The Will to Battle

by Ada Palmer

  “‘First Law: It is an intolerable crime to take an action likely to cause extensive or uncontrolled loss of human life or suffering of human beings. [Clarification by Senatorial Consult 2144–3: proselytizing outside Reservations violates this law.]

  “‘Second Law: It is an intolerable crime to do significant and measurable damage to Nature or the Produce of Civilization, or to take an action likely to result in extensive or uncontrolled destruction of the same.

  “‘Third Law: It is an intolerable crime to kill or seriously harm a Minor. [For the definition of a Minor see Senatorial Order 2144–8 ‘Minors’ Law’ and Senatorial Order 2144–33 ‘Rights of High-Functioning Non-Human Animals and Artificial Intelligences.’]

  “‘Fourth Law: It is an intolerable crime to deprive a human being [or nonhuman Minor] of the ability to call for help or otherwise successfully contact fellow human beings. [Clarification by Senatorial Consult 2191-21: destroying or removing a tracker or the means to access and use a tracker violates this law.]

  “‘Fifth Law: It is an intolerable crime to inflict torturous and unnecessary suffering upon a living animal which is not a human being and thus incapable of fully informed consent.

  “‘Sixth Law: It is an intolerable crime to interfere with or disregard reasonable directives issued by a police officer, firefighter, doctor, or other agent of an Authority carrying out a mandate to enforce these Universal Laws or to protect the human race, intelligent life, Nature, or the Produce of Civilization.

  “‘Seventh Law: It is an intolerable crime to break a legal contract which one has made voluntarily without duress or pressure, and with full understanding of its terms, conditions, and consequences, unless an unforeseen change in circumstances renders the contract’s terms destructive, absurd, or cruel, in which case a settlement must be found which is as fair as possible to all parties who have acted in good faith throughout.

  “‘Eighth Law [passed by an amendment of 11/12/2239, known as Senatorial Act 2239-19 or the True Eighth Law Act]: We do not anger the Leviathans. This Eighth Law applies exclusively to those, known commonly as Blacklaw Hiveless, who bind themselves to no laws but these Universal Laws, and it may be applied and enforced only by the same.’”

  “What’s this?” Our Hobbes cannot restrain himself. “What’s this? I see relics of my handiwork in these other laws, the Sixth and Seventh especially, and this Eighth Law seems to echo my own Fifth Law of Nature—that for the sake of peace every man must strive to accommodate himself to the rest so as not to stir things up—but why does my own word, ‘Leviathan,’ appear in this law and not elsewhere? And what use has a government for a law so vague, and which cannot be enforced by the law’s own officers, but only by certain excepted people?”

  Well observed, Master Hobbes; this law is not for the government, it is for those with none. In the centuries that you have slept, there came into existence beings who choose not to join one of those mortal gods, as you called them, that have gone by the names of tribe, and Hive, and state, and kingdom. Instead, these people choose to fend for themselves, motes as they are among Leviathans. The Blacklaws are bound by the Eight Universal Laws alone, an option which the great Carlyle insisted must remain open, or else our liberty-to-choose would be tainted with hypocrisy. Blacklaws are, naturally, much mistrusted by the vast and well-resourced majority, so, like ambassadors from some isolated tribe only provisionally recognized as civilized, they have learned to live always on their best behavior. The fish that rides the great whale’s belly must not bite the giant whose least effort can crush him and his thousand kin. For the ninety-five years that the original Seven Black Laws stood alone, this Eighth, unwritten, was etched into the heart of every Blacklaw: We do not anger the Leviathans. Blacklaws themselves punished infractions of their private Eighth Law with anarchy’s gruesome severity. When 2339’s frenzied Set-Set Riots led to the first ever motion to pass a new Black Law, which might have given the noble title of Eighth Law to the Set-Set Law, the Blacklaw Tribunes were swift to move that their unwritten law be set in ink, securing its eternal place of honor as the true Eighth Law of our Universal Free Alliance.

  “This is a strange new world you bring me to, Mycroft,” Hobbes answers. “But why do they invoke my word, ‘Leviathan’? Why do they not say Hives, since Hives they mean?”

