NationStates Jolt Archive

It was almost by accident that he had found the article at all. Prince Andreus, heir apparent of the Pantocratorian Emperor and husband of the Lavenrunzian Empress, had spent most of that afternoon in the theatre in the Palace of the Moon and Stars, directing a rehearsal of a (rather mediocre) play he had written, Tristan et Isoulde. He decided to take a break from berating the actors to flick through the newspaper which the palace staff ironed, laminated and delivered to him daily (although he usually never read it), trying to find the theatre section so that he could take his cast out to see what REAL actors looked like. His eyes had passed over the article about the air crash by pure chance.

The headline read FIGHTER CRASHES DURING EXERCISES: Pilot dies in fiery inferno, and for some reason Andreus fell under the impression that he should read it. He dismissed his troupe of frustrated thespians and read the article in full on his way to the palace's gymnasium for his workout. A Krieghund Ground Attack Fighter had crashed the day before during a routine training exercise just north of Hofburg. Naturally the Lavenrunzian airforce insisted that the crash hadn't been caused by a defect in the aircraft itself, and deferred further comment pending the outcome of the investigation. The article suggested, however, that the pilot must have had some time in which she could have ejected before the plane hit the ground - and yet, she did not. The article included a photograph of an attractive young officer in her dress uniform taken in front of a flag upon her graduation as a qualified fighter pilot. She looked so happy and proud to be wearing the uniform, complete with pilot's wings. Although such sentiments rarely touched the sides, Andreus couldn't help but feel it was a tragic waste of a life not yet past its twenty fifth year.

It wasn't until he was nearing the end of his work out that the seeds of an idea were planted in his head. He was actually disappointed in himself for it having taken so long. It occurred to him that Archduke Amadeus and Archduke Carl, Empress Aurora's cousin and uncle respectively, were both in the airforce. God he hated them. Pestering him to take an interest in his wife's country, trying to pressure him into doing actual work, daring to physically threaten him about not hurting Aurora's feelings. He decided he was about to take an interest alright, although he wasn't entirely sure they'd appreciate it. In fact, he knew they wouldn't.

Andreus and Aurora were seated down for dinner the same evening. The conversation had gone through the usual exchange of pleasantries, the polite inquiries after how the other's day had been, the usual verbal entree which precedes the conversational main course. When it came time to change topics, Andreus looked across the dinner table at Aurora and with a tone of casual concern, asked: "Did you hear about that awful accident north of Hofburg, with the Krieghund?"

"I did, and the pilot was just really beginning her career. As you said, awful." Aurora said sadly, shaking her head.

"I think it's terrible. And you know what the papers will be saying already." Andreus said, shaking his head as if angry while he sipped his wine. "Pilot error, they'll say. Nobody wants to upset the airforce by doing any sort of real investigation. It won't be long, mark my words, before some no nothing journalist is implying that this girl... the pilot... that she intentionally crashed the plane to commit suicide or something. Libellous rumour mongers."

"Well, that's a shame. But of course the Air Force will publish the real facts of the matter after an investigation." offered Aurora. She considered. "Perhaps...yes, I was going to have a memorial service but I think we'd better find out what happened first."

"Oh come on Aurora," Andreus snorted dismissively. "We both know what sort of investigation the Air Force carries out into these things."

"I thought you weren't interested in military things. How do you know?" Aurora asked curiously.

"It's playing the pretend soldier I'm not interested in, Aurora. Not the military." Andreus told her, his tone a touch indignant like he was mildly offended by what she had said. Nevertheless, he continued. "I've dealt with all sorts of military people my whole life, even if I've never wanted to be one of those princes..." or archdukes "...who dresses up and barks around orders and pretends like he's a real soldier. I know what they're like, they're only interested in minimising embarrassment to the military. The service. The uniform. They don't let a little thing like the truth smear the image they want to show to the world. I can guarantee you that the Air Force's investigation will stop with the flight recorder in that Krieghund."

With a frown furrowing her brow Aurora looked at him for a long moment, and finally said, "What on Earth are you talking about?"

"They won't look at the possibility that the problems which led to this tragedy started outside that cockpit. They won't even consider anything beyond what they find in the wreckage." Andreus said.

"But the Krieghund has been in service for years." said Aurora, looking surprised. "What could possibly be wrong with it?"

"I'm not talking about the plane, Aurora." Andreus snorted, shaking his head, his tone more than a little condescending.

Aurora's eyes narrowed. "I think you're talking a lot of nonsense. You don't know what you're talking about, you're just pretending."

