Justine Burnelli
Names: Justine BurnelliJustineSenatorGrandeeSenator Burnelli
First appears in Book 1: Pandora's Star, chapter 5 (FOUR)
Appearances
What you know
Book 1: Pandora's Star
- Ch 5Justine comes from a wealthy, notable family and usually waits until her body is about fifty before undergoing rejuvenation again.
- Ch 5Justine flies a hyperglider through Stakeout Canyon, frightened but determined, finding her earlier long life boring by comparison.
- Ch 5Justine met Estella Fenton at a Washington rejuvenation clinic, and Estella persuaded her to join a two-month safari across Far Away.
- Ch 5Justine is on her second life, with foreign memories that give her hypergliding skill; she came to Far Away to test whether she is still her impetuous younger self.
- Ch 5Justine has had several husbands; her last husband gave her the bronze malmetal bracelet, and his declining sense of humor hastened their divorce.
- Ch 5Justine successfully flies the hyperglider up through a twister to the edge of space and lands in the rainforest east of Mount Herculaneum, then breaks down in tearful, laughing relief.
- Ch 5Justine investigates a regular, unmodulated multiband power-burst-like emission in the jungle, concluding that it is not pirates but something unknown nearby.
- Ch 5Justine finds a small decades-old shelter in the jungle containing a niling d-sink powered by a geothermal heat exchange cable, emitting unshielded em pulses.
- Ch 5Justine has retinal inserts with infrared capability, which let her detect Kazimir hiding behind a bush.
- Ch 5Justine has rejuvenated, retains old memories of Earth, and flew her hyperglider through a storm around the volcano; she appears very young.
- Ch 5Justine hides her reaction to Kazimir's story, seeming troubled that he sincerely believes in his cause, and tells him not to take rash risks.
- Ch 5Justine promises Kazimir she won't visit the old arkship, though a small worry about the alien legend lingers with her.
- Ch 5Justine privately regards the Guardians doctrine as idiotic and hopes her night with Kazimir will make him question it.
- Ch 5Justine flew her hyperglider farther than anyone else on the tour and landed in a clearing on Mount Herculaneum's lower slopes.
- Ch 13Justine is an offworlder from Earth who loved Kazimir; she urged him to be his own man and did not believe in the Starflyer.
- Ch 18Justine is Gore Burnelli's firstborn, conceived naturally. She has long served the family as troubleshooter, acquisition negotiator and political broker, and is organising the discreet weekend gathering.
- Ch 18Justine organized the weekend gathering and acts as hostess, working to win over influential politicians for Doi's campaign and the agency.
- Ch 18Justine spent the night with Campbell and is skeptical that the Dysons will prove a threat.
- Ch 20Is an Earth citizen whom Kazimir remembers as his unmatched lover on Mount Herculaneum.
- Ch 24Acting as temporary senator for her brother Thompson after his murder; she hosts Murielle's engagement party while grieving.
- Ch 24Over three and a half centuries as a political player, she reads body language expertly; she has visited Far Away and its ship.
- Ch 24Her slip about the starship being a wreck and the planet half dead makes Paula Myo suspect her.
- Ch 24Justine is a Burnelli whose brother was murdered; she holds a Senate Hall role and has a past lover, Kazimir, from Far Away.
- Ch 24Justine tells Kazimir there is no Starflyer, that her brother was killed by political rivals, and urges him to leave the Guardians.
- Ch 24After Kazimir leaves, Justine tearfully calls Alic Hogan at his Paris office.
- Ch 26Justine, a senator, has had Kazimir secretly watched by navy intelligence out of love for him, and feels guilty about it.
- Ch 26Justine watches Kazimir's killing live and sees her brother's murderer, Bruce, fire the shot.
- Ch 26Justine's brother was murdered by Bruce McFoster.
- Ch 26Justine is a senator nearly four centuries old, wealthy and powerful, who had ordered the navy that Kazimir must not be harmed.
- Ch 26Justine had believed Kazimir naive and was trying to protect him from himself and from others using him.
