Waking at eleven hundred in the morning is something I realize I could enjoy, every once in awhile. We run off to brush our teeth and make love in the shower. Then, we dress and head to the lounge for brunch. It seems too late to order breakfast in our quarters.
I grab my pad and activate my system with a coffee still in front of me. I navigate until I reach a copy of the full Constitutional proposal.
"This is an impressive document. Edward has deeply considered everything.' I say and look up. Helena is attentive, so I continue summarizing. 'It enshrines the same human rights and bans the same things as before. No political parties. No organized religions. Representative Government based on the same formula as before. The Assembly is elected every four years. It elects a president to execute state business, at the beginning of the new term. The president picks portfolio holders to sit in his cabinet, for up to a period of four years, each approved by a vote of the Assembly. The Cabinet runs the day-to-day business of the government departments within their portfolios. It replaces the Council. Today's Assembly sits for another two years before another is elected. A vote of the Assembly, on any matter, does not require the assent of another arm of government but is signed by the President and King as a matter of protocol. The Assembly holds the power of approval for all legislation passed by all our remote planetary governments. Nothing is law until approved by the Orion Legislative Assembly. The President is Chief Executive and Commander in Chief of the military. The King is Honorary Head of State. The President signs agreements with foreign powers which can be overturned by a vote of the Assembly. The Empire will become the Orion Federation. It's a true hybrid - kind of like a Federated Constitutional Monarchy." I explain as I change to the news.
There are considerable objections to the proposal. Edward did an on-camera speech to explain it, telling us all that a dictatorship is dangerous, and that we were mature enough to handle government as a democracy. He reminded all that we had two centuries of experience, in what makes for a good life, to draw on. Edward explained that the job of Emperor, as it is now, is too all-consuming for one person. He reminded everyone that though we may all want our descendants to do the right thing, he could never be sure if a future King would become a tyrant and despot. For his last act as Emperor, he would make it an order that the Assembly accept the document by unanimous vote, and each and every member would sign it to represent their worlds. After that, the Assembly would sit and elect its President immediately so there'd be no interruption of government. - Or, the assembly could do it all voluntarily. He ended by telling everyone that he only wants the best for all, and Democracy is the best way to ensure that outcome.
Images from Earth and outlying worlds appear relatively calm, but the thousands of Marines in the streets are visible in the story. The real issue would be the OESA. There are still forces within that could offer considerable resistance. A couple of weeks back, Theatre Two Command had been stopped and their Commander relieved. Quadrant Four Commander had been relieved, before that incident. Though major Command-level resistance seemed already under control, individual Fleet Commanders could try to take things into their own hands. A single Fleet is a formidable force. I turn off the news.
The rest of our day is quiet as the Shield Maiden cruises slowly back to the Valhalla, still in Earth Orbit. At twenty hundred, we dock at the Loki. We spend that evening and night in her quarters, thoroughly sealing our marriage contract. I shuttle over to the Examiner at eight hundred hours in the morning.
.................................................................................................................
I just sit behind my desk, when my system annunciator rings.
MEMO
Priority Action Message
To:All OESA Quadrant Commands, Fifth Mobile RAC, All OESA Theatre Commands
Inspector General Branch
From:Office of OESA C&C
C.C.OESA All Commands,
Re:Forces Resisting Constitutional Changes
Date:December 1, 2257
All,
This is to advise you that three OESA Fleets appear to have gone dark. Since all Fleets are required by Regulations to communicate with their Theatre Commands at least every six hours, we have no recourse but to believe, they may be proceeding to Earth and Rigil to take hostile actions, in an attempt to prevent enactment of proposed constitutional changes. Capricorn Fleet, Crater Fleet, and Ara Fleet are currently listed as missing. They may or may not be still flying their Fleet pennants. However, it is wise to assume that any vessel not displaying Fleet identification is, in fact, one of the suspected ones. A list of registry numbers is attached to this message for identification purposes.
All Quadrant Commands and Mobile Fifth RAC should redeploy their forces to repel such an attack.
