Imperial Command

by D. J. Holmes

  “I was just retiring to my quarters. Do you want to talk there, or can it not wait? You seem like a schoolgirl who has just been asked out on her first date,” James said as he cracked a grin.

  Christine’s face tightened as she feigned a cross look. But then she moved forward and embraced James. “I’ve been waiting here for the last twenty minutes for you to finish. Let’s go to your quarters, but we can talk on the way, I’ve waited long enough.” As she moved back, she gave him a light punch on the arm. “That’s for making fun of me. You shouldn’t be taking advantage of your Empress.”

  James put Christine’s arm through his and led her away from Drake’s auxiliary bridge. He patted her hand at the same time. “If my Empress wants to start acting like an Empress, then there would be no need to take advantage… Now,” he continued before Christine could give him another thump. “What is it you are wanting to talk about?”

  Christine beamed again as she looked up at him. “We got word from a number of different colonies over the last twelve hours. News of New Delhi’s decision to join the Empire reached them several weeks ago and now we’re starting to hear about it. Four other Indian colonies have held referendums. They all voted to join the Empire. So too have all the Canadian colonies.”

  “All of them?” James asked as he almost started laughing. It wasn’t hard for him to picture the look on Representative Barker’s face as they had watched the Indians vote in the Calcutta polling station.

  “Yes, all of them, even Baffin,” Christine confirmed. “It seems that without New Delhi’s leadership, or perhaps because of what happened to Culthrapori, most of the leaders who were contemplating taking their own path have had second thoughts.”

  “Where does that put us now? How many colonies have we got?” James asked. He knew several more American, British, and Chinese colonies had joined the Empire whilst he had been at New Delhi. A steady stream of colonies had been joining since he had returned, but his attention had been almost entirely focused on military matters.

  “We have seventy colonies now in the Empire,” Christine answered. “Most of them have already or are in the process of electing Senators and Members of the House of Commons. Perhaps more importantly, we have thirty-two out of thirty-three of Humanity’s most significant colonies. We’re just waiting on news from the more outlying colonies. Most have already scheduled referendums. Fairfax believes it is a foregone conclusion. Every Human colony will join us. The only significant holdout is Formosa in Argentinian space. But with the news of these Indian and Canadian colonies holding their referendums, they will have to join us now, they cannot hold out on their own.”

  James stopped walking and held Christine by her elbows. “You’re telling me that we have done it? That we’ve managed to pull everyone into this thing?”

  Christine nodded, “It’s not official on paper yet, but in reality yes, there’s no doubt now.”

  James smiled as he pulled Christine into a firm hug. “Congratulations Empress,” he said, his voice filled with joy and relief. A significant weight had just lifted from his shoulders. “You did it. I hardly believed it possible when you and Fairfax first shared your constitution with me. But my goodness, you have done it.”

  “We have done it,” Christine scolded him, even as she returned his hug. “This is as much your accomplishment as mine. Especially after New Delhi.”

  James shook his head as he released Christine. “That’s not true and you know it. The colonies haven’t voted to follow me. They voted to follow you.”

  Instead of arguing, Christine beamed at him. “You’re wrong, they voted to follow both of us. But we can debate that later. That actually brings me to my second topic. You know what this news means?” James thought for a second and shrugged as he shook his head. He was too worn out to play guessing games. “It means,” Christine said as her smile actually widened. “Fairfax has said it is time.”

  “Time for what?” James asked as he frowned in confusion.

  Christine’s smile vanished at once. “You better be playing with me Admiral,” she said in a very different tone. “Time for our marriage of course! What do you think we have been waiting all this time for?”

  James wanted to smack himself on the forehead. Of course that was what she had been talking about. That was why she had been so excited. He refrained from doing so, however. If he did, he would give the game away. Instead he broke into a wide grin as he pulled Christine into a hug, lifting her off her feet. “Really? Fairfax says we can?”

  Though her face was mushed into his chest, James felt Christine nodding. He quickly set her down and brought his lips to hers. “I can hardly believe it,” he said when they broke apart. “I’ve been so busy I have not had time to think about it. But I’m glad, very glad. When were the two of you thinking?”

  “In one week,” Christine said deadpan.

  James’ eyes narrowed. He wasn’t sure if she was joking or not. “Really?” he found himself saying again.

  Christine nodded, then she broke into another beaming smile that told James she wasn’t joking in the slightest. She was simply happy. “But how? How can we arrange everything so fast?”

  Christine swatted his arm. “We’ve been making preparations for months silly. Everything is prepared. We were just waiting for the right date. Given the looming threat of another Karacknid invasion, Fairfax doesn’t think we should wait any longer and I for one am in agreement.” Leaning forward, Christine kissed him again. “I want to marry you Admiral Somerville, whether it is politically expedient or not, I’m done waiting.”

