by M. D. Cooper
The president was resplendent in a deep burgundy skirt and jacket. The outfit was completed with a matching pair of high-heeled boots.
Vaax didn’t even glance Kylie’s way, but a few heads turned toward her as she took a seat behind Maverick.
Kylie sighed and turned her attention to Vaax. She stood very at ease behind the podium and began to address the committee. A lesser woman might’ve been nervous, but if Vaax was, none of it showed.
Her posture was erect, powerful; her hand gestures sweeping, but not overly so. Her eyes were wide and passionate, almost soulful.
“Harken was a bad seed,” Vaax said. “She held a grudge against a powerful ally who helped shape the GFF over two centuries to make it what it is now.
“Harken was a product of Maverick’s empire and she wanted to destroy him. She tried to take him down with allegation and insinuation. Senator Ian, would you really have expected us to believe that Harken would do a better job at controlling the syndicates then Maverick?
“Though she will be punished for it, the communications officer from Kylie Rhoads’ junker was able to kill her. How would she really have fared, had it not been for Maverick’s protection and tutelage?
“I believe your deliberations will be swift and you will find no reason not to confirm me to the full position of President of the Gedri Freedom Federation, and this system. I will navigate us away from such distasteful politics and infighting. We will become a respected member of the Silstrand Alliance, no longer their trash heap. We will take what is ours and become a force they can no longer undermine.”
Kylie knew the senators all craved legitimacy in the eyes of the Silstrand Alliance. It was why they were politicians in the first place. They saw Vaax’s power and they wanted to share in it.
When Vaax stepped back from the podium, many of the senators rose to applaud her.
Kylie stood too. Maverick glanced back at her and she studied his eyes. They were hungry, filled with anticipation for what she was about to say. Kylie just hoped to God it got her what she wanted.
As everyone returned to their seats, Kylie remained standing, watching Vaax return to her seat.
Their eyes met and Vaax’s narrowed to slits as she glared at Kylie.
Senator Hersch saw Kylie and nodded to the podium. “You’d like to address the floor?”
“I would,” Kylie said.
“It is your right,” Hersch replied, concern in his eyes as he glanced at Vaax.
Kylie walked slowly up the steps to the podium, fighting the urge to turn and leave with every step. When she reached the center of the platform, she gripped the podium like it was a tether and she was adrift in cold vacuum.
“President Vaax,” she began quietly, and then raised her voice as she said each following word, “h as been fooling you into believing she’s in control of the situation. She wants you to think she wields power. But she couldn’t even handle Harken and Senator Ian’s weak claim. She had to turn to Maverick to take care of business. To set things aright. By her own admission, Maverick is the one who has shaped Gedri, made it a real power.”
She almost choked on those words, but managed to soldier forward.
“Vaax is afraid and unable to take on opposition directly. She’s afraid she’s not strong enough, and I fear she’s right. She’s not fit to lead Gedri. I take issue with her presidency and how it is she even came into the role to begin with.
“Who is she anyway? What place does she have here? She’s an opportunist who is working for someone else. Someone who gave her the backing to get this far. How can she have Gedri’s best interests at heart? She’s not even one of us!”
Vaax’s already pale complexion was growing paler, while a broad smile spread over Maverick’s face.
“I call for a vote of non-confidence in President Vaax!” Boos and cheers erupted from the assembly, and Kylie called out at the top of her lungs. “It is only with strength and powerful leadership that the GFF will survive. Strength from within, not from without. Therefore, I nominate Maverick to take her place as President of the Gedri Freedom Federation.”
Maverick’s eyes widened with appreciation as he rose and gazed out over the assembly. The cheering and booing reached a crescendo as Maverick held his arms out to the side and took a dainty bow—dainty for him, anyway—for anyone else it’d be a grand, sweeping gesture.
“He already has the respect of the senators, leaders within the system, and the ancient families on Jericho. Any other option is only delaying the inevitable. Maverick was born to do this job!” Kylie delivered her final statement and then returned to her seat.
