Arthur sat back in his seat as the massive transport taxied along the runway, he was headed for the stronghold his forces had set-up in Scotland. The Scottish Government had been more than ready to offer the young Prince a place to base his operations out of. The relocation of EMPG Systems had brought millions of dollars into the Exchequer over the past five years and they were ready to repay the favour. His hand sat comfortably on the pommel of Excalibur, snugly seated in the sword cradle to his right. The feel of the Sword's power had become oddly reassuring, and since he made the decision to commit himself completely to the cause, he found himself at a loss if it wasn't within reach. It wasn't as if the Sword spoke to him, but it somehow calmed him and focused his mind, thing's became so much clearer and more easily understood.
Harold's latest tactic of raiding villages and small towns seeking out those that supported Arthur had led to far too many deaths. Innocents led to the slaughter by a mad man with no other goal than to force Arthur into the open. Every time he felt the pain and horror of their deaths, he recalled the discussion he had with Merlin in the Academy entry hall, sometimes good people die to bring about change. A sting of a tear struck his eye, and that was enough to force himself to concentrate on the bigger picture. Geraint had remained in London as a focal point for the spies they had throughout the city and even in the palace, he was the logical choice as he could move about and then disappear if he was compromised. That level of Intel would be beyond vital in the coming months as he formed his armies and responded to the mad King's antics.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Bump and Jump Airways, this is your Captain speaking, our flight time will be just over two hours. Our in-flight service will be provided by our voluptuous Stewardess Warrant Officer Roger Gant. Please excuse his legs as he ran out of razors this morning. Please ensure your tray tables are in the upright locked position. On behalf of the flight crew we hope you have a wonderful flight." The odd voice on the intercom had made Arthur almost laugh out loud, it was the first time in quite a while that he had been amused so easily. He looked over at the two senior Air Force officers he was travelling with and saw the look of horror and unrestrained anger on their faces. 'Oh dear', he thought.
"Gentlemen, who is the pilot today?" Arthur asked.
"I must apologise, Your Highness, he is an insubordinate cur and he will be dealt with." Air Marshal Sir Lawrence Blighy replied.
"I didn't ask that, I asked whom he is." Arthur enunciated very slowly.
"Squadron Leader Lancelot DuLac, Highness." The older man finally replied. His disdain barely under control.
"You know Uncle Percy, I really am becoming tired of people deliberately misconstruing what I am saying." He said to Percival sitting across from him.
"Aye, Lad, it does wear thin."
"Now, Air Marshall Blighy, I would like to speak to the pilot at his earliest convenience, do you think YOU could make that happen?"
"Yes Sir, immediately." He turned to his aide and nodded. As the Aide began to stand, Arthur caught the man's eye and it was clear he was to sit back down forth with.
"Again, I am left thinking I am speaking in tongues and beating out a cadence on an African Odondo. I asked YOU, not your aide, YOU, to arrange it. This is a matter of respect and I will not be treated like a child simply because I am younger than you. I am the Crown Prince of the British Empire, are you so arrogant as to think you know what I am thinking?" His voice never rose above a normal volume, but the tone was deadly in its intent. The Air Marshall was shocked at the way Arthur spoke to him and was sitting there with his mouth flapping with no sound coming out. Arthur could see the amusement in Percival's eyes, he had given Arthur a run down on the senior officers under his command, and this was one of the most arrogant, he had made grade through patronage and politicking, not effort and skill. Arthur had no time for those that had others do their dirty work for them, if you couldn't do the job without an army of lackeys to make the right decisions on your behalf, you were worse than useless.
"Now if you would be so good as to ask the pilot to come back for a chat when he has a free moment that would be great." Arthur turned his attention to the folder that he had with him and began flipping through the loose leaf pages. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Blighy stand and stumble off toward the cockpit, and it wasn't a short walk, the Sachs R10 Heavy Transport was a massive aircraft. He looked up at Percival, his adopted Uncle had a broad grin on his face. Arthur gave him a grumpy look, but that only made him smile wider, and in the end, they were both almost laughing.
It was about ten minutes later that Blighy returned and heaved himself into his seat, and a tall good looking man stood before Arthur at stiff attention. The man saluted and began to speak before Arthur could sit up.
"Your Highness, I would like to offer my sincerest apologies if my poor attempt at humour offended you in any way." Arthur sat there stunned as the man seemed to be rattled and looked upset.
"Squadron Leader DuLac, is it?" The man nodded but said no more. "Right then, please have a seat Sqn Ldr." Arthur rounded on the Air Marshall with a look of absolute death incarnate. "Air Marshall Blighy," The older man just looked over at him. "Get off your fat, lazy arse when I am talking to you." The older man stood so fast Arthur wondered if there was any blood left in his head.
"If you be so kind as to repeat the order I gave you, verbatim!"
"Ah. You, ah, asked to speak to the pilot." He stammered.
"No, I asked you to ASK the pilot to come back for a chat at his earliest convenience. Squadron Leader DuLac, please repeat what the Air Marshall said to you, and please make sure you recount the entire conversation." DuLac started to rise, "no please stay seated, not enough room to be standing here."
"Well Highness."
"Arthur, you can call me Arthur." The look of shock on Blighy's face was pure gold.
"Well, ah, Arthur, the Air Marshall came to the cockpit and said that if I knew what was good for me I would get back here as a matter of urgency and apologise for being an unprofessional fool, and that this would be revisited once we reach Strath Kinney Air Base," he explained.
"Oh, that is interesting, don't you think Uncle Percy?"
"Aye Lad, that is mightily interesting, as I did not hear you instruct Mr. Blighy in that manner."
"Yes I was just thinking the exact same thing. Can you explain the adlib Blighy?"
"I thought it was a matter of respect and professionalism, Sir." Blighy responded strongly.
"Well now you have decided to know when I am offended and disrespected as well. I am stunned into silence by the arrogance you have shown. In fact I don't think I can deal with you, Uncle Percy would please get this arrogant fool out of my sight and deal with it?"
"Oh, Lad that would definitely make my day." He stood and went over to the Marshall. "You will accompany me out of the Princes sight, Right. Fucking. Now!" Blighy blanched at the words and tone that was directed at him.
After the two men disappeared to the back of the craft, Blighy's aide stood to leave. "No, you may stay Group Captain Brown." To which the man lowered himself back into his seat. "You are now my Aide, and you won't have to worry about that over bloated fool anymore." Arthur took a sip of the coffee he had been looking forward to, coffee was still a rare commodity in Britain and he had gone to some trouble to have it brought in.
"Now DuLac, are you a Lancelot or a Lance?"
"Lance is fine Sir." Arthur threw him a glance. "You can't expect me to just switch off the respect of office like a bloody light switch." Arthur roared with laughter.
"I like you, Lance." He said after his laughter subsided. "So what are you still a Squadron Leader with all the experience you have and the decorations you have received?" He asked.
"Well, I would have to say that those that make those decisions don't like my sense of humour." Again Arthur chuckled. "But the reality is I put my pilots welfare before stupid regulations that put my pilots under enormous pressure. I understand that there are requirements of service, but sometimes the regulations fail to take into account the pressures that Pilots are placed under. With the current hostilities with the Persian Empire, my people are flying ridiculous hours and getting little to no rest between sorties." He explained.
"Can you give me an example?" Arthur asked.
"Certainly."