Hidden Empire - Kevin J. Anderson [240]
"We need a new Speaker, a stronger Speaker," Jhy Okiah continued. "Someone with more imagination and energy than I."
Seated in her private booth near the podium, Cesca Peroni could barely keep from weeping. She had known the old woman's plans and argued with her privately, but Jhy Okiah was stubborn and implacable.
"This conflict may go on for a long time, Cesca," she had said. "Things could get difficult...and very ugly. I apologize for the ordeal I'm about to put you through. But in my bones I sense that I may not see this war through to its end. It is better to begin with a strong Speaker at the outset, rather than increase turmoil later on, when more harm may result."
"But I'm not ready. You know how much I have yet to learn."
"More important, I know you are capable of learning." The old woman touched a gnarled finger against Cesca's lips to silence her. "This is the most important secret I can teach you: No one is ever ready. You cannot be less qualified than I was when I took on the role. And I haven't done too badly." She chuckled softly. "You are capable, Cesca, and you have no delusions of infallibility. Frankly, those are all the requirements you need. Just follow your Guiding Star."
Now that she had made her announcement in public, Jhy Okiah allowed no further discussion. In her life she'd had too much discussion. She stepped down from the podium and motioned for Cesca to take her place, both now and for the years to come.
Cesca paused at the oratory podium, feeling insubstantial in the asteroid's low gravity, though her heart was heavy inside her. Her shoulders bowed under the weight of the immense burden she now carried. Just follow your Guiding Star. She wanted to laugh. The Roamers liked to believe their paths were set, if only they could see the proper course. But she had already strayed many times.
Now she looked into the audience, found the seating area reserved for clan Tamblyn, and spotted Jess watching her, his face intent and supportive, as he sat beside his four uncles. A different path, a different course would have steered them together. But now she couldn't see a way to join him. Not yet. Their eyes met, and he gave her a smile, which was all the strength she needed.
Jess's cometary bombardment of Golgen had indeed sent cheers through the Roamer community. Having struck back, however fruitlessly, they no longer felt so helpless. Already, orbital specialists were mapping the Kuiper belts in other solar systems to continue the silent gravity-driven war against other gas giants where Roamer skymines had been attacked. Sadly, there were many graveyards to choose from.
Cesca had rehearsed her speech over and over again, but now the words tasted flat and lifeless in her mouth. How could she possibly lead all these people, so many disparate clans? How could she inspire them to do the necessary things, make the uncomfortable sacrifices that would help Roamer society survive?
"I did not want to be your Speaker so soon," she said softly. Then her voice grew bitter, almost strident. "Nor did I want the hydrogues to murder my fiancée and destroy his skymine on Golgen. I did not want the enemy aliens to engage us in a war we did not start. I did not want our ekti harvesting to be violently cut off."
Cesca paused, staring at the audience. "Unfortunately, we do not always get what we want. So I am here as your new Speaker. All Roamers are tied together by this terrible crisis." She held out her hands. "So, what are we going to do?"
No one dared to make a suggestion, though the Roamer clans had never been reluctant to speak their minds. Cesca continued, "Throughout our history, Roamers have never had an easy time. We have crashed headlong into adversity, and we have survived. We know how to adapt. We know how to innovate. And we know how to remain what we are."
Cesca had been trained to be firm