"Excuse me?" Andreus asked, as if he was addressing the sixteen year old girl, not the Empress. "I thought you were playing dumb, do you mean to say you honestly don't know what I'm talking about?"

With a sigh of exasperation, Aurora said "No, I don't."

"Oh." Andreus said, settling down slightly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. I just mean that the Air Force investigation will confine itself to looking for mechanical fault or pilot error, and that's where their investigation will stop. They won't even consider the possibility that this crash was precipitated by organisational failings, or foreseeable, or anything like that which might embarrass the Air Force."

"Ohhhhh." Aurora said, nodding. "Well there have been a lot of really smart people in the Imperial Air Force, you know. In fact Carl and Amadeus are significant leaders in the Air Force."

"Oh I know, I know, but... see the thing about these sorts of organisations is that it is so hard for an individual, even a really talented one, to change them from within. They've got an organisational culture..." Andreus started. "Well I won't go into management theory and things, I'm sure you know all about that. The long and the short of it is that while there maybe really talented people in the Air Force, they're drowned out by the organisation as a whole. An Air Force investigation isn't going to consider the possibility that the Air Force could be to blame for this."

Without trying to show it, Aurora was getting somewhat bored. Rhetoric always bored her. What did he want? He was like the Thing That Wouldn't Shut Up. "Well, maybe the Volksraad will take a hand in it." she suggested hopefully.

"You know what? I think you should organise an Imperial Commission to investigate." Andreus nodded, beginning to return to his dinner as if the conversation was winding down. "In fact, I think that would be the only way to have a really impartial investigation. I don't think you could leave it to the Volksraad. Chancellor Schlabel used to be in the Air Force after all..."

"Well, I think that what they do is they have people from different parties also make up commissions." suggested Aurora.

"Yes, but the Government still chairs it." Andreus replied. He set down his cutlery again. "I think you should appoint an independent commissioner. And I'd like to volunteer for the job. I'm not biased, I'm not a member of any party, I'm not in any branch of the military..."

"True." Aurora looked at him thoughtfully. "And it would be something interesting for you to do. Very well, Andra, I'll make the appointment tomorrow morning." with that she went backto peeling a boiled egg and talking about other things.

Andreus smiled when she agreed, and went back to his dinner. He decided he'd skip dessert that night. Revenge was going to be sweet enough.

The business of appointing an Imperial Commission was not without process. Since the Empress had the right to appoint one any time she liked her predecessors had made it necessary to at least formally consult certain advisors. This was also to protect the reputation of the Throne, and thus the following day the Empress requested the Imperial Chamberlain for advice on whether or not an Imperial Commission should be appointed to investigate the crash of the Krieghund.

The query was sent to the office of the Minister for War, Admiral Carlotta de Goethe, who was grumpy upon receiving it but most respectful of course. This meant it would not just quietly and properly be looked at by the Imperial Air Force. However she was not especially fond of this organization, which she regarded as one which could be neatly absorbed by the Navy and thus reduce unecessary costs to the budget. So she called for her most eloquent ADC and sent a reply to the Chamberlain that indicated her agreement with this idea and that she would send a list of officers and officials competent to advise the commission.

The Chamberlain then had a legal expert look up the information on Imperial Commissions. It would be only the third Aurora had appointed, only this one was actually independant of either the Volksraad or the Judicial system. And thus an under-chamberlain was sent to the Imperial Library and the books were ready carefully before finally the Chamberlain, the High Court of Lavenrunz and the Ministry of War had advised Her Majesty on the wisdom of appointing an Imperial Commission to investigate the recent crash of the KL-949, piloted by Captain Beatrix von Luhrman.

Her Majesty appointed Prince Andreus the President of this Imperial Commission, with the authority to appoint advisors as were legally possibly and as deemed necessary.

Andreus threw himself into his responsibilities as President of the Imperial Commission with a degree of enthusiasm usually only reserved for his latest theatrical project or, in the days before his marriage to the Empress, his amorous pursuits. He reviewed vast quantities of literature on the airforce - rules, regulations, reports, studies, even digging up old newspaper articles. He interviewed with Lavenrunz's most distinguished lawyers, and picked several bright, young, ambitious unaffiliated ones, seeking to make their careers with just such a high profile job. Having an ally who shared a bed with the Empress was not an unappealing thought to such ambitious people either.

