Page 212: Pucker factor nine point five

[anticarrot]

I like this doubt of the images in Alex's head very much, I think it's clever writing to sow more doubt of the story being laid out for us. This mental barrier is also either there, not there, or partially there - I am questioning if he thinks it can be fed images to.

Or he's being fed more than images. Maybe the surprise ending is that Alex has been plugged into 'the matrix' all this time, as part of some complicated test. (What a twist!)

My question - Alex must know that Humanity is practically useless for combat against any of this crew, so what has Humanity got to offer? A mystery and a prophecy - Might the Umiak have any interest in Humanity?

Standard suggestions:
*Keep them away from the Umiak. Sure Alex and his ship looks low tech, but the Loroi have to consider humanity might be sandbagging. Or they might know low tech species can be usefully leveraged. The Librarians are doing it to them after all.
*Scientific curiosity. The two species are apparently suspiciously similar, and IIRC, the Loroi don't know their origins.
*Factory world. Our tech is behind theirs by a lot, but we can free up Loroi by doing 'grunt work' with out existing tech.
*Lifeboat. Similar to the above, if you're worried about losing the war, and you want to build a backup civilisation somewhere - a planet where a compatible species has already done a lot of work (and is conveniently easy to conquer/subvert.)
*Porn. Other reasons.

[QuakeIV]

These seem like relatively straightforward panels, out of curiosity what was causing the delays?

[Bamax]

These seem like relatively straightforward panels, out of curiosity what was causing the delays?

Because he is several panels out working on several.

That's my guess.

I do not think he does one panel at a time. That would be absurd.

[spacewhale]

These seem like relatively straightforward panels, out of curiosity what was causing the delays?

Arioch's room right now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-ReoBPl4mM&t=55s

[Krulle]

The ship is moving towards the Enedd jump point?
How did they find that out?
They are currently in the drifting rubble field near the Gora jump point.
According to the maps on page 121 (local jump lanes) and page 123 (system view Leido), the Enedd jump point is quite elsewhere.

Seeing that the shuttle came from system centre, and flew outwards towards the Gora relay, I do not believe they were drifting towards the Enedd point. Maybe in a few decades they might drift close, but honestly? No, their speed was too high for that, and had the wrong vector.

So how comes?
How did they find out?

Or are they testing Alex' memory?

[SVlad]

Maybe, Tempo read that from other shells minds.

[Keklas Rekobah]

↑ Yes, since Tempo can affect their minds ("There are no Loroi in this alcove..."), it only makes sense that she could read their surface thoughts, as well.

And, since the Umiak are not a telepathic species, it also makes sense that they are incapable of employing the Lotai talent.

Which further implies that humans (in the Soiaverse) are naturally telepathic ... or at least, Alex is ...

[inxsi]

↑ Yes, since Tempo can affect their minds ("There are no Loroi in this alcove..."), it only makes sense that she could read their surface thoughts, as well.

And, since the Umiak are not a telepathic species, it also makes sense that they are incapable of employing the Lotai talent.

Which further implies that humans (in the Soiaverse) are naturally telepathic ... or at least, Alex is ...

According to Tempo, Farsensing should have detected the Bellarmine before it arrived in Naam. So at least the crew of the Bellarmine was also under the lotai, not just Alex.

[Keklas Rekobah]

↑ Yes, since Tempo can affect their minds ("There are no Loroi in this alcove..."), it only makes sense that she could read their surface thoughts, as well.  And, since the Umiak are not a telepathic species, it also makes sense that they are incapable of employing the Lotai talent.  Which further implies that humans (in the Soiaverse) are naturally telepathic ... or at least, Alex is ...

According to Tempo, Farsensing should have detected the Bellarmine before it arrived in Naam. So at least the crew of the Bellarmine was also under the lotai, not just Alex.

The combined lotai of the entire human crew, perhaps.

[Keklas Rekobah]

I wonder if there are different "types" of Lotai.

• The Barrier: The target's mind is practically impenetrable, requiring a greater mind (or multiple minds) to break or burn through.
• The Eldritch: The target's mind is perceived as an unspeakable horror that inspires terror, intimidation, and immediate withdrawal.
• The Mire: The target's mind is perceived only as a thick, dark, and formless "something" where the target's mind should be.
• The Mirror: Anyone contacting the target's mind senses only a duplicate of their own mind.
• The Void: The target mind cannot be detected telepathically, as if it simply does not exist.
• The Vortex: Anyone contacting the target's mind has their own mind drawn in, tossed about, and battered until expelled by the target.

If Alex has a Lotai that combines aspects of The Barrier and The Void, that would explain the failure of the his first telepathic "interrogation", AND Beryl's inability to detect his mind while sitting on his lap and holding his hand.

