The Unincorporated Future Read Online Free PDF

another miracle, we must face the fact that it is a near certainty we’ll all soon be dead.”
    “Talk about a buzz kill,” sniped Sandra.
    “The truth is often not pleasant, but nonetheless it’s the truth all the same,” responded Mosh.
    “I assume,” said Padamir, “you had some reason for reminding us of what we already know.”
    “Yes. We must see to the succession of political power in case the President dies. We should have done this long ago, but now we must have a Vice President.”
    There was a moment of silence as the truth of Mosh’s words reverberated with the group.
    “And whom would you possibly suggest for this?” asked Kirk. The tenor of his voice indicated the lack of seriousness with which he was taking Mosh’s suggestion.
    “I’d recommend Karen Cho, governor of the Saturn system.” There were looks of surprise and some nods of agreement from the table.
    “How did you arrive at Karen?” asked Sandra.
    “It was easy, actually. First of all, she’s not here. If all of Ceres is destroyed, she’s at Saturn. Secondly, she’s the governor of the largest settlement we have left. A settlement soon to get far larger as the refugees from the asteroid belt and Jupiter arrive. Thirdly, she was a congressional delegate serving right here on Ceres until her election as governor, so she’s known and knows the people of the Outer Alliance as a whole and is not simply a Saturnian parochial.”
    Sandra folded her arms together and looked appreciatively at the Treasury Secretary. “I find your idea has much merit to it, Mosh, and I agree with you concerning the need for me to have a Vice President. But if we choose someone from far away, it will be telling the solar system that we’re convinced Ceres is doomed.”
    “Ceres is most likely doomed,” countered Mosh.
    “Which is why we must be heroic until the bitter end,” she countered. “There must not be a single action that will cast doubt on our courage or hope. Which is why I agree we will appoint a Vice President, but it must be someone in Ceres this very moment.”
    “As this will need Congressional approval, Madam President, I must ask whom you have in mind,” said the normally taciturn Tyler Sadma.
    Sandra smiled provocatively.
     
Observation port for the Gedretar Shipyards
Via Cereana
     
    Kirk Olmstead was pacing in nervous agitation. He liked thinking one step ahead of everyone he dealt with, but Sandra O’Toole kept on doing the inexplicable. Was she a genius or simply erratic? He couldn’t be sure, and he hated being unsure.
    His pacing was interrupted by the appearance of Sergeant Holke, who quickly scanned the room, scowled at Kirk, and then nodded to someone in the corridor. Then in swept Sandra O’Toole, who purposely closed the blast door, leaving her guard of TDCs outside. Unlike Kirk, she seemed to be blissfully unconcerned.
    “How are you feeling, Mr. Vice President?”
    “I have not been approved yet, Madam President. And seeing my standing in the Congress and with Tyler Sadma in particular, I do not think I will be.”
    “Your nomination will be approved in the next hour, or so I have been assured by the Speaker of Congress himself.”
    “How did you—?”
    “Let’s say that between what I’ve learned about our dear Congressman Sadma in the past seven months and the fact that he’s convinced you’ll be dead in a very short period of time, he decided his future reputation was worth more than your temporary promotion.”
    “Whatcha got on him?” Kirk asked in genuine admiration.
    Sandra shook her head.
    “Fine, but this you must answer: Why did you want me? I understand why it had to be someone on Ceres, but other than Mosh, I must have been the hardest choice to get approved.”
    “Don’t flatter yourself, Kirk. You are the worst choice as far as almost everyone is concerned, but you’re the best choice as far as I’m concerned, because you have always known what it would take to win this war. You