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Most of the footage they’d taken had been in the cargo bays, angled so that no ae Someone who knew Martian military vessels could tell where they were To everyone else, it would be an open space with cargo crates in the background Naoether—she was a surprisingly good visual editor—and when it becae a professional-sounding voice-over, she’d done that too
The crew assembled in the ed the feed to display fro on one of the patient beds, his legs crossed, sence files on Holden’s crew, she’d never have guessed what the h se beside Alex Kaether Praxidike Meng stood at the back of the room Avasarala couldn’t tell if her presence made him uncomfortable or if he was always like that
“Okay,” she said “Last chance for feedback”
“Wish I had some popcorn,” Amos said, and the medical scanner flashed once, showed a broadcast code and then white block letters: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Avasarala and Holden appeared on the screen She was speaking, her hands out before her as if illustrating a point Holden, looking sober, leaned toward her Nao, and professional
“In a surprising development, the deputy to Undersecretary of Executive Adht met with OPA representative James Holden and a representative of the Martian military today to address concerns over the potentially earth-shattering revelations surrounding the devastating attack on Gany forward to er and hide the loose skin under her chin Long practice hing A runner at the bottom of the screen identified her by na with Captain Holden to the Jovian system,” Avasarala said “The United Nations of Earth feel very strongly that a ation into this is the best way to restore balance and peace to the system”
The ialley with the botanist This ti and she and Holden pretended to listen The voice-over caainst Praxidike Meng, whose search for his daughter has becoation was unequivocal”
Then back to Avasarala, her expression now sorrowful Her head shaking in an alure in this, and I personally condemn the irresponsibility of these rasfeeds that allow statements from mentally ill people to be presented as if they were verified fact Her abandongles with her psychological issues deserve a ata asked, “So you blae shifted to a picture of a toddler with stails “We have absolute faith in Dr Meng’s love and dedication to Mei, and we are pleased to be part of the effort to bring her safely hoht,” Avasarala said “Any comments?”
“I don’t actually work for the OPA anymore,” Holden said
“I’m not authorized to represent the Martian military,” Bobbie said “I’ with you”
“Thank you for that Are there any comments that matter?” Avasarala asked There was asaid
There was one way that the Rocinante was infinitely more expansive than the Guanshiyin, and it was the only one that she cared about The tightbea orse and every hour took her farther fro off the ship without being reported to Nguyen and Errinwright gave her the feeling of breathing free What happened once they reached Earth, she couldn’t control, but that was always true That was the game
Admiral Souther looked tired, but on the small screen it was hard to tell much more than that
“You’ve kicked the beehive, Chrisjen,” he said “It’s looking an awful lot like you just made yourself a human shield for a bunch of folks that don’t work for us And I’ that was the plan
“I did what you asked, and yes, Nguyen took s with Jules-Pierre Mao First one was just after his testiht knew about them But that doesn’t mean very much I’vewith men like hiainst your scientist friend caot to say, makes a damn lot of us over here in the ar like there’s divisions inside the leadership, and it gets a little ets there, our friend Errinwright still outranks you Hieneral co to have to have a hell of a good reason to think it’s illegal This whole thing smells like skunk, but I don’t have that reason yet You knohat I’ers to her lips She understood She didn’t like it, but she understood She levered herself up from her couch Her joints still ached from the race to the Rocinante, and the way the ship would soravity a degree or two, left her vaguely nauseated She’d alley was short, but it had a bend just before it entered The voices carried well enough that Avasarala walked softly The low Martian draas the pilot, and Bobbie’s vowels and timbre were unmistakable
“—that tellin’ the captain where to stand and how to look I thought A to toss her in the airlock a couple of times”
“He could try,” Bobbie said
“And you work for her?”
“I don’t knoho the hell I work for any a salary froet I’ve prettyit all as it comes”