When she got back to her office, Zeta's crew was already gathering for the conference. "Good news," Anala said.
It took Zeta a moment to remember what she'd assigned Anala to do. "The council? What did they say about guns?"
"The tech officer intervened. They can have their guns—" Zeta startled, and Anala held up her hand. "But the ammo is explosive. No way can it come on the station. Since it's a matter of safety of the entire station, her word can't be overturned easily."
Zeta smiled. "Good. Command?"
"Lannister seemed quite pleased with the solution. He can now say they aren't really banning these guns, and he doesn't have to worry about someone using them."
The others had less exciting news, but Zeta expected as much. "And your morning? This new issue?"
Zeta sighed. They would have to know sooner or later. "There is a Squid child with some medical issues."
The reaction to this news was mixed, to say the least. Anala was sympathetic and wondered if Zeta should be put in this situation. "I can't stand aside and ask one of you to deal with it," Zeta responded, a bit sharper than intended.
Mani and one of the other office workers looked displeased. A few of the others came from parts of the Consortium where such things weren't common, and Zeta had to explain why this was even an issue that Diplomacy should be involved in.
Zeta took their reports. Once she gave out their afternoon assignments, she went into her own office to start her report. On matters between the Consortium and America, she reported directly to Arneshi. She liked him; he was a kind, fatherly figure. But the station fell under a different management. Her immediate superior, Androcka, was an elderly, wizen man with a perpetual scowl. He waved her report and her ideas away with a swish of his hands. "You will investigate and report to Legal. That is all."
"But if the husband has already faced charges—"
"This is not a matter for Diplomacy to decide. We report. Legal decides what charges are appropriate. Investigate, fully. That is all."
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Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2
Science FictionLess than a year ago, they arrived over earth's sky. They call themselves the Galactic Consortium and they are human, or at least, simian - from the same genetic line as humans. They claim to have terraformed this planet centuries ago to serve as a...
