Birthright: Battle for the Confederation- Turmoil (21 page)

Loren only grumbled
something which Elco thought it best to not try to translate.    

Loren and Sirian had
waited just inside the vast glass lobby of the military terminal building until
Captains Montari and Rese landed, then all had waited together for a military
hovertransport to take them to meet Senator Dennix and the rest of the
Committee.

"I'm sorry
about Majestic," Elco began somberly to Captain Montari as they rode
along, him and Loren facing the other two captains in a 2x2 club seating
configuration in the surprisingly well appointed vehicle.

"Thank
you," Montari replied woodenly.  "At least Cobalt will be
salvageable," he added, looking for positive thoughts.

"After losing
my last ship," Captain Rese replied with a serious look that Loren knew
brokered no argument, "I would have gone out there in a vac suit and
pushed her home myself if I had to."  She inclined her head just a bit
towards Montari.  "I just wish they'd listened to your suggestions before
making their decision about Majestic.  She's a great ship, Captain, and fought
well."

Captain Montari
nodded and touched a finger to his brow in a Trin gesture of thanks and
respect.

"Oh joy,"
Loren said deadpan as the vehicle slowed to a halt.  "We're here."

They got out and
walked across a vast plaza made of beautiful polished stone.  Some sort of
marble, Loren guessed.  The color varied but was consistently light, with dark
veins like spreading lightning reaching across the stone's surface.  There were
fountains, gardens and a few statues and memorials to famous leaders and
occasions in the Confederation's past.  The day was bright and hot,
uncharacteristically so for this region of Delos.  It was sweltering and humid,
so much so that Loren instantly felt soggy.  His gun, belt, ribbons and
anything metallic was instantly slick as the humid air clung to the metal that
had seconds ago been in a cool and air conditioned environment. 
Just
another reason to not like the place
, Loren thought.  Finally, they reached
the block-wide steps into but one of the many entrances to a government complex
that took up hundreds of acres of the city's surface.

Loren resisted the
urge to check the charge in his SSK as they ascended the steps.

The officers walked
and walked, finally coming to a series of doors that announced themselves to be
the outer administrative offices of the Governing Committee membership.  There
were two Marines standing guard, and salutes were rendered all around as Loren
and company passed.

They were in a wide
hallway with a two story tall ceiling, what would probably be called a gallery
for those who liked to use fancy terms.  Loren didn't, so it was just a
hallway.  At the end was an administrative station where several people labored
at their terminals, plus another doorway that lead further into the
leadership's domain.

They approached,
Captain Montari in the lead, and presented themselves to the youngish human
female who was at the desk that adjoined the door.

"Captains
Montari, Rese, and Elco, plus Commander Stone, here to see Senator Dennix by
request," Montari addressed the woman, who looked at each in turn and then
nodded.

"IDs
please," was her curt reply.  They all retrieved their ID tags from the
breast pockets of their uniforms and handed them over, which she inserted in a
machine to verify.  As she handed them back, she beckoned to the Marines at the
archway through which they'd passed a minute before, and the soldier smartly
turned in place and walked over to them.  He retrieved a locking box from a
wall area filled with them; it reminded Loren of lockboxes in a bank.

The Marine set the
box on the countertop among them and flipped open the lid, then stood back a
respectful distance.

"Sidearms in
there, please," the woman stated, indicating the lockbox.

Captain Elco raised
his eyebrows.  "That's new," he commented neutrally.  "The
sidearms are part of the uniform.  Does that mean somebody doesn't trust
us?"

"Just policy,
Captain," she replied with the tone of somebody who'd heard the argument
before many times.

Elco shrugged, then
removed his SSK and placed it in the box and stepped aside to make room for the
others.  Loren was last, and he reluctantly placed his sidearm in the box as
well, carefully adjusting its position and making sure the priming charge was
off.

