20. Just in Case

Marcus meets with Maleb, a senior administrator on Poseidon and son of two of Marcus's deceased friends, to discuss potential threats from the Starfleet faction Howard warned about. Marcus advises precautionary security measures and infrastructure reviews, and Maleb agrees to increase priority on certain defensive projects while remaining constrained by economic regulations.

Marcus arrives at Maleb's office in New Thark to discuss intelligence about potential threats from the Starfleet faction that Howard had learned about secondhand at the moot. Marcus acknowledges his information is uncertain but wants Maleb, who oversees Poseidon's equipment and autofactory operations, to consider precautionary security audits, password changes, and physical security measures in the normal course of his duties. Maleb initially expresses skepticism about Marcus's concerns but gradually recognizes the validity of the threat, noting that while his authority is constrained by economic regulation, he does have flexibility when facing actual threats and can bump up defensive projects in priority. Marcus confirms that any danger would be economic rather than physical and would manifest in physical space rather than virtual environments. After the meeting, Marcus pauses to observe New Thark's environmental surroundings through the office windows, reflecting on how Poseidon society has evolved to favor physical workplaces again. He notes the mats in the ocean are now industrial facilities, and mentions Bridget's ecological research visits. Marcus then heads toward the transit station, planning to personally review the Bobs' industrial presence and their vulnerability assessments, though he first takes time to rest in the grassy area around New Thark's edge.