Articles of the Federation - Keith R. A. DeCandido [7]
Shaking her head, Esperanza said, “Not Jix.”
“Why not?” Z4 asked.
“Because she’s only been in the council for three years, and the reason she got appointed is because the last one resigned during that parasite mess. I don’t think that’s the right person to put on government oversight. I don’t think Sanaht is, either.”
“I disagree,” Ashante said. “Sanaht’s perfect. Everyone on the council respects him.”
Xeldara smiled. “That’s because they’re afraid he’s going to eat their chairs.”
Returning the smile, Ashante said, “The point is, he’ll be ratified easily.”
“Easy appointments would be nice,” Esperanza said, “but we need a hawk. Quintor’s the right one for the job.”
Ashante’s smile fell. “Esperanza, we can’t afford a floor fight over appointments. Quintor’s spent the last seven years pissing off everyone else in the council chamber. Besides, it’s not like it’s a major sub-council, it’s government oversight. What do we need a hawk there for?”
Nan spoke before Esperanza could reply. “Because the last president resigned.”
The office grew quiet. Nan exchanged a glance with Esperanza. Unlike everyone else in the room, the two of them knew the real reasons why Min Zife, his chief of staff, and one of his cabinet members resigned, and it had nothing to do with the realities of managing the Federation in the wake of war, as his resignation speech had oh-so-nobly assured. They had secretly armed Tezwa, an independent world on the Klingon border, putting those weapons in the hands of a lunatic prime minister who’d used them on a Klingon task force and a Starfleet vessel. Zife had known of the weapons but hadn’t warned the Klingons or his own people about them, and then tried to cover up the crime before he’d been discovered by Starfleet. If the real reasons had gotten out, government oversight would have roasted him for lunch-right before the Klingons declared their right of vengeance and made war on a longtime ally who’d lied to them and whose depraved indifference had led to the dishonorable deaths of thousands of warriors.
“What about interplanetary commerce?” Esperanza asked, signaling that the discussion on government oversight had ended.
“That’s easy,” Ashante said. “We promised that seat to Beltane during the campaign in exchange for her support. That’s not the problem.”
“Hang on,” Xeldara said, tugging her ear. “Is she qualified?”
Z4 made a tinkling noise. “Overqualified. She was the leader among Elaysians for expanding the mandate of the trade agreements on Gemworld. Frankly, she should’ve been on commerce years ago.”
Ashante sighed. “But that opens up a seat on technology. Z4’s about to tell you it should be C29 Green- “
Z4’s antennae twirled outward. “It should be C29.”
Rolling her eyes, Ashante said, “He can’t even operate a padd without three aides giving him a tutorial, and you want to put him on technology?”
“He oversaw half a dozen technology initiatives on Nasat. He’s right for the job.”
Esperanza asked Ashante, “Who do you prefer?”
“Almost anybody else.”
A warning in her tone, Esperanza started, “Ashante- “
“Severn-Anyar, Govrin, Gelemingar, or Nitram.”
Nan knew that the councillors for Grazer, Pandril, Gnala, and Bre’el IV were all qualified, but she was surprised at one name missing. “What about Jix? We’re not giving her judiciary. Why not put her on technology?”
“She’s not as qualified as C29,” Z4 said.
“Aside from C29, all the choices are good ones, ma’am, including Jix,” Ashante said, with a glower at Z4.
Running a hand through her paper-white hair, Nan said, “Give Sivak full reports on all six of them-I’ll make a decision by the end of the week.”
Fred said, “Ma’am, I don’t think we should wait that long. I think we need to have Jorel announcing all your appointments in the next day or two, and you should be available to answer press queries soon after that.”
Myk leaned forward. “Besides, with Tantalus coming up for review again, we need judiciary-