Fleet Admiral W. Stephenson
Fleet Admiral O. Blackman
A flurry of TAMs followed.
Tactical Action Message #FM49-5761
CLASSIFIED
From:Admiral George T. Bryant Fifth Mobile Command
To:Admiral S. Nichols Fifth Mobile RAC Theatre Nine Command
C.C.OESA C&C, OESA All Commands, All Quadrant Commands, All Theatre Commands
Date:December 1, 2257
Admiral Nichols,
Please examine the Priority Action Message received a short while ago from the C&C. Also, consider carefully, the last known positions of the three Fleets in question. From your investigations, please redeploy your Fleets close to the Kentaurus system, if necessary, to place the greatest resistance to attack in the most likely positions, they would land. Please also deploy all twelve unattached vessels between Rigil and Sol to engage in reconnaissance as a means to locate these Fleets.
Any unnecessary communication regarding this matter should be avoided. All steps should be taken to secure this information should communication be necessary.
George T. Bryant Commanding Fifth Mobile Command
Tactical Action Message #Q20-5733
CLASSIFIED
From:Admiral Tsoh Shah Quadrant Two Commander
To:Theatre Three Command
C.C.OESA C&C, OESA All Commands, All Quadrant Commands, All Theatre Commands
Date:December 1, 2257
Admiral,
Please examine the Priority Action Message received a short while ago from the C&C. You are ordered and required to redeploy your Fleets close to the Sol system, to place the greatest resistance to attack in the most likely area rebels would land.
Any unnecessary communication regarding this matter should be avoided. All steps should be taken to secure this information should communication be necessary.
Admiral Tsoh Shah
Tactical Action Message #Q20-5734
CLASSIFIED
From:Admiral Tsoh Shah Quadrant Two Commander
To:Theatre Four Command
C.C.OESA C&C, OESA All Commands, All Quadrant Commands, All Theatre Command
Date:December 1, 2257
Admiral,
Please examine the Priority Action Message received a short while ago from the C&C. You are ordered and required to redeploy your Fleets to maintain as much patrol capability as possible, while stretching your resources as far inside the seventy-one light year sector divider, as is feasible. I have ordered Theatre Three Forces to pull tighter to the Sol system. You must attempt to maintain protection of our outer borders; while reinforcing as much area vacated by Theatre Three, as is possible.
Any unnecessary communication regarding this matter should be avoided. All steps should be taken to secure this information should communication be necessary.
Admiral Tsoh Shah
Tactical Action Message #FT9-5766
CLASSIFIED
From:Admiral Stephen Nichols Fifth Mobile Theatre Nine Commander
To:All Theatre Nine Fleets
C.C.OESA C&C, OESA All Commands, All Quadrant Commands, All Theatre Command
Date:December 1, 2257
Admiral
s,
Please examine the Priority Action Message received a short while ago from the C&C. I have spent considerable time with the Theatre Nine Tactical Department Team analyzing tactics of the three Fleet Commanders, in question, their points of departure and probable targets of each, based on the belief they are working in concert.
All Fifth Mobile Theatre Nine Fleets are ordered and required to change communications codes to those specified in document A795231; and, to change tactical message encryption to those listed in document A795232. This will prevent the rebellious Fleets from monitoring tactical plans and orders when they are within range.
Fleets are ordered and required to redeploy to the following positions.
For the protection of Rigil
Carina Fleet 14hr 29min 43sec Dec -61.5º @4.36lY
Columba Fleet 14hr 35min 50sec Dec -61.0º @4.36lY
Phoenix Fleet 14hr 39min 40sec Dec -61.2° @4.36lY
Ursa Minor Fleet 14hr 35min 40sec Dec -61.0º @4.36lY
For the Protection of Sol
Scutum Fleet 12hr 30min 00sec Dec -10.0º @.40lY
Sagitta Fleet 13hr 0min 0sec Dec 0.0º @.40lY
Grus Fleet 12hr 39min 40sec Dec -10.0º @.40lY
Dorado Fleet 13hr 0min 0sec Dec +10.0º @.40lY
For reconnaissance, all Autonomous Frigate Commands should form a picket line from RA 14hr, 35min, 50sec Dec -61.0º, @4.36lY to 12hr, 30min, 00sec Dec -10.0º, @.40lY
All positions are relative to Sol.
