Part 13 (1/2)
”To have done so-particularly from Earth once I became councillor-would have risked violating the very law that prevented me from discussing it.” He then pointed at Sovan, whom Jorel had told the councillor to call on last.
”Do you know who'll be replacing you as Triex's councillor?”
”The Triexian Curia will vote on a replacement to serve out my term. Thank you, that is all for now.”
Artrin left the room with all the speed that a three-legged person could muster-which was considerable-and Jorel then approached the podium.
”Before you pester me with questions, I have some announcements. As you've probably all heard, Amba.s.sador Spock is meeting with the president today to discuss the ongoing Romulan problem.”
”Jorel,” Maria Olifante said, ”I've gotten reports of more violence in the Revelok system and a double murder in Ehrie'fvil. Can you confirm that?”
”I've gotten the same reports, but nothing more than that-there'll be a Starfleet briefing today at 1500, so you can ask them then, since they're the ones who told us. Now, if I can go on without further interruptions-Amba.s.sador Spock will be meeting with the president this morning, and Spock may also speak before the council when it is in session this afternoon. During that session, President Bacco will also introduce her new nominee for the judiciary council to replace former Councillor Artrin.”
Edmund Atkinson asked, ”Do we know who that is yet?”
Jorel smiled. ”Depends on your definition of 'we,' doesn't it, Edmund?”
Rolling his eyes, Edmund spoke more slowly. ”Can you tell us?”
”You know, I've never understood the whole idea of announcing when you're going to announce something. If I said, 'President Bacco will be announcing that Councillor Whoever will be her nominee for judiciary at 1330 when council is in session,' then she really won't be announcing it at 1330, because I'll just have done it for her. So, no, I can't tell you, because I really don't want to spoil it for the president.”
Of course, it helps that n.o.body's told me who it is, either, Jorel thought with a sigh. Esperanza was huddled with her deputies, going over candidates so that they'd have a recommendation by 1300.
Jorel continued. ”After her morning meetings, the president will be attending a reception in honor of the hundredth birthday of the a.s.sistant technology secretary, Tos.h.i.+ro Czierniewski, where she will be giving a toast, and after that will be the council session.” He noticed that Kav from the Tellarite News Service was waving his furry hand about. Giving in to the inevitable, Jorel called on him.
”Councillor Artrin-sorry, former Councillor Artrin-did not call on me, Jorel, and I had a question of great import.”
”Kav, all your questions are of great import-to you.”
That got a laugh out of several reporters. Kav, however, was undeterred. ”Why now?”
Jorel frowned. ”Why what now?”
”Artrin made his judgment several years ago. He was nominated to the judiciary council several months ago. So why is it now that he is revealing this and resigning?”
”Because the president only learned of it yesterday, when a member of the Palais staff uncovered it in the course of research on a different topic.” What amazed Jorel was that n.o.body asked that question of Artrin.
”So President Bacco's statements of support of Artrin were done without any knowledge of this incident?”
”Correct. Nofia?” The Deltan reporter had her hand up, and Jorel had had enough of Kav.
”Has there been any progress in the negotiations in the Wescott Room?”
Jorel had been expecting someone to ask about that and wasn't at all surprised that it was Nofia, mainly because there weren't any Carreon in the room, the news media on Carrea apparently not being interested in reporting on the doings of the Palais from up close. ”I spoke with both amba.s.sadors last night after the last session. Amba.s.sador Tierra said that progress is being made, and she's hopeful that the Carreon will agree to provide Delta with the water reclamation system they desperately need. Amba.s.sador Yorgas said that progress is being made, and he's hopeful that the Deltans will accede to the Carreon's reasonable demands.”
Nofia smiled. ”I take that to mean that no progress is being made, which is pretty much the same story for the past two months. Is there any chance that President Bacco will intervene?”
”I'd say there's a chance, but whether or not it happens today will depend on several other factors, most of them related to the once and future Romulan Star Empire.” He picked up his padds from the podium. ”That's all for now. I'll have another briefing this afternoon after the session ends.”
The reporters all disappeared as the holocom was deactivated.
”I must say, I do love being able to just turn them off like that.”
Jorel's a.s.sistant, Zhres, was standing nearby. ”So you have said on several occasions.”
”And I'll probably continue to say it as long as it's true. Has anybody hammered us on Sorlak's appearance yet?”
Zhres's antennae quivered. ”I'm sorry?”
Rolling his eyes, Jorel said, ”Sorlak was on ICL a few days ago, and she went on at great length about the confidence the president had in Artrin. I deflected Kav, but I don't think that's going to slow anyone down. Keep on the feeds, see who pounces on that.”
”Right.” Zhres moved off to his office. Jorel headed for the turbolift. He needed to talk to Esperanza right away.
”This is a most impressive office, Madam President.”
Nan chuckled at the remark from Amba.s.sador Spock. Resplendent as he was in his black robe of office with Vulcan lettering emblazoned down one of the folds, his hair was thinner than Nan thought it would be. But then even legends get old eventually. Look at me.
Spock was seated in one of the office's chairs; Esperanza was seated opposite him, with Raisa next to her. T'Latrek, Molmaan, Jas, and Akaar hadn't arrived yet.
”I'm surprised you haven't been here before, Mr. Amba.s.sador,” she said, leaning against the front of her desk.
”I have been in the president's office, but not since your election-indeed, the last president I visited was President Amitra. All presidents supply their own unique stamp upon this room.”
Nan chuckled. ”So it's been three presidents since you've been back here.”
”My mission to Romulus was always expected to be a long-term one, Madam President.”
”Well, what Romulus has been through hasn't been particularly long-term, Mr. Amba.s.sador.”
”I am confused at the use of curtains over the window,” he said.
At that, Nan couldn't help but laugh. ”Too low-tech for you?”
”My own needs are of no consequence. I simply find it hard to believe that the windows are not capable of being polarized to keep harsh sunlight out of the room, while still affording you the panorama.”
Never knew you moonlighted as an interior decorator. Somehow, Nan managed not to say that out loud. ”There are times when I don't want the distraction of the view, and I hate the way the window looks when it's opaqued-it's like working in a d.a.m.n obelisk. Hence, the curtains.” As she spoke, the door slid open to reveal the two councillors and the admiral. Still no Jas Abrik. I swear, I'm going to kill him.
Akaar walked over to Spock and gave him a Capellan salute. ”You honor us all with your presence, Spock.”
”The honor is mine, Leonard.”
As Akaar took his seat, the door slid open to reveal Jas. ”I'm sorry I'm late,” the elderly Trill said as he entered, ”but I was in the Monet Room. Madam President, the s.h.i.+rekral-cla.s.s vessel that has been approaching our border has reached Outpost 22. It has identified itself as the Reman Free Vessel Vkruk, and its captain has requested asylum in the Federation for himself and his crew, which includes twenty-nine Remans of both s.e.xes.”
”Fascinating,” Spock muttered. Louder, he said, ”Vkruk was the name of s.h.i.+nzon's viceroy.”
Nan sighed. ”I just love cheap symbolism.”
”These could be some of s.h.i.+nzon's people,” Esperanza said.
Jas took a seat on the sofa. ”Speaking of Remus, I'm afraid there's more-there was a cave-in in one of the dilithium mines on Remus, and there was an explosion on one of the farms in Ehrie'fvil.”