Post by LucianG on Nov 2, 2004 7:48:32 GMT -6
A short time later in the Council Chamber, the other four Council Members were growing impatient. Without one more Councilor present, it would not be possible to officially convene the Council or conduct business. Troian and the others knew that Nyeeta was the only one who could be made to attend, but she had proven far more resourceful than they had imagined, first escaping from her quarters and then avoiding capture elsewhere on the ship.
“Where is she, Troian?” asked one of the others, still coughing periodically from the effects of the stink bomb that had gone off shortly after what should have been the start of the session. The evac fans were still on high and the cleanup crew had just left. The remaining smell was a sort of cross between industrial disinfectant and smoke. “You promised she would be here. If your promises are no better than this, why should we vote to elect you President?”
Troian was about to answer when the door to the chamber opened, and Nyeeta, in her extravagant robes stepped into the room. As she did, she said, “Sorry I’m late. You’d never believe what’s happened to me today. Hope I haven’t missed anything.” Her nose crinkled and she exclaimed, “God Lords! What’s that smell? I hope you have complained to the Captain about this.”
She was followed into the room by several men and women in the red jumpsuits, each carrying an assault rifle. Troian quizzically looked at the captain of his “guard.” The man shrugged his shoulders and said, “She just walked right up to us and demanded entry into the Council Chamber, Sir.”
Just then, the door to the chamber opened once more, and three of the six remaining Councilors swept into the room, glowering at those already present since all three were allies of President Tigh and since all three knew exactly what Troian planned. Troian smiled at his co-conspirators who were already at their seats and said, “Councilors, so very good of you to join us. It appears,” he said glancing at his chrono, “that there might have been a slight mix-up on the start time for our session, but we now have a quorum. In the absence of the President, as Vice President of this body, I call this session of the Quorum of Twelve to order.” He went through the Kobolian litany recited at the start of each such session as the Councilors stood, then said, “It is with sad heart that we must accept the loss of the Battlestar Galactica in the Pangara system, and with the ship, two of our illustrious and beloved members, President Tigh and Councilor Athen—”
“Councilor Troian, I object to this fiasco! There is no evidence that either the Galactica, President Tigh, or Councilor Athena was lost,” said Councilor Hephasteus crossly with the other two nodding vigorously in agreement.
Troian shook his head gently with his eyes lowered before malevolently looking up directly at Hephasteus and saying, “Councilor, YOU are overruled. With sad heart, I now call for a centon of silence in their memory.” Several of Troian’s allies looked impatient as the others, despite their objections to the proceedings, prayed for the missing.
“Now, our first item of business is the removal of the President due to his tragic loss, and his replacement with someone…more alive,” said Troian almost gleefully. “The Chair entertains a motion for removal of President Tigh.”
One of his conspirators said, “So moved!” and another immediately responded, “I second that motion!”
Troian moved on, “Motion for removal of President Tigh has been made and properly seconded. If there is no further discussion,” he said over the objections of Tigh’s supporters, “we will—objections overruled—proceed directly to a vote.”
From the room’s audio system, a somewhat amplified but steady voice boomed, “Councilor Troian, I object as well.” Everyone in the room spun around in surprise as the view screen flickered unsteadily, filled with snowy static that slowly cleared and then came became clear. President Tigh and Councilor Athena shared the viewscreen as Tigh continued, “My fellow Councilors, we have had some very strange troubles since arriving in the Quarro system, but the Galactica will be back with the fleet in a matter of centons. Our first shuttles have already landed aboard the Callisto, and a full investigation is underway in regards to these mysterious troubles. I’m sure we’ll be getting to the source of that problem in very short order.”
As Tigh was speaking, the Galactica was indeed already slowing from flank speed as it neared the outer edge of the Fleet. Following the completion of the repairs and the recovery of a scouting party, Commander Apollo had ordered the Galactica to head toward the fleet. Some time after Major Brie’s shuttle had arrived on the Callisto, Commander Apollo had finally been able to contact Commander Sheba, who had filled him in on the upcoming meeting of the Quorum. On hearing that the Callisto could not contact the Rising Star or ships in its sector, Tigh and Apollo had suspected further trouble, so Apollo had ordered “Flank speed,” sending the Galactica hurtling toward the Fleet.
Councilor Nyeeta spoke up as Tigh paused, “Mr. Vice President, in lieu of the President’s obvious presence in the system, the current motion on the floor appears to be out of order. I recommend that it be withdrawn at once.” Tigh’s supporters agreed, and even Troian’s supporters were reluctant to take a public stand opposed to Tigh in his sight. The motion was immediately withdrawn.
