Axis Point

Both artificial and organic, not quite inanimate and not quite sentient, the Axis Point is the nexus of Aedolis, the Network, and all manifested psionic power within its home galaxy. The Axis Point can both detect and locate psychics who use their ability. The more they use it, the more the Axis Point can narrow down their location until finally it can connect directly to them—usually without them knowing at first. Once the Axis Point has locked onto a psychic, Aedolis's Pilots can hook into the Axis Point and access the victim themselves, utilizing their unique abilities upon them just as they would if the victim were in the same room with them.

The first few exposures of the Axis Point to a psychic causes no detrimental effects, but continued connection with it results in the slow onset of psychosis, beginning with mild confusion and memory loss, then auditory and visual hallucinations, and eventually a violent loss of control of their psionics and the complete inability to distinguish what is real or unreal. For this reason, the Axis Point is never used to communicate with Pilots in the field.

Located within The Citadel, the Axis Point is also sometimes known as the Imperial Seat. Typically, the Pilot Imperial is the only one with access to this Citadel room, and access to it is strictly controlled by the Dragons. In the center of the room is a terminal that the Imperial can then hook up to via needles and plugs that attach to the body and brain, and around it are a series of other terminals that the Dragons can hook up to themselves. Connecting to the Axis Point is a horrible experience that often leaves the summoned Pilot exhausted and sick for days. Horrendous migraines are common. As can be imagined this takes quite a toll on the Pilot Imperial, who is summoned there more than any other Pilot.

Aside from being used to locate other psychics, the Axis Point is also used to interrogate Pilots by breaking through their psionic defenses and picking their brain for knowledge. Any Pilot could potentially be summoned to the Axis Point, either to be tested or to use their skills in locating psychics, but the Imperial is summoned the most. However, it is completely up to the Dragons to chose who to summon, when, and why.