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Key Information:

• Status: Alive
• Species: Unnamed
• Gender: Not Applicable
• Born: Unknown
• Age: At least 700 Solars​

Appearances:

1. ​List of the Dead
2. The Ravening Deep
3. ​From Shattered Stars
4. Whom Gods Shall Fear

Overview

Voice is an intelligent and apparently malicious entity. At the current time, its true nature and identity both remain the subject of considerable speculation.

Although Voice was doubtless encountered many times by many people beforehand, the recognised first contact with the Imperial Combine took place with Elm Caden on the surface of Meccrace Prime.

Exactly what Voice is has not yet been established, but Caden and his associates have drawn various inferences from their encounters:
​

1. Voice is hostile to the Empire, and also to the Viskr Junta.
2. Voice has some kind of alliance with the Shaeld Hratha.
3. Voice is capable of 'occupying' the minds of Rasas, even simultaneously.

It has been pointed out by Caden that verbal exchanges he had with Rasas prior to Meccrace Prime may in fact have been fragments of a larger conversation with Voice.

The Lem Bataan and their close allies know the Voice entity by the name "The Manifold Hand". It is now also believed that the civilisation of Glanced Esteem once investigated a similar phenomenon, giving it the names "The Pestilence", "The Thought Thief", and "The Mind with Many Mouths" (→FSS).

Personality

Voice is a mysterious entity, but it does sometimes give clues to its own psychology.

On various occasions it has demonstrated indications of arrogance, self-superiority, and an almost fanatical devotion to its own beliefs. It has at times regarded human efforts to understand it with contempt and mockery.

Voice has also demonstrated great cunning and tactical insight, setting up both the Imperial Navy and intelligence bureau Eyes and Ears and leading them where it wanted them to go. On one occasion the cost to the Empire was the entire xtryllium stockpile warehoused on Ramm Stallahad, on another occasion the cost was the assassination of dozens of high-ranking intelligence operatives. And yet by nesting plans within plans, Voice has done even worse than that.

Voice sometimes indicates that it has insecurities. It occasionally insists "I am" when conversing with humans, and often seems frustrated when it cannot make them understand this ostensibly simple assertion.

Notable Encounters

• Aldava: likely spoke with Elm Caden in the guise of various locals (→SFTD).
• Serrofus Major: met Castigon in the guise of Herik Pammon (→LOTD).
• Altakanti Station: met Castigon in the guise of an unknown woman (→LOTD).
• Meccrace Prime: recognised first contact with Caden (→LOTD).
• Fort Laeara: manipulated Occre Brant and Peras Tirrano, in the guises of both Herik Pammon and Amarist Naeb (→TRD).
• Riishi: confronted fruitlessly by Caden under harrowing circumstances (→TRD).
• Damastion: spoke briefly through Maber Castigon (→FSS).