As she walked down the steps, Vaax responded. “She’s a fool,” the president said calmly as she re-crossed her legs. “This assembly, and certainly not the committee, is not going to sit here and listen to the likes of—”
“President Vaax,” Senator Hersch said. “It is your chief witness’s right to withdraw her support from you and nominate another. If your primary supporter in these hearings finds you to be unfit, how can we ignore that?”
“By law, you cannot,” Maverick said. He didn’t yell, but everyone heard his words and the threat they carried.
“Surely, I get a rebuttal. Surely I’m able to defend myself.” Vaax said.
“You have already spoken your piece,” Senator Hersch said. “We are not going to go back and forth all day. If the motion stands, you’ll have time to speak your piece. Remember senators, to call for a non-confidence vote against a president who is not subsequently unseated carries a heavy penalty.”
That reminder did not calm Kylie’s nerves and she unfastened her jacket, letting it fall open.
Senator Hersch looked to the other committee members. “Do I have anyone seconding the motion vote on this matter?”
“I second it,” Senator Ian said.
That surprised Kylie. She glanced at Maverick, noting the smug look on his face. Had he been playing Vaax all along? Was Ian’s protection of Harken purely a ploy to set up opposition to Vaax so Maverick could swoop in at the last minute, appearing to be the logical choice? The savior who would right all wrongs?
Several other voices called out in support of the motion, though a few called for it to be dismissed.
When all the committee members had weighed in, Hersch addressed the assembly. “A clear super majority has not emerged. We will reconvene after lunch for a final round of testimony before taking a final vote. President Vaax, Maverick, Miss Rhoads, you will, of course, not leave the spire until we reconvene.”
Maverick nodded. “I would never think to do such a thing. I’m honored by your consideration.”
Vaax shot him a dirty look, before turning to Hersch. “You’re really not going to give credence to this? The GFF needs strong leadership if it’s going to weather the coming storms. I know I’m the one who can see it through.”
“After lunch, Madam President. After lunch and you’ll get your chance.”
“This is ridiculous!” Another senator leapt up to her feet. “The president needs our support in these times. The GFF can’t tear itself apart!”
“Hearing a few arguments isn’t tearing itself apart. Don’t be so dramatic, Matilda!” a voice called out.
Her eyes widened with rage. “Dramatic? We have a woman who I’d never seen before yesterday, nominating Maverick of all people. For all we know, she’s just one of his girls, put up to all of this.”
Kylie resented the statement even if it was true. She thought to argue the point, but more senators rose up, adding their voices to the argument.
She decided an exit was in her best interests, and stepped out into th
e aisle, calmly walking to the door, Maverick close on her heels.
Maverick said with a laugh.
That was Maverick, always cautious.
It was. Kylie didn’t know what would happen once Nadine was released but there was no way she’d leave Nadine in prison. One way or another, they were having a conversation and Kylie knew it wasn’t going to be pleasant but it had to be done.
Once they left the assembly, and regained access to the public nets, Rogers’ voice came into her mind.
ASSAULT ON FREEMONT
STELLAR DATE: 09.24.8947 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: SAS Hanover, approaching Freemont
REGION: Gedri System, Silstrand Alliance
Samuel cupped his coffee in his hand. The SSF fleet was taking a short, but dangerous, hop through the dark layer that would bring them within several light minutes of Freemont without being spotted.
In any other system, such a maneuver would be suicide, but in Gedri, which was an old star, where most of the dark matter had settled closer to the primary, it was periodically possible to make dark layer FTL transitions.
General Samuel took a final sip of his black coffee and set it down on the desk in his ready room. He had been looking forward to this moment and he didn’t want to miss it.
The wide room was filled with personnel operating scan, comm, and weapons stations. In the center of it all was Captain Marisa. She was a shrewd commander and he trusted her with his life.
“They won’t be expecting us,” Samuel said with grim smile, “But the station will have defenses and I want an immediate assessment of their fleet’s strength and readiness. Be prepared for private ships launching attacks. This entire system is now a theatre of war.”
