"Sire! I bring a request from King Arthur!"
I looked up from my Bible to observe the courier striding across the parquet floor of my court to hand me a carefully sealed scroll. "Oops," I thought to myself as I reached into my pocket for my cell phone. Turning it on brought no response. I must have forgotten recharge it again. I reached for the scroll as the man, still breathing hard from his 3-day ride, covered in a sampling of road dirt from across our vast empire, offered it to me. I unrolled the delicate parchment and read the message it contained.
It had been some time since had I offered my services to the King. The message was clear and to the point. My offer had been accepted and the King was asking that I catch the next Transport leaving for the Heathens' continent and take command of a mighty army, fresh from the destruction of the final infidel Ottoman city. I would receive all the intelligence and operational reports from my predecessor, Lord Vra, when I embarked upon the vessel that would deliver me to the borders of our next goal, Russia.
He also asked that I assume management of our Holy Empire's efforts to research and produce a mighty vessel that would permit us to spread God's Word to the stars. "What amazing times we live in," I said, to no one in particular. Now, that we have learned the secrets of flight, we must seek even more destructive machines of war to ensure that eternal peace may grace our planet and planets yet to be discovered. I felt a mixture of pride and humility that my offer had been so graciously received and that I was finally going to serve God's empire as His Majesty's Regent in our annointed quests.
I quickly penned a response.
My Dear King Arthur:
I have received your request. Consider it done! I gladly await Lord Vra's report.
Your humble servant in the Lord,
Amedeo VI, Holy Knight
I handed the note to a fresh courier, directed him to email it to the King and walked to my private aircraft parked outside my court. Little was known of these heathen Russians, but they were about to learn a great deal about me.
