“Sorry, but that’s not going to work for us,” I burst out before I can stop myself. Heikki raises her eyebrows in clear shock of my lack of protocol, but I keep going. “With all due respect, more people die every day on Gaia, and we don’t know how much worse this thing is going to get.”

“I understand the dire situation, but a decision like this could place our people in just as much danger as the Gaians,” Heikki says, holding out her hands. “We cannot afford to be hasty.”

“And the Gaians can’t afford for you to wait,” Corvus snaps. A number of alarmed faces from the council turn toward him at his tone. The sight of him—hands clenched into fists, rage threatening to boil over—does little to soothe them. I’m surprised to see him rush to the defense of the Gaians—but then again, I’m sure he must be thinking of his own people. He knows exactly how bad this could get, and understands the loss it would bring. I step toward him and place a hand on his shoulder, giving him a gentle squeeze. He lowers his head. “Leonis isn’t going to wait a month,” he murmurs, quiet enough that only I can hear him. “Even with a peaceful solution potentially on the table, she’ll make her move before then.”

As much as I want to believe that Leonis is more reasonable than that, I fear that he’s right. The president has already proven she is willing to take drastic measures to save Gaian lives. But how do we make the Nibirans understand that without revealing Leonis’s treachery?

“My people are human, no different than you,” Shey says, her voice taking on an edge of desperation, her cheeks flushing. “They’re dying every day waiting for an answer that won’t come until you make a decision. Nibiru is their only hope. Please, I ask that you find a way to decide more swiftly. If you could at least indicate whether or not you’re open to negotiations, we can connect you to the president and see what we can offer one another.”

“You come to us asking for help,” says the regal, dark-skinned Councilwoman Govender, “and, as you say, we are your sole option. I do not believe you are in a position to be making further demands.”

Corvus’s eyes flash toward her. I squeeze his shoulder again, but he shrugs me off and steps forward several paces, until he’s within spitting range of the council. Shey, barely containing her emotions over the council’s words, shoots me a questioning look, but even I’m not sure what he’s planning to do.

He takes a deep breath and pushes up his sleeve, holding out his wrist so that the council can see the black war-brand on his wrist.