--- Part 4 --- [Scene: a view of a StarSearcher-class cruiser in orbit around a planet. CAPTION: "O.E.S. Shankara. Flagship of Council General Miana Lydor". Cut to a small but spacious meeting room, where Corve, Miana, Tylin, and Onora are in conference. Jhiro sits just behind Corve.] CORVE Well then. If everyone here is convinced of the relative soundness of my plan, let's decide who will contribute what. Myself, I can provide the necessary labor force. Miana? MIANA I believe my technical labs can duplicate the device. Of course, they'll need something to fill it with. TYLIN That's not a problem. I have contacts that can provide me with the necessary quantity of the substance. CORVE Well, General Onora, don't you have anything to add? ONORA Yes. You all make me want to vomit. MIANA How about something more substantial, Welik? ONORA [looking down] I... can get you the route Rath's ship will take. MIANA [cheerful] Well, then that's that! TYLIN Just one more thing, Miana. Can you be certain that our meeting here will remain a secret? I mean, all the people on board this ship- MIANA Are in my employ. They see what I tell them to see, no more, no less. As far as they are concerned, you were never on this ship. ONORA Forget the crew. What about *him*? [Jerks a thumb at Jhiro.] CORVE Jhiro goes where I go, General. If you have a problem with that, you're free to leave. ONORA If I was free to leave, Corve, I wouldn't be here. MIANA [getting up] Gentlemen, please. This is my ship, and I won't have this meeting ending on a sour note. Let us share a drink to the man whose career we have just condemned to death. [Close shot of three glasses touching.] TO SREEZET RATH! [Cut to the front of a large building which looks like a hospital. In fact it is. CAPTION: "Kanes Imperial Hospital, Tralkista, Planet Tralkania". Cut to inside, where a man is studying a monitor intently. A woman in a Tralkanian business dress approaches.] BEDRI Dr. Khadrium? KHADRIUM Yes? BEDRI Agent Bedri. IP Security Division. I was told you wanted to speak to someone in our organization. KHADRIUM Yes! I'm so glad they agreed to send somebody! If you'll follow me. [Cut to a locked set of doors. Khadrium works a complex security device next to the door.] BEDRI You said this concerns the explosion that demolished the research center? KHADRIUM Yes. Ordinarily we'd simply file a report through the local Imperial Police precinct, but we decided to go straight to IP Security because-- well, let me just show you. [They enter an observation room. In the medical bay beyond, a bandaged Ron lies unconscious, monitored by several instruments, with something resembling an IV (but much more advanced) sticking into his arm.] BEDRI Who is he? KHADRIUM We don't know. They pulled him and four others like him out of the wreckage. BEDRI Terrorist? KHADRIUM That's the working theory, but-- oh, he's coming around! RON [angry, but weak] [He passes out. For a moment we see his view, and part of the following line is written in Tralkan.] KHADRIUM He's been like that since he arrived, constantly lapsing in and out of consciousness. The funny thing is, he's not really even hurt that badly. BEDRI What language was that? KHADRIUM I have no idea. I was hoping you could tell me. BEDRI Look, I hate to be rude but I fail to see why this merits my personal attention. I made this visit as a favor to a relative of yours-- [Khadrium hands Bedri a vial.] KHADRIUM Take a look at this. BEDRI What is it? KHADRIUM It's his blood. BEDRI You can't be serious. KHADRIUM I took this sample not more than an hour ago. It is dark red, and has so far defied all my attempts to analyze it. I can draw another sample, if you like. BEDRI Red blood instead of violet... [slight pause] You did right to call me. I have to get in touch with my superiors immediately. May I keep the sample? KHADRIUM [captioned over a shot of Ron] "Of course... I doubt he'll miss it."