Gonle Fong joins Ezr Vinh, Pham Trinli, Trud Silipan, and others at Nau’s Lake Park for a widely shared briefing. Jau Xin and Rita Liao appear, freshly awakened. Jau reports a close approach to Arachna, revealing stealthed Kindred satellites and an impossible synchronous orbit at twelve thousand kilometers. He captured a satellite for study, and Anne Reynolt confirms the evidence was scrubbed.

Nau demonstrates a tile of the satellite’s cladding that rises to the ceiling when illuminated, proving practical antigravity “cavorite.” He argues the tiles are coordinated diamond nanotech—“fossil processing devices” from ancient visitors. The discovery reframes their expedition’s stakes far beyond previous gains.

Facing imminent exposure and Kindred rearmament, Nau advances the Schedule by five years to a one-year finish. Rita urges overt military support for the Accord; Nau refuses, citing limited force and the need to preserve both the pod and Spider civilization. Ezr warns Sherkaner Underhill is no longer reliable, favoring cautious, businesslike contact. Nau orders near-universal Watch, redlines production, and lifts most resource restrictions to unleash Qeng Ho logistics.

The peons depart energized; Gonle savors the new freedoms and imagines markets opening, convinced underground trade has permanently reshaped Nau’s rule.

Later, aboard Invisible Hand, Nau, Reynolt, and Ritser Brughel drop the pretense. They will engineer a precisely limited Spider war that preserves the global financial system while weakening the Kindred enough to bluff control, nudging Southland and Honored Pedure’s plans as needed. Rita becomes leverage on Jau; a major ship may loiter in low orbit for the endgame.

Nau withholds full processing from the Peddlers, orders intense monitoring, and accepts “accidents” if necessary. Reynolt maintains someone is sabotaging their systems, with Pham the prime suspect. They prepare instant cutoffs for Trinli and Ezr and may scrub Qiwi before crisis. The aim: sustain the fraud through takeover, then keep the best of both Spiders and Qeng Ho—and discard the rest.