  Ah, modest Master Hobbes, you—

  No need, Mycroft—this one even I can answer. Have you forgotten, Friend Thomas, that the ancient Blacklaw Capital, of which Blacklaw Tribune Natekari held the post of Rumormonger, bore your name? Hobbestown was no anomaly. This little race of Blacklaws considered themselves your children, these strange courageous minds who read about the war of all on all that you so feared, chose to live in it.

  Straight to the mark, good reader, you are right. These are Hobbes’s children. But you say ‘were’; have they not lasted to your era, then? Our rare, brave Blacklaws? I would ask you of their path, their fate, but I know you cannot answer, noble reader; yours is a better world than I may know.

  “‘Supplements to the Universal Laws.’” Caesar’s eye gleamed almost smugly as he paused. “By the way, if when I finish the three supplements, one of my fellow Senators were to appear with a draft agenda which puts the day’s urgent motions in some reasonable order, and includes provisions for postponing some of the more problematic ones for a few days so all sides can prepare for the debate, I might be inclined to stop rather than reading out the entire lists of Gray and White Laws.”

  Across the capital, agents of every power worked faster.

  “‘First Supplement: the Consensus Laws, commonly known as Gray Laws. In compliance with Senatorial Order 2144–3, the Universal Free Court has assembled a list of balanced and reasonable laws intended to reflect those laws most commonly recommended by all human beings for the preservation of the common peace. Prohibitions apply primarily to violence against persons or property, theft, deception, exploitation, and other destructive behaviors. All Minors and persons not of sound and mature mind, as well as all adult persons who have not registered to be governed by a different Authority or by the Universal Laws alone, and who are not residents of Reservations, are automatically protected by these Consensus Laws, may demand the enforcement of these laws from the Universal Free Court, and may, in appropriate circumstances, be detained, tried, and punished by the Universal Free Court for violating them. A person who is not a Minor may choose to adopt the Consensus Laws at any time, or to renounce them and be governed by the laws of some other Authority or by the Universal Laws alone, unless the motive for said change is criminal and unjust. [Clarification SC 2144–14: the Universal Free Court will make public a list, known as the Blacklaw Registry, of all persons who have renounced these Consensus Laws and elected to be governed by the Universal Laws alone.]

  “‘Second Supplement: Minor’s Law. In compliance with Senatorial Order 2144–5 no Minor, unless born in a Reservation, may renounce the protection of the Consensus Laws and be governed by the laws of another Authority or the Universal Laws alone. A Minor is defined as a sentient being, regardless of age [or species], who has not passed an examination demonstrating sufficient mental competency to make moral, legal, and life-or-death decisions, or who has passed such an examination but can be demonstrated to have lost said competency and can no longer pass a comparable examination. No person shall be prevented from taking such an examination for any reason including age [species, or synthetic origin]. No limit shall be placed on the number of times a person may take such an examination. The Office of Minors of the Universal Free Alliance must make the opportunity to take such an examination available to any Minor within 24 hours of request. Such examinations may be offered by the Universal Free Alliance Adulthood Competency Exam Office, or by any other Authority whose examination process is approved by said office.

  “‘Third Supplement: the Character Laws, commonly known as White Laws. In compliance with Senatorial Order 2144–104, the Universal Free Court has assembled a code of behavi
orally restrictive laws intended to reflect those laws most commonly agreed upon by those human beings who believe that the prohibition of certain activities and the requirement of certain others is conducive to the formation of good moral character and health, and thus beneficial to the human race and the fulfillment of human potential. Prohibitions apply primarily to such arenas as recreational violence, mind-altering chemicals, harmful cultural artifacts, and potentially exploitative sexual activities, while requirements apply mainly to arenas such as health, education, working conditions, and happiness. Any person, including a Minor, who has not registered to be governed by the laws of a different Authority may register to be governed and protected by these Character Laws in addition to the Consensus Laws and Universal Laws, may thereafter demand protection and enforcement of these laws from the Universal Free Court, and may be detained, tried, and punished by the Universal Free Court for violating them. A person may choose to adopt or renounce the Character Laws at any time, unless the motive for said change is criminal and unjust.’”

