[ Attempts to instill charming midwest manners in Jim had largely failed except for one point: Winona Kirk's vicious open-palmed smack to the back of his head whenever he tried talking and chewing at the same time. Whenever he tried a great number of things, actually, but that one stuck by virtue of the pain of bitten cheeks and tongues it often caused, which were worse than a sore head.

He still puts his elbows on the table. ]

Is it feasible to open discussion with something we have to keep private through the council and expect the natives not to notice? [ A real question. What are the mechanics of that, Jim has no idea. ]

I've been working with a couple other people who're from worlds with space travel and the like, and so far we're just laying low with it, given so much else is already going on. Someone already posted to the network announcing the Natha's disappearance, which just increased the number of people rushing up to the stasis pods and nervously pointing weapons around at each other. I'm amazed there hasn't been an accident just from refugees being jittery.