Lantern fluttered. “No. We possess perfect institutional memory. Our leaders produce neural buds, and those are passed on to the next generation of leadership. My people can live upwards of two thousand years, anyway – we aren’t talking about countless generations. But the Axiom didn’t foresee everything. They expected most of the Free to die once the Axiom were no longer around to control us – as if we were children, incapable of coping on our own. They did not anticipate the diaspora, or the great flowering of imagined cultures and histories we have produced. My sect was forced to hide its true intentions from the rest of our people, knowing we would resist. They settled on a strategy of paralyzing us with fear about what would happen if the Axiom ever returned. They convinced us that doing the Axiom’s secret bidding was the only way to protect ourselves.”

Callie nodded. “So, is there just one big boss in charge of the sect who knows the truth?”

“I don’t think so. There must be knowledge on the local level, at least, in all twenty-nine inhabited systems. It would be too dangerous otherwise. There are sparks of rebellious impulses even among our sect, those who wish to modify our methods, and those must, of course, be ruthlessly put down in order for our secret function to prevail. I argued for non-violent interventions, but violence is central to the charter the Axiom gave my elders: destroy or contain any potential threats to their projects.”

“That means your elder, back on your station in the Oort Cloud… they know?”

“Elder Mizori. She must know. I think. I cannot be sure. I would like to find out. I could return, and ask, but how could I compel her to answer?”

“I could help with that part.”

“I cannot ask you to involve yourself in this business. It could be very dangerous.”

“It’s fine, Lantern. I need to see your elder anyway. She’s the one who ordered the destruction of Meditreme Station, right? She’s the guilty party, and she has to answer for her crimes – but I’ll make sure you get the answers to your questions first. How many of the Free are on your station?”

“Not many. Most of us were on the ship your wormhole generator destroyed. All the junior members of the sect, and most of the more senior as well. All that remains is the elder, and her personal coterie, just four others. It’s likely they know the truth as well. They have always been an inner circle, planning together.”

“There’s no chance she’s gotten reinforcements?”