Page 31 of Shadows Approach
“Piras. He’s a decent fellow. I’m thinking of having his clan here for a function so the legislature can become familiar with them. I’m especially interested in meeting his Matara.”
She mentioned the female member of Clan Piras to let Bryant know what she thought of his intimation of her being “chummy” with a Kalquorian.
How about three? You can keep barking up the wrong tree, though. My personal life is none of your business.
“Once Earth is up and running smoothly, we should discuss the removal of the space station. Or we could take it over if they prefer to leave it here. We won’t need alien interference forever.”
Stacy bristled at him referring to the Kalquorians’ assistance as interference. She caught Kuran watching her, however. He rolled his eyes and grinned.
She relaxed. “I don’t foresee us having the capability to fend off Tragooms any time soon, Ken. There’ve also been rumors of the Asicars becoming aggressive since Bi’is lost the ability to hold them in check. We’re very vulnerable at this stage.”
“Which brings up a subject I’ve been wanting to discuss. We need our own fleet and ground troops. Some have mentioned mandatory training and service for our young people. Perhaps a year or two when they turn eighteen?”
She stared at him in surprise. “Are you looking to start another war? Wasn’t the last one plenty? Didn’t enough people die?”
He paled, then reddened. “I’m not discussing an army of aggression. As you said, Tragooms could pose problems in the future, and we should be in charge of our defense.”
“How are we supposed to pay for it? The Galactic Council and its members have given us the bare essentials to start living here. They’ll take care of our defense for the foreseeable future, as they do for Plasius.”
“I find it concerning the Galactic Council’s assistance comes primarily from one race, the Kalquorians.”
“Kalquor is also the main protector for Joshada. I don’t hear the Joshadans complaining.”
“You prefer to rely on handouts? It’s time to chart our own destiny, Stacy.”
“We have more pressing business than blasters and warships. Basic living services and infrastructure, for example.” She shook her head. “The current General Assembly was appointed, as we were, to get the ball rolling. To start an economy and get Earth on a paying basis, so to speak. We’re here to iron out the wrinkles of a new world and little else. That’s what I hope we’ll concentrate on…living, instead of fighting. When it’s time for elections, the people can tell those they elect what direction they want us to go in.”
Ken gazed at her for a couple of beats. A slight smile pulled at his lips. “That sounds like a campaign talking point for re-election, Governor.”
“Is it any good? Maybe I’ll use it.”
He chuckled. “I understand what you’re saying. Just be aware, there are already those who are discussing taking off the training wheels. They’re looking at the long game, the big picture. Here and now is temporary. We can’t content ourselves by concentrating on the next six months and no further.”
“Now who’s campaigning?”
“Who says I’m running?”
“Mm-hmm.” She narrowed her eyes, but she smiled with him. “Even in the next year, I doubt we can put many resources toward defense systems. Like everything else, the military will have to be built from the ground up.”
“It’s all the more reason to begin figuring it out. We can at least be laying down the groundwork, looking at budgets, seeing who’s left to train soldiers and crews…we lost so many in the war.”
She had to admit, he had a point. There would be those, Earthtique and new thinkers alike, who would demand humans have the ability to defend themselves. “Fine. Start looking at the logistics. Let’s appoint a committee, log some reports, hash over what it’ll take to make our defense self-sufficient.”
“I know who to talk to.” He beamed. “I’m glad you’re on board.”
I’ll bet you are.Her spirit of camaraderie was jabbed by disquiet at his enthusiasm.
It was late in the afternoon, but Stacy still wondered if she’d handled Ken’s seeming lust for military might correctly. Kuran had assured her he thought it was perfectly reasonable for the lieutenant governor to be gathering information and resources toward a self-sustained armed force. Especially since the Nobek was confident it wouldn’t be feasible for at least a decade, probably much longer.
“Besides, it’ll give the Earthtiques happy thoughts to keep themselves occupied. If they concentrate on shiny ships and big guns, they might forget to stick their noses in the rest,” he’d opined.
“It’s distracting Ken from worrying over what I was up to on the space station,” she agreed. “But it has a side effect I hadn’t anticipated.”
“Which is?”
“I’m encouraged to show him there isn’t a damned thing he can do to stop me from hanging around Kalquorians. If I do and he says a word, I can tell him to mind his own business.”
“Is my clan reason enough? Tonight?” Kuran grinned at her from the other side of her desk. His naughty smile inspired a fantasy of her sweeping the surface of her workspace clean and inviting him to lie on it.