 Hobart Conselline (of the Consellines whose sub-family, the Morrellines, were responsible for the profiteering off inferior rejuvenation drugs in "Winning Colors") successfully manipulates the emergency Council meeting called after the assassination to have himself appointed Speaker, buying off Harlis with the promise that the judges appointed will be favorable to Harlis's lawsuits.He pushes through a number of disastrous amendments and ill-considered appointments (such as the appointment of Pedar as Foreign Minister).The resistance his politics meet drive him to even more extreme measures.