the five generals still seated at the top table , upon hearing the royals comments knew that their military careers all hung in the balance and stood up , two of them quickly going over to congratulate david ( after all , history would show { they hoped } that all they had done was rubber stamp the decision ) , and the other three quietly slipped away , no doubt pondering what debilitating diseases that they could contract that would end their military careers , after all they all had an absolute penchant for medical discharges .