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"And I’m sure my father was entirely correct You may proceed with your … research Adjourned"

"I must ask for one , Channary sank back into her seat "What?"

"There is still the issue of an antidote"

When he didn’t offer further explanation, Channary shrugged at hi as it may be to one day release this disease on Earth with no concerns for repercussions," explained Haddon, "soer statement would be to let Earth believe the disease is an act of fate, even punishment And that should we then offer them an antidote as a means to rid themselves of the disease, it could be the factor that ensures any future alliance discussions being swayed in our direction"

"You want to make them sick," Channary said, slowly and tiredly, "and then you want to make them better? That is the stupidest war tactic I’ve ever heard"

"No, it isn’t," said Levana The attention of a hundredwith the sudden burning gaze of her sister, peering down from her throne Levana squared her shoulders and refused to be intimidated "They wouldn’t need to know that the disease had come from us It would be the best type of warfare--the type that no one thinks is warfare at all We could weaken Earth without risking any retaliation" Tearing her focus froe, she looked up at Channary to find that her sister was spilling venoh She had seen the potential where Channary had not "And then, once they are so downtrodden as to pose no threat to us in the event of full-on e open peaceful negotiations Wethey wantelse--an antidote to the disease that has crippled theoodwill, not only that we have been using our own resources to develop the antidote, but that ould offer to manufacture and distribute it to them, our previous enemies How could they say no to any of our requests?"

"That is precisely the strategy we suggest," said Thau princess stated it very clearly, thank you"

Despite the kindness of his words, so in his tone s was barely tolerated as it was, and certainly no one had invited her to contribute to the with a lock of hair "Youthis antidote"

"That is precisely the conundrum we’ve crossed, My Queen"

She raised an eyebrow "Of course there’s a conundrum, isn’t there?"

"We have already found a ainst the infected hthe blood cells of ungifted Lunars"

"Shells?"

"Yes, My Queen Shells contain the necessary antibodies for the antidote production Unfortunately, it has proven both timely and costly to obtain blood samples frohout the outer sectors, and artificial duplication has thus far not been successful"

"Well then, why don’t you cage them up like the animals they are? We’ll call it retribution for the assassinations of lint entered Channary’s eyes "That’s quite brilliant, actually Let everyone kno dangerous shells are, and that the croill no longer tolerate the leniency we’ve given them over the years We can enact a ne if that will help"

Thaue Haddon nodded "I think this is a wise course of action, My Queen To date, Thaue Sybil Mira has been the court’s ambassador with the biochein drawing up a procedure for the bestwoes, dressed in adown her back She was beautiful in the way that all e were beautiful, but there was also so adlie, her posture and faint smile seemed to indicate that she didn’t much believe herself to be beneath anyone at all

Levana liked her ie … er…"

"Sybil Mira, My Queen," she said

"Mira as the official royal representative of … oh, I don’t know" Channary sighed "Ungifted affairs You have my permission, by royal decree, to do what needs to be done for the betterers danced whiether,poe a decree that could impact the lives of hundreds of citizens--thousands, once their faes bowed respectfully when she finished and, finally, court was adjourned The audience stood with the queen, but before leaving, Channary fixed her sweet smile on Levana

"Dear baby sister," she cooed Come here, baby sister Levana flinched before she could brace herself, but if Channary noticed, she didn’t show it "I have a fitting with my seamstress this afternoon Why don’t you coowns that aren’t quite so … sad"