Mission of Honor-ARC (90 page)

"Are you offering me a
military alliance
against the
Solarian League?
" Elizabeth asked very carefully.

"If McBryde was right, there isn't going to be much of a Solarian League very much longer," Pritchart replied grimly. "And given the fact that the same bunch of murderous bastards who shot up your home system are also directly responsible for you and I having killed a couple of million of our own people, I think we could say we have a certain commonality of interest where they're concerned. And it's not a case of selfless altruism on my part, you know. We're
both
on the Alignment's list. Don't you think it would be sort of stupid of either of us to let the other one go down and leave us all alone?"

Brown eyes and topaz met across a table littered with the remnants of breakfast, and it was very, very quiet.

"We're still going to have those problems, you know," Elizabeth said almost conversationally after a moment. "All those people on both sides who don't like each other. All that legacy of suspicion."

"Of course." Pritchart nodded.

"And then there's the little matter of figuring out where this Alignment's real headquarters is, and who else is fronting for it, and what other weapons it has, and where else it has programmed assassins tucked away, and exactly what it's got in mind for the Republic once the Star Empire's been polished off."

"True."

"And, now that I think about it, there's the question of how we're going to rebuild our capabilities here, and how much technology sharing—and how quickly—we can convince our separate navies and our allies to put up with. You know there's going to be heel-dragging and tantrum-throwing the minute I start suggesting anything like that!"

"I'm sure there will."

The two women looked at one another, and then, slowly, both of them began to smile.

"What the hell," Elizabeth Winton said. "I've always liked a good challenge."

She extended her hand across the table.

Pritchart took it.

Abercrombie, Sir Tyler

Home Secretary, Star Kingdom of Manticore.

Abrioux, Special Senior Inspector Danielle

one of Kevin Usher's top investigators, Federal Investigation Agency, Republic of Haven.

Adenauer, Commander Dominica Adenauer, Royal Manticoran Navy

operations officer, Tenth Fleet.

Adriopoulos, Commander Alexandros, Royal Manticoran Navy

commodore James Tanner's chief of staff.

Agnelli, Chief Steward Joanna, Royal Manticoran Navy

Sir Aivars Terekhov's personal steward.

Alexander, The Honorable William

Baron Grantville, Prime Minister of the Star Empire of Manticore; Hamish Alexander-Harrington's younger brother.

Alexander-Harrington, Admiral Hamish

Earl of White Haven; First Lord of Admiralty; husband of Emily and Honor Alexander-Harrington.

Alexander-Harrington, Admiral Lady Dame Honor, Royal Manticoran Navy, Grayson Space Navy

Duchess and Steadholder Harrington; CO, Eighth Fleet. Life of Hamish and Emily Alexander-Harrington. Special envoy to the Republic of Haven.

Alexander-Harrington, Lady Emily

Countess of White Haven; wife of Hamish and Honor Alexander-Harrington.

Alquezar, Joachim

Prime Minister, Talbott Quadrant.

Anisimovna, Aldona

senior operative for Mesan Strategy Council and Mesan Alignment.

Armstrong, Captain Veronica ("Vicki"), Royal Manticoran Navy

CO, HMS Artemis; Admiral Michelle Henke's flag captain.

Atkins, Corporal Joshua, Harrington Steadholder's Guard

one of Honor Alexander-Harrington's personal armsmen.

Attunga, Marguerite

a reporter for Manticoran News Service, Incorporated.

Bardasano, Isabel

Jessyk Combine cadet board member and senior director Mesan Alignment security services.

Barloi, Henrietta

Secretary of Technology, Republic of Haven.

Bautista, Vice Admiral Pépé, Solarian League Navy

Fleet Admiral Sandra Crandall's chief of staff.

Beaupré, Lieutenant (JG) Andre, Republic of Haven Navy

Admiral Thomas Theisman's personal shuttle pilot.

Belardinelli, Antoine

President Eloise Pritchart's senior secretary.

Berkeley, Lieutenant (SG) Anthony, Royal Manticoran Navy

assigned Manufacturing and Prototyping Command, HMSS Weyland.

Billingsley, Master Steward Chris, Royal Manticoran Navy

Michelle Henke's personal steward.

Blackett, Sergeant Luke, Harrington Steadholder's Guard

James Harrington's personal armsman.

Blaine, Vice Admiral Jessup, Royal Manticoran Navy

CO, Links Terminus Home Fleet detachment.

