“Most interestin’,” Bates mused; then he looked at Rebecca. “Mr. Bradford’s right: the motive’s clear. But we ha’ nae proof his military blunders were deliberate. His actions showed incompetence, p’raps, but no more than many o’ our other commanders ha’ shown in this war! He made no bones about his disagreement wi’ the strategy either.” He glowered. “An’ ta be honest, I don’t meself believe him in league with the Doms, regardless how his actions er inactions may ha’ aided ’em. But this terrible murder… I cannot put beyond him. I stand wi’ Mr. Bradford on that.” He sighed roughly. “An’ McClain’s neither a coward nor an imbecile, Yer Majesty,” he added. “More’s the pity.”
“But how may we prove it?” Rebecca asked almost desperately. “We must at least give reason for our suspicion. How could he have arranged the murders? It is already known that those who attacked Lieutenant Ruik, Factor Bates, and myself were Dominion zealots.”
“Dominion assassins were used.” Ruik considered. “That has been confirmed by our own observations, the marshals, and Imperial Intelligence-but the high admiral is chief of Imperial Intelligence. Is he not? Who is better placed to mislead and use such creatures, particularly amid all the confusion after the revolt?” He suddenly stood even more rigid. “I am personally convinced of his guilt,” he stated, “and am certain that Cap-i-taan Reddy, Chairman Adar, and Ahd-mi-raal Lelaa-Tal-Cleraan would desire me, and all our forces currently in the vicinity of the New Britain Isles, to offer you any assistance you may require for any reason, Your Majesty.”
“Your offer goes without saying, Lieutenant,” Courtney said with a wave. “But I think you have just connected a most significant dot. Suddenly, means matches step with motive and opportunity. Who better than Imperial Intelligence to leak the plans of our campaign on New Ireland? We now know the enemy anticipated our every move there, and only courage and divine providence prevented a most… distracting disaster.” Courtney drifted with his thoughts a moment. “I have it! Perhaps the lord high admiral was not in league with the Doms, but he did use them most effectively to distract the Governor-Emperor with domestic battles. This not only weakened our thrust against the Doms-a unifying enemy, if there ever was one-but delayed the implementation of the reforms that the high admiral opposed. Reforms that once made, could not be undone.”
He looked around at the others. “I propose that he laid the egg for his plot in this very room, when we discussed the campaigns both to recapture New Ireland and to secure the continental colonies! He and those loyal to him in Imperial Intelligence then hatched the scheme to supply the Doms and rebels with information that would cause a more lengthy, costly campaign on the island, while preserving the Doms in the east as a unifying foe that he could use to consolidate his power once the Governor-Emperor and his wife were out of the way.” He looked sadly at Rebecca. “And your own demise, my dear, which was so nearly achieved. What would that have gained him?”
“With both courts an’ the entire Imperial family disposed of, the high admiral would step directly into the Governor-Emperor’s office!” Bates declared, aghast.
“No wonder he did not seem defeated when he was relieved,” Ruik said with sudden certainty. “He wanted to be relieved, to be sent back here!”
“Well. Then Admiral McClain is clearly the most likely culprit. Isn’t he?” Courtney asked, a trifle smug.
“Yes, he is, and that does constitute sufficient cause to prevent his guardianship,” Rebecca stated icily, “and hopefully get him hanged. In the meantime, I am Governor-Empress, by inheritance, and Sean Bates will be my guardian if one is required! We will see to”-her voice cracked-“my parents’ funeral and the coronation, at which I shall crush McClain’s agenda of stopping the reforms and fulfill my parents’ legacy!”
“What will you do, my dear?” Courtney asked, focusing on the girl again.
“This very instant, I command the arrest of Lord High Admiral McClain and his particular associates,” Rebecca said darkly. “We must get ahead of this plot. Initially, he will be charged with gross dereliction of duty, and face a martial court to determine whether he should be dismissed the service. That should allow us time to investigate those associates and the Imperial Intelligence Service as a whole. Remember, the ‘Honorable’ New Britain Company virtually ruled New Ireland, and I sense the hand of its remnants in this. Look more closely for connections there as well.” She considered. “We should not even mention our other suspicions just yet, I think. We do not want to frighten unknown conspirators into flight.”
“Unknown conspirators. Particular associates. Hmm.” Courtney made a face. “As your first act as Governor-Empress, I think you should be careful, my dear, not to arrest people solely because they know the admiral. I know him, you know. Besides, Captain Reddy and his Americans-human and Lemurian-are quite taken with the Constitution they all swore to defend. It contains various tedious guidelines about having actual reasons to arrest anyone, not just important traitors such as the admiral. As the somewhat reluctant representative of the powers growing attached to that Constitution, I should warn you that they take it quite seriously indeed, to the point that their articles of war-based upon what they occasionally refer to as ‘Rocks and Shoals’-also reflect those individual protections. I think they will be impressed if your first commands set the precedent that you also value individual liberties.”
“Very well,” Rebecca said, reflecting that there’d been a time when Bradford’s ironic tact would have had her laughing. “Factor Bates, please see that the lord high admiral is arrested on the charge I specified-and do find legitimate reasons to arrest any of his associates who might have knowledge of a conspiracy. I will leave the detective work to you, the marshals, and any member of Imperial Intelligence you believe to be pure in this.” She looked at Bradford and bit her lip.
“As to what else I shall do: first, I will bury my parents. After that, I will make the very same address my father meant to give at the Court of Directors.” Rebecca’s chin rose. “I will affirm the reforms that my father began. All indentures will be rescinded, and women will be people in this nation once and for all, with the same freedoms and protections as any man.” She glared at Bradford. “And those protections will be very similar and just as universal as those described in the Constitution you mentioned.” She paused. “I read it, you see, while I was in Baalkpan. There was a book about government from a dead surgeon’s library. Astonishing…” She shook her head and continued. “The military alliance between the Empire and the western allies-the Grand Alliance-will be ratified by me, as will the cultural and material trade bargains we reached.” Rebecca’s voice became granite once more. “And I will proclaim that, as Captain Reddy suggested, the war against the evil Dominion will end only with its complete and unconditional defeat!”
“What of… what of the Dom prisoners we took on New Ireland?” Bates asked quietly.
Rebecca rubbed her eyes. “I want to kill them. Does that make me as evil as they?” She paused. “I can’t do that, and I won’t. They must remain confined, and those with sympathies toward them must be confined as well.” She glanced sadly at Courtney. “We are not yet completely ready for this American Constitution. We cannot continue with our war even as we guard against our own people.” She took a deep breath and released it. “I must order the arrest of all Dominion priests and congregations within the Empire, and those who associate with them shall be carefully questioned as well. Even… even the True Faith Catholics on New Ireland require study, I’m sad to say. Many did support the revolt there at first.” She looked at Courtney, her eyes suddenly pleading. “Sister Audry has convinced me that the Doms are not Catholic at all, but a hideous perversion that merely wears its cloak to hide their evil.” She sighed. “I believe she is right. I hope she is.” She shook her head. “Ultimately, it is for their own protection, as most in this land will not believe it, and many may seek to harm them.”