Nau publicly installs Ezr Vinh as the Qeng Ho “Fleet Manager,” using Ezr’s Family seniority to legitimize Emergent control. Ezr reconnects with Benny Wen, who explains that Emergents are rehosting network nodes and replacing trusted interfaces with monitored, simple keyboards. Qiwi Lisolet appears, exhausted yet eager, reporting tamperproofing work and clinging to Nau’s promises about her parents. Ezr senses a conspiracy forming but knows he is closely watched.

Conditions in the temp decline as life-systems are subtly mismanaged; the bactry reeks. Escorting Emergents Ciret and Marli flee the smell, letting Ezr meet Jimmy Diem in secret. Jimmy tests Ezr’s loyalty, then recruits him. The resistance goals: get the right people onto exterior crews and learn the location and mobility of the Focused, including Trixia. Ezr will play the obedient manager while pushing hard for access to the Focused and using the bactry as a covert rendezvous.

Nau forms a “Fleet Management Committee,” co-opting junior Qeng Ho. They confirm the bactry is stabilizing, then argue over using Emergent calendars; Ezr sends Arlo Dinh to negotiate with Anne Reynolt. A blowup over banned huds and keyboards ends with Ezr enforcing the I/O ban as a treason line, even as Gonle Fong reports nervous Emergent arrivals and growing Qeng Ho intel on “mindrot” and other secrets.

Attention shifts to the imminent Relight. Pham Trinli presents the Emergent demand: emplace electric jets on the loose diamond rockpile before Relight to maintain contact stability. Qiwi critiques and elaborates the plan, noting extra jets are available and that in-relight repositioning may be required. Junior officers want the pile dispersed, but they must comply. The Qeng Ho resolve to use this risky, essential work to press for release of senior specialists. Ezr recognizes that the outdoor operations around Relight are the best opportunity for the resistance to strike.