Unity City, Terra
Alliance Core, Terran Hegemony
2 October 2775
After spending the evening writing and re-writing a letter to Edwina – even by the time he abandoned the effort and went to bed, he hadn’t managed a version that didn’t descend into lambasting the rest of the Star League Council as feckless idiots – John hadn’t expected to be woken early the next morning. Hot coffee had him in some semblance of attentiveness as he entered the Court in response to the summons.
“General Davion! John!” Aaron DeChevilier called out as he entered.
“Aaron. Sorry, I’m still half-asleep.”
“How did you ever get through a military academy?” the general asked, jogging across the marble floor. He was in full uniform and looked almost criminally awake for the pre-dawn hour.
John snorted. “I was a lot younger then.” Where was Hanse? he thought. The ghost had excused himself the previous night and not yet returned.
“Weren’t we all – what happened yesterday?”
“Well, assuming it’s the second and the council meeting wasn’t a horrible dream, four of my peers decided to remove Kerensky from office.”
“That’s what I heard the first time but I thought someone was talking out of their arse. Why?” Aaron caught John’s elbow as they reached a corner. “Not the council chamber, Alex is in the throne room.”
“Aleksandr called the Council?”
“No one told you?”
“No. I just got told there was an emergency meeting of the Star League Council. Whatever constitutes an emergency.”
DeChevilier huffed. “Other than… what were they thinking?”
“I’m not entirely sure they were thinking at all. Well, maybe that’s unfair to Minoru and Barbara but the other two seem to shut off their brains whenever it comes to anything around him. The others… They didn’t even confirm Helena as First Lord. Stalling for something perhaps? I’ve no idea.”
“Great, well that’s just a -” DeChevilier broke off as they reached the doors. “Did they name a replacement?” he asked holding out a hand to forestall John.
“For First Lord or Commanding General? No to both. On paper I suppose that leaves you in charge although how much attention the General will pay to being dismissed I’m not sure.”
“Have you given any thought to a military coup?”
John gave him a sour look. “I’m not Amaris and I’m fairly sure Aleksandr isn’t.”
“More’s the pity.” Aaron opened the door for John, backing up so as to remain out of line of sight from within.
The throne room was only partially lit, the other Lords shadowy figures around the throne. There was no sign of Kerensky, just five silent figures. All of them looked up as John entered. He noted that Helena still seemed half asleep and she winced as Kenyon broke the silence. “What’s the idea of calling us all here at this hour, Davion?”
“I didn’t,” he replied, walking over to join them. “No Calderon or Avellar?”
“No. Well if you didn’t… who did?”
“There’s a limited number of people who can send out a summons.” John walked to the throne and studied it. “Richard was shot right here I’m told. Amaris would have been standing right in front of him…”
“Stop trying to scare us, Davion.”
A madcap urge arose in John to suggest that they’d been brought here to witness Kerensky declaring himself First Lord or something of the like. It probably wouldn’t be a very good idea, they might run off in a fit of paranoia or pull a sidearm. “If I wanted to frighten you, I could take you to any of a hundred cities and let you envisage your homes looking like that.”
“Ah of course, because you are a hardened warrior?” asked Minoru. “The mighty SLDF general… do you think they will follow you now that Kerensky is removed?”
“You probably should have considered that yesterday.”
Further debate was ended as Kerensky arrived. He wore SLDF uniform, probably not the same one as yesterday but still with no rank markings or medals. The man didn’t need them, he wore his authority like a cloak around his shoulders. Hanse followed him through the door, unnecessarily hastening his step to avoid the doors as they closed behind Kerensky.
Without pause Kerensky walked past the six of them and seated himself upon the throne. With a thrill of dismay, John saw that he was armed. An ornate laser pistol glittering with gems, the Cameron Star resplendent upon one side.
“My lords of the Star League,” Kerensky began. “Thank you for joining me this morning.”
“What’s this about?” Robert Steiner asked in a low voice.
“He’s not ordered a coup as far as I can tell,” Hanse told John hastily. “More’s the pity. He went back to his office and started sorting out his workload. Getting it ready to pass it off, I think.”
