Free Commandant (The United Federation Marine Corps Book 8) by Jonathan P. Brazee Page A

right step.
    Which was true.  He was unsure.  But the die had been cast, and he couldn’t reverse course.  It was too late for that.  He had to forge on, seemingly positive that this was the right—and legal—course of action. 
    “In accordance with Section 3(a), paragraph 1 of the Federation Charter, whereas the current government has contravened Section 1, Paragraph 1 by ordering the murder of the planet Ellison and all Federation citizens therein, and as the co-representative of the people’s military forces, I am ordering the dissolution of the Federation Council and the imposition of martial law and formation of a provisional government until a new government can be formed,” Ryck said in the speech crafted by the Third Fleet staff judge advocate.
    Ryck lowered the stylus and signed his name, knowing that his signature would be appearing simultaneously on the second copy at the Third Fleet headquarters.  He leaned forward to the small pick-up in the lower right-hand corner of the sheet, and a small light flashed green indicating his retinal scan was accepted.
    Ryck lowered the stylus and tried to look confident in front of the news teams.
    The federal government had just been toppled by a coup d’état.  That was the easy part. 
    Now if they could only get the old government, along with the bulk of two Navy fleets, most of the FCDC, and the 13% of the Marines who sided with them to go along with it.
     

Chapter 10
     
    “They’re in good health and are not being mistreated,” Major Pohlmeyer told Ryck as the two sat alone in his office.  “But they’re still not being authorized any communications.”
    The Confederation had pushed the Brotherhood to force a Red Cross visit to Hannah and the twins, who were being held in a secure location that the Red Cross could not—or would not—reveal.  Ryck had hoped to be able to make a call, but he wasn’t surprised.  The feds were not about to give Ryck that peace of mind, but they couldn’t really defy the Brotherhood request given that the Federation, which they obviously claimed was still them, had signed the UAM [8] Retained Persons Convention which required access to prisoners.
    “I wish I could give you more, and we will continue to work on it, sir.”
    “Thanks, Titus.  I really do appreciate it, and I am glad to know they’re not being mistreated, at least,” Ryck replied. 
    “Vivian, please send in the rest,” Ryck said aloud, anxious to move on to something else.
    Bert, Prince Jellico, Hecs, Jorge, and Tomtom Copperwait came in and sat down.  Ryck had sent General Huckmaster and an ad hoc staff to Prometheus Station for a series of meetings with Admiral Chandanasiri (who was sending his own team to Tarawa), so this was the brain trust of the Marines at headquarters, and Ryck wanted them to hear what Major Pohlmeyer had to say.
    “The first order of business, sir, concerns planet busters,” the major began.
    That’s the first order of business?  We don’t control planet busters , Ryck thought.
    “We are letting the Brotherhood take the point on this. . .” the major began.
    Which is what you have been doing with almost everything , Ryck thought.  Keeping yourself somewhat neutral.  I hope that is a ploy and not fact.
    “. . . and they have given the Council what could be an ultimatum that no planet busters will be used in any potential conflict.”
    “That’s fine with us,” Ryck said.  “We’re not the ones who were about to kill off Ellison.”
    And Ryck was fine with that.  The Council controlled far more planet busters than what were in the Third Fleet Armory, and as a ground pounder, Ryck had a particular aversion to a weapon that could wipe out Tarawa, for example, with the Marines powerless to stop it
    “We need your agreement to that, sir.  In writing.”
    “But I don’t control any planet busters.  We’re Marines,” Ryck said.  “You need to talk with the admiral.”
    “We did, but you are the face of