April 3rd, 2175
15:49
Arcturus-System
Arcturus Station
"... and now, the floor is open to questions concerning the government's budget for the coming six months," said the speaker behind the podium in the middle of the parliament's chamber, and not even before he managed to finish, the first questions were shouted at him, forcing him to call for order multiple times before a semblance of calm settle down over the people.
In my case, I let out a sigh before lowering the volume of the screen. It was still loud enough to hear something in the background, but it wasn't so loud that one couldn't talk without raising one's voice to match it.
"Seems like the military budget is going to be increased for the foreseeable future. That should make you happy, right, Rear Admiral?" I asked, turning to the person sitting at the table wearing a spotless military uniform and showing a posture that any ruler would envy.
"And a large part of the budget is going to end up in your pockets, Mr. Denebren," replied Rear-Admiral Vortesque. "That should make you quite happy, doesn't it?"
"At least you will get some new shiny ships and equipment out of it. If you have been reading the briefs, then you will know that the new ones will have an increase of around three percent in their operational capability. And I am talking about operational capability, not combat."
"Sounds good. But did you increase their prices, too?"
"Not that much, only to account for the labor that went into improving their tech. Besides, most of the money is going back to the Alliance in the form of taxes anyway, so don't complain too much about it," I said, a slight smirk on my face.
"As much as I like to see you banter with each other," interjected Lola Saygeru, the Alliance's president's aide, "we still have more to discuss than that. For example, the reason why the military budget had to be increased in the first place. The president wants your input on the think-tank's plan to further increase our border security."
"You make a good point, Ms. Saygeru," agreed Andrew, without looking up from his datapad, but I knew that he paid enough attention to everything that happened inside this room to not miss even the minute details. "While the Batarian ambassador has their next meeting with the Council in two days, where they will probably present them with the official notice of the Batarian's withdrawal from the Citadel, most of their assets have already vacated the station and Citadel territory generally."
"As far as Anita knows, their embassy is already empty. Not a single soul or the smallest data chip remains inside their old building," I said.
"We are also getting new information from the market. The Batarians are buying up resources that can be used for shipbuilding by the megatons. They are trying to get as much as possible before their import costs explode with their exit from the Citadel," said Susanne Helder, the current economic advisor of the Alliance's president. "We are tracking their Element-Zero purchases, too. And in the last month, we have noted an increase of over 300%. The Batarians are probably using a good amount of their liquid assets."
"They are," added Andrew, "and I am getting reports that they are contacting more and more merchants within the Terminus Systems to open up new routes to get materials cheaper than if they continued to deal with the Citadel. The trades will be harder to track, too."
"It shouldn't matter if we track how much arrives at their shipyards. You have eyes on them, right?" asked Rear-Admiral Vortesque.
"Yes and no," replied Andrew, his face showing no overt expression, but I could see a hint of frustration in his eyes when he looked up from his datapad. "The Batarians are slowly dismantling the shipyards we know about and shipping the parts to different locations. It seems like they are building new ones, and right now, we don't know where. I don't know how long it will take to find them, especially since they are stepping up their security and anti-intelligence efforts."
"Shouldn't that just be a matter of one of our stealth ships following one of their transporters to their destination?" Saygeru asked.
"As much as we wanted to, we can't follow all their transports, and we don't know how many of them are traveling to dummy destinations before returning. Furthermore, it seems like our clean-up on Torfan wasn't as thorough as we thought, and some sensor data found its way into their hands. In the end, it doesn't matter how, but we can't use them excessively. Otherwise, they will start to see patterns and know what to look for."
"And that will inevitably lead to them developing countermeasures. Yet, if they don't know what to look for, they can't develop anything," I finished for Andrew. "In response, we would, of course, continue to improve our designs. The usual cycle of advancement in the field of military technology."
"Yet, that would take time. Time we can't waste. You can't even develop the stealth systems further by finding your own countermeasure since you can't predict how the Batarians or others would detect the stealth vessels," mused Vortesque.
"Correct," I agreed with a nod and held back a wince. Takahashi once gave me a whole lecture about that problem when I asked why that couldn't be done, and his lectures took a while to finish. Furthermore, he could get a bit insulted when you interrupted him early.
"It seems like we have to trust in Mr. Clark's ability to pierce through the Batarian's security and secrecy. It may take some time, but I am sure that it will be done," said Saygeru, getting a nod in reply from the aforementioned man. "Very well, I will inform the president later on. Mr. Denebren, are you informed of the current goings-on in the political landscape on the Citadel?"
