Though overshadowed in height by the Presidential Palace, by measure of floor space Parliament Hall was the largest building in Esthar. There were numerous lifts to ferry traffic between its hundreds of levels and then across the sprawling levels themselves, but still it was nearly ten minutes between the time Kiros and Ward walked in the entrance and when they arrived at the entrance to the Hall of Delegates.
"We're here to see Chairman Chan," Kiros said to the blue-robed usher who stood flanked by cyborg guards at the entrance.
"The Parliament is conducting a quorum," said the usher. "The Chairman cannot be disturbed."
"He requested we see him immediately," said Kiros. "His office gave specific instructions that we should meet him in the Chamber if he could not excuse himself."
The usher stepped away from them and produced a handheld intercom. Kiros could guess what he was saying and who he was speaking to, but didn't bother to listen.
"You think he's giving us the run-around on purpose?" he asked Ward.
Ward grunted, though Kiros thought he could almost hear his friend saying, I don't think he'd bother. Kiros nodded.
"The Chairman will meet with you," said the usher, rejoining them. "Though I must warn you his attention may be needed for a legislative action at any time. Come with me." With that, he turned and led them into the House chamber, with the two soldiers closing ranks to block the door, which slid closed until the usher could return.
The chamber itself was huge as well, a rectangular enclosure roofed by an expansive curved window that changed color and opacity in reaction to the time of day and level of light outside. Its upper levels were devoted to seating for the public, or those members of it who both could obtain a visitor pass and wanted to sit through hours of governmental procedure. The delegates were seated in an oval nearly the size of a basketball arena, with fully five thousand seats; there were over twelve hundred delegates, and the remaining seats were used by aides or left empty. Since a quorum was one time when all delegates were required by law to be present, most of these seats were currently filled with legislators and entourage.
The Chairman, along with the Cabinet, was seated on a platform in the center of the room that was raised about half a meter above the floor, which still left them well beneath the people and the backbench members of Parliament who needed opera glasses to even see the center table, but raised over those who sat at the front, such as the party leaders—or anyone who was summoned to speak to the Chairman during a quorum call.
Kiros and Ward were led by the usher up to this platform, where the Chairman was reading over a massive book containing the day's legislative agenda. Hasida Chan was a thin, balding man whose white formal robe only accented his lack of width. Nonetheless, he carried himself with a dignity that would have strongly hinted at his office even without the medallion bearing the Esthar logo that was affixed to the front of his robe. His thin, oval glasses and intense expression gave his face a slightly owlish character, but not quite the appearance of an intellectual. While he would rival Kiros' height standing up, the raised platform meant he could easily look down on all his visitors while remaining in his seat.
"Gentlemen," he said as they reached him, without setting down the legislative book. Nodding aside to the usher, he added, "You may stand aside for now."
"We're speaking to you on behalf of the President," said Kiros, as the usher stepped back out of hearing range. "He's interested in re-evaluating our foreign policy doctrine."
Chan nodded, though the legislative book still seemed to have the larger share of his attention. "It's interesting. The President is our head of state, and thus our public face to the world. Yet he is a servant to the policy set by this Parliament, which for eighteen years has dictated that he have no dealings at all with the rest of the world. Rather ironic, perhaps."
"That's actually what we wanted to talk about," said Kiros. "The President believes the policy should be revised."
"I'm aware," Chan said. "This isn't a new stance for the president to advocate."
Kiros could never read Chan. The man constantly looked as if he had something more important to focus on, which made it hard even to tell what he was thinking about, let alone what he thought about it. "...The president feels that the worsening situation with Galbadia calls for urgency," he tried.
"Parliament doesn't agree," Chan replied. "Esthar has functioned as a closed system ever since the overthrow of Sorceress Adel. We don't need the world."
"A year ago, you said it was important not to re-emerge on the world stage while Esthar was still recovering from the Lunar Cry," Kiros tried. "We've recovered. Considering the direction President Naraka is taking Galbadia in, the visible presence of Esthar as a balancing force is a reasonable step."
"...," said Ward.
"Imperative, even," Kiros agreed.
