On Port
Scohecan
In which the name of Commander Ro Gayda is mentioned again, and we get some idea what Jela’s been up to since we heard it last.
And so we finally get to see what Jela’s mission is, when he’s not being sidetracked. He’s “assessing local unit response readiness”, as the Commander put it, not only in the case of the Enemy attacking but in the case of the High Command deciding to throw the Outer galaxy to the wolves. Which is apparently something they’re planning to do, for whatever good it’ll do them. And the “consolidated commanders”, of whom Jela’s Commander is one, intend to keep the fight going, despite High Command if necessary. All of which means that the secrecy surrounding Jela’s mission is not just directed at the Enemy, it’s also directed at a not-insignificant whack of people who are officially on Jela’s own side.
Meantime, Jela is also asking seemingly-casual questions about left-over tech from the old war. He gives the impression that this is just a side project of his own, out of general (or Generalist) interest, but the narration helpfully points out that he’s giving this impression in a way that makes me suspect that this, too, is part of his mission. Wheels within wheels.
I’ve got an odd feeling that the old tech he asks about is not actually the old tech he’s looking for, if that makes sense. (The danger of asking about a thing directly, of course, is that then people know you’re looking for it.) But I don’t consciously remember where this is going, so I don’t know if this is just a feeling or if there’s anything to it.
I’m also feeling a mite distrustful about the learning toys Cantra picks up, but again I don’t remember whether there’s anything to it.
Before she gets to the learning toys, a bit more of Cantra’s past is filled in. We find out what happened to Garen — as far as Cantra knows. (This, I do remember what comes of it.)
The toys reappear in Balance of Trade, in Jethri’s collection, inherited from Arin, who worked with Uncle, I think.
As I recall, there was something special about the Commandant’s chair.
And again, difficult to believe that the military would simply withdraw from the Rim worlds.
Again in this chapter, we see Jela’s old troops (especially the X-strain) falling away from duty, foreshadowing the Liaden conflicts. (Never did understand how that major conflict first started, though. Still don’t.)
It’s quite touching what you find difficult to believe humans are capable of.
No, I am reasonable well aware of what humans are capable of, but I see the military withdrawal as poor battle strategy — yielding to the enemy, when there was no reason to assume said enemy would stop at the Rim. In contrast, they had every reason to assume the enemy would continue, right into the center of the universe, where the upper-class societies dwelled. Keep in mind, this was the second great war, and Jela indicated that the Sheriekas came back the second time with greater force, far more relentless and determined than during the first war.
Coming back later to add that there’s an oddity about this chapter that I only noticed later, for which see my entry for Chapter 32.
Also that we eventually do find out, in Chapter 13 of Crystal Dragon, what makes High Command think abandoning the Rim is any kind of good idea.
As best I recall from a recent partial reread, those particular toys/learning devices do not show up in later books LOOP BACK Memory Failure. Still had Balance of Trade handy. Cantra’s were smooth and well-finished.
DAY 177 Jethro runs into something similar, but more poorly made, porcelain, but rough and gritty, badly shaped. It apparently malfunctions, and burns his hand. Hmmm, wonder if accidentally-on-purpose. DNA sample? Don’t recall any hints that someone is “after him”. Except Rinork and Arin’s frenemies.
So…can someone explain for me (because apparently I can’t follow the hints given) what the local Commander learned by having Jela sit in that chair? He seems to be telling Jela something private in the subtext of his actual words at the end, but I did not follow.
It’s been a while since I read that scene, but if memory serves, the Commander found out Jela 1) wasn’t a spy 2) didn’t agree with high command 3) did truly come to ask about the planet shield, not just a pretext
Thanks Skip; that helps.
It would be funny if this Commander and his chair ended up in the Rear Guard – and his descants or his troops descants thus had their own special item in their crèche with a special tradition – maybe only shared with the Explores of that crèche.
Huh. Interesting idea, Othin. That *would be fun.
Coming back to this chapter. Overall I understood that the chair provided confirmation to the Commandant that he could trust Jela. So, yes, to the specifics he learned, but also that he could give information and know that it would be used wisely.