Chapter 22: The Jutland Issue

The man whom Diane showed into Olaf’s office a few minutes before ten was relatively young to be the steward in charge of a barony. He behaved properly as he bowed and didn’t try to shake hands. Olaf invited the man, Matthew Clark, to have a seat and then joined him at the casual seating area.

“I understand that Baron Parker is in his eighties,” Olaf started off when Matthew Clark seemed hesitant to start talking.

“He was 86, Your Grace,” Clark admitted. “He has been living in an assisted living facility for a few years now.”

“I first heard his name when the group of militias I was with needed a place to overnight during our inspection tour after the storm,” Olaf added.

“Not many people even knew that it was a large storm, Your Grace,” Clark said. “I was the one who received the request. I have to admit, the request came via the baron’s personal secretary. She happens to be a bit of a scatterbrain, so I only found out that it was Viscount Vasa who was with the militia when I went checking up on the staff a few weeks later. I apologize for that.” Olaf waved off his apology.

“I was in the habit of traveling incognito, so I was used to not being recognized,” Olaf said.

“The reason I asked to see you is because I was instructed by the baron’s lawyer to do so, Your Grace,” Clerk said. “I had instructions from the baron to inform the law firm the moment his medallion went inactive. That happened just before the imperial envoy arrived, which is why I decided to wait until now to see you. The law firm is the baron’s executor. I suspect that the baron left something for some of his staff, especially those who have been working for him for a long time.”

“How long have you been working for the baron?” Olaf asked.

“Since I finished school,” Clark said. “The baron even paid for me to complete my degree. There are a few forestry workers, forest managers and biology specialists who have been working for the baron since he was a young man.”

“So, what does this law firm want me to do about the baron’s estate?” Olaf asked. “I heard it being mentioned that he is not married, never has been, and doesn’t have an heir. That means the moment his medallion goes dormant, only I can reactivate it. Any land held by the baron as part of his title would revert back to Viscount Asgaard, and by association, to me.”

“I have no information concerning an heir, Your Grace,” Clark said. “All I know is that the law firm instructed me to deliver the baron’s last will to you in person.” With that he took an envelope out of his pocket.

Before he could stand to hand it over, both Ham Rider and Sue Wild, who were in the office and hovering in the background, inserted themselves between Clark and Olaf, with Sue Wilder taking the envelope and inspecting it. She even used a testing stick to check for any chemical agents on or in the envelope, after she opened the sealed envelope. Then she nodded to Ham Rider before handing the envelope to Olaf. Clark watched everything with wide eyes.

“Sorry about that,” Olaf muttered. “It is best to let them do their job without interference.” Then he took out the two sheets of paper.

The first was a note from the senior partner of the law firm, addressing Olaf by name in his official capacity as duke of Ceres. The partner referred to the second page, which was actually the original letter by the baron to the law firm and was written a decade earlier. The letter contained a summary, stating that the baron had no heirs and the only family he did have, a female cousin, died a few years before the letter was written. The cousin’s only offspring, a man known as Matthew Clark, has no idea that he was related to the baron. The baron kept it secret from Clark and hired him in various lowly positions until Clark worked his way up to the position of steward of the baron’s estate.

The baron did decide to reward some of his long-time employees by distributing his personal financial assets among them. Clark would receive his share of that. The law firm was responsible for completing that part of the inheritance and had already distributed all other heritages to various people, except for Clark’s share, which he would receive shortly, regardless of what Olaf decided to do about the barony.

Then the senior partner came to the purpose of the message to Olaf in his capacity as duke. The baron was aware that his title and lands would revert back to Viscount Asgaard since he didn’t have any heirs. The baron considered making Matthew Clark his heir but because there was no direct blood relationship between them, and because the baron had never revealed their relationship to Clark, he decided to let the duke, he referred to the late Duke Eric in his letter, decide the matter of promoting a commoner to the rank of nobleman. The baron thought highly enough of Matthew Clark to suggest that he become the new baron but left it in the duke’s hands.

“Mm, basically the lawyers just confirmed what we talked about already, that each of the long-term employees would get some part of the baron’s personal assets.” Olaf stated casually. “The letter also just confirmed that since the baron never appointed an heir, that I should feel free to do as I please as far as his title is concerned. Can you give me a listing of real estate that you managed, location and staff still working there?”

“I can, Your Grace,” Clark said as he took another document out of his pocket. This time he didn’t try to hand it over but read from it. The baron’s estate, as Olaf already knew, consisted of a substantial corner of the continent, about a thousand square kilometers of natural forest, of which a small section was being harvested for the wood. There was the baron’s primary residence in the forest, two small lumber mills, two luxury log cabins, one on the coast and the other in the forest, and a residence in the city of New Oslo. Then Clark read off a list of current employees, most of them residential staff for the four residences. None of the residences were staffed with more than the absolute minimum of people to keep the place livable.

