Marquessate
29 May 2020Maggie Oz
James had more or less moved in. Well, he had 3 Uniforms, 2 pairs of shorts, a few casual items and 4 bloody Rugger jerseys
"We have to travel light on board ship Mags, not much room you see?" he'd said.
I bought him a little Eagle to zip to and from the AchW so living at "mine" didn't impose too many problems.
It was great to have someone about the house, I don't know how I had survived for so long with just me.
You can get used to anything I suppose.
I was settling into a fair ordinary routine, back trading which is where my heart lies. I'd more or less given up the electioneering.
I think Roy had worked out I hated it so he wasn't on my case as much.
One morning, as we were having breakfast, the comm chimed, and it was Roy.
"Hello Roy" I answered
"Hello Mags, Hi James" replied Roy, James waved.
Roy then went silent and held up and waved side to side a very ornate looking envelope.
"NO WAY!" I cried
"Yes way" replied Roy
"Uh?" from James
"It's my Marquessate, Jamie, I've been promoted "
"Hey, that's smashing news ...... I thought they just sent you a message on the comm?" James asked
"A Marquessate is an appointment that covers a group of systems, it's the first rank level to do that. So from here up, they take the time to send you actual papers outlining the dignity"
"Errr, does that mean you're moving?"
"Oh, I'd not thought of that. Roy?"
"No you can stay in place for this one, it's just adding Luchoer, CD-52 557 and Hajonga to your Aztlan billet"
I consulted my Galatic Map
"These look grand, Ag, Tourist and Extraction, that's a great mix. Should be an interesting cross-section of folk. Where's the handover being done?"
"We'll do it here on Baal at the Sector Palace"
"So, Your Place," I laughed
"Yes, more or less" laughed Roy in return
"Who's the outgoing?"
"Duchess Massi, she's just been promoted too and is being moved to the Pleiades Sector," replied Roy
"Bloody hell, who'd she piss off to get that ticket?"
"I'm sure it's nothing like that," said Roy with a wry smile, "I think it's more she was wanting to take the fight to the Thargoids"
"Fair enough I suppose. When's it on?"
"Tomorrow afternoon, 14:00" said Roy
"OK no problem, I'll see you then"
"Oh, sorry I can't make this one, the Senator has me on the run around again"
"Who's officiating then?"
"Well, believe it or not ... The Senator "
"Oh bollocks, you're kidding me right?"
"No 'fraid not, he was most insistent. Seems you're a pretty good news item at the moment, especially with famine relief and harvest work you've been doing. Showing the Feds a thing or two and you're a Thargoid War Veteran ... again. All his spin team are saying it's the best thing for him."
"It'll be a bloody media circus!"
"Welcome to the big time Mags, it only gets bigger from here"
"Tremendous. OK, I'll let you know how it goes."
"Righto, good luck, bye"
"Bye"
"You'll come won't you?" I asked James
"Ummm"
"Oh no not you too!"
"I'm sorry love, I'm on duty tomorrow afternoon, but the problem is, even if I wasn't I can't really be seen getting involved in a political event.
If it was Roy doing the honours that would be OK-ish but the Senator being there? Well, can you imagine the outcry of him promoting the fiancée of a Senior Naval Officer? -oh shit- "
"What's up?"
"Uh ... nothing" James said hastily "Just hot coffee ... scalded me a bit"
I frowned at him
"Ok well if you can't come, you can't come I guess. I can't ask Pris, she'll have Mon home from school about then. I hate to go alone"
"Sorry babe, we'll celebrate tomorrow night, how about dinner at Maxime's?"
"Yes that would be grand"
I went back to musing over my coffee and toast, thinking about what I needed to do for tomor....
"Hang on... fiancée? "
"Bugger. Cat's out the bag I guess"
James had a sheepish look on his face
He reached into his pocket, my heart lept, tears forming in my eyes
He opened a small box and looked at me
"Maggie.. " he started
"YES" I shouted
"I haven't asked yet!" He protested
"Well hurry up then"
"Will you marry me?"
"YES! " I shouted nodding, laughing, bursting into tears and hugging him. "A thousand times YES!"