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“Thank you”

“Mada a document from his monitor at her The

hand terood news or bad news, depending on how seriously you take your job, and how et all the details”

She’d started to take the terminal out of her pocket, but slid it back in at his words “I take my job very seriously”

“Excellent, because it seems you used to have a title that held no actual power, except that you presided over the Association of Worlds in their otiates interplanetary laws it has absolutely no ability to enforce Earth and Mars haven’t formally joined your coalition, and the Transport Union has been in a position to dictate terreements Or so I am led to understand My access to the newsfeeds has been liht he probably got about three-quarters of the way there

“It’s a start,” Fisk said, the frown returning to her face “At least we have people here talking out their probleun”

“I agree,” Singh said “And h Consul Duarte The document I just sent you empowers the Association of Worlds toauthority on the member systems, which now includes every huranted a variety of legislative powers to aid in that cause”

“And who is granting us this neer?” Fisk asked Her face had twisted up like he’d asked her to eat so distasteful She knew the answer to his question, but she wanted hiu

“High Consul Winston Duarte, who is now the supreme executive authority of the Association of Worlds and all subsidiary governments All edicts passed by this body that are not vetoed by executive poill have the force of law, backed by the military power of Laconia”

“I don’t know if—”

“Mada until her attention was fully on him before he continued “I advise you to take this very seriously The high consul wants a fully functioning legislature and bureaucracy, and believes that the existing one, with soly advise that you not give him a reason to think it’s better to tear this down and build so new in its place Do we understand each other?”

Fisk nodded Her hands were fidgeting in her lap again

“Excellent,” Singh said He stood up and extended his hand Fisk stood and took it “I look forward to working with you as High Consul Duarte’s representative We havework”

Singh released her hand and gave a small bow

“What comes next?” Fisk asked