Shipyear 65
Tripday 147
Third Shift
15.00 hours

In which Mr dea’Gauss gets to work.

So, about three days to get from Liad to Arsdred in a hurry. (Dutiful Passage, I think someone said in a recent chapter, has taken about four months to get to Arsdred, but it was going the scenic route and stopping places for days or weeks along the way.)

The exchange rate for Terran bits to cantra is still (or again?) 35,000 to 1, as it was in Balance of Trade.

There are a remarkable number of ambassadors on board the Passage at present. Apparently, they’re here for an ambassadorial reception, but it says something about the ship’s melant’i, that it’s able to hold ambassadorial receptions — and more, that so many are in attendance when the ship is still in lockdown, with nobody allowed on board without specific authorization. (I get the impression from the ambassadors who have had speaking parts that some of them have come specifically because of the ship’s present situation, to show solidarity.)