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Jul. 4th, 2007 05:46 pmThe new session opens at nine in the morning with the usual procedures, but the near-electric tension in the air is anything but normal. Every single member of the House and Senate knows what's on the agenda for this particular day.
Gabriel Tam does his best to appear relaxed and confident as the routine of Parliament progresses, ignoring the furtive looks and whispers from members and media representatives alike. Not only does he remember clearly how it all began, but he's also had plenty of time to get used to it.
After all, it's been months.
Months of heated debate, of incredible resistance, and of near-disaster of varying kinds-- and to tell the truth, Gabriel's still not quite sure how Regan and Crowley between them kept the events of last week from causing a fiasco at this most critical time, although he has his suspicions. Months of frenetic activity, little to no sleep, media publicity and spin, and slowly-growing support from a number of areas.
Will it be enough? He doesn't know. In the end, it all comes down to this. As the initial business of session draws to its close, the Speaker looks down at the papers on the podium before her and clears her throat.
"The next item to be placed before this body for consideration is that of the 'Interplanetary Infrastructure and Guardianship Act,' as sponsored by Senator Gabriel Tam. Members of Parliament, shall this bill be read a third time and so passed to the Council of Seven to be made law? What say you?"
As expected, Gabriel is the first to rise and call "Aye." One after the other, the members stand and speak their votes, while the Speaker records each answer.
"Aye. Aye. Nay. Nay. Nay. Aye..."
When the Council returns from its deliberations two hours later, it's Andreas Torres y Sanchez, of Sihnon, who carries the sealed document from the Westminster Chamber into the great hall. A hush falls over the room as he walks down the long center aisle and formally presents it to the Speaker, who just as formally accepts it.
She waits while the Council members resume their seats, Gabriel Tam among them, and then looks down at the document in her hands. The crack of the seal breaking echoes through the unnaturally-still chamber, as does the sound of her voice when the Speaker reads out,
"Be it enacted by the Council of Seven, by and with the advice and consent of the members of both House and Senate in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: having been approved by Parliament and confirmed by its Council, the Interplanetary Infrastructure and Guardianship Act is now declared to be Alliance law..."
Gabriel Tam does his best to appear relaxed and confident as the routine of Parliament progresses, ignoring the furtive looks and whispers from members and media representatives alike. Not only does he remember clearly how it all began, but he's also had plenty of time to get used to it.
After all, it's been months.
Months of heated debate, of incredible resistance, and of near-disaster of varying kinds-- and to tell the truth, Gabriel's still not quite sure how Regan and Crowley between them kept the events of last week from causing a fiasco at this most critical time, although he has his suspicions. Months of frenetic activity, little to no sleep, media publicity and spin, and slowly-growing support from a number of areas.
Will it be enough? He doesn't know. In the end, it all comes down to this. As the initial business of session draws to its close, the Speaker looks down at the papers on the podium before her and clears her throat.
"The next item to be placed before this body for consideration is that of the 'Interplanetary Infrastructure and Guardianship Act,' as sponsored by Senator Gabriel Tam. Members of Parliament, shall this bill be read a third time and so passed to the Council of Seven to be made law? What say you?"
As expected, Gabriel is the first to rise and call "Aye." One after the other, the members stand and speak their votes, while the Speaker records each answer.
"Aye. Aye. Nay. Nay. Nay. Aye..."
When the Council returns from its deliberations two hours later, it's Andreas Torres y Sanchez, of Sihnon, who carries the sealed document from the Westminster Chamber into the great hall. A hush falls over the room as he walks down the long center aisle and formally presents it to the Speaker, who just as formally accepts it.
She waits while the Council members resume their seats, Gabriel Tam among them, and then looks down at the document in her hands. The crack of the seal breaking echoes through the unnaturally-still chamber, as does the sound of her voice when the Speaker reads out,
"Be it enacted by the Council of Seven, by and with the advice and consent of the members of both House and Senate in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: having been approved by Parliament and confirmed by its Council, the Interplanetary Infrastructure and Guardianship Act is now declared to be Alliance law..."
