Free Retreat Hell by Christopher Nuttall Page B

very strict orders to their subordinates?  Even without the temptation to meddle – no, she admitted; the legal right to meddle – in local affairs, the problems would still prove difficult to surmount.
    Bracing herself, she pasted a smile on her face as she stepped back into the Council Chamber and took her seat in the middle of the bench.  As President, she had a vote – but she knew she couldn’t use it.  If she voted in favour of the deployment, she would be accused of supporting her lover; if she voted against the deployment, she would be accused of trying to avoid the appearance of supporting her lover.  All she could do was abstain.  She caught sight of Colonel Stalker as he returned to the room and sighed, inwardly.  He was a good man, dedicated to his position – and she loved him.  But part of her would have liked to go to an uninhabited island with him and stay there, far away from politics.
    But he has a sense of duty , she thought, as the doors were closed.  He can’t abandon his men, any more than I could abandon the Crackers after my father died.
    The thought nagged at her mind.  What would happen when she left office?  There would be no child of her body to take the presidency, even if her child had been legally allowed to inherit.  What would happen when someone else became President?   Would the system they had created, the system they had built to avoid the problems that had torn the Empire apart, remain stable?  Or would public service be replaced by single-minded power grabs? 
    She nodded to Councillor Stevens, who stood.  “The issue before us,” she said, as if there was anyone who was in any doubt, “is the deployment of the CEF to Thule.  We have debated the facts of the case in our prior session.  I call upon you all to put politics aside and vote as you feel you should vote.”
    Gaby sighed.  There was an idealism about Councillor Stevens that had never faded, something Gaby envied and distrusted in equal measure.  After all, what could one make of someone who had never chosen a side?  Stevens could have covertly supported the Crackers in more ways than just providing medical treatment to all comers.  She hadn't done anything of the sort.  But she had too many friends to be edged out of her council seat. 
    And here I am, she reproved herself, considering removing someone because I don’t like their politics.  What does that make me ?
    “All those in favour, raise your hands,” Councillor Stevens said.  “I repeat, all those in favour raise your hands.”
    Gaby watched as seventeen hands were raised, one by one.  Seventeen.  It was better than she’d feared, although she knew it wouldn't go down well with the Commonwealth.  Four councillors on Avalon had voted against upholding the Commonwealth Treaty.  God alone knew what the repercussions would be, in the long run.  The only real surprise was that Councillor Travis had voted in favour.
    “All those against, raise your hands,” Councillor Stevens said.  “I repeat, all those against, raise your hands.”
    She paused, significantly.  “I must remind you,” she added, “that refusing to cast a vote will be taken as an abstention.”
    There was a long pause.  No hands moved.  Gaby wasn't too surprised.  With such an overwhelming vote in favour of the deployment, there was nothing to gain by trying to take a stand against it.  It would be far better for the remaining councillors to abstain, whatever they’d intended to do.  She shook her head, bitterly.  Lord, but she hated politics with a white-hot passion.
    “The motion is passed,” Councillor Stevens said.  “Seventeen in favour, none against, four abstentions.”
    A dull ripple ran through the chamber.  “As it is late,” Councillor Stevens continued, “I propose pushing the rest of the hearing back until tomorrow.  Are there any objections?”
    “I have one,” Councillor Travis said.  “Several of the officers I intend to call