text; un: Ambus

[legalcy]

To: All
Re: History of the Arch

I spent my time in the university library researching the political and geographical history of this planet, and while much of what I found confirms what others before me have shared (yet nothing of the Orb), I am curious about the origins of the earthquake that created the landmass on which we stand.

According to the old logs, the earthquake and disease that is killing this planet began in what is now the Seventh Circle, and the water purification camp was constructed directly above the epicenter - the very first camp to be built. I found no records of retrieving the Orb or any other artifact from the area. It appears that interest in the epicenter did not exist until 50 years after the event.

Even if the Orb was taken to the First Circle in secret, the fact that something was released by this earthquake seems something into which we should investigate if we want to save this planet.


Regards,

Minimus Ambus

Comments

[legalcy]

There isn't much time left, and we still have not heard a hint about the Orb. Perhaps our previous mission was an outlier and we normally do not find its location after weeks of searching, but the prospects don't look good.

[adept]

I'm a newcomer myself, so I couldn't say what the usual is for our lot... But from the way the others are taking it, I assume it usually isn't quite this involved. At least, based on how the others are talking.

Can't say I'm a fan of failure, but there's a larger situation at play here than our last deployment to contend with.

[legalcy]

I'm beginning to wonder if we were brought here primarily to save Viveca's planet under the guise of finding the Orb.

I don't know her well enough to say that she would do something like this, but some people refuse to admit to needing help.

[blackfire]

I know her well enough to posit it is unlikely she would do such a thing.

The teleporter needs a great deal of power to activate. It is nearly impossible to do without the presence of an orb on a nearby world to sustain it. While I do not believe it is beyond her or Commander Degar's capabilities, it would be a significant drain on resources better used to control and protect the orbs currently aboard the Ximilia.

It would be foolish to speak in absolutes or to assert she is not capable of duplicity — however, based on what I know and have seen of her, Viveca-san is not sentimental enough to endanger our mission on the off chance it may save her world. If she wished us to do so, I do not think pretenses would serve her, and she would have given us a great deal more information to assist us.

The absence of such information was, I believe, her attempt at impartiality.

She has stated on numerous occasions that the recovery of the orbs is more important than any one person or world.

[adept]

So then, in the end, it sounds like we're best served by assuming she had both goals in mind.

Whether it's the case or not, it's preferable to overlooking one or the other. Some of you have far more forays under your belts, so she may surmise it's well within our collective capabilities.

What's the phrase, "I have two hands"?

[blackfire]

Assume what you wish.

（ seeing as how that is essentially the opposite of what he said, he will not trouble himself about engaging with this further. ）

[adept]

All we seem to have are assumptions, friend. Judging by how few words you've got now, I'll take it we don't agree.

We don't exactly have the experiences you do, and I don't get the impression we've got a unified front, either.

[ Still, no one says so much without it mattering to them, specifically. ]

...But I think I get your angle now, whatever that's worth in all this.

[ The discussion may be over, for all he knows. He hardly knows the people around him. They hardly know him.

Maybe that, and the lack of collective direction, is complicating matters here. Food for later thought, he supposes. ]

[adept]

[ One brief exchange with a fellow whose user name he can't read later... ]

I'm getting the impression that people have strong opinions about our purpose here, if anything. Which...honestly begs some questions - a lot of questions - not that we've got time to get into all that.

People here do need help though. Pretty hard to overlook that, even if it's not our official job.

[ Not that he'd want outside meddling if it were his own world, but that's another kettle of fish. ]