Kerensky lifted the pistol, finger outside the trigger guard and careful not to point the muzzle at anyone. “This is the very weapon of regicide,” he told them. “Amaris’ gift to Richard Cameron for Christmas, nine years ago. The weapon he used to kill the First Lord as he sat upon this throne.”
“Then again, how much planning would he need? A platoon to lock you lot up and keep you incommunicado until he had control of your capitals?”
John folded his arms. Kerensky declaring himself First Lord would be technically illegal, but he still had amazing popularity. If the Council were as intransigent as yesterday then it might even be for the best – much the way McKenna had seized power and reformed the stagnant Terran Alliance into the Terran Hegemony centuries ago. It seemed unlikely but if it did happen, best to throw the Federated Suns’ support him immediately.
“The weapon bears two emblems upon it.” Kerensky held it up to show them. “Here the Cameron Star, but here the Shark of House Amaris. Probably Richard thought it symbolised their friendship but the truth is that it symbolises this terrible conflict which we have seen. The Star League upon one side and Amaris’ so-called empire upon the other. So many people have been caught up in it, on one side or the other, indeed in many cases caught up between those sides with no more understanding of why it was happening than this weapon has.”
“Now that that conflict has passed it has left many thousands, indeed many millions of people adrift. Some are refugees or wounded soldiers.” Kerensky looked briefly at John, which he hoped was unspoken acknowledgement of the support the Federated Suns had offered to those groups. “But some are more helpless – people who were led into treason by those they had no reason to distrust. I speak now of the soldiers who served Amaris, both those from the Rim Worlds Republic and from the Terran Hegemony. Large numbers of them are in prison camps, sometimes having been there for years, and among the many roles that has been undertaken over that time has been the need to protect them from vengeful citizens.”
“I must now appeal to you as the leaders of the Star League. There are those amongst them guilty of war crimes and those men and women have been and continue to be brought to trial as swiftly as is consistent with justice. But many, both here and in the Republic are guilty of no more than the misfortune of having found themselves under Amaris’ lies and lacking the wisdom to see his tyranny before it was too late. It is my hope that you will ensure there is no reprisal against them.”
Barbara Liao seemed to relax slightly at these words. “These unfortunates have a fierce advocate in you, general. I am sure that Lady Cameron has no wish for her reign to begin in atrocities against helpless prisoners.”
“Well of course not,” Helena muttered and rubbed her eyes.
“One must admire your devotion,” Minoru Kurita observed mildly. His eyes focused shrewdly upon Kerensky. “Should we name you Protector of the Rim Worlds, as our fathers – excluding Lord Davion’s – once named you Protector of the young Richard Cameron?”
Hanse froze. “Oh that sly bastard!”
What? John wished he could ask openly.
Kerensky inclined his head almost regally, “I would be honoured by such a trust, Lord Kurita, but as a private citizen I lack the resources or authority to discharge a responsibility of such magnitude.”
“Nonsense. I am sure Lord Davion agrees with me that a man of your energy and capabilities is worthy of such elevation.”
“Wait, what are you talking about?” demanded Robert Steiner suspiciously.
John arched an eyebrow. “It’s early in the morning, Lord Kurita. I don’t quite follow your point.”
“Among the many matters that we must surely address is the governance of the Rim Worlds Republic,” Minoru pointed out. “We can hardly let such collaterals of House Amaris as the Sievers or Wongs take power, and Lord Steiner has expressed his concerns repeatedly about the instability of the provisional government. Well how can we better bring order out of chaos than by elevating such a deeply respected man to rulership?”
“What a wonderful idea!” Barbara announced swiftly. “I approve entirely of this. General – no, Lord Kerensky is the ideal choice to rule the Rim Worlds Republic… or Protectorate, should we say? After all, you’ve spent several years there already.”
John hesitated and then looked at Kerensky. “I wouldn’t force this on you, Aleksandr. But I must admit, Lord Kurita and Lady Liao make good points.”
“Absolutely not!” Steiner exclaimed. “We saw what a mess came of his regency.”
“And that was when balancing the obligations of also administering the SLDF. But we’ve now removed that from the equation,” pointed out Barbara.
“I have no particular desire for such an office,” Kerensky admitted thoughtfully. “But conditionally, I could see my way to accepting it.”
