Sequestered from her growing bevy of worshippers, Yeb loosens her majestic raiment, but cannot yet relax. She summons her most loyal Servants and advisors by ones and twos to provide them with instructions for the upcoming Pulse. First the scouts, then dear Yeb 6D.
Scout Karfoon. In particular investigate why the sector has been marked hostile and assess whether the Pleasant Winds survivors can safely pass through or whether they will need an adventurer escort, fleet escort, or for us to… pacify the system.
Scout Academe. Assess if our military could conquer the natives. Tell the Scouting team the Goddess would like to see warring factions united in worship of Her Holiness, but only if She can actually achieve that unity. The successful incorporation of Jats shows that temporary increases in bloodshed are acceptable when they lead to long term decreases in bloodshed.
Radio home your reports, but don’t return straight away. Your next mission will be to explore adjacent star systems – and then, unless otherwise instructed, seek signs of Leviathan activity. Ours is missing in action, and We desire options to recruit another such powerful partner.
Shift Production to Ice: Yeb incarnate (that is, Yeb 6D) spent an inordinate amount of time reorganizing the work crews inside of the Graves to attend to the correct storage units this past Pulse. It would be best not to make such hands-on management an ongoing need.
Yeb 2F, Robots are Dead to Us: Yeb doesn’t have any use for Fake Life. It usurps resources that Real Life could be using. But We have (that is, the Goddess has) a use for an army to pacify and entrench control over Etro once the Graves leaves. To that end, robot bodies can be useful.
We don’t need to construct a fleet carrier to exit the system. We will be primarily doing local police maneuvers walking around the worldweb. This plan conserves Gas, of which we are regrettably short.
The Goddess (that is, you, Yeb 2F) will befriend the battlebots. Offer a trophy for their fighting league (Ores or Rares, as they like). See if the robots can be co-opted into a viable fighting force. Else, copy their technology to construct our own soldiers. It seems to me many Jats crippled in the Crash could use new, shiny robot bodies.
Assess the fastest route to that goal. If we can convince the battle bots to voluntarily implant a Jat brain or two into their frames as friendly equals, so be it. Or perhaps we should start robo-napping them and implanting a brain. Perhaps we should simply capture or build battle-bot factories and use them to pump out new Jat-Bots.
Asymmetric Exchange: This sounds like a good deal. Run this to the maximum we can afford. At present, alas, that it’s only 4 units of Ice. Well, we’ll have more later.
Bring Pleasant Winds survivors to Etro: Make them honored guests, get to know them, share our tentative reports on Karfoon and any information scouting report. I (that is, the Goddess Yeb) sense an opportunity to Serve, though we haven’t much in the way of spare resources. To reach their home they must safely pass through dangerous sectors. The only way to Junxrn 4 is through Karfoon. We must ponder on this.
Brake Gradually, dearest navigator.
The Great Gate Mystery: We must devote some time to learning about the Gates. Why did they close? Why open now, just when the Graves comes into the Chit system? Is it a result of Our Divine Intervention, or are there plausible answers more mundane in nature?
Close Etro’s Borders. Let it be known that Etro Borders are closed to Nonessential Business. Our (that is, the Goddess’s) reasoning here is to maximize the advantage of asymmetric exchange. The arrival of foreign Ice will tend to dilute Our bargaining power, and should be prevented.
No, my dear Servant, I am not allocating sufficient resources to actually enforce such a decree. Heavens no. I am instructing you to bluff. If bluffing doesn’t work, roll back the policy and make sure our devotees get an ample helping of any incoming riches – my Flock should not be disadvantaged in such a scenario. If bribes are to be collected, ensure my devotees receive more favorable rates than non-believers.
Foment Rumors: Specifically, plant the idea that there are major Ice reserves buried in the worlds of Academe. A bit of misdirection for greedy, disloyal persons. Be discreet.
Host the Higher Ups: Etro’s leadership has so far not presented any Opposition worth bending the knee for (knock on wood) but if there are any exceptional individuals, the Goddess Yeb wants to hire them. Learn enough to ensure their service to Her will seem to naturally align with their own needs and aspirations. We should make a more formal search for such talent later on, but for now, keep your eyes peeled.
Check in on Nest: Befriend the beetles. Life is Life.
Continue Chocolate Covered Vitamins: Given the distance to the Graves, Yeb settles for radio updates on their deliciousness from 6D. Yeb Prime requests that her clone set aside a handful of every flavor variation she goes through. She promises to double check the medical updates 6D is providing. Yeb 6D complains a great deal that the added work improving Ice production is just really really consuming Her time. The vitamin work is very important to Life and She hopes that Her failure to respond to recent requests for further information was not confused with disinterest.
Next Week: What Outsiders Say