SCMR Chpt 108

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==Chapter 108 - Self Configuring Modular Robot==
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Radioman is really...
...coastie speak for 'slicer and electronic warfare commando'. Lately, a lot of RTO's in the Guard have been working on Her Ladyship's projects.
It wasn't too hard, then, for Patrick to arrange for a few of those project people to do some remote infiltration of the visiting flagship.
Not that he needed to do it, in the end...but he could have. 
Easily.
In fiction, they talk about mind control being some invasive medical process, or some exotic mind-to-mind subversion process.
But Pat Ngo understands something the writers of those fictions, and the politicians who believe in them far too often don't grasp.
If you can talk someone into a receptive state of mind, then hit them with the right kind of shock?
You don't need drugs, or hypnosis, or weeks spent in proximity.
You just need words, to convey ideas, and let THEM do the convincing for you.
You can get a rational man to act on emotion, you can get an emotional man to act on pure logic...you just need to figure out their defenses and go underneath them.
In the end, most people want, more than anything else, to feel that they're on the right side, that they're good people.
Even when they objectively are not, by any stretch of the imagination, even remotely decent.
Once you've done it, most people will do anything, rationalize any act, forget any words they've said, ignore all of the evidence of being fooled-because they don't want to believe you fooled them.
"You know, they're going to kill him for that." Evelynn commented. "Once he presents the evidence, they're going to kill him."
Patrick nodded, "Yeah, they probably will...and while they're lining up for it..." He turned to his wife, "...while the Clans are lining up to tear his guts out, and maybe each other's guts out, Prince Victor will be leading a sledgehammer down their collective throats that they are not going to be ready for."
"What happens if he turns around, what happens if he comes back?" she asked.
"Depends on why." Patrick noted. "If they come seeking asylum, we'll be obligated. That's what you're going to say, isn't it?"
"Yeah...Pat, this is a dangerous move."
"So is letting them keep invading...and letting them keep chasing people for extermination." He met her eyes. "We're better than that, better than to let that go on unchallenged."
Outside, their son was playing with his friends from the Vanh house.
"Want to try for another one?" He asked.
"Yeah, maybe a girl this time?"
"We'll see what we see."
In the distance, twin suns reflected on Golden Lake.
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