“What level of civilization?” demanded Oltomar. “Class One or Two? Or even-Doge?”

“There’s no way to tell without-”

“The distinction is critical!” Oltomar’s statement was almost a shout. “It’s absolutely critical.”

The Pilot froze. Fludenoc interposed himself between her and Oltomar. She was actually in no physical danger at all, but her species tended to panic quickly. His protective presence would enable her to relax.

“Stop bullying her, Oltomar,” he said quietly. “She has no way of answering your question-without us making the journey to that planet. Which is precisely what I propose to do.”

He gestured to the dead bodies of the Voivode and the Investigator. “Our journey, not theirs.”

Oltomar subsided, but Uddumac was still unsatisfied.

“This could easily be a complete waste of effort, Fludenoc. We need to find a suitable species which can claim Doge status. Legally. If the humans are already Class One-advanced Class One-we might be able to nudge them over the edge. As long as we could keep hidden the fact that their Transit capability was stolen from already established Doge technology. But if they’re only Class Two, there’s no way-”

He broke off, shivering his shoulders in that Gha gesture which corresponded to a human headshake.

Fludenoc hesitated before responding. Uddumac’s reservations, after all, were quite reasonable. In order for a species to claim Doge status under Federation law, they had to demonstrate a capacity for interstellar travel and commerce. In technological terms, Transit; in socio-political terms, a mercantile orientation. An independent capacity, developed by their own efforts, not simply a capacity acquired from already existing Doges.

Civilized species which lacked that capacity were considered Class One if they had managed to depart the confines of their own planet before being discovered by galactic civilization. Class Two, if they were a society still bound to their world of origin.