Decide your fate

Signs of abuse of this power had only first shown their faces a few months ago but he knew they would have to be quashed immediately before he retired or they would continue to thrive.

"This report details that you closed the deal between the Earth division and the Asten species without prior knowledge of your Earth committee. Could you explain why?" The Admiral was asking Patricia Court-Summers, the member of the UBG assigned to the recent trade negotiations between the two planets. The Admiral neither liked nor disliked her, but he had never trusted her that was a certainty in his mind. She had joined two and a half years ago as a graduate from one of the newly founded colleges set up to educate and train people in the areas of inter planetary trade. She was very intelligent and had been on a law course before she took up her training which she had finished a year ahead of time, further proving her intelligence was of the utmost. He knew that her skill would need to be channelled in the correct direction or she would show indiscipline again.

"Admiral, I simply closed the deal with the Asten delegates because the time was beginning to stretch and so was everyone else's patience in this matter. I couldn't contact the Managing Director of the fuel company so I took the initiative." She looked serious as she spoke and then continued.

"I'm sure anyone would have done the same, Sir." She stared directly at the Admiral.

"No, Mrs. Summers, they would not!" His voice now tinted with the hints of anger.

"Training drills it into you to always consult your representative before you close a deal. No matter how small the change in detail. Now we have a fuel magnate who has to pay more than he was expecting to for the business." The Admiral finished and was looking for signs of regret in the face of Patricia, yet he saw nothing.

The two sat staring at each other, without a word being uttered for at least two minutes, as if playing a childish stand off game. Patricia finally broke the silence.

"If that is all Sir, I will be going."

"No, Mrs. Summers, that will not be all. If you think this is going to be forgotten you are very much mistaken. I am not in charge of this government to let such acts of initiative, as you call them, go without ramifications." He took a deep breath before continuing to berate her.

"The deal you closed will be classified as null and void, and handed over to a new representative. Not only embarrassing us but also our businesses here on Earth, and you Mrs. Summers will have the commission you earned from the deal revoked. Now that is all." The Admiral emphasised his last sentence with a hint of sarcasm, showing he would not tolerate the kind of behaviour that Patricia had shown. She did not argue the decision against her and decided instead to simply stand up and leave the Admiral's office quietly.

"That old bastard!! Just who the hell does he think he is!"

"I mean I get the deal done and some jerk off businessman has to spend a few extra quid and moans about it..........I'm just being used as a damn scapegoat that's all I am, a bloody scapegoat............... stupid bastard he is ......one day I'll get that prick for this. ............making me the enemy here........ get rid of the old git I say ............bring in new blood .................someone with an ounce of guts ......"

The man lying on the bed simply listened to his wife rant and rave on, while he lay there quietly.

"Babe, take it easy.