Book 2: Judas Unchained
- Ch 2Justine was Kazimir's lover, met on Far Away when he was seventeen; she feels guilty, believing she betrayed him and caused his death.
- Ch 2She secretly took a memory crystal from Kazimir's belt, distrusting the navy and unsure about Myo.
- Ch 2She refuses to clone Kazimir, saying a person is more than a body, and vows to carry on his cause against the Starflyer.
- Ch 2She arranged for Kazimir's autopsy at her family clinic in New York, supervised by Senate Security, via a private train from Campbell Sheldon.
- Ch 2Justine wears black as a quiet statement of mourning, for a society that rarely faces death; she is a Commonwealth senator and a Burnelli.
- Ch 2Justine had a brief fling with Kazimir on Far Away and feels guilt for alerting the navy to him.
- Ch 2Justine received a code from Kazimir to contact the Guardians but hides it, fearing being discredited if a link to a terrorist group became public.
- Ch 2Justine lied to Admiral Columbia, denying she saw anything Kazimir carried and claiming they were not close.
- Ch 2Justine had an isolated quantum scanner array installed, costing over five million dollars, with no network node so it cannot be hacked.
- Ch 3Rebukes Crispin for complaining about cost, reminding him that death at the Primes' hands is real and permanent.
- Ch 3Put navy intelligence on the boy killed at LA Galactic; she considers telling Ramon about the Starflyer but holds back.
- Ch 3Justine wants Wilson to pressure Admiral Columbia into keeping navy intelligence on the Martian inquiry, despite her own disagreements with Columbia.
- Ch 3An assassin who killed the Guardians' courier also destroyed an arms dealer on Venice Coast and murdered Justine's brother, so he works for neither government nor Guardians.
- Ch 6Justine is a Senator who is being frozen out of committees; she is pregnant-like nauseated and was once married to Ramon DB.
- Ch 6Justine, Gore and Paula suspect Nigel Sheldon of being behind a great antihuman conspiracy, but cannot tell Ramon yet.
- Ch 6Justine discovers that Isabella's father Victor directed the Marie Celeste Research Institute on Far Away for two years, fifteen years ago.
- Ch 7Justine is pregnant with her brother Thompson's clone fetus, which she hides, and she is acting in his place as senator.
- Ch 7Justine suspects someone manipulated the Sorbonne Wood weekend that set up the navy's parallel development, and that Patricia Kantil is being played.
- Ch 8Justine is pregnant with Kazimir's child; Paula deduced this. Justine is alone in the Senate in believing in the Starflyer.
- Ch 8Justine will approach Crispin Goldreich to propose the Far Away funding rider on the navy finance bill and will upgrade her security.
- Ch 8Justine is pregnant by Kazimir, who is dead; she blames herself for his death and keeps the pregnancy as penance and to keep the baby safe.
- Ch 8Justine was once married to Ramon DB and they share an affectionate, teasing relationship; they had a child grown in a womb tank.
- Ch 8Justine plans to introduce to the Senate the idea that some senators are traitors working for the Starflyer, and expects absolute proof within days.
- Ch 9Justine represents the Senate and argues that reluctance to exterminate other species defines humanity.
- Ch 11Justine is pregnant, suffering heavy morning sickness, and sits on the War Cabinet; she backed the genocide option because she believes the Starflyer wants the Primes and humans to destroy each other.
- Ch 11Justine keeps her contact with Johansson hidden from Paula, so she does not tell Paula that Mellanie is in contact with Adam Elvin.
- Ch 11Justine suspects Sheldon may be pushing genocide to provoke the Primes as the Starflyer wants, but has only Thompson's unconfirmed claim as evidence.
- Ch 11Justine is pregnant and shaken after an assassination attempt by a Starflyer agent who hid in her fridge.
- Ch 11Justine plans to call Campbell to arrange a way to confront Nigel Sheldon.
- Ch 11Justine travels in person to Campbell to learn how the Sheldons will vote on dismissing Paula, insisting the answer come from Nigel Sheldon himself.
- Ch 11Justine fears Nigel might be in league with the Starflyer and is overcome with relief at his support for Paula.
