Dafyd arrives at the mostly empty medrey during the break and finds Tonner, Else, Campar, and Nöl gathered in an improvised meeting area. Tonner is visibly furious and waiting for Jessyn. When Jessyn arrives with her brother Jellit—who excitedly mentions odd extrasolar data before leaving—Tonner abruptly ends the banter and calls the meeting to order.

Tonner reveals that someone has asked the funding colloquy to reassign their work by splitting it into multiple parallel programs: primary scholars would be loaned out to other medrey and collegia, while a junior researcher would stay behind to maintain the existing work. The group reacts with shock and anger, and Tonner insists the move must have originated within their “inner circle.” Else adds that they suspect a connection to Dyan Academy.

Dafyd explains his encounter with Llaren Morse, a near-field specialist from Dyan who seemed to know the reassignment was coming, reinforcing the suspicion. Nöl pushes back that the evidence is circumstantial and warns against assuming the culprit; Tonner notes that he has learned the planned spin-off leads would be Tonner, Else, and Jessyn, making Jessyn an unlikely instigator. The team discusses other possibilities, including Irinna (who once studied at Dyan) and Rickar (whose influential family supports Dyan), with Jessyn strongly defending Irinna and Else pointing to Rickar as the most plausible lead.

A hidden observer is revealed: a swarm intelligence occupying the body of Ameer Kindred, blending into the hall as a quiet scholar eating a sandwich. The swarm uses Ameer’s senses and memories to interpret the team’s emotions and relationships while prioritizing one directive—remain hidden—because its mission is time-sensitive. Ameer realizes the swarm will discard her when it moves on, and her grief is noted but set aside as “not currently useful.”

Back in the meeting, Jessyn argues that expanding to multiple labs could benefit the project, but Tonner frames it as a hostile power grab and a personal defeat, forcing Jessyn to back down. Tonner assigns tasks: Dafyd will seek leverage with powerful contacts; Else and Campar will quietly verify Irinna’s innocence; Jessyn and Nöl will probe Rickar, while Jessyn also uses Jellit’s network to sound out Llaren Morse. As they begin planning their approaches, Nöl raises a final possibility: instead of maneuvering, have they considered simply asking the people behind the reassignment?