Articles of the Federation - Keith R. A. DeCandido [59]
Edmund blinked several times, then made a note in his padd. He’d been covering politics for the Times for thirty years, and he’d never heard a politician make so honest an apology.
“As you all know,” Bacco said, “Councillor Artrin resigned this morning. The Triexian Curia will appoint a new councillor within the next week to serve out his term. For obvious reasons, the president’s office hereby withdraws his nomination for appointment to the judiciary council. In addition, Triex is now removed from the security council. I hereby nominate for appointment to the judiciary council Councillor Eleana of Delta, and I hereby nominate for appointment to the security council Councillor Krim Aldos of Bajor.”
This time, Edmund almost fell out of his chair. Like many people, he believed that Eleana would make a most interesting addition to judiciary, but she had made enough enemies in this room to make her ratification difficult.
Krim, however, was an even bigger risk. He’d been a last-minute replacement as Bajor’s first councillor when the original choice had died unexpectedly, almost three and a half years ago.
Edmund made a bet with himself that he quickly won as the light in front of Bera chim Gleer’s seat went on, indicating that he wished to speak on the floor. May as well get comfortable, he thought, Gleer doesn’t do short speeches.
Was it Edmund’s imagination, or did Bacco sound pained when she said, “The podium recognizes the councillor from Tellar”?
The Tellarite councillor stalked down the length of his row and stomped toward the center of the chamber. With his furry hands, he clutched the lapels of the silvery jacket he wore over an embroidered shirt. His pants matched the jacket, making it look like he was glowing. He stared at Bacco with his sunken eyes-which put his back to Edmund-and began to speak.
“With all due respect, Madam President-are you mad? Bajor has only been in the Federation for three years. To put them on the security council is the height of irresponsibility. In addition, I point you to Councillor Krim’s record. He was a rebel on Bajor, then supported a coup d’etat that was disgraced. He has spent most of the last decade out of the public eye and had not participated in the least in the realm of politics until he was placed on this council by his wife, the first minister of Bajor. Is it wise to trust the delicate matters handled on the security council to such a person?”
T’Latrek’s light went on, and Edmund thought he was going to burst with excitement. I was hoping she would get into it.
Sounding much more cheered-the president knew the entertainment value of a good floor fight, after all-Bacco said, “The podium recognizes the councillor from Vulcan.”
The Vulcan woman glided out from her seat and joined Gleer. Her own arms were not visible in her long, black cloak of office. Her gray-flecked black hair extended past her shoulders and was swept back in a simple, practical style that required no grooming beyond running a brush through it. T’Latrek’s eyebrows were severe, her eyes pitiless, her mouth a perfect line perpendicular to a nose that would have been called aristocratic on a human. She fixed those pitiless eyes on Gleer.
“Anyone who lived as an adult on Bajor prior to their liberation from Cardassia twelve years ago and who is in any way politically astute probably was part of their resistance movement. Either that or they collaborated with the Cardassians, and I assume my colleague would not want such a person to serve on the security council-or on the council at all.”
“That goes without saying. I would never support such a person and would be against his being placed on the council.”
“For something that goes without saying, you do feel the need to describe it at length,