1750 hours, September 22nd, 2542 (UNSC military calendar)
UNSC Security Council, FLEETCOM HQ, Reach.

Hood took his seat in the chambers. An awkward silence hung over the Security Council's room. One of the chairs was missing. The one given to President Roselyn had been to ease the cooperation of the UEG administration and the UNSC. But now there was nobody to take Roselynn's seat. The UEG had been dissolved to such an extent that there was effectively no successor for the President. There were to be no elections until after the war, and Roselyn had effectively been just a consultant on economic matters. With her death, the UEG democracy was effectively in stasis, or dead, depending on who you asked. Seats had been given to each major branch of the UNSC military, and now with Roselyn's temporary chair gone, the room was back to five leaders.

Parangosky stood up and walked to a holoprojector, activating it and showing an overview of a large planet.

"I understand we're all shocked by Roselyn's death, but we have important subjects to deal with today. I'll begin with the first subject of the evening. The UEG diplomatic corps has informed me about a new diplomatic proposal from the Turian Hierarchy, and one from the Volus. First up. The planet Styxis 4, seven Light Years from the Covenant invasion corridor and directly in its path. It is on the edge of the parts of the Inner Colonies we have given the Citadel permission to operate in."

Another institution under your thumb. Hood thought bitterly at the mention of the diplomatic corps now answering to Parangosky.

"This world has not been developed due to the presence of a Dextro-Amino heavy biosphere and high radiation. The biosphere is unpalatable to humans at best, and deadly at worst. " Parangosky brought up an overview of the planet. "The gravity and atmosphere are otherwise almost Earth-normal. 0.90 and 1.2 Earth-normal, respectively. The Turians have noted the similarity to their homeworld, and wish to settle it in support of their war effort. They intend to use the planet due to the relative ease with which they could expand facilities placed upon it. Their intention is to bring their wounded, provide R&R for their soldiers, and supplement their food supplies with a local source. There are also asteroids and metal-rich planetoids to support a local fleet base."

"Stronger Turians would be good. But what are the Turians offering?" Hood Remarked.

Parangosky continued. "The Turians are offering an equal exchange. Their offer is a world in Citadel space that is almost entirely biosphere compatible with Earth, and with extremely fertile farmland. The ONI expert that examined the logs the turians provided called it "The closest thing to the Garden of Eden I've ever seen. A prime candidate for colonization". It is owned by the Turians, but the Asari had been intending to settle and had it earmarked for a future expansion wave. The Asari have agreed to give up their bid for the planet if we settle it with refugees."

Whitcombe murmured appreciatively. "An Earth-like world in Citadel Space is an incredibly appealing prospect. We have been moving refugees there for a while, but we've had to deal with existing populations. We could colonize it and move all the refugees we're still in the process of settling to this new world, as well as other assets that would be safer outside of the Orion Arm. " Whitcomb paused. "And the human race would survive if we lost. However. I would need assurances they wouldn't fortify the world against us."

"If we did that, the Infinity would no longer be needed as a self-sufficient colony ship," Hood stated. He had always been a proponent of the Infinity, but he realized when it was no longer needed. "I agree with Whitcombe. Sell it to them, in exchange for a promise they will disarm the world if we ask for it. They only want it for the duration of the conflict, after all."

General Hogan nodded. "I agree. A second Reach in Citadel Space. And it is not like we were going to use that world ourselves."

Seeing nobody spoke out against the suggestion, Parangosky nodded. "Then, the deal will be made. Next. The matter of Sellbon Prime. The Volus-run Elkoss Combine is interested in acquiring settlement rights for this ammonia-based world. Its gravity, climate, and biosphere is hospitable for them, and they've offered to settle it, in exchange for setting up large scale production facilities in the system, and a bulk payment in credits of twenty trillion credits. Their reasoning is that they see it as an excellent place to produce armaments and provide ship-servicing facilities closer to the front."

"For a ball of cleaning fluid, hostile wildlife, with sixty-eight atmospheres of pressure?" Hogan asked incredulously. "I would have given it to them for the spaceport alone. "

There were more murmurs of assent in the room. Parangosky nodded slowly. "Diplomatic negotiations will begin as soon as possible, then."

"Now. Onto the next suspect. The threat of increased Insurrectionist sentiment in light of Roselyn's death, and increased agitation for democratic reforms that erupted in UNSC space as a result of it."

Whitcombe snarled. "You have to be kidding as if we could afford to deal with another rebellion right now, Parangosky. They are choosing now of all times to clamor for democracy? We only just drove the Covenant from the Inner Colonies, and they could drive us back if we lose the upcoming battles for Chi Rho. I trust you're dealing with them with all due prejudice? We can not let them impede the war effort."

