Alpha One - Chris Burton [26]
He was pleased. He had a brand new, faster, and bigger ship, essentially; the same crew, who were competent, reliable and trustworthy; and he could keep Obeya within his command. His wife was none the wiser, and he could return to his San Francisco Bay home to spend a week with her before he needed to start work on his new commission.
Chapter Twelve
Alpha Independence
Admiral Neville was tired. He was tired of the same old crap: the same people making the same argument about Alpha divorcing itself from the support of ECG. He knew his side was losing. Of the fifteen high-ranking Admirals who sat on the Senior Admiralty Bench of Alpha Fleet Command, he could count only four who definitely still supported ECG funding—and even that number was questionable. Admiral Martin expressed anxiety on this matter, and the fact of the persuasive arguments of the other side, led so resolutely and confidently by Admiral Koenig, began having an effect on Neville himself.
Matters were deteriorating markedly. President Roslyn refused the additional ECG funding required for the Alpha’s plan to remove the ‘new’ threat from the Sentinels Southern fleet. Neville advised the senior bench of that significant development today. Neville was a traditionalist. Alpha Fleet was established to defend the interests of Earth and its colonies. This was a fundamental principle of Alpha’s incorporation and an underlying principle of its Articles. This could not be changed without a seventy-five percent majority vote in favor and that meant twelve of the Bench would need to vote in favor. He would use this as his leverage.
Neville sat down at the large wooden conference table in the Senior Bench’s Chambers fifteen minutes before the Bench council meeting was due to convene. As he looked up, he saw that all fifteen Admirals sat there and awaited the opening of the meeting. Neville was a stickler for timekeeping and protocol and refused to start the meeting until the scheduled time of 11.00 hrs. At last he stood up and addressed the bench.
“Fellow Admirals. I have submitted a request for additional funding from President Roslyn for the assault on the Sentinel Southern Fleet.”
He paused briefly and continued. “This funding has been refused.”
Silence, deathly silence. There was no response from anyone until Koenig finally stood up and responded, “This is not entirely unexpected. We must fund the campaign from a different source. I believe AFP will consider this to be in their own interests. I understand Admiral Kohn has already approached them. Is that correct Admiral?”
Admiral Kohn stood up and Admirals Koenig and Neville gave way.
“Yes they have advised a considerable sum, in respect of additional AFP funding. This was signed off and the new funding line can be drawn on immediately.”
Koenig jumped up and replied “Excellent, Kohn. We are funded in majority by outside benefactors. We need to move towards removal of ECG’s influence on our affairs and make appropriate amendments to our constitution. I move that we carry this out today.”
Neville stood up, and Kohn and Koenig gave way.
“This is not possible. It is not part of our scheduled agenda for today, and I believe that this bench will need to receive further representation from all relevant parties before we consider this again.”
Admiral Koenig stood up again and said firmly. “It is my right to request a special motion to vote on this issue today. “ He then sat down and two other Admirals stood up and almost in unison seconded the motion. Neville knew he had no choice but to give way. He summoned up his most authoritative voice “We will vote on this motion after lunch. We will, however, take the time to consider the options this morning, and I move to propose an amendment to the special