A Day Which Will Live in Infamy

[Abbygale Porter]

"The Representative from Terra Alpha, the Honorable Congresswoman Abbygale Porter has the floor," the chairman of the House announced.

Abby stood and walked to the well, "Thank you Chairman. Ladies and gentlemen I come before you, today requesting that we vote in favor of Joint Resolution H.J. 2305, declaring war on Dominus.

"He, and his forces present a clear danger and threat to the Terra Alpha Alliance, and her member Planets. Dominus has displayed a casual disregard of our laws. Fear of war deterred this Congress from declaring war when he attacked us and captured our President. Now he's done it again, and captured another of our people. He has left us no other choice. We need a full military response.

"Dominus can no longer remain in power, and we cannot simply imprison him. He poses too great of a threat, and must be executed immediately if captured in battle. I have these signatures of over two hundred senators, and representatives who are in favor of this resolution.

"Now, it's up to this Congress to make a stand to send a clear message to our enemies like the Dominion and the Klingon Empire that we will not take threats to our security lying down. We will stand up for ourselves, and we will strike back. Thank you."

Abby closed her PADD, and and returned to her seat. The chairman pounded his gavel. "We will vote on H.J. 2305, using your electronic keypads."

[Olivia Ryder]

Olivia Ryder watched from the gallery, when she heard that they were going to vote on the resolution to formally declare war on Dominus, she wanted to be there. Granted, she was no longer the Director of Naval Intel or even an officer. But she had to be there to see it happen. That bastard had her little brother and she knew her father was going after him. Glancing over her shoulder her mother and her aide were sitting in the back of the gallery, large sunglasses and a different hairstyle didn't quite conceal who they were.

"Bangs mother?" Olivia said as she walked backward and blocked her aide's view.

"Never could fool you." Julie said softly and popped a chocolate covered blueberry in her mouth. "Wonder if your congress will have the balls to vote yay?"

"Oh it'll vote yay for sure." Arisu said as she glanced up at Olivia, wearing a silvery white wig.

"Okay you I didn't know for sure." Olivia said with a smirk.

"That's because I changed my skin tone, your mother breaks out in zits. My room used to smell like zit cream when we shared one." Ari said with an amused chuckle.

"That was an allergy and the cream was Ru's." Julie replied.

"Whatever you say." Arisu said and closed her eyes. "The Iljuna is clouded, clearly the Ajem are guiding this but enemy of our enemy... " she looked at Porter. "That woman is harder to read than ever. I can't tell if she's simply that single minded or she's being guided by the Ajem."

"Probably single minded, she IS a congresswoman. Look at T'Kir, nearly impossible to read her sometimes when she's focused on something, not that I'm the magical space wizard you are Aunt Ari." Olivia said and took a seat near Claire. "Unlike my sister, I've been having much more time to reflect. One of the upsides of no longer being on the Naval payroll." she handed Claire a photo from Trinity and Ethan's wedding, with as much of the family that was still there when it was taken. "Figured you two would want to put this on the wall. You need some pictures not just abstract art work and Japanese erotica. I'll let your aide figure out where to put it. Work wive's always know better places to put things like this."

[Noella St. James]

Noella walked behind Porter and whispered. "Nice work. Now let's hope that a certain former President doesn't make this all moot."

[T'Kir]

Speaker of the House T'Kir walked out from the side gallery with the Vice President and held up the results of the vote.

"Speaker of the House, the honorable T'Kir D'zarndeln T'Radiak and Vice President Malcolm Foster." the chairman said with a booming voice.

"Thank you Mr. Chairman... I'll take it from here." T'Kir said as she took the podium. "The vote, which you wankers actually finished voting on in record time, is 293 Yay, 6 Nay and 1 abstained from the representative from District 28." she banged the gavel. "Resolution H.J. 2305 has passed. The Alliance Military is formally declaring war against Dominus and the Pythus Sector. I now pass the chair to Vice President Foster."

Malcolm stood up and looked at T'Kir and then the rest of the congress. "President Price asked me to speak because he felt he could not be impartial toward this, as he was also personally threatened by Dominus. He wanted to express either his gratitude or disappointment depending on how this vote went." he took a deep breath. "Henceforth, until the threat has been eliminated, Pythus Sector, wherever it may pop up is a forbidden zone. Only official military action will be allowed inside its borders any non sanctioned actions will be considered acts of war and suspect. We have a team of special ops inside as we speak surveying the sector. In essence, we're declaring a border, anyone passes out of Pythus is considered a threat. Anyone going inside without permission is considered a spy."

[Claire McKenzie]

Claire looked on the proceedings with fascination. Just a few years ago this same legislative assembly had declared war on the Imperium. Now, they were looking in on the process. It was amazing how things changed. This wasn't anything new to history. Not much different between the old US and Japan after World War II.

