books

This is the 7th free sample of Oranje, I’ll be posting up to the end of Chapter Ten for free. You can buy it here, or if you’re interested in getting a review copy of the book, you can contact me via email or on twitter (links to both on my website).

Links to the previous free samples:

• Prologue
• Chapter One
• Chapter Two
• Chapter Three
• Chapter Four
• Chapter Five

—–

The view was the one good point in Marienne’s office, allowing her to see the docking arms of Thor station and the blue-and-white world of Tiamat in its slow rotation beyond. It was the only interesting part of her office. Everything could be described as bland and functional, greys and blues the predominant colours. The walls were bare; the only personal items in the room were a few ornaments on her desk. Her chair was twisted towards the windows as she read the latest news on her tablet. A few articles had popped up about her after the interview—impressive for an event with only one in attendance. A knock on the frame of her open door made her turn around to see Major Kato waiting for her.

“Come in, Major,” she said. He walked to the side of her desk and stood at ease. His uniform was the same dark blue as hers, black cuffs and collar along with a simple silver star that showed his rank, and his skin was brown. Hers, like all generals’, had sky blue edges and a gold star.

“What do you have for me?”

“An update on today’s intelligence reports.”

“Anything I need to be worried about?”

“There has been another standoff at Sibilla. We came within combat range of Republic forces before pulling back. Apart from that, it’s just the usual: clusters being moved, reservists called up, and so on.” His face scrunched up for a second. “There was one item that stood out; Oranje has gone silent and isn’t responding to communication attempts.”

“What did the report say about it?”

“Intelligence believes it to be caused by a fault in the planet’s Net satellites and don’t call for any further investigation.”

“Let’s make sure of that. Keep an eye out for any more reports on the matter or similar incidents you may see. We do have a treaty with them; we’d better make sure we are fulfilling it.”

“Of course, General,” he said. His eyes flicked to her screen and saw the article she was reading. “You were right to be suspicious of the press conference.”

“He hung me out to dry. He must think I’m an idiot who wouldn’t realise I was set up.” She picked up a small glass ornamental bird from the desk and began twirling it in her fingers. “A single journalist there, and of course he had to ask those questions.” She almost threw the ornament at the wall but gently put it back in its place.

“That may have been what he was aiming for,” said Jan. “He must have known you would react like this. Maybe he is trying to make you angry?”

“Well it’s working.” She rubbed her neck. “I must have annoyed him even more than I thought. All I did was answer some questions. What’s so wrong with that?”

“Do you really need me to answer that?”

She just gave him a look.

“I’m no fool; I know my opinion is the minority. I’m just frustrated that decades of service are being ignored in the name of warmongering.”

“The press do seem to be going along with it as well.”

“Of course they are, they’re being leaned on by the government to be suitably patriotic. Only a few places speaking against the war are left now.” She picked up the bird again and held it close to her face, reflecting light onto her black skin. “He came all this way just to make sure I knew exactly where I stood and what he thought of me. All that time and fuel wasted, just to spite me. I was sure offering me this position would’ve been enough.”

“Do you know who got Home Command yet?”

“Nothing officially, but looks like Reiter will get it for certain. She is the best choice after me.” Marienne sighed. “Four decades of service, two decades at the Academy with the best record of all time, only to have the position I always wanted snatched away from me because it would not be politically convenient.”

“No one forced you to accept this command, General.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I accepted because it’s still a very important position, and it is an honour to serve and protect. I take the oath very seriously. Remember that in the future, Major.”

He shifted his feet. “Apologies, General. I meant no offense.”

Silence filled the room before she let out a sigh. “It’s fine; we’ve known each other for long enough now to put up with the odd harsh words.”

“This is not a situation we’ve dealt with before,” he said.

“There hasn’t been a war for almost six decades, and now we seem to be very keen on starting a new one.” She snorted with bitter laughter. “We’ve been fighting the Republic for centuries on and off, five wars now, and each one has changed nothing.”

“There is talk that this time will be different, that we finally have an edge over them.” His eyes were filled with hope.

“It will be no different from any of the other wars. We’re both equal in power, and both sides work very hard to maintain that. It’s why we have the treaties with the independent worlds and why this command protects them as well. Neither side is going to allow the other to get a decisive advantage.” She rubbed her eyes. “That’s how it has always been, and it’s not going to change anytime soon.”

“Then why are they pushing for this war so much? Surely they must know something we don’t.”

She shrugged. “None of the intelligence has changed as far as I know, or at least the information I have access to, and unless we can magic up a few constellations from somewhere, our military will be matched by theirs.”

“There must be more to it. I can’t believe our leaders are that stupid.”

“They’re not. It’s just ego that is making them blind to what will really happen.” She took a deep breath. “That is enough talk on the matter for today, I think. It’s not like we can change anything about it. What else do I have to deal with?”

“You have your daily conference call with Colonels Roy and Niemi, General. They should be waiting for you.”

“Ah yes, they wanted to talk more on the plans for the next war games. I believe they think it will be very imbalanced against me.” She sat up straighter and closed the news articles. “Let’s get that done now.”

With a few presses on the screen, the call was sent to the two officers below her in the Outer Region Command. They each had control of a constellation each, the key fighting formation in the Space Force. Less than a minute passed before they answered, and their faces filled her screen. Light glinted off both of their bald heads, a fashion trend among many officers recently, though she herself opted for short hair bleached almost white.

“General.” They both saluted.

“Good afternoon, Colonels,” said Marienne, having another quick glance over the daily reports. “I see there is no news from you today.”

“Just another normal day,” said Roy. “Well, for us at least.”

She pursed her lips. “If you have anything to say about the press conference, then do so.”

His eyes flickered in response. “The marshal was very blatant with his intentions.”

“I can deal with whatever he can throw at me.”

“It has been the talk of my crew today,” said Niemi. “I thought perhaps you could speak to the whole command. They could use some reassurances.”

“This is the Space Force, Colonel. I’m sure your crew know better than to trust every rumour they hear.” Marienne tapped a finger against her chin. “However, I will issue a statement of intent, reiterating my aims for this command and what I expect from everyone.”

They nodded in understanding.

“I see we’re still playing chicken with the Republic,” said Roy. “War seems to get closer every day.”

“We’re not there yet,” she said. “I am surprised that High Command has allowed this to escalate so quickly. Reservists are still being called up.”

“Maybe they want to press the issue?” asked Niemi. “I don’t get the impression the president is feeling very patient.”

“We’ve not declared war yet, never mind the fact we’re nowhere near combat readiness. At least I can do something about that.”

“Have you considered our small”—she saw them glance at each other as he said it—“request to change the balance of forces for the simulation?” asked Roy.

“I have.” She picked up her tablet and read their message again, taking her time. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw them shifting in their seats as they waited.

“We both feel that the current balance gives the crews on your side little chance to prove themselves,” said Niemi.

She kept reading for a while before putting the tablet down. “I’ll adjust the forces.”

They both smiled.

“Another cluster will be transferred to your command, Colonel Roy.”