“Aye, General Samuel,” Captain Marisa said with a nod as the ship transitioned back into normal space. The Scan teams leapt into action and began sweeping the space around the ship for mines and enemy vessels, while Nav confirmed their position within the fleet.
The Freemont United Trans-System Orbital Habitat appeared on the bridge’s central holotank and Samuel noted how few ships were in space around it. Less than a thousand, and none of which were civilian craft.
It was as though they were prepared for a siege.
“I want preemptive strikes mapped out on their rails and picket ships,” Samuel ordered.
Marisa didn’t reply immediately and Samuel continued.
Marisa nodded.
“Raise shields,” Captain Marisa ordered as Samuel walked off the bridge to the fleet CIC down the corridor. Marisa knew the stakes. She would do her job.
“General on deck!” Major Larson called out as General Samuel entered the CIC.
“As you were,” Samuel said as he approached the main holo table where Larson stood.
Larson had a display up, showing the planet of Freemont—The Futz as the locals called it—and the eight hundred GFF warships patrolling space around the planet.
“ETA to maximum effective firing range is twenty-two minutes, General,” Larson reported.
“They have more of their fleet here than we expected, but not more than we can manage,” Samuel said. “Largest cruiser out there is only six-hundred meters.”
“Yes, sir,” Larson replied. “The GFF won’t know what hit them.”
“Is the Satisfaction out there?” Samuel asked.
“No. It is in dock, on Ring 1,” Larson replied, zooming the display to show the ship.
“Send the pre-recorded message,” Samuel said. “We’ll give them one chance to surrender…well…everyone.”
* * * * *
Maverick was a double-crossing, lying opportunist. If Vaax wasn’t so mad about what he was trying to do, Vaax might be impressed. Hell, she might offer to team up with him.
But in the current situation, with her reputation and job on the line, there was only one thing she could do.
Kill him.
She could have someone take him out, sure, but Vaax wanted to look him in the eye when she did it herself. Then she’d hunt down that junker, Kylie Rhoads and do the same thing to her.
These Silstrand scum were barely evolved cave-dwellers as far as she was concerned. Now they dared oppose her? They dared try to take what was hers?
Vaax would see them dead. All of them.
She pulled her vials of poison out of their case, selected two and slipped them into a pocket. Then she slid a pistol into a concealed holster beneath her breasts.
She gave her room the once-over and confirmed that her bed was made, the flowers on the center table were freshly cut, and a refreshing fruit salad waited in a small bowl on the counter.
Everything was just so. Everything was as she liked it.
Well, that’s bold of them, she thought. Vaax had expected at least three more days before they arrived. Hopping through the DL insystem was a big risk.
Either General Samuel had better maps than she did, or he wanted his daughter back very badly. Or both.
As Ross spoke, Vaax tapped into The Futz’s external scan feeds. The SSF fleet was indeed present, and as large as reported. But it wasn’t enough for a crushing victory. Samuel’s impatience had caused him to jump the gun.
Something she wanted from him, other than his daughter? That wasn’t damned likely.
Vaax let out a long breath and sat down on the edge of the sofa.
Vaax leaned back on the sofa and stroked her chin. It might not have been the move she’d thought Silstrand would make, but it was a bold one, and she respected bold.
She couldn’t afford to underestimate them again. Perhaps it was time to get off The Futz and return with her prize to Scipio. Controlling Gedri had always been a secondary objective anyway. But first…Vaax had a little score to settle.
If they wanted Kylie Rhoads back, Vaax would send her.
In a body bag.
LIBERATION
STELLAR DATE: 09.24.8947 (Adjusted Years)
LOCATION: People’s Republic Tower, The Futz Spire, Freemont
REGION: Gedri System, Silstrand Alliance
Kylie slipped into the small conference room on the twenty-second floor of the People’s Republic Tower. Inside, Rogers and Winter were seated at the table waiting for her.
Well, Rogers was seated at the table. Winter was spinning in a chair.
