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"THE CONSTITUTION STATES that should the position of Deputy Prime Minister become vacant during the term of the sitting Prime Minister," said Khaifa. "An election to fill the vacancy shall be held at the earliest practical opportunity."
Ironhorse, sitting opposite the doctor's desk, opened his mouth to speak, but Khaifa held up her hand for him to wait. They were in her office in a hastily-called meeting after she had spent a long time in discussions with Amadou Babacar, a lawyer who had served the Commonwealth for many years prior to the ril-galas invasion. Babacar sat with Khaifa and Ironhorse, as did a middle-aged woman named Truus Van Der Berg.
Babacar had been expected—after all, Ironhorse had helped Khaifa track him down. But Van Der Berg had been a surprise to him and one about which he wasn't sure what to think. Her sharp features reminded him of a bird of prey and her grey eyes seemed to see through everything, which was understandable given that she had served in the CSID—the Commonwealth Security and Intelligence Division—for years. CSID was the Commonwealth's civilian law enforcement and intelligence agency. Van Der Berg had been a spyhunter.
"In the event elections are not practical," continued Khaifa. "There are clear directions as to who can be appointed to the role on an interim basis."
She nodded to Babacar, who picked up where she left off.
"Essentially, you go through the list of extant elected officials—excluding those assigned to defense and security portfolios—and appoint the highest ranking. If that person is unable to assume the role, you proceed to the next highest and so on until the role has been filled."
"Do we think DeFreitas is aware of this?" asked Van Der Berg. It was the first time she'd spoken and to Ironhorse, her voice had an undercurrent of ice. Or of cold steel. It made him uncomfortable, which was a feeling to which he was unaccustomed.
"DeFreitas seemed to be under the impression that the current state of the Commonwealth gives him these kind of emergency powers," said Khaifa.
"Which it does not," said Babacar. "Not without an official vote in the House of Commons."
Khaifa nodded.
"But the bigger question is do we think DeFreitas is still the one making the decisions? Ironhorse?"
The request for his opinion was unexpected and it took him a moment to respond.
"I think he's still making the decisions," he said carefully. "But I'm not sure he's making them based on all available information."
Looking into him with those creepy eyes, Van Der Berg nodded, then turned back to Khaifa.
"As we all know, Upshaw has essentially become a firewall between the remaining government of the Commonwealth and its citizens," she said. "All information flows through her and it only makes sense that some of what comes to her does not get passed along."
"However," said Babacar. "The Prime Minister knows full well the extent of what he can and cannot do. I have worked with him in the past—he was too well-versed in the Constitution then for me to believe he is being led along the garden path by Upshaw now."
Leaning back in her chair, Khaifa began slowly drumming her fingers on her desk.
"So potentially we have a Prime Minister knowingly violating the Constitution, appointing an ATC Castle exec to the second most powerful position in our government."
"And there's the matter of the execution," added Van Der Berg.
"Yes," agreed Babacar. "At the very least, the quick trial and summary judgement were gross violations of Anna Cortez's Charter Rights."
Leaning forward, resting his forearms on his knees, Ironhorse frowned.
"Sorry, maybe I'm missing something—I'm just a soldier, not a law expert—but what's the plan here? I mean, yeah, it seems DeFreitas is doing stuff he shouldn't and I'm in total agreement about the Cortez shit... but what are you going to do about it?"
"That's the problem, Captain," said Khaifa. "I just don't know yet."
But the somewhat uncomfortable look in her eye and the way her fingers, drumming on the tabletop suddenly froze, told him that she did know what she was going to do. Or, at least, what she thought she was going to do
And, he realised, he was pretty sure he knew as well.
There was only one thing he could think of that would require a spymaster, a constitutional law expert and a special forces soldier all in the same meeting.