{"id":192,"date":"2012-06-24T00:00:12","date_gmt":"2012-06-24T04:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=192"},"modified":"2012-06-23T15:57:41","modified_gmt":"2012-06-23T19:57:41","slug":"chapter-twenty-six","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.embklitzke.com\/e557\/?p=192","title":{"rendered":"Chapter Twenty-six"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Politics is less a game than a duel with swords that cut deeper than the sharpest steel.\u00a0 Cut one opponent the wrong way and they will slash you to ribbons, or merely wound you enough to let you slowly bleed out on the floor.<\/h3>\n

— Senator Alexander Farragut (PG – Mimir), New Earth Commonwealth Senate, c. 5225 PD<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

13 Novem, 5249 PD<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get to business, ladies and gentlemen.\u201d\u00a0 Sergei\u2019s voice was just barely audible above the murmur of conversation within the Council chamber.\u00a0 Most of the representatives had taken note of Scarelli\u2019s presence outside and the questions had started.\u00a0 The Marshals and Mugabe had been damnably tight-lipped.\u00a0 The speculations were flying.\u00a0 A few voices started to edge toward panic.<\/p>\n

Lindsay folded her hands in front of her and studied the leather of her gloves, waiting for everyone to shut up.\u00a0 Her head buzzed, a slight pounding behind her eyes, but no visions came. \u00a0I just hope that it all stays settled until he comes back.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think I can handle another swarm without him here.<\/em>\u00a0 Her hands unconsciously tightened and she forced them to relax.\u00a0 He\u2019s going to be fine.\u00a0 Even if we haven\u2019t heard from them.\u00a0 Everything\u2019s fine.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2014not going to hang on the word of some Guard legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some eyes drifted to D\u2019Arcy, whose voice had carried in the sudden silence of the chamber.\u00a0 Others didn\u2019t dare look at him, they instead looked at Rachel, at the Marshals, at Lindsay\u2014the Guard legacies in the room.<\/p>\n

Sergei cleared his throat.\u00a0 \u201cAre we ready to get started, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

Silence answered him.\u00a0 Sergei nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery good.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get to business, then.\u00a0 Marshal Windsor, Consul Zenak, I am told that we have a guest that wishes to address the Council?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mugabe and Adam exchanged a look before Adam stood slowly, clasping his hands behind his back.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re correct, Speaker.\u00a0 The vice president in charge of operations from Mission Systems has petitioned to be heard by this council on a matter that touches on system security and resource management.\u00a0 Consul Zenak and I have discussed the matter at length with Marshals Rose and Church and we are in agreement that we should\u2014at the very least\u2014hear what he has to say.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Mugabe got up to let Scarelli into the chamber, D\u2019Arcy leaned forward slightly toward Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething tells me that we aren\u2019t going to like what Mr. Scarelli has to say, Marshal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nice little display of your ability to do research, D\u2019Arcy,<\/em> Lindsay thought, studying the spymaster.\u00a0 But I\u2019d be more impressed if you already knew what he had to say and told us instead of relying on us to assume that you know what he\u2019s got to say.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI think we should hear him out,\u201d Lindsay said.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re facing a war and we\u2019ll need any allies we can get.\u201d<\/p>\n

D\u2019Arcy looked at her but avoided meeting her gaze.\u00a0 \u201cA war we only have your word is coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy visions don\u2019t lie about things like that, Consul Morgause,\u201d Lindsay said, sitting up a little straighter, as if her spine was made of steel rebar, \u201cand I wasn\u2019t raised to lie about something that important.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one is impl\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course he is,\u201d Kara snapped, cutting off Arigato\u2019s defense of the spymaster.\u00a0 \u201cThe man looks at her with barely veiled fear and speaks of her with barely veiled contempt. \u00a0He doesn\u2019t believe what she\u2019s had to say.\u201d\u00a0 The second youngest consul pounded her index finger against the wooden tabletop before her.\u00a0 \u201cWe know that things aren\u2019t what they should be in New Earth space.\u00a0 If my brother was able to figure that out, you sure as hell should have been able to, too.\u00a0 We know that something\u2019s brewing, even without the visions.\u00a0 Those just told us how bad it could get. Don\u2019t you dare deny that there\u2019s a war coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we ready for our guest, or shall I sit back down?\u201d Mugabe asked, his voice just barely on the respectful side of sarcasm.<\/p>\n

Sergei stared at Kara and D\u2019Arcy for a long moment, his gaze tired.\u00a0 He seemed to silently challenge one or both of them to speak again.\u00a0 Kara leaned back in her chair and D\u2019Arcy crossed his arms, looking like a petulant child.\u00a0 Sergei shook his head slightly and nodded to Mugabe.\u00a0 \u201cSee him in, Consul.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mugabe nodded and opened the door.<\/p>\n

Lindsay had to smother a smile at the look of awe on Scarelli\u2019s face as he walked into the council chambers.\u00a0 Perhaps he hadn\u2019t quite expected something like this, or perhaps he hadn\u2019t expected the council to be so small, or its members so varied.\u00a0 His jaw snapped shut audibly as he drifted to the center of the compass rose inlaid in the tile floor of the room, slowly turning in a circle to study each of them in turn.\u00a0 Lindsay rested her chin on her elbow and stared at him for a long moment.<\/p>\n

