A Comissioning CLOSED TG FOR ENTRY ATTN NEW EDOM

[McNernia]

Griffindon, Mcnernia
Admiralty Building
Meeting of the Ship Names Committee

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The Decision to name the upcoming LHAN, H532 after the late New Edomite general had not come that easy to the members of the Admiralty board, the issue of Homosexuality had not been exactly brought up but the issue of his assassination and the presentation of the awards of the Empire put him on the list to have his name put on a ship. Frigates, Destroyers, submarines. The issue of the LHAN building program meant that there would have to be names for the mighty vessels that carried Marines into battle. The committee involved Admirals and Generals of the Marine Corps. So the matter of the amphibious warfare ships caused debate Hespernius was a New Edomite officer of aristocratic stock and a good person, though Mcnernia was a Libertarian nation, would stand by the people who were going to stand by us.

The generals did not care much and neither did the Admirals. The vote was taken after some political concerns.

“We have much going for this name it would send a message that we won’t sanction violence, and yet we risk some diplomatic problems naming a ship after the late general.” The man was a Marine general who’d served in the somewhat unpopular attaché program that saw Marine, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Constabulary used as representatives of the military and if it was necessary as the Legal attaché though that was detectives. The board had decided and with a vote of 13-0 several flag officers heading up commands and major units decided LHAN H532 would carry the designation of His Majesty’s Ship General Zadok Hespernius. The ship would carry the coat of arms of the General and the name of the man and he would be remembered for a long while.

The officers did not care about sexual orientation and they did not care about what New Edom was doing. The New Edomites opposed the spread of communism and as such they be involved in the fight against the spread of the disease around the world. So, the Mcnernians would honor their martyrs. As much as they honored their own.

The issue and concern was Parliament. Many Libertarians were concerned about the issue of gay rights and they were being quite vocal about the issue. But it was not enough to have a problem for the diplomatic agenda. One name on the Foreign Affairs and one the defense committee. So the ship would be named the General Zadok Hespernius without too much in the way of trouble. The General was a good soldier and he would stand at the side of Jesus with the day of Judgement on the way. And so the flags filed out and they were quite happy that a name for this ship had been decided on. The vessel had a commander and officer and crew all lined up and she would be a good vessel.

---

Thaldon Estuary
Griffindon Province
Craketown Yards

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She loomed over the dockyards as the commander drove a car down the highway, from the North bank of the Thaldon he could see the massive covered slip that held his pride, her reactor had yet to be ignited and she was un loaded, no ordinance filled her bays and no marines marched up and down her hallways nor Army soldiers for that matter. Some regiments had been intruding on Marin territory, the SAS had Boat troops and had gotten involved with the Navy on more than one occasion. He’d gotten the message a short while ago. Zadok Hespernius. Hed not wept openly, he had been close with his brother before he left, he’d not wanted to join the Navy, thin and pasty hardly what had been deemed a proper officer. And bisexual of course with a predilection towards men.

He’d opted for civilian life as a writer, was he lost in the Soviet Union or was he out in the hills or had he joined the Anarchists. His father was disapproving of him being the kind of man he was.

That’s just a part of you boy, that fact that you are something should not dicate all of your choices….your aunt Maria is Lesbian but she’s also a doctor and a mother to a orphan. And she treats everyone who is coming to the door.

Of course Daryl Cleary had not been home ina long time, his brother was the third born of several children. His sister had married a Marine reservist and well he was a good man. The commander turned off the highway, climbing up onto the bridge and headed over the river, it was hot as was usual this summer, the uniform that Captain Daryl Cleary the commander of the ship was wearing was made for this. And his car was quite nice, though the salary of a Captain was not that generous you pulled in a lot every year and the issues of being a Navy man could easily be dealt with.

Cleary turned off after he’d come off the bridge on the south side after crossing the Thaldon. There was a lot of cars on the road and a highspeed train shot across the bridge, the Griffindon area was quite ful of the best public transit. But that was not the thing he was here for. The issue was the large yard complex that built the ships that were the backbone of the fleet. The Navy had its own yards and Craketown had the privilege of being a major Navy facility.

