The burden of command, p.28
The Burden of Command, page 28
part #14 of Empire Rising Series
Despite the second warning, none of the fleeing ships cut their engines. Osami’s frigates opened fire on three more. The secession ships weren’t even able to return fire, clearly not equipped with missiles that had a long enough range to engage. Stubbornly, two of the ships tried to shoot down the missiles, and then carried out evasive maneuvers when their point defensive fire failed. Both succumbed to Osami’s attack. At the last moment, the third ship cut its engines. For a moment, James thought they had acted too late. But then self-destruct instructions reached the missiles and they detonated just seconds away from striking the secessionist ship.
“We’ve got movement from New France,” a sensor officer announced. “Multiple ships breaking orbit.”
“Someone knows what they’re doing,” Davenport commented.
“What do you mean?” Nicholls asked.
“They’re moving out to protect the ships that are fleeing. We can’t catch them, only Osami can. Yet Osami’s frigates can’t engage that many secessionist warships. He’ll have to pull back.”
“Three more are cutting their engines,” an officer reported. “They are the ones that Osami will be able to bring into range before the other secessionists can engage him.”
“Send boarding parties to each of the surrendered ships,” James ordered. “I want their crews taken off and interrogated. Get every scrap of intelligence out of them we can. Order Osami to pull back.”
“What about the forces coming from New France, shall we attack them?” Davenport asked. “We could strike them with our fighters, and then push our faster ships forward. They should be able to catch any ships our fighter strike damages before they get back to New France.”
James considered it. There was a decent chance they could knock out a quarter or even a third of the secessionist ships. Yet it would be putting his fighters in significant danger. James shook his head. “No, we will hold them back for now. We may need our fighters to assault the planet, or when we get to New Delhi. Let us try something else first.” He glanced at Nicholls. She was sitting just to his left. His Chief of Staff had pleaded with him on the journey from Aurora to try one last time for a diplomatic solution. He gave her a nod. Realizing what it meant, she smiled back at him. “Open a systemwide COM channel, I want everyone in the system to hear me,” James requested.
“We’re being hailed ourselves Admiral,” a COM officer reported. “It’s coming from a pleasure yacht called Midas Touch, I believe it is owned by Cornelius Teal. The COM channel is unencrypted. The whole system will be able to listen in.”
James took a deep breath. As he exhaled, it came out as a grunt. He had no desire to speak to the traitorous industrialist. Nicholls cleared her throat beside him. He understood. If they wanted to discuss terms, James had to hear him out. “Fine, put him on.”
When Teal’s face appeared on the main holo display, James had to fight to keep his hands from clenching into fists. He knew his whole body would be visible to the secessionist, and he didn’t want to give his opponent the satisfaction of knowing how much James hated him. Beside Teal, François Garnier sat looking almost as smug. The sight of the both of them enraged James further. “Emperor,” Teal said, sounding far calmer than he should have. It put James even more on edge. “What a pleasant surprise. And I see you have brought some friends. I suppose we should have expected this. You conquered our neighbor New Delhi twenty-five years ago and forced them into your Empire. Now you are here to do the same to us, I presume?” Before James could reply, Teal’s tone turned aggressive. “Who do you think you are Somerville? The people of New France have rejected you. This system and its citizens are no longer your playthings to do with as you wish. Take your war fleet and be gone. We, nor any of the other planets who have decided to secede from your Empire, will be your slaves any longer. You have already murdered some of our people. Do not turn yourself into more of a war criminal. Nobody wants you here. Leave and do not force us to defend ourselves from your illegal invasion.”