"Esthar is making its presence perfectly visible to Mr. Naraka," said Chan. "Parliament has already approved our policy of military deterrence, which the Galbadians will take notice of regardless of the diplomatic situation."
"But if there's no communication, there can't be any negotiation," pressed Kiros. "The president feels that strategic relationships with other parties would significantly improve our bargaining power." In truth, Laguna would have only a vague idea what Kiros had just said; but Kiros felt that he'd at least captured the president's sentiment. In one interpretation.
Chan glanced at Kiros, in the longest sustained look he'd given them since their arrival. "Parliament doesn't support acknowledgment of Garden as a legitimate entity. It's a mercenary organization with no loyalties beyond financial agreements. At least an autocrat like Naraka has a state to look after."
One of the ministers walked up to the Chairman, and received Chan's attention for a moment.
"...," Ward said.
"It could be going better," Kiros agreed, quietly enough that Ward could hear him but Chan could not. "But you can never really tell what he's thinking until you let him talk for a while."
The Chairman finished whatever business he had with the minister, and returned his attention – such as it was – to Kiros and Ward. "Parliament has already voted on these matters. Our policy is entirely capable of dealing with Galbadia without assistance."
And how did it work for you last year? Kiros nearly asked. He also didn't point out that one directive from Chan to the party leaders could easily change that vote's result. "The President would like to make his case to the people of Esthar," he said instead. "He won't call for any specific measures, but he will say that Esthar does not exist in a vacuum and should engage with the nations of the world for our own good and theirs. And he does feel that the close relationship between Garden and Galbadia is one of the most important dangers we face. He would appreciate an invitation to address the Parliament where he would deliver this message."
Chan arched an eyebrow, and finally spared a moment to stare at Kiros. For years, he had been telling Laguna when and where he would be speaking, and what he would be saying. Kiros knew it was a risk daring him to invite the President of Esthar into the Parliament so that he could diss Chan's agenda. But it wasn't like they would get anywhere otherwise.
"The president has a habit of believing he can change the world with a few words in the right place," he said. "I had hoped the two of you could keep it in check."
"...," said Ward, incredulously.
"That's right," said Kiros. "That habit of his overthrew Sorceress Adel; we don't really want to keep it in check."
After another moment, Chan nodded, adjusting his glasses and returning his attention once more to the legislative book. "Very well, then."
Kiros blinked. "...What?"
"If the president wishes to address the Parliament on the threat of Galbadia, he is welcome to do so," Chan said. "He must, of course, take note of the steps the government has already taken to counter Galbadia's threat, and more generally his remarks should be cleared through the Minister of Communication to ensure that the government is speaking with one voice for a steady application of policy."
Kiros sighed. "The President has been elected four times now. Isn't it strange that everyone in Esthar has the freedom of self-expression except him?"
"The President's words can be a powerful force," said Chan. "And if they aren't properly directed, they can have a very counterproductive effect; there have certainly been examples enough of this over the years. He can say what you want him to say, but it's important that we craft exactly how he says it."
That was the best Kiros would get, and he knew it. "He won't be happy about that," he said, though he knew Chan wouldn't care.
"Maintenance of the President's happiness is not among my enumerated responsibilities," Chan said. "Now, thank you for your time; I must bring the session to order, so please excuse me."
The usher stepped forward. Kiros and Ward, sparing a glance to each other, turned and followed him back out of the chamber.
"See," said Kiros. "That didn't go so bad."
"...," Ward said, his pessimism apparent.
"We knew it was a long shot," said Kiros. "As for what happens, I guess we'll see."
- - - — — - - -
By the time Miranda sat down with Cas Haden, the Times' beat reporter for South Lanker, she had a sheaf of papers tucked under her arm in addition to those stuffed in her shoulder-bag to accompany her laptop.
"Are you sure I'm going to like this?" she asked, eyeing the primarily paste-like meal that had been picked out for her. "It looks kind of like what my boyfriend's cat threw up last week."
"It's good," Haden said. "They make it from fish. It's a really big delicacy over in Winhill."
Miranda's eyes narrowed. "What part of the fish?"
"It's good," he repeated. "So when you got here, you said you were doing a story on some mysterious pirate ship in Centra. Where does the press conference come in?"