The gate was old having been built up in the 1920s to build the latest line of capital ships, the first carrier had been built here and now the ship that Cleary had been appointed by the Navy to command. The Zadok Hespernius, the assigned crew had been training together and they called the vessel the General Z. A pet name as that which every ship in the Navy had in one form or another. The general hada good enough record that thousands of people had tunred out at the funeral.

Clarey had seen the MBC broadcast on the internet and on cable TV. He’d been in a restaurant, one of the numerous ones that were on the base in New Ildris, one of the numerous captains that had not received a command from the Kaisongese HQ and the fact was that he would not have easily believed that he would be, he’d served on a Amphibious warfare vessel and then when that ship had been put behind him he had been here. He looked around at the parking lot into the yard, small trains moved about the yard.

He walked into the reception building where workers came into the yard and boarded trains. His uniform pointed him out as a senior officer. He stated his business and he was handed a Visitor Pass and a hard hat and he headed out to the slip. The covered slips were numerous and they were large. He stood in the people moving car between the diesel locomotive and a car load of assort metal plates bound for the nearest slip perhaps. This was a navy yard with camouflage as prevalent as civilian clothes, each ship was built in a covered slip and the Hespernius was a good ship. Shed been out for trials recently and there was a difference of sorts in the Mcnernian tradition, what with the sponsor being assigned to a precomissioning ship after she had been launched. The tradition was when the keel was laid and the name announced to have the name chosen.
But now the ship waited in the dry dock as her commander entered. “How does she shut down?” The chief engineer smiled warmly, the elegant woman who had overseen the project was waiting in the entrance to the dry dock. A civilian contractor who had gone to Eagleland to oversee the issues that would arise from the construction of this design.

“She shuts down well, she’s down right now, the trials teams report she’s doing well enough to be commissioned sooner rather than later. Aviation is good, landing is good, I was out myself on the Aviation test.”
“And we’ll be going out madam, odds are we will be going into the issue of the Cornellian crisis, showing the flag in that blighted place.”

The engineer nodded looking out at the dock, the massive bow was nearby and the H532 was visible as crew moved about checking things. She had no brine creatures on her hull and those that were had been removed by the work crews and bots.

Cleary was happy looking at his ship. Like her crew she would not yield to the foes of his nation. And in death the good general would go on fighting.

---

OFFCIAL COMMUNIQUE OF THE KINGDOM OF MCNERNIA
THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST SEA LORD
Desk of Admiral Sir David Ralton

From: Sir Admiral David Ralton, First Lord of the Admiralty
To:New Edomite Foreign Affairs Ministry
Cc:
Sec:STANDARD
Sub: Commissioning a Ship

Greetings,

I have spoken at length with the Foreign Minister and my Superiors at the Ministry of Defense and HM Majesty the King himself and I have spoke. The issue of security has been taken care of. H532 will be commissioned at Craketown Navy Yards. Mrs Hespernius and any who are accompanying her shall have access to a Royal Air Force VIP aircraft and a full security detail of the Mcnernian Royal Constabulary as well as vehicles properly armored.

However, if your government wishes to add anything to these arrangements please don’t hesitate to ask. I have been appointed as a liaison of sorts.

Signed
-Adm. Sir D.Ralton, First Sea Lord.

Itinerary
Day -1
Arrival at MRAF Griffindon at 9:00Hrs
Driven by Motorcade to the Palace of Roseham
Audience with HM Emilion IV in Private
Luncheon with Admiral Sir David Ralton and HM Emilion IV
Meeting Officers and Crew of HMS General Hespernius
Day -2
Holy Mass for General Hesperinus
Meeting with Prime Minister Andrew Holtworth
Day -3
Reception for families of Officers and Crew of HMS General Hesperinius.
HMS Hesperneius arrives from Craketown
Day -4
Commissioning ceremony Starts
After ceremony feast held
Day -5
Departure

[spoiler][spoiler

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OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE OF THE KINGDOM OF MCNERNIA
THE AMBASSADOR OF THE KINGDOM OF MCNERNIA TO THE ALLIED STATES OF NEW EDOM
OFFICE OF THE AMBASSADOR

