SotU2 Chpt 45

=Chapter 45=
==State of the Union - Book 2==
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Little Paris, Dieudonne
Silver Hawks Coalition, Free Worlds League
20th January, 3067
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The Silver Hawks Coalition had never had a formal gathering place previously, but with dozens of new provinces represented the need was there. A permanent capital was still in question but for now the problem had been handled by taking a leaf from House Davion’s book and buying out an entire resort.
Isis hadn’t believed Victor at first when he told her that his father’s ancestral home had been an Arthurian resort at one time, but research had borne it out. Lucien Davion, the legendary first President of the Federated Suns, had been one of the backers of the project (which had assumed vastly greater interstellar tourism than had actually resulted from the formation of interstellar realm) and when the consortium faced bankruptcy, the other partners had been bailed out by Lucien’s son Reynard.
Little Paris was nothing like as grandiose. The owners had hoped to appeal to young couples, with a romantic setting based on fanciful ideas of the fabled city of lights, but they’d also only really expected to draw tourists from the rest of Dieudonne. Nonetheless, the tides of war meant that they’d been having trouble staying in the black financially and purchasing the site had been a relative pittance. While Isis hadn’t checked the books personally, she’d been advised that it had cost almost as much to upgrade the security.
As a result, the Coalition’s leadership were gathered in a palace modeled on Versailles. By modern standards it was tiny and lacked basic amenities like a ‘Mech hangar but it wasn’t as if Isis felt that lack personally. Marshal Van Creveld still had a lance standing at the ready outside the building - a not entirely ceremonial role.
Rhys de Bruys called the meeting to order at a podium set where a ceremonial throne had been placed at one time. Diplomacy had required that the chair be removed - unless speaking the three heads of the coalition sat together on the window side of the hall, while the other members of the council were seated facing the podium. Isis would have enjoyed having the light from the windows behind her but it was simply reflected into her eyes by the mirrors on the wall across from her.
“Duchess Marik, I believe that this matter falls in your bailiwick.” the President of Danais concluded and stepped aside graciously.
Rising to her feet, Isis went up the low steps to the podium and turned to face the crowd. Good lord, when had they reached the point of being a crowd? It hadn’t been that long since they were a scant few men and women gathered in the Marshal’s garden.
“My lords, we have been presented an offer.” She looked around, seeing allies and obstacles. Those who would welcome what she had to present and those that would object. In the darkness of the night she was sometimes unclear which side she stood on the matter and therefore who she counted as her side. Which presumably left her in the middle ground that would sway until the matter was decided. She saw Alys among those seated. Another undecided - her cousin saw the logic but it was hard, so hard…
Isis tried to hide her nerves. “As advised before this meeting, Archon-Prince Peter Steiner-Davion has offered us full recognition as representing the interests of the Free Worlds League in regards to our worlds and provinces. While our representation on the Star League Council is not his to decree, this would include the mutual defense and trade treaties under the Star League and a guarantee of our borders.”
She saw Count Balatine stiffen, understandably so. Saiph had always been within a jump of the Federated Commonwealth’s stronghold on Nanking. But with Elgin and Hsien rejoining the massive state, the Triumvirate was now cut off from what little remained of the Chaos March.
“It also includes a partial resumption of payments towards the loans taken out by the Federated Commonwealth in 3051.” she continued. Those payments had been suspended when it was no longer clear which government should be receiving them - the three Captain-Generals would undoubtedly have claimed the income for their warchests. “Specifically twenty percent of the repayments will be directed to the Coalition. My understanding is that other parts of the Free Worlds League will similarly receive portions of the repayment.”
Isis could see a few heads move as that was considered. Greed was perhaps understandable, the economy of the entire League was struggling with the loss of trade. It was naive to think that an influx of cash would solve the matter but it was also very human. “However, this would be taking a strong stride towards sovereignty of the Coalition in it’s own right as a state, rather than as part of the Free Worlds League. I therefore propose that we should consider our alternative options before voting on the offer.”
“Are you suggesting we join the Regulans?” a querulous voice objected.
