The opposition looked a lot more composed than before.
The recess had done them a lot of good. They received enough time to figure out their individual stances and formulate new arguments.
This was a little problematic for Ves as he was no longer able to figure out their thoughts.
His prior talks with the various representatives had given him a decent understanding of where they were coming from. That was until Astrid Jameson detonated a bomb that scrambled everything.
As people started to swim back to their respective places and seats, it became clear that there was a lot more tension in the water.
The stakes had been raised. The public inquiry no longer remained confined to living mechs anymore. It seemed as if it also turned into an initial referendum towards cultivation.