- Ch 13Justine looked guilty rather than surprised at Wilson's Starflyer claim; she and an Investigator have requested an urgent meeting with Nigel.
- Ch 13Justine insists the New48 populations must not be abandoned and says the New48 worlds will not be habitable after the flare radiation.
- Ch 13Justine is pregnant and wants to secure a place on a lifeboat in case things go wrong; she fears the Starflyer's agents.
- Ch 13Justine is visibly pregnant with no father or legal agreement on record; her inserts keep an encrypted link to the unisphere, which Nigel suspects leads to Gore.
- Ch 13Justine suggests bringing the Guardians in from the cold to help capture the Starflyer.
- Ch 13Justine has been in contact with Bradley Johansson.
- Ch 14Senator Burnelli offers to bring Bradley and the Guardians in as allies against the Starflyer, backed by Nigel Sheldon's word.
- Ch 14Justine holds the memory crystal with the data Kazimir carried, which the Guardians need for their equipment; she is suffering nausea.
Connections
- friend ofEstella Fentonnewly met at a rejuvenation clinic
- related tohypergliderpilots it on a tour-company caravan trip
- friend ofKazimir McFoster
- partner ofKazimir McFosterOne-night encounter; he adores her
- family ofGore Burnellifather and daughter
- family ofRamon DBex-husband; they share a great-grandchild, Abby
- family ofAbbydaughter
- family ofThompson Burnellibrother
- partner ofCampbell Sheldon
- related toAlic Hoganreports to her on the operation
- related toPaula MyoInvestigator consoling and informing the senator
- ally ofPaula MyoWary, probationary cooperation over shared goals
- friend ofCampbell Sheldon
- family ofThompsonbrother
- friend ofRamon DB
- related toSue Pikensenior staffer
- related toRoss Gant-Wainrightsenior staffer
- partner ofMcFosterHogan states they were lovers
- related toThompson Burnelliboth Burnelli; senator killed
- partner ofRamon DBformer spouses, married eighty years ago
- enemy ofBruce McFosterwaiting to assassinate her
- ally ofNigel Sheldon
Key moments
- Book 1 · Ch 5Hyperglider launch in the storm
Justine waits out her fear, then releases her hyperglider tethers in the storm and is carried up Stakeout Canyon on a vertical wall of wind and water.
- Book 1 · Ch 5Climb above Herculaneum
Justine bursts out above the canyon, flies up Mount Herculaneum's slope toward the summit, and scans radar to reach her ultimate goal.
- Book 1 · Ch 5Twister ride to the edge of space
Justine flies the hyperglider into a twister, is flung up through the stratosphere, and glides over Mount Herculaneum's summit before descending.
- Book 1 · Ch 5Landing amid electronic failure
While landing in a rainforest clearing, the hyperglider suffers a multiple electronic failure resembling an em pulse; Justine lands safely and weeps with relief.
- Book 1 · Ch 5Tracking the mysterious emission
Justine trudges through the jungle toward the source of repeating electromagnetic pulses, which briefly reboot her e-butler, and decides it isn't pirates.
- Book 1 · Ch 5Justine discovers the d-sink
Exploring the jungle on Mount Herculaneum, Justine finds an overgrown shelter housing a niling d-sink fed by a geothermal cable and identifies it as the source of the em pulses.
- Book 1 · Ch 5Justine meets Kazimir
Kazimir, watching from hiding, is spotted by Justine and invited into her shelter. He tells her the clans' story of the Starflyer and Bradley Johansson, and they spend the day together.
- Book 1 · Ch 5Night together by the fire
Kazimir and Justine share champagne and food by a bonfire, then go into her tent and have sex.
- Book 1 · Ch 5Recovery convoy arrives
The convoy led by Cam Tong finds Justine's landing site, honking horns. Kazimir bolts into the jungle while the crew laughs; Estella teases Justine, and they depart.
- Book 1 · Ch 18Guests arrive at Sorbonne Wood
Justine greets arriving guests for a discreet weekend of political horse trading over the new starflight agency and the upcoming Doi campaign, including Gore, Campbell, Patricia, Gerhard, Larry, Goldreich and Ramon.
