ThinksMarkedly wrote:cthia wrote:Grayson has a huge number of immigrants? Well of course they have. But I never gave it any thought. Dunno why I was thinking defectors are the only ones. Plus there is movement within the Steadings to Honor's Steadings. But Skydomes would have been the wind beneath a lot of people flying in to the system to learn the trade. Duh. But, would those positions be close enough to the government to be productive as spies? They could certainly steal Skydomes' trade secrets.
Work your way up, cultivate assets. You don't need the agent to be the decision-maker. If you can get him/her close enough to those who are, you're set. Take the case of Caswell Gweon: he was planted in the SLN way ahead of time. Through careful use of his actual competence, use of inside information that others don't have, and a certain amount of assassination, he became Fleet Admiral Kingsford's analyst. He was in a position to make sure Operation Fabius would be launched.
The rest is just use of money. The PRH did plenty of that.
The fact that the PRH itself was infiltrated by Mesan agents is probably not a coincidence.
I understand your logic and it certainly makes sense. I'm just not so sure there aren't going to be stalls and pitfalls on a planet like Grayson.
For one, I think the mole's advancement will be hindered by his status as a heretic. Tester will not allow the placement of heretics in high positions. Even Honor had to study voraciously to be effective. She recognized that need. Alfredo and company are probably being shanghaied within the church as well. If a mole is willing to go the nine, then perhaps it is possible. But if he goes the nine, Tester and his teachings may overcome him. The Holy Spirit is more powerful than all programming.