The smiles faded.

“General, with all respect, we feel it is already too unbalanced in our favour. Giving us more forces will just make that worse,” said Niemi. Marienne saw beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

“I feel the two forces are a good match. This will just… add to the challenge. It should be a good test for everyone.”

“We will outnumber your forces two-to-one. No, even more than that.” Roy’s brow furrowed with concern.

“Then I expect you will wrap up a quick victory tomorrow.” She leaned forward, her hands clasped together, resting them on the desk. “If that is all on today’s agenda, I think we have plenty to be getting on with.”

The confused expressions remained on their faces, but they saluted, and they were gone, leaving her with Jan.

“I hope you have a good plan up your sleeve,” he said. “They are right; it’s a very unbalanced scenario, General.”

“Well then, Major, let’s see if it turns out to be as easy as they think it is.”

“I will have the changes made tonight and give it a dry run so it will be ready for the crews tomorrow.” He tapped away on his tablet.

She sat, spinning the ornament in her hand. “So the bet is on again.”

He paused and looked back at her. “Maybe.”

Marienne raised one eyebrow. “Please. They didn’t do a very good job of hiding it—all that emphasis on little and small. They’re seeing if I react to comments on my height.” She had a glint in her eyes. “Same terms as usual?”

He hesitated before nodding. “This one is running over two months.”

“What’s the penalty this time?”

“If you shout at anyone for calling you short, little, and so on, the people who bet on you not reacting have to do a full shift naked. Vice versa for the people betting against you if you ignore the comments.”

“I’m amazed it’s still going,” she said. “I’ve never reacted to anything anyone has ever said about my height.” She smiled. “Well, at least what they’ve said in public.”

“It’s curiosity, General, that keeps it going year after year. People want to know how far you can be pushed.”

“A dangerous game to be playing with your commanding officer, don’t you think? I never thought too much of it at the Academy, but here I’m not sure it’s wise to let it continue. Especially with everything that is going on right now.”

Jan glanced at the floor. “I think it serves a very good purpose. It helps many relax around you. Your reputation does precede you, even with recent events. Let them have this fun, General.”

The ornament twirled in her fingers again.

“Very well, but I want you to keep an eye out. Make sure it doesn’t turn toxic with all this media stuff going on.”

“As you order, General. I need to finalise the preparations for tomorrow if I may go.”

“Of course. You’re dismissed, Major.” Marienne waved her hand. He had reached the open door when another thought occurred to her. “Jan, which side are you betting on?”

He paused in the empty frame before turning around with a sheepish smile. “I’ve known you for a long time General, and I learnt a long time ago to always bet on you.”

—–

If you liked this sample, you can find links to buy the full book here.

This is the 6th free sample of Oranje, I’ll be posting up to the end of Chapter Ten for free. You can buy it here, or if you’re interested in getting a review copy of the book, you can contact me via email or on twitter (links to both on my website).

Links to the previous free samples:

• Prologue
• Chapter One
• Chapter Two
• Chapter Three
• Chapter Four

—–

Above Violeta, the sky was beginning to darken, tinged purple as the sun began to sink away. She stretched and yawned and tried to focus on the screen with her tired eyes. She was reading through another report from a committee, just one of hundreds she had trudged through since meeting the families. Her hand gripped a cup of coffee that was quickly approaching lukewarm. A buzz on the intercom brought a welcome relief.

“James is here to see you,” said Tess.

“Please send him in.”

She made an attempt at tidying her desk before waving him forward as he came through the doors.

“I hope you are dealing with that.” She pointed at one of the windows. Bright red graffiti covered most of it.

“We’ve caught the people responsible already—just a few silly kids,” he said.

“That’s the third time this month. I want to know how they are doing that without being noticed. It’s not like there is a shortage of cameras or sensors around here.”

“They were spotted eventually,” he said before changing course mid-statement as he noticed the expression on her face. “I will speak to Lieutenant Liu”—Violeta’s head of security—“about it—see if there can’t be some adjustments made to the security arrangements.”

“Good,” she said. “Send a message to the families as well; tell them I’m disappointed at their spelling.”

The graffiti read DOUN WITH THE GORVERNOR.

“They’ll deny their involvement.”

“Sure, and some kids managed to graffiti my windows without any help,” she said. “Try pulling the other one; it has bells on.”

He stood staring at the graffiti, hands tapping behind his back.

“I’m not sure it is that badly spelt. That U almost looks like a W,” he said.

She turned to look. “That is not a W in any way, shape, or form. The only way it could be a W is if we collectively decided that W was now U and vice versa.” Violeta fixed her gaze on him. “Send them the message.”

“If you insist,” he said. “They’ve begun moving against you in the planetary legislature.”

“Well, there’s a surprise,” she said. “Let me guess, they’re trying to derail the bill with pointless amendments.”

“Along with a little bit of filibustering,” replied James.

“Well, they can try all they want, but they’re not stopping the Contract bill.”

“Are you going to be around for much longer?”

“I’m just waiting for the call with the other governors, and then I am going to have a well-earned rest.” She stretched her arms. “I’ve had my fill of reports for one day.”

“What do you think they will say?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not sure, but there is only one way to find out. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He bowed before he turned and left, the doors closing behind him. Looking at the time on the screen, she refilled her coffee and sat in her chair as the hour approached nine o’clock. Out of a drawer in the desk, she pulled out a thin transparent plastic strip that she positioned on her forehead. When the call from the other governors came, she was ready and answered it at once. She waited to confirm that the call was secure before she closed her eyes for just a moment, and then she opened them again.

Her office had disappeared, replaced by a different but equally luxurious room. A huge oval wooden table sat in the middle, and around it were twelve chairs filled by the governors of each planet in the Republic. She was sitting at one end, but she knew her body was still in the office, eyes closed. It was an excellent simulation, allowing her freedom of movement and voice without affecting her actual body. The many differently coloured faces of the eleven other governors were watching her. Their outfits were a variety of styles and colours, the different planets having their own societal expectations and fashion trends.

“I hope you’ve not been waiting too long,” she said.

“Not at all. Looks like we are on time for once,” said Governor Sall of Alboran. “That makes a nice change for us.”

“A very pleasant one,” she said as she clasped her hands on the table in front of her. “I’d like to keep this as short as possible. We all have a lot to do, and any discussion can be continued via messages once we are done, if you’re all okay with that.”

The others nodded in agreement.

“That is acceptable,” said Governor Villanueva of Jinan.

“Then let’s get started,” said Violeta with a smile. “You all know by now how my meeting with the president went, but I’m sure some of you will have questions you want answered.”

“Is she serious about repealing the Governor Act?” asked Sall.

“Completely. And I expect that to happen within twenty-four hours.”

“The president must know what our reaction to this will be,” he said. “She is just going to push us further away and make our opposition to the war more entrenched.”

“I know that, and so does she. The simple fact is she doesn’t care anymore.” Violeta leaned forward. “We’re an irrelevance to her, and she is tired of us getting in her way. There was a brief attempt to get me on her side before she dropped that bombshell. This has been planned for a while.”

