[ The ships are going to come here, yes! He hums affirmatively to Knives's question. It's true, Earth had had some wasteful and destructive periods of history, but surely after two hundred years they would have changed! They've been advanced enough at that point to send colony ships out, so after two hundred years they must be doing really great! And look, if nothing else, these new ships from Earth represent the potential for escape from the desert, for the population of Noman's to leave entirely, if they want to. Perhaps some would even choose to settle on the verdant world that had been the fleet's original destination.

There may very well be problems with the new Earth forces – if they're anything like the local military, there will be more than a few problems! – but that doesn't change the fact that the ships represent hope for millions. ]

Not all of them. But most of them, yes! People are mostly good! And Luida saved my life once, her and the rest of the ship's residents. I've known her for decades, and I trust her completely. [ He tugs on Knives's hand, just enough to make his point. ] I trust her with you, brother.