Righteous Reign The Series: E-version Boxed Set Edition

by Thomas J. MacDonald

  And so it was that Tom and Edward formed a steadfast partnership. Edward continued to host his shortwave radio shows – complete with all his opinions. Tom organized rallies, building support for Edward around the ideas he espoused on the radio. A small group of six joined Edward and Tom as an inner circle, executing a plan laid out in Tom's draft and edited and approved by Edward. More than a thousand additional people became the driving force behind the implementation of the project. They traveled to surrounding areas drumming up support for Edward's ideas. Groups went north, east, and west on scavenging trips. Others journeyed through Florida to assess the state of infrastructure built before civilization fell. Six months later the organization could boast vast warehouses of stored foods, building materials, technology, medical supplies, automobiles, and repair parts for machinery and vehicles. Abandoned housing was corralled and restored for the availability of future public and civil servants. At first, a policeman would not be paid in cash since there was no currency. But that Officer would receive a home, a car, fuel, furniture, clothing allotment and weekly food allotment. Utilities would be provided by the new state to the employees. This would be the way for all Representative Assembly members, judges, firemen, policemen, city officials, and all the other jobs and positions that would support the restoration of services and a comfortable way of life for the people within their territory.

  Meetings of the future Emperor and his inner-seven advisors continued through 2022 and into early 2023, at Tom's complex. Throughout it all, Edward's teams, under the direction of the inner circle, amassed scavenged assets, while restoring needed service, throughout the State. The name of the State was changed, in the proposed Constitution, from the Eastern Empire to the North American Empire, and its defined boundaries were altered to include the entire former Continental U.S. and Canada.

  Data returned by the many exploratory and recovery missions indicated that somewhere around four and a half million people lived in the State of Florida, having survived all the phases of the Apocalypse. The draft Constitution evolved through many editing sessions but always maintained the original spirit. The State was divided into fifty districts each housing about ninety thousand people. Each district would send two elected representatives to the Legislative Assembly. So, the Assembly would start with a hundred delegates. As the Empire expanded, agents would increase based on a formula that established a new district for every ninety thousand citizens. Registered candidates would run to represent their region in elections held every four years. The two candidates receiving the greatest shares of the popular vote would represent the district. Divisive, partisan, party politics would be banned.

  By the end of the year, the Empire had the complete support of the more than one and a half million living within a forty-mile radius of Wildwood. Within that area, the de facto government had restored all services and created central trading markets for bartering. From that group of people, it was not hard for the Empire to find and hire thirty thousand displaced military personnel with experience in all fields and at all ranks to build the Army of the North American Empire. Recovered uniforms, clothing, rank insignia, light weapons, heavy weapons, ammunition, mobile launchers and rockets, medium and heavy armor made the small force one to be reckoned with. Though not an ideal headquarters, two thousand troops secured the former Naval Air Warfare Centre in Orlando, quickly determining that a lot of abandoned hardware and aircraft were still totally functional. It provided a military base of operation for what was to come.

  On Tuesday, February 15, 2022, eighteen thousand soldiers composed of twenty-four battalions of seven hundred and fifty well-armed and supported troops posted proclamations in the largest population centers throughout the state, dispatching Companies to enforce the document throughout the territory they patrolled. The Major General heading the operation was under the direct command of Tom McCracken who had been granted the military rank of Lieutenant General within the Empire, by the Emperor-in-waiting. The heavy armor and professional troops, with the promise of a return to civilization, seemed to pacify people, at least long enough to see what would result. Armed Forces were quickly followed by another army of teachers, administrators, doctors, technicians, construction teams, and logistics specialists to restore services. By the end of the month, most areas had functioning hospitals and schools, protected bartering markets, police protection, and fire departments. And that didn't include the promise of housing, automobiles, food, clothing, and utilities if residents chose to apply for and occupy one of the many civil service and military positions being offered.

