The first thing Callan did, even before they arrived on Asra, was to call an emergency meeting of all council members.  

Rumours had been flying around faster than space debris but he needed everyone to be in possession of the facts so they could make decisions. They met in the largest room of the Rising Sun, crowding in, talking and exclaiming over the top of each other. A couple of councillors were missing, already in the process of evacuating themselves and their families. 

Callan had gone straight to the meeting from the Rover, Oliver following, grateful that he had taken the time earlier to change into his uniform. Ser Keating was already inside, clutching his console unit, ready for any more updates from either the Patrol or the extortionist, and Serra Yoshida was attempting to establish order by getting everyone seated. 

"Attention, please!" Callan's loud voice had everyone turning towards him, shushing their companions. "Some of you may have heard that Ser Keating received an extortion threat a few hours ago. The extortionist is threatening to blow a hole in our dome," he paused for a moment, allowing the angry outcries and protests to subside. 

"I know we were assured when we moved here that the dome was safe, and it is, from normal space debris, but human sabotage is a different matter. Ser Keating has checked with the engineers who constructed the dome and they are working on the technical side of the problem. However, the fact of the matter is that we can't be sure what will happen if someone sets off an explosion. It's my opinion that we should be considering at least the temporary evacuation of all civilians, children and the infirm first."  

"Couldn't Ser Keating just pay the money?" asked Serra Yoshida loudly, over the top of the noisy response. "We could all chip in." 

"I suppose that's one option," conceded Callan, grateful that someone had raised the issue. "However, in my opinion, we would be setting ourselves up for more trouble in the future. If they succeed in getting their money once, what's to stop them trying again? And that's presuming that once they have their money they don't blow us up anyway." 

The arguments and discussion went on for another hour before Callan called a halt. Halfway through however, he wrested an agreement from the council that evacuating the children was a wise move and Medic Mia Baraky left immediately to oversee the process. Ser Keating offered the Hummer as a transport vehicle. 

"It's obvious that we won't be able to keep meeting like this to make all the decisions necessary over the next few hours," Callan said decisively. "Can I suggest that we choose a small group of people, say four or five to act on our behalf during this crisis?" 

Eventually they agreed. It was evident to all but the most stubborn that consensus was not going to work as a method of decision making under the current circumstances. 

In the end Ryan Callan, Serra Yoshida, Mike Oliver and trader Fred Huang, were chosen, along with Ser Keating in his unenviable role as the chief protagonist. Callan automatically assumed the mantle of overall person in charge and no-one argued with him. He lost no time in placing Mike Oliver in charge of tactics.  

Fred Huang volunteered to be responsible for co-ordinating the evacuation and Serra Yoshida was put in charge of organising those who wished to remain. "Anyone who either can't or won't be evacuated will need to find somewhere to stay underground. With any luck, even if the surface buildings are damaged, the underground will be safe. For a while at any rate," she added, imagining a desolate town, swept by nitrogen storms, open to the hostile atmosphere. 

"I think we should keep all our discussions absolutely confidential," advised Oliver. "Naturally we'll keep the council informed, but only as much as they need to know, at least until the crisis is over. The last thing we want is our decisions getting back to the extortionist, unintentionally or otherwise." 

The other four nodded, their faces serious. "On that note," he looked at Ser Keating, "I suggest you stall for time, try and negotiate a lower price. We don't want the extortionist to think we aren't going to pay up, and have them trigger the explosion, a moment before we have to." 

They spent another hour working out the details of their strategy. Oliver looked at Dane. "Would you be prepared to fly me above the dome? Once we have an idea from the experts of where the bomb might be, I'd like to see if there's anything we can do to sabotage the sabotage!" He gave a fierce grin. 

Dane nodded. He was the best pilot on Asra at present, false modesty aside. "I think we should get TeeJay Marte on board with us as well." He turned to Ser Keating. "She's the best plasfoam techie you've got at Tinto, and it occurred to me, that if the worst happens and the dome is breached, she might have the best ideas about what to do. Engineers are all very well in their place but we need someone on the spot with practical skills." 

Ser Keating was already nodding in agreement. "She's the best we have. I'll give her a call, shall I?" 

"That's a good idea," agreed Oliver. "And ask her to bring anything with her that she thinks will be useful on the shuttle." 

They wound up the meeting with no further communications from either the patrol or the extortionist and went their separate ways. Callan caught Mike by the arm on his way out and Dane hung back to hear what they had to say to each other. 

"My place or yours, tonight?" Callan asked softly, wanting them all to be together again, as they had on Burra. But Mike shook his head apologetically. 

"Sorry." 

"What's wrong? I thought we ..." 

"I'm sorry, Ryan, Dane, but I don't think we can continue our ..." he searched for the right word. "Relationship, not here on Asra." 

"Can I ask why?" Ryan asked steadily, biting back the rush of words that wouldn't help anyone. He knew he was a fool but he'd been hoping their arrangement on Burra was the start of something, something wonderful, not the end. He knew he loved Dane, he was pretty sure he was in love with Mike. Mike had seemed really happy to be with them both, how could he just walk away now, now that they were home? 

He could hear Mike making excuses. "It was great," well fantastic really, "but we're back in the real world now, we have responsibilities. You're the Governor and I'm in charge of the Patrol here on Asra." Mike was trying hard to keep his voice as reasonable as possible. He knew what he was saying was the only sensible thing, right? 

Callan didn't want to be either sensible or reasonable if it meant giving up his lovers. He wanted Mike and he wanted Dane. It was nobody else's business, for god's sake! Why couldn't their personal lives be their own? 

"What if I wasn't the Governor?" he asked impetuously. "What if I quit?" 

Oh god, thought Mike. He was hurting Ryan, the last thing he had wanted to do. 

He pasted a bright smile on his face. "You know you don't mean that! You love the job and more importantly, you're needed here. We had a great couple of days, we should just leave it at that." 

Ryan swallowed, trying to keep a lid on his emotions. He told himself he was an idiot, they'd had a threesome for goodness sake, hardly a declaration of undying love. But he had thought ... 

Mike continued as calmly as he could. "You know the Patrol's attitude to oms. It was made very clear to me that I have to keep my private life here discreet."  

"And a threeway with us wouldn't be 'discreet' right?" sneered Dane. Ryan might hide his pain but Dane felt angry. 

Mike squared his shoulders. "This isn't helping, I'll go." 

Dane watched him go, hurt sitting sourly in his stomach, he didn't know why he had expected anything else.  

"Come on, let's go back to your place and have a drink," he put an arm round Ryan's shoulders. 

"We have to stay sober," protested Ryan, allowing himself to be led away. "What if the extortionist calls tonight?" 

"One drink won't hurt. And maybe tomorrow we can pick up a hot boy together," he added teasingly. "Or maybe two." 

Ryan raised a faint, polite smile and shook his head. 

"It wasn't just sex for me," Ryan confessed suddenly, as they walked together through the dimly lit streets. 

"No," admitted Dane after a long pause. "And despite what Mike said, I don't believe it was just sex for him either."  

He picked up his pace. "Come on, let's go and have that drink, I've just had an idea!"