House of Steel: The Honorverse Companion (32 page)

The present head of the Winton family, Queen Elizabeth III, is married to Prince Consort Justin Zyrr-Winton and bonded to the treecat Ariel. Zyrr, a Marine veteran and successful research scientist as well as prince consort, is the human companion of the treecat Monroe, who had originally adopted Elizabeth’s father, Roger Winton III. Together, Elizabeth and Justin have two children, Crown Prince Roger Winton and Princess Joanna Winton.

Elizabeth’s brother, Prince Michael Winton, Duke of Winton-Serisburg, an officer in the RMN, was still a midshipman when he met his wife, Judith, a kidnapped
Grayson
who had escaped her tyrant husband with other Masadan women and her unborn daughter Ruth. Michael and Judith married, and Michael adopted Ruth, who was raised as a Royal Princess. As a young adult, Ruth played a large part in the formation of the Kingdom of Torch, a new nation of freed slaves, and currently serves as the head of the new nation’s Intelligence Service.

Angelique Adcock, the Queen Mother, is the widow of King Roger III, and has largely retired from public life. Although when she and Roger married Manticoran society gossip referred to her as the “Poor Little Beggar Maid,” she was a well-loved Queen Consort for twenty-five years.

Elizabeth’s uncle Edward Winton-Henke, the Earl of Gold Peak, and cousin Calvin were both killed in the Cromarty Assassination, leaving only her aunt, Caitrin Winton-Henke (Dowager Countess of Gold Peak), and cousin, Michelle Henke (Countess Gold Peak) alive on her father’s side of the family. In case of the untimely death of Elizabeth III, next in line of succession for the monarchy will be Crown Prince Roger, followed by Princess Joanna, the Duke of Winton-Serisburg, the Dowager Countess of Gold Peak, and the current Countess of Gold Peak.

WINTONS AND TREECATS

In 1651 PD, Crown Princess Adrienne, on a state visit to Sphinx, became the first member of the House of Winton to be adopted by a treecat when Seeker of Dreams of the Red Leaves Dancing Clan bonded with her. Seeker of Dreams’ approximate age at the time of adoption was thirty T-years, and Adrienne gave him the human name Dianchect, after a Greek god of the hunt. Within hours of the adoption, he foiled an attempt on the Crown Princess’ life. Adrienne’s father, King Roger II, who had been favoring changes which would strip treecats of many of their rights, abruptly changed his position and helped enact the Treecats Rights Bill later in his reign.

Although Seeker of Dreams was the first treecat to adopt a member of the Winton Royal Family, seven out of nine of the ruling monarchs since Queen Adrienne have been adopted by treecats. Various “treecat conspiracy theories” have been suggested, but having an adoption bond has become a tradition in the House of Winton. The family quickly discovered that a treecat bond offers the prospective monarch a confidant whose loyalty and trustworthiness are beyond question, a sense of balance and companionship, and a bodyguard who not only will fight to the death in his human companion’s defense but is unfailingly capable of identifying any assassin who comes within range of his telempathic sense. Treecats are also considered a powerful aid to character building in young humans, since it is impossible to lie to or deceive a ’cat in any way and the disapproval of one’s bonded companion is a punishment more severe than any other being could inflict. That early training in honesty has stood generations of Manticoran monarchs—and thus the entire Star Kingdom—in good stead, all of which explains the reason Crown Princes and Princesses are sent to Sphinx on frequent state visits in middle and late adolescence in the hope that they, too, will find the stability a treecat bond offers.

Although the first treecat adoption of a member of the House of Winton was quite by accident, eventually the clans themselves realized that having a treecat friend at court was to their benefit. This adoption trend also allowed them to help defend the two-legs who were helping to protect their society. Memory singers actively passed memories of the mind-glows of the prospective heirs around the clans, so that treecats who felt they might feel the call to bond might make themselves known. By the time of Elizabeth III, the treecats had begun appearing at the landing area in Sphinx when the heir arrived, to interview the heir for bonding.

William I, son of Queen Adrienne, was not adopted by a treecat because neither the treecats nor the Wintons had fully realized the benefits of the treecat bond at the time. Michael II, due to his rare and potentially fatal allergic reactions, was almost unable to travel, seldom left Mount Royal Palace, and never visited Sphinx, which kept him from being adopted as well.