From: The Ambassador to the Allied States of New Edom from the Kingdom of McNernia, the Honorable Clyde Hullar
To:Mrs Oliva Hespernius
Cc:
Sec:STANDARD-COURIER DELIVERED-STANDARD
Sub:Your Journey

Greetings
I attended the funeral for your honored husband and I am relaying the Condolences of His Royal Majesty regarding your Husband. A patriot and a father being cut down by gangsters and hoodlums is a disgusting thing. By naming a ship for your husband we in Mcnernia honor his memory and thrown down the gauntlet to the terrorists in the best way we can, we name a warship for him.
If you have any questions about Mcnernia, please don’t hesitate to contact me personally.
Signed
-C.Hullar, Ambassador of the Kingdom of McNernia

---

Griffindon, Mcnernia
Roseham Palace
Royal Gardens, HM King Emilion IV

---

The King sat taking the news on this day, he liked using tablets that were connected securely to the government network. People sent him files, he was the one who gave sanction to many things, Parliament made laws and he signed them. The Macanarin Dynasty had often been inclined to embrace the innovations of the world. And so the Empire had endured and with the species of the world changing to more than just human the King was happy that he had done well. The country was struggling with years of insurgency, the colonies had suffered in the 70s, 60s and the 80s into the ninetys and the issue did not seem to be going away now.

Soviet diplomats had been obtuse about the issue in audiences with the King. He’d supported Bilad Ash Shams before the issue of the MNPLA-ULF came up and the Hutanjia disaster and then Terpischore, that’d been a nasty issue. A carrier had been named for that of the new Battle class that was in production, matching the NATO Ford class in the unlikely event that Mcnernia would have to go to war with the alliance or with Belfras. The technology to build a fleet of the nation’s own was always there and more ships would be coming out of the yards.

But as of now there was H532 and her name would be for the general who had been cut down by the Homofront, the New Edomites seemed to approve of the issue. He looked at the SIS reports, they wanted a princess married to a foreign duke, Princess Amanda would probably be upset, his eldest daughter, she was an odd creature, the woman wanted there to be good man for her and the Duke was in her words. “A man who looks like a man of action father.” His wife was inclined to let her follow her heart and she was also most inclined to secure a match that would be good and set an example for the people. She was strong but also she was mother material.

But as of the now it was the Lady Hesperinius, the issue of her, would she bring the children to be at the ship commissioning which would be taking place soon. About four days from now she would crack a bottle on the nose of a ship that had been named for her husband. The badge was the coat of arms that had been granted to him posthumously as a Knight of the Empire and by all accounts he was a good soldier.
The King was interrupted by his aide de camp Captain Jason. “Sire, there is something you should see.”

The King took a tablet from the man and looked at the Soviet news broadcast about the MPs that were in exile, word of a Pardon had not reached them. He had yet to sign the pardon to get them to return home. The GRU, KGB had been active in the capitol looking for such things. Rychenkov was the most scheming of bastards sometimes. For the son of a soldier whod thrown on the mantle of Red Tsar, the King held such people in contempt and the fact that he was a soldier who fought against the destruction of his nation did not save him from the Kings ire.

He looked over the record that the general had, he’d commanded a corps in the Army and such. Had fought for his country and been killed. And now the King would be throwing down the gauntlet to the Homofront that had killed them. He’d not see gay people rounded up over a few hooligans in a nation far away. Not here.

[New Edom]

The New Edomite Embassy,
Griffindon

“Raaaawk…” one of the lesser Griffons, a flightless bird the size of a Cassowary, flapped vestigial wings and fluffed its black and grey feathers in the early morning. Two of the birds wandered the compound of the villa that was the Edomite embassy as watch animals. While not the size of their giant cousins that were capable of fighting a large crocodile, certainly easily disemboweling a horse, these more common ones were very dangerous and would give a shrill alarm call if disturbed.

For all Edomite embassies were compounds in dangerous places, and this place was extremely so. Civilized but yet another target for communist and Homofront terrorists. Soldiers of the 17th Mounted Light Infantry, an elite air mobile regiment, paroled the grounds as well, kept watch over the walls and gates. By day four in ceremonial blue with kepis, polished boots, bayonet fixed rifles stood at attention near the gates and presented arms for VIPS. But at night you just never knew.

