Image by Nicola Giordano from Pixabay

Fabrice rubbed his temples. Esmerie brought him some coffee. “How deeply does Michi Nakano’s control of the Assembly go?” he muttered, staring at over a hundred reports spread out across his desk.

“Far deeper than anyone expects,” Esmerie said, looking over his shoulder. “I don’t even think the Councilors know just how many of them she actually owns.”

“I don’t think they do either,” Fabrice said. “I’ve gone all the way back to before the annexation. She’s had her fingers in every anti-Colony legislation to make its way through. In the early days most didn’t pass, but after the annexation she’s been able to ram just about every law she’s wanted through. Why? What changed?”

“I wish I knew,” Esmerie said.

“I see now why Kuen Rezouac called this a feud between Leonidas Vasiliou and Michi Nakano. That’s what it boils down to. She didn’t start going after the Colonies until she discovered that’s where he’d fled,” Fabrice said. He sat back and sipped the coffee. “Are we not getting the Colony coffee anymore?”

“No, I can’t afford it,” Esmerie said. “The price has gone up to one hundred credits a kilo because it’s so hard to get.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Fabrice said. “How many more commodities from the Colonies have gone up in price since that idiotic law was passed?”

“We aren’t getting the Colony bred fresh fruits and vegetables we used to because the price has jumped by almost half as much,” Esmerie said. “Your retirement is extensive, and we have both of our inheritances, but even that isn’t limitless and if we spend it wastefully it won’t last.”

“We need to look at investing, get some kind of income besides my retirement coming in,” Fabrice said.

“I’ll look into it, Fabrice. You focus on what you’re doing. Perhaps you’ll find the information you need to make the CAF listen to you,” Esmerie said.

“Oh, I can make the High Command dance to my tune any time I wish, Esmerie. It’s a matter of showing them why I want them to do what I tell them. Blackmail will only carry me so far,” Fabrice said.

“Even High Admiral Leone?” Esmerie asked.

“Especially him. I didn’t choose him for my replacement. That was supposed to be Gaspare or Dorielle,” Fabrice said bitterly. His daughter had requested – and finally gotten – a transfer to Administration under High Admiral Claasen just before Fabrice had been forced to retire, leaving no other alternative but for an outsider to be brought in to take over Intelligence. “When I was told he was going to take my place I sent my people out. In less than seventy-two hours I had everything on him – including the things he’d rather no one knew about him. The other members of the High Command don’t think I’d ever use what I have on them.” He looked at his wife. “If I find what I think I’m going to, those slagging vapor brains are going to discover just how dangerous this old, retired soldier can be.”

“Have you considered looking over the charter? You might be able to find something useful in it,” Esmerie suggested. “I know High Admiral Seaton is struggling her way through it.”

“An excellent idea, Esmerie. I’ll download a copy and see what I can find,” Fabrice said.

“I’ll go start looking at potential investments then,” Esmerie said.

“Ask our daughters. I’m sure at least one of them has some idea of what might turn us a profit,” Fabrice said.

“I was planning on it, Fabrice,” Esmerie said with a smile. She swept out of the room, the sweet rose perfume she always wore lingering for a brief moment after her departure.