inxsi wrote:I did say it was channeling paranoia (and was mostly more for fun) - it probably is just coincidence. I agree that Tempo ordered Beryl to not blurt out that Mizol are also spies - though I don't think Tempo did any mental tricks beyond reminding her that Tempo is her superior in the current chain of command. The whole context also reminds Beryl that Tempo is a Mizol with all that implies (insert Loroi horror stories of angering Mizol here), but that is pretty much unavoidable - Stillstorm rebuking Beryl would have a similar overtone of "do this or I can make it unpleasant for you."
I know, and I also said that although I would ~like~ to think so, there isn't any proof. Tempo most likely just sanzaied "hush!" to Beryl in that scene, that's all. It's just how I would like to imagine a character who is a mix of a spy/intel guy and femme fatale as in a 'film noire' or an old pulp fiction story. I mean, come on, that is exactly what Tempo is - stunningly beautiful and sexy with all her mannerisms and postures (and she knows that and uses it all to her advantage shamelessly), highly intelligent, well spoken (I imagine her voice also being able to melt hearts and minds), mysterious and intriguing and obviously with her own agenda and, partially because of her rank, extremely dangerous, most people probably don't even realize how dangerous (Admiral Stillstorm certainly does). In a conversation with Tempo I would probably tell her everything and then some
Granted, I may be imagining things that aren't there, but if I look at Tempo this way, it just makes her that much more appealing and interesting to me.
inxsi wrote:I was being somewhat silly, though I do think it is important to keep in mind that Beryl's interests may not coincide with Alex's interests - she might not be antagonistic to him, but she is not being totally open - for example, omitting the information about her being a spy.
You probably meant Tempo not Beryl? Of course she's not open to him and no spy would ever tell a potential enemy agent that he or other people from his service branch may or may not be spies
Unless they were looking to recruit double agents or turncoats. The Loroi, being a naturally aggressive, arrogant and supremacist species AND on the receiving end of the war, are extremely paranoid. The Umiak have committed multiple war crimes including very immoral and unethical experiments on the Loroi in the past, therefore they have every reason to be.
inxsi wrote:I'm also pretty sure that Mozin and the historian construct are unaware (or at least have not been informed by the Loroi) that the Loroi farseer is unable to detect the Umiak fleet and Alex. On the other hand, Alex is not being totally open either - he has not mentioned the other human ships, and imagine the fun if they show up in Seren after all of this only to discover that he is the second human ambassador to arrive
Farseeing is, as far as I understand, the only real strategic advantage the Loroi military has against the Umiak. It's safe to assume that the Umiak navy outnumbers the Loroi at least 5:1, likely 10:1 or more and it is unknown how large the Umiak empire is and what their output is. Farseeing has thus far been the only thing keeping this war in a stalemate as opposed to a total curb stomp. Now when farseeing all of a sudden doesn't work anymore, allowing even rumors to spread about your only advantage not working anymore would be suicide.
About Alex - indeed... Now imagine the fun if the Loroi find humans having contacted the Umiak first...
@Siber - you misunderstood. Inxsi and myself were talking about the theoretical possibility of Tempo playing her "mind games" locally, onboard the shuttle, NOT having orchestrated the whole mess. That would be beyond BS and definitely not in the best interests of the Loroi Union