People

Manticore is an aristocratic society but it is also a meritocracy, with great respect for the idea of people, selected on the basis of their ability, holding positions of power and authority. The aristocracy is not closed to new members, since the system was intentionally designed to encourage new membership based on talent and achievements.

Because membership in the Manticoran aristocracy is always open to new members based on personal ability and service to the Star Empire, Manticoran aristocrats attach little stigma to those born outside the ranks of the nobility. By the same token, because admission to the aristocracy is so open, very little friction exists between Manticoran social classes, in direct contrast to many another overtly aristocratic societies. There are exceptions to this general rule, of course, and when they occur, they tend to be extreme.

Manticoran culture as a whole is both traditional and innovative, and this unique world view has allowed them to remain flexible and grow as a society without losing sight of their roots. Historically, Manticore has always been a small nation, and some observers fear the sudden influx of new member systems may have an adverse effect on the longstanding stability of the Star Empire’s social matrix.

Adcock-Winton, Angelique

Angelique Adcock immigrated to Manticore from the Maslow System with her family as a child while still young enough to receive first-generation prolong. Married to the future King Roger III prior to his ascension to the throne, she served her adopted star nation well but was never truly comfortable in such a public role. Following Roger’s death and her daughter’s coronation, Queen Mother Angelique chose to move back to Gryphon, where she lives in relative seclusion from the public eye as an instructor at the Gryphon Planetary University’s School of Silviculture.

Adcock, Jonas (deceased)

Fourth Space Lord, Royal Manticore Navy

Jonas Adcock, brother of Queen Mother Angelique and uncle of Elizabeth Winton III, was too old for prolong treatments when his family immigrated to Manticore from the Maslow system. After graduating eighth in his class from the Royal Manticoran Naval Academy, Adcock played a pivotal (although deliberately understated) role in King Roger’s naval buildup.

Adcock was instrumental in creating sweeping changes in the face of modern warfare throughout his tenure at BuWeaps both as Fourth Space Lord and head of the Weapons Development Board. The Ghost Rider project, LAC carrier, and pod superdreadnought were but a few of the projects brought to fruition on his watch. An outstanding synthesist rather than a researcher in his own right, his most outstanding contributions to the Manticoran Navy lay in his ability to visualize new possibilities and to create an environment in which “cutting edge” researchers like Sonja Hemphill literally revolutionized warfare under his guidance and direction. Jonas Adcock died in 1913 PD while serving as Fourth Space Lord.

Alexander, Lord William, Baron Grantville

Prime Minster, Star Empire of Manticore

William Alexander, the younger brother of Hamish Alexander and former Lord of the Exchequer under the Cromarty Government, became the Prime Minister and Baron of Grantville after the fall of the High Ridge Government. Although he possesses his own share of the famed “Alexander temper,” his keen political insight and many years of experience at the highest level of Manticoran politics have made him an outstanding success as a wartime prime minister.

Alexander-Harrington, Lady Emily, Countess White Haven

Emily Alexander-Harrington, noted holodrama actress and senior wife of Hamish Alexander, suffered a full spinal severance in an aircar accident in 1862 PD. As she was unable to accept regeneration, much of the damage was unrepairable, leaving her confined to a life-support chair since the accident and effectively paralyzed below the neck, although she has retained seventy-five percent usage of one hand.

Lady Emily now works as a writer and producer in the Manticoran entertainment industry. She is regarded as a leading historian and a keen political analyst, especially in the role of semi-official biographer of the House of Winton.

In 1921 PD, Lady Emily, White Haven, and Honor Harrington married. They have two children, Katherine Allison Miranda Alexander-Harrington and Raoul Alfred Alistair Alexander-Harrington. Lady Emily is the genetic mother of Katherine Alexander-Harrington.

Alexander-Harrington, Lord Hamish, Earl White Haven

First Lord of the Admiralty, Royal Manticoran Navy

Hamish Alexander spent the majority of his career as a combat officer in the RMN. Many of the missions he commanded during the war were deciding factors in Manticoran victories, and he spent several years assigned to Home Fleet. In command of Sixth and then Eighth Fleets, he fought a grueling series of battles for control of Trevor’s Star and its terminus of the Manticoran Wormhole Junction. After taking the PRH’s largest advanced naval base in the Barnett System, the Earl of White Haven spearheaded Operation Buttercup, which proved a decisive blow to the People’s Republic.