James wanted to scream at Teal. He wanted to hurl insult after insult at him. Though he didn’t turn around, he could sense Nicholls’ agitation. She didn’t have to guess to know how he was feeling. Instead of giving into the temptation to argue though, he took a deep breath to calm his thoughts. Then he spoke with as clear and level a voice as he could manage. In his mind, he was trying to mimic how Christine often addressed those she disagreed with. “Teal, Garnier, you are both criminals. Under Imperial law, I intend to arrest you. Neither I nor anyone else in the Empire believes your lies. Your very actions now show them to be what they are. Why is it that you, Cornelius Teal, speak to me in this way? Who elected you? You’re not even from New France, and yet, you speak as if you own the system. You are nothing more than a pathetic, little, power-hungry man using the people of New France for your own selfish desires. And Garnier, you once represented your people’s interests, why then are you playing second fiddle to a rich, would-be tyrant? Has he bought you off?” James held up his hand to prevent any reply. “I’ve already heard enough. I took your call to give you the chance to discuss your surrender. Clearly, you have no interest in that. I came here to speak to the Empire’s citizens, to my people, not to traitors.” With a wave of his hand, James ordered the COM channel cut. “Open our own systemwide channel,” he ordered.
Chapter 24
There are times when swift military action is needed to stave off disaster, and yet, others where words can cut deeper than any grazer beam. The challenge for naval cadets and fleet commanders alike, is to determine just which weapon they should employ.
-Excerpt from Empire Ascendant 3015 AD.
“COM channel to the system open Admiral,” a COM officer replied to James’ request.
James looked at the holo recorder with a grave expression on his face. “People of New France, I have come to deliver this message to you in person, because I have taken an oath to serve and protect each and every one of you. I therefore owe you the truth. Your planet, and each and every one of you, along with the entire Empire, are at a serious crossroads. Twenty years ago, the Karacknids had the strength and the desire to conquer, kill, and enslave every single one of us. Only the most daring attack by our fleet and a great deal of luck averted that disaster. Yet the threat has not waned. In fact, it has only increased. The intelligence reports our scouts bring back from the Karacknid Empire have been made public for years now. You are all aware of how the Karacknid civil war is going. Even as each side fights one another, they continue to improve their economies, build up their shipbuilding capacity, and enlarge their fleets. Sooner or later, one side will win. Then the Karacknid Empire will be united once again, and though its borders may have shrunk, its strength will only have increased. For twenty years now, we have done all that we can to prepare ourselves for when that day comes. Our economy and our fleet have been designed to do one thing, to stand in the breach, face the Karacknids, and protect you, our people. Yes, I know, this has meant hardships for us all. Yet that is the price we must pay for our future.
“This Karacknid threat has tied all of our worlds far closer together than they once were. Here in New France and in your neighboring planets, because you’re so far from the frontline, much of our shipbuilding and other industrial nodes have been constructed. Whereas near the frontline, much more of our fleet bases, battlestations and supply depots have been built. The Empire has been designed to work as one functioning economy and in times of conflict, one war machine. For this reason, it cannot be split apart, at least, not as Teal and Garnier think that it can. By wrenching New France, New Delhi, and the other secessionist planets from the Empire, you will wreck our economy and our fleet. This will not just be to the detriment of the frontline colonies, it will be to all of our detriment. For if the frontline colonies fall, all of Humanity’s colonies will fall. We stand or fall together.
“That said, I am not indifferent to the concerns and complaints you have against the Empire. It is for this reason that all three Houses of the Imperial Parliament have passed an amendment to our constitution giving New France and any other planet that wishes, the means to carry out a peaceful exit from the Empire. An exit that will be democratic and ensure that the Empire’s defenses and so your planet’s defenses do not crumble in the process. What Teal and Garnier have done is nothing short of treason. They have put their selfish desire for power above your needs and the needs of every citizen of the Empire. As your Emperor therefore, I am calling on every citizen of the New France system to reject Teal, Garnier, and their lackeys. Remove them from their positions of power and free yourselves from their attempted tyranny. Then, if you desire, I give you my word, you may hold your own elections and choose to leave the Empire as our constitution now allows.”
