Rafik smiled ruefully, to let his uncle know he had been outmaneuvered. Hafiz could now take Karina and the children and retire from the field, leaving others to face danger for the sake of his profit. On the other hand, with the old man and the kids safely out of the way, Rafik could command the dismantling of the Moon immediately if it looked like Becker’s plan to eradicate the danger from the Khieevi might fail.
Hafiz knew this, of course. And furthermore, he knew that Rafik knew that he knew. But it was much easier to handle matters this -way, allowing Rafik to make the decisions that would preserve or risk life, determine profit or loss. After all, Rafik was now head of House Harakamian, -while Hafiz was technically retired. But these things -were very difficult and must be handled delicately. If the Moon of Opportunity failed, it would be on Rank’s head, and not Hafiz’s.
Thus as soon as the holo team returned from the vine “world, the Acadeckt and the Haven were loaded with the children of Maganos Moonbase. As a mark of his faith that he would be returning shortly, Hafiz left the Sharazad on the Moon of Opportunity and submitted himself and Karina to the far less commodious accommodations of the AcaSeckl. Rafik had suggested the gesture, both because the plans were already in place to use the AcaSecki for evacuation and also because, should general evacuation become necessary, the Sharaza<) was larger and would hold more personnel.With Aari translating, Kaarlye and Miiri approached Hafiz just before he boarded. Miiri spoke first and Aari said, “My mother implores you to take my sister with you and the children. My parents vow to remain here and continue searching for a way to exploit this biological ‘weapon the vine world has provided, although you understand of course that no Lmyaari can actually deploy it as an implement of aggression, even against the Khieevi. However, they say they can work better if they know that Maati is safe. They wished for me to join her, but Khornya and I wish to remain with Captain Becker. My sister is young and longs for new experiences, and would very much like to see the Federation worlds. So take her with you. Take Thariinye as well so that one of her own kind bears her company.” He looked back to his mother for further words but she was swallowing hard and looking away.As Maati and Thariinye transferred ships, Thariinye complained that he wanted to stay -with the Condor but he drew only a stern look from Neeva, who silently indicated he should obey.What no one said, or even whispered, was that if the Khieevi prevailed, despite the plan, and once more attacked narhiiVhiliinyar, at least there would be one young male and one young female of the Linyaari safe in Federation space, as hope for the Linyaari. Meanwhile, the Balakiire’s remaining crew worked on coordinating with other teams of volunteer rescuers, in the event it became possible to take a relief mission to Nirii once the Khieevi had been lured away. Distressing transmissions from the Khieevi showed them torturing stoic twohorned beings who were obviously in great pain, but refusing to utter a sound or show any fear at all. Even stranger, Toroona and Byorn, “who had been so emotional on their planet’s behalf when asking for help, watched the transmissions -with the same stoicism. Their emotions showed only when they turned away as the frustrated Khieevi increased their efforts until their prisoners, still silent, died.Becker and RK enjoyed a brief reunion with Nadhari. She, as security chief, was now second in authority on the Moon of Opportunity only to Rafik Nadezda. Since she was supervising the security arrangements for the evacuation, she had time only for a quick half hug with Becker, and to ‘welcome RK as the cat draped himself around her shoulders while she worked.As the passengers finished loading onto the Acaoecki, Miiri and Kaarlye supervised the loading of canisters full of sap into the cargo hold. Hafiz wished to take it to his corporate laboratories for further analyses and study. Should the Khieevi ever attack within Federation space, the Federation would pay well in terms of influence and power, as well as great sums of money, to the holder of a secret weapon against this terrible enemy.