  Perhaps never in history had so many eyes stared prayerfully at the Senate door as when MASON began the final supplement. Hiveless Fracciterne answered their prayers, the proud old Graylaw entering with a stack of papers held aloft, like the last tuft of leaves as autumn claims a lanky poplar. Other key Senators trailed behind their spokesperson like a V of geese: the many motions’ movers, Mitsubishi Zhao and Mudali walking together, European Higginbotham, Cousin Podrova trading glares with sitting Humanists, the redundant but supportive Gordian Petőfi, Blacklaw Tribune Natekari with her cat-soft steps, Deputy Commissioner Chowdhury looking substantially calmer than when he left, even Cookie, whose Black Law draft sat at the back of Fracciterne’s stack like one diseased leaf. Many other key Senators walked with them: Senator Charlemagne Guildbreaker Junior and other lead Masons, four of the sharpest Brillists, six European nation-strat representatives, and, accompanying Minister of Education Cook, nine more of our Alliance Ministers, including the Ministers of Culture, Communications, Health, Strat-Relations, Reservations, even the Minister for Extraplanetary Affairs, irrelevant but beautiful in a coat which gave the other Senators space suits. Grandpa Jin Im-Jin beamed as he accepted Fracciterne’s papers.

  “Are you finished, Mason MASON?” Speaker Jin asked as soon as Caesar paused. “If so, Hiveless Fracciterne seems to have a new motion.”

  The Emperor gazed on his little blue book long enough to put the fear of MASON into the crowd once more, then smiled. “Yes, that’s enough review, I think. Thank you, Member Speaker, colleagues, for your kind attention.”

  “Thank you, Mason MASON. The Chair recognizes Hiveless Fracciterne.”

  “Thank you, Member Speaker. I have here a draft for an emergency agenda, which covers all the urgent motions, plus some elements of today’s original agenda, and has the consent of all the movers of all motions. We propose that the Senate take an expedited emergency vote on each motion in turn. Each motion will be presented by its mover for three minutes, then a single opposition spokesperson will have three minutes to speak against, and then we will take an electronic vote. Any motion passed by a two-thirds majority and not vetoed by a Tribune will be carried, any voted down by a two-thirds majority will be dismissed, and those where no two-thirds majority is achieved will be put on the formal agenda for the next session, which we recommend commence two days from now. The only exception is Minister Cook’s proposed new Black Law, which all agree is too grave a question for an emergency vote, so it will be deferred until the next session, without a vote today.”

  As Jin Im-Jin skimmed the ceremonial papers, the network shared the pure text with the lenses of the millions watching. Grandpa frowned. “You included Cousin Podrova’s motion for the dissolution of the Humanist Hive among the questions to be voted on today. Do you not think that one, like the proposed new Black Law, is too grave for such a hasty hearing?” The Speaker looked less at Fracciterne’s gaggle than at the twenty-two Humanist Senators still on the benches.

  “No, Member Speaker. We believe that can be resolved today.”

  It was the Humanists’ nods, not Fracciterne’s words, that calmed the Speaker, their silence promising that, at some point in the basement negotiations, enough votes had been pledged to keep the Hive secure.

  “Any objections to this proposal?” the Speaker invited.

  The new agenda passed unopposed, one last gasp of unanimity.

  “First on the new agenda, we have a modified version of Hiveless Fracciterne’s motion for a Senatorial Order to the Sensayer’s Conclave, commanding that they present, within forty-eight hours, a plan to facilitate safe global dialogue about the supposed resurrection of Tribune Mason. The modification calls for the Senate’s order to give no specifics as to what the Conclave’s plan should entail, just that they develop one, and that the Minor Senators be invited to the Conclave to participate in its development. Do the Minor Senators wish to exercise their reserved Minors’ Priority and speak to the matter?”

  Young Xinxin Hopper rose again. “Member Speaker, so long as we are invited to the Conclave to participate in the plan’s development, we are content.”

  Grandpa smiled. “Hiveless Fracciterne, you have three minutes.”

  “I don’t need three minutes,” Fracciterne replied serenely. “At this point every human being on Earth has watched the video of Tribune Mason’s apparent resurrection an average of eleven times. The number of Alliance Members requesting visits to religious Reservations has increased by a factor of sixty-three, and only capped out at that level because most Reservations have a daily max on Alliance visitors. I suspect most of you would love a chance to sit on a couch for an hour and talk to your bash’mates about what happened on the Rostra without having to go to Tibet to make it legal. Conclave Head Julia Doria-Pamphili is in jail, and we haven’t heard a single coherent announcement from the Conclave since their arrest. The Conclave needs to do something, immediately, and we need to order them to. That’s all.”

