The neighboring town of Florianopolis, according to Chelan’s reading, had originally been settled by Brazilian emigres fleeing aspects of the Interregnum. The town flanked the college on two sides, but, just as he had read, the college and its gardens occupied the land in a quadrant extending a considerable distance farther out. He readily spotted an extended business district close to the school, obvious apartment houses, and a mixture of churches, cathedrals, and temples. Someplace in there had to be the municipal government structures, but he couldn’t immediately spot them.
“Sir,” Pamela said, “Centurion Conti reports that you’ve done enough sightseeing, because the local constabulary, the county sheriffs, and police forces from several neighboring towns are present, so you can safely land and meet the press.”
Chelan’s aircar descended into the center of a ring formed by bodyguards and members of the constabulary. An exit ramp went down. He stopped at the top of the stairs, waved, and waited while the press assembled around the stairs.
“I can hear your questions on my ear mike,” he answered. “I understood that there were members of the faculty and staff who were disenthused about change and preferred to resign. Naturally, I wish them well in their future endeavors. I did not expect the occupation of Chancellor’s Hall. Occupation of College academic and administrative buildings is something out of the worst days just before the Interregnum started. That behavior should be sent back four hundred years to where it belongs.
“As Chancellor, I have absolute authority to discipline or expell students. They may leave rather than accepting the punishment I offer. I anticipate being forgiving to students who were misled, see the error of their ways, and are departing the building, as I now see some number of them doing. With respect to staff, I will be reviewing the departed. Some of them may be invited to return, but under Union law that letter of resignation is legally binding and something I will enforce.
“Some of you,” Chelan continued, “may not caught the last question, asking about the lawsuit of the space shipping cartel against Bulger Spaceways.” You did not catch it, he thought, because I asked it myself, sotto voce. “I am advised that the cartel has exercised its privilege of enforcing a contract that has long been in place. It is their right to do that. Bulger will not be contesting the suit, assuming that the final settlement terms are as reasonable as the proposal.
“In answer to a separate question, Bulger Spaceways will remain entitled to import rare earths for its own use, for the use of the Space Guard, and for export to Elizavetsia. I anticipate that those uses will consume what we are importing, so we will not have a surplus leading to a further conflict with the cartel.