James took a moment to take a breath. He then looked unblinkingly at the holo recorder. “Let me finish by being honest with you all. This is not a threat, nor even a warning. I am simply telling you what I must do to uphold my oath to you and to the rest of the Empire’s citizens. If Teal and Garnier are not removed, I will have no choice but to remove them myself. That is why I’m here with Home Fleet. One way or another, New France and its shipyards and industrial nodes will continue to serve the fleet’s needs. I cannot allow anything less. I have no desire to enter into conflict with your planet or its defenses, but I will not hesitate if the Empire’s safety is threatened. Let me also share this with you, my eldest son, Jonathan Somerville, has just been reported missing. He was serving on an Imperial cruiser out beyond our borders. His ship is now lost.” Though he tried not to show any emotion, James’ voice broke. He had to pause for a moment to collect himself. “With every fiber of my being, I want to rush to the system he was last spotted in with all of Home Fleet and search for him. And yet, I am here. My duty to the Empire and to all of you means that I must be here.
“I urge you therefore to reject Teal and Garnier. Twenty-five years ago, you all voted overwhelmingly to join the Empire. Remember what drove you to do so then. Remember that you are a valued part of our Empire. Remember what we may all lose if our strength is weakened. I trust each and every one of you to do what is right. I will always serve and protect you, the people of New France. Please, I beg of you, do not force me to begin military operations to remove Teal and Garnier from the positions of power they have stolen. It will not end well for any of us.”
“Well done Emperor,” Nicholls said enthusiastically as soon as the COM channel was cut. “You spoke well.”
James took a moment to collect himself. He then turned to her and raised an eyebrow. “You sound surprised? Or maybe relieved?”
Nicholls shook her head. “I was worried for a moment. Maybe you’ve been listening to Christine’s speeches more than I thought.”
“Do you think it will work?” Davenport asked the former senator.
“It was a good speech,” Nicholls replied. She then gave James a coy smile. “I’m not usually a betting woman, but in this case, I think maybe I could be tempted. My money is on our Emperor.”
“There is only going to be one way to find out,” James said. “Set course for New France, take us in at thirty percent thrust. We need to give them time to come to a decision.”
“Right away Admiral,” Davenport said as she turned and began to give orders to her command staff.
“We are picking up another transmission from Midas Touch,” the COM officer reported, it’s not directed at us, but the whole system.”
Reluctantly, James nodded for the transmission to be shown on the main holo display. He smiled when he saw Garnier was the only one in view. It meant his words had struck home. Garnier didn’t want Teal to be the one to speak to his people. For nearly five minutes, James listened as Garnier did his best to convince his people about the merits of leaving the Empire. Listing James’ points one by one, Garnier attempted to counter them. Though he didn’t feel nearly as assured about his own speech as Nicholls did, James’ confidence grew. Rather than present his own case, Garnier was reacting to James. And he is not speaking as someone who already has his people’s loyalty, but as someone trying to earn it, James noticed. He is not nearly as confident about his own position as Teal wanted to us to think. “Well?” James asked Nicholls when Garnier finished.
Nicholls smiled. “He’s good; clearly, he’s a competent politician. But he doesn’t hold a candle to you Emperor. I think my money is safe.” With a nod, Nicholls sat back in her command chair.
James pressed his lips together. “I guess we will see.” He wished he could be as relaxed as his Chief of Staff.
For three hours, Oblivion and Home Fleet slowly moved into the system. Teal managed to get all of his ships back to New France and back into formation with the planet’s battlestations. Every armed warship and station had their active sensors on full and their weapons powered up. Against a full Imperial battlefleet, James would have had no concerns. Yet against the eighty ships he had, New France’s defenses were formidable. Without his fighters, he would stand next to no chance. Even with them, it was likely to be a bloody battle. As they approached the planet, his mind kept going to Georgia. If New France didn’t surrender, he’d have to send her fighter wing in. She would be in extreme danger. Despite his promise to Christine to do everything he could to protect her, he couldn’t order her to remain on her carrier. For one, he knew she wouldn’t listen, and secondly, it would destroy the fleet’s morale. How could he expect any of the other fighter pilots to risk their lives if he wasn’t prepared to risk his own daughter’s? Despite knowing what he had to do, James’ fear grew. He didn’t know if he could handle seeing Georgia’s fighter blown apart, especially not with Jonathan missing.