“You want more?” exclaimed Kenyon Marik. “An entire territorial state isn’t enough?”
“Given the post is more responsibility than it is privilege,” John shot back. “I take it that the condition is that of protection for Amaris’ soldiers.”
“One of them, yes. Those who wish repatriation to – or for those not born there, simple asylum within the Rim Worlds should be granted it with all dispatch.”
“I’m sure SLDF supply lines can transport them across the Commonwealth.” Minoru proposed and when Robert Steiner opened his mouth the Coordinator glared at him. “As freedom to travel across member-states is a right guaranteed under the Star League Accords.”
John nodded. “I’ll offer the same asylum within the Federated Suns for those wishing to make a fresh start.”
“And I,” concurred Barbara Liao hastily.
“She’s got an eye on the soldiers,” Hanse warned.
Kerensky nodded his acceptance. “I’ll also need to establish a reasonable military force to carry out effective protection of the Rim Worlds. The divisions garrisoning worlds bypassed in the push on Terra have been disarmed and their equipment warehoused. There’s enough there for me to equip a force of around the size Amaris admitted to ten years ago, nothing unreasonable compared to the forces of any other house.”
“Five or six divisions,” John allowed. “That seems reasonable.”
There was a pained squawk from Kenyon Marik and Helena Cameron rounded on him. “Captain-General, whatever your point is, please be less shrill.”
“Shrill!”
“I have a headache,” she told him abruptly.
“What you have is a hangover,” Marik sneered.
“I think we can agree to that condition,” Minoru said firmly. “So do we have an agreement.”
Kerensky shook his head. “One last point. I insist on confirmation of General DeChevilier as the new Commanding General.”
Liao and Kurita hesitated, looking at each other and then at John.
“Why are you looking at me? I can’t take the job, I have the Suns to govern. Just running one Army Group in a hands-off fashion stretched the available hours in the day.”
“We weren’t considering you for it,” Minoru told him. “Alright, General DeChevilier is a suitable choice as your successor. But perhaps you’d also be good enough to make a joint statement with us explaining that you’re stepping down as Commanding General in order to accept the position of Protector.”
“That isn’t quite how I remember yesterday,” Helena said suspiciously. “You dismissed him.”
“Terrible how rumours begin,” the Coordinator said blandly. “Obviously some of us had this in mind from the beginning.”
John folded his arms. “You want to put a good public face on it.”
“It’s far better for the Star League is it not?”
Kerensky placed the laser pistol on one arm of the throne. “Very well, Coordinator. Does the Star League Council so vote?”
“Aye,” Barbara offered and Minoru repeated the word.
Robert’s “Nay!” and Kenyon’s “No,” balanced the issue briefly as Helena and John exchanged looks with each other and with Kerensky.
John made a deferring gesture. “Ladies first.”
“Aye,” Helena said at last.
“I’ll make it official then,” said John. “Aye. And let me be the first to welcome you to the Star League Council, Protector Kerensky.”
.o0O0o.
West Point, Terra
Alliance Core, Terran Hegemony
3 October 2775
The ancient academy hadn’t been badly damaged since the North American East Coast had largely been bypassed in the fighting. Pro-Amaris propaganda posters had been torn down but there were still work crews removing some of the more embedded evidence of how West Point had been used to turn out officers for the Hegemony Patriot battalions.
“To answer the question that I’m sure is all burning in your minds,” Major General Marissa Miller began, “General Huong has advised me that he has nothing to add to the official version of events that General Kerensky has left the SLDF in order to accept the rule of the Rim Worlds Republic.”
There were a couple of disbelieving mutters from around the table and one low but carrying “Bullshit,” sing-songed from the direction of a certain Major Pritchard.
“Unofficially, my sources advise me that General Kerensky left the Court of the Star League two days ago without his rank insignia or his medals, that General Davion left a few minutes later in a steaming rage and that the first mention of there being a Protector of the Rim Worlds was the next day after an emergency session of the Council at the crack of dawn.” Miller shrugged. “Make of that what you will.”
“Someone had a gun to their heads,” Pritchard suggested.
“Make of that what you will, but in your own time, Major,” Miller corrected herself briskly. “We do have business to attend to.”