To the Ambassador, Prince Joachim Barzillai, McNernia was a post with high potential, but relations had soured over the last few eyars. Disagreements over how to handle grand strategy and tactics in Hutanjia, McNernian military blunders accompanied by insistence on seniority of command, and awkward remarks about New Edomite government policy at crucial junctures had made things awkward and difficult. However McNernia also represented a vast potential market for exchanges of tourism, technology, goods and education, and he intended to repair the damage as best he could. As he had told Hosidius Geta, the Foreign Minister "This commissioning is a golden opportunity."


When not in his office, Barzillai enjoyedhunting, which he loved above all things—the glorious chase. He preferred hunting game cunning enough to require tracking or dangerous enough to require keen senses, ideally that he could not simply bring a huge set of resources to bring down but tested his skill. He had hunted Griffons, boars, lions, leopards, bears, moose, dire wolves and aurochs all around the Region. This was one of his comforts—that he could go into his trophy room and inspect them. Though now of course it was all virtual. A relay of Cubesats enabled communication and he could yearn longingly at the panning over his trophies of great beasts. He di have a small collection of weapons at the embassy, and it soothed him to look after them daily.

He was a craggy man, olive-brown with outdoors activities, with weathered skin around his eyes and mouth, a beak of a nose, a shock of greying hair. He had been in the Teman Rangers during his active service and wore the desert toned uniform while traveling, but for ceremonial matters it was a dark blue uniform with silver leaf patterns spreading from the middle of the breast, with a high gold collar and slimming down to his hips, red trousers tucked into riding boots, with a curved Baran sword.

In communication with the McNernian government on behalf of the Hesperinus family and his own government, he proposed the following in response.

First: he would be present and would make sure to meet with the widow and her family before the actual ceremony. Any difficulties or last minute concerns could be thus cleared up.

Second: He informed Clyde Hullar and the First Sea Lord of Olympia Hesperinus' honorifics: properly she is now Olympia Countess Hesperinus. The New Edomite title of address is "Your Excellency".

Third: The itinerary was most excellent.

Fourth: The Countess' children were too young to attend. One was 3 and the other 1.

Fifth: Countess Olympia's brother, Lieutenant Count Alexander Domris of the Royal Cavalry Guards, Royal Aide-de-Camp, would be attending as a personal escort. Brigadier-General Jacob Hesperinus, the late General's younger brother would attend representing the family, as would the widowed Countess Delphina Ephraim and her oldest son, Count Theodorus Ephraim. If these were acceptable, Barzillai would appreciate the First Sea Lord letting him know.

Having made these recommendations and notes, he went to have a long bath.

[McNernia]

The Ambassador would have the opportunity as an Ambassador to the Court of St Erin to engage in the pursuits of the Mcnernian aristocracy. That included hunting and fishing and parties. Many older aristocrats were older than the King, men who spoke of his father or his older sister and the issues that had surrounded the death of the late Prince Consort, they lamented the fact that the Queen promised stability and she was inclined to work with anyone. There were some who had considered the Queen unstable. How she leaned on the Prince Consort, there was also a disdain for leftists.

That idiot forgot himself, and with Prince Andrew, His Majesty’s name before his ascension to the throne put that stinking dotard in his place. He had no respect for the Royal Consort, who oddly enough was also named Andrew.

That would be what one nobleman on the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Lords said. And his colleague would be watching the Prince with a raised eyebrow wary of the new Edomite like much of the Liberal side. Though they did see the new Edomites as an asset there was something to be said for the Hutanjia issue, blood and honor were wasted on a chain of Islands. He would have invitations from members of the Royal Family, Prince Frederick and his dark skinned and red-haired companion who was a eerie being like the Queen. Some of the pro-SACTO nobles, and the politicians of the state were most inclined to defend Josias’s rights.
The Mcnernians wanted a stable Ally in New Edom. The Ambassador would be told that the concern of His Majesty was the issue about the chronic instability. The nobility and the moguls of a more common stock did not see eye to eye on a lot of issues. And the King was not easily available, most things that required diplomacy were in the hands of the Prime Minister the Kings role was mostly ceremonial, to voice the people and to make sure that the Parliament ran on time and did business for the world. And well it seemed that way.

