“You’re actually suggesting,” the Prime Minister said slowly, “that we break off negotiations ourselves and attack the Haven System?”

“Not precisely, no,” Janacek disagreed. “First, I’m certainly not proposing that we formally break off negotiations. It’s obvious they intend to do that anyway, and our formal withdrawal from the conference would only alert them to our own plans. I believe the tone and wording of Pritchart’s note should make it clear to any impartial reader that she intends to withdraw from the talks and attack us, so I believe we would be completely justified in carrying out the strike without formally terminating negotiations first. Afterward, we could publish the diplomatic correspondence in order to show the voters the fashion in which our hand was forced.

“Second,” he continued, rolling forward over the increasing horror on New Kiev’s face, “I’m not suggesting that we attack ‘the Haven System’ at all. I’m suggesting we attack Theisman’s new fleet, which simply happens to be located in the Haven System at this time. Our objective would be the destruction of the ships which have destabilized the negotiating process, and we would scrupulously avoid any other targets in the course of our attack.” He shrugged. “Given the circumstances, I hardly see how any fair-minded observer could question the propriety of our actions.”

It was obvious that New Kiev wanted to protest his reasoning, but she seemed temporarily bereft of speech. She could only stare at him, as if even now she couldn’t quite believe what she’d heard. Then she turned a look of raw appeal on High Ridge, and the Prime Minister cleared his throat.

“I’m not certain the public—or the galaxy at-large—would appreciate the fine distinction between attacking the Haven System and attacking a fleet which ‘simply happens’ to be located there, Edward,” he said carefully. “Leaving that aside, however, I think your suggestion may overestimate the… sophistication of the average voter’s appreciation for the realities of interstellar diplomacy. While it’s obvious to us that Pritchart is the one determined to derail the negotiating process if we don’t supinely concede her completely unreasonable demands, it may be a bit difficult to convince the man in the street of that.”

“Michael,” Janacek replied patiently, “look at her note.”

He opened the document folder before him and turned to the final page of Pritchart’s note.

“It says, and I quote, ‘In light of the Star Kingdom of Manticore’s persistent refusal to accept even in principle the legitimacy of a single one of the Republic of Haven’s attempts to formulate some basis for agreement, and in light of the Manticoran government’s complete and unreasonable rejection of all assertions of the Republic’s legitimate sovereignty over its occupied territory and its responsibilities to its citizens living under Manticoran occupation, these so-called peace negotiations have become not simply a farce but the laughingstock of an entire sector. Under the circumstances, the Republic of Haven seriously doubts that there remains any point in attempting the futile task of breathing life back into a negotiating process which the Star Kingdom of Manticore has systematically throttled from the outset.’ ”