A Charter for the Commonwealth

by Richard F. Weyand

  Attachments: 1) List of the thirty-three member systems of the Commonwealth. 2) The text of the Charter of the Commonwealth of Free Planets.

  Westlake had, over the past month, composed letters to his father, his father-in-law, Claude Fournier, and the thirty-two other planetary governors of the Commonwealth systems. He reread those letters in the light of the press release and they did not require any changes.

  Georgy Orlov had also composed a letter to his father, Stepan Orlov. Given the short timeframe they knew they would be under once Ansen’s letter came, Orlov had given his letter to Westlake for transmission.

  Westlake queued all thirty-five mails in his outbox and hit Send.

  My Dearest Father:

  You will be receiving news of me in the next day or two that will raise questions in your mind about my actions and my motives. I write this letter so that, as always, things will be clear between us.

  We often talked in my youth about Earth’s colonies, and their likely future. It was my interest in the colonies, I am sure, that motivated you and Claude to arrange my posting to Jablonka.

  Suzette and I have loved our time here. Your grandchildren were born here and have prospered here. While Earth’s rule over the colonies is absolute, I have endeavored throughout my time here to be an enlightened despot, eschewing the more aggressive measures by which some other planetary governors have fulfilled their duties.

  Jablonka has thrived under that leadership over the last fourteen years. While not being the most populous of Earth’s colonies, it is now the most prosperous, and produces the greatest income for Earth. In such manner have I fulfilled my duties.

  At the same time, our earlier conversations have troubled me. We both know the current situation cannot last. The type of people that populate Earth’s colonies are, by and large, the sort you and I admire, the sort who would rather scrounge for scraps in freedom than dine in chains. A blow-up was coming, with what violence and disruption we could only guess.

  And so, after ten years of contemplation and study, four years ago I set in motion a series of events which have culminated in the news you will receive shortly. I saw the opportunity, and the confluence of people, resources, and circumstance that made it possible, and I acted.

  You know me not to be impulsive, though the news you will receive may make me look so. And while the current clique in control on Earth will no doubt respond poorly to the news, they will ultimately find the colonies are prepared for their countermoves. Trust me when I say Earth cannot prevail.

  What is important to Earth is its trade with its colonies. What is important to the people of the colonies is their sovereignty over themselves. These are not conflicting goals. Attempting to maintain the status quo would inevitably end in violence and disruption that would put everything at risk. I have endeavored instead to steer a better course forward for us all.

  With love and respect, I remain, as always, yours.

  James Allen Westlake VI

  My Dear Colleague:

  For over a hundred and twenty years, the Earth has asserted sovereignty and exercised administrative control over the thirty-three planets of its first wave of colonization.

  That period is coming to an end.

  We have all seen it coming. As the colonies have grown larger, they have also grown more self-sufficient. More, over the last twenty years, the population of the colonies has grown more restive. The colonies no longer need or want Earth’s administrative control.

  Our options going forward are to become ever more repressive, building up more and more pressure to an ultimate explosion that would consume us all, or to seek another way forward.

  The primary value of the colonies to Earth is in trade. The Earth does not need either sovereignty or administrative control of the colonies to engage in and profit from that trade. Indeed, maintaining that sovereignty and exercising that administrative control is a cost to Earth, one that will increase rapidly as things come to a head.

  Happily, we do not need to carry on down that path. The thirty-three planets of Earth’s first wave of colonization have now set up their own administrative entity, the Commonwealth of Free Planets.

  All the planetary governors have been included in the Council of this Commonwealth, its legislative body. There are also roles for us either on our own planets or as Cabinet Ministers of the Commonwealth.

  I urge you to join me in welcoming this transition to a new administrative regime on our planets, one that can be stable over the long term and be a positive force for trade, prosperity, and growth for the Earth and its colonies.

