There Is No Ignorance

[Blue]

Tag: Fromikeable He normally felt quite content in waiting. Patience was a strong suit of his, a lucky thing too given his species' extensive lifespan, even when it was diminished by the surgical procedure that allowed Prell to breathe air. But the newly titled Grand Master found himself uncharacteristically on edge while he awaited word of the liberation effort of Nal Hutta and it's moon from the clutches of the Archeri Chorus. It was the first real test of the coalition, in both military strength and compatibility. If it failed, then things would doubtless become rather dire for the galaxy. Moho had wanted to be there, despite his ultimate inexperience in military matters. He knew he still could have been useful; though Battle Meditation far from guaranteed victories, it would have surely have aided to some significance and the old Jedi was an experienced hand in utilising it to large degrees. In the end, though, he was here, back in the Temple. The reasoning was sound: the prevailing thought was that risking the Grand Master of the Jedi Order at so early a point in the war was too risky. Others believed that if they could not achieve victory in battle without such extensive aid of Force assistance, then all hope was lost anyway. Some even considered that it was a political maneuver, so that the Jedi could claim the greatest part of the accolades. Moho had simply wanted to help. It was all he had ever wanted to do in his life. And if he could not do so on the battlefield directly, then he would find another way. To that thought, the old Jedi founding himself in the Archives, the gentle hum of his hoverchair announcing his presence all the more loudly for the hallowed silence within. There were few Jedi present at the moment, scattered around the stacks and various tables. Fewer still looked up from their respective studies, nodding to the Grand Master as he slowly floated by. Moho would reciprocate, but did not stop. The Archeri Chorus. If there was any knowledge on them, directly or indirectly, surely it would be here, in these halls. If not, then examples close to them in nature would suffice... Moho stopped at an available computer alcove, the soft blue glow of the screen highlighting his broad face. His longer pair of arms and pincers were far too large to operate such delicate machinery, but he had come prepared. A section of his hoverchair slid back and the Jedi withdrew his operating apparatus; a pair of, for lack of a better word, gloves that fit around his pincers and ended in thin, mechanical fingers. The Grand Master began to type into the computer, searching for any hint that the Chorus had been encountered in the long history of the galaxy.

[Fromikeable]

The Jedi Archives never reflected the world around them when it came to activity. The only time in the last decade that Taas could recall them being truly empty had been during the invasion of Coruscant. Circumstances had called every Knight, Master, and Padawan into service then, the only people remaining in the Temple being the staff and those responsible for the Younglings. They, of course, had hidden in the lower levels to avoid collapse.

In short, few things could keep the Jedi from their studies. Whatever they might happen to be.

So the scurrying of Taas and the other Archivists was hardly a shock. Taas had learned long, long ago how to be in a quiet hurry, his shoes falling softly despite their speed as he raced up and down the rows. Other Archivists passed him in the same hurried silence, each of them honing in on a single tome, a single holocron, a single holopad, seeking it out as if they were possessed. The Archeri had inspired the biggest effort the Order had seen in years, with Jedi from every field and study seeking each other out, delving into the Archives together, and collaborating.

It was another strange way that the collective, for all its preaching about unity, was both succeeding and failing.

Finding his latest quarry, Taas only paused long enough to scan the holopad for a particular passage. Finding it, it was a quick matter to select and share the information with one of the many teams of researchers, receiving digital thanks for his effort. Replacing it, Taas almost missed the man pulling up to the terminal down the row from him, his eyes only catching a glimpse of chitin as it scanned another list of requests.

Blinking, his arms dropped and he spun on his heel. "Good day, Master Moho." Approaching with a smile, Taas tucked his holopad to his side. His eyes flicked to the elder Jedi's terminal screen before he spoke, an understanding hum preceding.

"I fear that the best accounts of the Chorus can be found in today's reports. If they have been recorded prior to the last year, then the Order is sadly ignorant."

