The Honor of the Queen

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Honor Harrington Books
The Honor of the Queen
Author David Weber
Genre Military Science Fiction
Publisher Baen Books
Release date 1993
ISBN 0-671-57864-2

The Honor of the Queen is David Weber's second Honor Harrington novel. In the story, Honor goes on a mission to bring the religiously conservative, sexist world Grayson onto the Manticorans' side in preparation for the inevitable war with Haven.

Contents

[edit] Plot synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Three years after the events in On Basilisk Station, Captain Honor Harrington returns to the Star Kingdom after a long anti-piracy campaign in the Silesian Confederacy. While her ship, the heavy cruiser HMS Fearless, has her first refit, new orders arrive for her. Fearless is to lead a small Manticoran squadron sent to support a diplomatic mission to the planet Grayson. The diplomatic mission is to be led by Admiral Raoul Courvosier, Honor's mentor and personal friend. With the long-awaited war with Haven looming close, Manticore is working to form an Alliance between many small nations. Grayson is critical to this effort, as it would close a flank of advance for a possible Havenite fleet. To speed up things, Haven is negotiating its own alliance with Masada, Grayson's historical rival.

The Manticoran ships arrive at Yeltsin's Star, the system where Grayson is located, and are greeted by the small Grayson Navy. However, the welcome is soured by the Graysons' sexism, for which the notion of a woman in uniform is intolerable. The Graysons and the Manticorans rub each other the wrong way despite the best of intentions, and Honor tells Admiral Courvosier that she will leave the system to escort a convoy of freighters to another system, even though Courvosier tries to convince her not to do so.

After Honor leaves with three of the four Manticoran warships sent to Grayson, Admiral Courvosier meets with Admiral Bernard Yanakov (the commander of the Grayson Navy), and both officers begin to work their way through their cultural differences. We get an explanation for the Graysons' attitudes and their rivalry with Masada: Long ago, an extremist faction called "the Faithful" left Grayson after a civil war and settled on Masada. For centuries, the worlds threatened each other with nuclear weapons, with Masada vowing to reclaim Grayson from the hands of the "Apostate". If Grayson is considered to be strongly religious, Masada is nothing short of a fundamentalist theocracy.

Everything is cut short when the Masadan fleet approaches Grayson and begins attacking space stations throughout the system. Admiral Courvosier accepts Yanakov's offer to join his fleet in chasing the Masadans. However, Masada's fleet (already numerically superior) has two powerful warships "bought" from Haven, and they make quick work of Grayson's outdated fleet despite the assistance of the Manticoran destroyer Madrigal. Both Courvosier and Yanakov die during the battle.

Honor's ships return to Grayson and are attacked by small Masadan light attack craft which damage one of her ships. After entering Grayson's orbit, they are appraised of the critical situation following the battle and the death of Admiral Courvosier. Honor strong-arms the Grayson government to allow her to take a leading role in the defense of Grayson. Any attitude the Graysons might have held against women in uniform is shattered when Honor saves Protector Benjamin Mayhew IX, the Grayson leader, and his family from an attempted assassination by a group of Masadan-loyal traitors.

Extorting information from the surviving traitors, the Graysons and Manticorans find that Masada has built an advanced base within Grayson's star system. Leading her ships and the remnants of the Grayson fleet, Honor battles a group of Masadan warships (including a Havenite destroyer masquerading as a Masadan ship) and devastates the Masadan fleet. A captured Havenite officer tells Honor that there are survivors from Madrigal at the base, and that the Masadans are torturing and raping them. An assault by Fearless' Marines follows, and the Masadan base is captured. The Manticoran survivors are found, and Honor nearly murders the Masadan commander after finding out the brutal treatment inflicted upon the Manticorans.

It is not over yet. Masada still has another Havenite warship- a battlecruiser far more powerful than any of Honor's ships. With little choice, Honor dispatches the light cruiser Apollo to Manticore for reinforcements and prepares her last two ships, Fearless and Troubadour to fight the Masadans.