Of course, deeper down the wealth of the Royal Family meant that they had a lot more influence than would be accredited to them. A few politicians in the House of Commons had been sponsored by the King.
And it would be the King that would send a message asking to meet with the Ambassador. All things were good and approved. They would take place as soon as possible. The King wished to speak with the Ambassador as soon as was possible. It would be a private audience to discuss the situation and to present the arrangements of the Mcnernian Royal Navy for the commissioning of a ship that was named for a decorated soldier. As was fitting perhaps the Ambassador would like to personally see things. And relay them to the Hesperinius family. Namely the ships badge that was made with the coat of arms he had been granted by the Mcnernian Crown.

[New Edom]

Griffindon

Prince Barzillai put on a three piece light grey suit for his meeting with His Majesty, and sent a grave message of thanks for the Royal Invitation.

King Emilion was generally held in good regard by the embassy, but the relations between the two countries had been rocky, and so it was important that Barzillai be seen to have such meetings as well. It reminded the government that in spite of the difficulties and awkwardness that had happened in the past, the two nations were still allies.

However things had taken a recent downturn again when the visit of Emilion IV to New Hayesalia had been noted. Emilion seemed towant to play both sides of the fence--wanted the profit of dealings with more conservative nations while encouraging a more liberal internationalist agenda. This was met with suspicion by some in New Edom. It was not that they were averse to dealing with the more liberal nations, it was rather that it was very clear what the purpose of the government was in doing so. With the McNernians, it was less clear. And so he had been told firmly to find out what was on Emilion's mind.

"Politely, but find out," were his marching orders from President of the Council General Nicanor.

[McNernia]

Griffindon, Mcnernia
Roseham Palace,
HM Emilion IV

---

The King sat impassively as he could, he’d not met the Ambassador of New Edom face to face on this level, a reception for the return of his family, a warm handshake and an exchange about the weather. Not like this. He was wearing the uniform of a Fleet Admiral showing that he was the authority in the matter of the Navy. He sat impassively facing door staring idly at the goldwork to the Library entrance and he was quite ready to meet this foreigner. By all accounts he would not be nude, a sensible proposition.

---

The Prince would be conducted by a convoy of vehicles through the streets, besides any armed escorts of his own there would be a MetPol traffic Unit that would clear the way and two MRC Diplomatic Security unit teams. They were a elite that was quite skilled in the death dealing ways of the International terrorist so that they could be stopped and dealt with before they attacked the Ambassador or any other person. Threats were received against the New Edomite Embassy were dealt with quickly and descretely. Assassins arrested in apartments in the outer parts of downtown would not be brought to trial near the capital.

Several Homofront cells were being investigated as possibly having ties into the nation, even though Homosexuality was legal, rights of Homosexual couples were protected. There was not much in the way of laws, the Mcnernian way was that Sexuality determined nothing, like the color of ones skin. The Mcnernian way was to be godly and the churches and Mosques that loomed over the city along with a Buddhist Temple and a Hindu temple. A Sikh Godwara was in there somewhere along with a Synagogue and Pagan shrines. Many cultures were here, not the issues that plagued other nations in the cultural arena, with what could be called a lack of culture.

Roseham Palace was a very impressive structure by any standard of Royal or State residences that were in the words capital cities. Mcnernias sovereign lived a life of luxury though the trend had been towards the life of a former soldier and country gentleman, quite popularized with the late Emilion III. The current King lived in the shadow of his father and he was not trained for the job many would say. Some within the Ambassadors earshot deliberately and some the Ambassador might hear at a party given by one of the nobles.

Soon enough the streets were behind him and the Prince’s convoy would be passed into the Palace. Roseham was a grand old house with a courtyard that was the outer yard for the palace, smaller than the gardens that gave the palace its name. The Ambassador would see the iconic Household regiments on duty and they would present arms as he entered the Carriage Court to be welcomed to the Palace. The Ildris Guards 2nd Battalion having recently returned from the exercises in Anemos Major would be quite happy on duty for the summer tourist season as the people were quite inclined to come and see one of the world’s most powerful monarchies. Police kept cars moving.’