[Blue]

The sound of a voice cutting through the silence of the Archives instantly arrested the old Jedi's attention. With a small motion of his smaller fore-pincers, the hoverchair turned slightly so that the Prell could see the face the words came from. Across the broad face a warm smile alighted as Moho recognised his companion and, without intending to, he found himself momentarily lost in swift wash of memories flooding his mind. A young boy, always asking questions, seeking answers. Bright eyes, ever curious and searching for the truths around him. Sharp mind, flinchless in it's determination to dispel any ignorance. With a slight shake of his head, Moho refocused on the man before him here and now. The face was heavily lined with the passing of time, the white hair perhaps thinner on his head. But the eyes remained bright (albeit one more artificially than the other) and the mind behind them still as sharp as any cutting edge. The Grand Master always had plenty of time for the Chief Librarian, despite their colleagues' trepidation of the Arkanian's disregard of some of the Order's traditional teachings on the Force. It was not a trepidation Moho shared; knowledge was out there, and flinching from it to rest easy behind things that we thought we knew was never something the old Jedi believed they should do. "Master Erastothene," Moho returned the greeting fondly, his warm voice marked as always by the flanging effect of his kinds artificial vocal cords. The Prellian Jedi sighed as Taas confirmed without a doubt what Moho already feared. If The Chief Librarian stated that no information on the Chorus dwelt within the Archives, then that was that. "I feared as much, but I still held onto the hope that there might be some small nugget of information buried somewhere within. To clash against forces of which you know next to nothing about... it is little wonder that so many planets have fallen to the Chorus' attacks up to this point." One of the longer arms gestured lightly, indicating to Taas that Moho did not want to disrupt the Chief Librarian's duties too much, but that the Prellian would follow him to continue the conversation if the Arkanian needed to continue moving about the Archives. "Tell me: from what information has been gathered, what are your thoughts on the Archeri Chorus? I would be very much interested in what opinions you have formed thus far, and what aspects of them you would be keen to learn most," Moho continued. The Grand Master trusted few more than the man before him to not only form an educated assessment on what little scraps they knew, but to deliver their thoughts without filter.

[Fromikeable]

Taas almost missed Moho's gesture for him to continue his activity, his ears perking a little too much at the older Jedi's voice. Moho had been blessed with great age even when Taas had been but a youngling, and in his limited experience, Taas found the man's words to reflect as much. It was difficult not to hang on them, to peel them in his mind over and over for deeper meaning. Such an obsessive hunt for wisdom would yield fruit, he was sure, but not enough to justify putting off the pressing matters facing them both.

Blinking when he realized he was doing just that, Taas responded with a quick nod, motioning for Moho to follow.

"My thoughts on the Chorus are difficult to moderate, to be frank. If you'll excuse the potentially uncomfortable language, then I must admit that first and foremost, I find them inspiring." Taking up a brisk pace back down the row of databanks, Taas lead Moho down the next few, collecting additional holopads as he continued.

"That is to say I find their structuring beyond compare. Their methods command a degree of familiarity with both biology and the Force that few scientists would even dream of." Stopping at a small platform, Taas hopped on as it floated upward a few shelves, continuing at a volume loud enough to be heard from below. "Inducing Force-sensitivity has been attempted by forces both good and evil since time in memoriam, and for the Chorus to do so on an immediate timescale en masse is..." Pausing, Taas glanced downward, his face agape for a moment as he tried to find the right word.

"... horrifying. Unheard of. Impossible, by all rights." Despite the damnation, his voice rang with almost an admiring tone. Descending from the platform, he lead Moho past the remaining rows of the Archives and past the main desk. The woman there, an old Kel Dor Master, nodded to both of them in recognition as they passed into the restricted sections, the walls glowing blue and the lights growing further between. All around them, holocrons glowed softly, other Jedi Masters conducting their own searches and conversations in quiet.

"Were they not so inclined toward forced assimilation, they would be able to teach us much. I find that this makes their horrific actions that much more terrible." Stopping finally at a large wall of lightless holocrons, Taas reached out for one. With a moment's concentration in the Force, the security features around the vessel that housed it turned off one-by-one, and the empty holocron slowly slid out. Taas finally ushered it to his hand before turning slightly, displaying it to Master Moho.

"More than anything, I wish to know their origins. How a collective mind that large could grow to be so cohesive and opinionated defies all known studies, to my knowledge." He shook the holocron gently.

