Captain James Heron: First into the Fray: Prequel to Harry Heron: Into the Unknown of the Harry Heron Series

by Patrick G Cox

  He grinned. “You’ll get us both court marshalled, but I can live with that.” Raising his glass, he said, “To us, and to the future.”

  The newscaster paused in her delivery and then moved on to the next topic. “In other news, the activation of the Near Earth Gate for ships entering and exiting transit to the stars took place earlier this week. Located over the Southern Indian Ocean in a geostationary orbit, the gate enables ships leaving Orbit Three to enter transit close to home. Some anomalies have been reported by ships using it, but a spokesman for the gate operators has dismissed these as ‘teething troubles’ with the new technology being used.”

  James reclined on the bed idling watching the broadcast while fighting the urge to doze off when Felicity stepped out of the bathroom dressed in a silky black corset with fishnet stockings, high heels, and lace garters.

  She enjoyed watching his eyes nearly pop out of his head and how quickly he became alert, but she acted all serious.

  “Wow, did you hear that news report about malfunctions at the transit gate? Wouldn’t want to be on a ship when that happens! What are you staring at, Captain Heron?”

  “Transit gate? With you dressed like that, who gives a damn? Get over here, you lovely lady.” He shut down the holo display and reached out his hand to grasp hers as she neared the bed, climbed on top and straddled him.

  “And in other news,” she purred in his ear, then surrendered to his attentions.

  From his seat at the small café terrace, Marcus watched as Terrien Hurker walked across the open square flanked by the thugs from the Colonial Defence Company. He smiled at the sight of other citizens changing direction or very deliberately ignoring the erstwhile Community Governor. It was a small triumph but an important one. Hurker and his cronies were increasingly becoming more unpopular and isolated.

  Marcus’s business wasn’t the only one that Hurker and his crony Hamadi at the bank had seized control of, but it rankled nonetheless. At least he was still nominally in charge of it, and could, he hoped, regain full possession eventually. In the meantime he had a plan to make life for the Community Management Board—Hurker and his cronies—as difficult as possible.

  Marcus looked up as Heiko joined him at the table. “Making progress?”

  Heiko grinned. “Some. A hell of a lot of people want to be involved in this.”

  “Right, so we’ll play this very carefully. We set up cells. I don’t know who your people are, and you don’t know mine, and likewise our contacts and their teams. That way, if they take one, he or she won’t know the others, and won’t know anyone above them.”

  “Good scheme. What do we do from there? Just listen and spy on the Board?”

  “Some of that, and when we can, little bits of sabotage, stuff they can’t trace, the sort of stuff that spoils things for them and their pals, but can’t be identified as outright sabotage, or get their goon squad interested.” He paused. “You know the kind of thing—glitches in their records, lost files, doors that open erratically, or that lock and won’t unlock, equipment failures—anything that causes disruption.”

  Heiko grinned. “I like the idea. Okay, I know the kind of people I need, and when they’re ready, they’ll know who they need.”

  Marcus smiled. “One step at a time, and very carefully. They’ve got weapons and we haven’t. They’ve got that lot up the hill backing them, and there’s nothing we can do about it. Remember old Keiron Finghal. He’s still not fully recovered from the beating he got at that ‘meeting’, the one where they said we’d started a riot. Make sure your people understand we mustn’t give their goons an excuse.”

  “We won’t, but, you know, sometimes accidents happen. Be a shame if some of their goons met some.”

  Marcus laughed. “Very tempting, but only if there’s no chance of them pinning it on any of us.” He watched another of the Board members walk away from the Civic Centre with the banker, Hamadi. “Now there’s two who could really use meeting with an unfortunate accident.”

  Heiko followed his gaze. “You’re right, but you know what would be better for them and the rest of the Board? Someone getting their hands on a record of everything that could incriminate them when the time comes, and we can put the bastards out of our misery and behind bars for a long, long time.”

  “Damn, now that is a brilliant suggestion. We’ll get cracking on it, and I have just the person in mind who can get everything we need on them.”

  “The Director of Security, Chairman.”

  “Selwyn. What news? Good I hope—it’ll make a change.”

  “Very good, Chairman. My chief agent on the Martian Building Dock has delivered the specification for the particle beam weapon.”

  “Excellent! Wonderful! You’ve rewarded them, of course.”

  “I have, Chairman. I’ve brought her back to headquarters and promoted her deputy.” He paused. “It has been a very costly exercise—we’ve lost several good agents, compromised by the debacle with the assassin, Bast.” He hesitated. “I believe she was the daughter of the Cardington family. Dominic Cardington is chairman of IP Shipping, and has interests in several of our other corporations. They lost her twin brother five years ago.”

