Kong Pao approached Sapphira of Argos after the vote had finally passed. “I appreciate the support of the Border Alliance voting block, Madam Hold Mistress. I believe seeing the Alliance throw its support behind the proposal was a key factor for many of the system representatives from our Sectors,” he said, referring to Sectors 23 and 24.
“Just remember our agreement and make sure it passes the convention,” Sapphira said with a stern smile.
“It is the third item on today’s agenda, and the members of the Mutual Defense League voting Block have signed a pledge that we will vote in favor of bringing Tracto into the Confederation as a provisional non-voting member,” the Judge said with a bow.
“Thank you, Sector Judge,” Sapphira replied with a regal nod.
“Even though we have agreed to support you in obtaining provisional status for your world, you must be aware that we could just as easily propose Tracto be recognized as a full voting member,” Judge Kong said seriously. “The fact that the Delegate from Aegis questioned your right to membership in the convention was shameful, and a great insult not to just you but to all of your allies here in the Provisional Assembly.”
“I am well aware that we could swallow this insult and, in return for making a few concessions, gain recognition of our full status in the convention. But at what cost? I doubt Aegis itself was the driving force behind this attack, but even if I am wrong there are only two concessions I can imagine they desire from us. One which we could not guarantee even if we wanted to, which we don’t, and the other we would not want to concede except at dire need, which this is not,” she said darkly. The maneuver was obvious: either have Tracto pressure concession from the Multi-Sector Patrol Fleet in the name of the new Confederation, or gain greater access to the one natural resource Tracto had in abundance that was vital to the economic success of three Sectors. Trillium.
“If you are certain...” the Judge said helplessly.
“In many ways having a provisional status that either side is able to terminate is much preferable to being yoked to the Provisional Grand Assembly. For instance, mechanisms such as eminent domain in times of emergency, or central appropriation of critical industry or resources, do not apply in cases such as ours,” Sapphira said with a dark smile.
“I see that you’ve thought out the limits of your position fully,” Kong Pao said with a sigh.
“As surprising as it may be for some to learn, this simple barbarian woman can both listen and read,” Sapphira said tartly.
“I hope you don’t consider me so uncultured as to—” began Kong Pao.
“For a man outside the household, you are quite courteous. Very principled even,” said the Hold Mistress.
“Thank you...I think,” said the Judge.
While the Judge and Hold Mistress were busy talking, the Delegate from Aegis strutted over.
“Have you decided to see reason and change your position, woman? Or are you determined for Tracto’s…ambiguous status to continue into the future?” the sharp-eyed and physically fit Delegate inquired solicitously.
“See reason?” Sapphira repeated with mock confusion, causing the Aegis Delegate to frown at her. “Why, I believe I have. I’m afraid that it's exactly as you had said earlier: we simple folk of Tracto are no better than vote-less drags upon the body politic you accused us of being,” she said sadly. “Provisional status is the best we could hope for and, as you well know, we simple women of Tracto wouldn’t dream of contradicting the judgment of a man when it comes to politics. Especially not one of your stature and importance.”
The Aegis Delegate's face turned stiff but his eyes glared up at her. “With a few minor concessions I’m sure the Provisional Grand Assembly could come to an...accommodation with your world,” he said.
“No,” she declared, “we are quite contented with what little we have. But I thank the Delegate from Aegis for his kind consideration of our better interests, and promise to take his considered opinion as to our place in the grand scheme of things to heart.”
“One day you’ll regret this,” the Delegate said and then muttering something derisive under his breath as he turned away about ‘tall women.’
Sapphira just smiled serenely at his back, but in her eyes was a darkness not obvious unless one was looking closely for it.
****************************************************
“Did the barbarian woman see reason?” Sir Isaak asked the moment the member from Aegis entered his temporary office.
“The primitive is even more difficult to reason with than the dumbest secondary school dropout,” bit out the Delegate.
