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“So does this ship have, you know, a name?”

“You are standing on the Third Pathlayer. Its usual mission is to lay buoys-“

“Yeah, Clear interstellar hydrogen, so othe ships don’t go boom on… Un-blackening. I got that part. But is it like the third time you’ve rebuilt it? Or is it the one of maybe three current ships?”

The question was met with fidgeting. “That… May be classified. That sounds like a question that would have a classified answer.”

“So like, state secrets. Who decides-“

“The bridge crew, any of the Counselors. But like, if there are government routes, they wouldn’t tell me unless my ship was supposed to take a route through one, and there arent any comprehensive maps because of it, its not just because you’re … Humman. This is a military asset despite the potential for civilian benefit.”

“I thought this was a government-“

“Hummans have some areas… Uh,”

“Cities?”

“Bigger”

“Countries?”

“Countries controlled by militaries. They don’t distinguish between military and government. This is our situation. The military knows how it should be run.”

“But not all the Counselors acted like-“

“Peyde. Have you met Counselor Peyde? Unlikely. Too busy. Grerbe, Ji’esala, have their skills, and are here for those. The military allows this. Do not be fooled. Hummans are being studied as a potential enemy. And if they were found to be too much a threat – well.”