"As I said, I am getting regular updates from Anita. In general, our position as anti-slavery is well-received, and the population favors us for this stance. The Council is acting publicly as if they are giving us their favor for taking that stance, too, but behind the scenes, they are trying to put us into a position where we would be dependent on their help to keep protecting us from the threat beyond our borders.
Yet, it seems like their political maneuvering has put a third of the Council into a difficult position. The Turian councilor is torn between keeping us in check with his two fellow councilors and his desire to keep the Citadel and all its members safe, and not putting them into a dangerous situation deliberately, despite further benefits down the road. This position is made even more difficult since the upper echelons of the Turian Hierarchy are similarly torn."
"True," agreed Saygeru. "The president's office saw a shift in the diplomatic channels after the Torfan Operation. A shift that is both positive and negative. Some who barely spoke to us are now open for discussion, while others are slowly distancing themselves from the Alliance. I am sure the pattern repeats itself inside the economic circles?"
"It does," said Helder. "Better deals on the one hand, worse on the other. The prices for materials have increased a bit. Yet, it is nothing we should be concerned about. When the Batarians are gone as a purchaser, the prices should go lower than they were before. The merchants know that they can make quick money right now, and they are hiking their prices up to make the most of the situation."
"I agree with Mrs. Helder. My economic team is saying the same. Thankfully, Ad Astra has a clause in their trade agreements that guarantees us the promised materials for the duration of the agreements and protects us from a price spike during that time. So it shouldn't have any effect on our operations even with the Batarians buying everything up."
"So, your recommendation is to do nothing?" asked Saygeru, probably needing our confirmation to tell the president without any hesitation. Helder and I shared a look between us before giving Saygeru a nod, with Helder adding: "Yes, that is our recommendation. The situation will sort itself out if given enough time."
"Very well, I will tell your recommendation to the president, and the Alliance will probably adopt a stance of wait and see." Saygeru looked around the table for a moment, and for a second her eyes went over to the screen displaying the ongoing debate in the parliament chamber, before saying: "It seems like you, Mr. Denebren, are already getting updated by Mrs. Goyle. That is good, that means you will be ready to take over her position in three months."
I put on my best politician smile that said nothing at all and replied: "Ms. Saygeru, please, the outcome of the vote is far from certain. The subject hasn't even been brought to the parliament, no other candidates have had the chance to throw their hat into the ring, and Anita hasn't even officially announced her retirement. So, we shouldn't talk about it like it is already a done deal."
My reply got amused looks and snorts from everyone at the table, with Andrew even rolling his eyes before saying: "Looks like you brushed up on your politician speech already. Seemingly modest, placating every party, even those not present, and deflecting from giving a real answer. You will do great."
"Mr. Denebren," said Vortesque, "I have been part of the military my whole life. I grew up with my parents on military bases and enlisted the moment I turned eighteen. The military is all I know, and I don't want that to change. After all, it is the life I know, and it is an orderly and regulated one that makes sense to me. Yet, even I know that your election to become the next ambassador has been fixed the moment you announced your interest."
"I think the public would immensely lose trust in the Alliance if anyone else were elected. Accusations of bribery would echo through the halls of power without end," added Helder. She put a lock of her golden-blond hair that was dangling in her face behind her ear before continuing: "The only one who is going to run against you is Anita's understudy, Udina. And I think, even he knows that he has no chance to win, despite that ego of his. He simply wants the publicity and to keep his job as understudy."
"Mrs. Helder is correct," confirmed Saygeru. "Udina will be running against you and will lose. Yet, the presidential office would like you to keep him in your retinue as an understudy. Besides his obvious experience with the Citadel's political landscape and his personal contacts on the station, he is part of Terra Firma. Despite the obvious political differences between us and them, they are the second most active and popular party within the Alliance. Keeping him close to the levers of power shows our commitment to work together for a brighter future despite our differences."
"Is that the president's order?" I asked.
"If you want it formulated as one," said Saygeru, "then yes. Yes, it is."
"Fine," I sighed. I never liked Udina. Neither in the game nor when I met him in the times when I met with Anita.
He had a very forceful personality and a slight temper that he played up even more when in the presence of those who didn't know him to get them to underestimate him. Yet, despite my misgivings about the man, I couldn't deny that Donnel Udina was effective in his job. The game did a very poor job of displaying his competence, and in it, he got the image of a rabble-rouser who only knew how to agitate people and to brownnose. In real life, he knew how to tie people's thoughts into knots and how to negotiate a deal that was beneficial for the Alliance without the other party realizing it, before the ink under the contract was dry and the document filed with the appropriate authorities, making backing out of them a thing of impossibility.
