The Price of Liberty (Empire Rising Book 4)

by D. J. Holmes

  “The people of Liberty are hurting,” Cunningham began. “Councilwoman Pennington and the other resistance leaders are proud and stubborn. They don’t like to show weakness, over the last several months they have become accustomed to the hard conditions of guerrilla warfare. However, the rest of the population, at least those in Liberty, are shell-shocked. The Indian occupation was bad enough, but the battle for Liberty cost many civilian lives and destroyed many homes and workplaces. I can’t tell if Councilwoman Pennington and the other resistance leaders just don't want to admit how bad things really are, or they don’t see just how much the general population is suffering. Either way, things are worse than they seem. I think that if we can show the population of Haven that we’re not just here as a victorious army but as partners and friends, then we will win more votes.”

  “Is there anything more we can do at the present?” Fairfax asked. “Especially over the next three weeks up until the vote?”

  Suzanna jumped forward. “Don’t worry,” Fairfax said before Suzanna could protest. “I’m not suggesting we trick your people into thinking we are going to do more than we can. If Cunningham is correct, then I will be sending orders in my next dispatch back to Earth to increase the amount of aid our next supply convoy will be carrying. However, I’m not above using the aid we have now to win us some political leverage.”

  Everyone in the room waited to see what Suzanna would say, when she simply nodded to Fairfax and sat back in her chair, Cunningham answered the Prime Minister’s question. “I already have my analysts going over the supplies that came in with your convoy. Once we have a good idea of the kind of supplies we will be able to spare, I’m sure we can work out an accelerated dispersal program to try and get as much aid to as many people as possible. Don’t worry My Lady,” Cunningham said turning to Suzanna. “I’ll make sure we hold enough in reserve so no one who comes to rely on our aid will starve after the vote.”

  “I guess that will be acceptable,” Suzanna said. “If I know Pennington, she will already have plans in place to import food from the nearby farming communities. Perhaps Admiral, you could offer her a number of your shuttles to help with the transportation. If she has been hesitant to admit how difficult things are, then I wouldn’t make the offer public, you could send her a memo or something less formal, she may take that better.”

  “A good idea My Lady,” Fairfax said. “That’s one issue resolved. Now, does anyone have any other suggestions?”

  “You need to be ready to negotiate,” Johnston said. “There hasn’t been one resistance operation I brought before Councilwoman Pennington for her approval that she didn’t want to have her say in. When she is in charge, she always wants to leave her fingerprints behind. I’m not saying she was meddling, she certainly brings a lot to the table. Yet it seems to be a personality trait of hers, she needs to have a hand in making the cake. I suggest you don’t go into any negotiations showing all your cards at once. Even if she thinks it’s an amazing deal, she will still want to wrangle something else out of you.”

  “Noted,” Fairfax responded. “As I’ve already said, Parliament has given me a lot of leeway in these negotiations. If the vote passes, then whatever agreement we come to will still have to be passed in both houses. However, I doubt Parliament will prove to be a problem. If the people of Haven vote to become a protectorate we can hardly turn them down. That said, my career will be on the line. If I give too much away I may not be Prime Minister for much longer. So on that note you don’t have to worry, I have come fully prepared for an intense round of bargaining.

  “You know the Councilwoman and the other resistance leaders better than Lady Somerville Major; do you have any more advice for me?” Fairfax asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Johnston replied and paused to think for a moment. “I guess my main advice would be to be upfront and honest. The resistance leaders, especially Hamish Maguire, have been very suspicious of our motives right from the start. Even after all my men and I have given for them, many of them still do not trust you, Prime Minister, or our government. I’m sure every one of them would take a plasma bolt for me, just as I would for them. Yet this hasn’t transferred onto you and our politicians. You need to win their trust, and the only way you’ll win it quickly is by being honest. We have presented ourselves as Haven’s heroes, the protectors of the weak. That’s true, but that’s not the only reason why we are here. They know this, but they don’t know just how much we plan to take from them. From childhood they have been brought up to distrust our nations and the politics of Earth. The horror stories their grandparents and great grandparents told them about the corruption and exploitation of the weak by governments in our history has many of the resistance fighters concerned. They suspect everything we’ve done to help them so far has just been a show to trick them into giving up their sovereignty and future.

  “They know we are not here out of the kindness of our hearts. Haven is a pristine habitable world and, with the discovery of the Vestarians and the Kulreans, they know the importance of this system as a trade node. I think you need to be honest with them about our intentions. Only if you can appease their fears of being suppressed will they support you.

  “I will take it under consideration, thank you Major,” Fairfax responded.

