[Soulsby]

I'm not comfortable with what happened during that operation.

[Nix]

Our relationship with the Panarchs is particularly sensitive.  We needed their complete trust to build up our forces in Torpor.  Now we're able to move out, we can leave them to fight their own battles.

None of our units were directly involved in anything untoward.

[Soulsby]

You've been responsible for two actions which have caused civilian deaths.  It can't happen again.

[Nix]

I have done my absolute best to avoid any collateral damage.  You need to accept my authority here.

[Soulsby]

There are a lot of innocent followers of Blue Sunlight: the militant arm is only one part of it.

[Nix]

I'm aware of that, Kate.  That doesn't make them any less dangerous. Individuals have a responsibility to curb the excesses of organisations they're involved with.

[Soulsby]

That's exactly what I'm trying to do here, Nix.

[Nix]

We're all learning.  The goal is the most important thing.  Don't think for a moment I don't feel...

[Belacqua]

I'm getting a request for a connection: it's coming from the Enyo:Nomad core.  Putting it up.

[Shand]

Nix?  Are you finally ready for our little confab?  Had enough fun helping the Panarchs butcher those innocent worshippers?

[Nix]

Of course you want to talk now: you only respect military force.

[Shand]

I also respect good tailoring, but I'd hardly expect that from you, old boy.  If you go down this route, we'll have to put you down like every other troublesome terrorist organisation in Markov.  You're smarter than that.

[Nix]

Fine, here are my terms: step down as Enyo:Nomad leader; repeal the Consolidation Act; allow free elections; open up your data archives and prediction engines to public use; allow Charon's infrastructure to be explored fully.

[Shand]

Dear Nix, thank you so much for the beautiful terms.  Unfortunately, they are ludicrous.  Signed, your nemesis.

Listen, we do allow free elections; our data and tools are our own property.  We make everything public that we're able to; a state can't be run without some discretion in the way information is handled.  Openness differs from transparency, old fruit.  

[Shand]

The public gave us a lovely big mandate to run Markov on their behalf; every survey we do shows that they adore us.

If we gave them more power, the result would be anarchy.  People need an appointed government, and we're best-placed to deliver that.

Only I can fully utilise Charon's Palm.

[Shand]

We have always done our absolute best for this city.  Your attitude is going to attract a significant following, I don't doubt that.  But you're just being blindly anti-authoritarian.  It's not a good look for you.

[Shand]

Yes, we have problems.  Yes, things have gone wrong in the past...even violently wrong.  But these things happen.

It's not like I'm the only one with blood on my hands here.

[Nix]

It's too late.  You're beyond redemption: we all are.

[Belacqua]

That was so pithy, I just had to terminate the connection.  Bam!  You showed him!

[Nix]

Let's concentrate on the matter at hand.

Tactics, Blue Sunlight won't dare attack the Panarchs again after recent events.

However, our relationship with Smythe is becoming somewhat untenable.  We need to leave him to his work here and move on.

In order to leave the Panarchs with the situation in Torpor fully under control, we must attempt to stop the constant fighting between Panarch and Enyo:Nomad forces at the Cairn Habitat installation.

[Belacqua]

Incoming slight smell of lentils...

[Smythe]

Nix, we have to stop Enyo:Nomad.  They've just breached the Cairn security!

[Soulsby]

We're patching in now.
