by D. J. Holmes
James was so deep in thought that he didn’t notice Endeavour’s transition out of shift space. “Nothing unusual in the system,” Malik said after the sensors had enough time to make out what was going on around Haven. His words pulled James’ mind back to the matter at hand.
“Take us in towards the colony then,” James ordered after pausing to look over the main holo display of the system to make sure he hadn’t missed anything.
Four hours later James was still sitting on the bridge. He had expected to receive some form of message from Haven but so far nothing had come. James guessed Maximilian or whoever was in charge was waiting until Endeavour was close enough to open up two-way communication in real time. That suited James fine for it meant he could get in the first word.
“Transmit our report to the entire system,” he ordered Sub Lieutenant King who was manning the COMs terminal.
“Aye Sir,” King responded, “the transmission has been sent. Still no sign of any COMs activity from the planet.”
The report was a simplified version of the report he had prepared for the Admiralty. It detailed how the Overlord was responsible for the attack on Haven, Endeavour’s role in overthrowing him and James’ efforts to stop the attack on the Kulreans. The report also included messages from Tak’ar and Pemel communicating their desire to begin a close friendship with humanity. James hoped the report would ease the fears of the Haven populace.
“How is the colony looking?” Mallory asked to break the silence that had developed as everyone waited for a reply.
“It looks like they are recovering well,” Malik said. “There appear to be a number of new orbital stations under construction. I’m also detecting an increased amount of activity in the outer asteroid belts. The Havenites must be working like devils out there to mine all the resources they need to rebuild their infrastructure.”
“Give us a run-down of what military ships they have operating,” James requested.
“Certainly Sir,” Malik answered. “Admiral Harris’s flagship appears to be in a repair yard though it seems the rest of the ships that survived the battle of Haven have been returned to service. I’m detecting one destroyer and eight frigates patrolling the approaches to the colony.”
“They certainly work fast,” Mallory said.
“Yes,” James said, “though a destroyer and a few frigates aren’t going to deter some of the Earth powers from thinking they can claim Haven for themselves. I suspect Haven has a very interesting future ahead of itself.”
“I would bet on that,” Mallory said.
“At least, when I was a betting man I would have,” he added when James gave him a stern look. On their journey back from Kulthar James had made an effort to take Mallory under his wing. He knew he had neglected the Second Lieutenant during the initial stages of their mission, in large part because James had written him off. As a result, James had missed Mallory’s transformation.
Now he was determined to do all he could to help Mallory continue to develop into a competent and accomplished King’s officer. Part of that process had been a frank one to one discussion about Mallory’s past failings, gambling being one of them. Thankfully Mallory had acknowledged the error of his ways. As James had suspected, Mallory had developed his gambling habit as a young man disillusioned with the wealth of his family. Gambling had been a way to bring risk and excitement into his otherwise comfortable life.
Now Mallory had something else to find fulfillment in; his duty as a naval officer. James had been impressed and James’ own upbringing as the second son of one of the wealthiest Duke’s in the British Star Kingdom had allowed him to understand Mallory better than most. They were becoming firm friends.
James had also learnt an important personnel lesson, never underestimate the potential of a junior officer. Having said that, the betrayal of the former First Lieutenant had taught him a different lesson; always follow your gut. Ever since his decision to follow the fleet that had attacked Haven, James had suspected something was wrong with Ferguson. He had just dismissed it as the First Lieutenant seeking to look out for the ship’s best interests, something that was part of his job. Now it was clear that Ferguson had only been looking out for himself and his cowardice had been driving many of his actions.
As those thoughts were going around James’ head, Endeavour continued towards the colony for another thirty minutes before any attempt to open communications was received from the planet. “I have the First Councilor on a COM channel for you Captain,” King reported when the silence was finally broken.
“Put it on the main screen, make sure you are recording it,” James requested.
“Captain,” Maximilian said when his face appeared on the holo display, “I’m surprised you decided to show your face here again. Let me tell you now, you are not welcome on our planet. Do not try to enter orbit. If you do, I will be forced to order our navy to escort you out of the system.”
“It’s nice to see you too First Councilor,” James began. “I must say I am surprised. I was expecting a warmer welcome. We have come here to let you and your people know that the Vestarian threat has been taken care of. I would have thought you would have been more pleased to hear that.”
“Don’t play nice with me,” Maximilian spat. “I don’t care about what you did to the Vestarians, you tried to interfere in our politics, for that our council has voted to permanently ban you from our system.”