“Does that mean new orders, sir?”
Miller nodded. “It does. As you might imagine, Quartermaster Command have been making themselves heard on the subject of keeping the SLDF supplied when eighty percent of us are all on one world. We might be a drop in the barrel compared to twelve billion civilians but apparently it’s a very small barrel so by the end of the year, most of the army will be on their way to new postings.”
“Is that going to affect keeping the peace here on Terra?” asked Ethan Moreau. “Sixth Army’s still sitting on a powder-keg in Asia.”
“Much to General Chudzik’s relief, Sixth Army is being re-stationed to the Federated Suns,” Miller told him. “However, five armies will remain stationed in the Terran Hegemony to keep the peace during reconstruction. In theory, each army is responsible for one province but in practise, divisions will be operating wherever they’re needed. Seventh Army has been assigned to Lone Star province, which is fairly stable compared to some of the others so… I’m sure you can do the math.”
Moreau nodded. “Yes sir.” A few of the worlds near Terra had only been liberated shortly before the assault on the home world, but most of Lone Star province hadn’t been fought over. Amaris had done incredible damage when he withdrew his forces, but it had been five years and if they hadn’t really recovered there were at least planetary governments in place and the first edge of shock had passed.
“We aren’t just there to keep rioters under control though. There’s a long border with the Draconis Combine to keep an eye on, and Amaris did claim he was handing the worlds over to House Kurita. Given their historical stance on acquisitions – the Dragons’ hoard is theirs but anyone else’s property rights are debateable – it’s at least possible someone might do something stupid there. Certainly any serious incidents involving relief workers from the Combine could be used as grounds for an intervention.”
“Sir, are we going to get replacement personnel?”
“We’re on the list, Colonel Stevens, but so are a lot of other divisions and since we at least have three combat-ready brigades we’re probably not near the top.” Miller gave them a dry smile. “The rewards of success. Since you raised personnel matters, you may note that Lieutenant General Caine isn’t here. The general was overdue for retirement and submitted her resignation yesterday. She’s asked that no one make a fuss… so the surprise party is tonight. Recon elements are keeping her movements under observation and I’ll be calling her in to settle the paperwork at seventeen-hundred hours, at which point we’ll ambush her with booze and a barbecue. Frankly, we could all do with letting off some steam.”
The officers laughed and Ethan made a note of how Miller had turned around the bad news about lack of replacements. Combat-ready brigades was a long way from saying that those brigades were full strength.
“In addition, that means we have an open space in the TO&E that needs filling. LIII Corps will be taking the lead in redeployment – I expect us to be off Terra before the month is out – so we need a new brigade commander.” Miller paused for effect. “Congratulations, Lieutenant General Moreau.”
“What?” It took Ethan a moment to realise he’d said that out loud and once someone started laughing – he suspected Marge Pritchard – that set the entire room off.
“Alright, let me try that again,” the general said. “Congratulations, Lieutenant General Moreau.” She made an egging on gesture and the other officers, those treacherous souls, chorused: “Congratulations.”
“Yeah, thanks and I know where you all sleep,” he said, getting some more chuckles. “But seriously, I wasn’t expecting a brigade.”
“I think you’re ready for it,” Miller told him. “And as you may note from this rowdy lot, most of the division agree. Besides, we’re at peace now so promotions are likely to be slower. You’ll get the chance to settle in and get to grips with being a brigade commander.”
“Peace time doesn’t mean peaceful,” warned Colonel Stevens. “But yeah, you’ll probably get time to wear these rank pins in properly.”
“It’ll make a nice change,” Ethan said drily. Lieutenant General at twenty-eight was insane. General Kerensky had been a year older when he made Colonel, and that was a two-step promotion when he’d won the Medal of Valor on Royal.
Don’t lose your head, Ethan reminded himself. No one gets promoted this fast unless something goes wrong. Comparing myself to Kerensky? That’s ridiculous.
.o0O0o.
Unity City, Terra
Alliance Core, Terran Hegemony
10 October 2775
“I can’t believe you voted for Blake,” Hanse complained as John leant back in his chair.