He also met personally with the officials and officers on the list provided by the Ministry of War. Since such people tended to be more committed to vague ideals, like honour, integrity, or honesty, than did lawyers, he had to be even more careful with his selection process in this regard. He managed to casually bring up Archduke Amadeus and Archduke Carl in every conversation, and elicit the interviewee's opinion of each man without appearing overly interested or concerned. His military advisors therefore, were picked from those who expressed the most antipathy towards the men whom Andreus called the "archogres" and the most dissatisfaction with the established way of doing things in the Airforce.

Finally, Andreus had his personal secretary meet with members of the press, and even condescended to wine and dine them at a palace function, impressing them with his charm and personal magnetism. His staff whipped up enthusiasm in the press for the Imperial Commission, and worked on getting them on side as much as possible.

The process of organisation the Imperial Commission therefore took a month and a half, at which time Andreus wrote an official letter to the air crash investigation team requesting a report on their findings to date. He then convened the Imperial Commission at the Linderhof Palace, and issued a summons calling on Captain von Luhrman's commanding officer and the chief investigator of the crash to appear before the commission as its first witnesses.

Although Andreus had been seeking those with some antipathy towards the Archducal pair, the problem was that hardly anyone ever spoke against the Imperial Family, at least not openly. What he did discover were some officers discontent with the general state of affairs vis a vis the military, believing that there was too much aristocratic nepotism, while there were others who were 'attack' pilots versus 'fighter' pilots. To say nothing of the techs and the grey people who were mostly concerned about accounting.

In the meantime, Captain Luhrman's death had quietly been mentioned in a newspaper or two, one of which mentioned that plans for a new ground attack fighter had been canceled due to budgets going instead to updating the Imperial Carrier fleet, and that some generals in the Imperial Air Force weren't happy about it. Apparently the maintaining of the Krieghund had been upheld by others with more seniority, however.

Some eyebrows were raised in the Palace and the Volksraad at the appointment of Prince Andreus, but as Archduke Carl growled to his own aides and advisors, "At least the popinjay will be doing some work for a change."

Prince Andreus, dressed in black and red judges robes complete with formal wig, and a few extras of his own selection, presided over the first sitting of the Imperial Commission in the Linderhof Palace. It was with some small satisfaction that he ordered that Captain von Luhrman's commanding officer be admitted into the chamber, knowing that the last month and a half of work preparing for the commission was over. He now had an instrument which, with some skill and luck, he planned to use to visit his revenge on those unfortunate in-laws of his. One of the legal officers from the Judge Advocate General's Corps entered the chambers and bowed, clicking his heels.

"Colonel Wunsterhaven, your Highness." said the officer, one Lieutenant-Colonel von Poggendorf.

Wunsterhaven was a bull headed man with a shiny pate revealed by the dress cap that was now under his arm as he marched in in the Imperial Air Force dress blues. His eyes peered out from beneath a shelflike brow. He stopped and bowed formally. Andreus acknowledged the officers and waited for them to be seated. Colonel Wunsterhaven was sworn in on the Bible, and Andreus then began the questioning.

"Colonel, please state your full name and rank for the record." he started. The court recorders began to record the proceedings.

"I am Colonel Erich Wunsterhaven of the Imperial Air Force, Highness." said that worthy, raising his heavy chin.

"And you were Captain Beatrix von Luhrman's commanding officer, were you not?" the Prince asked.

"I commanded the 171st Squadron, which Captain Beatrix von Luhrman was attached to." replied Wunsterhaven, his mouth quirking slightly.

"And you ordered the flight during which time Captain von Luhrman's Krieghund crashed and she was killed?" Andreus asked.

"I instructed Captain von Luhrman to undertake the flight." said Wunsterhaven, with the air of an officer who has done his duty with naught to hide.

"This flight was undertaken as part of a mission of some description. What sort of mission, Colonel?" asked Andreus.

"It was a mission to test the effectiveness of the current Krieghund model under particular stresses." said Wunsterhaven.

"Which particular stresses?" he asked.

"Air related stresses due to difficult diving maneuvers." replied the Colonel, his eyes briefly darting round the room at the others present, wondering now where this was going.

"When were these particular stresses first identified as stresses which might require testing?" Andreus inquired.

"Following the fact that almost constant maintenance during the conflict in North Star indicated that an upgrade of the Krieghund was required." replied Colonel Wunsterhaven.

"Who first recommended that these particular stresses be tested, Colonel?"

"I do not know that." he replied with formal dignity. "I was passed instructions by my superior officer, General von Auerstadt."

