THE SURVEYORS

THE SKY SHIP IDLES HIGH ABOVE THE CLOUDS
Not sure if this is a time travel story yet, but the Researchers require a vessel to do their thing. I’m thinking they don’t currently possess the ability to travel in time (so this is just a garden variety space transport) BUT they DO have the ability to force future outcomes.
Possibly this “vision” is from their “Divine Witches,” a Bene Gesseret like coven of “mystics” (scary hold-overs from the Ulta’s own, pre-scientific past - but eerily effective, so begrudgingly tolerated - and feared) that are able to witness things before (and even after) they happen. And, more importantly, across the quantum sea of possibilities. This enables them to know many (not all, but the most likely/closest) outcomes/realities made possible with every decision (major) throughout the known universe.
Remember to tie this into the notion that arcane magic comes more naturally to women amongst humans. Which also may have a strange antecedent in the way the Vala’suun must reproduce. Hmm.
The Coven has secretly allied with an otherwise unknown alien species, the equivalent of the (if not the actual) Yith, a species of mental time benders that claim Ningauble and Sheelba amongst their ranks.
This is a sacred secret, passed down amongst the Coven’s generations of restrictive breeding. Note - let’s try to differentiate this a bit more from DUNE.
The Coven could be the charter members behind The Knitting Circle on Gothenya. Amongst their ranks could/would be a sympathetic agent posing as a Lentokki, and an actual Lentokki double-agent (poised to take down the recently exposed Circle).


SURVEY SHIPS
1. They drop into remote or large bodies of water, dropping far below the waves to conceal their alien appearance. From here, a more suitable vessel - resembling a merchant ship of the current age - surfaces to go about its business.
2. The crew aboard the ejected frigate is comprised of an away team of Surveyors and assistants.

THE EXPEDITION - RESEARCHERS OF THE LINKED COLONY

General—
• Could one of them, a traitor, have already made contact with the Lentokki? Possibly through an equally traitorous Tech Coven Witch?
• Would he/she be motivated by wealth of some sort? Would they see “what’s coming” as inevitable, and therefore is trying to carve out a piece of the future for themselves?
• Would the traitor even be the PC’s point of contact?
Position: Leader - Goal: Perfection & Control (within the new Golden Age)
Goal: Redemption & Devotion (to a new way)
Goal: Reunion (perhaps a Lentokki godking/queen is a displaced or original Ulta, or even a cryo-sleep terminal patient who is saved by the Eret Si’Nu - only to become a godqueen).
Goal: Scientific Travel (the frontier!) & Perfection
Position: Security? Goal: Endurance Jockey (?)