Sorry for the delay!
As for things to do just syncing things up right now, but yes:
- Decision on the ships
- Any more piecing together of clues
- This is a (rare) chance to talk to Ascar and Eller, though don't expect Eller to be super-talkative. There is a combination there to get more info for you of broader interest (rather than specific to this mystery)
So, we are taking the Wanderer! Are you giving it a name?
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In the mean time, you have worked out where those system co-ordinates are. It's in the middle of nowhere- outside Republic space, further out- though in a completely different direction- than Epireus.
It would be an odd place for a message relay; very out of the way; far enough to mess up your signal. So, either someone is exceptionally paranoid about traces and is willing to take the practical issues, or this actually is where the signal comes from.
But it's not even on known star charts- it just has a local designation of Beta Phi within its sector designation. Without charting, all you know is that the star exists; there's no real clue about the system itself. There could be no planets at all and the signal came from a station- but very few stations get built in empty systems (unless you could build some sort of giant mobile battle station, which is just ridiculous of course).
Xavier attempts to be diplomatic with Eller and will bring her a warm bowl of food. He doesn't know what the Seer's relationship was with Kitai. They may have been close or perhaps they hated each other.
Xavier decides it is better to ask then pretend to know what the Seer's feelings are, "How are you doing Eller?"
Rand will certainly discus it with Gallador, and has similar interests in talking with Ascar. But rather than Ascar's Force philosphy, that the Force is an endless circle or some nonsense that precludes the existence of the Dark Side, Rand wants to know more about Lady Adelmo's philosophies, which Ascar appears to understand and knows how to counteract.
Galder feels certain that Beta Phi is where the signal originated, based off of the fact that routing it there could ruin the message. He's also certain they'll find at least one planet there, even without the charts.
"That's where we're headed," Galder says. "Will the Wanderer have fuel enough to get us there?"
Galder votes that we entitle the Wanderer ironically but needs to think of a name.
Originally posted by REXXXXI had just assumed that we were going to call it the Wanderer.
Galder feels certain that Beta Phi is where the signal originated, based off of the fact that routing it there could ruin the message. He's also certain they'll find at least one planet there, even without the charts."That's where we're headed," Galder says. "Will the Wanderer have fuel enough to get us there?"
Galder votes that we entitle the Wanderer ironically but needs to think of a name.
We could also title it the Friendship Bus.
I vote for Star Cow. It's moo-riffic.
Ascar will say that trying to decode visions in advance is often a fool's game- it's the sort of thinking that gets people twisted up in knots, and how people get into the whole 'their actions trying to avoid the future creates it' scenario. Instead you have to stay alert for the clues when it becomes relevant in the world around you- what the Jedi call 'The Living Force'
"Though on second thought, that's probably not good advice for you people. You perhaps live rather too much in the moment."
He'll add, though, that prophecy addiction is part of what crippled Thalos, which is part of how Adelmo became what she is today.
"Waiting for you, of course," says Ascar about the nebula.
He smiles.
"When I came to Thalos, it was in quite a state, though they didn't fully realise it yet. They still are, it seems, though the shooting has now stopped.
"There are almost no force-dependant civilizations in the galaxy. It pre-supposes a species with an exceptional tie to the Force to allow Force sensitive to be numerous enough to run it, which is rare in of itself, and then for such a species to actually become civilised in the way you and I would recognise it, which, as I observed on my travels, is rare. Many force-sensitive species embrace primitivsm. You may remember, Galder, I found that astrolabe amongst one such culture; they were good recruiting grounds for the Sith. And whilst I never went to Zeiton- far out even for me- what I understand about that place only confirms how power with the Force can curse a culture.
"But Thalos is such a place- a modern, technological culture with an astonishing tie to the Force, so strong that it physically affects its adherents; you can identify their purpose by their hair colour. So long as they are female, of course.
"And so it is run by a council of their most powerful, learned and experienced, with all of the resources of the Force to call on. And how can this not be ideal? In their never-ending quest for 'Harmony', they are not chained to decisions made in uncertainty like any other government. All the mysteries of economics and resource allocation; decisions governments take in near blindness. All unnecessary. Why worry about consequences when you can see into the future and see what would happen? All their decisions can be taken in what we might call a very 'informed' manner."
Rand had pondered that at some point, when Ascar informed them of Thalos shortly after killing Emperor Rivas.
"But I imagine they interpret their visions differently, and not everything comes with certainty. The future is always in motion, and if they're trying to peak ahead on every decision, sometimes they eliminate the vision, or comes true by unexpected ways. And if they fall susceptible to the same division between the Jedi and ourselves, some will seek to manipulate decisions in their favor to accrue power... am I correct?"
"Well, their society has evolved with certain safeguards. Their enforcers, like Katai, exist to remove 'disharmonious' elements... though as the recent head of those enforcers, Katai herself, was one of the first Adelmo seduced to her side, in that particular case the safeguard was compromised.
"But that aside, they do not necessarily expect instant answers. They do interpret and debate. But all of their debates start with prophecy in mind, and all of their answers to any problems that arise in making decisions are rooted in the idea of finding out more. What they refuse to do- as the rest of the galaxy generally has to- is make a decision in ignorance."
"How did you know we would be in the Nebula? We didn't even know where we going. Did you have a vision? Honestly I've had a hard time putting this entire mess of events together."
Xavier tries to come back to his own knowledge on the force, as trivial as it might be, "So on Thalos they pick the strongest to rule. Using the force to guide them into making informed decisions. How did they come into turmoil if that is the case? Also what happens if they try to use their abilities and are forced to operate out of ignorance? I know my Master used to say the Dark Side of the force could make anything cloudy. Make you unable to see what comes next."
At the mention of Kitai Xavier is reminded she is working with Bureau, "That is another thing that perplexes me. The Kitai situation back on Robine."
"I think we may be missing the point, focusing on the rule of the strongest Force-users," Rand says, drawing on his masterful wisdom. "Your point is that, if they reach a stalemate, they will resort to inaction rather than make an uninformed decision. So they'll do nothing, and if they have a pressing problem, the problem becomes worse. I'm sure Adelmo became one such issue, until it broiled over into conflict."
Rand will query how Adelmo swayed Katai to her cause, and how Katai and her ilk get selected. He notes that Katai is bald, whereas Eller's mental powers show in her dark hair, and Adelmo's potent power shows in her white hair.