“How nice of you,” James said. “I guess pirates can run the government on Haven while the crew of the ship that saved the entire planet from destruction is shunned. Didn’t you read the report on what happened to Kulpath? That could have been Haven if it wasn’t for us.”
“To hell with you and those aliens,” Maximilian shouted, outraged by James’ reference to his piracy. “I have warned you once. Your actions have earned you a ban from our colony. Let that be a warning to your government and the others on Earth. We at Haven will not stand for any interference in our internal politics or sovereignty. If you come any closer, I will order my ships to open fire.”
“So be it,” James said. “I came to offer my country’s friendship. The discovery of the Vestarians and the Kulreans will mean this area of space will become the center of attention for all the Earth powers. One way or another, you are going to need some friends in the future. If this is the route you want to take, then it will be on your own head. I wish your colony all the best. Even if it is led by a pirate,” James finished.
Before Maximilian could say anymore he cut the feed. “Transmit our recording of the conversation to the entire planet,” he ordered King, “then turn Endeavour around and get us out of here, lay in a course for Earth.”
Two hours later Endeavour was well on her way out of the Haven system. Since they had turned around they had been bombarded by messages from the surface. All sorts of people who had the ability to send COM messages to the ship had been trying to contact James and Endeavour’s crew.
James had listened to the first ones that had come in and sent back text messages to them, but when the numbers had grown he had been forced to pull other officers in to help him. Many of the messages had been offering the senders’ thanks for what Endeavour had done. Others had been asking about the future and British policy towards Haven. More than one had been hostile and insulting. James had ordered those ignored. For the rest he had instructed his officers to reply curtly and civilly, informing the people of Haven that Endeavour had been doing their duty and that the British government would be willing to provide Haven with whatever protection they needed against alien attacks or attempts by other Earth powers to interfere in Haven’s sovereignty. However, his officers were also to make it clear that Britain would not deal with pirates and war criminals.
James wasn’t sure if all the messages would have any effect but he knew they would anger Maximilian and anything that would put the First Councilor off his game was worth doing.
“We’re getting another COM message,” King reported.
“Just add it to the list for us to look at,” Mallory instructed him.
“This one is different Sir,” King said. “It’s coming in via a laser link.”
“A laser link?” James asked, his interest piqued. “We can’t be close enough the planet to still receive a laser link?”
“No Sir,” King answered. “It’s coming from one of the gas mining stations. We are passing as close to it now as we will come.”
Suzanna, James thought. He had guessed she would be on Haven trying to win the support she needed to overthrow Maximilian, he hadn’t expected her to be on her gas mining station.
“Send the message to my office, I will listen to it there,” James ordered as he stood up and left the bridge.
When he sat in his office chair he activated the holo display on his desk and brought up Suzanna’s message. “Hello James,” she said with a smile. “I hope this message gets to you. My engineers have boosted the power of our laser COM link as much as possible, though they still aren’t sure your ship will pick it up.
“I couldn’t risk Maximilian or anyone from his faction finding out that we have been in communication, so if you get this please reply by laser link as well. If they think we have been collaborating they will use it to turn popular opinion against me.
“Let me begin by thanking you and you crew for all you have done for us since you left. Maximilian won’t admit it but our colony has been full of fear for the last several months. Every day we have woken up not knowing if the Vestarians would return. You have brought us some very good news. News I know cost you and your crew a great deal to bring, so I thank you again.
“Now, down to business,” Suzanna said with a smile and a wink, “I have spent the time you have been away trying to undermine the First Councilor’s position. A number of councilors have come to my side. They agree that if we are to fall under the influence of one of the Earth powers then Britain is by far the best choice, especially if we can enter into some form of protectorate arrangement.
“However, my efforts have only met with limited success. Maximilian’s influence reaches far deeper into the council than I ever imagined. He has many of the councilors dancing to his tune. As a result, I have been forced to flee to my gas mining station. I fear that if I return to Haven Maximilian will find some charge to arrest me on. I believe I am safe enough here, if he tried to send his military ships to arrest me everyone would see that he has over stepped his authority. The First Councilor is meant to be an independent keeper of the peace, not the ruler of our colony.
“I am not out of the fight though,” Suzanna continued. “I can still communicate with my allies on Haven, and I have begun to release weekly broadcasts to the general populace. I think I have far more support there than in the council chambers. Yet things are moving slowly. Every day Maximilian stays in power he is able to cement his position. If our plans are to work your government needs to move fast. I know you are going back to Earth now. You need to bring a message back for me. Tell your government to hurry, if they act fast they could send a diplomatic envoy with the offer for Haven to become a British protectorate. If a formal offer is made, Maximilian would be forced to hold a general referendum on the issue. If the entire colony gets a chance to decide our future, I believe we may choose to join you.
