Ending the Steward's silence: A proposal

[sage plank]

Once again, the time and opportunity had come to present new proposals and debate them. Anyone could step into the middle of the Great Council chamber if they were brave enough. And one definitely should gather all their courage beforehand. After all, dozens of eyes would be fixated on you for the next couple of minutes, inspecting and judging you in silence. Success was just a good speech or motion away. And if not…well, at best it would be politely rejected. At worst…that thought was best not to be entertained. Admittedly, Henry was a little nervous. Although his profession required him to deal with all kinds of people on a daily basis, he had never had to give a speech to any of them. The setting here was completely different. These were not the snowy streets of Polaris, but the orderly, imposing halls of the City Council.

Yes…the City Council. Henry couldn't help but laugh at himself. When Thomas May announced many weeks ago that the Steward had ordered the formation and formation of a second council, Henry remembered all too well how he had scoffed at the Steward’s plan. At first he had seen it as a waste of manpower, materials and time. Yes, it had been the great Captain's idea, but still... it just didn't feel right. Everyone could see what was coming. Pointless bickering, busybodies who spent all day shouting at each other instead of doing actual work, factionalism that slowly but surely divided the city...the list goes on and on. But now, ironically, it was one of the only ways to finally get an answer to the question that was burning on his and several others' minds: What had happened to the Captain? Over a month had passed and still there was no news regarding his health. Frost Radio, the city council and, most of all, the Steward: All had been disturbingly quiet on the matter. And Henry was not going to put up with that any longer. Would others share his opinion?

Henry flipped through the pages he had written his speech on. He had tried to prepare himself accordingly for his appearance in the council chamber today, but it had not worked out quite right for him. In his younger years he had been so good at memorising, but now… well, maybe it was just the stress. The stress that came from the city's situation, his work, and his upcoming speech. He might not be able to repeat it word for word… but maybe it was better this way. Improvisation always felt more natural than desperately trying to cling to a prepared text.

At last, his time had come. Hearing his name, he rose from his chair, straightened his coat, and fixed his hair one last time. He was dressed in civilian clothes, as he felt his City Guard uniform was not quite appropriate for the occasion. Now it would count: One mistake and it could be over before it even started. But as a good colleague once said: “A good speech comes from the heart.” Well, he was about to find out if that was true. He stepped into the middle of the room, cleared his throat, and gave the crowd a respectful nod before speaking up.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for being here today. Some of you may know me from previous meetings where I was present as an observer, but since this is my first time speaking in this hall, allow me to introduce myself: My name is Henry Winter and I am a proud guard of our beautiful city of Polaris. Today I stand before you not to suggest a new idea or a new law, but to make an entirely different proposal. A proposal that concerns nothing less than the captain's health."

He let his words echo through the hall for a moment before he clasped his hands behind his back and began to make a small tour, approaching each individual bench sections

"Two months, ladies and gentlemen. That is how much time has passed since the assassination attempt on our revered captain. Eight full weeks have passed and not ONCE have we heard anything from or about the Captain. Nothing, not even the smallest bit of information, we have received. Neither from Thomas May and Frost Radio nor from the printing press. I ask you, dear citizens of Polaris: Why? Why has neither the Steward, nor the city administration, nor the hospital staff, nor anyone else come forward and published a statement on this sensitive and important issue? Unlike others, I do not accuse the Steward or anyone close to her of any heinous act. But what are we supposed to do? Simply wait? Carry on with our daily lives as if nothing had happened and hope for the best?"

Henry paused and took the time to look some of those present in the eye. Although he had doubts about his performance, he felt he was doing well. His eyes reflected determination, his voice genuine concern and incomprehension

"We have done that long enough, I say. The city and all who live in it finally deserve an answer, the truth and nothing but the truth. That is what the Steward should want, isn't it? My duty takes me to patrol the streets of Polaris every day, and I can tell you that the number of rumours I hear there is increasing. More and more people cannot understand why the Steward remains silent. And who can blame them? They are being denied clarity and honesty for no apparent reason. It is time we gave them some!"

Henry paced back to the middle of the hall and straightened himself up before finally pulling his sheets of paper out of his coat pocket. He was surprised he had made it this far without looking at them, but now he couldn't proceed without their help.

"I therefore propose the following motion: All honourable members of the council, regardless of faction or alignment, should come together to personally inquire for a report from the Steward on the captain's state of health. The report should be presented by the Steward herself, unless unforeseen circumstances prevent the Steward from appearing in person."

"If the Steward provides a satisfactory statement, a delegation from the council shall personally confirm the Steward’s words, accompanied by a security detail made up of hand-picked city guards. We have had to wait too long for news that never came. The aim of this measure is to restore the lost trust in the person of the Steward."

