The Commanders compratment was quite crowded with three people busily going over the plan only a few cycles before docking.

Stella was going over the plan laid out so far, pondering when it would be appropriate to mention the catch relating to the Godess of Love cult.

Step one was for Ames to resign his post and leave ship as free man at the station. That would make the investigation seemingly useless as Ames would no longer be part of the crew. This was already done.

Step two was to grant almost all crew, except guards, station leave for the three days docking was planned to last so everybody would be leaving the ship in throves, hiding their cent, in case investigator tried to sniff her or him out.

Step three pass through the spice market to eliminate even smallest chance of being followed.

Step four - convene at the temple and get hitched.

At this point Stella was forced to come clean on the catch. Goddess of Love cult had a very specific requirement before they would issue the marriage certificate. The marriage would need to be consumated, in the temple, witnessed by priest and priestess who would then sign the certificate.

Both jaws droped and they stared at Stella wideeyed.

She felt that a bit of personal experience would ease the tension. "It's not that bad, you know. They give you some wine that takes the stress away. And nobody says you can't practice on your own beforehand. I did it a few times when I was younger..."

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Ktak was vaguely aware that Stella had lived the wild life before becoming what she was now but she had not immagined several marriages in a cult temple to be part of it. On the other hand... It was Stella.

Ktak shut her mouth and looking at Ames said, "Whatever it takes."

Ames did the same and nodded, "Whatever it takes."

Stella could not help wondering if their resolve would last through it. Even she had almost chikened out the first time and she had been rather experienced by that time. She would need to rally some moral support.

Step five would be to return to the ship and list Ames as Ktak's spouse on the manifest. Taking on board traveling non-listed spouses was allowed, if the traveling spouse was paying travel fare and staying with the spouse, not requiring separate accomodation.

The ship was currently heading for Earth so they would be visiting Ames's family first and then heading back to Tamare home world as final step to register Ames as her consort.

It was a much appreciated added bonus, that Mtak was to be handed over to Tamare officials on station to dispatch him back to the homeworld on a different ship.

What Council would decide to do about all this was a great big question mark, but even they should be somewhat swayed by a marriage cerificate and that Tamare law was being followed.

Stella left to prepare the moral support she had in mind and she had no intention of mentioning to either of the two concerned. She was heading for the officer's mess.

Ames looked at Ktak worriedly. "Are you sure about this?" he asked.

"Im absolutely sure about marrying you." she said, "so whatever it takes stands."

"But," she was examining the carpet quite intently, "I think we should practice a little bit before the big show."

Ames found himself sitting on her lap.

"How about right now?" she whispered into his ear.

Ames felt quite positive about some beforehand practice too.

Ktak wore her ring openly from that day onwards. Humans knew and the Tamare had no clue what it was beyond a pretty trinklet. Well, most of them did not. She noticed that there were a few Tamare that recognized the ring's meaning. She made sure none of them were on guard duty and would be leaving for station leave.