Page 474 - Enders_Game_Full_Book

"They control everything," said Bishop Peregrino.
"I already told him that," said Bosquinha.
"They don't control everything," said Ender. "They only control you through the ansible connection."
"We can't cut off the ansible," said Bishop Peregrino. "That is our only connection with the Vatican."
"I don't suggest cutting off the ansible. I only tell you what I can do. And when I tell you this, I am trusting you the way you trusted me. Because if you repeat this to anyone, the cost to me-- and to someone else, whom I love and depend on-- would be immeasurable."
He looked at each of them, and each in turn nodded acquiescence.
"I have a friend whose control over ansible communications among all the Hundred Worlds is complete-- and completely unsuspected. I'm the only one who knows what she can do. And she has told me that when I ask her to, she can make it seem to all the framlings that we here on Lusitania have cut off our ansible connection. And yet we will have the ability to send guarded messages if we want to-- to the Vatican, to the offices of your order. We can read distant records, intercept distant communications. In short, we will have eyes and they will be blind."
"Cutting off the ansible, or even seeming to, would be an act of rebellion. Of war." Bosquinha was saying it as harshly as possible, but Ender could see that the idea appealed to her, though she was resisting it with all her might. "I will say, though, that if we were insane enough to decide on war, what the Speaker is offering us is a clear advantage. We'd need any advantage we could get-- if we were mad enough to rebel."
"We have nothing to gain by rebellion," said the Bishop, "and everything to lose. I grieve for the tragedy it would be to send Miro and Ouanda to stand trial on another world, especially because they are so young. But the court will no doubt take that into account and treat them with mercy. And by complying with the orders of the committee, we will save this community much suffering."
"Don't you think that having to evacuate this world will also cause them suffering?" asked Ender.
"Yes. Yes, it will. But a law was broken, and the penalty must be paid."
"What if the law was based on a misunderstanding, and the penalty is far out of proportion to the sin?"
"We can't be the judges of that," said the Bishop.
"We are the judges of that. If we go along with Congressional orders, then we're saying that the law is good and the punishment is just. And it may be that at the end of this meeting you'll decide exactly that. But there are some things you must know before you can make your decision. Some of