Righteous Reign The Series: E-version Boxed Set Edition
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By October 13, all my teams had moved. I had placed a large one at Theatre Seven and a regular team at Orion Fleet, a Theatre Eight detachment. On the Examiner, the forensics people kept crunching all the data. Day after day, we sent warrants to HQ for other apprehensions. They would have Marines at Headquarters and in Theatre Eight lay the charges and take the offenders into custody.
By October 19, the team at Seven gave me an initial remote account advising that Seven, and its Fleets, appeared to be out of the loop, except for the one communication received trying to enlist them in the conspiracy. I sent a preliminary report to Stephenson advising of the investigation of Theatre Seven, and explaining a detailed report would follow.
By October 15, the information from Orion Fleet exonerated its Commander of direct complicity. He was in constant written communication with his Task Force Commander discussing the Quadrant Four plan. All three felt Naabaahii was nuts but played along because he was the boss. They intended to ignore any request to deploy at Rigil or Earth. The problem is that they did not advise the C&C or another Quadrant Commander of the scheme.
Because the situation was still fluid, the C&C split the responsibility for Quadrant Four between Admirals Tonaka and Blackman, temporarily. The Auriga Fleet Commander was elevated to Admiral (10) and assigned as Theatre Eight Commander. Auriga's Task Force 1 Commander became the Fleet Commander. The holes were temporarily filled, but the investigation was ongoing.
We spent the next round of inquiries concentrating on Theatre Eight Fleets. There were six more to analyze. We handled them all at the same time by having Eight recall a couple of Fleets and using the Examiner for those, while four investigative groups did remote audits by shuttle. Our staff is big enough.
Late on the fifteenth, I ordered the Examiner to make for Theatre Seven at forty percent. The shuttles left from our position off Theatre Eight, since the Fleets were all relatively close to it. Seven was at Chi Orion about fifty light years from where we were, near 61 Virgo. It is precisely a five-day trip at forty percent of C, so the ship truly worked hard. But, my people were in reasonable shape when we arrived in a timely manner. All four remote fleets traveled within fifteen light years of the Theatre Command, albeit in all different directions, so the shuttles could reach those Fleets in a day and a half or less. We gave our people a one-day break when we arrived on site, then sent them off to their destinations.
There was a personal consideration involved in rushing like that. We wanted these investigations done as quickly as possible, but I needed them done fast enough for Examiner to leave the scene in time to reach Midgard for the Nichols' wedding. The remote teams followed in the shuttles, but the squads running from the Examiner blitzed their targets. We double-teamed each Fleet Command with groups of seventy and copied all their data to our system. Forensics began sifting as the data came in and continued all the way home and at Midgard when we arrived. Only a few charges were laid on site, citing very obvious infractions. Based on the evidence, we sent out arresting officers and orders for other detainments, after arriving at Midgard.
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The Nichols' wedding, on October 28th, was incredible. I was barely back in time for the rehearsal and its dinner. I had a front-row seat for the ceremony since I was one of the ushers. Admiral Bryant was the best man. Marie Bryant was the Maid of Honor, and Helena was one of the Bridesmaids. With her slim but pleasing build, incredible looks, elegant manner and chic styling Olivia could have been posing for a bridal magazine. She was stunning in a Banerjee original studded with rhinestones trimmed along the plunging neckline by alternating genuine Swiss topaz and diamonds, eliminating the need for jewelry to grace her neck. The whole thing was reminiscent of the Bryant wedding. Representative officers and crew from all eight of his Fleets and Midgard were at the wedding, along with Blackman, Tonaka, Stephenson, Williamson, and several Theatre and Fleet Commanders from throughout the service. Edward III attended as a footman. Close to seven hundred filled the Flag Bridge with the large viewing port as a backdrop to the wedding ceremony. Eight thousand from all the previously mentioned commands took part in the dinner on the Midgard's Hangar Deck.