"However, if the Steward ignores this request, fails to provide a satisfactory answer to our question, or - which I do not expect - actively prevents the council from providing the city with an answer, it should be made absolutely clear that no one in good heart and conscience will vote in her favour once the confidence vote is held."

That concluded his speech. Henry tucked his papers into his trusty coat pocket before bracing himself. The reactions to the final question he was about to ask would determine whether his very first proposal would be something he might later look back on with pride or with utter embarrassment.

“Who is with me?”

[vagrant moat]

(I am not technically a technocrat delegate, but pretent I approached you afterwards)

"Citizen Winter, are you certain we really must advocate such force on this matter? Medical issues are deeply personal and I see no reason to violate what's most likely a measure of privacy."

"We all are... anxious about the Captain's status, but we needn't extert pressure. There are a myriad of reasons that this information could be concealed and I don't see it fit to trouble that already unstable government with a blatant threat."

[fringe vortex]

(I am ALSO not technically a delegate, but who the hell cares, it's a game)
"Mister, you spoke for a whole lot of us just now. Steward be steward, but us need to know about Captain's health. Many blokes I know from work were working close to that man for years... I can't fathom them just forgetting to check up with the wider City. That can't be true."

He reassuringly places his palm on Henry's shoulder.

"Cap was always with us, and we should be with the Cap. Right I say?"

"I'm with ya. And our Club's members will like hearing this, I imagine."

[vagrant moat]

“Let the man have privacy. Has he not done enough to the city? No need to have journalists haunting every little update.”

[sage plank]

(Well, it was primarily directed at the council but also at everyone else who was present. Public support can come from all)

When Henry returned to his visitor's seat and made way for the next speaker, two men were already waiting for him, apparently eager to give him a brief feedback. He turned to George first and smiled at his words before extending his right hand to pat him on the back.

"My opinion exactly. I have been a city guard for almost twenty years but the Captain has been watching over us for longer. He has been there for us from the beginning, it is only fair that we are now at his side. Although I do not know your club, I am glad to hear that we may receive additional support from outside the council. After all, it is not only the residents of these halls who are concerned about our old leader."

Then he turned to Eradel and although he remained polite and calm, his tone became a little more serious

"First of all, I would like to clear up a misunderstanding: I did not threaten the Steward once in my speech, and if it came across that way, then let me assure you that it was NOT my intention. Most of the day I wear a badge that represents order and security in this city, so believe me when I say that all I want to do is protect both. And as for whether or not that pressure is necessary...well, that's something that should be discussed now. As you've already heard, in my humble opinion it is. I don't need to know which doctor is operating on which part of the Captain's body on which day at which time. All I ask for is a short, succinct report on the greatest man in Polaris. That he is safe and sound, or that... that...the opposite is the case."

Henry had trouble talking about the alternate scenario. He had been there on the day of the bombing. If the Captain really did die...it would be the second time he failed to protect someone he cared about. Whether or not he could live with that he did not know.

"The Steward has everything to gain and nothing to lose. In five weeks she will ask us if we trust her leadership. Can anyone truly answer 'Aye' when we don't even know how our actual leader, Captain Crawford Wright, is faring?"

(I'll head to bed, see you all tomorrow)

[vagrant moat]

“My honest opinion is that the silence is a deliberate move from the captain. If he wanted the public to know his condition, no one would deny him.”

“In this case, there is no point in forcing their hand. The silence is deliberate and will likely be explained in due time.”

[spring marten]

"I think Mr. Winter's concerns here are entirely valid and present an immediate concern. Why aren't we hearing anything? Why is the public shut out? We were given votes, we were given a say, and yet the steward is currently withholding information from us. Preventing us from making choices.

An informed public is a public that can make the best decisions to lead our society. We should know what's going on, and we should be independent. A great society is one where citizens are free to make informed decisions for themselves. Withholding information from us will do nothing but lead to danger."

[vagrant moat]

“All fair points. However, I still would stand with the fact that the Captain is just a man and deserves his privacy. Nevertheless, his condition should not sway the decisions we make. We are in charge until we aren’t.”

[spring marten]

"We are in charge for as long as we know what's happening. Uninformed leadership is not leadership at all, it's incompetence.

But of course, I'd expect the technocrat to be in favor of limiting information. It sounds entirely in-line with your faction's ideals.

You of all people should know how important freedom of information is to the population."

[vagrant moat]

“We are all acting to the city’s interests no? Whether or not the captain is capable does not change the city’s interests .”

“And yes, it is true that I stand with the ideals of free information, but I also stand distinctly with the ideals of privacy. If the captain’s condition doesn’t affect us and seemingly isn’t intended to be public, why push it?”

