Articles of the Federation - Keith R. A. DeCandido [32]
“First of all,” Quintor said in her annoying voice, “I would like to say that I voted against the initial trade agreement with Aligar and have voted against it every time the agreement came up for renewal. Antede has never had any kind of ownership of people in its history-in fact, our world was first introduced to the concept when we made contact with other worlds, and we always found it to be repugnant. Lack of any kind of slavery is a basic requirement for any world to be even considered for Federation membership, so the notion that we should trade with a nation that has a population that is ninety percent slaves is abhorrent.”
“And yet, we continue to be allied with the Klingons,” Atkinson said snidely, though Sephara had to concede that the reporter had a point.
“Yes, we do,” Quintor said, “and I find that equally abhorrent. When the Klingons withdrew from the Khitomer Accords six years ago, there was a resolution for the Federation to remain signatories to the agreement, so that if the empire wanted to re-ally themselves with us, they could simply re-sign the treaty-as, in fact, they did a year and a half later. I voted against that, as well. I have always been against the Federation-Klingon alliance.”
Before Atkinson could say anything else, Velisa said, “We’re getting off-track, Councillor.”
“Yes, of course, my apologies, Velisa. In any case, I disagree with your assertion that there’s been any kind of ‘slowdown.’ We are carefully considering any legislation or appointments made by the president’s office, as we always do. Such decisions do have far-reaching consequences.”
Atkinson laughed. “Oh, come off it. Councillor Artrin was nominated for the judiciary council two months ago, as were Councillor Beltane for commerce and yourself for government oversight-with no movement in sight for the council to ratify any of them.”
Quintor wiggled again. “I was honored to even be nominated for government oversight-but it is a position that requires careful consideration. As does judiciary.”
“I would disagree with the councillor on the second point,” the Vulcan woman said. “Councillor Artrin has an impeccable record, and has long been qualified for the judiciary council.”
“So you do think the council is stonewalling President Bacco as a punishment?” Velisa asked.
“I would never presume to ascribe such motives to esteemed members of the Federation Council.”
Sephara laughed at that. If this conversation had been telepathic, Sorlak would never have been able to get away with such a bald-faced lie. That reminded Sephara that Vulcans weren’t supposed to lie-she wondered if that held true for Vulcan lawyers.
“Turn it off,” Gira said.
“What?” Sephara asked, though she, of course, heard both Gira’s words and the thoughts of disgust that prompted them.
“They’re not saying anything interesting. I can’t believe that we’re required to watch this idiotic program.”
Not wanting to get into an argument, Sephara turned it off, just as Atkinson started raving about something. It was easier to do that than to argue with Gira when she was being unreasonable-which was pretty much any time she was awake.
So what do you want to do now? Sephara asked.
To her shock, Gira also responded telepathically. Anything else, as long as it doesn’t have to do with school.
Why don’t we do that food shopping you never did?
Gira liked that idea, and the roommates got up to get food, the world of Federation politics forgotten until they would need it for class.
Chapter Eight
ESPERANZA PINIERO got off the turbolift on the fifteenth floor to see Sivak seated at his desk and none of the security guards present-which meant that Bacco wasn’t in the office.
“Oh hell, are they still in session?”
Sivak didn’t look up from his workstation. “Were I to answer that in the negative, it would be a lie.”
Sighing, Esperanza looked at the chronometer. The session