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Doing it here, with everything humans and atevi owned at immediate risk should he make a wrong move—that sent cold fear through him.

But in terms of negotiating—he
was
what the world had, for good or ill. He, and Jase. And Yolande Mercheson, and that small cadre of translators in the university over on Mospheira, who'd never spoken directly to atevi. Language was a field very few went into, one that
no
kyo had ever remotely conceived of going into, by all he knew. It must be a non-existent skill, where there was, for whatever reason, no surviving Other, no rivals, no memory of foreign contact.

Except there was another out there, by what they had learned, one
other
species who'd taken exception to the kyo, far to the other side of kyo space.

Enemies. Armed and space-faring enemies. The kyo had hinted such was the case.

That meant the kyo themselves were not the
only
visitors who could come calling on them. The kyo were the most likely. But
not
the only possibility.

He could not, however, afford scattered thinking. Wide thinking, yes. He was obliged to that.

But if there was one individual on earth who could
not
afford to panic right now—he was that one. Ahead of Tabini, ahead of Shawn, and all the ship captains,
he
had to think what to do, and how best to do it, because calm, accurate communication with that inbound ship was critical.

First things. Essentials had to be gotten up there. The dowager. Himself.

And—Cajeiri.

They were the three the kyo had met personally. They were the ones the kyo knew and expected. Somehow the dowager's age and Cajeiri's youth both mattered in the kyo view, calming apprehensions, perhaps, perhaps evoking something symbolic—they were far from analyzing such things in their exchanges; but the kyo had attached some significance to their presence.

So he needed them now.

A jet might not be available at Malguri's airport to get the dowager here. He might have to dispatch one.

Cajeiri, however—

Steps hurried back
up
the inner hall. He swung his chair toward the door.

A knock, an immediate entry: Jago and Banichi turned up, silent, competent for anything. Tano and Algini came in behind them, and the little office became smaller.

“Nadiin-ji,” he said calmly. “The kyo—logically one believes it is the kyo—are fifteen days from the station. They are here.”

Immediate understanding—no consternation, no alarm, just—an understanding that things had to be done, plans had to be changed, priorities had to be adjusted. God, he loved these people.

“One assumes we shall go up there,” Banichi said.

“Yes. We have to alert the dowager. One hopes the Guild's communications might be more secure than the Messengers.”

“Yes,” Banichi said, covering an immense territory in one word.

“The Guild observers probably should still go, if they are to understand this event from the beginning. But they must go now, whether we can use the shuttle at the port or whether we have to beg transport from Mospheira. And I do not know whether I can get seats for them.”

“We shall make that clear to the Guild,” Algini said.

The Guild's internal communications turning reliable did make things much, much easier; and accurately informed observers directly connected to that guild's administration could become an asset. One hoped—
hoped
things would never require their assistance up there.

“I have very minimal information at this point,” he said, “beyond a message from Jase-aiji, giving the code for an unknown in the solar system and putting it at fifteen days away at its current speed—which may change. At this point one hopes it is the kyo, and not their troublesome neighbors. But we shall have to go up there, we shall have to take charge of the encounter—and very unfortunately—we may have to do so with Tillington still in charge of Mospheiran operations, if the Presidenta cannot move fast enough to replace him. Assuming we
are
dealing with the kyo, I hope to take up that discussion with them where we left off. I am about to request the shuttle change its plans, offload all its cargo, install the largest passenger module—assuming the dowager will not come with a small staff—and fuel for an express run. And somehow we shall have to do this quietly. I do not wish to make the kyo presence public knowledge until we have a response in place.”

“Yes,” Banichi said. “Should
staff
know?”

About his own staff's man'chi and the intent of their honest hearts, he had no doubts at all. His staff would have to arrange transportation and pack their baggage, creating some disturbance in routine, and they would likely need to deal with outside agencies that might ask interested questions.

Bet that somebody might not make an innocent mistake, trying to cover things—

“Nand' Toby's boat,” he said on inspiration, and with only a twinge of conscience, “has just arrived in Najida with storm damage. I was intending to go there to assist him. Let that be the story, for all outside agencies that have to know anything about my movements. Staff may be told the truth, but tell them that all any outsider should know is that I am taking the train to Najida to meet my brother, that I shall be taking the young gentleman with me, and that the dowager might join us for a holiday.”

He hated to use Toby's presence that way and he hated to lie to the public. But it was cover they needed, to give them time to get some answers, and not to have a public furor interfering with their needful movements to the spaceport—which lay in the same direction as Najida.

But that also meant somewhere amid the confusion he had to get an honest word to Toby about what was happening.

That needed more couriers.

“I am about to talk to the Port Director,” he said. “Advise the aiji's aishid I need to speak to him immediately, but do not tell them why. The rule is—anyone inside these walls may know the whole truth. Outsiders are not to be given any of the truth unless I personally and specifically give clearance.”

“We shall advise them,” Banichi said.

“Tell the Guild what you must, and use your own judgment. I shall try to reserve seats for the observers. One unit?”

“Four, yes.”

“Once they get to the station, they should understand they will be entirely dependent on Lord Geigi for briefings. I shall be occupied, to what extent I cannot predict; and you will be, likewise. We shall brief them whenever possible, but if we cannot spare the time, we cannot. Protocol with humans or atevi cannot be my primary concern on this trip. Make sure they understand that.”

“Bren-ji,” Banichi said, without batting an eye. “We shall make very sure they understand that.”

They left. It lifted an immense burden, just knowing they were engaged with the problem—and that a certain part of it would not be in his hands.