In other words, he would be the perfect understudy for me. He may be ambitious, always keeping an eye on my position, and he had a personality I didn't like very much, but I would work with him. After all, even the president saw the benefits of Udina staying in that position.
Besides, the election period for the next Alliance president wasn't even a year away, and a little over a year into my new position, the Alliance would have a new head. Terra Firma was the only political party besides the one currently standing at the top that had any chance of becoming part of the government. It wouldn't surprise me if they provided the VP in an attempt to show cooperation between different camps.
Furthermore, it would be a sign to the Council that, despite humanity's love for quarreling, we could close ranks against outsiders when needed.
Perhaps, I should mention it when I was going to meet the political leaders of each faction after I took the ambassador position. After all, I had already planned to meet them anyway to show myself as open to suggestions from every side, trying to represent humanity as a whole and being as neutral as I could be concerning internal disputes.
That was how Anita had kept her position for all these years since our first contact with the Citadel.
She kept everyone at home happy by listening to them and trying to come up with compromises where everyone got the feeling that while it wasn't perfect, it was good enough to say they got what they actually wanted, or at least close enough.
"Anyway," I said, "while some people may think that I already have the position, it is still Anita sitting in that chair for now, and my power is restricted in that direction. The most I can do right now is to keep myself informed. I have enough to do with getting my affairs in order and finding trustworthy people to lead Ad Astra in my stead during my stint as the ambassador."
"The background checks you wanted are almost finished," Andrew mentioned. "They should be on your desk in a couple of days."
"Thanks. That should make everything go smoother and faster."
"It is no problem. It would be far more problematic if one of the Alliance's main suppliers couldn't work smoothly, and without people we couldn't trust in positions of power."
I smiled and nodded.
Despite my friendship with Andrew and the trust I had in his integrity, I would still make sure to double-check everything he sent me. Furthermore, I would give the people I selected the tools and means to fire back if anything happened, and some bureaucrat got their hands on those files and tried to blackmail them or tried to pull strings from the background.
I believed in the idea of the Alliance and would support it until the end, but Ad Astra was mine. The company was the foundation of my power and influence, my tool to create a better future for the galaxy. I wasn't about to let the company become anyone's puppet, even if I wouldn't officially sit at the helm anymore, and couldn't take more care of it with the probably crushing timetable I would have as the ambassador.
Trust, but verify, and prepare for the eventualities.
That was something Andrew had taught me, and I knew he expected me to do it. Otherwise, he would probably leave an unpleasant surprise for me to find, which wouldn't be actually damaging, but would remind me to stay on my toes.
"Anyway," started Vortesque, preparing to change the subject, "can we please turn our attention to the border situation? While it is good that the parliament decided to increase the military's spending, I would like to know how quickly we can expect these changes to happen. There are four plans on how and what we can do to increase our border security, depending on how quickly we are getting the money."
When Vortesque finished, I was just hoping that he wouldn't explain every single plan right now.
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May 10th, 2175
10:13
Arcturus-System
Arcturus Station
I sat among the members of the parliament, listening to Udina's speech. He was making some good points, presenting himself very well before everyone, but there was something off about how his eyes didn't quite fit his expression. It was a subtle thing, almost impossible to notice, yet quite obvious when someone was looking for it.
The fire that was present in his voice and mimic was missing from them. Instead, they looked resigned. Like someone who knew that what he was doing was pointless, but still decided to give his all to present everyone else with a good show.
Anita had put in her letter of resignation the day after the Batarians officially left the Citadel and its community, and the selection process to choose the new ambassador had started almost immediately after.
I put my name forward a few hours after the announcement and, as I had expected, Udina had put his forward, too. In fact, he was the only other candidate for the position, and for the last two weeks, he had made a compelling case why he should get the position. Every one of his speeches hit the right tones, he met with multiple people discussing his policy if he were to be elected, and he had even given interviews that went well enough.
Had his opponent been anyone other than me, I was sure he would have gotten the position, no questions asked.
Yet, from the very beginning, Udina knew that all his efforts were useless. A thousand people listened to his speech, ten thousand listened to mine. He went to meet with influential parliament members? Those and others came to me.
The outcome, like Saygeru and everyone else in the meeting a month ago had predicted, was clear from the very beginning.
Yet, despite that, Udian gave his best, and I couldn't help but respect him for it.
So, when he finished his speech before the parliament, I was one of the first to clap, and when our eyes met, I gave him a respectful nod, giving him the acknowledgment he deserved for his efforts. He returned the nod, and the look in his eyes, while a tad defeated, didn't seem to me to be empty, but full of a hidden fire. A fire that he would hopefully use in his future position as my understudy.