The Marine
reappeared to close the lid and lock it, then stepped over to the wall and slid
the box back in among its brethren.  There was a click, and Loren realized the
box was now locked into place.  He felt naked, a bit helpless without it.  His
SSK had saved his life and that of others more than once, and while he wasn't
afraid to fight with his hands, it was obviously much better to shoot an enemy
from a comfortable distance than let them get close enough to hit you.  He kept
glancing at the lockbox as they were ushered through the last doorway and
beyond.

"You're making
me nervous the way you keep staring back there," Elco commented as they
made it into the next hallway.  "Do you think you'll be needing your SSK
inside the most monitored area of the building?"  To prove his point, Elco
gestured towards the tiny, glossy black bumps on the wall every few arm-lengths
just above head level.  They were a combination of camera, audio pickup,
thermal, chemical, and biological receptor.  The surveillance would only get
more invasive as they continued.

Loren grumbled
something again, and Elco realized it was his XO's way of biting back phrases
that would be considered inappropriate by most civilized people.

After yet more
walking, they finally made it to the ornate wooden double doors of the Chairman
of the Governing Committee's office.  They once again entered a large reception
area, though this one bustled like a hive of insects.  People talked into data
pads or into thin air as they used their earbud comm devices.  Others were
shepherding boxes, people, and other materiel around.  There was an air of
urgency in the place, and Loren suddenly felt on edge.

They were greeted by
one of Senator Dennix's temporary staffers, there to fill in for Enric Shae
while he was in Priman space negotiating on the Senator's behalf.

"The Senator
will see you now," the middle aged Qualin male began, and turned to walk
to the inner office doors, not waiting to see if the officers were following
him.

The Senator's inner
office was huge, with expansive (but weapons-resistant) windows stretching
almost two stories on the outer wall.  His desk was immense and deeply
polished.  There were a series of long conference tables to one side of them on
the far wall by the windows as they walked to the Senator
’
s desk, and what looked like a
library and reading area on the other.  Dark woods and fabrics lent a somber,
refined air to the brightly lit room, and though Loren wasn't particularly fond
of the man himself, he did have to give a nod to his interior decorator.

A woman approached
and shook their hands, then indicated comfortable looking seats in front of the
Senator's desk.  She was tall and attractive, and had an air of confidence that
gave her authority.

Loren recognized her
as Tana Starr.  Back before the battle over Anderson, a Talaran captain friend
of Elco's had passed him information they'd gathered on Senator Dennix and
other odd Confederation activity, and Tana Starr's name had been on the list. 
Captain Elco had accessed the Confed database and found her information. 
Everything about her checked out, even her references and past financials, part
of a thorough background check performed on anyone working with the elected
high leadership.  Loren would still keep an eye on her.

Ms. Starr cleared
the area and sat down at one of the conference tables far away from them as the
senator himself walked through a side door and over to the assembled officers.

"Captains,"
Dennix began as he approached them.  All the officers stood up as he earnestly
shook each of their hands. "And Commander Stone," he added as he
shook Loren's.  Dennix looked like he'd aged faster since getting himself
placed on the Governing Committee.  His face had more lines in it and he seemed
to move slower, like he was weary all the time.

The senator quickly
placed himself behind his desk and sat in his chair, motioning for the others
to do the same.  He rolled himself forward until his arms could rest easily on
the desk's surface in front of him.  "So, I hear you've had quite a week
for yourselves."

Since none of them
was quite sure what sort of reply was expected, Captain Montari spoke for them,
being the one who had been in operational command.  "It was unique, to be
sure," he said simply.

Dennix nodded like
that was some sort of revelation as he used his thumbs to spin the rings on his
fingers.  "I've read the debriefs, to be sure," he continued. 
"And I'll cut to why you're here.  Confed needs some good news.  Oh, we've
managed to stalemate the Primans and force them into treaty talks, but
militarily it's always good to have soldiers to hold up in front of the
populace to show them what we've managed to accomplish as a people." 
Dennix paused for effect.  "While it usually takes some time to get awards
and such approved, I've asked the Navy's chief of staff to hurry along these
issuances."   He looked at Tana Starr, who had reappeared only a few paces
behind the group with a short stack of small, flat boxes.  She leaned in and
set them on the desk by Dennix, then once again left the immediate area.