  March 15 saw the posting of a proclamation announcing district boundaries and elections, to be held Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Candidates were to register with the local temporary administrator, by Tuesday, March 22, 2022. The document included an embedded Constitution and an explanation describing the role of the Assembly and its Representatives.

  On Friday, July 1, 2022, the first session of the Legislative Assembly was called to order. The one-hundred members swore an oath of allegiance to the Empire, then an oath to protect and defend the Constitution and faithfully represent the citizens of the North American Empire. After all had been ensconced, they were required to sign the founding document with Edward Delnikov and his seven-member Council. It was official. The North American Empire was born at 2:30 in the afternoon on a warm sunny July 1, 2022. The Inner Council and Emperor would continue to meet at Tom’s refuge, until the end of April 2023.

  The Emperor officially announced his first Council, appointing the original seven-person group to portfolio positions along with a former Vice Admiral as his Secretary of Defense. The first Council had eight members. Old Tom was made First Minister - the most trusted and responsible member of the team, and with the agreement of the Secretary of Defense, maintained the military rank of General of the Army.

  Tom's first act as First Minister was to ceremoniously close the book he had drafted which contained the authorized plan for the establishment of the government. Then, he grandly opened another book.

  "Fellow Council Members, Legislative Assembly |Representatives, Ladies and Gentlemen and military personnel present, I would like to officially end the first phase of the plan for the North American Empire by closing the book that contained the program. Then, I would like to open the book that includes the blueprint for our country, for the near future. This document has been penned by the Council Members and edited and approved by the Emperor. This is Edward 1's plan for the future development and expansion of our country." Old Tom announced to the applause of the hundreds present.

  The book contained a plan for the establishment of a digital currency and taxation system. Expansion of the military to a force of one hundred twenty thousand included creating a Naval and Air wing with the personnel available and the leftover equipment, at hand. The document had an outline for the development of industry and commerce that included the rebuilding of any needed infrastructure requiring repair. This would be a plentiful Empire. Its wealth came from its failed predecessors. The trick was to continuously make it bigger, stronger, and more prosperous.

  This article was compiled from Tom McCracken’s recorded audio files. Many observations were made on his trip south. An operating recording device was always on his person. All his interactions with Edward 1 are on these devices. Copies of these files can be accessed in the OESA historical library folder.

  Chapter 3 The OESA

  Tuesday July 16, 2255

  "I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy." Marie Curie

  It's Monday following the mission at Rho Corona Borealis and, I'm in my office working my way through mounds of paperwork. We still call it paperwork, though there is seldom any paper involved. Most of our regular routine is done on the mobile data pads we carry. Verbal dialogue and the receipt of written communications can be completed without any hand-held devices. We each have units embedded within us that send the signals directly to a neural interface. At any rate, I've just
received a standard electronic mail informing me that, a secured communications drone would arrive with an encrypted message and orders from Admiral Nichols.

  We are currently searching the travel corridor between Rho Corona and 44Bootes for a group of privateers who have been attacking commercial shipping. Stopping at Borealis' HD144579 as a midway point, this is a twenty-three light year trip. It is the standard route used by cargo ships to stay close to Empire systems where protection is heaviest, and anomalies are minimal.

  "Communications – You will soon receive a level one secure message for me, from Admiral Nichols. Please, forward it without decrypting - immediately." I instructed.

  "Aye Captain." The response was from the Communications officer of the watch.

  I hope the data will arrive soon. My data pad indicates there are only three-quarters of an hour until I take the Bridge Watch. I continue on with my work, exiting the office for the bridge when my shift begins.