"Right," Miranda said, setting aside her paste for a while. "I was in the base's records office looking for whatever I could find about this ship they're tracking, and —"
"The records office?" he interrupted. "How'd you get access in there?"
"I used my overpowering cuteness," Miranda said. "Anyway, everything I found was classified J-2 – which, you know, what the hell kind of pirate threat is classified Joint Command's eyes only? – but I came across a comm summary for the past few days, and in that I found a lot of references to something called 'Frostwater.'" She took a spoonful of paste, and just eyed it. "You're sure people actually eat this?"
"Just try it." He was halfway through his already. "What's Frostwater?"
"I dunno – but whatever it is, it was classified JC-5. That plus the number of times it turns up in the traffic says it's gotta be big. Plus, I could see the file prefix, and the code was USO – which is one I'd never seen before."
Haden frowned. "I don't know it either."
"Yeah, well I looked it up later. It stands for Unified Strategic Operation – and the reason why neither of us has heard of it is because there's never been one. Ever." She leaned in over the table, lowering her voice and setting down her spoon. "We're talking about a mobilization of every division of the armed forces. That's huge."
"Yeah," he said, nodding in agreement. "So what do you want me to do?"
"Well, you've got the press conference," Miranda said, as if the answer were obvious. "Ask about it." She picked up the spoon again, and began working the nerve back up to try her lunch.
"Tolmar?" he asked, looking stunned.
"Yeah," said Miranda, oblivious to his mood. "By name, too – so they know we're not just rumor-mongering." She finally took a tentative bite of the fish-paste.
"Are you cazy? You think I should just stand up and ask a senior Galbadian general, 'Hey, what's Operation Frostwater?'"
"Mmm," confirmed Miranda. "You know, you're right. This isn't half bad." She ate another, larger clump.
"You can't seriously think she'll say anything if you just ask her point-blank in the middle of a press room!"
"No, of course not," she said. "The G-men are wound up so tight they won't let anything slip unless they think we already know. Think of it as smoking them out."
He wasn't impressed by the comparison. "Look, I don't know how things work in the main office, but my job down here is to establish a relationship with these people. I've already got to turn in 40 centimeters about the NALCON, and you don't get results by trying to spook your sources."
"Depends on the results you're trying to get," Miranda said. "In this case —"
"Look, no way," he insisted. "The second they think we're out to get them, every potential source is gonna —"
"Do you know where all Tolmar's been in the last week?" Miranda asked. "And she's leaving for Deling, what, tonight? You don't have senior staff hopping around this much unless something big is going on."
"That doesn't mean —"
"And you've seen all the preparations they're doing around here. I called around – this sort of thing is going on at every military base we've got reporters near. And I'm betting it's because of Frostwater, whatever that is. It's gonna happen soon."
"None of that matters!" Haden was getting exasperated. "I've been doing this long enough to know that if you go around freaking out the people you're trying to get news from, it does not make them want to talk to you!"
Miranda jumped in, but Haden kept on talking. "If I'm right, we don't have a lot of time, and getting them off-balance is the only way to knock them off-message!" she insisted.
"— Plus, if this is big, it'll make them suspicious and dry things up for all our reporters in the middle of a national crisis!" he finished.
There was a pause, as both tried to figure out what the other had been saying.
Miranda sighed. "I know I haven't been doing this for long," she said, "but my thing is getting people to talk about things they don't want to talk about. And I'm telling you this is the only way we're going to figure this out. And if there's blowback, just tell the main office it was my dumb idea. They'll believe you."
"I don't care about who gets the blame," Haden said. "I care about doing my job, which is to maintain a relationship with these people."
"Cas, come on," Miranda said. "Your job's to get the story. I know relationships are a good way to do that, but not this time. This could be the biggest story in...I dunno how long, but a while. And I don't think we have much time to get it."
Haden was silent for a moment; Miranda just watched him with her best not-quite-pleading expression.
"Okay," he said.
Miranda let out the breath she had been holding. "Thank you," she said.
"Don't," he said, standing. "I regret this already."
"Yeah," said Miranda, taking another spoonful of her food. "I get that a lot."