During all this, Colonel von Poggendorf occasionally glanced up and made notes but otherwise said nothing. Andreus nodded to some of his legal aides, as if the name was to be taken special note of.

"I see. Was this the first such test mission, Colonel?" Andreus asked.

"Highness?"

"I'm afraid that the question is not quite clear, Highness." said von Poggendorf politely.

"Was this the first mission to test those particular stresses, Colonel?" Andreus clarified, resisting his instinct to roll his eyes.

"No, Highness." replied Wunsterhaven.

"How many such test missions were flown prior to the one in which Captain von Luhrman lost her life?" asked Andreus.

"There were four missions flown prior to that under my command." replied Wunsterhaven.

"Any since?" Andreus asked.

"Not to my certain knowledge, Highness."said Wunsterhaven with another little quirk of his mouth.

"But you suspect there have been then?" Andreus asked, raising his eyebrows at the odd reply.

"I have no idea, Highness." replied Wunsterhaven.

"Highness, this is speculative." protested von Poggendorf, rising.

"Colonel, your client just said that there were no subsequent missions flown to his certain knowledge. I was merely inquiring as to whether he said 'not to my certain knowledge' to indicate that he believed that such missions had been flown." Andreus replied. "He did after all, answer what should have been a yes or no question in a rather strange fashion. If he didn't mean anything by his strange answer, however, I am willing to move on. Did you mean anything by it, Colonel?"

"No, Highness. I beg your pardon." said Wunsterhaven with proud assuredness.

"Very well." Andreus nodded. "Is it your understand, Colonel Wunsterhaven, that other squadrons have been conducting similar test missions?"

At this Colonel Wunsterhaven looked disconcerted for a moment, and his mouth twitched a few times. He glanced at Colonel Poggendorf, who was looking blank faced, his chin resting on steepled fingers.

"Colonel?" Andreus prompted.

"Highness, I am not specifically aware of any such operations." replied Colonel Wunsterhaven, twisting his neck to adjust it in his high formal collar.

"Do you suspect that any such operations are being undertaken?" Andreus pressed.

"It is... likely, Highness." said Wunsterhaven reluctantly. There were beads of sweat near his temples.

"Colonel Wunsterhaven, what if any results have these test missions produced in regards to the stresses you referred to earlier?" Andreus asked.

"Ah well...it is difficult to be brief and still precise about the actual physical results however..." he took a piece of paper from his valise and read from it. "Occasionally there have been rapid decelerations due to loss of power."

"I see." Andreus replied, disappointed that answer to the question had seemingly broken his momentum. He tried to get things back onto the line of questioning which seemed to make Wunsterhaven the most uncomfortable. "Going back to your previous answer, why do you believe that it is likely that such test operations are still being undertaken?"

"Well, Highness, a certain amount of redundancy is desirable in this sort of matter." replied Wunsterhaven politely.

"I see. So Captain von Luhrman's flight was redundant?" Andreus asked politely.

"I don't mean that, Highness." exclaimed Wunsterhaven with a pained look. "I merely meant that there is a certain overlapping of tests to produce a wider range of data."

"I see. Speaking of data, Colonel, couldn't these tests have been conducted with some sort of computer simulation? Scientific testing in windtunnels perhaps?" Andreus asked.

Colonel von Poggendorf glanced at Wunsterhaven coolly, but that officer's brows beetled even more and he replied, "Not really, Highness. Initially perhaps but ultimately a test must involve a pilot and must involve their reaction to danger."

"I see." Andreus replied. "And in your opinion, given the consequences, would you say that these tests have been worthwhile?"

"Thus far, yes, Highness." replied Wunsterhaven proudly.

"Despite the death of Captain Beatrix von Luhrman?" Andreus asked.

Here Wunsterhaven looked solemn and for a moment lowered his eyes, then raised them. "Captain von Luhrman's death was a tragedy. She was a good officer, and she will be missed. But flying can be a risky business, and she knew that very well. I feel that tests of this kind are necessary."

"I see." Andreus nodded. "Could you describe Captain von Luhrman? Her career, her character, her capability as a pilot? What was your opinion of her?"

"Well....Captain von Luhrman was an outgoing young woman who liked to be first in line to get a chance at duty to prove herself. She was intelligent and a loyal officer, a credit to the uniform of the Imperial Air Force." Wunsterhaven sipped from a glass of water and looked pleased with this elegy.

"Did you know her well?" Andreus asked.

"Not well, due to the differences in rank, but as well as any commander knows subordinate officers, yes." replied Wunsterhaven.