  I remain yours,

  James Allen Westlake VI

  Planetary Governor of Jablonka

  After Westlake told Georgy Orlov that evening that he had received Ansen’s message and sent out the letters, Orlov called Jarl Sigurdsen. Sigurdsen then sent out a large number of queued mails as well.

  Seventy in all.

  AARs

  “Seaman Yount noted Radiator Four was losing pressure and stated it was holed. Is that right, Petty Officer Harwood?” Senior Chief Abby Swogger asked.

  “That’s correct, Senior Chief,” Petty Officer 1st Lindsay Harwood said.

  “And you did what?”

  “I ordered it shut down, Senior Chief.”

  “And did Seaman Lowenthal shut it down?”

  “Yes, Senior Chief.”

  “Did Seaman Lowenthal shut it down in a timely way as compared to drills?”

  “Yes, Senior Chief. I believe she was faster than drills.”

  “And then what happened?”

  “And then I woke up in sick bay, Senior Chief.”

  “Was that immediately after shutting down Radiator Four?”

  “Yes, Senior Chief. Lowenthal had just reported Radiator Four isolated. I knew the engines were at 100%, and I didn’t even have time to order people to watch our temperatures on the other radiators.”

  “What did you do when you heard the impact, Seaman Clithero?” Swogger asked.

  “Cobb – that’s Seaman Toby Cobb – and I ran down the corridor to Radiator Control, went in to Radiator Control, and sealed the hole, Senior Chief,” Seaman 2nd Paul Clithero said.

  “Did you note the state of the compartment when you entered it?”

  “No, Senior Chief. We were focused on patching the hole.”

  “When did you notice the state of the compartment?”

  “Once the hole was patched, Cobb and I looked around, Senior Chief. That’s when we saw the compartment.”

  “What did you do then, Seaman Clithero?”

  “I threw up in my helmet, Senior Chief. Then I went out into the corridor.”

  “When did you notice Seaman Cobb had not reported?”

  “I looked back when I got into the corridor, Senior Chief, and I saw Seaman Cobb was incapacitated.”

  “How was he incapacitated?”

  “He was on his hands and knees vomiting in his helmet, Senior Chief.”

  “And that’s when you reported for your team?”

  “No, Senior Chief. I tried to report, but my microphone was blocked.”

  “What was blocking your microphone?”

  “Vomit, Senior Chief.”

  “And what did you do then, Seaman Clithero?”

  “I cleared my microphone and reported for the team, Senior Chief.”

  “How did you clear your microphone? Did you remove your helmet?”

  “No, Senior Chief. Damage control parties must remain suited up during general quarters in case there’s another projectile.”

  “Then how did you clear your microphone, Seaman Clithero?”

  “I sucked the vomit out of the microphone to clear it, Senior Chief. Then I reported in.”

  “How many incoming projectiles were you tracking from the Earth Space Navy frigates, Mr. Stodden?” Bryan Jones asked.

  “Approximately two hundred, sir. I couldn’t track them all,” Karl Stodden said.

  “And these were fi
red from the ESN frigates over what period of time, Mr. Stodden?”

  “Over the course of a minute or so, sir.”

  “So you would say the ESN frigates have a rate of fire on their projectile weapon of about one round per second, is that right?”

  “At least, sir.”

  “And of those two hundred projectiles, how many struck Stardust, Mr. Stodden?”

  “I tracked four, sir.”

  “Four? I thought there were three impacts.”

  “No, sir. I believe if you check you’ll find we took a projectile in one of the stores containers. It hit the same time as the one hit Beam Weapon 10, sir. It sounded like one impact, but it was two.”

  “The rest of the approximately two hundred projectiles missed Stardust, Mr. Stodden?”

  “No, sir. Stardust missed them.”

  “Explain.”

  “Mr. Asnip moved the ship away from the path of most of the projectiles, and positioned Stardust in a gap in the incoming fire.”

  “So Stardust dodged the densest area of projectile fire?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “If Stardust had not dodged, how many impacts might we have taken, Mr. Stodden? Do you have an idea?”

