Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [109]
From his chair on the other side of the room, Deputy Cain said, 'She's technically correct, Mr Chairman. According to protocol and Hansa law, you have no direct authority to command the Earth Defence Forces.'
Basil clenched his teeth and forced calm upon himself. 'I can see that the Hansa Charter and the EDF's defining documents need to be clarified, so that other officers don't experience the same confusion.'
Admiral Willis left without being dismissed, Basil watched her departing figure, glanced at Cain, and considered (not for the first time) simply scrapping all of his upper-level advisers and military officers and starting from scratch. Unfortunately, he had no better alternatives. He needed to keep a firm hold on the ones he had.
Sixty-four
Sarein
For a long time Sarein had been growing increasingly concerned about Basil. Because of their past and all that he had done for her, she still cared for the Chairman, but lately another emotion had begun to work its way into her feelings for him: fear.
When Basil sent her an unexpected invitation to join him for a private meal, she was at first excited, then puzzled. The note was brief, hinting at no tenderness, nor was it brusque. It seemed to have been written almost as an afterthought.
Sarein accepted, of course, hoping for the best.
Basil had carefully specified the time she was to join him. His private quarters had a sterile cleanliness that suggested how little time he spent there. 'Good of you to come here. It's been too long.'
She tried to interpret the smile he offered. 'Yes, it has, Basil.'
'But you understand, don't you? With the hydrogue war and Peter's blatant insurrection, I haven't had much time for personal matters.'
The meal was already set out and waiting for them (so as not to waste time, she supposed, even with her the Chairman was on a tight schedule). Two filet mignons, identical servings of scalloped mushrooms, and a green-and-yellow vegetable she did not recognize. Each place had a glass of iced tea. He gestured for her to sit and politely pushed her chair in like a gentleman.
'We need more times like this, Basil,' she said. 'A bit of relaxation would increase your effectiveness and productivity.'
'Yes, so my advisers suggest.' He took the seat across from her and motioned toward her plate. 'I hope the food is to your liking, but the company is what matters.'
She cut into her steak, found it done perfectly. Though Sarein smiled and held up her end of the pleasant conversation, at the back of her mind she wondered what the Chairman was doing. So often in the past year he had given her the cold shoulder, demonstrating that he didn't need her, or Deputy Cain, or anyone who failed to share his convictions.
But as circumstances in the Hansa mushroomed out of control, she had watched Basil slide down an ever-steepening spiral. He walled himself off from the input of even his closest advisers, and was blind to how emotions swayed his judgement. But Sarein was sure she could still save him if she used this private time to help the Chairman reconsider his stance against the Confederation, help him see choices that would benefit all of humanity rather than just add points to his personal scorecard.
'I know you very well, Sarein. I have never doubted you, but I realize that we've grown more distant from each other. I hope this evening will reassure you. I need to know that I can count on you when so much else has grown dark around me.'
'Of course you can, Basil.' Her answer was automatic, but she felt a chill. She had hoped to soften him during their time together, yet now she suspected his intention was to manipulate her.
'I checked the records of your official meetings. I noticed that you visited a trading ship, the Voracious Curiosity, belonging to Captain Rlinda Rett.'
She froze, clamping down on her reaction so Basil wouldn't notice. 'Yes, I knew Captain Kett from Theroc. She had a load of trade goods - nothing particularly remarkable