“How can she be certain this will pass a vote?” asked Villanueva. “The Members of Parliament must realise what this will do.”

“Most of them support a war. Voting to remove another obstacle on the path to that will not give them any concern.” Violeta’s gaze moved around the table. “This is happening, and we can’t stop this. It’s time to think about what our strategy will be from now on.”

“Not all our powers are contained in that act,” said Sall. “Some are bound to the Republic Treaty. They might not be much, but we should take advantage of them all the same.”

“Those are going to disappear the moment war begins,” she said. “The Emergency Powers act will come into force, and those last few powers will be null and void, or at least all apart from one, our most powerful option as governors.”

“You mean seceding from the Republic,” said Sall.

“It is always open to us,” she said.

“Only if we’re mad,” said Villanueva. “The moment we do that, we have crossed a line; it will be the death of the Republic.”

“That is, if the President doesn’t remove that power from us as well,” added Sall.

“It is part of the treaty, and by law no other act can change that,” said Violeta. “Now, she could try and change the Treaty, but if she does, it requires the agreement of all of us, and we would never go for it. So I think she’s content to leave that option open to us because she thinks we’ll never take it.”

“I hope we do not,” said Governor Jamal of Marutas. “I’m not sure we will have much of a choice.”

“We are the Republic,” said Villanueva. “Without us, it does not exist. Perhaps you have forgotten that, Governor Amar.”

“Maybe it’s you who’s forgotten.” Violeta’s gaze hardened. “When was the last time we acted like that was true? Again and again, we’ve let them take powers away from us and said it’s the last straw. Now there’s almost nothing left, we have big decisions to make.”

“We can’t do that right here and now,” said Sall.

“That is true, but we don’t have that much time open to us. I’d ask that you all go away and think long and hard about what our next step is. Whatever happens, we can’t continue to do nothing.” Her gaze swept around the table. “If no one else wants to make a decision right now, I don’t think there is anything more we can discuss today. I hope you all have a good night, and I’ll speak to you again soon.”

With nods and bows the others left the call, their digital versions disappearing from the simulation one by one. She peeled the strip from her forehead and returned to her office just as there was a buzz from the intercom.

“Governor, are you busy?” asked Tess.

She pushed the answer button. “No, my meeting has finished. What do you need?”

“Minister Rana is here.”

A smile formed on her face.

“I thought he wouldn’t be here until tomorrow.” She had not meant to say that out loud. She straightened her clothes. “Send him in, please.”

She picked up the cup and managed to fill it with coffee and sit back down before the doors had fully opened. Sebastian strode down the carpet towards her, and she could see the smile on his face from a long way away. He was wearing bright orange-and-yellow clothes that clashed horribly and didn’t match the style on Arausio, as usual. He’d lost the tan he had built up on Arausio and was back to his usual, very pale white skin.

“Minister Rana, what a pleasure to see you.” She grinned as she stood up and bowed.

“Governor Amar, it is a pleasure to be here.” He bowed in return before engulfing her in a big hug and kissing her on the lips. “Hello, Vi.”

“It is great to see you, Sebastian.” She held him tight before they released each other. “What are you doing here so soon?”

“The moment the President told me about the change of plan, I booked myself onto the next transfer here. You’re not the only one who isn’t welcome around the inner circle at the moment.”

“Ah, I hope that isn’t my doing,” she said. “Drink?”

“Wine, please.” He sat down in the chair facing hers. “I think you’re just a convenient excuse. The president is disappointed I’ve not sided with her yet.”

She poured him a large glass of wine and handed it to him before doing the same for herself.

“After all these years, she still doesn’t understand you very well, does she?”

“I think she used to a few years ago, but now she’s surrounded herself with people who only echo her views. It’s harder and harder to make my arguments heard.”

“So you came out here to Arausio to relax instead.”

“Well, I’m not sure about that if what I’ve read about you trying to ban Contracts is true.”

She held up her free hand. “Guilty as charged. The families are taking it about as well as you’d expect.”

“I bet you’re enjoying that, aren’t you?”

“A little.” They burst into laughter for a while. “It’s so good to see you.”

“It is always a joy.” He was staring at her eyes. The last time they had seen each other, he had told her how much he loved the colour of them.

“It’s a shame we see each other so rarely nowadays.”

“The Parliament being moved to Yukon did not help,” he said with a sad smile. “Maybe in the future, we can be closer together.” He put his hand on the desk, and she covered it with her own.

“I hope we can.” She sipped her drink as they sat in silence for a few moments. “It’s getting late.” She pointed at the darkened skies overhead.

He stretched his arms upward. “I think I could sleep for a year right now.”

“You’d miss all the fun if you did that.” She smiled mischievously and laid a hand on his arm. “Shall we have some more drinks in my rooms?”

“I cannot think of a better way to spend the evening.” He linked his arm in hers, and they left her office by the back door, laughing and talking as they went.

—–

If you liked this sample, you can find links to buy the full book here.

This is the 5th free sample of Oranje, I’ll be posting up to the end of Chapter Ten for free. You can buy it here, or if you’re interested in getting a review copy of the book, you can contact me via email or on twitter (links to both on my website).

Links to the previous free samples:

• Prologue
• Chapter One
• Chapter Two
• Chapter Three

—–

She watched through the window as the shuttle craft drifted towards her. It had a functional design, visible in its appearance. It had large square radiator panels at the back and a shape that was blocky rather than rounded. As it got closer, its surface was illuminated by the station’s light. The grey-and-blue-painted surface was dotted with small scars and holes that spoke of the years it had spent in space. Even with the artificial gravity of the station, she felt the shuttle dock, a slight judder that passed through her. She ran a hand over her hair to make sure it was flat, and she stood at attention, facing the docking hatch. It opened after a short wait, and a tall man ducked through. He was dressed in an immaculate uniform of dark blue with grey cuffs and collar, a trimmed white beard on his worn tan face.

She saluted by touching two fingers to her right temple. “Marshal Hofer, welcome on board Thor station.”

He returned her salute. “Thank you, General Kassar. You may stand at ease.”

She relaxed her shoulders and gazed past him, into the shuttle. “Are none of your staff with you, Marshal?”

“No need to pull them away from their duties for this.” He cast his eyes around the simple grey corridors. “Which way is it to the conference room?”

“This way, Marshal.” She led the way, setting off at a brisk walk, the marshal alongside her as they worked their way through the station.

“Have you settled in now?” he asked.

“Everyone is up to speed on how I like to work, but I’m disappointed with the combat readiness of the force. Not what I had expected from two active constellations. There is a lot of hard work going on to fix that.” She composed herself before continuing. “I do have to admit to being surprised by this visit, Marshal.”

“Why? Every appointment gets a press conference.”

Thud, thud, thud went their shoes on the floor, dulled by the thin layer of grey carpet.

“Not many are done by the head of the armed forces.” She glanced at him, but he seemed to be focused on looking at everything other than her. “It is an honour, but I thought you would have more important issues to deal with right now. The normal round of announcements was made. Is a press conference necessary?”

