Admin79

==Chapter 79- The Administrator==
The Admiral's Deck
Tharkad Shipyard
Tharkad System
Lyran Commonwealth
3150
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.....vacuum outside Airlock 22...
"I don't know what you said to them, Sharon." Trillian Steiner sounded pleased over the suit radio, and an 'bus' smallcraft hovered 22 meters out.
"I have no idea what you're referring to, Highness." Sharon said.
"Devlin Stone has requested a Summit meeting." Trillian said.
"Mmmh. Makes sense. Where? if it's on Terra, then he wants to paint you as the supplicant, seeking his blessings."
"Where are you getting that?"
"Grandmother's letters to her children." Sharon said, "She discusses politics and something she calls 'image' quite a lot, along with Victor, Katherine, Marthe Pryde and Devlin Stone...she discusses Stone at length. Terms him an 'able politician pretending to be something else'. There are whole chapters on her notes about how he and Victor formed the coalition and kept the factions directed."
"What do you suggest I do, Liz? it's a Summit with Devlin Stone."
"Find a neutral site within a jump of our territory. Somewhere not in the Republic and not in Lyran territory." Sharon said, "Barring that, invite him here and see what he does. While you're at it, invite Alaric and your cousin Julian. Along with reps from Liao, Kurita, and the Bears. Make it your summit, not his."
"Why?"
"Because we don't like the Liaos, and we don't like the Dracs." Sharon said, "The Wolves don't like Stone, Julian is probably sore at you for letting me recall Task Force Arminius but, Stone wants to push the sausage back into the case in terms of the various treaties-so he'll come, and he might see it as an opportunity, but he'll also see that you're not his supplicant, you'll have the advantage in the negotiation, and you'll have the advantage with the other powers-they won't feel you're making secret treaties against them."
"Isn't that what we're talking about though?" Trillian asked. 
"I don't know!" Sharon reached up and tapped her suit's rank tab, "See this? I don't actually make the policies. At most I can advise. Once you've made policy, my job is to make it happen. You don't have to take my advice, you don't have to keep me in the job, you do have to make the policy calls, and as long as I have this job. I have to make sure the policy you choose is carried out in the most intelligent and effective way I possibly can."
"Is this going to be another one of your lectures on professional standards, chain of command, and separation of powers??" Trillian's voice asked over the channel. 
"Maybe." Sharon acknowledged. "You don't need it but, it's become a habit. My apologies, Highness." 
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