Chapter 67

Two pairs of women smelled a large dead rodent when the news of the proposed settlement for salvage of Gorgipest broke. There was a suspicion that the leak came from the Palace which very pointedly indicated that it did not comment on any matter.

The survivors of what they called the "Death Ride" had spent a little of their time researching and discussing salvage in all its ramifications. They had come to a conclusion that GmBH as owner of the salving vessels was going to get a very big lion's share of the salvage awarded anyway. So Gorgipest being saved, themselves employed and fed, the lower decks had approached, though their Captains, the Commodore with an offer to determine their shares in the award in favour of those killed on "Vector" provided the award was distributed equally; the knowledge of Captain Indira's prize money was not closely held anymore. The Commodore and his Captains accepted and also determined their shares. Felix looked confusedly at everyone when told of this, saying simply,

"Underworld desist, I was only in for a ride in "Shriek" anyway ", and signed the release.

Andrew Bruce-Cunningham had told his wives and then seen Emily's face screw up in concentration and watched as Virginia began to gurgle and chortle with laughter. Virginia was the notional commander of Renmark's "Protector's Own" and she had once told Captain Michele Hawkins that Elizabeth would never get away with doing such a thing. Emily simply said that there was something missing, it was too straight forward with which Virginia agreed, when she could stop laughing. Andrew was content that his younger wife was able to smile again; he had been very troubled by the deep and profound reaction following the virtual destruction of the RMN.

Sally McGraw and Diana Halliday were enjoying a quiet time out with the ladies at "The Residence". The last months had been a sore trial to them both as they had struggled at their duties. Sally was more conversant with the details and so filled out some of the finer points. Diana agreed there was a hook buried somewhere deep in the proposition. As Sally put it,

"Its not that Aggy is as crooked as a corkscrew, but the sinuousness of his curves would keep a Mathematics department busy for a year or two."

The terms were simple.

1. A pardon for all crimes committed by any person associated with the governance of Gorgipest following the attack thereon by Republic of Harbouria forces, treason excepted.

2. Monies designated "Occupation Currency credits" be honoured by the Mountserrat Exchequer at credit for credit value (annex A)

3. One sixth of the value of the space vehicles of Gorgipest as at signing of this document plus one credit be paid in salvage to the heirs and assignees of those who died on the space vessel "Vector" during the recapture of Gorgipest.(annex B)

4. "The Queen's Own", 119 Squadron (Reinforced)

(a) Parliament authorise and fund the raising of a naval element of the PGS to be know as "The Queen's Own" and to be entered in the Navy List as "119 Squadron (Reinforced)";

(b) Parliament is to buy in for full value, the vessels held on the GmBH register at the date of signing as "119 Squadron (Reinforced)" to be the vessels of the "The Queen's own";

© the monies paid for those vessels in (b) above to be equally distributed among the survivors of the Privateer Fleet which recaptured Gorgipest (annex C);

(d) The members of the crews of the "The Queen's Own" to swear and hold allegiance to the Sovereign and their heirs and are to hold their appointments directly from the hand of the Sovereign. The uniform and rank badges of the crews are to be as depicted (annex D);

(e) Parliament to pay the crew of the "The Queen's Own" at levels equal to those of the Royal Mountserrat Navy for commensurate duties plus 10%;

(f) The present crews (annex E) of the vessels to form the "The Queen's Own" to remain as the crews and be subject to the discipline of the Navy Discipline Act and regulations (as amended from time to time) except that all disciplinary procedures are to be taken within "The Queens Own" and to be subject to review only by the Sovereign; and

(g) Parliament is to maintain the strength of the "The Queen's Own" force at its strength at time of signing.

Almost because of the recent events, the agreement quickly but not unquestioned, was passed through Admiralty, Exchequer and Parliament.

Treasury had gone over annex A which had been prepared by Sir Joshua Galbraith. It was a report on the economy of post raid Gorgipest up to five week before signing. Reports from the trading banks were included as were statements of surveys of the dock yard, and statements of auditors reinforcing the yard's finance department indicating that the economic improvement was consistent with the yard's repair costs.

Treasury confirmed that no Mountserrat currency had gone into Gorgipest. The cashing out of "Occupation Credits" would expose any large exploitations. An amendment in the official document that only banking houses registered with Treasury were to manage the exchange and thus any ill gotten gains could be seized. McCock and his advisers had agreed as they had kept a close vigilance upon transactions and any such gains were not enough to get excited over.