The First Prince shrugged his shoulders, masking it as simply working out some tension in them. The simple fact was that there was no one else with even half Jerome Blake’s credentials when it came to reassembling the tattered HPG network in the Hegemony. Teams under the engineer’s leadership had quite literally restored service on twice as many worlds as any of the other repair groups. Added to his work on re-establishing HPG communications across the occupied Hegemony and any political capital expended to block him would be wasted.
At least the possible link to Conrad Toyama had been neatly severed. After all of Hanse’s suggestions of assassination, the simplest solution had been to simply point one of the other reconstruction interests towards the young man. At the tender age of twenty-three, he was well connected to the black markets flourishing on his home world of Styk and was easily adapting to similar matters. No doubt he’d do well working for Cerulean Waters, but however vital water purification systems were, they’d never have the political impact of controlling interstellar communications.
“Now we’ve confirmed a Commanding General for the SLDF and a Minister of Communications, perhaps we can fill the remaining gap in the upper echelons of the Star League’s government,” he said out loud. “Re-establishing the Bureau of Star League Affairs should give us a better handle on some of the economic… issues that we’re facing.”
“And I suppose you have a candidate in mind?” asked Minoru Kurita sardonically. “I’m not sure the Combine has benefitted from the Bureau as much as the Suns, perhaps we should instead re-think its role.”
“I can think of several candidates,” John answered. “And whatever might change about its role, there should still be a Minister. After all, not every state in the Star League has reduced the Bureau to a blank slate.”
“We seem to have adapted,” noted Kenyon Marik acidly. “Do you suggest we should pay taxes for services only provided to the Federated Suns?”
“You had those services until you stopped those taxes.” He pinched the brow of his nose. “There’s two separate issues here and I don’t see that a debate about its role should be put before appointing a leader for the organisation.”
“Ah, but the choice of minister should be based on what they’re expected to do,” Robert pointed out somewhat gleefully. “We can hardly turn back the clock so with the best will in the worlds the BSLA won’t be able to operate on the same scale for many years to come. There’s no point appointing someone in the expectation of that.”
“At the same time,” Barbara added, “There’s likely to be something of a peace dividend – now that the SLDF is no longer engaged in warfare its expenses will naturally fall and there will be funds available to the BSLA. Surely we should discuss what policies should be followed in allocating such largesse.”
“I wouldn’t count on a drastic influx of funds.” John steepled his fingers. “All that money has to come from tax revenues, after all. The last ten years have left all our economies shakier and cut into what taxes are paid. And of course, in some states, simply collecting those taxes has become all but impossible. You complain that the Federated Suns received the bulk of Star League spending over the last decade, but where do you think the money came from?”
“How we manage our states is our business, not yours.”
“When you’re shorting the Star League government, I’d say that’s the business of the entire Star League Council. Wouldn’t you, Robert?”
“And would you open your own finances to such scrutiny, Prince Davion?” asked Barbara.
“The Bureau’s tax collections and the expenditure of those funds is a matter of record. Administrator Green has been taking steps to ensure all necessary data is available here in the expectation of the new Minister having need for it. As a member of the Council, naturally you have a right to view those records – just as I’m entitled to see what the Bureau’s been doing – and not been allowed to do – within each of your states.”
“Oh, but I’m not talking about the BSLA operations in the Suns,” the Chancellor said silkily. “I mean your personal finances. My understanding is that House Davion was heavily in debt at the time of the Coup. And yet you seem conveniently solvent. It would be interesting to see if you refilled your coffers at the expense of the Duchy of New Avalon which you claimed administration over.”
John snorted. Someone had followed the wrong line of reasoning there. Barbara couldn’t have missed that he’d renounced the debt – but she might have missed why he borrowed the money. “My personal finances are none of your business, Chancellor. The duchy, however, is certainly accounted for in BSLA affairs and I’ve rendered a full account.”
Helena Cameron cleared her throat. “To me, as it happens. And I had the accounts privately vetted so you can rest assured that there was no embezzlement. In fact, Prince Davion and his son have increased the revenues of the Duchy noticeably and it’s been covering my day to day costs since I reached New Avalon last year.”
“Very well. I’d be pleased to have that examined if you’d like a second opinion.”
