Shelby 9 Snippet 2

Sitrep:  I received the book back from Rea yesterday, did the final edits and then sent it off to Goodlifeguide for formatting. :)

Chapter 2

 

Minox IV, Confederation Capital

 

President Scar Chin checked the latest poll numbers and sighed internally. The government, his government, was holding. But it wasn’t easy. His involvement with the debacle in 92 recently wasn’t helping much.

He didn’t see how he would change things, though the ending did haunt him a bit. He had tried everything, even involving the Admiralty to talk Captain Bren down. He had failed and instead watched a sanitized feed as the Federation forces that had stealthfully crept into position tore the rogue ships apart.

In a way, it was confirmation that his government had been right to sue for peace. It still wouldn’t bring back the Tauren sailors who had died following the orders of their foolish officers, however. Nor would it bring back the people that had died on their march to Federation space.

At least the Feds were not holding Bren’s actions against him and his people. Nor did they seem to be holding Admiral Lobo and General Sedu’s actions against him either. That was a relief.

He hadn’t anticipated how fast things would come apart. It was insane. In hindsight he should have known something would happen; after all, the military was a strategic think tank whose predominant concern was applying that knowledge to violence. They had to have been gaming out what would happen to their people once the Federation won and the Confederation turned over a new leaf.

Which had put their personnel squarely in the crosshairs of trials for “crimes against sentient life” and war crimes during the recent war.

He shook his head. They should have known better than to allow their personnel to commit such crimes but they hadn’t. His staff had heard the dark whispers of scapegoats but he hadn’t paid attention to it.

Well, now he was paying attention. Especially after the recent coup attempt and the unrest throughout the Confederation.

He tucked his hands behind his back as he looked out the window to the stars. The command station was beautiful; it had an incredible view of the planet and the space around them. The stars sometimes gleamed like jewels.

He had heard a story that Admiral Irons was on a similar station in Federation space. He was curious about that. He had put in a request to his staff to try to get a Federation media tour of the station. He’d love to spend an evening with his mate watching it and comparing notes. No doubt she would love to critique the decor.

He rolled his eyes at that thought and then returned to his desk. He sat down and inhaled and exhaled slowly before he picked up the tablet with the latest bill he was reviewing. His staff had written up a summary and position places with it. He would review them later. For the moment, he wanted to see the bill in raw form and see if he could pick out any potential tripping points.

One very good thing that had recently come out of the legislature was the law he'd signed that gave alien citizens full amnesty for all perceived crimes. It also gave them a five-year grace period before they had to pay taxes. They also had the right to incorporate their towns, cities, and villages and any planet, county, or district had to share their resources including tax income with the alien settlements. They couldn't begin taxing until the fifth year. If they did not share their credits, the federal government would freeze all fund distribution.

The last part hadn't been initially popular; conservatives had latched onto it as a potential key to break the bill's passage. But the idea of adding so many credits and voters from the aliens to their coffers was too much to overcome, and the inertia had seen the bill passed and sent to his desk. He'd made a show of signing it.

Now they just needed to encourage the aliens to stay. The bill to provide medical care and to repair their sterilizations was still hung up in the committees unfortunately. The conservatives were latching onto it as giving away too much.

He grunted as he tried to focus on the bill in front of him. One problem at a time, he thought.

After the read and notes, he had a working lunch and then another budget committee and then a scheduled talk with the Admiralty about the insurrection and dealing with Lobo.

“Joy,” he murmured to himself as his eyes began to scroll through the document carefully.

>>>~<<<

Admiral Byx listened to the reports. So far he had a detailed knowledge of what Sedu and Lobo had but no means to immediately stop them.

He had gotten confirmation from ONI that Lobo and Sedu had reached out with feelers for some time to seduce others to their cause.

He was a bit irritated with the personnel who had not reported it. But they didn’t seem to be backing the insurrectionists and professed that they hadn’t known it would go that far, so he had to give them the benefit of the doubt. Besides, if he relieved them, he’d have to have someone to fill in their positions while they were investigated, and the very act of that could trigger further insurrection with possible disastrous implications that they could ill afford.

No, he had to keep them close. He had, however, taken a few precautions to dispatch a few extra spies to keep an eye on them. He hated that, but he had no choice.

“Admiral Yen is a good old bull, loyal to the core. He has admitted that Lobo had been feeling him out to get him to join up or as he put it, let him pass.” The commander stated.

“Which would imply he was either looking to invade space north or escape to the east?” the admiral asked.

“Exactly our thoughts, sir. Which would imply Lobo is thinking of contingency plans and aware that his hold is tenacious at best.”

“The last thing we need is his fleet getting into Upsilon and going rogue there,” a voice rumbled.

“I highly doubt they’d join the pirates,” the commander stated stiffly.

“No, but they could turn pirate or try to turn south and pull another Bren. We don’t need that either,” Admiral Byx stated.

The room grew quiet over that statement.

None of them had seen actual combat. The Federation had released a sanitized view of the battle in 92. Admiral Byx felt his nostrils flare ever so briefly. Battle hell, it had been almost a one-sided massacre.

ONI was going over the feed to try to glean out what they could. Tactical was along for the ride, though they knew it would be a futile exercise. What it did show was their inferiority against the Federation. At least, it did to him and a few other bulls.

“Where are we with ground forces?”

“Most are tied down with police action to keep the peace. We also have trust issues,” an army major admitted.

The admiral nodded grimly. Not so long ago that army major had been a lieutenant. It went to show how badly the army had been shaken up by the insurrection.

“Admiral White Face is ready to move on the insurrectionist's southwest flank,” Commander Cy reported. “Based on what we know T-13 has gone over to the insurrection,” he warned.

The admiral grunted.

“A bit thin if you ask me. Intel is basing that on the assumption that since the governor is a cousin of Governor Hard Toss, he’d throw in with him,” Commodore Ree stated.

“Dell is like a brother to Hard Toss. He’d follow him anywhere,” Commander Cy warned.

Admiral Byx nodded. “We have to assume he has gone over to the other side. The same for the star systems that are not responding to us.”

“Do we send in a show of force? Get them to see the stupidity of their ways and force them to stand down?” Commander Cy asked.

“That is the ultimate objective, to keep loss of life to a minimum,” the admiral stated.

“None at all would be preferable,” Commodore Ree stated.

“Unfortunately, that time has passed,” Admiral Byx stated. The commodore blinked. “The insurrectionists have drawn first blood. Both with us here and with the Federation. When we send our ships and troops in, they have to be prepared to take any and all ships into custody. We’ll sort them out after the fact.”

“If they refuse to heave to and surrender?” the commodore asked.

“Then they are insurrectionists and will be dealt with accordingly,” Admiral Byx stated firmly. “Hopefully, a warning shot or a disabling strike will get them to see the futility of resistance. But if not …”

He shook his head.

The room grew quiet.

“On their own horns so be it I suppose,” the admiral said with a nod to the commander to continue the briefing.

>>>~<<<