The burden of command, p.1
The Burden of Command, page 1
part #14 of Empire Rising Series
The Burden of Command
Empire Rising Book 14
D. J. Holmes
https://www.facebook.com/Author.D.J.Holmes
d.j.holmess@hotmail.com
Comments welcome!
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales are entirely coincidental.
Copyright © D. J. Holmes 2022
Prologue
Midas Touch, outer edge of the Poitiers system, 29th January 2507 AD, (nineteen years after the battle of Gayla).
Cornelius Teal didn’t break his stride as he approached the double oak doors. In a flash, two of Midas Touch’s aides pulled them open and he stepped into his pleasure yacht’s main reception room. Spreading his hands out, he smiled at his guests. “Welcome to my home away from home,” he said when they all looked around at him. “I trust you have been enjoying my hospitality. My chef worked in Paris before I whisked her away to serve me here.”
François Garnier was the first to move closer to Cornelius. “Your hospitality is as lavish as your yacht, Cornelius. I will admit, I’m impressed, even when I know I shouldn’t be surprised. If you donated half as many credits to the Democratic Freedom Party as you spent on Midas Touch, we would have won the last Commons elections.”
Cornelius gave François a wry smile as he shook his hand. “If I doubled my donations to you, what would I have left to donate to your competition?” When François’s face reddened, Cornelius placed a hand on his shoulder as he gently shook his head. “It’s a joke, my friend. You know I support your cause. That’s why you’re here.” As François visibly calmed down, Cornelius moved on. The Democratic Freedom Party on New France been steadily growing in popularity for the past six years. Despite François’s high hopes, they were not yet at the point where they could seriously challenge the more established parties that were still loyal to the ideals of the Empire, but they were getting there. That made François the most important political figure on New France, in Cornelius’s mind at least. Though that didn’t stop him supporting the other parties as well. With his company’s second headquarters on the planet, it was good for business to keep everyone on side. “I trust your trip wasn’t too taxing?” Cornelius asked as he shook hands with his next guest, Nikal Smirnov. The Russian oligarch was the richest man on Rostov. As far as Cornelius’s spies could determine, he was worth about two-thirds of Cornelius’ net worth. Judging by the yacht he had come to the meeting on, it was certainly possible.
Smirnov gave Cornelius an amused look. “I was able to find ways to pass the time,” he replied.
Cornelius nodded and then continued to greet his other guests. In total, he had invited twelve influential and powerful men and women to meet with him. He was pleased to see that not one had failed to come. They all represented colonies, companies, or political movements that were far from happy with the status quo. Though he had kept veiled exactly what he wanted to discuss, they were all astute enough to read between the lines. Now that they had met one another, they would probably have an even better idea of just what was on his mind.
“Shall we begin?” Cornelius asked as he gestured towards the large oval table in the center of the reception room. Everyone nodded and moved to take a seat. Cornelius remained standing at one end of the table. “You know I am a busy man. So too are each of you. So let us not beat about the bush.” Pausing, Cornelius met the eyes of each of his guests. “The Empire was a great thing when it was established. The Emperor and Empress will always deserve our thanks for protecting us from the Karacknids. Yet that was two decades ago. The Karacknids have spent the last twenty years tearing themselves apart in their civil war. Not one of our planets or orbital stations have been attacked. And yet, still Earth levies heavy taxes on our citizens and our companies. Teal Trading Industries paid nearly a billion credits in taxes and trading fees last year alone. And where is all this money going? Not to New France, nor Rostov, nor New Delhi nor Houston, but to the former Chinese, Japanese and German colonies. To the so-called front line of the war. Where a shot hasn’t been fired in anger in twenty years. Think about that. Think about how much of a boost to the economies of your worlds that billion credits could have been. Think of all the new ship orders we might have made, and of all the jobs I could have created for your colonies. Yet it has all been taken. Sucked out of our worlds and spent on the Imperial Navy and infrastructure projects near the frontline. It is not fair. I know this, you know this, and many on our worlds know this. I have brought you all here, because in your own ways, each of you have suffered as Teal Trading Industries has. I have brought you all here because it is time to do something about it. Something more than the petitions some of you have brought to the three Houses. They have fallen on deaf ears. It is time for something more to be done.”
Cornelius brought his hands together as his eyes passed over his guests. He enjoyed the looks on many of their faces. None had expected him to be quite so bold. None of them really knew him though. He was a man of action. When his mind was made up, he saw no point in hesitating. And when it came to the Empire’s impact on his influence and wealth, he had made up his mind a long time ago.
“You speak much truth,” Governor Aanya Varma of New Delhi said slowly. “My politics are public knowledge. Twenty-four years ago, I opposed New Delhi’s forced annexation into the Empire, even if those on Earth claim it was by a free vote. Perhaps many of my populace once thought it had been free. Yet, after twenty-four years of Imperial taxes, most have come around to my way of thinking. Yet, what exactly are you suggesting?” Varma looked around at several of her fellow guests. “Individually, and even together, we have tried to make our voices heard in the Senate and Commons. We are outnumbered politically, there is no way for us to get what we want. Not when so many are still afraid of the Karacknids or are blindly loyal to the Emperor. What more can we do?”
