wrt Queter/Sphene, I think Breq is playing a long game.
In the short term it's likely to be an immense cultural clash. Queter will hate Sphene's ancillaries, and won't be quiet about it.
In the medium term, Sphene is going to see the stuff that's likeable about having Queter aboard. We know that the AIs are predisposed to have favourites, we know that Queter is driven by an urge to do right. Even if they clash, Sphene is incapable of not seeing what is likeable about Queter (not to mention, no competition).
And in the longer term, Queter will have neutered Sphene's focus on ancillaries simply by being there, being human, and being argumentative, while Sphene will have given Queter the seasoning they need to function in a high-profile role.
no subject
In the short term it's likely to be an immense cultural clash. Queter will hate Sphene's ancillaries, and won't be quiet about it.
In the medium term, Sphene is going to see the stuff that's likeable about having Queter aboard. We know that the AIs are predisposed to have favourites, we know that Queter is driven by an urge to do right. Even if they clash, Sphene is incapable of not seeing what is likeable about Queter (not to mention, no competition).
And in the longer term, Queter will have neutered Sphene's focus on ancillaries simply by being there, being human, and being argumentative, while Sphene will have given Queter the seasoning they need to function in a high-profile role.