"With your permission, I should like to commission an expedition around that goal when it is possible to do so."

[Blue]

Inspiring. If anyone else had said that, it would have caused Moho to have great concern for them. But he had long grown used to the idiosyncrasies of the Chief Librarian's manner when it came to the sphere of knowledge; indeed, the Grand Master often shared in those same quirks. Besides, Taas was not incorrect. Setting aside their destructive need to assimilate, the Chorus had proved themselves capable of things many had thought utterly impossible until now. There was no denying the impressiveness of these feats, nor the questions that followed after them. Moho nodded as the Arkanian continued to speak, following the man through the Archives towards the more restricted sections as he gathered holopads as they went. "My thoughts have been running along a similar vein, Master Erastothene. Since my encounter with them on the derelict, the Bright Horizon, I have found myself equal parts intrigued and disturbed by them. Perhaps if all the masters of our Order and the Lords and Ladies of the Sith were to combine our efforts, it could be feasible to theoretically produce some results of an equal caliber." They walked in silence for a moment before Moho continued. "But considering our... philosophical differences, I doubt we could achieve anything before distrust toppled our attempts. We certainly are in many ways, as the Chorus have called us, disharmonious." It was a line of thought that still clung to the old Jedi's thoughts, though. Perhaps on a smaller scale? The collective mind of the Chorus is constant in each of their adepts, but could a concentrated, coordinated strike disrupt it in some fashion? Disturb the connection? I am given to understand that wearing a Force collar seems to cut the connection off for an individual... and I also know of rituals to cut another from the Force more permanently, as horrifying as that feels in my heart. Provided it does not involve directly interfacing with the power behind it, it is something worth investigating. Taas had withdrawn an empty holocron and was suggesting investigating the origins of the Archeri. Moho looked contemplatively at the Chief Librarian for a moment before responding. "We certainly need enlightenment, and I trust few more than you to help us achieve that goal. Where would you suggest we start this expedition?"

[Fromikeable]

"Ahhhh, wise of you to ask." Pocketing the blank holocron with a smile, Taas sorted through the holopads for one of the larger ones. With a few taps, it glowed to life, and with a few more, it displayed a small galactic map. Tapping the section of the map where Hutt Space lay, an animation began to play in reverse, a purple blob appearing over Hutt Space and slowly shrinking. Within, a series of arrows faded in and out, showing specific movements of what labels said to be Archeri forces.

"While the Archeri present many mysteries, their origins seem to be a very solvable problem. While their movements through the galaxy have been directed by existing hyperlanes, their initial path to Teth seems to have been very linear." The animation proceeded until the purple blob only covered Teth, with a single arrow from the Wild Regions pointing toward it.

"We will need to confirm the projection, of course, but provided it's correct, we've narrowed their point of origin down to several planets. With luck, developing our understanding of their biology will help us narrow that list to a searchable quantity." Deactivating the holopad, Taas tucked it back under his shoulder before motioning at Moho to follow him one last time.

"Even if we successfully created such a collective, I doubt it would resemble that of the Archeri." Reaching their final destination, Taas opened to door to his office with a poke of his fingers, placing the stack of holopads on his desk with a sigh of relief. "Most merged minds lose their sense of individuality and specific characteristics. The only way for them to stabilize is for each individual to reduce and focus on only their most rudimentary similarities. Yet the Archeri seem to remain hyperfocused and personified, as though every individual thinks the exact same way to begin with."

"Judging by their actions, they detest variety in everything from mindset and thinking to biodiversity." His hands motioned at the Temple around them. "One of their shortcomings, in my opinion. Diversity in both thought and being is one of our Order's greatest strengths."

