The Whirlwind, the Judges and the Annual DanceIt was going to be a busy day at Liberty Hall, well it always was but with numerous new developments sprouting up across Mundus things were getting more and more animated, the Consul or to put it another way the head of the elected Government
Michael Williams was walking down the office corridor with the Speaker of the Senate
Oliver Thornton, normally the Consul talking to someone outside the coalition parties would raise eyebrows but as Oliver was the Speaker this was something expected.
"So as you can see Michael." Oliver was saying indicating a piece of paper that he'd handed to the Consul, the Senate's next quarterly schedule, "We're going to start with the Business Enterprise Act, the Royal Budget report, then we've got Senate confirmations, building up to the budget and the Covenant Address."
"I see." Michael said "How's Deborah enjoying being assigned to the embassy in Lodja?"
"She's having fun while she decides what she wants to do with herself." Oliver said "She's playing polo for the Queen's team at the weekend apparently."
"I bet you and Kara would have liked to have got down there." Michael said
"We would but she's got a mountain of work and I've got to be here." Oliver said "As the deputy speaker has decided this would be an excellent week to ride a bicycle into a tree and break their leg." They were now approaching Michael's rooms within Liberty Hall, waiting for Michael was the Cabinet Secretary
Michelle Lowe"The candidate for Royal Liaison Officer is meeting you in five minutes." Michelle said
"Thank you." Michael said "I'll see you on the floor Oliver."
Slightly down the corridor the Minister of Home Affairs
Lizbeth Stewart and the Minister of Work and Pensions
Daniel Blackburn were having a conversation, though it was more preparatory work for an upcoming Bill around a new employment initiative.
"Daniel." Lizbeth said, momentarily diverting their conversation as she saw Michael enter his rooms, "Has anyone told Michael yet?"
"Told him?" Daniel asked
"Who the candidate for Royal Liaison Officer is." Lizbeth said
"Oh..." Daniel said
"...Bugger." Lizbeth said "Do you want to get the popcorn or should I?"
Michael stepped into his rooms, hung up his jacket on the coat rack and after getting a glass of water he stepped into the office and almost instantly dropped the glass, because the person waiting for him, the candidate he was there to meet was none other than
Roslyn Williams, his tear away daughter, so much of a tearaway in fact that a few years earlier there had been a huge falling out and she'd left home and not really been heard of.
"What are you doing here?" Michael said
"Nice to see you to Dad." Roslyn said
"Roslyn it's great to see you alive and intact but I've got a meeting any minute and I really don't have the time to deal with this now..." Michael said
"Yeah I'm your meeting." Roslyn said, Michael looked up
"You're the candidate for Royal Liaison Officer?" Michael asked
"Yes." Roslyn said, Michael rolled his eyes and went to the door
"Michelle!" he yelled, Michelle appeared in the doorway a few seconds later closing it behind her "Did someone forget to mention it was April Fools day?"
"Look Dad..." Roslyn said
"How exactly did you get this candidacy?" Michael asked
"You can't backpack if you can't fund it." Roslyn said, "I did some vlogging at first then started having to support myself with some temporary jobs, when I was in Dartfordia I saw an opening for an admin position at the Achkaerin embassy, next thing I know I'm being flown up here for what I'm told was job training."
"That'll be Nettie Taylor and Kumiko Arkwright doing their vetting." Michelle said, at this point the door opened again and in walked Michael's wife
Siobhan Williams"Michael we need to talk about the..." Siobhan said then she saw Roslyn
"Hi Mum." Roslyn said
"What are you doing here?" Siobhan asked
"She's the candidate for Royal Liaison Officer." Michael said
"How did that happen?" Siobhan asked
"I've never professed to understand the machinations of the Emperor's mind and I'm not going to start now." Michelle said
"Do you know the job?" Michael asked
"Yeah, be the link between your lot and the Royals." Roslyn said
"Good." Michael said, he walked over to his desk and picked up a sealed envelope "Oh come here." he pulled Roslyn into a hug
"About time." Michelle muttered
"Job number one." Michael said "Confirmation this afternoon, job number two once you're confirmed into office is to take this envelope and deliver it to the Emperor." he handed Roslyn the envelope.
"What is it?" Roslyn asked
"It's an invitation for the Emperor to address the Senate." Michael said "Tradition as per the Covenant Address. Siobhan what was it you wanted?"
"The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court died in the early hours of this morning." Siobhan said
"That's job number three Roslyn." Michael said "Did you say the Chief Justice?"
"Yes." Siobhan said
"So there's not only an empty spot on the bench to fill but a new Chief Justice to appoint?" Michael said
"Yes." Siobhan said
"Get ready for surprises then." Michael said
"Michael!" another voice now shattered the relative calm in the office as Lizbeth now stepped inside
"Yes Lizbeth?" Michael asked
"We've got a problem." Lizbeth said "The Dispatch Bill's getting a run out."
"Who by this time?" Siobhan asked
"Endeavour backbencher's, some Liberals and Puritans." Lizbeth said
"Who's leading it?" Michael asked
"Senator Miller." Lizbeth said
"What's going on?" Roslyn asked
"About once every Senate term, sometimes more a group of Senators bring a Bill seeking to reintroduce the death penalty, it's always a tight run thing either way if it pass's the Senate the Emperor veto's it because it's too tight to call it a convincing majority and then the aforementioned Senators shut up until the next Senate term where they try again." Lizbeth said "Hasn't happened recently because of the MCUR but the words coming out of that meeting are that article 2 is being amended to permit the reintroduction."
"Michelle get me a nose count, Siobhan I want meetings with Rhian and Ajax." Michael said, he turned to Lizbeth "We need to win this one and I mean win it, with fanfare, curtain call and a victory lap. We need to slap this down with an overwhelming majority that kills it once and for all. No pun intended."
"Let's do it." Lizbeth said