Someone in the chamber chuckled under their breath. Leila's fingers slowly curled into fists, but she restrained her anger.
"Are you suggesting that the E.U. send me to Luoyang as a diplomatic gift?"
"Young lady, there is no need for such emotional language. Our diplomacy needs a personal touch."
"You just spent three hours proving that you cannot decide whether to build rockets. Now the only consensus you have reached quickly is that I should use my sex to get close to the Regent of Great Han?"
"Major, please do not distort the committee's position."
"Then please explain why my sex is listed among the qualifications for a technical delegate."
The committee member said impatiently, "Because that is how politics works. You have the Marukal family behind you, received the highest standard of military education, and became acting commander of W-0 before you turned twenty. Do you truly believe that all came down to your own abilities?"
The chamber fell briefly silent. That remark had clearly crossed a line, but no one immediately stepped in to stop him.
Leila stared at the committee member for a long time before saying, "Of course I know where my position came from. I also know that the committee gave me W-0 because, after a defeat, you could shift the blame onto a young girl and a group of stateless exiles from Area 11."
The chair tapped the table.
"Major Marukal-"
"I will go to Luoyang."
That actually startled the people in the chamber.
Leila continued, "But I am no one's gift. I will go as an E.U. officer and the head of a technical observation delegation. I demand that the committee formally recognize the delegation's right to inspect the nonclassified portions of Great Han's planetary defense program; that members of W-0 be free