A rare Saturday update. I’ll be busy Sunday through Tuesday morning, so I thought to get something out now.

We start in on international politics, with the Japanese consul in Neo-Yokohama getting the first word in. For a diplomat, I’d say he gets too many words in, so I think the slight to Anton is deliberate. Toward the end of this segment, he lays out his travel plans for some shuttle diplomacy.

Starting to wonder if I should pin that map of Mars to the top of this blog as a reference.

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“…which is why, Ambassador Arwales,” the Japanese consul concluded, mangling his name, “we seek further understanding between our three empires.  That you are married into the family of the junior partner, is, to our eyes, a demonstration of diplomatic solidarity.”

A diplomat and soldier from a family of the same for over a hundred years, used to putting up with Yanqui shit for all of that time, Anton realized that there were times he wanted to just start punching faces to get people to say what they meant.

“Of course, Consul.  It will be my pleasure.” He tilted his head to the map of Mars on the oval table between them.  “Your empire, perhaps with a capital, here, has interests hundreds of kilometers west, to the marshlands of Arabia Terra; and similarly east, to the foothills of the Tharsis Rise, correct?”

The Russians considered all of Tharsis, as well as the great mountains and the Valles Marineris, to be theirs.  Their mineral surveys were protected by their Prime Minister, herself.  That left the poorly irrigated land of Noachis and Hesperia to the imperials.  The island of Elysium Mons was the Australian’s consolation prize.  That left future colonists from the imperium landlocked while the Rus and Japs controlled the Great Northern Ocean.  A tangle.

“That is correct, most neutral Ambassador,” the consul said as one of his people refilled their china cups with green tea.  “There is a neutral zone, so to say, between your Special Region, and the Russians in the Willamette Valley.  Perhaps something similar here, most neutral Ambassador?”

Alvarez managed to not grind his teeth at that slight.  From Redding in former California to Medford, two hundred kilometers north, was a kind of DMZ, to prevent any misunderstandings between Greater Russia and Greater Mexico.  He realized he was being asked to propose similar neutral zones here, on Mars.

“Then tomorrow I shall make my way to Ekaterinberg, at the mouth of the Great Valley, to sound their Governer-General,” he began.  “Later, I will to Macon, on the eastern side of the Argyre Sea, to hear the thoughts of Empress Faustina’s regent.”

“My dear Ambassador,” the Japanese consul could not bring himself to smile.  Anton guessed he never had in his life.  “Why not just have your wife speak to him, the Regent?”

Having gone an insult too far, Alvarez stood and gave a proper bow before walking out the door another aide held open for him.

“They called you what?” Saras was ticked.  With their son at a playdate, she could allow herself to be.  “And wanted me to be a glorified radio?  Effing Japs.”

“Calm down, Es,” his very private nickname for her.  He took a drink of rum.  “We all – and that means you, too – know I’m the man in the middle.  This is what I’m here for.  But bringing you into the conversation was uncalled for.  I’m sorely tempted to make a stink about it.”

“No, no.  I’m sorry.” She curled up next to him on the couch with her head on his chest.  “The Japs and Habsburgs have no one like us and tribe Tohsaka does not meddle in politics like tribe Mendro.  I think there are times it vexes them.  Kira and I, outside of Aqua himself, of course, are the greatest force-multiplies on Mars.  I bet the Japs see us here in their proto-capital as a provocation.”

“I know, I know,” he said, letting his left arm pull her closer and up for a kiss.  “When is our son due back?”

Her face lit up in a smile.  She immediately started at the buttons on his shirt.

“We’ve plenty of time.  But me on top.”

“Fine, bossy woman!”

“Demi-human bossy woman, my Lord and Master,” Saras laughed.

“You…!”