Free The Unincorporated Woman by Dani Kollin, Eytan Kollin Page A

you’ve convinced me. Keep our holy woman in the pile. I’m sure we’ll get to her eventually.”
    “Sir.” Marilynn nodded and placed the folder back in the bottom of the stack.
    “But, as pleasant a distraction as this woman is, we’re going to have to start figuring out how to prosecute this war with me behind this desk and you by my side.”
    Marilynn inclined her head in agreement. “We could always draw a smiley face on the suspension unit and prop it up right about where you’re sitting.”
    J.D. chortled at the image. “It would certainly have more personality.”
    “And,” added Marilynn conspiratorially, “if we keep the lights dim, maybe no one would notice.” She then did a mock J.D. voice. “Sorry, can’t make the ceremony today, feeling a little … stiff.”
    They both burst out into a fit of laughter. But about twenty seconds into the outburst, Marilynn noticed that she was laughing alone. J.D. sat in stunned silence. A maniacal look permeated every inch of her face. Eyes wide, jaw slightly ajar, she turned her focus to her now worried number two. J.D. began snapping her fingers in anxious demand. “The folder, Marilynn!” she ordered.
    Without hesitation, Marilynn retrieved it and handed it back across the desk. This time, J.D. perused every page and took her time doing it. After a few minutes of reading, J.D. returned the documents and closed the cover, satisfied.
    “Call the suspension lab, Marilynn. Tell them—” J.D hesitated. “—tell them it’s time.”
    “For what, Admiral?”
    J.D. smiled defiantly.
    “For the Unincorporated Woman to save my ass.”

 
3 A Bleak and Bitter Morning
T HE U NINCORPORATED M AN I S D EAD!
C ELEBRATIONS B REAK O UT S YSTEM W IDE!
    Although there had been rumors of his death, the number of previously failed attempts on Justin Cord’s life made the press corps of the UHF leery of giving them much stock. But news sources in the rebellious outer reaches have confirmed what so many have hoped so long for: The Unincorporated Man is dead. News reports picked up from the Outer Alliance state that his death was either the result of an unfortunate accident or a successful assassination. Given how many loathed the Alliance’s Chief Instigator, it seems pretty obvious to this news organization which of the two it was. With the death of the man who has been at the heart of this, the most destructive war in the history of the human race, celebration has broken out in all the worlds of the UHF. The gatherings on Earth, Luna, and Mars have been particularly exuberant. They’ve even surpassed the elation caused by Admiral Trang’s stunning victory at the 180. A victory which, we hasten to add, split the Belt down the middle and saw the death of one of the enemy’s greatest admirals, Christina Sadma.
    Indeed, the celebrations over the death of the Unincorporated Man are so raucous as to be compared to Mardi Gras. Although some members of the UHF assembly feel it unseemly to celebrate while the war continues, others are encouraging the revelry and calling for the assassination to be marked as a system holiday.
    Between the death of Justin Cord and our great and decisive victory at the 180, well over five years of horrific warfare may finally be coming to an end. Some politicians are even suggesting the President call for peace now that it should be obvious to even the most die-hard Alliance fanatic that victory is hopeless. Others insist the President fight out the war to an unconditional surrender in order to make the cost of rebellion so high as to remove its threat from future generations. President Sambianco has remained silent on this issue but is enjoying the renewed support that has eluded him in recent years. It’s even rumored that a movement to change the constitution is being organized so that the President can run for reelection in two years’ time, when his six-year term expires. When asked how he felt about the assassination, the President had