"What is likely going to shake out is that we are going to make the extractions as fast as we can - that was already the plan - and then perform one of the last ones in the planet you want to be dropped off on - assuming we can't convince you to stay in the interim."

"...thank you."

"We try, I do actually believe in the Imperium's ability to make this the best place to live in the galaxy. And this is at least an opportunity to develop a procedure on how to handle cases similar to yours. Explore ways to help people relocate in secret, with resources, find ways to incentivize continous cooperation or at least disincentivize betrayal."

Nod.

Smile. "Anyway, to help with that we need a defined picture of what you want and the skills and the resources that you have and the ones we can offer. We have your file with your information and skills, anything that might be relevant that wouldn't show up there?"

"...I don't think so? And I already said what I want."

"The main concern would be that you wouldn't realize our full resources. And we might acquire more sources in the form of new gifts. One of the nonstandard things we could offer is plastic remodeling- giving you a new face."

He grimaces. "I like my face!"

She laughs. "I didn't mean to imply anything against it."

"I'd like to keep it, please."

"Gotcha. I think that is all for now. I will keep you updated."

"Thank you."

She leaves. They report this back to Monica.

"What are your conclusions and decisions?"

No major shift in our suspicions, but we don't want to be authoritarian about it. Sets a bad precedent and people would be justifiably upset. The waiting for after the extractions is stalling but a practical one. In the meantime we are considering calling a meeting specifically to set policy about this sort of situation. ...we've asked for more augmented to try Lord's formula in hopes it can produce something useful.

"Very reasonable of you."

Meanwhile, we should plan potentially problematic extractions better. Like the one with the divorced parents.

"It won't all be pretty."

We are aware. If it wasn't for the expectation that the kids could be used as hostages we would not touch the thing at all. At least not before we have something more formal.

"Yes, I know. It's—a delicate situation. We should probably become—real, public—soon. That will curtail their avenues of harassing us greatly."

Yes. And do so in a way such that they can't distort the narrative irreversibly against us.

We've considered trading lifeforce for their cooperation.

"Seems disingenuous, if you're going to offer endless lifeforce to everyone anyway."

The idea is to roll out things gradually in that case. Start with smaller amounts of health and youth, enough to makes us look good in the eyes of the public without compromising our desire to help them too much. Offer bigger ones to whoever is in charge but still not thousands of years. Once we are better established we can be more generous.

Considering the possibilities of gifts it's a good idea to not dump thousands of years on everyone in one go.