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 confront the Rix; following the Rix's killing of the Emperor's sister, Zai is anticipated to carry out ritual self-sacrifice to signify his defeat, but decides against doing so. Senator Oxham, appointed to the Emperor's War Council, rejects unappealing war strategies that would result in the loss of billions of Imperial citizens in order to safeguard state secrets contained within the compound intelligences.