“O.S.’s charter specifies which officials may know about us and command us, depending on which form the Humanist government takes after an election. If there is a majority sufficient to elect a single Executive, the Executive alone knows and commands, but may, at their discretion, inform the Vice Executive. When power is split among a Triumvirate, Council, Commission, Congress, or Parliament, there are unique protocols for each combination, though usually the two to four persons commanding the largest voter margin are entrusted with the secret.”

“Ganymede, then.”

“Yes, former president Ganymede commanded us most recently.” Prospero frowned. “I am not trying to be evasive, Member President, but this is complex for me. I personally acknowledge you as president and want to give you what you need, but it should be the leader of O.S. who tells you these things, not a subordinate or former member. The times justify us suspending that rule, but I still need to think about what Ojiro would say in my place.”

“Sniper.” Ancelet breathed deep. “If I were to summon Sniper now—”

“Ojiro,” Prospero corrected. “They are O.S. now.”

“Ojiro, then. If I were to summon Ojiro and order them to do, well, to do something, do you think they would obey me?”

“I think they would consider your orders very carefully before acting.”

Ancelet took some silent time to think. “Why are you still here while Ojiro and most of O.S. have gone rogue?”

“O.S. has not gone rogue. It remains that arm which acts when the Humanist Hive is best served by taking human life. You are that arm which acts when the Hive is best served within the framework of its government and Romanova. Has it occurred to you, Member President, that your goal may not be achievable with peaceful means?”

“Which goal?”

“To preserve the Hive. You hope to placate the other Hives, and make the concessions necessary for them to stop calling for the Humanists to be dissolved.”

“I’ve considered the possibility that they’ll refuse. It is, by my calculations, avoidable.” I could almost see the numbers moving behind the former Censor’s eyes.

So could Prospero. “What about the possibility that they’ll demand so many changes that the Hive wouldn’t be itself anymore? Or the possibility that violence will break out before you finish? Or that you yourself will be assassinated? Extraordinary times may require extraordinary means. If you decide you need those means, if you talk to Ojiro and issue orders, they will almost certainly obey. If you avoid those means and yours fail, O.S. will act without you. It is one organ of the Humanists, the presidency another. Don’t mistake yourself for the head, or heart.”

Curiosity sparked a smile. “Where would you locate the head and heart, then?” the president asked.

“The head would be the voting members,” Prospero answered instantly. “The heart the Olympic Committee.”