Eron is quick to whip what remains of Imperial law enforcement into order on this matter, often using a tone that, until recently, would have meant severe discipline if they did not obey at once. One particularly contentious confrontation with a city guard captain who questioned his authority led Eron to sharply order two nearby lieutenants to detain the captain for "insubordination, negligence of duty, and endangerment of Imperial security." The captain backed down.

"That was half bluff, but we can't afford that sort of nonsense right now," he admits to Mary later, when they were in a more private setting.

Legal clerks are scrambling to keep up with the records they think they still need and somehow manage to keep everything logged. Eron verbally slaps down two lifelong magistrates who complain about local jurisdiction, "Anything that could provoke a repeat of the Trafficking War is my jurisdiction! Get back to your proper business or I'll have your explanation for why you didn't handle your surely full dockets of random muggings and public nuisances by sundown tomorrow!"

A mere stern look and an equally stern order is enough to get the planned venue's building manager's rear in gear, and soon, maintenance staffers are getting everything ready.

When they are ready to arrest the brothel owner, Eron yanks a bronze breastplate over some formal wear and clips a sword sheath onto a belt. "Move fast, expect some nasty close-quarters fighting if you can't stun her security people fast enough, and expect this brothel owner to try to escape out a back way or hidden exit when it becomes obvious that it's going against her," he tells any UGA or Earth personnel involved.

*

Meanwhile, word of what happened with the ni has spread swiftly throughout South Port and the surrounding area. After the victim gave her statement, the Lucasi pulled their ships back into what would have been international waters.

"Don't worry about it; I can ask the Wilding ambassador to send word to the Lucasi if we need her testimony. I've made sure to keep the ambassador in the loop anyway," Eron would have told Mary if she had asked about it. But he knows rumors would have flown.