Chapter 21

"Well Jeff, it sure has been a busy week in politics here in New Leige, this week."

"It certainly has, Matt. My sources tell me that the Navy is very divided about the Middletown — Tidsworth bill, and even those who accept that Congress is the body to decide policy are not that pleased with that policy."

"Jeff, a little bird whispered in my ear that Congressman Middleton did not really want his bill to pass, or at least not with more than seventy percent majority. That same little bird tells me that the Congressman himself does not believe that the Geneva Convention was breached. He just wanted to apply the blowtorch to President Forde and the cabinet"

"Yes Matt. I heard the same thing but after that speech by Ambassador Wangfor, Congress got carried away by the emotion of the terrible defeat we suffered and were looking for some way to save face. To be able to blame an unspeakable belligerent for this disastrous defeat seems to make it somewhat more acceptable."

"Then who would have expected The Senate to act so fast. They usually nit pick a bill to death strictly on principle. But that moving speech from Senator Cauthold reminding the Senate of their duty to those brave spacers who were struck down without warning and the tragedy of those hundreds of unarmed civilians murdered in their beds seemed to motivate them. Of course Jeff, that speech might have been an attempt to strangle moves in his State to not nominate him at the forthcoming election; his record in the Chamber has not been at all spectacular, in fact, the claim is that he is just warming a seat and not doing anything to earn it."

"That is a matter for his electorate, Matt, but it did have the effect of raising the patriotic fervour of the Chamber and the bill passed unanimously on the voices. You might have noticed that the official reports of the civilian casualties are no longer being made public. Just dried up as if they never were."

"That's true but Forde's enemies certainly didn't wait to have the bill on her desk, Jeff. Middleton and Tidsworth took it there personally the next morning, they accompanied the House Speaker when she presented the Bill in company with the Vice President in his role of Leader of the Senate."

"She certainly knew that there was not a chance of her not being impeached if she did not sign that bill into law. Our constitution is very clear on that point, Matt. The President has to sign into law any bill which passes both houses with a clear majority of those present voting of seventy percent; and that bill went through with only one vote against and that was Congressman Sherman who was a naval officer until he was invalided out because of wounds received at Third Yarragh."

"There will be a delay now though Jeff, Vice President Brooken has to be sworn in and he wants that to be performed before the combined Houses. He was on this station yesterday saying his first action will be the signing of the Middleton — Tidsworth bill there at the Speaker's desk because the people have spoken."

"Well, he has got another task in front of him what with the breaking news this morning, Matt. He will have to appoint a new Secretary for the Navy and that person will have to find someone to take the job of Chief of Naval Operations. The only officer in the CNO's office this morning was a Commander returning from injuries and by midday he had reported sick and departed for his home planet."

"Speaking of departing, Jeff; Ambassador Wangfor has finally got his ship back to Sol to report to the United Solarian Worlds. He departs on the passenger freighter "Bethune", surprisingly headed for Settlement in Mountserrat first."

"There is certainly an irony there, Matt; that is a Bollard Line ship originally based in Grenoble but now a neutral register in Panaman in Midamcom on Sol and he is a neutral diplomat. I wonder how he will present our "No Quarter Act" to the USW Senate. We'll be back, after the break."

"Now that we've got it, what do we do with it?" asked Sir Henry of his listeners. The full board of GmBH had been urgently assembled to discuss, not so much the implications, but the dissemination thereof.

"It will be about fourteen days before "Bethune" arrives Settlement" McCock calculated, "She will turn around in a day, probably with the Bollard House personnel bound for Sol aboard as well; and then eight to ten to Sol. Those people know I was in TQO, that I am virtual owner of Bollard and that I ordered relocation of Bollard. They won't be conversing with the Ambassador but they certainly will with his minions. There will be wives and children and we couldn't keep them all quiet. And I'm not going to hold back the relocation because I don't know if I can get them off Mountserrat later.