  I think of how proud I am of the Shenzhen as I scan the Bridge. It’s nothing like the ones on the Carrier Class or Cruiser Class vessels. The navigation bridge takes up an area sixty by forty meters in the center of the bow on the upper deck of the ship – deck nine. Eighteen operational stations ring the interior perimeter with the Captain and Executive Officers’ positions on a raised dais that makes up the command center in the middle of the space. On the walls above each station, eighteen large screens display a variety of the surrounding region’s astronomical images and ship’s status information. At three hundred eighty-four by two hundred meters, and nine decks in height, the massive Frigate is dwarfed, when sitting near one of its larger Cruiser or Carrier-class cousins. Though crewed by nine hundred eighty, the Shenzhen carries eleven hundred sixty-five including civilian contractors and crewmember families.

  "Watch Commander - report!" I order as I step up to Lt. Commander Savign, my Executive Officer.

  Savign is from the fourth planet orbiting the star 82 Eridani. We call it 82 Eridani - E. Its inhabitants know it as "Gi" (Pronounced Gee). Gians are very humanoid in appearance. In fact, most serving members of the OESA are the most humanoid of all the species in the Empire. That is to say, they are bipeds with two arms, a nose in the middle of the face separating two forward facing eyes. They all use some form of verbal speech for communication. All these humanoids come from environments similar enough to Earth's to allow them to serve on OESA vessels with only minimal acclimatization. Gians have only one name for personal identification. Savign is tall and lean with a somewhat longer face than humans have. Two large ear lobes are mounted to the sides of a bald head. Her large almond-shaped eyes and bright smile make her very attractive, despite the obvious differences.

  First encounters with alien species are always risky. Infectious agents are found in every environment. Each world develops an immune system designed to deal with its particular set of challenges. Contact initially includes the risk of infection to one or both parties, so introductory meetings are handled carefully. Participants from the Empire are isolated by full bio-suits until assessment and resolution can be achieved. We are repeatedly being inoculated with preventative vaccines developed to protect each species from the others. At any rate, the eighteen most compatible humanoid species serve in the OESA. Many are multi-race worlds like Earth was. Now, humans are pretty much mono-faceted, most exhibiting café-au-lait colored skin, large slightly slanted eyes, and dark hair, though an insignificant percentage exhibit other recessive traits like fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes. Redheaded humans no longer exist.

  Anyway, Savign reports on the current state of engines, shields, weapons, and environmental control. Then she gives our current position, course, and velocity. She adds that there is no status change in the current mission and nothing unusual to report.

  "Very Good, Commander. I relieve you." I direct to her, employing the standard protocol.

  "I am relieved, Captain." She responds with a salute and steps back one pace.

  "Savign, can you stay with me on the Bridge for a while. It may be an hour. I'm expecting encrypted orders and messages from Theatre Nine. I need you to witness the decryption and note it in your log. Would you mind?" I quietly ask my Exec.

  "I'd be happy to, sir. I have nothing personal planned. I was heading out to update personnel evaluations - a very boring job." She whispers with a smile.

  "Maintain course and speed," I call out from my Command Station seat as my shift completes the transfer of Bridge Operations.

  Things were quiet for a while. I notice how beautiful star RCB looks on our screens. The images we view are composites of filtered optical and sensor inputs. We never look directly into a star through a glass window, which would destroy the retina in the eyes. RCB is a yellow star like Sol but somewhat older and a little inflated. Though we are some distance from the system edge, this sun's enlarged status makes it appear slightly brighter than Sol would seem from the same vantage point outside its influence.

  I scan each station on the bridge, one at a time. I am proud of my crew. We came together on the Shenzhen’s very first mission, which was to certify her for service. I had been assigned as its Captain before the ship was finished construction. I picked Savign as my Executive, then we selected our Senior Officers together. We worked as a group afterward to pick the rest of the Shenzhen's crew.

  Proofing the vessel is taking it through a series of tests and shakedown cruises that prove she will withstand more stress than we usually experience in normal operations. I had been part of a team working under, then Commodore Nichols, that certified vessels during the last expansion of Fleets. Every new vessel must be approved before putting it into permanent service. It is always a daunting task. It took nearly eight weeks, in this case. It is an intense mission that brings a crew together while weeding out those that are not up to their assignments. We took the Shenzhen new from the shipyard. By the time it was accredited, the ship’s Officers and Crew were second to no one.