He gave her a brief smile. “The Republic isn’t going to declare war in the next two hours, General. I can spare the time to announce your appointment.”

They carried on, walking in silence for a while, winding their way through the many connected corridors that made up the station, passing officers who gave them both salutes that they returned.

“Still, it’s been over a month since I assumed this position. Marshal, are you here because of the interview I gave?” She felt there was a pause before he responded.

“You’re free to speak your mind on any matters which don’t affect national security, General, the same as every officer who has taken the oath. It would not surprise me if the issue was raised by a journalist, but you have nothing to worry about.” He gave her a not very reassuring smile. “I hope I won’t be introducing myself at the conference.”

“Major Jan Kato, my chief of staff, will be meeting us there. He will handle all the introductions.”

More silence passed before they reached the conference room. A guard at the door let them in, and they were greeted by the major. He was of average height, with light-brown skin, in a dark-blue uniform of the same style as her own. The room could best be described as functional. A short stage with a podium stood to one side, the wall behind it covered in a worn version of the flag of the Union of Nine. A few rows of chairs faced this, all empty apart from one today. She couldn’t make out much on the ID card slung around his neck, but he would’ve been vetted by the force. Three camera drones sat at the back of the room, ready to broadcast the conference.

She followed the marshal onto the stage and sat down next to him, waiting her turn. Major Kato stepped onto the podium and tested the microphone with a tap of his finger. The lights dimmed, and the drones kicked into life, a projection on the far wall counting down until the time they would be live.

“Good morning, and welcome to this press conference. Marshal Anton Hofer, head of the Union of Nine armed forces, will speak first, then General Kassar. There will be a chance to ask any questions you may have at the end.”

The major stepped to one side as the marshal rose from his seat and walked up to the podium.

He cleared his throat. “Good morning, it’s with great pleasure that I am here today to announce the appointment of General Marienne Kassar as head of the Outer Region Command. General Kassar has served for over four decades now, and has done so in a consistently hard working and exemplary manner. For the past twenty years, she has served as head of the Tactical Warfare program at the academy. Teams of her students have consistently defeated other Space Force commands during war game exercises. We’re certain that she will execute her new command with the same devotion and perseverance she has shown throughout her career. The Outer Region may not be grabbing the headlines nowadays, what with the ongoing dispute with the Arausio Republic going on, but it is vital to our security. General Kassar will have a duty to protect not only the worlds of the Union under her protection, but also the many independent worlds we have treaties with. I know that General Kassar can do all that is required and that she will show the same excellence she always had as a member of the armed forces.” With that, the major finished and stepped away from the podium.

She stood and approached him.

He stood back so they could shake hands and face the cameras as they did, before she approached the microphone. She moved it down a long way so it was the right height for her.

“Thank you, Marshal. It is an honour to have been offered this position and this chance to serve the Union.”

The journalist didn’t seem to be paying much attention to her. He had his mobile out and was busy staring at the screen. Aware of the watching cameras, she kept herself composed and continued.

“I relish this opportunity to have an active command after my many years at the Academy. I will carry out my duty with the same diligence and devotion with which I have approached every role I have had in the Space Force. To serve is an honour in itself—to be chosen to do so in a position of such responsibility, even more so.

“The focus right now may be on the Republic, but I will ensure the safety of the worlds under my protection and maintain the peace and security every citizen of the Union enjoys. I swore an oath when I joined the Space Force to protect and serve everyone, and those words remain foremost in my mind as I take up this post. I relish this opportunity to take part in the training of active forces, to ensure every officer and every spacecraft under my command is at peak readiness at all times. We can never relax our guard and must always be prepared for what we cannot foresee. I will make sure my command is ready for whatever may happen as we go forward. The Space Force has a proud tradition and one I will not let down. Thank you.”

She stepped away from the microphone, but a quick glance at the marshal told her he wanted her to continue. She looked at the journalist again. He was looking at her now, his mobile idle on his lap. The major was standing to one side. A look from the marshal had stopped him from moving back to the podium, so she stepped forward again.

“Are there any questions?” The journalist’s hand went up before the words had even finished leaving her mouth.

“First off congratulations, General, on your new position,” he said.

“Thank you.” She gripped the sides of the podium a little more tightly.

A grin spread across his face.

“A few months ago, there were rumours that you were the hot favourite to take over the Home Region Command, but now you are out here. Did this change occur because of recent comments you made calling another war with the Republic ‘futile and pointless’?”

She stared at him.

“This was the position offered to me, and I accepted it gladly. Any command I could have been given would have been a great responsibility.”

“So you don’t think the interview you gave has harmed your position?”

The journalist had a smirk on his face that hardened her expression.

“As an officer in the Space Force, I am allowed to speak my mind on many subjects.”

“Sorry, General.” His expression said otherwise. “But that didn’t answer my question. Has that interview damaged you?”

Her knuckles were now a much lighter colour than the rest of her black skin.

“I don’t believe it has. It’s not my place to speculate on what discussions may have happened before I was offered this position, but it seems unlikely for them to let comments that are no different from what I have said in the past affect the process.”

“It’s not that much of a stretch to say they have, especially now with tensions between us and the Republic at the highest they have been for decades.”

She glanced at the marshal, who sat on his chair, smiling. His eyes avoided her gaze.

“I can only say what I think. I cannot speak for anyone but myself.”

“Anonymous comments from sources inside High Command say you’re being put away from where the action will be because of your opinions.”

She could feel a vein pressing against her temple.

“I would suggest it’s odd to spend so much time talking about decisions that have already been made. Never mind the fact that if I was being ‘frozen out’ by command, it would be strange to award me the position I currently have.”

He raised an eyebrow and glanced at his mobile before he looked up again with a fresh grin on his face.

“Then what about comments other officers have made in public, saying you’re unfit to hold your command and calling you anti-war?”

“I am not anti-war. I wouldn’t be serving in the military if I was. In this situation, I believe that diplomatic options should be explored as much as possible before committing to a war that will cost lives.”

“Is that not overstepping your bounds a bit, General? You are not a politician.”

“I have merely stated my opinion and nothing more,” she said.

“You must realise that, as a senior military official, your words will be viewed as having quite a bit of weight behind them.”

“I’m one of a number of Space Force officers who have been asked for their opinions on the situation. Many voiced support for a war if one happens; others have expressed similar views to my own. Have you asked any of them if they think it has affected their careers as well, or just me?”

She kept her eyes fixed on him as silence filled the room. He broke away from her gaze to look at his mobile again.

“That’s all I want to ask you, General.”

“Then I will hand back over to Marshal Hofer.” She prised her hands from the podium and returned to her seat as the marshal took her place, a wide and—dare she say—happy smile on his face.

“Thank you, General. I will be able to answer a few questions of my own.”

The journalist looked at her, a cheeky grin on his face, before he turned to face the podium.

“Marshal, what do you say to the rumours that the general’s views have affected her appointment?”

