"It was an obvious tantrum at the time," he says with a shrug. "In retrospect, it may have been more of a move to shake loose any refugee compatriots they'd managed to net than actually else. Since we're the ones who've been pushing the hardest for peace."

No one ever really thought the estranged prince had just given up, but no one - as far as Jim's aware - had any evidence of him being in league with the shamans. Jim shakes his head, lets out a humorless laugh. "He'd been as pissed as anyone after the violence. But maybe he was just pissed his co-conspirators got busted." He drums his fingers on the table. "Yeah, the heart. Hopefully it's actually being brought up there so we know where it is, and it's not some-- stupid trap."

Jim pushes a hand through his hair. "Why are people like this on every planet, humor or otherwise. Willing to doom entire populations just because they don't get their way."

It's pathetic.