35.Cities Victorious

One month after the uprising, Marcus has reluctantly become Chairman Pro Tem of Poseidon's new government. He visits New Thark, a new version-3 floating city, and meets with Kal, Denu, Gina, and Vinnie to discuss the aftermath of their victory and the fate of captured Council members.

Marcus arrives at New Thark via drone, noting how the city's docking bay is full of people moving in. He observes the city's two square kilometers of surface area divided between residences, businesses, and parkland under a fibrex dome, reflecting on how the Council's restrictions on such freedoms made no sense. He takes a transport pod to Kal's residence, where he joins the new government leadership for drinks and a debrief. Gina reports that five of seven Council members have been captured; the remaining two are believed to have escaped in submarines and are likely hiding among the hundred floating mats or dead. The captured Council members—except for Brennan—will face trial for the 150 deaths of Thark citizens and will be sentenced to labor at the fish plant as punishment. Gina notes that Brennan has no substantial charges against him, and the group agrees that incarcerating or deporting him is not worth the effort, so he will be sent to the fish plant with the others. Marcus notes that the orbital autofactories are producing another dozen cities, and the group jokes that they will vote him out once the entire Poseidon population is in the air.