religious-influence

This chapter explores the tense interactions between human xenologists Miro and Ouanda and the alien piggies, centering on the demand that the Speaker for the Dead be brought to the piggies despite legal and cultural constraints. The conflict between Miro and Ouanda highlights differing trust in the Speaker and the pressures of navigating alien customs and internal politics. The chapter ends with Ela waiting to meet the Speaker, setting the stage for further developments.

In this chapter, the protagonist and Tara are held captive by Wade Midsel and his team aboard the Redshift. The protagonist reflects on the situation, the control Wade has, and the challenges they face while trying to gather information from Tara about the planet Xanahalla and Wade's plans. Tara reveals details about Xanahalla, a ringed planet with a religious institution that accepts only believers in the Third Coming, and the protagonist insists on maintaining hope and resistance despite the dire circumstances.