Leaning in she spoke softly to Julie, "Perhaps this is our cue to act as well."

[Julie Lei]

"Oh we are." Julie said softly and smiled. "I have to admit, I don't think I have ever seen such a near unanimous resolution pass so quickly." she stroked her chin and watched as Porter had the biggest grin on her face. "Arisu, are you still on 'me' duty or are you actually still a spy in your own right?"

"Julie..." Arisu rolled her eyes. "I'm not working for you... "

"Just making sure you weren't. Hear anything good about the lovely Congresswoman?" Julie mused as she noted the fresh hair cut, the tell tale sign of a new suit and the slight wobble of brand new shoes. That was a woman who was strutting her stuff and wanted everyone to notice.

[Claire McKenzie]

Claire looked down at the PADD that seemed to be a part of her, as she was rarely seen without the device. She kept intel on everyone she could get her hands on, but it was impossible for even her to remember everyone. Entering commands she muttered to herself, "Let's see Abbigail Porter... Hmm.. Aw yes here she is. Interesting. She was passed over as speaker of the House several times. The most recent was Ms. T'Kir here." She said. "Ms. Porter is one of the longest serving representatives to Terra Alpha serving all the way back to the Federation Counsel when it was still a Colony. She has been chairing the House Armed Services Committee since day one, and is currently the House Majority Whip. Now this is interesting, it seems she has been seen in connection to Governor of New Georgia Victoria Underwood. Whom we all know is the widow of ousted Ajem Frank Underwood. Mrs. Underwood is thought to have taken the role from her husband or even was the true Ajem master satisfied with Frank and Donovan being the face of the Ajem while she sat back in the shadows."

[Arisu Lei]

"I have suspected that myself." Arisu replied and watched Abbygale.

"Well, Porter's got the glow of a satisfied woman." Olivia said and crossed her arms. "She's probably sleeping with Underwood still. Cece got out of that, but Porter I think actually enjoys it. I could be wrong but she hasn't been seen with any other women or men. And those stockings she's wearing are from Alice's 'Afternoon Delight' collection. I know the shade. My daughter was wearing them for Trinity's wedding. Against my wishes I might add... those are expensive stockings. SKIN interlaced."

"Beyond durability, I am reading a few other pieces of SKIN under armor in her clothing. Clearly she's taking precautions." Arisu mused and glanced at McKenzie. "We need to get someone close to them but still on the outside. Any eyes in New Georgia?"

[Claire McKenzie]

Claire shrugged, "Intelligence operations in the Alliance is dicey at best. A wrong move, and this peace could be seriously compromised. Why don't you talk to NI? Narlin Intelligence, sadly is far more efficient than our own. But, if I had to guess you will have a hard time connecting anything to them. After all this Underwood and Porter still look squeaky clean."

[Olivia Ryder]

"Naval Intelligence is still pretty decent... Homeland on the other hand..." Olivia winced. "Clint and Selene have managed to keep things rolling and expanded our network, but I think too many allies are still offended by some of the heavy handedness Sharpe's been doing."

"That's why I refused both Nick and the Price's offer to return. I'm more effective set up the way I am now. Easier to disavow if we have to, easier to get where I don't belong."

"I'm out entirely. But I can still keep an eye and ear open to chatter. My priorities are my children now. I lost them once not losing them again. Upside... my little girl is a teenager and honestly, that's scaring the shit out of me. I had hoped that I'd have a husband or a wife or SOMEONE to help back me up when that happens. She's a good kid but she's still finding her feet." Olivia said and looked at the Congress. "I just hope this war we've declared doesn't affect them. Not like it did Jack's kids. Bad enough an insane fashion designer and human trafficker took her."

"Is she dead?" Julie inquired.

"Sadly... no. Very close to it, comatose, little bitch is tough I'll give her that. Which is fine by me, I want her to suffer like she did to those kids we rescued." Olivia said and narrowed her eyes as she looked at a couple of Congressmen. "Ah'mTan, the Bolian district Congressman, he actually wanted the kids to be folded into the work force 'well they're already adults in body... ' yeah with childlike brains. 'like most of my neighbors'. I left a diaper in his shuttle."

"Evil runs in the family doesn't it?" Julie said with a smirk.

"Don't even joke mother." Olivia shook her head. "McKenzie, forget to steep her green tea as long as you usually do for that huh?" she nudged the older woman. "I'll admit McKenzie, you've been... good for my mother. She ever treats you wrong, I could use an assistant with your skills to help with my promotion. Already got bookings for a Political Gala next week and a campaign event for the Orphan colony." she took a deep breath. "I'm just praying this war doesn't mean we have to enlarge the colony... you should really visit it. See the kids who's parents never came home. Some are happy... some aren't."