On Masada, the Havenite "advisors" see that Masada's bid to conquer Grayson is doomed and try to pull out. However, the Masadans find out and seize control of Thunder of God, the Havenite battlecruiser they "bought". Armed with this powerful ship, the Masadan fanatics launch their final attack on Grayson. The Manticorans' superior tactical skills allow them to inflict damage on Thunder of God, but their enemies' firepower cause devastating damage to Fearless and destroy Troubadour before Manticoran reinforcements enter the system confusing the Masadan captain and allowing Honor to terminate the enemy ship.

With Grayson secured, a joint Manticore-Grayson fleet attacks Masada and occupies the planet, finding the Havenite survivors (most of which defect to the Star Kingdom). Honor recovers from the wounds sustained during the many battles and the attack on the Mayhew family. Protector Benjamin decorates her with the Star of Grayson and appoints her as Steadholder (governor) of a new district of Grayson. The idea is to speed up Benjamin's planned social reforms on Grayson. The novel ends with the Manticoran government elevating Honor Harrington to Countess.

[edit] The Players

The Star Kingdom of Manticore is making frantic diplomatic efforts to form an alliance to counter Havenite expansionism. Investment, military and technological aid are used as enticement to convince the smaller, less developed nations of the quadrant to join the Alliance. Even though sending Honor Harrington to a sexist world such as Grayson seems to be a mistake, the purpose is to show the Graysons exactly what the status of women is in their society, rather than hiding it. Grayson is strategic because it represents a possible flank of advance towards Manticore for an attacking Havenite fleet.

The People's Republic of Haven is trying to counter the Manticoran Alliance by aiding the Masadans and throw a potential alliance between Manticore and Grayson off-balance. The Havenites know that Masada is not a reliable ally, but they accept it for the moment. Unlike Manticore, they keep very well hidden to the Masadans that they treat their women as equals.

The Protectorate of Grayson is desperate for foreign aid to sustain its growing industrial base and technological development, as well as to end their conflict with Masada, a conflict on which diplomacy is impossible. Manticore is more reliable for the Grayson leaders (who also want to modernize their society) that the voracious People's Republic.

Masada has just one goal: to conquer Grayson and restore the "true Faith" to their original world. In the eyes of the Masadan leadership, an alliance with Haven is nothing more than a provisional deal with a bunch of "infidels", a deal from which both sides may get benefits, but nothing more than that.

[edit] The Characters

[edit] Manticorans

HMS Fearless

  • Honor Harrington - Captain of the List, Royal Manticoran Navy

The commanding officer of Fearless and virtual commander of the small Manticoran squadron sent to Grayson. She takes over and organizes the defense of Grayson following the first devastating engagement between Grayson and Masada.

  • Nimitz

Honor Harrington's treecat. During the novel, Nimitz and Honor develop an empathic link between the two of them, allowing Honor to sense the emotions of others.

  • Andreas Venizelos - Commander, Royal Manticoran Navy

Fearless' executive officer.

  • Rafael Cardones - Lieutenant Commander, Royal Manticoran Navy

Tactical officer onboard Fearless.

  • Carolyn Wolcott - Ensign, Royal Manticoran Navy

Junior officer serving under Lt. Commander Cardones at Tactical.

Commander of the Marine detachment onboard Fearless.

  • Iris Babcock - Sergeant Major, Royal Manticoran Marine Corps

One of Fearless' senior Marine non-commissioned officers.

HMS Apollo

  • Alice Truman - Commander, Royal Manticoran Navy

Commanding officer of the light cruiser HMS Apollo. During the novel, she sets a speed record during her transit between Yeltsin's Star and Manticore to warn the Manticoran Admiralty of the situation in Grayson.

HMS Troubadour

  • Alistair McKeon - Commander, Royal Manticoran Navy

Honor's former XO on the old Fearless, now in command of his own destroyer.

HMS Madrigal

Commanding officer of the destroyer Madrigal. Survived the destruction of Madrigal after the first battle with the Masadans, but was later tortured and killed by his captors at Blackbird Base.

