It was clear that he wasn’t keeping them prisoner—on the aircar flight from Stronghold to the landing area she saw a few of the people already leaving, making their wary way across the wide path that the Marines had cleared to keep Caelian’s plants and animals away. Tamu had also put four pairs of Marines along the path, standing ready in case some gigger or screech tiger decided to give it a try anyway. All probably part of Tamu’s plan, she decided as the aircar put down beside the open hatch: a visible demonstration that Dominion Marines could protect the people of Caelian as well as the Cobras could. In fact, they could probably do it even better, since the Cobras had other work to do around the planet and couldn’t simply stand around looking brave the way the Marines could. Still, shows of force aside, the main thrust of Tamu’s plan had to be taking place inside the ship where Uy’s people couldn’t watch. Her whole point in letting herself be captured had been to get inside, listen to the Dominion’s propaganda or promises or bribes, and then get that information back to Uy.
