It's Time to Discuss the Guard

Standing at attention, Captain Kepler begins, "Sir, we understand that matters of state will be handled after your election of those who will stand as consul suffectus, but we assume that each consul will want and have final say on those stationed for personal guard duty of each consul. Currently, that personal guard for you translates to the the entirety of what was The General's **** under my command."

She pauses for your response. While not sure where she is going with this, you nod your head. "Of course," you muse, "each consul should have a personal guard he or she can rely on completely. Choosing and leading their ranks goes a long way in having each consul feeling secure, feeling that this is a guard unit they can trust. Mind you, we are not talking about the larger military that the Republic commands to guard the colony as a whole, but, for the private, smaller home guard."

Selma continues, "Yes, well the 'trust' you mention is the issue here, a consideration especially crucial now when the ideas of 'home guard' and 'Republic military' are more ambiguous in terms of separation during this initial period of transition."

You sit forward. "Speak freely, captain. What are you getting at?"

Your sister, Charity, cuts in. "She's beating around the issue, bro." The captain shoots her a disapproving glance for addressing you so casually, but Charity continues. "So we were on rotation guarding the mouth of The General's shelter when you and that mob marched up to the gates of Wexford Holler and you made that little speech, not bad for a first time by the way. So when The General came out and challenged you, we were with him, and when you killed him some of the guard's women were about to make a huge mistake and throw everything into chaos, so when they pointed their guns at you,we pointed ours at them, and that started this whole Mexican Stand Off thing for about ten seconds before Kai Lan snapped her gun up to do a salute, and everyone else followed suit. Well, you know how most of the rest of the evening went and you turned in early, you must have been exhausted near to fainting you were asleep so fast, and that is where things get interesting." At which point Charity makes an 'over to you' gesture to Hope and she picks up the tale.

"Now the senior officers wanted to have the most experienced women guarding you, but they were also the same ones that nearly shot you, so we argued that as your sisters we could be trusted to not do anything emotional and stupid and Captain Selma agreed with us, so we came to the doors of your room to stand watch while she had the youngest guard's women, those who had NOT borne The General's children, and a few more experienced officers that she knew she could rely on, recalled from all across the colony to stand guard over you during the period of adjustment. The issue is that those guardswomen who would have killed you are still out there. If they continue in your personal guard..." Hope gestured to Charity.

"The closer they will be for that knife in your back," Charity finished.

Hope nodded. "If they continue on to serve in republic military or even return to civilian life..."

"You have the makings of a coup with the first scenario," Charity shrugged, "or just sowing dissension and lying in wait in the second. Of course, the worst scenario is when you elect those to serve as consul suffectus. I get that you have this whole Republic dream, but sharing power just gives your enemies positions for others, like disgruntled guardswomen for instance, to rally around. Again, it was your choice to be named Consul, and we respect that. It just means you'll have to be extra crafty to guard against usurpers. Might as well start now by giving the order to execute those disloyal members of the guard."

"Or make them zombie bait," Hope offers." Either way, those that have borne The General a child or served closest and longest should be eliminated as a threat. In fact, you need to go ahead and throw those children in the mix as well or you'll just set up some vengeance plots."

You knew your infant Republic would not survive any of those scenarios your sisters brought up. In the ensuing chaos, the colony would either be destroyed or taken over by a new dictator, perhaps far worse than the one you just put down. You shift your gaze to Selma, who has not budged an inch during this time. "Captain, what do you have to say to this?"

"Sir, whatever they did was done out of loyalty to their fallen leader, a trait I am proud to instill in any under my command. Given time, I am sure you and the Republic will enjoy the same staunch loyalty once they come to accept this transition to our new government."

Charity snorts. "Given time? How long does that take? Besides, if we are talking about those closest to The General, your opinion comes across a little bias. Who would be highest on the list for those in The General's favor?"

"His lover, I would think," Hope answers.

Selma' face remains a stoic mask. "If I have any bias, it is for the security of this colony. Removing a portion of the guard, including its more senior, veteran members, will leave you with mostly young, untrained girls."

All three have their eyes on you, waiting for a decision.