“So, in other words, she refused to play ball,” Isaak said, his gaze turning cold.
“Refused to play ball? It was almost as if she wanted to be sanctioned—welcomed it even,” the Delegate snapped.
“Welcomed it, you say?” Isaak said sharply, but the Aegis politician wasn’t paying attention.
“First the Tyrant robs us, and now the primitives he uses for shock troops think they are too good for us?” snapped the Delegate.
“Now now, Agamemnon, let’s not over react here,” said Isaak.
“And they speak a perverted dialect of the old tongue, to boot. You know what? I’m done carrying your water, Isaak. From now on you can deal with the primitives yourself!” he declared, turning and stomping out of the room.
“Let’s not be hasty,” the Governor called after him, his face turning dark, but the Aegis Delegate merely made a rude gesture on his way out the door. Isaak stared coldly at the door as it automatically slid shut. “You can refuse to cooperate but you can’t mock me, Agamemnon,” he said coldly.
Then the pleasant and open mask of a successful Sector Governor once again slid onto his face like a well worn glove.
“If they want to be stubborn then they will see the wages of their intractability,” he said standing up and straightening his formal clothing before striding back out on to the floor of the Provisional Grand Assembly, which was the old Sector Assembly floor temporarily re-purposed.
Chapter 56: MDL Support
“How is the voting going?” asked High Captain Manning as he sat down next to the Sector Judge.
“It’s not nearly as closely run or exciting as the Battle for Elysium, but there have been a few close calls,” said Kong Pao.
“There’s that much opposition?” the High Captain asked with surprise.
“More along the lines of too much wavering inside our own Sectors,” Kong Pao said with a sigh.
“The non-MDL worlds have always been restless. The fact that if they didn’t join the Mutual Defense League, or send us fleet strength for the common defense, then we wouldn’t go out of our way to take action if they were attacked by the Droids has always been a bone of contention,” the High Captain shrugged.
“While you’ve been wining and dining, delegates from other Sectors and the Sector 25 Core-world Block have been making deals with the fringes of our own Sectors,” the Sector Judge said with a stiff face.
“I won’t apologize. We’ve been laying down the foundations for future alliances and cooperation with the other Sectors,” Manning said flatly, “but you’re right that we need to keep our own houses in order if we’re to keep our voting block strong.”
“That’s a decision for the Steering Committee,” the Sector Judge rebutted.
“That is the decision of the Steering Committee, or at least the special sub-committee members that were sent on this mission,” retorted Manning.
The Sector Judge’s eyes narrowed. “I wasn’t even aware the committee had issued a direction. I was under the impression our actions on the floor was vital,” he said neutrally.
High Captain Manning clapped him on the shoulder. “It is vital, and your prestige as a Sector Judge—whose office predates the Imperial Withdrawal—is key to our interests. The MDL doesn’t want you to believe anything otherwise. You are an important piece of not only our efforts, but of reestablishing the Confeder
ation as a whole,” Manning said passionately.
“It was just viewed as more important for the rest of the committee to work on the long game while I held down the floor,” Judge Kong said irritably, cupping his hands in mock deference.
“Don’t be like that,” Manning shook his head, “non-voting members like you and I are not always called upon by the committee while they deliberate, or even when they vote.”
“Of course. And, truthfully, who knows how long the committee will be needed after we fully merge our Sectors together into a true Confederation in the Spine a few years in the future?” asked the Judge.
Manning rolled his eyes. “Friend, in my experience once you have a bureaucracy it's incredibly hard to get rid of it. Holding onto the notion that the committee will voluntarily give up power and fade away doesn’t seem likely to me,” the High Captain said seriously. “The job title might change, and the organization they work for might change as well, but the power in their hands will have to be wrested away first before they’ll relinquish their claim upon it.”
“That is my own experience, as well,” Judge Pao said with a stiff face.
“But one can always hope…yes?” asked Manning with a tight smile.
