 Why are the Soetti allowed to board the ship?
However, they lie deep in the sector into which the Soetti have been penetrating. "The Soetti War Plan—in detail. Overall policy calls for a defense of these backwater worlds. The Soetti are patrolling the trade lanes into Jorgensen's Worlds; don't get yourself interned." That spells out the law on confirmed space on vessels engaged in interplanetary commerce." 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. And you've got the right idea on the Soetti, too," Retief said. Then, if Magnan's information was correct, there would be four days to prepare for the Soetti attack.
 The captain and Mr. Tony are in business with them.
 They need transport to Jorgenson’s Worlds as well.  They need to check the papers of each passenger, so the caption allows them to do so.  The Soetti aren’t - the captain fears them and they are illegally boarding.  The captain and Mr. Tony are in business with them.