Boisvin, Lieutenant Édouard, Royal Manticoran Navy

XO, HMS Stevedore.

Boltitz, Helga

Henri Krietzmann's personal aide.

Borderwijk, Captain Alenka, Republic of Haven Navy

Admiral Thomas Theisman's senior aide.

Bouchard, Lieutenant Commander Jerod, Royal Manticoran Navy

astrogator, HMS Artemis.

Bourchier, Senator Ninon

Senator, Republic of Haven; Constitutional Progressive Party.

Brantley, Lieutenant Commander Harper, Royal Manticoran Navy

communications officer, Eighth Fleet.

Brigham, Commodore of Mercedes, Grayson Space Navy

Admiral Honor Alexander-Harrington's chief of staff, Eighth Fleet.

Browne, Commander Ishmael, Solarian League Navy

XO, SLNS Joseph Buckley.

Cabeçadas, Jennifer

John and Laura Cabeçadas' older daughter.

Cabeçadas, John

a tourist passing through HMSS Hephaestus with his family.

Cabeçadas, Laura

John Cabeçadas' wife.

Cabeçadas, Miguel

John and Laura Cabeçadas' son.

Cabeçadas, Serafina

John and Laura Cabeçadas' infant daughter.

Cachat, Special Officer Victor

station chief, Erewhon Sector, Foreign Intelligence Service, Republic of Haven.

Caparelli, Admiral Sir Thomas, Royal Manticoran Navy

First Space Lord, Royal Manticoran Navy.

Carlson, Captain Frederick, Royal Manticoran Navy

CO, HMS Quentin Saint-James; Sir Aivars Terekhov's flag captain.

Carmichael, Sir Lyman

Admiral James Webster's replacement as Manticoran ambassador to the Solarian League.

Carus, Commander Michael, Royal Manticoran Navy

CO, Destroyer Division 265.2 ("The Silver Cepheids").

Casterlin, Commander Sterling, Royal Manticoran Navy

staff astrogator, Tenth Fleet.

Chamberlain, Vice Admiral Hansen, Solarian League Navy

Admiral Keeley O'Cleary's chief of staff.

Chandler, Commander Ambrose, Royal Manticoran Navy

Vice Admiral Khumalo's staff intelligence officer.

Chase, Lieutenant Commander Julie, Royal Manticoran Navy

CO, HMS Lodestone, Division 265.2.

Chatfield, Captain Darryl, Solarian League Navy

Fleet Admiral Sandra Crandall's communications officer.

Chernevsky, Anastasia

head of naval research and development for Mesan Alignment.

Chin, Captain Marjorie, Solarian League Navy

XO, SLNS Anton von Leeuwenhoek.

Coleman, Commander Theresa, Mesan Alignment Navy

Admiral Frederick Topolev's chief of staff.

Colenso, Admiral Jennifer, Mesan Alignment Navy

CO, Task Force Two, Oyster Bay operation.

Colombo, Rear Admiral Thomas, Royal Manticoran Navy

Vice Admiral Claudio Faraday's predecessor as CO, HMSS Weyland.

Conner, Captain Jerome, Royal Manticoran Navy

CO, Battlecruiser Division 106.1.

Cortez, Admiral Sir Lucien, Royal Manticoran Navy

Fifth Space Lord, Royal Manticoran Navy; CO, Bureau of personnel.

Cottolengo, Lieutenant Commander Chikosi, Royal Manticoran Navy

electronic warfare officer, Battlecruiser Squadron 108.

Crandall, Fleet Admiral Sandra, Solarian League Navy

CO, Task Force 496.

Culpepper, Commander Martin, Royal Manticoran Navy

Admiral Michael Oversteegen's chief of staff.

Da Silva, Lieutenant Chantelle, Royal Manticoran Navy

logistics officer, Battlecruiser Squadron 108.

Danko, Sergeant Major Evelyn, Royal Manticoran Marine Corps

"Gunny" Danko; HMS Rigel's senior Marine noncom.

Danvers, Vice Admiral Lilian, Royal Manticoran Navy

Third Space Lord, Royal Manticoran Navy; CO Bureau of Ships.

d'Arezzo, Ensign Paulo, Royal Manticoran Navy

junior officer, assigned Manufacturing and Prototyping Command, HMSS Weyland.

Deangelo, Captain Severino, Royal Manticoran Navy

Sir Lyman Carmichael's naval attaché on Old Terra.

