Arc 1, Thread 2: War Profiteering (Kendal)
In the week since Kendal's grand announcement he has been busy. Beyond the standard demands of his office, the Senate has been in an uproar and has begun work on creating a task force to create a committee that may suggest on whether or not to potentially revise the constitution. Of course, since this has a LOT to do with Kendal, he has not been appointed to that task force. Given that it's essentially a premeeting for a premeeting for a meeting, he can't be too annoyed. It's another checkmark on a long list of boxes that he instinctively knows has to be done, and any of his own interference would just reflect negatively on him across the board.
That's not to say he doesn't have allies on the task force, after all. There are nine on the task force. He doesn't know three of them: two humans and an elemental. Another is someone he doesn't know personally but seems to be in his corner, a Wood Dragon-Blooded named Lowen, a senior member of the senate with pro-Exalted tendencies. Two others are political rivals, Senator Chandragupta- a staunch baseline humanist- and Senator Grail, the god of a long-dead Gallic nation murdered by the Caesars. Senator Grail is in particular his most vociferous opponent, no doubt because the gods are jealous of what power they have. He personally knows two of them. Senator Bassett, a dog-god who owes him a favor, has already privately voiced his support; his loyalty is a thing of legend. Senator Clair Des Moines was evacuated from Earth by his sister, was elected at the same time he was, and the two of them served on a food management committee; Clair may give him a lot of shit but the two work VERY well together and he can't see her throwing him under the bus. The last one is a bit of a wildcard, a token neomah by the name of Skena; normally he couldn't count on demonic help but his popularity among demons has skyrocketed lately.
All in all that puts 2 in the opposing team, 4 potentially in his corner, and 3 undecided. Those are pretty good odds. He knows that the task force will, no matter what, recommend the creation of a committee. But the task force will set the tone of that committee. All being said things are looking pretty decent.
But, for now, it's a different thing entirely. Work has to continue despite drama, and the Senate clicks and hums like an arthritic man mumbling a long-forgotten song while he toils. There's a lot to do on the human side, and the latest is one of Kendal's committees: tanker management. He sits at a table with his four coworkers, Senators Trisk [Water Elemental], Addleby [Human], Emmentaler [Cheese God], and Faraday [Human]. Senator Trisk is the committee head.
As boring as looking at tables and numbers is, it's absolutely vital. The Last Refuge consumes water like a desert. Recycling only goes so far; much water is lost, vaporized forever to cool and power the Last Refuge's engines. Water gods help, but even they've been stretched. The water transports of the fleet roam out in the void, collecting frozen asteroids (and sometimes planets), purifying as much as they can for the thirsty worldship. It's his job to help oversee their productivity and to make 'suggestions' to the Fleet and Pandora Bay. It's also occasionally his job to deal with the Water Tanker Union (WTU). Keeping the WTU happy is a vital thing. Nobody likes working on the tankers. Morale is perpetually low.
Water acquisition this month has been down. A few transports had been ambushed out in the black by Dead raiding parties; Senator Faraday suggests a quick jaunt to Pandora Bay to commission some new replacements. A strike on two ships, supported by the WTU, would normally require only cursory platitudes but these are two of the most productive ships in the fleet and require special attention- one Senator Emmentaler pledges to take over after the meeting.
The last bit of business is a bit different and maybe a reason for everyone to sit up and actually pay attention. According to the report delivered to Senator Trisk, the Maple Leaf, composed mostly of Canadians, has pulled in to the Last Refuge missing almost all of its crew and 90% of its hull. It's a miracle it even made it to the fleet. "And the reason we bring this up instead of the other attacks," Senator Trisk informs them with his typical burbling-yet-dry voice, "Is because it was self-inflicted. The lone survivor admits to sabotaging the ship. He's currently being held by the Admiralty board." His wet eyes pan over to Kendal, "Senator Raines, he's submitted a request to talk to a representative of the committee. In particular you. The Admiralty Board is claiming precedence in this matter but has agreed that this is quite unusual and is hoping to get to the bottom of this. They've decided to delay the execution unless you defer to their judgment."