"So you didn't fraternise with her?" Andreus asked, opening her personnel file up and turning to a pre-marked page, as if reading some pertinent information from the file.

Colonel von Poggendorf rose and exclaimed, "Highness, what precisely do you mean by 'fraternise'?"

"Fraternise... to associate or form a friendship with somebody, particularly when one is not supposed to." Andreus replied as if quoting from a dictionary.

"No." said Wunsterhaven decisively. "Highness."

"So you would characterise your relationship as being entirely appropriate?" Andreus asked, arching his eyebrows as if a little surprised, glancing at the file again as if there was something there which suggested otherwise.

With his own brows soaring, Colonel Wunsterhaven looked nonplussed a moment, and said, "Why... of course, Highness..."

"Colonel Wunsterhaven, may I remind you that you are under oath?" Andreus reminded, in a tone which suggested that he thought Wunsterhaven was holding out information.

"Highness, I...am...I am aware of my oath!" exclaimed the now flustered Colonel.

"Highness, I must protest." said von Poggendorf uneasily. "Colonel Wunsterhaven has answered the question to the best of his ability."

"Very well." Andreus sighed. "Colonel Wunsterhaven, how would you rate Captain von Luhrman as a pilot?"

"I would rate her as a thoroughly good pilot." replied Wunsterhaven warily.

"Relative to the other pilots under your command, would she be one of the best, one of the worst, or somewhere in the middle?" Andreus inquired.

"I would say she was among the better pilots under my command. But then, Highness, to be in such a command entails being among the best in the Imperial Air Force anyway." replied Wunsterhaven with a touch of pride.

"So she was, in your opinion, one of the best pilots not only in your squadron, but in the entire Imperial Air Force?" Andreus asked.

Wunsterhaven was now sweating openly. "I would not precisely say that, Highness, but rather that she was among the top percentage of the Imperial Air Force."

"So despite the fact that she was one of your best pilots, and that your pilots are among the best in the Imperial Air Force, she was not one of the Air Force's best pilots?" Andreus asked, frowning at the apparent contradiction.

"Highness, putting it that way makes her sound like a top flying ace, and she was not, though she was very very good." protested Wunsterhaven.

"Very well, Colonel. In what percentage of pilots in the Air Force as a whole do you feel that Captain von Luhrman belonged?" Andreus asked. "You said among the top percentage before... do you mean the top one percent, five percent, ten percent?"

"Top ten percent, I should think." said Wunsterhaven, looking relieved.

"Thankyou for clarifying, Colonel." Andreus half-smiled and nodded. "Colonel, the aircraft Captain von Luhrman was flying... how old was it?"

"Approximately twenty years old." said Wunsterhaven, sipping from his glass of water again.

"You don't know exactly?" Andreus asked.

With a slightly disgruntled look Wunsterhaven took out a piece of paper from a valise and read from it that the aircraft was precisely 20 years, 2 months and 1 week old.

"Thank you, Colonel. Please keep that paper handy, you might need to refer to it for my next few questions." Andreus said pleasantly. "Would you characterise that as an usual age for the Krieghunds in your squadron, or are they all approximately the same age?"

"They vary in age from a few older ones about 30 years old to ones that are about 12 years old, Highness." replied Wunsterhaven.

"And how many flight hours did Captain von Luhrman's aircraft have? Its engines and airframe separately?" Andreus asked. "Before the flight which ended in Captain von Luhrman's death, that is."

"Er...about 8,000 and 10,000 respectively." replied Wunsterhaven.

"And are those normal figures for your squadron?" Andreus asked.

"Yes, Highness." replied Wunsterhaven.

"Why was Captain von Luhrman flying that particular aircraft for that mission, Colonel?" Andreus asked.

"Because it had recently had repairs done to various areas including the ejection system and the FLIR system as well as a general electronics overhall." said Wunsterhaven.

"I see. And was there any particular reason why Captain von Luhrman was assigned to this mission, and not some other pilot?" Andreus asked.

"It was Captain von Luhrman's turn on the duty roster, Your Highness." said Wunsterhaven looking a little truculent.

"Very well. One last question, Colonel, then you can go." Andreus said. "Do you believe that more test missions like the one Captain von Luhrman was flying when she died should be conducted?"

"Er...well I believe that the answer is yes...yes, indeed, Highness." said Wunsterhaven.

"Thank you for answering my questions, Colonel Wunsterhaven, you are dismissed." Andreus nodded.

With a click of his heels and a bow, Colonel Wunsterhaven withdrew from the room along with his counsel.