Chapter 13 Chapter Twelve

The building where the human overlord parliament is located is modeled after the U.S. Senate building eight centuries ago, and does not follow the more imposing style of the North American Republic or the first World Council building.The main venue is very grand, with corridors on all sides, even if more than 300 councilors from various planets in the ring network and more than 70 representatives who are good at abstaining from the protection colonies gather together, they can all be accommodated.A bright wine-red carpet hangs from the podium in the center, dazzled by the glare, and the global spokesperson, President Pro Turn, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Overlord, who are here today, will all speak here.The Senator's desks were of muir wood, donated by the saints of the God's Grove, who held the product sacred, and even with the crowds here today, the polished wood still filled the room. Bright and fragrant.

Gladstone's talk was drawing to a close when Lee Hunter and I walked in.I pressed the comlog and got the latest readout.Like most of her speeches, this one was short and relatively common, without condescending grace or boastful words, but the language was embellished with a special diction and metaphor, which was natural and with Great power.Pleasant Stone reviewed the events and conflicts that led to the current state of war with the Ousters, declared the age-old desire for peace, which remains paramount in the policy of the Overlord, and called on the Ring and the Protectorate to unite, until the current crisis passes.I listened to her concluding remarks.

"...so the final hour has come, citizens, after more than a hundred years of peace, we once again wage a struggle to protect the rights to which our society has fought since the demise of our Mother Earth. After more than a hundred years of peace, we must once again take up the shield and the sword, no matter how reluctantly, how much loathing, only they can defend our birthright, give us the common good, only in this way can peace Come again. "We cannot... and should not... be misled by the trumpet calls and the almost ecstatic rush that inevitably elicits war. If anyone ignores the history lessons of war, the supreme folly, they will pay more There will be more costs for repeating the same mistakes... They will be killed by their own folly. There may be great sacrifices hidden in front of us all. Great sorrows may be waiting for some of us. But whether it is success, or Defeat, results will come, and I appeal to you now that we must remember two things: First, we are fighting for peace, and we know that a state of war cannot last forever, but, more precisely, we are experiencing temporary Our suffering is like a fever in a child, and we know that after the long and painful nights, health will come, and peace is like health. Second, we will never surrender...never surrender, never waver, nor Yield to self-interest...will not waver until the victory is ours, the aggression is broken, and peace is won. Thank you all."

Leaning forward, Lee Hunter watched eagerly as most of the MPs rose to their feet and gave Pleasant Stone a rapturous ovation that bounced off the high ceiling in wave after wave hitting the hallway Those of us on the road.Most MPs.I saw Hunter counting the seated MPs, some with their arms folded, and many frowning openly.Less than two days after the start of the war, the opposition has already begun to develop... firstly, those on the colonial planet who are afraid that their safety will not be guaranteed if the military headquarters turns their attention to Hyperion, and then the opponents of Pleasant Stone —they were numerous, and there was not one who had been in power so long as she had not raised any hostile faction, and at last a split from her own allies, who thought declaring war a folly which would destroy The Overlord prospered like never before.

I watched the executive leave the podium, shook hands with the elder president and the younger speaker, and walked down the central hallway—shaking hands and talking with a host of people, all with familiar smiles on their faces.The global imager is tracking her, and I can feel the pressure brought by the expansion of the web of debate. Billions of people are expressing their views on the interactive platform of Wanfang.com. "I've got to see her now," Hunter said. "Did you know she invited you to a state dinner in the treetops tonight?" "Know." Hunter shook his head slightly, seemingly unable to understand why the CEO would keep me around. "The banquet will continue into the evening, followed by a meeting with the military headquarters. She wants you to attend both events."

"I'll be there," I said. Hunter stopped at the door. "Before dinner starts, is there anything you need to do at the government building?" I smiled at him. "I'll do my portrait sketch," I said, "and then maybe go for a walk in the deer park. And then... I don't know... I'm going to take a nap." Hunter shook his head again and hurried away.