A King's Ship (Empire Rising Book 2) (4 page)

As James spoke he looked at the plot of
Endeavour’s
progress into the New Edinburgh system. “We’ll end our conversation here Lieutenant. We’re almost two hours away from the rendezvous point. I want to go back to the bridge and see what there is to see.”

“Aye Sir,” Ferguson replied, “I hope I don’t let you down on this mission.”

“Don’t worry about that,” James answered smiling. “You’re forgetting, I have read your files too. I’m sure you will perform your duties admirably.”

As Ferguson walked out James couldn’t help but analyze his own self-doubts. If one was to read all the news reports of his feats in the recent war with the Chinese they couldn’t help coming to the conclusion that he was some sort of tactical genius. However, James knew the truth, some of his victories had been down to sheer luck and when he had saved the Swedish colony ship he had almost ran from combat. Still, he knew that the experience had changed him. He wasn’t going to run away from a fight again, not if the stakes were so high.

One thing the Void War had taught him was that it took a lot to be a competent naval commander. He had served closely with Captain Lightfoot and Rear Admiral Jensen. Both of them had been expert tacticians and leaders. James knew he didn’t yet live up to their standards. Yet he was determined to try.

It helped that his uncle had confidence in him. James knew Admiral of the Red Jonathan Somerville wouldn’t trust just anyone with the latest class of ship to come off the British naval construction lines. Despite his self-doubts, James knew he needed to prove his uncle’s confidence was well placed. This mission and
Endeavour
would certainly give him the opportunity to see just what sort of Captain he was becoming.

*

Ten minutes later James was once more sitting in his command chair on the bridge.

“Possible contact,” Sub Lieutenant Malik called out.

“At the coordinates I gave you?” James asked.

“Yes sir,” Malik answered. “We’re picking up some faint radiation, enough for us to be able to determine that it’s likely to be leakage from a small to medium ship with most of its systems powered down. I have been viewing some visuals of the area but as yet we haven’t been able to identify anything. The computer thinks there is something there but it can’t get enough of a resolution to accurately estimate what it is,” he added.

“I see,” James answered. To the bridge at large he added, “I’m expecting to meet a RSN or a RSNI contact at the location. We will then be getting new orders.”

He couldn’t help but smile as he saw the Sub Lieutenants looking at each other, thinking they were being sneaky enough to avoid his noticing. A secret rendezvous with new orders. Their imaginations were no doubt running wild. Up to now the crew had no doubt been a little concerned with his actions. Once his latest revelation spread around the ship things would start to make sense.

After another twenty minutes the computer was finally able to make out what was waiting for them at their destination. As Sub Lieutenant Malik brought up the visual on the main holo display, he talked the bridge through the computer’s findings. “It’s a Hauler class freighter. They are one of the most popular freighter designs among the smaller independent traders. From the markings it appears to be registered to an Indian shipping company. As far as our ship’s records indicate, there is no such ship owned by the RSN.”

“And there’s not likely to be any official records if the ship is operated by the Royal Space Navy Intelligence,” James concluded, which only served to send another series of looks between the Sub Lieutenants. “I want one of our plasma cannons charged and targeted on that freighter. As far as we know they are friendlies but I don’t want to take any chances.”

When
Endeavour
got close enough to the freighter, James sent out the prearranged signal, a series of beeps and dots using the laser communication relay. The freighter replied with its own beeps and dots.

“Communications, I’m sending you a data file now. Check to see if the freighter’s signal matches the one in the file.” James said to the Sub Lieutenant manning the communication console.

“The signal is a match Sir,” she quickly replied, “wait,” she said as she paused to peer over her console. “We’re getting a laser COM link from the freighter.”

“Put the channel on the main holo display,” James ordered.

When a face appeared in front of his bridge crew James was momentarily startled. The beaming white smile, accentuated by the black hair, brown eyes and dark skin of Georgia Gupta, clearly indicated that she had been looking forward to her surprise. “Welcome to New Edinburgh Captain Somerville,” she said by way of greeting.

