Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode 8: The Sting #1

When Fox arrived at the debriefing, he thought Lannister looked frazzled, more so than usual. Lannister hadn't mentioned what this meeting was about, so Fox was going in blind.

Only a handful of people were in the conference room, most of them official crew and all of them close to Lannister personally. Walsh, on Lannister's right, gave him a nod. Jack, across the way, smiled. Iokina, their financial officer, had become part of that core group. Finally, there was Zeta.

"I wanted to assemble a small team to help me work through a rather thorny issue," Lannister said as Fox found a seat. "We've gotten pretty good at dancing around American and Consortium differences these last few months. We've either managed to make everyone happy, or equally unhappy."

There was a snorted laughter around the room. For the most part, they'd made everyone happy, Fox reflected. The only case of everyone being equally unhappy was with the issue of gun rights. The right-wing Americans got to keep their guns, but the tech crew firmly forbade any sort of ammunition, saying that it was an explosive. At least once a week, the ground-station security crew had to have an argument with some activist wanting to make a point about it.

Lannister ran a hand over his head. "Actually, I'm surprised we've done so well. And I'm surprised this particular issue hasn't come up before. Prostitution."

"What about it?" Zeta asked, innocent.

"It's illegal in their country," Iokina explained. "And I think there are two reasons we haven't really had to deal with the issue: the only establishment offering such services is a group of private courtesans on 15 above. They've been in operation since before you guys took over. And prostitution is only a small part of the services they offer.

"Secondly, they are on a mostly Consortium part of the ship and their clientele seems to be almost entirely Consortium. Since it's part of our culture, it's no big deal to us."

"And now," Lannister said, "we have a madam who wants to open a regular brothel on 15 below, to serve the tourist trade. And this will be another issue entirely."

"I would think the answer would be simple," Walsh said. "If the Consortium residents want to keep their courtesans, that's one thing. But a brothel serving American tourists would be a huge problem. I don't see any reason to cross that line."

"Unfortunately, Councilman Karana doesn't see it that way at all," Iokina said.

Fox scrunched his face, trying to remember who that was.

"The civilian council members as a whole have become increasingly vocal about a number of minor issues," Lannister said. "They feel that while, yes, we are contractually obligated to America, the station is a democratic place in its own right. The council, they say, should be making more of these decisions itself. Not command. Not tech crew. And certainly not authorities on the ground."

"And what does that have to do with this issue?"

"To them this issue is simply as good a case as any," Iokina said. "To assert their independence. They approve business licenses. Not command."

"Can we simply overrule them?" Walsh asked. "Their tech crew overruled us on the gun issue."

"Yes," Zeta said. "Part of the command crew's job is to enforce rules, including those imposed by the wider Consortium or other large governing bodies. Your local government would qualify."

"Well, sort of . . ." Jack said. All eyes turned to him. "The United States of America is the governing body for three quarters of the station."

"The rest belongs to the Shoshone Collective," Fox finished.

"I was hoping you could be our liaison there," Lannister told him. "Find out how they feel about this. I can't imagine Shannon Otterdance going along with this either."

Fox considered refusing. He was proud to serve under Lannister, but there were things the man didn't, couldn't, understand about Fox and his people. This was going to be one of them. "This issue? I'm not really sure where she would stand. But there are others on the collective's council, and we might be facing the same issue over there—that they want to assert their independence."

"But they're Americans too," Walsh protested.

"No, they are not," Fox shot back. "They are Native Americans. Most born and bred on the reservation system. They came here to escape what they saw as unfair treatment on the reservation. And they find themselves just as subject to American control up here."

Lannister sighed. "I wondered. Shannon has sided with Karana on a number of minor issues. I guess I see it now. But this? It's not part of your culture either."

"No, sir, it's not. I will try to talk to her. See how she feels about this."

Lannister turned back to the group. "They are right about one thing: we have a democracy up here too. That needs to be respected. This might not be the issue, but we need to acknowledge that. Until the next election, the council is going to remain Consortium."

"Likely longer," Jack said, "given the rate of adoption of up here. Not to mention the age and social demographics of the people coming up. Most of the young people arriving are progressive and very pro-Consortium. We are likely to have a Consortium or at least Consortium-friendly council for the foreseeable future."

"Then that's what we deal with," Lannister said. "What's the worst that can happen if we just overrule them and say no?"

Zeta shrugged and said, "You would be within your rights to do so. They could threaten to remove you as captain, but your contract doesn't come up for five years, and besides, as long as the station is obligated to America, your command would get to name your successor anyway."

"So, it's an empty threat," Lannister said. "Good. Let's find out what Shannon feels. But I'm keeping my veto power in my back pocket today."

"Sir, what does that mean for the courtesans already on the station?" Jack asked.

"It probably means they have to go as well, I suppose. Or stop offering those particular services."

"That might raise some protest from the Consortium population," Iokina said.

Lannister shrugged it off. "They can always go to a nearby station or ship that offers such services. Anyway, I need to get ready for the council meeting. Thank you all. We will meet again in a week to discuss this issue some more. Is that enough time?" He aimed this mostly at Fox, the only one who had been given an assignment, who nodded.