There was more than it. And the Gethenians did not know that. 

 

The Ekumen takes care. It always does. Before each of their actions, the Stabiles seems to be working on its counteractions. 

 

It was sent to the planet: a man, a rocket, and an ansible. 

 

But out there, on the outer space a tiny object remained, in stationary orbit about 300 miles over South Karhide. A satellite. Set into orbit from the rocket which landed on Horden Island. It was there in case if something unpredicted happened with the ansible. With the closest planet being Ollul — and being Ollul some 17 light years away of any help and any other spaceship —, the relay satellite was there to guarantee that the Envoy would have another alternative to contact his starship, which brought him there, on the first place.   

 

Just wait… What starship? Yes, the Gethenians did not know about that ship either.

 

Orbiting the sun between Gethen and Kuhurn, there was a starship. (Landing on a planet its the last thing to happen, just after a secured alliance or with an open and peaceful communication with the local inhabitants.) Along with other eleven crew members. On a state called stasis. All of them were in inaction. Sleeping, and thus avoiding to waste their live years as the First Envoy, on the planet, had to get his mission done. It was necessary just a signal, on the proper wavelength, to take them out of the stasis. Once awakened communications would unravel by ansible or using the Ollul planet as relay-center. But it would only happen after a gap of four years. In which they would be taken from stasis and contact the Ekumen, to know about the outcome of the envoy's work. If unsuccessful, the Stabiles would try again.  

 

As they always say, the life of the Second Envoy is always easier than the first one.