  “Yes, yes—but worth obtaining the weapon details. I’ll have Ashworth send the condolences of the Board. Where are the plans now? Are our people building it? When will we have it available?”

  “I’ve delivered it to Armscor. They say it will be several months before a prototype can be built and tested.”

  “Excellent, excellent! Tell them to prioritise it. I want it fitted to all our major ships as soon as it’s available.”

  “Yes, Chairman.” He paused to choose his words carefully. “Our people have expressed some reservations. The details of a key element of the weapon suggest it may be difficult to achieve—in fact, very dangerous to build.”

  “If Fleet can build it, we can!” Ari Khamenei flushed. “I have reports of the firing trials. We MUST have it.”

  Admiral Burton steepled his fingers, his face giving away nothing. “You say there has been a major explosion on New Edo? An Armscor plant completely obliterated? What were they developing? Why didn’t we know what they were up to?”

  Felicity Rowanberg watched her boss. There was not a flicker of satisfaction in his expression. “Our information is they were experimenting with a new weapon, sir. A PBW by the sound of it.”

  “I see. Very well, Commander. Keep me informed.” He sat up. “Oh, by the way, still looking to go back to operational duties on the ships?”

  “I’m still thinking it over, sir.” Not a single indication he’d known what was going on at the Consortium weapons development centre. He must know she’d guessed he did.

  “Good. Oh, and give my regards to Captain Heron when you next see him.” He smiled. “And my apologies for abusing him. I believe he’s taking some leave before they deploy.” He held her eye. “Put your application on my desk when you have a moment. It’s approved.”

  Felicity nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  “Enjoy yourselves. I believe he’s going to his family home. Better contact him right away. It’ll be quite a while before you have another chance to be together.” He stood up. “And congratulate him for me. It isn’t being announced yet, but he’s being promoted effective this deployment.” He smiled as she stood. “And when you come back, I think you’ll have a little something to celebrate as well, Captain. Now you’d better get going—there’s a transport waiting. Just tell the driver where you’re meeting James.”

  Felicity walked to her office feeling a little stunned. Promotion to Captain, a week with a man she wanted to share a lot more with, and the possibility of her own command—life was going to involve some difficult choices now.

  Epilogue

  Captain heron settled into his seat aboard his gig. “To the ship, please, Midshipman Sarbutt.”

  “Very good, sir.” Paula Sarbutt turned to the Coxswain. “Carry on, please, Warrant.”

  Jame
s Heron smiled at the slim midshipman’s brisk efficiency. She reminded him of another young midshipman he had trained years ago, and the memory tugged at his heart.

  He sighed. It seemed like everywhere he went these days, something or someone reminded him of Felicity.

  The week they’d spent walking the paths around Strangford Lough and Scrabo had been bittersweet because they knew it would be over all too soon. The Admiral had graciously given them an additional week’s leave to return to James’s home in Ireland, the home of both their hearts now, but it wasn’t the blissful holiday that their first week in Ireland had been. This time round, they’d had to confront the fact that each of them had unfinished business to deal with. James’s late wife’s death still rankled, especially because no one had been brought to justice over it, and a part of him was still grieving her loss.

  Then there was the question of their careers. James stood on the cusp of promotion, and Felicity had not yet reached the pinnacle of all that she hoped to accomplish. They both felt it would be wrong to leave the Fleet in the face of the developing threat of the Consortium. The decision had been painful for them both, especially after so much shared in the last eighteen months, but it was, as Felicity said, the only decision they could take at this point in their lives. They would pursue their careers, remain friends, and perhaps enjoy some leave together if the exigencies of the service permitted.

  “On approach, sir. We’ll be entering the dock in three minutes. The OoD is aware you’re aboard.”

  Midshipman Sarbutt’s voice drew him out of his reverie.

  “Thank you, Mid.” James Heron smiled. He vowed to look on the bright side. He had some terrific memories with Felicity to tide him over, and the spark of hope that the future might yet have a place for them together, somehow, somewhere. He knew she loved him, and he undoubtedly loved her, but in this instance, their love had to be expressed by letting go and trusting each other.

  And now, James had a ship to command and a squadron to assemble.

  A Note from the Author

  I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Captain James Heron: First Into the Fray, the prequel to Harry Heron: Into the Unknown of the Harry Heron Series, where the story continues and the excitement builds.

  I would appreciate a 4- or 5-star review on Amazon, and I hope you’ll return for more adventures in this six-book series.

  You can find me at:

  @patrickgcox

  www.harryheron.com

  www.patrickgcox.com

  Thank you for joining me on this interplanetary journey to Mars and beyond.

  Patrick G. Cox