The first thing they prepared was the way out.
On day1608, Corven went back into the inner station unarmed. Ferr allowed the return because the operator still held a paid station appointment. He carried no hidden cutter, no false work order, and no promise that every colleague would agree with him.
He came out after the morning cargo interval with eleven names.
Seven workers intended to leave before the linked control bar was fitted. Four intended to remain. A twelfth worker, absent from the first conversation, wanted to finish securing a suspended maintenance load before deciding.
Neri asked where the suspended load stood.
Corven drew its location.
It was beyond the moving deck, supported by an ordinary hoist with a separate retaining chain. The chain was sound. The worker’s concern was the exposed tool tray beneath it, not a failing rope about to kill everyone. He wanted to lower the tray and shut his store before leaving.
“He can do that today,” Hend said.