“Lieut... Err... I mean, Commander Gupta,” James began, still a little taken aback. “It’s good to see you. I thought you were being given your own command?”

“I was,” she replied, “You are looking at her.
Innocence
was commissioned into the RSN two years ago. She’s a Q ship. You’ve heard about the strange disappearances that have been going on in this area of space over the last decade. Well,
Innocence
was designed to get to the source of the problem. She has been cruising about between Indian, French, Canadian and British colonial space trying to get herself into trouble. At least she had been. When I was promoted to Commander I was given her and put on special assignment. It seems the Admiralty wants us to continue to work together. I can’t say I’m too disappointed. Things are never boring when you are around,” she concluded with another beaming smile.

James nodded in understanding. A Q ship was a freighter armed with military grade weapons. The idea was that an attacker would approach in the hope of boarding the helpless freighter, only to find themselves staring down the barrel of a pair of plasma cannons. Piracy was a rare thing in human space. It was simply too expensive to build and maintain a spaceship without a large industrial base. Nevertheless, a number of ships had been going missing in and around the areas Gupta had mentioned. Not enough to cause any major concern, but enough that the Admiralty had decided to do something.

James now understood how he was to overcome the obvious problem he had seen in the Admiralty’s plan. Sneaking
Endeavour
into foreign space in the hunt for Chang made little sense. If he wanted to actually find Chang on a planet he would have to land a party from his ship and doing so would reveal
Endeavour’s
presence. With
Innocence
joining the hunt, they would have the perfect cover. The freighter could enter any system without causing a stir. She was already well known in these parts.

“Well I’m glad to have you with us,” James said in response to Gupta’s last comment. “I presume you want to come aboard and brief my officers on our updated orders?”

“Yes Sir, I’ll come over right away if that is ok.”

“Certainly, I’ll see you shortly,” James answered with a nod. It was going to be good working with Gupta again.

In many ways the Royal Space Navy was like one big family, almost everyone knew each other and many got on well. Of course that also meant there was more than one fierce rivalry that threatened to tear the family apart from time to time. Now those days are long gone, the Empire’s navy is simply too vast.

-Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD

11
th
February 2466 AD, New Edinburgh System

James and Commander Gupta walked into
Endeavour’s
conference room and stood facing the assembled officers. Along with the senior officers from
Endeavour
and the Sub Lieutenants who weren’t on duty, RSNI Agent Julia Bell and Major Johnston were also crowded into the room.

The last two members of Gupta’s team had been as much of a shock for James as Gupta’s presence. He had met Major Johnston during one of the first acts of the Void war. He had come on board James’ first command with a group of Special Forces marines to attempt a daring boarding action on a Chinese destroyer. After that the Major had been assigned to command the marine detachment aboard the destroyer
Ghost
. A ship James had worked closely with. When James met him for the second time aboard
Ghost
he had changed. In the intervening time Johnston had lost his wife. She had been killed during a Chinese attack on one of the British colonies. As a result he had become a blood thirsty killer. There was no other way to describe it. As James thought about it, it wasn’t a surprise to find him on this mission. The Major’s success and efficiency in the war with China was beyond doubt but as James had read his battle reports he had observed the change in the man. To someone who hadn’t known him before he would look like the perfect soldier, cold, detached and methodical. Yet to James it was obvious the Major was broken, he had pushed down his grief and focused all his efforts on getting revenge.
He might become a problem
, Jams thought to himself.

Agent Bell was another matter. He had also met her during the war with the Chinese. She had proven herself a very talented spy and a proficient warrior. James had been very glad to see her. His team would need her undercover skills if they were to stand a chance of finding Chang.

“I hope you have already made the necessary introductions,” James said to the gathered officers. “We are all going to be working closely together over the next several months.

“Commander Gupta and I have reviewed our orders closely and we think it appropriate we fully brief you all at this time as we may not get a chance to all be in the same room again.” James moved to one end of the conference room so that everyone had a clear view to the main holo display that dominated the front of the room. With a few touches on one of the command consoles he brought up an image.

