My Fellow Guardians,

Something has been gnawing at the back of my mind for a while now. About the notion of 'destiny' itself, and the role that we ascribe to it in this world.

What do the people of The Last City and we Guardians, really believe that our destiny is? Is it to spread out, among the stars, destroy, conquer or subjugate the other beings that we find out there? That past conflicts, territories, fought over ages ago, are really still in some way 'ours' and that the universe and history someone justifies our human-centric imperialism?

Certainly some of the foes we have encountered so far seem intelligent: The Fallen for one. They've built great space-faring ships, weapons, great war machines - all richly decorated. They even have a writing system. Have we extended the olive branch of peace to them, even once?

Our own history, what little of it we still have, shows us again and again that even short, superficial divides between ourselves has lead to immeasurable pain and suffering. There are so few of us left, our safe-haven so small; can we really bear to fuel old grudges?

We can expand, to be sure, using The Traveller, make great metropolises again of magnificent beauty and activity. Construct warships and weapons on a massive scale. Secure our world, subdue others. But will it be worth it? Can we be sure we'd be doing anything different from our predecessors? What is to stop us being beaten down again?

The Traveller? Look it once more: do you see the scars and holes? Those weren't designed; they were inflicted.

Do not mistake me however: I am no pacifist. I will train with you, I will study with you and those who wish us harm shall tremble at the thought of us. But war cannot be our only weapon. I was once told that true security is not an enemy that cannot beat you, but a friend who would never think of fighting you. I cannot say it is untrue.

So what am I asking you to do? Simple: be always thinking. Seek knowledge of more than just military import. Try new ways of operating. Study the beings out there in their totality. Communicate with more than just guns and space-magic.

In the old legends, the hero was often told they had a very specific 'destiny.' But in the ones I like most, it was always their 'potential' destiny. The way they achieved it was often unexpected, on their own terms, or wildly different. Our potential destiny is still yet greater than even the Golden Age. Let us not waste it.

More than ever, be brave.

Yours,

RC