Declaration
© 2021 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by  Ahro


Meredith and Fuji had hiked back in two days earlier and were staying at her room in her parents’ house. The mare tried not to hear the occasional comments directed at her by her mothers about whether or not she and the Komodo monitor were keeping them up at night. To his credit, her father Javid stayed out of it, preferring to stick to work and cooking.

The pair were also dragooned into service to look after Meredith’s baby brothers, Javamir and Javiberto. The two colts were clopping around on their hooves and trying to get into things, so increased supervision was required.

They were out on the patio, watching the twins playing, when Thea came to the door. “Fuji? Meredith?” The mare and the bull looked up, and the older palomino mare said, “I think you two need to see this.” She had a strange look on her face.

“All right, Mother,” Meredith said, and they scooped up the children and went into the living room, where Marie and Javid were standing and looking at the big screen that took up part of one wall. A local newsreader, a slim feline mel, was seated at a desk.

“ – to repeat,” the man was saying, “the Acting Chief Minister of the Colonies, Mo Zulfikar, will be speaking in real time shortly.” He glanced aside and asked, “Do we have it?” He looked back at the imager. “Chief Minister Mo.”

His image faded, and was replaced by a bull. “Fellow citizens of the Colonial worlds,” he said, his voice deep and measured. “Hostilities between us and the Core worlds have ceased, and we are in negotiations now with representatives from the Confederacy. However, we in the Provisional Government do not feel that your best interests would be served by rejoining the Confed.

“Terra and the Core have abused the Colonies and their citizens for far too long, and we feel that this must stop. The Core must treat with us as equals, or not at all.

“Therefore, the Provisional Government is formally declaring the Colonies’ independence, and we are calling upon all of the Colonial worlds and settlements to send delegates in order to establish a new, democratically elected government that will safeguard our interests, rather than merely acting as agents for the interests of the Core worlds.

“We will transmit further details over the next few days. Deus be with you all.” The screen flickered and went blank momentarily, but within seconds the newsreader was back, looking a little flustered.

“Uh, er, that was Acting Chief Minister Mo Zulfikar of the Provisional Colonial Government,” the feline said, “announcing that the Colonies will be withdrawing from the Pact of Charon and forming a new government – “ Thea gestured, and the screen went blank.

The other adults looked at her and the mare snorted. “All he’ll do now is waste our time talking.”

“Yes, that’s what they usually do,” Javid agreed. “Who wants dinner?”

“Madras?” Meredith asked hopefully.

Her father grinned. “No, we’re having lasagna,” and everyone laughed as Meredith gave her father an exaggerated pout.