  “I can’t be sure, sir, but ten to fifteen hits would have been the likely range.”

  “Based on what you saw on the radar?”

  “Yes, sir. I saw them go zipping by, sir.”

  “I’ve reviewed all the interviews Senior Chief Swogger conducted with ratings, sir, and I conducted the officer interviews. I also viewed bridge, radar, and control systems records from the battle,” Bryan Jones said.

  “Very good. And what did you learn, XO?” Captain Marc Heller asked.

  “First is that Seaman 1st Jennifer Lowenthal beat all drill records in shutting down Radiator Four, sir. And it’s a good thing she did. The projectile that came in through Radiator Control killed her and knocked all the other ratings unconscious. There was no one on those consoles for almost twenty minutes, sir.”

  “In which time we would have lost coolant and been stuck.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “What else?”

  “The damage control parties reacted completely by instinct, sir. They didn’t even look around the compartment until the leak was sealed. And it’s a good thing they didn’t. The scene was ghastly, sir. Both seamen vomited inside their helmets, one being completely incapacitated. The junior member of the team was only able to report after he sucked the vomit out of his microphone to clear it, sir.”

  “But their quick action sealed the leak and his report got medics and a relief crew into Radiator Control.”

  “Yes, sir. Thirty-six seconds on the seal.”

  “Outstanding. What else have you got for me?”

  “Mr. Asnip dodged a field of approximately two hundred projectiles to take just four hits.”

  “Four hits?”

  “Yes, sir. Mr. Stodden said he tracked four hits, and on an exterior camera review we found a hit in one of the storage containers. The point being that Mr. Asnip dodged the main field of the projectiles. Mr. Stodden estimated ten to fifteen hits had Mr. Asnip not dodged the central mass.”

  “Sounds like Mr. Asnip was on top of his game.”

  “Yes, sir. At the same time, I think he blames himself for the hits we did take. For Seaman Lowenthal’s death. I wonder if you might talk to him, sir.”

  “I’ll do that, XO. So, do you have recommendations?”

  “Yes, sir. One is that standard stores on departure should include one full charge of coolant for the radiator system.

  “Another is that the ship be modified to include backflow valves and hydraulic fuses to shut off radiators automatically in the case of a puncture.

  “My third recommendation is that damage control microphones be reoriented so the openings are on the bottom rather than the top, so they can shed the, um, occasional fluid while remaining operational.

  “Finally, we should consider armor plate on Deck One to reduce penetration of those projectiles. Give us one armored aspect to show the enemy.”

  “All right, XO. Good job. Write up those recommendations and make them part of your report.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And ask Mr. Asnip to see me at his opportunity.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Reaction To The Charter

  When the press release from Doma got to Jablonka, the editors of the two biggest newsfeeds called the planetary governor’s office to inquire as to whether it was OK to publish it. The press liaison in the planetary governor’s office said, “Of course, it’s OK to publish it. If you read it, you know Jablonka now has freedom of the press, as well as all the other freedoms called out in the Charter.”

  The newsfeeds ran with the press release, and also reported Planetary Governor Westlake’s office had confirmed all the civil rights called out in the Charter were now guaranteed on Jablonka.

  The press liaison of the planetary governor’s office also gave them some news. The planetary governor had reviewed all the convictions of people currently being held in jail for any crime inconsistent with the civil rights now guaranteed by the Charter. Several dozen people’s convictions were being overturned and they would be released within the next week.

  Those sort of specifics of the way in which the Charter would affect people’s lives seemed to hit much more of a nerve than the legalistic wording of the document itself.

  The news hit the newsfeeds early Saturday morning, and by mid-day crowds had gathered in the Jezgra City Park and on the quad of the campus of the University of Jablonka. The two crowds joined forces in the city park at some point during the early afternoon. Various speakers took to the microphone in the band shell to address the crowd, and the whole thing turned into a party that ran late into the night.