One inside the courtyard of the Palace the Ambassador would be met by Jason Calladen, the Kings Private secretary the man would be wearing the typical white of the Royal Navy summer uniform. He smiled and gave a small bow for the Ambassador. “Welcome sir, His Majesty is expecting you. Right this way.” He would lead him through the grand galleries of the Palace’s front façade that were used for the meeting of major ministers and dignitaries, the signing of treaties as well as audiences. “His Majesty awaits you upstairs, the King does not easily stand on ceremony. However, a bow is required. Same protocol as with the King or Queen of your home country. I would gather since you a Prince peers of the realm are entitled to a certain amount of leeway.” Calladen would wait when they arrived at the library door. Two liveried butlers opened it and closed it again when he had entered.

Plush arm chairs done in fine cloth were in the center of the room. The King sat in one facing the double doors, a warm smile on his face. “Welcome Ambassador, in my Presence King Elijah and Queen Maras envoys may be seated for I hold Elijah in a special respect. He is one tough man.”

He would gesture to a chair as the doors closed and a butler appeared from a side door with a service of tea. It would faintly smell of mint. “Please be seated.”

[New Edom]

Griffindon, Mcnernia
Roseham Palace,
HM Emilion IV

My King, ah, my King, this is a godless place. Gentle Queen, this is a place that is a harbour for heathens.

He thanked Calleden. "I never assume, but thank you," said the ambassador politely. "A bow has many subtle variants, you see, I have come to know."

He moved forward at a dignified pace, and bowed with great courtesy to the King of McNernia. In response to him, he said,

"I thank Your Majesty, I get more tired more easily these days, it seems, and standing for long periods of time seem to wear out my joints more than when I was a youth."

So saying, he sat. "From Their Majesties, greetings and fair time of day. Sir, I hope that my words will be taken in the courtesy with which they are intended, and that the concern they present are not taken badly." Barzillai took a deep breath. "There is some concern about not only the safety of Countess Olympia and her family, but...if I may..there is an anti-Christian, anti-Edomite feeling in your country. There is strong support for internationalist moral relativism, strong support for the homosexual agenda here. There have been protests, proposed legislation which has been hostile to our country. And in the past, on more than one occasiona, Your Majesty urged our governments to change policies which were very much in keeping with the Morality Act and with our heritage. Some have...suggested that this has given aid and comfort to the enemy."

[McNernia]

Griffindon, Mcnernia, Roseham Palace

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"I full understand your words ambassador." He smiled and left the Ambassador at the doors to fetch some documents that could be relevant. Things about security and the commissioning.

---

HM Emilion IV

---

The King nodded, the benefits of his marriage to Silvarianna were a curse as well. He would perhaps welcome a coup by his own daughter or would he still die, he seemed to be stuck as he was and that was not the best thing. Losing ones wife did not help ones state of mind, she was on a trip visiting with the troops as she liked to do. His daughters and son were away as well. He listened to the ambassadors words maintaining the good humor that he was known for. He put down a cup of tea as the Prince finished speaking.

"Some have...suggested that this has given aid and comfort to the enemy."

The King knew who could well be behind that. Elijah himself, Laery, any of the Royal Family or the clergy, "I can understand, however we are of a different mind, we are a godly nation yes but we don't believe in meting out judgement on earth. We believe that people are free to do as they please in life for we shall all face Christ one day. All was born to die, our very spirits were made by god and shall return to Him. And that is when those who engage in Homosexuality shall be judged, I fear that perhaps the laws have been mistranslated sometimes. I serve god, it is not my place nor those of my servants to judge men and women for their actions save against their fellow humans. Against themselves I don't much care. A Sovereigns duty is to ensure that order is maintained and liberty is respected." He looked at the Prince for a moment.

"How has my allowing my lords and ladies to voice opinions, and my ministers to voice opinions that support Homosexuals rights to not be pressured by society, though I can see the point of interference in the internal affairs of an ally, friends help others to change and to improve. We have not enacted sanctions with this current crisis, we have not been taking the steps that would give aid and comfort to the forces of Homofront. Though I am interested your governments argument or the argument of members thereof."