Although an able administrator and an innovative thinker, White Haven has been criticized for his initially slow acceptance of new technologies, although he has fully embraced them over the last decade.

In 1921 PD, Hamish and Emily Alexander married Honor Alexander-Harrington in a Grayson-inspired ceremony, making Hamish Steadholder Consort Harrington, the first male steadholder consort in
Grayson
history. He has one son by Honor, named Raoul Alfred Alistair, and a daughter by Emily, named Katherine Allison Miranda. After the fall of the High Ridge Government, his brother, William, was named Prime Minister. White Haven went on inactive duty with the RMN to serve as the (civilian) First Lord of the Admiralty.

Alexander-Harrington, Lady Dame Honor Stephanie, Duchess Harrington, Steadholder Harrington

Admiral, Royal Manticoran Navy

Honor Harrington, born on Sphinx in 1859 PD, was adopted during childhood by a treecat that she named Nimitz. As a young adult, she was admitted to the Royal Manticoran Naval Academy on Saganami Island for training. During that training, she began her long friendship with Michelle Henke, cousin to the Queen, and her conflict with Pavel Young, both of which shaped her early career.

Nicknamed “The Salamander” by the Manticoran press for her tendency to find herself in situations where battle was the hottest, Honor Harrington’s service record is both long and distinguished. She holds the Parliamentary Medal of Valor, the Star of Grayson, and the Manticore Cross, among others, and has been awarded both a steading by
Grayson
and a knighthood and duchy by Manticore for her service.

She is married to Hamish Alexander and Emily Alexander and has a son, Raoul Alfred Alistair Alexander-Harrington, and a daughter, Katherine Allison Miranda Alexander-Harrington. Lady Harrington is the genetic mother of Raoul Alexander-Harrington.

Alquezar, Joachim

Prime Minister, Talbott Quadrant

Joachim Alquezar, a native of San Miguel, was the head of the Constitutional Union Party and the senior delegate from San Miguel to the Talbott Constitutional Convention. He became the prime minister of the Talbott Quadrant after its incorporation into the Star Empire of Manticore.

Arif, Adelina

Adelina Arif’s life work has specialized in interspecies language and communication. As a member of the first contact team on Medusa, Dr. Arif was responsible for the breakthrough that enabled communication with the Medusans. She later developed and implemented a sign language enabling true two-way communication between humans and treecats and has continued working with the treecats to explore ways in which they can become more integrated into human society.

Babcock, Iris

Sergeant Major, Royal Manticoran Marine Corps

Iris Babcock, a native of Gryphon, is known for her perseverance and dedication to the Manticoran Marine Corps. In 1909, she married Horace Harkness. Babcock is currently command sergeant major at Saganami Island, the Royal Manticoran Naval Academy.

Brigham, Mercedes

Commodore, Royal Manticoran Navy

Mercedes Brigham, a native of Gryphon, was captured and endured horrific treatment at the hands of the Masadans at Blackbird Base. After her rescue, she was promoted to lieutenant commander and volunteered for the Endicott occupation force but was “loaned” to the Grayson Space Navy (GSN) shortly thereafter, where she rose to the rank of rear admiral. After serving as Honor Harrington’s chief of staff during Harrington’s
Grayson
service from 1906–1907 PD, she returned to Manticoran service in 1920 as Harrington’s chief of staff with Task Force 34 and later Eighth Fleet.

Caparelli, Sir Thomas

First Space Lord, Royal Manticoran Navy

Thomas Caparelli became First Space Lord shortly before the beginning of the war with the People’s Republic of Haven. Despite the Royal Manticoran Navy’s prewar policy of rotating senior admirals between staff and fleet positions to keep them up to date in modern naval realities, he remained as First Space Lord for ten years. When the High Ridge Government came into power, Caparelli was placed on half-pay, but was recalled after the devastating Havenite attacks which led to the Second Havenite-Manticoran War.

