Mutineer (Empire Rising Book 7)

by D. J. Holmes

  “We will not settle in Alliance space easily, for the world the Varanni are giving us will never truly be ours. It is a staging point. A temporary home. We will not be there for long,” Galica promised. “The Karacknids will rue the day they decided to conquer our civilization.”

  “Of that I’m sure,” James replied. “I intend to do my best to aid you in this endeavor.”

  “I know that you do Vice Admiral and I understand why you must take your leave of us. Your ships fought bravely in the defense of my people and despite your losses, you have risked your fleet to defend Lastar this last month. You will always have my people’s thanks.”

  James nodded and allowed Galica to hug him again. He had held serious doubts protecting Lastar. As soon as they had escaped from the Mindus home system, he had argued for the Alliance Fleet to retreat to Alliance space. Trying to defend one or two Mindus colonies had seemed like a lost cause. With so many damaged ships, and a fleet low on supplies, falling back had seemed like the best option. Yet when scouts had been sent to Jaranna and reported the Karacknids were showing no signs of preparing to continue their advance, James’ fears had subsided. Very quickly Galica and the leading Mindus politicians on Lastar had started talking about evacuating a portion of their population so that they could continue the fight. As soon as James had met Galica and seen her and her people’s willingness to continue the fight, he had completely changed his mind. Earth’s history was full of underdogs and the remnants of defeated forces reorganizing, regrouping and winning. The Mindus were allies that he didn’t want to lose. With the arrival of the Second Alliance Fleet and the continued inactivity of the Karacknid fleet, James was confident that the evacuation would be a complete success. More than one third of the two hundred million Mindus on Lastar and Fargalen had been willing to relocate. Twenty million had been loaded onto Mindus transport ships and were on their way to Alliance space. In another month, as the evacuation picked up pace, all sixty million Mindus would have departed.

  “I look forward to the day when we return to your home system together to liberate it,” James said after Galica released him.

  “As do I,” Galica replied. “Safe travels home Vice Admiral.”

  “That was quite emotional,” Gupta commented as they walked through Guardian’s corridors towards the shuttle bay. “Do you think we will see them all again soon?”

  “That depends on the Interplanetary Committee and the Military Subcommittee,” James answered. “Your guess is as good as mine. I hope they will be able to put personal differences aside in the face of such an overwhelming threat. That is what I would like to hope,” he repeated, trying to reassure himself. “We have a damaged fleet to get home first. Let’s worry about that and we’ll see what happens afterwards.”

  Epilogue

  UNS Sparrowhawk, Sol system, 2nd January 2479 AD.

  Commander Alex MacArthur let out a sigh of relief when his frigate jumped out of shift space into the Sol system. He let out another one when the Varanni diplomatic cruiser reverted to real space alongside his ship moments later. It had been a long journey from Varanni Prime and he had felt the weight carrying the news of the Invader threat Vice Admiral Somerville had sent him home with. He knew the fleet would see him as a traitor or mutineer and in every Human system his ship had entered, he had half expected to be stopped by the local system patrols. Thankfully, the Varanni had known of a quicker route from Varanni Prime back to Earth which meant they hadn’t had to travel through X-32. They had come through German colonial space instead and that had saved MacArthur from having to face Vice Admiral Lightfoot.

  On top of the stress of returning to Human space, travelling with the Varanni diplomats had added to his anxiety. They had wanted to take every opportunity to grill him and his officers on his species as they prepared for their first official contact with Earth. Given his complete lack of diplomatic training, MacArthur had spent most of the conversations worrying he would say or reveal something that would end up hurting his species.

  We are here now, he reassured himself, your orders will soon be complete and then things will go back to something like normality. He wasn’t naive, he knew there would be consequences for taking his frigate with Vice Admiral Somerville to Varanni space, yet he hoped the fleet would understand. When the Outer Defense Fleet had left X-32, MacArthur had thought they were doing so under orders. When Somerville had revealed the truth, Rear Admiral Gupta and Commodore Forbin, the commodore who commanded MacArthur’s frigate squadron, had backed James’ decision. MacArthur had just been following orders all along. The UN Admirals would understand that. Something like normality, he thought to himself again, somewhat in hope.

  “Open a channel to Envoy, I’m sure Ambassador Haloar will wish to speak to me,” MacArthur said to his COM officer.

  “Captain,” Haloar said when his face appeared in front of MacArthur, “we have made good time to Earth. I want to thank you for your escort and your help in preparing us to meet with your species’ leaders.”

  “I am happy to have been of service,” MacArthur replied. “I have already transmitted my report to Earth. I expect my leaders will want to host some kind of formal welcoming ceremony for you and your diplomats, after that negotiations will begin in earnest.”

  “We are happy to proceed as your leaders think best,” Haloar responded. “You can communicate that to them. We know our arrival can cause upheaval on less advanced species’ worlds, and we do not wish to cause any unnecessary harm.”

