase me a captaincy in an infantry regiment, but I wanted a formal education as well, and they refused to pay for both." Pursing her lower lip, she shrugged. "I chose to attend Canterlot University for three years, earning my Honors Bachelor of Arts with a major in history, then enrolled in the Academy -- which is free for qualified candidates possessing such a degree -- to graduate as a ordinary Lieutenant Junior Grade."

Honour had never gotten the unmistakable 'vibe' from Violetta of somepony who'd gone through the Academy, but then again, the lieutenant had never had to command them on a battlefield and thereby exposed the rigidity of her training. The Academy didn't really teach running a bunch of VIP quaternions from the Canterlot Palace Military Office. The work involved in getting a degree in history, though -- that might actually be good training for what the Lieutenant was doing now. Lots of reading, researching, and writing.

Anonymous nodded, smiling. "Oh, really, you majored in history? What was your minor?"

Violetta didn’t skip a beat before replying in the stiff tone of a committed servant. "Musical theater, sir."

‘Seriously?’

‘This stick-up-her-plot mare studied singing and dancing?’

It must've just been a bunch of bird courses for her; something to pad out her curriculum.

Glamerspear immediately vocalized what Honour was thinking. "Pfffft, seriously... ma'am?!"

That last little important piece of courtesy came a little late, but the lieutenant let it slide, instead shifting slightly in her place and puffing out her tuft. "Yes. I happen to adore the theater; I have season's tickets to The Sardinia, you know. Wouldn't miss a single show." Cocking an eyebrow, she turned to the Royal Engineer. "I trust your Lordship enjoyed the performance of 'The Magician' two weeks ago? I studied at C.U. alongside James Broadbarrel, who played the title role in that production."

‘She's serious!’

Glamerspear's eyes went incredulously wide, and Honour had to stop her own from doing the same.

Anonymous smiled and gestured with his free hand. "Oh, he was fantastic. Such a powerful voice. Specialist Sparkshower, you enjoyed his performance as well, didn't you?"

The armored pegasus nodded loudly, her armor clattering as she did so. "Yeah, he was great! You could feel the whole theater reverberate when he sang. Gosh, and you know him personally, ma'am? Wow, friends with a star!"

Honour’s blue-blooded and cold-blooded commanding officer nodded, and the corporal spotted the creeping start of a smug smile on Violetta’s face. "Indeed. We sang together in the school production of 'The Barons and the Breezie.' I'd be happy to arrange for a backstage introduction the next time your Lordship visits The Sardinia."

‘Spoken like a true socialite urbane noblemare.’

‘And what's this about her actually having a singing voice?’

Glamerspear's jaw hung open briefly in shock before she shook herself back to normality.

Honour had never really chatted up the Lieutenant, not that fraternization between officers and enlisted was encouraged, but after that exchange, she was glad she’d never tried -- it hadn't been obvious at first, but now it was clear that they had very little in common. Manners and social status being at the top of the list of differences.

The Royal Engineer brought things back on track. "That sounds lovely, Lieutenant. But let's get back to the matter before us. What else can you tell me about the Major-General?"

At this, the lieutenant pulled the folder back out from under her shoulder and opened it up again. "A few things, sir. Hoofstrong has a reputation as a 'no-nonsense' commander, having been responsible for the demotion or dismissal of several officers under her command for offenses that ordinarily would merely have gotten the perpetrators transferred to another regiment. Under her command, the 27th Air Superiority Wing cemented its status as the premier air combat group in the Royal Guard, with a particularly spectacular performance in the MXP Games, then known as the Grand Tournament. She's a veteran of several conflicts, and a decorated Legate of the Order of the Ram."

"That's a military honor, I take it?"

Violetta looked over at Glamerspear, who was wearing her Silver Ram on its white-and-blue ribbon. As a Legate, Hoofstrong would have a gold one herself, along with a blue mantle for ceremonial occasions.

"Yes, sir. Your own Specialist Glamerspear is a Centurion of the Ram, herself."

Anonymous followed the lieutenant’s gaze over to the unicorn, who suddenly looked uncomfortable in the spotlight. The Royal Engineer spoke up with some surprise. "I had no idea. Is that the medal on you now, Specialist? I don't remember seeing you with it before, though I remember Kilfeather muttering something about it."

The pink-and-teal pony swallowed. "Yes, sir. I wasn't accustomed to wearing this openly until a week ago, when I returned to your service."

Honour knew this story already, but she supposed the Royal Engineer had been kept in the dark. Still, he hadn't asked -- until now.

"Did something change after your injury?"

Glamerspear took a deep breath, but the look of worry was replaced by a steady smile. "Yes, sir. I found some more self-confidence I didn't know I had."

Cocking an eyebrow, Anonymous nodded. "It sounds like I'll want you with me when I visit the Major-General, then."

Violetta piped up in agreement. "Yes, sir. That would be my recommendation as well. Though I would also recommend bringing a second for protocol reasons. Corporal Bound would be my suggestion; a higher-ranking bodyguard is more prestigious."

"If that's the case, maybe I should bring Sergeant Ebonshield? Though, I suppose DADT might make her more of a liability."

"I'm afraid it would, sir."

Tapping his quill on the pad, Anonymous shifted his jaw sideways and furrowed his brow. "If I'm going to call on her with two armed guards, and if Hoofstrong is a career military officer, you have me half-wondering if I ought to show up in my suit of armor, rather than my formal wear."

Violetta shook her head. "I'd advise against it, sir, unless you have any military or combat achievements to your name. Although your particular set isn't nearly as garishly ornate as is the present fashion, nobleponies trotting around in elaborate armor while shying away from actual battle is another irritant for meritocratic reformers like the Major-General."

