President Proctor met with world leaders and issued a statement that a fleet of thirty interstellars equipped with the Locarno drive would be constructed and sent on their way as soon as possible to begin Project Exodus, which would carry the Volarians to their new home. In addition, she announced that a WSA team would be dispatched to determine whether the derelict transport vehicle adrift near the ice world could be brought into the effort. All five members of the Eiferman team also appeared across TV, but none sparked viewer enthusiasm like the two Volarians.

Jack Crispee left Cosmic without giving a reason and turned up a few days later on the BBC, hosting The Truth Forum. He wasted no time inviting Priscilla back.

There was no indication that her mother’s experience with the Feds would result in any consequences.

•  •  •

The lights brightened and Jack Crispee looked completely relaxed, as he usually did on the air, except that he was behind a table instead of seated in the lush armchair he’d used at Cosmic. The Nantucket living room which had been his hallmark was also missing, replaced by a standard studio. The door was marked by the letters BBC, his new employer. “Hello, Priscilla,” he said. “Welcome to The Truth Forum.

She was seated on the other side of the table. “It’s good to be here, Jack. Thanks for the invitation.”

“Was that mission your longest ever?”

“No,” she said. “But it was the most unnerving. And also the most rewarding.”

“You’re talking about the Volarians?”

“Yes. We were lucky they were there, or we wouldn’t have made it home.”

“I wanted to thank you for arranging their appearance on the show. I thought Zhang Chao would have a heart attack when we contacted him.”

“It was easy, Jack. He wanted to cooperate as best he could.”

“You must have been happy to see President Proctor withdraw her support for the Centauri Initiative. She took a lot of criticism for that.”

“Only from the idiots who argue that once you form an opinion, you’re not allowed to change your mind. You’ve noticed she’s gone way up in the polls.”

“Oh yes. She’s a lock for a second term. You’re not suggesting she did it because of the reaction to your two alien friends?”

“I think she realized what was the right thing to do, Jack. And she did it. Whether the election might have prompted her change in perspective, you’ll have to ask her. By the way, I thought inviting Kwylla and Arin to appear in person here was a great idea.”