[Blue]

Moho leaned in closer as Taas presented the holopad to him. He nodded to himself as he watched the advances of the Archeri Chorus go backwards. If only the horror they inflicted and damage they had done would be so easy to erase... As the arrows crawled back to Teth, the Chorus' original attack point, the old Jedi had to conceded the Chief Librarian's point about their origin not being too complicated a matter to unravel. "If learning about their biology is required, our battle over Nar Shaddaa will doubtlessly serve two-fold," Moho suggested as the two began to move towards Taas' office. "The liberation of the Smuggler's Moon from the Archeri Chorus' clutches will provide many samples with which we may study." When they arrived, Taas' opened the door and stepped in swiftly. Moho, however, was forced to take a little extra time; the doorway was not made with the bulk of a Prell in mind, and he was forced to turn his hoverchair on the side to fit through the portal. Once inside, the Grand Master floated over to the man's desk as he continued speaking. "Indeed, we would never be able to achieve the same synchronicity. Although I would still take individuality over power every time. Moho paused for a moment with a quiet 'hmm'. "Perhaps the plague that turns them does something to the victims brain chemistry, making them more receptive to the collective mind and eroding their sense of self." As the Grand Master finished speaking and the Arkanian replied, the smile was back on the Prell's face when Taas espoused diversity as one of the Jedi Order's core strengths. "Quite so, Master Erastothene. Quite so. Without diverse thought, all we have is a slow spiral into intellectual and spiritual decay. One cannot evolve without flexibility of thought." Moho's tone was warm, but his expression melted into something more troubled as a thought floated through his mind. "Finding the origins of the Chorus is vital. But another thing to keep in mind is why they chose to take such aggressive action in the first place. Was it simple ideology? Invading us because they truly believed we would be better within their collective consciousness? Is it something more primal, like mass migration? Or perhaps it could be something more... ominous. Maybe they were not attempting to conquer us at all. Maybe they were fleeing from something else, and we simply presented a convenient way to bolster their numbers in preparation for some unknown threat. A light frown marred Moho's otherwise peaceful features as he digested this line of thought. Yet another question to answer. "Origin and motive. In finding one, the other might also become clear to us in the process," the old Jedi concluded.

[Fromikeable]

Taas's arms crossed as Moho laid out what was, without a doubt, "An excellent question, Master." Bringing one hand up to rest his bottom lip on, Taas seemed to freeze in place as his eyes squinted, the cogs of his mind clearly hard at work. What inspired such aggression in basic intelligence? Necessity, of course. Desperation, as it was known to sentient life. The immediate need for a resource, the very immediate need for self-defense or survival, or even just the future need to resolve a problem before it could go any further.

"Are we a threat?" The thought was mumbled under Taas's breath, almost unintentional. Seemingly surprised by his own utterance, he shook his head a bit.

"I had not considered such simple aspirations to a collective so complex and sentient." Unstacking the holopads on his desk into separate piles, Taas thought out loud. "Drawing back to known collective minds, simple goals always have the highest chance of success. As said, their stability relies on reduction; the more basic and inherent the thought, the more likely it is to be adopted, understood, and incorporated into each mind." Stopping mid-stack, Taas looked to Moho.

"Even if the Archeri are of an unknown and remarkable structure, that concept could still hold true. Elaborate or not, their collective conscious could still be drawing from a very simple core desire or thought." Moving over to his blackboard, the old Jedi produced a piece of chalk and made a few quick notes. Turning to the side, he activated a large holoprojector just beside it, calling up the same map he'd shown previous.

For a moment, he muttered to himself, writing down the numbers assigned to some of the many planets along the projected origin route. Finally stepping back, he read his own work for a moment before pointing a finger, bouncing it lightly at the planets.

"... obviously the Archeri as we know them wouldn't be threatened by... a singular predator or ecosystem. They're space-borne, highly adaptive, and have demonstrated their ability to manipulate environments." Tapping the piece of chalk in his hand, he inadvertently covered his digits in dust. "But even a collective culture must be dictated by past traditions and practices, especially one so singular."

"... they don't hunt. They don't express any behavior regarding territory or dominance. They expand regardless of possible foodsources. They don't display known predatory instincts of any kind despite a clear and present inclination toward the death of other species." Putting his chalk down, Taas was quiet for a final moment before clapping his hands together, chalk dust filling the air.