"While I loathe violence against civilians. We can not afford dissent at the moment. I have to insist you use non-lethal methods to discredit them, Parangosky." General Hogan pleaded. "The last thing we need is another commander going off half-cocked like at Far Isle and giving the insurrectionists the mother of all rallying cries." Hogan sounded bitter, and not a little bit paranoid.
Hood did not speak up, waiting to see what Parangosky was going to say.

Parangosky put her hands in her back, carefully gauging Whitcomb and Hood."To the contrary. I believe that the best path forward for the UEG is the restoration of a democratic system, but one that has been subjected to a thorough reconstruction from top to bottom, with a focus on long term stability, and with the faults of the UEG excised from it. The best of the past, but without the long term side effects of centuries of political cliques and families meddling. A fresh start for our democracy." Parangosky stated to Hood's surprise. "We need to acknowledge the causes of the Insurrection, and root them out one by one. And through carefully managed change and forward-thinking ideas, implement a new system that will last longer, and not be prone to systemic corruption."

Hood warily eyed her Parangosky, almost expecting her to rip off her own face and reveal herself to be someone in disguise. He knew the woman was pragmatic but hadn't expected this approach from her. Lord Hood had no clue what to think and decided to go with cautious observation. He nodded slowly, trying not to let the feeling of unease overtake his better judgment, but nodded slowly. She had a point, after all.

"I had spoken to Roselyn about such a thing. Using the chaos of the war as an opportunity to excise the parts of the UEG that facilitated the rise of the Insurrection, and weakened our ability to respond effectively." Parangosky's voice broke for just a moment, causing Hood and Hogan to look at each other in pure confusion, then turning back to the spook, eyes locked on her. "I believe that now, with the populace in mourning, forcing through democratic reform would be for the best."

For a moment, Hood thought that Parangosky and Roselyn may have been romantically involved. He couldn't imagine anything else invoking an emotional reaction from Parangosky. He rejected those thoughts and returned to analyzing the spook.

Parangosky slammed a fist into an open palm. "Firstly. We have to dismantle the pseudo-governmental corporate structures of many of our colonies. Corporate-owned colonies, while profitable, are a powder keg for rebellion and civil unrest." She lit a black omni-tool and motioned it towards the datapads in front of all of them, transferring a file to each. " I have provided you a list of Insurrection groups that were formed due to a lack of oversight upon corporate colonies and the abuses suffered by the local population at the hands of short-sighted leaders. Section One analysis estimates that we can half the projected instances of Colonial instability by doing this. Harsher environmental legislation should also be enforced to maintain the liveability of worlds, and avoid a potential source of tension."

Parangosky motioned with her omni-tool again and brought up a series of charts which all showcased the types of rebellions in the UEG, their causes, and their ultimate end. "With real-time communications between worlds via a private Comm Buoy network, reacting to sources of unrest preemptively with concessions and decisive action will become feasible, unlike the corruption and inaction of the Central Colonial Authority." Parangoskt highlighted a chart with a large red slice that labeled "Colonial excesses" as the cause of an uprising 48% of the time.

Hood had to admit that Parangosky was right in this. "That was unfortunately quite common in the Outer Colonies when I served there during the prelude to the Insurrection. I was involved in putting down a revolt on a mining world early in my career that had erupted after corporate police opened fire on protestors. By the time we arrived, the planet was in a state of civil war, and thousands were dead. I had the local corporate executive who'd ordered the protest dispersed as well as the more fanatical rebel leaders executed for fermenting Insurrection."

"And the corporation in question nearly torpedoed your career thanks to their backers on the UEG senate and was back at it on another world within a year. At least until the Covenant glassed the worlds they operated on. But not before the CEO evacuated his wealth while leaving his workforce to burn." Parangosky stated venomously, her word choice opening that old wound as quickly as a knife.

Whitcomb stood up. "I agree with Parangosky's rhetoric. The corruption of both the CAA and the UEG senate was a reason the Insurrection radicalized. The UNSC knew that from the start, and we could barely do anything. Because of the indecision of the UEG senate, we did nothing until cities started getting nuked. If we restore the government like it used to be, we will just get a repeat of before. We should take this opportunity and bring the megacorporations and political elite into line, permanently. The next time some idiot causes a rebellion by cutting medical expenditure to increase his bottom line, we should put him in front of a firing squad."

