The Price of Liberty (Empire Rising Book 4) Page 2

  “Mimic their maneuver,” James said to Jennings.

  “Who commands Discovery?” Mallory asked.

  James guessed before anyone one the bridge was able to look up the information. “Captain Gupta if I’m not mistaken. No one else would be so cheeky. Send this back, ‘When Discovery’s battle honors are as long as Endeavour’s, then maybe she can claim that title. Until then, you will have to settle for prettiest. You do have a fresher paint of coat after all.”

  James’ message elicited a few chuckles from his bridge crew and he couldn’t help smiling when he saw Gupta’s reply.

  Touché.

  “Discovery’s Captain is requesting a secure COM link Captain,” King said.

  “I’ll take it in my office,” James said as he stood up and walked out of the bridge.

  *

  “Welcome to the fleet Captain,” Gupta said with a warm smile as soon as her face appeared on the holo display.

  “It’s good to see you again,” James replied. “You have certainly done well for yourself. Discovery looks to be a fine ship.”

  “She is,” Gupta said. “And her crew are working hard to get her ready for war. We just finished our space trials a month ago.”

  “I’m sure you will have them well trained when the time comes,” James assured her.

  “I plan too; it helps that we have such a legacy to live up to. You almost singlehandedly destroyed an entire alien fleet with your exploration cruiser. My people plan on matching your crew’s accomplishments.”

  “Just don’t get yourselves killed in the process,” James warned. “Our success has been as much down to luck as skill, I don’t want you taking any unnecessary risks just to best me.”

  “Ha,” Gupta laughed, “you are forgetting that I know how you operate Captain. Luck may play a part, but your skill has been what has made your luck. You are far too humble, but I guess that is what I should expect from the People’s Hero,” Gupta finished with a smirk.

  “Oh shut up,” James groaned. “I heard enough about the People’s Hero when I was on Earth. I don’t want to hear anything more about court martials or news broadcasts.”

  “Good luck with that,” Gupta chuckled. “Everyone in the fleet is going to want to talk to you about it.”

  “Well we don’t have to,” James said. “I’d rather be congratulating you on your new command. Your family must be proud.”

  “They are,” Gupta said with a genuine smile. “They can’t believe it to be honest. Not that they don’t think I deserve it, but when they think about where our family has come from, it’s hard to imagine one of us would get to where I am now.”

  “And what do they think about the war?” James asked.

  Gupta’s grandparents had been colonists on the Indian colony of New Delhi. Being members of a low caste, they had been limited to holding menial jobs and had been generally looked down upon by most of the New Delhi population. After years of scraping up enough savings, they had purchased a one-way ticket to Earth and the British Star Kingdom. After applying for and receiving citizenship they had thrived, allowing their children to make a life for themselves, which, in turn, allowed Gupta to make it to the fleet academy.

  “They are concerned,” Gupta said. “We still have family back in the Indian colonies. They also know how determined the Indian government can be. We all fear this war could escalate and become a war to the death rather than just one to liberate Haven.”

  “They may be right,” James said. “The Indian government has hated and feared us for nearly a century. I don’t think they will just sit back and let us beat them.

  “How are your parents doing?” James asked. “I heard some anti-Indian sentiment in London.”

  “They are ok,” Gupta responded. “Keeping to themselves mainly. The last thing they want is to get into any trouble and so they are staying indoors as much as possible.”

  “I’m sorry they have to go through that,” James said, genuinely upset. He was worried Suzanna’s and his actions had played a part in stirring up such sentiment.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Gupta said. “They think it is a small price to pay for the freedoms they enjoy. We all grew up hearing the horror stories of my grandparents. A few overzealous nationals are nothing to us.”

  “Good,” James said. “Next time I have a few days on Earth I will have to pay them a visit. I still owe them a meal.”

  “I’m sure they would love to see you,” Gupta said. “But enough about my family. Tell me, how is married life treating you Captain?”

  “Well,” James said, unable to hide his smile. “Despite everything that has happened. I can truly say it is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I can hardly remember what unmarried life is like.”

  “Excellent,” Gupta said, genuinely happy for the man who had once been her Captain. “After everything you went through when we were on Drake together I am glad you have found some happiness.”

  “As am I,” James said. “You will have to meet Suzanna once this war is over. I know you will both hit it off.”

  “And I’m sure she will want to know all the embarrassing stories I have to tell about you,” Gupta said.

  “No doubt,” James agreed. “But don’t forget, I have a few of my own for when the time comes. Speaking of which, is there anyone I should know about?”

  “Ha, not a chance,” Gupta said. “My parents have suggested a couple of men. But I have been far too busy getting Discovery space worthy to be thinking about such things.”