When Udina left the podium, I got the signal to make my way up and start with my own speech.
The discussions and the scattered claps from some people abruptly stopped the moment my feet hit the platform where the podium stood.
I felt how every pair of eyes inside the parliament chamber focused on me, and how my back subconsciously straightened.
Slowly, polite applause began, nothing overwhelming or cheers being screamed, like it had during some of the rallies I had participated in, but an acknowledgment nonetheless.
When I arrived behind the podium and my hand went up, one of the universal signs that someone was asking for silence, the polite applause stopped, and I took a moment to look around the chamber.
It had been years since the last time I stood here.
Back then, I was a member of the government, and now, I was becoming one again.
"Thank you all for this warm welcome," I began warmly, a genuine smile across my face. "It has been some time since I stood here, having the attention of such an august body. The last time was when I held my farewell address after years in the position as one of the Alliance's ministers. Back then, we had just joined the Citadel, and I did my best to help the Alliance integrate into this new galactic community. After some time, we thought we had done everything we could and that it was time to take a step back and leave the reins of the Alliance in new and just as capable hands."
I made a pause after my sentence, giving myself time to let my eyes wander over the members of the parliament to let them have the impression it was them I directed my words to. Some even put out their chests in pride or nodded along with my words as if the Alliance's accomplishments had been their achievements, and I wanted to roll my eyes at their behavior.
Instead, I took another breath and continued.
"And those hands proved their mettle, growing the Alliance and advancing our efforts to fit in this new galaxy flawlessly. Showing their abilities in the good and the bad times we went through as a species. And now? Now we say farewell to one of our best. Mrs. Anita Goyle, our first ambassador to the Citadel."
A few surprised discussions started among the members of parliament. What had started with the usual pattern of any political speech had now turned to a farewell speech for Anita. It was a turn nobody had expected, and something that would hopefully stay in their minds.
"I was there when Anita Goyle took the position as the Alliance's first, and until now only, ambassador to the Citadel. Yet, I already knew her from before when the work she did wasn't as publicised and prestigious as the work she did as the ambassador, but just as important. Without Ambassador Goyle's work, the Alliance wouldn't be the powerful entity it is today. Without her, some of us wouldn't even be in this chamber. She worked tirelessly to connect each of our colonies with each other, laying the groundwork for our parliament. Ambassador Goyle created an environment long before her position on the Citadel where every member could state their grievances and problems and feel heard, and not ignored among the dozens of voices. She continued her work on the Citadel, and I can't think of anyone who would have been better than her to bring us into the galactic community."
I took a momentary pause to let the cheers and applause that started after I finished my sentence settle down, before I raised my voice and exclaimed: "And I want to continue her work!"
My voice echoed through the hall over the few still remaining clapping hands. It was a powerful message. I had reminded the members of parliament that I had been a supporter of the Alliance since its inception, helping to grow the government into what it is today, long before most of them even held a position in politics.
"The Alliance is a part of me! I did the best I could during those beginning years after the Mars Discovery. I was there in the aftermath of the First-Contact-War and our subsequent contact with the Citadel, building the roots of our tradenetwork with the other species inhabiting this galaxy.
And while I know that some people call my distancing from governmental duties a betrayal," I said, narrowing my eyes for a moment, fixating my eyes on a handful of people in the audience who had said something to that effect, making them shift uneasily in their seats, "I will show them what it means to sacrifice themself for a cause. If you give me your trust in this upcoming vote, I will dedicate myself fully to the Alliance. I will do my best to smooth the way for the Alliance to become a member of the Council. A seat, I imagine, we will earn sooner than any other species in the galaxy. We are ambitious, intelligent, tenacious, and, most importantly, we don't know when to give up. And I, as ambassador, will make sure that the galaxy knows this fact!
I will represent humanity's best qualities, and I will make sure that nobody will ever take advantage of us without us taking our own pound of flesh from them.
So, please, in this upcoming election, vote for me. I will neither disappoint you nor anyone else."
After finishing my speech, applause once again echoed through the chamber. Smiling one last time and lowering my head for a slight bow, I left the podium and went over to the back exit of the chamber. There would be some time before the actual vote, and the tallying process would take a few minutes more, so I had the time to sit down and drink a coffee before Udina and I had to return to the chamber again.
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"And with the overwhelming number of 78% of all votes, we welcome our new ambassador to the Citadel.
Mr. Oscar Denebren!"