 How does Retief convince the captain to keep him on board?
Since they've met no opposition so far in their infiltration of Terrestrial space, they intend to seize Jorgensen's Worlds by force." Magnan leaned back, waiting for Retief's reaction. Retief drew carefully on his cigar and looked at Magnan. "All right, Mr. Councillor," Retief said. "The Soetti War Plan—in detail. "This is no occasion for flippancy, Retief. "I'll carry it, sealed," Retief said. "If it's trapped for destruction, I suppose—" "I've heard of these Jorgensen's Worlds," Retief said. Overall policy calls for a defense of these backwater worlds. Otherwise the Corps would allow history to follow its natural course, as always." "Someone at a policy-making level has chosen to put all our eggs in one basket, Retief. Retief opened the envelope Magnan handed him and looked at the tickets inside. Retief stood up. "I'll tell you what," Retief said soberly. "Some day," Retief said, "I may take you up on that." "If I have to come around this counter," Retief said, "I'll feed that thumb to you the hard way." "But—" Retief picked up his suitcase and walked away toward the glare sign reading To Gates 16-30 . Retief followed the signs, threaded his way through crowds, found a covered ramp with the number 228 posted over it.
 The captain’s men as well as himself are too scared to confront him, so he leaves him be.
 The captain knows that the Soettie will be able to handle him later.  The captain’s men as well as himself are too scared to confront him, so he leaves him be.  Retief remarks on the Uniform Code, and the captain doesn’t want to have legal issues.  He doesn’t have time to deal with Retief, so he leaves him be.