- Book 1 · Ch 18Justine investigates Isabella
Justine suspects Patricia's companion Isabella might signify Halgarth influence, and asks Estella Fenton. She learns Isabella is unimportant and that the Halgarths back Doi.
- Book 1 · Ch 18Family meeting before the evening
Gore, Justine and Thompson meet in the library before the evening's negotiations. Gore tasks them with anticipating problems among the guests.
- Book 1 · Ch 18Crispin Goldreich agrees to back Doi
At breakfast Justine and Patricia win Crispin's conditional support for the agency, offering him continued Budget Commission leadership if Doi is elected, with oversight committee.
- Book 1 · Ch 18Sheldon agrees to back Doi
Gore tells Patricia the key is Sheldon money, and Campbell later confirms Sheldon backing for Doi in exchange for billions for the agency's first budget. Burnellis then plan to move the agency base to High Angel.
- Book 1 · Ch 18Halgarths push offensive navy and merge Directorates
At the review meeting Larry argues for offensive capability; Natasha urges new weapons, and Rafael's Directorate absorbs other security Directorates, with the Burnellis reluctantly accepting.
- Book 1 · Ch 20Kazimir searches for Justine Burnelli
After planning his smuggling covers in Los Angeles, Kazimir recalls his night with Justine and asks his e-butler to look her up.
- Book 1 · Ch 24Murielle's engagement party
Justine hosts a 1950s-themed engagement party for Murielle and Starral at Tulip Mansion despite Thompson's murder, greeting guests including Estella, Alessandra and Mellanie.
- Book 1 · Ch 24Paula appointed to Senate Security
Gore and Paula tell Justine that Thompson's murder links to the Starflyer and Far Away inspections. Gore appoints Paula to Senate Security; Justine agrees to clear it.
- Book 1 · Ch 24Kazimir reunites with Justine
Kazimir, disguised as a waiter, returns Justine's old sunhat at her engagement party. They spend the night together; he reveals he is on a Guardian mission.
- Book 1 · Ch 24Justine and Kazimir argue
Justine begs Kazimir to quit the Guardians, denying the Starflyer. He asks her to lift cargo inspections, refuses to stop, and leaves, promising to return. Justine calls Alic Hogan.
- Book 1 · Ch 26Kazimir killed at LA Galactic
After returning with the Martian data, Kazimir recognises Bruce on the concourse and runs to him; Bruce shoots him dead while navy watchers and Justine look on.
- Book 1 · Ch 26Justine mourns Kazimir
Justine kneels by Kazimir's dead body. Paula Myo tells her the navy did not do it, that it has leaks, and that the Starflyer is real.
- Book 2 · Ch 2Justine takes Kazimir's body to New York
Justine rides with the body, secretly finds a memory crystal, and takes it by private train to her family clinic. Myo notices the blood on her fingers and asks to see what she found.
- Book 2 · Ch 2Scanning Kazimir's crystal
In a screened, isolated room, Justine and Paula have the array scan Kazimir's memory crystal. It holds 372 files too strongly encrypted to crack, and they weigh asking the SI or Guardians for help but decide to wait on the navy's Peru report.
- Book 2 · Ch 2Columbia confronts Justine
Admiral Columbia questions Justine about removing Kazimir's body, her ties to him and Paula Myo, and any missing courier item. Justine rebuffs him and conceals her knowledge.
- Book 2 · Ch 2Suspicion of Nigel Sheldon
Paula tells Justine and Gore that Thompson learned Nigel Sheldon blocked cargo inspections. They resolve that Justine will find Thompson's source and Gore will build a resistance network.
- Book 2 · Ch 3First War Cabinet meeting
Meeting in Washington's Senate Hall, the War Cabinet hears Kime's assessment of the Prime assault and unanimously approves his three-stage strategy, with the Seattle Project noted as stage four.
- Book 2 · Ch 3Justine speaks with Ramon
After the meeting Justine and Ramon talk privately about his poor health and the LA Galactic killing. She withholds news of the Starflyer, then approaches Kime.