“No comment,” he responded instantly.

She fought to keep her expression as neutral as possible.

“What are your views on the current situation?”

“We can’t ignore the current actions of the Republic. They’re violating the boundaries set by the last treaty almost daily. War is a last resort, of course, but we will be ready if it comes to that.”

The marshal looked to be in his element, with a perfectly arranged face and a strong, confident voice.

“Do you believe officers who have voiced opposition to that course of action will be able to do their jobs properly if it comes to war?”

She caught him glance at her out of the corner of his eye.

“Every officer swore an oath to serve and protect. I am sure all of them will remember that and give their all in the line of duty.”

“Will you be asking any officer to make statements to clear up their views?”

“As General Kassar has said, all members of the military have a right to voice their opinion on a wide range of topics. That doesn’t need to change, but I hope some officers will consider what they say in public with the utmost consideration.”

“That’s all, Marshal. Thank you.”

“Then I think we can wrap this up.” He stepped away from the podium. The camera drones went back into standby, and the journalist hurried out the room, pausing to shake the marshal’s hand. He cast one last look at Marienne before the door closed behind him. She was still on her chair, trying to keep calm and to not show her anger, eyes focused on the far wall.

“You handled yourself well, General.” He turned to look at her, with that smile still on his face.

She got to her feet and straightened her uniform, keeping her eyes focused on anything that wasn’t him.

“Those questions were always going to be raised, but people have short memories and will forget,” he said.

You won’t. “When will your shuttle be leaving, Marshal?”

He glanced at the watch on her wrist. She didn’t need to wear it, not with a mobile always at hand, but she liked being able to check the time without getting it out.

“This is only a short visit. I’ll leave within half an hour, but I have some fresh orders for you first.”

The vein in her temple still throbbed as she fought to hide her anger. She forced herself to look at him. If he guessed at the turmoil within her, he showed no signs of it.

“With the prospect of war looking more and more likely, the frequency of war games is being increased. They must be done every two days per crew. This applies to the entire Space Force.”

“My command has been doing that since I took over, Marshal.”

He seemed to be taken aback before recovering with another smile. “Good to hear, General. You’ve earned your reputation as a hard worker.” He faced the fading image of the Union flag on the wall and pointed at it. “Make sure that is repainted. We can’t have the flag in that state.”

“I will make sure that’s made a high priority for maintenance.”

He clapped his hands. “You’re also to have two clusters on combat alert at all times and ready to react to any situation. The intelligence groups have reason to believe the Republic may be interfering with the independent worlds.”

“It will be done,” she said. “May I ask why I had not heard about this before, Marshal?”

“It’s only come to light over the last few days. I thought I would tell you about it in person. There will be a detailed report in the next intelligence update.”

“Any more orders, Marshal?”

“That is all, General.” He looked at her watch again. “I will head back to my shuttle now. It has been a pleasure to see you.”

He saluted, and she pulled herself to attention and did the same.

“I think I can remember my own way back. You needn’t worry about escorting me back.” He smiled a little more widely.

Her neck muscles tensed. “Still, you should have some company on your way. Major, go with the Marshal back to his shuttle.”

The major saluted and followed Marshal Hofer from the room.

When the door closed, she slammed her palm into the wall and clenched her fists. Fighting to control her breathing, she kept it at a nice easy pace and relaxed her hands. She straightened her uniform, took a deep breath, opened the door, and headed straight back to work.

—–

If you liked this sample, you can find links to buy the full book here.

This is the 4th free sample of Oranje, I’ll be posting up to the end of Chapter Ten for free. You can buy it here, or if you’re interested in getting a review copy of the book, you can contact me via email or on twitter (links to both on my website).

Links to the previous free samples:

• Prologue
• Chapter One
• Chapter Two

—–

The sound of cellos and violins filled the air, bouncing back and forth between the walls of Isi’s workshop. She moved one hand along to the music as her eyes focused on the monitor. The wireframe of her latest design was laid out on it, a new prototype engine. Her gaze took in every detail as her other hand rotated it around to show the engine from every angle. With a happy nod and a smile, she swept it off the screen, sending it to the 3-D printer sitting next to the monitor. It jumped to life, tracing back and forth as it assembled her test model layer by layer.

The sound of the door buzzer caught her attention. She moved towards the door, both hands now moving with the music. Grease stains were just visible on both against her brown skin. They were even covering the tattoos that worked their way up both her arms. The one on her left was an image of her DNA, the one on the right the first engine she’d ever designed. She picked a cloth off a work bench to wipe her hands before pulling the door open. Her eyes took a second to adjust before she recognised the familiar face before her.

“Representative Melo.” She stood staring at him. “This is a surprise.”

He smiled at her. “Hello, Isi. May I come in?” His clothes had changed since the debate, now just a simple tan robe, again with matching makeup. A badge pinned to his chest was the only sign of his rank.

She glanced around at the workshop, half-finished prototypes strewn across the tables and walls hung with half-finished paintings.

“Sure, just give me a second.” She hurried off to try to tidy things up. She bundled much of the mess into a corner and hid the rest under strategically placed blankets before she waved him inside.

His gaze took in the whole room, lingering on her various prototypes hanging from the ceiling and on the worktops. Chairs, radiator panels, engines, and many other objects hung there. His eyes came to rest on the paintings. “I didn’t know you painted.”

“It’s just a little hobby of mine.” She settled down on the stool next to the printer, one hand brushing back her dark blue hair.

“It’s good work.” He paced around the room.

“Thanks.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “It’s a big surprise to see you out here.”

“Mmm.” His focus shifted to her prototypes. “I see you have been making good use of your extra space.”

“I waited almost two years to get it. Would be one hell of a waste not to make the most of it.” She pulled another stool out from under a bench and offered it to him, but he declined and stood still, looking around him.

“I have a feeling everyone will be grateful when the new expansion is approved,” he said.

“I thought that was still stuck in committee.”

“It was, but not for much longer. Everyone is almost agreed; just a few minor details left to work out.”

“Feels like it’s been stuck on a few minor details for a long time. We take a long time making decisions.”

The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs made them both turn. Lucie emerged, the jacket of the suit she wore at the debate over her arm and a relaxed expression on her face. She paused only briefly when she spotted Melo before resuming her walk. “Representative,” she said to him before turning to Isi, who placed an arm around her waist and kissed her on the lips. “Busy?”

Isi glanced at Melo, who stood with his arms behind his back, his foot tapping away, and his gaze turned elsewhere. “I think so,” she said.

“I’ll leave you two alone, then.” Lucie gave her a kiss on the cheek. “See you around, Isidora.” With a wink and a smile, she turned and left with the door clicking into place behind her, Isi’s eyes following her as she went.

“A night of celebration?” said Melo.

She grinned before looking him straight in the face.

“Forgive the bluntness, but why are you here, Representative?”

His eyebrows rose in surprise. “Don’t you know? The vote passed almost an hour ago.”

