Democracy 1: Democracy's Right by Christopher Nuttall Read Free Book Online Page A

the 123 rd Superdreadnaught Squadron.”
     
    “Send them a standard greeting,” Colin ordered, as the superdreadnaughts came alive, their tactical sensors scouring space for potential threats.  Commodore Roosevelt wasn't even trying to hide, or to conceal what her sensors were doing, although there was no real need for her do either.  It wasn’t as if there was something in the system that could threaten her.  “And then hold the holographic program on standby.”
     
    “Aye, sir,” the communications officer said.  The tension on the bridge rose sharply.  They were committed now.  “We are picking up a response.  Commodore Roosevelt would like to speak to Captain Howell.”
     
    She isn't giving him his brevet rank , Colin thought, with a flicker of grim amusement.  “Activate the hologram,” he ordered.  It had taken several weeks of preparation, before the mutiny had been launched, to construct a hologram that would fool basic security checks.  He’d tested it against Shadow’s security systems and it had fooled them, but if Stacy asked a question they couldn’t answer...everything would fall apart.  “Send her the pre-recorded message.”
     
    ***
    “Commodore, welcome to Jackson’s Folly,” Captain-Commodore Howell said.  Jeremy watched impatiently as Howell ran through a series of greetings.  He had never served with Howell, but he knew – from Stacy – that he didn't have the initiative to get dressed in the morning without orders from higher authority, in triplicate.  Maybe not the desired kind of person for a major command...unless, of course, one wanted the commander to do nothing, but wait until higher authority arrived.  “I’m afraid that there has been an incident.”
     
    Stacy sucked in her breath sharply.  “We discovered that certain other elements were collaborating with the illegitimate government on Jackson’s Folly,” Howell continued.  “I have ordered those elements arrested and I intend to transfer them to your loyal ships at once.  I have also arrested the government of the planet, as per the contingency plan you sent me, and they too will be transferred.  Please prepare to take them into custody.”
     
    Jeremy blinked at Stacy’s savage smile...and then understood.  Howell had discovered that the other elements were not rebels or terrorists from beyond the Rim, but others from the Empire – from other Families.  If another Family had wanted to derail the Roosevelt Family’s expansion into the new sector, it would make sense for them to provide covert assistance to Jackson’s Folly.  Given time, they might even manage to get their clients onto the Observation Squadron and use the starships to assist the local government.  And yet...Howell had detected the plot and arrested the people responsible.  Stacy could take them into her custody and use them to embarrass their superiors.  They might even be so embarrassed that they would back off and leave the sector to the Roosevelt Family.
     
    “Of course,” Stacy said, sweetly.  She looked over at Jeremy.  “Have some of my household troopers moved to supervise the prisoners as they are unloaded from the shuttles.  They are not to come to any harm, but they are not to be allowed a chance to escape.”
     
    “Yes, Commodore,” Jeremy said, surprised.  She sounded almost competent...but then, she’d just been offered a chance to secure her position in the line of succession.  The Roosevelt Family would want a new Head one of these days and Stacy almost certainly had her eye on the prize.  She would be the most powerful woman in the Empire.  “I shall see to it personally.”
     
    On the display, nineteen heavy transport shuttles were launched from the Observation Squadron.  There were too many of them to land on any one superdreadnaught, Jeremy realised; they would have to be staggered out or spread out over the other superdreadnaughts, presenting him with an interesting logistics