“I’m sure many of you recognize this man. Chang Lei is the former Chinese Minister of Intelligence. He led the Politburo when China began hostilities with us almost two years ago. After Emperor Na’s uprising he fled Earth. Initially it was thought that he fled to one of his facilities in the Chinese colonies but when the infighting between the various Chinese factions settled down he was nowhere to be found. Both our government and the UN have arrest warrants out on him and we have been given the mission of bringing him home to face trial.

“Now,” James said as he switched the view of the holo display to show colonial space around the New Edinburgh System. From New Edinburgh a shift passage led off into French colonial space. New France itself was only two weeks travel away. From there it was possible to travel either into Indian colonial space, towards the single Canadian colony, Quebec, or if one wanted, to the Rostov system. The latter destination would be certain suicide for
Innocence
and a very dangerous journey for
Endeavour
. Rostov was the only Russian colonial world that had a shift passage connecting it to the rest of human space. The Russians hadn’t opened communications with any Earth nation for over twenty years. Occasionally the Earth nations would send in a stealth ship to see what the Russians were up to. Those that returned showed a constant buildup of military ships. Everyone on Earth was more than a little nervous about the Russians’ actions, yet no one wanted to take any pre-emptive measures. They were all hoping the Russians would remain content in their own colonial space.

“You’ll be glad to know we don’t think he has passed through Rostov into Russian space. Rather, RSNI has intercepted some information that suggests that Chang is hiding out on one of the Indian colonies. Though we don’t know which. Our best guess is that he is trying to barter or bribe his way to being hidden somewhere where he can live in peace. I’m afraid we’re going to burst his bubble. 

“The data RSNI intercepted linking Chang to India was a money transfer. We believe Chang is trying to move as many assets to India as he feels he safely can.
Innocence’s
Commander Gupta and Agent Bell are going to be our doorway into Indian space and Chang. Agent Bell spent several years undercover in the Chinese colonies and can pass for a Chinese national with ease. She will be posing as an ex-intelligence agent Chang has hired to smuggle some of his wealth out of China. Gupta is obviously of Indian origin – her grandparents actually come from New Delhi. She will be posing as an independent freighter owner hired by Agent Bell to transport Chang’s possessions. With a bit of luck they will be able to move around freely on the Indian worlds and sniff out where Chang is.

“
Endeavour’s
job will be to provide heavy fire support. We will follow
Innocence
through Indian space in stealth, ready to come to her aid if and when she needs us. Major Johnston has been appointed to command
Endeavour’s
marines. He didn’t come on board
Endeavour
at Earth in case his presence raised some suspicions about the nature of
Endeavour’s
mission. For the moment he will remain on board
Innocence
to command a squad of marines. Their job will be to retrieve Chang once Agent Bell locates him.

“Are there any questions at this point?” James finished.

A number of hands shot up and James worked his way down them in order of seniority. When it came to Sub Lieutenant Davies, James was asked a question that hit on his main concern with the whole mission.

“What happens if the Indian authorities capture some of the people we send down to a planet? Or worse yet, they impound
Innocence
. What will we do from
Endeavour
?” Davis asked.

James knew what his gut reaction would be. He would bring
Endeavour
into orbit and land enough marines to break into whatever building his people were being held in. Especially if Gupta was involved, they had grown close after they had settled their differences back on
Drake
. Yet as a Captain in the Royal Space Navy he couldn’t. His mission parameters were very clear.
Endeavour
was not to reveal her presence at any time unless it would secure the capture of Chang.