  James’ mind was awash with thoughts. He had no idea just what kind of ceremony Fairfax and Christine had been planning, nor what else might suddenly be thrust upon him when he did marry Christine. He knew he would become Emperor to rule alongside her. Despite all those concerns, he couldn’t help but return Christine’s beaming smile. He wanted to marry her too, just as much as she did him. “So am I,” James agreed. “So am I,” he repeated as his smile widened to the point where his cheeks hurt.

  *

  England, 19th January 2483 AD (one week later).

  As James stepped into the massive marquee, he first thought was that it looked very different to when he had last been in it. Then, it had been decorated in the full livery of the British Star Kingdom. Now it was covered in the flags and emblems of the Human Empire. With a nod to the marine Lieutenant commanding the honor guard, James moved to the front row of seats. Behind him, through the marquee’s open flaps, he could hear the roar of the crowds outside. They had warmly welcomed him as his carriage had pulled up. But now the carriage that followed his was approaching, the noise was even louder. I have to give it to him, Fairfax knows what he is doing, James had to admit. Rather than have Christine crowned in some fancy Abbey or governmental building, he had recommended the coronation take place at the same location James had been crowned King of the British Star Kingdom. The large marquee had been set up in the exact same spot, in the middle of the British refugee camps. Even though the vast majority of the refugees had been rehoused, the symbolism would not be lost on Earth’s citizens. Indeed, it seemed they had flocked from all over Earth and the rest of the Sol system to witness the momentous event.

  As he passed each row of seats, James nodded or smiled to various people he knew. Most of them were naval officers of one rank or another. Though quite a number were politicians and Imperial officials. James guessed both the warm smiles James gave them and the similar smiles he received in return would have surprised him several years ago. Politicians had never been his favorite people. He wasn’t yet ready to admit he had changed his opinion on that, but at least it seemed like more of his friends were in positions of power rather than those who hated him. After all, you’re about to become one of your species’ leading politicians, he said to himself as he kept from chuckling. That would never cease to amaze him.

  When he got to the front row of seats there was only one space available. With a nod to Fairfa
x and Senator Nicholls, James sat down between them. “It sounds like she has arrived,” Fairfax whispered. “I guess we know who is the most popular.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” James replied. He leant toward Fairfax, “Just remember that when you next want one of us to do some meaningless political event. She is the one the people want.”

  Fairfax rolled his eyes as he clasped James on his shoulder. “I’ll remember, don’t worry Admiral.” If he was going to add anything else, he didn’t get a chance for a sudden silence spread across the gathered witnesses. For several seconds, the more than three thousand attendees didn’t make a noise. Then the clap of forty marines snapping their plasma rifles to their shoulders echoed throughout the marquee. It was quickly followed by the orchestra striking up the Imperial anthem that had been written for the occasion. Like everyone else, James stood and half turned to receive Christine.

  As she entered the marquee, James was surprised again. Rather than garbed in a flowing regal dress and decorated in jewelry, Christine was wearing a simple dress uniform. In many ways it reflected the Imperial Fleet uniform. Another Fairfax touch, James surmised. Christine was about to be crowned as the Empress of Humanity. It was her duty to serve her people, not use her position to seek her own glory. Her attire communicated that well. As she walked down the central aisle, Christine looked neither left nor right. Her eyes were fixed on the central stage at the front of the marquee. Only when she got close to James did her gaze flicker. For just a second she met his eyes. Though her facial features didn’t change, James saw the emotion in her eyes. Nervousness, excitement, and a deadly seriousness filled her. James was amazed at her ability to keep it all bottled up.

  Passing the final row of seats, Christine ascended the four steps up the stage. Once there, she took a couple more steps forward. Then she stopped and spun around. Only then did her gaze move from left to right as she made eye contact with as many of those gathered in the marquee as she could. The first five rows of seats were filled with the elected Senators and Commoners from the colonies who had sent their representatives to the Senate and House of Commons. Beyond them there were naval officers and other officials and everyone else Fairfax deemed worthy of an invitation. James knew that meant they held a significant amount of political or economic power within the Sol system and the nearest colonies. For nearly a full minute Christine took her time to acknowledge all of them. Then, ever so slowly she lowered herself to one knee and bowed to the entire audience, who, as much as they could, represented the people Christine was about to commit her life to. For several seconds she held her pose before springing back to her feet. Turning her back on everyone, she took four steps forward until she stopped in front of the dais in the middle of the stage. On it was a rugged metal crown. Rather than being made from gold or silver, the crown was made from melted down metal scavenged from every single one of the cities the Karacknids had nuked. Out of the wreckage of their attack, Christine’s crown had been forged. The idea had actually been James’, though as soon as he had shared it, Christine had agreed. There was no stronger imagery of how they intended to rule. Reaching out, Christine lifted the crown and placed it on her own head. James nodded in approval. No Archbishop or Lord or politician would crown the Empress of the Human species. She had been elected by her people and she and she alone had the right to crown herself.