“Please note that you said that, not I,” said the Sector Judge.
“I guess I should have expected nothing more from a Sector level official such as yourself,” said the High Captain.
“You can expect nothing less from me than what you offer in return,” said Kong Pao.
The High Captain gave him a hard look, one which the Judge easily returned with interest. “Message received. You’re not the pushover the rest of…well, that some on the committee seem to think you are,” said the High Captain.
“I have done, and will continue to do, whatever is necessary to keep our people from being enslaved by machines and our worlds destroyed. Be it by machines, Imperials, or home-grown criminals and terrorist groups,” Kong Pao said flatly. “If that mean I have to be low-key and eat some grief while others think less of me, that is their concern. We have a saying back on my home world: ‘exposed rafters rot first’ or, in other words, 'the nail that stands out will be hammered down.' Today, my fate is to be a low-standing nail.”
“I can respect that,” said Manning.
There was an extended pause as politicians on the floor mixed into groups, broke apart, and then reformed into different groups.
“So what’s the next big proposal to hit the floor?” asked the High Captain, leaning over to pick up a glass of water and take a drink.
“Soon the Provisional Grand Assembly will be debating whether the top slot in our military should be a Grand Marshal, a Grand Admiral, or Confederation Commandant. After that we will proceed with nominations for the top military slot in our new Confederation in the Spine,” he said.
High Captain Manning sprayed water out his nose and immediately gagged. “What?!” he gasped, taking several moments to recover. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I have been sending routine updates every fifteen minutes, as well as a live-stream of my computer feed, to the committee as well as to my own records for posterity. I assumed you knew,” Kong said, affecting a puzzled look. “Why? Do you think I should change my reports to every five minutes or every half hour?”
“No, that’s fine,” Manning said thumping his chest and clearing his throat.
Two minutes passed in silence as Manning used a handkerchief to clean his face and then pulled up a file on his side of the touch activated desk.
“Who are the most likely candidates?” he finally asked. “I can’t seem to find them anywhere in the system.”
“There is a list of over two hundred entrants expected to be proposed, out of a sense of System, SDF or planetary loyalty if nothing else,” the Sector Judge said smoothly. “However, right now the two top candidates appear to be yourself and an as-yet undisclosed candidate from the Sector 25 side. A member of their Sector Guard, I believe.”
“Who do you think has the best chance of winning?” Manning asked, immediately perking up.
“On the face of it, our candidate, representing the support of the Mutual Defense League and two entire Sectors should have the most votes,” said Kong Pao.
“Meaning me...but?” asked Manning. “I’m sensing a catch hidden in here somewhere.”
“We represent two Sectors to 25’s one, however as I mentioned before the Mutual Defense League’s detractors are passionate in their rejection of anything proposed by our voting block,” said Kong Pao.
“Yes, but not all of non-MDL systems were able to join the trade convoy…pity, that,” said Manning.
“Yes, a great pity,” Kong Pao said seriously, “because realizing the schism within our ranks as well as the size of our delegation the other sectors united alongside the non-MDL worlds and granted their petition for a number of proxy votes they claim were given to them by those worlds which were unable to attend. And as you know not all of the non-MDL Delegates are amenable to sweet reason.”
The High Captain swore. “I assume you already notified the committee?” he asked rhetorically. “Of course you did,” he said at the Judge’s nod, “we really need to speak with the Co-Chair.”
“We live but to serve,” said the Sector Judge, a chill light flashing across his normally impassive face before disappearing entirely.
“So all of those votes have consolidated into a few hands,” said the High Captain.
“Hands that we have been ignoring,” Kong Pao said pointedly.
“That's plasma in our wake; no sense fussing over missed opportunities. We may have faced a short-term setback, but at the cost of potentially forging long-term alliances. Ones which have the capacity to grow exponentially in the future,” said the High Captain.