[loud folio]

"Silence only stirs distrusts," Wright murmurs in a corner, looking at his lamp, "but so does calling to arms when the truth won't change anything."

[spring marten]

"It's precedent, Mr. Reach. The Steward has her position because of the present situation of The Captain. That makes The Captain's current situation of upmost importance to the people of our city.

I don't like corruption, Mr. Reach. I worry that an overall lack of communication will inevitably lead to a situation where an unqualified steward has no accountability. I want the people, the workers, to have a say. I want to make sure that their interests are represented.

We need to know what's going on. We need our people to be involved. What happened to the captain is extremely important for the future of Polaris, and we need to figure out what's exactly happening."

[vagrant moat]

"Our interests are better represented by the Steward anyways, are you truly that distinctly worried this is a grab for power? She already acknowledged the shaky nature of her legitimacy by handing us the power."

"Besides, I still don't see that we have such a need for an update that we need to threaten the basis of this new government. The captain is incapable until he isn't."

[spring marten]

"Do you believe the people's best interests are represented by the lords of the old world? Or do you better trust the entrepreneurs that run the market? You trust none, so why on Earth would you place more blind trust in someone unproven?

The best person to represent the interests of the individual is the individual themselves. I care about longevity, I care about the future. I don't believe that this is currently a grab for power, but could this precedent create room for it?

Why would you want less of a say for our citizens? Do you not trust the people? Do you not want the worker to have the same say as the elite? The Captain has proved himself as a capable leader, The Steward currently has not.

I believe we should let the people say who is the most qualified to lead them."

[vagrant moat]

"You are casting this as a question of governance when it is most likely a simple question of privacy. If the captain were capable of ruling, he would doubtless be ruling. Few would halt him from doing so. If the captain wanted all to know of his condition, everyone would doubtless know. It would be a different matter altogether if it were someone else who were being covered up."

"I don't think it's the duty of the government to squeeze every little detail out of everyone they have a slight interest in. There is no suspicion so there should be no drastic action."

[spring marten]

"So we should have free access to information to allow for minimal interference. If we are readily informed as to every detail of what is going on, then we as individuals can make more informed decisions. We need to know that our leaders have our best interests in mind.

Free information is imperative for a free society. Yes, this is something minor now, but I am not concerned with modern symptoms, I'm concerned with the potential disease. I'm thinking ahead, Mr. Reach. I'm thinking about potential outcomes for this city. A precident of communication will help us more in the long run."

[vagrant moat]

"A precedent of violating privacy will kill us just as surely. There is no reason to fear, so no reason to prod."

[spring marten]

"Checks and balances, Mr. Reach. I'm not asking for all that much. I'm asking for transparency in political matters. There is a massive difference between medical updates for the captain himself after being shot and using an automaton to follow someone home after visiting the public house.

I want a democracy, I want a free people. Knowing what's going on in extreme and important matters like these is important for our freedom. "

[spiral bloom]

(Hey, this is well written and great, but please ping us gms next time to give us a heads up about something like this- just a small tid bit, the council hall is not open to the public, and no player will be a permanent delegate)

(I will say, that this is great writing however, but will not be touched by the game)

[vagrant moat]

"Freedom to know information is only balanced by freedom to hide information. Does the captain not have the right to hide information when his condition does not affect the decision making process?"

[spring marten]

"Is The Captain even conscious? Is The Captain awake? Is The Captain making these decisions or is it someone else? You're assuming things, I want to know what's happening.

If The Captain comes out and says 'I want my situation to be private,' I will understand, but until that happens, we need to know what is going on. We need to know if this lack of transparency comes from The Captain himself or someone else."

[vagrant moat]

"That's fair enough, but there's still no point in servere measures like that proposed to do so."

[spring marten]

"Knowing what is going on with our current government is not 'severe'. It's basic. It's the minimum. A free society requires citizens to know what's happening to the people that govern them."

[vagrant moat]

"To overthrow the steward is to invite ourselves to instability. Is it really so necessary that we must know that we would risk the whole of our government?"

[spring marten]

"I did not call for an insurrection, I called for information."

[vagrant moat]

"Yet to threaten voting no confidence is simply a more peaceful insurrection."

"I think the steward has heard our point plain and clear, but I would not trust that a removal of her would get us any closer to what we want."

"We would in fact be more likely to lose our say then to gain more of it."

[sage plank]

(Oh, my bad. I just assumed that but didn't know. Well, my mistake then.)

(HOWEVER: Could I say that he held it in front of the city council building as a spontaneous occasion and the listeners present passed on the message of his speech to other people/delegates over the following days?)