  For the next hour, James sat silently as he listened to the others in the group go back and forth. Many policies and ideas that could reassure the resistance leaders of the British Star Kingdom’s good intentions were discussed. Being a British Protectorate meant Haven citizens would gain dual citizenship with the British Star Kingdom. In turn this meant Havenite laws had to reflect British laws. Further, the colony would have to pay tax to the British Star Kingdom to compensate Britain for the orbital defenses and fleet units that would be stationed in the system. Fairfax was prepared to split the trade fees Britain would collect from any freighters that sought to traverse the Haven system on their way to Vestar or Kulthar. If trade with both alien races exploded the way most analysts expected, such income would more than pay for the taxes Fairfax was proposing. All in all, it seemed to James like Haven was getting as good a deal as anyone could expect. Essentially, they were being given the freedom to rebuild their colony exactly as it was before the Vestarian and Indian fleets attacked them.

  “What about their fleet?” James asked as an idea came to him. “The Bradford colony isn’t allowed to build anything larger than a space shuttle for customs inspections. Haven already has a naval tradition. We could offer to allow them to continue to build their own warships. They could produce their own defensive fleet. In the long run, it would mean we wouldn’t have to station as many warships here. We could even allow Havenite construction yards to produce ships for the Royal Space Navy. That would be sure to attract a lot of investment from British companies and boost the recovery of Haven’s economy. Plus, I’m sure the Havenites would feel a lot more independent if they had their own fleet with their own Captains and Admirals.”

  “An interesting idea Captain,” Fairfax commented. “What are your initial impressions Admiral?”

  “I think we would need to consider any such proposal very carefully,” Cunningham answered. “I can see two problems right away. First, if we allow the Havenites to produce their own warships, just how many will they be allowed? If trade through the system picks up then the Havenites could have a very healthy cash flow in the next decade or two. Before the Indian invasion they were producing ships as large as medium cruisers, I’m sure given the chance, they would happily build a fleet of such ships. Then the question becomes, what if they want their independence? Do we really want to invest so much time and credits into building up this colony only to find ourselves facing a well-equipped and well-armed hostile fleet? Second, there’s the matter of national security. If Havenite shipyards are allowed to build Royal Space Navy ships, then they will have full access to all of our latest technologies. If they wanted to, they could sell them to the highest bidder.”

  “I’m
not sure your second problem is something we need to worry about right now,” Fairfax said. “If there were construction yards built in orbit around Haven capable of building RSN ships, then they would have to win such contracts like any other shipyard and pass the same security checks. I don’t think there’s any harm in at least offering the possibility for Havenite shipyards to compete for such contracts. Your other concern worries me far more. Lady Somerville, you know how fiercely independent your people are better than any of us. Do you think this is something we should be concerned about? Are your people likely to accept becoming a British protectorate for the short-term benefits, while scheming to find a way to free themselves from us?”

  “Honestly,” Suzanna answered, “I don’t know. I’ve been trying to put myself in the shoes of some of the resistance fighters. None of them have had the experience of Earth or the British Star Kingdom I have. Obviously at this point I’m very biased,” she said as she reached over and squeezed James’ hand. “I think, if I had experienced the Indian occupation without having met James I would still have many doubts about your people. It wouldn’t surprise me if there are some among the resistance who secretly hope to find a way to cast off any outside interference, whether that be from your Kingdom, or the Indians, or anyone else. However, I think the more important question is, what will the general population think of the British Star Kingdom in a decade or two? That, I cannot answer. Our society has been undergoing some dramatic changes in the last five years, ever since we rediscovered Earth and your colonial empires, not to mention everything that happened with the Vestarians and Indians. It’s possible my people will become more insular and it’s just as likely that given time they will come to see themselves as being as much a part of the British Star Kingdom as any other of your colonies. If that proves to be the case, then even if a few hold out hopes of disentangling Haven from your Kingdom, the chances of ever doing so would be very slim. At this stage, your guess as to what way things will go is as good as mine. And I imagine it will depend a lot on how your government treats the citizens of Haven if we agree to become a British Protectorate.”

  “Perhaps you could just offer to allow the Havenites to build smaller warships. We could limit them to producing frigate class ships,” James suggested, not wanting to see his idea shot down. “You could enter negotiations with Haven’s governing body in the future about building anything larger once they have the capabilities to do so. But for now, the offer to build even small warships might be taken as a positive gesture.”

  “That may be a suitable compromise,” Fairfax responded. “I imagine a handful of frigates wouldn’t cause you too much worry Admiral?”

  “No,” Cunningham answered. “Unless they were to build hundreds of them, a few frigates wouldn’t be enough to lead a rebellion.”

  “I’ll take it under consideration then,” Fairfax said. “Besides, once free trade is opened between our two nations, I expect Haven to be more tightly bound to us than the Bradford colony. There will just be too many British companies and citizens coming to Haven to exploit trade with the Vestarians and the Kulreans for Haven to stay Haven much longer.

  “Now,” Fairfax continued as he opened a folder that had been sitting in front of him. “I have a number of ideas I want to run by you all before Pennington gets here.”

  Chapter 34 – Negotiations

  We have encountered many alien races over the years. Almost all of them have been able to communicate with us. Those that haven’t have almost always caused a problem. Without communication, suspicion and fear quickly grow. The Antarians are the prime example of this, though in their case fear turned out to be an appropriate response.

