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“What have you got?” Avasarala asked

The h to a couple of people in the coh I probably spent asabout Ganymede”

“It’s a lesson Martian bureaucrats are stupid, venal people What did they say?”

“Long story?”

“Short”

“You shot at us”

Avasarala leaned back in her chair Her back hurt, her knees hurt, and the knot of sorrow and outrage that was always just under her heart felt brighter than usual

“Of course we did,” she said “The peace delegation?”

“Already gone,” Bobbie said “They’ll be releasing a state in bad faith They’re still fighting out the exact wording”

“What’s the hold?”

Bobbie shook her head She didn’t understand

“What words are they fighting over, and which side wants which words?” Avasarala demanded

“I don’t know Does it matter?”

Of course itin bad faith and The UN was negotiating in bad faith could be measured in hundreds of lives Thousands Avasarala tried to s her iht,” she said “See if there’s anything else you can get me”

Bobbie held out the paper Avasarala took it

“The hell is this?” she asked

“My resignation,” Bobbie said “I thought you’d want all the paperwork in place We’re at war now, so I’ll be shipping back Getting nment”

“Who recalled you?”

“No one, yet,” Bobbie said “But—”

“Will you please sit down? I feel like I’ to you”

The marine sat Avasarala took a deep breath

“Do you want to kill me?” Avasarala asked Bobbie blinked, and before she could answer, Avasarala lifted her hand, co silence “I am one of the most powerful people in the UN We’re at war So do you want to kill uess so?”