Director General of the Morthanveld Strategic Mission to the Tertiary Hulian Spine, a spiniform waterworlder who is the highest-ranked official on Sursamen. Fascinated by Shellworlds, Shoum is sympathetic to Ferbin's plight but bound by non-interference rules. She arranges his onward passage to Xide Hyrlis and later deploys a defensive entity to Sursamen's Core as the Oct situation deteriorates.