Overview
Depiction of a Voice instance (true form not known).
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Key Information:
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All Appearances: |
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 'diplomatic' 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 with any real certainty, but Caden and his associates have drawn various inferences from their encounters:
Rasas appear to be humans, or members of other sentient species, who are under the direct or indirect control of Voice.
It has been pointed out by Caden that verbal exchanges he had with different 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, more than 700 solars ago (→FSS).
Recent intelligence points to an ability which had previously not been known. It would now appear that Voice can 'push' the personality and/or memories of one Rasa into the mind of another, allowing that second person to "channel" the characteristics of the first. The implications of this ability are unnerving, to say the least (→ASTTS).
Although Voice was doubtless encountered many times by many people beforehand, the recognised 'diplomatic' 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 with any real certainty, but Caden and his associates have drawn various inferences from their encounters:
- Voice is hostile to the Empire, and also to the Viskr Junta.
- Voice has some kind of alliance with the Shaeld Hratha.
- Voice is capable of 'occupying' the minds of Rasas, even simultaneously.
Rasas appear to be humans, or members of other sentient species, who are under the direct or indirect control of Voice.
It has been pointed out by Caden that verbal exchanges he had with different 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, more than 700 solars ago (→FSS).
Recent intelligence points to an ability which had previously not been known. It would now appear that Voice can 'push' the personality and/or memories of one Rasa into the mind of another, allowing that second person to "channel" the characteristics of the first. The implications of this ability are unnerving, to say the least (→ASTTS).
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.
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
Before the Recognised First Contact
Tap to reveal spoilers (FSS & WGSF1)
It is now believed that Glanced Esteem probably encountered a previous emergence of a Voice-like consciousness some time prior to the year 3045, Earth Legacy Calendar. This incarnation of the entity was destroyed by its neighbouring species.
Glanced Esteem discovered enough about that version of Voice to call it "the Pestilence", "the Thought Thief", and "the Mind with Many Mouths" (→FSS).
Herik Pammon has made the claim that Woe Tantalum, known at the time as Parable Light, was the first human world actually infected by the current version of Voice.
Pammon implied strongly that the infection was welcomed by the population, and it was not until the Imperial Combine took steps to eradicate it that Voice began to grow hostile towards the empire (→FSS).
It was learned more recently that the current incarnation of Voice was present in some form on the Perseus arm of the galaxy, an entire human generation ago, during the war between the Viskr Junta and the Imperial Combine. It is not yet known to what extent, if any, Voice influenced the events of the Perseus conflict (→WGSF1).
Glanced Esteem discovered enough about that version of Voice to call it "the Pestilence", "the Thought Thief", and "the Mind with Many Mouths" (→FSS).
Herik Pammon has made the claim that Woe Tantalum, known at the time as Parable Light, was the first human world actually infected by the current version of Voice.
Pammon implied strongly that the infection was welcomed by the population, and it was not until the Imperial Combine took steps to eradicate it that Voice began to grow hostile towards the empire (→FSS).
It was learned more recently that the current incarnation of Voice was present in some form on the Perseus arm of the galaxy, an entire human generation ago, during the war between the Viskr Junta and the Imperial Combine. It is not yet known to what extent, if any, Voice influenced the events of the Perseus conflict (→WGSF1).
Steal from the Devil
It is now believed that first contact with Voice was made on Aldava, when Elm Caden experienced a fragmented conversation that was distributed among many of the locals.
List of the Dead
- On Serrofus Major, met Maber Castigon in the guise of Herik Pammon.
- At Altakanti Station, met Castigon again in the guise of an unknown woman.
- On Meccrace Prime, originally believed to be first contact with Caden while in the guise of Gordl Branathes.
The Ravening Deep
- On Fort Laeara, manipulated Occre Brant and Peras Tirrano, while in the guises of both Herik Pammon and Amarist Naeb.
- On Riishi, confronted fruitlessly by Caden under harrowing circumstances.
I Dream of Damastion
- Aboard the ICS Ardent, interacted candidly with Reximillian Bel-Kenita before that entire instance was destroyed.
From Shattered Stars
- On Damastion, spoke briefly and incoherently through Maber Castigon.
Tap to reveal spoilers (FSS)
After the order was issued for Fleet to retreat from Damastion, Elm Caden and his associates evacuated from the surface and began their return to the ICS Night's Shadow. During the trip, Caden assembled everything he had learned about Voice and came to a conclusion about the entity's origins.
He now believes that Voice is a consciousness which has arisen as a result of the Blight infecting the Shaeld Hratha. He believes Voice has developed sentience by spreading within the telepathic communion song of the Shaeld. Without that link the Blight would be merely a microbial life form with no will or thoughts, but by hijacking the minds of others it has become a persona in its own right, with frightening and potentially unlimited capabilities.
He now believes that Voice is a consciousness which has arisen as a result of the Blight infecting the Shaeld Hratha. He believes Voice has developed sentience by spreading within the telepathic communion song of the Shaeld. Without that link the Blight would be merely a microbial life form with no will or thoughts, but by hijacking the minds of others it has become a persona in its own right, with frightening and potentially unlimited capabilities.
A Storm to the Savage
- On Palanda Ire, attempted to capture intelligence field agent Marlay Saccar. During this encounter, the ability of Voice to 'push' different human personalities into a single mouthpiece was first demonstrated overtly.
Whom Gods Shall Fear
- To prevent significant spoilers, characters will not be updated for WGSF until after Part Two has released.