"They were once prey!" Turning to Moho, his face etched into a tiny, awestruck smile, his hands moving as he explained. "Or, at least, they could have been. A species relatively low, if not the lowest, on their native food chain. Changes occurred, extraordinary in any event, that allowed them to jump to the top of their ecosystem and dominate it. To do exactly what easily-preyed-upon organisms do; reproduce as far and as much as possible, without any regard for where they went. To places they could survive-" a finger pointed at the majority of Hutt Space, "and to places they couldn't." The finger moved toward planets the Archeri hadn't taken so easily, or places that had offered them little to gain; Tatooine, Vaathkree, and Junkfort Station.

"Predatory capabilities mixed with prey-derived instincts. Proliferate so much that no one threat could ever hope to kill them all. Especially important to a hive mind, I suspect."

[Blue]

Despite the seriousness of the matter at hand, the smile was back on Moho's face as he watched the man's mind chew at the question. He could not help it; it brought the old Jedi back to the times when the Chief Librarian was a youngling, always eager to learn more, enthusiastically devouring every bit of knowledge he could. The face may have grown wrinkled, time may have weathered him, but that expression had not changed one iota. The Grand Master pulled his mind back to the present when Taas' thought process bore fruit. He listened intently as the Arkanian began unpacking his thoughts, nodding in contemplation as he directed his hoverchair to follow the man over to the blackboard. "Even the most complex of motivations normally stem from a basic, primal drive," Moho added as Taas began jotting things down. The tall man continued on and Moho followed his words with great interest. Their desire to forcibly absorb as many life-forms into their collective is indicative of a desperate need to expand their numbers. Implications? Devastating toll on their population. Pushed from their homes by an unknown force. Perhaps they need to take new life in to maintain a balance in their biology; biological degradation as a result of what connects them? "They were once prey!" Moho's eyes widen fractionally as Taas made his deduction. The logic behind it was sound: the fast reproduction, extensive adaptive ability, even the collective mind hinted at strength in numbers over pure power. Of course, this was all still conjecture, but that was the point of commissioning this expedition the Chief Librarian was keen to embark on. The theory provided a jumping point from which they could begin to unravel the mysteries of the Chorus. "I do believe this is an excellent start on matters, Master Erastothene," Moho said, nodding his head. The flicker of worry played about his genial features once more. "I can only hope that the theory that they were once prey is accurate. I would not be too sanguine about encountering a race that can measure the Archeri Chorus as being on the bottom rung of the food chain." With that sobering thought, the Grand Master turned to face Taas, his face set in a determined expression. "What would you require for this expedition? I will put my full weight behind any requisitions you might need for it. Knowledge is the key to all things, and we are severely lacking in that sphere when it comes to the Chorus."

[Fromikeable]

"Force help us if there is a bigger, fiercer hive mind lurking about the Wild Regions." Chuckling, Taas recollected his chalk to quickly fill the blackboard with notes. Bullet points and half-formed equations flooded the dark surface as he quickly tried to jolt down every component of the theory, and more importantly, viable tests with which to confirm or deny it. Such work would become feasible with time, no doubt, but for now, it was at best a proposed approach to how to fight the Chorus.

Taas's main concern was whether or not it was practical, and whether or not it had come too late to make a difference.

Putting down his chalk for the last time, Taas looked upon Moho's determined face as the Grandmaster declared his support for the expedition. Smiling in return, Taas's fingers drummed lightly on his sleeves as he cross his arms, chalkdust making distinct markings on the fabric.

"I don't dare to assume that the Archeri threat will be completely neutralized by the time the expedition becomes viable. So military support would prove particularly important." Moving a finger to tap his chin at a quick rhythm, he hummed. "The Republic would be the obvious candidate, though I am not certain what stipulations the treaty makes about the Empire's involvement. I will research it in my spare time."

"Beyond that, we will require the usual resources for what could be a long-term expedition. Exploratory vessels, provisions, advanced sensor suites-" His eyes widened before he snapped his fingers, turning back to his desk. Mixing through some of the holopads, he produced one and turned back to Moho.

"Most importantly, we will require experts. Historians specializing in pre-hyperspace civilization, biologists specializing in infectious and invasive diseases, and doctors specializing in extreme physical trauma and alteration, to name a few." Summoning a list of such experts, Taas offered the holopad to Moho. "The Order's researchers are highly adept, but finding people of such precise specialization will likely require us to reach beyond our own ranks."

