The Anunnaki had more than one way of traveling between starisles. Some were limited to the common routes using Gateways. But a few Anunnaki had Gateway Keys, allowing them freer access to the starsea sea as a whole. And an ever smaller group of select Anunnaki had starcutters, magical vessels that they could use to sail the emptiness between the stars.

The existence of starcutters was known only to a select few. In fact, the puzzled expressions on the faces of the others in the room went to show that, even on a Mage Parliament in a Flourishing starisle like Sin-Amuhhu, most people were ignorant of their existence.

Shabadras was asking Muna if she thought an Anunnaki could be involved in the Abhorrent invasion. It was a dangerous question to ask, but in his opinion, it was an important one.

“I know what you’re referring to,” Muna said. “And though we can’t rule out that possibility, you’re right that it’s too risky to speak of such things aloud. From my perspective, there’s a much more… dangerous explanation.” She looked around the table.

Shabadras did the same.

Kingallu and Simiak both looked hesitant. Shafika, Lapis, and Adom seemed similarly pensive. Only the general appeared to be outright confused.

“No one?” Muna asked. “In that case, I’ll say it. Technology. Far be it from me to question the Pontifarch’s wisdom. And based on casual words I’ve heard spoken by various Anunnaki, I know he pays attention to the Nightmare Cove. Perhaps even… watches it directly. But I’ve always feared a problem like this could arise.”

The general looked left and right at the table, then said, “Forgive me for being an ignorant Unsighted. But… what?”

As Shabadras surveyed the table, he noticed Adom looking at Muna. The High Archon nodded back.

“There are many reasons for the strict laws on technology,” Adom said. “Even in the empire, despite all the laws—and punishments—it’s still a challenge to prevent the rise of machinery. Humans are innovative and creative by nature.

“The Nightmare Cove occupies one of the four spiral arms of the starsea. In other words, it makes up about a fifth of everything. And that entire area is unsupervised. Uncontrolled. Unpoliced.”

Shabadras frowned as the implications of Muna’s statement weighed on his mind.

“I don’t understand,” Kamaru-Ayyabu said.

“In that case, I’ll state it plainly,” said Muna. “Remember your vows and oaths, though, General. Because this is the kind of talk that the Nergal doesn’t like.” She licked her lips. “As far as Unsighted citizens of the empire know, even in places as advanced as Sin-Amuhhu, the ban on technology relates to the number of gears you can use in machines, what kind of chemical substances are allowed, the way metals can be used in crafting and construction, and similar rules.

“In reality, the rudimentary machines that instigate purges… are so simplistic as to be laughable. Not too long ago in this starsea, at least by the longevity standards of the Anunnaki, there was no such thing as a ban on technology. Then and now, the limits of machines are unknown, at least to people like us. But the ability to travel between starisles is one path of research that definitely existed long ago. I’m not talking about the use of gateways or starcutters, both of which are fueled by magic. I’m talking about pure machinery.

“The technology level of the empire is kept just shy of a certain level. A brink I would say. Cross that dividing line, and innovation would flourish. In a matter of decades or centuries, machines would exist that would defy the imaginations of the greatest storytellers in the empire.

“Now, imagine how many worlds are in the Nightmare Cove. And think of what could happen if a human society there went unnoticed by the Abhorrent. What if such a society proliferated and followed the common path of humans? What if they reached that brink of technology that, once passed, led to dramatic and unprecedented advances? What if they developed the ability to travel between starisles? And then… what if the Abhorrent found them and took that technology? That would explain how they reached us.”

“But,” Archon Lapis said, except she didn’t finish her sentence.

Shabadras looked at her and noted her hesitant, almost fearful expression.

“But… what?” Muna said.

“Surely the Pontifarch would think of that as well. Besides, what are the odds?”

“Perhaps the Pontifarch is too busy. Or perhaps whatever measures he took have fallen short. As for odds….” Muna fixed her gaze on Adom. “Do you know, Archon?”

Adom looked up. “Sin-Amuhhu is one of four Major Artery Gateways in the Great Reef. Counting all subsidiary starisles, it oversees almost a hundred thousand worlds. All the other Major Artery Gateways are similar. Given that the Great Reef has three Major Artery Gateways, you can do the math yourself. Geographically, the Nightmare Cove is slightly larger than the Great Reef. It probably contains half a million starisles with enough melam to allow for the use of magic.”

“And the melam-infused worlds are a minority among other worlds,” Muna said. “Technology is divorced from melam and magic. Leaving millions of worlds where humans could appear and develop civilizations.”

“But the Abhorrent infest the Nightmare Cove,” said General Kamaru-Ayyabu. “They must have long since devoured all human life there. Otherwise, why would they be looking in our direction?”

Adom snorted. “The Abhorrent didn’t just take over that entire part of the starsea overnight,” he said. “They started out on a handful of important starisles. And yes, they spread rapidly before the Pontifarch cut them off from the empire and the rest of the starsea. But even here in the empire, the Anunnaki patrol the stars looking for new civilizations. So it’s possible that a high level of technology could have come into existence in the Nightmare Cove.”

“If that’s the case,” Muna said, “then the situation could be more dire than we can envision. If the Abhorrent can travel between starisles without relying on gateways or starcutters, then nowhere in the starsea would be safe.”

“Head Mage Muna,” Shabadras said, “might it not be worth it to consider bringing the Nergal into this?”

Muna shook her head. “The Nergal doesn’t like false leads. If you submit a report about illegal technology to the Nergal, you’d damn well be sure it’s not a mistake. He doesn’t like his time being wasted. That said….”

Muna paused in thought for a long moment, then looked at Adom. “Adom, you know who the Nergal’s agents are on Sin-Amuhhu, don’t you? Could you arrange for a rumor to spread to the Nergal through them?”

Shabadras looked at Adom and noted the pudgy mage gnawing his lip.

“Technically, yes,” Adom said. “But… the risk is similar to filing an actual report. If I spread a rumor, and the Nergal came, only to find the rumor was false, he would follow the trail of information. Of course, I could use proxies and other manners of deception to —hopefully— ensure he didn’t trace the rumor back to me. The question is, do I want to risk my life in that way…?”

Muna’s lips tightened, and she sat there without saying anything for a few seconds. “Fair enough. We’ll keep matters of technology and the Nergal as something to consider as a last resort. For now, we need to operate on known facts. One: the Abhorrent have a way to travel between starisles. Two: they can attack us without warning. Three: they’re only attacking Stricken starisles. Four: they’ve left Humusi starisles and moved on to Lira.

“Speaking of which, let’s talk about our response to the Lira situation, and our plan of action going forward.”

“The new recruits have all been deployed,” High Archon Kingallu said. “But the Combined Armed Forces still have plenty of resources. For instance, the Legion of Martial Adepts, though they’re working with the Sin-Erimmatu Combined Armed Forces on that operation in the Endless Shoal. Of course, we have plenty of ordinary divisions ready to deploy.”

“Good,” Muna said. “Let’s talk specifics.”