Cardones, Rafael

Captain (SG), Royal Manticoran Navy

Rafael Cardones is a highly decorated RMN officer whose career has been intimately interwoven with that of Admiral Harrington. He served with her aboard the original HMS Fearless and was part of the team that won the First Battle of Basilisk against PMSS Sirius. Although his early career path intersected that of Admiral Harrington repeatedly, his later career shifted towards LAC operations, where he commanded one of the new LAC carriers in Eighth Fleet. After Harrington’s return from Cerberus, Cardones’ experience netted him the command of HMS Werewolf in Eighth Fleet in Operation Buttercup. Harrington requested him as her flag captain in Task Force 34, and he has continued in this position aboard HMS Imperator in Eighth Fleet.

Cortez, Sir Lucien

Fifth Space Lord, Royal Manticoran Navy

Lucien Cortez entered the RMN and rose through the ranks, earning a knighthood for conspicuous gallantry in action against a three-ship squadron of Silesian privateers. Seriously wounded in that engagement, he spent three T-years on medical inactive service. After his return to active service, he spent several years alternating between staff and command appointments. In 1898, he was appointed to serve as Fifth Space Lord, in charge of the Bureau of Personnel, and served in that capacity for over fifteen years. Cortez was placed on half-pay by the Janacek Admiralty but was recalled as Fifth Space Lord under the Alexander Admiralty.

Courvosier, Raoul (deceased)

Admiral of the Green, Royal Manticoran Navy

Raoul Courvosier spent much of his career teaching at Saganami Island and was a positive influence on a great number of RMN officers, including Honor Alexander-Harrington. In 1903 PD, he was named to head the diplomatic mission to Yeltsin’s Star and to secure the Protectorate of
Grayson
as an ally of Manticore. When the Masadans attacked on 25 April, he was designated the second-in-command of the Grayson-Manticoran Combined Fleet and was killed in action at the First Battle of Yeltsin’s Star.

Descroix, Lady Elaine

Former Foreign Minister, Star Kingdom of Manticore

Elaine Descroix, cousin of the Earl of Gray Hill and wife of Sir John Descroix, was a leader of the Progressive Party during the Cromarty Government. When the High Ridge Government was formed in 1915, she was appointed to the Cabinet as Foreign Minister. After the High Ridge Government fell, an investigation led to formal charges of bribery, corruption, malfeasance, and other criminal activities. Descroix transferred twenty million dollars to an account in the Stotterman System and left Manticore on a tourist visa. The money disappeared, and she has not been heard of again.

D’Orville, Sebastian

Admiral of the Fleet, Royal Manticoran Navy

Sebastian D’Orville is considered one of the premiere fleet commanders in the RMN—a distinction which has ironically kept him on the sidelines through much of the war. Although he began the war as commanding officer of Second Fleet, he was soon transferred back to Home Fleet, where he served as Sir James Bowie Webster’s second-in-command. With the ascension of the High Ridge Government and the Janacek Admiralty in 1915, he was placed on half-pay and became a military analyst for the Opposition. In 1920, he was named to command Home Fleet.

Givens, Patricia

Second Space Lord, Royal Manticoran Navy

Patricia Givens has earned a high reputation in the Star Kingdom of Manticore’s intelligence services in the course of her lengthy career. A career naval intelligence officer and highly regarded operational analyst, she served as Second Space Lord and Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence and the Bureau of Planning throughout the First Havenite War. Placed on half-pay by the Janacek Admiralty, she returned to her post shortly after the resumption of hostilities.

Harkness, Sir Horace

Chief Warrant Officer, Royal Manticoran Navy

Horace Harkness earned a towering—and fully justified—reputation as brawler, smuggler, and two-fisted drinker. Widely regarded as one of the Royal Manticoran Navy’s most colorful characters, he was also too valuable, because of his leadership skills and acknowledged superior abilities as a missile technician, to dismiss from the service, and he was promoted and subsequently demoted numerous times prior to HMS Fearless’ deployment to Basilisk Station. On that deployment, however, he took a very young ensign by the name of David Prescott “Scotty” Tremaine “under his wing,” providing the enlisted mentor Tremaine required to become an outstanding officer. Harkness’ relationship with Tremaine has continued throughout his subsequent career, reportedly thanks in no small part to certain unauthorized changes made to specific BuPers files. Although rated as a missile technician, he is also an excellent small-craft engineer, computer hacker, and cyberneticist—all skills that have served him well during his time in the RMN.