  “I’m sure,” James said. “Well then tell me this,” James continued as a thought occurred to him. “Have you been assigned a Science Officer?”

  “I sure have,” Gupta said. “He was on board before I was given command. I don’t think I got as lucky as you. I don’t know what I’m going to do with mine.”

  “What do you mean?” James asked.

  “I mean, you seem to have got more than a science officer,” Gupta said. “In fact, she is on board Discovery right now showing my officer the ropes.”

  “Science Officer Scott is on board Discovery?” James asked. “What is she doing there?”

  “It’s Sub Lieutenant now,” Gupta explained.

  “She changed to the command track?” James asked, perplexed.

  “Yes,” Gupta answered. “I thought you knew, she is meant to transfer to Endeavour as soon as you reach orbit.”

  “I guess she has some explaining to do,” James said.

  “I’ll let her fill you in then,” Gupta replied. “It’s safe to say that my Science Officer won’t be going on away missions any time soon. I think he likes working at his computer a little too much.”

  “Give him a chance,” James said. “You might be surprised, when Scott came to me I didn’t have a clue what I was going to do with her, but she ended up being vital on our mission to hunt down Chang. I’m looking forward to seeing her. How is she?”

  “She seems reserved,” Gupta said. “But competent. I didn’t know her before the accident so I can’t really say.”

  “Well the fact that she’s back on duty, and in the command track speaks volumes,” James said. “She has had a long and difficult road to recovery.”

  “Sounds like you’re a fan,” Gupta replied.

  “I like to think I have a knack for spotting good officers,” James said. “I did recommend you for command after all.”

  “That you did,” Gupta said smiling, “I suppose you might know what you’re doing.”

  “So, tell me about the fleet?” James asked changing the subject. “Are you ready for war?”

  “We sure are,” Gupta said. “We have been drilling for months, we are as ready as we’re going to get.”

  “Do you know what your role is going to be?”

  “Discovery will be working alongside the other scout ships when we’re with the main fleet,” Gupta answered. “From some of the simulations Rooke has had us run, I think we may be operating independently and carrying out som
e raiding missions as well. Just how much do you know about our mission?”

  “Enough,” James said evasively. “I expected to be assigned to the patrol ships, not the flagship’s flotilla. Do you know what’s going on there?”

  “Not exactly,” Gupta replied. “Rooke wasn’t the happiest man in the fleet when the reports of the last day of your court martial reached us. I don’t know if he has something against you, or your uncle, or the Prime Minister or what. But reading between the lines, I don’t think he’s happy to have you under his command.”

  “Great,” James said. “Just what I need, another senior officer who’s out to get me.”

  “Do you know why he might not like you?” Gupta asked.

  “No clue,” James answered. “I guess I’m going to have to try and figure out what his problem is. I don’t want to spend the rest of this war babysitting the flagship. Setting aside whatever differences he thinks we have, what is Rooke like as a commanding officer?”

  “He’s good,” Gupta answered. “If you have reviewed the invasion simulations we carried out you’ll know he beat Admiral Cunningham both times. That said, he has given me the impression that he can be a little overcautious. But that’s not always a bad thing in a senior commander.”

  “It’s not,” James agreed, his mind going back to his own recklessness just a few weeks ago.

  “Captain,” the voice of Sub Lieutenant Malik cut into their conversation. “We have just received orders from the flagship, the fleet is to prepare to break orbit.”

  “We just got the same orders,” Gupta said as she turned back from looking at something out of James’ view of her office.

  “Very well,” James responded. “It was nice talking with you again Captain, hopefully we’ll get to put both ships to good use, it will be good to fight with you at my side once again.”

  “And it will be a pleasure to have you on this mission,” Gupta responded. “We’ll talk again soon James,” she added as she cut the transmission.

  Before James went to the bridge, he opened a file on his datapad and began to write. He needed to get to the bottom of why Rooke wasn’t happy with him. His uncle would never break the chain of command but there was someone else who could get to the bottom of things quickly. When the message was done, he transmitted it back to Earth. With nothing more he could do, he made his way to the bridge.

  “It looks like we’re heading to war,” First Lieutenant Mallory said as James sat down in his command chair.

  “Indeed we are,” James said. “You have the bridge, take us out with the flagship,” he ordered.

  *

  Several hours later as the fleet was nearing the edge of the Sol system’s mass shadow, two COM messages arrived for James from Earth. The first was from Suzanna. James saved it for later to read in the privacy of his quarters. The second was from Andréa Clements. She was an old friend and his accountant. More importantly, she had a range of contacts who could usually get her what she wanted.

