[ Getting away from Knives sounds like a brilliant plan. No matter how bad things are on Earth, or here but under the rule of the Earth forces, it'll be better than being stranded on this dry rock without any plants to keep them all watered and fed. No Knives means no Eye, too, doesn't it? Without their god's support, without being able to hold the promise of resources over the heads of the poor folks starving out in the sands, the Eye wouldn't have any leverage.

They'd still have their tech, though, Wolfwood knows, and the army they'd built. Folks who were too monstrous, too brainwashed, or too otherwise damaged to return to the world, and that is going to be a fight. He can't imagine the Earth forces will want to work with a local cult, and the Eye won't give up what little they've got left without a fight.

Might be worth sticking around, just to help clear them out. A little vengeance is good for the soul, right? ]

You think they'd take everyone? A couple million new mouths to feed, whose only skills are rootin' around in the trash and killing each other?

[ Nobody's that charitable. There might be a couple folks whose skills, or wealth, will be enough to buy them a ticket off-planet, but the rest of them are still going to die in the dust, aren't they? Maybe they'll live longer, eat better, see their kids grow up, but if the Earth fleet is here to bring everyone back to the homeworld, Wolfwood will eat both his shoes. ]

The best I'm hopin' for is a handout, maybe a couple new wells.