(no subject)
It had taken a little more planning than he'd originally expected, due to the need to revise his arrangements in light of Regan's and Vincent's mutual concern and the promise he'd ended up making to Simon.
By the time all the medical details had been worked out, the third-quarter session of Parliament had already begun, necessitating another revision to the schedule. Gabriel studies the calendar carefully, but in the end it doesn't take him long to spot the perfect opportunity.
July 4th. The three-year anniversary of the IIGA. What better time could there possibly be to begin this particular trip?
Energized all over again, he reaches for the comconsole and sends the first wave.
"Good afternoon." Gabriel adjusts the microphone's height slightly, then rests one hand on each side of the podium as he looks out at the assembled press. His characteristic half-smile pulls at the whitened scars along his throat and jaw, as usual, but by now it's mere fact and no longer a matter of note either to himself or to the press corps. "Thank you all for coming."
"As you're all aware, a few weeks from now will mark the third anniversary of the passage of the Interplanetary Infrastructure and Guardianship Act. Since then, a great deal has been accomplished under the IIGA to promote economic growth and infrastructure development in a sustainable fashion that benefits Border, Rim, and Core all three. I won't say that it's been the smoothest of roads..."
He pauses for a moment while the ripples of reaction surface, flowing back and forth through the room with currents of their own, and finally subside again.
"... but in the end, I think we can all agree that while it's been quite the journey, it's far from an unsuccessful one."
Another pause; his fingers tighten almost imperceptibly on the podium's wooden frame as a gleam appears in his eye. Here and there, more experienced reporters suddenly straighten or otherwise react, their own focus sharpening. One jabs an elbow into the ribs of the cub reporter at his side and follows it up with a hissed whisper. "Pay attention -- something's happening --"
"Be that as it may," Gabriel says crisply, over the rustling stir, "and while I certainly appreciate those successes, now is not the time to rest on our collective laurels. As the programs supported by the IIGA continue and the progress reports continue to be sent, someone needs to make absolutely certain that local concerns are being heard as well. And as the IIGA was my proposal to begin with, I feel that it's my responsibility to do so."
"To that end, I plan to spend the upcoming months between Parliamentary sessions visiting every single Border and Rim planet where an IIGA-funded project has been implemented."
He ignores both the shocked gasps and the sudden hum of reaction and continues,
"I intend to meet not only with corporate and government officials in each location, but also to hold town hall sessions in public venues where anyone can attend to express their opinions and voice their views. While it's my hope that we'll find that everything is operating as well as current reports indicate, I will see to it that any problems are not only addressed but resolved to the fullest extent possible."
Gabriel pauses there, giving a cordial smile to the surprised group.
"I appreciate your time and attention. Now, I'll gladly entertain a few questions... "
As hands fly into the air and the furor of voices rises, he nods to the first reporter, then the next, and the next. The first several questions are fairly simple, nothing complex; he answers them with deft ease and aplomb.
It's the reporter for the Londinium Times, Erica Kalle, who throws the first hard curve.
"Senator Tam, you've already experienced one assassination attempt that you were lucky to survive. Aren't you concerned that this proposed tour will expose you to the risk of another attack?"
He'd been expecting this, or something like it, and can't help but appreciate the directness of her inquiry. Gabriel gives Kalle a grave nod.
"Dissent is critical to the success of any political system, including ours. I could wish that my attackers had chosen a more vocal means of expressing it..." His tone is dry as dust, and sparks nervous laughter. "... but no, I'm not concerned about another incident."
Kalle stands her ground. "That's all well and good, but you must admit, Senator, that there are certain dangers. In light of the disappearance of the Shé Xuán and the presumed death of Andronicus Crowley--"
Cameras flash, trying to capture some unguarded reaction. Gabriel remains still in the strobe-lit glare, his expression calm, and his glance courteously fixed on Kalle as she continues,
"-- and given that you'll also be traveling outside the Core into unsecured areas--"
He raises one hand to stop her right there.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, Erica, but that's simply not true. For one thing, I must remind you that the attack on me took place here in the heart of the Core. For another, the purpose of the provisions under the IIGA to reestablish the Independents as local militia in their own right was to address exactly the needs of safety and security that the events surrounding the loss of the Shé Xuán and its people so clearly highlight. Since then, however, there's been enough time past and progress made to ensure that matters have improved. I'm confident that where I'm going, I'll be as safe as anyone else."
Kalle stares at him; they all do. "Are you sure of that?"
