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“In, ser, in, quickly.” Catlin said briskly, and got them in; the rest of them found room; and the lift dropped down again, a far reach to the tu
Doors opened. More security met them, more of Ser Corain’s excited family, observing enough of the security line to let them exit the lift before they closed around him. Councillors were right behind–Harad, Tien, deFranco, Harogo and Chavez, all there to see with their own eyes.
“Medical,” Ari said, and Florian called them. Ya
“Ya
“No damned way,” Ya
“Special quorum,” Harad said, and came and put a light hand on Ya
“Ari’s already taken,” Ya
“Is he here?” Harad asked.
Ari said, “Alpha Wing. I can get him.”
“I’m notfalling over,” Ya
“Second,” deFranco said.
“Moved and seconded to seat Ariane Emory for Information,” Harad said. “Are we recording this?”
“We have a record going,” Chavez said.
“Voice vote.” Harad said, and the Councillors called it out, over the confused buzz of the curious and the office workers from Admin, who’d come to see the commotion. “Science, aye.” “Industry, aye.” “Finance, aye.” “Transportation, aye.” “Trade, aye.” “Internal affairs, aye.” “Citizens, aye.” That, a hoarse voice from Mikhail Corain. And lastly, deep and strong, “State, aye. The Council of the Nine welcomes the new Councillor for Information and invites her, officially if figuratively, to take her seat. So ordered, this date, the eighth of September, the year 2424.”
“Move to seat Vladislaw Khalid, Proxy Councillor for Defense,” de‑Franco said.
“Second,” Ya
“Industry, nay.” “Finance, nay.” “Transportation, nay.” “Trade, nay.” “Internal affairs, nay.”
There was a brief pause. A gap. “Information, nay,” Ari said, and immediately after, “Citizens, nay” from Mikhail Corain, and then Harad, “State votes nay. The motion fails. Council will not seat the candidate, and calls on Defense to name a new Proxy. In the absence and presumed death of the Councillor for Defense, the Council calls on the Secretary for the Bureau of Defense to assume the office of Proxy until such time as a duly elected Councillor for Defense may register a Proxy for the consideration of the Council of the Nine. So ordered, this date, the eighth of September, the year 2424. In absence of the appointed Proxy for the Bureau of Defense, the chair of the Council of the Nine declares the Defense seat vacant pending elections in that Bureau, and calls for nominations to be placed before the electorate, none dissenting? So ordered, this date, the eighth of September, the year 2424. The chair moves for the declaration of martial law.”
“Second,” Harogo said. “Move for declaration of unanimity, all seated members being present.”
“Second,” deFranco said.
“Any opposed?” Harad asked, and read the date. Then, “Chair moves to appoint Marine General Klaus Awei as provisional commander of all Union armed forces, to restore order and return control to civil authorities within forty‑eight hours.”
“Second,” deFranco said, and Ya
The medics that had come up to the area and stopped were equally fast, sliding a gurney into the area. Ya
“Are we done, ser?” she asked Harad.
“Move to adjourn,” Harad said.
“Move to adjourn,” she said.
“Second,” deFranco said.
“None opposing, we stand adjourned,” Harad said, and meanwhile Tien had taken hold of Mikhail Corain’s arm. Tien said, “We’d better get him down there, too.”
Frank had already gone, staying with Ya
“We need urgently to transmit the file,” Harad said. “Transmission to secure storage, Hall of the Nine, transmit to the media, replication far and fast: official transmission, all Bureau offices, city and district offices, station offices, ships in space…” It was official litany, the places that record had to go. She didn’t have it memorized, but she said, “Ops can do that, ser. If you go with Catlin, she’ll assist.”
“Yes, sera,” Catlin said, and went off with the Council Chairman, through a throng of the curious and the concerned. Florian stayed right by Ari’s side.
BOOK THREE Section 6 Chapter ix
SEPT 8, 2424
1715H
Pocket com went off. Jordan, Justin thought; but it wasn’t.
“Justin?”Ari said. “Just so you know, Ya
“That’s great news,” he said. He was glad. He was very glad, and he thumbed the com over to speaker so Grant could hear. It immediately got Mark and Gerry’s attention, and Maddy Strassen’s, with, “Just so you know, too, you’re Proxy Councillor for Science.”
“You’re not serious.” Stupid thing to say to Ari, in the depths of a storm tu
“Entirely serious,”she said, “and Ya
“Why me?” he asked. It was all good news–if it didn’t get another missile aimed at them. “why not you?”
“Because I’m Councillor for Information,”she said. “Ya
“Fine,” he said. “We’re all fine.”
“Good,”she said. “Good. Take care. Florian says keep your heads down. All of you.”
“Proxy Councillor,” Grant said in amazement.
“It gives me another reason to wish Ya