Her face broke into a wide smile. “I’ve not had a chance to look at the Net yet. I’ve been a bit pre-occupied”—she waved her arm at the door that Lucie had just left through—“but that’s fantastic to hear.” She looked at the 3-D printer as it worked back and forth over its growing creation. “What was the margin?”

“Sixty-four to thirty-six. Rumour has it almost all the pseudos backed you in the vote. It’s a bigger margin than I expected.”

“Smaller than I did.” She winked. “So, for the first time in centuries, the Three will be sent out.”

“It would appear so.” His foot tap-tapped away on the floor.

“You don’t seem as disappointed as yesterday.”

“Events have proved you right.” He sat down on the stool. “Do you know the planet Oranje?”

“The name rings a bell but nothing more.”

“It’s an independent world near the Union—relatively small population. Yesterday, it disappeared from the Net.”

“What do you mean ‘disappeared’? How does a planet just disappear from the Net?”

“I don’t know, but it did. The pseudos are baffled as well.” He didn’t look at her, keeping his eyes focused on the desk and the incomplete sculpture he had picked up before.

“That’s not good.” She picked up her cup to take a drink.

“It gets worse. The planet reappeared on the Net a few hours later, as suddenly as it had disappeared. Except now, there was no traffic on its Net satellites.”

She sat up, cup halfway to her mouth but forgotten. “That means…”

“That means there were no longer any devices on the planet capable of communicating with the Net.”

They looked at each other, Isi’s mouth agape and Melo’s eyes showing his tiredness.

“Oranje was attacked,” she said.

“Nuked, most likely. The first in this region.” He sighed. “Or at least the first we know about.”

“That steps up the pressure a bit.” She placed the cup back on the worktop then ran a hand through her hair. “How is so much being hidden from the pseudos?”

“That is a very good question, and the answer so far is ‘We don’t know.’ You were right to push for the Three,” said Melo.

“Well, I knew that already.” Her grin was replaced with a look of confusion. “Why are you telling me all this?”

His eyes brightened. “Do you know how the Three are appointed? They’re picked by the members of the Council.”

“They’re then put to a public vote to be ratified, and if it passes, there’s the ceremony, and they depart on their mission,” said Isi. “I did do my research on the Three before I suggested we send them out.”

He stood up, resuming his careful pose with hands neat and tidy behind his back. He even had a grin on his face. “Isidora Jain, as a representative of this station, I am offering you the chance to be part of the Three. Do you accept?”

It took a few seconds for her brain to kick back in and for her to realise her mouth was open. She closed it and rubbed her chin. “Why me?”

“Do you really need to ask after how you performed in the debate? You are young, passionate, and you believe in the mission the Three will be given. I cannot think of a better choice than you.”

“What about someone like Lucie? She has loads more experience than me?”

“There will be plenty of that from the other members of the Three.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’ll bring a passion and drive that will be needed to make sure this vital task is done right. Experience is not everything.”

She looked at the hand on her shoulder, and he quickly removed it and stepped back a pace. “I want you as part of the Three. I think that will boost the chance of success immeasurably.”

She tried to think of something useful to say and then gave up. “This is a lot to think about.”

“In normal circumstances, I would give you time to think this matter over. However, as you’re aware, there’s not much of that available to us right now. Do you accept?”

She looked around her workshop, at the many projects she had poured time and love into. Oranje had been attacked; what would these outsiders do to this station if they ever managed to find it? What would happen to any of the other worlds of September?

“Alright.” She stood up. “I’ll do it.” She extended a hand, which he took in a firm handshake.

“Fantastic.” He pulled out his mobile. “I will get the ratification vote started as soon as I can. There are a few formalities to deal with, but I think it should begin tomorrow morning at the latest.”

“So I have at least three days then, until we will know the results.” She sat down again. “When will the others be approached?”

He did not look up from his mobile as he walked away. “They already have. You’ll get to meet them tomorrow.”

“That’s sooner than I would have expected. Where will that be?”

“The White Building.”

“White Building?” Isi was puzzled before realisation dawned. “Oh, you mean the White Elephant.”

He rolled his eyes. “Yes, I believe that is the colloquial name for it.”

“I didn’t know that was used for anything.”

“It’s the residence of those waiting to be confirmed as the Three and will be where you train and prepare for your journey.” He raised an eyebrow. “I thought you had researched all of this.”

“Legal stuff, sure—less so the practicalities of what happened next. I didn’t think I would ever need to know about that.” She blew out her breath. “Looks like I was wrong.”

He grinned. “I get the impression that does not happen very often.”

“I may be used to getting my way, but I’m not a sore loser and I can admit I’m wrong from time to time.” Her brow furrowed as she spoke.

“You should start to pack some personal items. It’s unlikely, but you could be in the White Building for over a week. Everything else will be ready on the spacecraft you’ll travel in.”

The engineer part of her brain kicked in. “Is there one that will be ready in time?”

“That is under control. There’s no need to worry about that.” He had that knowing grin on his face again. “I should leave you to get ready.”

She stood up and shook his hand again. “I didn’t expect this when I woke up this morning.”

“When do days ever go as we planned?” He looked around the room again. “I will let you know when the others arrive at the White Building.” He turned to leave, but as he crossed the threshold, he stopped and turned back to look at her. “Wasn’t your hair red yesterday?”

“Yeah, I decided to change it.”

“Weren’t you a bit busy?”

“It didn’t take that long to do.”

He seemed to consider this information. “No dyed hair is allowed as part of the Three. You’ll have to go natural, I’m afraid.”

She managed a smile. “Don’t worry; that won’t be a problem.”

With another nod, he left, and one thought fought its way to the front of her brain.

The vote had passed, the Three would be sent out, and she was going to be one of them. She punched a fist into the air and turned her music up. She half walked and half danced up the stairs as a mental list formed of what needed to be packed.

—–

If you liked this sample, you can find links to buy the full book here.

This is the 3rd free sample of Oranje, I’ll be posting up to the end of Chapter Ten for free. You can buy it here, or if you’re interested in getting a review copy of the book, you can contact me via email or on twitter (links to both on my website).

Links to the previous free samples:

• Prologue
• Chapter One

—–

The sun was shining for Violeta’s return to Arausio. She had always thought the weather had a sick sense of humour, and brilliant sunshine did not reflect in any way the mood she was in. She passed through the doors at Rosmerta Spaceport to find the usual crowd waiting for her, headed by her chief of staff, James. He wore the usual costume of a bureaucrat on Arausio, a high-collared double-breasted jacket matched with loose-fitting trousers. His clothes were a rich deep blue that matched his eyes, which stood out against his brown skin. Her own outfit was similar in style, but in an olive green colour.

“Welcome back, Governor Amar. How was your trip back?”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Guess, after the meeting I had.” Her eyes travelled around the arrival lounge. “I’m surprised this place isn’t swarming with media.”

A wry smiled formed on his face. “I believe they may have been told that you were on a later shuttle flight down.”

“Nicely done.” She patted him on the shoulder with a wrinkled, light-brown hand. “We’d better get a move on before word is all over the Net that I’ve returned.” Not many people were near them, but many of them were busy on their mobiles, some no doubt informing others of the surprise passenger on the trip down with them.

