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“Anything recorded on living quarters level or any designated a security issue won’t see the light of day. She’ll also be warned on pain of a lawsuit to share nothing she saw in that section. If she does decide to report, it’ll be her word against yours that you came out of our quarters.” Kuran’s frown refused to ease. “Rumor would be enough for some.”
“No kidding. It’s contrary to my principles to lie about being in your quarters in any case. What I do in there is no one’s business.”
He eyed her in concern. “There are those who’d disagree. She was asking some pointed questions of how an affair would make you an unreliable representative for Earth.”
“This is exactly what I’d hoped to avoid.”
“We have to assume it’ll get back to your opponents. It could turn ugly.”
She paced next to the shuttle, ignoring the curious stares of the mechanics on duty in the vast bay. “They’ll at the very least demand your removal as head of planet security. When I refuse—”
“You won’t.”
She halted and stared at him. “What are you talking about? We need you, especially since the demonstration at the welcoming celebration. You said there would probably be more. You can’t leave.”
“Stacy, it makes me physically ill to think of you on Earth without me there to keep an eye on the situation. Unfortunately, my presence could lead to dissidents striking at you all the more.” He rubbed his chin, tension in every line of his features. “There are no good options, only temporary stopgaps.”
“Such as?” She had no intention of firing Kuran or allowing him to resign. To her knowledge, none of the humans on Earth’s present security force had his level of experience or qualifications.
“You have to make an effort to replace me. There’s no other choice.”
* * * *
Earth II, later that day
“I called this meeting because of the demonstration at our planet-opening celebration. It’s clear we should re-assess the assistance the Galactic Council of Planets and their members have so graciously supplied.” Stacy looked at her cabinet and various committee heads of Earth’s appointed legislature. “The opposition to such is assistance is of great concern to me, and I hope, to you as well.”
“It’s a small contingent,” Councilwoman Calhoun pointed out. “A definite minority.”
“They possess a loud voice, which some are listening to. I’d like to avoid giving a violent element reason to act out. We should consider moving up the deadlines of non-Earther assistance on our planet. I realize most of us had hoped to hold off on such actions until after the elections. I don’t believe it’s an option.”
She didn’t miss Speaker Mitchell’s smirk and glance at Councilman Spence, who headed up the legislature’s Economic Committee. She wondered if either had been behind the sabotage on her shuttle.
“We have a timetable drawn up for relinquishing dependance. A lot of work went into it, every detail carefully weighed.” Councilman Harris, whom Stacy found easy to work with, regarded her in surprise.
“Indeed. The detail we failed to consider, however, was in-person activist protests. I’m asking you to reconsider a single area of outside reliance to start, that of planet security. If the demonstration at the ceremony had turned violent and the Kalquorian members of our force had become involved, it would have had disastrous public relations consequences.”
“Especially if there’d been human injuries due to Kalquorian enforcement, which would have appeared very ugly due to the journalist presence at the ceremony.” Ken Bryant nodded at Stacy. “I propose we start at the top with Nobek Kuran. Head of security is the most visible of outside agencies operating on Earth. Replacing him by bringing in one of our own would be a step in the right direction.”
Stacy’s gut curdled at the thought of missing the Nobek’s presence every day. It was bad enough she was being deprived of Rihep and Etnil. Still, she agreed Kuran was the most reasonable person to start with, and the Nobek was adamant she begin the process, thanks to the shuttle incident and the Blythe Nelson encounter.
Fortunately, his expertise wasn’t so easily found among Earthers thus far present on the planet. The sentiment was expressed by someone else, to her relief.
“Nobek Kuran dealt with the protestors in an exceedingly efficient fashion,” Harris pointed out. “His credentials are impeccable. No one currently on Earth, in or out of our security force, comes close.”
“Agreed.” Stacy managed to keep her demeanor professional despite the smile trying to show itself. “We’ll can recruit from the colonies and those who plan to live here for appropriate candidates. A battery of tests will be required, skills and psychological. Immaculate records of similar work and personal conduct. References from similarly unimpeachable sources. It’s a big job, and we can’t appoint just anyone to the position.”
“Sounds like another committee,” Calhoun chuckled.
Mitchell and Spence appeared less delighted than before. Stacy let her grin come through and repeated what had become an oft-quoted joke. “As long as our committees don’t start forming committees, we’re okay. Warren, are you up to taking point on this one?”
Secretary Warren Porter, her cabinet chief of Earth Defense and Security, nodded. Despite having fought Kalquorians during the war between their planets, he possessed an open mind and had a friendly relationship with the former enemy race. “It’ll take time, Governor, but we’ll find the best person for the job.”
Stacy looked around the table. “Any comments or concerns?”
“I’d hate for our immediate needs to be dragged out due to endless bureaucracy,” Mitchell grumbled. “Radicals won’t respond to ‘we’re working on it.’ Only visible action will placate them. How soon can we expect to replace the Kalquorian?”
That Kalquorian has a name. Stacy managed to keep from saying so by the skin of her teeth.
