Cardenia nodded and motioned for the feed to be cut.

“I think we know who this is,” a voice said, down the table.

Cardenia looked up and saw Nadashe Nohamapetan, the most recently installed member of the executive committee. She had replaced Samman Temamenan, who unfortunately had to go and die on Cardenia, opening up the slot. Cardenia regretted Temamenan’s death, on several levels.

“You’re going to say the End separatists,” Cardenia said.

“It’s the fourth bombing in the last two months on Hub,” Nadashe said. “All with basically the same modus operandi. We have reports of similar activity in three other systems as well, all of which began after news of your coronation and the bombing of it reached those systems.”

“They could be copycats,” Ranatunga said. “And we apprehended the coronation bombers.”

“We killed the coronation bombers,” Korbijn amended.

“Alleged coronation bombers,” Cardenia added. The two alleged bombers had indeed originated out of End but otherwise very little was known about them, except that they blew themselves up with a small bomb just before imperial forces slammed down their door, and that the apartment they were found in on Hub had physical evidence linking them to the coronation bombing.

“We killed two individuals,” Nadashe said. “We don’t know if we got rid of their whole cell or network.”

“What do you suggest we do, Lady Nadashe?” Korbijn asked. “Other than what we’re already doing, which is substantial?”

“Archbishop, I agree that our local and imperial investigators are doing everything they can. The problem isn’t here. It’s on End. It’s time for the Interdependency to step in and take control of the planet and snip out the rebellion there.”

“As you’ve said before, and as you’ve had your members of parliament suggest,” Ranatunga said.

“It’s not only the MPs from Terhathum who believe this, Minister Ranatunga.”

“When I said ‘your members of parliament’ I wasn’t referring to just the ones from your home system, Lady Nadashe. I was also referring to the ones from other systems that you’ve purchased for this crusade of yours.”

Nadashe appeared to bristle. “I resent the implication that the House of Nohamapetan is acting improperly, or indeed any differently than any other house or guild when it has an interest.”

“And what is your interest, Lady Nadashe?” Cardenia asked.

“Our interest is avoiding the possible disruption of trade, and in the lives of the citizens of the Interdependency. It’s also in our interest to make sure that those who attack the emperox are seen to be punished. An emperox who is seen as weak or vulnerable invites chaos.”

“You would have us subjugate a constituent system of the Interdependency for the optics,” Cardenia said.

“Not only for the optics,” Nadashe said. “And not primarily for the optics. But for the optics, too? Certainly.”

Cardenia turned to Ranatunga. “What is the current temperature of the parliament on this?”