While three Fleets are involved, I believe that I would send two to Rigil to neutralize control of the OESA, first, if I had planned this attack. On that basis, the principal defense should be there. All attempts should be made to peacefully contain these Fleets, but lethal force is approved, if required, at the discretion of Fleet Commanders.
Any unnecessary communication regarding this matter should be avoided. All steps should be taken to secure this information should communication be necessary.
Admiral Stephen Nichols
Tactical Action Message #FT10-5746
CLASSIFIED
From:Admiral Palakiko, Fifth Mobile RAC Theatre Ten Commander
To:All Theatre Ten Fleets
C.C.OESA C&C, OESA All Commands, All Quadrant Commands, All Theatre Command
Date:December 1, 2257
Admirals,
Please examine the Priority Action Message received a short while ago from the C&C. I have read the report of Admiral Nichols and the Theatre Nine Tactical Department Team. They are analyzing tactics of the three Fleet Commanders, in question, their points of departure, and the likely targets of each, based on the belief they are working in concert. The Theatre Ten Tactical Department Team and I agree with their conclusions.
All Fifth Mobile Theatre Ten Fleets are ordered and required to change communications codes to those specified in document A795231, and to alter tactical message encryption to those listed in document A795232. This will prevent the rebellious Fleets from monitoring plans and orders when they are within range.
Fleets are ordered and required to redeploy to the following positions.
For the protection of Rigil
Aquarius Fleet14hr 29min 43sec Dec -60.5º @4.36lY
Canis Minor Fleet 14hr 35min 50sec Dec -60.0º @4.36lY
Centaur Fleet 14hr 39min 40sec Dec -60.5º @4.36lY
Delphinium Fleet 14hr 35min 40sec Dec -60.0º @4.36lY
For the Protection of Sol
Vulpecula Fleet 12hr 30min 00sec Dec +10.0º @.40lY
Telescope Fleet 13hr 0min 0sec Dec 0.0º @.40lY
Reticulum Fleet 12hr 30min 00sec Dec +10.0º @.40lY
Pegasus Fleet 13hr 0min 0sec Dec -10.0º @.40lY
All positions are relative to Sol.
For reconnaissance, all Autonomous Frigate commands should form a picket line from 14hr, 39min, 40sec Dec -60.5º, @4.36lY to 12hr, 30min, 00sec Dec +10.0º, @.40lY
While three Fleets are involved, we believe that two would be sent to Rigil to neutralize control of the OESA, first. On that basis, the dominant defense should be there. All attempts should be made to peacefully contain these fleets, but lethal force is approved, if required, at the discretion of Fleet Commanders.
Any unnecessary communication regarding this matter should be avoided. All steps should be taken to secure this information should communication be necessary.
Admiral Palakiko
In a short time, the C&C sends another notification explaining they have analyzed Nichols' tactical plan, and are ordering all Commands, within support range of the positions outlined in his and Palakiko's directives, to support their actions. Their Commanders are instructed to detach the selected Fleets and place them under Stephen's authority. All operations are told to follow his lead on communications. In very short order, another twenty-two TAMs triggered the annunciator on my pad.
I send an instruction to Commander MacDonald to switch to communications protocols in the previous messages, then send an email asking him to check with medical on the number of trauma patients we can handle, in an emergency.
A short while later he replies, explaining that Medical advises they can handle up to eight, initially, projecting another six per hour for an additional five hours. They estimate they'd reach the maximum limit on bed space, at that time. They further explain they're equipped to handle everything up to class three trauma.
