data-surveillance

In this chapter, Mayor Bosquinha reveals to the religious and political leaders of Lusitania Colony that their data files are under systematic and destructive surveillance and copying by Starways Congress, threatening the colony's autonomy and security. She has developed a program to monitor these intrusions and discovered that only the Speaker for the Dead's files remain untouched because they are stored offworld, leading to a controversial proposal to transfer the colony's most vital files to the Speaker for safekeeping. The chapter explores the tension between colonial governance, surveillance, trust, and the precariousness of information security in an authoritarian context.

John Boone flies a glider from Senzeni Na to the Argyre Basin to meet Ann Clayborne and her team investigating Martian geology, particularly the evidence for ancient glaciation and oceans. During his journey and interactions, John reflects on the terraforming project, the biases that may influence scientific interpretation, and the ongoing sabotage incidents. The chapter explores the tension between scientific inquiry, personal beliefs, and political motivations surrounding Mars' past and future.