[Blue]

"Even if the threat of the Archeri Chorus were solved tomorrow, I would still support the need of this expedition. There could potentially be more of their number out there," Moho stated as Taas began listing his thoughts on his needs. "Besides, whatever else could be said of them, the Chorus are a very unique race. There is much that we could uncover of intellectual worth from their origins and biology. Jedi should never shy away from the opportunity to learn, after all." The current treaty might well allow the Empire to view such an expedition as a break from it, should military personnel from the Republic be involved. An option to circumvent that would be to share this expedition with the Empire... but Moho was hesitant. He had seen far too often, in the distant past and the present, the results of Sith driven scientific endeavours. It would not take long before everything was bogged down in one side try to moderate or sabotage the other. Moho took the proffered holopad, taking hold of it with the Force and hovering it before his eyes to examine. The Grand Master smiled as he saw a few names he recognised, and it made him think of- Tanned skin, bright teeth shown through a wide smile. A new line of dirt swiped onto an already dusty face as she pushed a lock of windswept auburn hair from her sharp, emerald eyes... "Did I ever tell you about Professor Helio Sao?" Moho asked Taas, his voice oddly distant and a fond smile spreading across his face as memory and vision merged. "She was a human archeologist whom I met while I was still a Knight. Bright minded, foremost in her field, always wanting to learn more... You would have liked her very much, I think. I have yet to meet her peer when it comes to the histories of ancient civilisations, even after all these years..." Dark Side works it's will; mind twisted, body broken, all the vitality and brightness faded, gone... dead... For a moment, the smile became something more weighted, altogether more fragile. But, within a half-heartbeat and with a quiet 'hmm', the expression was gone and Moho was once again pulling the mechanical glove from its compartment. The metal fingers swiftly tapped onto the holopad as the old Jedi added something to it. "I've listed some additional names of people I think might prove both useful to the endeavour and more than eager to help," the Grand Master explained, gently floating the holopad back to the Chief Librarian. "As for military personnel and the entanglements they could invoke... yes. Do the research it requires. But perhaps by the time you are ready, the path forward on that matter will be more clear." The way the Grand Master spoke the last part of that statement had a strange and heavy vagueness to it, a quality that Moho rarely exhibited when talking to anybody, never mind members of his own Order. But his tone, though light, was serious enough that it would indicate there was good reason behind the ambiguousness of his words. "I will begin co-ordination with our internal and external resources to fully equip this mission," Moho concluded. The Prellian Jedi let out a wistful sigh. "Ahh. I almost wish that I could join you personally, Master Erastothene. To be at the forefront of a new expansion in scientific and historical knowledge. A couple of centuries ago, I would have leapt at the chance to be in the vanguard of such an expedition." Moho's eyes swept through the room, but his vision was not focused on the walls. Beyond them, he could sense the numerous lights that were his brothers and sisters as they went about their business. So many minds, bent to the task of good, and those yet learning their skills... no. I could not leave any of them behind when others more able can be set to the task. A light chuckle escaped him. "Still. It is comforting to know that I leave such an important thing in the hands of those far more capable in such matters than I have ever been," the old Jedi said, his gaze once more falling on Taas and his meaning, as to who's hands those might be, all too obvious.

[Fromikeable]

Smiling through Moho's recollection, Taas quietly wracked his brain for everything he knew of Helio Sao. The name certainly sounded familiar, though not in any personal capacity. Taas could only recall books, studies, and credits, her body of work in the Archives. All well before his time, even with his advanced age. It was an easy thing to forget that despite Master Moho's remarkable spirit, he had lived three centuries before Taas had even been born.

An important thought. Even a man with eight decades of study would never compare to the galaxy at large.

"You must tell me more of her. She sounds like a true academic." Returning Moho's heavy smile with an empathetic one of his own, Taas received the holopad. Scrolling through the added names, he nodded as he reviewed their credentials. "Sage advice, master. I will likely enlist the aid of the Republic's Department of State. In all due honesty, I have not yet read the entirety of the treaty cover to cover." Sighing lightly, Taas raised a hand to his chin, holding it as he shook his head. "Politics, much like other social sciences, escape me."

