There’s a lot of crossover with the military, who as usual have ninety-nine percent of all the available funding. And of course, the question is huge on Thea.”

“Yes,” Jainan said. “I think we have a good half of the Iskat military’s mining capability in our sector. I’m afraid I haven’t paid much attention to it in the last few years.”

“Of course,” Professor Audel said. “Politically fraught, though, isn’t it, with the revenue sharing agreement and the close-planet debris issue. Now, the equipment problem on the larger asteroids is the cracking issue in places like the Alethena Basin—”

“I don’t believe that’s actually the issue there,” Jainan said. It was diffident, but it was an actual interruption—the first real one Kiem had ever heard him make. Kiem paid closer attention. “I think it was shown that the stabilizer seeding there in fact failed owing to fluctuations in the environmental radiation.”

“Well that’s—hm. Jainan.” Professor Audel peered at him, her eyes sharp in her wrinkled face. “You’re not J. Erenlith who published that thesis on regoliths, are you?”

“I—” Jainan said, then stopped, flustered. Kiem suppressed his I-told-you-so grin. “I—that was a long time ago.”

“Excellent!” Professor Audel said. “I suspected it was a nobility pseudonym.

That explains why I never found the author. We must get you in for a consultation.”

For some reason Jainan glanced sideways at Kiem. “I don’t know if I can commit to that.”

“Have you moved into another field?” Professor Audel asked. “Surely you can still do a consultation.”

“That—depends,” Jainan said. He looked at Kiem again. “Am I likely to have time?”

“Time?” Kiem said, bemused. As far as he knew, Jainan’s schedule wasn’t packed, or surely they’d have had people chasing Bel already. On the other hand, if Jainan didn’t want to do it, the time excuse was a good one, but why ask him?

“Well, depends what else you’re planning to pick up. Up to you, of course.” He couldn’t help adding, “For what it’s worth, I think it’s a good idea.”

Jainan inclined his head. “I would be glad to consult, Professor,” he said.

“Though I can’t promise I remember anything useful.”

“You never forget how to calculate,” she said. “And fresh eyes will be invaluable. Now, about the solar radiation. Did you consider the knock-on impact of the inner system adjustment—”