Reidar couldn't speak.
A thought started surfacing in Reidar's mind.
That brought a series of dreadful thoughts—was his family okay? Kara didn't know what was going on in Reidar's mind, so she resumed talking.
"Since then, they've been focusing on the survivors," she said. "Setting up defensive positions, protecting trade routes, helping people. But no more big hunting operations of that sort."
Reidar barely had the time to collect himself and reply.
"That's… that's a big change."
"I know. A lot of people are suspicious." She lowered her voice. "I'm not sure what to think about them, honestly. They say the system limits humanity's potential and keeps us under the control of the Allied Worlds." She hesitated. "And in some ways, they're powerful. Stronger than most survivors, even at lower levels. But …"
"But?"
