James Cairns

Sir James Cairns (2348–2431) was an Empheri intelligence officer who served as Spymaster of Empherias and the Minister of Intelligence of Empherias from 2397 to 2415.

Career

Spymaster position

Cairns was appointed as the Spymaster in early 2397 with his chief responsibility being to uncover counter-revolutionary plots.

Cairns and his team uncovered a plot to overthrow the government with involvement by some notable lords, which later became the Battle of Priscei Cathedral, allowing the government to easily put down the rebels.

In December 2414, prime minister Watford claimed that Cairns had submitted a document in July 2414 with evidence that Norsair and Weskynn had plans on invading Empherias pre-emptively after a threat to their sovereignty from Empheri land purchases. Cairns never confirmed or denied this, but historians believe that Watford was lying, and that no such document existed. Anti-war contemporaries also believed that Watford had faked the evidence, which was one of the reasons for his resignation later that month after the election.

Potentially because of the Watford accusation, potentially because he was 67 years old, and potentially because Cairns secretly disliked the Socialists, Cairns decided to resign the position and retire from politics on 21 December 2415 after the PSP won the general election from the PPP.

Cairns retired from public life entirely and lived in Spoorbreik on a farm. Cairns died peacefully in his sleep in 2431. He did not marry or have children.