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As Aoks Darhan’s words wound down, Zeela considered the file that was Brooks’s speech. He’d created it before he’d left, but no one – not even her – had viewed it yet. She could have, but it was completed, requiring no input.
She’d wanted to see it with fresh eyes like everyone else.
She could imagine just what Sulp would say if she told him that; that he hoped Brooks put in a tirade against everyone on the ship he hated, told them to shove their heads up an exhaust port, and that fuck it, he was out.
It probably was what Sulp would have said in that position, she thought, smiling.
Most screens on the ship were showing the speeches, taking place just an hour before the voting itself started.
The screen lit up, and Captain Brooks was before the crowd.
It was not a professional scene – at least, Zeela had not set it up for him. But Brooks apparently knew at least a little about composition, for he was framed well, the angle and lighting heightening his natural features in a positive way.
He sat casually, at his desk, ordered and neat, and seemed perfectly at ease.
“My fellow citizens of the Sapient Union; my family of the Craton. I am Ian Brooks. At this time, I am not able to call myself Captain; you all know of this. Yet I will return, one way or another.
“Two years ago, when I became captain of the Craton, it was a daunting task. I was not only commanding a starship unique among humanity’s fleets, but one that was a city in space. Yet I was made welcome by all of you.
“It was immensely helpful. And then, when I had only been here three months, and you chose to name me your mayor, I was as honored as I was humbled. I have never sought to be a public servant, but as a wise person told me – we should be led by those who will step up even if they don’t want to.”
Zeela smiled a little. Those were some of the words she had used to sway him into accepting the nomination.
“I have tried to the best of my ability to be the man you put your faith in. I know that I have, as Captain, made decisions that have risked lives. But these were decisions that I had to make as Captain. Decisions that were the right move for grander scales than our ship.”
He leaned forward. “Should you think someone else will do better – then I will have been honored to be your Mayor, and will hold nothing but gratitude for that trust you showed in me.”
A hint of a smile touched his lips. “I have every confidence that I will return soon, still as your Captain. Until then.”
The message ended, and Zeela found herself smiling. It was a short address, much shorter than Aoks Darhan’s had been.
She scanned the public feeds for people’s comments and interactions. There were many voices in support of Brooks, she found. Many people did not view their Mayor as being someone who handled details, but a figurehead for the community. And to them, the Captain also being mayor felt only obvious.
Others felt Brooks’ confidence and calmness brought a serenity and harmony to their lives. Well, not always worded such, but she saw that sentiment.
Still, others did feel Darhan had some strong points. There was something to be said for separation of power. Some people felt Brooks took too many risks with the ship, despite it being a city as well. It was a growing sentiment, though still not that strong, she thought.
And while understandable, everyone who lived on a city-ship chose to, knowing that it inherently faced greater danger than any city-cylinder of Sol or the other heavily-colonized systems. Yet despite that, the Craton was considered a highly desirable place to live. People would have almost no difficulty leaving, if they applied for it, and a million others would eagerly take their place.
When the election came, Brooks would win, she thought. It would be a landslide for him once again.
Other Terrestrial 