"We can't do that, Whitcombe," Hood stated. "We should change the constitution, I agree, but we can not start extrajudicial killings to save time." Hood was disturbed by how quickly other members on the security council were ready to completely abandon democratic principles. He had growing suspicions that Parangosky had been stoking these feelings for some time, but did not have anything to act upon. He eyed Strauss, who was still silent. The tiebreaker of the Council.

"We already do so, Lord Hood." Whitcombe sneered. "If a soldier steps out of line and causes dissent or rebellion, they are executed or at least jailed. We have a chance to rebuild the UEG that has never been had before, and we shouldn't waste it by repeating past mistakes. No kid gloves for civilian entities. Strong control is how we will ensure stability and safe rebuilding of the UEG. Keep the senate disbanded, and reconstruct the UEG in support of the UNSC. Let the people who know what they are doing lead."

"That is ridiculous." General Hogan of the Marine Corps stated angrily with a fiery passion Hood had not seen in him for some time and slammed a fist onto the table. "This is treasonous talk, and I will have no part of it. The UNSC established martial law so we could eventually restore the government, not to become a Junta, or play around with the constitution. We need but break the political cliques, then re-establish the democratic system. At most, introduce more checks and balances."

Whitcomb turned to look at the General. "And when those cliques form again? Because I know for a fact that the pre-war political groups will quickly reform the moment that we re-introduce democracy. And that is unacceptable.."

Major General Nicolas Strauss of the UNSC army didn't say anything, merely looking back and forth at the debate. The mood was starting to darken.

Parangosky spoke up, the mediator, as always. "We should be realistic. Right now, all that is left of the UEG are planetary bureaucracies. We have already taken control of nearly all shipping, resource extraction, farming, food distribution, and diplomacy. We should formalize what we have now as a part of the UNSC, but allow the planetary bureaucracies to establish themselves as democracies. This is something that we can build upon eventually by re-establishing full interstellar UEG rule. We'll restore the UEG in stages. First democracy on a planetary level. Then the restoration of interstellar communications, trade, and infrastructure. With the final goal being a fully restored UEG, that has learned from its past mistakes."

Danford nodded eagerly, his robust frame and physique looking moments from exploding in anger. "That seems like an excellent compromise for the time being. Keep political power and control decentralized and on a planetary level, while the UNSC continues as before, and the Security Council gets the things done that we need to win this war. At the same time, we can curb corporate excesses to win increased support from the people. Perhaps convince many would-be-rebels to lay down their arms."

Parangosky spoke up. "Vice-Admiral, what about a temporary system that mandates that all corporations above a certain size or wealth have to have UNSC representatives on their boards? With a majority stake for said corporation being under the control of the UNSC. See it as a series of stopgaps and supports around which we can slowly restore the interplanetary economy, infrastructure, and society."

"Something like that has potential. But perhaps it would be best to stick to requiring a military officer to be on the board of said corporations."

"I agree wholeheartedly, Vice-Admiral," Parangosky said in the sly way only a woman of her age and cunning could.

Hogan grumbled. "No. We must restore democracy fully or wait a while longer. It's not our prerogative to decide what will happen to humanity. We swore an oath to uphold the constitution, even with its flaws. We can't start playing kingmaker here."

"I agree with General Hogan," Hood stated. "We're here to defend humanity. Not to rule over humanity and decide how everything will be structured."

Major General Strauss spoke up for the first time in the meeting. "I'm sorry, Hogan, but you're a marine. You've not seen how terrible things have gotten on many of the Inner Colonies swamped by refugees. The ones me and my soldiers have been manning for seventeen years now. The Army has effectively been managing many of the harder hit worlds. Feeding the refugees, clothing them, housing them, often when the planetary governments do nothing. I am confident in saying that we are quite sick of having to clean up the messes left by others. If that means doing away with the pre-war democracy, then God forgive me, I agree."

Hood felt a knot of tension in his gut form when he realized that Strauss was most likely going to side with Parangosky. That meant her attempted reforms would go through. He stayed silent and remained attentive, all the while thinking of his best course of action.

There was a fire in Strauss's eyes as he spoke, and a passion Hood had not seen from the usually reserved and calculating man. "We are getting all these resources and amazing technologies from our new allies, and I want the UNSC to be able to do with them what needs to be done. The last thing I want is to go back to having to listen to "Committees" and Senators with pockets full of lobbyist money about how to use it. The Army knows how to build cities, reconstruct infrastructure, and feed the dispossessed. And I want us to continue doing just that without anyone telling me how to do my job."

