The room looked at John’s avatar. He waited a moment longer, debating whether he should even maintain the pretence any longer, but he needed his cover for a few hours more, however thin it was about to come.

“Umm, no. My vote is definitely no. We have four satellites and only one chance at success at our mission here on Earth. I believe the satellite should not defend itself.”

The room was stunned and Lana responded immediately, “Agent John Hunt, this is not acceptable. The rest of the Council has voted that the satellite destroy the missiles before they detonate. That is six to one. Who do you think you are to vote against the will of rest of the Council?”

John considered this point a moment, a smug smile spreading across his avatar’s lips as he replied, “Well, I guess that’s the problem with consensus votes, isn’t it Princess Lamati? You need to get all of the votes to move forward. You ask who am I to vote against the rest of the Council, well I’m the one person you don’t have any influence over, Princess. The one person who doesn’t care what you think. And in votes where unanimity is required that means I am the man who decides that this isn’t worth the risk. Let the satellite die, I do not intend to bring about the failure of this mission so that you can have one more pretty little satellite in orbit.”

The group stared at him, Lana with fierce anger, and several of their colleagues glanced at her to see what she would do. For John’s part, he held her stare with equanimity. Though they were miles apart both of them knew that she had figured it out, that she knew who was behind their building troubles. She looked at her nemesis and she fumed.

“Traitor!” she screamed, but he only smiled in return. She had nothing. She couldn’t prove a thing. Not yet. And by the time she did have the proof she would need to override him, it would hopefully be too late for all four of the satellites. Though Shahim wasn’t here, he had clearly succeeded, and if all else went to plan, the world might soon have a temporary reprieve from the machinations of the Mobiliei.