Brother Hugo's latest letter came as a quick answer to my own missive informing him of the Vanguard. He appears happy that I "saw the light" about the Originals and the sinfulness of their experiments with infomorphs. He also mentions the so-called "digitals", sentient artificial intelligences that have been given citizenship by the Originals.
I remember my successful collaboration with Glitter Edifice - a prohibited artificial intelligence, a 'warmind' - and hope Brother Hugo does not read those log entries...
Anyway, he writes that he has secured the collaboration of a Holder to bring into Epikouria crates of weapons and a battalion of Kameiras, belonging to the Holder's own House forces. They are bolstering the revolt of the White Paladins, by offering them training and assisting them in raids. For now, it is still a sort of guerilla uprising - on any open field they are no match for the Original's armed forces.
It has somewhat soured the relation between the Originals and the Starborn, even though the latter claim they have nothing to do with this local matter. I do not think they know of Brother Hugo's interference in local politics... Anyway, the Starborn say they are doing their part by providing customs offices, but if people use private launchpads then there's little they can do against that.
Nevertheless, even Brother Hugo has marked a reduction in the amount of industrial activity the last few months. This could be due to reprisals by the Originals revoking mining rights - over the last month or so there has been a sharp reduction in the amount of resources mined and extracted from the planets. Also industrial stations have been taken down.
This may have other reasons: Brother Hugo notes that the Starborn seem somewhat restless of late, perhaps itching for new wormhole conquests? Publius and Isidorus are seen less often on station. I think this is due to their efforts for the Blessed Exchange, bringing them outside Anoikis more often, but Brother Hugo thinks something else is afoot.
Links to keep track of the letters of Brother Hugo:
II. Diplomatic Talks
III. Refugee crisis
IV. Setting up a new home station
V. Epikouria under siege
VI. Prince Seraghis visit
