The next morning, the people from Kestrel Mine returned.
Aurelian did not travel to Valeris Reach for the exchange. Rhoswen was already there with Crimson Bulwark, four patrol ships, and enough local support to handle the transfer without him flying across the frontier simply to watch.
Instead, he remained at Helion and followed the exchange through the command network.
Orison arrived exactly where it had agreed to meet.
Three civilian ships crossed the recovery-zone boundary under escort from four of Orison's strange mixed-design warships.
None of the escorts powered their weapons, while Rhoswen kept Crimson Bulwark far enough away that the meeting did not look like two fleets preparing to shoot each other.
For once, everyone behaved.
Aurelian appreciated it.
The first civilian ship docked with a Valeris transport platform shortly after noon.
Eirenne confirmed the passenger records as they came through.
One thousand two hundred and seventeen people.
