Read Spinward Fringe Broadcast 7: Framework for Free Online Page B

took a deep breath and let it out
slowly. “Let’s get back to patrolling, we have three hours left on
the shift and I’ll be stopping in to see an old friend when we’ve
finished our sweeps.”

Chapter 6
The Burden Of Command
    The ancient transparent steel windows
stretching across the quiet boardroom provided Ayan with an
expansive view of the city atop Greydock. They were in one of the
upper towers, reserved for affairs of government. A Carthan
representative was behind her, reading the terms of the latest
draft of their privateering and compensation agreement. He droned
on, as drones were known to do. Jason and his wife, Laura, sat at
the table, listening quietly. Liam Grady was only an arm’s length
away, watching the city below as well.
    Ayan had stopped being surprised when he
came along for the negotiations weeks before. He didn’t miss one
session, was always the last to speak, and didn’t say anything if
he didn’t have something to add. His council, and their growing
friendship, were becoming something she hoped wouldn’t end when the
negotiations ended.
    She idly took in the view. The city was
still being rebuilt, but the largest of the structures atop the
Greydock tower showed no real damage. Corrosion was the enemy, and
whatever metal was used centuries before had oxidised and turned a
rich rust red.
    A high wind picked up rust and concrete dust
from the street twenty stories below. A cloud of the stuff swept
down a long avenue only to split and dissipate as it collided with
the city’s high outer wall. It reminded her of the ashes she'd
poured into the wind the day before. Instead of listening to the
ongoing reading behind her, she allowed her thoughts to drift.
    Everyone who could attend the funeral the
day before did so. It was held on an old stone and bioplast
boardwalk. The brown biological plastic material mixed with large
dirty purple quartz gave the weathered structure an earthly
quality. The waters were calm, the sun was rising and it would be
for hours, bathing them in a warm, golden light. Waiting for the
long dawn was an idea from Ugo Dallego, an Axionist from the
Samaritan Order who occasionally visited her, and she was glad
she'd taken his advice.
    “Where is the dawn?” recited Axiologist Liam
Grady. He stood at the edge of the dock looking back at all the
crewmembers who had turned out, over nine hundred in number. The
breeze didn't stir Liam’s heavy cotton robes. People gathered to
stare at the Triton crew. All in uniform, they lined up along the
structure and the beach where it dipped and been reclaimed by the
sand. Every one of them held an urn, some held two.
    Liam continued; “Timothy looked to his
brother and replied, 'It will be late today. All our fears were
justified. The leaders in the East committed to one last war. All
the great cities have been reduced to rubble, and their ashes will
fall on us in a matter of hours.'
    Samuel did not believe him and said; 'No,
they were the last chance we had to stop the civil war in the West.
Someone with power must have survived.'
    'Anyone left alive with the means to help
have left for Centauri Station in hopes of finding their way to one
of the new colonies.’ He considered the horizon before he spoke
again. ‘The British were right to leave when we made them
unwelcome. Now they rule the stars.’
    ‘There will be opposition. War will spread.
Too many leaders have left from this side of the world as well.
Without them, all the stability in the West is gone, and they’ll
make an attempt to wrest power from the new colonists.'
    Timothy looked to his brother, with the love
he’d known in his heart since they were children. Samuel was well
moneyed and a patron of many frivolous pursuits, but he was not
without wisdom. 'Your face is known to most powerful men and women,
Samuel. You must join those that have ventured out into the stars
and lead who you can. Lead them to peace.’
    'You’ll come with me. If we're going to
start over