Ren gazed at her with those grey eyes that always seemed to pierce through her. “Breathe. Everything will be okay, and if it isn’t, well, you’ve dealt with worse, Love.”

“Hmmm,” was Jeanette’s only reply as she flicked her gaze downwards to study her PADD.

Her spouse gave her a disbelieving look before turning to Jones with an expression the two of them had shared many times before. “You talk to her. I think I’m on the wrong frequency today.”

Dashiel grinned at Ren, knowing their frustration was only surface and that they both knew Jeannette was under a great deal of pressure in addition to knowing that there were specific issues that needed to be addressed soon after they arrived on the surface. And none of that factored in settling into the home he had helped arrange, nor getting Jessie set up for school and whatever else the teen needed. He himself had a bunch of things to tackle including likely meetings with various people, both with Jeanette and on his own.

As the shuttle docked and their diplomatic security clearances triggered various notifications to people both on the Platform and the surface, the group was waiting to disembark. Leaning against the bulkhead, Dash eyed his boss and friend. “You’ve reconsidered your approach and you’ve dug a little deeper. Go with your plan and give them a chance to react. They’re allowed to be upset and we both know it. But we’re all going to have to work together so just be yourself Jean and let them get to know you. We may not have a lot of time, but they are aware of that as well. If we’re not all on the same page fast this will be an unmitigated disaster.”

Jeannette burst out laughing, tension flowing outwards. “And that is supposed to be encouraging?”

Jones gave her his trademark grin. “Nope, just reality.”

Inhaling deeply, she gazed at the attaché intently. “So the usual?”

“Exactly.”

Mathis gave him a grateful look. “It’s not like I haven’t been put in difficult situations before but these feels different. Maybe because I’m used to being given the full picture before being asked to handle such a delicate bomb of a situation I’m second-guessing myself knowing I had about half the info needed.” She shook her head in frustration. “Even after giving the Corps an earful, I don’t think they quite know the fullness of my displeasure. But regardless, too much is at stake for me to walk in miffed, so I’m just trying to shake it off.”

Dash nodded. “Well, do it quickly because”-he peered around her-“it looks like we’re on the go now.”

And indeed they were. Jeanette gathered her bag and with an arm slung over Jessie’s shoulder and Ren at her side, the family and her aide stepped through into the spaceport and joined others going through customs.

~Ambassador Mathis