Her Commanders - M.K. Eidem Page 0,55

he had no choice in this with the Supreme Chairman.

"The ownership?" While Jamis and Taarig were smart enough not to interrupt the High Navarch, Masala was obviously a lot like his datter, which had Cali again wondering how he ever attained the rank of general. "What do you mean? The Coalition owns the Star Bases, Wik Corp just maintains them."

"No, we don't!" the High Navarch gritted out through clenched teeth. "Do you know how much one of these rukking things costs to build and maintain, let alone the time? The Coalition doesn't have the time, skill, or credits to do that. We rent them from Wik Corp. Article 89 was part of the original agreement because the High Navarch at the time refused to have the safety of those in the Coalition forever dependent on the leadership of Wik Corp. He believed other and better options would eventually present themselves."

"He was wrong. There's no better option than Wik Corp," the Supreme Chairman told them smugly.

"There are three actions the Coalition can take if it ever invokes Article 89," the High Navarch continued, ignoring the Supreme Chairman's comment. "Option one, the Coalition repays all the credits it took to build each and every Star Base, of which there are currently twelve with the thirteenth still one hundred standard-years away from being completed. That option would be impossible as it would take every credit the Coalition earns for the next thousand years." He ignored the way Masala's mouth dropped open.

"Option two, the Coalition turns all the Star Bases over to Wik Corp, minus the Coalition's personnel and ships, of course, and we find a different way to protect those species that are part of the Coalition. Something that would be impossible without first building our own Star Bases, which I just explained we couldn't do.

Or option three, in which Wik Corp turns over the Star Bases to the Coalition, taking with it all that is theirs, meaning the businesses, maintenance personnel, and all the mechanicals that aren't Coalition. In other words, we'd get Star Bases on which we'd have to live in survival suits until we were able to make them operational, which again…"

"We would be unable to do," Jamis finished quietly.

"Correct, Commander Dexxirs. Which is why General Masala will be retracting his request to invoke Article 89."

All eyes turned to Masala, who seemed to have shrunk under the weight of what he had done. "I… I was only trying to protect my datter," he whispered brokenly.

"And put the rest of the universe in peril in the process. Retract your request, General Masala," the High Navarch ordered.

Masala looked at the High Navarch, then pulling down on his uniform jacket, straightened in his chair, and looked to the Supreme Chairman. "Supreme Chairman, I retract my wish to invoke Article 89 of the Wik Corp/Coalition Defense Agreement."

The Supreme Chairman's lack of response had the room's tension ratcheting up as everyone waited for his response. Finally, after what seemed to be an Apreian lifetime, he did.

"Wik Corp accepts the Coalition's retraction." Just as everyone began to relax, the Supreme Commander looked at the High Navarch and continued, "But there will be consequences."

"Consequences?" the High Navarch asked, trying to maintain a neutral expression.

"Yes, your general and his datter have caused a great deal of inconvenience today. Right now, I am supposed to be meeting with the Paramount."

"The…the Paramount?" Cali saw the High Navarch blanch. It seemed even the Coalition's most powerful official was scared to upset the Paramount of the Zagreus.

"Yes. The Paramount will want an explanation, and he isn't as forgiving as I am. Therefore, because of the general’s and his datter's actions, he and his entire family shall face the same consequences as his datter."

"You mean we're all going to be on Wik Corp's restricted list?" Masala looked at him in disbelief, his mind racing at how that would affect him and the rest of his family.

"No. Your datter isn’t on the restricted list; she has been banned from all Wik Corp establishments everywhere. So, the rest of you shall be, too, but not just until Pilot First Class Trudo's debt is satisfied, but until I’m satisfied."

"What?" Masala wasn’t the only one who gasped in shock. Cali did too. Why was her dad doing this? Yes, Masala had hugely overstepped his authority, and yes, his datter was a spoiled pain in the ass, but to ban an entire family because of the actions of two. In one way or another, Wik Corp owned most