[center][h2][b]Science Lab[/b][/h2][/center]

[hr]

In its present state, the science lab was, speaking generously, underwhelming. It had been cleaned up to a degree, but combined with what Dr. Lambert had been told already, it would not take much deduction to take a good guess at what had happened. Almost nothing in the room had been properly secured before takeoff, so there was a good deal of equipment that had either been subjected to impacts from loose objects, or had [i]been[/i] the loose objects. If the state of the ship on the way here was any indication, it was a problem that had not been restricted to the science lab. It did look like someone had gone through and stuffed most everything that had been flung around into boxes, though even a cursory glance would show that there was no organization to it. Broken, undamaged, and salvageable equipment had all been thrown together into the same crates. 

At the moment, there was just one other person present. He was a middle-aged man, fair skin, mostly bald, and wearing an officer uniform. Notably, his left leg was in a cast, and he had crutches propped up next to him against his seat.  He appeared to be going through one of the crates, cataloging its contents with the tablet beside him, and organizing it all into different crates based on their function, or if they were damaged. 

[hr]

[center][h2][b]Shuttle Bay[/b][/h2][/center]

[hr]

Amid all of the chaos and confusion, the thoughts that Gar’Tan conveyed to Itxaro still came into her mind calmly and clearly. [i]Minds are not nearly so easy to read as the words on the pages of a book. Even in the most normal and collected of minds, unwelcome thoughts can invade in a moment like a malicious spirit. A Thought mage can feel it all, but it takes experience and effort to be able to discern true intent from such a sea of chaos. The Humans have been stranded in a place they do not recognize, and are soon to be forced to make decisions to potentially take sides between political entities they know nothing about. What followed for a moment beyond that from the S’tor was a feeling of sympathy.[/i]

“Please, give me one moment. I must focus myself on these new minds I feel.” Gar’Tan said aloud. Trying to communicate effectively while also translating between the two sides required him to split his attention in many places at once. [i]The Inquisitors’ Guild, which Gar’Tan serves, is a neutral entity between all of Kanth-Aremek’s nations. Its purpose is to enforce the responsible and approved uses of Thought magic, and to hunt and destroy any rogue Thought mages. The Inquisitor Guards around him would defend Gar’Tan’s life with their considerable talents if he were attacked, and would equally slay him without hesitation if he were to abuse his power on anyone around him. Gar’Tan could not say if Castigator Nellara was lying, because he was not permitted to use his abilities on anyone but the Humans. He was simply speaking aloud to convey the Humans’ words to them.[/i]

[i]Gar’Tan could only give them advice based on his knowledge of the nations involved. Mythadia is a place that finds their religions more important than in the Ascendancy. That they might see the Jotunheim as a religious symbol is believable. Though, he is not so sure that they would go as far as holding the Humans prisoner. Mythadia is not so violent as the Kolodon Empire of old. Still, they would not want the Ascendancy to claim advantage from the Jotunheim, just like the Ascendancy would not want Mythadia to have it. Gar’Tan doubts that either side is going to act selflessly. However, he is also sure that neither side truly wants war. They might be willing to fight over something like the Jotunheim, but both sides know how costly it could be. There are threats from S’tor on their northern borders which could certainly take advantage of their armies being occupied. If the Humans were to negotiate, they might use that fact to their advantage. They might be able to avoid a war by treating peacefully with both sides.[/i]