Relations between Britain and India had been souring over the last two decades. After the war with Russia the French colonies had been devastated. Both Britain and the US had poured trillions of credits into rebuilding the colonies and helping France develop her empire. If the Russians decided they wanted to have another go at taking New France, Britain and the US wanted to make it as difficult for them as possible. Yet India and France were direct competitors. Their colonial empires shared a border and so they were both trying to outdo one another as they continued to expand into space. The limited planets that could be reached by the shift drive ensured that for every credit of support Britain gave France, India’s chance of increasing her wealth, power and prestige diminished. The Indian rulers had been making a fuss about the support for years. Both in the UN and through Earth’s news outlets, they did everything they could to disrupt Britain and portray her as a villain.

There was no doubt that if they found a British officer and RSNI agent operating in their space they would be quick to go public and cry foul. If they were caught, Bell and Gupta knew the British government would disown them. They would then look like common pirates who had stolen and armed their own freighter. Certainly there would be no way
Innocence
could be traced back to the Royal Space Navy, RSNI had made sure of that.

As those thoughts raced through James’ head an awkward silence enveloped the conference room. Recognizing that this was a question she should answer Agent Bell jumped to her feet. “That is a risk we are aware of. Everyone on board
Innocence
is a volunteer. If we get caught we are on our own. We all know this. The solution however is rather simple,” she said with a dazzling smile. “We won’t get caught.”

The chuckles that echoed around the room dissipated the tension that had crept into the meeting. Using the distraction to shake himself James addressed the meeting again. “If there are no further questions you may leave. Those of you who have updated assignments will find them on your personal datapad.” When no one raised their hand James closed the meeting, “you’re dismissed.”

*

Fourth Lieutenant Becket was making her way back from
Endeavour’s
Marine Barracks when her COM chirped. When she answered it the Captain’s voice addressed her, “Lieutenant, can I see you in my briefing room?”

“Yes Sir,” she replied.

“Have a seat,” James said as she entered the Captain’s conference room.

Commander Gupta was seated beside the Captain and as she sat Becket gave her a nod. “We want to discuss
Innocence
with you,” James began.

“Officially Agent Bell is her Second Lieutenant but she has no command experience so Gupta is going to need assistance running the freighter. Seeing as you two already know each other I thought you would be ideal. You were at the briefing though, you know the risks if
Innocence
or any of you get caught. I can’t come to your aid.

“What do you think?” James asked after a pause.

Becket took a second to consider the risks her Captain had mentioned. Then it hit her, Gupta would have to join the landing parties that would go down to the colonies they visited to ensure their ruse of being an independent Indian freighter held up. That meant she would be the one left in command, something that would look good on her record! “I would be delighted to join
Innocence
,” she said hastily. 

“Very good,” Gupta said with a smile. “We’re also going to need a few extra crew members to make sure the freighter is fully manned when we send down a landing party. We’re going to need to be ready for anything. I want you to liaise with First Lieutenant Ferguson and organize ten crew members to transfer across with you.”

“Yes Sir,” Becket responded.

“Great,” Gupta said as she stood. Stretching out her hand to Becket she continued, “it will be a pleasure to work together again.”

“Thank you,” Becket said as she shook her superior’s hand.

As both women turned to leave his office James waved Becket back, “not so fast Lieutenant, I have one more thing for you.”

“Yes Sir?” she asked.

James made a point of waiting until Gupta left the office. As she went through the automatic doors she turned and raised a quizzical eyebrow at James but he only winked at her and motioned her to keep moving.

When the doors closed he turned his attention back to Becket. “I have one more request for you. You remember Major Johnston from his time on board
Drake
?”

“Certainly Sir,” Becket began, “the Major and his marines beat me black and blue as I trained with them for the boarding mission against that Chinese destroyer. I’m not going to forget any of them in a hurry.”

“Good,” James said, “I hope he hasn’t forgotten you either. I’m sure you know his wife was killed during the Chinese attack on the Cook system. To be frank, he hasn’t been the same since. Professionally, he is one mean marine. His record in the war was impeccable. In fact, his efficiency ratings improved after his wife’s death. But emotionally he seems to have switched off. He is cold, distant. In the long term he could be a liability. Especially as we’re going after Chang, the very man responsible for the war and for the attack on Cook.