Cornelius gave the Indian a wide smile. “You know as well as I that in the game of politics, there are always other options.” With one hand, he gestured at the other guests. “Look at us all. Together, we represent much of the economic might of the southeastern quadrant of the Empire. How do you think the Emperor’s precious naval budget would fare if we withheld our taxes from Earth? Or how would the economy of the Empire fare if we closed all the jump gates between our worlds and the rest of the Empire? If the three Houses will not listen to us, there are other ways we can get our message across.”
President Samuel Rutherford sat forward. “Other ways? Just what are you talking about? You almost sound like you’re suggesting some kind of strike or worse? Your Empire is still very new to my people and I, but even I can see that your Emperor would not stand for it.”
“You may be new to our collective community, but you are wise,” Cornelius said to the President of Houston. His colony was one of three pre-FTL colonies that had been reconnected to the Human Empire since the end of the war with the Karacknids. Varanni dark matter dispellers had allowed shift passages to be opened up to all the worlds colony ships had set out towards in the past. Interestingly though, while the other two colonies had quickly joined the Empire, Houston had remained independent. Cornelius suspected much of that was to do with the American colonists who had set out on the colony ship. Their descendants were suspicious enough of their own government, never mind a multisystem one with an Emperor and Empress based on Earth. That was exactly why Cornelius had invited Rutherford along. He was a living testimony that there were other options open to the rest of his guests. “President Rutherford is right,” Cornelius said as he glanced at the other guests. “A strike would not go down well on Earth. Yet it would get the Emperor’s and Empress’s attention, along with the dominant parties in each of the three Houses. Especially if it is a strike backed by a force of arms.” Reaching out, Cornelius activated the holo projector at the center of the oval table. A map of the southeastern quadrant of the Human Empire appeared. Six systems began to flash. “All our trade and taxes flow to Earth through these six systems. If we were to take control of the jump gates in them, it would double the time shipments of materials and freight would take to get to Earth. And if we waylay freighters specifically tasked with carrying cargo for the Imperial Navy, we could have an even bigger impact!”
Rutherford shook his head. “These are very dangerous ideas you are discussing. Seizing jump gates, waylaying freighters. That could easily spill over into fighting. Once lives have been lost, they cannot be taken back.”
Cornelius nodded. “We have tried every political avenue open to us. If our words will not be heard, then all we have left are our actions. A strike and a blockade of our space cannot be ignored on Earth.”
“Where exactly are you going with this?” Varma asked. “A strike and even a blockade would put us in direct opposition to the Empress and Emperor. You must know it would not end there.”
“No,” Cornelius agreed with a smile. “If we go down this route, we must be willing to see it through. President Rutherford’s world is free of direct Imperial control. Why should our worlds not be the same? If you’re willing, my true goal is that we here, and the worlds and allies we represent, would be willing to request secession from the Empire.” Cornelius paused to let his words sink in. He could see from many of the faces in front of him that he was speaking words they had all thought. Yet hearing it out loud made it sound far more real. He had to admit, his own heart was beating faster. When his eyes met François’, Teal nodded and continued. “It is what our peoples want. But to get there, we must get Earth’s attention. I do not want to cut off all ties. Nor I suspect, do any of you. We can make that clear. If they grant us freedom, our industries and freighters would immediately return to serving the Empire’s economy. But we would be doing so as free worlds, able to set our own taxes and terms of trade.”
Some of his guests shook their heads while the rest all began to share glances with one another. “I know this is a bold proposal,” Cornelius pressed on. “But it is what each of you want. You cannot deny it. If we can get it peacefully, then all the better. If we must shed a little blood to enforce a blockade and make our voices heard, then it will be a small price to pay to regain the freedom our worlds once knew.”
“But how would we get the ships to enforce this blockade?” Samuel Hartman asked. “Are you volunteering to convert your freighters?”
Cornelius clapped his hands together. Inwardly he smiled again. They hadn’t rejected his proposal out of hand. Discussing its details was a good sign. A very good sign. “That is exactly what I would propose. Though I couldn’t do it alone. Your trading cartel would need to support me.” He glanced at the other guests who represented shipping companies. “You all would.”
“Okay fine, so we have access to freighters,” Varma said. “But freighters do not a blockade make.”
“No,” Cornelius said, “they do not. But you know as much as I do that every week, tens of millions of credits worth of weaponry pass through our systems on their way to shipyards on Earth or Britannia. All it would take is for a handful of those shipments to go missing and we would have the arms we need.” Cornelius nodded to Rutherford. “And if our neighbor would be kind enough to allow us to overhaul our ships in his system away from the prying eyes of the Imperial Navy, we could put together a sizable force. Enough for a blockade at least.”