“If that doesn’t happen I fear Maximilian will alienate us from every Earth power. As you have said, if we make an enemy of the Earth powers then sooner or later one of them will attempt to take control of our colony. I would rather see our people freely vote to join you than be forced to join one of the colonial empires at gunpoint.
“So please, hurry home and take my message to your government, I know I can trust you,” Suzanna said, she paused and looked at the ground. “I’m sorry we couldn’t meet in person this time, I have thought of you often since you left, it warmed my heart to see that you returned safely. Hopefully we will get to meet again soon, I enjoyed how our last diplomatic talks ended,” she finished with a smile.
James listened to the message twice before he composed his own reply. In it he thanked Suzanna for her kind words and assured her he would do everything he could to persuade his government to see Haven as a potential ally.
He took a moment to think about how he wanted to end his message. He wasn’t sure how he felt about Suzanna. She was stunningly beautiful and he had enjoyed their conversations a great deal. Yet every time he tried to say something affectionate to her, images of Christine popped into his mind. He knew he still loved Christine, yet he had thought time would diminish his feelings. She was married now and he knew there was nothing for him to do but move on. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to say something that would betray his feelings for Christine. Finally, he gave up and just said how much he was looking forward to a time when they would be able to meet each other again face to face.
With the message done he stood up and walked back into the bridge. “Send the message I just composed back to the gas mining station. Use a laser link. I don’t want Maximilian to know about the communication.”
“Yes Sir,” Sub Lieutenant King answered.
“Navigation, have you a course plotted out to take us back to Earth?” James queried.
“Yes Sir,” Jennings answered. “It will take us approximately seventy days. I’ve plotted a course that will take us through French colonial space and then to the alpha system rather than returning through British space. I thought you would want the quickest route home.”
“Indeed I do,” James said, “the sooner the better.”
Chapter 30 – Homecoming
For almost five hundred and fifty years Earth has been the capital of the Empire, that isn’t likely to change any time soon.
- Excerpt from Empire Rising
26th December, 2466 AD. HMS Endeavour, in orbit around Earth.
Seventy days later James stepped into his uncle’s office onboard the RSN construction yard HMS Vulcan, he was dressed in his best naval uniform. He had sent his report on Endeavour’s maiden voyage to the Admiralty as soon as his ship had jumped into the Sol system. Now he was about to find out just what his superiors thought of his actions.
“Well you have certainly stirred up a storm my boy,” Jonathan Somerville, Admiral of the Red and First Space Lord of the Admiralty said to his nephew by way of greeting.
“Chang presumably dead, a lost colony found, a mutiny, not one but two alien races discovered and the complete extinction of one race averted. Your report takes some reading. If I didn’t have corroborating reports from your Lieutenants, I would say you had made it all up. You certainly like to lead an exciting life.”
“It seems I do Sir,” James said with a smile. “But let me remind you, you are the one who sends me on all these exploration missions. I can’t help stumbling into what is already there.”
“Ha,” Admiral Somerville said, “don’t try and blame this on me. I didn’t tell you to go and discover that we are not alone in the galaxy. You did that all by yourself.”
“Technically the Vestarians discovered Haven,” James replied.
“Technicalities,” Admiral Somerville said, waving his hand at his nephew, “I don’t think that is how it’s going to play out in the news reports.
“And don’t get me started on the Havenites,” he complained. “They have been causing me headaches in parliament ever since Innocence returned. And that Haven freighter you sent with your suggestions didn’t help. Parliament has been split right down the middle about what to do about them. The UN has been worse. Every minor power is trying to have their say in the debate.
“And now you bring me all this. There is going to be an uproar in parliament. I’m sure some people will be singing your praises but the rest will be wanting you lynched for all you have done.”
“The Havenites deserve our protection,” James said, unconcerned about the political fallout from his actions. “They really have accomplished some amazing things. The Vestarians might not be a threat anymore but ther
e are other human powers who will seek to steal all that the Havenites have accomplished. And we don’t know what else is out there. It will take the Havenites years to build up their defenses again.”
“We will see,” Admiral Somerville said, “but that is for your betters to decide.”
“Now,” he continued as he reached into one of his office drawers and pulled out two cigars, “that was your official chastisement.”
He unwrapped one and handed the other to James, “let me personally say well done. I couldn’t be more proud of you. You handled yourself admirably,”