Mutineer (Empire Rising Book 7)

by D. J. Holmes

Reaching into his pocket the man quickly pulled out a slip of paper. As he did, Davenport reached for his concealed plasma pistol. The man saw Davenport’s action and slowed his own movement. “Relax, it’s just a note,” the man said. “I’m simply a messenger. Here you go First Councilor.”

  Rather than take the note, Suzanna let Davenport examine it. When he turned around to hand it to her, the messenger backed away and quickly turned into a side alley. “I guess his orders didn’t include waiting for a reply to whatever this says,” Suzanna said as she waved the note back and forth. Then she straightened it out and read it.

  Suzanna, I hope you will meet with me before going to the UN buildings. Sadly, I’m aware of the present difficulty you find yourself in. Meet me at Cabela’s Café. Perhaps I could be of some help. F.

  F, Suzanna thought as she tried to figure out who had sent the note. Only one name came to mind. Fairfax. Yet he was no longer Prime Minister. She thought he had retired completely from public service. “Take me to Cabela’s café,” she said to Davenport as she handed him the note. “I want to see what this is about.”

  Davenport took the note, scanned it, and then pulled out a datapad and began typing on it. “The café is just a couple of blocks away, it’s on our way to the UN buildings. It’s not the kind of place I’d expect a formal meeting with the First Councilor of Haven to take place in though.”

  “I think that’s the point,” Suzanna replied. “You may lead on. You can check the café out before I enter it, don’t worry.”

  “Very well ma’am,” Davenport replied, not sounding entirely happy.

  When they got to the café, Suzanna waited patiently outside. The note had brightened her day, if for no other reason than it had given her something else to think about. She was intrigued to see if her guess was right, and, if so, what Fairfax had to say. When Davenport stepped back out of the café, he nodded and stepped aside to let her enter.

  After entering, Suzanna paused to allow her eyes to adjust. The café was dark, what few lights it had were clearly on dim. She wrinkled her nose, there was a distinctly unpleasant smell about the café as well. Her stomach rumbled at the thought of actually eating something cooked in such an environment.

  Trying not to think about what such an experience would be like, she looked around to see if she saw anyone she recognized. There were three people visible, two were chatting quietly, a third was sitting on his own. None of them seemed to take any interest in her. Her eyes narrowed when she saw an alcove near the back of the café. It looked like a few extra tables were in it. A small opening with no door led to towards it. She set off in that direction

  Entering the alcove, she was greeted by two faces she knew. Both had firm and serious expressions, but one gave her a small smile when she stepped towards the table. “First Councilor of Haven, you honor us with your presence,” former British Prime Minister Fairfax said. “Please, sit and talk with us.”

  “I’m not sure that’s wise,” Suzanna responded. “How many bacteria am I going to pick up just from sitting in your booth?”

  Fairfax’s smile widened. “It’s good to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor Suzanna. Please, sit.”

  Though she wanted to, Suzanna kept herself from rolling her eyes as she sat. “I have a meeting to attend. You’ll have to make this quick.”

  “Don’t worry, we intend to,” Fairfax explained. “I’ve arranged this little meeting because I knew it would get Vice Admiral Lightfoot in trouble if he was seen to meet with you in person. Though I’m officially out of politics, I’m still kept well informed. I’m sorry you have been put in the situation you are in. I owe a lot to you and your husband. This is my way of repaying you. Lightfoot has some important news that I think will help you.”

  Suzanna turned to Vice Admiral Lightfoot, they had fought together in the past and she counted him as a friend. Even so, she felt wary. His expression hadn’t shown her any affection. “Admiral?” she prompted as she raised her eyebrows.

  “If it was anyone else but you First Councilor, I wouldn’t be here. I take my oaths to the UN seriously, even if I share your husband’s hesitation about some of their policies. However, I too owe you a debt.”

  “We owe each other nothing,” Suzanna said as she reached out and placed a hand on Lightfoot’s arm. “We are friends, are we not?”

  Lightfoot nodded and his face lost some of its hardness. “We are. You’re right. It is as your friend that I am here. I was given orders yesterday to take command of the Expeditionary Fleet the UN is sending to X-32. We’ve been gathering it for the last five weeks, since news of James’ decision to take the Outer Defense Fleet to Flex-aor space reached us. Initially, I thought we were going to beef up X-32’s defenses and be in place to support James if he needed our assistance. However, yesterday I was informed that upon reaching X-32 I was to assume overall command of the Outer Defense Fleet. I’m being dispatched with orders for your husband to be relieved of command. I’m sorry, I don’t agree with the decision, but I have to abide by it. Technically, no one is supposed to know outside of the Military Subcommittee. Yet somehow Fairfax found out, and now I’m telling you.”

  “Thank you Admiral,” Suzanna said as she squeezed his arm again. “I know you take your duty as seriously as my husband. It can’t have been easy for you to share this with me.” She looked back at Fairfax. “You know you could have just told me this yourself. You didn’t have to get Lightfoot involved if you already knew.”

  Fairfax raised his hands. “I didn’t know if you would believe me or not. I imagine that in your shoes it feels like everyone’s out to get you at the minute.”

