Accession

© 2020 by Walter Reimer



The Senator from Renewal was an older fur, and the elk had been asked to remain at his post after the Kashlani had taken the system he represented. He had also been asked to put the motion forward when called upon by the Chairman of the Presidium when the Confederate Legislature met in extraordinary session.

There was polite applause as Senator Ui’Laoghaire made his way to the lectern and looked out at his fellow legislators. There was a significant gap in attendance; the entire Colonial Legislature were absent, as were several dozen Senators who had been removed from office due to arrest or scandal.

Or death, whether by suicide or mischance.

“Nobles,” and he nodded toward the Presidium and Senate, “my fellow representatives, and Your Highness,” and his nod at Felix al-Sakai was returned by the younger leopard, “I come before you today to plead for the redemption of my home world, and the liberation of those systems that have fallen to alien military aggression. In order to achieve our goal of retaking our worlds from the Kashlani, we need new leadership.

“Earlier today the Supreme Presidium passed a vote of no confidence in the President, and she has been removed from her office.” He paused as those not in the know muttered. While they had known she had lost all or most of her influence, her removal so quickly was a surprise. They quieted as Ui’Laoghaire continued, “New leadership is required, and since it must be primarily a military effort to drive back the Empire, the Presidium has put forth the following motion for a vote.

“The motion is that His Highness, the Admiral-General and Count of Maratha, become Lord Protector, and that the government and the military become unified under his command. Terra must speak with one voice, and that voice must be his.” Scattered applause rose as he stepped back and the Presidium’s Chairman stepped forward. Felix, in his formal uniform, looked uncomfortable.

“The motion is made; do I hear a second?” the skunk femme asked. Two Deputies and one Senator rose, and she said, “The motion being seconded, all those in favor or opposed will now vote.”

Unlike other votes, this didn’t take very long. The Presidium was unanimous, while there were No votes in the ranks of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Still, the motion carried with large majorities in the two lower chambers, and the Chairman escorted Felix forward.

The leopard looked a trifle nervous and embarrassed, his tail switching back and forth as the applause subsided. “Nobles, Senators and Deputies,” he said in a slightly diffident tone, “I will not lie to you when I say that I do not want this job, yet having it forced upon me I will strain every fiber of my being to doing the best job I can, and bring this conflict to a successful resolution. Steps will be taken to put the economy on a more rational basis to supply our armed forces, as well as unify our people toward the goal of regaining the planets and systems we have lost.

“I am not Markus the Cruel,” he declared. “I will do my best, with your guidance, to maintain the Confederacy’s freedoms and the Statement of Rights, but we cannot allow ourselves to lose sight of our ultimate goal – to regain all of the Terran Sphere,” and he paused as the applause resumed, and this time it was general. He raised a paw, and when the noise had died down he said, “Not merely those systems that have fallen beneath alien claws, but those Terrans who have betrayed us.

“Those are my aims as Lord Protector. Thank you,” and the members all cheered as the heads of the various political parties came forward to thank and congratulate him.


***


On Maratha, Sarafina al-Sakai chuckled at the holographic recording of her son being named Lord Protector. It would have been far riskier to proclaim him Emperor at the outset, and she had to admit that her son’s strategy of taking it one step at a time had been the correct one.

But to take that last step, and secure a throne for himself and his children? That required more than mere support from furs that were beholden to him, by one means or another.

That last step required a victory.

The leopardess sipped at a glass of tea with an added spoonful of sweet mint preserves, and devoted some thought as to how he might crown his efforts – and himself – with victory.