TBntG-2 Chpt 31

=The Bull and the Genie=
==Chapter 31 - Book II - The Ninety-five Theses==
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==Ceremonies of Light and Dark==
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Forbidden Palace - Sian, Capellan Confederation - 3034
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Edward looked over the city, most of the admittedly minor scars from their attack removed. There were banners and bands, and people carefully weren't mentioning the former Chancellor, still in prison, his court case working its way through because the judge had agreed with the defense that currently Max was in no way able to assist in his own defense. 
 
Which didn't get him out of prison, it just meant that he was now talking to nice men in white coats until they declared that he was capable of aiding in his own defense.
 
I bet Candace is happy. An unjustly imprisoned Chancellor? That's one thing. A bugnuts crazy one? Much less likely to become the core of a movement.
 
Edward hadn't tried to influence the trial, although he had, out of humanitarian concerns, arranged that Liao should have "windows" actually big screens (in an era of lasers, leaving a window for someone a lot of people wanted dead was a bad idea), connected to a variety of Cameras. Including the one overlooking Memorial Park, where the dropship had crashed—and showed the growing and prosperous city around it. 
 
After all, it would be inhumane to force him to just look at pastoral scenes. 
 
"Protector Calderon," the voice came from his side.
 
"First Prince Davion," Edward nodded. "I take it your trip was tolerable."
"I'm looking forward to the destination," Hanse Davion said, glancing down at the stage, surrounded by cameras and protected by every device known to man. "I had dreamed of one day conquering Sian but I find this to be… Pleasant." 
 
"Peace always is, I believe. Though I heard that some of your people aren't so happy."
 
"We've been at war with the Confederation, on and off, for centuries. It's natural some want to drive it home, but…" Hanse shook his head. "All that does is sow grounds for another war. Candace removed herself from contention for the First Lordship and that was the reason for the war in the first place, and everything that came after."
 
"Perhaps if everyone removed themselves…"
 
"Katrina has considered it, and between you, me, and whatever bugs went past security, we've put out feelers. Janos Marik… might. But he wants a price for it. Takashi…" Hanse shook his head. "Didn't even dignify it with a reply, and I don't think he'd survive the attempt, in any case." Then he glanced and smiled. "But if we're talking about taking the first step, the offer of an embassy…"
 
"I wouldn't survive it" Edward said. He shook his head. "and even if I could, it'd force me to be less flexible on other issues. I'm afraid we'll have to stick with the New Avalon Business Association for now." The association that served as the de facto embassy between the two powers, established in 3032. And they only have a demonstration every other week. Progress!
 
"Perception is important," Candace Liao said as she entered the room. Hanse and Edward nodded to her. "I see your younger sister couldn't make it." 
 
"Janice is focused on her school." Edward said. He didn't elaborate. Janice was popular, but she'd never quite recovered from the trauma of her father and her Uncle Shraplen dying to save her. She'd discovered a passion for theoretical physics, a passion backed up by her skill. "It's a rare fourteen year old who looks to be graduating from college this year, after all." he said. Thomas you're not here, so I'm going to play the proud family member. 
 
"Impressive," Hanse said. "Are we prepared?"
 
"Quite. I thank you for having the ceremony here." 
 
"It is my honor," Hanse said. 
 
Honor, hell. Edward reminded himself to count his fingers. Hanse could have forced Candace to come to New Avalon, but that would have weakened her. And he didn't need the public victory, because all you had to do was look at a map. The Federated Suns had everything it needed, including a buffer against the Free Worlds League. 
 
Which was why Edward was here, because part of the treaty permanently terminating hostilities, included formalizing the Police Zone for a period of 10 years, until 3044 when the worlds would have votes on their future. Until then, any force entering with hostile intent against the TDF peacekeeping forces would be at war with the Concordat, Confederation, and Federated Suns, and since there was only one power that might consider that…
 
Without even uttering the word "alliance", Hanse had created a defacto tripartite pack against the Free Worlds League, and it made sense for the Concordat and Confederation to play along. Especially since it nails down our own border.
With that thought, Edward joined his fellows to sign the treaty ending the conflict, the first treaty, every news show felt the need to mention, that would include a Periphery state as an equal partner, alongside two great houses.
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Elsewhere
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"And what does this weapon do?" the woman asked.
 
"It's a biological weapon, developed by the Star League," her researcher said. "It's easily transmittable by air or droplets, and can remain transmittable for up to six hours." 
 
"And its symptomatic stage?"
 
"That's the late stage. The disease takes as much as a week before it shows symptoms, and the victim will be contagious for at least two to three days before symptoms start. They also at first appear to be like a normal flu or cold. Fatigue, cough, congestion, but once a certain threshold is reached the victim undergoes what is termed a cytokine storm. Even better, this type of reaction tends to strike the young and healthy, which means it would be more effective against emergency and military personnel."
 
"Total death toll?"
"Probably about twenty percent. Patients who recover are likely to be immune to later contact, although they might suffer long-term side effects. But given that it's roughly as contagious as the common cold…"
 
"Only twenty percent?"
 
"Ah, forgive me Precentor, but twenty percent is far above the level at which most infrastructure services would be overwhelmed." He paused. "And it eliminates a fear of the SLDF biowarfare center, that the enemy might simply write off the infected population. This is low enough that they would continue to waste resources on relief efforts."
 
"I see. Continue your work," Myndo said. 
 
She walked out of the complex, the adepts nodding as they passed her. Most of them didn't know about the project. Those that did would assume it was part of Comstar's work in preparing for a possible release of a bioweapon. 
 
Only a very few knew it was preparing to unleash a vaccine against a far more pernicious enemy. 
 
Tiepolo was going to die, likely in the next few months, and if many of the Order didn't trust Precentor Taurus, not entirely, they were willing to listen to him, especially since Myndo's star was not in the ascendancy. The thing that had saved her was Will's unwillingness to parlay his momentary good fortune into power. The fool had the soul of some B station clerk. But that wouldn't save her when the First Circuit had to decide.
 
But he'd tied himself to this insanity that would see Comstar, the mighty order in all its glory, reduced to a glorified phone service. He'd backed the spread of technology, fighting against any attempt to stop it, because it'd be useless. 
 
And he was right. The sheep wanted their toys and tools, instead of following the guidance of the order. 
 
So perhaps it was time for the sheep to be reminded that Aladdin's Cave didn't just contain treasures…
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