He stood up, the normally quiet and reserved Major General gone, replaced with a powerful, authoritative voice. "If this is a temporary system to reorganize the UEG for the sake of the war effort. I can support it. Reigning in the megacorporations as well. I can do without slimy businessmen and women trying to swindle the UNSC into paying them inordinate amounts for substandard goods. I'll be damned if I have to force Corporate ships to stop exporting food from a world weeks away from famine, or force them at gunpoint to make space on evacuation ships. So yes, I support re-establishing democracy on a planetary level, but reigning in all interstellar political and corporate control. Expanding the power of the UNSC, and preparing for an eventual re-establishment of an interstellar UEG, after we're sure we will never get a repeat of the past."

Three against two, Hood noted, eyeing Roselynn's empty chair. He glanced at Parangosky, unable to read any emotions from her, but there was a definite undertone of smug victory to her posture. Parangosky merely nodded and continued as before. "It will take time, but bringing back democracy on a planetary level would be a good thing for humanity, I believe. A way to solidify the fact the war has changed, and that the dark days are behind us. For now, we should elevate the existing planetary bureaucracies, and then allow them to decide for themselves where they wish to go in terms of rulership. With certain rules in place, naturally.."

"The bureaucracies you undoubtedly stacked in your favor years ago." Hood thought glumly but did not voice his concerns. Parangosky's rhetoric had revealed the disillusionment of the UNSC army and ambitious driven naval officers like Whitcombe, those who knew only the UEG at the height of corruption and instability. The ones who were willing to endure military rule or even expand it. Hood glanced over towards Hogan, the General's eyes and expression meeting Hood, and informing him that Hogan felt the same way. One could always count on the Marines. And Strauss did not look fully convinced. If Hood was careful, he might be able to swing Strauss into supporting him.

But Parangosky had the majority vote, and that meant her reforms would pass. Hood was seriously starting to consider the need to organize a resistance against ONI with the way it was growing. He had underestimated Danford and Strauss's disillusionment with the UEG. Parangosky's reforms would pass, and the people would love her for bringing back democracy, the young officers who'd become adults under martial law would approve of doing away with the corruption of the UEG. And all of this would work so long as Parangosky kept everyone convinced it was the first step to a restoration of the UEG.

-

2134 hours, September 22nd, 2542 (UNSC military calendar)
Lord Hood's room, FLEETCOM HQ, Reach.

Hood quietly contemplated his options. If Hood had solid proof Parangosky was manipulating the proposed reforms in her favor, then he would have to remove her from power. He didn't doubt he could do so, and find supporters and allies. He would have to be extremely careful in trying to chip away at Parangosky's potential supporters. To his shame, he had not expected other UNSC Admirals and Generals to approve of thinly veiled autocracy, convinced until today that the sickness was purely a part of ONI. But it was deeper and more insidious than that.

Failure to do anything could mean a proverbial boot on humanity's face for decades. But doing something about it could potentially cause a civil war that might lead to humanity's extension.

Her plan was devious. She would push through well-liked and beloved reforms that solved many issues of the population and would have a positive effect on the war effort. But then as she solidified control over the new governments of the planets of the UEG, and expanded her influence inside of the UNSC, she could force through almost anything she wanted. And until she did that, she held the cards. He'd only get one chance to intervene, and he would have to be careful. She was the power behind the throne now, and the Security Council was stacked in her favor.

Then it hit him.

The new world the Turians had offered.

Hood would call in every favor and pull every string he could to stack the new world's population and rulership with those he trusted. A world and a power base that ONI couldn't infest. He'd find the network of supporters Roselyn would undoubtedly have had and bring them under his protection, move the families of flag officers he trusted to the new world, and prepare it as a power base where humans could be safe from ONI. He had friends to contact, favors to call in, and preparations to make. He could colonize the new world with the Infinity, and have a powerful flagship under his control. And if the UNSC lost the war, ONI would die with it, while humanity could live on in Citadel Space.

The only way he could break ONI would be by playing them at their own game. And play to win. He'd make deals with the STG and the Turian Hierarchy, befriend Asari Matriarchs with deep pockets and philanthropic aims, enlist the aid of the Shadow Broker to keep ONI off of the new world, and establish a power base from which he could theoretically wage a civil war. If it came down to it. If he could convince Cole to side with him, he would easily get the majority of the UNSC fleet to support him.

He resolved to watch the war against the Covenant like a hawk, and strike the moment ONI showed weakness, and the Coalition had a moment of superiority. Because everything would be for naught if the UNSC lost the war. But he could not afford to wait things out. He'd just have to pray Cole could lead the UNSC to victory, and prepare to play his own part in humanity's future.