at formed the solar Sun
was a wonder to behold against the black velvet sky
and the clusters of distant galaxies. He absorbed
once more the splendor of the planets in their
graceful courses around the giver of life. He
recalled and visualized each planet, natural and
artificial satellite and space station out to the
Guardians. He had roamed among them all; they
were the only home he had known.

A sense of weariness seemed to overpower him; he
could not delay. He searched the heavens for a star
with which to orient himself. Finding it, he faced
the direction wherein lay the secret spunnel
booster through which he would send his message.
Ram would know how it had come, what it meant,
and what it had cost.

Zolan cleansed his mind, except for the message.
He closed his eyes and the strength of his
concentration brought on trance. A tiny glow,
deeply embedded in his subconscious, mushroomed
into a pulsing network of charged filaments. His
arms and legs throbbed, and the pain of furies cut
through his torpor and slowly drained him of life
force. In milliseconds, his face shrunk and seamed,
and his body collapsed in on itself. The filaments
in Zolan's brain crackled and snapped. His brain
exploded inside his skull as the message burst out.
The rigid suit held his body erect, arms extended
toward the Sun.

Standing on the stark and lifeless plain Ram's
state-of-the-art modification to Zolan's brain
and mind had completed its task.

Chapter THIRTY-SIX

Ram Xindral, representing the UIPS, met with
INOR's advance team on Guardian Station 16
to plan protocols and logistics for the upcoming
convocation. Planet Pluto had not sent an emissary.

Agreements were quickly concluded and the
diplomatic cadre took over to prepare an agenda
for the meeting's substance.

Spunnel channels flashed coded messages to home
governments in the Outer Region, reported on
problems encountered and the options available.
Instructions flashed back, rarely agreeing with
offered solutions, more often insisting on new
approaches that in turn became the subjects of
lengthy discourse. When an issue was considered
sufficiently clarified for the convocation and
reported to the seats of UIPS and INOR Governments,
it was almost invariably reopened as an extension
of still another issue. This went on and on.

Eventually, an agenda of sorts was fashioned
to guide the discussions. It limited itself to
an agreement, in principle, whi