I hope I\u2019m right about him, about this.\u00a0 All I know is that we need help.\u00a0 Is Mission Systems where we\u2019re supposed to get some of that help?<\/em><\/p>\n

Mugabe spoke quietly and clearly as he shut the door and turned to Sergei from his position down on the chamber floor.\u00a0 \u201cSpeaker Petremoore, distinguished colleagues, I present Mr. Adriano Scarelli, Vice President of Operations for Mission Systems LLC.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scarelli momentarily looked like he wasn\u2019t sure whether he should bow, salute, or nod.\u00a0 Instead, he clasped his hands in front of him and looked up at Sergei.\u00a0 \u201cSpeaker, it is an honor to be allowed to speak to all of you today.\u00a0 I admit that this is more intimidating than any investors summit or board meeting I have ever presented to\u2014I cannot express how glad I am to be able to speak to all of you today.\u201d\u00a0 He drew himself a little straighter even as Mugabe abandoned him on the floor and resumed his seat at one of the curved tables.<\/p>\n

Scarelli spread his hands.\u00a0 \u201cI am authorized by Mission Systems LLC to make a very unusual request of everyone here as well as everyone currently residing in this system.\u00a0 It is our hope that you will allow us to relocate our operations from orbit in the Comanche system to orbit the fourth planet in the Eridani Trelasia system.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely not,\u201d D\u2019Arcy snapped.<\/p>\n

Lindsay rolled her eyes, though she tried to hide the look.\u00a0 Of course.<\/em><\/p>\n

The sound of an open hand slapping a tabletop made them all jump.\u00a0 Amelda Watson was the source of the sound and she glowered at D\u2019Arcy with barely contained annoyance.\u00a0 \u201cConsul Morgause, still that tongue of yours, if you please, at least long enough for us to hear Mr. Scarelli\u2019s proposal before you dismiss it out of hand.\u00a0 Some of us, at least, are inclined toward open mindedness in this matter, though clearly you<\/em> are not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daciana Rose cleared her throat quietly.\u00a0 \u201cSpeaker, may I make a motion?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sergei simply nodded.\u00a0 Daci smiled briefly and continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince Consul Morgause has already implied that not only does he know the details of Mr. Scarelli\u2019s proposal but has also made his opinion known on the matter, perhaps he should be excused to continue his intelligence gathering with regards to the current tactical situation in NeCom space.\u00a0 We will need that information to continue conducting drills and planning for our eventual defense of this system.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay hid a smile at the twinkle she caught in Daci\u2019s eye.\u00a0 Nicely played.\u00a0 Maybe I should take lessons from her.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think I could have tied that noose and tightened it so quickly\u2014not without getting a knife to my kidney before I was done.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Speaker paused for a long moment, then leaned back in his chair.\u00a0 \u201cIs there a second?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay waited two heartbeats before she put up her hand.\u00a0 \u201cI second, Consul.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I third,\u201d Reine Oronoko said quietly, quite unexpectedly.\u00a0 Lindsay glanced at her and caught the faintest trace of a smile on the woman\u2019s face, eyes bright.\u00a0 \u201cShould the Speaker request it, that is,\u201d she added, one corner of her mouth quirking upward.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe motion carries to a vote.\u00a0 Consul Moore, if you would collect the tally?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jensen Moore stood from his spot at the table and picked up a leather bag that shifted and clinked softly at the touch.\u00a0 He made one circuit of the room, distributing the flat-bottomed glass marbles within, one black and one white.\u00a0 The Rose Council voted using the ancient method of the stones; it had since its foundations and continued to do so even after all these years.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf everyone would please make their selections,\u201d Jensen said.<\/p>\n

Lindsay swept both marbles into her lap, her fist curling around the white one.\u00a0 Jensen began another slow circuit of the room, each consul dropping a marble into the bag, casting their vote.\u00a0 Once it was done, he motioned for Scarelli to step back.<\/p>\n

Jenson crouched in the heart of the room and carefully upended the bag onto the heart of the rose.\u00a0\u00a0Thirteen white stones gleamed in the lamplight, one black shining darkly among them.<\/p>\n

A collective breath sighed out of the council.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ayes have it,\u201d Sergei said.\u00a0 \u201cConsul Morgause, you are released to your intelligence gathering.\u00a0 The Council will deliberate without you and your vote against Mr. Scarelli\u2019s proposal has been noted.\u201d<\/p>\n

D\u2019Arcy stood stiffly.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Speaker.\u00a0 I will give you a full report of what I\u2019ve learned as soon as it can be made available.\u201d\u00a0 He shot a venomous glare at Daci as he crossed the floor and walked out of the chamber.<\/p>\n

She made an enemy today,<\/em> Lindsay thought, but her heart felt lighter.<\/p>\n

\u201cForgive the interruption, Mr. Scarelli,\u201d Sergei said.\u00a0 \u201cYou were saying?\u201d<\/p>\n

Scarelli smiled faintly.\u00a0 \u201cJust that Mission Systems is ready to sign whatever agreements are necessary to relocate to the Eridani Trelasia system.\u00a0 The Commonwealth is dying, and the Foundation is our only hope for humanity to survive the storm.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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