She turned her head slightly to the direction, as if she had seen the speaker. “Given Prince Kirc Cameron-Jones is stripping away provincial authority in favor of his own I doubt that such a measure would have great support, but we should at least put the matter to a vote. May I have a show of hands by those in favor of recognizing the prince as our Captain-General.”
Not a single hand rose.
“Against?”
If anyone abstained, Isis didn’t see them. The opposition to the Regulans should warm Corinne Marik’s heart. If that had passed then it wouldn’t have guaranteed a victory for Cameron-Jones but it would have almost certainly have left the Marik-Stewart faction crushed between the Silver Hawks and the Regulans.
“I don’t think that anyone this side of Regulus is surprised to find that the motion fails.” De Bruys muttered from behind Isis, who had to restrain a laugh.
She confirmed the outcome with a deadpan expression that left a few of the council laughing in her place. “To be fair then, let us consider the other candidates. Next is Corinne Marik, our nearest neighbor. We have, of course, had a difficult history so far with her faction but it has been established that this is likely not something she can be blamed for.” Isis saw Alys wince at that. “If anyone feels that we should throw our weight behind her, please raise your hands.”
A few hands actually did go up, invariably from representatives of democratic provinces whose representatives had insufficient influence to move their governments towards Corinne instead of the Coalition - or who might be reconsidering their choices now that it looked as if the conflict wasn’t going to resolve quickly.
Isis nodded. “Those against.” Once again, there was an overwhelming vote against. “Motion fails. And now we come to Thomas Halas, who did rule quite well for more than two decades.”
“It’s also his fault we’re in this situation.” Marshal van Creveld declared, clearly audible although she wasn’t at the podium. There was a rumble of agreement from several parts of the room.
“Nonetheless, a vote please. Those who feel it is time to intervene and on the side of Oriente…?”
Once again the idea of throwing support behind one of the would-be Captain-Generals failed to secure any but the most tenuous of support from the Silver Hawks Coalition. While the region wasn’t the largest in territory, the Hawks now included many wealthy worlds and a good fraction of the League’s military output. If they had a shipyard to support their small warship fleet they’d be effectively self-sufficient in that regard and Isis knew that Marshal van Creveld wanted to create just such a yard with the funds promised by Peter Steiner-Davion.
Alys rose to her feet. “Ministers, fellow representatives. While I know that he is not actively seeking the post, may I impose upon you to similarly vote on the question of asking Photon Brett-Marik to serve as our Captain-General, uniting our coalition with that centerd on Tamarind.”
“Out of order.” the Sirian representative snapped.
Isis raised her hand. “True, but not off topic.” The two statelets covered almost all the Lyran border, only excluding the Trinity Worlds. A tiny federation of worlds at the far edge that had decided for reasons that presumably made sense to them. To remain a distinct body and recall a regiment of mercenaries largely hailing from their worlds to act as their defenders. If the Rim Commonality was also swayed then such an alliance could very plausibly force Corinne Marik to the negotiating table. “All in favour of asking the Marshal of Tamarind to serve as Captain-General.”
Alys raised her hand and others went up around the room, almost twenty of them.
“And opposed, please.” Isis asked
More hands rose, somewhat more hesitant than before and some of those present chose to abstain. But with substantially more than half of those present opposed, that killed the notion. “Motion fails.” Isis declared firmly, glad that there was at least a strong consensus. She would have hated to have to be casting a deciding vote.
Rhys de Bruys rose and moved to flank Isis, joined a moment later by the Marshal. “We now come to the proposed treaty with the Federated Commonwealth. I remind you all.” the president informed the assembly soberly, “That in accepting this treaty we will be formally expressing our sovereignty, if on a conditional level. While we aren’t going as far as House Humphreys of Andurien, to approve this treaty will render the Coalition effectively independent of the rest of the League until a single Parliament and Captain-General emerge.”
“If they ever do.” Anne-Marie van Creveld added harshly.
Isis gripped the podium with both hands. “The vote please. A show of hands to accept the proposed treaty with the Federated Commonwealth.”
Hands began to rise even before she had finished speaking.
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