  “That’s fair,” Suzanna replied as she thought about it. “Perhaps I wouldn’t have believed you. But you didn’t invite me here just to update me with this news. What advice do you have for me?”

  “Well,” Fairfax replied slowly. “In part I did just want to update you. Lightfoot’s ships aren’t leaving until the end of the day. You should have time to send a letter to James. He’ll get your letter at the same time he hears he’s being relieved, so I’m sure he would appreciate a letter from you.”

  “That is very thoughtful of you,” Suzanna said. “I appreciate it. I hope you’re not offended though if I assume that’s not the main reason you wanted me to know?”

  “You mean you don’t think an old cynical politician can develop a heart in his old age?” Fairfax chuckled.

  Suzanna let herself show a small smile. “I haven’t seen it yet. But you’re welcome to try and prove me wrong.”

  Fairfax rolled his eyes and then shrugged. “Perhaps another time. For now, all I really wanted to say was this; if James being relieved from command is inevitable, as I know it is, then that will surely make your decision easier. What they’re doing to you is unfair. If I was still Prime Minister I would have done whatever was necessary to prevent it. However, my replacement, though I’m sure she knows about it, doesn’t seem inclined to intervene. Given my limited resources, this is the best I can do for you. If James is going to be relieved of command, you can publicly support the decision. Trying to prevent it is impossible. At least you can send a letter to James and explain why you have done what you’re going to do.”

  Suzanna’s voice lost its warmth as she asked, “And just what is it I’m going to do?”

  “You mean, you are still thinking about refusing to endorse the military tribunal’s finding?” Fairfax asked as he sat forward.

  “You think I should betray my husband?” Suzanna asked, her tone hardening even more.

  “I do not envy the situation you find yourself in,” Fairfax answered. “In all honesty, I do not know what I would do. However, the consequences for Haven could be significant. I’ve tried to lobby some MPs and government officials I know to get them to offer more trade development deals, but they do not wish to go against those who are putting you in this position. Your husband has as many enemies in the new British government as he does in the UN.”

&nb
sp; “Of that I’m aware,” Suzanna replied. “If I publicly betray him, more will arise. It will be a political feeding frenzy. At least if I stand up for him, I can shield him from some attacks.”

  Fairfax nodded. “You can. And I’m sure you would defend him well. But at what cost? Are you willing to risk Haven’s future?”

  Suzanna tensed her shoulders in preparation for defending herself. But before she spoke all her determination drained out of her. She couldn’t fool Fairfax and Lightfoot. They knew her too well. “I don’t know,” she said instead. “I can’t betray my husband and I can’t risk my people’s future. So how can I choose? Surely you have some third option I can take? Isn’t that why you wanted to meet?”

  Fairfax shared a glance with Lightfoot. Then he gently shook his head. “I’m sorry Suzanna. I wish I did. There is no way out of this. They want your full commitment or it looks like they intend to make you and your people pay. It may be a bluff of course, but you know the Indians as well as I.”

  Fairfax didn’t have to finish his sentence. Suzanna nodded. Though Davenport thought they could be bluffing, she knew they weren’t. The Indians hated Haven for embarrassing them, and no doubt they still coveted Haven’s strategic position. “What if I threatened to raise the passage tax on Indian freighters traveling through the Haven system? They do almost as much trade with the Vestarians as anyone else. That might get them to back down.”

  Again Fairfax and Lightfoot shared a glance. This time Lightfoot was the one who spoke. “It might, but then again it might not. I’ve been part of UN Fleet’s planning division. It’s our job to plan out military operations for various scenarios the Military Subcommittee gives us. One such plan was for an invasion of Haven space in the event your people try to close our access to trade with the Kulreans and Vestarians. It was deemed a highly unlikely scenario, but it was requested by Representative Kapoor.”

  “And threatening to raise taxes on one nation will raise everyone else’s suspicions as well,” Fairfax added. “You’d only been making more enemies and more companies would pull out of their development investments.”

  “I know, I know,” Suzanna said. She had already tossed around the idea with Andréa and rejected it. But it was the only remotely reasonable option they had come up with and she had hoped Fairfax would take a different view on it. “In the end, I still only have two options. Neither of which am I willing to take.” She pulled out a small datapad and glanced at it. “I’m sorry, but I have to go. I can’t be late for this meeting. Your information has been invaluable Vice Admiral. Thank you for being willing to share it with me. And thank you for taking the time to meet with me. Your advice is helpful as always,” she said as she nodded to Fairfax.

  As Fairfax and Lightfoot responded in kind, Suzanna stood. “I’m sorry for rushing off, but I really must go. She forced a smile to each man and then turned and stepped away quickly. She did have to go, but she didn’t want them to see just how much of an emotional wreck she was. Fairfax had offered her no hope, and if he didn’t have a solution, that probably meant there wasn’t one.

  “Let’s get to the UN buildings,” she said to Davenport. Her tone made it clear that he wasn’t to ask any questions.

