She could almost imagine Forerunner shrugging as he replied. “Harmony promises not to make alterations beyond the uplink itself. I realize we have nothing more than the system’s word as a guarantee. But we also do not have another option. Harmony has an absolute requirement for all sophisticated life on Equus. Submitting to this requirement renders us immune from the fear of future attack… from the system, anyway. Standard diplomatic means will have to be involved to prevent an invasion of a more mundane kind. But I do not believe one is likely. As you said, you are qualified.”