Tilenyii looked over at the Olone. “That difficulty can be rectified. Perhaps our humans would prefer to be crew rather than ‘guests’?”

“Wait—what?” Surely, Dev thought, there was some confusion in what Tilenyii was saying. Something misplaced in the supervisor’s understanding of English. Or maybe Dev was losing his mind.

She proceeded to elucidate. “It was noticed from the commencement of discussions with your kind that humans are natural negotiators. The A'jeii are not.” She looked sideways at the hypnotically gesturing Vantolos. “The Olone are not. They are belligerent and argumentative, but when that fails they do not know quite how to respond.” A small hand gestured. “Vantolos here is the most self-possessed of his kind I have ever met.”

Dev pondered that assertion. If Vantolos was “self-possessed,” the rest of his species must dwell in a state of perpetual stroppiness.

“Do you understand what I am saying?” The supervisor was waiting for Dev’s response.

“I—think so.” Proceeding on their way to their assigned tasks, a pair of ample automatons whirred past behind him, distracting him momentarily. “You’re offering my friends and me a chance to join your group. Particularly if we help you in your negotiating with other species.”

Tilenyii gestured again. Vantolos found this slightly insulting but said nothing. Such decisions were not his to make. “Yes, that is correct. As an alien kind possessed of potential unknown to the Mozehna, they will be naturally wary of you and your capabilities. You do not have to do anything except stand with the Kaijank, observe, and act confidently. You do not even have to carry a weapon. The very fact that you say nothing and appear before them unarmed will compel the Mozehna to wonder about your covert undeclared abilities.”

“So, you want us to provide an implied threat. So you can steal from them,” Dev concluded.

“So that we can survive. At least until we can sell or trade this vessel.”

Dev was nodding slowly. “Setting aside for the moment the fact that you are asking us to go against our own system of morality, what happens to us if and when you do sell or trade this ship?”

“If you elect to join with us and assist us, you will receive individual shares as a consequence of the sale.”

“That will not help us get home,” Dev pointed out.

“No, it will not.” As befitting its small stature, the A'jeii’s voice was soft and low, forcing Dev to listen intently to make certain he heard all of the supervisor’s words. “But it will make the remainder of your natural lives much more comfortable. And with the technologies that will become available to you, those natural lives themselves can be extended.”