Return to Haven (Empire Rising Book 3)

by D. J. Holmes

  “Let’s see what the news reports are making of everything,” Suzanna said, reaching over to power up the room’s holo projector.

  “Do we have to?” James asked, already tired of thinking about it.

  “Yes,” Suzanna said. “If Fairfax really does have a plan, we need to know if it is working.”

  “If you insist,” James said reluctantly.

  With James’ approval, Suzanna switched the holo projector on to show the broadcast from one of the British Broadcasting Cooperation’s main news channels.

  “Look, it’s Admiral Cunningham,” Suzanna said.

  “What is he doing on there?” James wondered. “He’s the commander of the Home Fleet, not a political commentator.

  “I don’t know,” Suzanna said, “but this should be interesting, let’s listen,”

  “Welcome to the show,” the presenter said to Cunningham.

  “Thank you for the invitation,” Cunningham said.

  “Now for those of you who don’t know, do you mind telling us a bit about yourself?” the presenter asked.

  “Certainly,” Cunningham responded. “I am Admiral Keith Cunningham, Commander of the British Home Fleet.”

  “And you were posted to the Home Fleet after your victory over the Chinese fleet in the Void War weren’t you Admiral?”

  “Yes,” Cunningham said.

  “Captain Somerville served under you during the war?” the presenter followed up.

  “He served under the late Rear Admiral Jensen first, and then both officers came under my command when my fleet was sent into the Void,” Cunningham explained.

  “What can you tell us about this young Captain. Did his actions while under your command lead you to believe that he is a bloodthirsty warmonger as the court martial material released today would suggest?” the presenter asked eagerly.

  “I can’t speak for his most recent actions, they are currently the focus of this court martial after all,” Cunningham began. “But I can say this. While under my command Captain Somerville showed himself to be a fine officer. He fought bravely and with skill, so much so that he was promoted from commanding an exploration frigate to a destroyer in the middle of the Void War.

  “His actions since then have only confirmed to me that he is one of the navy’s rising stars. His intervention in Haven saved the colony from certain destruction. To prevent another attack, he took his single ship into the depths of unknown space. He confronted the leader of a ruthless government set on genocide. Removed the leader, bringing freedom to his subjects, and then, to top it all off, he went on to defeat the fleet that the leader had sent to wipe out another civilization.

  “In one mission Captain Somerville won the safety of two worlds, the freedom of another, and earned the respect and thanks of two alien races. He may be young and brash, but he has always acted in the best interests of his crew and his nation. I believe this whole court martial is just a political farce. As James said himself, his record speaks for itself. You only have to listen to the praise he has received from the leaders of the Vestarians and Kulreans to see for yourselves. I for one cannot fathom why this court martial has been convened. Certainly, it is not because of any military concerns with James’ actions.”

  “So you think there are other motivations at play, political ones?” the presenter asked.

  “Yes, there must be. I can see no other reason to ruin a fine young officer’s career and put our relationship with the Kulreans and Vestarians in jeopardy,” Cunningham answered.

  “You think our relationship with the aliens will be threatened by this court martial?” the presenter followed up.

  “Yes,” Cunningham said. “If you look at what both leaders of those civilizations have said about Captain Somerville, it is clear they hold him in very high regard. If we punish the very person who helped them, they will see it as a policy statement. It will look like our government and our people regret what James did for them. They will surely take that as some form of insult.”

  “I see,” the presenter said. “Well, it just so happens, we have excerpts of the words the alien leaders have spoken about Captain Somerville available for us to play. We were saving them for a later news segment, but I think it would be appropriate to show them to our viewers now if that is ok Admiral?”

  “By all means,” Cunningham said.

  “I can’t believe they have Cunningham on a news broadcast,” James said. “He must be hating every minute of this. The last time I saw him he wasn’t too impressed with me. In fact, it was just after I had ignored a direct order from both him and Rear Admiral Jensen. I’m glad the prosecution in my trial doesn’t know about that.”

  “That is probably a good thing,” Suzanna agreed. “But you know Cunningham approved of your actions after the battle, it stopped that Chinese Admiral from getting home and continuing the war.”

  “I know,” James said, once again amazed by how quickly Suzanna was picking up all the intricacies of government and naval politics, “but I still don’t get what he is doing being interviewed.”

  “Don’t you understand?” Suzanna asked, the tone of her voice rising. “Even Admirals have to make sacrifices for the greater good. I bet Fairfax put him up to this, it has to be part of the Prime Minister’s plan.”

  “A plan I would love to be filled in on,” James said.

  “James,” Suzanna said sternly, “has no one ever taught you to read between the lines? Fairfax wants to portray you as the young innocent Captain whose naval career is being railroaded by the political elites to further their selfish causes.”