I send a memo to the C&C, copied to all other commands instructing the Examiner is close to the projected Rigil engagement and will assist in any medical needs if required. I add the position we'd park at, copying it to the Examiner Captain. We are half a light-year from it. We jump out a couple of minutes later. MacDonald deserves a promotion.
We exit the jump out of sight of, but nearest to, the Phoenix Fleet, still parked off Rigil, but now at the new position. I head for the Examiner's bridge, order the Captain to deploy short-range sensors and long-range at one-eighth light-year. In less than ten minutes, I should be able to follow Phoenix.
When we finally see what's within our sensor range, it's evident we are close to Phoenix. There are nearly sixty of their sensors in our general direction, even though, we can't see any ships. Commander MacDonald readies our weapons, which are defensive only. We do not have offensive ones like torpedoes or missiles. We do have a gun placement with two forward and two rear facing neutral particle cannon banks, and we are capable of launching anti-missile missiles and countermeasures like chaff made from foil and hot flares. MacDonald sets everything to "station keeping"; so, we hold steady in this exact position. If they're coming, the first won't make it here, until tomorrow afternoon; so, we just sit and wait.
I contact Helena. We aren't quite close enough for vocal communications, so we email each other. I end by telling her I love her, and ask her to be careful. She says I should know that is not in the job description but she always takes care. The waiting is terrible, so I decide to get some sleep and rejoin the bridge crew closer to the expected arrival of our foes.
.................................................................................................
"Holy shit.' I say to no one else since I'm alone. 'I slept in." I growl as I look at my night table clock that is indicating Wednesday, December 2, six hundred hours. I wanted to rise by five hundred. Mentally, I had calculated possible arrivals for the rebels if they used different velocities. The earliest the first one could be here is six hundred hours, so I wanted to be up and ready for action by then. I rush to clean up and dress, head by the Officers' Mess to grab a coffee and croissant' and gulp it all down as I'm stumbling to the bridge. It's six hundred thirty when I take a seat. I try to stifle a burp. People nearby look my way.
"Good morning, everyone," I say cheerily holding as naive a look as I can on my face.
They all respond, then go on to monitoring their systems and the space around us. A steward enters the bridge with a tray holding pots of coffee, cups, spoons, cream, sweetener, and rolls of all types. I rise and grab a coffee, quickly,
giving everyone that ingenuous smile again.
"...Slept in." I say to the shift duty officer.
"Yes, sir. It happens to all of us." She mumbles uncomfortably.
Business goes on as usual. Every fifteen minutes, the Bridge Commander asks for reports, and in a specific sequence, everyone returns their status. This goes on until the change of shift at eight hundred hours. The Captain appears at the same time, though it's not his shift on the bridge. The ship's status exchanges start up again, the new crew sounding exactly like the previous one.
At nine hundred hours, I realize there is something I forgot to do. I type a message to Sparks, ordering him to suspend all investigative audits, temporarily. I explain that we are needed here in case of casualties, and, his shuttles would be used to transport them. I also advise him there may be a need for the services of his enforcement people and his troops. There is a flash on the long range screen as I send the message. I stand and peer at it. There are more.
"Captain, we're picking up weapons fire ten degrees to port on our current declination." The officer manning the sensor station snaps.
"Very good, Ensign. - Helm set a course ten degrees to port zero zee axis. - Propulsion set velocity on IPE to ramp to fifteen percent in thirty minutes. - Helm execute the move." MacDonald orders officiously.
"There are continuous condition updates from the sensor station, the helm, and the propulsion station as we accelerate.
"Captain, we have three ships in visual range." The sensor station reports.
"Put it up, Ensign." MacDonald orders.
The screen changes. After a moment's analysis, I realize I'm seeing the Shenzhen in battle with a Cruiser. There are several more ships in the distance unengaged. The Shenzhen shouldn't be a match for the Cruiser but, Savign is taking pot shots at it while conducting some elaborate evasive maneuvers. It is an astonishingly skillful approach and a real tribute to the maneuverability of a Frigate.
Righteous Reign The Series: E-version Boxed Set Edition Page 54
