[ He wasn't sure if Jim got to fly one and knew about the strange dual pilot requirement. Or how they worked. And that can't have been all of them, surely. But there's apparently another option... ]

And do you know someone who can do that?

[ Because he certainly doesn't. Normally, he'd have gone and taken a look himself but unfortunately, they're orbiting a red sun. His abilities exist as they do because of the Natha. Which is another thing to take into account. ]

...the Natha are still powering some of their work, other than the capsules. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to see the engine.

[ He's not sure what it means, but it might mean something. ]