[ His clarification simply earns a shake of her head. No, she doesn't know for sure if there were others before them. Or perhaps, no, there weren't. Simple as that. And his smile earns one of her own, brief and a little — wry? Sheepish? But genuine. Curiosity isn't a crime nor is it a signal of something deeper; she doesn't suspect anything untoward, just senses a kindred spirit.

It is a win-win situation. ]

It's in everyone's best interests that the new arrivals are as caught up to speed as possible. We're all caught in the same muck and whether we like it or not, odds are we'll have to work together to get out of it. The least I can do is answer your questions to the best of my ability.

[ An exhale. ]

Even if it isn't all sunshine and roses.

[ Which is to say, yes, Cassian. The UNA are both secret police and public army. ]