Executive Officer of HMS Madrigal. Also survived after the destruction of her ship. Suffered torture and rape at the hands of her Masadan captors before being rescued by Fearless' Marines.

  • Mai-Ling Jackson - Ensign, Royal Manticoran Navy

Another survivor of Madrigal. Together with Mercedes Brigham, she is one of only two female survivors captured by the Masadans. The other women captured were systematically raped and murdered, inflicting a violent trauma upon Ensign Jackson.

Diplomatic mission to Grayson

  • Raoul Courvosier - Admiral of the Green, Royal Manticoran Navy

One of the most recognized tacticians of his time, former instructor at Saganami Naval Academy and mentor to Honor Harrington. Dies onboard Madrigal while fighting the Masadans.

  • Reginald Houseman

Admiral Courvosier's second-in-command within the diplomatic mission. A leading theorist of the Liberal Party who is convinced that the military is little more than a bunch of ignorant warmongers. Advocated leaving Grayson to its own fortune and was physically struck by Captain Harrington after illegally ordering her to leave the system.

  • Sir Anthony Langtry

Manticore's ambassador to Grayson.

[edit] Graysons

Planetary Protector (head of state) of Grayson. Educated at Harvard University's Bogotá Campus on Earth and a reformist who wishes to integrate Grayson with the rest of the Galaxy.

The commanding officer of the Grayson Navy. Died onboard the light cruiser Austin Grayson during the first battle with the Masadans.

Grayson's Minister of Security and one of the planet's staunchest conservatives, although he comes to respect Honor Harrington after saving the lives of Protector Benjamin and his family.

  • Wesley Matthews - Captain (later Admiral) - Grayson Space Navy

Commander of the light cruiser Covington, which survives the first battle with the Masadans. Later goes on to command whatever remains of the Grayson Navy.

  • Mark Brentworth - Commander, Grayson Space Navy

A Grayson officer assigned as liaison between Captain Harrington and the Grayson Navy.

  • Michael Mayhew

Protector Benjamin's brother and heir to the Protectorship.

  • Jared Mayhew (a.k.a. "Maccabeus")

Grayson's Minister of Industry and secretly a leader of the Maccabeans, a secret society aimed at reunifying Grayson and Masada and cleanse Grayson of its "apostasy".

[edit] Havenites

Commanding officer of the battlecruiser PNS Saladin, renamed MNS Thunder of God after its "acquisition" by Masada. Captain Yu was given a commission within the Masadan Navy as Captain until the Masadans were ready to crew the ship. Defects to Manticore after being betrayed by the Masadans.

Commanding officer of the destroyer PNS Breslau, renamed MNS Principality after its "acquisition" by Masada. Captured by Honor Harrington following the surrender of his ship; he then reveals that the Masadans were torturing the survivors of Madrigal.

[edit] Masadans

The commander of the entire Masadan military and leader of the assaults on Grayson. Brother of Chief Elder Simonds

  • Thomas Simonds

Chief Elder of the Church of Humanity Unchained and the head of state of Masada.

  • (first name unknown) Williams - Captain, Masadan Navy

Commander of Blackbird Base. Hanged by the Graysons for war crimes.

  • Ronald Sands

Deacon of the Church of Humanity Unchained and head of Masadan Intelligence.

  • Ernst Franks - Admiral, Masadan Navy

Senior commander of the Masadan fleet.

Preceded by:
On Basilisk Station
 
Preceding Short-stories:
in 'Changer of Worlds'
 (sub-series: 'Worlds of Honor #3') 
 
 Ms. Midshipwoman Harrington. 
The Honor of the Queen
Honor Harrington books

Central figure: Honor Harrington

In Chronological Order:
Second Novel in book series


  Publication order:   Second work published
(©1993 MMPB ,©2000 HC)

 Succeeded by:
The Short Victorious War
 

(©1994 MMPB, ©2000 HC)
  HC: ISBN 0-671-87596-5
 
 
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