Articles of the Federation - Keith R. A. DeCandido [35]
“Yeah? What’s his excuse for being an ass the rest of the time?” The president sat down. “There was one bit of good news: Beltane got in, eighty-seven to sixty-seven.”
A wave of relief washed over Esperanza. “About time.”
“Yeah, well, she was only the most qualified person available, so I can see why the council wanted to drag their heels on ratifying her.” The president slammed a hand into the salish desk. “Dammit, Esperanza, what the hell are these jackasses playing at? Are they that pissed about Aligar?”
“About Aligar? No. About the way you phrased your displeasure about Aligar? Absolutely.”
The president frowned. “What the hell’s that mean? All I did was argue as to why trading with Aligar wasn’t tenable anymore.”
“No, ma’am, due respect, you didn’t.” Esperanza hesitated. “If you had phrased your speech as a request to not renew the agreement-which, I might add, is how you told me you were going to play it when you insisted that we didn’t need Fred to draft some notes for you to use-it would have been okay, but you phrased it as a rebuke. You chastised them, ma’am. You told one hundred and fifty-four councillors that they were immoral, that they were wrong, that they stood against what made the Federation great. You questioned their patriotism right there in the chamber. Honestly, I’m amazed they reacted as calmly as they did.”
The president snorted. “Your definition of calm differs from mine.”
Esperanza sat down in the nearest guest chair. “Ma’am-this isn’t the governor’s office on Cestus III.”
“Really?” The president rolled her eyes. “What was your first clue, the view out the window? For crying out loud, Esperanza, I’m not that feeble, I- “
“My point is, Madam President, that you’re not the leader of the Federation the way you were leader of Cestus. Intellectually, of course you know that, but instinctively? On Cestus, you were the final authority. Here, you aren’t-you’re just the most important cog in a very big wheel. You work with the council, they don’t work for you.”
President Bacco was silent for several seconds, staring off at a corner of the office with her hand at her chin.
Esperanza finally felt the need to prompt her. “Ma’am?”
The president shook her head. “Sorry, I was thinking about creative ways of killing Gleer.”
“Ma’am- “
“Fine, fine, you’re right, Esperanza. You’re almost always right-it’s probably your most annoying quality.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Don’t hold me to that, though-you have plenty of other annoying qualities, too.”
Esperanza nodded. “Of course, ma’am.”
“Any ideas on how to fix this?”
That caught Esperanza off guard. She had twelve other things on her mind at the moment. “I think we can just ride this out, and- “
“We can’t afford to ride this out. The government’s grinding to a damn halt.” Bacco thought a moment, then said, “I’m gonna apologize.”
Her eyes widening in surprise, Esperanza said, “Really?”
“What, I’m not allowed to apologize?”
“Well, it’s not typical, ma’am. Of the president of the Federation or-well, of you.”
“Then it’s time I started being atypical, ‘cause typical ain’t gettin’ the job done. I’ll take the floor at the next session and fall on my sword.” She sighed. “I assume Raisa’s gonna talk to me about the Remans?”
Grateful for the change of subject, Esperanza said, “Yes, ma’am. No new news yet, obviously, since they’re still running silent.”
Shaking her head, the president said, “This damn thing’s been hanging over us for two months now. I’ll be glad when it’s over. Anything new from the Klingons?”
“No. They still say they haven’t made any aggressive moves, that the Romulans have always fired first.”
“And the Romulans?”
Smirking, Esperanza said, “Depends who you ask, and what time of day.”
“Yeah.” The president let out a long breath. “Oh, and I think Artrin’ll be ratified soon. Honestly, they were ready to take a vote, finally, but Severn-Anyar said she hadn’t finished reading through all of Artrin’s magisterial decisions.”
Esperanza frowned. “She’s had months to do that.”
“Yeah, that’s why I think it’ll be