Fortunately, I am the boss in my domain, as is my Helena in her bailiwick. We were able to sleep in the morning after the wedding dinner.
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By Monday, November 2, a group of prosecutors visited the Examiner for a meeting with the senior members of our teams and myself. We spent two days going over all the data from the most recent Quadrant, Theatre, and Fleet Investigations. They brought charges against forty-four. Thirty-one were already in custody. We now had control of the Quadrant Four situation, so I was able to transmit arrest warrants to HQ, Theatre Eight, and the Fleets involved. The other eleven were detained and shipped back to Rigil for trials.
Also on November 2, Emperor Edward III passed a modified constitution to the Council and Assembly. It contained the passages making him King of the Orion Empire and his family heirs to that throne in perpetuity. There was little public flack at first since the recent wedding, and the waves of arrests had drawn the attention of the press elsewhere. But, regardless of the lack of interest, the First Minister reacted almost as predicted. And, regardless of expectations, it was sad when he did, because he'd been a friend of the Emperor and his closest associate for more than thirty years.
But, within hours of Edward’s request for the change to the Orion Constitution, the first minister was monitored sending a demand to Fleet Admiral David Williamson to position forces to support him in an operation to take control of the government, suspend the Constitution, and declare Martial Law.
Williamson generated an official Tactical Action Message to Theatre Two Command ordering Admiral Inang'aa Mkali to move six Fleets to Earth and restrict travel through space near Sol. He was to repel any force from entering a region within five light-years of the system and put two Fleets in orbit over Rigil. Inang'aa was also to place thirty thousand Marines on the ground on Earth to take control of the Council, Assembly, Emperor's Mansion and facilities, and local and regional law enforcement offices in and near the capital. On Rigil, he was to deploy ten thousand troops to take command of the OESA under the direct control of Fleet Admiral David Williamson. The order was authorized and signed by both C&C. Of course, Stephenson's signature was counterfeit.
I saw this information nearly immediately since my intelligence forces were the ones monitoring these people. I was shocked to see the limited support. The Quadrant One Commander was not compromised. Neither was the Theatre One Commander. Giuseppe Ettore, the First Minister, and David Williamson had intended to attempt the coup with support from Quadrant Four and only half of Quadrant One forces. When they lost control of Four, they were left with only Theatre Two Command to turn to but decided to proceed. I advised the Emperor and Fleet Admiral Stephenson immediately of a planned coup. I issued arrest warrants for Williamson for generating an unlawful order, forgery, and fomenting rebellion, Ettore and Naabaahii for encouraging revolution, and issued orders to Colonel Sparks to serve the warrants and formally arrest and detain the accused. The problem with serving the warrant on Naabaahii was that his Theatre Command was at 41 Aries, twenty-seven light years from my current position. If I wanted to stop him, I had to come up with a way to get to his Command, quickly. I had an idea.
But first, I notified Fleet Admiral Stephenson, the Secretary of Defense and the Emperor of the impending arrests and the evidence the warrants were based on. This would give Stephenson a reason to ask the Secretary of Defense to suspend Williamson and open nominations for a temporary replacement.
Then I wrote a general communiqué - kind of like the old "All Point Bulletins."