Anonymous scribbled down some more notes, then nodded. "Fair enough. All right, so I know what to wear, who to bring, and a little about who I have to talk to. Now the question is -- how do I set up the meeting?"

Violetta tucked the manila folder back under her foreleg, raising her eyebrows. "Ordinarily, a request to use Canterlot airspace would be directed to the Office of the Air Controller for Canterlot, which is under the First Air Division. The authorization form would eventually land at the desk of Major-General Hoofstrong, where either she or her adjutant would have to approve it on its own merits. For a request like this, the testing of a prototype weapons platform, there would doubtless be numerous questions about the device in question and the risks involved -- questions which would surely attract the attention of the Ordnance Division, and others, too."

She cleared her throat before continuing, looking a little uncomfortable with what she was about to say. "...Since your Lordship expressed a desire to avoid such... 'bureaucratic entanglements,' I would suggest instead a direct approach. Request a meeting directly with the Major-General, and make your case to her in person."

The Royal Engineer nodded. "All right... but how do I do that? Don't I need an introduction from someone else, first?"

As the Lieutenant stifled back an uncomfortable sigh, probably flustered by Anonymous' ignorance of social customs, Honour piped up again. "Sir, you're a member of the Blue Chamber, and well within your rights to directly contact a government official like the Major-General, particularly for activities within the purview of your position."

Violetta nodded in the corporal’s direction, looking relieved, but Anonymous still appeared confused. "All right, but surely I don't just show up at her door, unannounced?"

For someone who could be so well-mannered -- Honour still remembered how gracefully he received Princess Luna -- he sure could miss some obvious clues.

"No, sir, of course not. You send a calling card politely requesting a meeting and proposing a time, just as you've received several yourself while we've been in your service. One of us can deliver it for you."

Finally, a light turned on in her VIP's head, and he tapped his free hand on his chin. "Ahhhh, yes, of course! Have to pay a visit to a stationery shop first, then, I suppose. I actually haven't got any of those -- all of the formal meetings I've been at so far were arranged by others."

He really had been shut in there for eight months if he'd never had to arrange his own meeting. Then again, while working on a book consisting of dumping out his own knowledge, when would he have ever needed to set up an appointment of his own? Ponies have wanted to meet with him to pick his brain, not the other way around.

With a smile on his face, he tore off the page of notes from his notepad and slipped it into one of the trays on his desk. "We can take care of that tomorrow. Anything else to add, Lieutenant? I suppose this is my first real foray into politics; I could use any other advice you have to offer."

Before she could answer, something caught his eyes elsewhere on his desk, and he picked up a sealed envelope from his 'in' tray, then pulled open a drawer and withdrew a small letter-opener. Today's mail, Honour supposed -- they’d all been either out or asleep for most of it, so he was only just now getting to his correspondence.

"No, sir. Though, if I might venture, it would be uncharitable to refer to Major-General Hoofstrong as a 'politician.’"

Anonymous looked up from cutting open the letter, as Violetta continued.

"She's a reformer; an aggressive one, certainly, given the recent events, but I sincerely believe she's acting out of a genuine desire to improve the Royal Guard, rather than operating on behalf of somepony else."

He nodded. "Of course... I'll have to be careful if the subject comes up in discussion. Thank you very much for the help, Lieutenant."

"At your service, my Lord Engineer." With a simple salute, Lieutenant Violetta stuffed the file envelope into her saddle bags and turned to leave.

"Ten-shun!" Calling out, Honour brought the quaternion to attention and made sure their commanding officer was given her due on the way out. Even Sergeant Ebonshield, who was a silent observer to this whole exchange, gave a respectful bow.

Honour was developing a new level of appreciation for her stiff and stuffy Lieutenant Violetta. She was a desk jockey, but the corporal already knew she was a competent one. The new light for Honour was seeing Temper put her VIP's best interests before her desire to obey common protocol; that counted for something in Honour’s book. After all, why even serve in the VIP section if you weren’t going to put the VIPs first?

Sparkshower held the door open, still saluting, as Temper Violetta left, having brushed-over a serious breach of Canterlot airspace security and, possibly against regulations, given him some preparation for what could escalate into a fight with a powerful figure in the Royal Guard.

As the door closed behind the lieutenant, Honour turned her attention back to the desk, where Anonymous held the opened letter in his hands, looking over at her.

"I guess we'll call it a day for now. Corporal, you might as well let everypony get some rest. Just leave me whoever's scheduled to be on duty -- I'm heading out into the city." The Royal Engineer got to his feet before she could answer, waving the paper around with a smile on his face. "This is from the Bridle Path Clothiers -- my Gala suit's ready for the final fitting, and they're open late tonight. Who's coming with me to see how they've done?"

Honour looked over at the group's pegasus. "Specialist Sparkshower's on duty this evening, sir."

"Perfect! Let's go, Specialist! I'll just grab my sash before we step out."

"Yes, sir!"

Their Very Important Pony, who isn't actually a pony, stepped over to the rack by the door and donned his jacket.

‘Guess that's my cue to get everypony else to bed.’

"Good night, sir."

Anonymous shot her a smile as he neatly bundled up his red sash into a bag. "Good-night, Corporal, and thanks for your help today." Flipping his top hat onto his head, he grabbed the brim and nodded at Glamerspear and Ebonshield. "And the same to you, Specialist and Sergeant."

With that, he exited the room, the four of them following after him.

It was just down to Honour to lock the door.

Funny end to a strange day, though...

Next Chapter: Chapter 83 Estimated time remaining: 21 Hours, 6 Minutes