The treaty between the Coalition and the Conjoiners-which Voi’s neutral Demarchists had help draft-was the longest document in existence, apart from some obscure, computer-generated mathematical proofs. The technical phrase is a police action, I believe.”Ĭlavain saw that Voi was momentarily lost for words.
You may not be completely conversant with the treaty’s fine print, but we’ve discovered that it allows us to storm Galiana’s nest without breaking any terms. “You’ll be in violation of treaty if you attack.” After each violation we issued Galiana with a stronger warning than the one before. The net risk of a successful breakout hasn’t increased. “And each time you’ve successfully destroyed her ship with all the people in it. “You’ve tolerated her attempts so far,” Voi said. They all knew what would mean: a military strike against the Conjoiner nest. If she does try and get another shuttle off Mars, we’ll really have no option but to escalate.”
If Galiana maintains the pattern she’s been following for the last six months, we’re due another escape attempt in…” Warren glanced at a readout buried in his cuff. Warren how long do you think we have to find a solution?”
“Marshalls,” she said, addressing both of them. During that time the prospects for a peaceful resolution of the current crisis had steadily deteriorated. Her ship had only just docked from Circum-Jove, after a three-week transit at maximum burn. She bore herself stiffly, her face a mask of quiet resignation. “It’s not genocide when they’re just a faction, not an ethnically distinct race,” Warren said, before Voi was within earshot. That was Sandra Voi, the Demarchist woman who would be coming with him to Mars. Through the door Clavain saw a throng of media people, then someone gliding through them, fielding questions with only the curtest of answers.
Warren might have been about to answer when there was a bustle of activity down the docking tube, at the far end from the waiting spacecraft. The only long-term solution here is…” he trailed off. “No matter how many times we’ve been over this, you just don’t seem to get it, do you? There can’t ever be any kind of peace while they’re still down there. Warren shook his head, slowly and patiently. I’d rather take that risk, if there’s a chance for peace.” “But if there’s another war, we might all die. Nevil Clavain looked into his brother’s one good eye the one the Conjoiners had left him with after the battle of Tharsis Bulge. “YOU REALISE you might die down there,” said Warren.
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