- Book 2 · Ch 3Justine and Paula confront Wilson
Justine and Paula tell Wilson about the Guardians' Mars operation and ask him to urge Columbia to keep navy intelligence investigating; Wilson says he will think about it.
- Book 2 · Ch 6Meeting at Justine's apartment
Paula, Justine and Gore share findings on the Mars data and Isabella Halgarth, and discuss approaching Ramon DB as an ally.
- Book 2 · Ch 6Link between Isabella and Far Away discovered
Justine finds that Isabella's father directed a research institute on Far Away fifteen years ago, suggesting how the child Isabella was reached by the Starflyer. Gore agrees to investigate the law firm's finances.
- Book 2 · Ch 7Justine probes Ramon
After a committee ambush by Valetta Halgarth, Justine questions Ramon about the origins of the navy deal and then warns Paula Myo of the vote.
- Book 2 · Ch 8Paula proposes Far Away trap to Justine
Paula and Justine plan to propose cutting Far Away wormhole funding to flush out Starflyer allies; Paula discerns Justine's pregnancy and warns she would be bait.
- Book 2 · Ch 8Justine seeks Ramon's advice
Justine tells Ramon she is pregnant and that the Starflyer killed her lover. He is skeptical but promises to judge proof if she gets it, extracting a promise she'll seek counseling otherwise.
- Book 2 · Ch 8Ramon's heart attack
Ramon collapses after Justine leaves. Paramedics sedate him for rejuvenation; he warns her about Toniea Gall and directs her to Crispin.
- Book 2 · Ch 11Assassin attacks Justine's apartment
Bruce McFoster kills Hector Del and attacks Justine in her Park Avenue apartment; Gore Burnelli crashes in, fights him, chases him off the balcony, and kills him on the street.
- Book 2 · Ch 11War Cabinet debates striking the Primes
The War Cabinet discusses carrying the fight to the Primes with quantumbusters; Justine backs genocide, Kime opposes, and Doi institutes an ongoing review.
- Book 2 · Ch 11Planning at Tulip Mansion
Justine, Gore and Paula discuss the failed assassination, the need for Nigel Sheldon's support, and plans to approach him through Campbell and watch Boongate.
- Book 2 · Ch 11Justine secures Sheldon support for Paula
At Nitachie, Campbell asks Nigel, who declares the Sheldon Dynasty will oppose Paula's dismissal from Senate Security.
- Book 2 · Ch 11Alien wormholes alert
A navy alert reports hundreds of new alien wormholes opening in Commonwealth star systems.
- Book 2 · Ch 13Wilson forced to resign
The War Cabinet demands Wilson Kime's resignation after the invasion and revokes his codes; he warns them the Starflyer is real before leaving.
- Book 2 · Ch 13War Cabinet votes to exterminate Primes
The War Cabinet unanimously approves using every means, up to extermination, against the Primes, and debates evacuating the New48 worlds.
- Book 2 · Ch 13Meeting at Newark station
Paula, Justine and Mellanie tell Nigel and Nelson the Starflyer is real and has infiltrated the navy and Halgarths. Nigel orders a secret strike on Dyson Alpha, and Paula deduces the Starflyer travels in a train wagon.
- Book 2 · Ch 13Plan to trap the Starflyer
They decide to arrest known agents, set up a secret operation at Narrabri with Morton's squad, and execute the Starflyer quietly once found.
- Book 2 · Ch 14Bradley and Burnelli negotiate
Senator Burnelli proposes joining forces; Bradley demands Paula Myo deliver McFoster's data to prove trust.
- Book 2 · Ch 14Paula refuses Johansson's demand
Johansson demands Paula deliver Kazimir McFoster's data; Paula flatly refuses, angering Nigel, who tells Justine to negotiate alternatives.
- Book 2 · Ch 14Guardians and allies pursue
Nigel agrees to send Bradley's Guardians, Paula, Qatux, Tiger Pansy and others through to Boongate with Justine's data crystal, then Adam's train heads through.