[Arioch]

The ship is moving towards the Enedd jump point?
How did they find that out?
They are currently in the drifting rubble field near the Gora jump point.
According to the maps on page 121 (local jump lanes) and page 123 (system view Leido), the Enedd jump point is quite elsewhere.

Seeing that the shuttle came from system centre, and flew outwards towards the Gora relay, I do not believe they were drifting towards the Enedd point. Maybe in a few decades they might drift close, but honestly? No, their speed was too high for that, and had the wrong vector.

So how comes?

Having achieved their objective of locking down the Gora point while the gatecrasher force passed through the system, some of the ships of that division (including KTKh-3827, the ship that recovered the shuttle) joined the rear guard which is following the main force into the Union interior.

How did they find out?

Tempo told them.

[Krulle]

Merci, mon ami.

So, the Umiak were fast in deciding on what to do, but the time frame is for us readers still unclear (on "when will this particular Umiak ship arrive at the jump point and jump to Enedd").
So, I wonder how long they'll have to "hide" (lie low and unsuspected) on board of the Umiak ship.

The story will tell, I presume. Looking forward!

[Overkill Engine]

One thing just occurred to me...

Have any of the Loroi that have been in direct physical contact with Alex ever try directing their abilities at other targets than him during that contact or has every one of them been too focused on trying to detect/mindprobe him at the time of contact (or otherwise distracted) to do so? Because iirc I'm not sure any of them have.

Which makes me curious if he has any effect other than lotai on himself.

[DevilDalek]

One thing just occurred to me...

Have any of the Loroi that have been in direct physical contact with Alex ever try directing their abilities at other targets than him during that contact or has every one of them been too focused on trying to detect/mindprobe him at the time of contact (or otherwise distracted) to do so? Because iirc I'm not sure any of them have.

Which makes me curious if he has any effect other than lotai on himself.

Hmmm.. you think he might be an amplifier or some such?

[Zorg56]

Where is Dave, is he safe? Is he alright?

[spacewhale]

Where is Dave, is he safe? Is he alright?

It seems, in your anger, you killed him.

[Tamri]

It seems, in your anger, you killed him.

[Overkill Engine]

One thing just occurred to me...

Have any of the Loroi that have been in direct physical contact with Alex ever try directing their abilities at other targets than him during that contact or has every one of them been too focused on trying to detect/mindprobe him at the time of contact (or otherwise distracted) to do so? Because iirc I'm not sure any of them have.

Which makes me curious if he has any effect other than lotai on himself.

Hmmm.. you think he might be an amplifier or some such?

Maybe. It would answer the query of how Humanity could be of use to the Loroi if so. The Umiak would want them for the lotai if they ever found out about it; and also being a living psi amp as well would mean the Loroi could not afford to blithely destroy Humanity either since they'd be of ridiculous value to them even post war. Basically it puts Humanity in a Kingmaker scenario - they can't win the war themselves but they essentially get to pick who does. Even a few refugees escaping a pre-emptive exterminatus might be enough to swing the outcome.

Not saying this is actually the case of course. Just a random dartboard thought is all.

Plus the utter troll value of it would be amusing. Imagine Grumpus Supremes like Fireblade or even Stillstorm being forced to interact with Jardin and admit he is useful?

[inxsi]

Maybe. It would answer the query of how Humanity could be of use to the Loroi if so. The Umiak would want them for the lotai if they ever found out about it; and also being a living psi amp as well would mean the Loroi could not afford to blithely destroy Humanity either since they'd be of ridiculous value to them even post war. Basically it puts Humanity in a Kingmaker scenario - they can't win the war themselves but they essentially get to pick who does. Even a few refugees escaping a pre-emptive exterminatus might be enough to swing the outcome.

Not saying this is actually the case of course. Just a random dartboard thought is all.

Plus the utter troll value of it would be amusing. Imagine Grumpus Supremes like Fireblade or even Stillstorm being forced to interact with Jardin and admit he is useful?

From what I remember, Fireblade used her telekinesis on him when she was interrogating him - I believe Arioch mentioned that they were using telekinesis on him (to cut off his breathing and other things) but I didn't find a quote about it. Not quite what you were asking - I don't recall very many examples where we know that the Loroi characters are using abilities. We never see when they are using sanzai - I assume the others would notice if Beryl had disappeared or her mental signature had changed radically when she sat on Alex.

[Overkill Engine]

AFAIK we so far have not also have not seen from a Loroi POV what it is like for a Loroi to utilize an amplifier either for that matter; is it perceptible to third parties at the point of execution only (once the ability has been manifested on the target)? Or does the amp user get a DBZ aura powerup effect to third party psi senses so long as they are utilizing it?