Gabriel Tam nods, and says, very simply,
"I'm willing to bet my life on it."
By the time all the medical details had been worked out, the third-quarter session of Parliament had already begun, necessitating another revision to the schedule. Gabriel studies the calendar carefully, but in the end it doesn't take him long to spot the perfect opportunity.
July 4th. The three-year anniversary of the IIGA. What better time could there possibly be to begin this particular trip?
Energized all over again, he reaches for the comconsole and sends the first wave.
"Good afternoon." Gabriel adjusts the microphone's height slightly, then rests one hand on each side of the podium as he looks out at the assembled press. His characteristic half-smile pulls at the whitened scars along his throat and jaw, as usual, but by now it's mere fact and no longer a matter of note either to himself or to the press corps. "Thank you all for coming."
"As you're all aware, a few weeks from now will mark the third anniversary of the passage of the Interplanetary Infrastructure and Guardianship Act. Since then, a great deal has been accomplished under the IIGA to promote economic growth and infrastructure development in a sustainable fashion that benefits Border, Rim, and Core all three. I won't say that it's been the smoothest of roads..."
He pauses for a moment while the ripples of reaction surface, flowing back and forth through the room with currents of their own, and finally subside again.
"... but in the end, I think we can all agree that while it's been quite the journey, it's far from an unsuccessful one."
Another pause; his fingers tighten almost imperceptibly on the podium's wooden frame as a gleam appears in his eye. Here and there, more experienced reporters suddenly straighten or otherwise react, their own focus sharpening. One jabs an elbow into the ribs of the cub reporter at his side and follows it up with a hissed whisper. "Pay attention -- something's happening --"
"Be that as it may," Gabriel says crisply, over the rustling stir, "and while I certainly appreciate those successes, now is not the time to rest on our collective laurels. As the programs supported by the IIGA continue and the progress reports continue to be sent, someone needs to make absolutely certain that local concerns are being heard as well. And as the IIGA was my proposal to begin with, I feel that it's my responsibility to do so."
"To that end, I plan to spend the upcoming months between Parliamentary sessions visiting every single Border and Rim planet where an IIGA-funded project has been implemented."
He ignores both the shocked gasps and the sudden hum of reaction and continues,
"I intend to meet not only with corporate and government officials in each location, but also to hold town hall sessions in public venues where anyone can attend to express their opinions and voice their views. While it's my hope that we'll find that everything is operating as well as current reports indicate, I will see to it that any problems are not only addressed but resolved to the fullest extent possible."
Gabriel pauses there, giving a cordial smile to the surprised group.
"I appreciate your time and attention. Now, I'll gladly entertain a few questions... "
As hands fly into the air and the furor of voices rises, he nods to the first reporter, then the next, and the next. The first several questions are fairly simple, nothing complex; he answers them with deft ease and aplomb.
It's the reporter for the Londinium Times, Erica Kalle, who throws the first hard curve.
"Senator Tam, you've already experienced one assassination attempt that you were lucky to survive. Aren't you concerned that this proposed tour will expose you to the risk of another attack?"
He'd been expecting this, or something like it, and can't help but appreciate the directness of her inquiry. Gabriel gives Kalle a grave nod.
"Dissent is critical to the success of any political system, including ours. I could wish that my attackers had chosen a more vocal means of expressing it..." His tone is dry as dust, and sparks nervous laughter. "... but no, I'm not concerned about another incident."
Kalle stands her ground. "That's all well and good, but you must admit, Senator, that there are certain dangers. In light of the disappearance of the Shé Xuán and the presumed death of Andronicus Crowley--"
Cameras flash, trying to capture some unguarded reaction. Gabriel remains still in the strobe-lit glare, his expression calm, and his glance courteously fixed on Kalle as she continues,
"-- and given that you'll also be traveling outside the Core into unsecured areas--"
He raises one hand to stop her right there.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, Erica, but that's simply not true. For one thing, I must remind you that the attack on me took place here in the heart of the Core. For another, the purpose of the provisions under the IIGA to reestablish the Independents as local militia in their own right was to address exactly the needs of safety and security that the events surrounding the loss of the Shé Xuán and its people so clearly highlight. Since then, however, there's been enough time past and progress made to ensure that matters have improved. I'm confident that where I'm going, I'll be as safe as anyone else."
Kalle stares at him; they all do. "Are you sure of that?"
Gabriel Tam nods, and says, very simply,
"I'm willing to bet my life on it."