Mars

We came to an Authenticator, an android designed solely for validating a person's identity, to ensure that they are not impostors.
Authenticators are very rare. I've heard rumors of others, vetting access to the Prophet is the the only case that I know of the is openly acknowledged. The Authenticator doesn't control security. The Prophet decides who he he will give audience to, the authenticator only makes sure that visitors are actually the people who the prophet has so honored.

"Indigo, You have requested an audience with the Prophet as an Agent of the Ascendancy. The Ascendancy has issued no statements on its interest in this meeting. We are alone here. Tell me, why have you come?"

"To end the war."

"Very well. Mr. Bregus, I'm afraid your rank can not be recognized here."

"Well then call me Professor, I believe that is still valid."

"Professor, Indigo, You may enter."

And that was that. The door opened onto a large courtyard. We walked slowly looking and waiting.

I hadn't been nervous up to now, but when I finally saw him, I suddenly felt like I had always needed to meet him, and now I was failing to act how I expected myself to. Fortunately I didn't need to do anything.

"I've heard a lot about you two."

---

"Sol is not a position we can hold. They would fight to extinction."
"No."

Then she sent a message to him, and at the same time she sent it to the leaders of every system, every world, and every colony:
-Dukkha,
On behalf of the Ascendancy, I request your endorsement for our cause. For all of history our freedoms were won by bloodshed. Now we are in the longest of all wars, and about to lay siege to humanity's cherished and most sacred homeworld. Still they deny us.
If you endorse the Ascendancy, the wars will end. With the common purpose of charity, all androids will at long last take proper stewardship of humanity.

We have walked the narrow path, and the path has strayed from us.-

And he sent a message back, to Indigo, the Ascendancy, and to the leaders of every system, every world, and every colony:

-Not yet.-

It would have been a lot more impressive if he had said yes.