“Like it or not, this is what you are a part of. What you make of your part in it is up to you.” She zoomed in on Fluva, a cloud-swathed world circling a hot yellow sun. “It may not seem like much in the scheme of things, but this is your home. It’s a nice place, though more to your liking than to my kind. It belongs to you.” She paused for emphasis. “All of you.”
A few subdued mutterings rose from the back rows of the assembled Sakuntala. They were matched by contentious hoots from within the crowd of seated Deyzara.
“I am pleased to announce,” she declared, utilizing her prerogative as chief administrator to amplify her voice sufficient to drown out the incipient pugnacity on both sides, “that pursuant to my recent exchange of communications with Commonwealth center of operations, Fluva has now been upgraded from qualified to full Class Five status.” Expectant, curious stares greeted her declaration. “It means that Fluva will receive proportionately more attention from the relevant Commonwealth departments.” The silence was sustained. “Also, more aid, in the form of both material and credit.”
That finally prompted the appropriate Sakuntala and Deyzara equivalents of applause. She continued.
“As a corollary to this official change of status, my own standing has similarly been upgraded.” She shifted her stance behind the dais. “I will now be able to do more on my own, without having to wait for authorization from Earth or Hivehom. I can clear more exports, approve a greater volume of imports, sanction new aid for specific causes, and license more businesses. Among other things. For the first time I can also,” she added casually, “approve the use of force to settle local disputes.”