As Moho's gaze settled him, Taas blinked, clearly requiring a second to pick up on the unspoken meaning. Standing up a bit straighter, the Arkanian Jedi cocked his head slightly.

"I must disagree." Raising a hand, Taas shook it lightly, showing Moho his palm. "Your hands are, with little debate, the most capable in the Order. If your position is not evidence enough, consider your career."

"You are more than free to join the expedition, Master Moho. It would be an authentic pleasure to have you."

[Blue]

For a moment, the Grand Master allowed himself to feel that old rush at the Chief Librarian's words, one he had not felt in over a century. To join in on such an expedition, to re-live his time out in the galaxy discovering new things and uncovering old truths, was such a thrilling prospect, and far from a little tempting. But with that smile still on his face, Moho shook his head, albeit with the smallest hint of reluctance. "As much as the thought is tempting to me, I cannot," Moho said. "I am needed here. Though a part of me wishes I could be with the fleet above Nar Shaddaa, or assisting you in whatever manner I could, it is also true that the teaching and care of our students is also vital. Many of our initiates are sensing the growing unease around them. The more sensitive of them feeling it not just from their instructors, but from the very Force itself. I fear that should my presence continue to be inconsistent, it might trouble them further and feed the disruption they are experiencing." Moho was more than confident of the fact that, should he no longer be present, the Order would continue on just fine without him. But he was not so blind as to fail to acknowledge that his presence in the Temple seemed to help calm the minds of the young people that they trained and taught. Baring some galaxy-shaking catastrophe that would require him to take to the field himself, or a Force Vision that he was compelled to attend to, the Grand Master had a responsibility not only to the educational needs of the initiates, but to their spiritual well-being as well. His gaze warmed significantly as Moho shook his head again, a small chuckle escaping him as he did so. "But you give yourself far too little credit, Taas," the Prellian Jedi continued softly. It was not often that Moho used the given names of others, preferring to give people the proper respect by using any titles they had earned or at the very least refusing to presume a familiar connection before they were comfortable. But in this case he felt that it was more than appropriate, considering their long association and the high compliment the Arkanian had just paid him. "I may hold a certain seniority, but that merely means that I have watched you grow from youngling to Masterhood. It is with this knowledge that I can comfortably say that your authority on the sciences alone far exceeds mine by an exceptional margin, and your skills within our Order are at least on par with my own. I can say with pride that you have long surpassed me in many regards." Every word spoken held complete and utter sincerity, and Moho's eyes fairly gleamed with grandfatherly affection as he looked at Taas, with a twinkle of mirth as he went on. "Besides, I have grown somewhat apt at those social sciences. At least to some small degree. No, I will be best utilised here for the meantime, ensuring our Order is running as smoothly as possible and to co-ordinate our efforts with that of Republic personnel." There was a pause as Moho considered something before going on. "In fact, it might not be a bad idea for me to arrange a meeting with Supreme Chancellor Vrieska. He may very well have some valuable insights into getting the staff and other requirements for the successful completion of this endeavour. Perhaps he may even put ideas forward that we ourselves have overlooked, such as ways to gently navigate the treaty."

[Fromikeable]

Taas couldn't help but hum at the mention of the Order's Younglings. Moho was right; the lot of them had begun to pick up on how the on-going Archeri crisis was affecting their elders. Knights were being dispatched, Masters leaving previous positions or assignments, Scribes less available to assist in studies- even the Artisans were not so generous with their free time. Taas hadn't taught a course in over a week, a deduction in rate he'd not seen since the Galactic War in years prior.

The Younglings he had passed by in previous day had regarded him with curiosity. Skepticism. Concern.

The warmth in Moho's voice snapped his mind away, blinking as the Prellian sang his praise. Waving a hand lightly, Taas smiled, his tone dismissive. "You flatter me, Master. But 'if I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.'" Reaching over to his desk, Taas raised and waggled a specific tome on basic mechanics, indicating the source of his quote.