MEMO
URGENT
From:Admiral Kurt Brubacher Inspector General
To:Quadrant Two, Three, Four and Mobile Fifth RAC Comman
ders,
Theatre One, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Commanders
Re:Arrest Warrant for Admiral Naabaahii Commander Theatre Two Command
Date:November 2, 2257
All,
This evening, the Inspector General Branch Special Investigation Unit uncovered a coup against Emperor Edward III. This scheme is related to earlier apprehensions made throughout Quadrant Four Command. Lawful Arrest Warrants were issued and served on First Minister Giuseppe Ettore and Fleet Admiral David Williamson resulting in their seizure and detainment. The First Minister has been charged with "Fomenting Rebellion" and "Conspiracy to Overthrow the Lawful Government of the Orion Empire." Fleet Admiral Williamson has been charged with "Issuing an Unlawful Order, Forgery, Conspiracy to Overthrow the Lawful Government of the Orion Empire and Fomenting Rebellion." However, a third major player was involved in this plot. Admiral Naabaahii was ordered by his accomplice Fleet Admiral Williamson, in the name of both C&C, and in the form of a Tactical Action Message, to deploy his force to Earth and Rigil. He was to take control of the Council, Assembly, Emperor, and the OESA, when in fact, Fleet Admiral W. Stephenson had not authorized the action. All such orders of the C&C require consent and signature of both members, according to statute and OESA Rules and Regulations. It does not appear that Admiral Naabaahii is an innocent dupe in this rebellion. Evidence indicates, he has been a member of ongoing treachery, during the past seven months. Tonight's attempted overthrow was discovered almost immediately after Fleet Admiral Williamson generated this order.
It will take nearly two and one-half days for Theatre Two Command to retrieve all its Fleets, before heading for its targets. We do not expect Theatre Two Command to "stand down" without the threat of punitive action. Admiral Naabaahii has also been officially charged with Fomenting Rebellion and Conspiracy to overthrow the lawful government of the Orion Empire.
All Commands in the proximity of Theatre Two deployments, other than those subordinate to Admiral Naabaahii are asked to converge on Theatre Two immediately and prevent all units from jumping to their targets. Use of force is authorized, but should not be required if his jump points are destroyed, as created. It should take little time for Admiral Naabaahii to see the futility of his actions and stand down and surrender. All forces in the vicinity of the Sol and Kentaurus systems are asked to take defensive positions to protect these regions from the intended actions of Theatre Two Command. Use of lethal power, though approved, should only be a last resort.
You are asked to detain Theatre Two Command's Commander and return him to OESA headquarters to face legitimate legal remedies, and prevent his Command from taking any further action against the OESA, or the Orion Empire. Investigations are ongoing to determine the depth of involvement of Theatre Two Sub-Commands and any others that may have participated in this plan.
Thank you all for your cooperation.
Admiral K Brubacher
Shortly after sending this broadcast, I received the following communiqué.
MEMO
URGENT!
To:Edward III Head of State Orion Empire,
Council of First Ministers of the OrionEmpire,
Secretary of Defense of the Orion Empire
From:Fleet Admiral William O. Stephenson C&C OESA
C.C.All Quadrant Commands, Mobile Fifth RAC, Inspector General Branch
Re:C&C of OESA and ongoing operations
Date:November 2, 2257
All,
Tonight's events have stunned us all. I am especially shocked that Fleet Admiral Williamson would be a party to actions designed to interfere with the Emperor's Constitutional Right to govern our Empire. His authority does not just come from the Constitution. It has been earned over generations of rule by the Delnikov family that has always been conducted fairly and in the best interest of the Empire and his half trillion subjects.
Though stopping such a conspiracy was a very affirmative action, it has had a negative effect on the Empire's ability to defend itself. Statutes and OESA Rules and Regulations require that all Tactical Action Messages and operational orders issued by the Office of the C&C, in the name of the OESA, are with the consent and signature of both Officers appointed to that position. Those laws and regulations do not allow for operation of this Command by one person.
In that light, I would ask that at a minimum, you temporarily suspend Fleet Admiral Williamson from duty. I also request that you, at least provisionally elevate a replacement and appoint that person C&C OESA to serve alongside me. This is an urgent requirement. The OESA is unable to lawfully defend the Empire, at this moment. An intrusion into our space would be met by automatic responses from Fleets following protocols of the Rules and Regulations in the region, but any wider required actions would be unlawful.
In the interest of expediency, I would respectfully like to nominate Admiral O. Blackman, currently Quadrant 2 Commander, for temporary elevation to Fleet Admiral (12) and assignment as C&C OESA. Admiral Blackman is the next logical candidate to assume the leadership of this service. He has had a long and loyal career and has always worked for the good of the OESA and the Empire. This would have to be completed in the form of an order and not an offer since time does not permit consideration of a proposal. Official ceremonies would have to be postponed, and the elevation would need to be conducted, by you as soon as possible to re-enable the OESA.
