"Thanks so much. I'll wait."

"I wish you wouldn't. Hako, you six-faced gormless coward, are you there?"

Hako glances at the blues and when one nods says, "Yep. Skyheads insisted."

"Is he really going to wait?"

"Probably. Put Chora on if you're that rattled, you pathetic old bat."

He waits.

The pathetic old bat is replaced by a functionary with what Maitimo might or might not recognize as a yellow dialect accent. "Hello, I'll stay on the line with you until this channel goes back to its usual purpose!"

"Thank you! I'm curious how the change in food handling was announced and rolled out internally. When did you find out about it? Who has oversight on those decisions?"

"The general has advised that no further substantive information be exchanged at this time!" chirps Chora.

"Oh, all right then! Would you like to learn some Quenya?"

"All right!"

Here's how you say 'hello', and 'my name is...' and 'the ships have to get up to 97% of lightspeed to jump', and 'Yavanna can make crops grow from seedlings to maturity in nine hours, and double the yield', and 'it only takes me a few days to learn languages because I have memory blessings for it' - and he digresses to explain what those are - and 'the last war on Endorë sunk two continents' and 'I'd really like to speak to the Allocator, do you know when to expect him?'

"How do you say 'the general has advised that no further substantive information be exchanged at this time'?"

He translates it. "And 'the Valar really dislike discourtesy and I'm concerned they'll clash with your government when they arrive' would be this -"

Chora firmly avoids substantive information but seems to enjoy her Quenya lesson.

Eventually she reports that the allocator's office would love to talk to Prince Nelyafinwë in person if he can get there. (Hako looks tempted to cut them off.)

"Would it be convenient for them to meet the starship Cemenyë in its orbit around your smaller moon?"

"I'm afraid we can't risk any takeoffs even during the ceasefire."

"I can arrange for someone to come visit you tomorrow."

"The Allocator is in the city of Ched."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. While I have a person from the allocator's office here is there anything else I can do for you?"

"We're going to be distributing a lot of food starting next week. We will distribute it to anyone who is hungry. I'd love to discuss with the Allocator's office how to ensure this is not too disruptive to the stability of your nation."

"He'll be ready to discuss that then."

"Thank you. That's all."

"You're welcome," chirps Chora.

Hako looks like he would like his military negotiation channel back now please.

"Thank you," he says to Hako, and lets him have it.

And they all leave poor General Hako alone.

He remains fairly reluctant to do things that might get him killed, for no good reason. "Do you want to -"