“There is a pod being held in the Loop, ready for you, Governor.”

Together they headed towards the exit, pausing only briefly when they came to a wooden box that sat in the middle of the lounge. It was filled with earth. A beam of sunlight from the ceiling illuminated it. Violeta dipped her hand into the box and wiped some of the earth in a line across her forehead.

“I didn’t realise you still kept to that tradition,” said James.

“I know I don’t stick to many, but I like this one. It is good to come home and remind yourself of the soil from the world you were born on.”

“The soil is a bit deep here, what with all the concrete around.” He tapped his foot on the smooth floor, which extended in all directions.

“That doesn’t change the thoughts that go with the gesture.” She placed a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s get to the Loop; we have plenty to talk about.”

Security officers flanked them as they moved through the exit doors and into the adjoining building that housed a Loop station. They passed briefly into the glorious sunshine outside and got a brief glimpse of lush green fields with orange hills beyond before entering the station. An enclosed tube, the Loop ferried people back and forth to the capital. The journey to the governor’s would take them less than ten minutes.

A travel pod stood ready and open for them, the interior not the most spacious but enough for the short journey, and it was comfortable enough. They settled into their seats, and the door swung closed behind them. Within seconds, they were propelled towards their destination at over five hundred miles an hour.

“What did the president say in your meeting with her?” asked James. No window in the pod gave a view of the world outside, but monitors on both sides showed videos of pleasant scenery.

“You mean, what didn’t she say?” Violeta sighed and let her gaze meet his. “The president, and the Arausio Republic by extension, will not move from their position. They’ll carry on with their sanctions against the Union of Nine. We’re still headed towards a war with them.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I didn’t think it would end so badly. Even you weren’t that pessimistic before you left.”

“It stunned me how little she was willing to listen to my arguments.” She stretched. “Makes me wonder why she even had me go to Kama.”

“Maybe she was trying to wear you out?”

She gave him a look that made him flinch. “I’m sixty-nine, not a hundred and nine. I’ve got a good few decades left in me yet, and if that was her plan, it failed. No, I think she really believed I could be persuaded to her point of view. I doubt she will make the same mistake again.” She rubbed her chin. “They’re rescinding the Governor Act. We’re losing our right to veto by majority. Twelve governors for twelve planets in the Union, and now we are apparently irrelevant.”

James’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s a bold move, even for her. She must know it will only make the situation with you and the other governors worse.”

“It doesn’t matter to her. She’s convinced that this war is best and that we’re all secretly traitors to the Republic anyway.” Violeta stared at nothing before snorting with laughter. “Guess who the Republic representative at the Colonisation celebrations will be.”

He looked at her, confused, before his face broke into one of surprise. “No… they haven’t. The president must know how that will look.”

“Well, she has. The president is apparently ‘too occupied with the current situation’ to attend this year. Sebastian—sorry—Interior Minister Rana will be taking her place.”

James just stared at her, mouth half open.

“A president has never missed the colonisation celebrations on Arausio before.”

“Like I said, she views all us governors as traitors in waiting.” The monitors now showed a video of a river flowing through wide, beautiful plains of green beneath an orange-tinged sky. “At least Sebastian will not mind the role.” She smiled to herself. “It will be good to see him again.”

“Hasn’t it been almost a year since you last saw him? Properly seen him, I mean.”

She nodded.

“At least there is something for you to look forward to, then.” He paused for a second, and his brow furrowed. “That news will make the families even unhappier.”

She rolled her eyes. “What are they upset about now?”

“Guess.”

Violeta squeezed her eyes shut. “They’ve found out about the Contracts bill.”

“That they did.” He leaned towards her. “You should’ve waited until you were back to get it started.”

She opened her eyes and glared at him. “I’m not going to change my plans just to try and keep that lot happy. I hope you’ve been able to deal with any fires they may have started.”

“Of course.” He straightened up. “The fact that this was in your election manifesto has held them back for now, but they want to speak to you right away. They described it as being ‘very urgent’.”

“Damn.” She tapped her fingers on the door handle to her side. “I was hoping for at least some peace and quiet before that would happen.”

“When have we ever had that?” he asked.

“Far too long ago,” she said with a wistful sigh. “Probably back before I was governor.”

“Only eleven years then.” A chime sounded in the cabin. “We’re almost there.”

She ran a hand over her hair. “Any other pressing issues I should know about?”

“The meat labs are having problems,” said James.

“Again? That must be the fourth time this year.” She shook her head. “Tell them if they don’t sort it out, I’m going to nationalise some of them. I’ve had enough of their excuses.”

“As you wish, Governor.” He tapped at his tablet as he scrolled through his list. “Oh, there’s been another demonstration by the Truth of the Past, this time outside one of the temples.”

She scratched at her ear. “They’re that cult that’s obsessed with the old Commonwealth, aren’t they?”

“I believe that is correct.”

“How many were there?”

He searched for the data. “Only a few hundred at most.”

She dismissed the numbers with a wave of her hand. “Nothing to worry about. When they start gathering in their thousands like the families do, we can start to be concerned.”

“I’ll ask that we only be notified when that does happen, Governor.”

“Thank you, James.”

The pod began to decelerate as they approached their destination, but all they felt was a small force pushing them into their seats as it came to a rapid halt. Soon, the door opened and let them out into the station, which sat beside the Governor’s Palace. Violeta put her hand up to her eyes to block the bright glare of the sun. The Palace was an imposing building, a series of beautiful terra-cotta-colour domes and impressive glass. It towered over the surrounding buildings in the district, helped by the raised area it was situated on. Long steps ran down from its entrance to the huge plaza below, where vehicles zipped along the main road. The Loop station sat on the other side of the plaza, not really a building but more of an open area covered by a low glass roof, currently opaque to block out some of the light.

“It doesn’t look like we’ve been spotted yet,” said James. Only a few people were on the steps to the Palace, no sign of the usual horde of journalists and their drones.

“We’d better get moving before that changes.”

Side by side, they headed across the plaza and up the steps, more security officers by their side. James’s mobile sounded an alert, and he checked the message.

“Ah.”

She sighed. “What is it?”

“The families are waiting for you,” he said as he returned the mobile to his pocket.

“So much for a quiet return.”

They reached the cavernous main doors and passed inside into the clean and welcoming reception area, its marble walls contrasted by soft and colourful carpets, chairs, and sofas set beneath a smaller dome. She halted their walk and turned to him. “I think it’s time to remind them again that they don’t run Arausio anymore.”

“They still have lots of influence.” He glanced at his mobile. “I need to be at that meeting with the meat lab owners.”

“Good luck with that. I want you to come out of that with a promise of when they’re going to fix the problems.”

“Don’t worry, I will, and I think you need the luck more than me.” He bowed to her. “Governor.” Then he set off down a side corridor.