  “But why am I so important?” James protested.

  “What is this?” Suzanna said instead of answering while she motioned for James to be quiet and let her listen.

  “There is one more thing we wish to show you,” the presenter was saying. “This is a press release from the Swedish military, if you all remember, we mentioned earlier in our show that Captain Somerville received the Swedish Medal of the Sword in thanks for a battle he fought against a Chinese destroyer that was attacking a defenseless Swedish colony ship.”

  “Oh great,” James said as the presenter read the press release. “Do you know I wanted to run away when those Chinese destroyers appeared? I very nearly did. Half of the things they are saying about me aren’t true.”

  “Nonsense,” Suzanna said after the press release was read. “But even if you are right, if only half of them are true, then you are still a remarkable man. And you are shaping up to be a pretty good husband,” she added with a smirk.

  “One that gets far more political and news attention than he would like. You are supposed to be the politician,” James complained.

  “And I am, that is why I understand what is going on,” Suzanna said. “Every good politician needs someone who can rally support for his cause. Fairfax can’t be the one to lead the people to war. In their eyes, he is a paper pusher. But you, you are a hero, and by the time Fairfax is done everyone on Earth is going to know it. He is using you to rally the support he needs. Who better than the innocent Captain who is wrongfully accused of treason by those who wish to leave a colony in the grip of hostile invaders? You are just going to have to put up with it, for the good of your nation and my people.”

  “Hmmph,” James sighed. “You are sounding too much like my uncle,”

  “He must be a wise man then,” Suzanna said with a chuckle. “You know, come to think of it, I think I already knew that. He did force us together after all,” she added as she reached up to pull James’ lips to hers.

  “Let’s forget about the trial for tonight,” Suzanna said after their lips parted. “Take me for a walk around the estate, then we can make the most of your time here. You will be back on board Endeavour and heading towards Haven before you know it.”

  Whatever happens, at least I can face it with Suzanna supporting me, James thought, knowing that her suggestions were just what he needed. “Your wish is my command my Duchess,” he said as he stood an
d pulled Suzanna to her feet.

  “Lead on then good Sir,” Suzanna said as she hooked her arm around his elbow.

  Chapter 26 – Betrayal

  Growing up we are all taught to give the Emperor our utmost loyalty. After joining the Navy, I was taught to be loyal to my crewmates and my fellow officers. Even so, I always knew that every person’s loyalty had a breaking point, it just depended on how many credits it would take.

  -Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD

  4th June 2467 AD, Admiralty House, London.

  When James pushed through the large wooden double doors into the court martial chamber, he was relieved to see the proceedings hadn’t started. He had been late leaving Badminton house.

  “I’m glad you decided to join us,” Cynthia said when he sat down beside her.

  “I don’t think I can afford another one of Blackwood’s fines,” James said with a chuckle.

  “Someone is in a better mood,” Cynthia replied with a raised eyebrow.

  “After all the press about me last night, how could I not be bouncing off the walls?” James said sarcastically. “But yes, Suzanna has given me a bit more perspective. I’m just eager to see this thing through to the end now.”

  “Good,” Cynthia said. “The prosecution will be calling a number of witnesses from Endeavour, so I imagine things will get worse before they get better, but just hang in there. This should be over by the end of the day. All you have to do is sit there and look innocent.”

  “I’m not sure how to do that,” James replied, “but I’m happy to leave everything else up to you.”

  “Then let’s begin,” Cynthia said as she stood to acknowledge Blackwood’s entrance into the courtroom.

  “You may be seated,” Blackwood said as he took his own seat behind the bench. “I believe the prosecution has more witnesses to call.”

  James couldn’t help noticing the bags under Blackwood’s eyes. They weren’t there yesterday, he thought, maybe he watched the news broadcasts too. James smiled at the idea.

  “Yes, Your Honor,” the main prosecution attorney said.

  Where Blackwood looked tired, Rodgers looked determined. On the other hand, James thought to himself, if they both watched the news, then they will be doubly determined to make me look bad today.

  “We would like to begin by calling Ensign Jackson,” Rodgers said.

  For the next two hours the prosecution called minor witness after minor witness. In each case, the prosecution attorney sought to turn the witnesses against James. He asked questions about the crew members view of their Captain, about friends and colleagues who they had lost under James’ command. About the fear they had endured while on the mission to Haven and about any doubts they had concerning James’ abilities as a Captain and his fitness to lead. Rarely did he actually turn to the events that directly spoke to the charges James was facing. It was clear to everyone in the court what the attorney was doing. He was playing things up for the public at home. Making it look like James was not the hero Captain Fairfax was trying to portray to the public. From the glances James stole at the jurors, it was clear that more than one of them was getting irritated at Rodger’s tactics.

