As Runoyii led them deeper into the ship they encountered fewer and fewer A'jeii and not a single Olone. Five minutes into the hike they were joined by a pair of suited Kaijank. Dev couldn’t tell if they were the same ones who had accompanied Vantolos on his contact visits to Earth, but he recognized the devices they carried. Though these were as intimidating as ever, he had to remind himself that they still did not know if they were weapons.

To think, he mused, that those few devices carried by a couple of Kaijank, plus the sheer size of the alien craft, had been sufficient to bluff an entire technologically developed world like his own into submission. Would the Mozehna react in similar fashion? Would they prove equally acquiescent and comply readily with the demands of their brazen, unexpected visitors? Very soon he would learn the answer to that question. In person.

The hold where a brace of A'jeii technicians were waiting for them was surprisingly small. It took Dev a moment to realize it was the same one via which they had arrived prior to their unforeseen and much-lamented hasty departure from Earth. A swirl of alien automatons were finishing preparations for the landing craft’s departure. The fact that no portal for the landing craft was visible in its side did not surprise Dev or any of his companions. By now they were more than familiar with that particular miracle of alien technology.

Surprising Dev, the usually reticent Reed grabbed his hand firmly. “Be careful down there. I’m glad you’re wanting to do this.”

Dev frowned as the big man released his fingers. “Why?”

Reed’s reply was as sincere as it was candid. “Because it means I don’t have to.” As he stepped back, Chiasa Katou-Zimmer came forward. For a second time she surprised Dev by wrapping her arms around him and hugged tightly before releasing her grip.

“Take care down there, follow instructions, observe, learn, and be ready to tell us everything you see and experience. Most importantly, if you can find out, try to discover why the A'jeii insist that you go at all,” she concluded with a reassuring, almost maternal smile.

“Don’t worry,” he promised her. “All my life I have been dreaming of doing something like this. I never thought it would amount to anything more than idle fantasies.” The thought made him smile. “First, we encounter an alien landing party, on Earth, and now I’m part of an alien landing party. As one of the aliens. It will be interesting to see if the Mozehna react to Vantolos the same way our kind did.”

Reed glanced over to where the Olone stood conversing with Runoyii. “Maybe you can calm him down a little.”