The standoff between Allor and Professor Trill was resolved peacefully. After the battle with Pens and his near-death experience, Allor seemed changed, disoriented. There was no more fight left in him. He looked tired.
Allor left the temple to fetch Koven. They both were back in the temple in a few tox.
Then Koven did something most unununhistorian. He ran to his mother and gave her a big hug as soon as he saw her. His father joined them too.
Allor agreed to accept an ambassador on the planet and as much staff as they felt reasonable to provide counsel and assistance.
Trill told the historians that he would not wipe the memory of the planet. They took this to be a satisfactory commitment. Not that they could do anything about it. They were now only observers on a planet sponsored by the Sociology Department. Not their responsibility anymore.
Still, Trill was kind enough to thank them for their assistance. He made a point to let them know that it was them individually that he was thanking, not the organization of the History Department, as led by Professor Longley.
It wasn’t long after the agreement that Koven discovered that his cruiser had been stolen. Within a couple of tox he was able to place it at the edge of the solar system. It would be able to use FTL in a few tox. If he didn’t capture its exact location and direction at the moment of FTL instantiation, finding it would be difficult.
He confirmed a few minutes later that MinKey was missing. Then he turned off his tracking device for the ship and deleted the history.
About twenty tox later they all received a message from Dean Midge. Written only. Professor Longley was retiring at the end of term to focus on writing textbooks. He also intended to complete his ten-volume series on the evolution of the manufacturing processes for making paint.
Professor Wingut got one other message from Dean Midge. She wanted to see him as soon as he returned to Centrum Kath.
When finally asked about giving an unfair advantage during the fight between Allor and Pens, Indira responded that she was a mother and that it was the right of a child to avenge the death of their mother. It was universal, and she didn’t really give a damn what anyone else thought.
It was later that rev. Koven was alone in the comms room in the landing party cruiser. He was completing the stolen-item report. It was just the basic registry information. Nothing more. Fuel levels, cargo, etc. Usual stuff. And a tedious activity. But that was the low drone of life that he was performing when he heard the commands sent from Professor Trill. He couldn’t believe it at first. But after a few seconds he got up and ran out of the comms room as fast as he could.