The legislator grimaced between her and Tennal. “Society isn’t something you can just snap your fingers and change,” she said. “And it didn’t seem wise to flag to the Resolution that we have a lot of unidentified low-level readers.” Her gaze flickered to Basavi.

Tennal found, almost with relief, that he was still furious. “You could have tried. Surit would have tried. Zin, with all her lawyer stuff, is trying right now.” But Surit and Zin weren’t the kind of personalities that made it into power, were they? To be in power, you needed to be a weasel.

“All right, maybe,” his aunt said at last. “I did what I could. There’s been so much to do.”

Her wristband pinged, with the discreet bodyguard informing her that the Fractal Note was docking for resupply. Tennal and Basavi traded glances. Basavi said, “I’ll go and keep an eye on them.”

It was a subtle inquiry. Are you going to be all right, or are you planning to have an emotional breakdown in front of your aunt? But Tennal didn’t have time for emotional breakdowns in front of his aunt. “Yeah,” he said, “don’t let Istara bleed them dry.”

The legislator watched Basavi leave the room. “How many soldiers do you have?” she said. “You might as well merge them with my forces. They can stay—”

“No,” Tennal said. “We’re not under your command.” Technically they might be, but Surit wasn’t here to explain the technicalities.

“Lights fucking guide me,” the legislator said. “Do you even understand we’re at war, Tennalhin? Every commander Oma hasn’t brainwashed is readying their soldiers for a counterattack. There will be casualties. There could be fewer if we do this right. I could use you.”

There will be casualties. “I used to be unusable because I was a mess,” Tennal said. “Now I’ve spent time as a ranker and time as an officer, and you know what? Now I’m unusable by choice.”

“So what are you going to do?” the legislator said. The contempt Tennal remembered was back in her voice. “Take your stolen ship and run? Where do you think you’re going to go?”

“Well, I have the paperwork to get through the Archer link,” Tennal said, just to see his aunt’s furious twitch.

“You’re going to the fucking Galactics?” his aunt said. “You think you’ll find it easier there?”