I must agree with my colleague's analysis of the Dark Elven legal system, and eagerly await the proof of this analysis.
It is rumored the attacks may have been sent by the Dahanii Tribes. The Dahanii state in the Hevereyn that it was not them who sent the Dunelanders. Indrias Witches begin to foresee into the future; they see a desperate and broken faction attempting to scrounge what little they have.
"So, let me get this straight: if we ask you for proof, you'll just tell us to 'wait and see'?"
"Yes."
"And meanwhile, based on your foresight of the future we should attack the Dahanii for this affront?"
"Yes."
"And then wait to see if they are desperate and broken, after we beat the crap out of them?"
"I don't understand what is confusing about this."
A clerk notes that: "It's a shame that Marayne or Alvnel didn't rip the throat of the soothsaying representative. The spectacle would have made the debate quicker and more entertaining."
Well, quicker anyways.
The first law is that all ships must have an active transponder running at all times. The second law is that technology that shrouds a vessel is illegal.
These laws are cited in the Dark Elven phrase dictionary, under "It's only illegal if you get caught".
As a result, House Indrett completes the design of the Seid class Survey Ship. The ship goes into immediate production in the Hadric Marine Industries shipyard.
I suspect that House Indrett is going to regret not making those engines...hmm, about 50 tons bigger, in a few more tech levels once the mystical and ancient demarcation between Military and Commercial Jump Drives is discovered and codified into law by Indrias incantations or some such.
Off to a good start. For now it seems that the various factions are remaining mostly at peace but I suspect that once competition for extraplanetary resources begins in earnest cooler heads will find it difficult to prevail.