She headed towards her own office. Much like other areas of the building, it had been built to impress any who visited it, but she felt it loomed more than managed that. Her desk, made of fine polished wood, sat at the back, where the scale of the room made it look very small. A dome rose above her head, and blue skies were visible through the glass top, a welcome break from all the stone walls. Some of the first things she had done when she became governor were to replace the guest chairs with much more comfortable furniture and to place a few exotic potted plants around. No place with potted plants could feel too intimidating.

She ran a hand along her desk—it had been polished so much she could almost see her reflection in it—before sitting down in her chair, luxuriously comfortable of course, as befitted the governor of a major world, and checked her schedule. Her inbox flooded with new messages from the few days she had been away. She scrolled through some of them, but when the number approached almost a thousand, she closed the monitor, sighed, and opened the intercom.

“Tess, please send them in.”

She leaned back and waited for the doors, huge wooden affairs, to open. They swung open at a careful and silent pace. The gap between them had only just begun to appear when the founding families pushed their way through and marched down the carpet towards her. Not all of them were here—the families were too big for that—but the key members were all present and correct. She rose from her chair to greet them.

“Well, what can I do for you all today?”

“I’m sure you’re aware of why we’re here,” said Talia Idrissi with a glare that would make some people flinch. All the members of the founding families had their faces painted according to which one they belonged to. To wear the paint was a mark of one’s position of privilege and of one’s pedigree. Talia Idrissi had a tricolour of green, blue, and yellow with a white star on each cheek. Her dark skin could barely be seen beneath them. Her clothing matched the colours of her face though her style included a few more frills than Violeta’s.

Violeta stopped herself from rolling her eyes. “Is this about the latest change of plans to the celebrations?”

Talia look confused, and Daan de Vries spoke in her place. “What news? I thought we were to be informed of any changes to the schedule.” His white face bore a white spiral on a blue background, with gold stars dotted around. He wore a long robe, tightly buttoned at the top but flowing around his legs. It was blue like his face.

“I’m afraid President Demir will no longer be attending.” The snub from the president was almost worth it for the looks on their faces. “I believe the president feels the situation with the Union is a more pressing concern right now.”

“A President has never missed the celebrations before,” managed a stunned Omar Al-Rawi. A diagonal yellow strip divided areas of red and white on his brown face. His outfit was almost a typical suit for Arausio, well, except for the copious amounts of gold thread it contained.

“Well, they’re going to miss it now.” Violeta sat back down in her chair. “Minister Rana will be taking her place.”

“I’m sure you are distraught at the news,” said Daan. “Have you agreed to our request to have seating of more importance at those events?”

“No, it is denied. You have your own section; there are more important people who will be seated at the front.” She could feel Talia glaring at her.

“We founded this world; that should be respected.”

“No, your ancestors did. That was seven hundred years ago. Times have changed. Democracy rules now, for the most part. The main seats will be taken by those who run this planet, with Minister Rana replacing the president.”

“Oh, I’m sure you are just torn up at the president not coming,” said Talia. “We all know of your relationship with the minister.”

She met Talia’s gaze. “My private life is just that, private. I will not discuss it here.”

“Then maybe you will talk about this Contracts bill you have tried to sneak past us,” said Omar.

She leaned forward to rest her elbows on the desk and clasped her hands together. Her eyes focused on Daan. He was always the most reasonable of them, though that wasn’t saying much.

“I object to that claim. It’s gone through all the correct procedures, nominated by a member of the legislature and seconded, and now will move to the debate stage soon enough. No sneaking has been involved.”

“The contracts have kept the economy of this planet going for centuries. They have allowed tens of thousands of people access to a better education than they could dream of,” he said.

“That doesn’t change the fact they are legalised slavery,” she said. “Ordinary people are forced to sign half their lives away to you, living and working where you want if they want any access to a good education or a decent job. I cannot allow that to go on.”

“You are forgetting you were contracted yourself; you’re a product of this system.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I have not forgotten, and I’m sure, given current circumstances, you wish I never had one. The fact that I was under contract doesn’t change the fact of what they are. Having been a part of the system is why I am changing it. No one else should have to go through that.”

“Twice before, you’ve put this bill forward and it’s been defeated. Why will it pass now?” Talia was not even bothering to conceal her sneer anymore.

Violeta held up three fingers. “Three times I have been elected governor, and each time I pledged to end contracts. I keep my promises. My majority of the vote has grown each time, as has my support in the legislature.” She hammered the desk with her finger to ram the point home. “This time, you will not defeat it. It’s time for Arausio to change.”

Daan gave her the same smile he always did, half condescension and half politeness. “Without our philanthropy, how do you intend to pay for people to access the same level of education?”

“It shouldn’t need philanthropy. The contracts are completely unbalanced. You get a virtual slave for thirty years in return for an education that many more could access if you paid your fair share.”

“Our wealth is what keeps Arausio running; our hands steer the course of its economy. Our investment creates many jobs for people.”

“That doesn’t make up for the fact that you take so much from people for so little in return. You make huge amounts of money by controlling people under contract, but the state doesn’t get much of it back.” Her eyes flicked from person to person. Talia looked as angry as ever, with Omar not far behind. Daan at least appeared to be keeping his calm. “I will be putting a second bill forward tomorrow that will secure the funding for greater access to education for everyone. There will be changes to the tax system to make sure everyone pays their fair share.”

Talia looked like she wanted to scream, but Daan stopped her with an outstretched arm. “So you seek to wreck not only the future of the young but the economy as well. Taking wealth away from us will jeopardise the steady growth we have maintained for centuries.”

“These are not the dark days of the Collapse. Arausio is much wealthier now. The economy isn’t going to implode when the Contracts are abolished.” She leaned back in her chair. “Much has changed since this world was founded, even though you’re doing everything you can to deny that fact. The time has come for change, to stop treating people like slaves.” Violeta turned back to her work. “Unless you have any other pressing items to discuss with me, I have other issues to deal with.”

“This is not the end of this debate,” said Daan.

“It never is.” Violeta picked up her tablet and flicked through her schedule.

“You think you have won already, but you have not,” said Talia, every word laced with venom. “We are Arausio.”

“No, you were Arausio. I am the head of this world now, and you would do well to not forget that fact.” She met each of their gazes with a fierce one of her own. “I’d be careful in your ivory towers if I were you.”

“You threaten us?”

“No more than you threaten me.” She sat more stiffly. “Take it as a reminder of the balance of power. Every time I have been elected, it has been with more and more support. The people are behind me, and I will listen to them.”

Talia snorted in derision. “Not all of them are lining up to sing your praises.”

Violeta licked her lips. “Don’t you think it’s interesting to see just how much your support has dropped since you lost the ability to force people under contract to vote for you?” Her eyes met Talia’s gaze and didn’t waver.

“It’s time for us to go. I think enough has been said,” said Daan. “Governor.” He bowed towards her before laying a hand on Talia’s shoulder and leading her from the room with the others following. The big doors closed behind them with a satisfying thud. Violeta stared at them before returning to her work.

—–

If you liked this sample, you can find links to buy the full book here.