Offers that cannot be refused

It was a typical morning at the office. I walked down to the postbox, and picked up the mail, returned to my desk and my coffee to review the day's correspondence. The normal letters were shuffled to the appropriate places on the desk...requests for information, bills, letters requesting updates on active cases...and then there was a large envelope on the bottom of the stack. It was sealed with an engine stippled binding, and the return address read simply "City Hall, office of the Mayor". The contents were dumped onto the desk, and I looked at them in turn, a certificate, a typed letter on official letterhead, and two handwritten envelopes, one which said "read me first" and the second stating "read me last".

"
Mosseveno Tenk
The Mayor of the City-State of New Babbage

To all who shall see these presents, greeting:

Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of Jedburgh Dagger.
I do appoint her a Captain in the New Babbage Naval Militia to rank as such from the 14th day of April 18XX. This Officer will therefore carefully and diligently discharge the duties of the office to which appointed by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging.
And I do strictly charge and require those Officers and other personnel of lesser rank to render such obedience as is due an officer of this grade and position. And this Officer is to observe and follow such orders and directives, from time to time, as may be given by me, or the future Mayor of the City-State of New Babbage, or other Superior Officers acting in accordance with the laws of the City.
This commission is to continue in force during the pleasure of the Mayor of the City-State of New Babbage for the time being, under the provisions of those Public Laws relating to Officers of the Armed Forces of the City-State of New Babbage and the component thereof in which this appointment is made.
Done in the City this 14th day of April in the year of our Lord 18XX"

I stared at the paper, and propped it against the cubbyholes on the back of the desk. I had not expected this, and wondered aloud how this had happened. Yes, I had been approached about joining, but..this.

The letter was next...
"City-State of New Babbage
Office of the Maceholder

To: Commodore J Dagger, New Babbage Naval Militia

You are hereby ordered to take command of the city's Naval Squadron, and make such preparations as you see necessary to ready those forces for any military contingency.

For the Mayor:

Aeolus Cleanslate"

I sat the letter down, and took a long sip of my coffee. I opened the first letter, and it contained a small handwritten note...
"Jed,

Congratulations. Now get to work.

AC"

This was just too much, so I wadded up the note and threw it at the bookcase. I pulled out a fresh sheet of paper, and began to write my resignation. As much as I wanted to take this on, I was too busy. Too much was going on with the agency, too many other things to attend to. The words came fast, and the text on the page was close and thready. Pausing for another sip of coffee, I stared at the second envelope.

"Jed,

Aeolus figured you would buck. I told him you'd say yes. Prove him wrong.

Tenk

PS Your uniform is at city hall. Get to work."

Damn.

I got my jacket, loaded the Remington, and walked to City Hall.