“Since the Duchy is part of my own personal finances, Chancellor, I don’t think that it’s necessary.” Helena looked over at the now empty seat representing the Outworlds Alliance. Simpson Avellar had made a very hasty departure from Terra following the first meeting of the Star League Council. “I had Felchow und Sohn examine the records. I trust that you’re familiar with their reputation.”
The bank had been intransigent enough with Amaris that their Terran branches no longer existed – and they’d purged their entire computer system between the first effort to seize them – the OPD had been shocked to discover that they weren’t actually sufficiently equipped or trained to successfully storm the bank’s corporate headquarters – and the Rim Worlds Army’s successful storming of the building. Branches outside of the Hegemony had regrouped and they’d been first to accept David Avellar’s invitation to set up an Outworlds branch.
“That would do,” Barbara conceded. “Although that does lead us to what the SLDF will do about the rebels. After all, Amaris is out of the picture.”
“I seriously doubt if the SLDF is in any position to resume its campaign against the secessionist elements within the Concordat or any of the other states. After all, such a campaign would be expensive and I do get the impression that you prefer them starved of cash,” Nicoletta gave Kerensky a smug smile. “Wouldn’t you agree, Protector?”
Kerensky was seated opposite her, right next to John. “That brings us back to the matter of finances,” he said without directly addressing Nicoletta. “The Rim Worlds’ financial structure has been somewhat restored to support SLDF operations. Separating Bureau assets from those of the SLDF will be relatively straightforward, if time consuming and should proceed along with establishing the Rim Worlds’ new government.”
“How very admirable,” Minoru murmured. “Perhaps we should rescind Council Directive 41 and reinstate the system of Periphery Administrators for territorial states. Of course, that would also mean that Lord Kerensky would have to cede his seat here to the appointed administrator.”
“While I agree we should revisit our policies in the Periphery, a more nuanced position would probably be in order,” John said before Kenyon or Robert could get their teeth into the idea. “And we are drifting away from the issue at hand. May I suggest we appoint a provisional head of the BSLA to audit their current resources and any shortfalls in revenue?”
“Your Bennett Green perhaps?” sniped Kenyon. “He’s more one of your ministers now than he is a Star League official.”
“I was actually thinking Reika Isu, the State Administrator for the Draconis Combine. She’s been heavily involved in the reconstruction of the Hegemony so she has some experience of assessing and reconstructing damaged government facilities and structures.”
The Lord of the Free Worlds League glanced aside at Minoru. “You know her best.”
“Regrettably I don’t feel that she would be equal to the task,” the Coordinator demurred.
Robert cleared his throat. “We shouldn’t elevate any of the State Administrators. We need a fresh pair of eyes, an outsider who isn’t part of their cliques. I nominate Jennifer Steiner.”
Kenyon laughed. “I’m not sure why you think we’d place the Star League’s administration in the hands of your sister, even temporarily.”
“Jennifer’s more than capable.”
“But capable of what? We don’t need some Lyran merchant cutting sharp deals to your benefit in charge of the Bureau,” the Captain-General said harshly.
“Should we appoint Edward Hughes then?” asked Helena cautiously. “He seems sensible.”
“I wouldn’t trust that blowhard to carry a bucket of water,” retorted Kenyon.
Helena sighed and pulled out a hip-flask. “I get the impression you don’t trust many people, Lord Marik,” she said as she unscrewed the lid.
Kenyon gave her a contemptuous look as she sipped the contents. “Certainly not drunks,” he told her.
She blinked at him and then took her water glass, pouring a little of the flask’s contents into it. “It’s antacid,” Helena explained, pushing the glass towards the Captain-General so he could examine the milky contents. “Now, I trust you’ll excuse me if I move to adjourn the session. I’ve Hegemony business to attend to and we’ve run long for the last three days so it’s piling up.”
“I quite understand,” Barbara said warmly. “May I suggest we recess the session so we can attend to business at home?”
“Motion seconded,” Robert asserted. “In fact, let’s recess until next year. Then we’ll at least know who the real Director-General is.”
“I find myself in the rare position of agreeing with the Archon,” Minoru concurred.
“Four votes cast in favour, motion carries,” Helena noted and pushed back her chair. “Have a good evening, my lords of the council. And safe journeys home.”