"The harvesters, like most alien scum, don't look at our current situation with our point of view."
The murmuring stopped, as the Council's eyes closed in on the one who spoke. Lucendez was gripping his chair tightly, but relaxed when the others started to observe him more carefully.
"If the Nomads and Cylon threat is any indication, I predict these Harvesters aren't going to receive our message kindly. Most collectivist aliens can't see how humans are split into factions, and will not be able to see the intricate political machinations behind this. I've dealt with both the Nomads and the Cylons, and they initially couldn't see why attacking one group of people would make another friendly or hostile. However, their fight with the Zoners may have taught them something about this region of space, I say don't even trust the aliens. They've hacked our comms and may have comprised our relationship with the Zoners as a people. They are too dangerous."
"But, I will be silent on this subject. As long as a Harvester doesn't get in my way, or attack anyone I care about, I don't care what they do. Although I would probably consider the attack on Gran Canaria to be a very hostile maneuver."
"Now, I have just received a private message confirming that I may speak before the Council of Zoners. Do I have everyone's confidence? If not, do not be afraid to object. We have received codes for one Elder only, so we need to make this count."
Lucendez picked up a pen and flipped it through his fingers, silently.
"The thirteen saloons that had lined the one street of Seney had not left a trace. The foundations of the Mansion House hotel stuck up above the ground. The stone was chipped and split by the fire. It was all that was left of the town of Seney. Even the surface had been burned off the ground.
Nick looked at the burned-over stretch of hillside, where he had expected to find the scattered houses of the town and then walked down the railroad track to the bridge over the river. The river was there."