  “I will pass that along and I will update you with their plans as soon as I am made aware of them. For now, Envoy may continue to accompany Sparrowhawk into the system, no one will mistake you for a threat if you have a UN frigate escorting you.”

  “I am most grateful Captain,” Haloar said with a small bow. “I hope that if we have any questions about your home system, you will be available to help us understand what Envoy’s sensors are seeing?”

  “Of course,” MacArthur said, keeping the exasperation out of his voice. It will soon be over, he told himself.

  *

  Three hours later MacArthur pulled the tunic of his uniform down to straighten it and checked his sword was sitting flush against his right thigh. He had donned his best dress uniform for the occasion. This was his first time before the UN Interplanetary Committee and he wanted to make a good impression. He knew the news he was bringing was monumental; it had the potential to send shockwaves throughout Earth and the Human colonies. For whatever reason, the Interplanetary Committee had decided to officially receive his report in person. He had no doubt that recordings of the meeting and what he intended to say would be replayed tens of thousands of times across the Sol system and beyond. He wanted to make sure he looked his best.

  Without a word or any signal MacArthur could pick up on, the two guards on either side of the large double doors that led into the Interplanetary Committee chamber reached over and pulled the doors open wide. MacArthur took it as permission to enter. Walking in, he wasn’t surprised to see the audience chamber filled to capacity. There were military personnel and political figures from almost every Earth nation present. It had been impossible to hide the fact that his frigate was one of the ships that had left X-32 under Vice Admiral Somerville’s command. Before coming down to New York, MacArthur had been browsing the holo news reports. Speculation was rampant. Of course, it didn’t hurt that his frigate, Sparrowhawk, had entered the system accompanied by a highly advanced spaceship of unknown origin. That had everyone talking!

  Stepping up to the speaking platform that MacArthur assumed had been set out for him, he paused and looked at the members of the Interplanetary Committee, each sitting at their assigned dais. He sought out the Representative for the British Star Kingdom and gave her a nod. When his own Representative didn’t acknowledge his gesture, MacArthur swallowed hard. Glancing around the room he had a sudden fear he had misread the situation. No one seemed to be offering him any encouraging glances or positive facial expressio
ns. With a start, he realized silence had descended on the room. He looked at the Representatives. When none spoke to him he guessed everyone expected him to speak first.

  Tentatively he began the speech he had been rehearsing for the last hour. “Representatives of the esteemed UN Interplanetary Committee, I have been sent here to speak with you all on behalf of Vice Admiral Somerville. He has made contact with the eleven members of the Varanni Trading Alliance. They have informed him of a threat to both the Alliance and our own freedom. A species known only as the Invaders has launched a war of conquest against one of our neighbors, the Mindus people. Though we have not known about them until now, if their civilization is conquered, it is very likely these Invaders will set their sights on us. Vice Admiral Somerville has convincing evidence that these Invaders were the ones who passed advanced weapons technology to the Vestarians and the Flex-aor with the aim of destabilizing this sector of space prior to launching a war of conquest of their own.

  “Vice Admiral Somerville sent me here to bring warning about this new threat and to call all of Earth’s nations to band together to do everything we can to defend ourselves. As we speak, Somerville has taken his fleet in conjunction with a Varanni Alliance Fleet to aid the Mindus in the hope that the Invaders can be halted before reaching our space. In addition…” MacArthur stopped midsentence as one of the Representatives raised a hand.

  “I think we have heard enough. Who do you think you are Commander? Coming here and thinking you have the right to address us?” Representative Kapoor asked. “Vice Admiral Somerville was relieved of command of the Outer Defense Fleet six months ago. He has no authority over you and his name does not give you any right to speak to us.”

  MacArthur looked around confused. Every member of the Interplanetary Committee was seated at their dais. The audience chamber was full. The Interplanetary Committee had invited him here, they had clearly gathered to hear his report. He couldn’t understand what Kapoor was saying. Not knowing what else to do, he tried to continue. “These Invaders have weapons technologies more advanced than ours and they have numbers greater than the Flex-aor. I have technical and battle data the Mindus have shared with us to present to this Committee. The threat is very real.”

  “Enough commander,” Kapoor said sharply, cutting him off. “I am a sitting member of the Military Subcommittee; you will obey my orders.”

  “But... I have a detailed report to give about the Varanni Trading Alliance as well. We met the battle fleet they sent against the Flex-aor on our way here. They were returning from carrying out a series of raids. The Flex-aor threat has been greatly reduced. And, I have brought an Alliance diplomatic envoy,”

  “Silence!” Kapoor shouted. “You followed the orders of a renegade Admiral. You participated in a mutiny. You are as much a traitor as Somerville. Security, arrest this man immediately and take him away!”

  MacArthur tried to speak. He wanted to protest. He wanted to make the Representatives understand the danger they were all in. No words would come though. He was at a loss as to what to say. The situation was changing too quickly for him to keep up with.

