That wasn’t entirely true, since a narrow victory would inevitably be seen as a sign of weakness, but Jakov forced a smile. “Yes, of course. A win is a win.”
The conference room adjacent to General Bill Booly’s offi?ce was full to overfl?owing. Maylo was there, as were Colonel Kitty Kirby, Major Drik Seeba-Ka, Margaret Xanith, and Charles Vanderveen. The crowd stirred as Sergi ChienChu arrived and people made room for him. “Okay, Sergi,”
Booly said hopefully. “What have you got for us?”
“Nothing good,” the cyborg answered dejectedly.
“Based on my polling, it looks like Jakov will be confi?rmed by a narrow margin.”
Faces fell, and there was a chorus of groans as the group absorbed the news. “There is another option,” Seeba-Ka said ominously. “The Legion’s loyalty belongs to you—not Vice President Jakov.”
“No,” Booly replied wearily. “I know that’s the way such matters are settled on Hudatha, but Triad Doma-Sa is working to change that. We have a constitution, plus the body of law that supports it, that we’re all sworn to obey. To violate that oath is to become the very thing we despise.”
“In spite of the fact that Jakov broke the law,” Vanderveen agreed reluctantly.
“Unfortunately, we have no proof of that,” the legionnaire put in. “Just suspicions. So, given the political realities, I suggest that everyone prepare for the worst. You should expect to lose your jobs at a minimum. . . . And some of us may face trumped-up charges intended to put us on the defensive while Jakov and his toadies settle in. I’m sorry. I wish things were different.”
It was a sobering assessment, and one that left Booly’s allies with no choice but to shake hands glumly and go their separate ways. Booly, Maylo, and Chien-Chu remained where they were. “Don’t be alarmed if I disappear for a while, the industrialist said as he prepared to leave. “If Jakov attempts to prosecute one or both of you—I’ll be back with the best legal team money can buy. And I’ll do everything in my power to fi?nd out what happened to Nankool as well.”
Booly said, “Thanks,” as his wife went over to plant a kiss on her uncle’s cheek. Then, once the two of them were alone, the legionnaire took Maylo into his arms. The kiss lasted for a while. Finally, when they broke contact, Booly looked down into his wife’s beautiful face. “I don’t suppose you would be willing to leave Algeron prior to the vote.”
“Sure I would,” Maylo replied cheerfully. “So long as you come with me.”
Booly laughed. “Have I mentioned how annoying you are?”
“Frequently,” the woman in his arms replied. “Does that mean you’re going to divorce me?”
“Yes,” Booly replied. “As soon as I fi?nd the time. The problem is that I’m so busy.”
“Too busy for this?” Maylo inquired innocently, as she put her hand where it would do the most good.
“Hey! We’re in a conference room,” the general objected.
“So, close the door,” Maylo responded huskily. “And let’s hold a conference.”
And they did.
The space that had once served as Fort Camerone’s theater had since been converted into chambers for the Senate. The huge room contained fi?ve hundred seats. They slanted down to a fl?at area and a raised stage. The words, “Legio Patria Nostra,” “The Legion Is Our Country,” had once been inscribed above the platform in letters six feet tall. And, in spite of the fact that they had been painted over, a keen eye could still make them out.
The fi?rst fi?ve rows of seats were reserved for senators who, with very few exceptions, were present. Partly because activists representing both sides of the upcoming vote had been working to ensure a good turnout, but also because the confi?rmation process made for excellent theater, and there was a woeful lack of entertainment on Algeron. Most of the people present already knew how the vote was going to turn out, or believed they did, but it was common knowledge that the outcome would be close. So close that even a couple of defections could deny Jakov the presidency. That served to keep the level of tension high, and rather than posture the way they often did, the vice president’s supporters were maintaining a low-key demeanor. There were formalities to attend to, including the usual roll call, which preceded a long, rather dry description of the events leading up to Nankool’s disappearance and the need to replace him. That was followed by an equally boring recitation of applicable law and a review of the voting process.
Finally, with all of that out of the way, the moment everyone had been waiting for was at hand. That was when Jakov, Wilmot, and a handful of other senior advisors slipped into the chamber and stood at the back of the room. Half a dozen airborne news cams swarmed around the politician to get tight shots as breathless reporters provided voice-over narrations of the historical moment for viewers throughout the Confederacy. Because later, once the outcome was known, the resulting reports would be sent out via the new hypercom technology—a development that was bound to revolutionize both journalism and politics. Then, as the senator representing Earth stepped up to the podium, the cameras darted away from Jakov, each seemingly intent on reaching the front of the room fi?rst. Booly and Maylo had seats behind the senators, in a row reserved for senior offi?cials, and knew the networks would go to them for reaction shots.
“The voice vote is about to begin,” the senator from Earth intoned. “Please provide your name, followed by the political entity you represent and your vote. A ‘yes’ vote is a vote to confi?rm—and a ‘no’ vote is a vote to deny confi?rmation. Now, unless there are questions, we will proceed.”
And that was the moment when Triad Hiween DomaSa, who had been visibly absent from the proceedings until that point, entered the chamber via a side door. There was a thump as it closed behind him and a considerable stir as the big Hudathan made his way up onto the stage.
“Good morning,” Doma-Sa said, as he turned to face the audience. “As most of you know I represent Hudatha, and I hereby invoke the provisions of paragraph 3, of page 372, of the Senate Rules and Procedures, which allow any senator who wishes to do so to make a fi?nal statement prior to a voice vote.”
The Hudathan’s unexpected arrival, plus the nature of his demand, triggered an uproar as Jakov’s supporters voiced their objections, and the vice president’s opponents attempted to shout them down. Because like Booly’s, Doma-Sa’s loyalties were well-known. And if the triad wanted an opportunity to speak, then it would clearly be in opposition to Jakov.
So the senator from Earth called for order, the masterat-arms thumped his ceremonial staff, and the chief clerk
