Free Captain by Phil Geusz Page A

strategic insight… That'd been accomplished via Royal 'meddling' as well, hadn't it?
     
    "About," he agreed with a smile. "His Majesty particularly enjoyed that one. More than any of the others, I suspect."
     
    My smile faded as I suddenly came to understand many, many things. "You've always felt that fighting brief wars against the Imperials was foolish, haven't you?"
     
    "Always," he confirmed. "Their whole setup is geared for a series of short, high-intensity conflicts—it's reflected in their military planning, their economic structure, their internal administrative policies… Even their warships are designed to such high performance levels that they require refits after a relatively brief period of service. We insist on fighting by their rulebook, so it's not difficult to understand why we keep losing. Over and over again, we match our weaknesses to their strengths. In all honesty, David, so far your personal exploits are the only real exception to the rule in that regard. We're still ultimately the stronger in a thousand different ways, if we'd but bite the bullet and fully mobilize our resources. But we never get the chance because peace keeps breaking out before we're ready begin fighting in earnest. Just about the time, in fact, that the Empire is showing signs of severe internal stress."
     
    "So," I asked. "Why does peace keep breaking out?"
     
    "Because the Noble Houses fear losing their power and influence," he replied. "Or most of them, at least. Full mobilization for war of the sort I'm advocating requires doing things they absolutely hate , you see. Like empowering a strong central government to make tough decisions and redirect resources in a manner that might not benefit the current power-holders, for example. Full mobilization would require a draft as well, and that's especially problematic."
     
    "Why?" I asked. I'd long wondered why we hadn't implemented conscription; while the fencibles had attracted plenty of recruits, I knew it wasn't nearly such a simple matter for the regular armed forces. 
     
    "Because drafts mainly draw from the lower classes," he explained. "That's where the numbers are, you see. You can't get enough conscripts to matter otherwise. And putting people under arms always empowers them eventually, by one means or another. They have to be taught pride and self-discipline, for example, or they can't function as combat troops. And that's just the beginning ." He smiled gently. "In today's society, Rabbits mostly make up the bottom rungs. So in our situation enacting a draft means radical social change." His smile faded. "Given the alternative, perhaps from where most of the House-Lords sit eventual assimilation into the Empire doesn't look so bad after all." 
     
     
     

15
     
    I'd given the Professor my word that I'd get him permission to visit His Majesty's sickbed first thing in the morning, and I did literally that. Before I'd so much as touched a brush to myself or swabbed my ears I was on the phone, demanding to speak to a Herald. I didn't have to wait long; in seconds a familiar voice was on the line. "Yes, David?"
     
    It was Martijn, whom I'd gotten to know a little during my own first visit to the Royal Sickbed. Suddenly I felt a little guilty. "It's not the end of the world, sir," I explained. "Perhaps I was too strident. But someone who I know for fact was close to His Majesty's heart has been denied access to visit, and I'm trying to make things right. I'm speaking of Professor Lambert, sir. One of His Highness's favorite authors. And a frequent correspondent."
     
    "That's odd," Martijn replied. "I put him on the list myself. Because you're quite correct, you see; His Majesty did indeed hold Dr. Lambert's books in the highest of esteem." There was a long pause. "Apparently some sort of error has been made."
     
    "Perhaps an error rooted in petty jealousies?" I demanded. "By someone who resented the Professor's influence?"
     
    There was a long pause. "As much as