“In the meantime we potentially lose the position of most powerful military commandant in the entire Spine,” Kong Pao said clinically.
“Potentially a strategic blunder,” the High Captain sighed after a long minute of silence, to which the Sector Judge nodded. “What do you think is going to happen?” asked the High Captain.
“It is too soon to tell. At this point anything could happen. We have to be ready to adapt to events as they occur,” said Judge Pao.
Chapter 57: Voting—and a New Candidate
“Voting has ended for the provisional ballet. High Captain Manning proceeds to the next ballet with 82 votes alongside Central’s very own SDF High Commissioner, Fleet Admiral Harper, with 78 votes,” reported the temporary Speaker for the Provisional Grand Assembly, “currently neither candidate rises above the 50 percent threshold.”
Curses roundly met the Speaker’s declaration.
“This is the third ballet with just those two on the nominating list, and still we can’t push the High Captain over the top,” swore the Co-Chair of the MDL’s Steering Committee.
“Fifty percent only matters if the following vote to cut off debate proceeds without issue,” Manning said glumly. “Otherwise it takes 60% to proceed without a cloture vote and move forward by mutual acclaim.”
“Unacceptable!” the Co-Chair bellowed, slamming an open hand on the table.
“I see that my counterpart in the MDL voting block is un-resigned to the situation of his chosen candidate,” Governor Isaak said, his smooth voice cutting through the confusion as he crossed the floor to stand opposite the Co-Chair.
“At least High Captain Manning is still trending higher than your Harper, Governor. So much for the Spineward Heartland Party,” the Co-Chair said scathingly.
“Your lead keeps narrowing. Soon ‘Fleet Admiral’ Harper will be 'Grand Admiral' Harper,” Isaak said seriously. “We both know it’s just a matter of time.”
“It doesn’t matter; Harper will never have the votes to proceed by mutual acclaim and you know it,” snorted the Co-Chair.
“Regardless, during the next vote several of your voting block will defect and swing their vote for Harper. They’ve only held on
this long out of solidarity with the MDL, but the trade concessions I’m offering their worlds are just too juicy to pass up,” the Governor said seriously, while the Co-Chair gritted his teeth and glared at him. “Personally, I say let’s put aside our squabbling and move forward with unity.”
“What’s your offer?” the Co-Chair asked coldly.
“Accept Harper as the new Grand Marshal,” the Governor said promptly, “if you do then, with the same ballot that elevates him to the top spot in the new Confederation, we’ll vote to make your candidate High Captain Manning his vice-commandant. He can be the Grand Admiral in charge of the Fleet under the Grand Marshal, or whatever title you’d prefer. Consider it carefully because it’s my best offer.”
“If you’re so interested in unity then why don’t you consider my proposal in return: flip it around, give Manning the top spot and your Harper can be vice-commandant. Whatever the future, every ballot up to this time has had Manning at the top. We’ll even agree to post additional squadrons of Battleships and other units of the wall to Sector 25 and stipulate that Harper will be given overall command of the defense of your sector.”
Isaak stiffened. “We both know you’ll be sending those units anyway,” he retorted.
“That’s your opinion; consider my offer,” sniffed the Co-Chair.
“If you don’t acquiesce, your own worlds will turn on you. Far better to fight the Imperials in my Sector than in your own war-torn backyard,” Isaak said coldly. “Furthermore, we both know that trying to put anyone other than a native of Sector 25 in command of our defense would cause a revolt and be enough to break our new Confederation apart.”
“Which was why I offered to make Harper the on-scene commander,” the Co-Chair said stiffly.
“Everyone recognizes that the close alliance between your two Sectors makes you the biggest group in the room. But no one wants to accept domination by any one power. Every time you oppose me, you drive every delegate from Sector 21, 22 and 26 even further into the arms of my Sector,” said Isaak with a sigh. “Agree to make Harper the Commandant and I’ll make you the First Speaker of the new Grand Assembly.”
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