Part 12 (1/2)

”Yes.”

Kell looked at Nan. ”Ma'am, what was this Wusekl person accused of?”

”Funny you should ask.” She looked directly at Artrin. ”Being a changeling infiltrator.”

”Was he?” Gleer asked Artrin.

”Witnesses saw him altering his shape,” Artrin said matter-of-factly.

Nan rolled her eyes. ”Yeah, well, that's hardly surprising, since Wusekl is a chameloid. See, the Founders aren't the only shape-s.h.i.+fters in the galaxy by a long shot.”

Artrin shrugged, an odd gesture from a three-armed being. ”We couldn't be sure that it wasn't a Founder posing as a chameloid, and using that species' own shape-changing ability to divert suspicion.”

”Right.” Nan leaned back in her chair. ”So of course you opened up an investigation, did a full medical workup, got testimony from Wusekl's friends and family, right?” Her question was laced with sarcasm; she knew full well that hadn't been done.

”That would not have been prudent,” Artrin said.

Chaoying stroked her chin. ”You feared a public outcry.”

”Exactly.” Artrin seemed relieved that Chaoying, at least, understood his position. Certainly Nan was having a hard time with it. The Triexian looked at her. ”Madam President, I do not see what the issue is. It was a time of war- ”

Before Nan could explode at Artrin, T'Latrek came to the rescue. ”That is incorrect, Councillor. War with the Dominion was not officially declared by this council for one year and seven-point-three months after 5 Torus Fortil, shortly after Dominion forces took Deep s.p.a.ce 9.”

”That isn't the point. The Triexian people needed to be protected.”

This time, Nan wasn't letting T'Latrek's cooler head prevail. ”Really? I'm a little befuddled, Councillor, as to how people in a free society are being protected when innocent people are imprisoned without any kind of due process. Those are the actions of a totalitarian state, and I will not tolerate them in this government for as long as I am president.”

Kell asked, ”That poor man isn't still imprisoned, is he?”

Shaking her head, Nan said, ”No, when our friend here got elected to the council, his replacement as SMA reversed the decision within about six seconds. Wusekl's a free chameloid today-although, Artrin's replacement being a politically savvy type, Wusekl's freedom was contingent on keeping quiet about his imprisonment. Well, that particular gag is going to come off.”

Artrin stood up. ”Madam President, you cannot use your access to cla.s.sified Triexian doc.u.ments to let loose with a vendetta against- ”

Nan smiled at that. ”Oh, you think I got this from Triex by waving around my executive privilege? No, no, no. You see, Councillor, I got this from a member of my staff.”

”How can someone on your staff give you such information?” Artrin sounded justifiably confused once again.

”Someone gave it to him in a public restaurant.”

Now Artrin's voice sounded dangerous. ”Who?”

Nan snorted. ”Don't get your bowels in an uproar, Councillor. We don't know who. He gave a name, but it belongs to a Triexian who's been dead for seventy years. The reason why he gave it to one of my junior staff is because someone else already gave it to Councillor Severn-Anyar.”

Gleer slammed his furry fist on the table. ”That is why she requested a further delay on his ratification vote?”

Nodding, Nan said, ”That's right. And if they can give it to a councillor and a presidential staffer, you can bet all the ale on Romulus that they can give it to someone in Jorel's press room. I can tell you one thing, Councillor, we are not going to let the story break there.”

Artrin was still standing. ”My actions were wholly within the purview of Triexian law.”

Matthew set his hands gently down on the table. ”Your actions were wholly in conflict with Federation law-more to the point, sir, they were wholly in conflict with natural law.”

Nan held up the padd. ”Do I take it, Councillor, that you do not regret this particular decision?”

Artrin said nothing for several seconds. ”Our people were scared. When Wusekl changed shape, he was almost lynched. Yes, we could have done a medical exam to reveal that he was not a changeling-the Founders are a liquid life-form, and chameloids are basically humanoid. But it wouldn't have mattered. The people would have called for his blood. I did what I had to do to keep him safe-and to keep Triex safe.”

Nan then looked at the other councillors in turn. Each of them nodded affirmatively. Taking a breath, Nan then said, ”For the safety of your political career-not to mention mine-you're going to go into the press room tomorrow morning, and you're going to announce your resignation from the Federation Council, and you're going to tell them why. I want the Palais to control the story for as long as we possibly can. But I also want the word to go out far and wide that we are not this. We were manipulated by an awful foe who did everything they could to break us, to tear us asunder, and to bring about our ruination. We have come dangerously close to sacrificing our ideals, but we will not go over that precipice. And the first sign that this is so will be your resignation tomorrow. Is that understood, Councillor?”

Artrin shook his head. ”What I did needed to be done for the safety of Triex.”

Matthew shook his head and chuckled. ”There is a saying among my people, Councillor Artrin. It was said six hundred years ago by a great man. He said, 'They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.' ”

Artrin simply stared at the other councillors. Kell looked aghast, Gleer annoyed (which wasn't much different from how he normally looked), Matt pitying, Chaoying thoughtful. T'Latrek, of course, was the soul of equanimity.

Finally, the Triexian said, ”Very well, Madam President. I will resign first thing in the morning.”

”Wrong. You'll come to my office first thing in the morning, at 0500, where we'll go over your resignation speech, then you'll go with Jorel to the press room.”

”As you wish.”

”That'll be all.”

Artrin stood at attention. ”Thank you, Madam President.”

Then he departed.

Nan let out a long breath. ”Nice job with the Franklin quote, Matthew-I'm just sorry I didn't get to use it.”

”It was not my intention to steal your thunder, ma'am.”

”S'all right. I had plenty of thunder left over.” She looked around the table. ”Thank you all for your support.”

”We could hardly do otherwise,” Gleer said. ”His actions were appalling. I cannot believe he said nothing.”

”He could hardly have done otherwise,” T'Latrek said with a withering look at Gleer. ”By Triexian law, he was not permitted to speak of a cla.s.sified judicial session in the presence of anyone who did not partic.i.p.ate in it.”

Chaoying added, ”And he was doing what he felt was right for his people.”

Before anyone else could say anything, Nan said, ”Maybe he thought it was necessary eight years ago.” She sighed. ”I don't know, maybe it was-maybe it did keep that chameloid protected. But his resignation is just as necessary, if not more so.”

”Agreed,” Kell said emphatically.

Nan stood. ”Thank you, everyone. I'll see you all tomorrow.”

Everyone also rose, except for T'Latrek. ”May I stay a moment, Madam President?”

”Of course,” Nan said. T'Latrek had served on the council for over eighty years. She hadn't run for president only because she herself had never felt the need to. Hers was one of the wisest and most respected voices on the council, and Nan was not about to turn down a request for a private meeting.