  “Fracciterne’s draft nominates European Vega to speak against. Any objections?” Grandpa’s scowl promised that any who spoke up would go to bed without dessert. “Vega, three minutes.”

  I did not know this tall, athletic Spaniard, but had seen her from time to time in the king’s halls. “I shall match concision with concision. Cumulatively, religious wars have killed more human beings than there are alive today. There is no more dangerous fire we could be playing with. The Sensayer’s Conclave is our fire crew. We do not order them to go in unprepared. If we rush this, we risk wasting our best and only resource. That is all.”

  “I call the vote on this motion.”

  The electronic vote, like the captive lightning which carried it, was swift.

  “One hundred ninety-two in favor, eight opposed. The motion passes. Is there a veto?”

  As the world waited for the Tribunes’ silence to affirm the vote, fear quickened Achilles’s breath, the Servicers’ too, for those who sat with me had heard the alarm beep of that crass and alien pacemaker which, at Papa’s order, thumps on within me, replacing the homemade creation Saladin and I implanted in our lusty youth. “Mycroft? What’s wrong?”

  Reason calmed me swiftly. “It’s alright. I’m fine. It’s not the eight. Vega must have been one of the nay votes.”

  “What?”

  “One-ninety-two to eight can mean all Hives and Hiveless united against the eight Utopians, but that wasn’t the case here.”

  Such a mix of frowns. Many of my fellow Servicers had Hives once, or at least birth-bash’ Hives, so the remnants of allegiance cling like cobwebs to their thinking engines, and the remnants of majority as well: they were not Utopians.

  “Let the Senatorial Order be sent.”

  The printer in the Speaker’s desk produced the artifact at once, and a Senatorial courier placed the rich gold sheet in its deep blue folder and bore it down the center aisle with all the careful pomp the cradle of a newborn prince deserves. Across the Forum
in the flowered courtyard of the Sensayers’ Conclave, a hundred rushing feet rushed faster.

  “Next, Mitsubishi Zhao’s motion for a Senatorial Order for the Commissioner General to assemble a Special Task Force to investigate the so-called O.S. conspiracy and report to the Senate before any trial is considered.”

  The face to watch during these minutes was Deputy Commissioner Bo Chowdhury’s, scowling as Zhao presented what we all knew was really a delaying tactic, Papadelias and this Commission set up as time-wasters to slow the gears of Law. Report everything to the Senate for interminable discussion? All before even beginning to prepare for the first of what must be many long trials? What blessed breathing space such a move would offer to the guilty, especially to the Mitsubishi Directors, and the fox-crafty lawyers their great fortunes could buy. If this passed, months would drag on before brave Ockham Prospero Saneer could stand before a bench and say terra ignota. Judging by Chowdhury’s knit brow, had this been a bar he would have started the discussion by punching Zhao in the face.

  “Thirty-one for, one hundred and sixty-nine against. The motion fails.”

  The Senate could see through this transparent ploy. Well done.

  “Next, Tribune Natekari’s motion for a Senatorial Consult declaring Ojiro Cardigan Sniper a traitor and enemy of the Alliance, no longer protected by any law, and granting license that those with the legal liberty to take a human life may kill Sniper on sight. Tribune Natekari?”

  Natekari does not usually let herself finger her empty scabbard while she speaks, but did today. “By attacking the secularsanct person of a Romanovan Tribune on the Rostra, Sniper made a direct assault on the sovereignty and authority of the Universal Free Alliance, and on human liberty itself. Extending legal protection to such a traitor would amount to a declaration that Romanova will not guarantee the safety and liberty of a Tribune to speak, or to use our veto as we are charged to, to protect the universal liberty of the Hiveless and all humankind. Either Sniper is an enemy of the Alliance and has no protection under it, in which case those who have the right to kill must have the right to kill Sniper, or this Alliance must admit that it cares more about the conscience of the majority and the partisan desires of the Hives than it does about fulfilling the mandate of its charter.”