“I assume you kept these people informed about the events as far as their lives are concerned,” Olaf stated.

“As far as I could, yes, Your Grace,” Clark said. “The baron allowed a small sum of funds to pay our salaries until the barony is either dissolved, or a new baron is appointed. There are enough funds to last another two months. I already warned everybody else that they should be ready to look for new employment soon.”

“Do they know you personally?” Olaf asked.

“If you ask to what level am I managing the staff of the baron, I have been running the estate since the baron got too sick to do anything, Your Grace,” Clark responded. “I had to get tough with a few low-level managers who thought they could get away with things since the baron was not around anymore.”

“Good,” Olaf said. “Where is the baron’s medallion now?”

“When he went into a coma and the medallion went dormant, I took it back to Jutland House and locked it in the baron’s safe, Your Grace,” Clark said. “I will obviously hand over the various keys and codes to whoever takes over from me.”

“As the new duke, I think I should address the remaining staff of Jutland in person,” Olaf said. “Can you arrange for all remaining employees to be at Jutland House at some convenient time so I can meet with them there?”

“Certainly, Your Grace,” Clark said. “Any particular day and time?”

“Diane?” Olaf called. She must have been listening to their conversations since the door between their offices were standing wide open. She appeared a few seconds later.

“You have a request to see the senior staff members of the Ceres Militia after lunch, Your Grace,” Diane said before Olaf could ask her anything. “I will negotiate a proper time for you to meet with the Jutland staff with Mister Clark.”: Ceres Militia Issue

Just after a relaxed lunch on the rooftop garden with Gwen, Diane, and Glenda, with Glenda being surprisingly blatant in flirting with Olaf, Diane showed three army officers into his office. Besides Lt. Colonel Vercuil and Major Conrad Warren, they also brought along an attractive and slightly older female officer. Captain Joan Kimber was introduced as the Chief of Staff of the Ceres Militia.

“I generally take care of the payroll, personnel records, and recruitment, Your Grace,” she said after saluting Olaf.

“So, the question is about converting the Ceres Militia to a proper marine battalion,” Olaf started the discussion after they took their seats around the conference table. Olaf invited Diane to join them, and to take notes. “First off, what is the difference between a militia force and a marine force?”

“Generally, a militia force is a group of citizens taking up arms to defend themselves, Your Grace,” Major Warren answered. “The original idea was that the militia force consists of half-trained or fully trained soldiers in a part-time role. They get called up and utilized as needed. The marine force we are envisioning would be a force of fully trained soldiers, effectively professionals.”

“Don’t get me wrong, Your Grace,” Colonel Vercuil said. “I am all for such an upgrade. I am just not sure if it would be worth the financial outlay, especially since we are not at war and would not be anytime soon.”

“Major Warren, what is your motivation for upgrading the Ceres Militia?” Olaf asked.

“Actually, a permanent military force might very well be overkill,” the major replied. “Most of us are more interested in the concept of being a professionally trained soldier performing military duty when needed, as compared to a half-trained group of civilians.”

“Is that the case with the Ceres Militia?” Olaf asked. “Are they half-trained?”

“As compared to the Imperial Marine Corps, I would say they are half-trained,” the colonel said. “Currently we have about half a battalion with a one-year commitment of full-time service, after which the troopers go on standby status for ten years.”

“What about continuation of skills?” Olaf asked. “Are the three of you part-time?”

“The senior officers corps, captains and above in managerial positions, are all permanent,” the major replied. “Currently that includes the three of us as well as another captain who is in charge of supplies and replenishment. We also have a group of senior NCOs, sergeants and above, who signed up for four years. The regular troops up to corporal do one year voluntary. They are allowed to return on a yearly basis for a three-day refresher course in the various shooting disciplines, if they want.”

“Proposals?” Olaf asked. The three officers gave each other a look and then started suggesting options. It was obvious that Major Warren was the main driving force behind the proposals, with a surprisingly eager Captain Kimber backing him more often than not. The colonel was not against the ideas, but he also seemed more cautious.

“Your turn to air an opinion, Your Grace,” a cautiously excited Captain Kimber said once all three of them gave various opinions and proposals. Olaf had the idea she would drop the admin role and become a combat marine if the proposals came true.

“Here are my ideas,” Olaf said. “While I am only eighteen, I had numerous casual talks with the late Duke Wilbur, and I also had some in-depth talks on many topics with Jason Taurus. Both of them made some observations I found truthful.