He's Been Betrothed Since Before He Was Born!

I sign for receipt of the letter and it is 'materialized' by the macromolecular assembly in the captain's office. It turns out to be a copy of a lengthy legal contract, signed by my mother before I had even hatched and witnessed by her mother and father, a contract of betrothal... I sit back and digest, then dig through the papers again, included is a much slimmer set of letters, 6 of them, one from my mother, one from, apparently, my grandparents on my mother's side who I've never so much as thought about before, one from a woman who it seems is my draconic family's "matchmaker", one from my intended in-laws, one from my betrothed, and one from Imperial Security...

I open the letter from Imp-Sec first.

[12-12-2075CE:

From: Imperial Security: Department of Trans-Terran Relations: Adjutant Fujiwara-Sugmog Gralmaga
To: Captain Jessie Jones, GNS Bronzewing,

Body:

Greetings Captain,

This missive should reach you along with the extensive contracts of betrothal entered into by your mother and her family for yourself before your birth. Now, while you would normally be free of such contractual obligations as a citizen of the Terran Imperium I'm afraid there is a wrinkle. Your mother's world was one of the first contacted and some idiot in the diplomatic corps agreed that children of their citizens would have full dual citizenship until they voluntarily renounced it, which should have been done as a prerequisite of your entering the academy but was somehow overlooked. Furthermore, your betrothed is likewise a dual citizen of the empire and has REFUSED to clear this up by renouncing her citizenship, making this doubly awkward. In fact, it has become a political issue, which is why we ARE NOT, let me make that clear, giving you ANY SORT of instruction, encouragement, or assistance in dealing with this legal matter. This problem is entirely your own bailiwick Captain, though, speaking strictly as a Woman who is married to another Star Navy Captain I must point out you would be within your rights to have your Mate/Betrothed/Wife aboard ship with you, and I will leave it at that. The Imperial Government is very desirous you do not turn this into any more of an interdimensional incident than it already is. Let me make that clear, whatever you do, don't fan the flames of the media circus this has already become. Your decision here is as a private citizen, we encourage you to KEEP it as such.

Sincerely:
Adjutant Fujiwara-Sugmog Gralmaga
Imperial Security: Department of Trans-Terran Relations: ∆-37 Office
]

I put the paper down. I knew how to read through the bureaucratic doublespeak as well as any other academy graduate, they wanted me to take my 'betrothed' onboard the ship with me so as to quiet down the media circus on Terra and make all of this go away while they unsnarled the legal mess...

I reached for the next letter...