  After a brief survey of how his finances were going, her message got to the information James wanted.

  I’m afraid I couldn’t find much about Rear Admiral Rooke. He seems to have led a distinguished career so far. There’s only one piece of information that might explain his actions. When he was a Sub Lieutenant, he served under the then Captain Blackwood for three years. Then, as a First Lieutenant, he served under Blackwood for another four years. I imagine they grew pretty close during those times. He may not have liked the way your defense counsel and King Edward treated Blackwood during the court-martial.

  I bet he didn’t, James thought to himself. Let’s hope that is all it is. We should be able to put our personal differences aside. We are at war after all.

  Quickly James wrote a brief response to Andréa, then he sat back and waited for the fleet to jump into shift space.

  Chapter 2 – The Sub Lieutenant

  One of the gravest mistakes the Earth nations made was the failure to recognize the hand of the Karacknids in events that led up to the War of Doom. If they had, Earth would have been far better prepared for what was to come.

  -Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD

  24th June 2467 AD, New France System

  Two weeks after leaving the Sol system Endeavour and the rest of the Fast Reaction Fleet jumped into the New France system. After acknowledging the government of New France and the large coalition fleet stationed there to ward off any Russian aggression, the British fleet boosted towards the shift passage that led further into the French colonies and on to Indian space. Three British cruisers and another five smaller ships broke off from the coalition fleet and joined the British fleet before they all jumped out.

  An hour later James retired to his office and sent for Sub Lieutenant Scott to meet him. “Sit down Sub Lieutenant,” James said when Scott appeared. “I was delighted to see you back aboard Endeavour.”

  As she made her way into his office, James was taken aback by her appearance. He had already met her a couple of times going about her duties but her appearance was still shocking.

  He could easily remember the first day he had met her. She had come aboard as Endeavour’s Science Officer. Tall, blonde, with blue eyes, she had been stunning. Despite being the Captain, James had been a little nervous in her presence. Now, things were different. Having known her before, James could still see traces of the beauty she had. Yet, since her ordeal on Vestar and the months of regenerative surgery she had gone through, someone seeing her for the first time would struggle to see past her scars.

  She walked with a limp. Even though the new legs that had been grown for her were identical to the ones she had lost, the long delay before she had received her new limbs had left her with neurological damage which prevented her from fully using them. The limp, combined with the scar tissue that ran along her face and into a bare patch on her scalp, made it clear to anyone who looked that she had been through serious trauma.

  “It is good to be back and doing something again,” Scott said. “I was going crazy back at my parents’ house.”

  “I can imagine,” James said. “When were you discharged from the hospital?”

  “About three months ago Sir,” Scott answered. “Since then I have been working on my rehabilitation, progress is still slow but as soon as I passed all my physical and psych evaluations I wanted to get straight back to duty.”

  “I’m sorry I haven’t had the chance to speak to you sooner, things have been hectic the last few weeks.”

  “That’s alright Sir, I know you’ve been busy. I’m just happy you allowed me back on board Endeavour as a Sub Lieutenant,” Scott said.

  “That’s why I asked you here,” James said. “Just how did you manage to switch to the command track? Not that I’m complaining, but as I said when I first met you, it was always going to be a longshot.”

  “Well,” Scott said as a coy smile appeared on her face. A smile James remembered well from their first meeting. She had used it to convince him to allow her to run tactical simulations with the Sub Lieutenants. “After my injuries, I was interviewed by the head of the navy’s Science Foundation alongside a Rear Admiral from the Admiralty. They offered me an honorable discharge. I told them I wanted to stay in the navy. I still have my research to finish after all.”

  “Then why didn’t you just come back as Endeavour’s Science Officer?” James asked.

  “I was offered the position, or any other that I wanted.” Scott replied. “But you know what I really want, some day to command a survey ship of my own. So I took a chance. I knew when they mentioned any other position I wanted they meant within the Science Foundation, but I intentionally misunderstood them. I asked to be assigned to Endeavour as a Sub Lieutenant.”

  “What did they say?” James asked.

  “Initially they thought I was joking, but I convinced them I was serious,” Scott explained. “I told them all about the training you allowed me to take. I didn’t tell anyone at the time, but during our first crui
se I studied to take the final academy exams. I had never taken them before, as I transferred to the Science Foundation after my first two years at the academy. After I got out of hospital, I sat and passed them.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me,” James responded.

  “It did surprise them, but it still wasn’t enough, I could see they were going to say no. Then I showed them the letter of recommendation you wrote for me. I think that pushed them over the edge. I owe you a great deal Captain, you are the one who has set me on this path.”