  Turning, Christine once again faced the audience, her crown plain for all to see. Everyone fell to one knee and bowed their heads. As one they committed themselves to the new Empress. James knew what they were about to say, but he listened to their words, nonetheless.

  “We the people of Humanity do swear to take you and your posterity as our Empress from this day forth,” they chanted in unison. “You will be the head of our government and the chief protector of our constitution. Our fleets and armies will fight in your name. To you we give our allegiance.”

  “And I swear in response,” Christine said in an amplified voice that carried throughout the marquee as everyone remained on their knee, “that I will discharge the duties of my office to the best of my ability. I will give my life and death in service to our constitution and the people it has been written to benefit. You have my allegiance as I now demand you give me yours… You may arise,” Christine added as she finished her response. She smiled for the first time since entering the marquee. “And now, for the second part of our ceremony.”

  As everyone around James rose to their feet, he stepped forward and moved onto the stage beside Christine. From a side alcove, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the same man who had crowned James King of the British Star Kingdom not long ago, appeared. He moved over to stand between James and Christine.

  “We have just crowned our Empress,” his voice boomed out across the marquee. “Now let us witness her marriage.” Turning to James, the Archbishop opened the folder he was holding and began to read. “Do you James Somerville take Christine Na to be your lawfully wedded wife, to shepherd and protect, to guide and support, in sickness and in health, for better and for worse?”

  James turned from the Archbishop to Christine as he gave his answer. “I do,” he said confidently. Though he had feared he might still feel a pang of guilt, he was happy to find there was none. He still loved Suzanna, that would never change, but he loved Christine as well.

  “And with your marriage to her, do you accept the responsibilities and demands that will fall upon you as her Emperor?” the Archbishop followed up.

  Having not turned from Christine, James held her eyes as he answered again. “I do.”

  The Archbishop turned to Christine “and do you Christine Na take James Somerville to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and respect, to help and support, in sickness and in health, for better and for worse?”

  “I do,” Christine said as she gave James one of her beaming smiles.

  “You may exchange your rings,” the Archbishop said as he held up his folder where the rings James and Christine had picked out where sitting. Reaching over, James took Christine’s hand and placed it on her finger, and then held up his hand to allow her to do the same.

  The Archbishop let them share a moment before speaking again. “Now, as God’s servant and Archbishop of Canterbury, I declare you husband and wife. You may kiss one another.”

  Still smiling at one another, James lowered his mouth to Christine’s. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her reach up and quickly grab her crown to keep it in place as they kissed. As they broke apart, a roar of clapping and shouting assaulted their ears. James turned with Christine to see everyone in the marquee was on their feet. Seconds later the roar more than doubled in strength. The news had reached the crowds outside. For what seemed an eternity, James stood by Christine’s side as the audience clapped. James reckoned at least five minutes passed before the first person sat. Even after they did, it took another couple of minutes for silence to return to the marquee.

  “Now, we have one final thing to do,” Christine said as the Archbishop of Canterbury retreated to his alcove. “Please stand,” she requested. As everyone in the marquee did so, Christine moved behind the dais and pulled out a crown that matched hers. Moving over to James, she flicked her eyes down. James fell to one knee. Without any fanfare, she gently placed the crown on his head.

  As James stood, she was momentarily out of sight of everyone. She stuck out her tongue and winked at him. He had to fight to keep his face straight as he turned to face the audience. Trust her to try and put him off at such a moment! Taking a deep breath, he waited and listened as the audience repeated the vow they had made to Christine, now to him. He then repeated Christine’s vow. As he spoke, emption filled every word, for he meant every one of them. With Christine, he would give his life and death in service for the Empire; he knew nothing short of that would be sufficient to defeat the Karacknids.

  “And now,” Christine said as she stepped out from behind James to stand by his side. “We celebrate!” Taking James’ hand, she lifted i
t into the air as another round of applause and shouting broke out. Pulling gently on his hand, Christine maneuvered James into another kiss.

  *

  “That was one long day,” James commented as he followed Christine into his ancestral home’s master bedroom. Unbuttoning his dress uniform tunic, he tossed it on the bed. Then he lifted his arms above his head and stretched. As he looked around the room, he saw that someone had brought their two crowns and placed them on top of one of the drawers. “I don’t think I’ve spoken to half as many people in one day as I have today. If that’s how things are going to be from here on in, I think I may have made a mistake.”

  Christine turned on him and raised a finger. She wagged it at him with every word she said. “You’re not going to start that with me.” She held up her left hand. “There’s no going back now. It’s too late for second thoughts.”

  “All right, all right,” James said as he winked at Christine. He pulled her in for a long kiss. “I suppose there are some benefits,” he said as they broke apart. “Perhaps it will be bearable.” He moved in for another deep kiss. For the first time since they had begun their relationship, he allowed his hands to roam over her body.