Following the death of the motion, President Tigh said, “Colonel Athena and I will be departing from the Galactica in a few centons. We shall be arriving aboard the Rising Star by shuttle, with a major escort of Warriors, within 50 centons. As President of the Council, I demand a recess until our arrival.”
Troian got up and walked out.
“Where is she, Troian?” asked one of the others, still coughing periodically from the effects of the stink bomb that had gone off shortly after what should have been the start of the session. The evac fans were still on high and the cleanup crew had just left. The remaining smell was a sort of cross between industrial disinfectant and smoke. “You promised she would be here. If your promises are no better than this, why should we vote to elect you President?”
Troian was about to answer when the door to the chamber opened, and Nyeeta, in her extravagant robes stepped into the room. As she did, she said, “Sorry I’m late. You’d never believe what’s happened to me today. Hope I haven’t missed anything.” Her nose crinkled and she exclaimed, “God Lords! What’s that smell? I hope you have complained to the Captain about this.”
She was followed into the room by several men and women in the red jumpsuits, each carrying an assault rifle. Troian quizzically looked at the captain of his “guard.” The man shrugged his shoulders and said, “She just walked right up to us and demanded entry into the Council Chamber, Sir.”
Just then, the door to the chamber opened once more, and three of the six remaining Councilors swept into the room, glowering at those already present since all three were allies of President Tigh and since all three knew exactly what Troian planned. Troian smiled at his co-conspirators who were already at their seats and said, “Councilors, so very good of you to join us. It appears,” he said glancing at his chrono, “that there might have been a slight mix-up on the start time for our session, but we now have a quorum. In the absence of the President, as Vice President of this body, I call this session of the Quorum of Twelve to order.” He went through the Kobolian litany recited at the start of each such session as the Councilors stood, then said, “It is with sad heart that we must accept the loss of the Battlestar Galactica in the Pangara system, and with the ship, two of our illustrious and beloved members, President Tigh and Councilor Athen—”
“Councilor Troian, I object to this fiasco! There is no evidence that either the Galactica, President Tigh, or Councilor Athena was lost,” said Councilor Hephasteus crossly with the other two nodding vigorously in agreement.
Troian shook his head gently with his eyes lowered before malevolently looking up directly at Hephasteus and saying, “Councilor, YOU are overruled. With sad heart, I now call for a centon of silence in their memory.” Several of Troian’s allies looked impatient as the others, despite their objections to the proceedings, prayed for the missing.
“Now, our first item of business is the removal of the President due to his tragic loss, and his replacement with someone…more alive,” said Troian almost gleefully. “The Chair entertains a motion for removal of President Tigh.”
One of his conspirators said, “So moved!” and another immediately responded, “I second that motion!”
Troian moved on, “Motion for removal of President Tigh has been made and properly seconded. If there is no further discussion,” he said over the objections of Tigh’s supporters, “we will—objections overruled—proceed directly to a vote.”
From the room’s audio system, a somewhat amplified but steady voice boomed, “Councilor Troian, I object as well.” Everyone in the room spun around in surprise as the view screen flickered unsteadily, filled with snowy static that slowly cleared and then came became clear. President Tigh and Councilor Athena shared the viewscreen as Tigh continued, “My fellow Councilors, we have had some very strange troubles since arriving in the Quarro system, but the Galactica will be back with the fleet in a matter of centons. Our first shuttles have already landed aboard the Callisto, and a full investigation is underway in regards to these mysterious troubles. I’m sure we’ll be getting to the source of that problem in very short order.”
As Tigh was speaking, the Galactica was indeed already slowing from flank speed as it neared the outer edge of the Fleet. Following the completion of the repairs and the recovery of a scouting party, Commander Apollo had ordered the Galactica to head toward the fleet. Some time after Major Brie’s shuttle had arrived on the Callisto, Commander Apollo had finally been able to contact Commander Sheba, who had filled him in on the upcoming meeting of the Quorum. On hearing that the Callisto could not contact the Rising Star or ships in its sector, Tigh and Apollo had suspected further trouble, so Apollo had ordered “Flank speed,” sending the Galactica hurtling toward the Fleet.
Councilor Nyeeta spoke up as Tigh paused, “Mr. Vice President, in lieu of the President’s obvious presence in the system, the current motion on the floor appears to be out of order. I recommend that it be withdrawn at once.” Tigh’s supporters agreed, and even Troian’s supporters were reluctant to take a public stand opposed to Tigh in his sight. The motion was immediately withdrawn.
Following the death of the motion, President Tigh said, “Colonel Athena and I will be departing from the Galactica in a few centons. We shall be arriving aboard the Rising Star by shuttle, with a major escort of Warriors, within 50 centons. As President of the Council, I demand a recess until our arrival.”
Troian got up and walked out.