  "Captain, I have that message, you advised Communications of. I am downloading all the data to your station." The Comms Officer announces.

  "Thank you, Lieutenant." I counter, as I rise and leave the Bridge for my office.

  "Lieutenant Volpe, you have the bridge," I called out to my Deputy Watch Commander, as Savign and I headed for my workplace. The Lieutenant moves into the Command Station followed by a flurry of activity as the Tactical Officer moves to replace him and a substitute assumes the Tactical station.

  My office is a comparatively expansive space, six meters deep by ten meters long, off the port bow corner of the Bridge. At one end, two side chairs are pulled up to my desk which is accompanied by a credenza and office chair. At the other end, a couch, two armchairs, and a coffee table form a conversation pit. Once at my desk, I begin navigating the information system. Decryption is a two-step process. Step one deciphers and unpacks the entire group of folders employing a thirty-two character two hundred fifty-six bit key. Phase two uses a different sixteen character one hundred twenty-eight bit key and decodes the actual documents. Keys are generated by our systems based on the date of the communication. The communication station uses one set, and the Captain of a vessel uses another. The only way another Officer can gain access to the Captain's encryption set is if the ship's Command Codes are transferred to that person. Transfer of Command Codes at any level requires that Commander's thirty-two-character daily code be entered into his data pad's Command Transfer Application. The transmitted folder contains two full documents and a video file. One communication is called "OR." The other is titled "Promo." I opened "Promo" first.

  "OESA Command Order number 215903-9411 - To all citizens within the limits of the Orion' - I stopped reading and scanned to the end of the paragraph where my name was entered in Bold Italics. A little farther down, I read - 'to elevate a member of the service to the level of Captain." I have been promoted.

  "It looks like I've been promoted, Savign," I say with a smile, as I look up at her.

&
nbsp; "Congratulations, sir.' She responds. If you send me that order, I will post it, for you." She adds.

  I forward the order, then I open "OR" which directs me to complete any portion of my current patrol that can be executed on my way back to Theatre Nine. I am to report to Admiral Nichols, by fourteen-hundred hours on July 25th.

  "That'll be fine, Commander. Can you enter witness to my reception of the communiqué in your log, please? I think the video will probably be more personal if you don't mind." I am essentially kicking her out of my office, politely.

  I open the video file. The OESA logo fades out after about ten seconds. Admiral Nichols appears, sitting behind his desk. I watch the entire two-minute video, without a break. Nichols is relaxed, friendly, animated, and smiling throughout. The gist of the video is that I will be awarded the Empire's Order of Merit at a ceremony at Theatre Nine, on July 25. He informs me, kind of off-the-cuff, that I will also be offered command of a Carrier, at that time. In the same tone, he suggests that I might want to consider staying where I am for a while. He says, he knows I am enjoying this kind of autonomous command. Then, he adds that a Carrier will always be available for me, later – when I am really ready to make the change. He sums up by saying it is my choice. He adds congratulations for my promotion to the rank of Captain, then signs off. The logo reappears.

  I go over to my office safe, punching in the security code that unlocks it. Then I reach into the small metal case for the appropriate rank insignia. Ships' commanders are supplied with all levels to Commodore for other elevations and field promotions, even those above their own rank, though this is a permanent one - blessed by headquarters. I pull out a set of the silver spread winged eagles, each sitting atop a silver number six surrounded by an olive branch wreath. I replace the silver oak leaf wreath surrounding the number five on my collar points with the new jewelry. All Officer-level badges display a level number, from one to twelve. This is to avoid confusion between services and between ranks employing the same insignia. For example, the OESA uses two levels of four-star Admirals who are really at different grades. Theatre Commanders display the number ten while Quadrant Commanders are level eleven Admirals.