Zai is sent away to fight the Rix; due to the death of the Emperor's sister at the hands of the Rix, Zai is expected to commit ritual suicide to mark his failure, but chooses not to do so. Senator Oxham, appointed to the Emperor's War Council, opposes unpalatable war plans that would lead to the sacrifice of billions of Imperial citizens in order to preserve state secrets contained in the compound intelligences.
Zai is dispatched to battle the Rix; after the Rix murdered the Emperor's sister, Zai was expected to commit ritual self-immolation as a sign of his failure, but instead chose not to. Senator Oxham, appointed to the Emperor's War Council, opposed unpalatable war plans that would have led to the loss of billions of Imperial citizens in order to protect state secrets stored within complex intelligences.