  To a man, as each of the witness walked out of the witness stand and past James they mouthed an apology. James graciously accepted them. It was natural for crew members to complain about their Captain and have doubts from time to time. No one expected to be brought up in front of a court martial and forced to reveal their inner thoughts. He already knew from their time in Haven that when push came to shove, each of them would back him and willingly follow him into battle.

  Cynthia was quick to pick up on that and she asked a few penetrating questions to show that each witness’ opinion didn’t matter a great deal, for their junior position on Endeavour meant they had little knowledge of the key events in question. She ended each cross examination with a simple question.

  “Now Sub Lieutenant West,” Cynthia said to the latest witness, “if you were to have your time on Endeavour over again. Would you willingly follow Captain Somerville into battle?”

  “Yes,” West answered with relief. As with the other witnesses, his sense of letting his Captain down had been growing as the prosecution attorney had been asking question after question. “Yes, I most definitely would,” he added, jumping at the chance to articulate his support for his Captain.

  “Thank you Sub Lieutenant, that was my last question,” Cynthia said.

  James couldn’t help smiling at the look on Blackwood’s face. So far all five of his crew members who had been questioned had responded the same way.

  “The prosecution calls Petty Officer Dick Warren,” Cynthia’s opposite number said after West left the witness stand.

  Murmurs ran through the public gallery as Petty Officer Warren hobbled his way to the stand. James’ heart went out to the Petty Officer. He had been one of the few survivors from the missile strike on Endeavour’s nose section. He had lost a leg and an arm and his face was covered in hideous burn scars. Endeavour’s doctor had done her best to stabilize Warren, but the ship’s medical facilities were limited. She couldn’t grow the skin or limbs Warren needed. His limbs, and skin for the skin grafts, were being grown in the naval hospital in London, for now though, he was obviously still waiting on them. In an age where people weren’t used to the sight of sickness and death, Warren was a shocking display of what warfare was really like.

  “In your own words Petty Officer Warren,” Rodgers said after Warren was sworn in. “Can you tell us what happened to you when you received these injuries?”

  “Yes,” Warren answered. “My battlestation was in Endeavour’s forward port nose section. I was in charge of overseeing the battery of point defense plasma cannons in that section. It was my job to carryout repairs and override any technical malfunctions that might occur in battle. From my display, I was able to watch the Indian missiles that the point defenses were tracking.”

  “And how many missiles did you see homing in on Endeavour?” the prosecution attorney asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Warren said. “There were too many for me to count.”

  “The sensor readings from the bridge says there were exactly twenty-six in the final missile salvo the Indian escorts fired at Endeavour,” Rodgers supplied.

  “That sounds about right,” Warren said.

  “And how many missiles is Endeavour’s point defenses rated to be able to defend against?” Rodgers asked.

  “From between ten and fourteen,” Warren said. “Of course the exact number depends on the technological capabilities of the missiles’ ECM and seeker heads, as well as the circumstances of the battle. Things like closing speed make a big difference to the effectiveness of point defense fire.”

  “That may be,” Rodgers said, “but isn’t it true that Captain Somerville knew how many Indian ships were escorting the convoy he attacked?”

  “I’m sure he did,” Warren said. “The Indian ships weren’t hiding.”

  “Didn’t he know that it was possible upwards of twenty or even thirty missiles could be fired at his ship?”

  “Yes, I’m sure Captain Somerville was able to do the math,” Warren answered.

  “Captain Somerville knew that Endeavour would be facing far more missiles than she was rated to be able to handle. Wouldn’t that make Captain Somerville responsible for the twenty-four lives that were lost in that battle? Wouldn’t it make him responsible for the injuries that we see you have today?” Rodgers asked.

  “Yes it would,” Warren said. “But it would also make him responsible for destroying two Indian troop ships and preventing them from landing on Haven.”

  “Exactly,” Rodgers said, “Something that was an act of war and an act of treason. You are right Petty Officer; Captain Somerville is responsible for that.”

  Warren looked like he wanted to protest but before he could say anything the prosecution attorney beat him to it. “No further questions, Your Honor,” he said.


  “Your witness,” Blackwood said to Cynthia.

  “Should I ask him if he would still follow you if he had it to do again?” she asked, leaning over to whisper to James.

  James took a moment to think. He had spoken to Warren a number of times after his injuries on the way back from Haven, he thought they had got on well. Yet he wasn’t sure how the officer would respond.

  “Yes,” James said, deciding that he wanted to know the truth, whether it would hurt him or not.

  “I would like to begin by thanking you for your service Petty Officer,” Cynthia said as she stood and approached the witness box.