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Chapter Twenty-Eight: Holden
The artificially prettythe Laconian-state newsfeed sat in so directly into the camera On a screen behind him, the first battle between the Tempest and the combined forces of the Sol system played out It was all from the Tempest’s perspective, of course Lots of telescopic zooate, one of the Rocinante’s next-generation cousins, died in a fireball as a rail gun shot cut through it from nose to tail In another, a torpedo cah space and into the flank of a UNN destroyer and ended in a flash of static
One by one, the ships of the Sol fleet died Froe, it wasn’t possible to tell if the Teasp went through the air around Holden as he sat and watched the first act of the end of the world in a cramped metal rooroup
The screen behind the pretty man went blank He turned his sober face directly into the ca what you’ve just seen, we are honored to bring you a stateh”
The ca at the news desk next to pretty boy Singh lacked his counterpart’s carefully sculpted androgynous beauty, but he shared his look of quiet reflection
“Greetings, Laconian citizens and residents of Medina Station I coloat, or brag about Laconian lory in the destruction you’ve just witnessed Instead, I honor the brave warriors of the Sol syste their horeater sacrifice a warrior can eous people I ask that you honor them as well, as we have a moment of silence”
Singh lowered his head and closed his eyes Pretty boy did the same
“Motherfucker,” someone behind Holden said Next to him, Bobbie loudly cracked her knuckles and frowned so hard Holden worried she ether
On the screen, Singh lifted his head, then a moment later opened his eyes “Laconians, and I speak to everyone on Medina when I say that, as I consider all of you oal of your military is always the defense and protection of life When the Sol systean a retreat, the Heart of the Te on them And no element of the Laconian military—ship, soldier, or station—will ever fire except in response to threat to life or property”
“Or in retribution against a whole fucking system you don’t like,” someone said from behind Holden “Hypocritical dawusa”
Singh leaned forward, his dark eyes ie everyone with fae their political representatives to meet with Admiral Trejo and discuss the terms of their entry into the Laconian Empire without further military action and loss of life Those who died were heroes all, but Laconia wants live citizens, not dead heroes It is our duty—yours andwe can to achieve peace and safety for all of us To this end, I a the communication blackout back to the Sol system for those with family there Please use this freedoht decision Thank you for your attention, and good day to all”
Bobbie rolled her shoulders like a boxer stepping into the ring To her right, Naoh half-lidded eyes, like she was solving a complex math problem Holden was about to speak when Saba stood up and walked to the front of the rooency became respectfully quiet Holden held his breath
“No reprisals,” Saba said, and Holden released his held breath in a rush That was not what he’d expected to hear “You savvy, coyos? Not one fucking thing Yeah, pissed off, you
Got reason Got all the reason Want to cut a throat, make somebody pay”
“God da up and toying with the knife on his belt “Maybe a lot of throats”