Rodriguez called immediate emergency session, understanding that whatever Kharn's devastating recognition represented required comprehensive, urgent institutional response rather than continued gradual, careful assessment.
"I want Kharn's complete testimony," he said, addressing the assembled council with characteristic focused authority. "Everything your civilization's historical documentation records about this specific threat."
Kharn, his composed diplomatic bearing still visibly struggling against genuine, visceral fear that transcended anything Rama had previously witnessed from him across this crisis's entire, demanding development, worked to steady himself before responding.