Yours respectfully,
Fleet Admiral William O. Stephenson
I received the following message just the next morning.
MEMO
URGENT!
To:Fleet Admiral William O. Stephenson C&C OESA
From:Edward III Head of State Orion Empire
C.C.All Quadrant Commands, Mobile Fifth RAC, Inspector General Branch
Re:C&C of OESA and ongoing operations
Date:November 2, 2257
Admiral Stephenson,
In response to your urgent situation, we convened an extraordinary meeting of the Council and First Ministers, with the Secretary of Defense and me, in attendance.
Since your need is immediate and affects the defense of our entire sovereign territory, we have agreed to temporarily suspend Fleet Admiral Williamson from duty and elevate Admiral Blackman to Fleet Admiral (12 in the interim, provisionally assigning him as C&C OESA. Permanence of this promotion will be based on criminal court findings in the matter of the charges against Fleet Admiral Williamson.
The Secretary of Defense and I will travel to your offices, on Rigil, arriving at five hundred hours November 3, 2257, to conduct this elevation and appointment. Please have Admiral Blackman present and ready to assume his duties at that time.
We are aware that the Inspector General Branch vessel ESS Examiner is currently parked at Rigil. We would want Admiral Brubacher in attendance at the ceremony.
Respectfully yours,
Edward Delnikov (Edward III)
After a very disturbed sleep back on the Examiner, I shuttled down to Rigil at four hundred hours the next morning to attend the ceremony. We occupied a room I had never been in on the executive level. It is the first door, after the central elevator, located on the south side of the corridor. The room claims more than six-thousand square feet. There is a massive table with sixteen places at one end of the area, and a lectern at the other end. Towards the table’s end of the room, a fully stocked bar bears testimony to the many special events, that are probably held in this place. I stood witness to the promotion with a significant group, at that ungodly hour. I wondered just how they managed this many persons so early. Then, the Secretary and the Emperor approached me.
"Admiral Brubacher, I would like to thank you personally. And, on behalf of the Empire, I would like to commend you. How convincing is the evidence?" The Emperor asked.
"Your majesty, we have the Tactical Action Message issued to Theatre Two Command by Fleet Admiral Williamson. It shows both C&C authorizing it. We have Admiral Stephenson's sworn, and verified, statement that he never eve
n saw or discussed this order. We have an email chain going back many months, conspiring to carry out this action should you attempt any constitutional changes. The communications describe the planned rebellion in great detail. We have the previous arrests and all that proof that ties to this. It will be hard for any defense counsel to refute everything. I have no doubts our evidence is strong enough to convict all the perpetrators." I explained.
"Do you expect to find any more participants?" The Emperor inquired.
"Yes but, only within the Quadrant One Theatre Two Command. It is apparent that the Theatre One Commander had nothing to do with this. She was approached some months ago and brushed it off as some kind of stupid prank, never believing the C&C would be involved in such a plan. We are still not sure of which Fleets in Theatre Two are involved. We don't know if all the Fleets responded to orders from the Theatre Commander. One very positive point is that these conspirators bypassed the Quadrant Commander completely, knowing that Command would not be a part of it." I explained.
"Very good, Admiral. We will copy you on all subsequent communications that we generate as a result of this incident and will order the C&C to follow suit." The Secretary added.
"Thank you, sir. I am just glad that, our operation began to unravel this thing a few weeks ago. I am loyal to the Emperor and the Empire. I would not have wanted this rebellion to succeed." I added as we all shook hands, and the two leaders turned and exited the room. A short while later, I received another memo.
MEMO
To:All Commands of the OESA, All OESA Personnel
From:Edward III Head of State Orion Empire, Office of the Secretary of Defense