"I will digress to your judgement, however. I hope you will expect many regular reports instead. As for the Chancellor, a meeting would be a grand idea." Humming as he turned around, Taas searched his desk's surface, digging through holopads.

"His political wisdom would be particularly invaluable. In talking with others, I was surprised to learn that some portion of the galactic populace may find earnest study of the Chorus..." He paused, face scrunched as he tried to produce the right word.

"... distasteful." Shrugging lightly, he abandoned his search before turning back to Moho.

"As much as I disagree, I would hope to avoid producing any discomfort. His insight on such efforts would be invaluable."

[Blue]

It was always good to see when someone of the Order had a healthy amount of humility in their manner. It was all too easy, especially for those Masters who had seen many decades of service, to fall into the assumption that they knew all, or at least knew best. This arrogance had been the downfall, both bodily and spiritually, of far too many Jedi. It was one of the reasons he held the Chief Librarian in such high regard; though he had confidence in his intellect, he was not so bold as to assume he was infallible in his knowledge, or that he had nothing left to learn. "It is difficult for some to remain objective in the face of horror," Moho stated in response to Taas' comments on how some felt on the subject. "Learning more about the Archeri Chorus is a vital endeavour, regardless of the atrocities they have committed. More so due to them, I feel. Even those most adverse to their study should know that, without understanding, we remain under constant threat to the things about them we have yet to comprehend." The Grand Master could sympathise with those who might find the eagerness to study the Chorus callous to those that had lost their lives to them, but at the same time ignorance could end up costing the lives of so many more. "I am confident that the Supreme Chancellor will agree with us on this matter. He has proven to be a pragmatically inclined individual, and I have little doubt that a majority of those responsible for fending off the Archeri Chorus will share his mindset." Moho's words took on a decisive edge as he began to maneuver his hoverchair. "Yes, I think it would be a good idea to start this as soon as possible. I shall send a message to his offices immediately, and you... well, I probably do not need to ask you to start work on this right away. I'm sure you are already chomping at the bit to get started," he finished with a knowing smile at his former pupil.

[Fromikeable]

"Hear hear." Taas lightly banged a fist on the top of desk, nodding in agreement with the Grandmaster. "I understand the reservations regarding the nature of respecting the dead the Archeri utilize in their transformation, but the more idealistic protests have been less digestible." He waved a hand. "The Chorus, impressive as it is, should not be feared as a mythical horror. That sort of thinking about anything, even the Force-sensitive- especially the Force-sensitive- leads to nothing but ruin." The evidence for such a result was plain as day in the Sith Order. What was the Empire without its equal parts reverence and intimidation regarding their Empress? To say nothing of how their Order was divided into literal cults.

There was quite enough of Force-sensitive powers in the galaxy being paid undue ignorance. So long as Taas had something to say about it, the Jedi would remain an open book.

"You know me too well, Master. Speaking of which-" Taas activated one last holopad, scrolling through it. A bevy of messages glowed at him, demanding attention. "-I've many a research team to direct. Even still, I wish you to know that your insight today has been invaluable." Folding the holopad under his arm, Taas bowed deeply.

"As has your company. May the Force be with you, Master Moho."

[Blue]

The Chief Librarian's words rang all too true on the subject of the manner in which some cultures regarded those gifted in the Force. The Sith Empire was the obvious example, though there were many others who held those capable of wielding the all-encompassing Force in far higher esteem for that one fact alone. "And also with you, Master Erastothene. I will leave you to your work," the Grand Master said, nodding his head forward in response to Taas' bow. He turned his hoverchair and began to move to the exit, pausing for a moment as he reached it. "I shall make sure to send you over some of my personal copies of Professor Sao's theories and discoveries. They make for fantastic reading; she challenged many established assumptions on Early Hyperspace Age civilisations with excellent points and personal findings. I have no doubt you will find her writings both educational and entertaining!" Moho offered. She had been a very bold person, always pushing the boundaries of what educational institutes claimed were indisputable fact. The old Jedi had little doubt Taas would enjoy her works thoroughly. With one last nod and smile, Moho shifted his way through the doorway and left the Arkanian to his organisations. He had his own job to do, after all.