  Less public and less well noticed changes were also happening in orbit. Jablonka space traffic controllers stood amazed at their consoles when thirty-two freighters in the Jablonka system started squawking military transponder signals.

  OGS Star Tripper was an Orlov freighter in the Pahaadon system. Jarl Sigurdsen’s mail came in to her captain, Douglas Baird. He was given the crypto key and directed to open a previous, encrypted mail that contained his new orders. Following those orders, a number of things happened.

  The entire crew individually swore an oath to “preserve, protect, and defend the Charter of the Commonwealth of Free Planets.”

  The officers of the Star Tripper received their commissions and rankings in the Commonwealth Space Force.

  The ship’s safe was opened, and two sealed packages withdrawn.

  The first package was opened, and officers and enlisted crew were distributed new rank badges for their work uniforms. Dress uniforms would have to wait.

  The second package was opened, and it resulted in a little ceremony on the bridge. The composition plaque on the back wall of the bridge that declared ‘OGS Star Tripper, The Orlov Group’ was replaced with a bronze plaque announcing ‘Commonwealth Space Ship RELIANT, Battleship BB-021.’

  Already spinning in high orbit about the planet, Star Tripper blew her forward and aft emitter covers.

  Finally, Star Tripper changed her transponder settings from ‘Star Tripper, Orlov Group Freighter’ to ‘CSS Reliant, Commonwealth Battleship.’

  “Well, there’s Westlake’s play,” said Michael Jacobus, head of the Earth Special Police on Bahay, as he handed back printouts of Westlake’s letter from Jablonka and the Commonwealth press release from Doma.

  “Apparently so. It’s a bold move,” said Richard Mcenroe, Planetary Governor of Bahay.

  “And a stupid one. What’s he going to do when the ESN shows up?”

  “First, one thing Jim Westlake has never been is stupid. Second, I had a curious call from Jim Polaski today.”

  “The head of Bahay Space Traffic Control?” Jacobus asked.

  “Yes. He said the two ESN frigates that are pretty much always stationed here for e
nforcing the commerce regulations left the system. They filed a spacing plan for Earth.”

  “Without waiting for their replacements?”

  “That’s right,” Mcenroe said. “That was yesterday. And he said another curious thing happened today. An Orlov Group freighter in orbit changed its transponder code. It’s now squawking it’s the CSS Courageous. Polaski wanted to know if I knew what was going on.”

  “CSS?”

  “Commonwealth Space Ship. And it’s squawking its ship type as ‘Battleship.’”

  “Battleship? Earth’s navy doesn’t have any battleships,” Jacobus said.

  “No. But apparently Mr. Westlake’s Commonwealth navy does.”

  “I wonder how many of them he has?”

  “I did a little search through newsfeed archives,” Mcenroe said. “The Orlov Group and two other mining concerns active in the thirty-three first-wave colonies purchased eighty of the biggest freighters Earth makes four years ago. Fifteen hundred feet long. Seems like that would make a pretty good platform for a battleship. And four years is a long time for mounting weapons and such if your hull and propulsion are all complete.”

  “Eighty battleships?”

  “Don’t know. Could be. And four years ago, Westlake changed the name of his police force from Earth Special Police to Jablonka Protective Service. That was the same week as Orlov’s freighter order, now that I think of it.”

  “The same week?” Jacobus asked.

  “Yes. Now, let me run a couple of other things past you. Who’s Westlake’s father-in-law?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “His wife’s maiden name is Suzette Fournier,” Mcenroe said.

  “Claude Fournier?”

  “Yes. And Georgy Orlov, who runs his father’s colonial mining interests out of Jablonka? His sister Anastasiya is the wife of the planetary governor of Doma, where this Commonwealth Charter was signed. And the name of the planetary governor of Doma is –”

  “Edmond Fournier,” Jacobus said in a whisper.