But before the door had quite swung shut at Tano's back, Narani swung it open again, quietly plugged in a phone and set it on his desk. “The Port Director, nandi,” Narani said quietly, “is waiting on the line. I have told her nothing.”

Different mental track. Logistics. Estimates.

And a need for immediate action.

He picked up the receiver. “Nand' Director? This is Bren-paidhi.”

“Nand' paidhi?”

“There is, nandi, a sudden and very critical need to get a large number of personnel to the station, and one now profoundly apologizes for what one must request. Can you possibly make a massive change in the launch preparation? We need the largest passenger module and we need an express flight—the day after tomorrow would not be too soon—but we cannot in any way compromise safety with this passenger load. Can you make an accommodation faster with this shuttle rather than by waiting for the next, or applying to Mospheira for their space? I beg you, tell me this can be done.”

A space of silence. One could hardly blame the woman. It had to have come like a meteor strike, amid a routine and orderly process that was within a day of completion.

But lading was the final process.

“We have not loaded but two carrels of cargo, as of this hour, nandi. That can be reversed. As to whether it is better to rely on the next shuttle landing—one can never guarantee that there will not be a mechanical delay with a launch preparation. Regarding
Shai-shan,
we have already
had
our inspection, so in that,
Shai-shan
is ready. To install the passenger module you request and deal with fueling, however, is a lengthy process.”

“One understands, nand' Director.”

“Let me consult with staff, nandi. I shall make inquiries about time required.”

“Indeed, nand' Director. Let me stress that time is extremely critical; so also is safety. We might, at need, manage with the mid-sized module and a greatly reduced passenger list. Or if absolutely desperate, one person, riding with the crew. But that would be our very last choice.” He could go up, alone, with only hand baggage, relying on his household aloft and Lord Geigi—but he hoped—he hoped desperately for more resources. “Please see what can be done. I cannot stress enough: safety is definitely an issue; budget is not. The shuttle schedule
can
be adjusted up and down the line.”

“Yes, nandi. One understands. One will do one's best.”

“Thank you. Thank you very much, nandi.” He hung up. And propped his head on his hands and did rapid mental math, conscious of a headache gathering at his temples—pressure; fear; and a dearth of information.

The dowager's minimal complement of servants and security, plus herself, would be about twenty-one persons, counting she maintained an ample establishment on station—a caretaker staff that managed her apartment. Many of her servants he knew were plain-clothes Guild.

But figure thirty-one for the dowager's company. If they could get the larger module, they had room enough. Even for the observers.

The young gentleman's company would be seven, if he brought his servants; five if he brought only his bodyguard, and it would be a good idea to have the bodyguards—but the young gentleman could easily do without his servants.

Himself—even with staff aloft, he ideally wanted Narani and Jeladi with him—he wanted their experience and cool competency, among other things. They'd been in space before and they knew the staff up there.

His aishid, like the dowager's, was absolutely essential to the situation. Seven.

He wanted Asicho, who'd also been there. Bindanda. God, yes, Bindanda. He could not forget Bindanda.

So he and his staff were nine.

That was a number of outstanding felicity. But all together—it was a large number of seats. And they had the Guild observers.

Thirty-one, five, and nine. Forty-five. And the four Guild observers. Forty-nine.

Plus Guild equipment; and court wardrobe for three persons.

He started figuring baggage, a hopeless enterprise—they simply had to give priority to security and wardrobe and trust their bodyguards. He gave that up, opened his computer and started identifying files and codes he had to have.

The Port Director called back. He didn't wait for Narani to take the call.

“Five days, nandi,”
the Director said.
“We can launch early on the fifth day from this. Can you give us that much time, nandi? I am looking at the weather. It should be favorable.”

“With no compromise of safety.”

“No compromise of safety, nandi. Be assured. The shuttle itself is completely checked out and ready. We have loaded only two carrels. We assume using the regular baggage module—that the passengers will observe regulation for baggage, regulation weights. We allot four carrels. That is the module's regular configuration.”

“We
will
be within that limit.”

“We shall ask to have all carrel baggage in our hands on the third night, nandi. Launch before dawn on the fifth.”

“Excellent. Please express my gratitude to staff, and my hope, my trust and confidence that everything will be in good order. Please assure everyone that there will be both recognition and recompense for their efforts.”

“I shall, nandi. May we request a written order for this, specific paper for the records?”

“I shall deliver a signed order in person, on my arrival, with all appropriate seals, but I shall provide an interim order from the aiji. Please trust me on this until these arrive.”

“Yes.”
The answer came, from a woman balancing her career on that choice.
“Yes, nandi.”

“Carrel baggage will arrive the third evening or before, ready to go, sealed and attended by the Guild.”

“That will be extremely helpful.”

“There will be hand baggage within regulations. Needless to say, this is all highest security. Crews may know only that it is a station security emergency and that very high-level personnel are going up to deal with it. The less information you give out beyond that, the better.”

“I shall give those orders, nandi.”

Thank God.

Thank that woman.

“The aiji's seal will be on this entire operation to confirm my orders, nand' Director. Thank you. Thank you very much. My own staff will contact the Transportation Guild at executive levels on that day. They will be informed that it is a security emergency, and that a high-ranking team is going. If possible, use a technical malfunction on the station as cover.”

“One understands, nand' paidhi.”

He ended the call.

Drew a breath. Stared at a blank wall and saw the deep of space, blackness, and somewhere out there, a blip.

A presence in the dark.

They had expected the kyo, yes. Sometime. In the future.

Considering what they'd come home to, thank God they'd had a year.