Characters have spoken of Praeses in ways that suggest a more current interactive sensible sort of presence. Even though not physical human mobile active. I wonder though if how they perceive and describe Praeses matches the reality, or if there's both bias and anger clouding everything up. How accurate are the descriptions of the situation, the ascription of motivations. Also, great big tree, little tiny ship. Which also makes me wonder how it is Pate got as powerful and determined to do whatever he's up to while at the same time seeming so ill-prepared for the actuality of scale. Like an ant planning on eating a t-rex while being unaware of the impossibility of the scope. Which if Ardent's purpose is actually to be bringing Pate there, or if Church is not quite the lackey he's made out to be, or if Alice isn't quite a straightforward as she seems. A lot of ways this could actually be heading.