In Confed Space
© 2019 by Walter Reimer

It was a term that had persisted through the centuries, long after the medium it had originally referred to had been superseded by digital readouts.
Paperwork.
Whether it was hardcopy or lines of holographic text hanging in midair, it was still paperwork.  It still demanded that it be read, and responded to, in order to keep whatever organization it belonged to operating.
That’s the problem with running government along with the military, Felix al-Sakai grumbled to himself as he scrawled his name across his desk, signing his name to yet another decree written for his approval by the Ministry of Something-or-Other.  Twice as much paperwork.  The leopard was spending a few days at the family estate on Maratha, but the work followed him like an insistent feral puppy.
He glanced up as the document faded and his guard checked the door.  “Who is it?” the leopard asked.
“Your mother, Highness,” the panther femme said.
Felix smiled and cleared the desk.  “Have her come in, please.”  The pantheress stepped aside as the door opened and his mother, dressed in a light robe, stepped in.  “Hello, Mother.”
Sarafina gave her son a hug and took a seat near the desk.  She nodded, and the guards stepped out of the room and closed the door.  “House arrest isn’t as bad as a cell, but it’s boring.  How are things going?  I’m not allowed to see the news.”
Felix smirked.  “I know you have spies in my staff, Mother, as well as in and out of the government.”
“True.  Still, there’s nothing like hearing it from the Admiral-General himself.  So,” and she sat back, her paws resting loosely in her lap, “what’s going on?”  Her smile stopped just short of her eyes.
He matched her gaze for a moment before saying, “Fine.  Senator Nakajima’s been removed from office by the Presidium.”
“Oh?”
Felix nodded.  “Apparently the old goat being a pedophile wasn’t enough to have him ousted, but necrophilia?”  He tsked as his mother chuckled.  “The President was quite angry as she announced his removal and arrest.”
“I imagine whoever told the police will be amply rewarded,” Sarafina said with a straight face.
“Well, he would,” her son said with a sympathetic droop of his tail, “but he was Nakajima’s last victim, sad to say.  So the police catch a criminal, some money gets saved, and the Presidium loses the loudest voice who spoke against Article 500 being invoked.”
Sarafina smiled.  “Well done, my son.  I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you, Mother.”  Felix’s tail swished.  “Right now, I have almost enough support.  Two or three members of the Confed Legistature, and it’ll be done.”  He tapped the intercom on his desk and gave orders for refreshments before adding, “The secession of the Colonies is actually helping our plan.  Fewer people to object or block us.”
The tacit poke at her wasn’t missed, but Sarafina didn’t show it, and the older feline smiled when Felix said, “The President’s support in the Senate is fading.”
“Good.”
“In fact,” and he stopped talking as a servant entered bearing a tray.  After placing a plate of tapas beside each of the felines, he placed glasses and a carafe of a chilled mixture of fruit juice and wine on the desk before leaving.  When the door closed, Felix resumed, “In fact, I expect her to lose the vote of confidence that’ll be proposed to the Presidium over the next few days.”  He got up, poured two glasses of the drink and offered one to his mother before sitting back down.  
“And the war?”
He had been about to eat when she asked the question; he ate and chased the small meat-filled pastry down with a sip of his drink before replying, “Things have stabilized.  The AIs believe that the Kashlani are consolidating their gains before resuming the offensive.”
She raised an eyebrow.  “That gives us an opportunity.”
Her son grinned.  It was an unpleasant expression.  “Yes, it does.  Several plans have been advanced, and I’ve been considering options.”
“Any objections?”
“None.  The staff and all senior commanders are loyal to me, and they know that if they cross me they’re out.”  He showed his teeth.  “Whether or not that means throwing them out an airlock.”  
Mother and son shared a chuckle and enjoyed their drinks and tapas for a while before Felix ventured, “And, your trial, Mother?”
Sarafina swished her tail and set a half-eaten tapa aside.  “Moving along nicely.  My lawyers have sued to have the judge recused, as she’s a Colonial, and several other motions and writs are being used,” she said, waving a paw with an airy gesture.  “Our revised plans have everything back on track.  The only random element is the Kashlani, of course, but even they can be made to serve our purposes.”
“Thank you, by the way.  For trusting me enough to set this up.”
“I had always planned on doing just that, Felix,” Sarafina said seriously.  “Things just got hurried along.  You’re doing very well.”

***

The black-furred stallion entered the office, stood at attention and saluted.  “Lieutenant Nguyen, Ma’am, by appointment.”
“At ease, Lieutenant.”  The admiral sat back and looked at the equine for a moment, studying him.  His captain sat beside her.  After a few seconds the vixen said, “Nguyen, your rank is Lieutenant.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“What I’m about to tell you is secret.”  Her eyes narrowed.  “Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”  The stallion knew the importance of keeping his muzzle shut.  Terra was at war; a loose tongue ran the risk of getting flash-frozen in vacuum if it was caught wagging.
“The Fleet’s assembling a new set of formations, organized to operate behind the lines with minimal support and wide discretion for young and aggressive officers.  Interested?”
“It’ll mean your own command,” the captain put in.
Tariano Nguyen gaped briefly, then snapped to attention.  His own ship!  “I am definitely interested, Ma’am!”
The vixen nodded and consulted a file.  “You will be granted a promotion to Commander, the rank you would be at right now had you graduated from the Academy.”  His ears flickered at that, but he knew that it was the truth.  He kept his anger firmly tamped down as she added, “And you’ll be given command of the Ublyudok.”  The vixen looked up at him.  “You will have sealed orders waiting for you, keyed to your genecode.”  She bared her teeth.  “Good hunting, Commander.”
The stallion saluted.  “Thank you, Ma’am, Sir.”  The salute was returned, and he pivoted smartly on one hoof and left the room.
“He’ll do well, I think,” the captain said.
The vixen nodded.  “And if he fails, it’s no great loss.”