Trennan bowed slightly, and Kommer bowed in return. Nessa glanced at Kommer, then at Trennan. Then back again, studying their facial language for some explanation.
She took a step toward them, and bent forward at the waist. Kommer waved her back. She squinted, but sank back to her place. Kommer coughed into his fist, then puffed his chest out.
"Pod Captain Trennan HighTower of the Capital Basin," Kommer addressed the Blue. "What business do you have here?"
Trennan kept his eyes lowered and said, "Highest Officer Kommer. There's an emergency I'm afraid."
"An emergency," Kommer echoed. "Why didn't you say so?"
Nessa's stomach tied in knots. Trennan's eyes scanned the room.
"I do apologize. I've received a transmission from--"
"From where? Spit it out, Captain."
"The Creon lord. They've cut off the trade. The food trade. They've already ended the other imports."
Kommer clasped his hands behind his back and strolled to the convex curved glass. Nessa moved across the floor in large, sweeping movements. She and Kommer paused long enough to see the bubble-like dwellings that stretched across the cityspace.
"We need to ration what's in the hangar," Kommer said into the silence.
Nessa stole a glance at the trembling Trennan across the room.
"How long will that last?"
"I'm holding out hope for a month," Kommer's voice quivered. "Send a mass data byte to the people's implants."
Nessa rested her back against the convex glass and watched Trennan. Trennan held his arm to the access pad, and his implant blinked green and read the message, "Upload complete. Access granted."
And Trennan stepped out of sight.
"What just happened?" Nessa asked, leaning her head back and tilting it toward Kommer. "The thing with his implant. What is it?"
"Yours can do it too," Kommer said. "It's the passcode upload app. I need you to make sure it's downloaded before I ask you to do what I'm about to."