  -Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD

  When a buzzer on the conference table sounded, Fairfax answered it and was informed Councilwoman Pennington and the other resistance leaders had arrived. Checking the time, James was surprised at how quickly their meeting had flown. He thought they had been brainstorming for less than an hour, not two. If James was in Fairfax’s position he knew he would have felt less than fully prepared. Though, having come to know the Prime Minister a little better over the last couple of years, James suspected nothing could be further from the truth.

  Fairfax moved around the circular conference table and opened the large double doors. As Pennington and the resistance leaders came through the door Fairfax held out his hand to the Councilwoman. “Welcome Councilwoman Pennington,” he said as he bowed slightly. “I’m sure you need no introduction to this room, it is yours after all.”

  “Indeed it is,” Pennington replied as she shook Fairfax’s hand. “I must say, it gives me a lot more satisfaction to know you are using it rather than some Indian General.”

  “I’m happy to hear that,” Fairfax said. “If your delegation will join us at the conference table we can begin our discussions.”

  After everyone sat around the circular table Fairfax introduced each member of his delegation, Pennington then did the same. Once everyone was acquainted, Fairfax picked up a folder sitting in front of him. He took a deep breath, looking as if he was about to launch into his opening statement. Before he did however, Pennington beat him to it.

  “Before we begin,” she said, “if you don’t mind Prime Minister, I would like to hear from Councilwoman Rodriguez. My delegation and I are not oblivious to the fact that she sits on your half of this conference table.”

  A wave of irritation washed over Fairfax’s face. However, he flattened his features so quickly James wasn’t sure anyone else had caught it. Pennington and Fairfax sat opposite each other around the circular conference table. Technically, Suzanna was sitting on the British half of the table, though Fairfax had placed her so she was sitting beside one of the resistance leaders, a woman who had been introduced as Clare Edwards. James thought her name was familiar, though he couldn’t remember where he had heard it. With a nod towards Suzanna, Fairfax signaled to her to explain her position.

  “It would be my pleasure,” Suzanna said. “As you know Councilwoman, when First Councilor Maximillian set in place his plan to attack the Kulrean envoy he sent a military frigate towards my family’s gas mining station to apprehend me. I think I’m not the only Havenite around this table who disapproved of the First Councilor’s actions.”

  As she spoke, Suzanna darted a quick glance towards Clare. Catching her subtle hint, James figured out where he had heard her name before. She had been Suzanna’s informant inside the Council Chambers, the one who had alerted her to the First Councilor’s plan to attack the Kulreans.

  “As soon as I knew why the frigate was approaching my station,” Suzanna continued, “I fled the Haven system. I went in search of Captain Somerville. I knew he would listen to my warning. I feared if Maximilian went through with his plan, he would bring the full wrath of the Earth nations upon us. Captain Somerville saved the Kulreans from Maximillian and Admiral Harris. However, the Indians were able to figure out who had launched the attack. They used Maximillian’s actions as a pretext for their invasion.

  “The Indians had a fleet and army in motion towards Haven before anyone on Earth, including the British, could do anything to stop them. Stranded, I felt I could best serve my planet by remaining on Earth and lobbying the Earth nations to come to our aid. The only nation that would help us was the British Star Kingdom. The United Colonies of America and the German Federation were sympathetic, but their fleets where too far away to help. Fairfax and the British government agreed to help drive off the Indians on the condition that Haven would become a British protectorate. They knew I had no authority to agree to such a political union. However, I felt this was the best chance our people had at freedom. Since then I have been working with the British government to help make this a reality. I am fully aware you and the resistance leaders do not know the British like I do. I have come to trust them, they have their own motives of course, but they are honorable. I feel the best hope our people have of a continued future is with the British. That is
why I am here with Prime Minister Fairfax. I am still a Havenite, I still want to represent my people. However, to do that I think we must work with the British.”

  “And you have already aligned yourself with the British government,” Pennington said with a hint of disdain in her voice. “You are now a Duchess, are you not?”

  “Yes,” Suzanna said, sharpening her voice. “Captain Somerville and I are in love and we are married. Yet it is also true our union has benefits for our people as well. Being a part of the British nobility means the British government trusts me. I can stand in the gap between our people and theirs.”

  “I’m not sure that our people will count you as one of their own anymore,” Pennington replied.

  “That would be a mistake,” Fairfax jumped in with more emotion than James expected. “I can guarantee you that the only reason why we are at this table is Lady Somerville. She turned the hearts of the British people towards Haven. If she hadn’t swayed public opinion, Parliament never would have voted on the proposal to offer protectorate status to Haven. It’s true, our fleet may have still come to drive off the Indians. But we wouldn’t be coming here as liberators. We would be coming to you offering you very different terms than the ones we are about to discuss. I have brought the recordings of every public address Lady Somerville made whilst on Earth. I intend to release them to your populace this evening. All I ask for now is that you reserve your judgement on Councilwoman Rodriguez until you can examine her conduct for yourself.”