Theory of Mind
Printed pages 252–264. Records documented in this chapter; later article sections may include subsequent events.
Showing introductory records. Switch to Full archive above to include later names and revelations.
Africa
Africa becomes a principal theater of the Flaxen conquest after the invaders cross the Atlantic from the Americas. Their armies move north toward Europe.
Asia
Asia is the eastern theater of the war between United Earth and the Flaxens. Flaxen forces enter through the Bering Strait and advance westward.
Bianca
Bianca is a civilian resident of Cylli and Lieutenant Frey's partner. She was expecting their child when Frey undertook the dangerous defense of Iceland.
Cyrus Eppleston
Cyrus Eppleston is United Earth’s Minister of War during the struggle against Flaxen conquest.
Defense of Iceland
Lieutenant Frey stopped twenty Flaxen bombers from reaching the intelligence complex in Iceland. The mission preserved the team conducting the mental operation against the Flaxen commanders.
Deflection lasers
Deflection lasers protect high-speed starships by detecting and vaporizing particles ahead of them. A collision with even a sand-sized object at the expedition's intended speeds could destroy a ship.
Earth
Earth is humanity’s homeworld and the birthplace of United Earth. Almost ten thousand years after Echo’s departure, it is divided by the war against Flaxen conquest.
Earth intelligence service
Contemporary United Earth's intelligence service is a major source of resistance to the Flaxen advance. Echo judges human intelligence capabilities substantially superior to those of their opponents.
Echo
Echo is a United Earth starship and the self-aware artificial intelligence who operates the vessel. Commanded by Kip Eastcott, he carries roughly one thousand people on the Copious expedition.
Eighth Army
The Eighth Army was the Flaxen army fighting on the western side of Africa under General Frilt Snelder. Its commander was among those reached by the combined mental operation.
Flaxen flag
The Flaxen flag used yellow, white, and black. Tank formations combined their individual markings to display the flag from above.
Flaxen military
The Flaxen military wages war on United Earth and administers occupied territories, including forced-labor camps. Its officers enforce strict hierarchy and species-based laws.
Frey
Lieutenant Frey piloted Eastcott's upgraded scorpion during the strike on the rare mineral processing facility on Venus. He reported no enemy contacts and attributed their concealment to the new stealth upgrade.
Frilt Snelder
General Frilt Snelder commanded the Flaxen Eighth Army on the western side of Africa. Experiences transmitted through the combined mental operation led him to reconsider the war and issue new orders.
Greenland
Greenland was within the area crossed by the expanding atmospheric disturbance from the scorpion's sudden arrival over Iceland.
Hubritians
Hubritians is the name later societies give the people of the advanced pre-Titan civilization. Their legacy is interpreted first as an example of sinful arrogance and later as a model for scientific recovery.
Human–Flaxen hybrids
Human–Flaxen hybrids are people with both human and Flaxen parentage. Some possess unusual mental abilities that contemporary United Earth uses in intelligence work.
Iceland
Iceland housed United Earth Intelligence's complex on its northern coast. Its defense became critical while Serilda and the half-Flaxen team worked against Flaxen commanders.
Ireland
Ireland's west coast was reached by the ring of vapor produced when the scorpion appeared over Iceland after its dangerous micro-jump.
Kip Eastcott
Captain Kip Eastcott commands Echo on the Copious expedition. A veteran of the war with Mars, he leads a crew far removed from the world they knew.
Megan
Megan is a human prisoner in Camp Skadi and Serilda Corazon’s closest companion. Seriously weakened by the camp’s conditions, she depends on Serilda’s care and shares her concern for their fellow prisoners.
Mental communion
Some half-Flaxens can link, perceive, or influence minds. The experience may convey feelings, memories, images, and perspectives rather than spoken instructions.
Mental operation against the Flaxen commanders
Serilda and eleven United Earth intelligence operatives directed a combined mental operation against senior Flaxen officers. The operation caused military divisions that became decisive in Earth's liberation.
Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert marked the northern reference point for the African Flaxen base attacked by Lucinda. The target lay farther south on dry plains, away from the front line.
Sarah Dimple
Commander Sarah Dimple is Echo’s executive officer and Captain Kip Eastcott’s second in command. A veteran of the war with Mars, she combines loyalty to her captain with a willingness to challenge his decisions.
Scorpions
Scorpions were small combat craft carried by Echo, named for their insect-like shape and pincer-mounted plasma cannons. Originally designed to fight in swarms during the six years' war, they retained weapons during Echo's conversion for colonization.
Serilda Corazon
Serilda Corazon is a woman of human and Flaxen parentage imprisoned at Camp Skadi. She cares for her friend Megan and the other occupants of hut seven while strange visions of a starship trouble her sleep.
Sphere drive
The sphere drive is Avalon Brookes's propulsion technology, which draws photonic energy from higher dimensions through a hypersphere. It is intended to propel the Copious expedition at eighty percent of light speed.
United Earth
United Earth is the human government resisting the Flaxen conquest of Earth. Its institutions include a presidency, armed forces, and intelligence services.