“And just what would this sector of space look like if we did secede?” François asked. “The Empire’s economy would dwarf any one of our planets. I have to think about the workers of New France. If the Empire wanted to, they could cripple our economy without firing a shot.”
“Houston has shown us the way there as well,” Cornelius replied. “Their import and export taxes have protected their economy over the last seven years. I would suggest that we seek to implement the same measures. In fact, what I am proposing is that if we do all secede together, we form our own confederation. One where our planets enjoy free trade with one another and do not interfere with the politics of each planet in any way. We’ll each be free to pursue our own economic policies, except that we will trade with the Empire based on one trade agreement. We can negotiate it as part of our separation from the Empire.”
Rutherford laughed. “And I thought my people were crazy. Half my subordinates prance around the White House boasting that we are the equals of your Empire. I dislike its whole political system as much as you seem to, but your suggestion is preposterous. Even if my people allow you to arm your ships in our space, this doesn’t sound like something that will end well.”
“But if we did secede, would your people join this confederation?” Varma asked. “We would be much stronger together than standing separate.”
Rutherford took a moment to reply. “We would consider it certainly. But I could not commit to anything more than that. We want to remain free from all oversight, not just your Empire’s.”
“And we wouldn’t ask any more of that from you,” Cornelius said. In reality, he didn’t care much about what Houston did. As long as the colony reminded his other guests that it was possible to be free, that was all that mattered. “So there you have it,” he said as he looked down the table. “I’ve put my cards on the table. You know my concerns with the Empire and now the only solution I believe will be feasible. Let me hear your thoughts.”
For the next two hours, Cornelius spent a lot of time listening as each of his guests took time to speak. All agreed that they needed to find a way to halt the Empire’s ravaging of their economies. Understandably, some were horrified by secession even being mentioned. Others spoke as if it had been on their minds long before Cornelius had brought it up. Many had questions about how his plan could be feasible. Though he kept much to himself, Cornelius shared what he thought would win over his listeners. When it came to what the political situation might look like on the colonies that did secede, he cared very little. In fact, the less cohesion there was between each world, the more power would accrue to him. He had risen as far as he could in the world Emperor and Empress Somerville had forged. To rise any further, he needed to bring about a new political and economic status quo. And if he could come to dominate the economy of the new entity that would arise out of a bid for secession, then the weaker the ties between each individual world were, the better for him.
“There’s one major flaw in your reasoning, my friend,” Smirnov said. Everyone else fell silent to listen. It was the first time he had spoken. “Unless I have misjudged the extent of your and your company’s wealth, a blockade, never mind a political quest for secession, would bankrupt you. Things are bad now, yes, but what you propose would only make them worse. Even if they succeeded and we managed to extract ourselves from the Imperial taxmen, none of us would be around to benefit from it. We’d all be broke and powerless.”
Cornelius gave Smirnov a small bow. “A year ago, I might have agreed with you. But it just so happens that I am not here speaking just on behalf of myself. A conglomerate of other interests has chosen me as a representative to speak to you.” Reaching into his jacket’s pocket, Cornelius fished out a group of datachips. Walking around the oval table. he handed each one to its intended owner. “Of course, these have not been activated yet, but if we are agreed today, then they will be by the end of the week. You will find in them enough funds to begin the plans we have discussed and to compensate you for the initial financial losses you will incur. And these are only the beginning.”
Smirnov was the first to pull out his datapad and insert the chip. His head shot up a second later. “This is no joke?”
Cornelius shook his head. “Neither I nor my backers hate the Empire, but we fear what it has become and what it is doing to our worlds. This is the measure of our commitment to seeking change.” Though he kept his face straight, inside, Cornelius smirked as the looks on many of the faces of his questioners began to change. It was the same in any line of business. Whether seeking permission to open a new shipping route or contemplating treason, money spoke more than words.
Chapter 1
Our forefathers had thought the Karacknids were a shrewd and skilled adversary, but little did they know what they would come up against when the Silizzeras’ plans finally came to light. Yet it took many years for their schemes to be discovered. All the while, their plots were unfolding while we fought against shadows and rumor.
-Excerpt from Empire Ascendant 3015 AD.
IS Resolute, Cambria system, 14th July 2508 AD, (eighteen months later).
Third Lieutenant Jake Jackson rolled his shoulders as he approached Resolute’s marine barracks. He had been avoiding this moment since he had first stepped on board the cruiser four weeks ago. Silently, he cursed whoever had updated his personnel file to include the physical implants his father had insisted he receive prior to joining the navy. He didn’t know who had done it, nor how Resolute’s marines had found out about them. But they had. And now, here he was. Oh great, Jake thought as he rounded a corridor and was confronted by First Lieutenant Gonzales and several petty officers. They were standing in front of the hatch that led to the marine barracks.
“Head up, Lieutenant,” Gonzales said with a grin. “It will all be over in a few moments. A little bruised pride won’t do you any lasting harm.”
Jake shook his head. “That’s easy for you to say. I don’t suppose you want to take my place?”