Denton, Lieutenant Commander Lewis, Royal Manticoran Navy

CO, HMS Reprise.

Detweiler, Albrecht

chief executive, Mesan Alignment; director, Mesan Strategy Council.

Detweiler, Benjamin

Albrecht Detweiler's son; Mesan Alignment chief for military affairs.

Detweiler, Collin

Albrecht Detweiler's son, Mesan Alignment chief for intelligence operations.

Detweiler, Daniel

Albrecht Detweiler's son, Mesan Alignment chief for nongenetic R&D.

Detweiler, Evelina

Albrecht Detweiler's wife and a senior scientist for the Mesan Alignment in her own right.

Detweiler, Everett

Albrecht Detweiler's son, Mesan Alignment chief for genetic R&D.

Detweiler, Franklin

Albrecht Detweiler's son, Mesan Alignment chief for political strategy.

Detweiler, Gervais

Albrecht Detweiler's son, Mesan Alignment chief for foreign affairs.

Dicey, Royal Manticoran Navy

Master Steward Chris Billingsley's Maine Coon cat.

Diego, Commander Wilton, Royal Manticoran Navy

tactical officer, HMS Artemis.

Dombroski, Lieutenant (JG) Tabatha, Royal Manticoran Navy

junior tactical officer, HMS Star Witch.

Doyle, Surgeon Commander Lamprecht, Royal Manticoran Navy

ship's surgeon, HMS Artemis.

Dzung-ming, Rear Admiral Tang, Solarian League Navy

Admiral Keeley O'Cleary's operations officer.

Edwards, Lieutenant Commander William ("Bill"), Royal Manticoran Navy

communications officer, Tenth Fleet.

Epstein, Lieutenant Commander Jessica, Royal Manticoran Navy

supervisory officer assigned to Perimeter Security Command, Manticore binary system.

Fairfax, Rear Admiral Lavinia, Solarian League Navy

Admiral Keeley O'Cleary's intelligence officer.

Faraday, Vice Admiral Claudio, Royal Manticoran Navy

CO, HMSS Weyland.

Fariñas, Lieutenant Sebastián, Royal Manticoran Navy

Admiral Michael Oversteegen's flag lieutenant.

Fernandez, Lieutenant Commander Kyle, Royal Manticoran Navy

communications officer, HMS Artemis.

FitzCummings, Dame Charlotte

Countess Maiden Hill; Minister of industry, Star Empire of Manticore.

FitzGerald, Captain (JG) Ansten, Royal Manticoran Navy

CO, HMS Hexapuma.

Flynn, Commander Sheila, Mesan Alignment Navy

Commodore Karol Østby's chief of staff.

Fonzarelli, Captain Karaamat, Royal Manticoran Navy

senior officer, Repair & Refit Command, HMSS Hephaestus.

Ford, Walter ("Walt")

Chancellor, Second Chance Republic, Matagorda System.

Foreman, Commander Clement, Mesan Alignment Navy

Commodore Karol Østby's ops officer.

Frankel, Steward First-Class Benjamin, Royal Manticoran Navy

Ansten FitzGerald's steward.

Givens, Admiral Patricia, Royal Manticoran Navy

Second Space Lord, Royal Manticoran Navy, and CO, Office of Naval Intelligence.

Gregory, Stan

Secretary of Urban Affairs, Republic of Haven.

Haarhuis, Captain Berend, Solarian League Navy

Fleet Admiral Sandra Crandall's staff astrogator.

Haftner, Abednego

Henri Krietzmann's chief of staff.

Halstead, Captain Raymond, Royal Manticoran Navy

one of Admiral Hemphill's project officers at BuWeaps.

Hampton, Alicia

Secretary of State Leslie Montreau's personal secretary.

Hanriot, Rachel

Secretary of the Treasury, Republic of Haven.

Hardy, Captain George

CO, RMS Paul Tankersley.

Harper, Platoon Sergeant Frances ("Frankie"), Royal Manticoran Marine Corps

platoon Sergeant, First Platoon, Alpha Company, Marine detachment, HMS Rigel.

Hawke, Captain Spencer, Harrington Steadholder's Guard

Honor Alexander-Harrington's senior personal armsman.

Hemphill, Admiral Sonja, Royal Manticoran Navy

Baroness of Low Delhi, Fourth Space Lord, Royal Manticoran Navy; CO Bureau of Weapons.