"You're all
getting the Silver Order of Gallantry for your part in the Lemurian
operation," Dennix began proudly.  It was the second highest award a
soldier could receive, the highest one more often than not awarded posthumously;
part of Loren resented the fact that the senator had felt the need to
'encourage' the military to hand out an award he very obviously wanted to
bestow.  The senator got back up from his desk and carefully picked up the
stack of boxes.  They were thin, polished metal, and their surfaces were almost
mirror-like.  Dennix approached Captain Montari first and opened the box. 
Inside, in a black velvet cutout, was the medal.  It was a small circular disc
with the words 'Gallantry, Bravery, and Honor' bevel cut into it connected to a
short silver ribbon that attached to a tunic.

Dennix presented one
to each of the four officers present, but did not pin it on them.  Even he
realized that the honor was traditionally performed by their peers.  No doubt
they would pin them on each other later.

After they'd all sat
back down, the senator continued.

"Congratulations
on your victory against such overwhelming odds," he said.  "The
Lemurians, while not technically our allies, deserved our help.  And, not to
put too fine a point on it, the technology they gave us is greatly
appreciated."

Elco felt the need
to speak up on that.  "I don't mean to interrupt," he began,
"but General Horle made it clear that while they were handing the tech
over, they would be expecting to get back into the supply side much like their
other products we purchase or license once their industrial base can support it
again."

"Oh, of
course," Dennix replied smoothly.  "Unfortunately for them, I suppose
it might be some time before they are able to do so.  But yes, we will stand
ready to make the transition."

Dennix once again
fiddled with his rings, a nervous gesture, Loren now concluded.  He was
pondering something that made him twitchy.

"While I and
most others appreciate any chance to strike at the Primans, there is one small
detail that we must also address," he said quickly. "You may know
that while you were gone, my own closest advisor, Enric Shae, left on a
diplomatic mission to the Primans to make a treaty overture.  He's been gone a
week now and I expect his return shortly.  He was authorized to make certain
offers and concessions, but due to the Primans obvious mastery of electronic
emissions we haven't communicated yet.  Still, I have high hopes.  The problem
is that some of our elected officials," he made a theatrical gesture of
trying not to roll his eyes, but Loren wasn't buying it, "are concerned
that the Primans will take offense to your actions.  In their minds, you intervened
in a non Confederation matter, without authorization of the civilian government
of Lemuria, against the Primans even as we were negotiating a cease-fire."

"With
respect," Captain Rese began, "are these people serious?"  Loren
almost grinned.  Of the four people present, he would definitely put Maleen
Rese at the top of the list of people who would not be afraid to call out the
senator.  He put himself at a very close second place.

"I'm afraid
so," said Dennix apologetically.  "I don't see how it can amount to
anything, but there are enough people asking about it that the Committee must
acknowledge the matter.  Still, I wouldn't worry about it.  I will do
everything I can to smooth things over.  In the meantime, I've asked my aide
Ms. Starr here to fill you in on what details she can regarding the
issue."  He stood up and once again circled his desk to shake hands, then
took a few steps back.  "I must be going, but Ms. Starr can answer your
questions on my behalf.  Once again, thank you for your stellar service to the
Confederation."

Dennix smiled and
then turned, walking back out through the side door which he'd entered
through. 

"I should have
stayed on Avenger," Loren muttered.

"Senator Dennix
is an enthusiastic supporter of all of you," Ms. Starr began.  "He
very much wanted to give you those medals himself.  As for the matter of the
other senators, I'm told it shouldn't be much more than a formality."  She
beckoned them to rise from their seats.  "If you'd please come with me to
one of the conference tables," she continued, "someone will be in to
apprise you of the details."