SECONDARY QUEST-Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

"Indeed," spoke Par. "as for the delicate nature of your own Photovoltaic cells, if I may be so bold, but perhaps it is because of lack of natural silicon and rare earths, forcing you to synthesize or salvage them? I did research on Louisiana's Pre-War Geography; you had immense petroleum reserves, but little other mineral resources. We have the same problem, but active sponsorship of better ways of synthesizing materials, as well as occasional trade with caravans from the west, make up for it." He then smiled.

"But I'm revealing too much; point is, though, a certain openness to outside trade and ideas helps in scientific development. And I have to beg pardon, but The Order doesn't seem to have that much openness." A nice hook-and-bait to draw out more of Ney's opinions of the Orleans Order, one that can easily be withdrawn if it proved to be offensive.

[@Ordure], [@Ulstermann]