Articles of the Federation - Keith R. A. DeCandido [47]
The young Trill asked, “Where is Wusekl now?”
“I honestly don’t know. He was granted his freedom six years ago and left Triex.”
“So you never kept up with him? Checked to see how he was faring?”
“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, Ambassador 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-Ambassador 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 nobody’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 assistant technology secretary, Toshiro 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 nobody 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 ambassadors last night after the last session. Ambassador Tierra said