Chapter 14 - 2405: The Council
Nearly a hundred years ago, Kimberly Zen was on Space Force One, destination: Forsteria. They had made a quick pit stop at the Veritati star base to unload Screk delegates, but they had failed to notice the new entities who had joined them during the undocking procedures. They had crawled onto the ship from the station and entered through an excretion valve just prior to the ships jump along the hyperlane.
The last picture of Space Force One, leaving Veritati star base
Now, as the ship traveled at impossible speeds (although not relatively), the bridge was quiet, and most of the crew was asleep. They would not arrive for another few hours, and the 'night' crew was on. The door to the bridge opened.
"Coffee?" the XO said as he entered.
"No, I think we're all set, X," replied the CommO Tilder at his station.
"No, you ass, I mean I need a cup," the XO said annoyed. "Fargus, get me a cup." He sat down. "EngO says the valve is going to have to be replaced when we reach Forsteria."
"It's probably Maxak's massive deuces," said Tilder, and most of the bridge chuckled.
"Tha' would be accurathe," said Maxak. Baanthurians lack whatever it is that gives other species the ability to detect humor and sarcasm.
Fargus returned with the coffee a minute later and set it on the arm of the captain's chair, which was occupied by the XO. Fargus stood, gazing around the room for a moment.
He stood suspiciously long, to the point where the XO looked up from his first sip and said: "Any thing I can do for you, Fargus? Is your station in an uncharted part of this bridge?"
Fargus shook his head and walked to his station. The XO put down his coffee, watching Fargus sit down next to the booster controls. He knit his eyebrows. Fargus was a Ytrellan. And Ytrellans never---
"Cap'n," Maxak said. "Something I didn' nothice before. I ran a sweep of the ship afther we knew the valve was busthed."
"Yeah?" The XO said, taking his eyes off Fargus.
"Our weighth has gone up. I's saying we are 174 kilograms over expecthed."
The XO blinked. "Hyperlanes
can cause some weird fluctuations in weight. It's not unheard of."
"Yes, bu' this much," Maxak went on, "i's odd."
The XO looked back at Fargus, who was back to looking around at the bridge, taking it all in. The XO reached under the chair and fumbled around, finally finding the small emergency pistol. He waited until Fargus' eyes were on another part of the bridge, then, unlatching it, he brought it up onto the armrest. Tilder gave him a quizzical look, and might have been about to say something, but the XO shook his head to quiet him.
Shaking one's head for 'no' is not a universal action. Culture and evolution developed it in humans, but the same did not occur for other species. Ytrellans are one of those species that do not have head gestures, and they have never adapted to it. Fargus had never shaken his head in response to a question.
The XO stood up, holding the pistol slightly behind him. "Fargus, why don't you stand up for a moment."
Fargus' gaze turned toward the XO, and he got out of his chair. He didn't say anything, but his wide eyes stared ceaselessly. Tilder stood up, as did Maxak. In the corner, OpsO Yanden stood as well.
"Why don't you tell me what the hell you are," the XO said slowly, taking the pistol out from behind his back. "You aren't Fargus."
With lightning speed, Fargus produced two guns from seemingly nowhere, aiming one at the XO and the other at Tilder. Shots range out in the small bridge, and Fargus and the XO hit the floor, blood splattering the clean white walls. The shot meant for Tilder missed, showering the man in sparks from his now flaming work station. From the other side of the bridge, the secondary CommO Hackets shouted, before Yanden produced a gun as well, shooting him through the head. Tilder lunged for the XO's gun, now on the floor nearby, but a second shot from Yanden ended him.
"011, what damage?" said Yanden.
"Minimal, but this species' legs do not appear to work from a shot to the cordial capsule," said Fargus, crawling toward the captain's chair. "Comm the rest. Tell them to start. We must prepare the ship for stealth."
Throughout the rest of the ship, androids entered sleeping chambers, rec rooms, and lounges, killing the crew members found. The guards were dealt with from within, one infiltrated guard turning on the rest. Finally, only the President in her chambers was left. She did not wake when her doors slid open. She did not wake when the androids stopped in front of her bed. It was only the split second before the blade slit her throat that her eyes flew open.
The android The Number 9, second in charge, said: "prepare her consciousness for transfer." He handed the android next to him a small data drive.
In the present day, the disappearance of the President is still considered an accident.
"I would like to open by saying I appreciate your coming, councilors," President HistoryDude said. The Earth Orbital Space Port was closed two days before the special session of the Council, yet hundreds of media ships have been trying to gain access every day. Those councilors still loyal to the Federation are now seated in the Great Room, ready to listen to the President's proclamation.
The Great Room, prior to the meeting
"This Federation has never faced a challenge such as this. I believe it is for that reason that, unusual as the circumstances are, unprecedented actions much be considered." He paused and took a few seconds to glance at several different council members. "As much as I detest the autocratic feeling that it will cause, councilman Jacobweller has approached me to suggest executive power."
Several of the councilors in the seats look shocked. Jacobweller, seated at the front, stands up and addresses the assembly. "I move to give the President executive powers. We are in need of a strong and central leader. Fragility of government shall lead to the Federation's descent into anarchy."
Many of the assembled nod their heads in agreement, and a few even bang their fists on their armrests. Others huff and look unconvinced.
"Kimberly Zen has sided with the Rebels," the President announces. Jacobweller returns to his seat and crosses his legs. "She saw enormous support at one time, and it is---"
"Excuse me," said one of the councilwomen. "Zen? She's been dead for, what, 80 years? She would have to be over 150 years old at this point."
"We're unsure how she is still alive. We are working on it. The leading theory is that she now possesses an android body. There is no way to be certain just yet. But, as I was saying, it is impossible to say that she will not see that same support again. This rebellion must be defeated quickly, or it risks spilling into more free systems."
Governor Trajan of Culdax stands up in the back row. "Excuse me, President, but I will not support executive powers. Not for anyone. It is one step away from democracy and closer to authoritarianism. What will executive powers do to help, that the Federation cannot do without?"
"I have no desire to keep executive powers after the rebellion is ended," the President says, "-and it will be ended, mark my words. But this is the only way. Our military cannot be strong with a divided government. The Rebels garner an estimated force of nearly a hundred ships. That is easily enough to challenge one of our fleets or invade and destroy a free, loyal planet, and they are sure to acquire more firepower. With enough coercion and willpower, they could bring more systems to their vulgar cause and break this Federation in two. I swear to all present that this executive power, given to one so reluctant for it, will not last past the end of this rebellion. I will unite the Federation and return it fully to the democracy it is meant to be. Enough of this," he turns to the secretary. "Put it to the vote."
The small monitors on each seat's left arm light up, giving each councilor a voice. The exact numbers for yea, nay, and abstain are never shown, but the results are displayed. Yea.