She blinks. "Well! That changes just about everything, doesn't it!"

"It does, and we can hook it up to the existing infrastructure and achieve interstellar transportation with the resources we have."

"Can we. Sounds like you've got it all figured out."

"I have!" And Temperance launches a very technical explanation about the entire process. It makes absolutely no sense to Monica, but mostly because she can't grasp most concepts.

"And how do we put this in practice?" she asks after indulging Temperance.

Temperance produces more opaque arcane jargon, but one that translates more easily to "go to that underwater place, input some coordinates and turn the thing on."

"So, are we ready to move to uncharted waters, then?"

"Uncharted waters? I actually think we shouldn't open the portal to a planet even on an ocean."

"Ancient expression never mind, I meant just go elsewhere."

"Oh, right. That we are. Well, I would need some fancy calculations to pick a destination first. Any place in the galaxy that you would like to have nearly instantaneous access to?"

"Anywhere far from the Feds."

"Hmm, the farther way the harder the calculation... but I will think of something."

"I trust you."

"Thanks! If you don't mind I want to give everyone the good news and maybe eat something."

"Of course. You've earned your rest."

"Thank you!"

She leaves and searches for people to share the good news. Maybe Sadde wants to hear the good news?

Sadde has kinda heard but wouldn't object to an elaboration.

And Isra is hanging out with Sadde and wouldn't mind hearing about it as well.

Actually a lot of people might want the details.

Temperance is glad to provide. Her explanation gets very opaque, very fast though. And soon Sadde is pretty much the only person that has any grasp about it, at all.

Sadde however finds it fascinating and wants to go visit the underwater lab next time she goes.

Adam showed up after the crowd formed and stayed when it dispersed. He is listening from a distance.

"There is no hope we can return to our lives. But I guess we could at least offer the option to become a fugitive to whoever cares to take it?"

"Maybe. But... I think I can aim this well enough to hit a ship in orbit, but I don't think I can make it so discreetly enough that people in the ship or space station wouldn't notice and they would see the mysterious portal and likely tell everyone ...unless they are kept hostages. ...Better than nothing."

"Pretty sure everyone here is already a fugitive no matter what."

"Yes, but there is a difference between a fugitive in a distant star system and one in a known location inside the Feds' reach."

"I don't want to go back there... but if you could aim at the Above-Zenith Station I don't think they would tell the Feds and would negotiate peacefully for the safe passage..."