It was one of the less glorious incidents of a long-ago war.
It led to …
The avatar smiled silkily as it leant closer to him, as though imparting a confidence. Never forget I am not this silver body, Mahrai. I am not an animal brain, I am not even some attempt to produce an Al through software running on a computer. I am a Culture Mind. We are close to gods, and on the far side.