  When four pairs of strong arms grabbed him and began to drag him away, it shook him out of his stupor. Words finally came. “Wait! Wait! You have to hear what I have to say. The future of our species depends on it!”

  “I said silence!” Kapoor screamed as she stood. “We will hear what you have to say traitor. You will be interrogated as a prisoner. We will hear all your lies then. But you will not speak one more word to us here. Traitors do not get to brief this Committee.”

  MacArthur fought the hands dragging him away as he tried to look around at the audience. He was looking for someone who would help him, someone who would listen. He found no one. Every face that his eyes fell on was looking at him with a cold distant expression. No one was interested in what he had to say. Suddenly, all the fight went out of him. The full realization of his situation hit him. He would have to face a court martial. His precious Sparrowhawk would be taken away from him. His future in the navy was over. As despair sank in, he allowed his body to sag into the grip of the guards that were dragging him away. Before he left the chamber, he couldn’t miss the amplified declaration Representative Kapoor was making.

  “That is how we deal with traitors and renegades. Let it be known that every ranking officer of First Lieutenant and above who joined Vice Admiral Somerville in his mutiny will face the same fate. Every one of them will rot in a UN prison. The Interplanetary Committee and the Military Subcommittee will not tolerate mutineers, liars and warmongers. Somerville and his new friends will not drag us into another war.”

  MacArthur screamed in anger. His own fate and the loss of the ship were momentarily forgotten. The Interplanetary Committee could do what they want with him, but they had to listen. They couldn’t ignore the Invader threat. His scream was cut off from the Committee as the large double doors he had entered were shut behind him and the guards began to pummel him.

  *

  Unaware of the events of just ten minutes ago, Ambassador Haloar slithered up to the speaking platform that faced the UN Interplanetary Committee Representatives. Bowing low, Haloar sought to show the respect his species had gained for Humanity. When none of the Representatives before him stood and returned the gesture, Haloar had to push down the anger he felt. He knew Commander MacArthur had sent a file to brief the Interplanetary Committee on Varanni customs. They must not have had time to read the file, Haloar chose to tell himself. As if he had not just been insulted, he began to speak. “It is an honor for me to be allowed to address the leaders of your species,” he began. “My name is Ambassador Haloar, I have served as an ambassador in the Varanni Alliance for forty of your years. I have been sent by the Senate of the Varanni people to open diplomatic relations with your species and to discuss possible trade deals. The member species of the Varanni Trading Alliance have greatly benefited from common friendship and technology transfers. We hope that a similar friendship can be forged with your people. Especially now that we face a common enemy. The fleet Vice Admiral Somerville brought into our space and your commanders in that fleet have been a great help to us. Even now, warriors from my race and your race fight together to help the Mindus civilization. I’m confident that is a sign of the strength of bond our two peoples can forge.”

  “You’re welcome before this Committee ambassador,” Representative Dawson of the British Star Kingdom responded. Haloar knew the Representative was from Admiral Somerville’s nation and his mood improved. “Your species are certainly welcome here, and we are open to getting to know your civilization and your people better. However, I am afraid you have come here under false pretenses. Admiral Somerville is a mutineer. He was relieved of command before he took his ships into your space. Therefore, all the promises he has made you, and any actions he has taken have been unlawful. Whatever he has told you about us and whatever type of relationship he has offered you, let me dispel you of such notions.

  “The Human race has had enough of war and death. We,” Dawson said as she spread her arms out to encompass her fellow Representatives, “have been appointed to this position to ensure that peace reigns over our colonies. Vice Admiral Somerville is a relic of our past. His desire for glory led him to attack the Flex-aor and to take his fleet on some ill-suited crusade against an imaginary foe. You would be best served to forget what Somerville has told you about us. We have no interest in joining your war or making an enemy of these so-called Invaders. If your species wishes to negotiate trade deals and to develop a friendship between Humanity and yourselves, we are open to that. However, if you wish to drag us into a conflict that has nothing to do with us, we will have nothing to do with your Varanni Trading Alliance.”

  Haloar was aghast. He had never been so insulted in his life. Every fiber of his body wanted to spin around and remove himself from the presence of such insolent individuals. His forty years of experience as an ambassador and his understanding of the threat the Invad
ers posed made him hold his position. “You speak of things that you do not know Representative so I will not hold your ignorance against you. I confess, I did not know of Vice Admiral Somerville being a mutineer. From the experience my species has had with him, he has proven to be a trustworthy friend and exemplary strategist and tactician. You speak of your desire not to fight in any more wars. I would expect then that you would show more gratitude to my species. It is my understanding that commander MacArthur has briefed you on the battle fleet Varanni High Command sent against the Flex-aor. With our superior technologies, our fleet destroyed two thousand Flex-aor warships and raided two of their colonies. That destruction, added to what Vice Admiral Somerville and Admiral Ya’sia accomplished, will ensure the Flex-aor cannot pose any immediate threat to your species. I believe you owe my species your thanks.”