 What was Skaw's importance?
"It is rather unusual," Magnan said, "to assign an officer of your rank to courier duty, but this is an unusual mission." They're called Jorgensen's Worlds, and in themselves are of no importance whatever. "Now—" Magnan leaned forward and lowered his voice—"we have learned that the Soetti plan a bold step forward. 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. Unfortunately, Jorgensen's Worlds are technologically undeveloped areas. Their industry is limited to a minor role in their economy—enough to support the merchant fleet, no more. The war potential, by conventional standards, is nil." "I have here," he said solemnly, "information which will change that picture completely." Magnan spread his fingers, folded one down. "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." "You'll be traveling with Class X credentials," Magnan snapped. "You'd better be getting started," Magnan said, shuffling papers. II Retief put down the heavy travel-battered suitcase and leaned on the counter, studying the schedules chalked on the board under the legend "ALDO CERISE—INTERPLANETARY." "Filled up. He picked up his bag, stepped over the man and went up the gangway into the ship. He gripped a handle of the brass-bound trunk in each hand, bent his knees and heaved the trunk up to chest level, then raised it overhead. A gaunt leathery-skinned man wearing white ducks, a blue turtleneck sweater and a peaked cap tilted raffishly over one eye stared at Retief. The thick-necked man edged past him, looked at Retief and snorted, "That's him, sure." "When you can spare the time from your other duties," Retief said, "take a look at Section Three, Paragraph One, of the Uniform Code. That spells out the law on confirmed space on vessels engaged in interplanetary commerce." One of the two wiped his nose on a sleeve, spat on his right palm, and stepped forward, then hesitated. At a table across the room, the Captain, now wearing a dress uniform and with his thin red hair neatly parted, sat with a table of male passengers.
 He was the connection between Mr. Tony, the captain, and the Soetti's business.
 He was the connection between Mr. Tony, the captain, and the Soetti's business.  Unlike other Soetti, he was brittle and easily killed.  He didn't have much importance. When the Soetti was presented with his body, they didn't care.  He was the one to check the validity of each passenger's papers.