As they drew closer to New France, the little confidence Nicholls had given him also began to fade. No signs or transmissions were picked up from any of the battlestations to suggest their loyalty to Garnier was waning. Transmissions from the planet’s surface suggested there was a heated debate going on, on all of the holo news channels and across many private broadcasters. A number of groups had also contacted Oblivion, pledging their allegiance to the Empire. Yet it was all talk. There was no sign of any actions that might disrupt Garnier’s control over New France’s defenses. Alongside his fear for Georgia, James also began to grow concerned for New France’s citizens. He desperately didn’t want to have to open fire on the orbital battlestations, for their destruction would inevitably damage or even cripple other orbital stations. Worse, in the midst of the fighting, it was possible large chunks of debris could be sucked down through the planet’s atmosphere. An unlucky strike could kill tens of thousands. James did not want that on his conscience. Yet he meant what he had said. He wasn’t going to back down, too much was at stake.
“Launch all our fighters, power up our weapons and tracking sensors,” James ordered as they continued to close with New France. “Let’s show them what they’re up against.” As his fourteen squadrons of fighters and bombers launched from their three carriers, James couldn’t help but locate Georgia’s Hellcat. He watched as she formed up with her squadron. Then, as the attack wing turned towards New France, James forced himself to look away. If he kept staring, he wasn’t sure he could bring himself to give the order to attack when the time came.
“We’ll be in long-range missile range in thirty minutes Admirals,” Oblivion’s tactical officer reported. “Request targeting priorities.”
“We will focus on the armed ships,” James answered. “I have no doubt Teal or Garnier have put a lot of their own people on the battlestations, but pirates alone cannot man them. The majority of Teal’s people have to be in the ships. If we kill them all, then maybe the battlestations will have a change of heart.”
“Or maybe they will have one sooner,” Davenport said as her hand shot up towards the holo display. “Look Admiral!”
James’ head turned as fast as Davenport’s hand had moved. He instantly saw what she was pointing out. Two of the orbital battlestations had switched off their targeting sensors. The energy readings coming from them was also quickly falling. It was a sure sign of surrender. James’ heart went out to whoever was on the battlestations, they were taking a great risk proving their loyalty. Teal’s ships or the other battlestations could open fire on them in retribution. But they are showing the others the way, James realized. He held his breath as he waited. A smile broke across his lips thirty seconds later. A third battlestation was powering down!
“We’re picking up COM transmissions from a number of the battlestations,” an officer called out. “Some are contacting us, they’re requesting help. I think their crews are trying to take control of them. Other stations are asking Teal for backup!”
“Admiral, perhaps we should hold back until the confusion dies down,” Davenport suggested. “If we give them time, more stations might surrender.”
James shook his head. “People loyal to us are fighting and dying to take those stations, we’re not going to keep them waiting. Instruct Johnston to prepare his marines. I want every station boarded and secured as we close. We will destroy Teal’s ships, and then see how the dust settles. Without his ships, the battlestations have to surrender.”
“Understood Admiral,” Davenport replied.
“Look at this,” Davenport’s COM officer said as the image on the bridge’s secondary holo display changed. It began to show a live feed from one of the colonies’ holo news stations. “Protests are breaking out! That is Marseille! There are thousands of protesters.”
Sure enough, as everyone on the bridge watched, the image panned out to show thousands upon thousands of demonstrators marching through the city. The feed then changed to show other cities. Some protests were peaceful, others showed confrontations building between the colonies’ police force and the protestors.
“Oh no,” Nicholls said when the image changed again. This time it showed Sevres, New France’s capital. There were thousands of protestors outside the Senate building. Yet it wasn’t the colony’s police opposing them, it looked to be an armed militia. “They have to be Garnier or Teal’s men.”