  *

  Though she tried her best, Suzanna failed miserably at keeping her focus on the meeting. She knew that it was at these meetings that most political decisions were made. The back-and-forth between representatives on the UN Interplanetary Council was more of a show than a decision-making process. From the way the different leaders sat around her were speaking, it was clear they understood that they were making policy together. Even that hadn’t been enough to keep her attention. Most of the talk had been about potential emergency provisions that could be put in place if the Flex-aor did attack X-32. That hardly mattered to her or Haven, for if the Flex-aor conquered X-32 and Earth, Haven would be all but lost anyway.

  “How long has it been since we have heard from the Outer Defense Fleet?” Prime Minister Vatu of India asked.

  “Eleven weeks,” an aide to the British Prime Minister answered.

  Suzanna sat up in her chair in surprise when she realized the Indian Prime Minister was staring right at her. She had been in a daydream. It was the tutting noise Vatu was making as he shook his head that had startled her. He wasn’t even trying to hide the fact he was directing his disappointment her way.

  “Totally irresponsible. Eleven weeks and no news. Totally irresponsible,” he said as he continued to shake his head. He paused and stared at Suzanna for several seconds as the silence in the room became evident then quickly turned away. “There’s nothing we can do about that for now,” he said. “We’ve discussed all we can about preparing for a Flex-aor invasion. Let us turn to the two new systems that have been discovered beyond Chinese space. We must decide how the Interplanetary Committee is going to divide them up. “

  Another topic that doesn’t interest me, Suzanna thought, though she was relieved to have the attention off her. For those several seconds every eye in the room had been on her. She had felt their combined animosity. Vatu had been making a point. She had no allies here.

  As the tone of several voices changed, Suzanna focused her attention on the conversation. Clearly these two new systems were an issue that the various leaders weren’t as united upon. “The Chinese Empire will not stand for both systems being handed over to minor nations. Both were discovered by Chinese exploration frigates. As my government has already submitted to the Interplanetary Committee, we are willing to allow what we have called the Putuo system to be given to a minor nation. However the Xisha system will become part of the Chinese Empire. Emperor Na has made this clear to me personally. Xisha lies at the end of one of our most important trade routes. We do not intend to let another nation own the system. It would be to our great disadvantage, both economically and strategically,” Empress Na explained.

  “The Chinese Empire signed the same UN Military Protocol that we all did,” President Booker of the United Colonial States replied. “Many new systems have been discovered on our border over the last several years and most have not become American systems.”

  “Most have not become systems of any nation,” Christine countered. “They are all empty systems that the UN has taken control of in order to protect us from a potential Flex-aor invasion. The two new systems adjacent to our space are different. The Chinese Empire is not willing to give both away. If that means tearing up the UN military protocol, then that is a step we are willing to consider.”

  “Now, now, let’s not be too hasty,” Prime Minister Dawson said as she tried to sooth the argument. Suzanna’s eyes narrowed as she took in the British Prime Minister who had replaced Fairfax. Though she knew she was biased, she thought Dawson had the look of a weasel. The energy dancing behind her gleaming blue eyes made it look like Dawson was up to ten different schemes, all of which were focused on her personal advancement. “This is a sensitive matter,” Dawson continued. “We all understand your nation’s interest in these two systems Princess. We don’t need to make a decision on this today. I’m sure I could ask King Edward to speak to you about this.”

  “My father has nothing to do with this,” Christine said turning to Dawson, her eyes flashed with anger. “I’m not here as a Princess, but as Empress of China.” Christine paused as she took a breath. Her demeanor relaxed slightly. “But you’re right, this is a sensitive subject, and we don’t need to make a decision today. You may all take some time to consider this. However, I believe I have made China’s position clear. The Xisha system will stay in Chinese hands. If the UN Military Protocol has to be torn up, then we will tear it up. You may all take as long as you want to consider that.”

  Suzanna was still staring at Christine, her mouth slightly ajar. Up to this point every leader had been getting on well with one another. Christine had clearly rocked the boat. Suzanna was even more surprised when Christine gave her a quick wink. Suzanna looked left and right, but no one seemed to be watching Christin
e. They were all politely looking away. Quickly Suzanna shot Christine a small smile and then straightened her face again. At least one person doesn’t seem to be on board with the status quo, she thought. That was something.

  As the conversation moved on, tensions eased and a number of issues were quickly discussed and decided on. Suzanna fell back into trying to figure out what she was going to do. As she weighed up both options, all she achieved was to increase her dislike for either. Try as she might, she couldn’t help the look of anger that slowly crept over her face.

  As a result, more than one national leader stole a few glances at her. Some wondered what the problem was, others smirked, knowing full well. Suzanna, lost in thought, missed them all.

  Chapter 21

  There is one law written into the founding documents of the Empire that has allowed it to continue to function for the last millennium. In the democracies of the past, bills, laws and legislative documents brought before either the Houses of Parliament or the US Senate or House of Representatives essentially became known as omnibus bills. The bills became compilation bills that had hundreds and thousands of amendments attached to them. Those who banned such practices in the Empire have blessed countless generations, though their impact is all but forgotten with the inefficient practices of the past unknown to all but a select few.